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Nearly three decades after his death at age 53, a chunk of John Denver’s longtime Denver estate is newly available. The legendary singer/songwriter had the mountain getaway in Aspen‘s exclusive gated Starwood community custom-built at the height of his career in the early 1970s, and though the main residence is off the market, a couple of buildings on an adjacent parcel are now up for grabs, asking a dash under $8.5 million.

Originally designed as a guesthouse and recording studio, the property was last sold this past April for nearly $4.8 million. Since converted into a full-fledged home courtesy of extensive renovations, the two wood-sided and metal-roof structures feature a total of five bedrooms and an equal number of baths in a little more than 2,900 square feet of rustic living space that still retains a stained-glass installation from Denver’s tenure.

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Tucked away on five acres of land overlooking picturesque valley and mountain vistas, about 15 minutes outside of downtown Aspen, the single-story residence is highlighted by a spacious great room boasting wood-beam ceilings and a wall of sliding glass doors opening to an expansive deck. Within that space, a cozy living area is warmed by a striking stone and copper wood-burning fireplace flanked by built-in shelving, and a sleekly designed kitchen is outfitted with a central island, stainless appliances, and an accompanying dining area.

Elsewhere is a fireside primary suite displaying an inviting bath equipped with dual vanities and a large shower; and outdoors, the separately deeded lot with its own driveway hosts a relaxing hot tub and a step-down gathering area that’s ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining. There’s also a one-car garage.

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Vanilla Ice, the one-hit wonder rapper from the 1990s, might have faded from the limelight—but he’s quietly become a multi-hit real estate phenom.

When his rapping career ended, the performer, whose real name is Robert Matthew Van Winkle, turned to buying and fixing up properties to flip.

It wouldn’t have been so much of a shocker if the one-time rapper, who met with early success, had ended up a career failure after his music moment died. Instead, he changed his tune.According to Van Winkle, it all started in 1992, when Hurricane Andrew destroyed his Florida home. He decided to fix it up himself and sold it. He was on his way to a new money-making plan; and to hone his skills, he even went to design school.

He told Steve-O on his podcast, Steve-O’s Wild Ride, that he started “buying homes all over the country.” He never lived in them but “made millions” when he decided to sell them off. “I bought a bunch, and I never used them,” Van Winkle revealed to Steve-O. “I thought I’d use them while I was there. I don’t want to stay in hotels, it gets crazy. So, I bought all these homes, and then I said, ‘S—.’ I went on three years. I never saw them. I thought I’d lost money on them. I thought, ‘F—, I just blew a lot of money,’ and I go, ‘Let’s just sell them. Sell them all.’ And I sold them all.”

Turns out, the homes sold quickly, and Van Winkle “made millions for doing nothing,” he told Steve-O. “I didn’t even change the carpet or do—there were probably cobwebs in there. Nobody rented them out. They just sat there, and I go, ‘Holy s—, let’s go buy a bunch more of them.’ I was buying homes all over the place and still am.”

The 56-year-old’s talents as a real estate investor and contractor were showcased on his reality TV show, “The Vanilla Ice Project,” which has 180 episodes and 13 seasons. He explained to Steve-O that he buys “distressed houses” that are off-market listings, picking them up for “pennies on the dollar.”

Van Winkle’s home-flipping work must be paying off, because according to Celebrity Net Worth, he’s worth about $20 million.

Here are just some of Vanilla Ice’s properties: Read More 

Pic source : New York times 

PHOTO: RICH FURY/GETTY

The late beauty mogul owned the villa in the sought-after La Californie neighborhood from 1961 to 2004.

Two decades after Estée Lauder’s death, the late cosmetic mogul’s “favorite vacation home” in Cannes is up for grabs. The French Riviera is, of course, synonymous with the perfume industry, and, interestingly, Lauder’s former summer home is where the savvy American businesswoman created some of her famous fragrances. On the market with Hamptons for £6.7 million (or roughly $8.7 million), the stately villa is nestled on Avenue du Roi Albert in La Californie, an exclusive residential enclave in the city’s Alpes-Maritimes region. According to the listing, Estée and her late husband, Joseph, bought the palatial property together back in 1961. The self-made beauty magnate held onto the place until 2004, the same year she passed away at the age of 97.

RELATED: A Historic French Villa That Once Hosted Grace Kelly Just Listed for $8.6 Million 

The next owners purchased the sun-filled pad from the Lauder’s children shortly after and put the place through a thoughtful renovation. During the remodel, they stumbled upon some of Estée’s old documents, including a letter from Stanley Marcus, the founder of Neiman Marcus.

The villa dates back to 1926 and today comprises six bedrooms and six bathrooms in 4,305 square feet. Internally, you’ll find spacious living areas, a stunning primary suite, a marble and wood-clad kitchen, and a home office. There are sweeping Mediterranean Sea views from every level. Outside, the landscaped grounds are decked out with formal gardens, plus a covered patio and a heated swimming pool.

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Occupied by the tennis legend for over a decade and currently owned by designer Rodrigo Vargas, the Colonial Mediterranean home is nestled amid a spacious double lot featuring a pool and spa.

A little more than five years after Serena Williams finally managed to offload her longtime home in the Los Angeles enclave of Bel Air for almost $4 million off the original $12 million ask, the retired tennis superstar’s onetime estate has popped up for sale yet again, this time with a $13.5 million price tag. The listing is held by Louis DeLaura and Ernie Stone of Sotheby’s International Realty.

Famously owned by the 23-time Grand Slam singles winner for 13 years from 2006 to spring 2019, when the place traded hands for $8.1 million, records show the property in the Stone Canyon neighborhood was last sold to L.A.-based interior designer Rodrigo Vargas and his partner Frederick Storey for a speck under $8 million in late 2020.

Originally built in the 1930s but remodeled and expanded in the years since, the Colonial Mediterranean structure is tucked away on a fenced and gated double parcel spanning nearly 3 acres, just minutes from Hotel Bel-Air. Inside, six bedrooms and seven baths are filtered across a little more than 6,100 square feet of two-level living space that is adorned throughout with walls of glass spilling out to grounds laced with mature trees and water features.

Upon entering the double front doors via a lengthy vine-covered colonnade connected to a moto court and three-car garage, an entry foyer flows to a semi-circular living room boasting marble floors and built-in bookshelves. Other highlights include a wood-paneled study with a bar and a formal dining room topped by a snazzy chandelier, while the all-white kitchen is decked out with limestone countertops, high-end stainless appliances, and an accompanying breakfast nook lined with windows.

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