Listing of the Century : But You’ll Need $4 Million to Be a Looky-Loo at Simpson’s Estate

The real estate agents who landed the coveted listing for O.J. Simpson’s Brentwood mansion are all set to show you the ex-football player’s former home--as long as you get a bank to certify that you’re good for the $4-million asking price, among other things.

Simpson’s gated estate at 360 N. Rockingham Ave. became the world’s best-known celebrity house during Simpson’s criminal trial as lawyers intoned the address time and again. The property was listed with Fred Sands Estates on Monday by owner Hawthorne Savings for $3.95 million, the Times learned.

Hawthorne bought the property from itself for $2.6 million at a public auction last month. The same bank began foreclosure proceedings against Simpson in March, after Simpson had fallen $86,000 behind in mortgage payments.

Like nearly every other business opportunity stemming from Simpson’s notoriety after his double-murder trial, the Rockingham listing is both a boon and a burden. If the house’s celebrity legacy isn’t enough of a magnet for looky-loos and other less-than-serious buyers, the house’s celebrity tenant could be.

Simpson still lives there.

An executive at Hawthorne Savings would say only that the bank and Simpson have reached a confidential agreement about his continued residence and eventual departure from the property.

A criminal court jury acquitted Simpson of charges that he murdered his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Lyle Goldman. A civil trial jury found Simpson liable for the June 12, 1994, deaths and awarded the victims’ families $33.5 million in damages.

Sands, describing the 6,400-square-foot home in the sort of glowing language used mostly by real estate agents and vacation tour operators, said he has no worries that the seven-bedroom, 7 1/2-bathroom estate will sell quickly.

He has assigned three agents to the property and set up an elaborate system to separate the wealthy home-buyer wheat from the trial-obsessed chaff.

“This is not an everyday house,” Sands said.

For the most part, Sands said, he and his agents already know “the players,” those entertainment industry giants, business leaders and other folks with pockets deep enough to afford such a home.

Anyone outside of that insiders’ circle better come prepared with a statement from their bank. The agents will require proof that the prospective buyer has the necessary funds on deposit for a down payment--a minimum of 25%, or $1 million, in most cases--and that he or she qualifies for a mortgage to cover any balance.

“The only reason we’re doing this is that it’s going to be difficult to separate those who are truly interested in purchasing it from those who are truly interested in seeing it,” Sands said.

The hardest look will go to out-of-towners, Sands said. It could be harder to check them.

Sands acknowledged that there are spectators even among the well-to-do.

So even the well-known and well-documented types probably will be subjected to a careful examination by one of his experienced agents, who ought to be able to determine whether the wealthy person is serious or just a snoop, Sands said.

Those who qualify for the tour of Simpson’s home, which he bought in 1977, also will wait at least 48 hours for a visit, so the agents can give Simpson proper notification.

Once inside the gates, prospective buyers will be shown the home’s numerous amenities: space to comfortably entertain 300, a natural-rock pool with a waterfall slide and wet bar, restaurant-grade kitchen appliances, media room.

“Most people call them family rooms,” Sands said. “In this price range, we call them media rooms.”

And even after the screening process, would-be Rockingham residents will be escorted at all times as they proceed through the billiards room, guest house, his-and-hers master bathrooms (“expected in this price range,” Sands said) and the rest of the home.

“There is a concern that people not take souvenirs and things like that,” Sands said. “You never know what somebody might do.”