luxury homes: 25 Priciest Zip Codes for Homes in US
- 10/05/10 04:19 AM
There are around 43000 zip codes in this country (it's a number that's always changing) and Forbes recently published their list of the 500 most expensive zips. I wrote a commentary in LuxuryHomeDigest about these most pricy zips in the country and thought there might be some interest here at Active Rain. It seems most of the top cendendors are located in California (13) or New York (10) with one each in Gibson Island, Maryland and in Alpine, New Jersey. Was happy to see our local Rancho Santa Fe, which in prior years had topped the list, in 13th place. And … (6 comments)
luxury homes: A Peek into the Rooms of Luxury Homes
- 12/31/07 01:35 AM
What kinds of rooms might go into various luxury homes? The possibilities are as varied as lifestyles. I recall a luxurious mansion in Houston’s lovely River Oaks that had, in addition to every other conceivable room, a luggage room. It was a sensible space that accommodated the traveling owner’s large collection of leather suitcases, trunks and garment bags. When a trip was planned, the butler would retrieve the appropriate luggage and assist with the packing. When expense and space are not restrictive issues, the floor plan of a luxury home can truly reflect the lifestyle of its owner. As Reatlors, we have … (10 comments)
luxury homes: The Luxury Closet
- 10/19/07 04:46 AM
In our coastal San Diego luxury real estate market, buyers are practically manic about their closets–and especially the ones in the master suite. And what are luxury home buyers seeking in closets? They are most pleased when there are separate closets for each–or if single, separate closets for the seasons. The compleat closet in the luxury home will be spacious, well lighted and masterfully organized. It is a room where we prepare ourselves to meet the world–or simply the day. Closets hold our clothing, our personal treasures, our shopping triumphs. Its status in homes has been elevated to be far more than functional … (29 comments)
luxury homes: What Do Luxury Home Buyers Want?
- 10/06/07 03:29 AM
This is Part One of an ongoing series about Luxury Home Buyers, their expectations, origins and trends. This first article in the series will look at these buyers and what they expect from their luxury real estate agents. For some reason,I thought market knowledge and keen negotiating skills would head the list for luxury home buyers, but a recent 2007 membership survey conducted by the Luxury Home Council, and authored by Jim Remley, shows something far more basic. So what to luxury home buyers expect? According to this survey of luxury Realtors, luxury home buyers want real estate representation that … (9 comments)
luxury homes: Luxury Rocks
- 06/21/07 03:34 AM
For out-of-the-box eye candy, Italian designers have few peers. Leave it to these clever wizards to create the ultimate in luxury rocks for exterior lightscaping. These remarkable lighted rocks, created by Oluce, look as if they might have been llifted from the lawn of a distant planet. Not so. They were created by Italian designers Marta Laudani and Marco Romanelli, along with the talent of Massimo Noceto. Crafted from weather-tested polyethelene, these mesmerizing Oluce stones glow with the aid of a screw-in fluorescent bulb. Don’t expect to find these luxe rocks in your local Home Depot or Lowes-- or even in a dedicated … (5 comments)
luxury homes: The $1 Billion Home
- 06/09/07 04:45 PM
The World's Most Expensive Mansion? This may arguably be the most expensive and tallest private residence ever built. India's wealthiest man, Mukesh Ambani, 50, is slated to begin construction of a billion dollar glass and steel skyscraper home in Mumbai City, the financial capital of India. The 27-story building will be designed to house his family of six and staff of 600, with six floors dedicated to the storage and parking of Ambani's 168 automobiles. The top four floors will be set aside for family living. Ambani is estimated to have a personal wealth hovering at $21 billion, making him the 14th richest man in the world, and the most visible man of wealth in India. That wealth will also provide … (8 comments)
luxury homes: The Venetian Plaster Master
- 05/06/07 03:41 PM
When I first entered this newer San Diego luxury home, I was amazed by its wall and ceiling finishes. Walking slowly from room to room, I ran my fingers over the cool burnished walls and the gray stone door arches. Even the ceilings and dome gave the impression that we had indeed been transported to a Venetian villa. Had I not known the responsible artisan for this masterpiece, I would never have guessed an underlying truth: These walls were nothing more than standard drywall that had been transformed by a clever Polish artist who specializes in exquisite surface finishes. Greg Sieminski explains that … (5 comments)
luxury homes: How to Define a Luxury Home
- 05/04/07 05:24 PM
It is a tough task in relativityfor Active Rainers to define a luxury home. One’s perspective has as much to do with the definition as does the opulence, location or architectural significance of a particular property. One man’s simple home is another man’s castle, and vice versa. Perhaps it is easier to consider what a luxury home is not. It is not a cookie cutter home in a subdivision tract, even if it is magnificently appointed. Why? It is probably lacking in presence, in architectural originality and may very well be lacking in coveted location. New subdivisions throughout affluent communities are abounding in 5000 … (4 comments)
luxury homes: The Bigger the Home the Bigger the Tumble?
- 04/15/07 03:06 PM
A recent study of publicly-traded CEO homes found a correlation between the size of the CEO's home and the company's stock price. It may come as a surprise to some, but the larger and more luxurious the CEO's home is, the poorer the company's stock tends to fare. Many market-beaten dot com survivors will easily recall failed WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebber's luxurious Mississippi manse, the ultra-luxe home and furnishings of Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski, and the excesses of Houston-based Enron execs Kenneth Lay and Jeff Skilling. All were living very high just prior to the fall of their companies and stock prices. It … (10 comments)
luxury homes: Prestige Home Index: San Diego
- 02/04/07 07:03 AM
First Republic Bank has created the first statistical model-The Prestige Home Index-that measures changes in home values in excess of $1 million in key California markets. What are some of the common features of these indexed homes? They have at least 3000 to 6000 feet, three to six bedrooms and three to six bathrooms, according to the study. Many are substantially larger. Digested reporting of this index would probably too hefty for one blog. Instead, we'll turn it into three shorter ones. Today's focus will be balmy and palmy San Diego County in Southern California-with emphasis on the tony towns and zips of Rancho Santa Fe (92067), La Jolla … (1 comments)
luxury homes: Elephant Hide Wallcoverings
- 01/24/07 08:46 AM
Yes, Craig Schiller, there truly are such abominations--and probably enough to bring out the ire of all the Active Rain Animal Activists. How does a Realtor stumble upon such things? Sometimes obscure research uncovers the imponderables. For example, I didn’t consider luxury home insurance to be that interesting or that blogworthy until I read of an appraiser who tried to figure out the replacement value of the elephant skin wall coverings in a Seattle manse. That appraiser, James King with the Chubb Insurance Group, makes it a practice to thoroughly investigate the luxe and unusual features in Chubb’s insured luxury homes to make … (4 comments)
luxury homes: Pricing Homes in a Declining Market
- 10/19/06 03:06 PM
In a vigorous seller’s market, it was fun to push the pricing envelope and go for new pricing records—set in record time. As listing agents, we prided ourselves on our happy sellers and their delighted neighbors. It was fun to represent sellers and help them negotiate multiple offers.
These days, we are on the bloody edge of the envelope, setting new lows in recent real estate market history. Most of our sellers are motivated, and grateful that we are able to move their home at all. A few are even being introduced to the fun of short sales. Smiling buyers are re-entering … (12 comments)
There are around 43000 zip codes in this country (it's a number that's always changing) and Forbes recently published their list of the 500 most expensive zips.
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