Inside axed Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz’s humble $700K Florida home a year after moving out of stunning 4.3M LA mansion
DISGRACED ex-Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz and his wife Laura have bought a humble $700K home after quietly moving to Florida, The Sun can exclusively reveal.
Their new modest three-bed, three-bath home in Bradenton on the Manatee River, south of Tampa, was purchased in July last year, according to property records.
The couple sold their home in the New Jersey town of Montclair for $1.5M after the pastor's 2020 cheating scandal and briefly moved to Manhattan Beach, California, where movie mogul Tyler Perry put them up in a luxury rental.
Sources told The Sun he forked out $100K to support his friends after they found themselves out of work, and they lived in a stunning $4.3M beachside property for around six months.
After the house went on the market in April last year, they secretly packed up and moved to the Sunshine State, with official records proving they took out a $520K loan to cover the mortgage.
Photographs obtained by The Sun show they are living a fare more low-key lifestyle having moved from Los Angeles, while mother-of-three Laura has shared snaps on Instagram of her renovating the home.
They have painted the brick outside white to give it a cleaner, more modern look, and transformed the dining area which is now unrecognizable.
In one post on Instagram, Laura, who has retrained as an interior designer after also leaving Hillsong, wrote: "before and after...the first pic is from when we looked at the house. it’s amazing what a little paint and lighting can do to a room!! waiting for new chairs...and i need art!"
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In a video posted on her account, she can also be seen jumping up and down as she paints the walls in the dining area, telling followers: "new chapter..new life..new lessons..i realize i can do hard things.. i am stronger than i think i am... and i can change light fixtures... AND im still dancing."
According to an online description, the humble home, has an open concept with a "casual and elegant style" which is "bathed in warmth and light."
The family living area features a wood-burning fireplace by a stacked stone wall that opens to the lanai - a combination of a patio and a veranda common in Florida homes.
The property offers an enclosed large heated pool, brick pavers and the lanai overlooks the stunning, private backyard with a fire pit and seating for outdoor entertaining.
The open plan of the home is perfect for guests and many of the rooms, including the dining area, living room, and owner's suite enjoy stunning lake views.
The kitchen features granite countertops and a center island with seating for the Lentz family to gather together during busy school mornings to eat breakfast.
It also boasts sleek white cabinetry with glass tiled backsplash, although it's likely the family will do further renovations and be completely transforming their home.
The main bedroom suite is described as a "sanctuary" with large walk-in closets and a modern spa-like bath with a glass-enclosed shower, granite counters, updated cabinetry, and dual sinks.
The second bedroom is in the main home, while the third is situated in a detached building complete with a full bath and mini kitchen.
News of the family's Florida home comes as The Sun pictured the couple for the first time in months on Monday.
In one snap, the former pastor, 43, looked almost unrecognizable without his trademark glasses, sporting messy mid-length curls and a tired expression as he headed to the airport for a solo trip.
He opted for a black t-shirt, light blue jeans, and black cowboy boots as he was seen stepping out of Laura's car.
His wife, also 43, wore her brunette hair tied back and dressed casually in a black sleeveless top, jeans, and dark Converse sneakers as she juggled a bag, jacket, and other belongings.
Their united appearance came ahead of Discovery Plus' three-part seething docuseries, Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed, which will air on March 24.
SCANDAL RECAP
Lentz's 'ex-mistress', New York jewelry designer Ranin Karim, will feature - after she exposed steamy details of their five-month affair in an interview with The Sun.
While the trailer doesn't give much away about the show, it does tease some major reveals.
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In the short video, those who worked closely with or spent time with Lentz will speak out in the series.
Ranin, for her part, will share videos sent to her by the ex-celebrity pastor during their affair, which could reopen old wounds for his betrayed wife, Laura.
