Lacey Helen Blog's

Friday, 30 April 2021

Private Ice Rink at Connecticut Home Aiming To Melt the Heart of a Buyer

For those who dream of lacing up their ice skates at any hour of the day or night, this house in Stamford, CT, would be a perfect 10.

The home designed for lovers of skate-based sports is on the market for $5.9 million, and comes complete with its own indoor ice rink. It would be hard to find a comparable residence. The home was initially listed last summer with a price tag of $7.69 million.

“It has been a journey of discovery for us. I mean we’ve never had a listing that had an indoor, heated, amazing hockey rink,” says the co-listing agent, Rita Kirby, who is listing the home, along with Janet Jorgensen.

The rink isn’t quite NHL-regulation sized, but it’s plenty large enough for hockey or for figure skaters to hone their craft.

The perks extend beyond the gleaming surface of ice. There are also heated team benches, a viewing lounge, a sound system, a lighted scoreboard, a Zamboni—and immaculate locker rooms, without any lingering odors.

“I chuckle because with our children playing hockey growing up, I have been to a lot of rinks, indoor and outdoor, and I never was in one that didn’t have a rank smell,” Kirby says with a laugh. “This one is so spectacular and beautiful.”

Ice rink
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Exterior
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Rink
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Locker room
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Benches
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Viewing area
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

The current owner built the private rink in 2004.

“The owner is a passionate skater, and he designed it so that he could fulfill this dream of having ice time when he wanted ice time,” Kirby explains. “Ice time is very limited, and there isn’t a lot available, so he created this estate on 13 acres.”

There was already a house on the land. The owner renovated that home and added the second structure, which houses the rink and living space.

“The rink itself is of such perfection that we’ve had members of skating clubs come in, and they get misty-eyed. It’s like a dream come true. It’s immaculate, beautiful, pristine, and it’s really magical,” Jorgensen says. “The owner has had friends who were NHL players who would come in their spare time to come practice, play, and stay at the guesthouse. It’s really an incredible gem.”

Living space
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Kitchen
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Bedroom
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Bathroom
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Guesthouse
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

The dwelling attached to the rink was also built in 2004 and offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-concept floor plan, and facilities for skaters to shower and clean up.

The spacious four-bedroom main house was built in 1970 and has been recently renovated.

For those who like to partake in warm-weather activities, there’s a large pool with plenty of deck space off the main house. And for adventurous types, there’s also a zip line.

Pool
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Both Kirby and Jorgensen say they initially thought a family would probably buy the property, but their theory is evolving.

“We’ve had an Olympic skating scout look at it for Olympic training. We’ve had private clubs, skating clubs that already have rinks, but they want one that is really designed in terms of size for development of children,” Kirby explains. “What we thought would be the perfect profile has turned out to be a much wider buyer pool.”

Skating families and hockey schools have also looked at the property.

The two listing agents say they are selling much more than just a property.

“I think it’s a lifestyle that speaks to the people who are out there in this incredibly difficult world—and allows them to pursue a passion which brings things to a higher level,” Kirby says. “It’s a lifestyle that is so appealing to so many.”

The post Private Ice Rink at Connecticut Home Aiming To Melt the Heart of a Buyer appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/dream-property-for-ice-skaters-private-ice-rink/

$1.35M Austin Home Renovated by the Property Brothers Sells in a Day

Austin Property Brothers Home — realtor.com

We know Austin, TX, is one of the country’s hottest real estate markets. We also know the impact of remodels featured on HGTV’s popular “Property Brothers.”

Join those two unstoppable forces together, and you’ll wind up with a home that sells more quickly than you can say “new listing.” The show’s stars, Jonathan and Drew Scott, completed a remarkable renovation of this midcentury modern way back in Season 4 of their long-running show.

After the home landed on the market a week ago, it took about a day for the current owners to accept an offer, which is likely to have been north of the $1.35 million list price.

If they managed to incite a bidding war and snag an offer over asking, it’ll be quite a sweet return on investment. The owners paid $347,500 for the place when they purchased it in 2011.

But when they bought it, the-two bedroom, 1,300-square-foot home was crumbling and full of dirt. It looked as if squatters had lived there. The upside?

It sat on a relatively large lot and was “in a great location, only minutes from downtown,” according to Drew.

After Jonathan had put a ton of effort, expertise, and $80,000 into the remodel, a totally new dwelling emerged. With a lot of hard work, he salvaged the original hardwood floors and some of the original built-ins.

He completely refurbished the the home, from floor to ceiling. In his work, he took care to retain its mid-20th-century charm (it was built in 1951), while adding 21st-century functionality and style.

For example, the natural limestone fireplace, one of the home’s gorgeous original features, was preserved, polished, and repaired.

Living room with limestone fireplace in home in Austin, TX
realtor.com

A reclaimed-post oak accent wall was added, as were glass-paned front doors.

Reclaimed-post oak accent wall
realtor.com

But the renovated kitchen should be considered the home’s crowning glory.

Walls were removed to open the kitchen to the rest of the house. Custom cabinetry, white quartz countertops, and stainless-steel appliances were added. Jonathan was even able to squeeze in a separate beverage refrigerator.

Completely renovated kitchen
realtor.com

The kitchen is dominated by a massive, 5-foot-by-6-foot, steel-framed picture window, which looks out onto waves of purple wisteria in the spring and onto a 100-year-old elm tree.

Many of the home’s other windows were also enlarged and/or replaced.

By adjusting the layout, an additional bedroom/office with a sliding barn door was added, so the reconfigured home now boasts three bedrooms and 1,750 square feet. One of the two bathrooms was completely modernized, and the other was fixed and repaired, leaving a nice contrast between the two: one modern and one vintage.

Out back, a covered deck and flagstone patio were added, as well as a fire pit and seating area. Just a little trimming was required of the mature pecan trees that have been growing there for decades. A new wood fence with horizontal slats surrounds the perimeter.

New flagstone patio and raised and covered dining deck
realtor.com

While these awe-inspiring renovations took place nearly a decade ago, the allure of a remodel by the Scott brothers clearly proved tempting to buyers. We’re sure to see more of their past works hit the market as the years roll by.

The post $1.35M Austin Home Renovated by the Property Brothers Sells in a Day appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/property-brothers-renovation-in-austin-sells-one-day/

Meet the Software Engineer Who Used Crypto to Buy His $650,000 Dream Home

When Terrance Leonard first started seriously investing in the cryptocurrency space in 2019, his original goal was to achieve financial independence.

The long-term plan was to invest enough in crypto that he could cash out of some of those investments, purchase real-estate assets and rent those out to earn additional income. That way he wouldn’t necessarily need to a work a traditional job to make ends meet.

But then his ideal home came on the market. Leonard, who works as a software engineer in Washington, D.C., already owned a row-home. But he wanted a home with a larger yard for his dog to play in and a garage.

“I thought, ‘This is exactly what I want,’” Leonard said. “And I’m ready to pull the trigger right now.”

To afford the $650,000 home, Leonard opted to use his cryptocurrency investments to cover a down payment and as proof of funds for the mortgage he took out to buy the home — he opted for a mortgage, rather than buying the home outright, because of the low interest-rate environment.

The process, as he would find out, wasn’t as simple as transferring his cryptocurrency holdings to the relevant parties. “There was back and forth between the lender and the title company making sure that was OK,” Leonard said.

The winning crypto strategy: Think of the dot-com bubble

Around two years ago, Leonard went all-in on crypto, taking a big bet on the relatively new asset class. “When I realized the potential of crypto — and I realized how well it was doing for me in the beginning — I sold all of my stocks, my 401(k), everything and moved it all into crypto,” Leonard said.

Today, he attributes his ability to purchase his “perfect” home to the success of the investing strategy he adopted. “Without investing in crypto there would have been no way that I would have been able to buy this at the time when it came on the market,” he said.

So what was that strategy? To take a long-term approach and target coins that are well-positioned for longevity. That means no meme coins, like Dogecoin.

Instead, Leonard likes to think of the crypto market as being in a similar position as the dot-com boom was in the 1990s, before the bust. “I’m looking for the Googles, the HPs, the Oracles, ” he said.

He looks at the top 10 coins, and goes from there. Some of his investments were in bitcoin and Ethereum, but the bulk of his money went toward purchasing Chainlink, a cryptocurrency launched in 2017 that sends real-world data to blockchains.

Terrance Leonard, pictured in front of the home he recently bought in Washington, D.C.
Courtesy of Terrance Leonard

Using cryptocurrency to get a mortgage isn’t foolproof

When Leonard bought his first home, the process was quite standard. As a veteran, he was able to take advantage of the VA loan program and the process was “pretty seamless.”

Originally, he reached out to his lender, Veterans United Home Loans, to see if he could refinance the loan on his first home to convert it into an investment property, which would allow him to get a VA loan for his new home. Ultimately, that wasn’t possible.

So when Leonard had to get another loan to purchase the property that caught his eye, he figured he would use his crypto profits for his down payment and the earnest-money deposit. This time around, the process wasn’t as seamless.

“There were some issues with proof of funds,” Leonard said. “I just wanted to be able to say, ‘Here’s my wallet.’”

He couldn’t just transfer over the crypto investments or show his account on Coinbase to satisfy the lender and his title company. Instead, he needed to cash out into a bank account, like someone might do with money earned in the stock market.

The process might have been easier had Leonard sought out a home from a real-estate broker who specializes in transactions involving cryptocurrency. Some brokerages have begun listing properties where the seller only wants to be paid in cryptocurrency, sometimes specifying a specific investment vehicle. Unfortunately for Leonard, those brokerages didn’t have the types of properties he wanted, plus he wasn’t necessarily inclined to make an all-cash (or rather, all-crypto) deal.

“We had the lowest interest rates in a very long time, so I was not going to pass up on that opportunity,” he said, adding that he’s more likely to see a better return on his crypto investments, even after taxes, than he would if he sunk all his money into the home.

For lenders, the paper trail is key

In the mortgage and real-estate industries, the use of cryptocurrency investments to purchase homes is still very much a novel concept. And lenders are still wrapping their heads around how to treat those assets.

Crypto is such a new concept that even determining how many loans have involved home buyers with crypto investments is a challenge, said Chris Birk, director of education at Veterans United. “Mortgage origination software doesn’t have fields for tracking something like this,” Birk said.

Right now, lenders are flying blind with these prospective borrowers, as regulators and other mortgage entities are only just beginning to put out guidelines for how to gauge the soundness of crypto assets.

Fannie Mae, one of the two government-sponsored enterprises that securitizes a majority of the mortgages nationwide, requires proceeds from bitcoin and other digital currencies to be converted into U.S. currency for them to be eligible assets when underwriting a loan. Fannie also requires documentation showing the digital currency was owned by the borrower.

However, Freddie Mac does not consider cryptocurrency to be an eligible source of funds. And other agencies have yet to provide any specific guidance. The Department of Veterans Affairs has no regulations in place that specifically reference cryptocurrency, an agency spokesman said. But the VA does require verification of deposits.

Lenders will generally request a paper trail, demonstrating a 30- to 60-day transaction history for the crypto account. But, as Birk noted in a recent blog post, cryptocurrency accounts don’t always provide monthly statements as a bank would. And for the time being, lenders will expect borrowers to cash out their crypto investments early in the process.

“You can’t pay your closing costs with a Van Gogh — it’s the same with your bitcoin,” Birk said. “It’s going to have to be converted, it’s going to have to be seasons and there’s going to be documentation to satisfy the lender.”

In part, this strict approach is reflective of mortgage companies’ responsibilities to flag potential criminal behavior, including money laundering. Underwriters need to be able to see potential red flags, which isn’t as easy with crypto wallets per se.

Despite the hassles he faced with buying his new home, Leonard isn’t deterred from investing in crypto. Right now, he still earns enough from his remaining crypto investments to cover the mortgage payments on his former home.

“I’m not in a rush to sell,” Leonard said. “I want to make sure that I make the right financial play.”

The post Meet the Software Engineer Who Used Crypto to Buy His $650,000 Dream Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/meet-the-software-engineer-who-used-crypto-to-buy-his-650000-dream-home/

Halsey Lists Pitch-Perfect Midcentury Modern Home in Sherman Oaks for $2.8M

Halsey Selling Sherman Oaks Home — Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

When we last reported on Halsey’s real estate transactions, in 2019, the singer had picked up a pristine midcentury modern abode in the affluent community of Sherman Oaks, CA, for $2.4 million.

But a lot has transpired in the performer’s life since then. Now she’s looking to shed the sensitively restored property with a $2.8 million asking price, Variety reported.

One reason for the move: Halsey, 26, announced on social media that she and the screenwriter and producer Alev Aydin are having a baby.

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Halsey's midcentury modern home (realtor.com)

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Front door (realtor.com)

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Living room (realtor.com)

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Kitchen (realtor.com)

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Bedroom (realtor.com)

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Bathroom (realtor.com)

Just as she is expanding her family, the recording artist is also expanding the size of her domicile. She recently plunked down $10.2 million for a house in Calabasas, CA, owned by the former member of One Direction, Liam Payne. That 9,700-square-foot compound includes five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and perks like a recording studio, as well as lush grounds with a koi pond, pool, and gardens.

Which leaves the Sherman Oaks property up for grabs. The harmonious home appears to have been stripped of the owner’s personal touches, and is ready for its next owner. Halsey had posted images from the home on Instagram. But her personal belongings and stylish decor have vacated the space.

Designed by the master architect Richard Dorman, the 1959 home was updated, with much care taken to preserve its “architectural integrity.” The floor plan includes four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms across 2,425 square feet.

Set on a half-acre, the home is nestled into lush but drought-tolerant landscaping. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, the open living room, with a fireplace and built-ins, leads to a large yard and pool.

A sleek kitchen is equipped with walnut cabinets, Viking and Sub-Zero appliances, and a wine fridge. Other spaces include an office, family room, and dining area.

The master suite comes with a bathroom with dual vanities, and sliding glass doors that open to the outside. The guest bedrooms also access the yard. Other details include built-in storage, a spacious patio, a detached recording studio, and a carport.

Details include terrazzo floors, tongue-and-groove ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows in every room.

The singer, whose real name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, sold another home last year, in the Beachwood Canyon area of Los Angeles, for $2.37 million, according to Variety. She had picked up the contemporary showpiece around 2017 for $2.2 million.

The singer-songwriter shot to fame by posting her songs online, and then signed with Astralwerks in 2014.

The social media star has sold over a million albums. The hit “Closer,” a collaboration with The Chainsmokers, and “Without Me” both topped the Billboard Hot 100. Her single “Bad at Love” reached the Top 5.

Josh Myler with The Agency holds the listing.

The post Halsey Lists Pitch-Perfect Midcentury Modern Home in Sherman Oaks for $2.8M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/halsey-selling-pitch-perfect-mcm-home-in-sherman-oaks/

Bette Davis’ Former Oceanfront Mansion Is the Week’s Most Popular Home

Take a dash of the O.C. and mix in a legendary actress—and clicks will surely follow.

Not all old-school stars stayed in Hollywood: Legendary actress Bette Davis once owned a lavish oceanfront mansion in Laguna Beach, CA. That home recently landed on the market, and real estate gawkers made it this week’s most popular home on Realtor.com®.

It’s easy to see why. Sitting next to sapphire blue water stretching as far as the eye can see, this beautiful beach house features exquisite craftsmanship, perfectly tailored spaces, and room to luxuriate in your surroundings.

Besides Davis’ former beach house, you also clicked on a Georgia home seen in the Netflix hit “Cobra Kai,” a different Georgia home that won HGTV’s “Rock the Block,” and an enormous 60-acre property with a midcentury modern home in the hills of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Another highlight is a bland Ohio home with a single listing photo and a fairly hilarious listing description. A local agent may have taken a cue from a recent Florida listing that went viral and let loose with a humorous stream of consciousness where you’d normally find a straightforward rundown of beds, baths, and backyard.

While we ponder the inspiration behind the oversharing agent in Ohio, we’ll ask you to simply scroll on down and enjoy this week’s 10 most popular properties.

10. 702 S Hayne St, Monroe, NC

Price: $350,000
Why it’s here: This Colonial dates to 1901 and is filled with handcrafted details such as the original flooring, corbels, columns, and a 100-year-old brass lock and skeleton key. The three-bedroom, 2,658-square-foot home sits on a large lot close to downtown. We think it might be worth the price simply for the dreamy front porch alone.

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9. 221 Claypole Hill Road, Ford City, PA

Price: $182,000
Why it’s here: Sitting on a bucolic acre and a half on Crooked Creek, this two-bedroom stone house is a bit rustic.

It features an open floor plan with a big family room, floor-to-celling windows, and handcarved woodwork. The private retreat includes a dock so you can take your rowboat or kayak out on the Allegheny River.

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8. 1405 Dabbs Bridge Rd, Dallas, GA

Price: $635,000
Why it’s here: This charming home scored the big win on Season 2 of HGTV’s “Rock the Block.” It sits alongside the other three homes featured on the popular show.

Professionally designed by HGTV stars, the camera-ready, six-bedroom home features a sleek kitchen with emerald green pops of color, a mudroom, built-ins, and a finished basement highlighted by a pink pingpong table.

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7. 614 W Seven Stars Rd, Phoenixville, PA

Price: $950,000
Why it’s here: Spanning nearly 5.5 acres, this property features a 19th-century barn that’s been converted into a contemporary home.

Featuring work done by a local craftsman, the five-bedroom home is filled with natural light and features two-story ceilings, a fireplace, original stone barn walls, and a large bedroom in the barn’s former silo. The property comes with a one-bedroom carriage house, a three-stall stable, a chicken coop, and two fenced animal pens.

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6. 653 N 3565 E, Menan, ID

Price: $425,000
Why it’s here: This home built from rocks dates to 1898.

It was once a hotel frequented by actors and musicians passing through town. Eventually, the solid structure was turned into the town banker’s home. Today the extraordinary five-bedroom, 4,176-square-foot home still features its original hardwood floors, molding, and woodwork.

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5. 921 W Beverly St, Staunton, VA

Price: $789,000
Why it’s here: Historic Allen Chapel was built in 1924 and served for generations as the sanctuary for a prominent African Methodist Episcopal church.

Now, thanks to a glorious conversion, it’s an elegant five-bedroom home. It comes with a two-bedroom apartment with kitchen, which could easily be used as a rental unit or in-law apartment.

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4. 1 Los Arboles, Richmond, CA

Price: $4,098,888
Why it’s here: In the East Bay hills, this 60-acre property is surrounded by Wildcat Canyon Regional Park and offers spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The main house is a midcentury modern with Asian influences built by a local doctor in 1963 and filled with quirky treasures collected over his life. They include knickknacks and objets d’art, which could be negotiated into the home’s sale price.

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3. 2444 Killian Rd, Uniontown, OH

Price: $135,000
Why it’s here: The listing agent for this ho-hum three-bedroom home, Eric Cooper, seems to be workshopping a potential stand-up act in the listing details he provided.

He definitely doesn’t attempt to oversell the home’s lack of charm. In fact, the listing details are hilariously devoid of any flowery language about light or location. In a rambling paragraph accompanying the home, he stuck to the facts.

“This is a house, numerous people have lived in this house since 1979,” he wrote. He then overshared about his marriage, canines, and a lack of celebrity connections to the property. Read it for yourself, and let us know if you think Cooper has a future comedic career.

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2. 130 Woodlawn Dr, NE, Marietta, GA

Price: $2,650,000
Why it’s here: Called Villa Flora, this mansion is also known by Netflix fans as the LaRusso mansion from “Cobra Kai.”

The Tuscan-inspired, six-bedroom home was built in 2008 by a couple who were inspired by their time on the Amalfi Coast. The result is a home that offers luxe indoor-outdoor living, gardens, and a terra-cotta roof. The stone shower in the master suite is a showstopper.

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1. 1991 Ocean Way, Laguna Beach, CA

Price: $19,995,000
Why it’s here: Legendary actress Bette Davis used to own this six-bedroom oceanfront mansion built in 1929.

From the home’s perch above the sands in Orange County, the ocean views spread out forever. The French Normandy design is understated, so it doesn’t compete with the crashing waves and gorgeous natural beauty outside. The residence is ringed with balconies, decks, and patios for soaking in the ocean air and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Laguna Beach. CA — Laguna Beach, CA
realtor.com

The post Bette Davis’ Former Oceanfront Mansion Is the Week’s Most Popular Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/bette-davis-former-oceanfront-mansion-most-popular/