Mavs’ Tyson Chandler takes a loss in Rancho Santa Fe home sale

Even before he was dealt by the Knicks to the Mavericks, Tyson Chandler was already on the move. The NBA center and former Dominguez High School star sold his estate in Rancho Santa Fe in March for a loss at $2.7 million.

Chandler and his wife, Kimberly, purchased the five-acre estate in August 2006 for $5 million.

Leading up from a gated drive, the estate sits hidden within the resort-like grounds, blanketed by mature palms and tropical landscaping. The main residence, an updated split-level, was originally built in 1981 and features a modernized interior defined by clean lines, hardwood flooring and recessed lighting.

The 5,705 square feet of living space contains a tiered floor plan with open formal living spaces, a gourmet kitchen, a built-in entertainment center, six bedrooms and five baths. A basketball court, koi ponds, an outdoor kitchen, a pool and spa, and a waterfall are among the exterior features.

The estate was one of a number of homes damaged by the 2007 Witch Creek wildfire, which lay waste to nearly 200,000 acres in San Diego County, destroying 1,125 residential structures.

Chandler, 31, has played for five teams over the course of 13 NBA seasons. He won a championship with Dallas in 2011 and was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year the following season.

The property has bounced on and off the market since March 2010 and last listed publicly in January at $3.495 million. Jana Greene of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices was the listing agent. Christina Thomas of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty represented the buyers in the sale.

This is not the first time that Chandler has come up short on a real estate transaction. In 2011, the former Bulls player sold a home in Northfield, Ill., for $2.1 million. He had paid $4 million for the 11,000-square-foot mansion in mid-2006.

Chandler still maintains a 3,412-square-foot residence in Riverside that he purchased in 2001.

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