A grassy yard and terra cotta decks are surrounded by a “securely engineered” curving sea wall with two security gates providing access to the beach below.

Just a block away from former presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s 311 Dunamere Drive property in the famed Barber Tract of La Jolla, a residence is listed at 308 Vista De La Playa. Designed by local award-winning architect Douglas Austin, whose recent projects include the Smart Corner high-rise downtown, in conjunction with the late interior designer Arthur Porras, the home has six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and 9142 square feet of living space.

As is frequently the case, the owner of the property officially listed on tax records is not an individual but a corporate entity, in this instance a La Playa LLC, which acquired the property in 1987 from a Mark Vanbuskirk, quite likely the same person as the Marc Van Buskirk, a “salesman who represented military contractors” and also, according to a June 2012 U-T San Diego article, sold Romney his Dunemere house.

Van Buskirk, the CEO and founder of GovX Inc., is still listed as operating out of La Jolla in his LinkedIn profile. GovX describes its mission as creat[ing] the ultimate, privileged, e-commerce destination for active duty, reserve and retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces and related government agencies.” Prior to that, he founded and ran a division of high-end eyewear maker Oakley dedicated to government contracting.

An “entrance walk” composed of French limestone leads to the main entry.

The interior of what the listing agent calls “La Jolla’s most beautiful home” features “imported fireplace mantles and chandeliers, hand woven carpets,” marble flooring and Carrera marble statuary, electrically controlled custom drapes, a piano alcove, and a “step down formal living room with French marble bronze inlaid fireplace.”

The gourmet kitchen is outfitted with professional-grade appliances, hand-carved cabinetry, and two walk-in pantries, not including an additional butler’s pantry with bar and china storage. In the family room, residents and guests enjoy a quartzite bar and fireplace, separate pool table/game area, and a hidden pop-up television. There’s also a “full-sized gymnasium” located on the home’s main level.

“Upstairs is devoted to the amazing master bedroom suite,” the listing informs, which has his-and-hers bathrooms, a private ocean view balcony, and an office with its own bathroom and a temperature-controlled fur storage closet.

The rest of the property includes a three-car garage, as well as gated parking for another ten vehicles. A 120-foot “entrance walk” composed of French limestone leads to the main entry. Out back, the “double oceanfront lot” comprises nearly three-fourths of an acre, whose grounds are secured by a “securely engineered” curving sea wall with two secured gates providing access to the beach below. A grassy yard and terra cotta decks serve as outdoor entertainment spaces, and the home has a pool and spa with custom built-in cocktail table.

The Vista De La Playa estate hit the market in early January with an initial asking price of $19,950,000, qualifying it as the 12th highest-priced home currently offered for sale in San Diego County.