His record may be near perfect with the Toronto Blue Jays, but Jose Canseco is striking out when it comes to real estate. Canseco's estate near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offered at $6 million furnished , has languished for a year, and recently the price was dropped to $4.5 million, sans furniture. The 3.9-acre estate includes a 12,000-square-foot main house, a separate sports facility with an indoor basketball court and volleyball courts.

Located in the gated community of Windmill Ranch Estates in Weston, Florida, the home also features a renovated swimming pool, and a famous neighbor - Dan Marino, the Miami Dolphins quarterback.

A Classical Retreat for a Classical Actor

Actor Jeremy Irons has taken some risks in his portrayals of unpopular men such as accused murderer Claus Van Bulow and fictional pedophile Humbert Humbert, but his newest venture may prove the riskiest yet. Irons has purchased a 15th century lighthouse-like castlein Roaringwater Bay in West Cork, Ireland for about $250,000, and plans to renovate the ancient dwelling for about $1. million. Currently the casle is without floors or a roof, but when it is finished it will have four bedrooms, a library, kitchen, dining room, living room and chapel. The actor and his wife, Sinead Cusack don't plan to live there - they are going to use the home as a retreat for artists or needy children.

In its current state, the castle bears a strong resemblance to Frankenstein's castle in the movie, Frankenstein Meets Wolf Man,1939.

The Apostle Buys an Eatery

Actor Robert Duvall was such a large fan of the chef and ambiance of a countryside Virginia restaurant that he bought it. The Rail Stop, the only restaurant in The Plains, Virginia offers country fare such as duck and rabbit stew by chef Tom Kee. Duvall, who owns a 200-acre farm nearby, plans to expand the restaurant by adding more seating and items to the menu.

Published: October 28, 1998

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.