The acreage of the property on which a luxury Longwood estate is located is what sets it apart from similar home listings in the Orlando area.
The 7.61 manicured acres at 2878 Markham Woods Road is listed for sale at $8.25 million and boasts a 12,000-square-foot, French-provincial style main residence with six bedrooms, eight full bathrooms, and three half baths. There’s also a 2,300-square-foot guesthouse, 800-square-foot cottage, and 5,040-square-foot car barn on the property, and that’s just the beginning.
“It’s a family compound,” said Amanda Miller, Broker Associate and listing agent with Re/Max Central Realty. “It works so well for entertaining and for multigenerational living. It still has a warm and cozy vibe, and a lot of big mansions don’t have that. It’s for someone who wants a unique private home that’s on a compound, who wants to say, ‘I‘ve worked really hard, and this is where I want my family to be.’ That’s truly what it’s for.”
Miller pointed out some of the home’s exciting features — the elevator, helipad, resort-style pool and chef’s kitchen — as well as some of its special details: custom millwork, treehouse-themed play loft, travertine tile, five gas fireplaces and a “secret” garden.
“The stand-out feature that I think will sell this house is the 5,000-square-foot car barn,” Miller said. “It’s air-conditioned with 20-foot ceilings. There’s room for car lifts, RVs, campers, boats — room for 10 vehicles. There are huge doors, tons of storage installed, and a 250-gallon fuel tank. You don’t have to go to the gas station, it’s right there.”
She said the building could also be easily converted into an equestrian barn, event venue, or business with office space.
The library features one of the six gas fireplaces in the 12,000-square-foot French Provincial estate. (Courtesy of RE/MAX Central Realty)
The pristine, impeccably maintained grounds are also a major selling point, Miller said. Prospective buyers love the heavy foliage with majestic oak trees.
“Every detail is taken care of and perfectly manicured,” she said. “There’s such a nice feeling of privacy and beauty; it’s such a lovely property. It’s such an expansive property to have such high quality, and you can feel charm and don’t feel like you’re in a sterile area. There are so many spaces to enjoy.”
The property is completely fenced with security gates and cameras, and there’s even a guardhouse at the front gate.
Miller has experienced events in the home and on the grounds and said it’s an ideal home for entertaining with multiple spaces for various events.
The heated, resort-style saltwater pool is fully enclosed within the massive outdoor entertainment area. (Courtesy of RE/MAX Central Realty)
“Everyone gathers in the kitchen and family room and there’s all this space,” she said. “There’s a full wet bar where you could have a bartender. On holidays, you could have 30 people at Thanksgiving, and it’s so convenient. The pool area is a tropical oasis. There’s a beach area for the kids to play on; it’s super nice. The helicopter pad can serve as an event venue with a tent for a graduation party or wedding. There’s a gorgeous gazebo where you can get photos done. It’s so nice and so quaint.”
From the 100-bottle wine room to the indoor pool and spa to the zipline to the stained glass “restrooms” signs from Orlando’s own Rosie O’Grady’s, Miller has no shortage of impressive features to point out on showings.
“It takes me an hour and a half to show this property,” she said.
Miller also said the area is attractive to buyers. It’s conveniently located near the Sanford International Airport and several major roadways, including I-4, State Road 429 and State Road 417.
“It’s close to the border of Lake Mary, and the schools are fantastic,” she said. “The area is luxurious with three golf-course neighborhoods enveloping the property. It’s close to International Parkway with all the tech companies. You can be at the beach in 50 minutes, downtown in 20 minutes. The convenience factor is so good; it’s so centrally located.”
The home was a custom build in 2003 and has six new HVAC systems, three new water heaters, new roofs on the guest house, cottage, and car barn, and a newly screened front porch. On the market for more than two months, Miller said listings like this one “go when they go.”
The main residence has six bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and three half-baths. (Courtesy of RE/MAX Central Realty)
“It usually doesn’t take many showings,” she said. “That’s just the nature of properties this high-end. It’s likely going to be a business owner who owns a large business with a family, or grandparents who want this place for family to gather as a central hub where their kids can to come stay and relax and have holidays.”
There has been some interest, including an out-of-state buyer who went in another direction and another local person for whom timing was not right, Miller said.
Current owners Robert and Lauren Thomas are moving out of state to be closer to family, she said.
“It’s time for them to pass the baton to another really lucky family,” Miller said. “Whoever purchases this home, it’s truly special and magical. Whoever ends up with it will be thrilled. The owners have kept this home immaculate. I’ve never seen anything like it for such a grand property.”
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