Abandoned Places In The World

July 24, 2010

Thanks to a friend on Facebook, I saw this blog that has some amazing photographs of entire cities and towns that have been left behind for good. Three pages of empty buildings, houses and entire towns. Going into vacant homes with my buyers, I sometimes wonder if we’ll end up with entire streets like this in our own neighborhoods.  If these photos don’t give pause, they are at the very least some examples of fantastic photography from places across the globe that few of us will be able to visit personally.

This photo in particular caught my attention.  It is a house in Kolmannskuppe, Namibia.  Kolmannskuppe was a small town that was created to provide shelter for the workers in the diamond mines in the Namib Desert (stretching 1200 miles in length, but averaging a width of only 70 miles, this desert has some of the highest sand dunes in the world) in 1908.  After the diamond prices crashed at the end of World War I, most of the miners left to move to the next “hot” area.  The town was officially vacant in 1956.

I am fond of this photo because of the placement of the windows and awnings.  The overall presentation of the house is really intriguing.  I have saved this on my computer, with several other photos from over the years, for when I build my own house.  Right now, this takes first place!

The blog writer has also provided some history of the cities or towns to go along with the pictures.  All in all…this is a fascinating blog!

A Novel Solution to the Housing Woes?

July 23, 2010

I don’t necessarily support this idea – mostly because I haven’t read the proposal so I don’t feel I can voice my opinion on it – but I do like the idea of finding creative solutions to the current situation.  This is a repost of an article on the “Right To Rent” Act from Yahoo Finance.  Maybe it’s a good way to start some of the necessary conversations around this…

The story of a dog, a log cabin and Gilsum NH

July 10, 2010

Every so often, something comes along to pull you from the daily grind of your routine. Something so profound, you are reminded that there is much more to this life than the hustle and bustle of your own narrow existence, and I have just had one of those humbling experiences.

I have a listing in Sturbridge for a fantastic log cabin that has been home to a wonderful and unique family. (http://298newbostonroad.epropertysites.com/) Due to a job change, they were faced not only with having to sell their home and relocating, but they faced the daunting task of having to find homes for their pack of Huskies. I had been working with them to both sell their home (Oh, how I wish I could buy their house!) and find new forever homes for their Huskies.

With parameters to meet and because the nature of this situation was so unique, I began to work immediately, both on listing their home and relocating their dogs. In the midst of the flurry of marketing, emails, and phone calls, I suddenly received a message from a woman named Susan McNeil, the Director of Aids Services for the Monadnock Region. (www.asmronline.org) It was an inquiry about another dog I was trying to relocate. The dog in question was already in the process of being adopted, but I saw an opportunity and quickly called her back.

As we spoke, she told me of a man named Ben and his sister, Ianisha, who both lived in the facility she ran. The facility itself is a converted 1800’s house that serves as the office for Aids Services and as a home to five residents, currently living with Aids. Ben and his sister were two of the residents. She went on to explain that Ben had always wanted a dog, and had fell in love with the Huskies he had seen in pictures.

I immediately thought of Zoe, a member of the pack I was currently trying to place and mentioned that the dog she was inquiring about was no longer available for adoption, but that we had a nine year old female they may be interested in. We discussed Ben and Zoe’s particular needs and determined that placing Zoe with Ben would make an excellent fit!

Zoe, who was listed with Paws New England Rescue (www.pawsnewengland.com), had a hefty adoption fee that was quickly relieved of by Joanne, the Director. I set aside some time on my long, holiday weekend to drive up to Susan’s facility in Gilsum, NH with Zoe at my side. During the two and half hour ride, my only hope was that Ben and Zoe would “click.”

Zoe

We finally arrived at the facility, which is a gorgeous house on a hill, just off the main street in Gilsum. Susan was waiting outside with Ben and their excitement showed! I let Zoe out of the truck, never letting go of her leash, but from the moment her and Ben locked eyes, I knew this was where she belonged. Ben showed Zoe the bed he made up for her in his room, and told me about the road trip he had planned for the next day to get all the necessary items he would need for her care.

Ben and Zoe

As Ben showed Zoe around her new home, she raced around, getting a good sniff of her new surroundings. She had even claimed Ben’s bed as her own! He was smiling the entire time! While Zoe was getting her belly rubs, I had full confidence that this was going to be a great relationship for them both.

A short while later, another car pulled up. A couple walked up carrying pizza and was quickly introduced to me as Ben’s adoptive parents. It was that moment that was truly enlightening for me. To have such unconditional love was clearly passed on to Ben and things had come full circle with his adoption of Zoe.

I left the facility with that thought in my head and feeling it was truly time well spent! Not only had I placed Zoe in a home where she would be loved and cared for, but I had been lucky enough to witness the unconditional love of an unconventional family.

Ben, his Mom and Zoe

The other day, I received the following email from Ben:

“Amy its ben it was a busy night the first night but now i think zoe is very happy. when i saw zoe for the first time it was love at first site the pic that you send me did not do her justist i thank you so much for giving me she such a joy in my life she is so eger to sleep and hang outside on the run i bought her she loves it and thank you so much”

Well Ben, Thank You for adopting Zoe and allowing me to have such an eye opening experience! Thank you also to Susan at Aids Services, Joanne at Paws New England Rescue and most of all, Thank You to Ben’s parents for raising such a wonderful human for Zoe to love!  Now, about that log cabin for sale in Sturbridge… 😉

Zoe claimes her new bed

Fannie Mae Launches New Series of 5 Step Guides to Help Educate Homeowners & Potential Home Buyers

July 2, 2010

Fannie Mae Launches New Series of ‘Five-Step’ Guides to Help Educate Homeowners and Potential Home Buyers

Fannie Mae recently launched the first three in a series of “Five-Step” guides, offering useful information for current homeowners, those interested in purchasing a home and homeowners who may be struggling with their current mortgage. Each guide focuses on a different topic and provides five specific tips.

The first three guides provide tips on the following subjects:

– Actions to Take before Buying a Home – As the housing downturn has shown, homeownership is about more than buying a home. It’s important to make sure you can keep your home over the long-term. Fannie Mae offers five steps to help those thinking about buying a home select the right house for them and understand the affordable financing options that can help make homeownership a long-term success.  http://www.fanniemae.com/kb/index?page=home&c=fivesteps_homebuying&searchid=1278067441452

– How Housing Counselors Can Help – Whether you’re thinking about buying a home or you’re a current homeowner, Fannie Mae highlights five key ways housing counselors can help make homeownership successful for you. Housing counselors offer professional advice, ensuring you can sustain your home purchase over the long term and providing guidance if unforeseen circumstances make it difficult for you to continue paying your mortgage. http://www.fanniemae.com/kb/index?page=home&c=fivesteps_housingcounselors&searchid=1278067540249

– Protect Yourself from Mortgage Modification Scams – Mortgage modification scams can occur when unscrupulous people prey on borrowers who are struggling to keep their homes. While they promise to help, the people who perpetuate mortgage scams do little to no work, charge excessive fees and use tactics that often put the homeowner at greater risk of losing their home. If you’re modifying your mortgage or facing foreclosure, Fannie Mae offers five keys ways to protect yourself from mortgage rescue scams.  http://www.fanniemae.com/kb/index?page=home&c=fivesteps_mortgagescams&searchid=1278067619013

For more information, visit http://www.fanniemae.com

Calling all buyers…Massive unfinished mansion near Orlando selling for $75M ‘as is’; needs walls, carpet and tile

June 28, 2010 — 1 Comment

WINDERMERE, Fla. (AP) — Listed as a “monument to unparalleled success,” the largest home for sale in the United States comes with plenty of space but no carpet, tiles or interior walls. It’s up to the future buyer to finish it.

The mansion started by timeshare tycoon David Siegel boasts plenty of big numbers: 90,000 square feet. Twenty-three bathrooms. Thirteen bedrooms. Ten kitchens. A 20-car garage, with additional space for two limos. Three pools. A bowling alley. Indoor roller rink. Two-story movie theater. Video arcade. Fitness center. Baseball field and two tennis courts.

All that and more for $75 million “as is.” There’s an option to buy it completed for $100 million.

Nicknamed “Versailles” for the French royal palace that inspired it, the edifice hit the market recently. Construction was halted last year to save money in a recession that proved particularly hard on Siegel’s once-booming industry.

“This mansion is a great anecdote of the overconsumption that led to the housing bust, and it might be the poster child of such overindulgence,” said Jack McCabe, a Florida-based real estate analyst.

The unfinished palace at 6121 Kirkstone Lane makes Tiger Woods’ place just down the street in this gated Orlando suburb look more like a guest house.

It has the square footage of nearly two football fields, is almost double the White House and about 36 times the size of the average American family home. The master bedroom alone, which would have had a rotating bed under a skylight, is twice the size of a standard house.

“It’s like a living piece of art,” said Lorraine Barrett, a Coldwell Banker real estate agent who has the listing.

At least it will be upon completion.

Instead of stonewalled gates, a chain-link fence with a green covering keeps onlookers out of the 10-acre property. The driveway is overrun with dirt and rocks. Weeds fill the planned baseball field.

The home opens into a grand hall with symmetrical staircases and a ceiling complete with a stained-glass dome befitting a cathedral. The rest of the mansion is more an outline — only steel beams, insulation and most of the electrical wiring are in place. The two elevator shafts are empty.

Stone for the exterior is waiting in boxes that fill the cavernous garage. The Olympic-length pool that will have a waterfall flowing into another pool is a carved-out shell. A cleaning company has to come to the vacant mansion to keep things tidy.

“He figured it would be for his family. They’d never have to leave, because they would have everything they needed here,” Barrett said during a recent tour of the mansion. “Nothing broke his heart more.”

She said Siegel, who has 12 children, could have easily moved forward with construction but wanted to avoid cutbacks at his company, Westgate Resorts. Requests to interview Siegel were not returned through Westgate Resorts or Barrett.

Selling a high-end home is never easy, and that’s only magnified in this recovering market.

Sheri Chase, founder and president of Chase Realty International, has had the listing for a $100 million estate in Lake Tahoe, Nev., for about four years. The 20,000-square-foot home on 210 acres of property is owned by Tommy Hilfiger co-founder Joel Horowitz.

“There are only so many billionaires in the world,” Chase said. “Who’s looking at prices in this stratosphere? Very few people, so patience is key.”

There also aren’t many homes in the U.S. priced so high.

The Lake Tahoe estate is the third-most expensive on the market, according to the annual ranking by Forbes magazine. That’s only behind a $150 million mansion in Holmby Hills, Calif., owned by Candy Spelling, widow of television giant Aaron Spelling. Another Holmby Hills mansion owned by Suzanne Saperstein, the ex-wife of Texas billionaire David Saperstein, has a $125 million asking price.

In 2008, a Russian billionaire bought Donald Trump’s Palm Beach mansion for $95 million. Trump had asked for $125 million.

The Versailles mansion, inspired by a visit to the real palace near Paris on the Siegel’s honeymoon in 2000, is currently tied for fifth by price with several others. But it has, by all accounts, the most square footage under one roof in America for a home after the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.

The structure might not look so massive from the front. The foundation sits some 20 feet below the rest of the block — making the entrance to the home on the second floor — because there’s a 47-foot height restriction. In reality, the mansion is 67 feet high.

It’s not cheap to maintain, either.

Taxes alone on the property, if sold at $100 million, would be between $1.45 million and $1.74 million annually, according to the Orange County property appraiser’s website. The yearly upkeep also would likely fall in that range, real estate agents said.

“It’s going to take a very unique kind of buyer to purchase the property,” said Carol Ann Hewitt, who has listings for high-end homes in Windermere for Oxford Realty. “I’m not going to say it’s impossible, but it could take a while.”

Appealing Your Property Tax Bill…Should you?

June 18, 2010

If your property tax is aligned with or assessed based on the value of your home, a swing in property values could warrant close scrutiny of your property tax bill.

Some more progressive tax jurisdictions will make the adjustment for you — up or down — but most only move your rate up or they’ll wait for the property to change hands before adjusting the tax.

Even where adjustments are automatic, you still may not be satisfied and will need to appeal the deal.

Over valued or over assessed property is perhaps the most common and successful grounds for challenging your tax bill.

When the economy is faltering and spawning foreclosures, short sales and homeowners otherwise bailing out of homeownership, consider it a red flag — it’s time to scrutinize your property tax bill.

Many homeowners bailout, accept the foreclosure or take the short sale way out because their mortgage is more than the value of the home, which may have fallen for a variety of reasons.

The incidence of incorrectly calculated property tax bills may also warrant a close inspection of your property tax bill or an appeal.

Many errors in calculating your property tax bill also stem from clerical mistakes according to the American Homeowners Association (AHA) which, along with the National Taxpayers Union, offers a low-cost kit to help you check our property tax’s accuracy and, if necessary, attempt to lower your levy.

Visit the Federation of Tax Administrators (http://www.ntanet.org) to pinpoint your property tax jurisdiction, records and procedures.

Tell-tale signs your property tax could warrant an adjustment include:

* Errors in the description of your property on the tax bill.

* Compatible homes in the area that have sold for less than your appraised value.

* Neighbors with lower assessments on similar houses. Keep in mind some homes retain the same assessed value for years and assessed values often don’t rise or fall in step with market values or home sale prices.

* Value reducers in your home or area, including drainage problems, easements, re-zoning, heavy traffic, nearby railroad tracks, freeways, industry or toxic waste.

* Depreciation factors, including the quality of materials, inefficient heating, structural cracks, deterioration, or chronic defects.

When you examine your tax records in the local assessor’s or property tax office to make sure the information is complete and accurate also ask yourself:

* Did you buy your home in a bidding war? An overvalued property is an over assessed property.

* Are there errors in your tax records? Look closely at your records and make sure there aren’t reporting errors. A condo listed as a single-family home, square footage that’s off, too many rooms and more can falsely boost assessed value.

* Do the math. Many states put a cap on how much above the market value an assessment can be and how much it can rise each year.

If you need to appeal the assessed value and related property tax, prepare yourself for a time-consuming ordeal.

In most cases the process is free for taxpayers, but you may want to enlist the aid of a licensed professional to assist you.

Typically, you’ll have to find three, five or more comparable homes in your neighborhood that have lower assessments. Obviously, the lower the better. Also, the more comparables, the stronger your case. Truly comparable homes are homes nearly identical to your home’s floor plan, age, lot size, improvements and other factors.

The information is largely public and available, with some digging, from your tax assessor’s or property tax office, but you can hire a real estate agent or other professional with access to your local multiple listing service. They can quickly generate a comparable market analysis of homes both recently sold and those in escrow to hone in on your home’s true value.

An appraiser with multiple listing service access can do the same, as well as perform an appraisal of your home.

If you hire a professional you could be out a few hundred dollars. Don’t make a case if you don’t think it’s worth the cost to appeal.

Approach the appeal objectively, not with an adversarial chip on your shoulder. You only want your due, not to incite the property tax system.

If at first you don’t succeed, be prepared to appeal to a higher authority.

It’s brand new to the market and it’s AMAZING!

June 11, 2010

JUST LISTED!

YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER HOME LIKE THIS! Wonderful wooded oasis bordering Wells State Park. Newer log cabin home on 5 acres with so many bonuses! Decks, porches, in ground pool, kennels, walking trails, sun room, cathedral ceilings – it’s simply amazing and all meticulously maintained! Newer driveway, newer roof, newer stonewall, landscaping done with native dogwood trees, lady slippers and tulip trees. Possible 4th bedroom and land contains two lots. This is a truly unique beautiful home!

http://298newbostonroad.epropertysites.com/

It’s DONE!

May 25, 2010

The roof is complete! We finished around 2pm yesterday and I have to say – I love it! My old roof was a beige color that came complete with some moss and a unused satellite dish. I chose peweterwood 30 yr shingle for the roof. It does wonders for the house.

The ridge vent and soffit vents have already made a huge difference. The old roof was not vented at all because of the pine board planking that was used as sheathing. I went over the pine boards (leaving them in place – they were nice and solid) with 1/2 inch plywood and brought together the top of the house. Using soffit vents to allow air in…and the ridge to allow air out…I now have decent air flow moving through the roof. This will greatly extend it’s life. It also has allowed air to escape so on hot days…the upstairs of my house isn’t baking with pressure and heat.

I have a sunburn…a few bruises and some sore muscles but at the end of the project I saved approximately $4500 and gained personal satisfaction. A huge THANK YOU to my brother Dan who made it all possible. Dan is very skilled with home renovations and works like a machine! Thank you!!!

still going!

May 22, 2010

The roof! WOW! I am a bit sore..and a bit sunburnt but that’s OKAY! We took half the roof off yesterday to find that the structure and rafters are in fantastic shape. No sign of damage from either water or time. This is great news! It means that even though the roof should have been done last year, I am still ahead of the game and got it to before it became worse.

We stripped off the two layers of shingles and the cedar shakes. There is wide pine planking underneath that we left on and covered it with fresh 1/2 inche plywood. This roof is going to be very strong. After cleaning up for what felt like hours…we called it a day with that half fully sheathed.

Today…with four people on hand…we should be able to work on both sides of the roof at the same time. This will go much faster! I expect by noon the ice/water shield will be down and we can start to lay shingles! I am really looking forward to my pewterwood!

Off to find more coffee and get ready before the crew arrives!

And so it begins today…

May 21, 2010

SO…I have been known to take on home improvement projects myself. Sometimes…ones larger than I expect! I bought my house a little over two years ago from one of the BEST real estate agents who not only inspired me to become an agent myself but also became one of my favorite people with her daughters and horse and her sense of humor!

So today it begins…the roof. It’s coming off!

I admit…I am a tad nervous. I am also really excited!

Stay tuned!