Ricky Martin, the Puerto Rican pop-singing sensation, is living La Vida local --
 again.

 Martin is expected to close on a new 8,500-square-foot, seven-bedroom,
 Mediterranean-style manse on Miami Beach's North Bay Road next month.

 The waterfront property that was once owned by Mickey Wolfson is on the same
 street as a 4,500-square-foot home Martin owns now.

 But this one is ``really palazzo,'' said Coldwell Banker Realtor Kent Karlock, who
 hopes to pen the deal within a month for close to $6.5 million.

 Some people think the house once had a ghost.

 Miami Beach developer Carl Fisher sold it furnished to Wolfson's parents with the
 stipulation that nothing be changed. According to a 1988 story in The Herald,
 architect Mark Hampton and Wolfson were standing in the living room discussing
 whether or not to change the drapes. ``Just as we said, `OK, let's do it,' from the
 dining room we heard a groan,'' says Hampton. They went to the dining room, but
 nothing was there.

 Details of the interior of the home were sketchy, but Martin's former interior
 decorator, Rene Rodriguez, gave a hint Saturday as to Martin's tastes. Rodriguez
 got out of the decorating business in January.

 The pop star's current home at 4335 N. Bay Rd. is ``very minimalist,'' said
 Rodriguez. Its French doors are art deco, there are scattered Japanese tables
 and expensive artwork.

 No one's sure who's going to fix up Ricky's new home at 5030 N. Bay Rd., or if
 he's going to buy a boat to settle at its dock on Biscayne Bay.

 Martin could not be reached.

                                             -- CHARLES RABIN