A $3.65 million listing in Houston indicates the force is with its real estate brokerage.
Shelby Forbert of Washington Ho’s White House Global Properties recently took on the listing for the “Darth Vader house” in West University Place, so-named because of its resemblance to the Star Wars villain’s helmet.
The home at 3201 University Boulevard is asking $521 per square foot, the Houston Business Journal reported.
It was built in 1992 by plastic surgeon Dr. Jean Cukier, who drew inspiration from the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter for its design, and it sits on a 26,400-square-foot lot.
Spanning 7,000 square feet, it features a dark and sleek aesthetic, with a palette of black and gray dominating the interiors. It includes four bedrooms, five bathrooms, black stone floors, and museum-like elements such as floating staircases and skylights, giving it a futuristic feel. The home’s walls are 2-feet thick.
“This house is built like a bomb shelter, like nothing could blow it over,” Ho told the outlet.
The house has not been without controversy. The owner is involved in a legal dispute with the city of West University Place over allegations of using the residence for commercial activities, including hosting ticketed events, which would violate local zoning regulations, the Houston Chronicle reported. The owner’s identity is shielded behind an LLC.
Ho is known for his role in HBO Max’s reality series “House of Ho.” He is hoping his brokerage will sell the Darth Vader house in less than 28 hours “because I want to break two world records at one time,” he told the outlet.
Forbert is on a streak of listings in a galaxy not so far away. She recently sold a 13,000-square-foot mansion at 4616 Oleander Street in Bellaire for just under $5.5 million after less than 24 hours on the market. Ho had dubbed it the “Luke Skywalker house,” although at $414 per square foot, it was a far cry from Tatooine.
— Andrew Terrell
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