About two years ago, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates bought into Encino, dropping very close to seven million dollars on a very new contemporary house in the increasingly desirable neighborhood.

Gates listed it in the late summer of last year, asking $7.25 million. In the final days of the year, he accepted an offer of $6.5 million for the home. Not an ideal conclusion—and perhaps a little surprising, given Encino’s present market health—but a conclusion, nonetheless.

The six-bedroom, eight-bath home’s exterior is fairly stylized, a mix of warm rustic and chilly geometric elements that is enhanced by a series of tones and textures. The interiors open up grandly; the shared living space is a broad and lengthy expanse of space, establishing an impressive sense of scale that will accommodate and complement the owner who likes to entertain. Only a freestanding double-sided fireplace accent wall breaks up the space.

Wide-plank hardwood, a glass-enclosed wine room, and a gaping retractable glass wall in the rear of the house are among the outstanding details of the 8,500 square footer, but the location gets high marks as well. The lot extends to two-thirds of an acre, and the spot is a private one: a small knoll in the eastern corner of the community.

Gates, a free agent in the NFL, has been with the Chargers since 2003, but absent from play this season.