Meghan and Harry's former estate agent reveals update on £11million home: 'People are calling us daily'

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The Montecito property could fetch up to £30million

Speculation is mounting that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are gearing up to offload their California home, with rumours swirling across Montecito that the property could soon be listed for sale.

The couple originally purchased the mansion from a Russian businessman six years ago for £11million, but their recent relocation back to Britain has fuelled growing chatter that they no longer intend to keep it as their primary residence.

Local property professionals say interest in the estate is already intense, with wealthy prospective buyers lining up in anticipation of a sale.

One nearby agent has suggested the home could command as much as £30million on the open market, nearly triple what the Sussexes originally paid for it.

Village Properties, the estate agency that previously handled the sale of the mansion, reports receiving a flood of enquiries from ultra-wealthy individuals keen to snap up the property.

Staff say billionaires are ringing on a daily basis, with some hoping to live in the home and others eyeing the possibility of demolishing it to extend their own neighbouring estates.

Several callers have even floated the idea of transforming the grounds into a golf course.

Kim, a new member of staff at the agency who declined to share his surname, told the Sun: "There are a lot of whispers that the house will be going on the market.

"People are calling us daily asking about it. I can't see why they wouldn't sell it."

David Encell, a Montecito estate agent based directly opposite Village Properties, said he would be "shocked" if the Sussexes still owned the property in 12 months.

He estimated the running costs at roughly £30,000 per month, covering staff such as pool maintenance, housekeeping and gardeners, a hefty sum for what would essentially become a part-time residence.

He said: "It's a pretty expensive home to upkeep for a part-time place."

Renting the mansion out could bring in around £110,000 monthly, Mr Encell noted, but he cautioned against it.

"There are risks with renting out such an expensive place, and a lot of bad things can happen," he said, warning that tenants could cause damage to the property.

He predicted the couple would initially test the market discreetly before potentially listing it internationally to attract global buyers.

Mr Encell, who resides just a block from the Sussexes' home, expressed astonishment at their departure from the exclusive coastal enclave.

"Everyone was surprised when they moved, as this is a place people move to, not from," he said, describing the mansion as "a beautiful house in paradise."

He acknowledged, however, that the couple's return to England might not be permanent. "This could be a test drive though for them in England and they are giving it a few months before making any decisions," he added.

Meanwhile, talk has emerged that Prince Harry plans to dedicate himself to being a full-time father following the family's high-profile move to the Cotswolds, while Meghan is expected to divide her time between England and California to maintain her media career.