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Kevin Spacey is 'refusing to leave' $5.6 million Baltimore condo unit after foreclosure auction

By Charlie Lankston

The buyer is accusing Spacey of 'refusing' to vacate

Kevin Spacey is allegedly "refusing to leave" his $5.6 million Baltimore condominium unit, weeks after the lavish property was sold off in a foreclosure auction.

The 65-year-old actor revealed in June that he was being forced to sell off the 9,000-square-foot apartment at the end of July in a bid to help cover the hefty legal fees from his 2023 sexual-assault trial.

He was ultimately acquitted of all charges, but earlier this year he tearfully told talk-show host Piers Morgan that the court battle had drained his finances, admitting: "I still owe a lot of legal bills that I have not been able to pay."

Spacey's home was put on the auction block in late July, and it was purchased for $3,240,000 by real-estate investor Sam Asgari. At the time, Asgari's identity was not made public, with reports indicating that it had been bought by an "anonymous" businessman.

However, Asgari has now revealed himself as the buyer - and has come forward to accuse Spacey of "refusing" to vacate the Baltimore apartment, claiming the actor has requested that he be allowed to remain in the property for another six months, rent-free.

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"Right now, he's refusing to leave," Asgari said, according to the Baltimore Banner. "He's asking for six months to leave the property without paying anything."

Realtor.com has contacted Spacey's spokesperson for comment, and one of his lawyers, Edward U. Lee III, denied Asgari's allegations in an email sent to the Baltimore Banner, saying only: "The accusation by Mr. Asgari is false."

The property at the center of this latest controversy is understood to have been purchased by Spacey for $5,650,000 in 2017, the year he was first accused of sexual misconduct.

At the time, representatives for the actor strongly denied that he had bought the home, with his then-manager, Evan Lowenstein, claiming that the condo unit belonged to him and not his client.

However, when the property ended up on the auction block, Spacey's identity as its owner was confirmed.

The five-story abode, which is in the exclusive Pier Homes at the Harborview community, sits at the end of a pier and provides stunning views across the harbor.

It's a combination of two town houses and features six bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, and three half-baths.

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Other amenities include a home theater, sauna, elevator, billiard room and a chef's kitchen. Multiple decks, including a 76-foot roof deck with a spa, offer residents the chance to enjoy panoramic views of the area.

The home is also equipped with a four-car garage.

According to the Banner, Asgari had to pay a $100,000 deposit on the home after placing his winning bid in the auction - which took place on July 25 on the steps of the Baltimore Circuit Court and lasted just 15 minutes.

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Foreclosure auction terms in the state of Baltimore require a sale to be ratified by the court, a process that can take up to 30 days. After ratification is complete, the legal title officially passes to the buyer, who must then pay the full sum agreed at auction within 10 days, as well as any additional taxes, interest, and penalties.

Failure to pay can open the buyer up to a lawsuit by the county.

Should the home's previous occupant refuse to leave, the buyer can pursue legal action. In most cases, the resident willingly vacates the home.

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It is not currently known whether the sale of Spacey's home was ratified after 16 business days had passed following the auction.

This story originally ran on Realtor.com on Aug. 16, 2024.

-Charlie Lankston

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

 

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08-27-24 0723ET

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