news asia: Bottom Line - Celebrity Real Estate: NBA's Lin gets off the couch

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Bottom Line - Celebrity Real Estate: NBA's Lin gets off the couch

By Zillow staff

Start the moving trucks. This week the NBA Knick's sensation Jermey Lin moves up, Matthew McConaughey moves to Austin, and Jennifer Hudson moves on.

Jeremy Lin gets Trumped-up living upgrade
From NBA castoff sleeping on his brother's lower Manhattan couch to budding superstar, Jeremy Lin isn't just moving on up, he's headed about 20 stories off the ground. Literally.

Linsanity is said to be moving to Trump Tower at 10 City Place in White Plains, north of New York in?Westchester County. The New York Post reports the point guard will set up in a condo owned by former Knick David Lee.

The sublet will pull Lin out of Manhattan and closer to the Knicks' practice facility.

Matthew McConaughey settles down in Austin

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Matthew McConaughey's new home

The Texas-born-and-raised actor has reportedly settled down on a nine-acre estate outside Austin with his fianc?, Camila Alves. According to The Real Estalker, the sure sign of the movie star's presence was his trademark Airstream parked in the driveway.

[Related: See other movie stars' homes]

Best known for his roles in romantic comedies, as well as his chiseled physique, McConaughey currently owns a surfside Malibu home but spends quite a bit of time in the Lone Star state. Now that he's the father of two (a son, Levi, and daughter, Vida) ? and engaged to Alves ? it looks like the Austin property will be a little more practical for his family. The listing notes that his home is "within walking distance to the area's finest public and private schools."

McConaughey's home has bounced on and off the Austin real estate market since 2008 with several price cuts. According to property records, it was first listed at $6.6 million?and dropped to the most recent price of $4 million?in November 2010. The home was taken off the market in early January 2012. It's likely that McConaughey snagged the home for less than the last listing price.

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Matthew McConaughey's home sits on nine acres with views of Lake Austin.

See more photos of Matthew McConaughey's new home.

Jennifer Hudson backs out of contract

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Jennifer Hudson reportedly signed a contract on this home.

One big Chicago real estate deal has hit a sour note.

At the end of November, Hudson Jennifer Hudson was reportedly under contract to buy a 12,000-square foot home in Burr Ridge, Ill., but at some point the music stopped. The award-winning singer and actress backed out of the home purchase, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom castle-like home was last listed on the Burr Ridge real estate market for $2,795,000. At the time, NBC Chicago reported the 30-year old star "will get the house for 33 percent less than the original asking price of $4.2 million."

Why would the Academy-Award winning star back away from the discounted mansion? While the home inspection could have revealed something, the Tribune speculates that Hudson ended the contract due to publicity surrounding her home purchase.