Maxine Gellens of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties recently assisted the buyer and seller of a landmark estate overlooking the ocean and La Jolla Shores, for a closing price of $18 million. The transaction was a particularly notable achievement for Gellens, as she has represented the property on nine occasions over the course of her 50 year career, serving both the buy- and sell-sides.

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Maxine Gellens of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties successfully assisted the buyer and seller of 2506 Ruette Nicole, a landmark estate overlooking the ocean and La Jolla Shores, for a closing price of $18 million. The home encompasses approximately 8,927 square feet and displays panoramic whitewater views from most of the rooms. As may be expected, the estate features a wine cellar, a pool/spa, a chef’s kitchen, luxe primary suite, an office, a media lounge with a wet bar, and a gym with a sauna. Photo by: REV Video Productions

The home is set on an approximately 21,262 square foot lot in the gated, one-of-a-kind Montoro community, which is only comprised of single family homes. Gellens was the original listing agent for the then 41-lot subdivision when it was nothing but vacant land, back in the late 1970s. She initially sold the vacant lot, which is located at 2506 Ruette Nicole, for a closing price of $360,000 in January of 1980.

Along with her daughter Marti, Maxine Gellens and her team were able to generate significant interest in the property in a short time frame. With a blend of traditional and digital marketing, they hosted 12 private showings for the home to highly qualified buyers and opened escrow within 45 days from the initial listing date, a compelling statistic for any price point, but especially so for the upper tier of the marketplace.

“The buyer contacted us directly through our marketing efforts. He and the seller were both an absolute pleasure to work with,” said Maxine Gellens.

The home encompasses approximately 8,927 square feet and displays panoramic whitewater views from most of the rooms. As may be expected, the estate features a wine cellar, a pool/spa, a chef’s kitchen, luxe primary suite, an office, a media lounge with a wet bar, and a gym with a sauna.

Gellens says that one of the more unique features is an additional four-car “jewel box-style” parking garage with ocean views: “There’s enough garage space for six vehicles…there aren’t many homes in La Jolla that have that.”

Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors in the public rooms showcase riveting views of the coastline in La Jolla; many of the private areas have large windows facing the verdant mature landscaping. Gellens added that the seller spent millions on a methodical, four-year renovation, and the buyer purchased the home with the designer furniture included.

“There’s a reason why the Gellens’ name is synonymous with La Jolla real estate. This a testament to the relationships that Maxine and Marti have built and the trust their clients and friends have placed in them, the power of strategic marketing and the value of the insights they offer into the local market,” said Nicki Marcellino, Vice President and Regional Manager of San Diego for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties.

“The value of real estate is nothing short of unbelievable and I’m not sure I could have imagined what a huge return on investment some of my clients would have when I first started selling there in the late 70s. When the developer bought the property, it was a just big hill overlooking the ocean. He basically put a tractor on it and got a subdivision map. When he built houses there, I was holding them open constantly. I had friends asking me why I wasn’t buying some of the lots there and I was like, ‘Are you kidding, I have two kids at UCLA, I need to eat,’” joked Maxine Gellens.

Interestingly, the seller of the home never lived in it after completing the renovation and having it professionally designed. He had previously owned a yacht in San Diego prior to the purchase and missed it, so he opted to sell the home to the new owner, who will be a full-time resident. This will only be the second owner to live full-time on the property, which has been renovated on multiple occasions.

Together with her team, Gellens has consistently ranked at the top of the local and national market for her sales production. She credits a portion of her success to her relentless work ethic, as she has only taken one vacation longer than a week since she started in real estate and has no intention of slowing down.

“I’m so fortunate that I’ve been able to work with my daughter and make so many friends in this area,” added Gellens, who competes in ballroom dancing competitions and typically practices for over an hour and a half each day.

A native of San Diego, Gellens is an avid Padres fan. She admits her interests are frequently torn, however, as both of Marti’s sons are professional baseball players and she loves traveling to watch them compete.

To find out how Maxine Gellens, Marti Gellens-Stubbs and their team can help you find the home of your dreams or get the highest possible return on investment, call 858-551-6630 or visit www.gellens.com.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties proudly supports 2,100+ sales associates in 41 offices spanning San Luis Obispo to San Diego. In 2025, our expert agents assisted in more than 6,700 client transactions for over $12.4 billion in sales volume.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., and a member of HSF Affiliates, LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. For more information, visit www.bhhscalifornia.com. To learn about career opportunities, visit www.bhhscalifornia.com/careers.

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