Articles about luxury homes
Paul McCartney Talked To Me Last Night About Dallas Real Estate
Well, in my head he did. Through his music. (Full disclosure: I emailed Live Nation last week to get an interview with Paul, never heard back. Told them we could talk “flats”.) But I think he liked Dallas, our energy, and our insistence at last night’s concert that he give three encores, which he ever so graciously did. But if Paul McCartney ever decided to move to Dallas, I think Braden Power’s sexy home at 3816 Turtle Creek Drive would be the one. The two kitchens would be quite helpful for partying and late night, post-concert snacks, he’d think about Linda in the spa off the sweet master suite, write songs on the piano in the library, lyrics inspired by the black swans on Turtle Creek, and that gigunda master closet would hold all the guitars and the ukulele George Harrison gave him. But best of all, that pool in the foyer would sure keep Heather Mills out of his house and might even deter requests for increased alimony. Oh by the way, 3816 Turtle Creek is listed this week with Dave Perry-Miller at $7,900,000.
The Fearing’s New Bluffview Digs
As promised, here is where Dean and Lynae Fearing are moving, from their precious Devonshire cottage on Purdue to Bluffview’s Pomona. This Hill Country-esque beauty has four bedrooms, three and a half baths, a half-acre yard lot and pool, and just feast your eyes on the kitchen! Listed at $1,095,000, it didn’t take the Fearings long to sell Purdue even in this market. We are staying tuned for any cosmetic changes they make to Pomona, but we think she looks terrific without a stitch of makeup.
New Way To Market Dallas Real Estate? Coupon Cutting For One Million Dollars Off
That’s what a Fort Myers, FLA agent is using to lure buyers into buying an almost $7 million dollar, 15,000 square foot Italian Villa home on the coastal canal just completed in 2009. Can you imagine a one million dollars off coupon? Wonder if there’s an expiration date? Wonder if transferable to other cities and properties? Wonder when we’re going to see these in Dallas?
Austin, Texas House Porn – Reduced
Found this glorious pup in the Wall Street Journal — overlooks both the Texas Hill Country and city of Austin. I am loving the pool and the kitchen, but wonder — what do you think about the raised cabinets on legs in the kitchen? They are so sleek but are they hard to maintain? I kind of like having the cabinets flush with the floor, less to clean. (In fact, we recently took removed the plate at the bottom of my fridge and all sorts of surprises were waiting for me.) No doubt, for $10 million, this home is fabulous. But also a good example of how huge high-end homes — this one is 10,259 square feet — everywhere are having to take a little nip-tuck in price: It was listed for $13 million over a year ago, now listed with John Teinert of Austin Fine Properties.
D Sale Of The Week: Fabulous Uptown FSBO
Here’s what my downsizing friends are telling me: they want to shed the McMansion and live in Uptown in a nice duplex or townhome, with a New York City or Chicago brownstone feel. Well, I have one for you: 4322 Throckmorton, an Oaklawn/Turtlecreek tri-plex for sale by owner (FSBO), 2740 square feet built in 1998. First floor designed as guest, nanny, or mother-in-law suite guaranteed to self-destruct after five days. (Kidding.) . Middle level features study/library, kitchen, formal dining, living area opening to large balcony overlooking garden. Stunning master suite with Imelda Marcos-approved closets on third level with separate sitting room, convertible to nursery if surrogate mother desired. (Kidding.) Master bath has jacuzzi tub and steam shower. In other words, the location, the bells and whistles, two-car garage, everything in the hottest happening area for… are you ready, smelling salts handy? $637, 170. Why the random price, ask the owner/seller, James Duncan 214-766-9208. Stay tuned for more photos.
Unlike Dallas Real Estate, Chicago LakeFront Mansion Take It On The Chin
In this glorious part of Chicago, it seems the high end is not doing as well as it is in Dallas: a lake front home can now be had for under $3 million!!!
The Real Estalker Pens Up Preston Holler
I love Mama — now more than ever for the nice write-up of 5323 Park Lane. (And she called me the dee-voon Dallas real estate gossip — you betcha!) Read every morsel of her delicious verbiage (”Holler”, “terlits”) then check out the comments — boy are they bad. But her copy purely sings, here’s my fave line:
“Preston Holler is one of Dallas’ finer and most expensive neighborhoods where many of the swank streets are lined with mansions that make Beverly Hills look like the damn ghetto.”
You’ve got it right on, Mama! And margaritas on every corner.
Cantoni Celebrates 25 Years of Contemporary Design and The Bugatti Grand Sport
Well, now I’m really offended. I see that my colleague Kristiana Heap got to actually DRIVE the Bugatti Grand Sport , while when I asked to have a photo taken in it (just to give my husband apoplexy) I was told, no way. Please step away from the car. The $1.96 million dollar, 16-cylinder, 1001 horsepower (Jeeze Louise) auto was parked last evening in the pristinely beautiful garage of the new Cantoni show home at 5903 Lakehurst, another listing kudo for Briggs-Freeman, agent Linsey Barnes. Oh yes, I forgot: I write about homes and real estate; Kristiana, who is young, fun and beautiful, writes about fast cars.
At it’s Metropolitan Home sponsored debut party Thursday night, the new Cantoni house cradled these puppies as eye candy. There was the newest Bugatti and a few Bentleys ranging in price from $135,000 (the cheapest) to $1.1 million, I think, my head was swimming once I saw a car priced for more than a million dollars. Good thing I toured the contemporary masterpiece the previous day; the 7500 square foot home was bursting at the seams and loaded with every design/architectural Who’s Who in Dallas, from the 22 foot long counter connecting the bar with the kitchen to the exterior pool-side linear fire pit. I could see why they wanted the cars there — the Cantoni homes’ garage is like a piece of art, with clean lines, porcelain tile floor, and sliding glass doors. Perfect showplace for designer cars. The idea, which is so smart, is that you arrive home every night in your garage, you see this room every day, sometimes more than you’d like. Why not make it attractive? Or enjoy the same foyer your guests enjoy — the house is designed so that you enter the front foyer from the garage and walk into the most beautiful formal rooms first thing. The view from the garage is spectacular.
House Porn Extravaganza: The 100 Most Expensive Homes In Dallas, 2009
Get ready for major financial house porn: the D Magazine print product is out with the lowdown of who owns Dallas’ 100 most expensive homes. (I kind of gave you a tease about this a few months ago, suggesting we send these people thank-you notes for paying the highest property taxes in Dallas County.) Well, as you can probably guess, that list is already outdated. Number four on the list, the $28,742,300 home of software titan Lawrence Lacerte at 5323 Park Lane, is wrong. Last Tuesday the home changed hands from Lacerte to Kelsey Warren… and that Dallas County appraisal is not too far off from the home’s confidential selling price. The buyer, Kelsey Warren, took out a $14,000,000 loan, paid cash for the rest. On a $14,000,000 home mortgage, the monthly payments are about $103,000 per month, not counting taxes and insurance.
Can you just imagine writing a check that hefty?
Zillow Hearts Dallas’ Biggest Real Estate Deal
Yep, even those folks out west are impressed.
5323 Park Lane: Who Is Kelcy Warren?
Energy transfer business. Like Tim says, lucrative field.
5323 Park Lane Sold, Closed, Most Expensive Dallas Real Estate Transaction To Date?
The beautiful Preston Hollow estate of Joyce and Larry Lacerte closed yesterday, opening a new chapter for one of Dallas’ largest homes that has entertained scores of dignitaries and raised millions for Dallas charities. The seller’s agent, Ralph Randall of Dave Perry-Miller, an Ebby Halliday Company, is likely depositing his commission check(s) at several Dallas banks to ensure FDIC coverage. The 26,620 square foot home is set on almost 9 acres of land in the honeypot of Old Preston Hollow. The estate was constructed circa 1991-1993 by a team including architect Cole Smith, Smith/Ekblad & Associates, Sherry Hayslip-Smith, Hayslip Design Associates and Cole Smith, Jr., Crowbar Contractors. It contains a racquetball court, exercise room and locker rooms adjacent to a near Olympic-sized natatorium, bowling alley, wine cellar with tasting room, an Orangerie conservatory overlooking interlocking Koi ponds loaded with about a million dollars worth of Koi, tennis court, baseball diamond and a private lake. Ralph Randall now rules as the high priest of Dallas’ most expensive real estate. Agent to the John Muse family, he participated in the sale of the most expensive home in Highland Park when he helped John and Lyn acquire their lot at 4800 Preston Road, and Ralph has now sold the most expensive home in Old Preston Hollow to date.
From what I hear, 5313 Park Lane was originally listed last year for $45 million, recently lowered to just under $40 million. ( Zillow had it “zestimated” at $26,063,000.) According to my sources, it sold for about $30 million-ish, and the buyer, Kelsey Warren, asked for an outside appraisal. Buyer’s agent was Rosie Waters of Allie Beth Allman and Associates, who is married to football legend Charlie Waters, who I believe works for Mr. Warren.
The Lacerte home has entertained, among others, Prince Edward, former President George W. and Laura Bush, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jaap van Zweden, and Caroline Rose Hunt, among others, plus feted countless Dallas charity galas and pre-galas.
Dallas Deal Estate — a REAL Estate Sale in Preston Hollow
That would be5915 Desco, one of Preston Hollow’s most magical streets, perfectly located west of Preston, east of the Tollway, and all verdant green green green. This pup is a 1951 brick ranch that has been expanded (8232 square feet) and updated with guest quarters, tennis court, pool. With 1.22 acres, this is like having a country club in your back yard. In fact, it’s better! Home is beautifully maintained and I’m sure some builder is eyeing it to strip the carcass bare and build a new behemoth from one end of the acreage to the other — so someone buy this home now, please, to save it. Great point: sprawling master bedroom is on the first floor, perfect for empty nesters or the gently aging baby boomer with bad knees from playing too much college football!
Update: This home is listed for $1,995,000 — 1.22 acres in the honeypot. Unbelievable.
Speaking of Hosed:The Cost Of Marketing a Mega Mansion
1851 Turbeville Road has now come full circle: Briggs Freeman actually had the very first shot at selling Champs D’ Or, when it was listed for $48 million, the home plus the same 25 acres now listed by Joan Eleazer for $27m. But in the words of Robbie Briggs, the world of real estate has changed, as has the way agents market properties. An interesting side story of this mega manse is the marketing costs to the various brokers who have tried to get it sold. Briggs had it first — and shelled out at least $100,000 in marketing/advertising costs. Next up: Doris Jacobs and Allie Beth Allman: another $100,000. About three years ago, Greg Cagle at Ebby tried to sell it, hosting one of the be$t partie$ I’ve ever been to, then it hopped across the office aisle to Elaine Whitfield and Matthew Edwards of Dave Perry-Miller, an Ebby company. Off the record sources have told me Ebby dished out almost $150,000 trying to sell the Goldfield’s field of dreams. Three of the creme de la creme of Dallas’ top brokers, $350,000 to try and sell a mega mansion.
This time, however, the marketing campaign at Briggs will be far less slick.
“We’re going to keep it simple,” says Robbie Briggs, “marketing it through the internet and ingenuity. The buyer for this property will be a rare person, likely international.”
Or a consortium looking to turn the Dream manse into a spa or resort/surgery center where, for example, celebs could jet into Dallas (D/FW is only 30 minutes) get nipped, tucked, have fat removed or replenished, and recoup at Champs D’ Or in 35,000 French-inspired square feet, meander up to the Hall of Mirrors-inspired ballroom and check out your eye-lift, sip healing tea in the Tavern-On-The-Green inspired tea room, sit under the hair dryer in the salon off the Chanel closet and master bedroom where, for top dollar, you can sleep off the Vicodan.
Goldfield has more than $36 million in the house. At least one sharp agent told him years ago to dump the whole place for under $30 million. But no.
“I think the timing is right,” says Robbie, “We can’t fix a man’s dream, we cannot transport this home to a different location.”
Not to Beverly Drive, because then buyers would not be getting quite such a bargain: at $27 million, the buyer will be getting 2/3rds of the home, and all 25 acres, for free.
Such a deal!
Champs D’Or: And The Lucky New Dallas Agent Is…
Joan Eleazer at Briggs Freeman. Joan is, once again, listing 1851 Turbeville Road waaaaaay up there in Hickory Creek. What all is included (or not included) in that new lower price of $27,500,000, I am trying to determine. Also trying to figure out what, if anything, the owners of the property, Alan and Shirley Goldfield, he the cellphone mogul, she the one who re-created Chanel’s Paris boutique in her master closet, they being the couple who never actually lived in the home, are actually selling: this new bargain basement price includes less land than the 140 acres served up in the last $65.5 offering… and then. My dirty little mind is hard at work, and I cannot help but wonder if this switcheroo has anything to do with the fact that some very mega California VIP’s are working with Briggs Freeman about a serious relocation to Big D.
Champ D’Or Changes Agents, Now On Market For Only $27 Million
Just heard that Champs D’Or has changed real estate brokers, agents and price again. The mega mega property, built in God’s country north of Denton, had been listed with Dave Perry-Miller’s Elaine Whitfield and Matthew Edwards for $65 million. Now it’s bounced back to Briggs Freeman, listed for $27 million. The mega property was also a cover story in D CEO… where it was speculated that it could end up a tear down. This property has had more agents than Wilt Chamberlain had sexual partners.
Andrew Merrick Lowers Price of Home by One Million Dollars
Not 3500 Beverly, which is still $17.9, but this one: 4201 Versailles, reduced to $3,999,999 from $4,999,999. 8465 square feet, slate roof, basement, loaded. If this was Vegas, we could probably start a wager on how much these two homes will ultimately sell for — but if this was Vegas, those prices would be slashed to smithereens and the banks would likely be the owners. Andrew Merrick still has James Dondero. Go ahead — comments are wide open here — tell us what you think these two homes will ultimately sell for.
House Porn: Video Tour of 3619 Crescent, Just Under Ten Million
Park Cities People’s Merritt Patterson got Doris Jacobs’ clients to throw in a Terminator poster if she buys this over the over-the-top Park Cities manse… check it out.
Dallas Weekend Escape: Park City Utah House Porn
A new place for Dallas to play in just over 30 days, the Waldorf Astoria’s Dakota Mountain Lodge and Golden Door Spa opens with 104 luxury residences for ski-in, ski-out or summer mountain relaxation at the base of those gorgeous Canyon Mountains. Fly direct to Salt Lake City from DFW; Park City, Utah is about 35 minutes from the airport. Pictured here: one Bedroom, two Bathroom residences, 741 square feet, $740,000.
Dallas’ Ross Perot, Jr: 18 Companies Eye Texas for Relo, Bank Regulators Are Slowing Recovery
Major Realtor event last night at the Creeks of Preston Hollow, Hillwood’s uber upscale privately-gated, one-acre residential community, land that was once private homes on big lots, snapped up by Kenny Troutt for a multiple acre family compound, who then decided his compound on Strait Lane was just fine, so Hillwood went shopping. Now the company really wants folks with high net value to go shopping. (Really, I am amazed GWB and Laura did not buy here, would have made security so much easier.) Some are already rung up, some are said to be circling.
Last night’s fete was to pump up top agents to bring in the buyers. Hillwood brought in father-son team David and Britt Fair of Hexter-Fair Title Company — David L. Fair closed the Alliance deal for Ross Jr. — for a little state of the LOCAL real estate economy report. June is when the fat lady sings in the real estate calendar. MLS dollar volume in June, 2007, the greatest year in history for Dallas real estate sales, topped $1.9 billion. June, 2008 topped $1.5 billion. Debbie Downer: April 2009 was about $950,000,000. There is no doubt buyers are seeking the very best purchase prices out there, and the biggest anchors keeping us from taking flight are consumer fears of job loss or loss of home value, and in-migrants who want to buy in North Texas but haven’t sold elsewhere.
And, of course, the banks.
Mr. Perot stepped up to tell us that 14% of the folks moving out of California are moving to Texas. In the Lone Star State, we just don’t understand how bad it is elsewhere — companies love our low taxes, business-friendly ‘tudes, and lower costs of living. Texas is the 11th largest economy in the world. Perot spoke with Governor Rick Perry recently who told him 18 major companies want to relocate to Texas. North texas is where it’s happening. Overheard: one major company is currently circling us, the CEO hunting for a mega million dollar pad –at least $40m.
D Sale of the Week: Two Green Acres in Lakewood
Not only is 7130 Alexander Dr. a deal, but it’s now a steal–just reduced to $1,250,000 from $1,395,000, with an original listing price of $1.7 million. The owner, Coldwell Banker agent Lou Alpert, is also an author and Renaissance woman who no longer needs 6,135 square feet on almost two acres of prime property plus creek bridge, pool, and cabana. A true family home, the main structure is comfortable and sprawling, with three living areas, six bedrooms, five and a half baths, formals, and state-of-the-art kitchen with stainless appliances and granite counters. Truth be told, the bathrooms do scream 1977, when the home was built, but that’s nothing a little Ann Sacks tile couldn’t fix. This is a home that housed a large blended family and those who just crashed–teenage friends, rescue dogs, even a pet chinchilla. “We found some very interesting stashes in the crawl space whenever the workmen started tearing up floors,” says Alpert.
There’s great low-key drive up appeal on Alexander Drive, while the back of the house affords views 0f the lush treed acreage and vine-covered bridge to the swimming pool and cabana, which are separate from house and extremely private, if you get my drift. The third living area can be re-converted back to a three-car garage. It’s a perfect entertainment home, and given the value of the rare lot size plus reduced price, you are practically getting the home for free.
$1,250,000
Lou Alpert for Coldwell Banker Residential Whiteside Group
214.738.0062
Open Sunday 1-3 pm
Sold! 5117 Ursula
Listed for $5.6 million, closed today. So if you think things are slow going in the Dallas real estate market, well, here’s a big one that just moved. The buyers are moving off the fence.
The New Dallas Contemporary
Architects tell me contemporary homes are the newest must-have in Dallas. This one happens to be in Vaquero and is unique for that area. (Hate to give you a heart attack, but it’s also just 7,000 square feet.) Be prepared to see more homes like this in high end custom builds: lots of stone, glass, grass, and I don’t mean the kind they are trying to legalize in California.
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