House of the Week: Dallas White House With European Flair

At first sight, this mega-mansion in Dallas appears to be a small-scale replica of the White House.

Classical columns, check. Rounded portico, check. Fountains in the yard, check.

However, inside the Federal-style Colonial home is a world of European delights, from antique, French fireplaces in the living room and library to an Italian chandelier and 15th-century Gothic fireplace in the kitchen.

Listed for $17.9 million, the 16,041-square-foot mansion sits on a 3.3-acre walled estate with manicured lawns and sculpted hedges.

Arched doors and coffered ceilings provide an air of regalness to the home’s expansive living spaces, including a chandeliered gallery that leads to a bar built of walnut with a limestone fireplace. It opens to the back and side terraces.

A second gallery with limestone floors and four chandeliers leads to a spacious formal dining room, an elevator and a downstairs bedroom suite.

The first level also features an antique-brick wine cellar and a 6-car garage.

A curved staircase connects the marble foyer, which is large enough for a grand piano, to the luxurious upper level that boasts a 24-seat home theater and 3 bedroom suites.

The master suite sits at the end of another chandeliered gallery and features a sitting room and 2 bathrooms — one with a marble fireplace and double Jacuzzi tub and the other with a sauna and double shower.

The listing agents for the home are Joan and Jeff Eleazer and Layne Pitzer of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty.

Photos courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

Related:

• Modern Touches in a True Colonial, Built Before the American Revolution
• Ballet Dancers Show Off New England Home
• A Family-Fun Compound in California

from Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News http://www.zillow.com/blog/dallas-white-house-182108/
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For Rent: $65,000 a Month for Melanie Griffith's & Antonio Banderas' Aspen Hideaway

Wake up with a view of the Rockies and your own private ski run - for just $65,000 per month in rent.

That’s how much former Hollywood power couple Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, who divorced this summer, are asking for the 8,121-square-foot Aspen retreat they haven’t been able to sell.

Located on the back side of Aspen Mountain, the 12.3-acre wooded compound features a main house, a guest house and a historic cabin for a total of 7 bedrooms and 8 baths.

Flooded with light from windows that extend into the rafters, the lodge-style main home boasts a sleek chef’s kitchen and a living room with a two-story fireplace ideal for post-ski relaxation.

The master suite offers expansive mountain views from every angle, including from its luxurious bathroom and its wide deck.

If a month in this ski paradise isn’t enough for you, the estate is still listed for sale at $8.9 million by Bowden Properties.

The couple has had more luck unloading their Los Angeles villa, which sold in June for $15.947 million. Griffith is reportedly renting another villa with a pool and its own movie theater just a few miles away.

Related:

• Julianne Moore Lists Montauk Cottage for $3.495M
• Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick Take a Loss on Greenwich Village Town House
• Katharine Hepburn’s Former LA Love Nest Hits the Market

from Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News http://www.zillow.com/blog/griffith-banderas-aspen-hideaway-182861/
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Fashion-Inspired Home Decor for Fall

It's that time of year again: Fashion magazines have released their fat, glossy September issues, and our eyes are glued to the latest trends and styles to grace the runway  - and, soon, our closets.

Find inspiration for your home design in this fall’s fashion magazines - the colors, patterns, textures, and overall aesthetic translate so well. Here are three favorite fall fashion looks that can easily go from runway to entry way.

Dark Diva

This fall, some of the must-see designers of New York Fashion Week went a little dark, with looks reminiscent of a grown-up Wednesday Addams. Particularly into this trend were Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and Thom Browne. Neither of the esteemed designers are new to couture, nor are they shy, making theirs the best shows to spot new and evolving trends.

Courtesy of Alexander McQueen Pre-Autumn Winter (left); Thom Browne Pre-Fall 2015 Lookbook (right).

Uniform in style and often monochromatic, think of this trend as Dark Diva. A reinvention of the color black, Dark Diva showcases subtle restraint and precise execution in all design facets.

Courtesy of Zillow Digs.

If this style appeals to you, consider reflecting your closet in your home with modern steampunk lighting fixtures, animal-inspired side tables, and eerily beautiful portraits and paintings. Dark Diva can also serve as a foundation design for more lively colors in a few months when you decide to decorate for spring.

Seeing Seventies

Get ready for a blast from the past - 1970s style is back, and it's better than ever. With cleverly composed ensembles by Burberry and Lanvin, this look will be on your fashion radar through the upcoming fall season.

Courtesy of Burberry Autumn/Winter 2015.

With layered bohemian prints and fabrics, beads, texture, and a “What? These old things?” mentality, Seeing Seventies is the modern era’s take on that undeniably classic decade. If you can’t quite part with braided hair and a velvet detailed poncho, then Seeing Seventies might appeal to you.

Courtesy of Zillow Digs.

Lots of plants (specifically cacti), mid-century inspired art, and teak side tables help create this look. Sprinkle in some funky glassware and a woven boho rug, and you’re all set for fall 2015.

Subtle Sophisticate

Count on Lanvin and The Row to showcase an irresistibly sweet silhouette. Ladylike and full of luster, the Subtle Sophisticate trend plays up fragility and bold cuts like high-necked tops and tiered skirt lengths.

Courtesy of Lanvin Fall/Winter 2015.

If you’re drooling at the thought of a powder pink pantsuit, you might be a Subtle Sophisticate. Your home decor fantasy probably involves a lovely loft with contemporary art displays, simple Scandinavian furniture offset by weighty sculptures and marble flooring, and plenty of powdery colors.

Don’t be afraid to up the glam factor with metals like gold and silver, and add depth with heavily textured throw pillows and area rugs. After all, there is nothing more sophisticated than a well-balanced home.

Courtesy of Zillow Digs.

Fashion mavens are constantly on the lookout for trends to incorporate into all facets of their lives: clothes, accessories, shoes, and their homes. Feel free to mix and match these styles and blend them with your own personal twist.

Related:

• Finding Color Inspiration for Your Home
• 5 Celebrity Color Schemes to Covet and Copy
• Updated Home Design for Any Style

from Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News http://www.zillow.com/blog/fashion-inspired-decor-for-fall-182839/
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Most Expensive Homes in the West

Can you tell the difference between a $72 million mansion and a $195 million estate in Beverly Hills? When you get into the eight- and nine-figure price range, it’s the little things like 70-year-old imported olive trees and parking for 66 cars that set listings apart.

See for yourself with a look at the West’s most expensive homes on Zillow. While you won’t find pocket listings, working ranches or empty lots on this list, you will find 13 publicly listed estates ripe for perusing.

$195 million

9505 Lania Ln, Beverly Hills, CA

Source: Marc Angeles

When Palazzo di Amore hit the market last November, it claimed the title of America’s most expensive home. At the time, owner Jeff Greene said, “this property is an incomparable crown jewel without an equal.” With a Turkish-style spa, 70-year-old imported olive trees and a 3,000-bottle wine cellar, it’s easy to see why. The home is listed with Joyce Rey and Stacy Gottula of Coldwell Banker Previews International.

See more Los Angeles homes for sale.

$125 million

2500 E Valley Rd, Santa Barbara, CA

Rancho San Carlos has been owned by the same family for nearly a century, so the fact that it’s up for sale is a big deal. The property includes a main residence with 30+ rooms, extensive equestrian facilities and 10 additional guest cottages. Harry Kolb of Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.

See more Montecito homes for sale.

$98 million

1949 Glenbrook Rd, Glenbrook, NV

No cattle here, but Shakespeare Ranch is big enough to house your extended family and all your friends. The 133-acre lakefront property has a total of 30 cabins and outbuildings with clever Shakespearean names like “To Be,” “Or Not to Be” and “Twelfth Night.” Lexi Cerretti and Claudia Thompson of Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty hold the listing.

See more Glenbrook listings.

$75 million

4100 Calle Isabella, San Clemente, CA

When Richard Nixon bought this home in 1969, it became known as “The Western White House.” The president hosted 17 heads of state and wrote memoirs at the oceanfront property, which is located on one of Southern California’s largest and most scenic sections of coastal residential real estate. Rob Giem of Sotheby’s International Realty is the listing agent.

See more homes listed in San Clemente.

$75 million

1101 Marine Dr, Laguna Beach, CA

Also listed by Rob Giem, Twin Points consists of two peninsulas where you can watch the waves crash between Laguna Beach’s Crescent Bay and Shaws Cove. The property has been in the same family since 1930 but was rebuilt in the late ’60s and has been added to over the years, The Wall Street Journal reports.

See more Laguna Beach listings.

$72 million

901 N Alpine Dr, Beverly Hills, CA

Spanning more than 1.5 acres on one of the most coveted streets in Beverly Hills, this property was designed for some serious entertaining. The home, which could pass as a life-size Barbie dream house, has everything from a dance floor and cocktail bar to parking for 66 cars, Forbes reports. Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker Previews holds the listing.

See more homes listed in Beverly Hills.

$65 million

312 N Faring Rd, Los Angeles, CA

Dating back to 1938, this Georgian traditional was completely renovated over 5+ years. In addition to the main residence, the Holmby Hills estate includes a guesthouse, pool, private guest suite, lighted tennis court and nearly 2 acres of rolling lawns and gardens. The home is listed with Loren Judd of Coldwell Banker.

See more Beverly Glen homes for sale.

$60 million

2585 Riviera Dr, Laguna Beach, CA

No detail has been overlooked in this Laguna Beach gem, which was completed in 2010. The interior boasts ocean-facing loggias, terrazzo floors inspired by the Getty Villa museum, fountains imported from Europe, century-old olive trees and more. Rod Daley of Coldwell Banker holds the listing.

See more Laguna Beach listings.

$60 million

1000 & 1220 Watson Divide Rd, Snowmass, CO

With an 18,000-square-foot home on 876 acres in the Rocky Mountains, Four Peaks Ranch is as big as it looks. Outside, the property boasts 15 miles of trails, a private beach, 3 ponds, 2 fireplaces, 4 fire pits, 2 full kitchens and a brick pizza oven. Inside, the house has 7 bedrooms, 11 baths, open living spaces and a glass elevator. Joshua Saslove of Douglas Elliman Real Estate is the listing agent.

See more Snowmass Village listings.

$59.356 million

4500 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX

This early 20th-century craftsman has had only three owners. The estate, boasting beautiful period details, spans 6.14 acres in Highland Park. Allie Beth Allman of Allie Beth Allman & Associates holds the listing.

See more Highland Park listings.

$53 million

1 Buggy Whip Dr, Rolling Hills, CA

Rolling Hills reportedly has a rule that homes in the prestigious community only span one floor, but this is no single-story rambler. Built five floors down, the 5,000-square-foot mansion has everything from a Moroccan-style bath to a full-size tennis court underground. The unique property is listed with Marcie Hartley of Hilton & Hyland.

See more Rolling Hills homes for sale.

$53 million

41800 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA

Located on a prime piece of Malibu oceanfront, this home was designed by famed architect Ed Niles. The modern design was inspired by a translucent shoji door, and several feng shui elements line the property. It’s also very high-tech with a music room, soundproof home theater, elevator and 19-server hosting capability. The Agency‘s Ari Afshar is the listing agent.

See more Malibu homes on the market.

$51 million

2431 Riviera Dr, Laguna Beach, CA

Located on Laguna Beach’s private Irvine Cove, this Mediterranean Revival boasts 180 feet of beachfront, sun-soaked terraces and mature gardens. With nearly 10,000 square feet of interior space, the great room alone is 1,000 square feet with three vantage points for taking in the view. The home is being marketed by Sotheby’s Rob Giem, who holds two other listings on this list.

Related:

• A $1 Million Listing in Every State
• The Most Expensive Streets in America
• Last Fall’s Priciest Homes for Sale, Including Pocket Listings

from Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News http://www.zillow.com/blog/most-expensive-west-2015-182700/
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Zillow Visits Miami, Where Affordability and Transportation Are Top of Mind

People move to Florida to fulfill the American Dream.

That’s how Mel Martinez sees it, and as a former U.S. senator from Florida and a former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, he’s seen it a lot.

The trouble is, after they arrive, many new Floridians run into issues that keep their dream from materializing.

“Families come to Florida hoping to realize their American Dream; then they realize that the jobs available to them may not be in keeping with the cost of housing and transportation,” said Martinez, who spoke about those issues with Zillow Group Chief Economist Stan Humphries during the latest stop on Zillow’s Housing Roadmap tour.

Martinez thinks housing affordability is a big enough issue around the country that it requires a national policy solution.

He’s also changed his mind about homeownership being an important goal for everyone. If he were HUD secretary today, he said, “I’d be more concerned about rental affordability than making people homeowners.”

The median rent in the Miami-Dade area is $1,907 a month — which is affordable for people who make $38.14 an hour and up, according to a Zillow analysis.

Martinez also called out traffic congestion as a major barrier for people living in Miami. “When parents are taking an hour-and-a-half out of their day to commute, that’s less time with their children,” he said.

Martinez and Humphries’ on-stage chat was followed by a panel discussion with local housing experts and officials that touched on many of the same issues. In fact, one panelist was late because of — you guessed it — traffic congestion.

Key takeaways:

Rein in overseas investors?

Foreign buyers are driving up prices with all-cash deals and often not living in the homes they buy. Real estate agent Ines Hegedus-Garcia said those sales should be more closely regulated. She gets calls from investors in Colombia with $1 million to spend, but they want two $500,000 rental properties instead, because of how hot the rental market has become.

Turn on the lights at condo associations

Ana Maria Rodriguez, a councilwoman for the city of Doral, hasn’t been able to buy a home because she’s been outbid by cash buyers from overseas. Aside from saying she hopes the economies of those other countries improve — so investors will not be so eager to send their money elsewhere — she and Hegedus-Garcia agreed that condo associations need to be more transparent. People should be able to learn about the condo associations they’d be joining without actually starting the buying process, they said.

Getting density right

Andrew Frey, development manager for multifamily developer CC Residential, suggested changing zoning not to allow bigger buildings, but to allow more units in the same space. “We can get a lot more density out of the same envelope and not really change the character of a neighborhood,” he said. Frey also criticized “the whole impact fee scheme,” which allows areas to be built with such low density that taxes do not cover the cost of services, and which does not tax businesses. “It’s basically a pyramid scheme,” he said, that comes from “putting our heads in the sand about the costs of development.”

Raise wages

To address housing affordability, “what we really need is higher income at the lower end of the spectrum,” said Robert Cruz, chairman of the Business School at Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus.

Watching the hedge funds

Requiring developers to build 10 percent affordable units “isn’t making a dent” in the affordable housing crisis, according to Jack McCabe of McCabe Research & Consulting. He’s also concerned about hedge funds that are selling packages of property to one another, boosting the price each time they sell. “Are we just going to talk about this for another year and let the open market play out, and then address it years from now?”

You can view the full panel discussion below.

Miami housing tour

Following the panel discussion, Humphries and a team from Zillow toured affordable housing developments with David Deutsch, a partner with Pinnacle Housing Group.

We also chatted with city planner Ralph Rosado and stopped by Ball & Chain, a beloved club in Little Havana that shut down decades ago after being sued for $5,000 by Count Basie.

It was reopened a year-and-a-half ago by new owner Bill Fuller, who said it attracts tourists during the day and 1,600 people on Friday and Saturday nights — mostly locals.

Fuller and Humphries ended the tour with a few minutes of bongo playing, Little Havana style.

Photos by Charles Trainor Jr. and Geremy Herrera

from Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News http://www.zillow.com/blog/zillow-visits-miami-182610/
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Julianne Moore Lists Montauk Cottage for $3.495M

In a land where trailer homes list for $1.2 million, the offer of a celebrity cottage for millions is not likely to raise eyebrows.

And Julianne Moore has gone for it: She’s asking $3.495 million for a 1,000-square-foot cabin on a pond in the surfy hamlet of Montauk, NY, Curbed reports.

With Moore’s starring role in the upcoming film “Freeheld” already driving Oscar buzz, it’s likely the actress won’t have much time for the island-style idyll, which includes a backyard pool and cabana.

The 3-bedroom, 1-bath home has been fully restored with wide plank floors, a fireplace and screened-in porch. Its 0.69 acres are landscaped for privacy and offer ready access to paddleboarding and kayaking.

The listing agent is Theresa Eurell of Town & Country Real Estate.

Related:

• Clintons Reportedly Renting Hamptons Home for $100,000
• Hilary Swank Seeks $20K a Month for Her Swanky NYC Digs
• Jeff Bridges Asks $29.5M for Montecito Estate

from Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News http://www.zillow.com/blog/julianne-moore-lists-montauk-home-182772/
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Everything You Need to Know About Employer Relocation Packages

If your company has asked you to move to a new city or state for work, you’re not alone. Each year, nearly seven million people in the United States relocate because of their jobs.

Before you start packing boxes, it’s important to know what your employer will and won’t offer in terms of relocation assistance, and how that could affect both your move and your pocketbook.

Make no assumptions

Approximately 70 percent of U.S. companies offer relocation incentives for employees or new hires. If a relocation package isn’t discussed with your offer, you’ll need to start the conversation yourself. Ask for what you want, including all the services and compensation you’ll need for your move.

In 2012, companies spent an average of $19,303 to move a new hire renter and upward of $90,000 to move a current employee homeowner, according to the Worldwide ERC, the association for professionals who oversee employee transfers. Do your research to figure out what your move will cost, and make sure your relocation package is adequate. If it’s not, see if you can negotiate changes.

Ask about extras

No two companies offer the same relocation packages. Some will cover just the basics, while others will transfer vehicles, provide cultural training, help pay closing costs or mortgage points buy down, or even provide employment assistance for an accompanying spouse or partner.

If you’re a homeowner being asked to relocate, you’ll know you’ve hit the jackpot if your relocation package includes a Guaranteed Buy Out (GBO). With a GBO, the relocation company hires two independent appraisers prior to listing your home. If you’re unable to sell the property on your own within a certain time period, the company will buy your home for the average of the two appraisals.

Doing it yourself

If your company’s relocation package is of the barebones variety, you may want to explore your DIY alternatives.

Moving all your household items using your own vehicle is the least expensive do-it-yourself option, but it comes with risks. Without professional packing and moving services, you increase the chance of your belongings being damaged. This option can be physically and emotionally draining, plus it can take a toll on relationships with friends and family you’ve asked to help. This type of move works best if your new home is not far from your old one.

Another DIY option is renting a moving truck. A large-capacity truck is easier to load and unload than a car, and allows you to accomplish the task with fewer trips back and forth. In addition to the cost of renting the truck, you’ll need to buy gas to get the vehicle from one place to another, and you may be required to purchase additional insurance.

Self-service moving uses portable storage containers, and is a blend of DIY moving and professional moving. These services drop off large storage containers at your current residence. You pack and load the containers yourself, on your own timeline. When the containers are full, the moving company transports them to your new home or, if you’re not ready to move in just yet, they can take the containers to their warehouse, where they will store your belongings.

Tax implications

If your job requires you to relocate, your moving costs and the expense of traveling to your new location could be deductible if they meet certain IRS standards regarding distance and time worked after the move.

Payments made directly by your employer to your moving company do not need to be reported on your W-2 form. However, if your employer gives you a lump sum payment to cover moving expenses, that money is fully taxable as earnings. Depending on the program specifics, either you or your company must bear the associated tax cost of including these amounts in your wages.

Interpreting these tax laws can be complicated. Be sure to hold onto all your moving receipts and consult with your tax or legal advisor to ensure you stay on the right side of the IRS.

Ask questions, do your research and seek out professional advice to make sure your move is a good one.

Related:

• 5 Ways to Get to Know Your Neighbors
• 10 Essential Supplies for DIY Movers
• Move This, Not That: 10 Items to Get Rid of Before Your Next Move

from Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News http://www.zillow.com/blog/about-employer-relocation-packages-182791/
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