In the world of sports, only a handful of names can rival the legendary status of Lionel Messi.
Known as the Messi-ah of soccer, the Argentinian athlete has racked up countless achievements and awards, including the elusive World Cup in 2022, which took him 16 years to finally win.
When he’s not busy scoring goals and making defenders question their life choices, Leo Messi is living it up in his seriously swanky mansions and condos. He has a net worth of around $600 million, so it comes as no surprise that Messi would splurge on his homes.
With properties in different parts of the world, many fans wonder – “Where does Leo Messi live now?”
The star athlete has been busy growing his real estate portfolio since 2017, so it can be hard to keep up with his whereabouts. But, as he is currently playing for Inter Miami, he has now settled in Vice City.
And while he’s still keeping things under wraps — until he finds the right mansion to put down roots in Miami — we’ve put together a list of Lionel Messi’s houses and condos in recent years, to give you an idea of the soccer star’s options when it comes to housing.
Lionel Messi bought a couple of million-dollar condos in Miami
Back in 2019, before his MLS move to Inter Miami, Messi dropped $5 million to buy an oceanfront condo unit at Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach.
His unit totals 3,555 square feet and has three bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms (swipe for pics).
The 60-story luxury condominium offers ultra-luxurious amenities, including a car elevator that allows residents to drive their cars straight to their apartments, providing privacy for high-profile celebrities and billionaires. Messi reportedly sold his unit for $7 million in 2021.
Later, he purchased another luxe Miami penthouse at the Regalia Residences, just 10 blocks away from his first condo.
Messi decided to go big on the upgrade and purchased the whole ninth floor for $7.3 million.
The four-bedroom penthouse has lots of living space, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that framed the scenic beach views perfectly. Seven months after he closed the deal, Lionel Messi’s condo was relisted and ended up back on the market.
He lived in a lavish mansion in Barcelona
Prior to his move to the States, Messi’s primary residence was a lavish mansion in Barcelona.
He built the property in the upscale Bellamar neighborhood in Castelldefels. According to reports, he bought the house in 2009 for $2 million and spent millions more on renovations. It is rumored that he bought the adjacent lot as well, just because the neighbors were too noisy and he wanted some privacy.
The mansion features modern architecture and Mediterranean-themed indoors, with hardwood floors and spacious living areas.
Outdoors, there’s a large garden, a barbeque pit, a pool, and a small playground for Messi’s kids. To keep himself in good shape, Messi also had a small football field installed on the side of his house.
Messi, along with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three sons, stayed in this mansion for over a decade while he was still playing for Barcelona. It remains unclear if he still owns this property or if he sold it after he switched teams.
Reports say that Lionel Messi also purchased a property near his childhood home in Rosario, Argentina, so he can visit his hometown whenever he wants. Details of this home have been kept secret to protect his family’s privacy.
Leo Messi also has a growing hotel portfolio
Messi doesn’t hold back in his pursuits and this extends to his ventures in the realm of real estate.
He entered the hotel business in 2017 and acquired MIM Hotels, managed by Majestic Hotel Group, run by his brother Rodrigo.
Over the past years, the footballer-turned-hotelier has been adding more properties to his hotel chain. Now, the group owns six hotels with locations in Sitges, Ibiza, Majorca, Baqueira, Sotogrande, and Andorra.
Many football fans can’t help but compare Messi to his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who also runs a chain of hotels. The two superstar athletes can’t seem to shake off the competition even off the field. Messi, however, leads the business game with his expanding luxury hotel chain.
Loving life in Miami
While there have been no reports on where Leonardo Messi lives in Miami, it looks like he and his family have settled into their new life in the US. They were spotted shopping for groceries in the local supermarket, all in casual clothing, looking cheerful and perfectly at ease.
In an interview, Messi shared how happy he is with his decision to move to the States.
“I came here to play and to keep enjoying soccer which is what I loved my whole life and I choose this place because of all those things,” he said.
“I can tell you that I am very happy with the decision I made and for how my family and I live our day-to-day lives and how we enjoy the city and this new experience and how the people received us from the first day, from the people of Miami and the people of the US in general.”
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Years ago, when most realtors were still making the transition to online, getting found on the internet wasn’t that hard. Now, however, there’s a lot of competition, and a lot of competition makes for a lot less visibility.
This is where picking the right real estate keywords comes in. Keywords are the words or phrases that your potential buyers and sellers search for, and having the right ones can increase traffic to your site.
Whether your goal is ranking in Google or writing the perfect listing descriptions, I’ll walk you through the basics.
What is search engine optimization?
First things first.
Search engine optimization (or SEO, as you’ll see it more often) is basically what it sounds like—optimizing your page so that search engines will know how to find and recommend it.
While there are many search engines out there, Google is the one you’re going to want to focus on. It has the largest market share, and other search engines tend to follow its example.
High search volume isn’t always your friend
While a lot of resources out there for realtors will give you a list of keywords with impressive monthly search numbers and send you on your way, that isn’t exactly how this whole SEO thing works. In reality, monthly search number give you only a part of the story.
Let’s look at the search term “realtor.”
According to Google keyword planner, it is searched about 3.35 million times a month. That sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? But a closer look at a show you two things
First, despite the large number of searches, the competition is low. There’s a disconnect there–none of your competitors want this keyword. While low competition is ideal in most situations, this is not one of them. (Sidenote while we’re on the subject: you almost never want to go after a keyword with high competition. That would put your odds at ranking on Google’s first page for this term at pretty much nothing.)
Second, what would you say the average person searching “realtor” is looking for, exactly? Someone to sell their home? Realtor.com? The definition of a realtor? Job opportunities as a realtor?
Only one of those is good for you—but even then, what are the odds the searcher is located near you? This and the lack of competition all point to the fact that “realtor” is not a high-intent keyword. That means that it is too general to consistently drive quality traffic to your site.
Choosing the right keywords for your website
So general keywords don’t work. But which ones do?
Your best bet is to focus on what those in the SEO industry call “long-tail keywords.” These are longer, multi-word search phrases that describe more specifically what the searcher wants, like for instance, “real estate agent in Milford Connecticut.” Maybe it only gets 30 searches a month, but odds are much better that you will be exactly what those 30 searchers are looking for.
One of the best ways to add high-value long-tail keywords to your site? Start a blog. This gives you an opportunity to not only find and target a wider variety of keywords, but to share your expertise with potential buyers and build credibility.
For more a more in depth (but still beginner-friendly) guide to optimizing blog posts, take a look at this blog post we created on the subject. It was originally intended to be a resource for loan officers, but many of the same points still stand.
Search engine tools
As you’ve probably already guessed, finding keywords requires a little help. Here are some good (and free) tools you can use to feel out your keyword options.
Google Keyword Planner. If you have a Gmail account, you already have access to this workhorse. Though it was intended to be used for Google adwords advertisers (these are the ads you see at the top of Google search results) it provides a lot of general information that can be used almost anywhere. It offers three main tools: one that helps you come up with new keywords, one that gets you search and competition data on those keywords, and another that lets you create lists of potential keywords from keywords you already have.
Keywordtool.io. While there is a more robust premium version of this site, the free version is a great way to get keyword suggestions quickly.
Google autofill. Surprisingly, this simple trick is a another easy way to find keywords suggestions. You know how when you type something into Google, they provide you with a list of things you could be typing? That’s because Google collects a lot of data and is able to suggest search terms based on it.
Mozbar. Moz is one of the most respected SEO programs out there, and this free Chrome extension offers you a few of its most helpful tools for free. It’s great for investigating a keyword you’ve chosen and can, among other things, show you the domain authority (DA) and page authority (PA) of current Google rankings for your keyword. The lower those competitors are, the better chance you have of beating that page and ranking.
Picking the right listing keywords for buyers
Now, on to a different kind of keyword: the listing keyword.
While the programs we’ve just discussed won’t apply directly to writing your listings, there is some crossover in strategy.
Buying a house isn’t the same thing as investing in stocks and bonds. There’s a lot of emotional baggage that comes with a home, and buyers don’t always make their decisions rationally.
That’s why it pays to really think hard about what kind of buyer you’re trying to attract.
Say a potential buyer is looking to narrow down their search for their dream house and adds the term “granite countertops.”
Could it mean they just really have a thing for granite? Sure.
But because of what granite signifies in most peoples’ minds (upscale, in a new development, recently renovated) and what you often find along with it (high-end fixtures, custom cabinetry, neutral tones), a search for granite countertops is also likely shorthand for something hard to describe or fit in a search bar, whether buyers realize it or not.
So what does that get you? A good idea of who these people are and what they want to see upon finding your listing—and your blueprint for keeping them hooked.
Whenever you’re writing a listing, remember to have a clear picture of your desired audience. Like with website keywords, that audience may be narrower, but it will be much more motivated to take the next step.
Keywords for upscale or move in ready properties
Though the properties maybe very different in reality, buyers of upscale and move-in ready homes tend to have similar tastes. Both are swayed by amenities and turned off by potential projects, and you’re going to want to stay aware of that as you write.
These 20 words, for instance, came from a study conducted on the listing descriptions of NYC homes that sold faster than the average. For the full list, check out the pdf.
beautiful
hardwood floors
stainless steel appliances
renovated
private
spacious
washer dryer
shopping
closet space
brand new
luxury
high ceilings
huge
wood floors
quiet
city views
enjoy
home office
fitness
pool
Keywords for homes that could use some love
Not all homes are (or can pretend to be) upscale, though. And in some cases, they shouldn’t try to be.
Homes that need a little work often attract a different set of buyers—investors and bargain hunters willing to put in a little sweat equity. Disguising your listing with careful wording can make it more difficult for the right buyers to find, keeping it on the MLS for longer than it needs to be. Just take a look at this Biggerpocket forum thread where users discussed how they search for investment properties.
Here are some of the words they like to see in listings:
Winter weather has arrived in Oregon — it’s rainy and cold. This time of year, Kris and I search for ways to keep warm. A lot of guides to saving money on heating contain impractical advice: “consider heating with solar energy!”. They offer good suggestions for the long-term, but they aren’t useful if you want to save money now. Here are some frugal ways we stay warm in our drafty old house.
Let in some light. Open blinds on south-facing windows during the day to let in the sun. Close them in the evening to add a bit more insulation. This provides just enough mid-day warmth that we don’t need the heater.
Use rugs on bare floors. We have hardwood floors above a poorly-insulated basement. These floors are cold in the morning and the late afternoon. An area rug does a fine job of keeping my feet warmer.
Block drafts. This is best done with weather-stripping or other forms of insulation, but even a blanket in front of a door helps. Because our house is so old, nothing is level. This makes it difficult to install weather stripping. The bottom of our mudroom door, for example, has a one-inch gap on one end but is flush with the floor near the hinge. By laying a blanket in front of the door, we can mitigate some of the heat loss.
Use space heaters. According to Michael Bluejay’s energy guide, this is the single best way to save money on electricity. As I learned from my tests with the Kill-a-Watt, a portable radiator-type oil heater uses a lot of power, but not nearly as much as a furnace. We have a couple of these heaters. They take a while to get warm, but once they’re going, the can heat a small space cheaply.
Bundle up. I love cold-weather clothes: long underwear, sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves. Some days we simply bundle up and turn down the heat. It’s cozy. And don’t forget: house slippers go a long way to keeping you warm!
Install a programmable thermostat. My sister-in-law just received her first big heating bill at her new home. “It was $100!” she said. (She had been leaving her thermostat at 68-degrees around the clock.) Her heating bill was more than she had budgeted, and made it easy to justify the cost of a new programmable thermostat. They’re easy to install and an excellent way to cut your heating costs. We set ours for 54 at night and when we’re gone during the day. (Reader Adam G. reviewed his programmable thermostat last August.)
Use an electric blanket. There’s no need to heat the entire house when you’re asleep. There’s no need to even heat the bedroom. An electric blanket is cheaper and cozier. (A blanket with dual-controls is best.)
Change the furnace filter. A dirty filter forces the furnace to work harder, decreasing its efficiency, increasing heating costs. We change the furnace filter at the start of the season, and once every month or two thereafter.
Close unused rooms. Do not heat them. This winter, we closed off our guest room and shut the heater vent. That room is now separate from the rest of the house. It stays cold, but there’s no reason to keep it warm.
These steps can reduce your heating costs immediately. In the long term, your best bet is to make sure your home is properly insulated. You should also check that your heat source is efficient, and that you’re not losing heat in unintended locations.
For example, I went down to the cellar last night to pull out some Christmas lights. I was startled to find that the basement was actually warm. It shouldn’t be. It’s uninsulated, below-ground, and exposed to the cold. The furnace was pumping away, doing its thing, heating the house. But it was apparently heating the cellar, too. It took only a moment to find the problem — our ductwork is not insulated. As the hot air blows through the pipes, the metal is heating, and the warmth is dissipating into the basement. We need to fix that.
Reportedly, insulating your water heater is another good way to save money. Since ours lives in the uninsulated mudroom, we should probably look into that.
For a detailed analysis of how your home can be heated most efficiently, set up an appointment for an energy audit. Many large cities have free programs for assessing home energy use. In Oregon, for example, the Energy Trust is a non-profit coalition of energy companies. A representative will tour your home and give you advice on how to save money on utilities. It’s free. (In fact, when we did it, they gave us several compact fluorescent bulbs and told us about rebates we qualified for. It was better than free.)
Buying a house in the last few years has been an interesting experiment. When I bought my little Seattle oasis back in 2006 that just happened to be numbered 34, I was overjoyed at having a sliver of the world to call my own. Maybe it has something to do with being a child of divorce and moving a round a lot growing up, but having my own place… the sense of accomplishment was palpable. It made me officially feel like an adult. No siblings. No roommates. All decisions were to be mine and mine alone. Oh the heady sense of freedom! Perhaps that’s what led to my life changing so dramatically a scant six months later. But I digress.
As the beginning stages of this blog documented, I had grand plans for little #34, but sadly they never came to pass. Now that we’re selling it, I’m feeling a little sad that I didn’t get to see my design dreams through. This is particularly true when it comes to the kitchen. As a lover of cooking and an even bigger lover of food, I’ve planned my dream kitchen for years. It is the heart of the home after all.
This classic Domino kitchen was my go-to inspiration.
I was ready to break down walls, tear down cabinets and create the little kitchen of my dreams. Alas, it was not to be. So now it’s my hope that someone new will step through the door and take reigns of this little diamond in the rough. Granted, I know I have no control over how some future inhabitant might want to leave their mark on #34, but I’d like to offer them a few tips.
You can create a perfect kitchen even in a small space. Every decision just has to have maximum impact. These are the four keys I’d planned to implement when Apartment 34 was mine all mine.
Make a dramatic design statement: When you don’t have a lot of room to make a big impact, the easiest way to do it is with your backsplash. I love the idea of using geometric patterns in a smaller square footages. It has maximum effect without being overwhelming.
Let it shine: I have a secret love affair. With pendant lights. They are the ultimate statement maker. You can completely change a room’s personality with them – swing from vintage to art deco to modern in a split second. I love using lights to add a tiny hint of glamour.
Let it all hang out: I am 100% committed to open shelving. Yes, they force to style a bit more. Yes, they force you to clean a bit more. And yes, every moment is worth it.
Watch where you step: While floors might be the last thing you look at, they are a quiet force in any room. I love beautiful, wide-planked hardwood floors in a kitchen. They add warmth, heart and a sense of history.
There is SO much potential in Apartment 34’s sweet little kitchen. I just hope it goes to someone who wants to make it so. Maybe that someone is you? Or someone you know? If you happen to live in Seattle, or want to, I hope you’ll take little peek! I’d be so happy to know someone else opened the door to their future at #34!
image one from vintage domino, kitchen images via pinterest
You probably know him best for his role as hopelessly duped FBI agent Stan Beeman on the FX series, “The Americans.”
And now, Noah Emmerich, the talented actor who portrayed Beeman, is selling his lovely New York City apartment.
Interested? Prepare to dig deep. The listing price for the modest one-bedroom, 1.5-bath pad in the East Village is $1,999,000. The apartment last sold in 2007 for $1,175,000.
While just 1,150 square feet, the home’s elegant details and standout, north-facing views give it a roomier feel.
The apartment is a large one-bedroom space, but it was originally designed as a two-bedroom home. The main bedroom sits behind pocket doors and has its own large walk-in closet and a fancy marble bathroom.
The sleek galley kitchen sports stainless appliances, custom cabinets, and a subway-tile backsplash. A sizable dining space, unusual for an apartment this size, sits just outside the kitchen.
There are also hardwood floors throughout, recessed lighting, central air conditioning, and a half-bath with a linen closet tucked inside.
The high-end building features a number of amenities, including 24-hour door attendants, a live-in manager, storage rooms for bikes and personal items, and a gym. There’s also a shared, outdoor space with a planted deck, tables, seating, and a rooftop pool.
Emmerich has appeared in a number of movies—”The Truman Show,” “Little Children,” and “Super 8,” among others—and seems to enjoy playing federal investigators. Another role has him working for the government as an FBI agent, this time in the Apple TV show “Suspicion,” with co-star Uma Thurman.
In these languid—and, for much of the country, excruciatingly, unbelievably hot—days of summer, the timeless allure of a large, cool body of water beckons. And while heading to the lake is, for some, an occasional destination, for others it’s a way of life.
Sure, some of America’s more famous lake towns are pricey. But there are others that are surprisingly affordable, offering lakeside living for bargain-basement prices. The data team at Realtor.com® dug into the data to find some of the cheapest lake town real estate in the nation.
It helps that there are a lot of lakes in America. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are just shy of 7 million bodies of water in the U.S. and in adjacent areas along the borders. Of those, 5.76 million are classified as a lake or pond, and 134,000 have official names.
Each of the lake towns we found has a unique charm, blending natural beauty and local culture. All of them are nestled in the most affordable regions of the country, especially the Upper Midwest to the Deep South—areas known for their low cost of living. As it turns out, they’re also ideal places for lake house shoppers not looking to stretch their budget.
As famously avid lake admirer Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “A lake is a landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.”
To find the most affordable lake towns, we looked at all the home listings for the past year within a half-mile (roughly a 10-minute walk) of a named lake or pond. (Named bodies of water exclude reservoirs and lakes that folks can’t swim or boat on.) Then we calculated the median prices from July 2022 through June 2023 for homes in those areas to pinpoint the most affordable lake towns in 2023. Only towns with at least 50 home listings over that period were included.
We excluded big cities, because we’re looking for places where the lake plays a large part in the local culture. And we didn’t include extremely small towns, because you’ve got to have at least a few shops and restaurants to keep you busy when you’re not on the water. And we included only the single most affordable lake town in any state, to ensure geographic diversity.
So let’s set sail to the most affordable lakeside real estate in 2023.
Median list price: $154,900 Median list price per square foot: $76 Population: 29,534
Danville, a relatively small town in east central Illinois along the Indiana border, is home to Lake Vermilion. The human-made reservoir provides drinking water for the city, but it has also become a popular fishing and boating location. Cabins and docks line its forested edge.
The town was an industrial hot spot for the region from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, as a major coal mining town and a rail hub. Abraham Lincoln was known to visit the town and once delivered a speech from the balcony of the home of a prominent Danville resident.
The median home listing within a half-mile of Lake Vermilion over the past year had a price tag 65% below the national median list price of $445,000 in June. A three-bedroom home within walking distance of Lake Vermilion, with hardwood floors, a garage, and a big yard, goes for $120,000. And for just over $100,000, home shoppers can find a two-bedroom condo about as close to the lake.
Median list price: $140,000 Median list price per square foot: $79 Population: 2,838
Rogers City is the smallest of any of the spots on our list of affordable lake towns, just shy of 3,000 residents.
Situated on the banks of Lake Huron, about 45 minutes from Cheboygan, Rogers City residents have quick access to multiple parks along the lakeshore. They include Harbor View Park on the southern corner, Seagull Point Park on the northern tip of the town, and several in between, including the Rogers City Yacht Harbor and Lakeside Park.
Rogers City has been host to multiple salmon fishing tournaments in the summer, including the vividly named Fat Hogs Fishing Frenzy and the more straightforward Rogers City Salmon Tournament.
It’s also home to the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum and the Presque Isle County Historical.
A large three-bedroom home with a garage and a brick fire pit in the backyard can be found for $165,000, a short walk from Rogers City’s North Shore Park and beach.
Median list price: $122,750 Median list price per square foot: $83 Population: 12,651
The western tip of northern New York state, in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, is known for its lakeside getaway culture. And although some of the area’s real estate is quite pricey, the lowest home prices within a half-mile of a lake can be found in Dunkirk at the edge of Lake Erie.
The area was first occupied by the Indigenous Erie and Seneca tribes, then colonized by the French, who erected the Dunkirk Lighthouse at Point Gratiot in 1826. This helped the town become a significant regional port for coal and lumber shipping. It’s now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Dunkirk has multiple beach parks, and it hosts several summertime events, including an annual strawberry festival, arts and music festivals, and a “Fly-In Breakfast,” which welcomes pilots from all over to the small lakeside town.
Duke McLachlan, a real estate agent with Howard Hanna Hold Real Estate in neighboring Jamestown, says that from June through August, life in this area is all about the lake, for residents and visitors alike.
“It’s the whole Chautauqua area,” McLachlan says. “The local economy really picks up.”
Buyers will find the most listings just before and after prime lake season. Sellers know they can find buyers looking forward to the summer in April and May. Meanwhile, other sellers will list in September and October after they used their homes for the summer.
Median list price: $129,900 Median list price per square foot: $86 Population: 10,465
Minnesota is called the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” for a reason: The state has 11,842 of them.
So don’t drop your oar in the water when you hear that Fairmont, a small town in southern Minnesota near the Iowa border, sits on a string of five small lakes. These include George Lake, in the northern part of Fairmont, and Budd Lake, near the center of town.
All five offer boating and fishing—and there is very affordable real estate near two of these bodies of water.
The median home that was listed over the past year near both Lake George and Budd Lake is less than half the national list price. The real estate near Budd Lake is a little pricier, due to its proximity to the center of Fairmont, and a couple of developed parks along its edge.
For those who want to live and work near the water year-round in the “City of Lakes,” Fairmont’s local economy is driven by the local Mayo Health System hospital, two small colleges, and a couple of modern industrial companies.
Median list price: $126,900 Median list price per square foot: $91 Population: 4,977
Cherokee Village, a small town in central northern Arkansas about 20 miles south of the Missouri border, boasts seven lakes in total.
Lake Cherokee, the smaller of the two lakes where we found low-priced homes, has a park and private docks. Meanwhile, Lake Thunderbird, the town’s largest lake, has a public marina and the town’s public recreation center, which has two swimming pools and a minigolf course.
For just under $290,000, a homebuyer can get a 1,200 square-foot, two-bedroom house with a backyard dock on Lake Thunderbird. For those looking for homes costing less, just across the street from Lake Cherokee, a two-bedroom townhome can be found for as little as $120,000.
Median list price: $169,900 Median list price per square foot: $95 Population: 9,305
Pickwick Lake, a popular boating and fishing destination, was created by the Pickwick Landing Dam on the Tennessee River near where Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi meet.
The lake is known for record-size smallmouth bass and catfish. Local fishing guides say 2- or 3-pound smallmouth bass are the norm—and catches of 5 to 6 pounds are not uncommon.
History lovers will also appreciate the small town of Sheffield. It became a major wartime aluminum smelting location in the 1940s, boosting the nation’s aircraft production. It’s also the hometown of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
And it’s where you’ll find the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, where a litany of modern musical icons came to record, including The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Cher, and Wham! The studio faded and was repurposed for several years, before a documentary reignited interest and a restoration brought it back to life. It’s now a museum during the day and a working studio at night.
Median list price: $135,000 Median list price per square foot: $96 Population: 65,440
Lorain is a small city on Lake Erie, in the far western corner of the Cleveland metro area. Like the other Great Lakes locations on our list, Lorain was once an industrial production mecca, dominated by steel.
Now, says Bill Swanzer, a real estate broker at The Swanzer Agency Realtors in neighboring Amherst, Lorain mixes a classic lake culture with good access to the city.
“You’re only 20 or 30 minutes from the Cleveland Browns‘ stadium,” Swanzer says. “So you can get to all the big-city things—live sports, live music, shows.”
But for Lorain residents, Lake Erie’s offerings are right in the backyard.
“The lake’s always been a big draw for us,” Swanzer says. “You’ve got kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming—you’ll see Jet-Skis on the water and parasailing.”
Median list price: $139,900 Median list price per square foot: $97 Population: 11,276
Two Rivers is uniquely situated on Lake Michigan, such that it remains cooler than nearby areas on hot summer days—earning the town its nickname “Cool City.” It became a summertime destination for folks looking for a reprieve from the heat.
The moniker is memorialized just about everywhere, from the annual Cool City Car Show & Cruise, the Cool City Brewing Co., and Cool City Coffee Shop to the Cool City Charters and Cool City Cleaners.
Summer activities include swimming and sunbathing at Neshotah Park & Beach, and hiking and camping in Point Beach State Forest, just north of town. There’s also boating and fishing on Lake Michigan and the town’s—you guessed it—two rivers. It’s also only about 30 miles southeast of Green Bay, offering relatively quick access to a big city nearby.
But what’s especially cool about Two Rivers for us is the low price of homes near Lake Michigan. Take this recently listed two-bedroom home with an updated bathroom and floors about a block from Lake Michigan, priced at just $134,000.
Median list price: $185,000 Median list price per square foot: $106 Population: 9,299
About 30 miles east of Wichita is Augusta and its 190-acre human-made lake on the north end. Augusta Lake, lined with parks, grassy embankments, and walking trails, is a community center of sorts. There are Little League tournaments, concerts, disc golf, and the town’s Fourth of July celebration, in addition to the standard lake activities like fishing, boating, and kayaking.
The town is known for its historic buildings, many of which have been added to the National or State Register of Historic Places.
Of course, we’re interested in the home prices, which are inexpensive, even for a relatively affordable state like Kansas. A three-bedroom, ranch-style home six doors away from Augusta Lake can be found for just $150,000.
Median list price: $285,000 Median list price per square foot: $125 Population: 7,565
Homes within a half-mile of Prestwood Lake are the most expensive of any place on our list of affordable lake towns—but they’re still about 35% less expensive than the national median list price.
Lauri McLeland, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Segars Realty in Hartsville, says it’s not uncommon to see small speed boats and jon boats on Prestwood Lake, and even some kayakers on Black Creek, which leads into the lake.
But although there’s a decent amount of housing within that half-mile of the lake, it can be a tight market for buyers looking for something right on the water.
The small South Carolina town, about an hour northeast of the state capital of Columbia, is a tight-knit community, says McLeland. Word of someone selling their home can lead quickly to an offer from another local looking to get closer to the water.
“Prestwood is a really pretty lake,” McLeland says. “There’s not a lot of housing right on the lake, and some of those sell before they even hit the market.”
With home prices down, foreclosures up, there’s an influx of great homes on the market with less competition vying for them. The next year or so may present some prime buying opportunities for those willing to do some homework, and who meet the prerequisites of home ownership. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, one of the most important things to ask yourself when you start looking for a house is: “How easy will it be to sell this thing?”
Sound personal-finance decisions usually involve thinking one step ahead. You should not be content just to get into a house that you emotionally fall in love with; rather, you should be looking to buy a house that you can get out of quickly, easily, and at a profit should life happen to throw you a curveball that will force you to move.
What characteristics lead to a house being highly “marketable”? Granted, there’s not an exact set of criteria that will be ideal for all people in all situations and markets, but the more factors you have working in your favor the better. We’re not talking about buying a house for the purpose of flipping it. We’re simply talking about buying a house that you can live in, put some sweat equity into over time, and then sell for a profit.
Unexpected Moves Can Happen to Anyone
When I purchased my first home 3-1/2 years ago, I was thinking I would be in it until I was able to pay off my mortgage. I loved the location, the house, and the neighbors. My wife and I both had solid jobs. It was also a house that we could grow into: 3 bed, 1.5 bath, 1,500 finished square feet, full basement, and a nice yard — all in an area with a low cost-of-living and high quality-of-life.
Fast-forward 2-1/2 years: a fantastic job opportunity presented itself. We decided it would be best for us to sell and move two hours away. Thanks to some smart thinking before we bought the house and some elbow grease, we were not only able to sell the house in just three months, but make a 10% gain on it in a horrible market. Additionally, we were able to do this via “for sale by owner”.
As you shop for a home, keep in mind these characteristics that not only make it appealing to live in now, but will make it have greater equity in the future (thus making it easier to sell).
The Right Size
You need to not only look for a house that fits for you, but also that fits for the majority of the population. Here’s what the majority of households are looking for or are able to adapt to:
Look for a minimum of three bedrooms and a maximum of four. Two bedroom homes mostly cater to single people or couples that do not or will not have children (and aren’t concerned with selling their house). At the same time, homes with five bedrooms or more cater to those who have a healthy number of children, or plan on having them in the near future. That makes three- and four-bedroom homes the perfect size for the majority of the population, with three bedrooms being ideal. If you haven’t noticed, large suburban homes that are energy drainers are quickly going out of style.
In terms of number of bathrooms, 1-1/2 or 2 will make the home more desirable than just one. If you’re looking at a house that could cheaply add another half or full bath, you might have a good find.
Square footage is important, but not quite as much as the number of bedrooms. Typically, you’ll want more than 1,000 (with room to expand) and less than 2,000 for a home to be comfortable and efficient for the majority of the home-buying population.
Curb Appeal That is Ripe For Improvement
When it comes to selling a house, the biggest challenge is getting people in it. The key is to find an attractive home from an architectural perspective that needs aesthetic upgrades. Consider yourself lucky to find a home with an ugly paint color and really poor landscaping. These are two things that you can spruce up on the cheap with a little sweat equity.
If you’re willing to get up on the roof, a home with a poor roof may present an opportunity to get a credit during the bidding process (with a recommendation from an inspector) that is worth the price of a professional doing the job. You can then turn around and buy the materials and do it yourself, while pocketing the remainder of the money to apply towards your loan or other projects. Our current home has an older roof with a few warped pieces of wood sheathing. We were able to get a $6,500 credit for a project that is costing just $2,000 to do on our own.
On the extreme end of things, our current house had an ugly asphalt driveway that was falling apart. What was attractive about this is that the driveway is only about 25 feet in length so tearing it out and replacing it only cost us $1,700. Now, it looks great!
Here are some other cheap ways to improve a home’s curb appeal before you sell it:
Paint the shutters
Power wash everything
Refinish the porch
Add landscaping that looks great year-round
Water the grass until it’s the greenest on the block
Add a nice new mailbox and address numbers
Good Structure
When it comes to buying a home, you want to avoid major structural issues that will cost you big money to fix or will diminish your leverage when it’s time to sell if you haven’t fixed them. Here are a few of the biggest culprits:
Do not buy a house that has issues with the foundation. If you see large cracks in the foundation outside or on the basement walls, or the walls look like they are caving in some spots, kindly leave the house and look elsewhere.
Termite or carpenter ant damage is common in some locales, and it may be hard to find an older home that hasn’t had a little damage at one point or another. The key here is to find a home that does not have major structural damage and has no signs of current issues. Some home inspectors will actually insure for a year or more that there are no current signs of infestation, and if they appear, they will cover the costs to terminate.
Have you ever walked through a house that makes you feel claustrophobic or just didn’t feel right? Odds are that other people feel that way in the same homes. Don’t buy them. This may be remedied by knocking down a wall or two in some homes, but that can be an expensive project and you may be risking structural damage.
Avoid buying a house that has signs of mold or water damage. They can be very expensive to fix and usually are signs of larger foundational or roof issues. Here again, a good home inspector will be able to test or look for both.
Beware problems with the electrical and plumbing systems. These are a home’s lifeblood, and replacements are costly.
If you buy a home with an ancient furnace, you may want to have it checked out beforehand. Any home with steam radiant heating may cost you a pretty penny to heat or replace.
Easy-to-Improve Internal Aesthetics
As with structure, making major changes to the interior of a home can be costly, but there are some cheap projects that can really change the perceived value and quality of a home. One summer’s worth of weekends spent on the following projects can not only improve the marketability of your home, but make it much more enjoyable for you to live in. Look for a house that will allow you to do most of the following, as one with all of them done already will probably be selling for a premium:
Add nice, modern-looking light fixtures
Add fresh earth-tone paint
Replace beat-up light switch covers
Re-finish hardwood floors
Replace linoleum with tile
Add a backsplash in the kitchen
Here are some of the features most people want, but won’t be cost effective for you to add:
Central air conditioning
Nice kitchen cabinets (or cabinets that will be nice when refinished)
Fireplace
Garage
Energy-efficient windows
An Under-Priced Location
It seems that more people are looking to purchase in nice urban areas that are close to work versus suburban McMansions. Not only do these homes save commuting time and money, but they almost always have a lot more character and are much more structurally sound. In my most recent home-purchasing experience, I looked at a few houses built after 1999. All had large foundational cracks and cheap materials throughout.
Another bonus to purchasing a home in a more densely populated area is foot and car traffic. My first home was located just off the corner of a highly trafficked street. Because of this, I could put up a ‘for sale’ sign pointing towards my house. I ran through 20+ flyers a day and ended up selling the house to someone who drove by it. You don’t get this kind of exposure in the ‘burbs.
Highly desirable locales are going to cost you a premium, but you may be able to sell a home quicker. What I have searched for in my first two home purchases are areas that are relatively cheap compared to highly desired areas, yet have most or all of the same features. Others will realize the same thing when searching for a home.
Good School District
Even if you never plan on having children, it is important to look within areas that have a reputation for having good schools. Do it for the kids. If not yours, for the kids of the people buying your house from you.
The more desirable characteristics you’re able to find or add to through inexpensive sweat equity will improve your chances of not only selling your home, but selling it quickly and for a premium.
What characteristics and specifications would make a house more appealing to you?
Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine has purchased a Southern California beachfront mansion for $34 million, according to The Real Deal.
The 11,200-square-foot, six-bedroom, seven-bathroom, Tuscan-style villa is in a gated community in Newport Coast, CA.
Views from all angles
Built in 2010, the mansion offers panoramic Pacific Ocean views, while its manicured lawns and meticulously placed shrubbery create a resortlike feel.
A stone walkway at the home’s entrance leads to an oversized, arched doorway.
It’s all in the details
Inside, a dramatic staircase with marble steps, a rustic chandelier, and small sitting area make for a high-impact entry.
The large kitchen has a spacious center island, wooden cabinetry, and beamed ceilings. Marble countertops provide plenty of space for meal prep, and the bar seating is perfect for guests.
A separate dining area with a fireplace and hardwood floors is the ideal backdrop for holiday dinners and formal gatherings.
The abundant arched doorways throughout the home are a delightful design detail.
Luxurious yet relaxed
The estate also has plenty of luxe sitting and lounge areas. Some of these spaces boast marble fireplaces, while others feature beamed ceilings. One sitting area even opens to a pool room outfitted with a modern chandelier.
Royal treatment
The bedrooms are fit for royalty. Between spacious balconies, private patios, and, yes, more fireplaces, you might never want to leave these sleeping quarters.
And with six bedrooms, there’s more than enough room here for overnight guests.
Spa-inspired amenities
You’ll feel as if you’re at a five-star spa when you use any of this home’s bathrooms
Breathtaking and massive, these incredible washrooms have multiple vanities, carved wood doors, and cavernous tubs.
But wait, there’s more
And that’s not all. Additional amenities include a home theater, gym, golf simulator, and built-in whirlpool.
The main bedroom suite’s heated floors and retractable television round out the extravagance.
LaVine, 28, has starred as a shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls since 2017. The high-scoring shooter has made two All-Star teams but has yet to lead the Bulls on a deep playoff run.
Last week we shared the most EPIC Retail Therapy, showcasing NYC concept store The Line’s luxurious brick and mortar space. In case you missed the news on this revolutionary way to shop, The Line has decked out a Soho loft with possibly the chicest New York home owner in mind. With gorgeous hardwood floors, claw foot bathtub and soaring romanesque columns, The Line’s space was too insane for us to only show once!
So, now that you’re familiar with the bones of The Apartment, it’s time to read between the lines because this space is all in the details!
We love the minimalist styling throughout the loft. Each vignette is carefully considered. They evoke so much luxury, but can easily be replicated in anyone’s home. Something as simple as dried eucalyptus looks striking in a low bronzed bowl on the coffee table. Worn vintage books leaned in a small stack bring interest to a low bench/cubby. And an industrial looking book mixed with a modern candle Cire Trudon, one of my faves! and a vintage-inspired lamp has never looked better!
It’s not only the objects themselves that have us giving each room a second look. When you get past the obvious, eye-catching pieces, it’s the surfaces they’re placed upon that really has us swooning. No texture was spared and to great effect. Acrylic encased wood side tables, mirrored cubes, petrified wood stools and burl consoles all couldn’t be a more perfect place to put your toiletries on, are we right?
We’re completely obsessed with all the thoughtful detail that went into the The Apartment’s styling and can only imagine wanting to hang out after closing time is a daily struggle for all who work there. Perhaps if we snuck in the bed, the staff would forget we’re there? It’s worth a try!
original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick
inflation cooled in June for the twelfth straight month despite persistent rent hikes and rising gas prices.
Even with interest rates on mortgage loans hovering around 7%, the market is still moving quickly, according to Market Watch.
“There appears to be more demand than available supply for homes, especially in the real-estate market, which is keeping home prices high,” Mike Simonsen, founder and president of real-estate analytics firm Altos Research, told MarketWatch.
The Baby Boomer generation is also largely ‘aging in place,’ according to a recent report by investment company US Money Reserve. The report said that 38% of American homeowners age 65+ have lived in their homes for more than 30 years, and another 39% have lived in their current homes for more than a decade.
Own a piece of Indianapolis history with this Victorian townhouse on Delaware St. in the Old Northside. Built in 1872, this home has been renovated from top to bottom and seamlessly combines historic charm with updated style.
The coffered ceilings, hardwood floors and turret with curved windows remind you of the home’s history and attention to detail. Features like the marble countertops, double ovens and built-in wine fridge mean you definitely aren’t living in the 1800s.
These easily avoidable mistakes turn off buyers. Don’t do them.
Fort Wayne
This Fort Wayne condo has some incredible views. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the condo show off the Allen County Courthouse and the heart of downtown.
Listed for $549,900, it includes more than 1,400 sq ft of living space with a gourmet kitchen, quartz countertops, with an ultra-modern backsplash and lighting.
See $500K homes for sale around the state, including historic 1830 house
West Lafayette
For anyone thinking about making a move closer to Purdue, check out this Dutch colonial in West Lafayette that the listing says, “feels like the perfect setting for a Hallmark holiday movie.”
Moving bonus:Why some Indiana towns are willing to pay workers to relocate
Muncie
For those looking for more land for their money, this $580,000 home in Muncie sits on more than ten acres.
This modern farmhouse was built in 2002 and is perfect for country living in a spacious home with tons of amenities.
Take in the farm views while working in the updated kitchen with custom countertops and a farm sink.
The 4 bedroom 3.5 bath with more than 3,200 sq ft inside also has an above-ground pool outside and a large deck that is perfect for entertaining.
Evansville
This $575,000 home on Volkman Road in Evansville comes with more than enough room to spread out.
A 700 sq ft guest house and a large, insulated pole barn with a full bar and theater area come along with the five-bed, 2.5 bathroom home.
With more than 3,700 sq ft of total space, the 1954 brick home features a newly laid stone fireplace, updated kitchen and large living room.
April report:Buying or selling a home in Indiana? Here’s what a $500K house looks like around the state