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      in Vacation Homes

      For the Price of a Tiny N.YC. Apartment, You Could Snag a Sprawling Villa in Calabria, Italy

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      New York City is consistently one of the most expensive places to live, so it’s no wonder more and more Big Apple residents are packing up their postage-stamp apartments and heading abroad in search of more space for less money. And, if you’re considering pulling a real-life Emily in Paris and escaping to Europe, you might be pleasantly surprised just how much more bang for your buck you can get when it comes to real estate. 

      A new study from My Dolce Casa, an expat-oriented blog about living and retiring overseas, has done the hard part and calculated what the same amount of money can buy you in the Mediterranean versus Manhattan. The website based its research on Realtor.com’s median listing price for a 500-square-foot apartment in New York City, which was approximately $750,000 or $1,500 per square foot. Using that value as a guide, it then determined what size house you would be able to purchase for a similar cost in countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and France. Let’s just say the results are nothing short of enticing. 

      You can buy three times as much space in Spain compared to Manhattan.

      David Zorrakino/Europa Press via Getty Images

      During the pandemic, Americans descended on Italy for a taste of la dolce vita. When it comes to getting the most for your money in Bel Paese, the mountainous region of Molise—due east of Rome on the Adriatic coast—topped the chart in terms of value with an average price per square foot of $90. Here, for example, $750,000 will get you a sprawling 8,333-square-foot villa. Similarly, if you wanted to settle down further south in Calabria, the same amount of money would afford a whopping 8,242 square feet of space, which translates to about $91 per square foot. By comparison, a condo of that size would run you upwards of $12 million in Manhattan, according to The New York Times. 

      Spain’s Castilla-La Mancha, a vast region in the center of the country, landed in third place. The desert-like area includes the historic city of Toledo and was the setting of the famous Don Quixote novel. It also has the country’s lowest population density, so essentially it’s the complete opposite of New York City. Here, you can expect a home as large as 7,813 square feet, while over in Extremadura, which borders Portugal, you could pick up a 7,426-square-foot country home. For all The White Lotus fans, the Italian island of Sicily notched the fifth spot. With an average price per square foot of $104, you could live big like Quentin (Tom Hollander) in your very own 7,212-square-foot palazzo. 

      Real estate on Crete costs on average $215 per square foot.

      Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images

      Greece has long drawn tourists during the summer months, but if putting down roots in the so-called cradle of Western civilization appeals to you, for the price of a 500-square-foot studio in Manhattan, you could snap up a 5,859-square-foot abode in Thessaly, one of the most important regions of ancient Greece and known for its impressive mountain ranges and idyllic landscapes. On the other hand, if pink-sand beaches, archaeological sites, and a thriving wine scene float your expat boat, you could stretch out in a scenic 3,488-square-foot villa on Crete, Greece’s largest island.

      You can find the full ranking below.

      RegionCountryHome Size (square feet)MoliseItaly8,333CalabriaItaly8,242Castilla-La ManchaSpain7,813ExtremaduraSpain7,426SicilyItaly7,212UmbriaItaly6,944BasilicataItaly6,356AbruzzoItaly6,303Castilla y LeónSpain6,148PugliaItaly5,952MurciaSpain5,906ThessalySpain5,859PiedmontItaly5,769ThraceSpain5,556La RiojaSpain5,474CentralSpain5,474AsturiasSpain5,245GaliciaSpain5,245AragónSpain5,102Friuli-Venezia GiuliaItaly5,068

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      in Luxury

      Former MLB Owner’s Pebble Beach Estate Goes for a Record $45 Million

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      Though it was never officially on the market, former San Diego Padres owner John Moores’s lavish Pebble Beach home just sold for a whopping $45 million, making it the priciest residential transaction in Monterey County to date, surpassing the $40 million transfer of a historic Carmel Highlands estate to Brad Pitt in 2022. As first reported by The Real Deal, the buyer of the aptly named Masterpiece on 18, which was most recently promoted with a $55 million ask, is an as-yet-unnamed entity tied to the LLC WhiteApple DE.

      “We are delighted that we could orchestrate a successful discreet marketing and sale of our client’s estate, one of only five prestigious homes located on the 18th hole of this iconic golf course,” said Tim Allen of Coldwell Banker Realty, who repped Moores in the deal. “The allure of unparalleled amenities and spectacular ocean views awaiting the new owners has propelled this closing to an all-time record high for Monterey County home sales.”

      The home is nestled alongside what is perhaps the most recognizable finishing hole in golf.

      Sherman Chu

      Records show Moores and his now ex-wife Rebecca acquired the property for $7 million in 1994, the same year the wealthy Texas-born software company founder and venture capitalist purchased a majority share of the Padres Major League Baseball franchise from Tom Werner Group for around $80 million (Moores sold the team for $800 million in 2012 and was voted into the Padres Hall of Fame last year). The couple subsequently had an existing home razed and enlisted Texas-based Robert E. Griffin Architects to design a brand-new limestone and domed copper roof structure, which was completed in 1996.

      Nestled amid a nearly 1.8-acre parcel overlooking the 18th fairway of the exclusive Pebble Beach Golf Links and Pacific Ocean, the striking residence features a total of five bedrooms and 10 baths sprawled across 10,500 square feet of single-level living space decked out with radiant-heated stone floors, plaster walls, warm wood accents, and vast expanses of glass. There’s also a four-car tiled and heated garage, plus a guest suite.

      A spacious fireside living room offers up a view of a grand cypress and the crashing waves of the Pacific.

      Sherman Chu

      Additional highlights include a sleekly designed kitchen outfitted with dual islands and top-notch appliances, along with a handsome fireside office and a sumptuous primary suite boasting a luxe bath. Outdoors, the landscaped grounds host a putting green, a greenhouse, a pond flanked by bear sculptures (though the bears are not part of the sale), and a duo of large stone-clad patios—one in the front with a fireplace and a bronze trellis and the other out back holding a kitchen setup and two fire-pits.

      Click here for more photos of John Moores’s Pebble Beach home.

      Sherman Chu More

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      in Luxury

      Kanye West’s Tadao Ando-Designed Malibu House Sells at a $36 Million Loss

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      Back in fall 2021, Kanye West doled out a whopping $57.3 million in cash for an oceanfront Malibu house designed by noted Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Shortly afterward, the music mogul-turned-Yeezy fashion designer controversially gutted the residence in preparation for a redesign, ripping out all the windows, doors, and interior finishes before changing his mind and flipping the vacant and uninhabitable concrete shell back on the market this past January at a steep $53 million. Alas, there were no takers, and within a few months the price had been slashed all the way down to $39 million. Now, after nearly three years languishing and exposed to the elements, the property is finally in escrow to be sold for $21 million—a staggering $36 million less than West paid.

      As first report by The Real Deal, the discount-minded buyer is Belwood Investments, a California-based real estate crowdfunding firm that’s been flipping homes since 2018. The new owner plans to raise at least $5 million to restore the unfinished property to its original state over the next 12 to 16 months and then put it back up for sale at around $40 million.

      “We are incredibly excited about the acquisition of this property,” said Belwood founder and owner Steven “Bo” Belmont via a press release. “This is not just a phenomenal real estate investment; it is an opportunity to revitalize and preserve an architectural gem by the renowned Tadao Ando, ensuring it remains a jewel of Malibu. This acquisition exemplifies Belwood Investments’ commitment to transforming properties with historical and architectural significance while delivering exceptional returns for our investors.”

      The Malibu Road home before West stripped it of windows, doors and all interior fittings.

      Apple Maps

      Originally designed and built for financier and art collector Richard Sachs by the Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect, the 4,000-square-foot residence was completed in 2013 in collaboration with the architecture firm Marmol Radziner using 1,200 tons of concrete and 200 tons of reinforced steel. Though current photos are scarce, listings show the house was designed with four bedrooms and five baths in just over 4,000 square feet, with roughly 1,500 square feet of outdoor decks providing ocean views, but it’s currently devoid of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and interior finishes.

      A broker price opinion report prepared for Belwood by Rugiero estimates the property’s final value once restored will top $50 million, while other brand-new or freshly rehabbed homes along this same stretch of sand typically go for around $20 million. However, the Brutalist structure is one of only a handful of U.S. buildings designed by the 82-year-old Ando, who’s been called “Hollywood’s favorite starchitect” and whose homes are regarded as “the hottest must-have among the super wealthy.” 

      In 2023, Jay-Z and Beyoncé paid $190 million for a much larger Malibu estate designed by Ando in a deal that remains one of the most ever paid for a California home. Kim Kardashian is planning to build an extravagant Ando-designed vacation mansion near Palm Springs, and Slack co-founder Stewart Butterfield and his wife Jen Rubio bought Tom Ford’s Ando-designed ranch in New Mexico in 2021 for $40 million.

      West, who remains a successful record producer and one of the best-selling musicians of all time, seems to be shifting away from real estate ownership. His other L.A. property, in Calabasas, where his now shuttered Donda Academy was located, has fallen into a state of neglect, and when he’s not out traveling the globe with his typically scantily clad wife Bianca Censori, he frequently bunks up for months at a time in some of the poshest hotels in Los Angeles, including the Chateau Marmont and the oceanfront Nobu Ryokan in Malibu. More

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      in Luxury

      An Instagram Celeb Lists His South Florida House for $4.2 Million

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      After three years of ownership, Josh Ostrovsky is ready to offload his coastal oasis in South Florida’s tony Miami Shores enclave, just minutes from downtown Miami. Records show the social media influencer-turned-canned wine mogul—known to his 9.5 million Instagram fans as “The Fat Jewish”—has hoisted the midcentury-modern house up for sale at $4.25 million, or nearly double the $2.5 million he and wife Caitlin King paid for the place a little over three years ago, in summer 2021.

      Originally designed by noted architect Joseph J. DeBrita and completed in 1950, the sprawling white stucco and stone-accented structure rests amid an angled corner parcel spanning nearly half an acre. Recently renovated, the so-called Panorama House offers five bedrooms and an equal number of baths in a little more than 3,800 square feet of two-level living space boasting terrazzo floors and wood-beam ceilings.

      The living room has a stacked-stone fireplace and large windows overlooking the lush grounds.

      Lifestyle Production Group/ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

      Highlights include a living room displaying a stacked-stone fireplace and a bar, plus a dining area with glass doors opening out to a vast hexagon-shaped loggia featuring a newly installed barbecue station. Also standing out is the sleekly designed Italian kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island and top-tier appliances, as well as a primary suite that comes complete with a walk-in closet and a spa-like bath sporting a steam shower and a floating vanity with dual sinks.

      Elsewhere is a separate guest suite, along with a large window-lined flex space that’s currently being used as a screening/recreation room. In addition to the aforementioned loggia, the landscaped grounds also host a 42-foot pool with a Baja shelf. Per the listing, which is shared by George Burns and David Pullman of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, there’s also a two-car garage and plenty of room for a tennis/pickleball court.

      A sweeping hexagon-shaped loggia out back is ideal for lounging and entertaining.

      Lifestyle Production Group/ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

      According to the New York Post, the couple is selling because Ostrovsky doesn’t want to be a homeowner anymore. “It’s a lot of work, with landscaping and all, and he’s coming from New York and not used to it,” Burns told the media outlet. “Maybe he’ll find another deal. But he’s a very transient person and he could land anywhere after this.” 

      Born in New York City and previously dubbed by Time magazine as one of “The 30 Most Influential People on the Internet,” Ostrovsky is probably best known for his risqué memes and viral videos. But he also co-founded a canned wine brand that was acquired in 2019 by beverage giant Anheuser-Busch in what was the company’s largest wine investment ever made at the time.

      Click here for more photos of Joshua Ostrovsky’s Florida home.

      Lifestyle Production Group/ONE Sotheby’s International Realty More

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      in Luxury

      A Hollywood Screenwriter Asks $4.2 Million for His Coastal California Retreat

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      Nestled alongside rocky cypress-lined cliffs draped over the Pacific, homes in Central California’s affluent Carmel Highlands enclave have long drawn well-known characters ranging from Vertigo star Kim Novak to millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett. One particularly craggy thoroughfare, just off Highway 1, also holds the oceanfront beach house where Sharon Stone’s character Catherine Tramell resided in the film Basic Instinct. And nearby is the landmark D.L. James estate, which was purchased in 2022 by Brad Pitt for a whopping $40 million.

      Now another particularly eye-catching structure in the neighborhood long owned by Richard Outten has hit the market, asking $4.25 million. Records show the Hollywood screenwriter—probably best known for his work on the 2012 Warner Bros. adventure film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, starring Michael Caine, Dwayne Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, and Josh Hutcherson—originally paid $990,000 for the dark wood-sided abode a little over 14 years ago, back in spring 2010.

      An open-concept great room is comprised of a living and dining area, plus an updated kitchen.

      Sherman Chu

      RELATED: This $8 Million Spanish-Style Charmer in Carmel Will Make You Brad Pitt’s Neighbor

      Completed in the early 1950s and on the market for only the third time in the past 70 years, the midcentury modern house is tucked away on a little over a third of an acre of gated land sited near beaches and the charming downtown village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Inside, a total of three bedrooms and two full baths can be found in almost 1,800 square feet of “preserved and stylishly updated” living space overlooking views of Bird Island, Point Lobos, and beyond.

      Highlights include an open-concept great room displaying a living area resting beneath a high whitewashed wood-beam ceiling and sporting a wood-burning brick fireplace flanked by window seats, as well as built-in cabinetry and a wall of sliding glass doors opening to a rear patio. A dining spot connects to the tiled kitchen, which is outfitted with a breakfast bar and stainless Bosch, Frigidaire, and KitchenAid appliances.

      An expansive rear patio is ideal for relaxing and entertaining guests.

      Sherman Chu

      RELATED: Clint Eastwood’s Onetime Seaside Retreat in California Is Up for Grabs at $21 Million

      Next to the kitchen is a workspace with an integrated desk, while a hallway passes through a breezeway before emptying out at a primary bedroom with a shower-equipped bath and a laundry area. A separate wing on the opposite end of the house has a bath and two bedrooms, one of which has been converted into a wood-paneled office; and outdoors, the woodsy grounds host meandering pathways winding past sustainable succulent gardens and an attached one-car garage.

      Per the listing, which is held by Tim Allen of the Tim Allen Properties Team with Coldwell Banker Realty in Northern California, there’s also private beach access.

      Click here for more photos of Richard Outten’s house.

      Sherman Chu More

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      in Luxury

      J.Lo and Chris Judd’s SoCal Wedding Pad Sails on the Market for $7.2 Million

      by

      It’s been over two decades since Jennifer Lopez met Cris Judd on the set of her Love Don’t Cost a Thing music video and subsequently tied the knot with the dancer and choreographer before 170 guests in a “secret” ceremony held at a private residence in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas. Alas, the marriage ended a few short months later when the multi-hyphenate entertainer filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. The sprawling French chateau-inspired mansion where the nuptials were held, however, is still standing; and it just popped up for sale with a $7.25 million price tag.

      Nestled beyond a double-gated driveway and a motorcourt on over 10 acres within the exclusive Cold Creek Estates enclave, the four-story structure was custom-built in the late 1990s and offers sweeping canyon and mountain views. Inside, six bedrooms and 11 baths are filtered across a little more than 11,000 square feet of multi-level living space boasting an elevator to all levels, hand-distressed white oak floors, high wood-beam ceilings, and French-imported hardware.

      A soaring glass conservatory opens to the garden-laced grounds.

      The Luxury Level

      An expansive entry foyer displaying an ornate chandelier and a curving floating staircase segues via a hallway into a glass-walled conservatory overlooking the gardens, with additional amenities including a subterranean wine cellar and tasting room, a media/poker room, a sauna-equipped gym, and a rooftop observatory, plus a one-bedroom guest cottage and a four-car garage.

      Among the other highlights are a fireside living room and a formal dining room, as well as a handsome library and a family room with a bar. There’s also a gourmet kitchen decked out with marble countertops, an eat-in island, top-tier La Cornue and Sub-Zero appliances, and a separate breakfast room. An adjoining den has a stone fireplace and a wall of built-in bookshelves, while a sumptuous upstairs primary suite is adorned with not one but three fireplaces, a seating area, a private balcony, two walk-in closets, and a luxe bath flaunting dual vanities and a spa tub.

      A covered poolside pavilion features a barbecue station and stone fireplace.

      The Luxury Level

      Definitely not to be left out are the picturesque park-like grounds, which are laced with gardens and meandering pathways and host an infinity-edge pool fed by a waterfall that rests next to an open-air pavilion holding a barbecue station and a fireplace, along with a vine-covered gazebo, a koi pond, a greenhouse, and a citrus orchard.

      The listing, which is held by Jeff Biebuyck and Dana Olmes with the Frontgate Team at Compass, comes on the heels of the announcement of Lopez officially filing for a divorce from Ben Affleck this month after just over two years of marriage. While the couple’s Beverly Hills marital home is currently up for sale at $68 million, both are moving on to new residences. Affleck doled out $20.5 million for a Cliff May-designed equestrian property in Brentwood and Lopez, who finally sold her Manhattan penthouse that had been on the market since 2017 for $23 million, has been spotted at her $10 million Hamptons estate and seeking a new place in L.A.

      Click here for more photos of J.Lo and Cris Judd’s wedding house.

      The Luxury Level More

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      in Luxury

      President Eisenhower’s Secret London Hideaway Lists for $11.8 Million

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      Telegraph Cottage, President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s hideaway on the outskirts of London during the months leading up to D-Day, was gutted by fire in 1987 but has since been painstakingly rebuilt and restored to its former grandeur. Known today as Telegraph House, the palatial pad is now up for grabs, asking a cool £8.95 million (or about $11.8 million).

      According to the listing, the original cottage served as Eisenhower’s principal residence and wartime headquarters from 1942 to 1945. During that time, only his close circle of confidants and staff knew that the five-star general was living there.

      After a fire tore through the property in the ’80s, five detached houses were erected within a 4.7-acre gated development known as the Coombe Estate. The current dwelling is one of those that currently occupies the site within the enclave that’s about half an hour outside Central London and is where other notable residents have included British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.

      RELATED: Londoners Stopped a Multimillion-Dollar Party Yacht From Cruising the River Thames. Here’s Why.

      French doors open to a rear garden.

      Harrods Estates

      “Telegraph House is an exceptional property, not only for its opulent modern amenities but also for its profound historical significance,” Shaun Drummond, residential director at Harrods Estates, said in a press statement. “Built on the site of President Eisenhower’s clandestine wartime residence, this neo-Georgian detached house masterfully combines timeless elegance with contemporary comfort. 

      RELATED: This $77 Million Penthouse Hovers Above London’s Hyde Park

      “During the Second World War, the original Telegraph Cottage provided Eisenhower with a peaceful retreat, offering him respite amidst some of the most critical moments in history. Today, this prestigious location affords a lifestyle that echoes the tranquility and convenience once sought by one of the 20th century’s most influential figures,” Drummond continued. 

      The kitchen has a marble waterfall island.

      Harrods Estates

      In its current form, the neo-Georgian manse comprises seven bedrooms across its 12,476 square feet. Of course, there has been a slew of modern upgrades since Eisenhower’s time, including the addition of central air conditioning throughout, a heat source recovery system, and a working elevator. Other standout amenities include an orangery, a 35-foot indoor swimming pool, a cinema room, a private gym, and a rear garden. 

      Potential buyers will also find a dramatic double-height reception hall upon entry, plus a swanky chef’s kitchen equipped with top-of-the-line appliances from Gaggenau, Wolf, and Sub-Zero. The place is decked out with its fair share of fine, high-end finishes too. Think stunning marble fireplaces, custom built-ins, and a grand staircase. 

      “Telegraph House is a true treasure, presenting an extraordinary way of life within a setting rich in history,” added Drummond.

      Click here to see more photos of Telegraph House. 

      Harrods Estates

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

      Read More More

    • 163 Shares159 Views

      in Luxury

      Adam Goldberg’s Traditional 1950s Home in L.A. Could Be Yours for $3.5 Million

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      It’s been a little over five years since actor Adam Goldberg doled out $2.5 million—$200,000 over the asking price—for a renovated 1950s home in Los Angeles. Now The Equalizer star and his designer/illustrator wife Roxanne Daner are looking to offload their traditional digs in a serene enclave of Los Feliz with a million-dollar jump in price, asking a speck under $3.5 million. The listing is held by Robert Kallick and Laura Martinez of Compass.

      Nestled amid a fenced and gated parcel spanning less than a quarter of an acre, the wood-sided and brick-accented structure was built and designed in the early 1950s by architect David Freedman. Renovated and modernized during the previous owner’s tenure, the premises feature five bedrooms and four baths in a little more than 3,300 square feet of two-level living space boasting many of the original architectural details. There’s also a detached two-car garage out back.

      A combined living and dining area opens to a covered balcony ideal for al fresco entertaining.

      Kevin Abesamis/Neue Focus

      RELATED: Alexandra Daddario Lists Midcentury Treehouse in L.A. for $3 Million

      Among the highlights is a stone-clad foyer that flows to a combination living and dining area sporting a white brick fireplace and accordion-style glass doors spilling out to a covered balcony that has a spiral staircase leading down to the backyard. Sitting adjacent is the kitchen, which is outfitted with marble countertops, a subway tile backsplash, a large apron-front sink, an eat-in island, high-end stainless appliances, and an accompanying breakfast nook.

      Elsewhere on the main level are a laundry room and four bedrooms, including a primary suite that comes complete with a private balcony, a walk-through closet, and a bath flaunting a two-person sink, a built-in tub, and a separate shower. Another bedroom and full bath can be found on the lower level, which also has a kitchenette and a fireside family room that opens to a patio and a heated lap pool.

      The leafy backyard is shielded by greenery and hosts a heated lap pool.

      Kevin Abesamis/Neue Focus

      The 53-year-old California native has had roles in numerous TV shows—including God Friended Me, Fargo, Taken, Graves, and The Equalizer—and appeared in the films Dazed and Confused, Déjà Vu, A Beautiful Mind, Saving Private Ryan, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Zodiac. A self-proclaimed “jack of all trades,” he also is a filmmaker, musician, and photographer. Early last year, Goldberg and Daner picked up another renovated midcentury-modern home in the New York village of Nyack for $1.3 million.

      Click here for more photos of Adam Goldberg’s house.

      Kevin Abesamis/Neue Focus More