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Ex-Husker pays record price for area home

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By MATT OLBERDING / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008 - 12:33:19 am CDT

Professional baseball player and former Husker Darin Erstad paid $1.9 million earlier this month for a house in southeast Lincoln. The price is believed to be the highest ever paid for a house in Lancaster County.

The home is near 70th Street and Nebraska 2, in the Edenton South neighborhood.

Erstad bought the house from John and Andrea Schleich. John Schleich is president of Commercial Investment Properties, and his family founded what eventually became Home Real Estate.

Story Photo
Darin and Jessica Erstad bought this home near 70th Street and Nebraska 2, in the Edenton South neighborhood. (Eva Barajas)

According to the Lancaster County Assessor’s Web site, the 5,600-square-foot, 1.5-story house has four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a four-car garage, in-ground pool and a 500-square-foot pool house. It was built in 1997.

For tax assessment purposes, the house and pool house are treated as separate parcels, with a combined assessed value of more than $1.25 million.

Lancaster County Assessor Norm Agena said his office’s records indicate it’s the most expensive house ever sold in Lancaster County.

“As far as we know, yes,” he said.

The previous record sale price  was the $1.6 million former Nebraska football coach Bill Callahan paid for an acreage near Walton in 2004. That property is now listed for sale for just under $1.9 million.

Erstad plays for the Houston Astros, and attempts to reach him through the Astros’ media department were unsuccessful.

The North Dakota native played baseball and football at Nebraska in the early 1990s and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.

Though records show he has not previously owned property in Lancaster County, the 34-year-old Erstad has maintained ties to the area.

He tries to return to Lincoln at least once a year to attend a Husker football game, and he and his wife, Jessica, donated $1 million to the Memorial Stadium improvement project in 2004.

Jessica Erstad also has ties to the area; she grew up in Fairmont and graduated from UNL

Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.


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Larry wrote on July 8, 2008 2:56 am:
" With a record price in the assessor’s files, more of the upper end homes now have a higher standard for comparable prices. That should ring a sound of joy to the school district and mayor who have been searching for revenue increases. It is also an indication many of the $900,000 and above homes might be under insured....good news for insurance groups who probably would like to see updates of the top ten per cent of homes in Lincoln reappraised, e.g., Ridge Rd area has long been thought to be undervalued... "

 Anne wrote on July 8, 2008 7:15 am:
" And why on earth is this something LJS should consider newsworthy, unless it's National Equirer. Surely there is more appropriate news out there? I'd be surprised of they print this comment. "

 Taste wrote on July 8, 2008 7:17 am:
" I have to wonder if this is one of those McMansions with no woodwork around the windows and white carpet everywhere. People substitute size for detail and charm these days. Glad society is still rewarding people for such meaningful work. "

 Welcome home wrote on July 8, 2008 8:08 am:
" I for one am glad to see the Erstad's coming "home". Welcome back to Nebraska. By the way, you could have bought Coach Callahan's house for a little less but oh well. "

 SB wrote on July 8, 2008 8:13 am:
" I agree with Anne. How exactly is this newsworthy? Especially to make it one of the "top" stories on the LJS homepage... Blech. "

 Nina wrote on July 8, 2008 8:39 am:
" Either a vacation home on investment property, sounds like. Sports pros and movie stars earn the most in our country; not priority occupations to me. Instead of entertainment being so admired, I prefer to see great humanitarians (such as Bill Gates & Warren Buffett), and inventors of lifesaving devices and procedures reach that rank, if any do. Most of all, I'd like to see the great disparity between the rich and the poor lessened. "

 me wrote on July 8, 2008 8:47 am:
" The assessor isn't doing his job.... While my home has gone up in value in his office 100% in the past few years, these home values sit still. You could buy almost twenty of my homes for the price of this one, but they aren't paying the same taxes that I do. Makes me sick! These are the people that can most afford the taxes this city wants to charge and they aren't paying up. "

 jo wrote on July 8, 2008 9:12 am:
" Do they need a roommate? "

 Donnie wrote on July 8, 2008 9:13 am:
" I agree with Anne -- tabloid news. Personally, I am pleased someone with the Erstad's wealth and notoriety chose to live in Lincoln (now there's a story). Matt Olberding should work as hard at his stories as Darin Erstad has worked in baseball. "

 jj wrote on July 8, 2008 9:33 am:
" relax, Anne.

Notable home purchases and sales even make the LA Times. And who doesn't love Ersty? "

 Anne wrote on July 8, 2008 9:53 am:
" But wouldn't it be nice if someone could come "home", buy into the community, and NOT have it be top news in the LJS. We're Nebraska...not LA, and we should be more down to earth than that. It's a home sale, not a fire, not death, not a flood, not a traffic accident. Maybe the more appropriate story for LJS would be to run a piece on why folks come back to Lincoln when they could afford to live anywhere. There's a human interest story, not an Enquirer one. "

 Matt wrote on July 8, 2008 10:02 am:
" Nina, I agree with your comments about this probably being a second home or investment property. I also agree with lessoning the gap between the rich and poor.

However, you don't dare say what the answer is to that question in this country! And no, I'm not talking about higher taxes. That won't help nearly as much as a whole systematic change in our economy and truly matching our priorities with our so-called values. "

 Just the facts Jack wrote on July 8, 2008 10:03 am:
" In defense of the Assessor's office (re: me) a 5500 square foot house valued at $1 million isn't "sitting still" value-wise. And how can anyone say "they aren't paying taxes like me" when they pay over 10 times more than you?

The valuation on a house is based upon what an average person would pay for a home. Is Darin considered "average"? I would have to answer that as a "NO". Just because he would pay over what is "normal" doesn't mean the Assessor values the house at that price.

Thank goodness for people who pay the taxes on these "McMansions" (what a stupid word) since they're the ones paying for most of your services. "

 JB wrote on July 8, 2008 10:14 am:
" So is he moving to Lincoln when he retires? I'm sure there are some more expensive homes over in the Ridge. I thought the house that used to be owned by the part owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks was over three million. "

 Johnson Lake Ne wrote on July 8, 2008 10:45 am:
" Always great to see former players/students to come home to help out the state, university,community, players and coaches......and yes property taxes also...thanks Erstad family your first class in my book.......dp "

 Rachael wrote on July 8, 2008 10:45 am:
" If you consider Forbes magazine, the New York Times, or LA Times tabloid, then the Journal Star is in good company. Home values are a part of generally accepted media coverage. Maybe Lincoln doesn’t have allot of coverage but it has kept with a long standing national tradition. It might be interesting for them to look at the top 10 most expensive homes in Lincoln. Surely there isn’t a huge demand for this type of home, but while home values in the mid range may be falling...we continue to see appreciation and an increase in value of the most expensive homes. "

 MarkyMark wrote on July 8, 2008 11:32 am:
" A lot of jealous sounding people on this post. I'm sorry, but when and all-star, future hall of famer moves back to town, That, my friends, is news. "

 Ha ha wrote on July 8, 2008 12:04 pm:
" Future Hall of Famer? Ha ha! If that is the case, its no wonder I quit watching baseball years ago. "

 ngolf wrote on July 8, 2008 12:10 pm:
" what about 2417 ridge rd 1,862,112 "

 LA not down to Earth wrote on July 8, 2008 12:13 pm:
" sounds like you are suffering from LA sterotype. At least LA is down to Earth enough to look at more than one side (ultra-conservative) of one issue (taxes). Its true that a 1.9 mil house would not be news in LA as that would buy a shack sort of near the beach. "

 Unpredictable wrote on July 8, 2008 12:28 pm:
" I read this blog just to be amused by the jealous comments which I knew where going to show up, with even a little Socialism thrown in. What more can one ask for? "

 fireovid wrote on July 8, 2008 1:47 pm:
" Callahan says, "It's just one house, and oh, by the
way, I'm doing an excellent job in my new position
with the Jets"...... "

 dish wrote on July 8, 2008 1:49 pm:
" I love Erstad and the way he plays the game but he is nowhere near being a hall-of-famer. "

 To me.... wrote on July 8, 2008 2:21 pm:
" You obviously have no idea how taxation works. If you really think you pay just as much taxes you should maybe ask an assessor exaxtly how much they would pay. You obviously rent don't you? "

 D.A. wrote on July 8, 2008 2:40 pm:
" Its been great to follow Darin's career and its great to see he bought a fine home in Lincoln.

To MarkyMark: Do you follow baseball one bit? Darin is a good player, but he won't get close to the Hall of Fame. He's on the downside of a better than average career. 3,000 hits, 500 home runs and 1,500 rbi's gets an outfielder in the HOF. I haven't looked at Darin's career stats but I'm gonna guess he's in the ballpark of 1800 hits, 120 home runs, and around 900 rbi's and a career batting average of around .280. Those are solid stats, but not nearly good enough for even consideration to the HOF.

I think he might have made the All-Star team 2 or maybe 3 times, but he's not a perrennial All-Star. I will say this, he plays the game hard and the right way with respect.

Best of luck to Darin and his family I wish him all the best. "

 Erstad Fan wrote on July 8, 2008 3:00 pm:
" His salary right now is 1 million per year which is Low for a professional athlete in Baseball. So if you figure it out - the price of his house is only 2 years salary. How many of you make 40K per year and live in a 80K house? No difference! The guy just donated 1 million to the stadium renovation project. Give him a break. "

 ... wrote on July 8, 2008 3:02 pm:
" Read the article. It's stating a record price for SELLING a home in Lancaster County. Not a record APPRAISAL for a home in Lancaster County. The homes in the Ridge may be valued for more than Darin's purchase, but they weren't bought/sold at their appraised prices. "

 I wrote on July 8, 2008 6:13 pm:
" Anne, it's funny you mentioned LJS refusal to post comments that are negative to them. They do it to mine all the time. Let's see, will they post this affirmation of Anne's observation. Hmmm...let's see.
Oh, and parade the have's in front of the have nots. Thanks for uplifting my day. "

 nemo wrote on July 8, 2008 9:52 pm:
" He should make the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Is there one? These people saying some of you are jealous are soooo right. Now I wish I owned an oil well and could play ball. Oh and as far as what ljs will print, read the rules and standards. "

 Question wrote on July 8, 2008 10:39 pm:
" Anyone know what Callahan's address is. Interested to see what the assessor has it listed at? "

 Steven wrote on July 8, 2008 10:53 pm:
" Paid 1.9 million..... Assessed at 1.2 Million.... Hmmmmm Something doesnt add up. Sounds like someone doesnt have to pay property tax on about 700,000 dollars. "

 Matt P. wrote on July 9, 2008 1:51 am:
" Yeah, this house is hardly excessive for someone in Erstad's shoes. As for any of you somehow demonizing him or spinning this in a negative way you should be ashamed of yourself. The guy is a loyal Nebraska baseball and football star who also happens to give back to the community...in time and money. Furthermore, his wife is from Nebraska. How on Earth can you possibly look at this negatively??

When all you piss and moan about the horribly arrogant criminal behavior of so many athletes you constantly cry out for athletes to behave in a civil and responsible manner. Well people, Erstad is just that!! He is one of the best examples of the athlete who gives back. Now grow up.

On another note, a $2 million dollar house is not really that big of deal in any place but Lincoln. Heck, go to Omaha and you'll find a few hundred of them. "

 Empty pockets wrote on July 9, 2008 8:28 am:
" Sounds like the assessor had this property undervalued by some $700,000. You could buy seven houses like mine for $700,000 -- so why is my piddly little place assessed -- and taxed -- on every single nickle it's worth while the most expensive homes in the county get a break? "

 Sheyenne wrote on July 9, 2008 11:21 am:
" Erstad is one of the great baseball players who first passed through and now chooses to make Nebraska his home. The greatest compliments paid to him as a baseball player are "He is a throw back player" - "He is one of those guys who would still play baseball if he wasn't getting paid." He played hard on every play - unfortunately injuries take a toll on guys who play like this. To his Credit you can count - two time All-Star - three Golden Glove Awards - (1B and OF) and a 29 game Post Season batting average of .339. He was very likely a Division I Hockey candidate and one of the leading punters in the country on a pretty fair D-I Fb Team - so if you are looking for an all around athlete..... People who know him indicate he is a regular guy that likes to hunt, ice fish and play ball ... a blue colar player that the guys on the street loved to watch ... Judging by some of the comments his only misfortune is that pro-players make money. Fortunately for us in Nebraska he chose to invest in a home in Nebraska ... but not before making the largest donation to NU by any former athlete. "

 dish wrote on July 9, 2008 11:38 am:
" Wow D.A.! If those stats were actually off the top of your head you are pretty good. Although you were a bit nice in the RBI category. He only has 672 carreer RBIs and a few hundred less hits. "

 Scott wrote on July 9, 2008 2:04 pm:
" You know what would make good news? If Erstad moved back to town and DIDN'T buy a record home. Now that would probably make an interesting story. Where's the news in "another guy with entirely too much money just bought entirely too much house." Yawn. "

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