Kevin Spacey pushes back on foreclosure of $5.6 million Baltimore condo, calling auction a 'sham'

By Charlie Lankston

The actor was struggling to pay steep legal fees for his 2023 sexual assault trial; Spacey was cleared of all charges in the case.

Kevin Spacey is attempting to block the sale of his $5.6 million Baltimore condo and is accusing the man who purchased it in a foreclosure auction of "bullying and threatening" him.

Spacey, 65, has filed legal papers to try to void the sale of the property, which was bought by real estate mogul Sam Asgari in July. Spacey claimed that the buyer has failed to "comply with the rules applicable to purchasers following a foreclosure sale," according to the New York Post.

The "House of Cards" star revealed in June that he was being forced to sell off his 9,000-square-foot home after being left near-penniless from the sky-high cost of legal fees for his 2023 sexual assault trial.

Spacey was cleared of all charges in the case. However, he admitted during an interview with Piers Morgan earlier this year that he "still owed a lot of legal bills that he has been unable to pay."

Asgari bought Spacey's home for $3.24 million at the foreclosure auction and later accused him of refusing to vacate the property. Asgari claimed that the actor had requested to be allowed to remain in the condo for six months, rent-free, after the sale.

However, Spacey and his legal team are now fighting back against Asgari's claims, while branding the auction as a "sham" and claiming that it was conducted with little to no warning.

Furthermore, they are accusing the real estate investor of using "intimidation" tactics to try to force Spacey out of the home. They allege that Asgari falsely declared the property as "abandoned" while posting an eviction notice in an attempt to make the actor leave.

Spacey's lawyer, Edward U. Lee III, writes in the filing that Asgari used the notice as a means of "harassing and coercing" his client to move out before he is legally required to do so, the Baltimore Banner reports.

However, Asgari has been quick to hit back at Spacey and his team, telling the Banner in a phone call: "The exceptions filed have no merit, and they're designed to buy time on our expense, to live in the property for free and to smear the buyer.

"The trustee and us will file in opposition, and we strongly believe that their claims are frivolous and will be denied."

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According to the Banner, Asgari paid 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 Maryland require a sale to be ratified by the court, a process that can take 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 to evict him; however, in most cases, the resident chooses to willingly vacate the home.

Realtor.com has contacted Spacey's spokesperson and Asgari for comment.

The property at the center of the escalating real estate argument is understood to have been purchased by Spacey for $5,650,000 in 2017, the same year he was first accused of sexual misconduct.

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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 belonged to him and not his client.

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

The impressive 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.

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It is a combination of two townhouses and features six bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, and three half-baths.

Other amenities include a home theater, sauna, elevator, billiard room, and 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.

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

-Charlie Lankston

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09-16-24 0501ET

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