Judge approves sale of rainbow-colored house in southwest Florida for lot value

ajc.com

Credit: Jon Austria/Naples Daily News via AP

Credit: Jon Austria/Naples Daily News via AP

A Florida circuit judge approved an order to sell a rainbow-colored, paint-splattered home in Naples for the value of the lot, according to court documents.

Collier County Circuit Court Judge Lauren Brodie paved the way for the single-family home in Naples -- which had a market value of $528,623 in 2019, according to the county's property appraiser -- for $225,000, the Naples Daily News reported.

The house, which had several colors splattered across its outside walls, became part of an ugly dispute between its owners -- Jeffrey Liebman, and his father, Dennis Liebman, who bought the property for $500,000 in 2017, the newspaper reported. The 2,517-square-foot home was built in 2006, according to Collier County property records.

Dennis Liebman sued his son to force a sale, the Daily News reported.

The house was under contract to a buyer when Jeffrey Liebman was accused of the bizarre paint job and of damaging the inside of the dwelling, the newspaper reported last month.

Brodie signed off on the sale after hearing about the damages. The sales contract was arranged by Brandon Bytnar, a special magistrate.

On Friday, Bytnar told Brodie that Jeffrey Liebman had “absolutely destroyed the property.”

Naples real estate broker Christina Falzarano Bajraktarevic, who listed the home for sale, agreed, the Daily News reported. Bajraktarevic testified it would cost $300,000 to repair the home.

“The buyer could demolish it and rebuild it,” she testified.

According to court records, Bajraktarevic initially listed the home at $549,900 in early December, then lowered the price to $449,900 after viewing the repairs needed inside the home, the Daily News reported.

That was before the paint job outside.

The $225,000 price now being offered is “basically the lot value of the property,” Bajraktarevic testified.

Jeffrey Liebman objected to the sales price, saying it was too low and did not reflect upgrades he had installed, including an $80,000 lighting system, the Daily News reported.

About the Author