Inside A Real-Life Spy Mansion

The Southfork Ranch In Dallas, Texas

Larry Hagman Death Sparks Interest In Southfork Ranch -- Examiner

Tourists flocked to Southfork Ranch in Dallas, Texas on Saturday Nov. 24 after news broke that Larry Hagman, the actor that played the famous television character J.R. Ewing on the iconic 1980s hit show "Dallas", died the day before. His popularity on the 1980s hit television series “Dallas” made the Texas town world-famous, but where was the recently deceased actor really from? More importantly, where was he living in the months and weeks before his death? Not in Hollywood, surprisingly enough. He died in the oil town that he seemed to love best -- but not at Southfork.

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Editor: A longer video tour of the Southfork Ranch is below.

Lake Winnipesaukee Mansion For Sale

Sprawling: The lavish eight-bedroom lakeside mansion in New Hampshire, pictured, is up for sale

Fit For A President? Enormous 'Secret Service Certified' Mansion That Former French Leader Nicolas Sarkozy Vacationed In Goes On Sale For $13.6Million -- Daily Mail

A lavish eight-bedroom mansion in New Hampshire, where former French President Nicolas Sarkozy spent three weeks of his summer, is up for sale - and the price tag is certainly presidential. The sprawling shingle-style residence on Lake Winnipesaukee boasts of being 'Secret Service certified' and could be yours for a cool $13.6 million. To rent, the 17,000-square-foot home in Wolfeboro costs a whopping $30,000 a week, rendering Sarkozy's glamourous 2007 vacation almost as expensive as his total annual pay packet.

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My Comment: A perfect home to have in the country.

Miami Is Now The 'Russian Riviera'

Photo Source: The Jills

Why Miami Is Becoming The 'Russian Riviera' -- CNBC

On a recent afternoon, Miami real-estate agent Jill Eber is taking a Russian millionaire on a mansion-shopping trip. "This is the Versace Room," Eber says, walking into a vast living room of blue velvet sofas and gold French Imperial lamps. "It really makes a statement." The mansion, "Castello del Sole," sits on an exclusive island on Miami Beach and has eight bedrooms, nine baths and a three-story foyer with fresco ceilings. The grounds include two yacht docks, a tennis court, guest villas, a five-car garage and a lagoon-style pool with over 100,000 gallons of water. The asking price: $37 million. "I like it," says the Russian buyer, sliding on her Gucci shades as she admires the water views. "It's a maybe."

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My Comment: Miami is a very nice place to live .... if you have the money to spend.

Houseboats For The Rich

Prime location: Le Sorelle is currently being moored at Canary Wharf in London

Luxury Houseboat With Six Bedrooms, Two Kitchens And Its Own GARDEN Hidden Under A Retractable Roof Goes On Sale For £1.7m -- Daily Mail

A six bedroom, six bathroom luxury houseboat has gone on the market - and features its own incredible garden that fits under a retractable roof. The £1.69 million boat has an enormous 1,302 square foot of perfectly manicured Art Deco-style garden space that can be hidden during bad weather. The 'unique' boat, moored in Canary Wharf, also comes with further outside decking. With space at such a premium in central London, waterside specialists Riverhomes said Le Sorelle, which is moored in South Quay, Canary Wharf, is the 'best boat' they have seen in the capital. The boat two kitchens, a bar, a wheelhouse, three reception rooms and two kitchens.

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My Comment: This is a houseboat with class.

Piers Morgan In Monaco

The Trend Of Building Glass Houses

Neighborhood Watch -- Wall Street Journal

A growing number of city dwellers are building glass houses—just a stone's throw from the street. Such homes allow in lots of light, but also curious looks from passersby; beware neighbors brandishing telescopes.

Every so often, Grant Risdon looks out his living room window and sees a stranger staring up at him, waving. Mr. Risdon isn't a celebrity—he is a consultant at a biotechnology company. But his house has a very public persona: Its second floor is almost entirely encased in glass, making it look like a transparent box floating above the more traditional homes in a densely populated Seattle neighborhood.

Mr. Risdon says he wanted to feel connected to the outside but didn't want to leave the city. He says he and his wife don't use blinds—even at night. "I don't feel exposed. I don't worry about it. We have nothing to hide," Mr. Risdon says.

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 My Comment: If privacy is not your thing .... I guess this is for you.

Tamara's Versailles In Bel Air

A moving story: Tamara' relocation to the Fleur de Lys mansion will be chronicled on an American reality TV show

Tamara's Versailles: A 50-Seat Cinema, A Gilded Ballroom And 15 Bathrooms... F1 Heiress's £78m Palace To Keep Up With Her Sister -- Daily Mail

* Fleur de Lys estate also features marble walls and gold-embossed leather
* Comes months after sister Petra bought house named most expensive in US
* Eight-part reality TV series will chart Tamara's move to the United States

When it comes to sibling rivalry, no one is quite so extravagantly competitive as the Ecclestone sisters. Now their oneupmanship has spread to the most exclusive tier of the American property market. For just a few months after Petra bought a mansion once named as the most expensive home in the States, Tamara is set to move into the house ranked No 2 – just down the road. The older daughter of Formula  1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone is eyeing up the lavish Fleur de Lys estate to add to her property portfolio, undeterred by its £78 million asking price. The five-acre estate in the Holmby Hills in Bel Air, Los Angeles, was modelled on Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles – and certainly contains all the opulent luxuries a modern-day princess could demand.

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My Comment: And she is only 28 years old.

The White House Is Worth $284.9 million

This single-family home at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. has 16 bedrooms and 35 baths, 55,000 square feet. Year built: 1792. Shutterstock.com

Value Of White House Up From Four Years Ago -- Marketwatch

The value of the White House, for one, is better off that it was four years ago—and its future is also looking bright. Its current value is $284.9 million, an increase of 1.5% from the $280.8 million it was valued at in October 2008, according to the real-estate website Zillow. Moreover, if homes in the Washington, D.C., area keep appreciating at the same rate, prices will be up 1.1% a year from now, bringing the value of the White House to $288 million. That’s still lower than the $299.9 million it was valued at in June 2006, at the height of the boom.

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My Comment: I guess the housing bust has not significantly impacted it's "value".

After Five Years A House Finally Comes Up For Sale On The Isle Of Sark

For A Less Taxing Life... After Five Years A House Finally Comes Up For Sale On The Isle Of Sark And It Can Be Yours For Just £4.75m -- Daily Mail

Those with a few million pounds spare who wish to lead a less taxing lifestyle have a rare chance to fulfill their goal by purchasing a property on the tiny Channel Island of Sark. For the first time in five years a home on the tranquil isle, that is a tax haven and doesn’t have any motorised vehicles, has come on the open market. But the opportunity to live the quiet life doesn’t come cheap as the stunning cliff top, 15 acre estate is up for sale for £4.75million.

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My Comment: If it is such a great tax haven, why are the owners (or their heirs) selling?

Are Private Islands Going Out Of Fashion?

Boat required: For those who want to get away from everyone, Jonathan Island is one of 600 islands up for sale around the world

Are Private Islands Going Out Of Fashion? The Elite Flee Their Luxury Isles As Owners Find Trouble In Paradise (And These Homes Have Sat On The Market For Months) -- Daily Mail

600 islands on the market around the world - ranging in price from $50,000 - $100 million
Petra Island in New York, which has property designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, available for undisclosed sum

With white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and unadulterated solitude, a private island is most people's vision of paradise.

But all may not be as it seems as a number of private islands languish on the market and experts warn that some buyers are realizing that the hassle of living on one is more than it is worth.

There are now 600 islands up for sale around the world, according to experts, from the Caribbean to the chillier waters of northern Scotland, ranging in price from $50,000 to $100 million. The number of isles on the market has jumped three-fold since 2006.

A number of stunning island properties have also been on the market for some time.

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My Comment: I would love the privacy .... but I guess for some it is too much of a sacrifice.

Inside Frank Sinatra's Sprawling Manhattan Penthouse

Party times: The apartment, pictured, was the setting for many wild parties

Start Spreading The Views: Inside Frank Sinatra's Sprawling Manhattan Penthouse On The Market For $7.7m -- Daily Mail

* New York apartment was the setting for many a Rat Pack party
* President John F Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Andy Warhol were all guests there

It was the setting for many a wild party, even attracting the likes of President John F Kennedy, screen siren Marilyn Monroe and avant garde artist Andy Warhol.

Now the Manhattan penthouse once belonging to crooner Frank Sinatra can be yours - for a cool $7.7 million.

The sprawling 3,000 sq ft apartment - on New York's East 72nd street, is to go on sale - but these days it looks quite a bit different.

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My Comment: A lot of history in this penthouse.

A Look At President Obama's $24 Million Martha's Vineyard Getaway That He And His Family Stayed In During Their 2011 Summer Vacation

We're sure the President appreciated the massive American flag out front. Wallace & Co./Sotheby's International Realty

Inside President Obama's $24 Million Martha's Vineyard Getaway -- Business Insider

Last week, we told you that Blue Heron Farm, the Martha's Vineyard estate where the Obama family has vacationed for the past three years, was about to be put up for sale.

Now the listing is official. The 28.5-acre property, owned by Republican businessman William Van Devender, was just listed by Wallace & Co. and Sotheby's International Realty for $23.7 million.

The private retreat, in Chilmark, has two full-size homes, an eight-stall horse barn and six paddocks, and a waterfall pool with hot tub.

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My Comment: It is the perfect summer home.

Dark Knight Superfan Creats His Own Home Cinema Replica Of Bruce Wayne's Cave

The Batcave: A superfan has spent £1.29million creating a home cinema inspired by Batman's secret underground lair

Holy Obsession, Batman: Dark Knight Superfan Spends $2MILLION Creating Home Cinema Replica Of Bruce Wayne's Cave -- Daily Mail

A Batman fan has created a $2 million home cinema based on the Gothic look of the Caped Crusader's home.

It includes a Batmobile, batsuits, 180 degree film screen, winged gargoyles, private cylindrical stainless steel elevator with glowing bat symbol, mock secret tunnel exit, bat computers, and race-car inspired home theater chairs.

It is being built by Canadian-based Elite Home Theater Seating at a private home in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA.

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My Comment: Movie night must be pretty cool at this place.

Mansion In Beverly Hills Goes On The Market For $58 Million

Editor: The inside of this mansion is breathtaking. The photo gallery starts here.

Batman Forever Director Joel Schumacher Puts His Home For Sale

Plenty of space: The home is comprised of four separate buildings, totalling 6,500 square feet

Batman Forever Director Joel Schumacher Puts His $9.5Million California Property Up For Sale -- Daily Mail

Batman Forever director Joel Schumacher has put his California compound up for sale.

According to reports, the 72-year-old made the decision to sell because he wasn't spending as much time there as he used to.

Schumacher's property is on sale for a robust $9.45 million.

The estate, in Carpinteria, was designed by Schumacher himself as a four-parcel compound.

The rustic-style property is filled with art and unique wooden furnishings, including reclaimed barn wood.

Murals on the walls give the place a distinct personal touch.

Huge beams across the ceilings add character to the large, airy rooms, which have an 'epic' farmhouse feel.

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My Comment: I love his kitchen and library.

How 750-Year-Old Mansion Was Brought Back To Life

Magnificent: The house is now a thriving business and proud home to the Fortescue family, who said it was a privilege to be a part of the renovation

The Stately Home... That Used To Be A State: How 750-Year-Old Mansion Was Brought Back To Life With Award-Winning Restoration -- Daily Mail

A 750-year-old stately home where Charles I hid during the English Civil War has been restored to its former glory after falling into serious disrepair thanks to an award-winning renovation.

Boconnoc House near Lostwithiel, Cornwall, has been home to the families of 18th-century prime ministers and is linked to one of the most famous jewels in history, the Pitt Diamond.

But it was left empty for nearly 30 years from 1969, during which time many of its precious features were damaged by rainwater.

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My Comment: They certainly have done a good job in restoring it.

A $100 Million New York Penthouse For Sale

The triplex penthouse at 150 W. 56th St. was recently listed for $100 million. Evan Joseph/Prudential Douglas Elliman

$100 Million! The Most Expensive Apartment In The Country Hits The Market -- New York Daily News

The 8,000-square foot “one-of-a-kind gem” is believed to have the highest outdoor space in any New York City residence.

The most-expensive apartment in the country — a triplex, wrap-around penthouse on W. 56th Street — can now be yours for just $100 million.

Raphael De Niro, the son of actor Robert De Niro, has the exclusive listing on the 73rd through 76th floor aerie atop CitySpire — the deluxe apartment in the sky owned by Long Island real estate developer Steven Klar.

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More News On The Most Expensive Apartment In The US Hitting The Market

Meet New York City's $100 Million Penthouse For Sale -- Forbes
New York City penthouse lists for $100 million -- Reuters
Every room with a view: America's most expensive apartment hits market for $100 million -- Examiner
An octagon in the clouds: a peek inside New York's $100 million flat -- The Telegraph
Three-Story Penthouse in NYC Asks $100M -- NBC
Steven Klar’s NYC penthouse listed for $100M -- Libn.com
Will CitySpire penthouse get its $100M asking price? -- The Real Deal

Luxury Mountain Home Up For Auction In Idaho

Photo Courtesy of Concierge Auctions

Luxury Mountain Home Up For Auction -- Just Luxe

Have you ever wanted your very own luxury ski resort just steps away from the chair lift? Now may be your chance. The 5,900-sqaure-foot Howard Estate is ready to be auctioned off by Concierge Auctions and Sun Valley Sotheby's International Realty on July 19, 2012. Set at the base of Bald Mountain's slopes, the large luxury home is in Sun Valley, Idaho, one of the world's more popular ski destinations. With no minimum bid required, the tri-level home was originally listed for $5.995 million and offers people the chance to own their dream home or vacation resort.

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My Comment: It looks like an ideal winter vacation home.

Arnold Schwarzenegger And Maria Shriver Struggle To Sell Their $4.5million Santa Barbara Ranch

For sale: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are struggling to sell their Santa Barbara ranch

Arnold Schwarzenegger And Maria Shriver Struggle To Sell $4.5million Santa Barbara Ranch -- Daily Mail

They have moved on with their lives since splitting in May last year but it hasn’t been so easy for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver to move out of a property they shared together.

The estranged couple have had their Carpinteria ranch on the market, listed at $4.495million, since January, but it seems no one wants to buy the luxury home.

The duo paid $4.7million for the historic Santa Barbara Ranch Monte Alegro tract back in 2008 and have privately listed it through realtor John Vogel.

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My Comment: It does not help when Maria Shriver herself reportedly says that .... the ranch is surrounded by negative energy

Mark Wahlberg Puts His Beverly Hills Home On The Market

Selling up: Mark Wahlberg has heavily discounted his Beverly Hills mansion in order to sell

Mark Wahlberg Puts His Beverly Hills Home On The Market For $13Million As He Seeks More Space For His Rapidly Growing Brood -- Daily Mail

Marky Mark Wahlberg has relisted his Beverly Hills home for the third time in four years at a new asking price of $12,995,000 - $3 million less than the first time he put it up for sale.

It seems that the actor has outgrown the sprawling estate which he shares with his model wife Rhea Durham and their four children Ella, 11, Michael, six, Brendan, four, and Grace, two.

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My Comment: Mark Wahlberg and his wife certainly have a taste in homes.

Two Los Angeles Mansions Are On Sale For $150 Million

The Owlwood estate is on sale for $150 million.

RUMOR: Not One, But TWO Crazy Los Angeles Mansions Are On Sale For $150 Million -- Business insider

For anyone who thinks the luxury real estate market in California is in peril, just take a look the wealthy neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

Not one, but two properties in the area are reportedly being shopped around with $150 million price tags.

Today celebrity real estate blogger the Real Estalker reported that billionaire widow Dawn Arnall was quietly shopping her spread, called Owlwood, for that amount. And just last week, the same blogger reported that real estate tycoon Jeff Greene was rumored to be listing his Beverly Hills Palazzo di Amore for the same amount.

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My Comment: $150 million for a home .... not for me.

Inside Fashion Designer Max Azria's L.A. Mansion

There are 60 rooms in the mansion. It was built in the 1930s in the style of an 18th-century French chateau. There are Japanese, English and French gardens, as well as a Moroccan-style poolhouse with a hammam Photo: SEAN LEE DAVIES

Inside Fashion Designer Max Azria's Los Angeles Mansion -- The Telegraph

Spectacular custom-made furnishings and a palette of silver and gold make the fashion designer Max Azria’s Los Angeles mansion a glamorous retreat.

The Tunisian-born fashion designer Max Azria moved with his family to Paris at the age of 14. There, in his early 20s, he discovered a talent for making money in the fashion industry. He designed clothes that took high-

fashion accents and channelled them into something wearable, desirable and hugely commercial.

With a decade of experience under his belt he moved to LA in 1981, drawn to the glamour of the world’s entertainment capital and a clientele that favoured haute Parisian style, but with a more youthful and accessibly priced approach. When

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My Comment: A finished home that only a designer would appreciate.

America's Biggest (And Gaudiest) Family Home For Sale

Under construction: The Siegel's 30-bedroom mansion in Windermere near Orlando, Florida, is modelled after France's Palace of Versailles

At Home With The King And Queen Of Versailles: America's Biggest (And Gaudiest) Family Home Which Still Costs $65Million Even Though It Isn't Finished -- Daily Mail

* Owners David Siegel, 77, and his former beauty queen wife Jackie, 46, are the subjects of new documentary film Queen Of Versailles
* Movie was to chronicle the building of the largest family home in the U.S.
* It instead showed how the economic downturn forced them to stop building their dream home, a Las Vegas-style version of French palace Versailles


Times are tough in the property market with prices tumbling everywhere - and the biggest house in America is no exception.

The 30-bedroom mansion in Windermere near Orlando, Florida, which is modelled after France's Palace of Versailles, has had its price slashed by $10million to $65million.

You might think for that money, you would be ready to move in at a moment's notice.

But the gaudy mansion is only two-thirds finished and there is an estimated $30million (£17million) of work still to do.

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My Comment: Gaudy is too polite a term to describe this train wreck. Here is an easy prediction .... they are not going to get their asking price.

Al Capone's Palm Beach Mansion Goes On The Market

The good life: Al Capone originally bought this waterfront property for $40,000 in 1928

Live Like A True American Gangster: Al Capone's Palm Beach Mansion Goes On The Market For Nearly $10Million -- Daily Mail

Gangsters may make their business by knowing the ins-and-outs of the criminal world, but Al Capone clearly had an eye for real estate as well.

The Palm Beach mansion that once belonged to the best known American gangster is due to be put on sale for a wealthy history buff who enjoys the sun.

The mansion has changed hands several times since 'Scarface' died there in 1947, and the latest owner dedicated a significant amount of cash to restore the property to its former glory - or notoriety.

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My Comment: There must be a lot of bad karma in that place.

A Look At The Syrian 'Presidential Palace'

Foreclosure Sale: Syrian Presidential Palace -- Michael Rubin, Commentary

My former Pentagon colleague David Schenker points me to this excellent photo essay compiled by Martin Kramer, who provides great commentary as well. Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words.

Now, many American officials convinced themselves that Bashar al-Assad wasn’t such a bad guy; rather, he was the eminently reasonable Western-educated doctor. They argued ferociously in the halls of Congress and in the corridors of the State Department that the problem in U.S.-Syrian relations was simply a lack of dialogue, and that the United States was too shy about doing business with Bashar.

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Editor: The photo gallery starts here.

Drake Spends $7.7Million On Luxurious Los Angeles Mansion

A bargain at double the price: Drake has just splashed out $7.7m on a Los Angeles home that was originally on the market for 27m in 2009

You Fancy, Huh? Drake Spends $7.7Million On Luxurious Los Angeles Mansion -- Daily Mail

It seems Drake is enjoying the fruits of being Successful.

For the hitmaker has just splashed out a whopping $7.7m on a luxurious mansion in Los Angeles.

And it seems he is intent on living somewhere with plenty of privacy, as the property sits in the Hidden Hills locale.

And it seems partying was the main thing on the 25-year-old rapper's mind when he splashed out on the property, as it boasts a mechanical bull, fake lagoons, cave and 80-foot waterside.

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My Comment: The quality of the picture is so-so .... but I love the look of the wine cellar and the pool.

A Sneak Peek Inside One57

Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

A Sneak Peek Inside One57, The Super Expensive Apartment Building That's Being Built Near Central Park -- Business Insider

When it opens next year, One57 will be the tallest residential building in New York City. It will also be one of the most expensive and luxurious properties to come on the market in recent history.

The still-under-construction, 90-story apartment building is already making news. One of the building's two penthouse was rumored to have been bought by the Prime Minister of Qatar for around $100 million (though developer Extell has denied those rumors). And One57's basement storage bins alone will cost as much as $200,000—more than a Mercedes.

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Editor: The photo gallery starts here.

DreamWorks Founder David Geffen Has Bought Denise Rich's NYC Penthouse

Panoramic views: Looking out the window, one can see the Plaza Hotel, left, and the southern entrance to Central Park, with Columbus Circle to the west

DreamWorks Founder David Geffen Buying Citizenship-Renouncing Socialite Denise Rich's NYC Penthouse Apartment For Paltry $54 Million (It Was Listed For $65million) -- Daily Mail

* David Geffen, 69, is said to have purchased duplex penthouse listed by Grammy-nominated songwriter and socialite Denise Rich
* Rich recently renounced her American passport and will now live in London
* Sold 12,000 square-foot Fifth Avenue co-op for $11m less than asking price

Media magnate David Geffen is moving on up – literally – to the extraordinary Fifth Avenue penthouse once owned by wealthy socialite Denise Rich.

Rich, 68, the Grammy-nominated songwriter, top Democratic donor, and glamorous figure in European royalty circles, renounced her American passport in November, according to her lawyer, and has now sold her main home in the states for a paltry $54million.

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My Comment: Talk about a view of Central park

A Wine Estate For Sale In Malibu

Rosenthal Wine Estate in Malibu Is Listed for $59.5 Million -- Wall Street Journal

A 235-acre Malibu, Calif., wine estate has listed for $59.5 million. The seller is George I. Rosenthal, the chairman of Raleigh Enterprise, which owns and operates commercial real estate, hotels, and movie and TV studio complexes.

Mr. Rosenthal assembled the Rosenthal Wine Estate beginning in 1977. The property includes a 12,000-square-foot hacienda-style main residence with two swimming pools. There are also horse stables and two guesthouses, including one with an additional pool.

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My Comment: A wine estate in Malibu .... who would have known.

Mariah Carey Puts Beachfront Bahamas Villa On the Market For $5.5 Million

Private property: The quiet gated community would have provided Mariah with lots of privacy

Fit For A Diva! Mariah Carey Puts Beachfront Bahamas Villa Where She Wed Nick Cannon On The Market For $5.5Million -- Daily Mail

Mariah Carey has put her Bahamas villa on the market for a whopping $5.5million.

The property is more than just a holiday spot for the singer, who tied the knot with Nick Cannon at the location in 2008.

The luxurious house sits on the beach and has direct access to the white sands with plenty of outdoor space to look out over the water.

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My Comment: Great place to stay during the winter months .... but I guess her eyes are somewhere else.

Gianni Versace’s Sumptuous Mansion Is Back On The Market

Fashion house: Gianni Versace’s Miami mansion was as flamboyant as the clothes which still bear his name

Would You Buy The House Where Gianni Versace Was Shot? -- The Telegraph

The Miami mansion where Gianni Versace died is on the market. But will the history of the house help or hinder its sale? Emma Rowley investigates the price of infamy.

Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern royalty and Ecclestone sisters, get out your wallets. Gianni Versace’s sumptuous mansion is back on the market. Now used as a boutique hotel, Casa Casuarina in Miami Beach, Florida, has been put up for sale with a hefty £80 million price tag.

Whoever buys it will need to share the tastes of Versace, that is certain. The couturier spent millions transforming the 10-bedroom South Beach property into an Italian villa, complete with frescoes, statues and stained glass, ever ready for a visit from Elton and the like.

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Editor: A photo gallery of Versace's home is here.

A Look At Liz Hurley's New Home

Love nest: Liz Hurley and Shane Warne have allegedly bought Donnington Hall for £6million

Lady Of The Manor: Liz Hurley To Leave Cotswold Farm As She As 'Buys £6Million Love Nest' With Fiancé Shane Warne -- Daily Mail

They fell in love in December 2010 and less than a year later they were engaged.

Taking their relationship to the next level, Liz Hurley and Shane Warne have allegedly purchased a love nest on the edge of the Forest of Dean.

The English beauty could be saying goodbye to her Cotswold farm home and hello to the magnificent Donnington Hall which is said to have set them back £6million.

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My Comment: She is upgrading.

Malibu Homeowner Made This Hollywood-Style Movie Trailer To Sell Her $35 Million Home

A Malibu Homeowner Made This Hollywood-Style Movie Trailer To Sell Her $35 Million Home -- Business Insider

You might think the video below is the trailer for Hollywood's next big summer blockbuster.

But it's actually the listing for one woman's $35 million Malibu house.

DeeAnna Staats hired Hollywood movie director Graham Henman to shoot the three-minute film, called "The Spider and the Fly," with Hans Zimmer Studios (which produced the musical score of "The Lion King," "Gladiator" and "True Romance") as the masterminds behind the soundtrack.

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My Comment: I love the video .... and what a smart way to sell your overpriced home.

Everybody Loves Raymond Jolly Giant Brad Garrett Puts His Malibu Mansion For Sale

Everybody loves living in a mansion: Though it seems Brad feels like a change of scenery and is moving on

Everybody Loves Raymond Jolly Giant Brad Garrett Puts Malibu Mansion On The Market For $11million -- Daily Mail

You would think that everybody would love living in a Malibu mansion.

But it seems sitcom star Brad Garrett is tired of living in the California celebrity enclave, for he has put his luxury house up for sale at the princely price of $11million.

The Everybody Loves Raymond star will be delighted if he manages to get his asking price, as he will be making a big profit on the $8.8m he paid in 2006

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My Comment: The price is a little steep .... but what a beautiful home.

Top 20 Matt Cartoons On Property

Editor: The gallery starts here.

One Massive Irish Estate Up For Sale

Mansion: Tony Ryan bought Lyons Demesne in Co. Kildare for £3.5million 16 years ago

Ryanair Summer Sale: The Home That Irish Airline Boss Spent £80Million Improving Is On The Market For Just £25Million -- Daily Mail

* Just three years ago estate owned by Tony Ryan was valued at £63.5million

Ryanair founder Tony Ryan’s grand estate is on the market for £25.5million – just three years after it was valued at £63.5million.

Mr Ryan bought Lyons Demesne in Co. Kildare for £3.5million 16 years ago and despite its change in fortunes, it is still the most expensive house on the market.

The £38million drop in value represents the largest reduction ever seen in the Irish property sector. By May 2010, its value had fallen from £63.5million to £40million.

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My Comment: And still no takers .... tells you the state of what is in ireland today.

San Francisco Bay Island Up For Sale

Red Rock Island near San Francisco is on the market for just under $5 million (£3.2 million)

The Rock: San Francisco Bay Island Up For Sale -- The Telegraph

An island offering a secluded beach, promises of great fishing and stunning views of the San Francisco skyline is up for sale for $5 million.

Red Rock Island, a 6-acre (2.4-hectare) mass of rock tucked away in a northern part of San Francisco Bay, is now being offered for just under $5 million (£3.2 million), Realtor Steven Higbee said. The property earlier this year was listed for $22 million.

Mineral rights for the property, which Higbee says contains manganese in its rocky outcroppings, are negotiable.

The undeveloped island has been on and off the market for years. Higbee said he advised the owner that the best way to move it was by "whittling away at the price."

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My Comment: It may cost $5 million to buy .... but a hell of a lot more to make it liveable with modern amenities.

China's Super Rich Are Buying Into The High-End U.S. Property Market

Downtown Beverly Hills At Night. Wikipedia

China's Super Rich Flock Into U.S. Property Market -- Forbes

A young Chinese couple threw $34.5 million into a luxury mansion in Hollywood, making themselves a new neighbor of David Beckham, Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney.

Overlooking Sunset Boulevard, the 36,000-square-foot French-style mansion has nine bedrooms and thirteen bathrooms. It sits on two acres in Beverly Hills with hand-carved limestone and 24-karat gilded French chandeliers, according to a story posted on WSJ Blogs.

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My Comment: As China's wealth increases .... expect more investments and purchases from Chinese nationals.

The Multi-Million Dollar Property Portfolio Of Tom Cruise And Katie Holmes

Will this be Katie's? The £30.5million Beverly Hills mansion owned by Tom Cruise and Miss Holmes, who is believed to be entitled to property in their prenup agreement

The Multi-Million Dollar Property Portfolio Tom Cruise And Katie Holmes Collected During Their Five-Year Marriage -- Daily Mail

Most couples amass a couple of homes during their relationship or marriage, whether to keep or to sell and move on from.

But Hollywood A-list unions usually build up quite a big property portfolio around the world, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are no exception.

And as the battle begins for custody of their little girl Suri, the question on everyone's lips - and probably theirs - is who will get which home?

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My Comment: These homes are great .... but if you are unhappy .... these homes mean nothing.

Talk About Over-Spending On A Mega-Mansion

Whopping: At $100m, this huge mansion was the most expensive ever bought in Silicon Valley - and even at its new value of 50m it remains the most expensive mansion sold

Bad Investment Then? Billionaire Russian Tycoons' Silicon Valley Mansion Is Worth HALF Of Its $100M Purchase Price -- Daily Mail

* Russian tech investor Yuri Milner purchased Silicon Valley mansion for $100million in 2009
* French chateau-style home boasts 14 bathrooms and a ballroom

A Silicon Valley home purchased by a wealthy Russian for $100million has now been valued at exactly half of what Yuri Milner paid.

Mr Milner purchased the sprawling French chateau-style mansion last March as a pied-a-terre for times when he was away from his first home in Moscow.

However, a recent valuation of the Los Altos Hills property by the Santa Clara County Assessor's Office found is was worth $50million less than what he paid.

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My Comment: The funny thing is ..... Yuri Milner probably does not care that he paid more than what he should have for this mansion.

Sisters Spend $150 Million for Two Houses

My Comment: It's great when your daddy has a lot of money .... and he gives it to you.

$100 MILLION On New York's Most Expensive Penthouse

King of the Castle: Views from the castle in the sky will be unparalleled over all of Manhattan, the outer boroughs and beyond; the Sheik brought the property before even seeing it as it is not yet completed

Revealed: Qatar Prime Minister Spends $100 MILLION On New York's Most Expensive Penthouse (And He's Looking To Buy Four More Condos In The Same Building) -- Daily Mail

* The property in Midtown's One57 building was purchased by 'mystery buyer' in May
* The Qatari PM brought the two story apartment for between $90-$100m
* He's discussing buying four separate condos for a further $100-$150m
* His earlier $31.5m bid for two Fifth Avenue apartments belonging to the late copper heiress, Huguette Clark, was rejected

The prime minister of Qatar has been revealed as the mystery buyer who spent almost $100 million to purchase New York City’s most expensive penthouse.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani brought the luxurious two-story apartment spread over 10,923 square feet in the One57 building back in May.

Furthermore, the billionaire sheikh, who has two wives and 15 children, is reportedly also in discussions about buying four separate, full-floor condos in the exclusive Midtown building, which would bring the total cost to an incredible $250 million.

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My Comment: Something tells me that after spending all of this money, he will probably rarely show up to turn on the lights.

Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison Purchases The Hawaiian Island of Lania

Oracle CEO Ellison Closes On Deal To Buy 98 Percent Of Land In Hawaiian Island Of Lanai -- Washington Post/AP

HONOLULU — Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison has closed on his deal to buy most of the Hawaiian island of Lanai, the island’s seller said Thursday.

Billionaire David Murdock’s Castle & Cooke Inc. said the deal has been completed for about 88,000 acres on the island near Maui. The land makes up 98 percent of the island’s 141 square miles.

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More News On The Purchase By Larry Elision Of Lania

Larry Ellison's Plans to Buy Part of Hawaii Approved -- SF Weekly
Sale complete; Lanai in hands of Larry Ellison -- The Maui News
So just what did Ellison buy in Hawaiian island? -- SFGate
This Is How A Tech Billionaire Rolls: Larry Ellison Buys an Entire Hawaiian Island -- Techno Buffalo
Larry Ellison becomes Hawaii’s sixth-largest landowner -- Pacific Business News
The New King of Hawaii -- Slate
Oracle CEO Ellison’s purchase of Hawaiian island fits with his outlandish displays of wealth -- Washington Post
Larry Ellison's Decision To Buy A Hawaiian Island Was A Big Mistake — Here's Why --
Julie Bort, Business Insider

Kentucky's 'Palace of Versailles'

The development boasts a whopping 50 bedrooms, 16 guest suites and 19 full bathrooms

Inside The Castle Of Kentucky... But Who Would Pay $30m For This Sprawling Compound With 50 Bedrooms, A Barrel-Vaulted Ballroom And Basketball Court? -- Daily Mail

Ever wondered what it would be like to live in a medieval-style castle? Well you can, if you have enough loose change to stump up the $30 million price tag.

This palatial Bluegrass fortified castle sits on 232 acres of Kentucky land and is on the market.

Tucked away in the American city of Versailles, the medieval compound boasts 50 bedrooms, 16 guest suites and 19 full bathrooms.

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My Comment: Kentucky ?!?!?!

The Homes Of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Home number one: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes paid about $35 million for this Beverly Hills mansion sprawled over 10,286 square feet which Katie is said to be entitled to in the prenuptial agreement

Katie's $15million And A $35m Mansion: What Holmes Stands To Gain From Her Ex-Husband... And How She's 'Seeking Much More' -- Daily Mail

* Katie Holmes signed a prenuptial agreement which entitles her to $3million for every year of marriage
* Entitled to $35million California mansion
* Couple's estate is worth upwards of $275million

When they married to great fanfare and with much opulence in an Italian castle in November 2006, talk not only centered on bride Katie Holmes' wedding dress but also on her prenuptial agreement with the groom.

The details? For each year the couple stay married, the Dawson's Creek actress collects $3million - to a maximum of $33 million after 11 years - as well as their palatial home in California.

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My Comment: This is a nice collection of properties.

Landmark Ttownhouse On Manhattan’s Upper East Side Sold For $42million

The impressive building, left, is located next to the French Embassy; right

Sold For $42million - The Gilded Age New York City Mansion With Seven Floors And Its Own Servants' Quarters (Butler Not Included) -- Daily Mail

A landmark townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a rare example of the opulent Gilded Age, has been sold for a staggering $42million.

The mansion, located on a tree-lined block of Fifth Avenue, was designed by famed architect Stanford White and built for the banker and railroad tycoon Henry H. Cook.

Though it was sold to an undisclosed buyer for $7million less than the asking price, the new owner bought a mansion full of history - much of the property has remained unchanged since its construction more than a century ago.

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My Comment: Too many stairs.

The Most Amazing Tall Buildings Of The Year

Flickr/paul_bica

Architects And Engineers Say These Are The Most Amazing Tall Buildings Of The Year -- Business Insider

In 2011, 88 new towers over 200 meters (656 ft.) high were built in the world--a record number, compared to the 32 new towers built in 2005. There are another 96 new towers slated for completion this year, with China being the biggest builder.

But with so many new additions to skylines around the world, which buildings are the best?

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My Comment: Certainly different .... and certainly distinct.

Gwyneth Paltrow And Chris Martin Splash Out A Cool $10 Million On Palatial LA Home

Grandiose: The entrance to the mansion shows black gates set against a white paved drive

Through The Keyhole: Gwyneth Paltrow And Chris Martin Splash Out A Cool $10 Million On Palatial LA Home -- Daily Mail

They already own a swanky multi-million dollar town house in London, but now, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have now splashed their cash on a sizeable new base in Los Angeles.

The celebrity couple have forked out $10.45million on the six bedroom, eight bathroom home which is described by TMZ as being located on the 'westside' of the city.

The whitewashed home was only built last year and was listed at a whopping $11.96 million in September.

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My Comment: Slightly expensive .... but probably suitable for their kids.

A Beautiful Lake Tahoe Home

Lake Tahoe Luxury Home Lists for $17.9 Million -- Just Luxe

One of the West Coast’s most treasured destinations, Lake Tahoe’s rustic appeal, forested terrain, and beautiful mountain scenery attracts thousands of tourists year round. However, for those with an interest in luxury real estate looking to make the region a more permanent residence will jump at the chance to live in The Nineteen Seventy Sunnyside Lake Tahoe residence. Listed on Christie’s International Real Estate for just under $18 million, the beautiful lakefront home features 12,000 square feet of living space.

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My Comment: An incredibly beautiful home.

Jim Carrey Is Selling His Beachfront Pad In Malibu

Al Fresco dining: One of the areas to entertain guests with a gorgeous ocean view

HOUSE OF THE DAY: Jim Carrey Is Selling His Beachfront Pad In Malibu For $14 Million -- Business Insider

One of Hollywood's funniest men, Jim Carrey, is selling his house in the exclusive Malibu Colony neighborhood, according to Trulia Luxe Living.

Carrey, who has also tried his hand at graffiti, has listed the California house as "priced for an immediate sale" at $13.95 million with Sotheby's International Realty.

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Update: Somebody stop me! Jim Carrey is laughing all the way to the bank as his Malibu Beach Home lists for $13.95 million -- Daily Mail

My Comment: I guess the home reminds him of his ex Jenny McCarthy, and that it is time to move on.

Would You Live In One Of The Ten Best Homes In America?

The Pierre, French for stone, celebrates the owner's affection for a stone outcropping on her property

Would You Live In One Of The Ten Best Homes In America? Architects Reveal The Spectacular Properties That Have Wowed Them In 2012 -- Daily Mail

* American Institute of Architects handed out its annual awards to projects showcasing the best innovative design

What do Scottsdale, Arizona, Syracuse in upstate New York and the San Juan Islands off Washington have in common? They are all home to some of the most architecturally inspiring addresses in the United States.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has handed out the 2012 Housing Awards to projects at the pinnacle of design, creativity and sustainability.

The jury recognized projects in four categories - custom-built homes for one family, large structures which sleep many individuals in their own apartments and specialized buildings such as community centers.

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My Comment: There are some impressive homes (architecturally speaking) in this list. Check it out.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck's New (Suburban) View

Home sweet home: The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck and former NFL quarterback husband Tim recently purchased this Greenwich, Connecticut home

Elisabeth Hasselbeck's New (Suburban) View: TV Host Buys Sprawling Connecticut Mansion For $4Million After Listing Manhattan Condo For $3.3Million Months Before -- Daily Mail

For one TV co-host, changing her view was as simple as moving to Connecticut.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who serves as co-host on The View, has purchased a sprawling $4million estate with her husband Tim Hasselbeck an hour outside of New York City.

The bubbly blonde had listed her condo on the Upper West Side in March for $3.3million earlier this year. It is now in contract to sell.

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My Comment: With three kids, time to move from the condo to the 'suburbs'.

Pierce Brosnan's Malibu State Is Up For Rent This Summer

Pierce Brosnan he has put his Malibu home up for rental for £160,000 a month

Double-O Heaven: Have A Licence To Chill For £160,000 A Month As Pierce Brosnan's Malibu State Is Up For Rent This Summer -- Daily Mail

It is one of the most exclusive stretches of real estate in the world.

And now former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan is putting his magnificent Malibu estate in California up for rent this summer – for a staggering £160,000 a month.

Brosnan, 59, built the sprawling property, called Orchid House, on Malibu’s ‘billionaires’ row’ Broad Beach after demolishing the original house. Neighbours include Steven Spielberg, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, Sylvester Stallone and Robert Redford.

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My Comment: An impressive list of neighbors.

Roman Abramovich Puts His Unfinished English Mansion On The Market For £70m

Enormous: This image shows what Mr Abramovich had planned to do to the property

Roman Abramovich Puts His Unfinished Mansion On The Market For £70m... But It Will Cost Buyer An Extra £15m To Finish The Job -- Daily Mail

Billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has put his London mansion on the market for a staggering £70 million - despite it being unfinished.

The Russian oligarch has spent the past decade buying up nine flats across two buildings in the exclusive Lowndes Square.

It was his plan to turn the properties into one of the capital’s finest homes but he’s now gone cool on the idea after planning permission on the property expired.

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My Comment: £70m plus another £15m .... no.

Home Once Owned by Gianni Versace Listed For $125 Million

A Miami Beach, Fla., estate owned by Versace goes on the market for $125 million. Lauren Schuker has details on The News Hub. Photo: Reuters.

Home Once Owned by Gianni Versace Lists for $125 Million -- Wall Street Journal

Casa Casuarina, the Miami Beach, Fla., house once owned by late fashion designer Gianni Versace, is on the market for $125 million.

Known as Casa Casuarina, the 10-bedroom, 11-bathroom house overlooks the ocean. Mr. Versace bought the home and its adjacent lot in 1992 for just under $10 million and then invested another $33 million in the property, adding a 6,100-square-foot south wing, a 54-foot-long mosaic-tiled pool lined with 24-karat gold, a mosaic-covered courtyard and frescoes on the home's walls and ceilings. He was killed outside the home in July 1997. Peter Loftin, a telecom entrepreneur, purchased the property in 2000 for $20 million. After using it as a residence for several years, Mr. Loftin turned the home into a boutique hotel with a restaurant and opened it in late 2009 as the Villa by Barton G.

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Editor: More news on this amazing property is here.