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Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

The unofficial start of summer is finally upon us, and not a moment too soon! School is (almost) out, the sun is high, and surf and sand are calling. Thoughts of your own little beach house might be very much on your mind, especially right now. But then reality intrudes: Who can afford that? Well, you could be surprised.

We found five ideal seaside dwellings that are remarkably well priced—all below a million dollars.

And one of the great things about most of these houses is that you can try before you buy. Most are available for short-term rental, and some come fully furnished.

Of course, this means that these well-appointed and perfectly located beachfront homes generate income, which can help with your house payments.

You can almost smell the salt air and hear the waves as you browse our list. Dive in!

Price: $949,000
Yachats rocks: Directly overlooking the beach on the dramatic Oregon coast, this newly renovated, four-bedroom, three-bath home has everything you need for a stylish escape for a weekend, or for decades to come.

Located on a bluff above the ocean, the home features a short path to the beach. It’s about 1.5 hours from Corvallis and three hours from Portland.

Expansive windows and decks with built-in seating allow you sweeping vistas of the ocean. You can also take in the views from one of two primary suites. Everything feels freshly new and nautical inside this 2,034-square-foot seaside home.

Price: $750,000
Cozy in Carrabelle: What appears to be a quaint seaside cottage on stilts is actually a decent-size domain with three bedrooms and three baths. The acre lot comes with three outbuildings and covered parking for your car, boat, or RV.

You might never want to leave this retreat, with its beautiful tongue-and-groove ceilings and wood floors. Standout features include a loft bedroom, three sunrooms, and remarkable views of the private beach and Saint George Sound.

It’s located in the town of Carrabelle, which prides itself on being “Florida Panhandle’s Gateway to the Gulf” and is known for its off-shore fishing and sugar-white sand.

Price: $999,000
Spend nights in Rodanthe: Remember that Nicolas Sparks novel made into an iconic rom-com starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere, called “Nights in Rodanthe”? In this traditional-style, shingled beach house, you can write your own romance.

Or you could let others create some seaside drama, as this six-bedroom, 4.5-bath, 2,924-square-foot home has a heart-racing rental history—$124,000 so far, with $85,000 already on the books for 2023. Hatteras Island on the famous Outer Banks is a well-documented vacation paradise.

You and your guests will enjoy taking long walks on the beach, just steps outside the door, and sunrise views from the east-facing windows and decks. There are also plenty of places to snuggle—including a great room and several seating areas.

Price: $750,000
Delightful on Dauphin Island: This beach house supports itself, not just literally on the stilts that keep it above the high tides, but also financially with its vacation rental income ($125,000 as of 2022).

The four-bedroom, three-bath house sits on a sandy spit of Dauphin Island, which stretches from the Mississippi Sound to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a short walk across the sand from one body of water to the other.

This cottage is rustic chic on the outside and resort luxe on the inside. It features a comfortable main suite, a marble island and breakfast bar in the kitchen, and all-new bathrooms. It comes with all the furnishings, accessories, and artwork, so it’s totally turnkey.

Price: $579,000
Best beach buy: South of Tallahassee on the Gulf of Mexico sits this three-bedroom, two-bath abode with direct access to the ocean and a terrific spot for fishing.

The elevated home comes with an outdoor shower and a sink below, so you can catch, clean, and cook without making a mess in the indoor kitchen.

The screened porch off the great room features remarkable views. Inside, there are vaulted ceilings and low-maintenance tile flooring. This is also a well-established vacation rental property, and all the furniture is included in the very reasonable asking price.

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 5, 2023 by Brett Tams

Get ready for bottomless mai tais: Nothing says summer like a great outdoor Tiki bar.

Just the idea quickly conjures up ocean breezes rustling through a palm-thatched roof while you sip a frothy drink, perhaps with a pineapple wedge garnishing the rim.

But you don’t have to go on a fancy vacation to belly up to one of these bars. You can enjoy your fruity cocktails year-round if you wind up with one of these half-dozen homes that come with Tiki bars and are on the market right now.

They’re all located in vacation destinations throughout the country, so if you own one, you could always rent it out for a little help with the mortgage payments.

Owning a home with its own outdoor tropical paradise might seem like a dream, but consider the options below. Your Tiki bar fantasy might just be within reach.

Price: $2,998,98
Bar and spa: Nothing makes every day feel like a vacation like a retreat in sunny San Diego. This palm-filled Tiki bar even has a hot tub right next to the counter, perfect for sipping a cold drink while soaking in jetted water.

The rest of the house ain’t bad either. It features four bedrooms and three baths, plus a rooftop deck with a fire pit and ocean views. The spacious primary suite comes with a balcony.

And here’s the icing on the coconut cake: There’s a two-bedroom, 1.5-bath accessory dwelling unit above a three-car garage. It’s currently rented out for $3,000 a month. This sweet income is due to the property’s location in Ocean Beach, where you can see the fireworks from Sea World and walk to all the great shops and restaurants the area has to offer.

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Price: $1,499,000
Party in the back: The front exterior of this stately contemporary home doesn’t hint that the backyard is party central, with its thatch-roofed bar. This festive feature happens to sit on a private pier on Lake Conroe.

The property is part of the golf course community in Bentwater. It comes with a sun deck, a heated saltwater pool, a boathouse with a lift, and a sweet patio.

The interior of the four-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 3,457-square-foot home sports a nautical yet elegant aesthetic. Large windows across the back of the home offer water views. And there’s a chef’s kitchen, a first-floor primary suite, and an upstairs game room with a gas fireplace and a balcony.

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Price: $840,000
Resort-style getaway: A waterfall, putting green, pool, lagoon, pier, Tiki bar—this waterfront home has all the resort-style amenities most people could ever desire.

The backyard comes with a private dock on a spring-fed lake, a lagoon-style heated pool with a rock waterfall and jets, and a three-hole putting green.

The thatched-roof Tiki bar is held up by barrels and comes equipped with a sink, a small fridge, and electrical hookups.

Inside the 1,892-square-foot house, there are three bedrooms, two baths, a billiard room, and a garage with an electric charging station. The home comes with hurricane protection.

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Price: $739,000
Downtown compound: This spread contains two homes, a Tiki bar, a workshop, a garage, and a large deck with a hot tub.

The front home is a tastefully updated, three-bedroom, brick ranch. The back house is a two-story with two bedrooms and two baths, previously used as a short-term rental.

The Tiki bar sits between the homes, as does a wood-burning grill specially designed for an oyster roast.

The property comes fully furnished and is within walking distance of the Brooklyn Arts Center, Live Oak Pavilion, and just about everything else that makes downtown Wilmington so special.

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Price: $1,295,000
Double delight: The owners love Tiki bars so much that they added two—one inside and one out—to their two-bedroom, 2.5-bath house. So when the weather is less than perfect, you can take the party inside. More cocktails for everyone!

Enhancing the vacation vibe of this 3,193-square-foot home is its location just across the street from the white-sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Wrap-around porches offer spectacular water views.

Inside the colorful main house, you’ll find a kitchen with an island, a spiffed-up primary suite with dual closets and a luxe bath, and a gorgeous room at the top of the stairs with 360-degree views.

The property includes a saltwater pool and a guest cottage.

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Price: $1,699,900
Better than a sports bar: With this newly built Tiki bar featuring a large-screen TV and full-size refrigerator-freezer, along with an oversized pool and hot tub, you’ll never need to leave. The high-quality outdoor sound system can serenade you with Jimmy Buffett tunes day and night.

Of course, the inside is comfy, too. The three-bedroom, 2.5-bath 1,758-square-foot home has been remodeled for rental purposes. You could make it your private getaway or offer it up as a short-term rental.

It’s located in the Matanzas Preserve, which is just a short walk or bike ride of Fort Meyers Beach and the Times Square Area, where there are shops, restaurants, and activities along 7 miles of coastline.

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 4, 2023 by Brett Tams

A residential marvel designed by architect Roger Ferris just splashed onto the market in Water Mill, NY, for $27.5 million.

The five-bedroom stunner on 1.6 acres serves up gorgeous views of Mecox Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

“It’s an extraordinary property,” says listing agent Enzo Morabito, of Douglas Elliman – Sag Harbor. “It’s located in a very top-of-the-line spot near the village of Southampton.”

The lot was purchased in 2014 for $4.3 million, and the steel-frame, 9,700-square-foot home was custom-built in 2017.

Perched above a striking landscape and conservation area, the dramatic design boasts four levels with “walls of frameless structurally glazed glass units,” according to the listing. The modern abode is crowned with a rooftop terrace and an outdoor kitchen.

A boring glass box it is not. Color is employed boldly throughout the home.

The modern interiors are designed to offer views from nearly every room—particularly from the spectacular, glass-walled living room.

A bright-hued kitchen is outfitted with glossy cabinets, solid-surface countertops, and a glass backsplash.

Underfoot, a white resin, gloss-finish flooring is used—a perfect contrast to the home’s vivid palette, which includes a vibrant light fixture, banana-yellow statement wall, and a pop-art-inspired bath.

A spacious primary suite features double bathrooms, including one with a soaking tub and an office. Wall-sized, sliding glass doors capture the views and open to a private terrace.

From the gardens and the pool area to the decks and terraces, there are plenty of spaces to soak in the surroundings.

Just above the heated, illuminated pool is a sleek glass bridge that connects the home’s two wings.

“Whoever buys this house will likely own two or three homes,” Morabito says. “It was built to the highest standards and has always been used as a secondary home.”

The property’s luxurious amenities include a wet bar, gym, media room, elevator, four-car garage, pool cabana, and private dock.

“Its proximity to the ocean and Southampton and being close to New York [City] are what someone will be looking for,” Morabito adds.

In addition to the main gated estate, a renovated guesthouse on a separate parcel is available for $7.5 million.

The three-bedroom dwelling was built in 1956 but underwent a full renovation just three years ago.

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 1, 2023 by Brett Tams

They say people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

But if you lived in the one on Fishers Island, NY, you could toss a few rocks right into Long Island Sound.

Showing more like a “livable art gallery,” according to the listing, the glass-and-steel, waterfront dwelling designed by Thomas Phifer is this week’s most popular listing on Realtor.com®.

Other real estate offerings that made our weekly popularity contest include a Queen Anne in North Carolina, a modern marvel in Indiana, and an Ohio home with an exotic waterfall in the basement.

For a full look at this week’s 10 most popular homes, keep on scrolling.

Price: $825,000
Why it’s here: Behold the Castle in the Pines! Here is the opportunity to live like royalty in your very own castle.

A wrought-iron gate opens to the four-bedroom home with a turret. The entire 3,435 square feet of space has been decked out in medieval style. From custom, arched doors and hanging candelabras, to a knight in armor at the entry, to a sitting room overlooking a mountaintop scene, this kingdom was designed to delight.

It is currently in operation as a short-term rental and is pending sale.

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Price: $575,000
Why it’s here: This ultramodern home is a pretty standout in Houston.

Designed by architect W. Irving Phillips Jr., the 3,032-square-foot concrete townhome is located within walking distance of downtown. Offering just two bedrooms, the open floor plan has industrial, loft-style beams and soaring ceilings, along with concrete and hardwood floors. The primary suite is on the third floor and has two oversized closets and access to a covered terrace.

A monthly homeowners association fee of $472 includes maintenance and use of the pool.

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Price: $965,000
Why it’s here: Attention, historic-home lovers: The stately Smathers-Gautier-Messer House is nestled between two mountain ranges.

The Queen Anne beauty built in 1898 boasts wavy glass windows and octagonal towers. Inside, there is a Colonial Revival staircase and paneled wainscoting. The six-bedroom estate also features high ceilings, custom millwork, nine fireplaces embellished with Italian tile, and pocket doors.

The 2.5-acre lot also comes with a barn and a small cottage.

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Watch: Hollywood Beginning: Movie-Themed Vacation Home in Florida Wows for $11.75M

Price: $134,900
Why it’s here: Calling all Hobbit fans! This triple-dome home offers eco-friendly living.

The three-bedroom abode boasts 1,593 square feet of unique space. Built in 2004, the domicile is in need of restoration, as the price reflects.

“Interior walls have been removed to the steel frame, allowing you to build your ultimate vision,” the listing notes.

The 3-acre lot also has a fenced dog run. The property is being sold as is and must be a cash sale.

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Price: $880,000
Why it’s here: This magnificent home in the middle of Bittner Woods was the work of award-winning architect Earl R. Flansburgh.

The four-bedroom residence offers stylish, one-level living. Built in 1970, the 2,584-square-foot home was “professionally redesigned in 2020 with the help of Susan Yeley Homes,” according to the listing.

Oak hardwood and terrazzo floors can be found throughout the open floor plan. A central, open-air atrium connects all of the rooms. Clean lines, natural materials, and lots of glass seamlessly blend the interior with the outdoor space.

The property is pending sale.

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Price: $799,000
Why it’s here: This A-frame beauty was built in 1964 as the personal home of local architect William Wayman. It has since been “respectfully remodeled,” the listing notes.

The sleek, 2,481-square-foot, four-bedroom home boasts wood paneling, skylights, and beamed ceilings. The two-story living room has a gas fireplace and lots of glass to take in the southern views. There are two separate living spaces; three bedrooms are upstairs, and one is downstairs with a full kitchen.

The property is pending sale.

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Price: $37.5 million
Why it’s here: A venture capitalist is selling this ultraluxe mansion on the exclusive enclave of Star Island. The guard-gated island has been home to celebs such as Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jennifer Lopez.

This six-bedroom mansion on the waterfront boasts 9,747 square feet of living space. The foyer features a 30-foot ceiling and a custom staircase. Luxury finishes include custom millwork and travertine, marble, and wood flooring.

Built in 1992, the high-end home has a chef’s kitchen and a primary suite with access to the pool area.

The 1-acre lot includes a heated pool, outdoor kitchen, and a private dock.

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Price: $499,900
Why it’s here: Here’s the chance to own two homes and a chapel on nearly 50 acres overlooking a private lake.

This six-bedroom house has 5,600 square feet of living space and comes with a commercial kitchen and dining hall. The open floor plan also includes a spacious living room with a brick fireplace and four bathrooms.

The property offers a variety of potential uses, including as a church retreat, rental property, or bed-and-breakfast.

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Price: $519,999
Why it’s here: The Mansion on the Hilltop comes with an exotic waterfall in the basement!

This four-bedroom home looks like a traditional, stone-front dwelling from the outside. Inside, the 5,800-square-foot floor plan features a two-story entry with a dramatic staircase. Built in 2000, the home features arched doorways and an abundance of windows and glass doors to take in views of the 5-acre parcel.

The real surprise happens when you head downstairs, where you will find an unexpected waterfall and an impressive taxidermy collection. There’s also a hot tub.

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Price: $8,250,000
Why it’s here: From the outside, this mesmerizing mansion built of glass looks like a vast, open space.

The 4,744-square-foot estate sits prominently on Fishers Island and offers breathtaking views of Long Island Sound. Featuring one-story living at its best, the home was designed by architect Thomas Phifer. Built of glass and steel in 2008, this one-bedroom home boasts black bamboo flooring and white gallery walls.

The landscaped gardens on the 3-acre lot “allow one to live in a garden with art as the owner desired,” the listing notes.

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

Mortgage rates slipped lower this week, even as the Federal Reserve announced it was implementing an additional interest rate hike to curb ongoing inflation.

Interest rates for a 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 6.39% in the week ending May 4, Freddie Mac announced on Thursday. That’s only fractionally lower than 6.43% last week, but many expect mortgage rates to fall even lower later this year.

But even with the most recent tick down, rates are still high enough to make homeownership too expensive for many Americans. What’s more, many economists increasingly believe the central bank’s unrelenting rate hikes—10 since March 2022—have been detrimental to the economy, especially in the wake of the most recent bank failure of First Republic.

“The latest interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve is unnecessary and harmful,” said National Association of Realtors® Chief Economist Lawrence Yun in a statement after the Fed meeting on Wednesday.

“Consumer price inflation has been decelerating and will continue,” explained Yun. “There is significant additional monetary policy tightening already occurring.”

And given the banking system is on shaky ground right now, Yun worries that the Fed might have gone overboard.

“The fast rate hikes by the Fed have upended the balance sheets of many small regional banks,” he continued. “They are becoming zombie-like banks, unable to lend even to good businesses as they are more concerned with balance sheet shuffling for survival.”

Might this also mean that these zombie banks can’t dish out as many home loans to eligible buyers?

Here’s what housing statistics and experts are saying in our latest installment of “How’s the Housing Market This Week?”

Why mortgage rates remain a ‘wild card’

With the economy in turmoil and mortgage credit becoming more difficult to obtain, the housing market remains in a sort of petrified limbo.

“Mortgage rates remain a big wild card for buyers and sellers as they are highly sensitive to incoming data and recent developments in the banking sector,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com®, in her weekly analysis. “Amid all of the economic and financial swirl, which may worsen in the weeks ahead as the U.S. approaches the debt ceiling, the housing market continues to chug along at relatively low levels of activity.”

All that, and home prices still haven’t stopped climbing: For the week ending April 29, listing prices inched up 2.4% compared with last year. And with the median price of homes hovering at $430,000 in April, it’s no surprise that homebuyers are weary and leery of overextending themselves financially.

Watch: 5 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Fixer-Upper

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Why home sellers are plagued by ‘rate lock’

High mortgage rates continue to cast a shadow not only over buyers, but sellers as well.

A recent Realtor.com home seller survey found that 82% of prospective sellers are worried about “rate lock,” or having to trade in the ultralow rate on their current home for a much higher one if they were to sell and then try to buy.

For the week ending April 29, 22% fewer new listings hit the market compared with this same time period a year earlier. This downward trend has been going on for a whopping 43 weeks, roughly the same period that the Fed has been raising rates.

And for almost the same amount of time, homes have sat on the market longer, lingering 18 days longer for the last week of April than a year earlier.

“The 2023 housing market is far from the frenzy experienced over the past two years,” Hale noted. “In other words, sellers do not have all the advantages the way they did over the past two years, but they are still in a very good position.”

Buyers, maybe not so much.

Still, Hale takes a glass-half-full view: “Even if market momentum continues to lag behind the past few years,” she said, “the weeks ahead hold plenty of seasonal opportunity for buyers hoping to see some new options.”

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

Mortgage rates jumped higher this week, further dashing homebuyers’ hopes for an affordable spring home-shopping season.

Rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.57% for the week ending May 25, according to Freddie Mac. That’s a hefty hike upward from last week’s 6.39%. As if that weren’t worrisome enough, Mortgage News Daily (which tabulates rates daily rather than weekly) pinned the average 30-year fixed rate even higher, at 7.12% on Thursday afternoon.

These numbers are a cruel twist given they arrive just as home prices seem to be drifting back down to earth.

“Recent momentum has home prices on a trend to dip below year-ago levels in a matter of weeks,” Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale noted in her most recent analysis of housing data for the week ending May 20. “But while many homebuyers will certainly welcome a lower price tag, higher mortgage rates may minimize or erase any potential savings.”

When will buyers catch a break? When will homeowners decide to take the plunge and become sellers? Here’s what the latest real estate statistics seem to be saying in this edition of “How’s the Housing Market This Week?”

Home price gains keep grinding lower

In April, the median price of homes for sale came in at $430,000. Yet for the week ending May 20, listing prices were up just 0.7% compared with a year ago.

Home price gains keep shrinking, and Hale isn’t the only one expecting them to fall below year-ago levels soon. The economics team at Freddie Mac is forecasting a 2.9% decrease in national home prices over the course of 2023.

Of course, as Hale points out, all real estate is local; no one buys a “national” home.

Prices in the Midwest and Northeast remain more affordable, but they are gaining by double digits as these markets heat up. Meanwhile, prices in the West and South, which grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic, are moderating or even falling now.

Why home sellers aren’t listing

The entire housing market would benefit if more homeowners decided to list their homes for sale, but few seem willing to volunteer.

For the week ending May 20, the number of new listings was down 26% versus the same time last year. There have been fewer listings compared WITH 2022 for almost an entire year now, thanks largely to the spike in mortgage rates.

“With roughly two-thirds of existing homeowners holding onto a mortgage more than 2 percentage points below current mortgage rates,” Hale said, “it’s easy to see why new listings lag behind.”

The slowing pace of home sales

Granted, overall inventory (comprising both new listings and older ones that have been lingering ) is up by 20% over last year. But the fact that many of those listings are stale suggests that buyers have already picked over these clunkers and passed.

And the slowing pace of sales suggests that home-shopping enthusiasm is on the wane.

In April, homes lingered on the market for a median of 49 days. And for the week ending May 20, listings spent an extra 15 days on the market compared with this same week last year.

Just how high might mortgage rates go?

Will homebuyers get rate relief anytime soon? Most signs point to not likely.

Just a month or so earlier, some economists predicted mortgage rates would dip lower later this year. But now, the Freddie economists aren’t so sure. They now forecast a scenario in which “long-term interest rates move largely sideways, staying in a range similar to where rates are today, perhaps moving up or down by around half a percentage point.”

Yet despite the gloomy outlook, determined buyers are finding ways to navigate today’s dismal market. Some are sifting through stale listings and lowballing. Others are exploring a whole new possibility they might not have considered before: new-construction homes.

“Even though existing home sales have waned in recent months, new-home sales have ticked up,” said Hale. “Buyers grappling with low inventory look to new construction as a relief valve.”

Given builders can sometimes offer discounted mortgage rates through preferred lenders, new construction might even cost less than pre-existing homes in certain areas today. This should give all homebuyers hope that the right house is out there, provided they keep looking and leave no stone unturned.

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 27, 2023 by Brett Tams

The Green Mountain State’s most expensive listing just hit the market for $20 million.

The 15,774-square-foot megamansion sits on a 110-acre lot in the rolling fields of Stowe, VT.

“To have that kind of acreage in a most desirable neck of the woods as Stowe is certainly one of the things that makes this property stand out,” says listing agent Geoffrey Wolcott, of Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty.

Plus, that immense acreage provides significant opportunities for an ambitious buyer.

“The 110-acre parcel size qualifies it to permit for a PUD (Planned Unit Development) commercial development,” Wolcott says.

Standout estate

The stone, slate, and copper, European-style country retreat was built in 2004 and features six bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.

“The quality of the home is second to none,” Wolcott notes. “There are wall coverings that are made of sculpted suede, and Italian crafted interiors found throughout. Most of the woodworking was done by a crew from Italy.”

A cozy solarium with a fireplace is surrounded by a wall of windows, offering a breathtaking mountain views.

Living room with fireplace

(Realtor.com)

The stylish, gloss-black and stainless Boffi kitchen features a concealed, walk-in pantry. The listing says the cabinetry shows more like “a work of art.” There are four distinct prep stations here and plenty of dining space in the breakfast room.

A remarkably designed living room has a soaring ceiling and another fireplace.

“It’s a very dramatic room with ceilings that are about 2.5 stories high,” Wolcott says.

The library features built-in bookcases and handsome, wood-paneled walls.

Posh pool

One of the most impressive amenities just might be the mosaic-tiled, indoor pool and spa. It’s surrounded by loads of limestone, along with a coffered ceiling overhead and walls of windows that overlook the property.

There’s also an adjoining gym.

And when it comes to entertaining, the home is fully quipped. There’s a circular wine cellar with a tasting area, a dumbwaiter that serves three levels, commercial laundry, and a “self-contained guest suite.”

An enormous primary suite boasts a soaring ceiling and a sitting area in front of arched windows that offer pristine outdoor views. The spalike primary bath has built-ins and many windows to soak in the scenery.

The property also comes with a four-car, heated garage and extensive woodland trails.

So who will move in next?

“It’s very difficult to speculate who will be the next buyer, as buyers come from all over the world—and often where you least expect it,” Wolcott says. “It will certainly be someone who is looking for a second home, with that kind of acreage, and the ability to turn it into a family compound.”

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 25, 2023 by Brett Tams

With the grand coronation of King Charles III (finally) taking place in Britain over the weekend, our thoughts turned to royal accommodations—specifically castles, with their turrets, tapestries, and stone fireplaces.

You don’t need to live in Europe to enjoy these old-world luxuries. Here in the good ol’ USA, there are plenty of dwellings that are royally inspired.

And you don’t even have to pay a king’s ransom to live in one. We found five for your viewing pleasure, all priced below $950,000.

So between viewing the royal pomp and circumstance in jolly old England, you might want to take a few minutes to browse the regal residences available in the United States.

Price: $780,000
Spanish style: The Brits aren’t the only ones with castles. There was castle-dwelling aristocracy throughout Europe, and here’s an example of a modern one inspired by the castles of Spain. Set on 5 acres, this 2010-built home has views of Pinos Altos and Silver City.

With three bedrooms and two baths in 3,234 square feet of living space, this castillo (Spanish for “castle”) features a fireplace big enough to roast game, should you be so inclined, and a hobby room that could serve as a chapel, the listing notes.

The rest of the house is distinctly modern, with tiled floors and a kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and a large island.

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Price: $525,000
Gothic gem: A combination castle and chalet, this stone dwelling must have been built by an artist with a regal sensibility. Known as Owl Studio, the property consists of two separate structures, both eco-friendly and constructed from wood and stone.

Their gothic architecture features pointed arches on the doors and windows. The two-story tower offers 360-degree views, a half-bath, and rough-ins for a shower and a kitchen. It will need to be finished and furnished.

The chalet structure has a dramatic stone fireplace and a cozy sleeping loft. Together the unique dwellings could be developed into a short-term rental, an art or podcast studio, or a wellness retreat and yoga studio.

There’s plenty of room for more structures on the 6-acre lot high in the mountains, not far from Fort Collins.

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Price: $899,900
Castle by the lake: This landmark residence was built in 2007 on the shores of Lake Mary Jane and comes with a private pier.

The 3,027-square-foot home with four bedrooms and 3.5 baths was bestowed two titles: Knightsbridge Manor and the Castle in the Pines. It features wood-clad barrel ceilings, a stone staircase, and a solid walnut front door with iron hardware.

The lot measures a third of an acre and features a fire pit and a newly built chicken coop. (Egg-laying chickens are included in the sale.) This castle is said to be the jewel of the amenity-filled, lakefront community known as the Isle of Pines.

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Price: $695,000
Oh my, Ohio! This castle-inspired Victorian was built in 1898 in this quaint town about 77 miles southwest of Toledo.

With six bedrooms and three baths in 4,316 square feet of living space, the stately home near the center of town is just brimming with possibilities. It could be used as a family home, an events venue, or a charming bed-and-breakfast. The formal dining room, exquisitely outfitted kitchen, and the parlors with fireplaces lend themselves well to any of these options.

We’re particularly enamored with the carved-wood detailing, the picturesque reading nook, and the handy butler’s pantry.

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Price: $935,000
Contemporary castle: Located in Walled Lake, this 2004-built manor boasts water views from many of its rooms.

The grounds span two parcels with a pond and fountain in back. The upscale home has four bedrooms and four baths in 2,241 square feet of living space. A grand spiral staircase connects its three levels.

The open floor plan includes a spacious kitchen with a large island and breakfast nook and a finished basement with a bar and a powder room.

The property is close to hiking and biking paths, as well as boating facilities and accommodations for the royal barge.

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 24, 2023 by Brett Tams

High mortgage rates might have cooled much of America’s spring real estate market, but this is by no means true across the board. In fact, homebuyers’ search for affordable housing has made certain markets hotter than ever.

“This spring’s housing market may be sluggish nationally, but April’s hottest markets are still seeing high demand and a quick pace of sale,” says economic data analyst Hannah Jones of the latest Realtor.com® Hottest Markets List.

This list ranks cities by examining two variables: demand (measured by the number of views per listing) and pace (measured by how long listings linger for sale before getting snapped up).

The city that nabbed the top spot in April for the second time in the data’s history is Concord, NH—the state’s capital. The New England town on the Merrimack River saw homes receiving 3.8 times more views than a typical listing nationwide, and remaining on the market a mere 17 days before buyers pounced. That’s a full month less than the typical home in the U.S., which lingered for about 49 days in April.

What’s Concord got that makes it so hot? Proximity to pricier Boston (just an hour’s drive north) and one of the most tax-friendly states around with no state income or sales taxes.

The Northeast’s ‘affordability advantage’

Many markets that populate the top of this list have what Jones calls an “affordability advantage,” although that affordability is often relative.

For instance, the top two hottest markets of Concord and Manchester, NH, have median home prices ($522,000 and $533,000, respectively) above the national median of $430,000. Yet the prices are a bargain compared with the $839,000 you’d have to pay in nearby Boston (which, incidentally, ranks as the 14th hottest market and is by far the priciest on this list).

As real estate broker Pamela Young, of Re/Max Insight, who sells homes in both Concord and Manchester, puts it, “It’s nice to be able nice to travel to Boston without having to live there—or pay their taxes.”

Watch: The 3 U.S. Cities Where Rent Prices Have Dropped the Most

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Rounding out the top five hottest markets are a cluster of fellow Northeastern towns, including Hartford, CT; Rochester, NY; and Springfield, MA. (Metros include the main city and surrounding towns, suburbs, and smaller urban areas.)

In fact, adds Jones, “nine of the 12 Northeast markets on this month’s list are clustered together, generally surrounding the Boston area. Both Massachusetts and the larger New England area boast strong employment data, outpacing the U.S. in employment growth over the last year. High housing demand and tight inventory keep upward pressure on prices and, as a result, buyers are looking farther afield for affordability in the region.”

The rise of Midwest real estate

Despite their sunny climes, the West and South are stuck in a deep freeze when it comes to breaking into the hottest markets, failing to crack the top 20 list for the second month in a row. While the Northeast boasted the most markets on the list. with 12 cities, the Midwest represented the remaining eight.

Illinois and Missouri each have one hottest market on the list, and Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana each nabbed two spots. All of the Midwestern markets received an average of 2.5 times more views than usual and spent an average of two fewer weeks on the market.

Buyers are heading inland in the hopes that lower home prices will take the edge off today’s hefty mortgage rates, which currently average 6.39%, according to Freddie Mac.

“Overall, 13 of April’s hottest markets had median listing prices below the national median,” adds Jones.

The average listing price for these Midwestern markets was $310,000. But the lowest-priced Midwestern market is Rockford, IL, which had an average list price of $180,000, 58.1% lower than what the rest of the country saw in April.

“Buyers are out there,” says Rion Tovar-South, the designated managing broker and owner of Weichert Realtors Tovar Properties in Rockford, IL.

They are driven to Rockford by “lower taxes and more attractive home prices,” adds Tovar-South. “In addition, our agents are seeing buyers moving from the Chicago area as well as individuals that previously moved out of state moving back.”

But how long will home prices stay low?

Yet homebuyer demand in these hottest markets means available homes are disappearing fast.

“While inventory has increased 48.3% relative to last April at the U.S. level, all of the hottest markets except Fort Wayne, IN, have seen either slower inventory growth or even inventory decline,” says Jones.

“Inventory is still low in our market. We definitely need more sellers to list their homes,” adds Tovar-South. Indeed, Rockford’s inventory has dropped 23% compared with a year earlier.

And fewer homes for sale drive up competition among buyers, which can bring on bidding wars. And bidding wars lead to rising home prices as sellers see an opportunity to cash in.

Even where home prices are low, these hot markets have seen prices increase by 17.2% year over year on average. To put that percentage in perspective, consider this: It’s seven times greater than the national price growth rate of 2.5%.

“April is the ninth month in a row that the average hottest markets’ price growth climbed beyond U.S. price growth, which has been falling since June,” says Jones.

So buyers looking to snag a good deal might not want to wait too long to start shopping.

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 22, 2023 by Brett Tams

Talk about a home run!

Former Atlanta Braves great Chipper Jones recently set a real estate record with the sale of his Canton, GA, mansion.

The $11 million final price was the largest recorded sale so far this year in Georgia—and the biggest real estate deal in the Peach State since 2019.

This sale also netted Jones a nice profit: He purchased the ranch in 2018 for $9.25 million. The endlessly luxurious property features 37 acres, eight bedrooms, and 11 baths.

The mansion’s wooded lot includes a fish-stocked, private lake; gardens; a pool; fire pit; and horse stables. In addition to the main house, there’s a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment with its own kitchenette and office.

A vaulted, dome-topped entryway greets visitors to the main residence, leading to dramatic spaces with hardwood floors and natural stone. Custom lighting, cabinetry, and an open floor plan offer elegance and utility.

The primary bedroom suite boasts a private patio, floor-to-ceiling movie screen, and huge closets. Just off the bedroom, there’s an enormous bath with heated floors and a freestanding tub.

Entertainment options abound in the game room, home theater with plush seating, sauna, playroom, and wine cellar.

Outside, there’s an Olympic-sized, heated pool; cabana; and plenty of room for dining and leisure. Love the idea of revving up a dirt bike on your own secluded property? Well, you can buzz around here on dedicated trails.

And if your ride of choice is the equine variety, the four-stall stable is world-class and ready to house your galloping friends.

After the sale, Jones will still have a place to rest his head. He recently picked up a $5.4 million mansion, also in Canton. Built in 2019, the farmhouse-style, four-bedroom abode sits on about 10 acres.

Jones starred 19 seasons with the Braves and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018. Today, he serves as a part-time consultant to the team’s hitters.

Randy White contributed to this report.

Source: realtor.com