This Historic Bergen County Mansion No Longer Tops New Jersey’s Luxury Market
The Mahwah Crocker-McMillin Mansion, once New Jersey’s most costly mansion for sale, has plunged. After repeated price revisions to attract buyers, the 50,000-square-foot estate was cut to $22 million from $33 million earlier this year.
For luxury architectural and exclusivity buyers, Compass real estate lowered the price. Realtors call it a “extraordinary opportunity to own one of Bergen County’s most distinguished estates” at a discount.
The most expensive New Jersey mansion is a $26.5 million Avalon oceanfront home. That modern property has six bedrooms, numerous baths, and ocean views on nearly half an acre, while the century-old Crocker-McMillin mansion has 21 beds, 19 full baths, and seven half-baths on 12.5 acres
Historic Jacobean architecture and unparalleled privacy have drawn wealthy buyers to the estate. George Crocker, a businessman whose father was a railroad magnate, built the residence for $2 million between 1903 and 1907, a large sum at the time. Banker Emerson McMillin bought it for $780,000 in 1909, giving it a double family name.
After many sales, the Archdiocese of Newark bought the estate in 1926 and used it as the Immaculate Conception Seminary until the 1980s. Several private owners have since invested substantially in preserving its old-world grandeur and upgrading its amenities. A three-bedroom guesthouse, pool cabana with a kitchen, fully equipped gym, and security system were installed recently.
The mansion’s 3,000-square-foot great hall has 30-foot ceilings and a 1906 Aeolian pipe organ, one of the last in the US. New York Public Library, Payne Whitney Museum, and library have James Wall Finn murals. Sauna, lap pool, steam room, and massage suite are gated and monitored 24/7.
It was New Jersey’s most expensive residential sale at $26 million in late 2021. Chinese Guo Wengui, convicted of massive investment fraud in 2024, bought it. The U.S. government took the property, making title uncertain until relisting.
New owner sees Crocker-McMillin Mansion as more than a mansion. Having American architectural heritage within a short trip from NYC with unmatched privacy is unique. Realtors say the ideal buyer values heritage and extravagance equally, drawn to craftsmanship and legacy.
Sources:
NJ Advance Media, Compass Real Estate, National Register of Historic Places
