Let's tip our 10-gallon hats to Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood, who just bought a house along the Malibu beachfront that originally had been listed at $5.45 million and then dropped to $4.95 million. Public records did not disclose the purchase price.
Brooks is the top-selling solo artist of the 20th century, according to the Recording Industry Assn. of America, and Malibu residents no doubt look forward to the additional paparazzi that the King and Queen of Country will bring to the beach scene this summer. The last paparazzo who was tossed into the ocean with his camera is said to be drying off nicely.
The house is behind gates and sits on half an acre with beach access. The one-story house has about 3,700 square feet and, according to the listing, includes three bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms. The master bedroom has hardwood floors; flooring elsewhere is stone and carpet. There is an outdoor patio with a fireplace.
Country singer: A caption with Sunday's Hot Property column in the Real Estate section incorrectly spelled Trisha Yearwood's first name as Tricia.
Country singer: A caption with last Sunday's Hot Property column incorrectly spelled Trisha Yearwood's first name as Tricia.
In May, Brooks became the first artist to receive the Academy of Country Music's Crystal Milestone Award in recognition of his 128 million record sales. His most recent release, "The Ultimate Hits," has been certified five times platinum, according to his website.
Yearwood won Grammys in 1997 for best female country vocal performance for "How Do I Live" and best country vocal collaboration (with Brooks) for "In Another's Eyes."
A bidding war in Beverly Hills
Here's a real estate story that will make you want to check what year it is. No, this isn't 2005. A house listed for $4 million in the Beverly Hills flats just got 10 offers, all above the asking price, and has an accepted offer of $5.4 million -- cash. It had been on the market about two weeks.
The home was owned for many years by a friend and neighbor of actress Valerie Harper, who is now acting as executor of the estate.
Harper said the home has a "fabulous English garden," which the owner tended herself. "She was like a grandmother to our daughter; she cooked, baked, gardened . . . just a delightful, wonderful woman with fabulous stories," Harper said.
Without question, the house needs updating. But it's in an undeniably great location, and the listing agent underscores that it was "priced right."
