71-Year-Old Author’s Staggering Property Portfolio Turns Her Into a Viral Sensation as She Showcases Homes in New York and the Outer Banks

A 71-year-old author has become an unlikely viral star while showcasing her enviable property portfolio, which includes two expansive homes—one in Manhattan, NY, and the other in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Anne Abel, who wrote the touching memoir “Mattie, Milo, and Me,” published her debut book in April 2024 to much acclaim from critics. The tome recounts Anne’s upbringing in an abusive household and her own journey as a mother to a son who was desperate for a dog.

The heart-wrenching book reveals how Anne and her family fell in love with their first pet, Mattie, only for the pooch to die a sudden and tragic death, leaving the author spiraling into a depression.

So, she makes the hasty decision to adopt another pup, Milo, who had been returned to the shelter time and time again by families who were unable to cope with his aggressive behavior.

But while Anne’s book tugged at the heartstrings of hundreds of thousands of readers, she has perhaps earned even more praise for a very different skill: her ability to find and secure some of the most awe-inspiring real estate in the U.S.

Both of her properties have drawn incredible attention on social media, with viewers clamoring to know more about her homes.

To date, her home tours have racked up millions of views, with commenters voicing a mix of bitter jealousy and unabashed surprise over Anne’s incredible real estate portfolio, which includes a waterfront home on the beach in North Carolina as well as a sky-high apartment with breathtaking, panoramic views of New York City.

Inside Anne Abel’s jaw-dropping Manhattan abode

This astonishing apartment in the sky even comes with an outdoor space, which left some commenters quaking at the idea of being outside on such a high floor.

“There is no way I could live that high up. My anxiety wouldn’t allow it,” shared one.

Another added, “My fear of heights would not allow this.”

However, Abel’s husband, Andy, and their dog, Wendell, don’t seem to mind at all.

“There’s a chair out there,” Abel points out a rather basic folding chair along with a “bag of treats” so “every time he does something he gets a treat.”

The new-looking apartment is filled with some sentimental artwork, such as a portrait of the author at the age of 3. It’s the only item she took from her parents apartment, she says, after they died. Standing next to it, she adds, “I don’t really want to do a comparison.”

To commemorate the publication of her memoir from this year, Abel has displayed a poster of the book’s jacket, calling it “another important thing that we just put up.”

Many commenters also wondered how the place looked at night, so Abel responded by giving a second tour of the space with its jaw-dropping views of the lit-up city.

The tour continues for multiple parts. Part 2 starts with a shelf of photos, one of which is the inspiration for her memoir—her dog, Milo.

Abel’s New York apartment is so big, she has an extra room that she calls her “inspiration room,” complete with an exercise bike and an elliptical. And in one corner is a wall of rock memorabilia, including a guitar signed by the Boss, Bruce Springsteen.

The seemingly unending apartment also has an office, with treats for both of her dogs and a crate for Wendell. Abel’s other favorite room, aside from the workout room, is the kitchen, which is hidden behind a pocket door but opens to remarkable views once again.

Commenters also demanded to see her bedroom, which Abel had skipped in a previous video because of the unmade bed. However, she made another recording after cleaning up her room. And it was worth the wait. The views again, are absolutely mind-blowing.

“There is the East River,” she points out, a view that can be enjoyed from her bed. Another window showcases northern Manhattan and “everything beyond,” she says.

The bedroom also includes a sentimental item: a bench her youngest son made in eighth grade. The cherished piece holds all of the books Abel intends to read.

She also shares a photo of herself with husband Andy “right before we left for the airport when I was going to Australia to follow Bruce Springsteen in 2014.” That memorable trip is the subject of her next book, she remarks.

In the final video of her home tour, Abel takes us to her dining area and den, which is piled high with books, including one she made herself, called “the book about me.” She says she made it while she was a patient at Shepard Pratt, a psychiatric hospital.” The author has been open about her battle with depression in the past.

As she ventures further into the tour, Abel explains that when she’s alone, she eats in the kitchen “because it’s so much easier.” The dining area is set up alongside some of those awesome window walls and also looks delightfully inviting.

Outstanding on the Outer Banks

When Abel wants to get away from her glorious views of the big city, she heads to her beach house on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. That’s right—Abel owns not one incredible home but two drool-worthy domiciles. And she’s happy to show us around her property in the Tarheel State, as well.

Starting in front of her waterfront escape, she points out the ocean: “That’s pretty important.” Another important element: “our pool.”

In short, the place is a showstopper.

Commenters are also in love.

“Gorgeous ! You’ve got the best of both worlds,” one writes.

Another adds, “It’s gorgeous Anne, the light that comes thru every room is amazing!”

One commenter observes, “That looks so cozy and elegant at the same time.”

And the home’s interior is just as beautiful, with light-wood floors and water views. Abel says the first thing she does in the morning is open the sliders “and listen to the sound of the ocean.”

An adjacent kitchen and dining room are next up, both spacious and enviable. In the den, she reveals that “everything in here has a story.”

Moving on, Abel admits that just because she’s at her beach house doesn’t mean she takes a day off from her workout.

“Those who have been following me know that I couldn’t possibly go anywhere without workout equipment,” she notes, referring to her home gym as “the most important room in the house.”

The primary bedroom also features huge windows, and when she’s staying there I the summer, “I never lower the shades in the summer,” she says. “The sun just comes right in the window, and I wake up immediately.”

The primary bath is equally beautiful, with multiple windows she can open over the tub.

Upstairs, a guest bedroom is fit for a VIP. Abel elaborates that “you can see why if you look out the window.”

The bedroom is ocean facing, so her houseguests are indeed lucky to score that room.

“I just can’t imagine a view better than this,” Abel says.

In another bedroom, she remarks that a desk nook is where she wrote parts of her memoir and where she’s been writing her new book, “High Hopes: Bruce Springsteen and Me.”

Abel also shows off a Mother’s Day card she has framed on the wall, with Polaroid pics of her dog, Mattie, and with her sons, including Joseph: “the reason I have a dog,” she says.

Another room features her grandmother bona fides, with a toy-filled closet for her grandson.

And after that tour, many of her fans likely wish they could be her grandchildren.