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In 2004 Des Res was voted one of the nicest words in the english language. There are many reason for this. In the property market estate agents, especially in the west end have a way of conjuring up a great word to describe a property without breaking the rules of trade description. Des Res [ d'z r'z ] (plural des reses) means superior house: a house or flat that is considered, especially by an estate agent, as highly desirable and obviously the shortening of desirable residence.

Today newpapers often use the word to describe a broken down garage which sold for $500.000 dollars i.e. garage des res for sale only $500,000. Some entrepreneurs in Stoke UK purchased an old water tower and againt the odds turned it in to des res apartments, by all accounts they attracted some very good prices for their entrenprerneurship.

What are the most expensive des reses? well For $US165 million ($A192 million) a Californian mansion that once belonged to publishing magnate Mr Randolph Hearst and featured in the film The Godfather could be yours.

It boasts three pools, around 29 bedrooms, a movie theatre, a disco and separate residence for the security staff. truly the most expensive mansion in the world. The asking price surpassed the $US155 million ($A180.47 million) being sought by developers of a 10-bedroom estate in Montana's Big Sky country, and the $US135 million ($A157 million) price of an Aspen, Colorado, compound owned by Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan, former ambassador to the United States. Lovely des reses indeed!

Remarkably a flat (apartment in the USA) could surpass this. Although they won't be ready until 2009-2010, there has been incredible interest, and several have already been sold off plan. Clients for the flats, some who are bilionaires, are expected to include Arab princes and Russian oligarchs.

Recently it was rumoured a flat had sold for $168 million dollars. The flats start at $8 million. There are 4 penthouse flats in the complex; those are the ones rumoured to be selling for $168 million. They will also have the street number/address '1 Hyde Park'- I'm pretty sure that alone massively added to the value of the price tag.