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The custom home is designed to resemble a 1700s Austrian-style cottage.

885 Hill Lane, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

For sale: $3,700,000

When Paul Arnold and his wife Elizabeth decided to build their custom home, they wanted something beyond fun. They wanted something fantastic.

Hence, "The Hobbit House" was born.

"As a framing contractor, I do hundreds of homes a year," explained Arnold. "To do something different and beautiful was always our mindset if we were going to do something for ourselves."

For years, Arnold has worked alongside Jim Brashers, a local expert in designing, constructing and renovating historic and period homes.

"We have built lots of really cool Disneyland-looking mountain cottages," explained Arnold. "My wife has always wanted to have a Jim Brasher-designed house."

The resulting property is something that belongs in a fairy tale -- literally. The 1700s European-style cottage that is more the size of a castle, ringing in at 6,640 square feet. It resides on a forested lot complete with a waterfall, and views of the lake. 

It is a most fascinating mix of whimsy and formidable architectural styling.

A carved stone entry and 3-foot thick door, built with trees from the property, lead into the home where visitors are greeted by a handmade dragon chandelier holding court over an enormous entryway with hickory floors. Most of the woodwork was hewn from trees on the property, including the cabinetry and paneling -- a decision made by Arnold's wife.

"She asked me if we could build the house without taking down any of the trees," said Arnold. His compromise was to build the house the best he could around the trees, and to incorporate the few trees that fell into the home's design.

Other whimsical details in the Reno-area home include a giant wood-burning fireplace, guest suites with small windows looking over a great hall, and an indoor pool that is only accessed by a stone bridge. An outdoor wine cellar is built into the side of the hill.

And of course, detailed murals cover many of the walls.

"That's a very favorite part of the house," Arnold says. "There was an artist in that house for months, and the artwork on the walls is spectacular."

Despite the rustic appeal, the home is firmly planted in the 21st century -- a blend of a "yesterday and tomorrow," says Arnold, who amped the home with technological details, including a controlled lighting system by Creston.

The 4-bedroom, 5.5-bath home is listed by Ronda Moll of Sierra Sotheby's International Realty.

According to Zillow's mortgage calculator, a monthly payment on the home would be $13,616 a month, assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year-fixed mortgage.

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A stone bridge is the only way into the indoor pool area.

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Many of the rooms are covered in murals.

See more photos of the storybook-style home on Zillow.

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President Obama is scheduled to start his Seattle visit at this home.

Updated and corrected, May 11: President Barack Obama visited Seattle Thursday for two fundraisers: Brunch at a private home, followed by an event at a downtown theater.

The brunch was held at the home of Democratic donors Ann and Bruce Blume, who also own a nearby home in Seattle that was recently listed for sale for $2.95 million.

As the race heats up between  Obama and Mitt Romney, the likely Republican nominee, the candidates are hitting the road to fill their coffers in an election that most agree will be the most expensive in history.

While Romney hits up the Midwest — he was in Indianapolis on Monday and Lansing, Mich., Tuesday — Obama is heading to the West Coast, with scheduled events in Seattle and Los Angeles.

Obama's last visit to Seattle was more of a public affair — he visited Boeing's plant in Everett and spoke to machinists there before attending a pair of political fundraisers. This time around, the visit focuses on fundraising and it starts with the private brunch at the Blumes'.

The Blumes own two homes in Seattle, one in the Madrona neighborhood, where the brunch was held, and a separate one in the Broadmoor neighborhood.

The Blumes' Broadmoor home, listed for sale, is a 1941 shingled Colonial with 6,880 square feet of living space on a generous lot and a half. The Broadmoor neighborhood is about three miles northeast of downtown Seattle, close to Lake Washington and the University of Washington's Arboretum. The  median list price for the area is $2.2 million.

The listing for the home describes a "perfect floor plan" with plenty of formal and informal spaces. No doubt the cash-seeking president will be spending time in the formal areas, like the wallpapered dining room and adjoining living room with paneled fireplace. If the weather holds, brunch could be held on the spacious outdoor stone terrace.

After Obama's visit to Seattle, his next stop is Hollywood, where he's scheduled to dine at George Clooney's home. That place is not reported for sale ... at this moment.

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Perhaps Obama will brunch in this formal dining room.

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A stone terrace may also be an ideal place for a Presidential visit.

See more photos of the home on Zillow.

(This story has been updated and corrected to reflect the location of the brunch event.)

This week in celebrity real estate, Barry Manilow and Ryan Seacrest re-listed their homes, and the home that billionaire Howard Hughes crashed his plane into is on the market.

Barry Manilow relists Malibu hideout with price drop

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Manilow's Malibu retreat overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Barry Manilow is back in the game -- at Radio City Music Hall and on the Malibu real estate market.

Not bad for the spike-haired crooner whose decades of hit-making and stellar concert performances have earned a loyal following.

The man who made "Mandy" -- a love song about a dog -- an indelible part of pop music has re-listed his contemporary-style home in Malibu for $6.95 million. That's a pretty steep drop from the $10.9 million Manilow first listed the beachfront compound back in 2009. But after a few years, four price drops and -- most startling, and a health scare earlier this year -- perhaps the singer is more eager to finalize a sale.

The news of the Malibu re-list comes as Manilow was performing in New York, where he's making up three shows that had been canceled in February due to health issues. According to reports, Manilow was still undergoing physical therapy after undergoing hip surgery.

Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, Manilow's Malibu home is ready for action, too. The property contains a main house with four bedrooms and walls of glass overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There is also a guest house across a private courtyard that offers additional living space. Manilow's retreat has been noted for its high fences, assuring privacy, and its location on the uber-desirable Malibu Road.

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The oceanfront home has patios overlooking the beach.

See more photos of Barry Manilow's home on Zillow.

Ryan Seacrest relists home for sale

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The listing for Ryan Seacrest's home has only been released with one photo.

Call it a real estate rerun. TV and radio host extraordinaire Ryan Seacrest has placed his Los Angeles home back on the market -- with a new price.

The "American Idol" host and television producer first listed the home in 2010 for $14.95 million. When it did not sell, Seacrest took it off the market for a year before relisting it recently for $11.985 million.

Not that Seacrest has had a lot of time to worry about the ups and downs of the market. In addition to everything else the amiable frontman does in Hollywood, he's recently been added to the Olympic coverage team for NBC. The gig will take him to London for the 2012 Summer Games and add a few more dollars to his eye-popping annual income of $40 million. According to Forbes, Seacrest rakes in more than Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.

Seacrest's home has some deep Hollywood pedigree. It was previously owned by Kevin Costner, from whom Seacrest purchased the home for $11.5 million in April 2006. The Mediterranean mansion has been featured in "Architectural Digest" and was decorated by famed designer Jeff Andrews.

Property records show that the 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom, 8,172-square foot home in Hollywood Hills is certainly up to celebrity standards with posh amenities such as a swimming pool, guest house, detached garage, tennis courts, Los Angeles views and peaceful gardens.

If you want to see more photos of Seacrest's home, you'll have to get pre-approved by the listing brokerage Westside Estate Agency. Photos on their site are password protected.

Beverly Hills home where Howard Hughes crashed listed for sale

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The 1920s-era home was once hit by the eccentric Howard Hughes.

A relatively new listing in Beverly Hills, California draws attention to the original details of the immaculate Spanish-style home at 805 N. Linden Drive that was designed by renowned Southern California architect Wallace Neff.

That's probably enough history to draw attention to the 6,246-square-foot home priced for $6.995 million in one of the most famous ZIP codes in the world. It's got curb appeal galore.

But what about the other history of the home -- the part where Howard Hughes so famously crashed his twin-engine, twin-boom, $8 million plane into three houses in Beverly Hills, one of them being 805 North Linden Drive?

Hard to pass up that fiery bit of aviation drama, especially one that film director Martin Scorsese so wildly re-enacted in his cinematic homage to Hughes in the movie "The Aviator."

According to Curbed, which first reported on the Linden Drive listing, the plane sliced through the bedroom and garage before crashing in a fireball and spewing engine parts into surrounding yards.

Details of the crash are contained on Check-Six:

Although it was planned to be only a short 20 minute flight, Hughes amended the plan after take-off to include an aerial tour of the Los Angeles basin to show off his latest aircraft. After a series of test maneuvers, Hughes begun his return to his factory's airport in Culver City when the right engine propeller control's ran out of oil due to an undetected leak. The rear portion of the propeller kicked into a "flat pitch" like indoor ceiling fans and forced one of the sets of blades to cease working

... Next, it hit the house next door at 805 North Linden Drive of actress Rosemary DeCamp (best known for her role as James Cagney's mother in Yankee Doodle Dandy). It sliced through the bedroom where her and her husband, John Staler, were, and ripped across the couple's garage rooftop. Fortunately they both escaped injury.

The house, built in 1926, bears no scars from that fateful day. The Spanish tile floors, dark beams, library, formal dining room and generous lawns give the place a gracious serenity. However, as Curbed noted, there is no garage, it having been taken out during Hughes' crash.

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Spanish tiles and dark beams are characteristic of a Mediterranean-style home.

See more photos of the home where Howard Hughes crashed on Zillow.

The latest news in celebrity real estate is that Julie Andrews' longtime home is for sale, Lionel Richie was hit with a property lien, and Lauren Conrad bought a Beverly Hills penthouse.

A spoonful of sugar will help Julie Andrews sell

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Julie Andrews' home listing has only one photo.

What's the best word to describe Julie Andrews' home?

Lovely? Gracious? Elegant?

How about a word the actress embedded into our collective consciousness: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"

The home of the actress who gave us some of the most iconic characters in movie history owned the home with her late husband, Blake Edwards, and it has hit the Brentwood real estate market for $2.649 million. According to property records, the pair purchased the home in 1999 for $1,365,000.

The 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home was built in 1948. Spanning 2,574 square feet on just under a quarter-acre, the home is a traditional celebrity property with gates and walls for privacy. According to the listing, one of the home's best features is its gardens designed by landscape designer Nancy Power.

The home also features a pool and spa and artists' studio with separate entrance. Like many celebrity properties, it appears the home is being marketed quietly. Although the home's address is listed, only one photo of the garden has been released. It's the one above.

Read more about Julie Andrews' home on Zillow. 

IRS rains on Lionel Richie's sunny spring with tax lien

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An aerial view of Lionel Richie's home.

Seems like an unfortunate confluence of events for singer Lionel Richie, who's currently celebrating the release of his new album, "Tuskegee," by being slapped with a tax lien by the Internal Revenue Service.

The lien for $1,130,609 is against the singer's 12,000-square-foot mansion in the Beverly Hills real estate market. According to TMZ, Richie might be worth an estimated $200 million, but he risks losing the home he bought for $6 million in 1999.

The Alabama native has come a long way since he soared to stardom as he and his melodic voice fronted the Commodores. And since he went solo in 1982, the artist racked up a series of Billboard hits that have become easy-listening classics. Over the years, Richie stuck by his Motown roots, even as the music industry embraced disco and rap. Richie calls his new series of duets with country & western artists on "Tuskegee" an embrace of his old-school style with a nod toward his South and his Alabama childhood.

When he isn't singing to adoring fans around the world, Richie kicks back in his 1929 Italian Renaissance Revival mansion that boasts 6 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. It was here that Richie's adopted daughter, Nicole, was wed in a garden ceremony in December 2010.

Lauren Conrad trades Hollywood Mansion for Beverly Hills penthouse

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Lauren Conrad's penthouse features two levels of living space.

She's come a long way from Laguna Beach, Calif.,  where Lauren Conrad was a reality TV star on the MTV show "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County." And she has distanced herself from her days on "The Hills," preferring to publicize her clothing lines and fiction novels instead.

Now that there's a contract on her Hollywood home, the filming location of "The Hills," as well as her new purchase of a swanky penthouse, Conrad may finally be able to put the drama of reality TV behind her.

Conrad dropped $1.35 million on her new bachelorette pad in the highly prestigious 90210 area, although that was a nice reduction from the penthouse's original $1.7 million list price when it hit the Beverly Hills real estate market in September 2011.

The massive 3,200-square foot, two-story penthouse condo boasts 3 bedrooms, 4 baths and a 24-hour security system. Conrad's home also features a reverse floor plan: The master suite and second bedroom are on the main level, and the large family room, additional bedroom and deck are on the second floor. Amenities include a rooftop pool, sun deck, entertainment room and a gym.

According to Zillow's mortgage calculator, a monthly payment on the home would be $4,995 a month, assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year mortgage.

See more photos of Lauren Conrad's penthouse on Zillow.

See more celebrity real estate on the Zillow blog.

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Alicia Keys' Manhattan penthouse is all style and glass.

Alicia Keys is moving on from her gorgeous Manhattan apartment, Frank Sinatra's former home is for sale, and the former rental home of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes as well as Russell Crowe is available for lease.

Alicia Keys lists 'Empire-State-of-Mind' penthouse

Forget about moving on up. Singer and New York native Alicia Keys did that a long time ago, trading her childhood residence at the artist-friendly Manhattan Plaza apartment complex in Hell's Kitchen for a slick SoHo real estate market triplex.

Now Keys and her producer husband Swizz Beatz have listed their Crosby Street penthouse for $17.95 million only two years after the couple bought the place from funk/soul/rocker Lenny Kravitz for $12.5 million.

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The dining room features immense skylights and chandeliers.

According to Sotheby's International, which holds the listing, the apartment boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, four powder rooms and an enormous state-of-the-art, windowed, gourmet eat-in kitchen with walk-in butler's pantry. And separate formal dining room that faces east encased in a glass solarium.

That's only the start of the grand tour of a pad once rented by Nicole Kidman and Denzel Washington. The place also has an expansive living room with fireplace and library/media room that are all surrounded by undoubtedly one of the most beautiful private terraces in all of SoHo. Upstairs, there's a separate private master suite complete with spa, pass-through dressing area and private terrace.

Read more about Alicia Keys' penthouse.

Owner of former Sinatra home didn't stay long

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Frank Sinatra owned this home during a low point during his career.

When Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey bought Frank Sinatra's former Los Angeles home in November 2010 for $18.5 million, the famous Hollywood producer had big plans to restore and renovate the brick ranch that sits on a parklike 2.3 acres.

Turns out that, in the end, the Sinatra house that inspired Grey's dreams was merely a nice set for Grey's wedding in April 2011 to his new wife, Cassandra. The wedding was called lavish, and attended by the likes of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Lopez. The couple has since moved to Bel Air, making Grey's ownership stint a lot like Sinatra's.

"My client still owns (the Sinatra house) but I sold him another property. He didn't want to go through the process of renovating the house,'' said Stephen Shapiro, who holds the listing at Westside Estate Agency.

The property has been back on the market since September, when Grey listed the Holmby Hills residence for $23.5 million. After a price drop on March 15, the former Sinatra home at 320 N. Carolwood Drive was re-listed for its current list price of $19,995,000.

According to the Sinatra biography "The Voice,'' by James Kaplan, Sinatra bought the house in 1948 for $250,000 at a time when his career was at a low ebb. Sinatra had built a dream home in Palm Springs, and was strapped for cash and on the verge of divorce.

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Sinatra's former home spans 8,600 square feet.

Rent like Tom Cruise or Russell Crowe for $100K a month

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The rental has nearly three acres of manicured grounds.

What do Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and Russell Crowe have in common?

Besides star status and high-paying movie roles, all three have at some point, for at least a little while, called 918 N. Alpine Drive home in Los Angeles.

The Tudor-style home was rented by Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise for $55,000 a month and then leased by Russell Crowe while he filmed "State of Play."

In 2001, the nearly three-acre estate was also the filming location for several scenes in the movie "Blow" starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz.

And for someone with a celebrity-sized housing budget, the home is available again — this time for a whopping monthly rental price of $100,000.

Available as a short or long-term lease, the Beverly Hills rental is set back from the street — perfect for privacy-seeking celebrity tenants. With almost three acres of landscaped property, 6,685 square feet of living space and three separate guest apartments, the estate also has enough room for the star with the biggest entourage of stylists, security personnel and various and sundry assistants.

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The backyard features private gardens surrounded by high hedges and greenery.

It's selling season, even for celebrities. This week Judy Garland's home is back on the market after a refresher, Rosie O'Donnell is selling her home in Chicago after less than a year, and the house that will host ABC's "The Bachelorette" is revealed.

Judy Garland's house gets a makeover

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Judy Garland's home is back on the market after getting some updates.

The home on Stone Canyon Road in timeless Bel-Air might once have been Judy Garland’s house — which is its greatest claim to fame — but Los Angeles Times heiress Stephanie Booth Murray has put a new stamp on the five-bedroom home she bought a year ago for $5.2 million and has just relisted for $7.1 million.

Designed by architect Wallace Neff, the home was built in 1938, which is the same year Garland was cast as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.”  She lived there with her mother and sister. Later, the 5,513-square-foot home was rented by music producer Quincy Jones and the late singer Marvin Gaye.

While listing agent Hugh Evans agreed that buyers of the fabled Los Angeles property will enjoy the pedigree and history, the property has undergone a dramatic renovation over the past year he believes breathes new life into the place.

Read more about the transformation of Judy Garland's former home and see photos here.

Rosie O'Donnell selling Chicago townhouse

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The Chicago property was only home to Rosie O'Donnell for a few months.

So much for Rosie O’Donnell’s glamorous residency in the Windy City.

The comedienne/actor/talk show host/activist has decided to relocate “The Rosie Show,” her program on Oprah Winfrey’s network,  to her hometown of New York.

That means goodbye to Chicago and the well-appointed townhouse she bought there last year. Rumors started last week when the townhouse went up for sale that it might mean the end of O’Donnell’s show. But it appears to be just a change of venue.

O’Donnell’s 12-room mansion in the Lake View neighborhood of Chicago is back on the market for $2.5 million, which may or may not include all the furnishings O’Donnell acquired with the property when she bought it for the same price in September 2011.

Read more about Rosie O'Donnell's house and see photos here.

New home for TV show "The Bachelorette"?

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Filming is reportedly set to begin soon at this Charlotte, N.C. home.

For the first time in the nine-year run of "The Bachelor/Bachelorette" on ABC, the reality show will not tape the first episode at the Spanish-style estate “Villa de la Vina” located in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California.

Instead producers of the long-running show are choosing to locate episodes in Charlotte, N.C., hometown of new bachelorette Emily Maynard.

According to Reality Steve, this home will be used in the season premiere this spring and — surprise — it’s on the Charlotte real estate market for $3.9 million. Local TV station WSOC-TV.com also lists the home as a possible location for the show.

The property’s listing agent Nicholas Peters did confirm that his brokerage has a home being used by ABC. However, he said, “By contract, the owners and agents can’t disclose the address.”

Read more about the home and see photos here.

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This Massachusetts home was built in a classic Greek-revival style.

By Erika Riggs, Zillow

110 Summer Street, Hingham, Mass.
For sale by owner: $2,975,000

How about a piece of Civil War history for your next home? Built in 1830, this home for sale by owner was previously owned by Massachusetts Civil War Governor John Andrew.

A close friend as well as distant cousin of Abraham Lincoln, Governor Andrew worked closely with the Federal government and Frederick Douglas to allow black men to join the Union army. He authorized the formation of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, who were immortalized in the film "Glory."

The classic Greek-revial style home was built in 1830 by Reverend Henry Hersey. Andrew used the home as his summer house while serving as governor from 1861 to 1866 . The home remained in the Andrew family until 1929.

Reportedly, Governor Andrew spoke of the property as "the home of his heart."

Situated on nearly three acres about 20 miles outside of Boston, the home features white columns, an elegant flagstone front porch and over 6,000 square feet of living space.

Current owners Tatiana and Alex Cochis purchased the home in 2009 for $1,381,000 and set out doing a full renovation in 2010. Much of the 5-bed, 4.5-bath home's original character, like its pumpkin pine flooring, marble fireplaces, and ceiling medallions and molding, were maintained in the remodel. Important upgrades in the kitchen include granite countertops and high-end appliances.

Despite its age, the Hingham home for sale is anything but stuffy.

"Our favorite feature of the house is the bright, sunny and open floor plan," Tatiana Cochis said.

According to Zillow's mortgage calculator, an estimated monthly payment would be $11,022 a month, assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year-mortgage.

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Bright, sunny rooms keep the house feeling modern.

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The kitchen has had multiple updates.

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See more photos of the home on Zillow.

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Pros and cons of owning a home in a historic district

By Erika Riggs, Zillow

What's up in the world of celebrity real estate? Oprah -- or buddy Gayle King -- is selling a modern penthouse, and Patricia Arquette sold her home for a loss.

Oprah lists New York penthouse

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Quite the view from the 36th floor.

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Neat as a pin? Has anyone actually lived here?

In the world of celebrity real estate, stars buy homes through trusts in LLCs in an effort to cut the paper trail leading to their name.

Despite their best efforts, it's possible to figure out who the real owner of a mansion or penthouse is with a little sleuthing.

Such is the case with a posh Manhattan penthouse for sale. In 2008, it was reported that former news anchor and Oprah Winfrey's best bud Gayle King bought a 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath apartment in the new Midtown tower Place 57.

After all was said and done, it appeared that the home was not purchased by King, but by the talk show diva herself for $7.1 million.

Who actually lived there is up for debate, but as for now, the penthouse is for sale for $7.9 million and appears to be vacant.

Finished in 2006, Place 57 has condos from $1.47 million to $7-plus million. Oprah's penthouse sits on the 36th floor and features 2,530 square feet of wall-to-ceiling windowed space as well as a 768-square-foot terrace.

The modern space features a "triangle-shaped" living room, high-end kitchen, dining area, and two bedrooms, one with an attached bathroom. The master suite has three walk-in closets, a jetted tub and sleek shower.

Read more about Oprah's penthouse and see more photos here.

Patricia Arquette sells vine-covered home

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Fair to call this house ivy league?

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You'd think a "Medium" could have predicted the market better.

Celebrity real estate, like regular real estate, usually hits the market in the aftermath of divorce proceedings.

Patricia Arquette and former husband Thomas Jane listed their home for sale in Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles after they announced their divorce. First listed on the market in June 2011, Arquette's home recently sold for $2.775 million — 20 percent less than the original asking price, according to the Real Estalker.

Arquette, best known for her role in TV's "Medium," which aired 2005 through 2011, purchased the vine-covered home in 2003 with Jane for $2.25 million. Arquette and Jane — of TV series "Hung" — were married in 2006, they divorced in late 2010.

Built in 1929, Arquette's former home is a stucco "Rennaisance Revival" home covered in vines and filled with 1920s details. The 4-bedroom, 5-bath home has hand-painted ceilings and stained glass windows as well as chef's kitchen with inlaid limestone tile. Situated on a one-third acre lot, the home also has a pool and outdoor living area with barbeque.

See more photos of Patricia Arquette's former home here.

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Brad Pitt's former Malibu home.

By Erika Riggs, Zillow

The movers and shakers of the movie-making industry have checked off most of the red-carpet events this awards' season: Critics' Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards and Golden Globes. Next up? The granddaddy of 'em all: The Academy Awards. While the media is abuzz with predictions of who'll win and what they'll wear, we are more interested in the homes where this year's potential winners might stash their golden statues.

Steven Spielberg, picture, "War Horse"

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Steven Spielberg's Malibu home.

As far as famous producers and directors go, Steven Spielberg tops the list. The Best Picture nomination for "War Horse," which he co-produced, is just another notch in the belt of the prolific director. He has won three Academy Awards and has been nominated for Best Picture and Best Director over 10 times.

When Spielberg isn't directing or producing his blockbusters, he splits time between his homes in Pacific Palisades, the Hamptons and Malibu. Unlike other celebrities, the director isn't one to buy and sell properties on a whim; most of his homes he's owned for over 20 years.

His Malibu home (above), in particular, is a spectacular ocean-side property he bought in 1989 for $3,375,033. The 7,000-plus-square-foot-home sits on nearly an acre of beachfront property and has seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and the must-have celebrity amenities like an in-ground pool.

George Clooney, leading actor, "The Descendants"

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George Clooney's private estate in Studio City.

Although he's one of the most recognizable faces on the big screen, Clooney spent the early part of his career in bit roles on TV shows until he hit international stardom with his role of Dr. Ross on "ER" in 1994. He made the switch to movies in the late 1990s and added directing, producing and screenwriting to his repertoire. This Oscar season, he's not only nominated for Best Actor, but also Best Writing, Adapted Screen Play for "Ides of March."

Clooney purchased his this home (above) at the beginning of his success on "ER," in 1995. The sprawling Studio City home sits on over 3 acres below a nature preserve. The eight-bedroom, mock-Tudor house has a pool and tennis courts. Clooney also owns a home in Laglio, Italy on Lake Como -- and it's often there he meets up with fellow actor and good friend Brad Pitt.

Jonah Hill, supporting actor, "Moneyball"

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Jonah Hill's new home in Tarzana

Although Jonah Hill became famous for his roles in comedy films, this Oscar nomination is for his first dramatic performance in "Moneyball." The actor has had his hand in many projects that called on his many talents, ranging from directing, writing, and producing.

Hill's home is located in the Los Angeles suburb of Tarzana and was listed as a "natural entertainer's estate" featuring party-friendly amenities like a pool and spa, endless patios, and tennis and bocce ball court. This isn't Hill's first foray into real estate. He sold a Hollywood condo in 2008 for $835,000 and still owns a home on Mulholland Drive.

Glenn Close, leading actress, "Albert Nobbs"

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Glenn Close's secluded Bedford Hills home.

Glenn Close began her acting career on Broadway and didn't break into the film industry until she was 35 with her role in "The World According to Garp" alongside Robin Williams. The Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe-award winning actress has yet to win an Oscar, but her nomination for "Albert Nobbs" is her sixth nomination.

Born and raised in Greenwich, Conn., Close spends her time on the East Coast in both Manhattan, and Bedford Hills, NY.

Her Bedford Hills estate (above) sits on 10 acres. Just north of Manhattan, the hills of Westchester County, and in particular, Bedford real estate, is appealing to many celebrities. Close can count Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren and celeb couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones among her neighbors.

Viola Davis, leading actress, "The Help"

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Viola Davis' home.

Like Close, Viola Davis rose to prominence with roles on the stage and has two Tony awards to her name. Since her move to the big screen, she's been nominated for numerous awards, including best supporting actress for her role in "Doubt."

Davis purchased a suburban home in Granada Hills, Calif., pictured above, in 2005, with her husband Julius Tennon. The five-bedroom, five-bath home sits on a quarter-acre with 3,917 square feet of living space.

Michelle Williams, leading actress, "My Week with Marilyn"

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Michelle Williams' modern home in Brooklyn.

Michelle Williams first swept audiences and critics off their feet with her performance in the 2005 film, "Brokeback Mountain," for which she earned her first Academy Award nomination. Her role opposite Ryan Gosling in the romantic drama "Blue Valentine" caught critics' eye, too, nabbing her both a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She earned both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for her role as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn," for which she already picked up the Golden Globe.

Williams spends her time off the big screen with her daughter, Matilda Rose, in their cozy, four-floor house in Brooklyn, NY (above). Williams' slice of Brooklyn real estate was purchased with late actor and ex-fiance, Heath Ledger, in 2005 for a reported $3.6 million. Ledger, Matilda's father, passed away from a reported drug overdose in January 2008.

Melissa McCarthy, supporting actress, "Bridesmaids"

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Melissa McCarthy's home.

After performing for 10 years as a stand-up comedienne, Melissa McCarthy made her big break into acting in a supporting role on TV's popular show" Gilmore Girls." She then took first billing in the TV show "Mike & Molly," for which she received an Emmy award. Her role in the comedy "Bridesmaids" is her first Oscar nomination.

McCarthy and husband fellow actor and writer Ben Falcone purchased a modest (by celebrity real estate standards) Toluca Lake home, above, for $780,000 in 2009. The 3-bedroom, 2-bath home is only minutes from network studios, making it an easy commute for both McCarthy and Falcone.

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Mary Kay's former home is painted a soft pink

By Erika Riggs, Zillow

Mary Kay Mansion
8915 Douglas Ave, Dallas TX
For sale: $3.3 million

The former home of the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics is exactly the color you would expect: A soft shade of light pink. Mary Kay pink, to be exact.

Mary Kay Ash's stucco mansion was built in 1984 by Dallas Design Group and served as the businesswoman's home and headquarters for entertaining Mary Kay consultants until 2000. Although Mary Kay did not design the home, touches of the makeup icon are inherent in many of the home's features, according to listing agent Karen Luter.

Like, for instance, the solid pink quartz toilet and bath.

The beauty-product queen's former home is back on the Dallas real estate market for $3.3 million. Mary Kay sold the home in 2000 in her efforts to downsize, and now the current owner, a Dallas physician, is following suit and hoping to move to the San Juan Islands. What's unusual, notes Luter, is that both Mary Kay and the physician are successful entrepreneurs.

"It's interesting that it [the home] was purchased by Mary Kay, who was a self-made woman, and it was sold to another self-made woman from humble beginnings," said Luter.

Ideally, the next owner would follow the trend, but if the buyer happens to be a self-made man, Luter says she won't discriminate.

Despite its pink-hued exterior, the interior of Mary Kay's home has an elegance that belies the outside.

The home is built on a grand scale, with 40-foot-high ceilings and a foyer that includes busts of famous composers inserted in the ceiling. Highly detailed paneling and moldings appear throughout the house, as well as enormous floor-to-ceiling, beveled glass windows that look out to the terraced gardens.

Situated on an acre of land in the high-end Dallas neighborhood of Old Preston Hollow, the grounds of Mary Kay's home were designed to mimic the San Simeon estate, William Hearst's famous home in California.

The former Mary Kay home was redone by the current owner: New flooring, paint, updated kitchen and geothermal system for heating and cooling.

Mary Kay Cosmetics was founded by Mary Kay Ash in 1963. Frustrated when her employer promoted the man she trained rather than her, Mary Kay quit to write a book to help women succeed in business. Out of her research, she realized she had a business plan that would work for her makeup company. She began giving out pink Cadillacs to her top Mary Kay sellers in 1969.

In an age when many women were not encouraged to work outside the home, Mary Kay's company was a significant opportunity. Luter shared an anecdote from one of the woman who worked with Mary Kay in the company's early days:

"Mary Kay told them (the consultants) to work really hard all day and then get home and sauté some onions in a skillet. As the fragrance fills the house, your husbands will think you've been cooking all day."

According to Zillow's affordability calculator, a monthly payment on the pink manse would run about $12,150, assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year-mortgage.

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The main doors open up to a marble foyer and grand staircase.

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The kitchen has been completely updated.

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The grounds and lavish pool were mirrored after the Hearst estate in California.

See more photos of the Mary Kay mansion on Zillow.

Discover more real estate eye candy on the Zillow blog.

By Zillow staff

Start the moving trucks. This week the NBA Knick's sensation Jeremy Lin moves up, Matthew McConaughey moves to Austin, and Jennifer Hudson moves on.

Jeremy Lin gets Trumped-up living upgrade
From NBA castoff sleeping on his brother's lower Manhattan couch to budding superstar, Jeremy Lin isn't just moving on up, he's headed about 20 stories off the ground. Literally.

Linsanity is said to be moving to Trump Tower at 10 City Place in White Plains, north of New York in Westchester County. The New York Post reports the point guard will set up in a condo owned by former Knick David Lee.

The sublet will pull Lin out of Manhattan and closer to the Knicks' practice facility.

Matthew McConaughey settles down in Austin

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Matthew McConaughey's new home

The Texas-born-and-raised actor has reportedly settled down on a nine-acre estate outside Austin with his fiancé, Camila Alves. According to The Real Estalker, the sure sign of the movie star's presence was his trademark Airstream parked in the driveway.

[Related: See other movie stars' homes]

Best known for his roles in romantic comedies, as well as his chiseled physique, McConaughey currently owns a surfside Malibu home but spends quite a bit of time in the Lone Star state. Now that he's the father of two (a son, Levi, and daughter, Vida) — and engaged to Alves — it looks like the Austin property will be a little more practical for his family. The listing notes that his home is "within walking distance to the area's finest public and private schools."

McConaughey's home has bounced on and off the Austin real estate market since 2008 with several price cuts. According to property records, it was first listed at $6.6 million and dropped to the most recent price of $4 million in November 2010. The home was taken off the market in early January 2012. It's likely that McConaughey snagged the home for less than the last listing price.

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Matthew McConaughey's home sits on nine acres with views of Lake Austin.

See more photos of Matthew McConaughey's new home.

Jennifer Hudson backs out of contract

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Jennifer Hudson reportedly signed a contract on this home.

One big Chicago real estate deal has hit a sour note.

At the end of November, Hudson Jennifer Hudson was reportedly under contract to buy a 12,000-square foot home in Burr Ridge, Ill., but at some point the music stopped. The award-winning singer and actress backed out of the home purchase, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom castle-like home was last listed on the Burr Ridge real estate market for $2,795,000. At the time, NBC Chicago reported the 30-year old star "will get the house for 33 percent less than the original asking price of $4.2 million."

Why would the Academy-Award winning star back away from the discounted mansion? While the home inspection could have revealed something, the Tribune speculates that Hudson ended the contract due to publicity surrounding her home purchase.

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The Chicago-area home was on the market previously for $4.2 million.

See more photos of the home Jennifer Hudson almost bought.

By Erika Riggs, Zillow

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Norumbega Castle in Camden, Maine

Norumbega Castle, Camden, Maine
For sale: $1,790,000

As explorers crisscrossed the oceans in search of The New World, facts of their journeys sometimes mixed with fiction. Some searched for the lost city of Atlantis. Spain's Juan Ponce de Leon went after the Fountain of Youth. France's Jean Allefonsce spoke of Norumbega as a large, rich native city alongside the banks of an enormous river in what is today the state of Maine.

Explorers were never able to find that fantasy city, but the legend never died. In 1886, Bangor, Maine, embraced the legend of Norumbega, when eccentric inventor Joseph Stearns built his tribute to the fabled city: An enormous stone castle sitting on the coast of Camden.

Camden Real Estate Company

Norumbega Castle circa 1800s.

Originally from Maine, Stearns became a millionaire with his invention of the duplex telegraphy, which he sold to Western Union.

When Stearns decided to build the Norumbega Castle, he spent a year visiting European castles for inspiration. He hired New York architect Arthur Bates Jennings to incorporate his favorite castle features.

Situated on nearly four acres, Norumbega is 10,330-square-feet and has 12 bedrooms and 13.5 bathrooms. Stunning period woodwork, ornate stone fireplaces and views of the bay are featured prominently throughout the house.

Listing agent Scott Horty of the Camden Real Estate Company explained his favorite details of the home:

"[It] has the coolest stair landing complete with a fireplace and built-in window seats and stunning woodwork," he said.

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Bookcases wrap around the top of the landing.

And in case you've ever wanted to sleep like royalty, the main turret is a bedroom.

Converted into an inn in 1984, the home is still available as a single-family property. Described as the "jewel of the Maine coast," Camden is a historic hamlet nestled between mountains and ocean.

According to Zillow's mortgage affordability calculator, the estimated monthly payment for the Norumbega Castle would be $6,602 a month, assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year-fixed mortgage rate.

In addition, the carriage house that once belonged to the Norumbega Castle is also for sale.

In the 1970s, the carriage house was split from the property as a separate, single-family residence. Like the castle, the carriage house is listed on the Camden real estate market, and features Victorian-era design.

Priced at $4.75 million, the Norumbega carriage house has had a complete renovation.

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The Norumbega carriage house is separately listed.

See more photos of the castle and more photos of the carriage house.

Zillow's site is filled with information on homes for sale and apartments for rent, plus data on more than 100 million homes in the U.S., so lots of homes catch our eye.