Luxe Living

Marc Anthony is singing the sweet song of homeownership, once again. The actor, award-winning singer/songwriter, and famous ex -husband of Jennifer Lopez has just plunked down about $2.5 million dollars for a new home in Encino, CA. He formerly shared a massive Hidden Hills, CA home with his ex wife J-Lo and their twins, Max and Emme. When the marriage to Lopez went belly up, Anthony decamped to a $23k-a-month rental in West Hollywood.

Now, he’s making the move to the decidedly more family-friendly city of Encino.

His new home is a gated Italian Villa in Amestoy Estates with a courtyard entry featuring a dramatic fountain. A 2-story foyer has limestone floors a curved staircase. The home has a formal living room with fireplace and an adjacent family rooms has hardwood floors, coffered ceilings, stone fireplace, entertainment unit, surround sound, wet bar. A gourmet kitchen boasts center island and every top-of-the-line appliance.

Anthony’s new master suite has a marble fireplace, French doors and a balcony. A glamorous master bathrooms features an oversized marble steam shower and a fully-customized walk-in closet. There’s a bonus room/gym on separate 3rd level. Outside, the grounds include meandering pathways, beautiful landscaping, vine covered arbors, pool & spa, towering palm trees, 2 BBQs, a loggia, fountain, and pool house with a full kitchen and 2 bathrooms.

Since the divorce, Lopez has been dating younger man, dancer Casper Smart. Anthony is taking a cue from his ex-wife in the dating department – he’s now dating Topshop heiress Chloe Green, who is 23 years his junior.

36 days after listing his palatial Encino mansion for $5,495,000, ‘King of Queens’ actor Kevin James has sold the spread for $55,000 more than the asking price. He must of priced it just right, because the home flew off the market at record speed. The incredible 11,291 square-foot home on Bertella Drive in Encino, CA has 5 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. Property records show that James purchased the home on August 14, 2003 for $3,200,000. Looks like he made a tidy $2 million+ profit on the sale!

Vince Vaughn, comedic actor and everyone’s favorite “Wedding Crasher” is settling down a bit more these days. On the heels of the news that he and wife Kyla Weber are expecting baby #2, the Chicago native has just scooped up a 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 5,563 square foot home in La Cañada Flintridge on April 25, 2013 for $3,925,000.

The Vaughn’s new estate sits behind gates on an approximately 3/4 acre lot. Very, very traditional up first glance, the Colonial-style home combines classic design with fine craftsmanship. The large gourmet kitchen is fully equipped and each of the five large bedrooms comes complete with their own bath. The home also has a library, family Room, formal dining room and living room. The park-like grounds include sweeping lawns, swimming pool and sport court – perfect for their growing family!

Eccentric actor Joaquin Phoenix has purchased his next door neighbor’s home on March 29, 2013 for $1,390,700, as indicated by property records. The 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2,511 square-foot home sits directly next to his existing property on top of the Hollywood Hills at Mulholland and Laurel Canyon. His existing home was purchased on November 7, 2006 for $4,835,000.

Phoenix’s longtime property is rather ordinary by Hollywood standards, and can been seen extensively in scenes from Phoenix’s “mock-umentary,” “I’m Still Here,” in which he famously duped his peers and the public into thinking he was quitting acting to become a famous rapper.

No telling why he needs his next door neighbors digs too, but perhaps it’s because he’s following the trend among celebrities of creating a compound comprised of multiple high-priced properties.

As it stands, Phoenix’s new addition to his Los Angeles property portfolio is a “a very special charmer re-done to perfection.” The gated property features a living and dining room that open to peaceful, beautifully landscaped grassy yard with custom outdoor fireplace and stone waterfall. An eat-in kitchen with huge center island and high-end appliances opens to a family room and additional large patio with canyon and city views. The Master suite has built-ins, a huge closet and re-done bath. Also included on the property is a bonus room with new bath and its own entrance, which would make a perfect office, gym or maids quarters.

Images via the MLS.

The gravel-voiced tough guy, Nick Nolte, has decided to sell half of his massive Malibu, California compound for a cool $8,250,000. Known in later years for his very public run-ins with the law, the Oklahoma native has been acting and making movies for years, including powerful performances in classics such as Cape Fear, a harrowing thriller and 48 Hours with Eddie Murphy, not to mention his recently released, Gangster Squad, which features Nolte as the Chief of the LAPD.

Although he famously spoke out against the sky-high salaries of actors, Nolte has certainly gotten paid over the years – enough to own a huge property in the exclusive community of Malibu.

His estate is wooded and extremely private, comprising two acres in the stunning Bonsall Canyon. The home is over 6,000 square feet and includes 4 bedrooms and a number of high-end finishes throughout, including stone and carved wood, as well as Italian marble floors and and Mahogany French doors.

The living area has towering, 19-foot vaulted ceilings and skylights and leads into a spacious den.

The large master suite includes multiple fireplaces, a sitting room, and office, as well as commanding views of the property. Outside you will find a tennis court, as well as a pool and spa, perfect for soaking up the Malibu sunshine.

Whether you’re a grizzled acting veteran or not, this property has it all.

SNL alum Chris Parnell, who is also known for his role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on NBC‘s Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock and his co-starring gig as Fred Shay on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory, has just purchased new home in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Property records show the actor/comedian closed on the deal on March 15, 2013 and paid $1,700,000 for a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 2,482 square foot home.

Common for the neighborhood, Parnell’s home is a 1920′s Spanish Revival home that got a modern day makeover. Prior to Parnell’s purchase, the home was majorly overhauled. The integrity of the basic structure and character of the house was maintained while the interior was expanded and reconfigured to incorporate the prior owner’s extensive library and art collection. The resulting floor plan organized all the rooms around a new central atrium with a large oculus and surround by an arcade of book shelves.

Outside, a drought tolerant California native landscape was designed using the existing mature trees on the property. Inside, features include: custom lighting with graphic eye controls, whole house filtration system, wood and limestone floors, kitchen and bathroom fixtures from Waterworks, Viking appliances and a 14 panel photovolactic solar system.

This isn’t the first home Parnell has purchased in this hip and happening Los Angeles neighborhood. He also owns another property on Silver Lake Blvd that he purchased on November 20, 2007 for $620,000. That 1,360 square-foot home has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. With this new Parnell purchase, it’s likely we’ll see his older, smaller home pop up on the open market soon!

‘King of Queens’ star Kevin James is selling his palatial Encino mansion for $5,495,000. Just listed, the incredible 11,291 square-foot home on Bertella Drive in Encino, CA has 5 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. Property records show that James purchased the home on August 14, 2003 for $3,200,000.

Ryan Phillipe is more than a million dollars poorer after the sale of his Hollywood Hills home! Property records show that the former Mr. Reese Witherspoon sold the home on March 15, 2013 for $6,000,000. That’s $1,175,000 LESS than what he paid for the place when he purchased it on May 30, 2008 for $7,175,000.

Phillipe’s former home has 5 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, 7,600 square feet, and was marketed as an “utterly secure and private Zen modern retreat is nestled in the hills just above the Sunset Strip.”

The gated property is located on more than a half-acre with killer city views. Characterized by spacious, bright, open spaces, the home is impressively large, but apparently not large enough to warrant a full-price offer. The home comes complete with a 2-story entry hall, which Ryan converted to a gym, as well a home theater, cook’s kitchen, a swimmer’s pool with underwater speakers and spa, several outdoor entertaining spaces, outdoor kitchen, sauna and phenomenal indoor-outdoor flow.

Ryan gave this home sale his best shot, originally listing it multiple times for about $7,450,000. With no buyers at that sky-high price, Phillipe could put a stop to his loss, and finally parted with his retreat at a rather ‘Cruel’ sum.

Jesse Metcalfe, the former young Hollywood playboy, is becoming more of the domestic type lately with the purchase of a brand new home. Engaged for over a year to his love, actress Cara Santana, Metcalfe has just bought a Spanish-style house in the Hollywood Hills, according to property records. Property records show that Metcalfe snagged the stunning home for $1,432,500 and the deal closed on February 28, 2012. The home, built in 1925, has all the original nooks and crannies, but has been lovingly and beautifully restored!

The home has a newly renovated kitchen and bathrooms, bringing them up-to-date without eliminating their original charm.  The house is 2,362 square feet, which includes 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The master suite is stunning, with a beautiful new custom bath. This very special home in a wonderful location!Hardwood floors throughout, the home has a grand fireplace in living room, great movement throughout, city views and a spacious Spanish courtyard with fabulous tile wall fountain.

Jesse recently sold his home in the Beverly Hills Post Office area for $2,000,000.