Titanic director James Cameron makes massive waves on real estate front

James Cameron, whose ship came in when he won three Oscars for producing, directing and editing "Titanic," has put his 730 acres of Malibu ranchland on the market at close to $25 million.

After the 1997 release of "Titanic," Cameron started buying parcels on which to create a ranch or a family sanctuary that he planned to call "Tranquility Base." By 2000, he had put together the entire site.

Now that he's in production on the sci-fi thriller "Avatar," however, Cameron wants to focus on filmmaking instead of real estate development. The filmmaker, 52, sees his land as an opportunity for a buyer who is passionate about developing a family retreat or a community of half a dozen estates.

The property, mostly pastureland, is adjacent to Pepperdine University and has views of the Malibu coastline and Santa Monica Bay. The site winds through canyons and over ridges covered with oak trees and native plant life.

Manager to stars

revels in star sale

Sandy Gallin -- legendary manager of Dolly Parton, Whoopi Goldberg and Cher -- has sold a Beverly Hills home for $20 million. Gallin built the four-bedroom, five-bath house on a site he bought two years ago for $5.5 million.

It is the 40th house that he has either refurbished or built.

The 7,500-square-foot mansion was sold before it hit the market.

Lovely lyricist Johnny Mercer

home comes to enchanted market

The former Johnny Mercer estate in Palm Springs has come on the market at close to $2.3 million.

The Oscar-winning lyricist, who wrote the words for "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" and worked with Henry Mancini on "Moon River" and "Days of Wine and Roses," died at age 66 in 1976. His family sold this estate in 1995.

The three-bedroom, three-bath home was built in 1937 but was recently restored and updated. The house, on slightly more than an acre, is behind gates; it has a tennis court and a pool. The initial "M" for Mercer is still embedded in the walkway at the entrance to the property.

Jazz pianist does not have

to improvise with home sale

Jazz artist Carol Welsman has sold her home in L.A.'s Studio City section for $1.6 million. The 3,300-square-foot home, built in 1961 and remodeled in 2006, has five bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths and a pool. It is also on a private road and has views of the San Fernando Valley.

Welsman, who sings and plays the piano, was named Pianist/Keyboardist of the Year at the 2006 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.