NBC Southern California - Open House

Buy Jodi Foster's Sunset Strip Home For $6.399M

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:35:29 -0700

The 6,000-square-foot Spanish villa has a large courtyard and attached guest suite, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

$2.2M Home Was Once a School Gymnasium

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:35:29 -0700

This Seattle loft conversion is beautifully designed, and offers two garden patios, reports Curbed.

Photo Credit: Zillow

For $90M, You Could Live on Walt Disney's Estate

LAUREN PASSELL — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:33:21 -0700

In 1949, Lillian Disney expressed interest in a piece of L.A. land in a neighborhood called Holmby Hills. Lillian and her cartoonist husband Walt purchased the property and built their dream home, which still stands today.

And now, more than six decades later, the home is on the market for $90 million, reports Forbes. Chief executive of private investment firm Brener International Group and co-owner of the Houston Dynamo soccer team Gabriel Brener bought the home from the Disneys in 1998 for $8.45 million, a year after Lillian's death.

Brener tore the house down and built a brand-new 35,000-square-foot mansion, which boasts eight bedrooms, 17 baths, a two-story entry foyer, and staff quarters. There's also a custom movie room, three bars, a library, gym, wine cellar, and two safe rooms. The property includes a swimming pool with pool house, tennis court, and putting green. It also offers the utmost privacy.

When the Disneys owned the property, Walt built a 1/8-scale steam railroad with a half-mile of track (including overpasses, a 46-foot-long trestle and an S-shaped underground tunnel) with a standalone barn with a control room in the back yard. The train would become known as the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, and according to Forbes "would serve as part of the inspiration to create Disneyland."

Though the home has been razed, the 90-foot subterranean tunnel remains, with an ivy-covered stone archway with the date "1950" marking its entrance.

So, there's still a hint of Disney magic, after all.

Read the full story on Forbes.

Photo Credit: The Agency

Square Feet: Contemporary Living with Beach Views

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:27:21 -0700

Living on the beach takes on a whole new meaning in this contemporary abode next to the Pacific ocean. For more information on 32013 Laguna Point Pl., please contact Donna Pfanner of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage at 949-499-1320. View the listing.

This episode of Open House was hosted from 240 Riverside Blvd, New York, NY. For more information on this property, please contact Michael Moran and Matthew George of Douglas Elliman at 212-891-7653 and 212-891-7677. View the listing.

Square Feet: Inside the Penthouse at Ariel Towers

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:22:30 -0700

We're on the Upper West Side at the Ariel Towers. These expansive glass towers frame the intricate details of Central Park and the Hudson River all from a spacing and open living design. For more information on 2628 Broadway, please contact Amelia Gewirtz and Andrew Phillips at 212-381-2219. View the listing.

This episode of Open House was hosted from 254 Park Ave, New York, NY. For more information on this property, please contact Yair Tavivian 646-321-6379. View the listing.

Square Feet: Inside a Stunning Duplex Penthouse Built from Raw Space

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:19:59 -0700

Go inside a duplex penthouse built from raw space in Soho. This spectacular backdrop provided the canvas for interior architect Sally Rigg to build this exquisite home. For more information on 497 Greenwich St., please contact Kane Manera of Douglas Elliman at 212-321-7177. View the listing.

This episode of Open House was hosted from 150 East 72nd St., New York, NY. For more information on this property, please contact Dorothy Sexton of Macklowe Properties Sales LLC at 212-545-5000. View the listing.

Tour a $60M Waterfront Oasis

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:24:31 -0700

Miami's hottest real estate duo, The Jills, take us through this impressive 10-bed, 10-bath waterfront oasis, which was recently listed for $52 million. The home is now under contract.

Square Feet: Inside the Goodyear House

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:17:07 -0700

Check out the Goodyear House, a mid-century modern home in Darien, CT, designed by Harvard Five architect John Johansen. For more information on this property please contact Nancy Rawls Dauk of Halstead at 203-656-6501. View the listing.

his episode of Open House NYC was hosted from 147 Waverly Place, New York, NY. For more information on this property, please contact Michael Chapman at 646-613-2613 and Thomas J. Quinn III at 646-613-2667. View the listing.

Square Feet: Experience Utmost Privacy in This Glass House

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:39:14 -0700

Talk about living in a glass house. This beautiful home in Malibu features a two-story glass wall. Privacy is not an issue. It's nestled on the hillside with inspiring mountain and canyon views. For more information on 2315 Live Oak Meadows, please contact Madison Hildebrand of Coldwell Banker at 310.317.9353. View the listing.

This Week on Open House NYC

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:15:08 -0700

Catch Open House Sunday 8:30AM on NBC 4 New York. Check your local listings.

See One of "The Most Bonkers Listings On Earth"

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:55:29 -0700

This Las Vegas castle, declared "the most bonkers listing on earth" by Curbed, is on the market for $5.25 million.

Photo Credit: Redfin

Supermodel Adriana Lima Lists Trophy Home for $5.5M

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:24:07 -0700

The two-bedroom, 2.5 bath pad offers 2,200-square-feet of living space and spectacular views of Central Park and New York City, reports Zillow.

Photo Credit: FilmMagic

New York Trend: Living Together After Breaking Up

LAUREN PASSELL — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:15:05 -0700

The New York Times is reporting on an uncomfortable phenomenon happening in New York City--being forced to cohabitate with your significant other after you've broken up. While this can happen anywhere, it's especially frequent in a place where most people struggle to afford their rent. Sky-high prices expedite the process of couples moving in together, whether they are ready or not.

Cassandra Seale and Mike Byhoff, the Times writes, moved in together in 2010 after about a year of dating. "Part of the reason why the relationship accelerated was that he was in the Lower East Side and it was really convenient for me to stay there, like all the time," Seale said.

So maybe it's not in the name of love, but in the name of a co-sign that these couples are shacking up. But when things go sour, as they so often do, it can be impossible to remedy the situation, depending on the severity of the breakup.

Seal said she resulted to walking the dog for eight hours a day as to not bump into her ex, and coming home the next morning after a night with a new date was extremely awkward.

Ivana Tagliamonte, an agent with Halstead Property, tells the story of a couple sharing a studio for which only the woman had signed the lease. When the couple broke up, the woman moved out, but the man stopped paying the lease. Tagliamonte was the one to tell the woman that her credit was being destroyed by her ex, who was technically squatting in a home she was supposed to be paying for.

Living together is a test of love for most couples--one that New Yorkers are forced to address early on. Read the full story in the Times.

Photo Credit: 35754040@N04 via flickr

The Colorful Home of Penn From Penn & Teller

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:55:31 -0700

One half of the magician duo is asking $2.1 million dollar for his Las Vegas compound, reports Realtor.com.

Photo Credit: Realtor.com

Beautiful Ivy-Covered Home for $9.95M

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:20:38 -0700

The late-1800s home offers gorgeous greenery and tour-worthy gardens, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Photo Credit: Zillow

Judge Judy's Pad Sells for $8.5M

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:40:42 -0700

Judge Judy Sheindlin unloaded her apartment at The Sherry Netherland for $500,000 less than the asking price, reports the Observer.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kat Von D Lists Gothic Spanish-Style Home

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:00:51 -0700

The tattoo artist has listed her Beverly Hills home for $2.5 million, reports the L.A. Times. Katherine von Drachenberg will likely be house hunting with her fiance DJ Deadmau5.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Former Cowboy Mike Jenkins Asks $550K for Posh Dallas Pad

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:51:07 -0700

The NFL star will be moving to the Raiders, and thus has placed his condo on the market, reports Realtor.com.

Inside Jill Zarin's Southampton Home

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:21:20 -0700

Reality-star turned designer Jill Zarin recently moved into her new Southampton home and invited Sara Gore in for a tour.

This episode of Open House was hosted from 449 Old Montauk Hwy, New York, NY. View the listing.

Square Feet: Everything You Ever Wanted in This Southampton Abode

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:30:25 -0700

The Hamptons is all about luxury, elegance and style. And once you see this home, you'll understand why. For more information on 65 First Neck Lane, please contact Gary Depersia of Corcoran at 516-380-0538. View the listing.

This episode of Open House was hosted from 449 Old Montauk Hwy, New York, NY. View the listing.

Sleek Summer Design

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:20:08 -0700

Design duo Aman and Meeks latest project was an elegant yet sleek transformation in Southampton. It was also the former family estate of fashion icon Vera Wang.

Square Feet: A Jeffrey Colle-Designed Hamptons Home

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:36:18 -0700

Located in one of the most sought-after parts of the Hamptons, Wainscott Main Street, this stunning 6800-square-foot home was built by one of Hamptons' best builders Jeffrey Colle.

This episode of Open House was hosted from 449 Old Montauk Hwy, New York, NY. View the listing.

Tips of the Trade: Chic and Simple Design with Erica Broberg

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:57:09 -0700

Architect Erica Broberg takes us through a classic Hamptons home. The design is chic, yet simple. She shows us how a little splash of color can go a long way.

This episode of Open House was hosted from 449 Old Montauk Hwy, New York, NY. View the listing.

Washington Redskin QB Robert Griffin Puts Down $2.5M for Lavish Home

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:51:06 -0700

The football star recently bought a 9,000-square-foot home in a 900-acre Creighton Farms development, a high-end residential community featuring a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, reports the Washington Business Journal.

Photo Credit: Getty

$7M Snaps Up Home of Snapple Prez

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:15:32 -0700

Though the Snapple headquarters is located in White Plains, Belsito prefers to reside in New York City, despite the reverse commute, reports the New York Times. Belsito and his wife bought the four-story home for $2.475 million in 2002.

Photo Credit: Trulia

This Week on Open House: We're In the Hamptons

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:10:39 -0700

Catch Open House Sundays on NBC. Check your local listings.

A Day In The Life of "Million Dollar Listing New York's" Ryan Serhant

LAUREN PASSELL — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:09:05 -0700

On Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing New York," we get a look at the life of Ryan Serhant as he finds buyers and sellers for his clients, but have you ever wondered what Serhant's day is really like? Does he go to the gym in the morning? What time does he get to the office? What does he snack on?

The New York Observer has those answers and lot more, as it takes a look into the life of Mr. Serhant.

The answer to the first question is yes. 28-year-old Serhant arises at 4:23 AM in order to make it to the gym before he arrives at his office shortly after 5 AM. (He's the first one there.)

During the day, via Escalade, Serhant makes his way through a construction space near the High Line, to a space on East 17th street. His brunch is a Monster energy drink and a protein bar.

During lunch, Serhant assists a law student looking to stay in West Chelsea, showing her two properties before heading back to his headquarters in Midtown.

The interview ends at 5 PM, when Serhant is on his way to meet an interior designer to discuss a client seeking a three-bedroom in Soho for $8 million. (Seven hours until he will be able to "congratulate himself on another successful day," and get some shut eye in preparation for another busy day four-and-a-half hours later.

Read the full article on The Observer.

Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Bravo

Beachfront Buy for $57.5M

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:55:09 -0700

The Gehry-designed Borman residence will "top all record prices on Broad Beach" if it sells, reports Curbed.

Photo Credit: Redfin

Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally Sell Bird Street Home

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:30:10 -0700

The comedian duo have unloaded their contemporary, 3,803-square-foot home for $9.97 million, reports the L.A. Times.

Photo Credit: Redfin

Madonna Chops Price to Sell $20M NYC Co-Op

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:35:10 -0700

The pop star's home was sold for "considerably less" than the most recent asking price of $19.995 million, reports the Wall Street Journal. The home, in Harperley Hall, a 1911 Arts and Crafts-style building, offers windows with gracious views of Central Park.

Photo Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Buy Bruce's Home for $22M

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:05:10 -0700

The star put his 10,379-square-foot Spanish-style home on the market, reports the L.A. Times.

Photo Credit: WireImage for Electrolux

Must Agents Reveal Shady Home Histories To Would-Be Buyers?

LAUREN PASSELL — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:18:08 -0700

What would you do if you discovered the house in which you were living was the site of a murder?

That's the position Kayla Bentley found herself in as a newlywed moving in with her in-laws, reports the Detroit Free Press. Her husband's parents loved the three-bedroom, corner-lot home with a full-size kitchen, nice living room,and privacy fencing in Detroit. But Kayla felt uneasy about it.

"It freaks me out, especially because in this situation, (the murderer's) not dead. If he was released or escaped, this is where he’d come," she said.

But in a state like Michigan, you could be living in a home with a similarly shady past and not even know it. In most states, agents are not required to mention if a crime has occurred unless it has material effect on the condition of the property.

California is the only state that requires would-be-buyers to be informed. The result of this is a booming industry of exorcists, or cleansers who remove spirits from homes.

On the seller's disclosure form, there's nothing that says, "'Has there been a murder? Has there been a ghost?,'" said Michelle R. E. Donovan, a Bloomfield Hills real-estate attorney. “You don’t want to fail to disclose something that would influence the buyer’s decision to not purchase the property.”

So it looks like, if this is something that bothers you (and you're not shopping in California,) you'd better do some research.

Read the full article on the Detroit Free Press.

Photo Credit: iamliam via flickr

Peter Madoff's Crooked Home Can't Sell

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:41:32 -0700

The Marshals Service took possession of the home in January and recently put it on the market for $4.495 million, reports the New York Times.

Photo Credit: AP

"Sex And The City" Creator Sells $13M Luxury Condo

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:52:19 -0700

Darren Star recently sold his seven-room apartment, reports the New York Observer.

Photo Credit: Streeteasy

Designer Living: Turn Drab Into Fab

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:09:11 -0700

Interior designer Guy Clark shows us how to add style to your home.

Square Feet: Cozy Luxury Living in Chicago

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:06:22 -0700

Come with us to Kenilwroth, just north of downtown Chicago to a five-bedroom, 5.5-bath home with five fireplaces, and a cozy chef's kitchen. It offers the ultimate in Chicago luxury living just one block from Lake Michigan. For more information on 151 Abingdon, please contact Gayle Dunn of Jean Wright Real Estate at 847-446-9166 x 18. View the listing.

This episode of Open House was hosted from 31 W 76th St. For more information on this property, please contact Ileen Schoenfeld and Aracely Moran of Brown Harris Stevens at 212-396-5878 and 212-588-5649. View the listing.

[LXTVN] Oceanfront Living: Views from Every Room

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:37:40 -0700

Head out West to San Diego to an oceanfront estate with a 10,000-square-feet main house and separate guest house. The views from every room are breathtaking. For more information on 5305 Carlsbad, please contact Patrick Knapp of Coldwell Banker at (949) 640-3600. View the listing.

Square Feet: Inside a "Home by Novogratz"

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:37:01 -0700

We're at the historic townhouse in Nolita, built by husband and wife team Robert and Cortney Novogratz, formerly of Bravo's "9 By Design" and stars of HGTV's "Home By Novogratz." This spacious 5,000-square foot property includes four outdoor terraces, a dine-in wine cellar, and a rooftop Jacuzzi. For more information on 4 Centre Market, please contact Adam Mahfouda and Jeff Yohai of Oxford Property Group at (516) 987-2602. View the listing.

Square Feet: Inside a Rockstar Estate

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:09:07 -0700

Tour a nearly 86-hundred-square-foot estate. What makes this property so special is that it was once home to the former recording studio of the band "Spyro Gyra." Many major artists passed through there, including the Goo Goo Dolls, Foreigner, Mariah Carey, and more. For more information on 926 Haverstraw, please contact Jim Brun at 845-362-3938. View the listing.

Design and Dining at "The Dutch"

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:26:50 -0700

Let's head over to Soho in New York City to The Dutch, one of the country's hottest restaurants to check out the restaurant's gorgeous design and also taste some of the incredible food.

The Beauty Of Decay: Gorgeous Shots of Creepy, Abandoned Buildings

LAUREN PASSELL — Fri, 31 May 2013 11:53:23 -0700

After taking a myriad of directions, Niki Feijen of The Netherlands has discovered his passion in photography, or Urbex. Wikipedia defines "Urbex" as "urban exploration--exploration of man-made structures, usually abandoned ruins or not usually seen components of the man-made environment."

Feijen visits and photographs abandoned buildings, tunnels, castles, and more.

The galleries on his site are eerie and unreal, as if taken straight out of a horror film. And in them, he finds, as he says on his site, "the beauty of decay."

Niki took this photo of an abandoned church in 2012. In the pews, he says, "were nine 'ghosts' all dressed in winkle cloths. At least five times a week I get the same question -- 'what was underneath?' Well, I do not know. We never looked. I suppose some sort of framing. Nevertheless a very creepy but memorable experience."

This photo is of an abandoned classroom in Pripyat, a Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

A photo of a nursery in Pripyat.

A ferris wheel in Pripyat.

This is a shot taken of an abandoned nursing home.

This home was destroyed by rain that had poured through a hole in the ceiling for years, turning the carpet into moss, yet it still seems frozen in time. Even the fake flowers remain.

A decayed organ remains inside an abandoned church.

See Feijen's amazing photos on his website and Facebook page.

Photo Credit: nikifeijen.nl

Tour Converted Butter Factory Home

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:20:35 -0700

This contemporary home, converted from a buttery factory in 2007, was placed on the market for $1.1 million, reports Curbed.

Photo Credit: Redfin

This Week on Open House NYC

Thu, 30 May 2013 12:15:06 -0700

Don't miss Open House NYC Sunday 8:30AM on NBC 4 New York.

This Week on Open House

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 07:43:38 -0700

Catch Open House Sundays on NBC. Check your local listings.

Christian Slater Buys "Villa Dolce Far Niente" For $2.2M

Fri, 31 May 2013 08:20:25 -0700

The actor and his fiancee purchased a 2,972-square-foot meticulously renovated 1926 Italian-style home in Coconut Grove, Florida, reports the Daily Business Review.

Inside the Country's Most Expensive Home

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:11:14 -0700

This estate in Greenwich, Connecticut is asking $190 million--that's $55 million more than what's now America's second most expensive listing, and $72.5 million more than America's biggest sale, ever, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Photo Credit: Realtor.com

The Downfalls of Owning a Frank Lloyd Wright Home

LAUREN PASSELL — Wed, 29 May 2013 11:20:52 -0700

Despite the excitement and prestige of owning a FLW home, there are certain pitfalls, reports the Wall Street Journal. There are exactly 20 on the market as we speak.

Remember Sharon and Lawrence Tarantino? They own a FLW home in Millstone, New Jersey, and experiencing some major flooding issues. The couple hopes to sell the home to a buyer who will ship the home to Italy.

But flooding isn't the only headache experienced by FLW buyers. Designs unique to FLW architecture, like small kitchens and closets, and a lack of what Wright deemed unnecessary space, are challenges when it comes to living and repairing.

It's challenging to renovate the homes while maintaining Wright's innovations, like radiant-floor heating, carports, built-in furniture and soaring clerestory windows. Plus, the Wright conservancy holds permanent easements on 16 private Wright residents, restricting exterior alterations.

So owners who are enthusiastic about owning a piece of architectural history often find themselves losing millions on repairs that aren't paying off in a sell. Still, as the Wall Street Journal points out, "Many owners of Wright homes believe the pleasures of dwelling in a legendary architect's creation far outweigh any drawbacks."

Read the rest of the story here.

Photo Credit: ZIllow

Tour $11M "Cougar Town" Home

Thu, 30 May 2013 08:36:12 -0700

The actress and her husband, show co-creator Bill Lawrence, are splitting with their two-story New England farmhouse-style home, reports the L.A. Times.

Photo Credit: Trulia

Buy Kirk Douglas's Old Pad for $17M

Fri, 31 May 2013 08:15:39 -0700

The 90210 home of Kirk Douglas in the forties is situated on an acre and is on the market for $17 million, reports Curbed. The property offers a tennis court, pool, fountain, gym, and free-standing guest house.

Photo Credit: AP

Manhattan's 11-Room "Garden In The Sky" Asks $17M

Wed, 29 May 2013 08:18:24 -0700

The duplex penthouse is on the market for the first time since 1975, when the owners purchased it for themselves as a honeymoon gift, reports the New York Times.

Photo Credit: Zillow