Spelling Denies Selling Mansion -- Not So

Candy Spelling's people are saying her mega-mansion is not for sale -- but here's the real deal.

As TMZ reported yesterday, Spelling, whose husband Aaron died June 23, has given Westside Estate Agency (WEA) a "pocket listing" on her 56,000-square-foot Holmby Hills mansion. Asking price: a cool $150 million.

Here's how it all went down. Someone from Candy's office contacted WEA, asking if the company had a buyer "in the 100 to 200 million dollar range." Candy's rep said her boss didn't want to list the property for sale but would do what is called a "one-party exclusive" if a qualified buyer offered up $150 million.

WEA reps then contacted other real estate companies, including the exclusive Sotheby's on the Sunset Strip, informing them that WEA had a pocket listing and was on the hunt for a buyer. A source at Sotheby's says Candy's house almost certainly will sell -- close to the asking price -- because it's such a landmark.

One real estate guru told TMZ that Candy is smart not to formally list the property because a house like that will sit on the market for a long time, creating the "white elephant" effect. So a pocket listing is a quiet way to sell property that doesn't have a pool of qualified buyers. And you can take that to the bank.

UPDATE: Candy issued the following statement to TMZ: "I am deeply saddened and disappointed by the rumors and stories that have emerged claiming that I have my home up for sale. I am forced to respond during this sensitive time that these stories are not true, nor do I have any current plans to sell the house that my husband Aaron and I built. I find it disheartening to wake up and find camera crews on the street filming my front gate for the morning news, particularly since the story is not true.