Marc Ecko’s Stronghold estate in Bernardsville, New Jersey, was reported relisted for just under $10 million on October 24, 2025—more than $3.75 million below its previous asking price. That is a dated report, not confirmation that the property remains for sale today.
What was Stronghold listed for?
Realtor.com reported on October 24, 2025, that Ecko had relisted the estate for just under $10 million. The property had been offered at its prior asking price until it was removed from the market in July 2025. The report described the new ask as more than $3.75 million below the previous one. Ecko’s representatives had not immediately responded to Realtor.com’s request for comment, so the relisting should be attributed to that report rather than presented as a direct statement from Ecko. Realtor.com’s October 2025 report does not establish the home’s status in October 2026.
How has the asking price changed?
The reported figures are asking prices, not evidence of completed sales or the property’s market value.
| Date or period | Reported asking price | What the figure represents |
|---|---|---|
| After the 2014 renovation | $18 million | Realtor.com reported the home was offered at this price. |
| 2015 | $15 million | Reported reduced asking price. |
| 2023 | $13.75 million | Reported listing price; covered by Realtor.com and Forbes. |
| October 24, 2025 | Just under $10 million | Reported relisting price, more than $3.75 million below the most recent ask. |
The timeline shows successive public asking prices. The cited coverage does not provide a comparable-property valuation or establish what the estate ultimately sold for, if it sold.
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Where is Stronghold, and what is the property?
Stronghold is in Bernardsville, New Jersey, about 40 miles southwest of Manhattan, on more than 30 acres, according to Realtor.com. The roughly 20,000-square-foot stone mansion was built in 1886 for banker James Coleman Drayton and Charlotte Augusta Astor, daughter of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor and William Backhouse Astor Jr. Architect George B. Post is credited with the design. Forbes’ 2023 account describes the property as more than 32 acres.
Historic exterior and interior
Reported architectural features include a central tower, wrought-iron balconies, a wraparound porch, and stained-glass windows, including one made by Tiffany. The mansion also has a solarium. These details come from news coverage and listing material rather than an independent inspection.
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Guest and recreation buildings
Realtor.com reported seven bedrooms and 13 bathrooms in the main residence, as well as a carriage house used as a guest cottage, a detached basketball court with a modern gym on its second level, a pool, a pool house, and additional outbuildings. Forbes’ 2023 feature described the carriage house as having three bedrooms and sitting on a separate 10-acre lot; that is a detail from its earlier account.
What changed during the Ecko family’s restoration?
Forbes reported in 2023 that Marc Ecko and his wife, Allison Rojas, spent seven years restoring Stronghold after the family acquired it in 2005. The account describes a balance between preserving period craftsmanship and updating the home for contemporary use: quarter-sawn oak and carved millwork were retained, while the kitchen was modernized and contemporary art and color introduced. The feature also cited an elevator, HVAC, and smart-home infrastructure, and described the tower as five stories tall.
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Realtor.com reported that the Ecko family acquired the property through an LLC for $5.7 million in 2005, attributing the figure to PropertyShark records. That purchase amount is distinct from the later asking prices. Ecko recalled his first walk through the unfinished interior to Forbes: “I was instantly seduced,” he said of the cavernous shell lit by construction lights. The quote appears in Forbes’ 2023 feature, not in connection with the 2025 relisting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the price cut does—and does not—tell buyers
A lower asking price is a change in the seller’s public offer, not proof of a matching change in value or a completed transaction. The reported $10 million figure is best understood alongside the earlier asks and the unusual scale of the property: a historic mansion, extensive grounds, and multiple ancillary buildings. The sources cited here do not establish an appraisal, a sale, or a current active listing.
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