For fans of “The Crucible,” supernatural history, or mass hysteria, this is the house of your dreams—or nightmares. Now available for sale, fittingly in the month of October, is the John Proctor house in Peabody, MA. Reportedly built in 1638, the house was once owned by one of the victims of the Salem witch trials. This tangible artifact of New England history has six bedrooms and two bathrooms, and is listed for $600,000. Proctor, who owned 700 acres and ran a tavern on the main road of what was then part of Salem, was an early opponent of the witch trials. One of his serving girls had been accused, and he believed she had been cured by a good whipping, according to the Salem Witch Museum. His wife, Elizabeth, was later accused of being a witch by their maid and jailed. When John defended Elizabeth, he was accused of witchcraft as well. More accusations were lodged against the Proctor family, including three children, and Elizabeth’s sister and sister-in-law. John was found guilty and hanged. Elizabeth, who was pregnant, was granted a stay of execution. She managed to escape the sentence, as the hysteria had passed by the time her son was born. He was named John, after his father. There’s been debate over whether Proctor actually lived in the house, or if it was constructed later by his son. The home has been under private ownership for decades, so extensive research and testing on the property has not been done. However, the current owner meticulously maintained the home’s historic Colonial architecture and aesthetics. Some of the original details include the wood-beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls, wood finishes, and multiple fireplaces. But modern amenities are also offered, including an in-ground pool with a diving board and neighboring brick patio. Among the potential buyers who have expressed interest in the home is the Peabody Historical Society. Whoever ends up with the home should be prepared to preserve its historic significance and welcome curious passers-by, along with the occasional supernatural visitor. The post Is a Buyer Brewing for This Home Straight From the Salem Witch Trials? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/home-salem-witch-trials/
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For the first time in four years, the inventory of homes on the market actually grew in October—by 2% nationally, compared with the same time last year. In the fiercely competitive world of U.S. real estate—where a lack of available homes has led to price jumps, bidding wars, and frustrated buyers—this is significant news. Is it a harbinger of changes to come? While the net increase of 25,000 listings was no avalanche, it marked a sharp change from the severe constriction in supply that has marked recent years and driven up prices. In addition, new listings in October came in at cheaper price points. “Buyers have been struggling for four years to find homes in their price range, while dealing with bidding wars and multiple-offer situations,” says Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com®. “The inventory increase will not solve the problem overnight, but it should provide some relief to those still in the market, especially if the growth we’re seeing in more affordable homes and condos holds steady.” Larger metros drove a greater portion of the overall gain in listings; combined inventory in the 45 largest urban areas increased 6% in October compared with the year before. Of those 45 largest markets, 24 saw year-over-year growth in listings. The five markets with the most dramatic growth were San Jose, CA; Seattle; San Francisco; San Diego; and Nashville, TN. In those metros, for-sale housing inventory shot up 32% or more. However, home prices aren’t coming down yet. The median U.S. home listing price was $295,000 in October, a 7% increase year over year. Still, that was less than last October’s 10% increase over the year before. And new listings came onto the market at prices that were on average 8% cheaper than homes that were already on the market. “Affordability is still an issue,” Hale notes, “with increasing mortgage rates and prices keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.” The new listings were also an average 10% smaller, perhaps because the fastest inventory growth was in condominiums and townhomes, at 7%. Single-family homes, on the other hand, were up only 1%.
The post For the First Time in 4 Years, the Number of Homes for Sale Is Up—Here’s What It Means appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/u-s-housing-inventory-decline-finally-comes-to-an-end/ You can’t win ’em all. Former NBA star Penny Hardaway recently sold his home in Pinecrest, FL, for $2.5 million—well under his original ask and way less than the $3.6 million he paid for it in 2009. Given that the former All-Star has already moved to Memphis, TN, to coach his alma mater, he’s the definition of a “highly motivated seller.” According to the Sun-Sentinel, Hardaway listed the home for $3.7 million in 2017. The price was later reduced to $3.5 million, and then to $3.2 million. In July, the price dropped to $2.9 million, which finally attracted a buyer to offer $2.5 million. Though it wasn’t an ideal outcome for Hardaway, the buyer certainly scored a sweet deal. Let’s have a look… The home has six beds, 7.5 baths, and a chef’s kitchen with an island and a breakfast area. There’s also a dining room, kids’ playroom, family room, office, living room, and two-story entry. The Mediterranean-style mansion also features a home theater (adorned with sports memorabilia, including Hardaway’s framed jerseys), gym, playground, basketball court, and six-car garage with motor court. While this wasn’t one of his crispest passes, we’re guessing Hardaway wasn’t exactly hungry for cash. The former guard earned $120 million playing for the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and New York Knicks before retiring from the NBA in 2007. Knee injuries derailed his on-court dominance, but he was named an All-Star for four of his first five seasons in the league. In March, he was named head coach of the Memphis Tigers. The post Penny Hardaway Dribbles Away From His Florida Home and Takes a Loss appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/penny-hardaway-sells-florida-home-loss/ Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the greatest architects of all time, and many design aficionados would do just about anything to own a piece of his work. But while you may not be able to pony up millions to own a Wright-designed home, you can now buy something else he’s designed that’s a bit smaller in scale and budget: a chair. In 1949, Wright designed the Taliesin 1 chair for his own use, and placed them in the garden room of his home, Taliesin West, in Scottsdale, AZ. The originals are still on display today in the house, which now serves as the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Wright died in 1959, and the chair based on his original design was briefly manufactured by Cassina S.p.A., from 1986 to 1990. More recently, the Italian furniture manufacturer just announced that it would be producing a limited run of 150 of each color—midnight blue, petrol green, and burgundy—to be sold for $5,500 apiece. Though the price is steep, this is a Wright design after all! But beyond the pedigree and design, as is the case with any furniture, we need to know: Is it comfortable to sit in, too? Spoiler alert: This isn’t exactly Frank Lloyd Wright’s chairThough the Taliesin 1 has been lauded as a prime example of Wright’s shift to more sophisticated designs, one has to wonder if that angular design would be a pleasure to lounge in, or more of a pain in the butt than it’s worth. Even Wright himself once said of his chair, “Organic architecture calls for this chair, which will not look like an apparatus, but instead will be seen as a gracious feature of its environment, which can only be the building itself.” I’m no expert, but that sounds like fancy architect speak for, “It wasn’t designed to be comfortable.” Even the manufacturer, Cassina, conceded the chair was lacking in “lounge-ability.” As such, it tweaked Wright’s design a bit. While the chair is still constructed from a single piece of folded plywood—giving it the origami look it’s famous for—Cassina made a few simple changes to add a touch of comfort the original was lacking. The new version of the chair boasts a deeper recline, as well as thicker padding underneath the short-haired leather upholstery. But is that enough? Alan Tanksley, a designer in New York City, says he doesn’t have high hopes for the chair actually being comfortable. “It’s no secret that Frank Lloyd Wright’s furniture was designed with a priority being his architectural aesthetic, with any concern for human comfort taking a distant back seat,” he says. While Tanksley admits that some of the redesigned features may make this chair an exception to the rule, he’s doubtful. “I’m intrigued by the chair; its design draws me to sit down and try it out,” he admits. “However, my expectations for true comfort are pretty low.” Why architects don’t always make great furnitureWhile no one is denying that the Taliesin 1 is a gorgeous piece of furniture, there is a hefty debate over whether or not it’s functional. Perhaps the real issue here is that it was designed by an architect, and not a furniture designer. Wright was a genius when it came to his buildings, but maybe he should have focused his energy on what he did best: architecture. James Gaddy of Bloomberg probably put it best in his review of the chair: “For all their brilliance with the outside of buildings, architects haven’t had much success making furniture that you’d actually want to sit in, once you’re inside—just look up the designs from Daniel Libeskind, Zaha Hadid, and David Adjay if you want proof.” Still, this particular chair may actually be the most comfortable of Wright’s creations. “From a functional point of view, it looks to be one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s more comfortable pieces of furniture, with its reclined seat and back,” explains Nancy Snyder, founder of Bon Brise Design in Chicago, who’s excited about the Taliesin 1’s rerelease. “This chair is absolutely iconic. It’s a must-have piece.” So is it worth it?The real question here is this: Would you want a Taliesin 1 in your home? It all boils down to how much you value Wright’s work, and how willing you are to accept questionable comfort. Leslie Saul, a designer and founder of Leslie Saul and Associates, says it’s a good buy, even though she admits it doesn’t seem to be a seat you’ll want to linger in for long. “Frank Lloyd Wright is still an American icon,” she says. “So it seems like spending $6,000 for a piece of the Taliesin could be well worth it.” The post Is This Frank Lloyd Wright Chair a Pain in the Butt? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/frank-lloyd-wright-designed-chair-taliesin/ Ah, 2014. It was a simpler time of happy couples and viral stunts. Remember the ice bucket challenge? Four years ago, adorable duo Anna Faris and Chris Pratt invited us into the backyard of their lovely Mediterranean-style mansion in the Hollywood Hills to watch Pratt take the Ice Bucket Challenge. First, the actor drank libations with the word “ice” in their names, until he was suddenly “surprised” by his then-wife, who poured a bucket of ice water on his head from the master bedroom balcony above. Those were happier times for the couple. Faris and Pratt, who finalized their divorce this month, had purchased the L.A. home for $3.3 million in 2013. And recently, they put the glamorous property on the market for $5 million. What makes the property so glamorous? Well, the lighted tennis court accompanied by an open-air clubhouse housing a professional gym is one example. The spacious master suite also falls into the glam category. It features a fireplace, two custom walk-in closets, a luxe bathroom with steam room and jetted tub, and the aforementioned balcony. The house also has a backyard ideal for relaxation thanks to the saltwater pool and spa. You can dine by the outdoor fireplace, hopefully on a gourmet repast prepared in the outdoor kitchen with built-in barbecue. The 4,710-square-foot home has four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The lot—which is gated and includes a palm tree–lined drive and a motor court with a fountain—measures almost two-thirds of an acre. The 40-year-old house has a modern feel and doesn’t look dated in the slightest. Other features worth noting? Vaulted and wood-beamed ceilings, a chef’s kitchen, and an oak-paneled den with an elegant bar. Pratt, 39, rose to A-list fame by taking on the role of Peter Quill/Star-Lord in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. Faris, 41, has appeared in numerous films and currently stars in the CBS sitcom “Mom.” The post Chris Pratt and Anna Faris Selling Their Former Love Nest in the Hollywood Hills appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/chris-pratt-anna-faris-selling-socal-home/ More Americans became homeowners in the summer months, fresh evidence of a housing market that’s finding some stability after several rocky years. The national homeownership rate was 64.4% in the third quarter, the Census Bureau said Tuesday. That’s a half-percentage point higher than a year ago. After touching an all-time high of 69.1% in 2004 as the housing bubble inflated, the homeownership rate bottomed out at 62.9% in 2016 as waves of Americans lost their homes or sold under duress. At the same time, many Americans who would ordinarily become buyers were locked out of the market by stringent lending rules, a lack of affordable inventory and a challenging economic backdrop. All that has made the post-crisis housing market not just less accessible, but less dynamic. It’s possible the moderation in home prices over the course of 2018, which some analysts believe came from would-be buyers pushing back against hefty price gains, helped many of them finally become owners. The homeownership rate can be controversial. Some analysts believe that government policies that helped enable ownership more broadly were responsible for the housing crisis, although many others believe there’s blame to go around. Still, the meager recovery to this point puts the homeownership rate only back to 1995 levels, well before the run-up to the bubble. That suggests it may be possible for many more Americans to become owners, if housing market conditions ease further. The vacancy rate for owners was just 1.5% for the second month in a row, tighter than the 1.6% it averaged throughout 2017. The post American Homeownership Increases Again as Housing Market Looks for Balance appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/american-homeownership-increases-housing-market-looks-balance/ Toilets are funny things. Toilet humor exists because, let’s face it, bodily functions are embarrassing and therefore hilarious. And yes, while terrifying things can happen on a toilet after a Taco Bell run, the toilet is generally not a place where true terror lurks. But a new Twitter account, “Toilets With Threatening Auras,” begs to differ. Launched this summer as a quirky riff on toilets, the account now boasts hundreds of thousands of followers, all gathering to share and view pics of porcelain thrones that send chills up our spines. Just how many terrifying toilets are out there? And, god forbid, might your own toilet be scary, too? In case you want to see just how spooky a commode can be, check out a few choice examples below, which also contain some interesting lessons on how to not decorate your loo. No netherworld lightingThings are supposed to go into a toilet and then get flushed away, never to be seen again. Nothing is supposed to come out of the toilet bowl. Especially not Satan’s night light. So stay far away from this light, Carol Anne! No random sharp objectsRazors have a place in a bathroom, sure. They belong inside a holder in the shower or a medicine cabinet. They are not supposed to be sealed into a toilet seat. And barbed wire really shouldn’t be in your bathroom at all, much less embedded in your toilet. Toilets also shouldn’t have teethWe can only hope this is a digitally altered image meant to scare the bejesus out of us—because who wants to confront a primal scream in the john? But if it’s not, remember to stick to regular old pipes for your plumbing needs. No heads of state in the headBathrooms are places where things that aren’t always pretty happen on the regular. As such, you don’t need a past president eyeing your every move. No vortexes to other dimensionsWhile it’s unclear whether this is digital manipulation at work or a truly trippy floor treatment, it’s clear this is bad bathroom juju. Most people like to relax and maybe flip through a magazine in the bathroom. They do not want to contemplate the meaningless of life brought on by staring into a wormhole to the underworld. No cute overloadsAt first glance, this may look like an innocent Hello Kitty obsession on display in a pink powder room. Think again! Anyone who has this many disembodied cat heads in such a small space is clearly not of sound mind. (And haven’t you ever noticed Hello Kitty doesn’t have a mouth? That’s so she can’t scream!) Send out the clownsEvil clowns take center stage as the creepy monsters in movies such as “It” for good reason. And they usually don’t take lead roles as bathroom decor for similar reasons: Do you really want to see gruesome, giant red mouths twisted in unnatural smiles and blank eyes staring as you relieve yourself? Didn’t think so. There is such a thing as too much toilet paperOne of life’s great annoyances is running out of toilet paper while still sitting on the bowl. But there is such a thing as too much bath tissue—and this is not what “TP-ing” a house means. No fake peeping, pleaseHanging a window and then putting pictures in the panes of people seemingly watching you use the toilet? We know that’s some weird attempt at humor, but we aren’t laughing. ‘Nuf said. No gallows humorMost people don’t have urinals at home. But this is so spooky that, public or not, we had to showcase it anyway. Because a “half-bath” is not supposed to mean that when you go inside you run the risk of getting something chopped in half. The post 10 Terrifying Toilets That’ll Scare Your Pants Off appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/terrifying-toilets-thatll-scare-your-pants-off/ When one mulls the idea of minimalism, one must be prepared to live with the bare minimum. However, minimalism is precisely the inspiration for this beautiful bathroom in the Regalia Penthouse in Miami. This opulent million-dollar bathroom flushes away the memories of other water closets we’ve seen. Listing agents Jill Hertzberg and Jill Eber of The Jills have listed this lavish, three-story penthouse with ocean views from every angle for a whopping $25.5 million. With that luxe backdrop, a $1 million bathroom adds up. The whole of the second floor in this 10,000-square-foot home is a dedicated master wing, offering maximum privacy for the penthouse owners. The bathroom, though? We could simply set up shop there and never leave. CAD International’s design director, Charles Allem, says he was inspired by the spas of Switzerland—which are known for minimalist design and maximum function. “The whole take was to have a full spa bath within the penthouse to provide the owners with all the amenities in their residence,” says Allem. From floor to ceiling, every inch of the 1,100-square-foot master bathroom is covered in one material: Calacatta gold marble. “It is restrained, sophisticated, opulent, and encompasses a true luxury spa experience,” explains Allem. The spa-inspired bathroom is equipped with two massage tables, a custom steam room and sauna, his-and-her closets with safes, and a couple’s hydrotherapy soak tub featuring air treatment jets. The his-and-her glass showers are also equipped with body jets, soothing rain showers, as well as handheld sprayers. The clean, bright, and streamlined look of the space is enhanced by Kreon light fixtures and Dornbracht plumbing fixtures. Both brands are leaders in high-end minimalist design. In the mood to shut the world out and turn the music up? This bathroom has you covered. “We also included a smart home system, which controls motorized roller shades as well as sound and drapery to evoke different mood settings,” says Allem. As if the marble and hydrotherapy tub weren’t enough, the bathroom also comes with its own 270-degree ocean view and balcony. All that’s needed now are a bottle of bubbly and a private masseuse. The post One Luxe Loo! Here’s What Goes Into a Million-Dollar Master Bathroom appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/million-dollar-master-bathroom-florida/ When it was built in 1959, the Southern California house known as Starview was considered the house of the future. The midcentury exhibition home built by architect Jacob Tracht was considered a masterpiece of futuristic design. These days, the Starview is still a masterpiece of futuristic design thanks to the efforts of Rick Perkins of Perkins Development Group. The developer purchased the property in 2016 for $2,270,000 and transformed it into the home of the future … for today’s age. His dramatic renovation also comes with a distinctly 2018 price tag of $12 million. We attended Starview’s launch party to see what went into this multimillion-dollar project “The Starview has always been a dream for me,” Perkins said. “I wanted to find a home with a steep history of forward thinking and reimagine it. My team and I were able to transform it into a show palace of luxury, decadence, and environmental responsibility.” How does going green mesh with decadence? Well, the home is able to function off the electrical grid, thanks to a series of solar panels on the roof that draw in energy and store it in Tesla batteries. Though visionary the power system may be, it’s not the sexiest feature of the home. That honor goes to the passenger drone helipad. You read that right. There’s a landing area for a passenger drone helicopter, which falls in line with a home for the future. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept (which we were), the drone provided by SureFly is an octocopter (four arms, eight rotors) with an advanced autopilot system. In other words, the thing flies itself. It’s as quiet as a car, and the rotors won’t ruin your ‘do. It features a two-hour flight time battery, can carry 552 pounds, and has an emergency ballistic parachute. It’s as close as we’ve come to a flying car and looks like the perfect vehicle of the future. However, the FAA hasn’t approved the drone yet and it’s illegal to land a helicopter in this tony neighborhood. Perkins believes the rules will change over the next couple of years. He’s prepared for cities to accommodate anticipated services, including Amazon drone delivery and Uber’s proposed aircraft on-demand project, Elevate. Even if you don’t want to shell out $200,000 for a SureFly of your own, the developer thinks you’ll be able to summon an Uber aircraft to land in your backyard someday. Perkins himself is on the SureFly waiting list, ready to enjoy a 9-minute commute from his work in Brentwood to his home in Burbank. The rest of the house of the future is equally stylish and extremely livable. Perkins expanded the interior living space from 4,517 square feet to 8,059. He added a third-floor master suite on top, and an entire lower level below the original home. With the home situated on the side of a hill, all the additions have the same spectacular views of the city, ocean, and iconic Getty Center. The home now has six en suite bedrooms and 7.5 well-appointed bathrooms. Two of those bedrooms are master suites, both with walk-in closets measuring approximately 250 square feet. There’s a main-floor great room with an open, modern kitchen featuring an enormous island. We also loved the open-air atrium on the main floor. The new downstairs level features a game room, media room, gallery, and gym with bathroom featuring an infrared light sauna. The attached three-car garage now features a car-lift, so you can store your fanciest wheels underground—away from prying eyes. Perkins also rebuilt the pool and gave it a Baja shelf. The outdoor decks offer plenty of room to entertain, and the helipad doubles as a viewing deck when no drone is perched there. Naturally, this home of the future is fully automated, allowing the homeowner to control the lights, audio, room temperature, doors, and a 28-foot glass wall that opens up the main living area to the pool deck with an iPad. “Whomever purchases this home will be light-years ahead in terms of home technology and off-the-grid sensibilities,” says Perkins. Listing broker Billy Rose, founder and president of The Agency, agrees. “Rick Perkins and his team have created the home of the future with their Starview masterpiece,” Rose says. “This property is arguably one of the most exciting new homes developed in Los Angeles.” After sitting in the SureFly and the sauna, enjoying the views, watching that car-lift in action, and enjoying all the lights and music powered by the Tesla batteries, we have to admit he has a point. The post SoCal House of the Future Comes Equipped With a Drone Helipad appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/home-future-brentwood-drone-helipad/ Annual home-price gains fell below 6% for the first time in a year in August, another sign that the slowdown in the housing market is becoming widespread and is likely to persist in the months to come. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices in major metropolitan areas across the nation, rose 5.8% in the year ending in August, down from a 6% year-over-year increase reported in July. Price gains accelerated for most of the last two years, growing significantly faster than both incomes and inflation. August marked the fifth straight month of decelerating price gains, as interest rates have risen and inventory in some markets has been growing. Home buyers “must be breathing a collective sigh of relief that home price growth finally has slowed.” said Skylar Olsen, director of economic research and outreach. Ms. Olsen said the slowing appreciation “is a sign that fierce competition is dying down.” The Case-Shiller 10-city index gained 5.1% over the year, down significantly for the second straight month from 5.5% the prior month. The 20-city index gained 5.5%, down from 5.9% the previous month. Fourteen out of 20 cities are showing slower price growth than a year earlier. Las Vegas had the fastest home price growth in the country for the third straight month, at 13.9%, followed by San Francisco, where prices grew 10.6%. Seattle, where realtors have reported a significant pullback in buyer demand in recent months, fell to third place with a 9.6% annual gain in prices. David Blitzer, managing director at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said that even though there is a pullback in the housing market there are no signs that the current weakness will become a repeat of the crisis in 2008 because mortgage default rates remain low. “Without a collapse in housing finance like the one seen 12 years ago, a crash in home prices is unlikely,” he said. More than five years of rapidly rising prices, combined with higher mortgage rates are making homes increasingly unaffordable for buyers. Rates for a 30-year mortgage averaged 4.86% last week, up nearly a full percentage point from the beginning of the year, Freddie Mac said last Thursday. Because Case-Shiller home-price data lags behind by a couple of months, it doesn’t yet reflect the most recent run-up in rates. “Coupled with mortgage rate increases that picked up steam in September, higher prices are stifling home sales as more buyers are priced out of the market,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com. Most sectors of the housing market are slowing, including new home sales and housing starts. Sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell 3.4% in September from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.15 million, the National Association of Realtors said Friday. Fewer people are attending open houses and inventory levels are rising, prompting Lawrence Yun, the group’s chief economist, to acknowledge there has been a “clear shift” in the market. The post Home Prices Continue to Lose Momentum appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/home-prices-continue-lose-momentum/ |
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