Lacey Helen Blog's

Wednesday, 22 December 2021

U.S. Existing Home Sales Rise in November to Highest Level in Ten Months

The numbers: U.S. existing-home sales rose 1.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.46 million in November, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. That is the third straight monthly gain and the highest level since January. Compared with November 2020, home sales were down 2%.

Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected an increase to 6.5 million units.

Key details: On a regional basis, the southern states are seeing the most gains. Sales rose 2.9% in the South, and 2.3% in the West. Sales were up a slight 0.7% in the Midwest and were unchanged in the East.

The median price for an existing home sold in November was $353,900, an increase of 13.9% over the past year.

There were 1.11 million homes available at the end of November, down 13% on a year-on-year basis.

Unsold inventory was at a 2.1 month supply in November, the lowest since January. That’s down from 2.3 in the same month last year.

Big picture: For now, existing sales have momentum, with sales up 10% over the first eleven months of 2021. Economists say the future trajectory of sales will largely depend on the supply of listings buyers have to choose from.

“Inventories have declined over the last three months, but they are off record lows,” Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, noted in a recent report, adding that prices, while high, have also moderated.

With inventory so limited, buyers simply have few options, putting a ceiling to the number of sales that can close each month. Survey data from Realtor.com suggests that the number of homeowners who plan to sell their property will increase in the early part of 2022. Should that come to fruition, it would grease the market’s wheels.

Meanwhile, rising mortgage rates could push buyers into the market in the short-run but also add worries for the sector over the longer-run.

What the NAR is saying: “Mortgage rates are expected to jump in 2022, but I don’t expect the imminent increase to be overly dramatic,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the NAR. Sales are expected to decline next year due to higher interest rates from the Fed, he added.

What economists said: “The housing sector has staged an impressive rebound in the fourth quarter, after two quarters of back-to-back declines. The positive momentum continued in November, with existing home sales increasing by 1.9% month over month.. While the increase was shy of expectations, it was a solid report nonetheless,” said Aneta Markowska, chief economist at Jefferies.

Market reaction: Stocks moved higher on Wednesday in a week of volatile trading.

The post U.S. Existing Home Sales Rise in November to Highest Level in Ten Months appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/u-s-existing-home-sales-rise-in-november-to-highest-level-in-ten-months/

Mike Singletary Hopes To Tackle a Buyer for His $1.7M Dallas Home

Mike Singletary Dallas Home for sale — Getty Images / Realtor.com

The Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Singletary is tackling the sale of his Dallas home. The former 49ers head coach is asking $1,699,000 for his custom residence.

In 2020, he left his most recent gig at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, TX, a high school he had been coaching from 2018. Now the Texas native has also vacated his home.

The Super Bowl champion picked up his Lone Star state residence in 2014 for an undisclosed price. The property had been on the market for $1,195,000.

Updated throughout in 2021, the large residence offers seven bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, and spans 6,181 square feet.

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Living room (Realtor.com)

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Dining room (Realtor.com)

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Kitchen (Realtor.com)

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Bedroom (Realtor.com)

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Pool (Realtor.com)

Built in 1984, the home opens to a foyer with a curved staircase. The main level boasts custom cabinetry, high ceilings, and arched windows. A welcoming floor plan features a living room with a fireplace, and a formal dining room with a chandelier.

A kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and white cabinetry includes an eye-catching backsplash. The kitchen sits adjacent to a morning room with built-ins and French doors that open on an outdoor patio.

Other details include a wet bar, and an office, which also opens outside.

Also on the main level, you’ll find two bedrooms, plus the primary bedroom, which connects to an en suite bathroom with a separate soaking tub, dual vanities, and custom closets.

Upstairs, along with four more bedrooms, the upper level also features a media room. The seventh bedroom could be converted to an office, gym, or school room, the listing notes.

Set on nearly an acre, the grounds sport a pool, lawns, trees, and a basketball court.

Singletary, 63, was a star linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1981 through 1992. He transitioned to coaching and worked for the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Rams.

The former coach is now focused on “motivational speaking and consulting enterprises.”

Stacey Lake of Ebby Halliday-Ebby’s Little White House holds the listing.

The post Mike Singletary Hopes To Tackle a Buyer for His $1.7M Dallas Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/mike-singletary-hopes-to-tackle-buyer-for-his-dallas-home/

Tuesday, 21 December 2021

Live La Dolce Vita on a Beautiful Canal in Venice, CA, for $4.5M

Home on Venice Canal for sale — Realtor.com

Imagine a gorgeous home on one of the romantic canals of Venice, without having to move to Italy or learn Italian. Molto bene!

And it is possible, if you can swing the purchase of a modern house on the canals of Venice, CA.

This colorful, bright residence recently landed on the market for $4.5 million. It served as a rental over the last decade, but has been meticulously cared for.

It was designed by the prominent architect Glen Irani, AIA, who is known for his creativity and sustainable designs, and you can see his signature touches at every turn.

Because space on the Venice canals is so coveted, homes are built up rather than out. The well-designed living space in this three-story dwelling measures 3,409 square feet, while the lot itself is only 2,701 square feet.

Three-story home on canal in Venice, CA
Realtor.com

It’s quite a feat to design a multistory home right next to its neighbors without sacrificing light or privacy. Irani did it with elan and used walls of glass—some of them two stories high—to take full advantage of the home’s southwestern exposure.

Great room with two-story walls of glass
Realtor.com

A spacious great room and kitchen on the main floor are filled with light.

A sunny nook with glass walls on three sides reaches out toward the canal.

A loft and glass bridge soar above the living space.

There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms, most with light wood custom cabinetry and built-ins. One bedroom comes with its own balcony, overlooking the canal.

The primary suite has a fireplace, walk-in closet, concrete floors, and a more spacious deck, with plenty of room to lounge.

The canals of Venice are minutes from Venice Beach, between Marina del Rey and Santa Monica.

They were built in 1905 by a developer, Abbot Kinney, in an effort to recreate the look and feel of Italy in the United States. A few years later, another group of investors added another set of canals adjacent to the originals, known as the New Amsterdam Canals.

By the late 1920s, cars were the rage, and people wanted to drive around, not boat around. Many of the canals were filled in, to provide more street space. Others fell into disrepair and became filled with trash.

But in 1993, the remaining canals experienced a renaissance. Although the canal area was reduced to about a quarter of what it once was, the land was rebuilt into an upscale residential neighborhood, with lovely bridges and walkways, unlike any other in Los Angeles—and priced accordingly.

Water enters the canals at high tide via sea gates, and is held for three days. In an ingenious piece of engineering, the waterways are drained at low tide and refilled again when the tide rises, so the water in the canals doesn’t become stagnant or dirty.

There are no gondolas or singing gondoliers in these Venice canals, but the area has plenty of bridges and colorful rowboats, as well as lovely, modern homes like this one.

The post Live La Dolce Vita on a Beautiful Canal in Venice, CA, for $4.5M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/live-la-dolce-vita-beautiful-canal-in-venice/

Suzanne Somers Finally Sells Her Palm Springs Compound for $8.5M

Suzanne Somers Finally Sells Palm Springs Compound — Getty Images / Realtor.com

The actress Suzanne Somers has finally sold her longtime Palm Springs compound. After many years on the market and several price cuts, the desert retreat sold in May for $8.5 million, People reported.

Longtime desert domicile

Somers and her husband, Alan Hamel, had owned the home since the 1970s. The couple decided to let go of their longtime residence in 2017, initially placing the 70-acre spread on the market for $14.5 million.

The next year, the couple put the property up for auction, but later canceled the bidding process. In 2019, they tested the waters yet again, with a $9.5 million price tag.

In February, they relisted the place at $8.5 million with Josh Flagg of Rodeo Realty. Another change: The acreage was reduced from an overwhelming 70-acre parcel to a more manageable 28 acres.

The multistructure property is anchored by a main house with an open living room, chef’s kitchen, and butler’s pantry, as well as a “secret” wine cellar for upward of 2,000 bottles.

Suzanne Somers’ desert compound
Realtor.com

The formal dining room with a fireplace and wet bar can comfortably seat 32. A primary suite features a private patio, outdoor shower, dressing area, dual closets, two home offices, and a safe room.

Somers’ spread also includes the Rock House—designed by the celebrated modernist architect Albert Frey—which features a two-room suite with walls of glass, a fireplace, hand-carved Balinese garden doors, a clawfoot tub, rock shower, and meditation garden.

The grounds include a pool, spa, waterfall, a two-car carport, and two-car garage. An open parking area has 15 additional spaces.

The natural surroundings certainly served as a lure to a buyer who appreciated the desert landscape.

“The grounds are the show, with acres of entertainment areas set among spectacular rock formations and featuring a natural amphitheater with stage, swimming ponds, waterfall, and hiking trails on the property itself,” the listing noted, adding, “There is simply no home like this anywhere.”

Eventually, a buyer agreed, and snapped it up in May, for the discounted asking price.

Downsized digs

As for Somers, she had already downsized to a 1978 contemporary nearby.

The couple purchased the four-bedroom home on 1.22 acres in 2019 for $2.35 million. Located in SouthRidge, a private, gated community, the place offers Palm Springs views, outdoor space with a pool and spa, and an open plan with walls of glass.

One upside for Somers, even though the compound took so long to sell: She and her husband had plenty of time to renovate their 1970s-era pad before moving in.

Former beach property

Over on the coveted California coast, a luxe Malibu home built on the spot where Somers’ former beach house once stood has landed on the market with a $40 million price tag.

Somers had previously owned a waterfront home on the land, but it burned down in 2007, and she never rebuilt it. She eventually sold the two lots in 2016, for a total of $12.3 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Now a spectacular coastal escape stands on those beachfront lots. The offering features a 5,000-square-foot structure with 100 feet of beach frontage.

Malibu mansion built on the spot where Somers’ home burned down
Marcelo Lagos and Simon Berlyn for Sotheby's International Realty

The state-of-the-art build contains four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. Custom finishes include Italian porcelain flooring, walnut cabinetry, and fully automated, floor-to-ceiling disappearing glass doors.

Other features of the home include a kitchen with Miele appliances and a quartzite kitchen island, a roof deck with a hot tub, a pool and pool deck, and private gated beach access. Shen Schulz of Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.

Somers, now 75, starred in the 1970s sitcom “Three’s Company.” The self-help author and wellness entrepreneur also competed in the 20th season of the reality show “Dancing with the Stars,” finishing in ninth place.

The post Suzanne Somers Finally Sells Her Palm Springs Compound for $8.5M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/suzanne-somers-sells-in-palm-springs/

Chicago Bears Star Khalil Mack Selling San Ramon, CA, Home for $2.88M

Chicago Bears Star Khalil Mack Selling San Ramon Home — Getty Images / Realtor.com

The Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack has placed his home in San Ramon, CA, on the market. The fearsome defender is asking $2.88 million for the suburban spread.

Should the three-time All-Pro sell the place for anywhere near the asking price, he’ll pocket a hefty profit on the investment. He purchased the upscale estate in 2015 for $1,725,000, while he was starring for the Oakland Raiders. He was traded to the Bears in 2018, and is now ready to leave the Bay Area behind for good.

The trade happened just before the regular season three years ago. Some of his family members and his dog remained in San Ramon after the All-Pro quickly left for Chicago, according to NBC Sports.

East Bay abode

Built in 2013, the stately residence is located in the gated community of Norris Canyon Estates in the East Bay. The premium corner lot on nearly an acre features a four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home with 3,641 square feet of living space.

The luxury residence takes in views of rolling hills and city lights from multiple windows. Along with a living room with a fireplace, the layout includes a formal dining room and an eat-in kitchen. The kitchen serves up Viking appliances, quartz counters, and a slab island with bar seating.

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Dining room (Realtor.com)

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Living room (Realtor.com)

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Kitchen (Realtor.com)

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Premium lot (Realtor.com)

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Bedroom (Realtor.com)

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Pergola (Realtor.com)

Upstairs, a spacious primary suite opens from a rotunda entrance, and comes with a custom, walk-in closet and an en suite, spa-style bathroom.

Other features of the home include a family room, home theater, hardwood floors, solar panels, and an upstairs laundry room.

The living area extends outside. The landscaped backyard has been equipped with low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants, concrete patios, two pergolas, and a gas fire pit, perfect for alfresco entertainment year-round. There’s also an attached three-car garage.

Mack, 30, a native of Florida, played college ball at the University of Buffalo. The Raiders selected the All-American as a first-round draft pick in 2014. After he was dealt to the Bears, he signed a six-year, $141 million contract extension, becoming the highest-paid defensive player at the time.

Real estate deals

In November, the six-time Pro Bowler was sidelined due to injury, after playing seven games this season. He’s since undergone foot surgery and turned his focus to the real estate game.

He recently sold his Glencoe, IL, mansion for $3.9 million, the Chicago Tribune reported. The sale earned him a small profit on the 15-room estate, which he purchased brand-new in 2018 for $3.75 million.

According to the Tribune, the Bears star now owns a three-bedroom condo on Chicago’s Gold Coast, which he scooped up in March for $6.85 million.

Maria Afzal with Keller Williams Palo Alto holds the San Ramon listing.

The post Chicago Bears Star Khalil Mack Selling San Ramon, CA, Home for $2.88M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/chicago-bears-star-khalil-mack-selling-san-ramon-ca-home/

Built in 1710, Former Cider Mill in Rhode Island Is the Week’s Oldest Home

Prestigious properties can be found throughout this week’s list of the oldest homes to land on the market.

Our top 10 is kicked off by a lovely antique in Rhode Island from 1710. It’s located in the heart of the small state’s “apple country” and includes what was once a cider mill.

And get this, there are two—yes, two—vintage properties named Bittersweet Farm on this week’s list. The first is a 34-acre gentleman’s farm in Pennsylvania with a main house from 1726. The second is a 3.5-acre property with a home built in 1780 in Massachusetts.

There’s also a $10.8 million thoroughbred farm in Kentucky that covers 381 acres plus an exquisite jewel in the heart of historic Charleston, SC, built in 1754.

So pour a tall glass of your favorite cider and scroll on down for a full look at all 10 of these historic beauties.

1. 85 Austin Ave, Smithfield, RI

Price: $699,000
Year built: 1710
Waterman-Winsor House: Fully restored, this four-bedroom, 3,198-square-foot home is a combination of two small homes.

The 2-acre property is located in the state’s “apple country,” according to the listing. It includes three barns and a former cider mill. In addition, there’s a winter skating pond, gardens, and lawns. The interior of the home has pine floors, a family room with fireplace, and two front parlors.

2. 24 Merrill St, Newburyport, MA

Price: $750,000
Year built: 1725
Quintessential Newburyport: Ready for a renovation but loaded with potential, this three-bedroom, 2,092-square-foot home includes five fireplaces and pine floors.

Outside, there’s a brick patio, which can also be used as a parking spot. There’s also an unfinished attic, which could be used to expand the living area.

3. 457 E London Grove Rd, West Grove, PA

Price: $2,400,000
Year built: 1726
Bittersweet Farm: This updated Federalist home has 7,438 square feet of living space, including six bedrooms.

Modern-day amenities include a kitchen with pizza oven and a sauna in the main bedroom suite. Vintage features like exposed beams and multiple fireplaces remain.

The 34-acre farm includes a stone terrace, entertainment area, pool, and tennis court. For the horses, there’s a five-stall barn and tack room.

4. 9202 John S Mosby Hwy, Upperville, VA

Price: $800,000
Year built: 1730
Four-level treasure: Situated on a third of an acre in the heart of town, this three-bedroom, 2,590-square-foot gem has a chef’s kitchen, new bathrooms, and a roomy backyard. Historic touches include hardwood floors, beamed ceilings, and six fireplaces.

5. 22956 Carters Farm Ln, Middleburg, VA

Price: $6,000,000
Year built: 1740
Rutledge Farm: Minutes from town, this 85-acre estate has a main house with 4,720 square feet of living space, including six bedrooms. The interiors feature five fireplaces as well as detailed woodwork.

The property comes with equestrian facilities, including four barns, a derby field, indoor arena, polo field, and farm office with staff housing. For guests, there’s a carriage house with an apartment plus a three-bedroom stone house with a gazebo.

6. 109 Prince St, Tappahannock, VA

Price: $650,000
Year built: 1751
Old customs house: When the Rappahannock River was a major commercial waterway, this home served as the customs house.

It went on to become a tavern. After additions in the 19th century, it’s now a private two-story residence with 2,499 square feet of living space, including three bedrooms.

7. 17 Tradd St, Charleston, SC

Price: $3,250,000
Year built: 1754
Charles Warham House: One of just a few pre-Revolutionary War homes in town, this updated three-bedroom Georgian offers 2,993 square feet of living space with glorious architectural details.

There are five working fireplaces, a modern kitchen, a balcony, and outdoor gardens with two fountains.

8. 26 Whittemore Hill Rd, New Ipswitch, NH

Price: $295,000
Year built: 1770
Quiet cottage: Get back to nature in this three-bedroom,1,055-square-foot cottage nestled on 2.5 acres in the New Hampshire countryside.

It’s located at the edge of a dead-end road for peace and privacy. The cottage features a deck, and the yard has plenty of space for gardens.

9. 18-20 Bear Hill Rd, Merrimac, MA

Price: $669,900
Year built: 1780
Bittersweet Farm: Zoned for two families, this six-bedroom, 3,656-square-foot home could also work for a single family.

Over the past 30 years, the home has been lovingly cared for by the sellers. It features five fireplaces plus wide-board, pumpkin pine floors. Outside, the 3.5-acre property has gardens and sitting areas.

10. 3899 Georgetown Rd, Lexington, KY

Price: $10,800,000
Year built: 1780
Hurricane Hall: This thoroughbred farm measures 382 acres and comes with a five-bedroom, 4,558-square-foot house that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A turnkey farm, the property features extensive horse facilities, barns, a stallion complex, breeding sheds, staff houses, and offices.

The post Built in 1710, Former Cider Mill in Rhode Island Is the Week’s Oldest Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/former-cider-mill-rhode-island-oldest-home/

Monday, 20 December 2021

Emmanuel Acho Snags a Comfortable Hollywood Home for $6.3M

Emmanuel Acho Buys Hollywood Home — Photos courtesy of Marc Angeles / Getty Images

The former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho has scored a Hollywood home for $6,325,000.

The cool contemporary, high in the Hollywood Hills, was initially listed in August 2019 for $6.95 million. The price dropped a few months later to $6.5 million.

With no buyer stepping forward, the home came off the market for a bit. In October this year, it returned at a price of $5.95 million. In early December, Acho snapped up the sleek space for $6,075,000.

The Fox Sports commentator also paid an additional $250,000 for an adjacent plot of land. The extra parcel next door, which had been available for separate purchase, adds approximately 10,156 extra square feet.

Acho, who is familiar to Bachelor Nation as the host of Season 25’s installment of “After the Last Rose,” has picked up some prime real estate.

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Pool and deck ( Marc Angeles)

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Living room ( Marc Angeles)

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Dining space ( Marc Angeles)

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Kitchen ( Marc Angeles)

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Media room ( Marc Angeles)

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Bedroom ( Marc Angeles)

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Emmanuel Acho ( Marc Angeles)

Built in 2005, the home is set behind private gates and offers spectacular L.A. skyline views.

The stylish space features four bedrooms and five bathrooms on 5,952 square feet. Indoor-outdoor living is a breeze, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to the yard and pool.

You can prepare gourmet meals in the sleek kitchen, with top-of-the-line appliances. An island offers a welcoming breakfast bar. You can also serve feasts in adjoining indoor and outdoor dining areas.

An open living room with walls of glass is the perfect place to entertain—or simply to enjoy the views. The flow continues to a spacious media room and an outdoor meditation garden.

Upstairs, a glass-walled primary bedroom suite contains a sitting area, two walk-in closets, and a balcony overlooking city lights. A luxurious en suite bathroom features two vanities, a large soaking tub, and a separate shower.

A gorgeous roof garden adds more options for alfresco fun. The property includes Creston smart home technology, a driveway, and a carport.

The location is described as “moments” to the famed Sunset Strip, with shopping, entertainment, and dining options.

With the extra land, the popular personality has the option to keep building, for example, adding a guesthouse or a gym, or building a recording studio where he can work from home. Whatever the broadcaster decides, he certainly has plenty of options in this posh perch.

The Texas native played college football at the University of Texas before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 NFL draft. In 2013, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He played with the team until he retired from the NFL in 2015. He now serves as a Fox Sports 1 analyst.

In 2020, Acho launched a YouTube series called “Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man.” His project went on to become a New York Times bestselling book.

Brooke A. Elliott of Aaron Kirman Group at Compass represented the seller, while Kennon Earl of Rare Properties at Compass represented Acho.

The post Emmanuel Acho Snags a Comfortable Hollywood Home for $6.3M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/emmanuel-acho-snags-comfortable-hollywood-home/