Rizzo’s H.B. home finds a buyer [Corrected]

An offer has been accepted on the lavishly remodeled Huntington Beach home of embattled former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo.

The offer, which was finalized Saturday, eight days after the house was opened to the public, is expected to enter escrow shortly, Bill Cuppy, Rizzo’s listing agent from Pier Realty, said Monday.

“We had an awful lot of activity on the property,” he said.

He would not say whether the offer was more or less than the $949,000 the home at 1935 Lake St. was listed for.

Although Cuppy once invited the media in so he could take advantage of the interest around the home of the man who stands accused of multiple charges of public corruption, he stayed tight-lipped about the deal.

“Once it closes, I’ll be able to disclose all the information,” he said.

Cuppy said in this market, many things can happen, and the deal might not go through.

“An accepted offer is very, very far from sold property,” he said. “We have a whole lot of stuff to get through first.”

Rizzo heavily remodeled the two-story, 3,250-square-foot home to reflect his expensive taste.

The home has travertine flooring, etched glass windows, leaded glass doors, a formal dining room with a coffered ceiling and chandeliers in most rooms, cherry wood walk-in closet and a luxurious bathroom.

The kitchen has granite surfaces, maple cabinets and a Wolf commercial-quality stove, and the living room has built-in bookshelves.

Rizzo paid himself an annual salary of $800,000 and is accused of charging blue-collar Bell’s residents high taxes and business fees and impounding cars to keep money flowing into City Hall.

FOR THE RECORD:
A previous version incorrectly said Robert Rizzo’s home sold. In fact, an offer had been accepted.