Lacey Helen Blog's: October 2019

Thursday, 31 October 2019

Luxurious ’80s Time Capsule in Lake Arrowhead Has Totally Vintage Vibes

Here’s a lakeside home where we’d love to dock—a luxury retreat in the mountain resort town of Lake Arrowhead, CA, that doesn’t have a rustic log cabin vibe.

In fact, this spacious home on the lake is so ’80s you half-expect to see Don Johnson cruising up to the dock in a cigarette boat.

However, the six-bedroom, eight-bathroom property does come with a very 2019 asking price: $8,750,000, to be exact.

The double-story, paned windows overlooking the lake work no matter what the era, and the lovely mountain views are timeless.

Aside from the perennially lovely location, this place is a time capsule, immaculately maintained in all its 1980s splendor. Features like mirrored fireplaces and a chrome and lucite staircase will transport you right back to the gorgeousness and glamor of decades gone by. The home was built in 1982, with the finest and most up-to-date luxury materials of the day.

Lake Arrowhead time capsule exterior
realtor.com

Double-story observation windows
realtor.com

Chrome and lucite spiral staircase
realtor.com

Popular jewel tones of the era are featured in almost every room; ruby, sapphire, topaz, citrine, and more sparkle throughout the home. It’s reported that President Gerald Ford stayed in the blue room after he stepped down from office. And one can’t help but envision the shoulder-padded ladies of “Dynasty” swanning about.

Rose-colored carpets and shiny brass strip accents are also prominent, as are myriad mirrors—tinted, beveled, and otherwise. Their silvery surfaces grace walls, ceilings, and even chimney faces, and they so reflect the ’80’s!

Rose-carpeted bedroom with brass-strip accents
realtor.com

There are also classic, lacquered acrylic cabinets throughout the home, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms. And where there isn’t brass, there’s an abundance of shiny chrome.

The porches, patios, decks, and vistas won’t need much of a refresh, since the views and the cozy placement among the pines appeal to all. Other attractive outdoor features include a sizable spa, an outdoor kitchen, a pier, and a dock.

Located at Eagle Point, in the exclusive and private Shelter Cove community, the location is one for the ages. Neighbors are barely visible through the full-grown mountain foliage. While there may be several more sizable luxury cabin properties on the market, you can be assured that this one is unlike any other.

The post Luxurious ’80s Time Capsule in Lake Arrowhead Has Totally Vintage Vibes appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/luxurious-80s-time-capsule-in-lake-arrowhead/

Late Designer Max Azria’s Chic Mansion Is This Week’s Most Expensive New Listing

The stylish Los Angeles estate of the late fashion designer Max Azria has come back onto the market for $78 million, making it this week’s most expensive new listing on realtor.com®.

Azria, who died in May at the age of 70, and his wife, Lubov Azria, originally placed the sprawling spread on the market for $85 million in 2015. A year later, they put it back up for sale and raised the price tag by $3 million.

When the elevated asking price failed to entice a buyer, the home was taken off the market. Now, it’s returned with a price chop of $10 million. Even at the reduced ask, it’s still our priciest property this week.

The price is a huge increase from the $14.4 million the couple paid when they bought it from producer Sidney Sheldon, the L.A. Times reported.

Dubbed Maison du Soleil, the estate was designed in 1939 by the architect to the stars Paul Williams, “who helped shape the legacy of classic Hollywood Regency design,” according to the listing description.

After the couple bought the house, they lavished $30 million on a gut renovation, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Not surprisingly, a fabulous home owned for years by creative types is decorated to the hilt, with walls and rooms filled with texture, shine, and pops of color, including orange, red, and silver.

Sitting room with shimmering floral ceiling
realtor.com

Sitting on nearly 3 acres, the layout offers 30,000 square feet of living space and includes 17 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms.

With 60 rooms altogether, the eye-popping decor blends the home’s 1930s architecture with modern design. The dramatic foyer sets the tone, with a double staircase and a floor-to-ceiling chandelier. The living room is filled with rainbow-swirled carpets and opens out to the lawn.

A whimsical seating area with a cherry-red color scheme has an elaborate ceiling with faux blossoms overhead. The formal dining room comes with French doors that also open outside. Other rooms include a family room with built-ins, and a sparkling bar room with a disco vibe.

Entertainment options abound. There’s a 6,000-square-foot private movie theater with an attached catering kitchen. Outside, you’ll find Japanese and French gardens, a pool and Moroccan-style poolhouse with a hammam, a glass-walled tennis court, and multiple dining patios and fire pits.

The Los Angeles-based designer, who was CEO and designer of the BCBG Max Azria Group, was best known for his trendy yet affordable BCBGMAXAZRIA line of clothing. He also headed up the designer label Hervé Léger by Max Azria, a celebrity favorite.

Azria left BCBG in 2016, and soon after, BCBG Max Azria filed for bankruptcy in 2017. The brand and other labels were bought by Marquee Brands and Global Brands Group.

Ginger Glass with Compass holds the listing.

The post Late Designer Max Azria’s Chic Mansion Is This Week’s Most Expensive New Listing appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/max-azria-chic-home-is-back-on-the-market-most-expensive/

Retired Shortstop Jimmy Rollins Hopes to Snag Buyer for Tampa Mansion

Miles Kennedy/Philadelphia Phillies/Getty Images)

MLB All-Star Jimmy Rollins has listed his tempting Tampa, FL, home for $6,875,000. The waterfront luxury abode was purchased in 2012 for $3 million, which means it might fetch the retired shortstop a nice payday.

Located in the upscale community of Culbreath Isles, this three-story home will likely appeal to a pro athlete in search of a place to chill during the off-season. Its proximity to a number of baseball spring training facilities doesn’t hurt either.

Built in 2008, the 8,425-square-foot home has five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms. It’s just four doors down from the open bay and looks out to the water.

Inside, you’ll find formal dining and living rooms. An open kitchen with a built-in banquette is adjacent to a casual family room. The spacious master suite includes a private balcony.

Jimmy Rollins’ Tampa, FL, home
realtor.com

Outdoor space with water views
realtor.com

Luxe amenities include an office, home theater, and wine cellar.

The outdoor space includes a living area on the water, as well as a pool and spa.

Rollins is busy in the real estate game. He listed his New Jersey mansion in 2017 for $799,000. It sold last year for $687,000. And he reportedly broke a record in Encino, CA, with his purchase of a $10.65 million million, the highest price paid in the city at the time.

Now 40, Rollins starred at shortstop for most of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. He also suited up for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox. The three-time All Star was named the National League MVP in 2007.

The post Retired Shortstop Jimmy Rollins Hopes to Snag Buyer for Tampa Mansion appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/jimmy-rollins-selling-tampa-home/

New Orleans’ LaLaurie Murder Mansion to Star in Upcoming Horror Films

New Orleans’ infamous LaLaurie mansion, where an untold number of slaves are said to have been tortured and then savagely murdered nearly 200 years ago, will play a starring role in a new horror movie franchise.

The creators of “The Conjuring” movies recently signed on to make a series of movies about the mansion and the atrocities that took place there.

The three-story, real-life house of horrors already has a Hollywood history. The French Quarter home with a Baroque facade and balcony was previously owned by actor Nicolas Cage. And it was featured in the 2013 “Coven” season of the popular TV series “American Horror Story.”

The mansion was owned by local socialite Delphine LaLaurie, who allegedly brutalized her slaves, gouging out their eyes and tearing off limbs. A 12-year-old slave climbed to the roof and leaped to her death rather than suffer such cruelty, according to rumors.

When a fire broke out in the mansion in 1834, firefighters reportedly found the brutalized slaves chained in cages in the attic. They were freed.

Incensed by her treatment of the slaves, a mob reportedly ransacked the house. LaLaurie was said to have fled to Paris, and it’s still unknown what became of her.

The mansion is “one of the most extraordinary homes that I’ve ever sold,” says real estate broker Dorian Bennett, of Dorian Bennett’s Sotheby’s International Realty. He’s sold the home three times over the past 30 years, most recently to investor Michael Whalen, who paid $2.1 million for it in 2010. “It’s Old World architecture at its best.”

Over the years, Bennett has had a few unexplained incidents in the house that he chalks up to the supernatural. He declined to elaborate on what transpired.

“Everybody believes it’s the most haunted house in America because of the juju, the energy, the vibe,” Bennett says. “I know there are spirits in there.”

But a previous owner, Jay Monroe, CEO of satellite service provider Globalstar, has told realtor.com® that the house wasn’t haunted. He lived there for about a half-dozen years with his family. He sold the property to Cage in 2006 for $3.45 million. It went into foreclosure three years later, and then was sold to Whalen.

Whalen is one of the collaborators on the film franchise. He’ll be providing access to the property, which still attracts hordes of tourists each day who take pictures outside of its walls.

This won’t be the first time that “The Conjuring” creators, brothers Chad and Carey Hayes, have worked on a movie centered around a haunted house. “The Conjuring” franchise was also based on the “true story” of a haunted house in Rhode Island. Famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called in to investigate the unexplained occurrences.

“We love writing films in which we get to tell true stories—incorporating moments that people can look up and discover did in fact happen,” the brothers said in a statement. “With the LaLaurie house we get to do exactly that. There is a wealth of documentation of a very dark and frightening past of true events.”

The post New Orleans’ LaLaurie Murder Mansion to Star in Upcoming Horror Films appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/new-orleans-lalaurie-murder-mansion-to-star-in-upcoming-horror-films/

Mortgage Rates Increase Again—Even Though the Fed Just Cut Interest Rates

Mortgage rates rose yet again—illustrating how the Federal Reserve’s policy can have a somewhat limited effect on the mortgage market.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.78% during the week ending Oct. 31, up three basis points from the previous week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. It’s the first time since April that rates have risen in three consecutive weeks.

Despite the increase, the rate on the 30-year mortgage remains over a full percentage point lower than at this same time a year ago.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage increased one basis point to an average of 3.19%, according to Freddie Mac. The 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 3.43%, up three basis points from a week ago.

That mortgage rates rose even though the Fed just announced yesterday its plans to cut interest rates isn’t a surprise. When the Federal Reserve adjusts interest rates, it is influencing short-term rates.

Mortgage rates, on the other hand, are longer-term interest rates. They generally track the direction of the 10-year Treasury note. The 10-year Treasury yield rose in advance of the Fed’s decision, though it has moved lower since then.

Other factors also influence the rates that mortgage lenders offer consumers. Overall, consumer spending has remained strong recently, a reflection of the healthy job market.

“Purchase activity continues to show strength, indicating obvious home-buyer demand,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in the report. “However, the lack of housing supply remains a major barrier to not just the housing market, but the overall economic recovery.”

The post Mortgage Rates Increase Again—Even Though the Fed Just Cut Interest Rates appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/mortgage-rates-increase-again/

Now in the NBA, Former Cal Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Lists $1.3M Oakland Home

Former Cal Golden Bears women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb made history this summer as the first women’s collegiate head coach hired by the coaching staff of an NBA team.

Now that’s she’s joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach, Gottlieb is ready to move on from her Oakland, CA, home. The Mediterranean-style mansion just landed on the market for $1.3 million.

She picked up the beautifully appointed home in the foothills for $1.2 million in 2014, during her Cal coaching stint.

Built in the 1920s, the 4,210-square-foot home has been tastefully updated over the years. A dramatic footbridge leads to the arched doorway, and the foyer is graced with an arched staircase.

The multistory home offers San Francisco Bay views from every floor, as well as the two outdoor decks and the “entertainment-ready” backyard.

Lindsay Gottlieb’s Oakland, CA, home
realtor.com

Chef’s kitchen with island with bar seating
realtor.com

Family room with patio access
realtor.com

The home has six bedrooms and 3.5 baths. It also comes with an in-law unit with a separate entrance.

The spacious living and dining rooms are adjoined by a chef’s kitchen, which is equipped with an island with bar seating. The lower level features bonus space, which could be turned into a media room or playroom, with French doors that open to the grassy backyard.

Gottlieb, 42, served as the head coach for the University of California women’s basketball team from 2011 until this summer, compiling a record of 179-89. In June, the Cavs made a “landmark appointment” when they tapped her to join their revamped coaching staff. The Scarsdale, NY, native and Brown grad led the Golden Bears to their first Final Four in school history.

The post Now in the NBA, Former Cal Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Lists $1.3M Oakland Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/lindsay-gottlieb-selling-oakland-home/

We Dare You to Ring the Doorbell on These 10 Terrifying Houses

We’re not chicken! We would definitely trick-or-treat at any one of the 10 houses on this list. It’s just that, well, you should go first.

It’s not the fault of these homes that they appear haunted. It’s just that old and run-down homes, especially Victorians, have been used in popular culture for decades as ground zero for all things scary and macabre.

According to Smithsonian magazine, haunted houses became popular during the Great Depression as a way to keep kids from vandalizing the neighborhood on Halloween. Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion helped to sear the creepy image of a large, ornate haunted house into our minds.

And these creepy cliches are exactly what kids have projected onto homes in their own neighborhoods for decades—the crumbling, corner house with an overgrown yard, mysterious occupants, and a spooky (yet dubious) backstory they heard from a friend of a friend of a friend.

But on Halloween, these somewhat scary places truly shine. In honor of all the scary-looking houses on the block across America, we bring this list of properties on the market right now that may not actually be haunted, but might require a double-dog dare before ringing the doorbell.

1839 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA

Price: $995,000
Berkeley boneyard: Here lie the bones of a Victorian home that hasn’t been occupied in 20 years. The location of this ramshackle home is primo—across the street from a Trader Joe’s grocery store—and the lot also includes a second unit. But both are in sorry shape, and a new owner will need to work with the city to determine renovation or development plans, which could present a nightmare all its own.

Empty house in Berkeley, CA — Berkeley, CA
realtor.com

———

303 Center St E, Roseau, MN

Price: $34,000
Zoning zombie: Built in 1905 next to the city’s Veterans Memorial, this four-bedroom fixer-upper has a faded little fence that all but screams, “keep out.” According to the listing, the home is in livable condition and is being sold as is. It also mentions applicable “zoning restrictions,” which could make for a frightful rehab or rebuild project.

———

3172 Highway 174, Edisto Island, SC

Price: $58,000
Do not enter: This 1-acre lot filled with oak trees could be the start of something beautiful—an idyllic site for a vacation home just 11 miles from the beach. Currently, there’s a dilapidated shack built in 1945 that isn’t safe to enter—and where no one can hear you scream.

Edisto island shack — Edisto Island, SC
realtor.com

———

17550 Foster Rd, Los Gatos, CA

Price: $1,799,000
Killkenny, or kill Kenny? Once known as the Killkenny home, this residence from the 1950s is rotting in the Northern California sun. The surrounding 3.34 acres are beautiful with a brook and tucked in a private valley. One day, it will be the perfect spot for a dream home, but for now it looks like the stuff horror movies are made of.

Los Gatos. CA abandoned house — Los Gatos, CA
realtor.com

———

703 Main St, Ashby, MA

Price: $10,000
No guarantees: Could you even make it to the front door? Overgrown and being reclaimed by nature, this Victorian is headed to auction in mid-November. Built in 1890, the three-bedroom home sits in what the listing claims is a good neighborhood. The home is being sold as is, with no “warranties, or guarantees as to the accuracy of the information provided.” Yikes!

Victorian in Ashby, MA — Ashby, MA
realtor.com

———

848 Vine St, Poplar Bluff, MO

Price: $36,900
Castle on the Vine: This lonely Victorian was built in 1892 on a half-acre lot. The home is part of Poplar Bluff history and protected by the Missouri Preservation Society, making its restoration a tax-deductible, if not bone-chilling, proposition.

Victorian in Po;lar Bluff exterior — Poplar Bluff, MO
realtor.com

———

194 North St, Windham, CT

Price: $89,900
Scary attic: Do you dare go up the stairs? This 3,000-square-foot Victorian has six bedrooms. Built in 1898, this place is in obvious need of repair, but it’s the listing photos of the severely angled attic that made us feel claustrophobic and creeped-out.

Victorian in Windham, CT — Windham, CT
realtor.com

———

1141 Main St, Malden on Hudson, NY

Price: $135,000
Surgeon needed: The listing for this seven-bedroom home calls for a buyer to perform “cosmetic surgery” on the property. This request could be taken all sorts of ways. Cue Dr. Frankenstein’s operating table! The price also includes a third-story apartment with two bedrooms, a deck, and separate entrance.

Victorian home exterior Malden on Hudson NY — Malden on Hudson, NY
realtor.com

———

32537 Wilderness Rd, Jonesville, VA

Price: $139,900
Gothic manor: Known as the Orr manor, this home was built by Judge Orr in 1865. We’re reasonably sure that there aren’t any eyes peeking at you from the window in the turret. The four-bedroom home still features many original touches, from the hardwood floors to the grand staircase.

Victorian home in Jonesville, VA — Jonesville, VA
realtor.com

———

301 S. Main St, Orange, MA

Price: $169,000
Barn & boos: An enterprising and unafraid buyer could live in this 1890 home while it’s being restored. Custom details such as the chestnut staircase pocket doors are evidence of the four-bedroom home’s original beauty. There’s also a three-story barn on the half-acre property, which we would gladly visit during daylight hours.

The post We Dare You to Ring the Doorbell on These 10 Terrifying Houses appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/10-definitely-not-haunted-houses/