Last year, a 16-acre property in Greenwich, Connecticut, containing a Jacobean manor house of 2034 square meters with 14 rooms was sold for 125 million dollars (82.8 million). It was the second most expensive home for sale in the world by its price. Today, it is proposed to only 60 million dollars.

In one year, all owners wishing to sell have decided to reduce their prices by 20% or more. But this phenomenon is changing now as it affects owners of property valued at several tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Last year, the investor Marty Zweig has withdrawn from the market the Pierre Hotel penthouse sale for $ 70 million four years ago. The financier Leonard Ross, who demanded 165 million dollars to the Hearst Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif., has withdrawn from the market in September 2008.A few months later, Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia has withdrawn his ski chalet in Aspen, which he wanted 135 million dollars.

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This year, another victim of the housing market rout is "Hillendale" in Stamford, Connecticut. This property was sold for 95 million dollars. It is not for sale. Others, like the owners of a manor of 85 million dollars created by Wallace Neff, have decided to rent their properties until the market recovers.

These reactions, said Jonathan Miller, CEO of real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel, are normal. "The market went wild, and has increased the prices of these goods to astronomical levels," said he. "These reductions are less dramatic reflection of the market collapse than the reality. "

While the number of buyers willing to invest in a property worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars has always been low, the lack of availability of financing for mega-loans is a little more decimated their ranks . Finally, some buyers who have the necessary funds are waiting to see if the housing market will regain its stability. And they could take some time.

The market for "ultra-luxury" also suffers

"It's low-end market has suffered in the first," says Mike Simonsen, CEO of Altos Research, a provider of real estate statistics. "Then, the luxury market began to suffer there are only 12 months and is very recently that the market for ultra-luxury was hit. It will take years, many years before the market does recover. At the top, it will take longer for the luxury market as a whole. To attract buyers, owners and their agents use strategies often reserved for sellers in more traditional markets.

This was decided to owners Bootjack Ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. During the year, they reduced their prices by $ 88 million to 68 million.The broker of this property, Bill Fandel of Sotheby's International Realty, hoped that this reduction would generate some interest. He says that it is the foreign billionaires who seem interested.

"Those who can afford to buy a property like this," says he, "want to know they are a wise purchase and they get a lot for these huge price. "Herald Grant, who also works for Sotheby's, has withdrawn from the market a property in Southampton proposed $ 80 million. "When the buyers were willing to spend, prices were emotional," says he, "but now the sellers are more reserved. "

The Villa Leopolda in France

But the general slump has not stopped some to sell their luxury properties.In March, Candy Spelling, wife of the late producer Aaron Spelling, has sold their manor of 150 million dollars in Holmby Hills. Called "The Manor, the residence of 100 rooms topped our list this year. Despite the widespread collapse of property prices, its price is higher than the number 1 last year, "Fleur De Lys", also in Holmby Hills for sale for $ 125 million. This property is inspired by the palace of Louis XIV at Versailles, with an area of nearly 4200 square meters.

Albemarle House, 100 million, an area of Charlottesville, Virginia. At the heart of a park of 120 acres adjacent to Monticello and Ash Lawn-Highland, this Georgian house of eight rooms was designed by architect and designer David Easton.

Owners of homes outside the United States also seem to hope that the unique features of their homes attract buyers. Updown Court, the area of 117 million dollars that they say bigger than Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court, is still on the market. Like'exceptionnelle Villa Leopolda, with its 2700 square meters and 11 rooms, located on the Riviera, which had been proclaimed the most expensive home in the world, and is now offered to 68 million euros . If owners are concerned, they could perhaps see Joel Horowitz, co-founder of Tommy Hilfiger and owner of "Tranquility" at Lake Tahoe. This area of 85 hectares for sale since 2006 at a price of 100 million dollars.