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PRINCETON, N.J. — A helipad, private vineyard, two bowling alleys, 341,175 square feet, 123 bedrooms, 146 bathrooms, 80-plus horse stalls and a traditional Turkish spa. This is just a sampling of what you would get if you purchased each of the 11 most expensive homes for sale in the U.S., according to Ultimate Homes, an annual publication that ranks the country’s priciest residential real estate offerings.

The 2009 Ultimate Homes list begins with the $150 million Spelling estate in Holmby Hills, Calif. The prestigious “Top 10” list includes 11 properties this year because of a tie at “the bottom,” with four properties listed at $75 million. It would take more than $1 billion to buy each of the 11 top offerings at list price.

“The homes at the Ultimate level are not subject to normal market fluctuations,” said Publisher Rick Goodwin. “This is our fifth edition of Ultimate Homes — in 2005, $75 million topped the list. This year, there are seven properties more expensive than that.”

Ultimate Homes will be available on June 23. It is published within the June/July issue of Unique Homes magazine. Editors identified 314 homes for sale in the U.S. for $20 million or more. These are featured in the print edition. The entire list of more than 1,000 properties, down to $10.5 million, is available here, in the digital version of the magazine.  To view our exclusive video tour of the Top properties, click here.

Here’s a look at this year’s Top 11:

1. Candy Spelling, widow to the late producer Aaron Spelling, has put her Holmby Hills, Calif., estate on the market for $150 million. Known as The Manor, this French-style mansion rests on approximately 4.7 acres and offers roughly 56,500 square feet of luxurious living. Built in 1991, the home features a bowling alley, wine cellar/tasting room, a flower-cutting room and a silver storage room. Represented by Sally Forster Jones of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, and Jeff Hyland and Rick Hilton of Hilton & Hyland Real Estate, the property boasts a swimming pool, a citrus orchard and a tennis court.

2. Also in Holmby Hills, the $125 million Fleur de Lys is represented by Joyce Rey of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, and Robert Kass of Hilton & Hyland Real Estate. The 45,000-square-foot mansion lies on 5 acres boasting a pool house, a three-bedroom manager’s house, a nine-car garage and living quarters for 10 staff. The owner, Suzanne Saperstein, is the recently divorced wife of Texas millionaire David I. Saperstein. Fine touches such as gold-leaf crown molding, gold-embossed leather wall coverings, Italian marble walls and French limestone floors reportedly embellish the main house, which is modeled after France’s Versailles palace.                           

3. Sequestered in a pine and aspen forest on 210 magical acres of seclusion, Tranquility is one of the largest private landholdings at Lake Tahoe, Nev. The centerpiece of the property is Lake Tranquility, a serene private lake stocked with brown trout. Complementing the grand main residence, with more than 20,000 square feet of elegance, is a replica of the grand staircase built in the S.S.Titanic. Offered for $100 million by Shari Chase and Susan Lowe of Chase International, the estate’s furnishings, sumptuous textiles, distinctive porcelains, antiques and oil paintings in their original carved-wood frames are included in the sale.

4. Encompassing an unheard-of 12.5-acre parcel in prestigious Newport Beach, Calif., Villa del Lago is a world unto itself. The main residence brings pleasing Classical lines to the traditional Italian villa, featuring approximately 18,000 square feet of casually elegant living and enjoying ocean, canyon and city light views. The luxurious estate also boasts garaging for 20 cars, a private lake, guesthouse, guard house, stables and dressage arena, tennis compound and vineyard. Villa del Lago is presented by John McMonigle of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage at an asking price of $87 million.      
               

7. Along 396 feet of oceanfront, this gated residence in Del Mar, Calif., overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Built in 1937, the two-story home—listed by Brian D. Guiltinan, Prudential California Realty—offers nine bedrooms and six baths. Take in panoramic views from the stone patio or plunge into the shimmering pool. On more than 5.5 acres, there is plenty of space to make additions to the current home or build a second residence. Offered at $76 million, this magnificent, secluded estate is within a close proximity to Del Mar Village and the shops of Solana Beach.
   

9. The Hummingbird Nest Ranch, located in Simi Valley, Calif., was built on 123 acres in 2004 and is currently on the market for $75 million. Listed by Brooke Knapp and Drew Mandile of Sotheby’s International Realty, this world-class equestrian estate features a Mission Revival-style mansion of approximately 17,000 square feet, six guesthouses, 10 staff houses and hunter-jumper equestrian facilities. A grand prix arena, rubber and sand mixed ring, a derby grass field, a large main barn and a mare barn round out the grounds. A helipad provides easy access to the property.
       
10. With a listing price of $75 million, the Portabello Estate—meaning “beautiful door” in Italian—offers five-star luxury across three oceanfront lots. The magnificent estate in Cameo Shores, Corona del Mar, Calif., offers 30,000 square feet of pure opulence, including breathtaking water views from almost every room. Entertain within the bowling alley or the Art Deco theater. A multi-tier grotto with a pool, two spas and a swim-up bar help to characterize the charm of the Portabello Estate. Sengdao Vongruksukdi of Starlight Realty is currently marketing this magnificent beachfront property.      
           
11. Iron gates open to the ultimate of all great estates in Greenwich, Conn. This 40-acre property listed by David Ogilvy of David Ogilvy & Associates, Inc., features an unforgettable Jacobean manor and a fabulous winter garden. On the market for $75 million, the home’s interior is defined by a library with a 15th-century fireplace mantel, a glass-walled music room, a wine cellar, a 52-foot indoor pool and a dining room that leads to a solarium. Custom materials are found throughout the residence, including marble flooring, carved stone and woodwork, and tracery ceilings.   
 

Robert Sonneman, a pioneer of modern lighting, was the host of Lighting by Gregory’s first Designer Night on Thursday, June 4.

Influenced by modernist movements of the 20th Century, Sonneman began designing lighting in the 1960s that combined form and function. Orbiter, which happens to be one of Sonneman’s first designs, is a solid example of how form and function come together to create a functional art form.

The collection is also formed around the idea that lighting is "a marriage of art and commerce," explains Sonneman. As a designer, Sonneman understands the importance of offering an enduring product, a sentiment he described to the media, photographers and guests who were among the first to view his display yesterday evening at Lighting by Gregory. Sonneman presents only the highest quality products to his customers. 

Evolving from the modernist platform, Sonneman recognized the need for ornamental elements, especially in the American industry. While maintaining the notion that there is an elegance in simplicity and that quality prevails, Sonneman began incorporating a decorative angle in his lighting.

"I try to use ornamental detail in a very subtle and sparing way," says Sonneman. "I use shape, articulation, scale and geometric details to gratify the emotional need to attach beauty to decoration. I always try to simplify and to touch the object with a light hand."

Taking a cue from the 1930s Shanghai Deco period, Sonneman’s Shanghai light fixture is considered to be the most decorative of his designs.

Sonneman is continually challenging the design spectrum and exploring architectural influences and concludes that his best design "is the next one."

Lighting by Gregory—For 25 years Lighting by Gregory has been dedicated to providing the public and contractors the highest quality lighting. One of the largest lighting and ceiling fan retailers in New York, Lighting by Gregory offers hundreds of thousands of modern and contemporary lighting and products throughout its 7,500-square-foot showroom.

—Lauren Varga & Sarah Binder

Photos courtesy of Sonneman.

Unique Homes is visiting Barbados to tour new luxury real estate opportunities. This is the final blog from our press trip:

Throughout the week, Unique Homes has taken its readers down the west coast of Barbados to fine restaurants, across inland parishes to gullies, and to the east coast where the rough Atlantic waters make for perfect surfing conditions. Readers may have wondered how these excursions related to real estate. It’s simple. When buyers purchase real estate in Barbados—on the west or east coasts—they’re getting more than just square footage. Owners are purchasing culture, recreation, tradition and pride. All of the places Unique Homes traveled represent the pieces that make Barbados a Caribbean hotspot.

In Paynes Bay, St. James, there are two exceptional real estate options that afford charm, luxury and Caribbean flair. Beach View and Sandy Cove are both distinctive developments with their own character.

Beach View Condo Hotel—Guests and residents of Beach View Condo Hotel are welcomed into a three-acre paradise that blends into the island atmosphere. The property offers four 3-story structures with 36 two- and three-bedroom units that range from $600,000 to $925,000 (fully furnished). Only nine units remain on the market.

Step into any unit and immediately capture views of the calm Caribbean Sea, which is located just beyond the property. An open floor plan allows sunlight to rush in and sounds of the ocean to form the musical accompaniment to a picture-perfect lifestyle.

Balconies and patios of each unit look out onto two pools—one for kids and one for adults. Because Beach View is a family oriented environment, a kids’ pool was a must. And beyond the enchanting floor plans, great location and pristine property is an even more enticing feature. Beach View Condo Hotel offers its buyers the opportunity to take part in a rental pool. The idea behind the pool is that a purchased unit can be used while it is unoccupied by its owner. This setup could potentially help offset the overall price of the condo unit and turn an even bigger investment.

Sandy Cove—Located directly on the beach, Sandy Cove’s property is comprised of 15 units in total, eight of which are currently on the market. Prices range from a $3 million resale to an $8.5 million penthouse.

Unique Homes was welcomed into unit 202, listed for $3.75 million. The 2,895-square-foot abode offered the finest finishes, a grand kitchen with high-end appliances, an abundance of storage space, three bedrooms and three and one-half baths. A large balcony off of the main living area beckoned us to take a glimpse. On the balcony, we found a plunge pool, room to host guests and private access to the property’s lovely pool and spa. Indoors and out, Sandy Cove raises the bar for island living.

Whether it be a fully furnished unit overlooking the Caribbean, or a residence on the sand with private access to the pool and beach, there is always a common denominator: great weather, friendly people, and a rich culture in Barbados.

—Lauren Varga

Unique Homes is visiting Barbados to tour new luxury real estate opportunities. This is the third blog from our press trip:

It is said that rum has been produced on the island of Barbados since 1663. A legal deed provides evidence that Tyrell field—today known as Mount Gay—had in its possession the necessary equipment to make rum from 1703. The equipment included stone windmills, a boiling house with seven coppers, one curing house and a still house.

For more than 300 years, Mount Gay Rum has been producing fine spirits for Barbadians and more than 60 countries worldwide. Today, Unique Homes Luxury Media got a special tour of Mount Gay Rum and learned about the rum process and the alcohols served in the country’s popular, local rum shops. 

Between the months of February and June sugar cane is harvested on the island of Barbados. The cane takes 12-18 months to mature and is then taken to the sugar refinery where the fermentation process takes places. During fermentation, juice is squeezed from the cane fibers and boiled. The residue that remains after boiling is molasses—a thick, black syrup that is combined with Barbados water and slowly transformed into alcohol.

The molasses is transported to Mount Gay where a process of distillation, aging and maturation and blending result in four quality rum products. Mount Gay offers two distillation processes: single and double distillation. In a single distillate, alcohol is made through a continuous fractional distillation in a Coffey Still; 97 percent alcohol by volume. During double distillation, pot stills, which are copper stills that date back to the 1700s, are used to produce an alcohol that offers more flavor and is 86 percent alcohol by volume.

The aging and maturation stage takes place next. Here, the distillates are stored away for several years in while-oak barrels. The barrels give the alcohol a smoky flavor and a dark coloration.

Last, the single and double distillates are blended by Mount Gay’s master blender. The blends differ in age, taste and aromas.

Rum and sugar cane are only two products that keep Barbados’ economy booming. The country’s real estate market, tourism board and sporting events also lend to its stability. In our final blog we will report on Barbados’ luxury real estate market. 

—Lauren Varga

Unique Homes is visiting Barbados to tour new luxury real estate opportunities. This is the second blog from our press trip:

Gullies—formed when large water deposits rush through soil creating divots and waterways that lead into a larger body of water, or after a cave collapses and leaves a sizable sink hole—serve as conservation areas and eco-friendly environs for Barbados. Unique Homes toured two gullies today and got a taste of the adventurous and historic side of the island.

The first gully we toured was located in St. Thomas, Barbados and is known as Jack In The Box Gully. A series of seven ziplines carries a rider across tree tops high above the eco-system of the gully. At each of the eight platforms reached, two tour guides provide background on the island, its eco-system and the natural habitat of the gully. Our guides, Richard and Lucas, ensured that the entire experience was exhilarating and educational.

A lesson learned in the Jack In The Box Gully:  Don’t brake too quickly; speed is key on the zipline. Barbados’ name originates from the Portuguese. When the Portuguese came to the island they found Bearded Fig Trees, which are still in existence inside the gully. The tree grows vines from its trunk that hang down as if the tree is sporting a long beard. Because of this, the Portuguese decided that Los Barbad—meaning bearded man—was an appropriate name. When the English gained control of the island, the name changed to Barbados.

Later in the day, Unique Homes took a tour of Hunte’s Gardens, a gully created by horticulturalist Anthony Hunte. Mr. Hunte said that the gardens contain more plant specimens than he can even imagine. In fact, he could not even give a ballpark number.

We lost ourselves along stone pathways and found a hidden retreat. Benches and resting areas were positioned within the garden to sit, relax and take in all the different serene feelings of the environment. While taking in the sites, calming classical music pipes from Mr. Hunte’s home, located at the top of the gully.

With true Bajan hospitality, Mr. Hunte invited us into his home, where we tried his exceptional punch and some coconut water, a local’s beverage of choice.

Tomorrow, Unique Homes will report on the process of rum making after a visit to Mount Gay Visitor Center.

—Lauren Varga
 

Unique Homes is visiting Barbados to tour new luxury real estate opportunities. This is the first blog from our press trip:

We touched down on Barbados‘ west coast—known as the Platinum Coast for its powder-soft beaches, crystal clear waters and manicured properties—in the parish of Christ Church at 1:10 p.m. (EST). The Barbadians wasted no time getting us settled in to Barbados, the most-eastern island in the Caribbean. By 3 p.m., we were checked into a room at the Beach View Hotel in St. James and was sitting poolside, overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Mirroring Barbadian style, we arrived at The Tides in an elegant, conservative fashion. The evening began with the serving of a traditional rum punch cocktail. A fresh Caesar salad and grilled jumbo shrimp appetizer, followed by sorbet to cleanse the pallet lead into the evening’s main dish. Pan-seared mahi-mahi over a creamy dish of risotto was presented as the main entree. No knife was necessary; the flaky, soft fish gently glided onto the fork with ease. And for dessert, a sweet Mars Bar and Oreo cheesecake, topped with a sliced strawberry; delicious!

Follow Unique Homes’ travels throughout the remainder of this week. Tomorrow, we journey to the eastern border of Barbados for zip-lining and a tour of St. Nicholas Abbey.

—Lauren Varga

DENVER, CO—May 12, 2009—Integrated Asset Services®, LLC (IAS®) (www.iasreo.com), a leading provider of end-to-end mortgage services solutions, today released its latest IAS360™ House Price Index. Based on the timeliest and most granular data available in the industry, the benchmark index showed national house prices falling another 1.0% in March.

The March numbers come on top of a 3.0% drop in February and a 3.5% plunge in January, the index’s worst single-month decline ever. On a year-over-year basis, U.S. house prices are now down 13.9%, with a full 10.7% coming since September when the economy began unwinding. IAS360 reports prices down 17.7 % from the height of the real estate bubble in 2006.

At the U.S. Census region levels, declines in house prices correlated to initial unemployment claims in the respective areas. Of the four regions, IAS360 reported the Midwest region falling the most in March, with a 2.5% drop for the month. At the same time, the Labor of Bureau Statistics reported the region registering the highest number of initial unemployment claims (81,957) for the same period. Among the other regions, house prices fell 1.3% in the South, 0.8% in the West, and remained unchanged in the Northeast, which also reported the smallest number of initial jobless claims.

“There was at least some leveling off in house prices for March but it’s too soon to call it a rebound in the housing market,” said Dave McCarthy, President and CEO of Integrated Asset Services. “We’ll keep looking at prices at the county level to see if there’s any cumulative light emerging at the end of the tunnel.”

Among metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), IAS360 reports that five out of ten largest MSAs in the U.S. are down 20% or more since the housing market crashed in December 2006. San Francisco, the country’s hardest hit MSA, fell another 3.1% in March, mostly the result of Alameda County, which declined 10.6%. IAS360’s unique granular data showed that two counties in the San Francisco MSA—Contra Costa and Marin—appreciated for the period gaining 1.7% and 0.6% respectively. Las Vegas, the nation’s second most distressed MSA, was down 2.7%.  Los Angeles, meanwhile, appeared as one of the few bright spots anywhere, with house prices gaining 0.2% for the month, the first time this MSA has seen an increase since April 2008. Inside the region, IAS360 shows Orange County declining 3.2% while Los Angeles County rose 1.1%.

The IAS360 House Price Index is a comprehensive housing index tracking monthly change in the median sales price of detached single-family residences across the U.S. The index, based on all arms-length transactions, tracks data of 15,000 “neighborhoods,” which are rolled up to report on the changes in 360 counties, nine census divisions, four regions, and the nation overall. The IAS360 House Price Index is delivered on a monthly basis.

(Las Vegas, Nev.) Prudential Americana Group’s top Nevada real estate team has added a new facet to its luxury sales division. Cristine Lefkowitz and her team of luxury high-rise real estate sales professionals have joined Shapiro & Sher Group. Shapiro & Sher have been one of the state’s top luxury home sales teams for several years.

“Cristine’s expertise in luxury high rise real estate was a perfect match for Shapiro & Sher Group,” said Ivan Sher, partner. “Despite the Las Vegas real estate market, our team finished third in North America last year for gross commission income among thousands of Prudential teams. And we continue to grow by providing the best listings and most talented luxury sales professionals in the industry.”
 
“Shapiro & Sher and Lefkowitz & Team sell the best luxury properties in Las Vegas,  so it is a perfect fit to work together,” said Lefkowitz. “We now dominate the luxury real estate market in Las Vegas and look forward to continued growth and success.”

Unique Homes magazine’s evening at Twenty9th Park Madison’s art gallery opening, featuring works by Miguel Trelles, began at the main lobby entrance where we were greeted by inviting hosts decked out in sophisticated attire.

Developer Espais Promocions Immobiliaries teamed with the Gabarron Foundation—a non-profit organization that helps support and expose emerging Spanish-speaking artists and is a center for Spanish and South American art and culture in New York—to provide Twenty9th Park Madison’s residents with an enriching cultural opportunity.

“Twenty9th Park Madison has residents from all over the world, and we wanted to provide them with a unique cultural experience as well as the opportunity to support a neighborhood non-profit organization that encourages cultural diversity and cooperation,” says Andres Hogg, U.S. General Manager of Espais.

Our night continued on as we caught a ride on an elevator to the 22nd floor where 17 artworks by Trelles adorned the walls of three separate apartments. Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments within the condo building span from 536 square feet to 1,309 square feet and are highlighted by the finest finishes. Prices on these units range from $635,000 to $2 million.

Another elevator ride to a two-bedroom, two-bath model penthouse revealed awe-inspiring views from floor-to-ceiling windows. Twenty9th Park Madison offers 10 penthouse units on the top four floors. Penthouses range from 1,255 square feet to 2,070 square feet in space and start at $2.3 million.

Interior spaces are designed with exceptional taste. Teak hardwoods map out the floor plans; Bosch stacked in-unit washers/dryers are situated for convenience; limestone tiling, soaking tubs and separate showers with rain shower heads are positioned for relaxing in the bath retreats; and top-of-the-line kitchen appliances are in place for the food connoisseur.

But, perhaps the most splendid piece of artwork and the highpoint of Unique Homes’ evening was our arrival at Twenty9th Park Madison’s rooftop. Here, views of the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings immediately caught our eyes. Quaint sitting areas and barbecue stations are set up for small gatherings or larger events.

A silent auction of Trelles’ pieces rounded out our evening. Proceeds from the auction went to support the work of the Gabarron Foundation.

Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy’s new development division is the exclusive marketing and sales agent for Twenty9th Park Madison.

—Sarah Binder & Lauren Varga