B
arbara Corcoran's New York City penthouse apartment has been her dream home for decades. In 1992, she delivered an envelope to the 4,600-square-foot duplex on Fifth Avenue and was immediately smitten with its lush green terrace. She jokingly asked the owner if she could buy it from her one day, but the woman didn't take her seriously. Years later, when Corcoran's real estate company, The Corcoran Group, had taken off, she got a call from the owner asking to sell - and Corcoran was ready.

    Corcoran and her husband bought the 11-room apartment in 2015 for $10 million and spent an additional $3 million on renovations. The property features a stunning greenhouse, curved staircase, and expansive city views. For Corcoran, buying homes is always an emotional decision - she has to feel a deep connection to the space before making an offer.

    In a 2020 interview, Corcoran revealed that while relationships with owners matter, it's her ability to envision herself living in a property that truly drives her purchasing decisions. She even confessed that if she were to sell, she could have gotten $12 million for the penthouse - but she chose not to because she loved it too much.

    Now, five years later, Corcoran is selling her dream home for $12 million. The unit boasts five bedrooms, a library with a wood-burning fireplace, and a monthly maintenance fee of around $11,000. Despite the hefty price tag, Corcoran says she's motivated to sell because the curved staircase has become difficult for her and her husband to use.

    Corcoran's renovation transformed the apartment into a stunning multilevel jewel box, complete with a versatile dining space in what was once the greenhouse. Her broker, Scott Stewart, praises her design skills, saying "She's a real estate genius." After selling her beloved penthouse, Corcoran has already made an offer on another Manhattan property - a one-story penthouse in her Carnegie Hill neighborhood.