by Roberta Murphy–At $600,000 per month, the Beverly Mansion in Beverly Hills, is most likely contender for most expensive luxury rental in the nation.  And it’s got an interesting history as well.

• It was in the Beverly Mansion that the infamous horse-head-in-bed scene was filmed for The Godfather.
• John F. Kennedy and his bride honeymooned in the Beverly Mansion.
• Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston filmed scenes for The Bodyguard here.
• Marion Barries bought the manse for William Randolph Hearst in 1946 and it was at the Beverly Mansion that he spent the rest of his days.

With 50,000 square feet, the estate has 17 bedrooms, 29 bathrooms, a 50-foot entry hall with loggia, and museum-quality ceilings that soar 22 feet in the living area.  The dining room is elegant, but the outdoor terrace will easily seat 400 for al fresco dining.

As might beexpected on this 3.7 acre estate, there are massage rooms, gym, lighted tennis court, staff offices and quarters, art-deco night club, wine cellar, billiard room, commercial kithen and so much more.

The Beverly Mansion is also offered for sale at $115,000,000. and private showings might be arranged courtesy of Hilton and Hyland. For additional information, contact Roberta Murphy at 877-818-8197 or email Roberta@SanDiegoPreviews.com

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It’s interesting to study living costs in the most expensive cities in the world–at least as tabulated for 2009. According to Mercers, who tabulate these statistics for expatriate living, the 10 most expensive cities (based on housing, food, entertainment, clothing and transportation) are:

1. Tokyo

2. Osaka

3. Moscow

4. Geneva

5. Hong Kong

6. Zurich

7. Copenhagen

8. New York

9. Beijing

10. Singapore

Mercer’s, in their studies for expatriate cost of living, tabulates these costs for 143 cities in 65 continents and published their results each year. New York is used ars the base city and is given a score of 100. Using that base, Tokyo, for example, scores 143.7 and is almost three times as expensive as Johannesburg, which has an index of 49.6 and is one of the most reasonable places to live.

The top 5 most expensive cities in the Americas are New York City (8), Caracas, Venezuela (15), Los Angeles (23) White Plains (31) and San Francisco (34), while Asia and Europe dominate the worldly top ten list.

Now, we await the Mercer;s Most Expensive Cities list for 2010–especially in light of volatile currency swings.

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Last year, I wrote a short article about the worlds most expensive mansion in Mumbai, India being built by uber-wealthy Mukesh Ambani.

In addition to arguably being the most expensive private home in the world (how about $1 Billion to build?), it will also be the tallest measuring in at 42 stories. Residence Antilla, though, will only have 27 stories, due to Ambanis desire for taller ceilings.

Mukesh Ambani is reported to be the 14th richest man in the world, with estimated personal wealth of around $21 billion. He is also one of the more visible men of wealth in India.

When completed, the high-rise mansion will also be one of the most visible (and discussed) mansions in all of Mumbai, if not India and the rest of the world.

Designed to house Ambanis fortunate family of six and a doting staff of 600, this enormous mansion will also have six floors dedicated to pampered storage and parking for a collection of at least 168 automobiles. Included in this magnificent residence will also be a full-service spa, fully-equipped gym, a home theater that should turn Hollywood moguls green, and multiple floors set aside for visiting dignitaries and guests.

The family will have to make do with the top four stories set aside for their viewing and living pleasure.

Completion date was initially set for Fall, 2008, so well keep an eye on its progress.

In the meantime, I am hoping for an invitation to the Ambani housewarming gala.

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In our coastal San Diego luxury real estate market, buyers are almost manic about their closets–and especially the ones in the master suite.

Luxury home buyers are most pleased when there are separate closets for each–or if single, closets for the seasons. The compleat closet in the luxury home will be spacious, well lighted and masterfully organized. It is a room where we prepare ourselves to meet the world–or simply the day. The closet holds our clothing, our personal treasures, our shopping triumphs. It’s status in homes has been elevated to be far more than functional storage. People now want to spend real time in their master bedroom closets.

And what are some features they would like to see?

• A staggered hanging carousel for shirts, skirts and jackets.
• A swing rod that comes down and elimates strain from reaching up for hangers–especially in closets with the more prevalent high ceilings.
• Banks of bureau drawers that are fully extendable, and which have super-quiet concealed glides that prevent snaggy contact.
• All shelves are smooth, snag-proof and have vertical dividers that can be adjusted for height.
• A built-in floor or wall safe for valuables.
• A few locking drawers.
• Floor to ceiling mirrors. Natural lighting is often achieved with protected skylights.
• Large spaces for organized shoe storage.
• A dressing bench.
• It is also a plus when laundry facilities are nearby.

Other bonuses and accessories in the luxury home master closet would be rotating show carousels, scarf and tie cellarets, lingerie caches, jewelry inserts, tasteful garment bags, decorative storage boxes, and wicker storage baskets with washable cotton liners.

If your closets come nowhere near this description (and my own do not), the best and first thing you can do (whether you plan to sell or not) is to clear it out and keep only those things that you love–and those which love you by hanging so well on your body. Look at your emptied closet and determine if it needs paint, new rods, shelves, scented shelf paper, or new lighting. Is there room for a mirror? A dressing bench? Might it be organized differently? Is there room to move in a small chest?

(If you follow Feng Shui guidance, this might also be the time to introduce needed elements to the room.)

This closet re-do is one that will yield great benefits to you, whether you intend to sell your home or not. There is nothing that beats the sense of peace and control that comes from having a beautifully organized personal closet that is used day in and day out. And if you are selling your home, it is a feature potential home buyers will appreciate.

The bedroom closet may be a small thing, but is one of the most frequently used spaces in the home.

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As of this writing, San Diego County has 32 luxury homes priced above $10,000,000, with the most expensive perched at $50 million.

The loaded question: Are these San Diego properties moving? Well, three are in escrow and 13 have sold within the last twelve months. It isnt exactly a booming market, but it certainly isnt dying on the vine either. In any market, these properties will appeal to many, but will be acquired by only a privileged few. It is simply a matter of fitting the home to the collector and the desired lifestyle.

The most expensive home in San Diego is a $50 million oceanfront Del Mar residence with 120 feet of sandy beach frontage and a compound that includes a large family residence, a health spa, theater, pool, tennis court, greenhouse and two guest cottages. Completed in 1997, this Ronchetti-designed estate features the finest appointments and amenities. Listed by Prudential Properties, it is a true crown jewel for the luxury real estate collector.

San Diego has yet to breach the nine-figure mark, as was discussed in an earlier blog. The three estates in this heavenly niche include:

1) Donald Trumps lavish 7 acre and 54,000 square foot Palm Beach estate priced at $125 million and offering 475 feet of prime beach frontage.

2) Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultans Hala Ranch outside Aspen, Colorado. The magnificent Hala Ranch package includes a 56,000 square foot residence on 95 acres with its own car wash, gas pumps, stables, tennis courts, snowmelt driveways and indoor pool.

3) Finally, there is the whispered offering of the late Aaron Spelling Holmby Hills 123 room estate in Los Angeles.The price tag is also whispered to be $150 million.

It appears the luxury market it not only alive and well, but is poised to break all records.

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