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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Bruce Willis Has Bought A New York Countryside Getaway For $9 Million

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Bruce Willis Bedford Home

Bruce Willis and his wife Emma Heming just bought up 14 acres of prime New York countryside real estate, according to real estate website Trulia.

Located just one hour outside of the city, their new getaway home sits on Bedford’s highest points and provides breathtaking 180-degree views of the valley and reservoir below. 

The 8,000-square-foot home has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a swimming pool with a heated cabana, and a tennis court.

Talk about country elegance. 

Plus, Willis and his wife will have plenty of star company. Their new neighbors are Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Doguals, Martha Stewart, and Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Trulia reports.  

Welcome to Croton Lake Road, in Bedford New York. The massive home sits on a 14-acre property.



The gorgeous shingle-styled home blends classic and rustic elements.



The interior living space of the house has been meticulously crafted.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Is What A Luxury Garage For Ferraris And Porsches Looks Like

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Porsche Garage SS

When Chad Haas, Founder of Vault, a company that prides itself in furnishing some of the most beautiful garages in the world, was brought into this project, the home and garage were already exquisitely finished.  “When I first approached the home from the street, I knew that I’d have my work cut out for me.  Everything looked so perfect exactly the way it was designed and built.”

Standing at approximately 10,500 square feet, this stunning Colorado Rockies residence was recognized by the National Association of Home Builders as the best custom built home in the country in 2010.

The client’s goal was to engage Haas to design and furnish a garage space where he could relax, separate from the home, enjoy his growing car collection and entertain family and friends.

Ferrari Porsche Garage SS

Haas gathered ideas from the homeowner and returned back to his Beaverton, Oregon-based studio with a vision to create the ultimate gentlemen’s retreat through the look and feel of a turn-of-a-century Tuscan "car barn."

Haas designed luxurious castle-style doors, handcrafted from solid Mahogany with hand-wrought iron grills, Clavos nails, and door-pull hardware.  On the interior, porcelain tiles resembling Italian travertine stone were used extensively.  Haas collaborated with a local millwork company to design and hand-finish substantial wood beams from distressed Douglas Fir.  All of the walls were hand-plastered by a local artist using straw that was harvested from the surrounding area and incorporated into the plaster to give it a rustic antique quality. The warm glow from several custom porcelain neon signs, each one built entirely by hand by Vault, are dispersed throughout the space and transform the entire room, bringing it to life.

Ferrari Garage SS

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See Inside A Tiny 86-Square-Foot Paris Apartment With A Bed In The Cupboard

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Micro Living In Paris "Maid rooms" in Paris are usually located on the top level of Haussmann-period buildings and are characterized by their tiny size and lack of aesthetic or function, according to Kitoko Studio

They are so small that no one wants to live in them and most have been abandoned or have become mere storage spaces.

But due to extremely pricey rents in France's capital, one design studio decided to rethink the entire concept of these forgotten rooms.

Kitoko Studio designed a room based on the “concept of a Swiss army knife,” and somehow managed to squeeze all of the amenities of a full apartment into this tiny 86-square-foot space.

Micro Living In Paris All of the features of the apartment are hidden behind floral painted cupboards. The room has a staircase that pulls out of the lower cupboard and leads up to a compartment containing a single bed.

That compartment can then be completely closed with sliding doors, so that you can close out any unwanted daylight. Cue dramatic "goodbye, cruel world" sigh here.

Micro Living In Paris The wardrobe is located in the cabinet next to the bookcase, and can be pulled out when needed. Just don't throw clothes everywhere as you try to find the perfect outfit because there is virtually nowhere to put them. 

Micro Living In Paris There is even a small dining room table that slides out from underneath the bed compartment. Two stools are stored underneath the table and can be easily removed for use.

The room also has a tiny kitchenette with a sink. 

Micro Living In Paris Yet another cabinet has a bookshelf and a boiler for hot water. The designer even managed to fit a full bathroom with a shower into the 86-square-foot space; a luxury that many small studios don't even have. 

Micro Living In Paris Though this apartment is a great idea in theory, whoever lives here would have to be extremely organized to pull it off. 

Micro Living in Paris Watch the full video to see exactly how the space is used. For more information about the design, check out Kitoko Studio's website here.  

Tiny apartment in Paris (8sqm only) from Kitoko Studio on Vimeo.

SEE ALSO:  I Spent 3 Days In A 'Tiny House' With My Mom To See What Micro-Living Is All About

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Rent A Floor Of NYC's Pierre Hotel For $500,000 A Month

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HOTD: PIerre Hotel

The 39th floor of the legendary Pierre Hotel is available for extended stay for the first time.

At $500,000 per month it is New York City’s priciest rental listing, according to The Wall Street Journal

As part of the new Pierre Hotel Residences program, interested tenants can sign a lease for as little as 30 days, or as long as they need. 

This program will meet a strong demand for large apartments with flexible lease terms, according to Therese Bateman of Town Fifth Avenue. 

“It’s hard to find a six-bedroom apartment with that kind of flexibility,” she told The Wall Street Journal. 

But the best part of living in this swanky hotel has to be the many luxury services The Pierre offers. Guests are given complete access to the butler service, pet pampering, twice daily maid service, and the hotel’s chauffeur-driven Jaguar. 

You would never have to lift a finger.

Bateman and Andres Perea-Garzon of Town Fifth Avenue have the listing

Welcome to the legendary Pierre Hotel, located in New York's Upper East Side. Former permanent residents of The Pierre include Elizabeth Taylor and Yves Saint-Laurent.



The rental offers all of the services of a luxury five-star hotel, including a 24/7 concierge service.



The property consists of the hotel’s two-bedroom Presidential Suite and several other hotel rooms.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The First Tenants Of One World Trade Center Moved In Today

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one world trade center openNEW YORK (Reuters) - Thirteen years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the first tenants moved their belongings into the newly built One World Trade Center with enthusiasm tinged by emotional remembrance.

About 200 Condé Nast employees on Monday walked through the revolving doors of the building, America's tallest skyscraper - the first wave of 3,400 company staffers to occupy the 104-story gleaming tower in Lower Manhattan by February 2015.

Chief among them was Condé Nast's chief executive, Charles Townsend, whose gray Mercedes rolled into the tower's south entrance, where he was greeted by developers and other officials.

"This is a terrific day for Lower Manhattan, a wonderful day for New York City and an absolutely great day for Condé Nast," Townsend said.

The publishing company, which owns The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and other magazines, is the first renter to set up offices in the tower, where it will occupy floors 20 to 44.

Other Condé Nast employees entering their company's new headquarters consistently echoed their leader's excitement while downplaying reservations about the site's security.

"I can understand the fear," said Vijay Ramcharitar, a finance analyst at Condé Nast. "But I don't think you look at this building with fear, you look at it with inspiration."

One World Trade Center stands on the location where more than 2,700 people perished when hijacked planes slammed into the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001. It is directly across from the 9/11 Memorial.

Some spoke of history going full circle at last.

Maryanne Casey, who works for a legal affiliate of Condé Nast, said moving into her new office evoked particularly personal memories. She once worked at the World Trade Center and her firefighter brother helped in the aftermath of the attacks.

"It's a great tribute to America to see this," she said. "I'm very proud to work here."

The new building is more than 58 percent leased, according to a statement from the Durst Organization, a real estate company that manages the property jointly with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Construction workers who helped the $3.9 billion tower rise from the rubble, overcoming repeated delays that pushed back the original 2006 completion date, put finishing touches on the building's glass exterior and watched with pride as its first tenants settled in.

"It's a great building," said one worker wearing a hard hat and yellow vest.

 

(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Steve Orlofsky)

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Massive Duplex Inside New York's Carhart Mansion Hits The Market For $35 Million

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HOTD: Upper East Side Duplex

Tucked away off a tree-lined block in the heart of Carnegie Hill lies the esteemed Carhart Mansion. 

Designed by Horace Trumbauer as a Louis XVI Parisian townhouse, it has been described as“one of the finest examples” of New York City French Classicism. 

The mansion was converted into four exclusive, full service, and grand scale residences in 2005 — and now one of those four homes is on the market for $34.9 million.

Major democratic party donors Dennis and Karen Mehiel are selling their incredible condo, which spans two floors of the Carhart Mansion with 17 grand rooms and over 10,350 square feet of space. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Mehiels first put their condo on the market for $35 million in 2008, right after the financial crisis. “Our timing was very poor,” Mehiel told the WSJ. They pulled it off the market in 2010. 

But due to the luxury real estate boom in New York City, the palatial duplex is back on the market.

Carrie Chiang of Corcoran Group Real Estate has the listing

Welcome to the Carhart Mansion. This Upper East Side home was originally designed in the French neo-classical style.



The grand salon has soaring 20-foot-high ceilings. The condo stays true to its Parisian design with massive French doors.



The newest addition to the building was designed by award-winning Zivkovic Architects in collaboration with London architect, John Simpson. (Simpson's other projects include the Queens Galleries at Buckingham Palace.)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Area Could Be The Next Big Real Estate Boom In New York City

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Park_Place_Brooklyn_Jan_2010

Clinton Hill is on the rise.

An influx of residential buildings are flooding into the small neighborhood that borders Fort Greene, replacing a local funeral parlorgas stations, the post office and even a White Castle.

Two new developments were recently completed and 11 more are underway in Clinton Hill, adding more than 1,000 apartment in the neighborhood, according to developers.

Some sites, such as 93 Waverly Ave. and 96 Steuben St., which were completed earlier this year, offer luxury amenities such as a doorman, individual rooftop vegetable and herb gardens, courtyards and views of the Manhattan skyline.

Other developments, like the 240-unit development in the former Pratt Post Office location, promise to bring affordable housing and new ground-floor businesses to the neighborhood.

"There is a definite uptick in new developments in Clinton Hill," said David Maundrell, founder and president of aptsandlofts.com, who said the area's rising popularity is boosted by its proximity to Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn."It's a great area — It is more 'neighborhood-y' that Downtown Brooklyn and more affordable than Fort Greene. And Myrtle Avenue has come a long way in the last decade," he added.

In the last quarter, more than a third of all condo sales in new developments in Brooklyn took place in Clinton Hill, according to a MNS Real Estate report.Brooklyn_districts_map_draft_1

93 Waverly Ave.

This development was completed early this year and contains 17 units throughout the buildings. The loft-like residences feature double height ceilings and many have private outdoor space in addition to a communal roof with individual vegetable and herb gardens for each resident, according to aptsandlofts.com. All units are currently leased.

96 Steuben St.

This seven-story, 35-unit building was completed earlier this year and features a common courtyard, doorman and roof deck with views of Manhattan. Unit prices range from $2,500 for a one-bedroom to $3,800 for a two-bedroom. Some units are still available to rent.

840 Fulton St.

The Daten Group purchased the Coastal Gas station lot for $7.4 million and plans to demolish the structure to build a 40,000-square-foot building with 38 apartments.  The new building will also have 5,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor.

492 and 524 Myrtle Ave.

The former post office, located at 524 Myrtle Ave., will soon be home to an eight-story, 240-unit residential building with 20 percent of units under market rate. Another building at 492 Myrtle Ave. will also be eight stories and contain 240 units. Construction is underway, but it is unclear when the buildings will be complete.

112 Emerson Pl.

Leasing started earlier this year for the seven-story, 32-unit building, which leases the ground floor retail space to “A Kid’s Dream” hair salon.

266 Greene Ave.

The building at 266 Greene Ave. will have four stories with three rental units, according to permits filed with the Department of Buildings. It is unclear when construction will be complete.

535 Classon Ave.

Construction is underway on a five-story building that will have 38 apartments and 19 parking spaces. The building will be “finished with a dark grey facade and sleek modern windows by the end of next summer,” according to Fort Greene Focus. The property is being developed by Queens-based Kahen Properties, according to DOB records.

978 Fulton St.

A seven-story, 23-unit building with commercial space on the ground floor was recently approved by the Department of Buildings. It is unclear when the building will be complete.

516 Classon Ave.

Construction on a seven-story apartment building with 18 apartments is underway on Classon Avenue near Fulton Street, according to DOB records. It is unclear when the project will be complete.

1047 Fulton St.

This property, once the site of a funeral parlor, will be a six-story residential building with 28 units plus laundry, bike parking, balconies and shared outdoor space, according to Massey Knakal Realty.

1035 Fulton St.

This seven-story, 35-unit building, designed by Isaac and Stern Architects, may also contain commercial space on the ground floor. It will be complete in the fall of 2015, according to Fort Greene Focus.

533 Myrtle Ave.

Architect Karl Fischer is planning to replace the former White Castle on Myrtle Avenue with a five-story, 27-unit residential building with 5,900-square-feet of commercial space.

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This Is The Best Time Of Year To Rent A New York City Apartment

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new york city manhattan skyline

NEW YORK CITY — Irina Starkova wanted to live within walking distance to the Midtown software company where she works, but when she started looking for Manhattan studios this summer, she found nothing under her $1,700 price cap.

So, the 23-year-old approached her search strategically, waiting out the market, staying in her month-to-month rental in Astoria until prices dropped — as they did in October — and she found what she was looking for: a studio on Eighth Avenue between 39th and 40th streets for $1,650 a month.

"When I started looking this summer, prices were so high, or nothing that I wanted seemed available,” she said. “I figured I’d wait a couple of months and hope for better luck.”

Mid-October through December is the best time to find deals on rentals, experts say. Landlords don’t want their apartments sitting empty through the long, dreary winter, so they're willing to offer a deal in a bid to get leases signed.

“Mid-October through the end of December is the slowest time in the rental market — more available apartments, and less people wanting to rent them is good news for renters,” said Gary Malin, the president of real estate brokerage firm Citi Habitats.

“If a landlord doesn’t get their apartment rented by Thanksgiving,” he added, “there’s a good chance it’ll be empty for a while with the holidays, and that’s not what they want.”

While even the reduced prices are by no means cheap —  the average Manhattan studio rental went for $2,790 a month in September according toa report by real estate firm MNS — those familiar with the market say there are still definite savings.

The average Manhattan studio rental prices for non-doorman buildings dropped by $146 between September 2013 to December 2013, according to reports from brokerage firm MNS. And 3-bedroom apartments in Manhattan rented for $194 less a month on average last December than they did in September, according to Citi Habitats.

Landlords might also offer incentives, like payment of brokers’ fees or a free month of rent up front, experts said.

Without the summer crush of renters, there’s a little more time for savvy shoppers to be choosy, said Itzy Garay, the executive vice president of leasing for TOWN Residential.

“In the summer months it’s just so competitive for leasers; there’s a crunch of students moving in, people starting new jobs — and when you find a place, you have to rush to lock it down and make a decision pretty much immediately, or it’ll be gone.” Garay said.

It may be inconvenient to move during the fall or winter, but the savings could be worth it.

“But in these next few months, you have more time to think about your choices, and not feel like you’re scrambling as much.”

Citi Habitats broker Nardeen Billan, who worked with Starkova, said they likely wouldn’t have found the apartment she wanted — much less with a $50 a month deduction — at any other time of year.

“She was looking for a studio in midtown Manhattan and didn’t want to pay more than $1,700,” said Billan. “That’s not something you come by easily.”

“He wouldn’t have reduced the rent if he didn’t want to make sure to get someone in the apartment before the snowy, holiday season,” Billan said. “Irina knew what she wanted, and when we got that price, we were ready to quickly move on it.”

Here are a few tips from the experts on how you can make the most of this renter-friendly season to find the perfect deal:

1. Be Aware of the Limits of Your Negotiating Power

These next couple months may hold more bargains for renters, but it's still not easy to find a great place, experts said. Don't expect landlords to be begging you to take the apartment. They'll usually offer up right away what they are willing to do, which may be a slight reduction in rent, a partial payment of the brokers fee, or free first month's rent. But don't expect to get all those things at once.

"If there's something you really want, that would make the apartment a shoo-in for you, you should ask for that one thing," said TOWN's Garay. "But I wouldn't go in thinking you're doing to get multiple concessions."

2. Make a Wish List

Knowing what you really want, and what you’re willing to sacrifice, will help you more quickly decide on the right apartment when you see it. Starkova, for example, knew she didn’t want to budge from her $1,650 limit, and she wanted to be in Manhattan, as close to her midtown job as possible. But, she said, she was willing to give up other amenities — such as an elevator — accepting a cozy studio is a fifth floor walk-up. That's not a tradeoff every apartment hunter would be willing to make.

3. Be Flexible

There are certain high-demand neighborhoods, like the West Village, for example, that are not likely to offer bargains no matter what the season, said Citi Habitats' Malin.

"Maybe a renter will decide on the Upper East Side, but are you willing to live near construction zones on Second Avenue, or further east, and further from the subway," said Malin. "There are a lot of nuances to each neighborhood, and having flexibility on the exact location can help you find a better deal."

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10 Reasons Your Home Isn't Selling

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Woman in front of house sale sign

Wondering why your home is still sitting on the market after weeks or even months of showings?

Can't figure out why your open houses are well-populated but nothing ever comes of them? Or maybe no one is coming to your open houses at all?

It's easy to get frustrated when your home isn't selling and you don't know why. Which is why we've rounded up 10 of the top reasons houses sit on the market.

Chances are no one's biting because you've committed one (or more) of these mistakes. Identify which ones they are, do the work to set them right, and you could be signing on the dotted line in no time.

1. It's priced way too high.

Like it or not, the market dictates how much you get for your home regardless of how much you think you're home is "really" worth. Buyers will be looking at comparable homes in your area and seeing how yours stacks up, and if your asking price is much higher, it will work against you.

Remember, your home is really only worth what people are willing to pay for it.

Man with Snow Shovel

2. Your timing is off.

More people house-hunt in the spring, summer and early fall than they do in the winter. It's simply a matter of convenience — no one wants to trek from house to house in the snow and freezing temperatures, and even if they find a house they like, no one wants to move in at that time, hauling cardboard boxes across snow and ice. Unless they need to find a home ASAP, many put their searches on hold over the winter.

That's not to say you can't sell your home during the wintertime, but you need to take the season into consideration. Offering incentives (like a $500 credit towards moving services) and targeting buyers who are on a similar deadline can help.

3. Buyers can't find it.

More and more buyers are searching online, and if your home isn't listed in all the places they're looking, they could be passing you by. Make sure your home is listed on major real estate sites like Homefinder, Zillow and Trulia, as well as on the multiple listing service (or MLS) used by realtors.

4. Your photos suck

When buyers do find your home's listing, your photos (or lack thereof) could be sending them away. Buyers want to get a good feel for what a home has to offer before they decide to arrange to visit it in-person, and they can't do that if you have no photos, few photos, or photos that are of a very low quality.

Include plenty of shots of the major areas of your home, as well as what the front and back exterior look like. Highlight any special selling points. Make sure these photos are well-lit, in focus and show off your home at its best.

Dilapidated House

5. It needs some work.

While some buyers may be willing to take on a "project," the majority of them won't, especially if you're asking the same price as homes that don't need any repairs. From big things like a leaky roof to little things like a leaky faucet, you don't want your buyers creating a running list in their head of projects they'll need to take on if they buy your home.

Fix everything you can before you list so that when buyers tour your home, they can focus on the home and not how much it will cost them in repairs.

6. It's got too much "you" in it

Roman statesman Cicero once said that people fail because they "refuse to set aside trivial preferences." Apparently, he would have been a great at selling homes.

You want people to be able to picture themselves living in your home, and they can't do that if too many of your personal touches are on display.

Get rid of those family photos on the mantle in the living room and your kids' drawings tacked up on the fridge. Repaint bold-colored walls a more neutral tone. Remove any statements pieces that aren't to everyone's taste. If you're a big collector, take some of your souvenirs and knickknacks down and box them up for your next home.

7. You've made some weird changes.

You might have loved the idea of turning your garage into a rec room, but most buyers would rather have the storage space for their vehicles and tools. Converting that spare bedroom into a huge walk-in closet might have been fun for you, but most buyers would rather have the extra bedroom for children or guests.

If you've made a renovation or upgrade that goes against what most people expect to find in a home in your neighborhood, you could be turning off potential buyers and could also hurt your resale value if someone does make you an offer. Undo any such changes if you can, or be prepared to lower your asking price to reflect them.

Man in overgrown garden

8. Your curb appeal needs help

If buyers don't like the state of your home from the outside, they're not as likely to come inside to see the rest of it. If your listing shows your home at its best but you've since let the weeds overtake it, buyers will wonder what's happened to the inside. Unswept paths, overgrown lawns, chipping paint, sagging gutters — all of these things signal to buyers that you haven't maintained your home properly, and they make take one look and decide to drive on.

9. You're smothering buyers

As much as you may want to see "how things are going" or be around to answer questions or offer insights, you need to let your real estate agent handle things. Go out for coffee, go see a movie, go do anything that gets you out of the house (and out of buyers' hair) when your home is being shown.

Not only will this put less pressure on buyers; it will enable them to feel free to voice their real opinions, which can help you identify sticking points you need to work on to make your home more appealing.

Real Estate Agents

10. You're trying to go it alone

Real estate agents' fees can take a decent amount out of your total sale proceeds, it's true — but if you go the DIY home-selling route, you run the risk of getting zero proceeds when it doesn't sell at all. If you're having trouble selling your home on your own, it may be time to call in a pro.

Agents can help you present and market your home to the right target audience via the right platform. They can help you get the word out in a way that "for sale by owner" signs and local news classifieds just can't — especially if you're inexperienced or in a hurry. They can also help you navigate the world of negotiating and closing when an offer finally arrives.

SEE ALSO: 4 Tricks To Transform Your Kitchen For Under $500

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The Razor-Thin Townhouse In New York City Is Going To Look Awesome

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Dining Stair Elevator

A new razor-thin townhouse is set to make a splash in Manhattan's desirable Flatiron District of Midtown South. 

Designed by Skyway Development Group (and spotted on Curbed NY), the home has 8,000 square feet of space and a total of seven floors.

It also features a glass elevator to move up and down the skinny building.

kitchenThough it's relatively small, it packs a big punch with six bedrooms, four powder rooms, a "backyard," a roof deck, a home office, and a garage (to park your presumably very skinny car).

It will also have not one but two hot tubs, plus a sauna and a steam room.

SpaIt was designed by Andres Escobar and Karl "Hot Karl" Fischer served as the architect. According to Curbed, they've worked together before on some high-profile projects with good results.

RooftopThe townhouse will be built at 34 West 21st St., according to the press release, and will be a single-family home. 

FacdeOne last view of the incredible townhouse and its awesome layout.

Cross Section

SEE ALSO: Check out Mel Gibson's Costa Rican retreat

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: At $195 Million, A Beverly Hills Party Mansion Is Now America's Most Expensive Home

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9505lanialane high 2 (2)

There is no shortage of over-the-top mansions around the country.

But the Beverly Hills estate of real estate mogul Jeff Greene, which just hit the market with a price tag of $195 million  making it the new most expensive home for sale in the US  is in a league of its own.

Known as the "Palazzo di Amore," Greene's home was built for parties. It has an entertainment complex and ballroom that can fit 250 guests, a private-label vineyard, and parking garages for more than two dozen cars.

Greene, who made a fortune when the real estate bubble burst, is worth some $2.2 billion. With its $195 million listing price, his home is by far the most expensive on the market, beating a Florida home currently listed at $139 million.

Joyce Rey and Stacy Gottula of Coldwell Banker Previews International have the listing.

The Palazzo di Amore is not your ordinary mansion. It's a true party palace, with space to entertain 1,000 guests.



Visitors pass through three sets of gates before arriving at the grand home. The two-story entry has a pair of curved marble staircases.



The 15,000-square-foot "entertainment complex" is what sets this home apart. It has a ballroom with a revolving floor and can host 250 for a seated dinner.

 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

INFOGRAPHIC: London Ranks #1 On This List Of The World's Most Expensive Homes

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Want a quick glance at the most expensive private residences in the world?

CompareCamp put together the beautiful infographic below and kindly let us share it. No surprise to see Buckingham Palace at the top, but the 27-storeys of outrageous digs belonging to the richest man in India, Mukesh Ambani, aren’t too far behind it in terms of value.

Other residential facts to note while you’re grazing and dreaming:

• Oprah’s $85M mansion rules the category of the most expensive celebrity homes
• Which private house requires as much as 600 staff to run it on a daily basis?
• How much does Corleone’s villa from the Godfather cost in real life? 

Compare 10 Most Expensive Houses In The World: No. 1 Luxury Real Estate Is Worth Billions

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10 Tiny Flats You Can Buy In London For The Same Price As These £1 Million Mansions

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Highclere_Castle_06

London house prices are crazy. They've gone up by about a fifth in the last year, from an already-high level. The average price has already climbed over £500,000 for the whole city, let alone the highly-priced core.

So it's no surprise that some people who can are quitting London and moving out, where their money goes a lot further. But just how much further can you make your money go?

If you've ever idly daydreamed about what you could afford with your modest, central London flat, wonder no more. We've collated some of the grandest homes from the rest of the country for less than a million pounds, next to their central London equivalents. 

You could have this 10 bedroom manor in Durham. It's 900 years old, has 10 bedrooms, a banqueting hall, and it's on the market for £750,000 ($1.186 million).



Or you could have this two bedroom flat in Paddington, going for £850,000 ($1.345 million).



There's this Georgian 23-bed mansion in south-west Scotland, which belonged to the earls of Galloway. It's being sold for upwards of £595,000 ($941,000).



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A 270-Square-Foot Attic Apartment In Paris Somehow Has Room For A Guest Bed And Home Office

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Tiny Paris Apartment

Paris is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, which often forces its inhabitants to think of creative ways to make a space both livable and affordable. 

So when a client approached designer Marianne Evennou with the seemingly impossible task of transforming a 270-square-foot attic into a full scale apartment, she used her imagination. 

Evennou told Business Insider that her client wanted to be able to have many friends around a table, a nice kitchen, an office space to do work, cupboards to hide her things, and a mattress under a window to enjoy the light in the apartment — not a small request for such a diminutive space. 

Evennou’s solution was to take out the old ceiling and embrace the space’s verticality and loft the beds, according to Apartment Therapy. As for the request for a window to enjoy the light — Evennou took out part of the ceiling and made a skylight. 

Tiny Paris Apartment

One of the client’s goals was to have a kitchen big enough for entertaining and cooking, which Evennou accomplished by lofting the beds above the kitchen and ingeniously putting the staircase above the counter. 

The staircase was the most difficult obstacle Evennou overcame in designing the apartment, she told Business Insider. It was very hard to organize the stairs underneath the beams in the attic.

Tiny Paris Apartment

The client wanted to be able to host overnight guests, and so Evennous lofted another bed above the kitchen. This bed is accessible by a ladder and the stairs behind the kitchen. 

Tiny Paris Apartment

Although it would be difficult not to hit your head in a space like that.

Tiny Paris Apartment

The home office has incredible storage systems. There is a library and two wardrobes hidden behind those curtains, plus more storage space above. 

Tiny Paris Apartment

There was even space for a coffee table to entertain friends. 

Tiny Paris Apartment

Evennous says she doesn’t know how she fit so much into such a small space and proclaims that it was, “just a miracle.”

For more information about the place, visit her blog here

SEE ALSO: See Inside A Tiny 86-Square-Foot Paris Apartment With A Bed In The Cupboard

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Microsoft Billionaire Paul Allen's Most Over-The-Top Toys

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With an estimated net worth of $17 billion, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen can afford to buy himself some fancy toys. 

But with interests that range from electric guitars to World War II aircraft, Allen takes expensive hobbies to a whole new level. 

We've rounded up some of the billionaire's most ridiculous toys, from submarines to professional sports teams.

Allen loves rock 'n' roll. An expert guitarist, he pays a band to travel with him so he can jam whenever he wants. He owns a number of valuable guitars, including some previously used by Woody Guthrie and Jimi Hendrix.

Source: 60 Minutes

 



In May, Allen showed off his skills at a celebrity-packed party he threw on his 414-foot yacht, "Octopus."

Source: Business Insider

 



Octopus is truly one-of-a-kind, decked out with two helicopter landing pads and its own submarine. Allen has sailed to Antarctica, Europe, and other exotic destinations. "During the day we explore, and at night we jam," he told "60 Minutes" in 2011.

Source: 60 Minutes

 



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$10 Per Month Apartment In The West Village Is Stirring Up A Huge Controversy

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14 minetta streetWest Village resident Jud Parker has, without a doubt, the best lease in the city. In 2009, Parker got a West Village landlord to sign a lease basically gifting him a duplex apartment on Minetta Street for $10 a month — for the 50 next years. But now, the building’s new landlord is challenging the deal.

Landlord Pari Dulac claims the former owner, who died in 2010, had dementia when the lease was signed, according to the New York Post. “

When I saw the lease, I couldn’t believe it,” Dulac told the Post. “I thought it was a joke.”

Wilfred Schuman owned a pair of three-story town houses at 12 and 14 Minetta Street since 1993. Just one year before his death, Parker and girlfriend Stefanie Tyler signed the incredible lease on a 1,400-square-foot apartment at 14 Minetta Street, which features two bedrooms, a back yard and, best of all, a 10-year renewal option.

In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court Friday, Dulac claims Parker swindled Schuman, who was in his 70s. He also claims that Parker quickly began subleasing the apartment for $2,500 a month.

Dulac paid $2.75 million for the building and believes she could rent Parker’s unit for $6,000 a month.

However, Parker claims the lease was a gift from the dying man.

“I was a surrogate son. I took care of him my whole life,” Parker said. “[Dulac] wants me out because she’s greedy.” [NYP]

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Nearly Half Of New York City's Luxury Apartments Are Bought Off Floorplans Alone

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New York Skyline

The ravenous appetite for New York City new development product has a growing number of wealthy buyers scooping up luxury homes sight unseen.

Since Sept. 1, a whopping 45 percent of contracts signed on units above $4 million were made off of floorplans, according to Olshan Realty’s latest luxury market report. “It’s the highest I’ve seen,” the firm’s founder Donna Olshan told The Real Deal.

The data indicates an upward trend. Since Jan. 1 to Sept. 1, 37 percent of contracts signed at $4 million or more were off of floorplans, compared to 34 percent for the same period last year.

A $19.75 million penthouse at Rudin Management’s Greenwich Lane, for example, which went into contract the week of October 6, was sold off floorplans. The 3,977-square-foot condo is located at 140 West 12th Street. A week earlier, a buyer signed a contract – also off of floorplans – on a $10.55 million, 3,594-square-foot penthouse at Time Equities’ 50 West. The building’s 191 units are currently 40 percent sold, said Time Equities’ director of residential sales and marketing Roberta Axelrod.

In the current market, buyers have been eager to purchase early, before prices increase, according to Axelrod. “People are anxious to get in on it and not miss the opportunity,” she said. “If you buy sooner, not only is the price going to be less, but there’s more selection of units and more availability.”

She also noted that marketing preconstruction property has become a more refined process. In the case of 50 West, the developer had a photographer snap pictures of the building’s views at different heights, and the sales office has a large, curved screen where Axelrod can show prospective buyers the view from every floor. “We have been able to give people a very clear sense of what it’s going to be like,” she said.

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Incredible Three-Story Penthouse In New York City's Lincoln Center Is Listed For $42 Million

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A three-story $42 million penthouse at 1965 Broadway has hit the market in New York City, according to The Real Deal

The penthouse in Lincoln Center has three separate entrances, 16 rooms, two kitchens, two private terraces, and a total of 10,100 square feet. 

It was once three units and has been converted into this triplex penthouse with a full-service 24-7 doorman, concierge, security staff, and live-in resident manager. 

But the best feature of the home might be its incredible 360-degree views of Manhattan, which is why it has been referred to as the “townhouse in the sky.” 

Andrew Azoulay of Douglas Elliman Real Estate has the listing

Welcome to the triplex penthouse at the Grand Millennium on Broadway and 67th Street.



The immaculate main kitchen was designed by Boffi. There is a second kitchen located on the lower floor.



It has stainless steel, two refrigerators, three sinks, and three dishwashers.



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The Median Asking Price For A House In Sydney Has Topped $1 Million For The First Time

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Sydney’s median asking price for freestanding houses passed the $1 million mark for the first time, according to data released by SQM Research, an investment research house.

Houses, including terraces but excluding townhouses, hit a median asking price of $1,005,800 this month, as this chart shows:

hosues sydney median asking price

Louis Christopher, managing director of SQM Research, says that right now it would be impossible to purchase a freestanding house in Sydney’s inner ring for under $1 million and “will become increasingly difficult” to do so in Sydney’s middle ring.

The next highest average asking price is in Perth at $765,000. The Australian capital city average asking price is $755,100 and the national average is $486,600.

Official statistics are showing a slowdown in the growth of prices nationally but Sydney’s housing market is still hot with a 14.6% rise for the 12 months to the end of September.

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The 20 Most Expensive Housing Markets In America

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redwood city california

If you're looking for some of the most desirable and expensive properties on the market, head west.

According to Coldwell Banker's annual Home Listing Report, nine of the 10 most expensive housing markets in the US are in California, and the Bay Area dominated, thanks to the success of tech companies located nearby.

The Home Listing Report compare the cost of a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in nearly 2,000 markets, analyzing more than 51,000 homes. It found that the average home in the country's most expensive market costs six times the national average listing price of $295,317.

Paige Cooperstein wrote an earlier version of this story. 

20. Westport, Connecticut

Average Listing Price: $923,422

State Average: $423,117

Westport, on the Long Island Sound, has a reputation for its excellent school system and is know for its proximity to New York City.

It was the 24th most expensive housing market in 2013.



19. Greenwich, Connecticut

Average Listing Price: $923,690

State Average: $423,117

Affluent Greenwich, also on the Long Island Sound, is one of the wealthiest towns in America. Residents include Paul Tudor Jones, Ray Dalio, and Sandy Weill.

It was the 15th most expensive housing market in 2013. 



18. Cohasset, Massachusetts

Average Listing Price: $923,889

State Average: $577,080

Cohasset, outside of Boston, is on the corner of the South Shore and has several beaches and a yacht club.

It was not one of the 25 most expensive housing markets in 2013.



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