McAfee’s West End Home Auctioned

By Catherine Cluett

The oceanfront home of software mogul John McAfee sold in an auction for $1,661,000 last Wednesday. The 5.34 acre property located in Papohaku Ranchlands features 600 feet of water front. The house is approximately 5,700 square feet.

The house, which was on the market for two years, had been listed most recently at $4,900,000. It was originally priced at $6.4 million, according to broker Stephanie Coble.

Auction Company of America handled the auction. Based out of Miami, Fla., they came to Molokai just to auction the property. They are also handling the auction of McAfee’s estate in New Mexico.

Auction Company of America owner and auctioneer Jim Gall said the house received bids from around the world. About 50 people were present on location, with eight registered bidders, according to Susan Savage of Tropical Island Reality, who was the local broker working with the auction company.

The final bidding boiled down to three active bidders. A broker for Stephen Kaelder placed the winning bid. The Kaelder family is from Connecticut and they plan to become Molokai residents, according to Savage. .

Coble said McAfee built the house as a second home, but after an uproar over the auction of his Molokai property in 2005, decided not to make his residence on the island.

“Given the market, it’s a tough situation,” said Savage. “We were hoping for more,” but she added she thought McAfee was just glad to have it sold.

The closing on the property will occur within 45 days.