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These unusual homes have secret tunnels, moats and castle towers

One can dream…

THE HOUSING MARKETS across the world may be on the mend, but that doesn’t mean it hurts to dream about your ultimate home – one designed just for you.

The owners of an all-purple house near London certainly got people talking.

Unsurprisingly, the US has a rake of unusual properties that are up for sale. Here are just a few of them.

This Malibu shack comes with an underground system of tunnels

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(Image: Estately)

It may not look like much from the outside, but the thousands of dollars you sink into this property will actually buy you 40 acres in the Malibu Hills, prime real estate surrounded by state protected land on three sides.

The previous owner dug a series of underground tunnels around the property, believing that Spanish gold was hidden there

Price: $579,000

Here’s a crater-inspired oasis in the middle of the Arizona desert

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(Image: Estately)

This Arizona home is noteworthy for its largely circular architecture. The great room has a 20-foot beamed ceiling.

The whole property sits on five acres, with a 75-foot negative edge pool and 5,840 square feet inside.

Price: $2.5 million

You can live in a replica of the Alamo

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(Image: Estately)

Lovers of Texas heritage will enjoy living in a replica of the state’s most recognisable symbol.

While it’s all 19th century on the outside, inside, the house has all the modern amenities of a place in a waterfront gated community. It has an elevator and a nearby hangar for your plane.

Price: $1.35 million

Live like a king or queen in this DC castle

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(Image: Estately)

This Maryland castle is based on a Scottish Tudor with a four-story tower.

It also boasts a circular staircase, gargoyles, fountain and terrace overlooking the “loch.”

Price: $1.5 million

You could call a private island home

image

(Image: Estately)

It’s not too shabby to own your own island with one acre of space. This one in Putnam Lake features a single-family home and a guest cottage.

The buildings come fully furnished and the island’s a five minute motor boat ride from the mainland.

Price: $995,000

This Miami mansion has a moat

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(Image: Estately)

Called Chateau Artisan, this three-story mansion sits on 14 acres including the private lake.

A long tree-lined drive leads you into the main house that can be closed off for privacy with immense wooden gates.

Price: $12.8 million

- Paige Cooperstein

Read: Ever wanted your own private island? For €22 million, this could be yours>

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 6:47 PM

    My gaff is currently surrounded by a foot of water. Gotta be worth 2 or three mill.

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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 6:40 PM

    Some people have more money than sense

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    Mute Patrick Bateman
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 6:42 PM

    ..or they know how to have a good time with THEIR money.. Good on em for not being normal and boring.

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    Mute John Dobermann
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 6:55 PM

    Well said Patrick. I loved you in that book by the way. Brett Easton Ellis is quite the author.

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    Mute DurkaDurkaDurka
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 7:06 PM

    I personally thought it was one of those rare occasions where the movie was better than the book…

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    Mute John Dobermann
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 7:18 PM

    No chance! The book is so much more violent. The film is very good though.

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    Mute AllBlue
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 8:32 PM

    Agree, movie was good but the book wins easily. Amazing read.

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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 7:26 PM

    Ain’t got no problem with people working hard and making money, just sick of the super riches lifestyles getting rammed down our throats everyday, whether be tv or media. And the vast majority of the super rich don’t work for it, they’re born into it cause you have to have money to accumulate more.

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    Mute Gavin Donovan
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 7:43 PM

    That’s certainly one way to accumulate wealth, but definitely not the only way.

    http://m.newyorker.com/online/blogs/sportingscene/2013/08/psychology-ten-thousand-hour-rule-complexity.html

    People need to apply themselves more.

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    Mute Ray Donaghy
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 9:19 PM

    Derek, the vast majority of the super rich did earn their money, it’s at about 60% for being a self-made high net worth individual, there are very few 3rd or 4th generation super rich that inherited their money cause the money is often divided or wasted.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:22 AM

    Derek, your Fidel Castro is worth about $8 billion. I believe he was born into a well off family with sugar plantations. So I think your onto something here.

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    Mute rightdanright
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 7:10 PM

    How long before someone starts on about people starving

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    Mute Mick McLoughlin
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 7:28 PM

    I’m Hank Marvin….

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    Mute Nicko Farrell
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 7:35 PM

    Class bud!

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    Mute Colm Coughlan
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 8:17 PM

    Starving Marvin

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Connor
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 9:29 PM

    The first one looks like something out of the taxes chainsaw massacre or the hills have eyes.

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    Mute James Buchanan
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 10:21 PM

    I want that wee island, fcuking class.

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    Mute Stephen Barry
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 6:44 PM

    Often wondered was it better to have an outdoor toilet,I know from experience that the outside jacks had huge advantages. Just thought I’d throw that out there .

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    Mute Michael Garett
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 6:45 PM

    Owned by charity and hospital CEOs no doubt

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    Mute davey p
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 6:56 PM

    Jaysis, 2013 it was all bankers and politicians, now its charity CEOs. Same joke, still not funny

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:24 AM

    Michael, how so? These properties are in the US.

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    Mute Ginger Jihad
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 6:49 PM

    Capitalism folks, It’s a beautiful thing.

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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 7:21 PM

    We don’t live in a capitalist society, we live in a plutocracy. Cartels and monopolies supported by governments cause that’s their job and if things go wrong…taxpayer will prop them up.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Jan 3rd 2014, 12:23 AM

    Derek, as I said above Fidel Castro is worth about $8 billion.

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    Mute billtipp
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 8:16 PM

    That last one looks a bit like my gaff , since the rain started a few hours ago.

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    Mute David Giles
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 9:08 PM

    I am sorry to say but the realtor’s description of the mock castle or fortified house in Maryland as Scottish Tudor is incorrect. There is no such architectural style as Scottish Tudor for the simple reason that the Welsh Tudor family never ruled Scotland. When the Tudors were on the throne in England, Wales and parts of Ireland, the Stewarts were on the throne of Scotland. But maybe the architect and the realtor are recent Irish immigrants unfamiliar with Scottish history!

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    Mute P O Leary
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 10:51 PM

    The lasy one should have a drawbridge installed.

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    Mute P O Leary
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    Jan 2nd 2014, 10:51 PM

    *Last

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    Mute Movety
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    Feb 14th 2016, 5:03 AM

    I wanted to share some photos of this beautiful house in Canada here, it’s so very beautiful: http://movety.com/surrey-real-estate/16950-23-ave-surrey-bc-v3z-9z2-mls-r2034560-1.html.

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    Mute Movety
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    Feb 14th 2016, 4:58 AM

    That island home is just sooo lovely. There is no boat on the photo but I hope it’s being sold with the house.

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