Newsletter: Hot Property: For your viewing pleasure

Whether you’re spending the summertime leisure hours catching up on television, following sporting events or listening to music, we’ve got a hot real estate story that relates to your favorite staycation activities. Click through the remote for TV stars on the move as well as some other celebrities of note.

– Lauren Beale

Channel surfing

Katharine McPhee, who stars as part of a think-tank of geniuses working for the government on the CBS series “Scorpion,” bought a freshly flipped house in Toluca Lake for $1.4 million. Yes, the versatile McPhee gained fame as a runner-up singer on “American Idol” and will release her fourth album this year.

This being Hollywood, the sellers were husband-wife actors Corbin Bernsen and Amanda Pays. They just can’t seem to get enough of renovating and reselling houses. The charming Traditional single-story, built in 1945, features their clean style — white walled interiors, vaulted ceilings and a subway tile kitchen with a fireplace.

Katharine McPhee, who rose to fame on “American Idol,” is making a fresh start in Toluca Lake with a renovated 1945 home.

(Jeffrey Ong | Inset: Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

Katharine McPhee, who rose to fame on "American Idol," is making a fresh start in Toluca Lake with a renovated 1945 home. (Jeffrey Ong | Inset: Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

Over on TBS, actress Ashley Tisdale of the summer-released TBS sitcom “Clipped” (think hair, not football) moved out of a Toluca Lake home her father built, selling for $2.3 million. The Spanish-style custom house is a wonder of modern camera surveillance security. Thanks, Dad. There’s also a huge dream closet with a built-in island for storage.

Actress Ashley Tisdale sold the Toluca Lake home her father built for $2.3 million.

(Everett Fenton Gidley | Inset: Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

Actress Ashley Tisdale sold the Toluca Lake home her father built for $2.3 million. (Everett Fenton Gidley | Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

Actors Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas of the ABC fantasy adventure series “Once Upon a Time” spent $3.45 million for a Traditional-style home in Encino that will need some advancement in its storyline. The 1935 home appears to have suffered at the hands of a liberal slathering of white paint. Vintage charm lurks beneath the surface, however. We predict a happy ending.

Late night on the Hallmark Channel is the perennial favorite ensemble comedy “Golden Girls.” One of our favorite Cliff May-designed homes, the Brentwood estate of the late actress Bea Arthur, sold in just 37 days for $14.925 million. May is known for his California ranch-style homes. Well, newsflash, he also knows his way around Spanish-style houses. The 1924 residence is a true beauty.

The Brentwood area home of the late actress Bea Arthur of “Golden Girls” fame sold in just 37 days.

(Lee Manning )

The Brentwood area home of the late actress Bea Arthur of "Golden Girls" fame sold in just 37 days. (Lee Manning)

Actors Ashley Madekwe and Iddo Goldberg of the supernatural WGN America drama “Salem” conjured a house in Hollywood Hills West. For $1.755 million, they now own a very chic contemporary-style home with light wide-plank floors, interior arches and vaulted open-beam ceilings. Is it just us, or do the bathroom medicine cabinet mirror surrounds look like rectangular portholes?

On the Food Network, there’s “Iron Chef America” with Mark Dacascos as the Chairman. He may not cook on the show, but he has served up a traditional-style home in Westlake Village for sale at $1.575 million. When he does cook, the actor-martial artist-cooking competition host has a well-outfitted kitchen. There’s a roomy island with custom cabinetry, granite counters with travertine backsplashes and a walk-in pantry.

Off the court

Ace! Former top-ranked men’s tennis player Andy Roddick and the wife, actress-model Brooklyn Decker, had barely lobbed their house in Cheviot Hills onto the market at $3.395 million when they were in escrow. A third-floor bonus area, with elevator access, and a rooftop deck are among features of the chic contemporary home.

Former top-ranked tennis player Andy Roddick and his wife, actress-model Brooklyn Decker, have put their home in Cheviot Hills on the market for $3.395 million.

(Redfin | Inset: Associated Press)

Former top-ranked tennis player Andy Roddick and his wife, actress-model Brooklyn Decker, have put their home in Cheviot Hills on the market for $3.395 million. (Redfin | Associated Press)

Off the field

Former Raiders tailback Darren McFadden sold his home in Oakland as he starts his work life as part of the Dallas Cowboys. If you’re keeping score, he nabbed $50,000 more than his asking price of $2.3 million for the Mediterranean-style view home on a half-acre.

New Dallas Cowboys tailback Darren McFadden has sold his home in Oakland for $2.35 million.

(Redfin | Inset: Associated Press)

New Dallas Cowboys tailback Darren McFadden has sold his home in Oakland for $2.35 million. (Redfin | Associated Press)

A wellspring of music

We use the word “wellspring” with intention and reverence to describe the estate and in-home recording studio of the late jazz-fusion great George Duke. If his name doesn’t ring any bells, despite his 30 solo albums, it’s time to get some schooling because his work as a keyboardist, composer and producer touched so much popular music in his five-decade career. Jeffrey Osborne’s “On the Wings of Love,” Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and A Taste of Honey’s “Sukiyaki” were just a few of the hits recorded at his Hollywood Hills estate, now listed for sale at $2.999 million. As cool studios go, this retro music cave is off the chart for its history and deep connections to L.A.’s music scene.

The longtime home of the late George Duke includes a commercial-quality studio where numerous musicians recorded.

(Joel Danto)

The longtime home of the late George Duke, where numerous musicians recorded in the commercial quality studio, is for sale in Hollywood Hills at $2.999 million. (Joel Danto)

What we’re reading

Is everything really bigger in Texas? CandysDirt.com is selling us on the idea. We couldn’t stop ogling pro golfer Hunter Mahan’s 16,000-square-foot home in Preston Hollow that’s for sale at a reduced $8.495 million. He had us at the 12-car garage, but there’s a cool gym and adjacent room for an ultra-modern ping-pong table.