Celebrity Real Estate Woes 2011

Some celebrities, like “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz and the cast of “Friends” seem to be constantly buying and selling properties. But famous or not, it’s not so easy for everyone to sell.

It could be the market and the economy. Maybe specific properties have specific reasons they aren’t selling: staging issues, odd choice of décor, massive size or perhaps outrageous cost.

Or maybe there’s a glut of luxury homes mostly in the L.A. area that are too similar—so many of them are Spanish, vaguely Mediterranean in style, in a gated community, decorated in neutrals, with pool, spa, home theater, fitness room, wine cellar, guest house and so forth.

Other celebrity real estate headaches this year include a lawsuit-entangled property involving water damage.

Here’s a look at 10 palaces on the market, with photos provided by Trulia.com.

By Colleen Kane
Posted 15 December 2011

Location: Alpine, N.J.
Price: $13,500,000
Bedrooms: 7
Bathrooms: 9 full, 1 partial
Square Footage: 17,000

Diddy bought this Center Hall Colonial in New Jersey’s hip hop enclave Alpine for $6 million in 2004, and for the second half of 2011 he’s been trying to sell it for more than double his purchase price. The ‘90s-built mansion’s 26 rooms include three master suites, indoor squash court, outdoor tennis court, gym and a movie theater.

Location: Saddle River, N.J.
Price: $12,500,000
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 8 full, 3 partial
Square Footage: 18,250

MJB’s pad, which has been on the market for more than six months, is near Diddy’s neighborhood, just over the George Washington Bridge from upper Manhattan. Why choose a location across the river from the big city? Maybe it’s because she likes to spread out: Blige’s Country French manor is the largest mansion in this slideshow, containing an indoor basketball court, a movie theater that seats 14, a wine tasting room, a fitness center. Its four-acre property also has a swimming pool and full- service cabana.

Location: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Price: $13,995,000
Bedrooms: 7
Bathrooms: 10.5
Square Footage: N/A

Producer, actor and artist formerly known as Marky Mark had his semiautobiographical series “Entourage” draw to a close in 2011. The same can’t be said about his quest to sell his Beverly Hills estate, which has the distinction of being the most expensive house in this slideshow. The resort-like residence looks geared toward those with who roll with a crew in tow. It has several rooms with plentiful seating in which to bro down, including a theater with numerous lounges, a bar, a workout room with boxing ring, and a basketball court.

Location: Toluca Lake, Calif.
Price: $6,250,000
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 6
Square Footage: 9,277

“Lizzie McGuire” star Hilary Duff and hockey-playing husband Mike Comrie are expanding the family, which is sometimes the catalyst for moving, although there seemed to be no shortage of space in this house. The Mediterranean-style property was first listed in 2010 for $7 million, and is still on the market at the reduced price of $6.25 million. It was built in 1951, but has recently been updated with some rather nontraditional décor. The kitchen has an almost Steampunk look, with steel mesh cabinetry, an abstract retro-modern light fixture over the riveted island and golden animal-leg sculptural accents.

Location: Los Angeles
Price: $3,995,000
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 6
Square Footage: 5,940

The star of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” bought this Spanish-style Los Feliz-area home in 2007 with her then-husband Alex Young for $4.295 million and has been trying to sell it this year for significantly less but has had no luck in the first few months. In addition to having fireplaces in the master bedroom, living room and den, the 1928 property has a three-room guesthouse with two offices, a Pilates studio and a gym.

Location: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Price: $13,500,000
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 9
Square Footage: 10,000

Xtina has had a rough time lately, including a divorce (finalized in April) from her husband of five years, Jordan Bratman. They purchased the house in happier days of 2007 for $11.5 million from another entertainer, Ozzy Osbourne, and have been trying to sell it since March. During Osbourne's ownership, this was the mansion where his family starred in their reality series, “The Osbournes.”

Special features of this house other than its pedigree include a gym, gift-wrapping room, beauty salon, and a guesthouse with recording studio, a pool with water slide and a backyard pagoda.

Location: Los Angeles
Price: $8,999,999
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 10 full, 1 partial
Square Footage: 12,184

Like Aguilera, Avril Lavigne is another fair-haired young singer who has had a year of divorce and other troubles, and has had a hard time selling her house. Her McMansion, which has been on the market since spring, is a double-dip history of celebrity couple owners, unusual for a property that’s just 8 years old. Lavigne and her ex, musician Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 are selling the property in the gated enclave Bel Air Crest. The pair bought it from musician Travis Barker of Blink-182 and actress Shanna Barker. (Combine the star power of those four residents, and it practically equals one A-list former occupant!)

Location: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Price: $4,500,000
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 10
Square Footage: 8,520

This stark remodeled contemporary number was just listed in November for $2.4 million less than what Rihanna paid for it in 2009. The singer claims it was flooded after a moderate rainstorm due to numerous defects in the design and waterproofing. Rihanna filed a lawsuit against her real estate agent and the former owner in late summer. The listing includes this warning to potential buyers: ”Home is a MAJOR fixer with EXTENSIVE water intrusion from (but not limited to) roof, windows, doors and balconies. There is EXTENSIVE damage from moisture AND water intrusion. Also encroachment issues and other problems. The home is being sold strictly AS-IS.”

Location: Los Angeles
Price: $2,250,000
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3 full, 1 partial
Square Footage: 3,009

Reality star Lauren Conrad of The Hills fame put her Spanish style home on the market several months back, and in this case, there are no clues as to why it hasn’t sold. It was built in 1922 and has many of the charms of similar houses of that era—wrought iron, original moldings and Spanish tile floors—but has undergone major renovation on the electric, HVAC, pool, roof, foundation and windows.

Location: Calabasas, Calif.
Price: $4,499,000
Bedrooms: 7
Bathrooms: 7
Square Footage: 10,300

There’s always something going on with that Britney Spears, and recent rumors surround her possible new Thousand Oaks home. But she has another house in Calabasas that’s been on the market in 2011. Despite the cachet of being owned by a troubled pop star and despite the gimmicky auction start time of 11:11 a.m. on 11/11/11 with the opening bid set drastically below the previous price of $10.8 million, it didn’t sell.