Famous Russian composer Igor Krutoy bought a luxury apartment in New York, at a famous Plaza Hotel with a panoramic view over Central Park. The apartment has about 557 square meters and cost more than $40 million. As Wall Street Journal reported, this is the second most expensive townhouse or apartment sold in New York since the start of financial crisis. But this estate is not the first real estate purchase of Krutoy in New York. In 2003 he purchased half of the 28th floor at the Chatham condominium (a 34-story condominium tower) for $6.1 million. Three years later he paid $7.4 million for the larger apartment next door. In April 2009 Krutoy put both apartments on the market together for just under $20 million and in June he sold the larger one for only $7 million. Note that a luxury apartment in New York is not the only "shelters" of Krutoys' family; they also have apartments in Moscow, houses in Miami and Yurmala.

The central Fresno house that famed Armenian-American author William Saroyan lived in for the last 17 years of his life is in foreclosure and headed to auction in May. The simple stucco tract home at 2729 W. Griffith Way, just west of Cooper Middle School, has had three different owners since Saroyan's death in 1981 and has fallen into foreclosure twice, according to Fresno County public property records. Neighbor Ernie Baca said the house has been used as a rental for years and attracted squatters. Today, the home, which bears a plaque honoring the Oscar and Pulitzer Prize winning author, is empty with some windows boarded up and foreclosure notices hanging on the screen door. Documents show Saroyan's home was purchased by the current owners in 2006. Baca says since then the place has slowly deteriorated. He says a new tenant moved in every year and now squatters are taking over. For a place on the city of Fresno's historic registry, there was hope better care would be taken. The small, 114 square meters house was built in 1964. It has three bedrooms and one bathroom. When Saroyan owned it and the house just west of it, fruit trees and weeds grew around the property. Saroyan would pay Baca US$ 30 to water the trees and the weeds when he was away, Baca said with a chuckle. The house was rough like Saroyan who was scruffy with a long mustache, he said. The Saroyan house is on the local register of historic resources. The plaque, which lists 10 pieces of Saroyan's work written while living in the house, was installed in 1989. NBS Default Services, LLC, of Long Beach is handling the foreclosure. The house is scheduled to be auctioned off at 10 a.m. May 5 at the Fresno County Courthouse.

Former USA president Richard Nixon's mansion, which he owned nearly 11 years (1969-1980), put on market for US$ 75 million. The mansion, which the president dubbed La Casa Pacifica, is located in the first line in San Clemente, California. President Richard Nixon's so-called Western White House, family used for family retreats and strategic meetings, hosting guests such as Henry Kissinger and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Nixon, a Southern California native, retreated to the home after his resignation in 1974, following the Watergate scandal, and wrote his memoir there. He sold the estate to Mr. Herbert, and partners, in 1980 in a private sale. The 22.3 thousand square meters estate in San Clemente has more than 1400 square meters of living space over a main house, guesthouses and staff quarters, and 140 meters of ocean frontage. The main residence was designed in the 1920s by Carl Lindbom for Mr. Cotton, a wealthy local businessman, who was inspired by the mayor's residence in San Sebastian, Spain. The inside has tiled and wood floors and wood-beamed ceilings; large arched windows overlook the ocean. The home is designed in a Spanish Colonial style-white stucco and red-tile roof, and living spaces around a central courtyard with a fountain. An outside staircase leads to an office with a fireplace that Mr. Nixon added. The dining room overlooks the home's ornamental and English gardens on the opposite side. The tranquil lot overlooks a popular surfing beach. It has flower and vegetable gardens, neatly trimmed hedges, and palm and cypress trees. Listing agent Rob Giem, of HOM Sotheby's International Realty, says the high price tag (US$ 75 million) is justified, even aside from the property's provenance, as it is the largest stretch of available residential oceanfront south of Los Angeles. Prices for vacant waterfront lots in Orange County typically sell for US$ 5 million to US$ 10 million for a 2,5 thousand square meters, he says. "It's one of a kind," he adds. Gavin Herbert, the retired founder and CEO of Allergan is selling the estate after 35 years of ownership and is looking for a buyer who will continue to care for the property. Mr. Herbert and his partners developed the property into a gated subdivision with 14 other homes. He also added an octagonal poolside pavilion, and decorated it with photos of visiting dignitaries. More recently, he remodeled the main house, rebuilding about 30% and putting in a basement. The master suite was expanded to include a bath and closets. He also replaced a living-room fireplace and donated the original to the Nixon library.