It took about three years, but this 9000 sq. ft. oceanfront property on Meadow Lane finally changed hands during the first half of 2012.

After hitting the market in March of 2011, this seven-bedroom contemporary (with its own observatory!) found a buyer this April. All it took was shaving $10M from the original $38M ask.

This oceanfront modern quietly came on the market back in March. Three weeks later, it sold for $27.5M, making it the 3rd biggest sale of 2012 (and one of the quickest). Interestingly, one of the family members involved in this sale purchased the "Windmill House" just down the road for $13M around the same time.

For a while, this was looking like it could have been 2012's biggest sale. Its $35M pricetag (down from a mind-boggling $57M) would have put it firmly in the top spot. However, once all was said and done, the owners had to settle for $25M for the 14.6 acre property.

Although the final purchase price is drastically less than the original $38M ask, it still represents an "inland record sale."

Though this home is not quite finished, someone pulled the trigger on the 9000 square foot traditional overlooking Mecox Bay back in October.

Overlooking the 15th hole of the Maidstone Golf Course is this 1.4 acre property that changed hands at the end of October for a stunning $20m. Even more impressive than the final sale price is the profit the seller came away with...they paid just $3.1M for the place in 1999.

The brokerbabble did this place no favors (sample quote: "The home exemplifies design that is beyond art and science."), but it wasn't so off-putting that "The Edgefield Estate" was forced to languish. A buyer was found in February and the deal closed in early May.