Kobe Pulls the Plug on Coto de Caza House

Kobe Bryant and his wife have decided against buying a $13.5-million home in Coto de Caza because of “business issues” and privacy concerns, a spokeswoman for the basketball star confirmed Wednesday.

The 9.5-acre estate, which includes a 16,000-square-foot house with 10 bedrooms and a private lake with a replica of a pirate ship, would not be private or secure enough for the Lakers guard, the spokeswoman said. The home is in a gated community, but there is a public trail nearby.

Had the sale gone through, it would have ranked among Orange County’s most expensive home real estate deals.

Officials at Keystone Pacific Property Management, which acts as the homeowners association for the gated Coto de Caza community, said the property could have been private and safe for Bryant.

“He announced it to the whole world, so of course there becomes an issue of security,” said Cynthia Hunter, a sales and marketing manager for Keystone.