Earthquake- and tsunami-proof in Carlsbad

Looking for a way to beat the heat during another sweltering San Diego summer? Try this coastal mansion, with private access to Carlsbad State Beach.

The 8000-square-foot Mediterranean estate at 5319 Carlsbad Boulevard was designed and built by its current owners in 2003 “using only the finest of finishes and detail; no expense was spared,” says Pacific Sotheby’s listing agent Patricia Kramer.

“The owner is an engineer, so the home was well overbuilt, the structure is sturdy enough to withstand earthquakes, a massive storm, tsunamis, whatever the coast can throw at it,” says Kramer.

The home features six bedrooms, along with six full and two half baths, a guest suite with its own parking area, private entrance, and separate kitchen. Kramer suggests the space would be ideal for an on-site office or living area for extended family.

In the main residence, “decorative mosaic tiles lead you into the formal, yet comfortable living room,” while “vaulted ceilings, custom beams, or coffered details are found within the living room, family room and dining areas, and most other areas of the home.”

The kitchen features alderwood custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, and porcelain flooring, while the family room “will take your breath away with its large picture windows and glass doors where infinite ocean and sunset views are showcased.”

Other indoor spaces include a library and home office, game room with wet bar and fireplace, and a spacious master suite with a sunken tub facing whitewater ocean views to the west. Many rooms feature raised ceilings with detailed recesses and exposed wood beams.

Outside the home is an al fresco dining area as well as several patios and terraces surrounded by palm trees and tropical landscaping. A path leads down from the estate’s hilltop perch to the beach below, of which a 70-foot stretch abuts the property, which includes just over a half-acre.

An inlaid stone driveway and motor court leads to a three-car garage with parking for numerous other vehicles outside and is wired for the installation of a remote-controlled gate.

Tax rolls show the current owners as Jon and Carol Jensen, who spent a million dollars on the land back in 2000 before splitting off two other parcels and commissioning the construction of their own home.

The property has been on and off the market a few times in recent years, starting with an initial listing in September 2010, when the list price was set at $12,400,000. It was most recently re-listed on June 17 with an asking price of $11,500,000, which remains unchanged to date.