AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/House of the Day: $14.9 Million Buys You a Home Built for Jesushttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/14/house-of-the-day-14-9-million-buys-you-a-home-built-for-jesus/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/14/house-of-the-day-14-9-million-buys-you-a-home-built-for-jesus/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/14/house-of-the-day-14-9-million-buys-you-a-home-built-for-jesus/#commentsFiled under:



We speak a lot about homes that are "divine" or "heavenly," but this one literally is. Built for Jesus Christ himself on his Second Coming, this exquisite mansion in Riverdale, N.Y., has hit the market for a kingly $14.988 million.

A steal, really, considering it was designed to house the savior of all mankind! And it looks the part, too. The New York Theological Society really pulled out all the stops when they constructed the palatial home in 1928. Dubbed the Chapel Hill Mansion, the 15,000-square-foot estate boasts limestone walls, ceilings adorned in gold and silver leaf, imported French walnut detailing throughout and hand-carved marble fireplaces. Oh, and chandeliers designed by the artisans of The Plaza (the home's listing agent Sean McPeak tells us they spent 10 years working on the mansion before they even began decorating the famed hotel). Plus, marble floors (get this) imported from the Vatican. The Vatican.

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If that still doesn't impress you, then this surely will: The mansion sits on the highest point in all of New York City. Forget the Empire State Building, the Chapel Hill Mansion will get you the best view of the city that one can possibly buy.

And then, there's a slew of other luxury amenities -- a gym, a terrace, a hot tub, even a conservatory!

"The conservatory is probably my favorite part of the house," McPeak tells AOL Real Estate. "Glass walls, lots of plants, aged copper, heated floors. It's wonderful."

Sean McPeak of Prudential Douglas Elliman has the listing.

Click on the images below to see more homes for sale in Riverdale, N.Y.



See more Houses of the Day on AOL Real Estate.

Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

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]]>house+built+for+jesushousebuiltforjesusKrisanne Alcantara2012-05-14T06:00:00 00:00Talk About House Porn! 'Deep Throat' Home for Salehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/10/talk-about-house-porn-deep-throat-home-for-sale/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/10/talk-about-house-porn-deep-throat-home-for-sale/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/10/talk-about-house-porn-deep-throat-home-for-sale/#commentsFiled under: ,

Deep Throat house

Fans went wild when the infamous "Home Alone" house hit the market, and a similar reaction arose when, years later, "The Hunger Games" town went up for sale. But we're suspecting that these same audiences won't be quite as excited at the news that the home featured in cult 1972 adult film, "Deep Throat," is the latest reel-life abode to hit the market. At least we hope not.

The eclectic $1.75 million Florida home was the setting for much of the controversial, X-rated film's infamous scenes with actress Linda Lovelace (pictured at left). The listing photos reveal that rooms like the wine cellar and doctor's "office" -- featured prominently in "Deep Throat" -- actually haven't changed too much despite renovations.

The home, which is located in the hilariously named community of Ye Little Wood in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood, was built and owned by Miami's "Hugh Hefner," Baron Joseph "Sepy" De Bicske Dobronyi. Even without its "Deep Throat" associations, Dobronyi made the home a celebrity haven, frequently entertaining A-list friends like Frank Sinatra and Brigitte Bardot.

"This home was legendary in the 1970s for the part it played in Miami's high life," Realtor Donna Zalter told the Coconut Grove Grapevine.

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Though MSNBC suggests that the home needs "significant updates," we actually dig its unabashedly '70s-style decor (and who would want to remodel a site in cinematic history, anyway?). We're into the teak and pine decor, blindingly bright, upholstered furniture, super-low retro tables and chairs, and circular fireplace. Plus, there's a gorgeous free-form pool and spa set below lush, verdant foliage. We're into it (though the sweeping roof and coral rock, not so much).

See the listing on AOL Real Estate.

See other homes for sale in Coconut Grove.

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]]>Baron Joseph Dobronyi.Brigitte BardotDeep ThroatDeep Throat houseEntertainmentFrank SinatraKeith JosephLinda LovelaceMiamiMiami real estateSepyKrisanne Alcantara2012-05-10T19:00:00 00:00Inside Look: Live in a Former Nuclear Missile Silo (VIDEO)http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/09/inside-look-live-in-a-former-nuclear-missile-silo/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/09/inside-look-live-in-a-former-nuclear-missile-silo/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/09/inside-look-live-in-a-former-nuclear-missile-silo/#commentsFiled under: ,




SiloAfter weeks of filming swanky penthouses (some with er, slides) and extravagant Manhattan lofts made famous by the likes of Beyonce, we were excited to take an "Inside Look" at a much more unconventional home nestled in the Adirondack Mountains.

And talk about unconventional! Beneath this home in Saranac, N.Y., lies a former Cold War-era nuclear missile silo and launch pad, built in the 1950s to house an Atlas-F intercontinental ballistic missile. Not your average, indeed!

In fact, we learned that the surface home is simply the "secret entrance" to almost 15,000 square feet of underground space that's built to withstand tornadoes, hailstorms, hurricanes and the odd Soviet pre-emptive nuclear strike. No wonder some say it's one of the world's safest homes!

Definitely one of the stranger houses we've been in, but still cool beyond belief. See for yourself.

Brian Dominic, Michael DeRosa and Mike Franklin of Select Sotheby's International Realty have the listing.

All parcels of land available for sale on the property appear as below (total $1.76 million).

Silohome complex on 19 ac: $750,000
Log Home on 4 ac: $259,000
10 acre runway lot w/ 42' x 46' hangar: $125,000
All 7 lots (approx 8 acres each): $476,000
Phase II 125 undivided acres to west of silohome: $150,00

See more pictures of the converted nuclear missile silo home below.

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Get the Inside Look at other amazing homes on AOL Real Estate.

Got a tip for our Inside Look series? If you know of any exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale that's video-worthy, please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

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]]>Adirondack MountainsHome of the dayHome of the WeekHouse of the DayHouse of the WeekInside Lookmissile silo bunkersmissile silo conversionmissile silo homemissile silo homesKrisanne Alcantara2012-05-09T06:00:00 00:00Nantucket's $59 Million Mansion: New England's Priciest Homehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/07/nantuckets-59-million-mansion-new-englands-priciest-home/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/07/nantuckets-59-million-mansion-new-englands-priciest-home/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/07/nantuckets-59-million-mansion-new-englands-priciest-home/#commentsFiled under:



We thought $40 million was expensive, but this new listing blows most of our multimillion-dollar mansions right out of the water. At a whopping $59 million, this Nantucket listing could end in the biggest Massachusetts home sale ever.

The sprawling mansion, located in the historic Swain's Neck compound of Nantucket Island, is currently owned by the estate of Russell Dale Phelon, who owned the engine electronics manufacturer, R.E. Phelon Co. Even without a buyer, it's currently New England's most expensive publicly listed home and is one of America's 20 most expensive listings. According to Forbes, if the 70-acre compound sells even close to its asking price, "it will dash regional records."

"That's not surprising," the home's listing agent, Gary Winn of Sotheby's International Realty, tells AOL Real Estate. "I mean have you seen it? The home's just incredible."

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And we'd have to agree. A cool (more like icy!) $59 million will certainly buy you a level of comfort you won't find even in the swankiest of Mitt Romney's McMansions. We're talking nine massive bedrooms, including a master suite with a private deck and fireplace, a parlor with wet bar and fireplace, a media room, and a chef's kitchen that would make Mario Batali proud. Throw in some "spectacular, unobstructed" views over Polpis Harbor, and acres upon acres of rolling green surrounds, and you have yourself the idyllic New England hideaway.

Main residence aside, the colossal property offers a two-bedroom guest cottage, a boathouse, an octagonal office building and a sports court. Plus a private beach and three boat moorings.

Oh, there are also two fenced-in pastures for horse-riding. Naturally.

See also:
'Queen of Versailles': Tale of Mega-Mansion Headed for TV
Case-Shiller Shows Home Prices Still Falling but More Slowly
America's Most and Least Affordable Cities to Buy a Home

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Visit Nantucket Island the Historic Whaling Island

 

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]]>Americas most expensive home listingsGary Winn Sothebys International RealtyNantucket homes for saleNantucket luxury homesNantucket real estateRussell Dale PhelonSwains NeckKrisanne Alcantara2012-05-07T16:30:00 00:00Inside Look: NYC Penthouse Playground (VIDEO)http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/02/house-of-the-day-nyc-penthouse-playground-video/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/02/house-of-the-day-nyc-penthouse-playground-video/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/05/02/house-of-the-day-nyc-penthouse-playground-video/#commentsFiled under: ,,



New York City's famous for being a rich man's playground and we couldn't have found a home that takes this idea more seriously than this East Village penthouse -- with a built-in slide.

Unsurprisingly, the silver, 18-foot-tall sculptural slide pretty much smacks you in the face as soon as you walk in. Unlike other luxury features, its presence tends to dominate the penthouse (the rest of which is actually incredibly sleek, sophisticated and somewhat minimalist). But the faster you get over the initial shock of seeing a slide built inside someone's apartment, the faster you can hop right on it -- and naturally, we did. Our entire crew. Multiple times.

In case you were wondering, the owner of the now-infamous "slide penthouse" is Phil Galfond, a professional poker player who's only 26 years old! Slide aside, Galfond has also decked out his pad with some truly amazing, one-of-a-kind pieces ($35,000 glass pool table, anyone?).

See for yourself below:

Aol Real Estate's Inside Look: Slide Home


Like what you see? Elizabeth Kee and Lindsee Silverstein of CORE Group NYC have the listing.

Got a tip for our Inside Look series? If you know of any exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale that's video-worthy, please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

Follow AOL Real Estate reporters Krisanne Alcantara (@krisannetraz) and Teke Wiggin (@tkwiggin) on Twitter (@aolrealestate)!

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]]>CORE Group NYCElizabeth Kee CORE Group NYCHouse of the Weekinside lookLindsee Silverstein CORE Group NYCPhil GalfondPhil Galfond apartmentPhil Galfond homePhil Galfond penthouseKrisanne Alcantara2012-05-02T06:00:00 00:00Live in Marilyn and JFK's Rumored 'Rendezvous' Homehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/26/live-in-marilyn-and-jfks-rumored-rendezvous-home/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/26/live-in-marilyn-and-jfks-rumored-rendezvous-home/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/26/live-in-marilyn-and-jfks-rumored-rendezvous-home/#commentsFiled under: ,



We're suckers for a gorgeous home with a bit of star factor, but one that was (reportedly) the rendezvous hideaway of Marilyn Monroe and President John F. Kennedy? This one we gotta see!

Forty miles outside of Los Angeles and abutting a stunning nature preserve sits the Farralone Estate, with a glass house that was purportedly the place where Miss Monroe and JFK would tryst. Though Monroe didn't actually own the property, it was a home of her friend, Frank Sinatra, who would throw huge Hollywood-style parties at which Monroe was frequently a guest. Our friends at Curbed and Zillow have reported that Monroe would apparently entertain a "frequent presidential visitor" at the Farralone Estate's cozy guesthouse.

Whether the whispers are true or not, the home itself is pretty star-worthy by its own merits. The estate spans 13.5 acres and the stunning, glass-walled main home is an incredible 10,000 square feet. Apparently, the designers built "50 percent of the home out of glass" that has withstood the test of time.

The home's guesthouse, where Monroe allegedly stayed, is a modest 1,000 square feet, and though it only has one bedroom and 1½ bathrooms, it boasts its own pool. The rest of the sprawling property features a vineyard and equestrian trails.

So how much is a home that's supposedly fit for a president (on occasion)? Farralone Estate will run you a cool $12 million.

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See also:
Former Nazi Watch Tower Converts to Chic Luxury Home
Donald Trump Demands Scotland Dump Wind-Turbine Plans

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Top 10 Fun Facts About Marilyn Monroe

 

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]]>Farralone EstateFrank Sinatra homeFrank Sinatra househome jfk marilyn love affairjfk marilynjkn marilyn rendezvous homekennedy monroeKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-26T12:01:00 00:00Former Nazi Watch Tower Converts to Chic Luxury Homehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/25/live-in-a-former-nazi-watch-tower/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/25/live-in-a-former-nazi-watch-tower/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/25/live-in-a-former-nazi-watch-tower/#commentsFiled under:



We've shown you some pretty crazy living quarters -- missile silos, "earthships," mushrooms, the list is endless -- but a one-time Nazi watchtower takes that list of conversions to a whole other level.

Outside a Belgian village named Steenokkerzeel is Chateu d'Eau, a six-floor luxury home that was formerly a water tower, but was also used by Nazi occupiers as a lookout in World War II (if those walls could talk).

While the 70-year-old structure still has the eerie look of a Nazi "tour de guete" from the outside, inside it's as sleek and contemporary as a Manhattan penthouse. ("Every visible concrete element inside was painted in dark grey in order to mark the old from the new," says Bham, the interior architects at the helm of the redesign).

Owing in large part to a complete gutting and renovation in 2008 that left just the structure's concrete skeleton. The tower -- which was believed to have been built sometime between 1938 and 1941 -- was then split into six floors, had an elevator installed, and was filled with luxe furnishings not unlike those you'd expect in a bachelor pad. But without a doubt, it's still a highly stylish and creative conversion of what was once a somewhat awkward space.

The home features a bedroom, bathroom, and sprawling living and dining spaces. From the kitchen, you can view "incredible vistas" of airplanes landing at the national airport nearby. The home even boasts a luxury house and cat terrace! See for yourself in the video below (warning: for visuals only, unless you speak French).



See also:
Dick Clark's Rockin' Stone-Age Home
Best Places to Buy a Fixer-Upper

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]]>Bham water tower homebizarre homesChateu dEauhome conversionsluxury real estateNazi watch towerNazi watch tower luxury homeSteenokkerzeel Chateu dEauunusual home conversionswater tower turned luxury homeweird homesKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-25T14:30:00 00:00Inside Look: Beyonce's 'Halo' Loft (VIDEO)http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/24/house-of-the-week-beyonces-halo-loft-video/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/24/house-of-the-week-beyonces-halo-loft-video/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/24/house-of-the-week-beyonces-halo-loft-video/#commentsFiled under: ,,



We've done some solid reporting on the jaw-dropping pads where rappers and pop stars chose to film their music videos, from modern-day castles to glass-walled penthouses. No doubt about it, there's something about adding a little star power to an already exceptional home that makes it that much more exciting.

So when we got the chance to check out the loft that Beyonce chose to feature in the music video for her Grammy-winning song "Halo," we jumped all over it. Ceilings 25 feet high, a roof deck and a private indoor swimming pool? Uh, yes please. Later, we discovered the structure actually had way more going for it than just luxury amenities and star-studded associations -- built in the 1890s, it had housed one of New York's very first power stations!

Peek into the loft yourself.

House of the Week: Halo's New York City SoHo Apartment




















Like what you see? Beyonce's "Halo" loft can be rented for $100,000 a month.

Steve Halpern from Citi Habitats has the listing.

Got a tip for our Inside Look series? If you know of any exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale that's video-worthy, please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

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]]>Beyonce Halo loftBeyonce Halo video locationHalo video apartmentHouse of the WeekInside LookNew York City lofts for rentnew york first power stationNew York lofts for saleSteve Halpern Citi HabitatsKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-24T07:00:00 00:00Jennifer Aniston Reportedly Sells Condos in NYC, Buys in Bel Airhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/20/jennifer-aniston-reportedly-sells-in-nyc-buys-in-bel-air/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/20/jennifer-aniston-reportedly-sells-in-nyc-buys-in-bel-air/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/20/jennifer-aniston-reportedly-sells-in-nyc-buys-in-bel-air/#commentsFiled under: ,

Say it ain't so! Our favorite "Friend" has reportedly hauled out of the Big Apple, apparently for good. That's right, Jennifer Aniston's pair of West Village condos have purportedly been sold to a "mystery buyer" for $6.5 million.

Which, if that's the case, isn't exactly great for Aniston. The "Horrible Bosses" star initially paid $7 million for the two stunning prewar condos at 299 W. 12th Street -- one on its 18th floor, and one on its 17th. They were purchased together last year amidst endless media frenzy (and confusion). Aniston had planned to combine the two spaces into a sprawling (for New York, anyway), 2,700-square-foot duplex -- which would have been amazing, really. Collectively, the condo units boasted wood-burning fireplaces, high-beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, picture moldings, views over Manhattan and a 900-square-foot terrace.

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But we guess even 2,700 square feet of space wasn't enough to hold her dreams, because the actress also has apparently snagged a significantly larger (8,500-square-foot) and pricier ($21 million) love nest in Bel Air with her boyfriend, actor-director Justin Theroux. She and Theroux initially had been renting a $3 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills but have apparently decided to step it up a notch.

Jen's new pad is built on an estate that's just shy of two acres, and boasts unobstructed city and ocean views; one of L.A.'s "most beautiful terraces"; a gorgeous pool; and a vineyard.

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Though the California estate's a surefire stunner, there was something understatedly charming and homey about Aniston's first New York property that seemed to be much more suited to America's favorite "girl next door" than the flashy new Bel Air McMansion. Or maybe we're just biased. You decide.

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux Take Romantic Stroll In Rain

See also:
Poet Robert Lowell's NYC Studio
Dick Clark's Rockin' Stone-Age Home
David Hyde Pierce's Spanish Palace

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]]>anniston bel air homeanniston condos new yorkAnniston Theroux love nestBel Air homesJen Justin homejennifer anistonjennifer anniston homesJustin TherouxWest Village condosKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-20T15:53:00 00:00House of the Day: Room to Play at NFL Hall of Famer's Mansionhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/18/house-of-the-day-room-to-play-at-nfl-hall-of-famers-mansion/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/18/house-of-the-day-room-to-play-at-nfl-hall-of-famers-mansion/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/18/house-of-the-day-room-to-play-at-nfl-hall-of-famers-mansion/#commentsFiled under:



There's no doubt about it, this newly listed mansion is baller. In more ways than one. First off, it's owned by NFL Hall of Famer Willie Roaf (the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints offensive tackle was inducted just this year), and it's also an exceptional property in its own right.

Nestled in the hills adjoining Orange and Villa Park, Calif., the colossal home affords miles upon miles of city and nature views. Capitalizing on its elevated location, the home's outdoor entertaining features take al fresco to a new level: We're talking stone-paved covered patios with fire-pits and a built-in grill, and a pool, spa and fountain -- all of which boast incredible vistas over northern Orange County.

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The 6,500-square-foot home also features a two-story grand foyer, a wet bar, stacked stone fireplaces and a huge billiard room. The home is on sale for $2.95 million.

Mike Hickman of Seven Gables Real Estate has the listing.

Click on the images below to see more homes for sale in Villa Park, Calif.



See more Houses of the Day on AOL Real Estate.

Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

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Visit the Orange County Market in California

 

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]]>home of the dayHouse of the DayNFL Hall of Famer Willie RoafVilla Park homes for saleVilla Park luxury homesVilla Park real estateWillie Roaf homeWillie Roaf house for saleKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-18T06:00:00 00:00House of the Day: Contemporary, With a Classic Touchhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/17/house-of-the-day-contemporary-with-a-classic-touch/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/17/house-of-the-day-contemporary-with-a-classic-touch/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/17/house-of-the-day-contemporary-with-a-classic-touch/#commentsFiled under:



Oh, Pennsylvania. As if Hershey's chocolate and Philly cheesesteaks weren't enough, you give us one more reason to love you.

This $30 million contemporary in Fort Washington is beyond belief. It's contemporary on the outside, with classic Mediterranean influences on the inside (earth tones, rich textures, polished marble). And that tree-flanked, vine-covered, Tuscan-style back patio overlooking the luxury pool -- don't even get us started.

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The 36,957-square-foot home (on a 70-acre lot!) also boasts a two-story entrance hall, a living room with a 30-foot ceiling, two dining rooms, a library, a movie theater, office, and private tower retreat. Oh, and a 20,000-square-foot playhouse, 4,000-bottle wine cellar, pool house, two stone farmhouses and a pond. Whew.

Janet Rubino of Long & Foster Real Estate has the listing.

Click on the images below to see more homes for sale in Fort Washington, Penn.



See more Houses of the Day on AOL Real Estate.

Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

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Visit Historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

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]]>Fort Washingtonhome of the dayHouse of the DayPenn homes for salePenn luxury homesPenn luxury real estatePenn real estateReggie Hunt Long Foster Real EstateKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-17T06:00:00 00:00Couple Sues Landlord Over 'Haunted' Househttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/16/family-sues-landlord-over-haunted-house/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/16/family-sues-landlord-over-haunted-house/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/16/family-sues-landlord-over-haunted-house/#commentsFiled under:



Paranormal activity is fun to watch at the movies, but what happens when life (allegedly) imitates art? In the case of this New Jersey couple, a lawsuit, apparently. Michele Callan and her fiance, Josue Chinchilla (both pictured below), are suing their landlord for their $2,250 deposit on a Toms River home that they claim is haunted.

The couple says that they were victim to disturbing paranormal activity, including menacing voices, flickering lights, moving bedsheets and clothes mysteriously flying from their closets.

Chinchilla, 37, even told ABC News that despite not believing in "this stuff," he once experienced an "invisible hand" on his shoulder, and also claims that he was briefly hospitalized for panic attacks spurred by such paranormal experiences.

Consequently, on March 11, the couple and her two children fled their Lowell Avenue rental and have since been living in a single room at a motel in Point Pleasant Beach -- refusing to move back as their lives are "in mortal danger" if they return.

But their landlord, Richard Lopez, isn't buying the story. In fact, he's countersuing the couple, saying the scare is just a "hoax" to get out of paying their $1,500 monthly rent and to break their yearlong lease.

"Frankly, there is something else going on," Lopez's lawyer David Semanchik told the Asbury Park Press. "She is a single mom, she has this fiance living with her. I think she is in over her head and she can't afford the rent."

But Callan says that if this were the case, Chinchilla and her family would not have fled just one week after moving in, with the rent already paid to the end of the month.

In any case, if Lopez had consciously rented the couple a home with any shady or ghost-ridden history, he wouldn't have had to reveal it. Most states in the U.S. do not have formal renter/seller disclosure laws regarding a home's non-material facts (i.e. outside structural concerns, leaks in the foundation or walls, etc.) and do not require Realtors to tell prospective buyers about a home's grisly past or purported hauntings, though that's strongly recommended.

There was such disclosure in the case of the the Lutz family, who moved into the now-world-famous "Amityville Horror" house in New York and were supposedly haunted by the demonic images and supernatural activity of the home's murdered tenants.

But there was apparently no warning for the Callas-Chinchilla household: They reportedly were so spooked that they even hired paranormal investigators, who set up five cameras, electronic voice phenomena recorders and electromagnetic-field meters in the rental. The Asbury Park Press reported that the presence of paranormal activity appeared in the videos, including bowling pins falling over in the recreation room while the infrared cameras were recording.

"[We've heard] taps on the TV, taps on the shoulder," Chinchilla told ABC News, whose cameras also recorded purported paranormal activity during its visit (see the video below). "We're living in it."

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See also:
Rents Rose in the Last Year, While Home Prices Sputtered
Are You Paying Too Much for Your Rental
Foreclosure: What it Means for Renters

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]]>couple sues landlord haunted househaunted househaunted housesJosue Chinchillalandlord Richard Lopezlandlord sued haunted houseLowell Ave Toms RiverMichele CallanNew Jersey haunted houseToms River haunted houseKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-16T13:20:00 00:00House of the Day: Game for a $5.7 Million Fun House?http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/16/house-of-the-day-game-for-a-5-7-million-fun-house/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/16/house-of-the-day-game-for-a-5-7-million-fun-house/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/16/house-of-the-day-game-for-a-5-7-million-fun-house/#commentsFiled under: ,



For House of the Day's "Manic Monday" edition, we'd like to present this wildly colorful Manhattan pad.

From its multi-hued "Star Wars"-themed bedrooms to its spectacular fire-engine-red game room, this $5.7 million fun house is every kid's (and kid-at-heart's) dream. This is anything but your typical vanilla Manhattan apartment, we're talking strawberry here. And chocolate, lime and blueberry. Color aside, it's still a winner with its sprawling wraparound terrace offering killer views of Manhattan's West Side and enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.

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And if all the color and sunlight gets to be a little too much, you can always disappear into one of your three spa bathrooms and sink into one of those enormous, free-standing, soaking tubs -- with a choice selection from your 24-bottle wine fridge. Happy Monday, folks!

Michael Bejzak of MNS has the listing.

Click on the images below to see more homes for sale in New York, N.Y.



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House of the Week: New York City Brownstone With a Special Feature

 

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]]>aparment with game roomcolorful apartmentsfun house apartmentluxury game roomsManhattan apartments for saleManhattan homes for saleManhattan luxury real estateMichael Bejzak MNSStar Wars-themed bedroomKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-16T06:00:00 00:00House of the Day: Maryland's Woodland Contemporaryhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/12/house-of-the-day-marylands-woodland-contemporary/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/12/house-of-the-day-marylands-woodland-contemporary/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/12/house-of-the-day-marylands-woodland-contemporary/#commentsFiled under: ,



You already know how much we love our edgy, cubic homes and this is one of the best we've seen yet. Though it's floor-to-ceiling windows and sharp, clean lines can trick you into thinking it's another Malibu contemporary, this 10,000-square-foot stunner is actually located in the leafy community of Bethesda, Md.

And we're talking leafy. In fact, the $6.9 million home is built in the woods, flanked on every side by mature trees and views of the Potomac River. But don't go thinking "country cottage amenities." No, this home boasts every luxury feature that any self-respecting Malibu McMansion would have, and then some: an elevator, infinity pool, heated floors, a five-car garage and (get this) glass bridges linking each wing. And that incredible, colorful facade -- what more could you expect from a Robert Gurney-designed home?

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The house features four bedrooms and six bathrooms.

Jayne Ehrens of Sotheby's International has the listing.

Click on the images below to see more homes for sale in Bethesda, Md.



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Maryland Green Deck Design

 

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]]>architectural homesBethesda homes for saleBethesda luxury homesBethesda real estatecontemporary homes for salefour bedroom homeshome of the dayHouse of the DayJayne Ehrens Sothebys Internationalmodern architecture homesRobert Gurneywoodland homesKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-12T06:00:00 00:00House of the Day: Historic Ranch in Santa Fehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/10/house-of-the-day-historic-ranch-in-santa-fe/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/10/house-of-the-day-historic-ranch-in-santa-fe/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/10/house-of-the-day-historic-ranch-in-santa-fe/#commentsFiled under:



You can keep your flashy waterfront contemporaries and overpriced urban apartments because, sometimes, all you need is a little ranch to make you wildly happy.

Granted, it's not your average ranch. The $4.6 million La Estancia de Cieneguilla in Santa Fe, N.M., is kind of unbelievable. For one, it was established in 1695. Also, it's located at the base of a spectacular, petroglyph-laden black basalt mesa and is set on 45 acres of irrigated pastures and hills, and includes a wooded stretch of the Santa Fe River. The property is peppered with windmills, ponds and watering tanks, and even boasts a stable and corral.

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The ranch house itself is pretty spectacular in its own right, with soaring, cathedral ceilings, colorful interiors, fireplaces and magnificent views of the sprawling grounds from every room. The home features three bedrooms and three full bathrooms across its 3,792 square feet.

John Rigatti, Ray Rush and Tim Van Camp of Sotheby's have the listing.

Click on the images below to see more homes for sale in Santa Fe, N.M.



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Visit Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico

 

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]]>Historic Ranch Santa Fehistoric Santa Fe ranch for saleJohn Rigatti SothebysLa Estancia de CieneguillaRay Rush SothebysSanta Fe luxury real estateSanta Fe river ranchSante Fe ranch for saleTim Van Camp SothebysKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-10T06:00:00 00:00America's Smallest Town, Buford, Wyo., Sells for $900,000http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/09/americas-smallest-town-buford-wyo-sells-for-900-000/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/09/americas-smallest-town-buford-wyo-sells-for-900-000/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/09/americas-smallest-town-buford-wyo-sells-for-900-000/#commentsFiled under:



The United States' "smallest town" has been officially sold at auction for $900,000.

The new owner of Buford, Wyo., is an unidentified buyer from Vietnam who, despite attending the auction in person, has refused to meet with the media or discuss future plans for the tiny town. Apparently the buyer had flown to the United States all the way from Vietnam to snag his own little piece of "the American dream," a statement by auction house Williams & Williams said.

The 11-minute auction was held on April 5 with a starting bid of $100,000. The town of Buford, in southeastern Wyoming between Cheyenne and Laramie, garnered in-person and online viewers and bidders from 46 countries.

The sale included five buildings: a three-bedroom home, a 1905 schoolhouse that has been used as an office, a garage, a 1900s cabin used as a tool shed, and the Buford Trading Post, a convenience store and gasoline station. Also included in the sale was 10 acres of land, a collection of U.S. Post Office boxes, and a Union Wireless cellular tower with lease.

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The sale of Buford has been bittersweet for the town's most recent owner, mayor and sole resident Don Sammons, who was reportedly emotional on auction day.

"I felt my time here has been very happy for me, and hopefully the new owner will be able to enjoy what I've enjoyed over the years," Sammons told the AP. "And keep the history alive."


Wyoming Town of One Up For Sale



















See also:
'The Hunger Games' Town on Sale for $1.4 Million (PHOTOS)
Astrodome, World's '8th Wonder,' Lies Abandoned (PHOTOS)
No Joke: Home Prices Rising, Some Indexes Say

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]]>Americas smallest town auctionAmericas smallest town soldBuford WyoDon Sammons town ownerSmallest town US soldVietnamese buys smallest US townWilliams WilliamsKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-09T16:20:00 00:00House of the Day: Live in the White House, Sort Ofhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/09/house-of-the-day-live-in-the-white-house-sort-of/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/09/house-of-the-day-live-in-the-white-house-sort-of/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/09/house-of-the-day-live-in-the-white-house-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: ,



Every little kid dreams of being president one day, but let's face it: For most of us, that's never going to happen. But it doesn't matter, because you can live like a president anyway in this White House replica in Haymarket, Va.

Though it joins a number of White House replicas across America (see our gallery below), it's
probably the most affordable of the bunch, at only $1.111 million. That said, the home is a foreclosure, is being sold as-is, and is a cash-only deal.

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But what a deal it is: You get six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and six fireplaces. It's built on over 10 woody acres in the coveted subdivision of the Piedmont Riding Club, and the home is abundant with terraces and multi-tiered balconies. Inside, it's spacious and grand in an old-school, "Gone With The Wind" kind of way. And it's a colossal 15,735 square feet! A similar property of that size in nearby areas could run you over twice as much!

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RE/MAX Regency has the listing.

Click on the images below to see more homes for sale in Haymarket, Va.



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Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

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10 Amazing Facts About the White House

 

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]]>Haymarket Va homes for saleHaymarket Va propertyHaymarket VA real estateHaymarket VA white househome of the dayHouse of the Dayluxury real estateluxury real estate foreclosuremillion dollar foreclosuresKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-09T06:00:00 00:00'The Hunger Games' Town on Sale for $1.4 Millionhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/the-hunger-games-town-on-sale-for-1-4-million/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/the-hunger-games-town-on-sale-for-1-4-million/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/the-hunger-games-town-on-sale-for-1-4-million/#commentsFiled under: ,



Whether you're a raging or closet "Hunger Games" fan (and these days, quite frankly, you're either one), you'll be thrilled to know that District 12 is up for sale. Yup that's right. You too, like Katniss Everdeen, can crouch by the Mellark family bakery (pictured above), or trudge home to the Everdeen family shack after a long day in the woods. But it'll cost you a cool $1.4 million.

District 12, or the town formerly known as Henry River Mill Village near Hildebran, N.C., is owned by 83-year-old Wade Shepherd. Though it's now world-famous for being the hometown of the movie's three protagonists, Katniss, Peeta and Gale, to Shepherd (who has never read the books) it's just a parcel of land that's attracting an excessive amount of (apparently unwanted) publicity.

"I'm getting too many visitors," Shepherd told The Associated Press, of his decision to sell. "Day and night, they're driving through, taking pictures, getting out and walking. I'm just bombarded with people."

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The situation has gotten so extreme that the local sheriff's department has been working with private security guards to keep the fans at bay, concerned about liability if someone gets hurt.

The post-"Hunger Games" Henry River Mill Village is a far cry from the sleepy North Carolina town it used to be before Lionsgate Entertainment descended upon it in the summer of 2011.

Surrounded by trees, the quiet mill town near the Appalachian Mountains, once the company town of the Henry River Manufacturing Co., was deserted for years. With the mill burning down in 1977, the 72-acre parcel of land only has 20 remaining buildings -- leaving it a ghost town.

Which made it prime real estate for the dystopian fantasy series. The former company store was the perfect stand-in for the Mellark family bakery, while Henry River Mill's collection of abandoned, antiquarian homes were perfect for re-creating The Seam, with the house on the far left outfitted to be the famous Everdeen home (left).

The movie's production brought in excess of $60 million into North Carolina's economy, the most of any motion picture made in the state.

No doubt to capitalize on the phenomenon, North Carolina tourism site VisitNC.com has begun to offer a four-day "Hunger Games" itinerary, which includes a tour of Henry River Mill Village.

See also:
Buford, Wyo.: America's Smallest Town Up for Auction
Miami's Real-Life Castle, With Moat
'World's Tallest Treehouse' Grew From a Divine Vision

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The Hunger Games Red Carpet

 

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]]>Henry River Mill VillageHildebranHunger Games townHunger Games town for saleN.C.Krisanne Alcantara2012-04-04T16:15:00 00:00Inside Look: NYC's 'Convertible Brownstone' (VIDEO)http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/house-of-the-week-nycs-convertible-brownstone-video/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/house-of-the-week-nycs-convertible-brownstone-video/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/house-of-the-week-nycs-convertible-brownstone-video/#commentsFiled under: ,



Living in New York City can leave you a little jaded when it comes to real estate. In this rich man's playground, replete with tiki bar lofts, in-house movie theaters and even penthouses with playground slides, we at AOL Real Estate have been understandably desensitized to such "luxury features."

And then we stumbled upon this East Village brownstone with a unique feature that's both fun and functional: a disappearing front wall. Though on the outside, it looks like any other building on the block, part of its front wall retracts like a garage door -- "like the building is falling in on itself," owner and architect Bill Peterson observes. Peterson built the retractable wall to re-imagine the traditional parlor-floor balcony, and it's as much a feat of technology as of design. With the push of a button, the living room transforms from an enclosed, four-walled space into an open-air deck that's perfect for summer. And just wait til you see the backyard.

See the "convertible wall" in action in the video below.

House of the Week: New York City Brownstone with a Special Feature


















Like what you see? The "convertible brownstone" is for sale for $2.499 million. Tom Cooper of Corcoran has the listing.

Got a tip for our Inside Look series? If you know of any exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale that's video-worthy, please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

See also:
'World's Tallest Treehouse' Grew From a Divine Vision
Just in Time for Summer: The Biggest Hamptons Sale of 2012

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]]>architect Bill Petersonconvertible brownstoneconvertible househome conversionsHouse of the WeekInside Looknew york city convertible apartmentretractable wallwild home conversionsKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-04T13:15:00 00:00House of the Day: Poet Robert Lowell's NYC Studiohttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/house-of-the-day-poet-robert-lowells-nyc-studio/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/house-of-the-day-poet-robert-lowells-nyc-studio/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/04/04/house-of-the-day-poet-robert-lowells-nyc-studio/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Lowell (pictured below left) was clearly a troubled man. His celebrated but melancholy poems, "For the Union Dead" and "To Speak of Woe That Is in Marriage," paint a picture of a lonely soul. And though we get the whole "tortured artist" thing (so chic!), what we can't understand is how anyone could be unhappy in this home.

Lowell's wonderfully bright writing atelier, located on Manhattan's Upper West Side "artist's block," seems perpetually radiant with northeastern sunlight and cinematic views over New York City's leafy, brownstone-studded West Side.

The home's beautiful, arched lobby is decorated with murals painted in 1906 by Robert V. Sewell and the space boasts soaring ceilings and large windows. It's located in a historic building built in 1905, and designed by architects Simonson, Pollard and Steinem of Hotel des Artistes fame. And it could be all yours for the modest (by New York standards, anyway) price of $685,000.

Though the apartment is small (it features just one bedroom, a sleeping loft and one bathroom), it has everything a writer could possibly need -- plus access to a stunning rooftop garden with more expansive views.

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Danica Cordell-Reeh of Halstead Property has the listing.

Click on the images below to see more homes for sale in New York, N.Y.



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Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email krisanne.alcantara@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to reply to each submission.)

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Upper West Side NY Real Estate Guide

 

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]]>Danica Cordell-Reeh Halstead PropertiesHalstead Propertieshome of the dayHouse of the DayManhattan apartmentspoet Robert Lowellpoets studioPollard SteinemRobert Lowell apartmentRobert Lowell studioRobert V. SewellSimonsonKrisanne Alcantara2012-04-04T06:00:00 00:00