Newsletter: Hot Property: Conscious uncoupling

Much like finding a new job or retiring from one, an impending divorce can often be a prelude for a home sale. In Hollywood, stars move on from significant others just as they do from one role to another — and division of property becomes part of the cycle.

Here’s a look at some of the celebrities who made news last week, including the uncoupling of one A-list star.

– Neal J. Leitereg

Retiring a classic

Actors Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green, who are in the process of divorcing, have begun to sell off their marital assets, starting with their home in Toluca Lake.

Originally Bing Crosby’s carriage house, the remodeled ranch-style home quietly went for $2.6 million in an off-market sale. That’s a considerable discount from what the couple paid for the 6,710-square-foot home two years ago: $3.35 million.

Bird is the word

Texas billionaire and former Fleur de Lys owner David Saperstein, whose divorce made headlines a decade ago, sold his equestrian ranch in the Simi Valley area for $33 million.

The 123-acre estate known as Hummingbird Nest Ranch originally came to market in 2007 for $75 million and was more recently listed at $49.5 million.

Set among rock formations in the Santa Susana Mountains, the property includes a Spanish-style mansion of 17,000 square feet, 16 guesthouses, three riding arenas and a 20,000-square-foot barn. Three parking lots can accommodate as many as 400 vehicles.

The 123-acre equestrian estate in Simi Valley known as Hummingbird Nest Ranch sold for $33 million.

(Sotheby’s International Realty)

The 123-acre equestrian estate in Simi Valley known as Hummingbird Nest Ranch sold for $33 million. (Sotheby's International Realty)

One last smile

After years on and off the market, the 640-acre Napa estate of late actor Robin Williams found a buyer last week at $18.1 million.

Called Villa Sorriso for “villa of smiles,� the park-like property was built for the comic more than a decade ago. The 20,000-square-foot mansion features such details as an oak-paneled library, three safe rooms and climate-controlled cellars for storing artwork and wine.

An infinity-edge swimming pool, a caretaker’s house and 18 acres of producing vineyards and horse riding trails are within the sprawling grounds.

The 640-acre estate in Napa was built for the late Robin Williams more than a decade ago.

(Frank Deras | Inset: Ken Hively)

The 640-acre estate in Napa was built for the late Robin Williams more than a decade ago. (Frank Deras | Ken Hively)

And the Oscar goes to ...

The longtime Beverly Hills-area estate of actor Charlton Heston sold for about $12.2 million.

Set among trees on a knoll above Coldwater Canyon, the Midcentury Modern-style house designed by William S. Beckett was home to the Oscar winner for nearly half a century.

A formal dining room with Terrazzo tile floors, a step-down living room and a two-story library off the master suite are in keeping with the original vibe of the 1950s residence. A separate three-story structure has an art studio, a screening room and an observation deck.

The longtime Beverly Hills home of actor Charlton Heston has sold for $12,212,000.

(Jeff Elson | Inset: Los Angeles Times)

The longtime Beverly Hills home of Charlton Heston sold for $12.212 million. (Jeff Elson | Los Angeles Times)

Paring down his portfolio

Charlie Sheen is clearly operating in sell mode these days. After selling a home in Sherman Oaks’ Mulholland Estates last year, the actor has put another house in the same community up for sale at $6.099 million.

Entered through a gated courtyard, the Spanish-style house has a total of five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms in more than 6,600 square feet of living space. Multiple patios, a fire pit and a swimming pool and spa are within the grounds.

On the block

Baseball fans, take note: A San Diego-area home with a full-size baseball field will be going up for auction next month.

The 42-acre estate includes a private baseball diamond, including a matching batting cage, that owner and sports agent Jonathan Weisz had built for his sons in 2007. Other features of note include a resort-style swimming pool, a full home gym and a riding corral.

Listed for sale at $8.995 million, the home will be put up for auction in late February if not sold earlier.

The sports compound includes a baseball field, a basketball half-court, a lighted batting cage, horse facilities and a pool on 42 acres in Poway.

(Reed Kaestner)

The sports compound includes a baseball field, basketball half-court, lighted batting cage, horse facilities and pool on 42 acres in Poway. (Reed Kaestner)

From the archives

Thirty years ago this week, news broke that television producer Aaron Spelling had eyes to build a 72,000-square-foot house on the Westside. Although not quite as large as initially planned, the 56,600-square-foot residence known as "The Manor," or "Candyland" after Spelling’s wife, Candy, was completed five years late.

Believed to be the biggest home in Los Angeles, the grand estate in Holmby Hills sold in 2011 to Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone for $85 million. Ecclestone has since privately shopped the property for $150 million.

How’s this for a sweet desert retreat: Two decades ago, Irv Robbins of Baskin-Robbins ice cream put his Rancho Mirage home up for sale at $1.25 million.

Robbins, who opened his first ice cream store in Glendale in 1945, previously owned an Encino home with a swimming pool shaped like an ice cream cone.

What we’re reading

— California home prices continue to climb, particularly in Los Angeles and Orange counties, where prices jumped 6.2% in November, according to Los Angeles Times reporter Samantha Masunaga. San Francisco posted one of the highest gains across the nation, with an 11% increase year-over-year.

— Taking into consideration pageviews and favorited listings, Redfin has released its "hottest neighborhoods" prediction for 2016. Cracking the top 10 neighborhoods was L.A. County's neighbor to the north, Ventura, where the Midtown area has seen a large uptick in interest. Neighborhoods such as Mount Washington, Adams Square and Larchmont are trending upward for Angelenos, according to the report.

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