Real Estate

Subterms

    More stories

    • 150 Shares119 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      Americans Are Flocking to Italian Wine Country to Buy Their Second Homes

      by

      Having a second home sounds nice. Having a second home in one of Italy’s famed wine regions sounds even nicer.

      Many Americans would seem to agree with that statement. Those looking to buy second homes are flocking to Piedmont, the home of Barolo, according to The Wall Street Journal. Diletta Giorgolo Spinola, the head of residential sales at Italy Sotheby’s International Realty, estimates that the number of Americans asking about the area had jumped about 50 percent at her agency over the past two years alone.

      Along with its reputation in the wine world, Piedmont was instrumental in the creation of the slow-food movement, and it’s a major area for the hunting and buying of white truffles. That makes it an especially appealing area to buyers with a strong interest in food and drink.

      Some are even intrigued by the idea of having their own vineyard. Luca Stroppiana of Langhe Real Estate told the WSJ that vineyards are the new must-have for second-home buyers. He helped facilitate the sale of a $510,000 farmhouse with one to an American couple mainly living in Milan. “We like to drink wine,” said Bryony Bechtold, who bought the property with her husband. “And now we will learn all about the different grapes and how making wine works.”

      At Langhe Property, Americans are actually the No. 1 demographic, beating out the British. And an architect in the area told The Wall Street Journal that Americans are now the majority of her foreign customers. It doesn’t hurt that the US dollar is quite strong, and that the pandemic has allowed for flexibility as to where people can live and work.

      While enjoying the Italian countryside for a few weeks or months at a time does sound great, the Journal didn’t note how locals feel about the influx of out-of-towners. That’s been an issue in other international locales, like Mexico City, where residents became fed up with American tourists and remote workers earlier this year.

      Still, the possibility of animus isn’t turning off the Piedmont-curious. A couple from Kansas who have been visiting Italy for 50 years are gearing up to move the region next year—and even more home buyers seem likely to join them. More

    • 200 Shares179 Views

      in Luxury

      Trae Young’s New $20 Million LA Mansion Comes With a Safe Room and 800-Gallon Fish Tank

      by

      An NFL all-pro has handed his home over to an NBA all-star.

      Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young has bought the Los Angeles-area mansion built by the former Green Bay Packer great Clay Matthews, according to new reporting from The Wall Street Journal. Previously, the buyer had been unknown, but thanks to property records and people familiar with the deal, the Journal was able to find out that Young is the anonymous new homeowner.

      The living room

      Simon Berlyn

      The 14,000-square-foot Calabasas mansion was built by Matthews and his wife in the French Provincial style. The couple had initially planned for it to be their “forever home,” but they reconsidered their plans once Matthews was released by the Los Angeles Rams. Now Young gets to enjoy the (very plentiful) fruits of their labor.

      Along with its seven bedroom and all the usual accoutrements, the property has a host of amazing amenities. There’s a home theater, a wine cellar and a wood-paneled game room with a billiards table. On the more unusual side, a secret door in the library leads to a safe room and one of the walls features an 800-gallon saltwater aquarium (Matthews had originally wanted it to take up the whole wall, but he downsized at his wife’s request). A spokesperson for the listing told The Wall Street Journal in 2021, when the home was first listed, that the couple would consider parting with the fish along with the property. It wasn’t revealed whether Young had taken them up on the offer.

      The library, which houses an 800-gallon fish tank

      Simon Berlyn

      To full take advantage of LA weather, the outside of the house also includes some pretty incredible additions. Of course, given the athlete ownership, there’s a sports court, but there’s also a large pool, a goldfish pond, a rose garden, an orchard, a fire pit and a pergola. That gives you plenty of options for unwinding after a long workout or some time spent shooting hoops.

      The Matthewses purchased the land for the home for only $2.6 million in 2013. When they first listed the property, they were asking a cool $30 mil, but the price dropped a couple of times before Young bought it for $20 million. Given the fact that the baller currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks, it’s unclear whether this will be his forever home either. But it appears he has a new off-season abode.

      Click here to see all the images of 25314 Prado de la Felicidad. More

    • 225 Shares189 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      Better Than a Hotel? You Can Now Buy Shares in Multiple Homes Around Europe to Travel in Comfort

      by

      Mélie and Nico Dunod spent years helping clients acquire and renovate vacation homes throughout Europe. Traveling between France, Spain and Italy, they realized how limiting owning one home can be, especially with so many beautiful destinations to discover. This mindset inspired August Collection, a co-ownership model that allows you to own the equivalent of 1/21 of five homes in five different destinations in Europe.

      Founded in 2018, August was built on the idea that the average owner spends just 35 days in their vacation homes per year, and the home sits empty for roughly 11 months.

      Chamonix is a popular year-round destination for outdoor lovers.

      August

      “The more we assisted clients with finding their dream homes, we realized that owning a single holiday home outright in Europe was very limiting, wasteful and full of dichotomies,” says Mélie. “Similarly, no one wants to spend such significant amounts of money on a property they will use for only a few weeks a year, yet they want a home they will be proud of and that is at least as comfortable as their primary residence. We created a model where you own not one but multiple homes in Europe’s best locations, homes all renovated to the highest standards where every single detail is thought through, and for a fraction of the price of buying one home.”

      The homes are designed to exacting standards.

      August

      August has a variety of collections, including the Premium, Signature and Pied à Terre Collections, that offer varying home sizes and destinations for 1/21 ownership. There are also single-family homes with 1/8 ownership offerings. A new line is typically launched yearly; for example, buying into this year’s Premium Collection (the largest property option with four or five bedrooms) gives you access to abodes in the French Alps, French Riviera, Mallorca, Tuscany and the English Countryside for $630,000 (€600,000). The Signature Collection usually offers the same destinations for a smaller home at a lower price. There’s also the Pied à Terre Collection with residences in Cannes, Barcelona, Paris and Rome.  

      Unlike timeshares, you can sell your shares of the homes on the traditional real-estate market and transact its shares like you would any other home. If you want to sell, August can handle sourcing another buyer to purchase your piece of the pie. Also unlike a timeshare, you’ll have real title ownership with appreciation of value. Each home is 100 percent owned by you and your fellow landowners, not August; however the company will manage every aspect of the home, from maintenance to dealing with local taxes and laws to designing the new properties.

      A home in Barcelona.

      Pete Helme Photography

      August also has a point-based booking system that lets you equitably choose the weeks you’d like to spend in the homes. Bookings are released in three batches, with super-peak weeks being the first batch. You can plan a year in advance or book spontaneous trips if your points allow. While in the summer months, destinations such as the South of France are the most popular, August aims to combine buyers who might be interested in the homes at different times of the year. You can also purchase multiple shares in one collection—up to four—to increase the amount of time you’re spending in each location. There’s also a monthly fee that covers utilities and cleaning. 

      There are multiple collections to choose from.

      August

      The Dunods have more than 30 years of real estate and interior-design experience. When they purchase a home, each is planned to exacting standards with a high-end slant to ensure the best product offering. In terms of destinations, the duo choose locations based on proximity to international airports, year-round offerings and places that have strong and stable real-estate markets and luxury home offerings. 

      “When you rent, you need to plan in advance: How many bedrooms do I need, do I want to invite guests? This often leads to people holidaying less,” Mélie says. “With August, families have guaranteed homes that they want to go to, and the common feedback is people spend many more holidays together and the kids are eager to join.” More

    • 150 Shares129 Views

      in Luxury

      Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Final NYC Apartment and Art Studio Are Available to Rent

      by

      If you ever wanted to rent a building with art historical significance, Andy Warhol’s former New York studio and apartment, where Jean-Michel Basquiat lived and worked from 1983 until his death in 1988, has now hit the market.

      The 57 Great Jones Street property in the Bowery is available for $60,000 per month for a minimum of 10 years.

      Basquiat rented the second floor space from Warhol shortly after they first met. Today, the real estate agency Meridian Capital Group described that space as an “open loft space with high ceilings and multiple skylights.”

      Village Preservation, an architectural conservation society, in conjunction with Two Boots Pizza, installed a plaque on the building’s exterior commemorating the former resident in 2016, reading, “Basquiat’s paintings and other work challenged established notions of high and low art, race and class, while forging a visionary language that defied characterization.”

      Interior view of the second floor at 57 Great Jones Street in New York, 2022.

      Courtesy of Meridian Capital Group/Photo Sylvester Zawadzki

      The exterior of the building is also adorned in street art—a public tribute to the late artist, who started his career as one half of the graffiti art duo SAMO.

      Warhol originally purchased the building in 1970. Prior to Warhol’s purchase, however, the building came with a rich history. Originally constructed in the 1860s, it was purchased by Paolo Antonio Vaccarelli—aka the gangster Paul Kelly—who opened the Brighton Athletic Club in 1904. The building was subsequently used as a metal works business and kitchen supply company until 1970.

      Most recently, the building was home to the exclusive Japanese restaurant Bohemian. Among the neighbors are the galleries Venus Over Manhattan and Eric Firestone Gallery.

      Featuring 6,600-square-feet spread across three floors, the commercial-use building is currently listed with Meridian Capital Group. Of the sale, John Roesch, director and one of the exclusive brokers, said in an email, “We would love to keep this building in the art community.” More

    • 150 Shares189 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      Pacaso Teams Up With Surf Air for a Luxe New Rideshare Service

      by

      First, Pacaso made purchasing a second home easier through its tech-enabled real estate co-ownership model. Now it hopes to make owners travel to these second homes more efficient through its new partnership with regional semi-private regional aviation company Surf Air and Alto, which offers elevated on-demand ridesharing. 

      Pacaso, founded by dotloop founder Austin Allison and former Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff, purchases luxury homes and sells ⅛ to ½ ownership through a wholly managed LLC co-ownership model. This means that you—alongside others—can enjoy the benefits of a multi-million-dollar home without paying the full price, and Pacaso has professional property management, a smart scheduling system and even handles the finance and billing to make your co-ownership experience fairly seamless. They operate homes in several markets including Florida, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming, as well as several cities in Spain. 

      Pacaso has homes in more than 35 markets.

      The company’s recent partnership with Surf Air proves just how serious they are about providing a totally seamless, efficient and turnkey experience for customers from tarmac to front door. All homeowners will receive a six-month Alto membership, which helps them lock in priority members-only times—just in time for the holidays—and save up to 30 percent on every ride and receive perks and rewards. With Surf Air, members will receive special perks when they book a seat on one of the semi-private charter flights. Surf Air has scheduled flight networks  throughout California, one of Pacaso’s biggest markets, but also throughout the US. You can either book a seat for a semi-private experience on the scheduled flights or charter a fully private flight wherever you wish in the U.S. with guaranteed availability, no blackout dates and no initiation fee. 

      Properties like this Lake Tahoe cabin are exceptionally cozy during the holiday season.

      “When our owners are heading to their Pacaso second home, we want them to have a turnkey and headache-free experience from door to door,” CEO Austin Allison tells Robb Report. “Alto and Surf Air offer elevated, easy, and dependable transportations options that allow our owners to maximize their time enjoying their second home and the local communities.” 

      Especially around the holidays when airports get quite crazy, Surf Air—as with any private aviation experience—can significantly shorten the duration of your travel time, allowing you to spend more time with loved ones. Surf Air has also committed to a greener private aviation experience by investing in electric smaller aircraft for short-haul flights. 

      Alto offers elevated ridesharing services via an app, and Pacaso owners receive special membership perks.

      “At Pacaso, we handle everything from maintenance to luxury interior design so that owners get to own and enjoy amazing real estate for a much lower cost and with none of the hassles,” Allison says. “Surf Air has a similar approach to air travel, offering a more sustainable option than competitors and an easy arrive-and-fly process that saves members time. Their convenient regional service also gives more transportation options to owners who are flying to many of the popular Pacaso destinations like Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara and the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.”

      A second home is especially valuable during the holiday season and through Pacaso’s management system, co-owners pre-set the dates they’ll be traveling when they first purchase their portion of the home so owners never have to worry about double-booking on peak weekends, like Thanksgiving or festive season.  More

    • 225 Shares199 Views

      in Luxury

      Barbara Corcoran’s Former NYC Penthouse Just Hit the Market, and It Comes With 360-Degree Views of the City

      by

      For $2.3 million, you’ve got a deal.

      An Upper East Side penthouse that once belonged to Shark Tank investor and real estate mogul Barabara Corcoran has just hit the market for the first time in 25 years. Corcoran sold the pre-war duplex in 1997 to its current owners, former CNN anchor Laurin Sydney and her husband, Mark Burk, reported the New York Post. Dubbed The Tower House and likened to a “cottage in the sky,” it offers one bedroom and one bathroom. The real highlight is a lushly landscaped 1,200-square-foot wraparound terrace. An added bonus, windows on the second floor showcase 360-degree views of New York City.

      Barbara Corcoran’s former New York City penthouse lists for $2.3 million 

      Lifestyle Production Group for Corcoran

      Combining modern conveniences with historic charm, the penthouse doesn’t skimp on the period details. Think an original wood-burning fireplace in the living room, parquet oak floors throughout and cast-iron windows. Elsewhere, custom decorative moldings and soaring 10-foot ceilings are additional nods to the home’s architectural roots. Leading up to the loft-style bedroom from the dining nook is a glazed custom steel spiral staircase by Cheron Tompkins, which makes this rarified residence feel all the more special.

      The Upper East Side duplex has a 1,200-square-foot wraparound terrace 

      Lifestyle Production Group for Corcoran

      In a contemporary twist, the kitchen caters to present-day tastes with D’Oro stone countertops, glass-front cabinetry and a Gaggenau stovetop. On the second floor awaits an Amerec cedar sauna with a separate windowed bath and its own Jacuzzi soaking tub. The bedroom itself has custom closets, built-ins and a concealed TV cabinet.
      Along with epic bird’s eye views, the potential for indoor-outdoor living here is another advantage. The penthouse’s landing will lead you to your own private garden oasis that conjures up Paris and “is a perfect balance of elegance and sophistication,” notes the listing. The verdant, landscaped roof deck has been outfitted with a full irrigation system and offers four exposures.
      If you want to get your hands on this Upper East Side gem, the tower penthouse is being listed with Steve Gold and Scott Hernandez of The Corcoran Group, the shark’s namesake brokerage firm.
      Click here to see all the photos of The Tower House.

      Lifestyle Production Group for Corcoran More

    • 63 Shares169 Views

      in Luxury

      The Tower House in Photos

      by

      <!– <!– _ _ _ ____ _ _____ _ ___ | | (_) | _____ / ___|___ __| | ___ | ____| |__|__ | | | | |/ / _ | | / _ / _` |/ _ | _| | '_ / / | |___| | The Tower House in Photos – Robb Report […] More

    • 138 Shares199 Views

      in Luxury

      Billie Holiday’s NYC Townhouse Just Hit the Market for $14 Million

      by

      This New York City brownstone is the epitome of easy living.

      The former Upper West Side townhome of jazz legend Billie Holiday has just come onto the market and if you want to get your hands on the late singer’s historic digs, it’ll cost you close to $14 million. Listed with Douglas Elliman, the Renaissance Revival residence was recently renovated and received a few practical upgrades along the way. Although, it still maintains many of the original finishes from when it was built in the early 1900s. Holiday was said to have lived on the first floor during the last years of her life before she died in 1959. It’s also where she released her penultimate album, Lady in Satin.

      The 20-foot-wide, 6,300-square-foot townhouse is spread across six levels and comprises seven bedrooms, six bathrooms and two powder rooms. Modifications came about in 2017 when architect Amie Sachs and interior designer Fawn Galli were brought on to breathe new life into the space. Today, among its modern conveniences are a screening room with wallpaper designed by Lenny Kravitz, a temperature-controlled wine cellar and a curated backyard garden. Inside, you’ll also notice a ton of old-world detailing has been preserved. Think original mahogany doors, wood paneling and 10- to 12-foot ceilings.

      Billie Holiday’s former Upper West Side townhome has just listed for $13.9 million 

      Evan Joseph Photography

      On the parlor floor is a striking foyer that has a sparkling chandelier and herringbone oak flooring. Off the swanky main entry is the living room which comes with a soaring carved plaster ceiling and a stately fireplace. Nearby is a private office and state-of-the-art kitchen that’s been outfitted with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Bertazzoni range, two Fisher and Paykel dishwashers, marble countertops and a full wet bar. A formal dining room and powder room are also found on this level.
      Upstairs, the third floor is done up as a 1,100-square-foot primary suite. But honestly, it’s more like a personal sanctuary. Perks include a dressing room, fireplace and an uber-luxurious bathroom room that’s been decked out with heated floors, a soaking tub and marble detailing. You’ll also have access to your own private library. Elsewhere in the house is a skylight that exposes the arched brick abode to an ample amount of sun.

      The New York City townhouse was renovated in 2017 and comprises seven bedrooms and six baths 

      Evan Joseph Photography

      “Legacy properties always have a certain allure and cachet, especially in New York City,” listing agent Kelly Killoren Bensimon tells Mansion Global in an email. “New Yorkers love and adore their icons. Knowing that one of the most beloved storytellers of our time lived in a residence is a very strong selling point.”
      Click here to see all the photos of Billie Holiday’s former Upper West Side townhouse.

      Evan Joseph Photography More