Luxe Living

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.

Looks like someone wanted to hassle with the Hoff’s longtime mansion! David Hasselhoff, the Knight Rider star, Baywatch lifeguard and A-list celebrity (in Germany only) seems to have found a prospective buyer for his longtime home in Encino, California.

Listed in November 2012, the $3,795,000 home has just gone into escrow, as confirmed by property data and his listing agent, Gina Martino.  The Hoff bought the place way back in 1991 for $2.975 million. Impressive in pictures and in real life, the Hasselhoff’s nearly-sold estate has a set of gates that open on a long, tree-canopied drive leading to a circular motor court. The classic colonial sits on nearly 1.5 acres!

The marble foyer and sweeping wrought iron staircase open to a grand, 2-story living room and rich, wood paneled library. A wonderful chef’s kitchen and sun room feature top-of-the-line appliance brands, including Sub-Zero, Traulsen, Viking and Bosch.

Outside, an expansive lawns reveal the home’s pool, with a waterfall that has an adjoining grotto spa. Just beyond, you’ll find a North/South tennis court with viewing pavilion. Additionally, there are two, full one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest houses.

Billy Bob Thornton is downsizing!  According to public records, the aging actor sold his Beverly Hills estate on North Roxbury Drive on December 31, 2012 for $8,000,000. The estate, once shared with ex-wife Angelina Jolie, was massive – with nine bedrooms, eight bathrooms and 11,012 square feet.

Thorton’s new home officially became his on February 1, 2013, and is a more modest 2,818 square feet. Purchased for $2,700,000, the home has just five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Nestled in the Mandeville Canyon area of Brentwood, Thorton’s new home is a perfect Country Traditional that was seamlessly remodeled and expanded to create a two-story secluded retreat on a gated, flat lot. The living room has a fireplace, as does the open country dining/family room. Continuous French doors open to spectacular professionally-designed garden great room with a dry stacked stone fireplace, outdoor kitchen and salt water pool with solar heater.

Inside, a gourmet kitchen has stainless steel appliances, Carrera marble counters, walk-in pantry, and large eat-in banquette breakfast room. Downstairs, the home has four bedrooms, 2.75 bathrooms, and a maid’s suite off the kitchen.

Upstairs, Thorton’s master suite has an adjacent office/den/gym/nursery and private balcony.

This is quite the family-friendly estate for a man not always known as the most domestic man in Hollywood. Married and divorced five times, most notably to Angelina Jolie, Thorton has said that he believes marriage “doesn’t work” for him. Since 2003, Thornton has been in a relationship with makeup effects crew member Connie Angland, with whom he has a daughter, Bella.

Think Thorton and his family are slumming it in this newer, much smaller home? Not quite. The star still owns a home in Malibu that he paid $2,350,000 for in 2007.

Since their heyday as Hollywood’s ‘it’ couple following the ’80s hit movie, “Crocodile Dundee,” Paul Hogan and his longtime wife and former co-star, Linda Kozlowski, have been busy climbing the property ladder. Last July, we reported that the real estate power couple bought a five-bedroom, six-bath pad for $3,800,000, after listing another palatial Malibu home in February 2012 for $6,475,000.

After only six months, the Hogans are ready to sell their most recent purchase — the 6,382 square foot estate nestled in a prime location in Malibu — which was impeccably revamped in 2012, blending modern European sensibility with the home’s existing Victorian elegance. Featuring spectacular ocean views, the property is designed to let in plenty of natural light. The gourmet chef’s kitchen boasts top-of-the-line appliances, while the master suite includes a sitting area, two large walk-in closets, and a private lanai. A library, office spaces, three additional en-suite bedrooms, plus a bonus bedroom round out the rest of the main home. A short walk outside leads you to the one-bedroom guest house and the additional three-car garage.

In-demand actor Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka, have just purchased the estate of the late, great actor Ernest Borgnine, who passed away in July 2012. According to property records, Bateman and Anka closed the deal on January 23, 2013, and paid $3,000,000 for the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate. Bateman is back in the news lately, annoucing the resurrection of hit TV show “Arrested Development,” in which he plays Michael Bluth. With his career continuing on the up-and-up, Bateman and his wife needed a new place to call home, and there was no better choice for the duo than the secluded estate of a Hollywood icon.

Located on a rarely-traveled cul-de-sac in the Beverly Hills Post Office, the estate sits perched on a knoll above Mulholland Drive. The private home is only accessible via a gated driveway, which ends at a large motor-courtyard. This ‘Country English’ compound was held by Borgnine for nearly 60 years, making it a rare purchase for Bateman and Anka. While the decor is dated, the home has incredible potential.

The formal entry hall, with its grand, sweeping staircase, welcomes visitors to the entertaining and public rooms. In addition to the spacious living and family rooms, which each open to the beckoning pool and patio areas, there is a paneled library, office, den, formal dining room, breakfast room, and kitchen. One wing upstairs is occupied by the master suite — comprised of dual baths and dressing rooms, a private sitting room, and a grand balcony. The other wing is home to two bedrooms, a ‘Jack and Jill’ bath, and an upstairs lounge/study area.

In total, the Batemans will enjoy 6,148 square feet of living space; the property also includes a generous, self-contained one-bedroom guesthouse with living room and kitchen. Topping it all of are the sweeping views of city lights and nearby mountains, visible from anywhere on the estate.

Images via MLS.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse, the actor who played the quirky and lovable one-named lady killer McLovin in the hit “Superbad,” has purchased himself a sweet little starter home in Los Angeles! Public property records show that Mintz-Plasse plopped down $515,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 924-square-foot home. The deal closed on January 9, 2013. While the property isn’t super luxurious, it’s a nice, cozy place to call home for a guy who got his big break in a major way. According to reports, the actor auditioned with two high school friends for the part of Fogell, aka “McLovin,” in the film Superbad despite the fact he didn’t even have professional head shots (he ended up taking one with his camera phone just before the audition). Since Superbad, Mintz-Plasse has had starring roles in Role Models, Year One, Kick-Ass, and Fright Night.

Instead of going the typical “child actor” route of blowing all his dough on a flashy pad, Mintz-Plasse started small, not far from where he grew up. His new place is a remodeled home in a prime Woodland Hills location with a large front lawn and brick walkways. Upon entering the space, you’ll find rich wood floors, beautiful moldings, recessed lighting, and an open feel. The kitchen has custom-built cabinets, black granite countertops, updated kitchen appliances, a tile floor, french doors, and views to the backyard. The master suite has a walk-in closet with even more custom storage, french doors facing out to rear grounds, and a remodeled master bath with double sinks and a large stall shower. The home’s second bath has also been remodeled. The backyard is complete with a fantastic redwood deck, brick masonry, a large lawn/play area, and a covetable detached bonus room, which also doubles as a guest room.

We’re sure Mintz-Plasse is McLovin his new home!

From young star, to generation-X poster boy, to multi-talented and multiple-times-married father of four, Ethan Hawke has managed to delight the public throughout his career. Even his less-successful films, such as Gattaca, where he met his first wife Uma Thurman, are engaging and fun to watch. And if he’s able to sell his New York townhouse for the asking price of $6,250,000, we can add real estate mogul to his list of talents — after all, he did initially purchase the home in 2005 for the low, low price of $3,000,000.

Although it’s hard to imagine Officer Jake Hoyt living in Chelsea, you have to love the location of this home, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and art galleries. And there’s enough eye candy in the area to make you wonder if, indeed, you are living amongst a race of genetically perfect human beings.

Once inside Hawke’s nest, you’ll find the four-story Chelsea townhouse has six bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and clocks in around 3,500 square feet. The custom kitchen with dining banquette and large dining room highlight an inviting, open floor plan that’s just steps away from the patio and garden. But the master suite — which encompasses the entire top floor and features a private terrace — is perhaps the highlight of the home.

Now this is a place that is perfect for the buyer who’s looking to take a bite out of life in the Big Apple.

International film star and all-around bad ass Jean-Claude Van Damme bought a Damme nice house in the summer of 2012. Property records show that the star fighter/actor paid $6,000,000 for the sleek waterfront home in Marina Del Ray, CA, in July, though the home was listed for $5,850,000. Luxury real estate can be a real ‘Bloodsport,’ so it’s likely Jean-Claude engaged in a heated bidding war over the incredible pad, as he paid well over the asking price.

Van Damme’s big-time acting dollars were put to good use, though, scoring him a brand new, modern home. The property has six bedrooms and eight-and-a-half bathrooms — including a deluxe master suite with his-and-hers baths and a steam shower. There’s also a commercial elevator, bar, library/office, billiard room, gym, rec room, 3D home theater, state-of-the-art Sonos audio system, eight fireplaces, an exceptional kitchen, open floor plan, and ocean views. But our favorite feature is the rooftop hangout, complete with an organic garden, swim jet hydro spa, fire pits, and multiple waterfalls.

Sounds like Van Damme’s new pad is a good place to “kick” it.

TV star Eriq La Salle is selling his stunning Beverly Hills hilltop estate for $7,950,000, according to property records and some sleuthing by The Real Estalker.

La Salle’s main claim to Hollywood fame comes via his long-running role as Dr. Peter Benton on the hospital drama ER. He played that role from 1994 to 2002—an eternity in television years. Since ER ended, we’ve seen less of La Salle, but he has popped up here and there in supporting roles on 24, How to Make It in America, A Gifted Man, and Blackout.

His long TV career has banked him some serious bucks, but interestingly enough, property records show La Salle purchased this here property on October 21, 1988 for $1,700,000–long before those big ER checks started rolling in. Listing information shows that the estate was extensively remodeled in 2006, right around the time La Salle was a true, bona fide TV star. Now that his career is slightly less spry than it was a decade ago, he’s likely looking to make a nice profit on this home and downsize.

The for-sale “Tuscan Villa” has panoramic skyline views that stretch from the ocean to Downtown L.A. The exquisite four-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom property features incredible 180-degree views, a pool, spa, and full guest house.  Oversized entry doors open to voluminous open living spaces, highlighted by dramatic wood beamed ceilings, a copper fireplace, formal dining room, gourmet chef’s eat-in kitchen, temperature controlled wine cellar, weight room, impressive wood paneled office, and floor-to-ceiling retractable walls of glass that create a seamless indoor/outdoor entertainer’s paradise. A Moroccan-inspired master suite takes up the entire top floor and includes a spa-like bathroom and adjacent lounging area. A 400-square-foot, private rooftop deck–with outdoor shower and hot tub–completes this remarkable property.

With three properties already on the market, Kelsey Grammer is throwing a fourth into the mix by officially listing the home he recently purchased for new wife Kayte. In April 2012, Kelsey and his fourth wife purchased this six-bedroom Beverly Hills mansion for $6,500,000. It recently went up for rent for $30k a month, and now, it’s officially for sale for  $7,250,000!

Here’s the backstory: Kelsey originally bought the estate for new wife Kayte and their baby Faith as a home base when they relocated from New York City permanently in 2012. Shortly after the move to the West Coast, Kelsey’s show “Boss” got canceled, leaving him to re-evaluate his finances. Rather than stay in the new home, Kelsey decided to move the family into the OTHER house he owns in Beverly Hills that’s currently on the market for $16 million. Ex-wife Camille is pissed about the move, because she’s legally a co-owner and has been paying her half of the carrying costs on the home, which clock in around $40,000 a month. With Kelsey’s new family living in the house, it’s going to be even harder to offload, costing Camille even more money–she even went as far as requesting an injunction from a judge to bar the move! The motion was denied, and Kelsey’s now back in the higher-priced home, new family in tow.

It seems like the war between these two former spouses will never end.

Kelsey himself admitted that he has to move back into the higher-priced home he previously shared with Camille because, without income from his TV show, he’s strapped for cash and can’t afford to carry two Beverly Hills mortgages. Hopefully this latest home to hit the market will sell for a profit, and he’ll be back in the money again.

Grammer has other homes for sale in Malibu, Beaver Creek, and Beverly Hills–all three of which he owned with his ex-wife Camille–that must be sold as a part of the pair’s divorce settlement agreement. The faster they’re scooped up, the sooner these two new lovebirds can officially move on with their lives.