Real estate agents and mortgage brokers have plenty of acronyms and abbreviations for industry terms, but stumbling upon a little thing called star power can be real estate gold. “When a celebrity lives in a house, it helps increase the value,” says Brad Korb, CEO of Brad Korb Real Estate Group, which lists homes for sale in Burbank, CA and elsewhere. (Korb’s celeb connections include endorsements from ESPN’s Max Kellerman and Shark Tank star and businesswoman Barbara Corcoran, who sold her company, The Corcoran Group, for $66 million.) “Buyers think, ‘Wow, someone famous lived here, I’d like to live here too.’”
And just like that, the prices of these famous houses spike. Korb proved the strength of a celebrity real estate connection while listing the house of a local radio personality. When he added that a “celebrity client” owned the house, and potential buyers would have to prepare for “special showing instructions,” the home got a lot more attention. It ended up receiving multiple bids — and he believes that wouldn’t have happened without its star power.
But the homes of famous celebrities from the past also command attention. The most dedicated superfans have the opportunity to, say, shower where Bing Crosby showered! Or eat where Marilyn Monroe ate! You get the idea. Nestled in sought-after cities, these pieces of real estate in Rancho Mirage, CA, and Denver, CO, come complete with that little something extra: star power.
Mile-high hangout: $650,000, 4400 Winona Court, Denver, CO 80212
Built in 1900, this historic home in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood once served as a guesthouse for performers at Elitch Gardens. Famous guests include Guy Lombardo, Glenn Miller, and the one and only Grace Kelly. Aside from its original wood flooring and modern touches (like energy-efficient windows and a two-car garage), this house offers an amazing space for throwing parties, from the simplest to the most elaborate. Enjoy a fenced-in backyard with an in-ground pool, plus a covered patio boasting built-in grilling equipment.
“Shelter from the Storm”: $749,000, 6 Cerro Circle, Lamy, NM 87540
This fully restored home for sale near Santa Fe, NM is a creative mind’s dream. Not only was this landmark once a school, but it also was once home to a famous sculptor and served as a studio for a variety of artists. In fact, this building was such a haven for creativity that the legendary Bob Dylan once paid it a visit. Mountain views and 6 acres come with the serene space, which includes high ceilings, antique-style doors, floors made of wood and Saltillo tile, and a kitchen with a kiva-style pizza oven. Yes, please.
Far from Graceland: $749,900, 5095 Prides Crossing, House Springs, MO 63051
Elvis Presley’s most famous abode may be Graceland, but from the looks of this quaint-yet-spacious French country log cabin he once spent the night in, he liked to get away from the spotlight once in a while. (Just look at the honeymoon hideaway he escaped to with Priscilla!) Judy Garland and Lena Horne also stayed in this beautiful space, which was built in the 1880s — and rumor has it that the cabin was a bootlegging lodge in the 1930s. Relaxing is still top priority here: There’s a 400-bottle wine cooler and a saltwater pool.
Marilyn and JFK’s hideaway: $5 million, 70375 Calico Road, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Although this custom desert oasis in the Thunderbird Heights neighborhood was built and owned by our favorite Christmastime crooner, Bing Crosby, it’s known for a more salacious bit of celebrity gossip. “Rumor has it, President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe spent time together in the guest wing,” says Marc Lange, broker associate with HOM Sotheby’s International Realty in Palm Springs, CA. But that’s not the home’s only presidential connection: The five-bed, six-bath estate sits in a neighborhood where Lange says President Barack Obama stays when he’s in town (specifically, with U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra James Costos, who lives nearby).
The crème de la cowboy: $2.5 million, 9 Ranchero Road, Bell Canyon, CA 91307
You know there’s something special about a house when Roy Rogers brands his initials into one of its wooden beams. Aside from being marked by the “King of the Cowboys,” this adobe Southwestern-style estate was visited by Orson Welles and Frank Sinatra. And it’s no wonder why celebs flocked to the space, which includes a guesthouse, stone fireplace, koi pond, and dazzling pool. We can only imagine what creativity was stirred by views of the surrounding mountains.
What Ol’ Blue Eyes saw: $12 million, 10346 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Speaking of Mr. Sinatra, he and Bing Crosby were neighbors and frequent guests of Bob Hope, who hosted them at this estate, a whopping 14,876-square-foot home on 2.6 acres. The estate, which offers everything short of heaven (a guesthouse, staff quarters, a golf course — you name it), doesn’t come cheap, of course. But that’s no surprise, considering its main source of appeal.
