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$100 MILLION: New York City's Most Expensive Apartment Ever Is In The Record Books

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one57 To infinity, and beyond!

Manhattan’s record for priciest condo sale was broken today yet again with the closing of a $100.5 million purchase of a penthouse at Gary Barnett’s One57, according to property records filed with the city today.

The sale was announced in May 2012, but took over two years to close. The gargantuan price tag is the biggest for a Manhattan condo ever, surpassing Dmitry Rybolovlev’s $88 million purchase of Sanford Weill’s 15 Central Park West penthouse in 2012.

It's the first single-family home ever to sell for more than $100 million in New York City.

 The buyer was shielded by an LLC. The unit in Extell Development’s famous tower is a 10,923-square-foot penthouse on the 89th and 90th floors. Though it breaks the previous price record, it comes out to closer to $9,000 per square foot than the $13,000 per square foot that Rybolovlev paid for the apartment at 15 Central Park West.

The sale of another One57 penthouse to hedge-funder Bill Ackman and a group of investors for roughly $90 million is also set to close soon. 

SEE ALSO: See How Drastically Central Park Has Changed Since The '80s

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: The Cofounder Of True Religion Jeans Is Selling Her Malibu Mansion For $26.5 Million

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Malibu Beach Bluff true religion jeans

Kym Gold, the cofounder of True Religion Jeans, is selling her gorgeous Malibu mansion for $26.5 million.

Even though it's only one story, the Mediterranean-style home is huge with 6,600 square feet of indoor living space and 67,500 square feet of outdoor living space.

The five-bedroom home sits on 1 1/2 acres of land and has water and coastline ocean views. It also has an organic garden, tennis court, gym, and a heated pool.

Cormac O'Herlihy and Amy Alcini with Sotheby's Real Estate has the listing.

Welcome to the Malibu home of Kym Gold, the cofounder of True Religion Jeans.



The stunning property is on sale for $26.5 million.



The home sits on 1 1/2 acres of land and has a gorgeous gate welcoming guests into the home.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

HOUSE OF THE DAY: A New York Townhouse With A Two-Car Garage And Indoor Pool Has Listed For $29 Million

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Dining VIRTUAL

A Manhattan home with a two-car garage and pool has hit the market for $29 million, according to Curbed New York.

With an elevator, dressing room with 15 closets, and 10,000 square feet of space, this home is truly worth the price.

Plus, you know a home is beautiful when not even bizarre, virtually staged furniture can ruin the listing photos.

J. Roger Erickson of Sotheby's Real Estate has the listing.

The townhouse, located at 107 East 61st Street, is smack dab in the heart of New York City's Upper East Side. Because parking is hard to come by in NYC, it even has a two-car garage.



Inside, the house has 10,000 square feet of living space.



The home's chef's kitchen is filled with the latest applies as well as a skylight and full island with stools.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside One57, Where New York's Most Expensive Penthouse Just Sold For A Record-Breaking $100 Million

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one57 from the sky

New York real estate is soaring, and there's no better proof than One57.

One of the penthouses in the 1,004-foot-tall residence has officially closed for $100.5 million, making it the most expensive apartment ever sold in NYC and the first to surpass $100 million.

Located on the 89th and 90th floors, the penthouse has 11,000 square feet, six bedrooms, a steam room, a library, and an indoor movie theater. 

Residents will also have access to the amenities in the Park Hyatt hotel, which takes up the first 39 floors of the building. But if they don't want to mix with the commoners, One57 owners can also use their own 20,000-square-foot amenities floor, complete with a pool, gym, library, and theater.

And though $100 million may seem like a lot, New York's priciest penthouse will most likely prove to be a savvy investment as more expensive homes continue to go on sale. Already, a tower on 520 Park Avenue has a penthouse on the market for $130 million, and prices are only expected to climb.

The buyer of the megaproperty remains a mystery, as do many of the owners in One57. Of the 26 units sold so far, over half of them are owned by limited-liability corporations and trusts to maintain the owners' privacy.

One57 was designed by starchitect Christian de Portzamparc to look like a cascading waterfall. It rises 1,004 feet and 90 stories above 57th Street.



Of the 26 units sold so far, only half of the buyers are known. They include head of BDO Unicon Group Andrey Dubinsky and president of Swanson Health Products Leland Swanson.



The Park Hyatt hotel will occupy the first 39 floors of the building, and the 95 condos of One57 will fill the rest of the space.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

HOUSE OF THE DAY: Quirky East Side Manhattan Apartment Is On The Market For $12.7 Million

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River House

A quirky apartment in an exclusive co-op building on Manhattan's east side is on the market for $12.75 million, according to Curbed.

The River House was built in 1931 in an art deco style. Until 2013, the co-op board forbid listings to include the name of the building or its address. It's also turned away a number of applicants, including Richard Nixon, Diane Keaton, Joan Crawford, and Gloria Vanderbilt.

The apartment is located on the 14th floor and has a terrace that overlooks the East River.

Sotheby's realtor Nikki E. Field has the listing.

Behold the gates of the River House, one of Manhattan's most exclusive co-op buildings.



Don't let its secluded East Side address fool you —the notoriously snooty co-op board ensures that only the wealthiest and most well-connected New Yorkers move in to the venerable tower. Until 2013, the board banned mention of the building's name or its address in broker listings.



An exclusive off-street private cobblestone driveway with a fountain takes you up to the residence building.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Top 30 Cities For Real Estate Development

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Tourists in London

Global direct real estate investment returned to pre-recession levels in 2014 and should reach about $1 trillion annually within five years.

Driven by a strengthening global economic environment, last year’s total direct investment in real estate is estimated at $700 billion – a level not seen since 2006, before the financial crisis. Research we carried out indicates a further increase of 10%-15% in 2015 and $1 trillion in annual direct real estate investing by 2020.

We expect investments to continue to grow because the market is on a sounder, more sustainable footing than it was before the recession and has more robust controls and scrutiny on investments.

The improved controls include reduced reliance on leverage and greater use of equity, along with stricter underwriting standards and increased scrutiny by investment committees. Other reasons for optimism include new sources of capital from Asia and other emerging markets, and greater focus on direct real estate investment from institutional investors lured by low interest rates and an evolving regulatory environment.

JLL233 Top 30 Cities Bar Chart 1024x791Our research identifies 30 cities that, together, received half of the total $5 trillion directly invested in commercial real estate over the past decade. What does the research on top investment cities say about current real estate markets?

Megadeals helped four elite “supercities” retain their places at the top, where they have been for the past few years. Those deals involved large single assets, such as the Gherkin and HSBC office towers in London, the Pacific Century Place office tower in Tokyo, the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York and the Marriott Champs-Élysées Hotel in Paris. Two of the transactions were made by high-net-worth individuals, an emerging class of investors able to compete with institutions for trophy assets.

An overall shift in investments to second-tier cities spiked in 2014. This was most apparent in Europe; for example, the number of transactions in London and Paris dropped 17% year on year, but increased 37% in the next 20 cities.

Davos infographic

In northern Europe, mid-size cities experienced particularly high levels of investment as a proportion of GDP. Municipalities like Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Munich, Amsterdam, and the Nordic capitals of Oslo and Copenhagen attracted corporate tenants and investors with transparent and stable real estate markets that boast strong technology and environmental credentials.

Investment growth also extended to such cities as Dublin and Madrid, almost untouchable just a few years ago. Dublin, which jumped to 24th in the global investment hierarchy (from 93rd in 2013), also had the world’s fastest growth in office rents over the past year.

In the United States, commercial real estate investment volumes in primary cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington and Boston) increased 66% year on year, compared with 37% for the overall US market.

Some secondary markets, such as Philadelphia, Miami and Charlotte, experienced increased interest from domestic institutional buyers. Outside of trophy core-plus deals, foreign buyers were not as active in most secondary cities last year. Transaction volumes in secondary cities are expected to increase in 2015 as more assets come up for sale.

Most pan-Asian investment in 2014 focused on the major markets of Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai and Beijing. With lower volumes and lower transparency across the region, there was less appetite for secondary-city opportunities outside of trophy or core properties.

Interest in multifamily assets, a focus of investor activity in the US, spread to countries including the United Kingdom and Australia. Additionally, Chinese residential developers have expanded aggressively into overseas markets in recent years, with a focus on London, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Sydney.

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A Silicon Valley Financier Has Listed His Atherton Mansion For $28 Million

HOUSE OF THE DAY: Old Paris Factory Built By Gustave Eiffel Turned Into A Gorgeous $11.5 Million Mansion

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When the current owners of this Paris mansion bought a dilapidated workshop built by Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel), they intended to turn it into a commercial space.

However, the correct permits were tough to obtain, so they instead converted the former factory into a gorgeous three-floor mansion, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The roof and many of the details are original, but are tastefully mixed throughout the home with added consciences. Wrought iron is on display throughout, and the light let in by the huge windows brightens up the entire home.

The current owners are selling the property for $11.5 million because it is now too big for them. They will use the proceeds to sail around the world.

France's Emile Garcin Properties has the listing.

This isn't your typical loft-style conversion. This spectacular space was converted from a factory built in the early 20th century roughly 3 years ago.



The gabled glass roof over the living room rests on the original steel structure. The blinds dressing the glass roof open and close automatically.



The living room sits between two terraces.



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The Most Expensive Home You Can Buy In 25 Countries Around The World

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Monaco

Ever wonder how billionaires around the world live? 

Point2 Homes complied a list of the most expensive homes that are currently for sale in 25 different countries around the world. 

The list shows how high-end living varies from one country to the next — the most expensive home for sale right now in the US costs $195 million, while Japan’s priciest home is $9 million. 

Monaco tops the list with a 5-story penthouse that costs an estimated $400 million. 

ARGENTINA: A refurbished 100-year-old colonial house in Buenos Aires is selling for $34.5 million.

Click here to see the listing. 



AUSTRALIA: A modern waterfront home with a private iron gate entrance is on the market for $30 million.

Click here to see the listing



THE BAHAMAS: A beach waterfront home on Paradise Island comes with its own golf course for $22 million.

Click here to see the listing.



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Here's What $350,000 Will Get You In 10 Housing Markets Across America

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In some major cities, finding a home that has both quality infrastructure and modern finishes can be a tedious task.

Do not fret, home buyers. We've done the work for you and found top-notch homes that meet this criteria. Check out the following homes in well-known locales across the country -- all currently or recently on the market at approximately $350,000.

Seattle

5130 S Medley Court
For Sale: $325,000

Seattle c488b8

Built in 1919, this two-bedroom, one-bath Craftsman home has been beautifully updated while still maintaining its nostalgic charm. Lush foliage including raised organic garden beds, fruit bushes and mature trees engulf the property.

See more Seattle homes for sale.

Austin, Texas

9720 Alex Lane
For Sale: $320,000

Austin f61e6a

This three-bedroom, three-bath home is spacious and well equipped, and its kitchen sports stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Outdoor seating is plentiful, with a lovely patio in the backyard and a private second-story balcony.

See more homes for sale in Austin.

San Diego

6356 Thorn St.
For Sale: $339,000

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Remodeled throughout, this two-bedroom, one-bath home showcases a modern and light-filled interior. All flooring is new, and the kitchen boasts new stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and cabinets.

See more homes listed in San Diego.

Billings, Montana

3228 Turnberry Circle
For Sale: $350,000

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This expansive five-bedroom, four-bath home totals 3,201 square feet. The home's elegant interior leads to a roomy deck that overlooks a sprawling backyard.

See more Billings homes for sale.

Nashville, Tennessee

1011 Carolyn Avenue
For Sale: $309,900

Nashville 861ef0

Packed with updates, this brick, cottage-style three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with downstairs master bedroom delivers a stylish interior with new appliances. The exterior boasts a new roof.

See more homes for sale in Nashville.

Buffalo, New York

139 Dorchester Road
For Sale: $309,900

Buffalo 4ed24f

Built in 1908, this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom colonial home has been upgraded throughout. Its historic exterior complements the interior's open floor plan and modern updates.

See more homes listed in Buffalo.

Denver

2812 Pontiac St.
For Sale: $349,900

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The exterior and interior of this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom ranch home has received a complete update. Notable upgrades include its high-end kitchen, with new stainless steel appliances, stylish tile backsplash and white Shaker cabinets.

See more Denver homes for sale.

Baltimore

2 Orkney Court
For Sale: $309,900

Baltimore 932e77

This 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom colonial home has been renovated but still features a charming, wood-burning fireplace. The home also has a sunroom, built-in speakers throughout and a finished attic.

See more homes for sale in Baltimore.

Salt Lake City

1131 E Browning Avenue
For Sale: $345,000

Salt Lake City 300084

Surrounded by towering trees, this 4-bedroom, 2-bath home offers a glimpse of rural living while in the city. Its warm and inviting interior includes a vaulted living room and efficient, clean-burning fireplace.

See more homes listed in Salt Lake City.

Minneapolis

905 Van White Memorial Boulevard
For Sale: $339,000

Minneapolis 7da6cf

This 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home has an open floor plan and luxurious amenities. Notable features include cherry hardwoods on the main floor, Bose surround system, two-sided slate fireplace, and master bath with a jetted tub and separate shower.

See more Minneapolis homes for sale.

SEE ALSO: 11 Beautiful Mansions You Can Buy For Cheap

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The Unexpected Perk Of Living Near Whole Foods And Starbucks

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Whole Foods Bag

In real estate terms, the Starbucks Effect and the Whole Foods effect refers to how property prices go up once one of these businesses moves into the neighborhood. But are they the cause of the gentrification, or just a reliable indicator that an area is already on the upswing? The answer is a little of both.

According to Urbanful, Whole Foods prioritizes education levels over income levels when it scouts for new locations. In other words, what a neighborhood will become rather than what it already is. Whole Foods looks for a baseline population of 200,000 college-educated people, but once it moves in, others more to follow.

 Slate reports that when the specialty grocer opened a store on P Street in Washington, D.C., its only neighbor was a divey rock club. That block now has several retail stores, two restaurants, and two coffee shops—one of which is a Starbucks.

Starbucks WindowLike Whole Foods, Starbucks is a strong indicator of a neighborhood’s ascent, especially when it comes to real-estate prices. According to Quartz, the closer you are to a Starbucks, the more valuable your property is. Between 1997 and 2014, the value of the average American home went up 65%. That number climbs to 80% if you’re located near a Dunkin’ Donuts, but if you’re within a quarter mile of a Starbucks, the value of your home nearly doubled to a 96% appreciation. Quartz calls this “The Frappucino Effect."

frappuccino effectThe lesson here for homebuyers is follow the specialty grocery store and coffee house. The initial investment is greater, but so is the return over time—plus, you’ll have nice groceries and a place where you can get WiFi in a pinch.

[via Quartz]

More from First We Feast:

The Farthest Place From A Starbucks In The US Is Circle, Montana

The 11 Coolest Starbucks In The World

A New Starbucks Is Coming To A Starbucks Near You

Starbucks Evening Locations Will Serve Wine, Beer, And Small Plates

Starbucks Serving Flat Whites To Show It's Serious About Coffee

SEE ALSO: Starbucks Will Start Delivering Coffee And Food

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Brooklyn is officially the most unaffordable housing market in America

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brooklyn

When you hear the word "Brooklyn," you probably think "hipster."

But you should really think "staggeringly unaffordable housing."

As New York Magazine and Bloomberg report, the borough has become the least-affordable housing market, relative to income, in the US.

In Brooklyn "a resident would need to devote 98 percent of the median income to afford the payment on a median-priced home of $615,000," Bloomberg reports.

That's higher than between 2005 and 2008, at the height of the housing bubble.

The data comes from RealtyTrac, the real-estate-information company. San Francisco and Manhattan are the second- and third-least affordable, according to that data.

Brooklyn's wallet-destroying real-estate surge comes thanks to a few factors, but the biggest one is the saturation of Manhattan.

The world's super rich have started to use Manhattan as the new Swiss Bank Account — since 2008, a reported 30% of condo sales in large Manhattan developments have come from overseas. This is pushing the slightly-less-super-rich to Brooklyn.

And they are ready to buy. 

new york city brooklyn brownstoneNinety-eight townhouses in Brooklyn sold for over $3 million in 2014, most of which were in the swanky neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Park Slope, where a historic brownstone went for a record-breaking $10.78 million.

Other trickle-down effects are more socially devastating.

"What's a frustration for ­middle-class buyers amounts to a desperate crisis for poor renters,"reports Andrew Rice in a New York Magazine feature on gentrification in East New York.

SEE ALSO: Americans Think Real Estate Is The Best Long-Term Investment

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A Tokyo real estate company has a brilliant plan to solve Japan's demographic crisis

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japanese apartment konkatsu marraigeThe Wall Street Journal has discovered a Tokyo-based real estate company that wants to help singles find love —by moving them into apartments with stripper poles. 

Called konkatsu, or “marriage hunting” apartments, the spaces were designed by developer Rintaro Kikuchi. The homes are airy, with light wood floors, spacious rooms, balconies overlooking the city, and streamlined appliances.

Plus, the living room has a removable stripper pole (designed for intimacy or to keep fit) and a bathtub. 

japanese apartment konkatsu marraigeKikuchi believes that tiny, cramped, and poorly designed Japanese apartments are the reason more young people aren’t getting married or meeting new people. 

His homes, on the other hand, are supposed to make singles feel more open towards new encounters. “You can’t ignore sex and make a house,” he explained to the WSJ about his philosophy.

And it's not just sex — intimacy seems to be the main goal of the konkatsu apartments. Aside from the stripper pole, the most important rule of his apartments is that couples need to have space to cook and bathe together.

The apartments are also soundproofed for privacy. One apartment is listed for 11.3 million yen, or approximately $96,000.

japanese apartment konkatsu marraigeKikuchi built his konkatsu building and apartments back in 2010, around the time that konkatsu was becoming a recognized term in Japan. An abbreviated form of kekkon-katsudo and coined by two Japanese sociologists, the marriage-hunting trend has been a part of the national conversation since 2007 and began to be recognized internationally by 2009.

The movement addresses one of Japan’s biggest problems — that fewer young people are getting married, and they are getting married later in life, which translates to fewer babies being conceived (birth out of wedlock is uncommon in Japan). 

japanese apartment konkatsu marraigeIn 2014, the CIA estimated that the national birthrate was 1.4 children per woman in Japan. This means that by 2060, the population is expected to go down by a third and by as much as 61% by 2100, according to Bloomberg.

But studies have shown that the low marriage rate isn’t from a lack of wanting to get married. A 2012 Cabinet Office study found that 70% of unmarried Japanese men and 80% of unmarried women in their 20s wanted to tie the knot. 

japanese apartment konkatsu marraigeInstead, the real problem seems to be about sex drive. The Japan Family Planning Association found that after interviewing 3,000 subjects, roughly half of participants had not had sex in the past month. Some excuses included that sex was “bothersome” or that couples were too tired after working all day.

That’s where the konkatsu apartments come in. Kikuchi’s homes are designed to make sex more fun and to keep things exciting, even after marriage.  

“It has an impact on children when they see the relationship between their parents deteriorate,” he told the WSJ. “They don’t see marriage or making a family as something happy.”

SEE ALSO: The 26 Most Hipster Neighborhoods In The World

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The 'Cubitat' combines all the essentials of an apartment into a 10-foot cube

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CUBITAT SIDEON_1

The next step in micro living is completely re-imagining what the interior of a home should be. That's where the "Cubitat" comes in.

Unveiled at this year's Interior Design Show in Toronto, the Cubitat is quite possibly the most versatile and useful 10' x 10' x 10' piece of furniture ever. It's a prefab cube outfitted with all the conveniences of a living space in a tiny package.

The developers are calling the cube "plug and play," as in all you need to do is hook up electricity and plumbing and find an outer shell, and then you've got a fully functional home.

It sits in any space that can fit it — provided you also have enough room to open its doors and pull out the bed — and has a variety of functions, including:

A full kitchen for preparing meals.

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A bed for sleeping, along with an entertainment center and space for a TV.

CUBITAT BED

A full-sized bathroom is hidden in the interior of the cube.

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Plenty of storage space. 

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A collaboration between Toronto-based Urban Capital development and design firm Nichetto Studio, the cube will be completely customizable to the core elements needed in your life.

Once it moves past the prototype stage, the cube will be available for anyone to order and customize.

We can't wait.

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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The 70 best new buildings of the year

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Balint House   Fran Silvestre Arquitectos ©

Good architecture has the ability to improve people's lives.

To celebrate the best buildings that achieve that goal, every year the architecture blog ArchDaily determines the best buildings in the world.

Eighteen thousand architects and enthusiasts participated in the nomination process of over 3,000 projects, ending up with 70 buildings nominated among in 14 catagories.

The nominated buildings are as inspiring as they are diverse, representing the very best new architecture around the world.

You can still vote for your favorite to become ArchDaily Building Of The Year— voting is open until February 4th.

COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE: Abu Dhabi Central Market, Abu Dhabi

Architects: Foster + Partners 



Cultura Bookstore, São Paulo, Brazil

Architects: Studio MK27 – Marcio Kogan + Diana Radomysler + Luciana Antunes + Marcio Tanaka + Mariana Ruzante



SunnyHills at Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo

Architects: Kengo Kuma _ Associates



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New York’s $100 million penthouse is getting a 95% tax break

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one57 from the sky

The wealthy have lots of good reasons to invest their money in New York's residential real-estate market, panoramic views and strong returns among them.

But another perk — incredibly low taxes for some penthouse buyers — have people furious.

The latest, most egregious example is the penthouse at ultra-luxury highrise One57, which just sold for a record $100.5 million.

That apartment will receive a 95% tax cut, saving the mystery buyer an estimated $360,000 in taxes annually, according to The New York Times.

The tax cut comes from a controversial housing program known as 421-a. It offers huge tax breaks that can last up to 25 years for luxury properties, as long as the developers also build affordable and moderate-income apartments.

But the 44-year-old program has been criticized for stimulating the luxury market only, costing the city billions in lost taxes and allowing developers to “double-dip” by receiving benefits for future luxury projects with previously built affordable housing units.

In fact, the tax cuts are so extreme that US attorney Preet Bharara launched an investigation into the 421-a program after a state investigation on whether developers were receiving tax breaks in exchange for political contributions was abruptly shut down by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The investigation is said to be focused on Extell Development and One57, which has tax abatements worth at least $35 million.

Though it’s always been a source of contention, the debate is heating up surrounding 421-a since the housing program is up for renewal this June. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to revise the program to offer tax benefits only to towers that set aside affordable units within the building, according to The Times.

The de Blasio administration pledged to build 80,000 units of affordable housing over the next 10 years.

SEE ALSO: Inside One57, where New York's most expensive penthouse just sold for a record-breaking $100 million

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This California suburb has become a haven for wealthy Chinese residents

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As the number of Chinese millionaires continues to grow, a Los Angeles suburb has become a haven for Chinese millionaires who want to invest in US real estate.

As of the most recent Census in 2010, more than 44% of Arcadia's residents were Chinese. That number is only expected to grow as modest suburban homes continue to be torn down and replaced by Chinese-funded McMansions, Bloomberg Businessweek has reported. 

The city's large lots and lenient building codes entice many wealthy Chinese looking to invest in property development. 

In 2014 alone, 150 older homes (53% more than normal) were torn down to build mansions in Arcadia, Mortgage Professional America reported. Residents have become accustomed to receiving extravagant, all-cash offers for their properties from China's wealthiest entrepreneurs. The National Association of Realtors estimates that $22 billion of the $660 billion in personal wealth held by the Chinese offshore was spent on US property in 2014. 

Arcadia is not the only wealthy, majority-Asian suburb to pop up in the San Gabriel valley. San Marino and Monterey Park have become hot spots for Chinese buyers, according to Property ID. More than half of Monterey Park residents and 33% of San Marino residents are Chinese. 

Monterey Park was declared the first suburban Chinatown when Chinese immigrants began settling down in San Gabriel in the 1980s. Now, the valley is home to dozens of Chinese restaurants, Asian banks, and multilingual travel agencies that make the Chinese feel at home when they visit.

In the US, the Chinese can both protect and flaunt their wealth in valuable assets. “Buying American real estate is becoming a fashion for some Chinese to show off wealth and status," Edward Huang, a former senior planner at the Los Angeles Redevelopment Agency, told USC publication US-China TodayLightmatter_Hsi_Lai_Temple_2

For others, questionable business practices in China may be a motivating factor for starting over in the US. Arcadia resident Cheng Quingbo was the first private owner of railroads in China and, by 2013, was the country’s 257th-richest person, worth an estimated $1.06 billion. He was arrested last June by Shanghai police for allegedly tricking people into making bad investments, Businessweek reported

The Chinese government started a crackdown on corrupt Chinese officials stashing their cash in overseas mansions and other assets early last year, soliciting the help of France, Canada, and the US in tracking them down.

More than 150 of these officials are reportedly at large in the US with pilfered assets worth over 800 billion Yuan ($135 billion), according to International Business Times

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Lavish Georgia mansion cost $40 million to build but is now on the market for $14 million

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A 35,000-square-foot mansion in the Atlanta metro area just went on the market for $13.9 million.

That's $26 million less than the mansion's mysterious current owners spent to build the lavish home — and they never even lived in it.

The gigantic house is currently one of the biggest homes for sale in the US, according to toptenrealestate.com

It features an insane number of ridiculous touches, including five kitchens, 17 bathrooms, eight bedrooms, a home theatre, a gun room, a wine cellar, a saltwater pool, and so much more. 

Atlanta Fine Homes has the listing.

 

The ridiculously lavish Rose Hill Estate is located in Suwanee, Georgia, which is about 35 miles north of Atlanta.



The town of Suwanee is routinely rated as one of the 10 best places to live in the US, appropriate for a house this luxurious.



The main residence is nothing short of huge, with a whopping 35,000 square feet of interior space. It's one of the 25 largest homes currently for sale in the US. All of that space includes...



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New York City is home to more than 7,000 homes worth more than $5 million

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520 park avenue building new yorkNew York City’s upper tier of co-ops, condos and houses is worth more than $65 billion.

A new analysis from the city’s Independent Budget Office found 7,279 homes that are valued at more than $5 million, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The same report found that 128 of those were valued at more than $25 million each, based on 2014 sales prices. The $65.2 billion total doesn’t include apartments in new condominium projects that are still under construction.

The study indicates that a pied-à-terre tax would generate less money than what advocates for the measure have suggested, the newspaper reported.

“Manhattan is obviously becoming the abode of wealth, and the trend will continue,” Kirk Henckels, director of Stribling Private Brokerage, told the Journal. “The pattern is for New York to become wealthier, not poorer.”

The new study also shows that the city’s wealth is concentrated. Inside William Zeckendorf’s 15 Central Park West, for example, the analysis found 206 high-value condos with a total market value of $3.1 billion.

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This gorgeous Brooklyn mansion has 50 rooms and was just listed for a record $40 million

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3 Pierrepont Place most expensive brooklyn listing

A four-floor townhouse in New York's Brooklyn Heights neighborhood has hit the market for $40 million, making it the most expensive ever listed home in Brooklyn.

It unseats Brooklyn’s previous most expensive home — a $35 million, 25,500-square-foot townhouse in Williamsburg — by $5 million.

The mansion is nearly 17,500 square feet with 9,000 square feet of garden space. It has 16 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and a whopping 50 rooms.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, retired banker and former president of Republic New York Corp Jeff Keil bought the property back in 1991 for $2.3 million. The WSJ reports that he wants to spend more time at his Florida home, but that “he’ll miss the large Thanksgiving gatherings — 34 people around a table — in their Brooklyn apartment.”

Time will tell if the mansion is able to sell at its staggering price point. A home in Brooklyn’s Mill Basin area that was built by a mobster and owned by a Russian heiress was ruthlessly price chopped from $30 million to $17 million after being unable to find a buyer. 

Vicki Negron of Corcoran Group Real Estate has the listing.

Welcome to 3 Pierrepont Place, the new most expensive home listed in Brooklyn at $40 million.



The mansion is nearly 17,500 square feet and has four floors.



The view from the townhouse is described as cinematic with sweeping vistas of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, the Financial District, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, and Governor's Island.



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