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The Fastest-Growing Small Town In America Is A Retirement Community Near Orlando

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the villages retirement home

It's been called "Disneyland for Grownups."

The Villages, Fla, is the fastest growing small town in America, according to Forbes. And what's truly unique about this town is almost everyone living there is 65 years and older.

In 2007, 72,246 people were residents of The Villages. According to the recent 2010 census data, The Villages now has 93,420 people—that's a 29 percent increase.

Last year, 2,307 retirees purchased homes in The Villages.

The Huffington Post's Ben Hallman recently traveled south to the retirement community to see what all the fuss was about. What he found was a cross between the Twilight Zone and Disneyland:

...the development's scale and isolation make it feel more like a colony than a community. Almost everyone is old, almost everyone drives a golf cart — they outnumber cabs in New York City by a factor of four — and almost everyone is white. But retirees of Hahnfeldt's generation, who are reshaping notions of what it means to be old, say that it sure beats the life they left behind.

Spanning 23,000 acres, The Villages boasts 513 holes of golf, 85 restaurants, 63 swimming pools, 14 medical centers and the largest softball league in the world. Every night, there's free entertainment ranging from music to dance.

Of course, the explosive growth of The Villages is indicative of a burgeoning demographic problem: the number of seniors in the U.S. is ballooning, and the population shift could create a shortage of skilled workers to deal with aging seniors. It could also drive up inflation, Amy Baker, director of the Florida legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, told Hallman.

In fact, by 2030, one in four Floridians will be older than 65, up from one in six today, according to projections, Hallman writes. But as he acknowledges, walking through the idyllic community, it feels like it's someone else's problem.

Now tour the surreal ghost town outside Disneyland Paris >

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Ryan Phillippe Is Ditching His Gorgeous Los Angeles Home For $7 Million

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Ryan Phillippe house los angeles $6.995 million

Former teen sensation Ryan Phillippe has listed his gorgeous Sunset Boulevard home in Los Angeles for $6.995 million

The home features five bedrooms, 6.5 half-bathrooms, 7,450 square feet of space, and an impressive two-story master suite.

The property features a 60-foot pool, a spa, and outdoor cooking area.

The listing describes the home as a "Zen modern retreat."



This room has so many beautiful things to look at, from the fireplace to the floor-to-ceiling windows.



The kitchen is modern, too. The double oven and double-sized refrigerator make the home a great place to entertain.



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Luxury Golf Communities Are Begging For Potential Buyers

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golfers

It is now surprisingly easy to buy real estate on a golf course, thanks to the end of a golf course-building boom dating back to 1990.

In fact, people are resorting to desperate measures to sell their golf course property, according to the Wall Street Journal's Nancy Keates.

She writes that the housing market downturn, coupled with America's gradual disinterest in golf, has ruined the golf course real estate market.

Back when golfing with the boys was a more popular pastime (circa 1988), the National Golf Foundation pledged to build one golf course a day across America. As a result, 3,000 new golf courses were built in the U.S. from 1990 to 2003 — courses that no novice golfer could play (or pay dues for). 

Now, more than 350 golf courses have closed since 2005. Since 2000, the number of golfers in the U.S. has decreased more than 10 percent. The number of rounds U.S. golfers have played also fell 10 percent — from 518 million in 2000 to 463 million in 2011. And residents at golf course communities around the nation want out.

The WSJ spoke to an Ohio couple that just bought a lot on South Carolina's Colleton River Plantation, one of the nation's most premiere golf communities.

The lot's seller offered to pay the $15,000 club initiation fee and $17,000 worth of membership dues to the club. The couple bought the lot the same day, and their 3,000-square-foot dream home is now under construction.

Elsewhere, golf course residents trying to sell are drastically price-chopping their homes. Lots are selling for a mere $1, down from $500,000 just a few years before.

But hey, if you're looking to live on a golf course, you have the real estate market on a string. There has never been a better time to move to your dream course.

Now, walk these 10 exotic golf courses >

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: This Former 'Esquire' Design House In Beverly Hills Is On Sale For $13.75 Million

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former esquire designer house

A Beverly Hills house that is a 2-story custom former “Esquire” designer home is on sale for $13.75 million.

The home is one of the most stunning properties we've seen in awhile. The space and amenities seem endless.

The home has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms across 11,200 square feet.

If you like cooking, you'll love the top-of-the line kitchen, but there is also a state-of-the-art screening room with large terrace, and gym to pass the time.

The infinity pool, with views of the city, will blow your mind.

Welcome to Beverly Ridge.



The home has a contemporary Mediterranean style.



The home sits on 3.96 acres.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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'Bachelorette' Finalist Jef Holm's Childhood Home In Utah Is On Sale For $3.39 Million

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Jef Holm Estate

As America anxiously awaits "The Bachelorette" Emily to chose her man Sunday night, there might be a new clue.

Finalist Jef Holm's childhood Utah home is on the market for $3.39 million, according to Trulia. Could he be moving in with Emily? We'll have to wait and find out Sunday.

For now, take a tour around Holm's Saint George's estate that has nine bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms, and spans nearly 16,000 square feet. 

Holm made his money through his do-gooder ways and entrepreneurship.

The house sits on three acres of land.



The home has a vibe like it's on the West Coast.



That kitchen can handle some serious entertaining.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: The Founder Of Yankee Candle Lists His $22.5 Million Florida Compound

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yankee candle founder florida house

Yankee Candle founder Michael Kittredge has listed his Jupiter Island, Fla. home for $22.5 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The home has nine bedrooms, 14 full bathrooms, and three half baths. The house spans more than 20,000 square feet.

The house was originally built in 1996, but completely renovated in 2002 into a true luxury home. A 12-seat theater, billiard room, a tennis court, and gazebo were added.

From this view, the home almost looks like a model home that isn't real.



The house is very close to the shore, with 400 feet of unobstructed beachfront property.



The entranceway has beautiful vaulted ceilings.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Scottsdale Compound With A Baseball Diamond And Golf Course Is On Sale For $11.7 Million

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scottsdale, AZ $11.7 million

A beautiful 18.8-acre estate in Scottsdale, AZ. is on sale for $11.7 million.

The home has seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms and one half bath, and some of the most extreme amenities we've ever heard of: there's a three-hole golf course, baseball diamond, wine cellar, and space for horses.

Welcome to Dixileta Drive.



The home has the appropriate vegetation for Arizona: cacti.



The living room has a beautiful stone mantle with the TV set in.



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PRESENTING: The Awesome Private Islands Of The Rich And Famous

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tim mcgraw faith hill island

Perhaps the ultimate show of wealth is the private island. They're incredibly expensive to buy and maintain, and offer unparalleled privacy for anyone who wants to escape from the spotlight.

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is the newest owner of a major private island: he paid an estimated $600 million for 98 percent of Hawaii's Lana'i in June.

But many other private islands, like the British Virgin Island owned by Richard Branson, were snapped up decades ago at relative steals.

Actor Johnny Depp paid $3.6 million for 45-acre Little Hall's Pond Cay, in the Bahamas, in 2004 after filming "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Source



Hedge fund manager Louis Moore Bacon bought Robins Island, off the coast of Long Island, for $11 million in 1993.

Source



David Copperfield's Musha Cay is actually spread across 11 islands in the Bahamas. Penelope Cruz and Sergey Brin were both married there.

Source: The Wall Street Journal



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Glamorous Ranch In Beverly Hills Can Be Yours For Under $17 Million

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beverly hills $16.9 million house Loma Vista Dr

A modern yet elegant Beverly Hills ranch that sits on two acres of land is on sale for $16.9 million.

The house spans 12,000 square feet, and features seven bedrooms and an unnecessary 13 bathrooms.

The estate has an impressive driveway and a two bedroom, two-bathroom guest house with a kitchen.

The home was built in 2001, and the listing describes the style of the house as "Contemporary Mediterranean."

The home on Loma Vista Drive is completely gated in.



It's one massive ranch.



The home overlooks hills and has city views.



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RUMOR: Not One, But TWO Crazy Los Angeles Mansions Are On Sale For $150 Million

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For anyone who thinks the luxury real estate market in California is in peril, just take a look the wealthy neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

Not one, but two properties in the area are reportedly being shopped around with $150 million price tags.

Today celebrity real estate blogger the Real Estalker reported that billionaire widow Dawn Arnall was quietly shopping her spread, called Owlwood, for that amount. And just last week, the same blogger reported that real estate tycoon Jeff Greene was rumored to be listing his Beverly Hills Palazzo di Amore for the same amount.

Arnall's Owlwood is a 9.83-acre estate that is reportedly one of the largest in the area. The house, which once belonged to Sonny Bono and Cher, spans 12,000 square feet. The Hollywood Reporter reported in 2010 that the home had an indoor swimming pool and "gold bathroom-sink fixtures."

Greene originally bought his 25-acre estate for $35 million. He later put another $15 million in renovations into the home. It has 11 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms over 43,000 square feet, which includes a a 6,000-square-foot ballroom.

The homes aren't officially listed, but we grabbed some aerial screenshots from Bing Maps to give you an idea of what a $150 million pad could look like.

 owlwood estate $150 million

 jeff greene $150 million estate

DON'T MISS: The Most Expensive Home You Can Buy In Every State >

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Take A Look Around Al Capone's Old Miami Estate, Now On The Market For $10 Million

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al capone house

Notorious mobster Al Capone's Miami estate is on sale for $9.95 million, according to TIME.

The Palm Avenue house sits on a 30,000-square-foot lot that borders the Biscayne Bay with a 30-by-60-foot pool, cabana, two-bedroom guest house and private dock.

Architect Luis Pons has renovated the house to its original state, when Capone lived there in the early 20th century. The house now sports clean white walls, wood floors, brass fixtures and a touch of class.

By the way, Capone reportedly paid just $40,000 for the property in 1928. Whoa —talk about a price hike!

At least there are no blood splatters on the walls.

The elegant pool cabana backs up to beautiful views of the Biscayne Bay.



So if you get sick of your pool, you have a body of water behind you to frolic in.



Most of the house has a clean white interior, with flashes of color.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Brooklyn's Rising Rent Prices Are Forcing Renters Back Into Manhattan

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DUMBO, loft, NYC, New York City, Brooklyn

Brooklyn is losing its reputation as a cheap alternative to Manhattan's high cost of living.

Skyrocketing rents in some of Brooklyn's neighborhoods are forcing Brooklynites to consider moving into the city to save money, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Rent prices for studios in Brooklyn have increased more than 10 percent since June 2011, compared to an 8 percent increase for studio rent prices in Manhattan in the past year.

Rent prices for one-bedroom Brooklyn apartments have also increased by almost 10 percent, compared to a 5 percent increase in rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan.

The average rent price for a Williamsburg or Dumbo studio in June was slightly more than $2,700 per month. But in Manhattan, a non-doorman Greenwich Village studio cost just over $2,500 per month.

Other Manhattan districts, like Chelsea and Murray Hill, had average rent prices in June of about $2,200 — significantly cheaper than Williamsburg and Dumbo apartments.

Not all of Brooklyn has succumbed to this trend, though. In South Brooklyn neighborhoods like Bay Ridge, the average rent price of a studio is around $1,200.

DON'T MISS: The Smallest Apartments You Can Rent In Manhattan >

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Sprawling Lakefront Estate In Westchester Is On Sale For $14.9 Million

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 Armonk, NY lake front estate $14.9 million

A breathtaking and pristine Armonk, NY estate called Linwood is on sale for $14.9 million.

The estate has six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and three half baths. The home spans nearly 12,600 feet on 12.62 acres of land.

The "Neo-classical" estate, as the listing describes it, was designed by New York designer Kenneth Alpert.

Welcome to Linwood.



An illuminated porch greets visitors.



The two-story foyer boasts a sweeping staircase.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Some Real Estate Agents Will Go To Crazy Extremes To Sell A House

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chocolate modelThe real estate market has never fully recovered since the economy collapsed in 2008, and after four years real estate agents are still pulling out all of their tricks to try and sell a property.

We've noticed the past year, agents are going to extreme measures to try and market their homes. We're not sure how successful they were, but the tactics definitely are good for a laugh.

Real estate agents in Canada are enticing clients with booze. Prospective buyers of two homes that were recently on the market were told they got to keep $1,000 worth of beer in the fridge if they signed the dotted line.

Business Insider



New York city broker Michael Meier hosts sexy photo shoots at his top-listed properties, saying it gives prospective homeowners a taste of the lifestyle they could lead. Sex sells, doesn't it?

Business Insider



The Corcoran Group produced a video to the tune of $50,000 to market a $9 million New York City penthouse.

via Curbed



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: This Amazing Eco-Friendly House In The Hamptons Is Made Entirely From Shipping Containers

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napeague harbor storage container home $1.395 million

A home in Amagansett Dunes near East Hampton that's made completely of re-purposed shipping containers is listed for $1.395 million.

The listing describes the home as an "eco-luxe Beach Box," and it does in fact look like a box.

The house has four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and sits on .17 acres.

[via AOL Real Estate]

Welcome to the Beach Box.



There are white oak floors through out the house.



The kitchen features EcoTop counters made of recycled and bamboo fibers.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Take A Look Back At The Olympic Villages Of The Past

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DNU Olympic logo

This post originally appeared at Movoto.

Once again, the time has come when we’re all wishing that we too had the requisite skills to attend the biennial sweat-inducing athletic event of colossal proportions, or, what we common folk know as the Olympics.

We may not be able to transfer magical athletic powers to you, but we can suggest a way to relive the grandeur of past Olympics.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in one of these supposed hubs of drugs and lust? Here Movoto Real Estate gives you a rundown of these former glory towns and how they’re faring in their afterlives.

2012 London Summer Olympics

For the 2012 London Olympics, competitors boarding at the $1.5 billion Village will enjoy an entertainment lounge, cutting-edge communications facilities, and large parks. Despite its hefty price tag, however, London’s Olympic Village contains sleeping quarters more fit for college students than the world’s greatest athletes (which will be beefed up with kitchens, new flooring, and other amenities for post-Game residents).

Cool Amenities

  • 24-hour cafeteria to satisfy a case of the late-night munchies
  • 13,000-square-foot gym, for those athletes whose bodies aren’t yet whipped into shape
  • Access to pool tables, a computer gaming area, and a private theater

Drawbacks

  • Only some of the apartments have adjoining bathrooms, and the kitchens are so efficient, they’re nonexistent
  • Your typical dorm-style accoutrements: twin-size beds, basic Ikea-esque furniture, and thin walls
  • Bar is non-alcoholic, so athletes must find other ways to take the edge off (read: copulation)


2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics

Once the temporary home to nearly 3,000 athletes, Vancouver’s Olympic Village consists of 22 sleek, modern structures built on a stretch of land that was formerly an industrial eyesore. Now known as The Village on False Creek, the condos and apartments attract individuals interested in living sustainably—and who are willing to cough up $300,000 or more for one of these cribs.

Cool Amenities

  • Eco-friendliness at its finest with a site that collects rainwater for reuse, solar energy and heating, and natural flooring
  • A mix of quirky galleries and healthful dining spots for the hipster in you
  • Waterfront views and a brief trek from downtown

Drawbacks

  • Originally funded by taxpayers after the government had to bail out the private developers, so don’t be surprised if sharing the name of your new pad emits angry glares from Canadians
  • Located blocks from one of the country’s most prized possessions: the Eastside neighborhood, home to drug addicts, homeless people, and North America’s first supervised heroin-injection location


2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

Beijing’s Olympic Village boasted first-rate athletic facilities for extreme competitors, while tree huggers enjoyed gardens on their roofs and toilets that used greywater (don’t worry, this isn’t the same as sewage water). The site has since been converted to upscale apartments that cost around $750,000 a piece — a substantial price tag compared to other nearby residences.

Cool Amenities

  • Buildings include solar heating, a water-recycling system, and solar and green roofs
  • During the Olympics, rooms were equipped with an infrared burglar-proof warning device and the potential to draw attention to nighttime hanky-panky

Drawbacks

  • Located 20 minutes away from some of the most dazzling 2008 Olympic venues (visits to which are necessary to fully relive the glory of the Games)


See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: This Historic Estate On Long Island, Listed At $14 Million, Is Officially Off The Market

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barberrys mill neck ny $14 million

Barberrys, the Long Island estate once owned by publishing tycoon Nelson Doubleday, is officially off the market, according the listing, which says the property is under contract. It had been listed for $14 million.

The home has eight bedrooms, eight full bathrooms, and three half bathrooms, and sits on 13 acres of land.

The property has lake views, a five-car garage, and tons of terrace space.

Welcome to Barberrys.



The home is surrounded by luscious greenery.



A small pond greets your guests.



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: For $17.5 Million, Buy A Chic TriBeCa Apartment With An Indoor Pool

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the marble house tribeca $17.5 million

A single family home known as "The Marble House" in TriBeCa is on sale for $17.5 million.

The house gets its name from the rich surfaces inside: decadent imported Carrara, Striato Olimpico, Grey Bardiglio, and Crema Valencia marbles from slabs hand-selected by designer Stuart Parr.

The house spans 9,000 square feet, huge by Manhattan standards, and has six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and one half-bath.

The home features a 1,000-bottle wine cellar, game room, sauna, indoor pool, and 12-seat theater.

The home is located on Collister Street.



The grand salon is 60 feet wide.



The listing describes the windows as "oversized."



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HOUSE OF THE DAY: At $100 Million, An Octagon-Shaped Penthouse In Midtown Is The New Most Expensive Listing In New York City

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$100 million city spire penthouse

As the New York real estate market continues to break records with trophy properties, Steven Klar, the president of Long Island real estate developer The Klar Organization, is trying to take advantage of it.

Klar has listed his 8,000-square-foot penthouse condominium for $100 million in the CitySpire building on West 56th Street, according to The New York Times. It is currently the most expensive home for sale in New York City.

The penthouse is octagon-shaped and has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms.

“Art is what people are willing to pay for, and an apartment like this is like a piece of art,” Klar told The New York Times. Klar has lived in the apartment for 17 years, and says he is moving partially because he's afraid his young son may fall off the terraces, which have 360-degree views.

Klar purchased the apartment in 1993 for $4.5 million as "raw space." It now spans three floors, and includes a separate guest apartment one floor below.

Juan Pablo Molyneux, a member of Architectural Digest's AD100, designed the apartment.



The home has an eat-in chef's kitchen with adjacent butler's pantry.



The large chandelier is included in the sale.



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Tour The Wild Hamptons Mansion That Jay-Z And Beyoncé Are Supposedly Renting For $400,000 A Month

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jay-z beyonce bridgehampton house

The infamous Bridgehampton "Sandcastle" has new renters — Jay-Z and Beyoncé, according to the New York Post..

The couple is reportedly renting the 31,000-square-foot mansion in August for $400,000. That price is a steal, considering that when owner Joe Farrell put the property up for rent this past December, he wanted $500,000 for a two-week stay.

For the past two summers, millionaire Cheryl Mercuris has also spent over a million dollars renting the Sandcastle, supposedly in pursuit of a rich banker husband.

Sure, it's a steep price tag, but who can blame them? The Sandcastle has some great amenities, like a movie theater, bowling alley, walk-in refrigerator, wine room, climbing wall, basketball court, private gym and spa, and so much more.

Jay-Z and Beyonce are renting this 11.5-acre property.



It has about 31,000 square feet of living space.



The formal living room — complete with an intricate ceiling design and fluffy pillows.



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