Home sweet home

Here's one that will be getting a lot more attention than whatever Obama says about Afghanistan: Candy Spelling is selling her French chateau-style mansion (56,500 square feet that includes a bowling alley, wine cellar, wine tasting room, and gift-wrapping room) for the modest sum of $150 million (well, modest by Washington standards). The Manor, which has been a headache for nearby Holmby Hills residents almost from the time it went up in 1991, is apparently the most expensive home for sale in the U.S. You might recall that at one time the property was the home of Bing Crosby. No clue on any potential buyers, but as a rule these vanity properties are so unusual that owners will often put them on the market only after they have a purchaser in mind. The Spellings tore down the Crosby house and rebuilt. Spelling, widow of Aaron Spelling, is clearly not publicity shy - AP already has an extended account.

Candy Spelling told The Associated Press that she let her dog Madison, a soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, help pick out the best real estate agent for the task. She had her security bring the dog into the room every time she met one of the candidate agents and watched how the dog reacted. If Madison didn't like them, Spelling crossed them off the list. Prospective buyers won't have to worry about passing such scrutiny, Spelling jokes. "Not at all," she says.