Ashlee Simpson Lists Big Beverly Hills House at a Big Loss

Bought high, listing low
Soon after moving in, Simpson married Wentz. He sold his house in the Hollywood Hills, they had a baby they named Bronx, and altogether settled down as a young family in her big house in the Bev Hills. Soon after, in late 2008, real estate rumors started to percolate that the young couple was prowling around for a more family friendly house, so she hoisted her house on the market with an asking price of $4 million.

It doesn't take a math genius to see that Simpson is looking at a half-million dollar loss -- and that's if she manages to get her full asking price and before she pays the fat real estate fees that could easily cost her another two hundred thousand smackers. Ouch.


Get Zen with Ashlee
At the front of the house, a walled and gated courtyard with a distinct Zen vibe is enveloped in lush tropical foliage and contains several seating areas, a builtin fire pit and a fountain.

Simpson's obvious affection for Buddha statues can be seen in the courtyard that not only has a small statue sitting next to the fire pit, but a huge stone bas relief of Buddha's face mounted to the wall of the house.


Gothic touches
The wood front doors open to a large entrance hall that leads to an even larger living room with wide plank walnut floors, a vaulted and beamed ceiling, fireplace with carved stone surround and a trio of French doors that open to wide terraces that run the length of the back of the house.

Simpson and Wentz have furnished their Beverly Hills abode with Gothic touches that include crushed red velvet sofas with gold trim and a couple of ecclesiastical looking chairs with elaborately carved, arched and pointed backs.


Renaissance Gal: She sings, dances, acts and cooks!
A family room area – that appears to have been originally designed as a formal dining room – sits adjacent to the kitchen and has a flat screen television mounted into custom built-in cabinetry. There's also a whole bunch of comfortable looking (but toddler unfriendly) white slip-covered furniture.

The gourmet kitchen has stone floors laid at a 45-degree angle to the walls, a coffered ceiling, granite counter tops, dark stained cabinetry and commercial grade appliances that include a Mercedes-sized Vulcan brand range. An intimate dining area off to one side is wrapped in tall windows that provide canyon views.


A quiet retreat
The second level contains the sprawling, celebrity style master suite that includes deluxe features such as a fireplace, walk-in closets, his and her bathrooms, and a private terrace with panoramic canyon vistas.

Is this where Jessica stays?
The swimming pool sits down the hillside, far below the main house and is surrounded by a terrace of Spanish tiles. Another one of Simpson's Buddha statues appears to float out over the canyon next to the pool, while a two-story guesthouse contains about 770 square feet of additional living space and includes a full kitchen and bathroom.


More celebs on the real estate ropes
Other famous folks who currently have homes listed at a loss include CSI:Miami hunk Eddie Cibrian who listed his former family home in Calabasas, California at $150k less than he and soon to be ex-wife Brandi Glanville paid for it 2 years ago.

Pint-sized twin tycoon Ashley Olsen recently listed a Los Angeles home she owns for $175k less than she paid for it just over two years ago.

But the biggest loser in the real estate game is actress Scarlett Johansson who recently put her house in the Hollywood Hills on the market for more than $2 million less than she bought it for in May of 2007. That has just got to hurt even more than the steep loss Ashlee Simpson will likely take on her house.