By RYAN E. SMITH

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

The house in Ottawa Hills has been sold.

 

But not to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

 

According to records filed yesterday with the Lucas County Recorder's office, the new owners of that $1.475-million home on Ridgewood Road are Joanne and Howard Schmidt.

 

The Los Angeles couple seem a little taken aback by the situation they've fallen into - namely, buying a house that many thought was destined for TomKat.

 

In a statement issued through their buying agent, the couple said they "have never been associated with Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes in any manner whatsoever and are NOT involved in the entertainment industry."

 

But what about all the buzz? For months, locals have been speculating that Cruise and hometown girl Holmes were interested in buying the 23-room mansion to be closer to Holmes' parents. The talk quickly spread across the country, winding up on the pages of tabloids and on television and radio broadcasts.

 

The Washington Times reported more than a week ago that the pair had zeroed in on the Ottawa Hills house.

 

The National Enquirer declared the deal already done, stating, "Tom Cruise has shelled out for a nine-bedroom mansion just three miles from the home of his pregnant fiancee Katie Holmes' parents."

 

It's possible they overlooked one thing ... the Schmidts.

 

Charlotte Yanque, the couple's representative from Century 21 HomeStar, said the Schmidts were a little overwhelmed by all the attention surrounding the house, especially from the gawkers who dropped by to take pictures in recent weeks.

 

"The former owner of the home had to chain off the ends of the driveway because cars were parked there just continuously," Yanque said.

 

The Schmidts, who could not be reached for further comment yesterday, purchased the property as a second home for "family and business interests," according to Yanque. They were in town Friday to complete the deal and expect to move in over the next few months.

 

"The Schmidts are very much looking forward to living in their lovely new home in Toledo and hope the warm and friendly residents will extend the courtesy of respecting their privacy," their statement said.

 

Yesterday's filing supported earlier statements by a spokesman for Cruise and by Holmes' father, Marty, who told The Blade they did not believe the TomKat househunting reports to be true.

 

Of course, for those who want to keep hope alive, there may be more to the story. Perhaps the real question to ask, just a day after Halloween, is: Would that be a trick or a treat?