This week, a Minnesota castle rules over the listings on realtor.com®. The stone property is simply amazing, with oodles of decorative details to take in. Plenty of curious commoners checked out the castle this week, making it our most popular home listing.
If you have time, we suggest scrolling through all 170 photos of the scenic fortress built in 1920.
Our runner-up is even older—a perfectly preserved Colonial dating all the way back to 1638. The historic home in Massachusetts may not require you to wear a tricorn hat, but you could pull off a seriously authentic Thanksgiving feast in this American gem.
Other homes storming the gates this week include an abandoned (and spooky as hell) island in New York that would be perfect for a Halloween bash, the Vegas party pad of “Pawn Stars” star Chumlee, and a beautifully restored farmhouse from 1805 in Harpers Ferry, WV, for only $299,000.
Read on for the rest of this week’s most popular properties…
10. 1032 State St, New Orleans, LA
Price: $1,495,000
Why it’s here: Go classic in NOLA! The three-story traditional from 1918 is located on a light-filled corner lot. The 3,000-square-foot abode was completely gutted over a decade ago, and updated with new plumbing, electric, and roof. The remodeled kitchen includes granite counters and high-end appliances. We can imagine spending lots of time in the ground-level rec room or second-floor deck.
(realtor.com)
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9. 171 Lakeview Dr, Harpers Ferry, WV
Price: $299,000
Why it’s here: A lovingly restored farmhouse from 1805 features pine floors, exposed log walls, and a renovated kitchen. The four-bedroom home features a finished attic, wine cellar with stone walls, and a slate patio with pond views. There’s also an income opportunity: The property has a detached two-car garage, with a studio space with bath above.
(realtor.com)
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8. 6926 Dearborn St, Overland Park, KS
Price: $182,500
Why it’s here: From 1940, this petite two-bedroom ranch house is just adorable. The sunny space includes an updated kitchen and appliances, hardwood floors, a sunroom, and new heating and cooling. Close to downtown, the cozy home would make a great starter spot or an investment property.
(realtor.com)
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7. 9 New Meadow Ln, Topsfield, MA
Price: $1,500,000
Why it’s here: Built in 1996, it’s been recently renovated, with the owners “covering every detail.” Updates include a custom kitchen with chef’s appliances adjacent to living spaces and outdoor patio access. Outdoors, find a lovely al fresco kitchen and fireplace. And don’t worry about New England winters: The driveway and paths are heated, so snow simply melts away.
(realtor.com)
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6. 1129 Bridge Rd, Charleston, WV
Price: $64,900
Why it’s here: This storybook stone-and-brick two-story is definitely in need of updates. Built in 1940, the home is billed as a “great investment opportunity.” Since its price is comparable to that of a good-quality SUV, it could allow a buyer to set aside some extra dough to make the place sparkle again, and then move in or rent it out.
(realtor.com)
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5. 6240 W Patrick Ln, Las Vegas, NV
Price: $1,575,900
Why it’s here: Maybe the house doesn’t always win? In this case, a buyer could come out on top. “Pawn Stars” star Chumlee has cut the price of his party pad, again. The sweet space came on the market last year for $1.85 million, and first made our most popular list back then.The price eventually dropped to $1.7 million and was recently cut again. Perhaps a bargain deal is in the cards…
(realtor.com)
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4. Carleton Is Lot 1, Cape Vincent, NY
Price: $495,000
Why it’s here: Just in time for Halloween, this crumbling Carleton Island Villa surged in popularity. Abandoned for 70 years, the spooky home has been left exposed to the elements for decades and has come on and off the market for years.
For someone who loves the idea of a rehab project, this one’s as big as they come. The 15,000-square-foot mansion has a stone foundation, wood framing that has deteriorated on the upper floors, and that’s about it. But the once-opulent property comes on 6.9 acres and has three waterfronts. An article from 2008 estimated it would take “millions” to rebuild.
(realtor.com)
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3. 104 N Beverly Ln, Greer, SC
Price: $118,000
Why it’s here: Small in size, this 1940s-era bungalow is big on charm. There’s a living room with fireplace that opens to the dining room and an updated open kitchen, hardwood floors throughout, and a spacious wraparound deck. These features quickly won over a lucky buyer, as the home is already under contingent contract.
(realtor.com)
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2. 348 Lowell St, Peabody, MA
Price: $600,000
Why it’s here: A home older than the United States itself, this historic six-bedroom house is a “grand example of Colonial and American history.” Known as the John Proctor House, it dates back to 1638. Many interior features remain intact, including exposed brick, beamed ceilings, and multiple fireplaces.
(realtor.com)
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1. 7689 Quadrant Ave S, Denmark Township, MN
Price: $3,600,000
Why it’s here: This formidable castle from 1920 is a masterpiece of stone, woodwork, and hand craftsmanship, inside and out. The original owner salvaged pieces of buildings being razed in St. Paul at the time, snagging artifacts for this property perched on a scenic bluff overlooking the St. Croix River. A statue in the garden comes from a church. Marble was reclaimed from City Hall. Some elements come from the Northern Pacific Railroad.
The owner “spent 20 years collecting marble, limestone, lots of decorative things,” says listing agent Kathryn Szczepaniak. “That’s why the house has an interesting character. It’s what makes it really cool.” And those fascinating details probably propelled a large number of clicks to this one-of-a-kind historic home.
It appears that sourcing unique finds for the house, and contracting local architect Ellerbe Becket to build the place, was more appealing than actually living in it. The original owner only spent 10 years in the completed project. While work was taking place on the castle, the original owner lived in a small cottage on the property, which still stands.
The castle’s on the market for the first time in 60 years, and offers four bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and 4,732 square feet on 5.41 acres, with large entertaining spaces inside and out. The locally quarried limestone exterior gives the home its castlelike vibe, and there’s also a private beach for swimming, boating, and entertaining.
“It’s a unique, sublime building and fulfills a lot of people’s fantasies of what a perfect place to live in would be,” Szczepaniak says.
(realtor.com)