Moving to the lap of luxury? Forbes ranks estates with outrageous amenities

For those interested in moving into an extravagant estate, a few select homes may be just what they are looking for. Forbes recently created a list of homes with exceptionally extravagant amenities. According to the source, some of these unique features are considered fascinating or downright puzzling, but either way, their unorthodox nature may pique the interest of some potential buyers.

One home mentioned on the list has a secret garage door, hidden in a cliffside. Once the vehicle is inside the garage, a hydraulic lift brings it up into the home, the source says. Another home comes equipped with a full water park, while another has an indoor koi stream.

However, whether or not these sorts of amenities are positive for selling the home or actually do more harm than good is debatable, the source says.

"The quirkier they [extreme amenities] are, the more they complicate the prospects of reselling the property," Tara-Nicholle Nelson, consumer educator at real estate listing site Trulia.com, told the source. However, she also said, "Some of the extreme high-end home features actually create a clear way for sellers to differentiate their otherwise already highly attractive home from the other uber-opulent homes on the market."

Though even at discounted prices these homes may still seem expensive, they may actually be easier to sell than lower-priced homes. Recent statistics from MDA DataQuick revealed that the number of properties selling for more than one-million dollars increased nearly 19 percent in 2010, despite falling numbers for less expensive homes.  

More News