What Are The Most Expensive Houses In The U.S.?

This year, we saw one of the most competitive housing markets in U.S. history, causing home prices across the country to increase by double-digit percentages. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median price for a new home jumped from $312,800 in 2019 to $408,800 in 2021. And while home values have skyrocketed this year, nothing compares to the price tags on these luxury homes, which were the most expensive houses in the U.S. that were sold in 2021.

Where Are The Most Expensive Houses In The US?

You may notice that all of the houses on this list are located in either Florida or California. With year-round beautiful weather, unobstructed views of the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean and some of the most exclusive communities in the country, it’s no wonder why the most expensive homes in the U.S. can be found in these states.

Top 10 Most Expensive Homes Sold In The US

These are the top 10 most expensive homes that have been sold in America in 2021. You’ll notice that many come with such features as wine cellars, swimming pools, guest houses and tennis courts and feature some of the best views of the ocean, city skylines and other landscapes including canyons and bluffs.

1. Livermore, California

• Address: 7001 Del Valle Road
• Sales price: $68,000,000
• Date of sale: October 22, 2021
• Square footage: 2,500
• Beds: 4
• Baths: 2

Topping the list of the most expensive home sold in 2021, this Livermore home is also the smallest, most humble home on this list. It isn’t the structure’s square footage or luxury amenities that make the house worth almost $70 million. It’s the 50,500-acre property it sits on. Spanning four counties, the property is home to the N3 Cattle Company and was put up for sale this year for the first time in 85 years. Along with the cattle ranch, the property features several cabins and sustainable hunting grounds. As part of the Williamson Act, the property has no conservation easements, and its sale was the largest land sale in California. 

2. Los Angeles, California

• Address: 2188 Mandeville Canyon Road
• Sales price: $65,000,000
• Date of sale: August 31, 2021
• Square footage: 19,000
• Beds: 6
• Baths: 12

With city, ocean and canyon views, it can be hard to take your eyes away from the scenery offered at this contemporary home. But the impeccable grounds, beautiful design and lavish amenities may steal some of the attention. Featuring an indoor pool, gym and theater, the property sits on 4 acres that host a pool house, architectural pool and detached guest house. The home is brand new, built in 2021, and is designed by a team that includes an award-winning architect, a top-ranked interior designer and a famous landscape designer.

3. Beverly Hills, California

• Address: 1011 North Beverly Drive
• Sales price: $63,100,000
• Date of sale: October 5, 2021
• Square footage: 29,000
• Beds: 9
• Baths: 15

Make your way up one of LA’s longest private driveways to this lavish Beverly Hills home, known as the Hearst Estate. This iconic mansion was built in 1926 and is filled with opportunities to entertain. With an art-deco nightclub, billiards room, two screening rooms, an Olympic-sized pool, tennis court and entertainment space to accommodate 1,000 guests, it’s no wonder this resortlike home was, according to its listing, used as a secret honeymoon spot for the Kennedys. No detail was overlooked in the home, which features a hand-painted ceiling, intricately designed doors and moldings and a two-story library dressed in rich woods.

4. Hobe Sound, Florida

• Address: 382 South Beach Road
• Sales price: $55,095,000
• Date of sale: April 7, 2021
• Square footage: 26,234
• Beds: 10
• Baths: 18

Sandwiched between the intercoastal and the Atlantic ocean – with access to both – this Hobe Sound luxury home features a sleek interior design that makes it feel like you’re inside a luxury yacht. The property, located on Jupiter Island, has additional pool, tennis, boat, coach, carriage and beach houses and more than 500 feet of ocean and waterfront. Active homeowners can burn energy at the two pools, fitness center and U.S. Open-sized tennis court, while food and drink connoisseurs can sample new flavors inside the wine cellar and gourmet kitchen.

5. Miami Beach, Florida

• Address: 5800 North Bay Road
• Sales price: $39,250,000
• Date of sale: January 28, 2021
• Square footage: 11,039
• Beds: 6
• Baths: 9

The ornate, gated entry, walkway through a royal palm forest and European architecture of this Miami Beach home will make you feel like you’re at a hideaway in the Mediterranean. But the views of the Miami skyline and stunning Florida sunsets over the bay will tell you otherwise. This stately home, located on the Biscayne Bay, has a customized chef’s kitchen, koi pond, wine cellar and elevator, with finishes made from 150-year-old reclaimed hardwood and Dominican coral stone features.

6. Miami Beach, Florida

• Address: 46 Star Island Drive
• Sales price: $39,000,000
• Date of sale: March 15, 2021
• Square footage: 18,356
• Beds: 10
• Baths: 12

At the northern tip of Star Island sits the “Grande Dame Estate,” a historic mansion that was built in 1924 and fully renovated in 2017. A detailed, brick drive leads to the entrance of the home, which features a six-vehicle carport, fountain and arched entry arcade. The interior features wide-planked hardwood and marble floors, a 3,000-bottle wine cellar and an opulent, ballroom-sized living room with the original, vaulted ceiling. Homeowners who enjoy their privacy will appreciate security at the island gate and property surveillance along with the fact that the island is home to only a few dozen other properties.

7. Laguna Beach, California

• Address: 33 Smithcliffs Road
• Sales price: $35,500,000
• Date of sale: November 18, 2021
• Square footage: 10,010
• Beds: 6
• Baths: 9

The new homeowners of this recently reconstructed Laguna Beach home have unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island bluffs from almost every room. The home’s 20-foot motorized doors help blend the sleek, modern interior and exterior living spaces where natural light abounds. Inside, you’ll find a gourmet chef’s kitchen with custom cabinetry, a master bath with heated floors and a family room with a natural stone fireplace wall. Outside, there’s parking for 12 vehicles and more than 1,800 feet of space to sunbathe on the roof deck.

8. Miami Beach, Florida

• Address: 100 South Pointe Drive, Unit Penthouse 2
• Sales price: $35,000,000
• Date of sale: April 14, 2021
• Square footage: 11,031
• Beds: 7
• Baths: 8

At the top of the south tower of South Beach’s exclusive Continuum condo development, this extravagant penthouse condo has a private pool, 11,000 square feet of livable space and floor-to-ceiling window views of the ocean and city skyline. As part of the Continuum development, the unit also includes access to an attached parking garage, two pools, onsite management, a gym and 24-hour security. And as part of the association, the luxury home also comes with $12,000-per-month HOA fees.

9. Miami Beach, Florida

• Address: 1 Star Island Drive
• Sales price: $35,000,000
• Date of sale: July 23, 2021
• Square footage: 7,988
• Beds: 6
• Baths: 10

A second Star Island home to be featured as a most expensive home, this house sits at the opposite end of the island, less than half a mile from the “Grande Dame Estate,” number 6 on our list. Lush, tropical landscaping adds pops of green to this pristine, white home which features hardwood and marble floors, a private dock, pool and spa and a matching three-bedroom guest house with a private hot tub. 

10. San Clemente, California

• Address: 4130 Calle Isabella
• Sales price: $33,868,480
• Date of sale: September 1, 2021
• Square footage: 12,854
• Beds: 7
• Baths: 10

When this sprawling, Mediterranean-style home sold for almost $34 million, it became the sixth highest sale in Orange County history. Spanning almost 3 acres, the property has a 55-foot pool, 450 feet of oceanfront and a massive event lawn that has hosted several large-scale benefits. Inside, the home drips with rustic elegance, where stone walls and wood-beamed ceilings mix with Venetian plaster features, bronze window frames and limestone floors.  

The Bottom Line: The Priciest Homes In America Come With Many Amenities But A Large Price Tag

These are just some of the most expensive houses in the U.S. that were sold in 2021. There are plenty more multimillion-dollar homes out there, and even more are being built. Like the homes on this list, some of the priciest homes will often come with acres of land, thousands of square feet of living space, luxury finishes and such amenities as pools, spas, gourmet kitchens and fitness centers. And while these features make the home extremely valuable, it’s the memories made inside the house that make it priceless.

If you’re interested in upgrading to a bigger home or one with more luxury amenities, check out the homes for sale on Rocket Homes^SM.