Walter Mercado’s nieces (1932-2019) put up for sale, to avoid damage, which was the home in San Juan of the famous Puerto Rican astrologer, a house in the Cupey area of the capital that reaches the market with a value of $ 495,000 , which keeps intact the personality of the legendary television personality.
Ivonne Benet, one of Walter Mercado’s four nieces, told Efe on Thursday that they decided to put the house up for sale once it was clear that it could not become a museum and as a measure to prevent this 6-room house. deteriorating.5 baths.
“We want everyone who gets the house to enjoy it,” said Benet, who stressed that the impossibility of keeping it in good condition is one of the reasons that led to the decision.
“Two of my sisters do not usually live in Puerto Rico and another, for health reasons, is also abroad, which is why I made the decision,” he said, clarifying that anyone as soon as they enter the house , will be able to capture the personality that maintains the residence, where Mercado has lived since about 1986.
“Walter just came to live here because he was close to me,” said Mercado’s niece.
He recalled that the house, on the facade, has traces of Arabic architecture, although as indicated “inside is modern.”
DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN ANY PART OF THEIR BELONGINGS
As for what the house contained inside, he said that some of Mercado’s property was distributed by the four nieces, although it is true that many other things were destined for the various museums.
“Walter would have been happy with the cast, because the biggest love was his audience,” said Mercado’s niece.
A cape with a Puerto Rican flag, for example, will go to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, while other relevant objects will go to the Miami History Museum.
SOME THINGS RIGHT IN MEXICO
“Some things go in Mexico, where he had a lot of followers,” he said.
Benet recalled that, contrary to what many might believe, Mercado never stopped living in Puerto Rico, although for many years he spent about half a month in the American city of Miami, where he had an apartment.
However, he has always kept San Juan, a city he would not leave until his death in 2019.
He stressed that it is an excellent opportunity because it is a large house with an office part and a pool in the garden.
The sale puts an end to the idea of turning the house into a museum in his honor, once it was found that the location did not allow it, among other reasons due to the architectural barriers that the house has.
Mercado died at the age of 87, on November 2, 2019.
With a very ceremonious and bombastic style, but also extremely affectionate with his followers, Mercado jumped from his native Puerto Rico to the USA, where he swept the Latino audience with his predictions about horoscopes and spiritual guidance tips.
Mercado suffered a scam from one of his representatives, who almost bankrupted him.