publisher’s letter

IfIf you are in the market for an Ultimate Home, forget all that talk about housing
prices on the decline. In 2008, an Ultimate Home at the “bottom” of our list is
going to cost you 12 percent more than it did in 2007.

When we compiled last year’s Ultimate Homes list, which ranks the 1,000 most expensive properties for sale in the U.S., the entry level was $10 million. In 2008, you will need $11.2 million to purchase the least-expensive home that we have identified. Of course, if money is no object, then you might want to check out the most expensive home in the issue, a classic Beverly

Hills estate once owned by William Randolph Hearst that
is listed at a cool $165 million.

To get a real sense of how the top of the luxury market has exploded, you only need look back four years to the premier issue of Ultimate Homes. At that time, the most-expensive property was $75 million; this year that dollar amount won’t even get you into the Top 10. And it is not just asking prices that have gone through the roof; the recent sale of Trinchera Ranch in Colorado for $175

million established a new American benchmark that is not going to be easy to top.
One new feature we have introduced this year is the inclusion of State-by-

State lists, which identify the 10 most-expensive listings in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S.Virgin Islands. Some of the properties in the state lists also will be found in the national list, especially from such states as California, New York and Florida. If you are feeling especially extravagant, you might explore the top 10 properties in California, the asking prices for which have a cumulative total of $861 million. Or, if you are looking for a bargain, then I would suggest checking out Nebraska and North Dakota, where the total dollar amount for the Top 10 properties is significantly less than the price of a single entry-level residence on the Ultimate Homes national list.

As always, the prices and properties in this issue are certain to amaze, astound,
and, in some cases, even inspire.

Enjoy!

Special thanks to:

Coldwell Banker Previews International
GMAC Real Estate
Keller Williams Realty

Luxury Portfolio, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World LuxuryRealEstate.com, Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate Move, Inc., for the National Association of Realtors ( Realtor.com) Prudential Real Estate RE/MAX International Sotheby’s International Realty

The lists of the most-expensive properties advertised for sale were compiled using publicly available information and sources. All properties advertised are subject to prior sale, change or withdra wal without notice. The publisher shall not be responsible for errors or omissions. Further information should be obtained from the advertised agent or broker.

Copyright 2008© Net work Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. UNIQUE HOMES is a registered trademark of Net work Communications, Inc. PRIN TED IN THE U. S.A.

Subscription and Circulation: (800) 827-0660. Six issues $31.97, 12 issues: $55.97 in the USA and its environs. Add $21 per year in Canada (includes GST) and $30 per year in all other foreign countries. Postmaster: Send address changes to UNIQUE HOMES, P.O. Box 441, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Canadian Post PM40063731. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor ON N9A 6J5. Published bi-monthly by Unique Homes magazine, 327 Wall Street, Princeton, Ne w Jersey 08540. ISSN# 0747-7465.

PUBLISHER
Richard A. Goodwin rgoodwin@uniquehomes.com

EDI TOR IN CHIEF
Kathleen Carlin-Russell
krussell@uniquehomes.com

MANAGING EDITOR
Mark Moffa
mmoffa@uniquehomes.com

ART DIRECTOR
Jonathan Bayley
jbayley@uniquehomes.com

PRODUC TION DIREC TOR
Cheryl Jock
cjock@treb.com

MARKE TING PROJEC TS MANAGER
Lisa Masters
lmasters@uniquehomes.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Wendi Lauber
wlauber@uniquehomes.com

ASSISTANT EDI TOR
Alison DiPaolo
adipaolo@uniquehomes.com

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS
Robert Burke
rburke@uniquehomes.com

EDITORIAL / ADVER TISING COORDINATORS
Shari Barbanel . sbarbanel@uniquehomes.com | Sarah Binder . sbinder@uniquehomes.com
Lauren Varga . lvarga@uniquehomes.com | Holly Busacca . hbusacca@uniquehomes.com

RESEARCH SPECIALIS T Donna Estulin

EDITORIAL OFFICE
877.688.1110 / 609.688.1110
Fax: 609.688.0201
327 Wall Street, Princeton, NJ 08540

DIREC TOR OF SALES

Nick Antonicello . 800.732.4092, Ext. 14
310.393.4801
nantoni@mindspring.com

ADVER TISING SALES MANAGERS

Joan Anderson
866.242.1013 / 212.595.2310
joananderson@earthlink.net

Jennifer “Ginger” Chergey
800.222.6210 / 305.885.1997
gc1128@aol.com

Bruce Griset
888.928.9020 / 919.928.9020
bruce@griset.net

Christina Lodar
800.443.7373 / 561.495.1392
clodar@mindspring.com

Janet Kettyle
800.972.0189, Ext. 24499 / 770.356.8733
jkettyle@uniquehomes.com

ADVER TISING SALES
800.732.4092 / 310.393.4801 / Fax: 310.393.4804
720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 205
Santa Monica, CA 90401

NATIONAL TELEMARKETING
REPRESENTATIVE
Elaine Houssels-Fitzpatrick
800.978.3744 702.812.7085
elainefitzpatrick@cox.net

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Janice Nagel
800.732.4092, Ext. 10
janice-n@comcast.net

SALES COORDINATOR
Siobhan Rahilly
327 Wall Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
877.688.1110, Ext. 10
srahilly@uniquehomes.com

PRESIDEN T, HOME DESIGN DIVISION Adam Japko

SENIOR VICE PRESIDEN T, OPERA TIONS Stuart Christian

DIREC TOR OF PUBLISHING OPERATIONS Rick Higgins

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Alisa Jones

GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Andrea Reeves
Alison Kennon | Robert Edghill
Neely John | Jessica Shipley

CIRCULATION DIREC TOR
Sherri Gronli
CIRCULATION MANAGER
John Huffman
NE WSSTAND MANAGER
Bob Moenster

CHAIRMAN/CEO Daniel McCarthy

CFO
Gerry Parker

GENERAL COUNSEL Susan Deese