10 Awesome Castles You Can Buy Right Now

October 24, 2012, 2:33 pm

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If you really want to live like a king, buy a castle.

Despite all the modern and technologically-savvy homes currently for sale, there's still a trend of Medieval castles hitting the market.

Some of these castles date back to the 15th century while others have been constructed in modern times by owners who simply could. From France and Ireland to the suburbs of Chicago, you can find your perfect dream castle, too.

Ballindooley Castle In Galway, Ireland, is on sale for $1.1 million.

Click here to see more photos of the estate >

The 3,400-square-foot castle spans six floors and dates to the 15th century.

Click here to see more photos of the estate >

Buy this $4.5 million castle in Oak Brook, Ill., for $4.5 million.

Click here to see more photos of the castle >

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Check Out The Insane View From Frank Sinatra's Former New York City Apartment

October 25, 2012, 4:21 am

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Frank Sinatra's former Manhattan apartment, on E. 72nd Street, is back on the market for $7.7 million, and the views are simply jaw-dropping.

The posh penthouse has a wrap-around terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows to take advantage of the incredible views, according to Real Estate Weekly.

Sinatra owned the apartment from 1961 to 1974.

The apartment features four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and spans 3,200 square feet.

Check out the views:

 

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Only Three Apartments Are Left In The New Luxury Gramercy Park Building

October 25, 2012, 7:23 am

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Just three days ago we reported there were only six apartments left in the brand new, not even open yet, 18 Gramercy Park building.

Last night, we were invited to tour the inside of the building, and the real estate agents told us that as of yesterday there were just three apartments remaining inside the 16-unit building.

Each apartment is a full floor, with the exception of the penthouse, which is a duplex.

The apartments have been selling like wild fire since Leslie Alexander, the owner of the Houston Rockets, snatched up the $40 million penthouse, earlier this month.

The three units remaining in the building are:

• Apartment 3, which is a four-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom 4,207-square-foot condo. It's selling for $14.7 million.
• Apartment 6, which is a four-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom 4,207-square-foot condo. It's selling for $15.94 million.
• Apartment 15, which is a four-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom 4,207-square-foot condo. It's selling for $18.75 million.

Common charges on these apartments will run you $6,220.32 a month, and monthly taxes are an additional $5,004.99.

One extra perk of the apartments is each comes with a key to Manhattan's only private park.

DON'T MISS: 16 Things You Never Knew About The Most Exclusive Park In Manhattan

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See Why Buyers Are Going Crazy For The New Gramercy Park Luxury Apartments

October 25, 2012, 1:01 pm

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The creators of luxurious 15 Central Park West just unveiled their newest construction: the glitzy 18 Gramercy Park building.

It's not even completed yet and it has already sold more than 80 percent of its 16 units.

Originally constructed in 1927, the building has been renovated by the Zeckendorf Development Group and Robert A.M. Stern architects, who preserved the building's history while modernizing it with luxury amenities.

As of right now, the only known high-profile resident who has purchased a unit in 18 Gramercy Park is Leslie Alexander, owner of the Houston Rockets, who bought the $40 million duplex penthouse.

Each apartment encompasses an entire floor. The standard model has four bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, spanning about 4,207 square feet.

We toured the second-floor model apartment last night for the opening. Each apartment spans a floor and has multiple exposures.

From the dining room, you can access the terrace. Each apartment has around 2,000 square feet of outdoor space.

A chef from Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group prepared snacks in the kitchen.

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Suddenly There's A Controversy About The Most Expensive Zip Code In America

October 25, 2012, 1:04 pm

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Last week Forbes named the Upper East Side's 10065 as the most expensive zip code in the country.

But real estate site Property Shark ran its own list, and 10065 wasn't even in the top five. Instead TriBeCa's 10013 was crowned the most expensive zip code.

Property Shark explains the disconnect:

First, [Forbes] relied on asking prices rather than closed transactions, saying that by doing so their list would be a reflection of “each market’s current activity.” For their top zip code (10065), the median sale price found by PropertyShark is $1.1 million, while the median asking price according to Forbes data is $6.5 million. Have prices in the Upper East Side gone up 6 times since the closings of the property transactions we used in order to compile the median sale price? Not a chance!

Second, they have not included coops. How relevant are any real estate stats published for Manhattan that don’t take into account half of the borough’s transactions? Not very, and this reminds us of a similar debate on the relevancy of the Case-Schiller Index to Manhattan real estate market. 

According to our data, the priciest zip code in New York City is in fact TriBeCa’s 10013 with a median sale price of $2.5 million (coops included). Number 2 on the list is 10007, another TriBeCa zip code, proving why TriBeCa has been topping the list of the most expensive neighborhoods in NYC for several quarters in a row.

Check it out:

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Santa Monica Home Where You Can Walk On Water Is On Sale For $18.75 Million

October 25, 2012, 1:56 pm

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A 12,400-square-foot home in Santa Monica, which was the former home of painter Sam Francis, has hit the market for $18.75 million.

The home has eight bedrooms and an excessive 13 bathrooms.

The true beauty and glory of the home comes with its water features. The property has fountains throughout and effortlessly combines indoor and outdoor living.

But here's the most amazing feature: the pool actually flows through the kitchen. It's covered by bullet-proof glass, allowing people to literally walk over water. 

There are two homes on the compound, making the estate perfect for either two families or for someone who wants to use one house for work and one to play.

"The first thing people notice about the estate are the monastery doors," West Side Estate Agency listing agent Carol Bird said. "You go through these beautiful gates and enter a very zen green with all of these water effects."

"When you're in the house, you feel one with nature," the listing agent, Bird, said.

The sound of the water features drown out the noise of the city below.

Christopher Sorensen, the architect, told us that the project took five years to complete.

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The Hottest Real Estate Agent In The US Is Only 25 Years OId

October 26, 2012, 5:54 am

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Oren Alexander celebrated his 25th birthday by breaking the record for the most expensive home sold in Miami, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Indian Creek mansion sold for a cool $47 million. 

Alexander's accolades don't stop there. He's been named to Forbes' 30-under-30 most successful real estate agents list, was ranked No. 1 company wide for GCI Month of August, and was the top selling agent for Prudential Douglas Elliman in August 2009.

Alexander is apart of a growing trend of younger agents trying to break into the real estate scene. While Alexander might be a star of the younger generation, the median age of a real estate agents is still 56 years old, according to The WSJ.

Coming from a real estate family, Alexander learned the ropes of the luxury market from his parents at the age of 18, before heading off to the University of Colorado.

Alexander told The WSJ:

"Quite frankly, I'm addicted to my job—the hours, the lifestyle. I love that I get to hang out with wealthiest people in the world and it's considered work. Plus, being a broker is entrepreneurial—and entrepreneurship is dominating right now."

Currently, Alexander is marketing more than $175 million in property — including a $95 million mansion in Alpine, N.J.

To help market his luxury properties, Alexander takes to Twitter, tweeting photos of new properties going up around the city, or when news breaks in the industry. He has more than 4,800 followers.

The Real Deal dubbed Alexander "The Party Boy," spotting him at hot-spots such as Mister H or the Mulberry Project. He and his twin brother, Alon, were also named two of NYC’s hottest bachelors by Gotham Magazine in 2011.

DON'T MISS: Tour The $47 Million Mansion Oren Alexander Just Sold

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In America's Most Expensive Zip Code, These Are The Most Expensive Homes For Sale

October 26, 2012, 10:29 am

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Forbes named the 10065 as the most expensive zip code in the country, with a home's median asking price at $6.53 million.

But these homes for sale in the Upper East Side zip code blow that figure out of the water.

Of the top 10 most expensive currently for sale in the 10065, they all are listed at more than $23 million.

A condo on Fifth Avenue is on sale for $23 million.

Click here to see more photos of the home >

The home has five bedrooms and five bathrooms, spanning 4,000 square feet.

Click here to see more photos of the home >

A second floor apartment inside 640 Park Avenue is on sale for $23.5 million.

Click here to see more photos of the home >

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'Spaceship' Home Is Almost Ready For Naomi Campbell And Her Billionaire Boyfriend

October 26, 2012, 11:17 am

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A spaceship-looking building on a Moscow hilltop is nearing completion after nearly six years.

The Capital Hill Residence designed by Zaha Hadid spans 28,500 square feet of "fluid geometries," with the master bedroom atop a 65-foot tower accessed by elevator.

The trophy home is owned by billionaire Vladislav Doronin—aka Moscow's Donald Trump—and his super model fiancée Naomi Campbell.

 "It is clear that Doronin wanted to stand out, while the architect cannot resist the proposed fee," architect Gennady Sirota said of the project to Pravda.

Campbell also likes unusual homes, buying an Eco-friendly pad in Turkey and a Gothic abode in Venice.

Construction on this space ship is nearly complete. The project started in 2006.

Source: Zaha Hadid

The house is designed and organized vertically across four levels.

Source: Dezeen

The home is constructed with concrete columns to help stabilize the portion of the house that floats 72 feet above the ground.

Source: Dezeen

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Despite Breakup, Taylor Swift Still Plans To Buy The House Across The Street From The Kennedys

October 26, 2012, 11:45 am

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Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy have split, but that hasn't dissuaded Swift from purchasing the home across the street from her ex-beau's grandmother, according to TMZ.

In fact the pop star is expected to close on the $4.9 million Hyannis Port, Mass. home in two weeks.

Who cares if Ethel Kennedy,  Conor's grandmother, lives next door?

Now check out pictures of Swift's beautiful home >

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Buy This $14.5 Million Miami Penthouse With An Insane Infinity Edge Pool

October 26, 2012, 1:19 pm

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A beautiful Miami penthouse, inside the Grovenor House, is on sale for $14.5 million.

The home has five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and two half baths.

The apartment has amazing views of the water and was previously featured in Architectural Digest.

The apartment spans 9,110 square feet.

The spiral staircase makes a huge statement in the floor plan.

The current owners are asking $1,592 per square foot.

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Buy Calvin Klein's Former Glass-Enclosed Manhattan Apartment For $35 Million

October 26, 2012, 2:42 pm

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The former 55 Central Park West glass abode of Calvin Klein has hit the market for $35 million.

Klein hasn't lived there since the 1990s, but he certainly left his mark on the open, modern apartment, which has a large glassed-in pavilion. Klein installed a hot tub on the roof and tore down all of the interior walls "in an act of minimalism," according to The New York Times.

The home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and one half bath.

The apartment is completely empty and no one is currently residing there. Natural light streams through all of the glass walls and windows, letting the prospective buyers concentrate on the incredible views of Central Park.

The current seller is Steve Gottlieb, a former record executive, who told The Times he had been using the empty apartment as a party zone.

 

 

 

DON'T MISS: A TriBeCa Penthouse With Striking Views Is On Sale For $16.5 Million

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Lovely Upper East Side Home By The Tiffany & Company Architect Is On Sale For $19 Million

October 27, 2012, 10:01 am

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An E. 64th Street townhouse, designed by the Tiffany & Company architect, John W. Cross, is on sale for $19 million.

The townhouse spans 6,600 square feet, has five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and a total of 14 rooms.

The home was built in 1910 and is currently vacant.

Welcome to 176 E. 64th street.

The ceilings are 12'6" high.

Three working wood fireplaces are in the home.

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The Best Part Of The New Gramercy Park Apartments Is The Bathrooms

October 27, 2012, 1:27 pm

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The luxury apartments at 18 Gramercy Park are stunning, which explains why the building is almost completely sold out before even opening.

But what we really found impressive were the bathrooms. 

Each full-floor apartment has 5.5 bathrooms. So, there's a hallway bathroom, a full bathroom in three of the bedrooms, and a his and her bathroom in the master suite.

We found the "Her" bathroom in the master suite very impressive.

The features include:

• Calacatta Caldia marble slab used in the steam shower, the vanity, and the floor. 
• A freestanding cast-iron soaking tub by Kohler
• Lefroy Brooks, a luxury company based in New York, fittings and accessories
• P.E. Guerin Basin 

Finding a floating tub in New York is incredibly rare, and even more elusive is separate showers for the Mr. and Mrs.

Overall, the massive amounts of space in the bathroom makes you feel as if you're in a mansion, not an apartment in New York City.

Now Take A Tour Of The Rest Of The Apartment >

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Luxury Manhattan Apartments Literally Marketed With A Fairy Tale

October 29, 2012, 7:14 am

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An apartment complex in Gramercy is using a fairy tale to sell its condos. 

Known as The Story House, the E. 22nd Street building was transformed from the headquarters of British publishing house Frederick Warne & Company, most notably the publisher of Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Peter Rabbit." 

The apartment's sales office crafted a story about a fairy living inside The Story House.

"After all, without using my magic, I'm just a little person with wings," the fairy says in the story. So the fairy used her pixie dust to create eight magical residences inside The Story House, where she already lived. 

"All those searching for the most wonderful home, look no further," the fairy says. 

The apartment's website is designed like a fairy tale story book, with Gothic writing and illustrations.

Currently there are two residences for sale inside The Story House. Both are 3-bedroom units on sale for $4.5 million and $3.995 million, respectively. 

All of the residences span a full floor, have ceilings ranging from 9'6'' to 13' and a chef's open kitchen.

DON'T MISS: We Explored A $31 Million Townhouse On The Upper East Side With A 23-Foot Indoor Waterfall

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Stay Dry From The Hurricane In This $28.9 Million Santa Barbara Home

October 29, 2012, 9:18 am

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A 12,000 square foot beautiful estate in Santa Barbara, Calif., is on sale for $28.9 million.

The home looks like it's out of a storybook and has breathtaking views. 

The house has eight bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and four half baths. 

Welcome to Chateau Sur La Mer in Santa Barbara.

The estate was inspired by the villages in the south of France.

The home sort of looks like a castle.

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TMZ REPORTS: Michael Jackson's Home Is Selling To An Investment Banker For $20 Million

October 29, 2012, 10:58 am

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The Holmby Hills mansion where pop legend Michael Jackson died is about to sell to investment banker Steven Mayer, TMZ is reporting. 

The home is in escrow and closing this week. 

Sources told TMZ the home is selling for between $17 million and $20 million. It was originally listed for $23.9 million.

The home is currently completely empty, where as all of Jackson's things were auctioned off last December. 

Jackson passed away in the home in 2009. 

Welcome to Jackson's former home.

The home has lovely landscaping.

The home is modeled after a French Chateau, conceived by Richard Landry.

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Go Inside The 'Scarface' Mansion That's Available for $30,000 A Month

October 29, 2012, 11:23 am

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Tony Montana may have been living the American dream in Miami, but the real mansion that served as a backdrop for the 1983 movie "Scarface" is actually located in Santa Barbara, California.

It’s also available to rent for a cool $30,000 a month through Village Properties Realtors, according to Trulia.

The 10,000-square-foot Roman Revival mansion is located on a 10-acre property with a swimming pool, two fountains (both indoor and outdoor), tiled murals, and a guesthouse. It also has four bedrooms, a rooftop terrace, and staggering views of the Pacific Ocean.

The house is known locally as "El Fureidis," or "little paradise." It was designed by American architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and built in 1906.

A bird's eye view of this gigantic property shows the scope of the 10-acre estate.

The palm trees and famous white fountain in the front make it easy to picture this mansion in Miami.

Here's another view of the famous fountain surrounded by four pools of water.

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Cutthroat New Yorkers Went Apartment Hunting During The Hurricane

October 31, 2012, 6:47 am

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Despite Hurricane Sandy wreaking havoc on New York City, New Yorkers and want to New Yorkers are apartment hunting, sources told The Real Deal. 

Michael Chadwick, an agent at Bond New York said several people have contacted him about seeing apartments during the past two days.

He told The Real Deal:

“People think it’s so competitive that they [should] take advantage of the hurricane, and see apartments while no one else is seeing them, despite the fact that we are in a state of emergency."

DON'T MISS: Some Real Estate Agents Will Go To Crazy Extremes To Sell A House

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This Solar-Powered Home Literally Changes Shape To Follow The Sun

October 31, 2012, 9:10 am

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This "Transformation House" concept by Michael Jantzen literally changes its shape as the sun passes through the sky.

The design has five center sections that can be rotated 360 degrees either manually or automatically around the living space to catch the sun's rays to warm the house, wind to cool the house, rain to supply it with water, or to simply alter the shape of the home.

The Transformation House is just a design concept, but if were to be built it would be constructed from light-weight steel, and would be partially encased in photovoltaic cells to generate electricity from the sun. The central floor would be built of glass and a steel support frame with furniture stored in semi-circular cabinets designed to twist out of the floor whenever needed.

 

See Also: 10 Beautiful Eco-Friendly Mansions That Are Currently On The Market

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