Snooping around: New York special

Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This block is in one of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods. Here, 29 private roof-top cabanes offer vistas of Manhattan, and there is a communal pool, gym and Zen garden. Families can settle in the three-bed houses; it’s just a shame this is the price for a studio apartment: from $385,000 (£240,000).
Halstead Property Photograph: Halstead Property

Washington Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn. This vertiginous number is yours to rent for $4,800pcm (£3,000). For that handsome sum you lord it over the city from this sky-high penthouse. There’s only one bedroom but, strangely, two baths.
Prudential Douglas Elliman
Photograph: Prudential Douglas Elliman

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Many of 'BoCoCa's' period graces have been turned into condos, so here’s a rare chance for a family to spread out behind their own street front door. There’s a big back garden, space for a roof deck and luxury trimmings inside. Alas, your millionaire money buys you only three bedrooms. Cost: $1.42m (£887,000).
Prudential Douglas Elliman Photograph: Prudential Douglas Elliman

Overseas: America. Tammany Castle in Montana occupies an iconic position in the history of horse breeding and western settlement. Fully restored and converted to a luxury residence, this is the building created by the copper king Marcus Daly after the successful run of his prize thoroughbred Tammany against Lamplighter in the 1893 Stakes race. With four bedrooms, a spacious conservatory/living area, a library and a state-of-the-art kitchen, no detail has been spared in preserving the original 5,400sq ft structure and its materials. It is situated on 11 acres just minutes from the private jet port in Hamilton. Cost: $2,950,000 (£1,843,000).
Hall and Hall Photograph: Hall and Hall

Bargain of the week: Cleveland. A £100,000 price reduction aims to lure a buyer into completing before Christmas. Your £495,000 will secure you palatial living in a converted barn near the village of Hart. It’s been wired throughout with an entertainment system, two of the four double bedrooms are en suites, and the marble-tiled kitchen has the proportions of a ballroom. It lies with neighbouring conversions up a farm track close to the coast. Surplus funds could add paddocks to your estate.
George F White, 013878 527966 Photograph: George F White

Dream home: Cornwall. This ancient four-bed cottage in the creekside village of Penpol is just six miles from Truro. Indian sandstone floors the kitchen/breakfast room and two receptions, and all four bedrooms have vaulted ceilings. The chief glory is the garden: profusely abloom with lavender in summer and equipped with a patio beneath a flower-hung pergola on the lawn. Cost: £625,000.
Jackson-Stops & Staff, 01872 261160 Photograph: Jackson-Stops & Staff