Costa Rica: It’s The New Hawaii. Only Cheaper. And Far Less Commercial

If you thought I was kind of shy today, it’s because I was en route to Costa Rica this morning on Hillwood’s Gulfstream G450 — oh my God, am I spoiled. Do I really have to fly commercial again ever?? This was the first time obsessive/compulsive me did not feel like bathing in Lysol apres flying. (In fact, as one of our co-passengers remarked, it’s not like flying at all.) Anyhow, we lost wireless over Nicaragua so the blog had to wait.  Departed Love Field at 9:00 a.m. sharp and touched down at Liberia, Costa Rica at 12:15 C.S.T. Hillwood has 13 beachfront lots here at Peninsula Papagayo we saw from the air — to die for. Today was rather hectic and we tootled on the golf course (some played actual golf) which looks very challenging to me: those fun sand traps are not, I’m told, extensions of the beach. Saw these cute white-faced monkeys and a few parrots and are in store for a busy, busy day tomorrow. Costa Rica is a prime second home market: building costs are a ridiculous $200 psf for unbelievable product — teak, bamboo, clay tile roof and marble, marble everywhere. I’m here with Ellen Terry, Virginia Cook and Dave Perry-Miller who closed 3900 Gillon today while he was at 36,000 feet in the air… one of the highest sales ever in the Park Cities. Ellen and Virginia are on the phone to clients 24/7 — these Power Brokers! We girls are roomies in a fantastic suite at the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo complete with laundry room and office. I make a mean Mojito and passed them out prior to cocktails… let the dirt flow… more manana. P.S. Anyone heard anything about Tony Romo buying a lot on Strait Lane? More Mojitos…

Zillow Picks Up Another 1.6 Million Homes

From Homes.com.

Tuesday Afternoon House Porn

Cute cutie pie in Devonshire. This one make me feel like its the Fourth of July already. Better get while the getting’s good, and before the $419 K tag suddenly changes upward…

Need Lighting To Spruce Up Your Listing or Home?

Then I’ve got a great secret: you can meander over to Meletio Electric at the Preston/Forest Shopping Center, the one with Clotheshorse Anonymous, and get a deal. I’m sad to report that this Meletio, which has been at the location since 1962,  is closing while the other Dallas and Frsico locations are staying and going great guns. Let me guess: Landlord raised the rent.  Whatever, translation for consumer: great buys for us: (more…)

Are Dallas Listing Prices Increasing?

A Reader asks:

I noticed something odd in the listings lately and wanted to know what you think. There are a few listings that have increased their prices recently. Mainly, one in Farmers Branch was listed a couple of months ago for 699K, now it’s listed for 779. Another in far north Dallas was listed at 700K, now listed for 800K (but updated to say they will now pay for a custom pool - although I don’t think they are planning for a 100K pool to justify the price increase). What is going on? Are homes selling for more $ than expected, is that why listing prices are going up and/or homes relisting for a higher price?

Realtors, what the heck is going on out there? I hear we are a hot market for anything over $2 million, softer than Silly Putty anything under a $1.5.

Kellers Burgers Makes GQ

This is really a post for Nancy Nichols over at SideDish, but since so few of us cook in our 2500 square foot kitchens complete with Gaggeneau and Wolf ranges not to mention the extra-wide Sub Zeros, I thought I’d mention that Kellers got a mention in GQ’s list of the top 20 places to eat burgers before you die…

Thank God We’re In Texas

While interviewing Julia Wellborn, regional president for Wachovia Bank Texas, she tells me that we are fortunate to be here because our economy is not going to hurt as much as other parts of the U.S. will suffer. That lucky horse shoe sentiment is expressed by a pecan pie company in Houston – their logo: “you might give some serious thought to thanking your lucky stars you’re in Texas. ” Maybe pecan pies carrying that sentiment would make great gifts for anyone whose home is on the market — in Texas.

Don’t Think George and Laura Bush Will Be Buying Property In San Francisco

The city wants to honor our President by naming a sewage treatment plant after him. Only in California would that be an honor!

Karl Rove’s Second Home Secrets

I know where he has a second home. But in my opinion, that’s not as nice as where I’d like to have one. Hey Karl, can I borrow a cup of sugar?

Gentrification Of Deep Ellum

From Frontburner…

The $175K Bed

Just what you need to fill your mansion: this bed is draped with 250 yards of precious Christopher Hyland fabric and trim and on display tonight at William and Wesley in the Design District right about now! There is also a chandelier, not included in the price: $175,000. I wouldn’t ask for a discount. PS: Is it naughty to get on the bed and, ahem, mess it up?

Zillow: Getting Better Every Day

Zillow continues to impress me with the company’s “eyes wide open” approach to selling Real Estate and now, mortgage loans. As we know, one of the main culprits behind slowing  sales – and yes, they are slowing here, too, though I did hear of a property on Caruth that went under contract in one day — is this credit crunch. Was talking to a mortgage broker yesterday who tells me that if you have great assets — not necessarily Real Estate — and superior credit scores he can get you qualified. But enter the self-employed or young people starting out and he’s got himself a Texas-sized challenge. Bernake could lower rates to 1% — some folks are not going to find money.  

Enter Zillow at a time like this. Today’s blog says they are opening up even more by letting everyone view anonymous loan requests; the company claims to have had more than 40,000 since thir launch. By having a mortgage site, they own the data and provide more transparency to the process.  I find it all interesting, what do you think?

Coffee And Real Estate

So Starbucks is blaming lowered earnings on the Real Estate market in California and Florida. (Full dis — I own a wee bit of SBUX.) Maybe we ought to blame management that doesn’t stop and think gee, gas is $3.50 a gallon in Texas, probably $4.00 a gallon in CA and FLA. If it costs the average consumer $1200 more a year just to fill up their cars, is it any wonder folks don’t have much left over for a $4.50 Frappacino Latte?

House Porn Overfloweth

Mid-century modern glam designed by architect Pedro Aguirre just under $900K in the glorious White Rock Lake area….I am in love.

Wanna Live On Park Lane? Four Million Dollar Foreclosure

I found 5810 Park Lane on the Roddy Real Estate Foreclosure List — assessed value is $4,259,310. Original amount of loan was $4 million, unpaid balance $3,923,216. Here’s what makes me a bit sad: as you know, I’m a new house gal and I do prefer well-designed, well-scaled new construction. (In fact, I almost have to have new construction as much as I insist on marble around my jetted tub.) (And build as big as you want, it’s your money.) This house — 9307 square feet on at least an acre lot. What kills me is they tore down a perfectly elegant white home with stately columns that just exhaled “Southern charm and grace.” Mint julips. Love me those white columns, but gone. For. This.  I bet I can find you a photo of what was there before… hint to Trustee: get some more trees out there fast.

SOLD!!!

In Bluffview, Canyon Drive- HOT! That’s what happens when I put Hot Props on Dallas Dirt!

National Home Sales Down In March

March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb or so the saying goes, but this year she was a very meek lamb when it came to selling homes. We are talking the whole country in this picture — later I’m going to post some Altos charts and see what’s really happening zip code by zip code.

Jessica Simpson and Tony “Romeo” Romo

I received a tip late Saturday night about a birthday party these two would be attending along with some hot Dallas Cowboys at The Club Saturday night. (Save a  horse, ride a Cowboy!) I called our cute On The Town editor Kyle Kearby who found a photographer faster than I could file a nail. Off they went to get photos, so very DIRT-like. Of course the star entourage changed locations, but our guy was there and dressed well and snapped up some amazing shots, so amazing in fact they made People.com. Next up, we want to see where the love birds live and snuggle — anyone know where that honey-do Manse might be?

RE: Erin Mathews In Vogue Magazine

Whoever said women cannot hold secrets? My dear friend and brilliant PR Specialist, Jeanne Prejean (who also happens to have great taste in men, she’s married to Dallas CEO Editor Glenn Hunter) knew all about this Vogue deal but did not tell her good friend who happens to blog about Real Estate.  The photo was shot on a nippy January day in front of this Mathews/Nichols listing… but knowing how quickly things change in the magazine world, I understand why they kept that info quiet. I mean, look at what happened to House & Garden. (Did I just type that?)

Erin Mathews In Vogue –The Link!

Here’s the Vogue link…. “Dresses I’ll do for special occasions but if I ever wear one twice it’s a miracle.” Erin, what can I do for your castoffs? Call me when you have a Tag Sale. I know I’m five times as big as you but there’s always Alli…

When Dirk Nowitzki, The Ticket, and Real Estate Collide

In case you missed it last week, word got out that Dirk’s new house used to belong to the parents of one Michael Gruber, aka, Grubes, aka, the board op for BaD radio on The Ticket. The radio hosts teased Grubes about it for a radio segment. You can listen to it here:

Don’t Touch The Astro Turf

As if it isn’t bad enough that foreclosures are up in Dallas, now Astro-turf may be dangerous. I need to call Forever Lawn….

Smelling The Coffee: Foreclosures Down The Street

So my daughter’s boyfriend told me about a home in pre-foreclosure right down the street from us. And led me to this site. It seems that the foreclosures are tipping over the million dollar mark.  

Erin Mathews — OUR Erin Mathews — In Vogue Magazine!!!

Current issue, page 216 , the one that has Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover in all I can describe as retro Star Trek. ERIN! wearing highwaisted slacks and her signature Chanel specs. (I share the passion.) She confesses to having a white jean habit (”every summer I start clean with a new pair of white jeans… they’re usually trashed by the end of the season”) and — wait for it –that she doesn’t have pierced ears (The better to balance that i-phone when those buyers call.) She really looks adorable in her photo. Nice press for Dallas! (Thanks to Christine Allison for the alert and great words.) Let me tell you about Erin: a few years ago we flew to NYC together on a Real estate junket and the woman looked polished-perfect the entire time. She has a fabulous eye for fashion and devoured Bergdorfs. I have no doubt about the white jeans — run through those homes under construction, never know when you’re going to pick up paint, spackle or some gook. I’ll scan the story and post manana!

Great Stuff: Guy Offers $500K for $3 Million Miami Condo

You will love this article – what goes up comes down. The Donald is still looking to net a big one on his Palm Beach manse: if anyone out there attended the Luxury Real Estate Portfolio conference in Florida last week, do tell.