Readers’ Picks: Top-Viewed Listings On Forbes Global Properties In 2021

Distance view shot
Landing at No. 2 was a $35-million compound centered on a 16,000-square-foot main residence in the San Diego area community of Rancho Santa Fe.

The readers have spoken – that is, if clicks can talk.

Most of the top-viewed homes of 2021 among Forbes Global Properties listings were located in the U.S. But among those in France, a 19th century stone chateau with an 18-hole golf course took the win. The Groupe Mercure offering is currently priced at nearly 9 million euros or about US $10.4 million.

In Dubai, a residence with an underwater bedroom level was awash with views. Listed by Driven Properties now at US $2.5 million, the 4,000-square-foot residence is moored off World Islands, a development of man-made land masses.

The Sea Horse Villas sit off man-made islands in Dubia.

The Floating Seahorse Villas sit off man-made islands in Dubia. (DRIVEN PROPERTIES)

And several locales as places to live, visit or invest in real estate intrigued aspiring readers: The hot spots that received the best reception were Malibu, California, and San Miguel De Allende, Mexico.

Here, in ascending order, are our five most-viewed stories of last year:

A Rocker’s Hawaii Haven

Rounding out the Top 5 was the Hawaii home of singer-songwriter Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame. The custom-built house along Kauai’s North Shore was priced at $9.975 million and completed in 2008.

The nearly 3,000-square-foot contemporary sold within a few months for $8.25 million. Tiffany Spencer and Ben Welborn of Hawaii Life were the listing agents. Roberta Haas, also with Hawaii Life, represented the buyer.

The Legendary Hearst Estate

Coming in at No. 4 was the May listing of the legendary Hearst Estate in Beverly Hills at $89.75 million. The iconic mansion takes its name from early owner William Randolph Hearst, who lived there with actress Marion Davies during their 30-plus-year affair.

The 37,000-square-foot mansion with museum quality interiors sold at auction in September for $63.1 million. Gary Gold of Hilton & Hyland was among the listing agents.

The Hearst Estate was the Beverly Hills site of John and Jackie Kennedy's honeymoon.

The venerable Hearst Estate, where John and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned, captured readers’ attention. (JIM BARTSCH / HILTON & HYLAND)

An L.A. Trophy Mansion

A newly built Georgian-inspired custom home billed as the next legendary estate in Los Angeles came on the market in Bel-Air for $55 million. No doubt piquing interest was the fact that the interiors of the eight-bedroom residence were done by television personality-designer Kathy Hilton in collaboration with Nicole Gordon Studio.

The newly constructed Georgian-style mansion evokes the style of L.A.'s legendary estates.

The newly constructed Georgian-style mansion evokes the style of L.A.’s legendary estates. (HILTON & HYLAND)

Adding further Hilton cachet: The listing agents are Barron N. Hilton and Tessa Hilton, both of Hilton & Hyland.

Monet’s Gardens Revisited

Landing at No. 2 was a $35-million compound centered on a 16,000-square-foot main residence in the San Diego area community of Rancho Santa Fe. Villa Nafissa encompasses close to 40 acres of parklike grounds with a private lake, waterfalls, more than 3,000 species of flora and gardens designed to evoke impressionist painter Claude Monet’s famous water garden in Giverny, France.

The gardens at Villa Nafissa in Rancho Santa Fe, California, were inspired by Monet.

The gardens at Villa Nafissa in Rancho Santa Fe, California, were inspired by Monet’s in Giverny, France. (HILTON & HYLAND | WILLIS ALLEN REAL ESTATE)

Jerome Kerr-Jarrett and Jeff Hyland of Hilton & Hyland and Monica Sylvester of Willis Allen Real Estate are the listing agents.

And The Toast Of 2021 Is …

A mind-blowing asking price of $250 million for a yet-to-be-built compound in Beverly Hills takes top honors. The largest home ever permitted in Los Angeles County— with nearly 80,000 square feet of total living space – is expected to be completed in under 24 months.

The 80,000-square-foot Beverly Hills behemoth is estimated to take two years to build.

The 80,000-square-foot Beverly Hills behemoth is estimated to take two years to build. (HILTON & HYLAND)

The project is spearheaded by real estate developer Mohamed Hadid. Hilton & Hyland real estate agent Rodrigo Iglesias has the listing for the 38-acre trophy property.

Author

During four decades of covering luxury and celebrity housing, I’ve looked into people’s homes, lives and property records through many lenses. I was the Los Angeles Times Real Estate section editor for eight years, the Hot Property columnist for six and did stints as a newspaper reporter, copy editor and page designer. My work for The Times Business, Home and Real Estate sections has garnered in-house and national awards for blogging, editing and feature writing.

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