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Shadywood, Ctd.

Steal this idea: plump cushions surrounding the outdoor fireplace hearth.

House Porn on Shadywood: Patio and Pool Perfection

House Porn on Shadywood: In Love With These Interiors

Back By Popular Demand: House Porn on Shadywood Lane

This house is so gorgeous I had to Twitter pics while touring. The owners are from the Bay area and clean California influence is  everywhere, from the uncluttered interiors to the outdoor living-friendly patio with Adirondack rocks around the salt water pool — a model pool for Harold Leidner’s ads. The approximately 7912 square foot home is on one of Bluffview’s most desired streets, and while built in 1952, the home is effectively new from the ground up, with two major remodels in 2000 and 2007. I can think of no better home for a party: walking paths take you from the pool to the rock spa and back to a hidden fire pit. Two bedrooms down including the master, which has a gorgeous bathroom, walk-in shower, and spacious master his and her closet. Detail to steal: marble surfaced island in master closet perfect for packing with full storage beneath. Three bedrooms with baths up plus a game room and snack bar. The outside covered kitchen and fireplace/patio is glorious, but I think my favorite part of this home is the hardwood floors — hand scraped in the kitchen and family room, smooth walnut in the formal areas, the various surfaces imparting a lived-in, old home feel to a home that is very much a spring chicken. Price Tag: $3,550,000 — not bad, actually, for Bluffview.

Smoking Out Your Neighbors Could Lead to a Lawsuit

Very interesting story here: a woman has filed a lawsuit (and seek$ damage$) from a former neighbor and landlord for damage caused by cigarette smoke wafting through — cracks, walls, pores — of her North Dallas apartment/townhome. The plaintiff is a retired nurse who claims her daughter is apparently allergic to the smoke, and claims the smoke permeated all their belongings. She apparently now qualifies as being disabled under the Texas Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her physician/allergist is extremely capable: Dr. Barbara Stark Baxter, a good family friend.

You can bet that townhome and apartment owners all over Texas are watching this case with bated breath. I do not smoke and, in fact, am probably allergic to cigarette smoke though — true confessions — I smoked in high school and part of college. (But I quit!) Not too long ago, I was looking at second home fractional ownership properties on the Gulf coast and was really ready to buy BUT I thought I smelled cigarette smoke in the unit. Management said no smoking is allowed, but how do you control that? One little cigarette can stink up the entire joint.

This case could have some major impact: should tenants who smoke in non-smoking buildings be super fined or even evicted? How much responsibility does the landlord shoulder for every Bozo who lights up in their building? Should people only be entitled to smoke in homes they own? What do you think?

Live or Looking In Casa Linda? Watch Out for Rusty Water Pipes

I have experienced this — turn on the water, out comes this gross-looking brown water. And I’ve experienced it even at five-star hotels. (Even happens at The Ritz.) While this means lots of elbow grease to keep tubs and sinks sparkling, it is generally not harmful and just means a high rust content in the water, extra iron in your diet. Still, you may want to know this if you are house-hunting or remodeling. Or wondering why your water bill was so darn high.

Real Estate Round Up: Texas Coastal Cities Expected To Lead In Mortgage Origination

If you have property in the coastal cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur, or up in Amarillo, you can count on some home appreciation... because that’s where loan origination is going to be happening. Coastal California is also perking up, while Florida and Nevada continue to hog their space at the bottom of the expected performance rack. Don’t hold your breath that Congress will extend the $8000 first-time home buyer credit — though I may keep my fingers crossed. There are indicators that the real estate market has bottomed, so why bother? Or why not just give every home buyer a credit of some sort? And here’s three high end apartment complexes on the auction block in Austin — healthy, spry little Austin. You know what it’s going to be a great time for: private, individual investors — the “cycle buyers”.

Playing House, Raising Bucks: The Real Estate Council Launches Project Playhouse

This is a great chance to get a head start on holiday shopping, particularly if you have young children or grandchildren. Bid on one of three green play houses this Thursday at the TREC’s Giving Gala. And talk about letting your kid name drop: they can brag that their own little home was built by Balfour Beatty Construction and HKS Architects; ENTOS DESIGN and Tri-Tex Construction, Inc.; or Corgan and MAPP Construction LLC. In addition to green requirements, the playhouses have to meet  height requirements (Playhouses have height requirements? What, like 4 feet?)  and be child-safe, of course. Who knows, maybe these days play houses have to belong to special conservation districts. But really cute idea and I hope TREC makes buckets of cash on this one.

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