Hot celebrity scandals on and off-screen will have to turn up the heat if they intend to approach the sizzling temperature generated by the Manhattan real estate market over the past year. Turning the heads of jaded New Yorkers is nearly impossible to do, even for A-list celebs and this may be a reason why so many of them have been snapping up properties in the Big Apple. With the properties themselves every bit as glamorous as the buyers they’re attracting, the Gotham celebrity real estate gossip is as tantalizing as the stories on Page Six or TMZ. Here’s a breakdown of the hottest whispers in celebrity NYC real estate from 2013.
The NoMad (North of Madison) neighborhood must’ve rolled out the red carpet, judging by the influx of celebrities from football players, supermodels, world leader’s offspring, and race car drivers buying into the neighborhood’s developments. Hunky footballer Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen snapped up a $14 million love shack. Around the same time, Chelsea Clinton moved into The Whitman with husband Mark Mezvinksy, who sold his Flatiron place for $4.75 million. The former First Daughter scored a sweet $1.25 million discount on the full-floor unit that stretches across an entire city block; that million dollar savings should subsidize quite a soiree for all her famous neighbors, which now includes NASCAR heartthrob Jeff Gordon, who sold his 15 Central Park West 3-bedroom home for $30 million.
Another neighborhood, appropriately labeled “Billionaire’s Row”, springing up along West 57th Street is sure to attract A-listers seeking the hottest addresses in New York City, especially after the onslaught of luxury towers in the area such as One57. Perhaps Kanye West and Kim Kardashian may be interested in this up-and-coming neighborhood, after reports Kanye listed his Houston Street pad for $4.5 million. Lady Gaga may also be in need of a new “little monster” home, as she is reported to be renting a Central Park South penthouse for $22k per month. Lindsay Lohan, on the other hand, needn’t worry about throwing money to rent, when the Queen of Media, Oprah Winfrey, is footing the $16,800 monthly bill for Lilo’s Soho apartment.
Speaking of billionaires, Steve Cohen has recently moved into the rarified company of sellers listing properties at asking prices north of $100 million. These include properties like the Schumacher Mansion, one of the last NYC mansions with a private indoor pool. But don’t worry if another billionaire beats you to it. You’ll soon be able to grab a unit in a new West Chelsea luxury development where every apartment comes with its own private indoor pool. For the privacy minded hedge fund titan or movie studio mogul who may not favor an apartment (even one with a private indoor pool), one of the priciest homes – a 5-story residence at River House with indoor tennis court and screening room – is currently listed at $130 million. This spectacular location houses several celebrity residents, including Golden Globe winner Uma Thurman, who bought a $10 million spread in the same building from romance novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford.
Other notable celebrity migrations in and around the City include fashion maven, Tommy Hilfiger listing his Plaza penthouse for $80 million, Madonna’s UWS co-op which sold for a discounted $16 million and Tom Cruise leaving his NYC life behind, listing another one of his properties for $28 million (not exactly a “Mission Impossible” given the strong market). Speaking of Tom, his Knight & Day co-star, Cameron Diaz, closed on a 3-bedroom apartment in Chelsea’s new Walker Tower for $9 million.
In all, 2013 was a star-studded year for both celebrities and their realtors in Manhattan. I’m certain 2014 promises to be even more of a blockbuster!