The result of work by hundreds of accomplished artisans from around the world, 490 West Paces Ferry is a luxury home unlike any other in the heart of the American South.

     After entering the villa through custom doors into the stunning hall, influences from all over the world – including Spain, France, Ottoman Turkey, and Morocco – are seen and sensed. Features include a theater that recalls grand movie palaces of the 1930’s, six full and two partial kitchens, a grand ballroom, gentleman’s pub and stunning pool terrace surrounded by several outdoor rooms. Says listing agent Travis Reed of Luxury Portfolio member Harry Norman Realtors, “490 West Paces Ferry is the most important home currently available in Georgia in terms of finish level and size. The pool terrace is possibly one of the most spectacular spaces available anywhere in the world." See more on Luxury Portfolio.

This singular luxury home was added to Luxury Portfolio in October – view other top listings and sales from last month.

     Last month, Luxury Portfolio member Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate reported sales of two Vail luxury properties last listed at over $9 million. Just in time to enjoy the season in luxurious style...

     The first is a brand new mountain home, last listed at $9.795 million, with mountain views and a huge patio overlooking open space and a mountain stream. See more.

The second home is a spacious luxury penthouse with four bedrooms last listed at $9.35 million, boasting a stunning panorama of the surrounding landscape. See more.

Congratulations to Slifer Smith & Frampton on the amazing luxury home sales!

View more top reported sales and top new Luxury Portfolio listings for the previous month.

    Luxury Portfolio member Baird & Warner recently listed the highest priced residential listing in the city of Chicago. The 13,000-plus square foot penthouse of Bill Wrigley, Jr., chewing gum heir and chairman of Wrigley Co., is currently on the market for $14 million.

    The undeveloped space – which consists of three units combined into one - is in the limestone building at 65 E. Goethe St in Chicago’s prestigious Gold Coast neighborhood. “It’s sort of a Who’s Who of Chicago that lives there,” stated Baird & Warner VP of Luxury Home Sales Jim Kinney, who is listing the property. Read more.

View the property details and photos on Luxury Portfolio.

Some great new listings were added to LuxuryPortfolio.com in the month of October; and there were also significant sales reported during the month.  Check out the lists below for the top ten new listings and sales.  Click on the listing information for more details and photos of these extraordinary luxury homes.

A magnificent soft contemporary home listed by Luxury Portfolio member First Team Estates recently came in at #6 on Top Ten Real Estate Deals’ list of Top 10 Coolest Beach Homes.

Situated above the white sand beaches of Laguna Beach and near the renowned Montage Resort, the amazing luxury home is filled with captivating views of ocean and sky through wall to wall glass windows and a glass ceiling. Private stairs lead down to the peaceful beach.

Reading more details and viewing pictures of this fine home leave no doubt as to why it appears on the list of coolest beach homes – see more on Luxury Portfolio.

Sleek, stylish, and functional beauty fused into elegance personify Daniel Libeskind designs. Yes, Libeskind's architecture is controversial, but so is paying one million euros for the newest Lamborghini, the Reventon.  Regardless of your taste one cannot argue that Libeskind designs employ cutting edge philosophies, boast awesome attention to detail, and push the limits of lines and geometric forms far beyond the norm. Libeskind's design philosophies are fully alive in his first signature series residential home, The Villa, the first of which is for sale in Ticino, Switzerland, represented by WETAG Consulting.

You can read more about Libeskind's design theories and this stunning home on the WETAG International Insights blog.

Casa Del Cielo (“House of the Sky”) crowns the entire 14th floor of Alhambra Place – an exclusive waterfront boutique building in Fort Lauderdale that houses only 23 residences. The custom penthouse was combined from two units and boasts outdoor living spaces with 360-degree views of the Fort Lauderdale skyline, the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.

Inside and out, the home is completely unique, made up of finishes and design elements imported from all over the world. There are Venetian plaster and hand-painted accents, Honduran mahogany moldings, English fireplace mantles, Moroccan tile work, Tibetan and Indian columns and more. The matchless penthouse also includes deeded yacht dockage and three garage spaces.

The House of the Sky is currently listed at US $4,995,000 by Premier Estate Properties.

See more photos and incredible details on Luxury Portfolio.

From the highly visible (and operational) light topping the home to cabinets and exterior and interior lighting modeled after circa 1890s lighthouses, the owner’s admiration for the coastal structures is readily apparent in this truly unique luxury home. The deep water home on Polowana Island is a replica of the 104-year-old Boca Grande Lighthouse on Gasparilla Island, Florida.

The 360-degree widow walk atop the tower of this South Carolina home dubbed simply “The Lighthouse” provides for expansive views across the water and beyond. Douglass fir post and beam construction and old growth hickory floors are showcased within the home’s distinctive shell, along with a remarkable custom built gourmet kitchen.

This singular luxury property is currently on the market and listed at US $1,100,000 by Lowcountry Real Estate.

See more photos and details on Luxury Portfolio.

Luxury Portfolio member Halstead Property, LLC launched their Value Factor Program four months ago and it has been a huge success.

Similar to the Michael Saunders & Company Best Opportunities program focusing on the Sarasota, Florida market blogged about earlier this year, Halstead’s Value Factor puts a spotlight on properties that offer the best value in today’s New York City area market. Their definition of “value” considers many factors beyond price, including location, building, condition, and size of the property. To keep the program inventory fresh, properties remain in the Value Factor for only 45 days. The strategy has worked, as 49-percent of Value Factor properties have closed or are in contract.

There is no doubt today’s luxury home buyer is seeking value, and smartly implemented programs such as these aid greatly in that search. Luxury Portfolio has also made it easier for consumers to find value properties on LuxuryPortfolio.com with a new feature allowing them to search specifically for listings that have had price reductions. On the site, luxury home seekers are able to see the dollar amount and percentage change in price since a property was first listed. Search the current price reductions on Luxury Portfolio.

Read more about the Value Factor Program and see the current listings.

Frank Howard Allen Realtors, a Luxury Portfolio member serving California’s North Bay communities, has devised an interesting way to promote groups of fine listings on their Facebook page. Each week Frank Howard Allen presents a “trilogy” – three properties that tie into a specific theme. The most recent trilogy, posted yesterday and titled “Lodge Style,” displays three mountain-lodge inspired homes. Previous trilogies have included Vineyard Properties, Vintage Charmers and Innovative Designs. This is a great idea to attract a buyer looking for a particular type of property.

See the Frank Howard Allen Realtors Facebook page for more. You can also follow Luxury Portfolio for updates on Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection, luxury homes and luxury news.