Admire these legends? You can buy their homes
Photo courtesy of Zillow
Stars have always wanted privacy, luxury and a place to get away, and some of their special places are available for sale.
But not all homes are made equal: A home where Elvis once lived has fallen into disrepair and has been on the market for eight months, while Bing Crosby's ranch house just got a 43 percent price hike. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's former estate has become ultra-modern in their absence, while Betty Grable's mansion kept its Old Hollywood glamour (complete with a saltwater pool).
It's anyone's guess which homes will sell with a fame-based markup and which will get D-listed.
Here are 6 homes for sale where legendary celebrities once slept.
Bing Crosby's luxury ranch house
Photo courtesy of Zillow
Rancho Mirage, California, may not be known for its snowy weather, but "White Christmas" star Bing Crosby seemed to like it. This six-bedroom, six-bathroom ranch was built for the Academy Award-winning actor/singer in 1957. Current owner Robert Teller, the founder of a chain of ice cream stores, originally listed it in 2012 for $3.5 million, but now the price is up to $5 million -- a 43 percent increase.
Bing Crosby's luxury ranch house
Photo courtesy of Zillow
Teller, a fan of Crosby's, spent significant time and money renovating the property after he bought it in 2005 for $2.6 million. But the dramatic rise in this property's cost probably has more to do with the rumors surrounding a possible Obama-family move to the area. Crosby himself was fond of Rancho Mirage and purchased several homes there over the years, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The home features Moroccan doors, a pool and spa, private patio, home theater, views of the mountains and Coachella Valley and décor featuring evidence of the crooner's numerous projects.
Elvis Presley's modest mountain home
Photo courtesy of Zillow
Elvis Presley lived in this four-bedroom, seven bathroom, distinctly un-shiny home in Palm Springs for seven years. When Presley bought it in 1970, it cost $105,000. Now, following a foreclosure and a million-dollar price reduction after eight months on the market, the house has been re-listed for $3 million.
Elvis Presley's modest mountain home
Photo courtesy of Zillow
The property has nearly 2 acres of land, a pool and outdoor spa, fireplace, mountain view and flooring that really stands out: Some rooms have checkered tiles, some have bright red carpeting and some have been stripped completely to reveal some unsightly concrete. While the sellers could be banking on the home's star power to make a sale, it's a serious fixer-upper -- perfect for a fan who wants to move in and shake things up.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's Spanish-style estate
Photo courtesy of Zillow
This six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home in Beverly Hills is where Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz - the "I Love Lucy" comedy duo who were married for 20 years in real life -- stayed while their full-time residence was being repaired down the street. You'd never know it was built in 1926, since one of its key selling points is how beautifully it has been updated to suit modern needs and tastes. It was listed in May for $7.5 million; the price has since been reduced to $7 million.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's Spanish-style estate
Photo courtesy of Zillow
The two-story home features a patio with a fireplace, pool and spa, separate guest house and gated motor court.
Betty Grable's Bel-Air mansion
Photo courtesy of Zillow
Betty Grable, the Old Hollywood starlet and top-selling World War II pin-up girl, once owned this now-$13.3 million mansion in Bel-Air. The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home was first built for Grable in 1937, and she moved right in with her new husband, actor Jackie Coogan. Its large saltwater swimming pool was undoubtedly perfect for showing off the actress' "million-dollar legs," which she famously had insured for $1 million.
Betty Grable's Bel-Air mansion
Photo courtesy of Zillow
The property has had a string of famous owners since Grable and Coogan moved out in the 1940s: Jaclyn Smith of "Charlie's Angels" and Stephen Stills of the band Crosby, Stills and Nash have both lived there at different times. Now the mansion is being sold by local entertainment lawyer Schuyler Moore, who bought it in 2011 for $7 million.
It features privacy gates, a stone fireplace, the original French doors, an updated kitchen, a wine cellar, a putting green, a basketball court, a children's playhouse and what Moore calls "a full-blown man cave," according to the Wall Street Journal.
J.D. Salinger's New Hampshire retreat
Photo courtesy of Zillow
This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, gambrel-style house in Cornish, New Hampshire, was once owned by famed American writer J.D. Salinger. The home's current owner has listed it for $679,000. Salinger, whose novel "The Catcher in the Rye" is still greatly beloved by high school students and fiction aficionados, was notoriously reclusive prior to his death in 2010. It's fitting, therefore, that he chose to live on this 12-acre property, surrounded by gardens, trees and "no trespassing" signs.
J.D. Salinger's New Hampshire retreat
Photo courtesy of Zillow
Salinger first moved to Cornish from New York City in 1953, the year his collection "Nine Stories" was published. He lived on this property until the 1960s, but remained in the quaint town for the rest of his life.
It's hard to tell why this house has been on and off the market since October 2013. The home's literary appeal alone seems as though it should be attracting buyers, but on top of that it features a deck, fireplace, mother-in-law suite above the garage, mountain view and access to hiking trails.
Marilyn Monroe's Lake Arrowhead "Happy Hut"
Photo courtesy of MLS
Marilyn Monroe vacationed in this 10-bedroom, 14-bathroom "Hilltop" lakefront estate in Lake Arrowhead, California, but she wasn't the only one. The luxe property, which was originally the home of MCA co-founder Jules Stein, was also used by stars like Cary Grant, Van Johnson and Rock Hudson when they wanted to get away. The current owner, a "noted architect and builder" according to the listing, first put the home on the market in 2010 for $14.8 million. Since then, the price has been reduced several times. It's currently listed for $9.8 million.
Marilyn Monroe's Lake Arrowhead "Happy Hut"
Photo courtesy of MLS
The nearly 4-acre compound could be too expensive for the local market, which has a median listing price of $360,000, according to Zillow. But its history, size and unique features have kept it one of the priciest listings in the area.
It has a tennis court, "a classic car/motorcycle restoration and display area," rooms specifically for chess and crafting, a formal garden, a slate patio, four boat docks and an outdoor kennel. Monroe's personal bungalow, one of the property's five accessory buildings that she called the "Happy Hut," has also been preserved for posterity.