Newport Mansion Luxury Is Yours, for a Price

It's almost summer and a visit to the Newport Mansions never loses its charm. Imagine for a moment not paying for tickets to view the mansions but actually living in your own.

For a cool $19.5 million you can buy an ocean-front estate on a rambling six-acre lot in the Cliff Walk neighborhood of Newport. There will be plenty of room for guests with 15 bedrooms, 12 full and 2 half bathrooms, a carriage house and separate guest quarters. You aren't likely to run out of parking spaces on the property, but just in case, there is an FAA approved heliport on the grounds of this luxurious property.

The estate is known as "Hopedene" and if you own it, you'll have full beach access via the Cliff Walk. Of course, is also has a pool and a hot tub - another reason you will have plenty of company once you've settled in. Built in 1889, Peabody and Stearns describes Hopedene as a most monumental Colonial Revival residence.

The price has actually come down on the property reportedly owned by Palm Beach socialites Craig Millard (the retired chairman of Prudential Preferred Properties) and his wife, Michele. Listed by Lila Delman Real Estate, the starting price was $22.5 million.

Even with the price of Hopedene reduced to $19.5 million, taxes on the property are still high at $82,040. This would make 30-year mortgage at 6.5% interest a hefty $13,0089 per month. If that's a bit steep, you can always buy a ticket to see all of the Newport Mansions for $31.