Gene Wilder in the Wilds of Bel Air

SELLER: Gene Wilder
LOCATION: Chalon Road, Bel Air, CA
PRICE: $2,750,000
SIZE: 2,756 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
DESCRIPTION: Extraordinary remodel opportunity: Sitting above the Bel Air Golf Course w/ beautiful vistas is this charming ranch house w/ the details and flair of Robert Byrd Design. Open floor plan, flex. use of space; pool, patio, grassy yard and guest cottage. Or build your Dream! Prime Location.

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: We can't decide, does Gene Wilder's living room look more like the lounge of a "luxury" spa resort in Belarus, or the family room of an Appalachian millionaire?

According to property records, Mister Wilder, who is surely one of the funniest of the funny men who have ever been pushed out of his mama, purchased this property in 1976 for just $314,000, which was probably a hell of a lot of money back then. The 3 bedroom and 4.5 bathroom ranch style house is dated beyond all sense of style and taste, but children, the location is spectacular.

If the first rule of real estate is location, location, location, then this house should sell itself. Located on a bluff overlooking the western finger of the swanky Bel Air Country Club the property is admittedly not on the best part of Chalon Road. But in this neck of the Bel Air woods, that's just splitting hairs, isn't it?

Very recently put on the market for $2,750,000, we think this place is a STEAL. To be honest, we're surprised to even see this place hit the open market, because it would seem that one quick call from the listing agent to prodigious house flipper Sandy Gallin would have this place sold in a heart beat.

More than likely this property will be purchased by a developer looking to tear this place down and build a sprawling Mediterranean behemoth that pushes the edge of the property and includes an infinity edge pool hanging over the golf course. Which is all well and good if you like that sort of thing. If anyone were to ask Your Mama, and of course, no one will, we'd recommend a developer maintain the relative modesty of the house by updating and upgrading the current California ranch style.

As an aside...anyone who knows Your Mama at all, knows we love candy. All our young life we longed to meet Willy Wonka from the Chocolate Factory so he could guide us into the garden of sweet treats and chocolate rivers. We didn't even care that he was clearly crazy and not just a little pervy. It's truly a wonder we have teeth left in our head and it's prolly even more of a wonder we were never picked up by a crazy eyed stranger in a car offering us a candy bar. Because children, Your Mama was an easy target. At six years old, walking home from elementary school all on our lonesome, Your Mama would have done anything for a candy bar. An-ee-thing.