This week we have some great stories: A little bit about Obama’s neighbor, James Franco, a steller Greg Norman property and Le Reve!
Obama’s Neighbor’s House Now Has a For-Sale Price: $1,849,000
By: Diane Tuman, Zillow Content Manager | October 28, 2009
The “Obama factor” didn’t pan out as planned, so the owners of 5040 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago IL 60615 yesterday were forced to officially set a price and put the home in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It is listed for sale for $1,849,000. This comes after the owners tried a unique route of selling it unpriced and using word-of-mouth marketing and great media exposure since the home is right next door to President Barack Obama’s Chicago home.
It’s not that the house didn’t get any attention. Inquiries came in from Singapore, Saudia Arabia, London, New York, and California and the 5040 Greenwood Web site generated over 100,000 page views, but only a few formal offers were made — all unacceptable.
The Grimshaws purchased the home in 1973 for $40,000. Homes comparable to the Grimshaw’s in the Kenwood neighborhood sell for about $1 million to $2 million.
Take a look at Barack Obama’s house.
James Franco’s Hollywood Hills Home on Market for $3,695,000
By: Sarah Greenleaf, PR Intern | October 28, 2009
Actor/screenwriter/director James Franco is selling his Spanish-style Hollywood Hills, CA villa for $3,695,000.
Located at 8222 Marmont Ln Los Angeles, CA 90069, the home was built in 1923 and contains 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. The home also boasts city views, a 19th century marble bathtub, as well as a swimming pool, patios and a guest house. The views of the interior show a home that is simple sophistication, with white walls and natural wood beams.
Franco won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his performance as James Dean in the bio-pic of the same name. He is also known for his performance as the new Green Goblin in the Spider-Man series and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his drug pusher role in Pineapple Express, but it was his performance in the cult television hit Freaks and Geeks that garnered him most of his fan base.
Golfer Greg Norman Lists Colorado Ranch for $55 Million
By: Diane Tuman, Zillow Content Manager | October 26, 2009
Golf star Greg Norman and former tennis star Chris Evert left their longtime spouses for each other in 2006 and then, 15 months later, Norman and Evert split, leaving a wake of speculation as to why — among them, a disagreement on where they should live together.
Coincidentally or not, Norman’s ginormous Colorado ranch is on the market for $55 million. Located in the White River National Forest at 11808 County Road 8, Meeker, CO 81641, the Seven Lakes Ranch is spread over 11,600 acres and is a premier trophy ranch full of mountains, lakes and rivers. Set up for private big-game hunting and gold medal fly fishing, it also has a sporting clays course, renovated dance hall, horse barn, main staff office, ranch house and maintenance shop. The property also includes Seven Lakes Lodge parcel, Pollard Ranch (working horse ranch, shooting course, high desert) and Dry Creek (hunting).
The main lodge consists of 13,907 square feet and includes an executive guest cabin, fitness center and spa, sportsman’s lodge, and equestrian facilities.
Le Rêve on Market for $45 Million
By: Diane Tuman, Zillow Content Manager | October 27, 2009
Cast your eyes on one of America’s largest, most ornate residences that just happens to be for sale. Le Rêve is described as a modern-day chateau complete with formal gardens, fountains, and statues on 72 acres of land just north of Atlanta. Think of it as Versailles in the Deep South. The living space adds up to 47,000 sq ft.
Le Rêve is located at 2015 Trammell Rd, Cumming, GA, 30041, about 45 minutes north of Atlanta, and was built for businessman Hubert Humphrey (no relation to the former VP) and his wife, Norma in 2004 (completed in 2007) by Atlanta architect Norman Askins. Humphrey founded World Leadership Group, which is a marketing and mortgage brokerage company that shuttered its doors in 2008 due to the mortgage crisis. Prior to striking it rich, Humphrey was a freight train conductor for 17 years.
As you can see in the photo above, the 72 acres of the estate are elaborate, consisting of formal gardens, statues, fountains, a golf course, a lake and a great lawn that is four times the size of a football field.
Outdoor grounds:
- 9-hole golf course (two holes are modeled after Augusta National’s 11th and 12th greens).
- a 4 ½ acre lake
- horseback riding trails
- Venetian-shaped elliptical swimming pools fed by natural creeks
- an amphitheatre carved into a grotto
- a lawn tennis court
- formal French gardens with an English maze
- flower garden
- orchard
Indoor:
- 82 rooms
- 6 guest suites
- billiards room
- 27-seat movie theatre styled after Moorish style of Atlanta’s landmark Fox Theatre
- model train room
- virtual golf room
- massage room
- arcade
- corporate business suite with conference facilities
- two-lane bowling alley
- 1950s style diner
- 10 fireplaces
- 12 full and 11 half bathrooms
- ballroom, with terrazzo floors and crystal and bronze chandeliers
- 10-car garage
- security guard houses and high-tech security, electronics and utilities systems
This home has been on the market since last year and according to high-end real estate agents and brokers who deal with luxury properties, “It’s just being in the right place with the right people, ” said Rosina Seydel, an agent with Atlanta Fine Homes.
