Angie Barrett Sells Her Home At 3301 Beverly!

3301 Beverly sold — and Angie is delighted. Listing agent Lillie Young for Allie Beth Allman, who we assume is also delighted. Listing price:    . Angie won’t tell me how much she sold it for (darn those confidentiality agreements) nor to whom, but Dallas Dirt has learned the buyer is none other than Ron and Terry Unkefer, whose 4412 Lakeside home, listed at $12.6 million, recently sold. (Here’s a video on 4412 Lakeside, when it was listed at $15 million last February.) Meantime, Angie says her belongings are stored in about 37 different locations, from Eveready to One Arts Plaza where the finishing touches are going on her brand new high rise. With the help of architects Lance Raney and David Droese, she combined two penthouse units. ‘I love my new space,” says Angie. “I have an incredible view — it’s a total new chapter in my life!”

So many builders had eyed this home as a tear-down, and it clearly is not. This is such great news… folks, have faith, have faith.

DallasDirt Exclusive: It Could Be Love, From Dallas

When Housing Blogs Throw Stones

Ths is a must-read article for anyone who reads real estate blogs, a Bible for anyone who writes one. Thought I might take this as a sweet opportunity to talk about how mean people can be on this, and other, blogs.

Here? On DallasDirt? Just read some of the posts, you’ll see that Thorazine must not be getting covered by a lot of HMO’s these days.

(See? I’m being mean! Bad blogger!)

“Everything inside is nothing but beige and barf”: what one commenter wrote about a home on the Real Estalker — I won’t even repeat what the Real Estalker wrote about Phil Romano’s home.

(Hate to be picky, but barf is not always beige.)

Why do we have to be so mean and put down other people’s homes? Are we just envious? Maybe some people like their homes all huge and purple, like a bruise. (Slap me!) We cannot all afford the Taj Mahal one of the Ten Most Beautiful Homes In Dallas, nor can we all afford to hire the likes of Trisha Wilson, Emily Summers, Neal Stewart or Michele Nussbaumer to create exquisite, tasteful home environments. (Maybe some of us would rather be altruistic with funds and buy back a foreclosed home for a sobbing woman.) We are all to do this tasteful decorating on our own? (Hello, why do you think Pottery Barn was created.)Well, what if we cannot? Is that why we offer up snarky opinions on photos of homes that are not to our liking, or remind us of (give me sunglasses) pre-school?

But who would be stupid enough to leave an exercise bike smack in the middle of the room he was trying to showcase for sale? 

I guess we have all become critics. (more…)

The Bush Home: Going Contemporary?

We were just discussing this: tastes in homes are leaning to contemporary. You can see it in the new homes – Austin meets Santa Barbara — and I will tell you I have not seen a turret under construction south of LBJ now for awhile. Which is why it doesn’t surprise me at all to hear that Sarah Perot was showing contemporary Preston Hollow homes to Laura Bush about a month ago, including homes by Lionel Morrison. Gosh, maybe they were down the street from me on Northaven, trotting through Darren Kozelsky’s contemporary white-bricked manse due for completion in December. Now it makes sense: yesterday, while I was touring Mark Molthan’s Luxe Showhome, after talking to Ross Perot Jr., I overheard someone say that Ross wanted to bring Sarah over to see the house.  Maybe she’s helping her “good friend” find a home in Dallas. Come to think, The Creeks of Preston Hollow would be the perfect place for the President and Mrs. Bush to buy. The lots are large and it’s seriously gated. A Houston bud tells me the President’s parents, George and Barbara, live on a cul de sac in Houston and the street was gated off (with neighbor approval) for security. Is it a pain to live next door to them, I asked? Not at all, he said. The neighbors love the extra security that kind of blankets everyone behind that gate.

Maybe they even get a discount on their home insurance?

The Globe Perpetrates Bush Divorce/Home Drama

The story in the October 27, 2008 GLOBE , which you cannot, unfortunately, miss at the grocery checkout, is that President and Mrs. Bush will never again live under the same roof, that he is shelling out $15 million in hush money to keep her with him, and that he will buy her a palatial Dallas estate. The article further quotes “top Texas realtor” Allie Beth Allman as telling the GLOBE that she has shown them some houses in (exclusive and ultra-wealthy) Preston Hollow. Then the article cites New York Post columnist Cindy Adams’ “report” that President and Mrs. Bush are very interested in a sprawling house set on five acres — in Preston Hollow with all the golf courses and mountains. Allie Beth Allman told me, by the way, that she has never spoken to Cindy Adams. About the only thing the article got right was the part about Allie Beth Allman being a top Texas realtor.

Designer’s Choice Home Tour Less Than 12 Hours Away!!!

Tomorrow —- October 18, the Designers’ Choice Home Tour. Don’t miss the chance to see some of Dallas’ great design talent’s best work: Cole Smith, Bernbaum-Magadini, Robyn Menter and Richard Drummond Davis (this is their collaboration), Gary Riggs, and Tracy Rasor. Just check in at the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church at 10 am and be prepared to be inspired. Garry gussied up the $15 $17.9 million dollar Andrew Merrick spec home at 3500 Beverly I wrote about in D Magazine…. most talked about house in town and a must see. We’ll be bringing you a video but nothing beats the real thing in the flesh!

What About All The Banks?

Peggy Levinson over at the D Home blog queried me a few days ago: since there are now more banks than churches or gas stations in Dallas the USA, what would we do if they had to shutter? You may recall I told you a year ago that Wachovia’s $451,000 monthly land lease at Preston and Mockingbird is one of the highest in the nation… wonder how much traffic they are losing with all that construction? (Now Wells Fargo pays the rent.) Anyhow, Preston Center is only getting busier what with the Staubach building and more development, including rumors that George Bush will office in that building (which have been denied) or in Trammell Crow’s redevelopment of the old Parkland Hospital. But read an article today saying that smaller and mid-size banks may actually weather this economic crisis and — you’ll never guess it — profit.

$9 Million Penthouse Sale at The W: Adios, Jonas Woods

His 11,000 square foot penthouse (listing link no longer works) closed September 24, was on market 232 days, last list price $9,950,000, sales price undisclosed, listing agent Allie Beth Allman, Carolyn Shamis brought the buyer. 

Terrell Owens Owns $2.5 Million In Dallas Real Estate

I knew he had two units at the Azure, didn’t know about the townhouses near Fair Park. His FA, Jeff Rubin, says it’s all investment property (even, we presume, his Azure units). You go, T.O, but be careful. Ask me today if I’d rather have $35,000 in Dallas Real Estate or 500 shares of AIG, guess what the answer is.

Post VP Debate House Porn

4346 Manning. New construction, on .42 acres, corner lot. The four bedrooms plus master and five full bathrooms (plus two half baths) would make Sarah Palin’s family feel like winners — master is down, the baby can have a crib in the giant master closet. The French elegance would envelope Joe Biden, who did say tonight he has a beautiful home. We are glad the VP potentials are as home-crazed as we are. Plus one of them is about to get a huge bump in salary, so a mortgage of $12,000 per month ought to be a piece of cake. Oh, if only the White House were in Dallas!

Jessica and Tony Ring Shopping At Neimans Downtown?

That’s what they are saying in Chicago today. Of course, in New York City they say we have mountains in Preston Hollow… I’ll have to check with my sources. All this dismal economic news has kept me away from my favorite past-time, but I know In-Circle points are coming up. (P.S. Not Jessica’s hand — it’s my daughter’s!)

Best Cities For Singles

Forbes listed Dallas as the third best city where singles can enjoy life.

The Joule — Greatest Party This Town Has Seen

(And may see for a while to come. ) Cute Sarah Eveans beat me to posting Friday night’s Joule bash, what can I say, she’s younger, prettier and obvi handles champagne much better. (But I got a photo, from the lady’s bathroom!) Main Street was blocked off, and there was a robed gospel chorus singing to greet us as we stumbled from our autos. Oh wait, that’s just what Sarah wrote. I did see Mr. Scorsese, a short man with enormous eyebrows, and Sarah Ferguson — that diet works — as they left the patio. I also saw and chatted with…

(more…)

What We Need Right About Now: Great House Porn

And I found it for you: 4512 Isabella Lane, just a short hike west off Lennox Lane which is, as you know, one street west of Strait Lane where you-know-who lives….and you-know-who will probably soon live. This home is a refreshing change from the boring McMansion hum drums: there are, don’t faint, no turrets, no rock, no Country-French pickled cabs. The huge windows view the 1.07 acre lot without dust-catching mutton bars. (Usually I’m a traditional girl, but getting daring, way more contemporary in my old age.) The builder, South-African-born Simmie Cooper, calls it “transitional”; this house just rocks and is sexy to boot. (Can I please have a few hours alone with my husband in that master tub? Dim the lights…) Porcelain floors and shoe molding/wall trim, even both stairways are porcelain. There’s the usual humidor/wine room all visible, show-offable, a knock out theatre and ballet/exercise room upstairs, upper and lower laundry rooms, venetian plaster walls, lacquered mahogany, and the coolest kitchen I’ve seen east of the Rockies: lacquered striped mahogany, stainless steel, double everything — microwaves, ovens, fridge, dishwashers. Miele coffeebar — doesn’t everyone have one? We will forget the fact the kitchen is German-designed now that the nation who produced Hitler says we are no longer number one economically. Outside, glass-mosaic pool, huge travertine entertainment area with fireplace and grill, your 12,220 square foot urban utopia for $5,988,000. Agents: Francesca Allegra, Alex Perry, Kari Schlegel for Allie Beth Allman & Associates.

The $15 Million Dollar House Is Now, Um, $17,500.

And listed apparently with Allie Beth Allman. Yes, I wrote about this house for a past issue of D Magazine and y’all stay tuned — we are going over to video Thursday.

Why is it higher? Now there’s a Realtor involved and… price of fuel? I’ll ask them!

Addendum: It is $17,500 million. Sorry folks, I am a one-woman show here and was running to meet a builder in East Dallas. Yes, I fell for the old trick many of you do, too — glanced at the graphic pulled through Allie Beth and assumed she had the listing! (Allie Beth has all the great listings in Highland Park!) I even called Doris Jacobs en route to East Dallas but her voicemail was full!

Addendum II: Geeze, it’s been a rough day: $17.5 million. What. Ever.

Mountains and Musharraf (and President Bush) in Preston Hollow?

Cindy Adams at the New York Post says Allie Beth Allman has sold the Bushes five acres in Preston Hollow where “Houses come with horse stables, lake views, mountain views, golf club views.” Really?

I have no doubt that the Bush’s new Dallas home will be in Preston Hollow, and I guess someone ought to tell Cindy the only mountain views we have are the turrets on the McMansions.

But here’s another rumor I’m chasing down: things are getting pretty hot over yonder for former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf. His best friend and cardiologist practices in the Sulphur Springs/Paris/Commerce/Greenville area. A highway patrolman says I-30 was shut down recently when Musharraf went over for a visit. Rumor has it… I hope you are sitting down… now that he’s out of power and no longer has anyone in Pakistan to kick away the hand grenades, he may also be moving to this area…

For Sale In The Hamptons, Former COO of Lehman Brother’s Vaca Pad

Gotta love the Realstalker: Mama’s already got one Wall Street ex-honcho’s place on her site and I bet more are to come… this the Hampton home of one Joseph Gregory, 9500 square feet on the market for only $32,500,000.

Nicky and Eleanor Strike Back At The IRS

E-Residential LLC, a Texas Corporation owned by Eleanor Sheets and Michael Campbell, has filed a civil action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas seeking an injunction against the IRS for its wrongful levy on the LLC’s funds because of another party’s security interest in those funds. All the legal mumbo-jumbo makes my head spin, so here, go read for yourself…

Will This Wall Street Meltdown Hurt The Mega Home Market?

Or bring down New York Real Estate, which has not been in that bad of shape? This article says no one’s immune. What about our local cush zones — agents have been telling me for months that the high end market is nowhere near soft in Dallas. (Two words: Barnett Shale.) Two days ago I heard that Ellen Terry’s 4412 Lakeside sale is humming along nicely at the title company. Is Wayne Lewis over at Andrew Merrick getting nervous? I’ll make some calls over the next couple days and we’ll find out!

Sarah Palin’s Home In Wasilla, Alaska

As reported on Zillow. (Hey Diane, did you see my post on John McCain’s home? Has Chicago Magazine done Obama’s home yet? Inquiring home porn addicts want to see it all!) Sarah Palin lives right on Lake Lucille and I imagine the area would remind me of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, where Ms. Palin went to college for a year.

The Tony, Jessica and Rogers Healy Show

Rogers Healy won’t divulge whether Tony purchased this Cottonwood Valley home, but he did get some pretty cool national coverage in the September 15 issue of  Life and Style Magazine.

House Porn: Got An Estate, Why Not Have An Estate Sale

Or an auction, at least. that’s just what Briggs Freeman Realtor David Leachman did to try and move this builder’s home on one of the most perfect streets in Dallas, Shadywood Lane. 5131 Shadywood Lane — we are talking 12,800 square feet here on 1.2 acres, grand staircase, six bedrooms, 8.3 baths (what pray tell is a third of a bath?), formals, library, Great Room, elevator, theatre, second floor game room, utility and mud rooms, quarters, pool, 3 car garage. (Only 3 for a house this size?) Reduced reduced to $6,850,000 from $7,250,000. All that square footage, have a party. Or an auction: David had a fine art and antique auction on Shadywood weekend. My daughter perused the goods for me Friday and was duly impressed. Wonder how it all went?

Is Tony Romo’s (And Jessica’s) New Home Haunted?

Mike Fisher says it is… also says there was a big shin-dig there this weekend. No wonder they had the decorators out last week. Yes Mike, you broke the news first, but remember I had the photos up here first. Don’t go stealing my little moment now for a couple of points.

Rogers Healy Is Dean Fearing’s Realtor

Nice shirt, Dean. Plan to cook in it?

Video 101: How To Really Showcase A Listing

OK this is a great video of really pretty house porn Real Estate. Only… I have a few nit-picky bitchy complaints. Like, well, maybe you’ll see for yourself.