When looking for a home with a view, some prefer city lights, some the soaring blue canopy of Big Sky country, and some just want a place that doesn't overlook the Dumpsters in the alley (you know, the ones that get emptied at 5 a.m. by a clanging, thunderously loud garbage truck whose metallic thumping is accompanied by a chorus of swearing from a group of preternaturally active sanitation workers jacked up on Dunkin' Donuts coffee). And then there are those who want to live in a mansion close to a body of water, be it a lake, a bay, or the wide-open ocean. These are the homes that compound the expense of luxury living with the costs of coastal real estate, resulting in eye-popping architecture and sudden-fits-of-coughing-inducing listing prices. Case in point: these 10 expensive coastal homes on the market. From the shores of Lake Tahoe to the seaside cliffs of Big Sur, these luxury homes embrace the inherent drama of waterfront living.
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Mapping the 10 Most Lavish Waterfront Estates for Sale
Villa Rockledge
This $30M Mediterranean Revival stunner from the developers of Riverside's Mission Inn clings to a cliff above the crashing surf of the Pacific—a dramatic SoCal setting that once attracted Golden Age Hollywood stars like Bette Davis, Charlie Chaplin, and Rudolph Valentino, all of whom are said to have spent the night here.
Port Royal Manse
This massive mock-Colonial manse sits directly on the Gulf of Mexico and boasts a whopping 227 feet of private shoreline. Its $68M asking price makes it the most expensive listing ever in Southwest Florida.
Indian Harbor Estate
Built in 1939, this $54M waterfront estate is classic Greenwich, Connecticut. The 19,000-square-foot Georgian manse with a huge manicured lawn sits on the shores of Indian Harbor, and boasts a pool, tennis court, and private dock.
Longview on Lake Winnipesaukee
Listed at $49M, New Hampshire's Longview is the state's priciest-ever listing, a combination of two massive estates with more than 63,000 total interior square feet. The 16-acre spread comes with a helipad, a boathouse, and an "entertainment barn."
Vera Wang's Former Villa
This impeccably restored 1923 Addison Mizner-designed Mediterranean Revival villa was formerly owned by famed designer Vera Wang, who sold it in 2008. The estate in Palm Beach, Florida is now back on the market for $42M.
The Lake House on Tahoe
This glassy, ultra-modern ski chalet is built into a cliff on the shores of Lake Tahoe, and features stunning views of the snow-capped Sierras and the crystal clear lake itself. A series of terraced gardens lead from the $39.75M Nevada home and down the cliff to the shoreline and a private dock. Photo via Ski the Future.
Bellalago in Bellevue
At $32.8M, Bellalago is Washington state's priciest listing, and comes complete with private dock, boathouse, private beach, and views of Lake Washington, Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains
Rye Coastal Estate
A private peninsula with boat dock, indoor and outdoor pools, a tennis court, and 1,100 feet of water frontage: that's what $22M will buy you in Rye, New York. The 10,000-square-foot mansion is fully customized, and boasts tremendous Long Island Sound views.
Big Sur's "Tuscan" Farmhouse
With almost 100 acres of rolling Big Sur land, this California coastal estate is almost worth its $28.8M listing price based on acreage alone. Throw in a 7,000-square-foot contemporary twist on a Tuscan farmhouse and a handful of spacious outbuildings (and those views!), and it begins to seem downright reasonable.
Robert A.M. Stern Shingle Style
Situated at the seaward end of Mishaum Point is this tasteful (yet massive) Robert A.M. Stern design, which showcases the architect's traditional leanings in a very apt seaside setting. The $25M estate comes with more than 20,000 square feet of living space and 270-degree ocean views.