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CasinoMan Blog - Category Articles: real estate

World’s Most Expensive Properties - Antilla

It is said that the average human brain cannot picture more than 9 individual items at once. After that, everything becomes clumped up and blurred. Needless to say, Mukesh Ambani’s bank account is beyond comprehension. He is worth an estimated $45,000,000,000 (45-billion).

That’s an insane amount of money, and it also leaves him in sole possession of the title of richest man in Asia. What does a man with that much money do? What else; he builds a home with an estimated price tag of $2-billion dollars. Antilla, the brainchild of Ambani, is expected to be completed later this year (2009).

Antilla isn’t your ordinary home, even by billionaire standards. It’s an entire building – a 27-storey skyscraper – with a highly unique and ultra-modern design. Some floors are open, with expansive terraces, greenery, and other unique features.

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Worlds Most Expensive Properties - Hearst Castle

William Randolph Hearst I is one of the most famous Americans in the country’s short history. Moreover, his family name, Hearst, rivals that of the Rockefeller’s. Hearst was also the inspiration for Citizen Kane, often considered one of the all-time greatest movies.

Not only is the man’s name famous, but his home has an equally impressive resume. Fans of classic cinema may remember the first Godfather movie. In the classic scene where the horse head ends up in bed – that takes place in Hearst’s mansion. His beautiful mansion is currently for sale on the market.

Hearst purchased the home in 1947 for $120,000 – a lot of money at the time – and its most recent owner, Leonard M. Ross, who purchased the home in 1967, put it on the market in 2006 with a price tag of $165-million.

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Worlds Most Expensive Properties - Pinnacle Yellowstone Club

The word “pinnacle” means the highest or culminating point, as of success, power, fame, etc. Tim Blixseth, never one to mince words, is the billionaire real estate mogul who planned to build an estate of this name in his exclusive Yellowstone Club – a billionaires-only community – in Montana. Pinnacle was primed to be one of the most expensive homes ever built.

While most of us aspire to a debt-free life, with maybe a good steak to eat every once in a while, Tim aspired to the most lavish home in the U.S., and planned to spend a whopping $155-million to build it. Although his plans have since fell through due to the economic crisis in America, he still thoroughly planned Pinnacle’s construction, and it was the talk of the town for years.

Tim Blixseth’s vision was called nothing less than extraordinary by other well-to-do businessmen. Throughout the Yellowstone Community, The Pinnacle was a much anticipated addition to the already lavish area. Since the home was set to be built in Montana, extra measures were taken to protect the lucky owners against the bitter cold of winter.

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Worlds Most Expensive Properties - One Hyde Park

If you were planning to spend over $200-million for a home, a big back yard would be the very least of your infinite prerequisites. However, some of the world’s billionaires don’t hold a game of catch with the kids or an evening swing in the shade on their “top priority” lists.

This is undoubtedly the reason that penthouses are able to sell in the high millions. There’s currently a penthouse suite at the Four Seasons Hotel going for $30,000 a night, but that doesn’t come close to comparing to the £100,000,000 price tag of the Penthouses at One Hyde Park.

This is the most astounding part: Not only is there one penthouse selling for more than $200-million USD, but there are four of them. The currently-under-construction One Hyde Park complex in London, England will feature four main buildings, each with its own penthouse suite.

The penthouses don’t exist yet – they’re slated for completion in 2010 – but unlike other projects, like Tim Blixseth’s Pinnacle, One Hyde Park doesn’t seem to be falling through. Everything’s on schedule as world renowned designer, Richard Rogers, continues to move forward.

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Worlds Most Expensive Properties - Maison de l'Amitie

The Maison de l’Amitie, simply known as “The Donald,” gives new meaning to the phrase, “As seen on TV.” A far cry from Billy Mays’ Mighty Putty, The Donald is a breath-stealing beachfront mega-mansion that was recently showcased on VH1’s list of the world’s most expensive properties.

Donald Trump is the consummate businessman, buying for a dollar and selling for two. With Maison de l’Amitie, Trump purchased the property from a bankruptcy court for a whopping $41-million. Even more impressive is the price tag Trump has affixed to the revamped estate, a mind-blowing $125-million.

The estate was formerly the property of millionaire healthcare industrialist Abe Gosman and is now an 80,000 square-foot testament to over-excess. A quick list of the estate’s statistics gives an idea of what you can expect, as it boasts 15 full bathrooms and 8 half-baths, a guest cottage, 15 bedrooms, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The aerial view of the estate looks like an entire gated community, and the house is located directly on the beach in Florida.

Maison de l’Amitie also features a complete ballroom, conservatory, and a very impressive 475-foot of shoreline, a beauty salon, full gym, exquisite gardens, tennis courts, and a gigantic fountain in place to greet every visitor as they approach Maison’s entrance.

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Worlds Most Expensive Properties - Bran Castle

You’ve seen him in movies, read about him in books, and have probably even dressed as him on Halloween. Who is it? Why, it’s Dracula – the blood-sucking, debonair demon. Instead of eating his cereal, you can now buy his house.

The real-life man who inspired the myth, Vlad “the Impaler” Tepes, is one of Romania’s heroes. His castle, which was a museum in the 1980s, recently went up for sale on the market. Bran Castle is built on 20 acres on a mountaintop in Brasov. It’s recently gained fame for being the subject of a Ghost Hunters (SciFi series) investigation. Don’t worry; it’s not haunted, but it is expensive.

In order to take a bite out of true Romanian history and own Bran Castle, you’d have to drop an astounding $140-million US. It’s not one of these 19th century homes that claim to be castles. Vlad had Bran Castle constructed in the 14th century to fend off invading Turks.

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Worlds Most Expensive Properties - Elena Franchuk's Victorian Villa

Philanthropists are known for raising and donating money to charitable causes. The title “philanthropist” automatically clues the world in on your giving, good-hearted ways. By this standard, it’s of little surprise that billionaire philanthropist Elena Franchuk has recently bore the brunt of verbal lashings for her $160-million USD (80 million pounds) Victorian Villa purchase in south west London, England.

Most of Elena’s goodwill was aimed at the prevention and treatment of the HIV/AIDS virus. Since purchasing the Victorian Villa, Elena continues to serve as a charitable donor for the cause.

The home is a completely refurbished former girl’s prep school (until 1997), so when it comes to sheer size, the Victorian Villa is gigantic. It stands five-stories and contains 10 very large bedrooms. In order to complete the transformation from prep school to billionaire-worthy mansion, over $20-million was spent, upgrading bathrooms, kitchens, and installing many new features like an underground swimming pool, movie theater, and even a panic room in case the worst happens.

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Worlds Most Expensive Properties - Villa Leopolda

The French Riviera is one of the world’s most popular places, and home to some of the world’s most expensive properties. Villa Leopolda, the gigantic testament of love King Leopold II of Belgium built for his mistress in 1902, recently sold for a record-setting $736-million to a Russian billionaire.

Although Mikhail Prokhorov is rumored to be that Russian, he adamantly denies the purchase. Villa Leopolda is most famous, not for the King’s gift to his lover, but because of one the home’s rumored owners, Bill Gates - the Microsoft founder. It also appears in a movie, The Red Shoes – a 1948 British feature film.

Since the home was built, there have been multiple rumors about who has and who hasn’t lived there. Bill Gates is just one of the many people who have never called Villa Leopolda home, yet is one of the most commonly placed people within the estate’s walls.

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Would you consider property speculation as gambling

In a financial context, speculation is the supposition of the risk of loss, in return for the uncertain prospect of a reward. Speculating is not the same as investing, though many seem to think so. Such a position would only be considered an investment if the particular position involved zero risk.

Financial speculation involves buying, selling, short-selling, holding, stocks, bonds, currencies, derivatives, real estate, or any other valuable financial instrument to profit from fluctuations in the price as opposed to buying it for use or income. Speculation represents one of four market roles in Western financial markets, different from hedging, long or short-term investing, and arbitrage. Currently, one of the most popular assets to speculate on is property. Real estate speculators are looking to turn a profit in the market. There is high risk involved with this business, but that hasn’t deterred the lion’s share of speculators.

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The History behind the Bellagio Hotel and Casino

The Bellagio is an AAA Five-Diamond rated luxury hotel and casino in Las Vegas, located on The Strip. MGM Mirage holds ownership of this luxurious hotel and casino, and it was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.

Inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy, Vegas’ Bellagio is famed for its elegance. One of the most notable features of the Bellagio is an 8-acre artificial lake between the hotel and the Strip, which holds the famous Fountains of Bellagio. The Bellagio has been one of Vegas’ most famous resorts since its inception. It employs approximately 10,000 people, and is visited by millions each year.

The Bellagio was conceived by Steve Wynn, an American casino resort developer, and built by his company, Mirage Resorts, Inc. Wynn is often considered as the man who changed Vegas. In 1989, his first major Strip casino, The Mirage, opened, setting a new standard in Vegas, making immediate history.

With his second project, the 1993 Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Wynn proved once again that his vision for Vegas was different. The $450 million dollar resort was another instant smash with the public.

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Who is Sol Kerzner

Solomon Kerzner was born on August 23rd, 1935. He is best known for being a South African hotel and gambling tycoon. Born in Troyeville, Johannesburg, Kerzner was the youngest of four children. His parents were Jewish Russian immigrants, wishing to capitalize on the times with their entrepreneur spirit.

His family successfully started a hotel chain. After Kerzner graduated as a Chartered Accountant, he took over the running of the hotels and eventually went on to create the most successful hotel group in South Africa: Sun International. Sol Kerzner is currently Chairman of the Board of Kerzner International, which is located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Playing off of the Sun City resort success, Kerzner got involved in international hotel and gambling resorts; with his most notable role being the innovative developer behind the famous Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. Kerzner quickly scored a hit with this beautiful resort.

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A mini-bio on Steve Wynn

Stephen Alan Wynn was born on January 27th, 1942 in New Haven, Connecticut, and is best known for being an American casino developer. He was thought to be responsible for the efforts of reestablishing Las Vegas in the 90s, spearheading the resurgence and expansion of the Vegas strip.

His companies refurbished and built some of the most widely recognized resorts in Las Vegas to date, such as the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, and Wynn. Wynn currently lives with his wife in a suite at Wynn Las Vegas, awaiting completion of their Highlands Golf Club home. He has two daughters, Kevyn and Gillian. Wynn suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, which affects his peripheral vision.

Wynn’s father Michael Weinberg ran a host of bingo parlors in the United States. In the late 40s, he changed his name to “Wynn”, a marketing strategy and an attempt to counter anti-Jewish bias.

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Is it a good time to invest in real estate in Las Vegas?

In the real estate market, you often hear teams like “peak” and “max”, as if there’s an imaginary ceiling that’s going to stop it. And over the past few years or so, the big buzz has always been about when exactly real estate is going to max out. This is a theory that has been circling around since early 2002.

It’s nothing more but a reaction to the substantial increases in real estate values around the country. This fuel-fed paranoia has mostly been doused by media types and loud mouths who really don’t know a thing. The thought of real estate reaching its peak seems to be based on nothing more than the collective fear that real estate values through the USA may drop.

However, there is no fact-based reasoning put forth to support this fear. So, reasonably and rationally, it’s still safe to purchase real estate in hot-spots through the U.S. like Las Vegas. Your property will continue to have value.

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