There's something about that "Open House" sign that acts like a magnet. Whether you're looking for a new place to live, keeping tabs on real estate in your neighborhood, or just angling for a sneak peek at someone else's private domain, the lure of an open door is strong indeed.Kick off the new year with a bang, as we crisscross the country in search of some of the most interesting open houses around. From a modern marvel in Miami to a sprawling mansion near Minneapolis, we skim the cream of the crop in our first feature of the year. Come along for the ride!
Open Houses for Jan. 7-8
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Ann Arbor
Price: $435,000
Property details: Nestled among vibrant perennial gardens at the end of a scenic tree-lined lane, this delightfully quaint four-bedroom home is straight out of a classic storybook. The charming house has glossy hardwood floors, a spacious living room with wood-burning fireplace, a regal formal dining room, and a unique circular sun room with slate flooring and panoramic views of a landscaped backyard and its gorgeous mature trees.
See inside this property.
See more Ann Arbor homes for sale.
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Atlanta
Price: $950,000
Property details: You can enjoy the classic beauty of this traditional, "clean-lined" Americana architecture with all the contemporary trimmings in this picturesque Sagamore Hills home, located on a sprawling 1.3 acre lot. The open floor plan features five bedrooms and spacious living areas, including a stunning great room and a formal living room with fireplaces, a gourmet chef's kitchen, a wet bar and wine fridge, and generous children's suites.
See inside this property.
See more Atlanta homes for sale.
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Boston
Price: $619,000
Property details: A colorful, two-bedroom home filled with character in a renovated brownstone that's perfect for couples or small families. The upper level's spacious open layout has gleaming hardwood floors, and a state-of-the-art kitchen with granite countertops and a breakfast bar. On its lower level are marble floors and spacious bedrooms. There are plenty of places to relax, including a generous living room with wood-burning fireplace, a stunning private rear deck and sunken patio -- or in that lovely Jacuzzi tub. This wistfully romantic, beautifully-redone, four-bedroom brick home on Lover's Lane is perfect for twosomes; with its pair of balconies, antique chandeliers and cozy, rustic detailing throughout, this home is an homage to old New England beauty.
See inside this property.
See more Boston homes for sale.
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Price: $260,000
Property details: This two-story brick beauty in the idyllic Waterbury neighborhood is the epitome of classic, understated Des Moines style. Rolling green lawns, gardens and leafy shade trees offer delightful views from your porch, where you'll find yourself easily thinking that you're living in the picturesque countryside. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home includes a stunning fireplace, elegant natural woodwork and solid hardwood floors throughout.
See inside this property.
See more Des Moines homes for sale.
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Edina, Minn.
Price: $1.975 million
Property description: This sprawling mansion features timeless architectural craftsmanship on the outside, and luxurious, state-of-the-art 21st century amenities inside. Redefining the art of "row house" living, this custom-built home offers an English-style courtyard and the shops at 50th and France. Perfect for house hunters looking for move-in ready features with Old World charm.
See inside this property.
See more homes for sale near Edina.
Open House: Tues., Jan. 10
Location: Miami
Price: $5.495 million
Property description: This award-winning, four-bedroom, waterfront contemporary offers wide, unobstructed bay views from almost every room. It's luxury manifested -- with floor-to-ceiling windows, a heated infinity pool, elevators to all three floors, rooftop terraces and a boat dock with a large boat slip and lift. Need we say more?
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: San Francisco
Price: $3.3 million
Property description: This beautifully-renovated corner home on Liberty Hill was designed to capture the eastern, southern and western lights. Make this stunning mansion your home and enjoy daily, unobstructed views of the bay, hills and valley from your south-facing view garden and deck (cocktail in hand, perhaps?). Cook up a storm in your high-end chef's kitchen decked out with Gaggenau appliances, catch a movie or two in your massive media room, or simply relax with a glass of wine by the fireplace. Yes, this home truly has something for everyone.
See inside this property.
See more San Francisco homes for sale.
Open house: Fri.-Sat., Jan. 6-7
Location: Oro Valley, Ariz.
Price: $795,000
Property description: Enjoy quiet privacy coupled with stunning panoramas of city lights and five mountain ranges from this captivating 3.97-acre retreat at the end of a remote cul-de-sac. This glamorous yet refreshingly intimate four-bedroom hilltop home features polished and scored concrete floors, a designer chef's kitchen with stainless steel commercial appliances, and a luxurious pool and hot tub that can be accessed from a lavish master suite.
See inside this property.
See more homes for sale in the Oro Valley area.
More great AOL Real Estate galleries:
Buy a Decent Home for Less Than $10,000
Midcentury Modern Homes: The Cool That's Still Hot
Million-Dollar Foreclosures
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Finds homes for rent in your area
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Ann Arbor
Price: $435,000
Property details: Nestled among vibrant perennial gardens at the end of a scenic tree-lined lane, this delightfully quaint four-bedroom home is straight out of a classic storybook. The charming house has glossy hardwood floors, a spacious living room with wood-burning fireplace, a regal formal dining room, and a unique circular sun room with slate flooring and panoramic views of a landscaped backyard and its gorgeous mature trees.
See inside this property.
See more Ann Arbor homes for sale.
Atlanta
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Atlanta
Price: $950,000
Property details: You can enjoy the classic beauty of this traditional, "clean-lined" Americana architecture with all the contemporary trimmings in this picturesque Sagamore Hills home, located on a sprawling 1.3 acre lot. The open floor plan features five bedrooms and spacious living areas, including a stunning great room and a formal living room with fireplaces, a gourmet chef's kitchen, a wet bar and wine fridge, and generous children's suites.
See inside this property.
See more Atlanta homes for sale.
Boston
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Boston
Price: $619,000
Property details: A colorful, two-bedroom home filled with character in a renovated brownstone that's perfect for couples or small families. The upper level's spacious open layout has gleaming hardwood floors, and a state-of-the-art kitchen with granite countertops and a breakfast bar. On its lower level are marble floors and spacious bedrooms. There are plenty of places to relax, including a generous living room with wood-burning fireplace, a stunning private rear deck and sunken patio -- or in that lovely Jacuzzi tub. This wistfully romantic, beautifully-redone, four-bedroom brick home on Lover's Lane is perfect for twosomes; with its pair of balconies, antique chandeliers and cozy, rustic detailing throughout, this home is an homage to old New England beauty.
See inside this property.
See more Boston homes for sale.
Des Moines, Iowa
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Price: $260,000
Property details: This two-story brick beauty in the idyllic Waterbury neighborhood is the epitome of classic, understated Des Moines style. Rolling green lawns, gardens and leafy shade trees offer delightful views from your porch, where you'll find yourself easily thinking that you're living in the picturesque countryside. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home includes a stunning fireplace, elegant natural woodwork and solid hardwood floors throughout.
See inside this property.
See more Des Moines homes for sale.
Edina, Minn.
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: Edina, Minn.
Price: $1.975 million
Property description: This sprawling mansion features timeless architectural craftsmanship on the outside, and luxurious, state-of-the-art 21st century amenities inside. Redefining the art of "row house" living, this custom-built home offers an English-style courtyard and the shops at 50th and France. Perfect for house hunters looking for move-in ready features with Old World charm.
See inside this property.
See more homes for sale near Edina.
Miami
Open House: Tues., Jan. 10
Location: Miami
Price: $5.495 million
Property description: This award-winning, four-bedroom, waterfront contemporary offers wide, unobstructed bay views from almost every room. It's luxury manifested -- with floor-to-ceiling windows, a heated infinity pool, elevators to all three floors, rooftop terraces and a boat dock with a large boat slip and lift. Need we say more?
San Francisco
Open house: Sun., Jan. 8
Location: San Francisco
Price: $3.3 million
Property description: This beautifully-renovated corner home on Liberty Hill was designed to capture the eastern, southern and western lights. Make this stunning mansion your home and enjoy daily, unobstructed views of the bay, hills and valley from your south-facing view garden and deck (cocktail in hand, perhaps?). Cook up a storm in your high-end chef's kitchen decked out with Gaggenau appliances, catch a movie or two in your massive media room, or simply relax with a glass of wine by the fireplace. Yes, this home truly has something for everyone.
See inside this property.
See more San Francisco homes for sale.
Oro Valley, Ariz.
Open house: Fri.-Sat., Jan. 6-7
Location: Oro Valley, Ariz.
Price: $795,000
Property description: Enjoy quiet privacy coupled with stunning panoramas of city lights and five mountain ranges from this captivating 3.97-acre retreat at the end of a remote cul-de-sac. This glamorous yet refreshingly intimate four-bedroom hilltop home features polished and scored concrete floors, a designer chef's kitchen with stainless steel commercial appliances, and a luxurious pool and hot tub that can be accessed from a lavish master suite.
See inside this property.
See more homes for sale in the Oro Valley area.
More great AOL Real Estate galleries:
Buy a Decent Home for Less Than $10,000
Midcentury Modern Homes: The Cool That's Still Hot
Million-Dollar Foreclosures
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Finds homes for rent in your area
