Luxe Living

Haylie Duff, teeny-bopper-movie actress and sister to Hilary Duff, just sold her chic, semi-modest (by celeb standards, anyway) Toluca Lake home at a slight loss. Property records show that Haylie bought the five-bedroom, six-bathroom, 4,064-square-foot home on June 6, 2008, for $1,750,000. And though it was originally listed for $1,799,000, the elder Duff sister took a $30,000 loss on her bachelorette pad when she sold it on February 14, 2013, for $1,720,000.

Bummer.

Built in 2007, the New England traditional home sits behind privacy gates — perfect for any young Hollywood starlet — in the heart of Toluca Lake. The neighborhood, situated 12 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, is an up-and-coming celebrity enclave that sister Hilary Duff, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alan Thicke, and oodles of other household names call home.

Duff’s just-sold crib is an entertainer’s dream with a built-in sound system pumping beats throughout the dramatic living room, formal dining room (with coffered ceiling and French doors), and open great room, out to a covered flagstone patio, which overlooks the grassy yard with pool and spa. The family room — which boasts a fireplace and French doors — opens to a chefs’ kitchen with Carrara marble counters, tongue-and-groove ceilings, dual islands, a Viking stove, and a breakfast area featuring wood floors, crown mouldings, and wainscoting.

All bedrooms have their own private baths, and the downstairs bedroom suite may be ideal for guests. A sky lit staircase ascends to the second level, where the luxurious master suite offers a cathedral ceiling, fireplace, dual walk-in closets, and bath with two vanities, a frameless glass shower, and freestanding soaking tub.

A quick peek at IMBD shows that Haylie has been keeping the paychecks coming in with a series of low-visibility movie gigs and television series appearances. No telling why she sold, but we’re keeping our eyes out for her next move.

Bryce Dallas Howard, the Golden Globe Award-nominated, crimson-haired actress, is selling her Hollywood Hills villa at a loss. Howard, the daughter of legendary director Ron Howard, paid $2,900,000 for the home in December of 2006, just months after she married fellow actor Seth Gabel. That’s $545K more than the property’s current market price!

An incredible, discounted deal, Howard and Gabel’s home is a ‘romantic Hollywood Hills home in desirable Outpost Estates,’ according to the listing. The 1931 Mediterranean villa, which is completely private and gated, features a formal dining room, den/media room, office, sauna, and wine cellar. The property has a walled courtyard entry on a large lot, featuring spectacular city and canyon views. A dramatic, two-story entryway welcomes guests into the home’s spacious living and dining rooms, which are adjoined to a cozy kitchen and breakfast room. The gorgeous master suite comes complete with a sitting room and luxurious bathroom, offering both a stand alone shower and a tub. French doors open to landscaped patios, courtyards, a large grassy yard, and a loggia with fireplace. 

Steve Sawaii of Coldwell Banker holds the listing.

Let’s dive into this double-dose of extravagant athlete homes. One top-ranked golfer, two Colorado homes on the market for millions less than he paid for them.

David Duval and his wife Susie are placing two mega-properties on the market in an attempt to “simplify” their lives, as they explained to the Wall Street Journal, who first reported this news.

David Duval was once the number one ranked golfer in the world, and in 2005, he and his wife paid $12,400,000 for a 7.5 acre, 14,200 square foot mansion they used as their primary property. They picked up a second home in the area for $7,400,000 in 2007.  The two homes in the Cherry Hills Village area of Denver are now on the market for $9 million and $5 million, respectively. For those who aren’t mathmatically inclined, that’s a staggering loss of $5,800,000. And that’s even if they get the full asking price for both.

But let’s think optimistically, because these two properties are quite the stunners. The larger, main property is described as a “Mediterranean masterpiece with a classic Italian villa exterior  and opulent interior.” It’s gated, boasts a circle driveway, fountains and is a great equestrian property for those who want to keep horses.

The second property is a rare gem hidden in the pines with a spectacular lake view and putting green, salt water pool and separate guest apartment. The home also houses a 1500+ bottle wine cellar, is complete with fabulous finishes like a media room and a patio with an outdoor fireplace. The $5,000,000 listing price includes the home plus an additional 4.4 acres. A 2.25 acre building site (where the putting green currently is) can be sold separately for $1.1 million.