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Storied 1897 Virginia Lighthouse Hits the Market for $450K—and It Comes With Very Strict Rules for Prospective Buyers

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Mike B

15
Apr

A historic Virginia lighthouse has splashed its way back onto the market for $450,000—complete with a very rigid set of rules around the terms of its sale, including that the buyer must be willing to pay cash for the 129-year-old abode.

Accessible only by boat, the dwelling offers a truly off-the-grid living experience, a feature that has helped to propel it to the top of the week’s most popular homes list.

Constructed as a working lighthouse in 1897, the structure has since been redesigned as the ultimate getaway in Chesapeake Bay, undergoing a significant overhaul from 2006 to 2009 that transformed it into a remote vacation retreat.

That three-year renovation added a modern kitchen, living room with vinyl plank floors, and three bedrooms upstairs. A fourth bedroom can be found in the top floor watch room.

The property, which is known as the Smith Point Lighthouse and is located 2.5 miles off the shore in Reedville, VA, at the mouth of the Potomac River, last changed hands in 2005. The sellers first tested the waters on the housing market in 2024, but have now relisted the property at the same price—with several contingencies in place.

First, all interested parties must note that the property is “on the National Historic Registry and subject to restrictions,” the listing says—adding that multiple repairs are needed in and around the lighthouse, including updates to the rails, appliances, windows, and floors.

According to the listing, the Coast Guard maintains the lamp “as an active aid to navigation.”

Only buyers who are serious about making a cash offer should inquire, the description adds.

Other properties grabbing attention this week are a former bank building transformed into a stylish residence in Virginia, a midcentury time capsule in Oklahoma, and a bridge-turned-architectural marvel in Ohio.

10. 160 E Howard St, Tryon, NC

Price: $249,000

Why it’s here: This colorful and modernized bungalow is a creative artist’s dream retreat!

The cheery open floor plan boasts 1,406 square feet of sun-soaked space with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and hardwood floors. Two bedrooms can be found on the lower level along with a sunroom that could be transformed into an office or studio. A private backyard overlooks a serene stream.

Located in mixed-use zoning just steps from the Saluda Grade Trail, the investment property could also be used for rental income or a business opportunity.

David Eshan of Keller Williams DRIVE is the listing agent.

Colorful bungalow in Tryon, NC, on sale for $249,000 — Colorful bungalow in Tryon, NC (Realtor.com)

9. 122 Brooks St, Monroe, VA

Price: $315,000

Why it’s here: Built in 1889, this historic former bank building has been transformed into a stylish three-bedroom residence.

Grand exterior columns, double entry doors, high ceilings, wood beams, arched windows, exposed brick walls, and original hardwood floors all remain intact. The 1,572-square-foot open floor plan now offers an updated kitchen with white shaker cabinets and quartz countertops, and a primary suite found in the loft area that overlooks the living room.

A front porch or rear deck would be a nice spot for morning coffee.

Salina M Khanna of T.Y. Realty Incorporated is the listing agent.

Former bank in Monroe, VA, on sale for $315,000 — Former bank in Monroe, VA (Realtor.com)

8. 1806 Mocking Bird Ln, Enid, OK

Price: $349,900

Why it’s here: It’s an affordably priced, midcentury modern time capsule still full of period details.

Built in 1960, this “timeless” two-bedroom residence features vaulted ceilings, wood-paneled walls, brick details, built-ins, and a carport. A spacious living room boasts a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace and retractable glass walls designed to seamlessly blend in with the outdoor living area.

An in-ground pool, sundeck, and firepit can be found in the private fenced-in backyard.

Jimmy Nicholas of Nicholas Residential R E is the listing agent.

Midcentury home in Enid, OK, on sale for $349,900 — Midcentury home in Enid, OK (Realtor.com)

7. 3418 Wetmore Ave, Everett, WA

Price: $400,000

Why it’s here: This investment opportunity could transform the property into a future multifamily development in a “rapidly growing area.”

According to the listing, the redevelopment site could be used to build a six-unit structure. Built in 1910, the existing 1,068-square-foot residence features two bedrooms on the main level with an additional one located upstairs. A sunporch overlooks the fenced-in backyard with gardens and fruit trees.

There is also a detached two-story outbuilding that offers additional potential.

Anton Stetner of KW North Sound is the listing agent.

Investment opportunity in Everett, WA, on sale for $400,000 — Investment opportunity in Everett, WA (Realtor.com)

6. 3500 Kitzmiller Rd, New Albany, OH

Price: $799,900

Why it’s here: This 5-acre property started off as a bridge before a three-bedroom “architectural marvel” was added on in 1953.

Now, a long living room with brick fireplace and expansive windows spans over the creek flowing underneath. The 2,195-square-foot interior features an eat-in kitchen with oversized breakfast bar and dining area overlooking the water. A floating curved staircase leads up to the sleeping quarters.

Buyers should do their due diligence to determine if the property is located in a high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.

Joshua Neudecker of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services – Gahanna Downtown is the listing agent.

Former bridge turned residence in New Albany, OH, on sale for $799,900 — Former bridge turned residence in New Albany, OH (Realtor.com)

5. 99 Posey Cir, Saint Joseph, TN

Price: $7,995,000

Why it’s here: It’s a luxurious farmstead located on a massive 457 acres that feature multiple ponds, a creek, pasture, and crop fields.

A four-bedroom estate surrounded by columns and stunning wraparound covered porch boasts a 7,673-square-foot interior designed for grand-scale entertaining.

Opulent details include ash wood floors, pocket doors, a grand curved staircase, a gourmet chef’s kitchen, designer lighting, private terraces, and eight fireplaces. A finished lower level could be transformed into an entertainment room. The fourth floor widow’s walk serves as the “lookout point of the property.”

A detached four-car garage, metal storage barn, and shed can also be found on the enormous lot.

Darci Ann Caesar of Onward Real Estate is the listing agent.

457-acre mansion in Saint Joseph, TN, on sale for $7,995,000 — Mansion on 457 acres in Saint Joseph, TN (Realtor.com)

4. 2851 Perry St, Denver, CO

Price: $1,900,000

Why it’s here: The historic Lobach House is an 1893 Victorian that has been well preserved over the years.

Period highlights include a grand foyer with sweeping staircase, custom millwork, inlaid wood floors, stained-glass windows, built-in cabinetry, original pocket doors, vintage hardware, and a fireplace with hand-carved mantel. Designed for entertaining, the 4,112-square-foot interior boasts a sitting room, sunroom, formal dining room, first-floor guest suite, a new kitchen with Carrara marble countertops, and an upstairs primary suite with walk-in glass shower.

A covered wraparound porch overlooks the private fenced-in yard with brick patio and gardens.

Jenny Apel of Compass is the listing agent.

Lobach House in Denver, CO, on sale for $1,900,000 — Lobach House in Denver, CO (Realtor.com)

3. 1903 Ogden Rd, Adams Township, OH

Price: $495,000

Why it’s here: It’s a dome-style round home tucked away on 15.06 acres of privacy that also boasts a private pond.

Built in 1994, the uniquely designed time capsule features a throwback interior with glass block walls, skylights, some wall-to-wall carpeting, and a jetted tub. A primary suite has built-in cabinetry, mirrored bifold closet doors, and triangular-shaped windows. An enormous deck for entertaining sits atop a two-car garage.

There is also a shed for storage, and an outbuilding that could be transformed into a cabin or workshop.

Billie Madden of Keller Williams Pinnacle Group is the listing agent.

Round home in Adams Township, OH, on sale for $495,000 — Round home in Adams Township, OH (Realtor.com)

2. 26715 E Still Creek Rd, Rhododendron, OR

Price: $275,000

Why it’s here: It’s a secluded three-bedroom cabin located on a private wooded lot just minutes away from Still Creek and Mount Hood.

Built in 1924, the 1,460-square-foot cedar home, offering the “opportunity for thoughtful updates,” features a two-story living room with stone fireplace and a loft-style sleeping area upstairs. The eat-in kitchen has direct access to the backyard.

A front covered porch was designed for soaking in the peaceful views.

Cassandra Skelley of PDX Dwellings LLC is the listing agent.

Secluded cabin in Rhododendron, OR, on sale for $275,000 — Secluded cabin in Rhododendron, OR (Realtor.com)

1. Smith Pt, Reedville, VA

Price: $450,000

Why it’s here: Smith Point Lighthouse has once again splashed on the market in Chesapeake Bay.

The decommissioned landmark was built in 1897 and sits just 2.5 miles from the shore. A three-year renovation completed in 2009 now offers an updated kitchen with cherry cabinets, range, portable dishwasher, and microwave. There is even a shower bathroom, a living room with original trim, three second-story bedrooms and a fourth bedroom nestled upstairs in the watch room.

Offered fully furnished, the lighthouse also comes with a portable generator, a water heater, and a wastewater treatment system. Some repairs are needed, and it is being sold as is.

Smith Point Lighthouse in Reedville, VA, on sale for $450,000 — Smith Point Lighthouse in Reedville, VA (Realtor.com)

Beverly Hills CA, California, Celebrity Homes, Daily Email, Los Angeles CA, Slot 04, Unique Homes, Video

Bruce Willis’ Former Beverly Hills Mansion Fetches $41.3 Million in Off-Market Deal—but Adjacent Home Is Still Up for Grabs

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Mike B

14
Apr

A stunning Beverly Hills mansion once owned by actor Bruce Willis has quietly been sold for the sky-high price of $41.25 million in an off-market deal, more than a decade after the Hollywood star offloaded it for less than half that amount.

The property, which is located inside the coveted Benedict Canyon neighborhood within the iconic 90210 ZIP code, was built in 1928, but has undergone significant updates in the 12 years since Willis, 71, sold it.

Images of the expansive 10,300-square-foot dwelling offer a glimpse at the modern, fresh elements that were added to the historic abode, including enormous windows that flood the living spaces with sunlight and offer beautiful views of the elegantly landscaped gardens.

The newer design details blend perfectly with the historic touches throughout the property, including exposed beams and original fireplaces.

Records show the property was listed with Jon Grauman, Adam Rosenfeld, and Bennett Bidwell of Resident Group.

While they could not be reached for comment, property records show that the sprawling Mediterranean-style dwelling last changed hands in 2014, when it was purchased by businessman Carlos Alberini, the current CEO of Guess and the former co-CEO of Restoration Hardware.

Alberini and his wife, Andrea Alberini, purchased the property from Willis for $16.5 million in 2014—and later snapped up the adjacent home for $15.75 million in 2021. That second dwelling is now on the market for $17.99 million—having been listed for sale on Jan. 30.

Living space with large hanging lighting in Bruce Willis' former home in California — A stunning Beverly Hills mansion once owned by actor Bruce Willis has quietly been sold for the sky-high price of $41.25 million in an off-market deal. (Andrew Bramasco)

The entrance to Bruce Willis' former home in California — The property, which is located inside the coveted Benedict Canyon neighborhood within the iconic 90210 ZIP code, was built in 1928, but has undergone significant updates in the 12 years since Willis, 71, sold it. (Andrew Bramasco)

The kitchen in Bruce Willis' former home in California — Records show the property was listed with Jon Grauman, Adam Rosenfeld, and Bennett Bidwell of Resident Group. (Andrew Bramasco)

Living space in Bruce Willis' former home in California — The home was sold by businessman Carlos Alberini, the current CEO of Guess and the former co-CEO of Restoration Hardware. (Andrew Bramasco)

Office in Bruce Willis' former home in California — Alberini and his wife, Andrea Alberini, purchased the property from Willis for $16.5 million in 2014—and later snapped up the adjacent home for $15.75 million in 2021. (Andrew Bramasco)

The identity of the person or persons who bought the couple’s primary property in the off-market trade, in which they were represented by Carl Gambino and John Bercsi of the Gambino Group at Compass, is unknown.

As first reported by The Real Deal, the $41.25 million sale marks the second-highest price for a residential real estate purchase made in Los Angeles County this year so far, falling second to a nearby dwelling that sold for $47 million in March.

The Alberinis gained a significant profit in the sale of their dwelling, more than doubling the price that they paid for it—although that doesn’t account for the money that they poured into the renovations of the home.

New MLS records that reflect the latest sale indicate that several of the bedrooms in the home may have been expanded or transformed as part of that work; when Willis sold the home, it was listed with 11 bedrooms, however it now has only seven.

The stunning primary suite features a private terrace that leads out into a private patio area, while the en-suite bathroom features an enormous soaking tub framed by a large picture window, and a separate walk-in shower. Two walk-in closets complete the elegant retreat.

Elsewhere in the home, there are an array of enormous living spaces, including a grand double-height entryway with a beautiful tiled floor that leads into a cozy living room that features a wall of sliding glass, which can be opened up to the inner courtyard at the center of the property.

That living room also features an enormous fireplace and exposed wood beams to add a cozy touch to the space.

Across the courtyard—which features an enormous stone firepit at its center—is the large kitchen, as well as another, more casual sitting room, and a formal dining space.

A bedroom with a balcony at Bruce Willis' former home in California — The Alberinis gained a significant profit in the sale of their dwelling, more than doubling the price that they paid for it—although that doesn’t account for the money that they poured into the renovations of the home. (Andrew Bramasco)

Wine room in Bruce Willis' former home in California — Numerous entertaining areas and living spaces are found throughout the home, including a dedicated wine storage room. (Andrew Bramasco)

The pool at Bruce Willis' former home in California — Outside, the grounds are home to a pool and a private sports court. (Andrew Bramasco)

Outdoor dining table at Bruce Willis' former home in California — There are also ample external entertaining spaces, including a dining area that is located in a covered patio. (Andrew Bramasco)

Landscaping details at Bruce Willis' former home in California — The identity of the buyer has not yet been revealed. (Andrew Bramasco)

The second sitting room also features a wall of retractable glass doors that open to a covered outdoor dining space and what appears to be a sizable pizza oven.

The kitchen offers ample space for entertaining, courtesy of two giant islands, as well as a breakfast bar.

A wood-paneled office space, a dedicated wine storage room, a private movie theater with large leather recliners, and a wet bar round out the common-area spaces.

Meanwhile, the outdoor spaces in the home appear to have been designed to create several different entertaining areas, all of which are framed by lush trees to add another layer of privacy to the spaces.

A large outdoor fireplace features ample room for guests to relax and soak up warm summer evenings, while the glittering swimming pool, which is framed by perfectly manicured hedges, has space for multiple loungers.

In addition to the main residence on the property, there is also an elegant pool house found on the grounds, which features its own full kitchen and opens up to a private sports court on the other side.

Before Alberini purchased the dwelling from Willis 12 years ago, the actor had spent more than a year trying to sell it, having originally listed it for the much higher price of $22 million in May 2013. Willis bought the home in 2004, four years after he split from his first wife, actress Demi Moore.

It is unclear what has prompted Alberini to part ways with both of his Benedict Canyon abodes—which were maintained as separate residences, despite being located directly next to each other.

However, records show that the fashion CEO owns another California residence, a sprawling property in Manhattan Beach that was purchased for $16.25 million in 2021.

California, Homebuying

NSYNC Star Joey Fatone Reveals He Was Forced To Move Back in With His Parents and Auction His Florida Home To Avoid Bankruptcy

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Mike B

14
Apr

*NSYNC star Joey Fatone has lifted the lid on his brutal financial struggles in the wake of the boy band’s sudden hiatus—revealing that his money woes became so severe, he was forced to sell his Florida home and move back in to his parents’ house, along with his wife and children.

Fatone, 49, spoke frankly about his sudden fall from financial grace in a new Investigation Discovery documentary “Boy Band Confidential: A Hollywood Demons Event,” explaining how the shock decision to put *NSYNC on an indefinite break left him in a desperate situation.

The singer confessed that the news of the band’s 2002 hiatus came as a total surprise to him, explaining that there was “never a conversation” between himself and his fellow members—Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick.

“There was never a conversation, per se. There was never a goodbye. There was never anything,” he says in the documentary.

Prior to the band’s split, Fatone had been incredibly comfortable financially, even investing some of his hard-earned cash in a huge 10,000-square-foot home in Orlando, FL, which offered all manner of luxurious amenities, including a movie theater, a gym, and a mini golf course.

At the time, the singer says he was regularly checking in with his accountant to ensure that his finances were in good standing—noting that he asked for permission before purchasing the home in 2001 for $2.7 million, because he was afraid of spending too much money.

“Money was coming in. I asked my accountant, ‘Hey, are we good?’ ‘Yeah, we’re great.’ ‘I’m OK to buy this house, right?’ He goes, ‘Your kids’ kids’ kids will be fine,'” Fatone recalls in a clip obtained by Entertainment Weekly.

NSYNC Portrait Session — *NSYNC star Joey Fatone has lifted the lid on his brutal financial struggles in the wake of the boy band’s sudden hiatus—revealing that his money woes became so severe, he was forced to sell his family home. ( Bob Berg/Getty Images)

Teen People's First Anniversary Party - Los Angeles — Fatone, 49, spoke frankly about his sudden fall from financial grace in a new Investigation Discovery documentary, explaining how the shock decision to put *NSYNC on an indefinite break in 2002 left him in a desperate situation. (SGranitz/WireImage)

However, Fatone notes that, in hindsight, his accountant was likely unaware that his regular stream of income was about to be shut off, almost overnight.

By 2011, his financial situation was in a much more severe state, leading to his new accountant urging him to sell his expansive mansion as quickly as possible to avoid impending bankruptcy.

“10 years later … when I go to a new accountant, I say, ‘Hey man, can you look at my finances and what’s going on?’ And he goes, ‘You need to get out of that house or you’re gonna go bankrupt.’ I went, ‘I’m sorry, what?'” Fatone reveals.

The extent of his financial woes was made painfully clear to him on Christmas, when his electricity was suddenly shut off because he was unable to pay the bill—just as his family was preparing to open gifts and sit down to their holiday meal.

At the time, Fatone was married to Kelly Baldwin, with whom he shares two children—and the two had invited several members of his extended family for a celebration.

“There was one point during Christmas they shut off the lights to my house because I didn’t pay the bill,” he shares in the documentary. “I almost was gonna go bankrupt. And I have a family. This is when I am married, I have two kids.”

While he conceded that these kinds of financial hardships happen every day, Fatone added that he was facing further complications because of his fame—and his desire to keep his situation out of the public eye.

“These are certain things that happen in normal people’s lives as well, but then you have to figure out, for me, how do I do this without the public even watching of what’s going on?” he explains.

Fatone said he quickly swallowed his pride and turned to the people in his life who “had the most money” to ask them for financial assistance—but found the door shut in his face on more than one occasion, leaving him with little choice but to move his family in with his parents in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, property records show that his Florida home was put on the market in 2009 for $5.9 million, before that price was raised to $6.5 million in June 2010. However, having failed to find a buyer by the following February, Fatone was forced to auction off the dwelling for the much lower price of $3.3 million.

Though humbling, he admits that this experience encouraged him to embrace a new role in life—one that didn’t rely on his past fame or *NSYNC successes, but instead focused on a career that he forged himself, even if that meant accepting jobs that he previously wouldn’t have considered.

Investigation Discovery Holds An Exclusive Evening With "Boy Band Confidential" Executive Producer Joey Fatone & Special Guests — By 2011, his financial situation was in a much more severe state, leading to his new accountant urging him to sell his expansive mansion as quickly as possible to avoid impending bankruptcy. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Investigation Discovery)

2023 MTV Video Music Awards - Backstage — Fatone—who reunited with his fellow bandmates in 2023—said the experience made him grateful the other *NSYNC members hadn’t had to go through similar difficulties. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV)

“I lived in Vegas for almost a year, busted my ass to slowly build back up kind of a career in a sense,” he explains. “I went from performing in stadiums to, a year later, two years later, doing Broadway and then, all of a sudden, when things go down, I’m doing ‘The Price Is Right’ at Bally’s, a live show in front of maybe 100 people.”

Speaking to People magazine, Fatone said this rock-bottom period in his life also taught him another important lesson—that it was ultimately his choice how he handled the disappointment.

“Talking about possibly going bankrupt myself and going down that path, when you had millions of dollars … to almost have nothing, it’s like, what do you do?” he said.

“Do you go off the deep end, like some people have, and go to addiction to try to get your body numb and not think about it? Or do you get the positive attitude and go, ‘You know what? I can do it.'”

Fatone also experienced a newfound love of music and performing, explaining that it helped him to stay positive, even in the toughest times.

“I love performing and I loved hosting. Honestly, me and [fellow executive producer Joe Mulvihill] have always talked about this,” he said. “I’ve always just had a positive attitude, no matter what happens. You just have to think and realize there’s always light at the other side, in some way, shape, or form.”

He explained that although his sense of “normalcy” was taken away from him following the end of the boy band, he knew he couldn’t let it take over his life.

“You may not get there right away. It may not happen overnight, but you will get there. Like I said in the doc, living with my parents with a wife and two kids and not knowing when I’m actually going to get out and into my own place and have some normalcy … it was kind of taken away, with not knowing financial things and what I was doing,” he added.

Although Fatone’s life didn’t go as planned, he was thankful that some of his other boy band members weren’t experiencing the same fate.

“It’s amazing to see the clarity. That’s another cool thing, to watch somebody where they’re cloudy back in the day and then see their face and see them come to clarity, which is absolutely amazing,” he revealed.

California, Homebuying

Ryan Seacrest Reveals His Dating ‘Red Flags’ as He Sets Out To Find Love Again After Relisting His Very Romantic Napa Valley Estate

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Mike B

14
Apr

TV personality Ryan Seacrest has opened up about his dating red flags, while admitting that he may soon open himself up to apps like Tinder in his quest to find love, two years after ending a yearslong romance with model Aubrey Paige.

Addressing his dating struggles in the latest episode of his podcast, “On Air With Ryan Seacrest,” the 51-year-old gave a short list of “red flags” for any future love interests—noting that he is turned off by anyone who doesn’t greet another person while biking or running.

“When you’re out on a run or a walk or a bike ride, do you say hi to people that pass? If you don’t, I’m not so sure about you,” he joked. He added that he likes to take his dates out for a “little exercise” as a “test” to see how they interact with others.

As for his “green flags,” Seacrest called attention to another morning ritual, specifically his preferred beverage.

“I really look forward to getting up and having my coffee,” he explained. “I think if we can’t share that moment together, it’s a red flag. So, ‘I need coffee’ is a green flag. Don’t have a lot, and please don’t put milks and stuff in it.”

Ryan Seacrest appears to be embracing a season of change, recently revealing that he is open to trying out dating apps such as Tinder—mere weeks after listing the Napa Valley estate he has owned since 2020. (Realtor.com)

The 51-year-old previously described the St. Helena, CA, property as the place where he feels most able to unwind. (Realtor.com)

He initially listed the home in April 2025—exactly 12 months after he split from Aubrey Paige, whom he had dated for three years. (Realtor.com)

He later said that he planned to “be on Tinder” later that night so he could begin his search for the ideal partner. It’s unclear whether he’s had any luck.

Seacrest appears to be embracing a significant season of change in his personal life of late—having just relisted his sprawling Napa Valley estate for $19.8 million. This is the second time he has attempted to offload the picturesque property.

He initially listed the home in April 2025—exactly 12 months after he split from Paige, whom he had dated for three years. Before Paige, he dated chef Shayna Taylor from 2013 to 2020. He also previously had a relationship with dancer Julianne Hough.

Interestingly, his Napa Valley abode, which is located in St. Helena, CA, would likely serve as the ideal spot to have a date—with Seacrest previously revealing that it is the place where he feels most able to “slow down and take it all in.”

“It’s such a peaceful spot, and the views out over the valley floor are unforgettable,” he said in a press release announcing the listing. “You can even see the hot-air balloons drifting by in the distance. It’s the kind of place where you naturally want to slow down and take it all in.”

The home spans 10,750 square feet, which includes five bedrooms and six bathrooms.

The listing, which is held by Cyd Greer of Coldwell Banker Boker of the Valley, highlights the pool, guesthouse, cottage, and more amenities.

“Originally built in 2004, the property underwent a significant remodel in 2023/2024, blending timeless elegance with a fresh, light-filled space tailored for today’s modern lifestyle,” the listing reads. (Realtor.com)

The home features several enormous living spaces, including a chef’s kitchen with a fireplace. (Realtor.com)

The 10,750-square-foot home has five bedrooms and six bathrooms. (Realtor.com)

Throughout the home, enormous walls of windows create indoor-outdoor flow. (Realtor.com)

Luxe details include reclaimed wood beams and wide-plank oak floors. Custom cabinetry, lighting, doors, and windows were all installed. (Realtor.com)

“Originally built in 2004, the property underwent a significant remodel in 2023/2024, blending timeless elegance with a fresh, light-filled space tailored for today’s modern lifestyle,” the listing reads.

The luxurious property is surrounded by lush greenery, which adds another layer of privacy to the remote setting.

Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with an expansive living area with a soaring ceiling, a chic fireplace, and access to the outdoor area.

The dining area boasts an all-white color palette and a wood-beamed ceiling.

“Built to exceptional standards, the home showcases chiseled limestone walls, reclaimed wood beams, seven fireplaces, and expansive pocketing doors seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor living spaces. Outdoor living areas feature an infinity-edge pool and spa, a spacious central courtyard for large scale dining, inviting view terraces, a bocce court and a 220-tree Italian olive grove,” adds the listing.

Highlights of the main house include an inner courtyard, a chef’s kitchen, and a spacious primary suite with an office and private terrace.

The layout includes a library gallery, TV room, gym, laundry, garden room, storage room, and three-car garage.

“It’s such a peaceful spot, and the views out over the valley floor are unforgettable,” he said in a press release announcing the listing. (Realtor.com)

Outside, mature trees and native plantings dot the landscape, which also sports an infinity pool and spa and a bocce court. (Realtor.com)

There are multiple outdoor dining and entertaining spaces. (Realtor.com)

“Located just minutes from Meadowood Resort and downtown Saint Helena, this Napa Valley estate promises a lifestyle of luxury, privacy, and sophistication, perfectly suited for those seeking the ultimate in resort-style living,” adds the listing. (Realtor.com)

Luxe details include reclaimed wood beams and wide-plank oak floors. Custom cabinetry, lighting, doors, and windows were all installed.

There are seven wood-burning fireplaces in the main house, including a kitchen fireplace with a rotisserie and a pizza oven. The living room has a dry bar and pocket doors to the side terrace.

Outside, mature trees and native plantings dot the landscape, which also sports an infinity pool and spa and a bocce court.

Seacrest added 220 fruiting Italian olive trees. The property is equipped with security and surveillance systems, built-in audio, a Lutron lighting system, and a whole-property backup generator.

The luxe bathrooms boast marble vanities, soaking tubs, and glass-enclosed showers.

“Located just minutes from Meadowood Resort and downtown Saint Helena, this Napa Valley estate promises a lifestyle of luxury, privacy, and sophistication, perfectly suited for those seeking the ultimate in resort-style living,” adds the listing.

Seacrest previously attempted to offload the home in 2024 for $22 million. He took it off the market the following year.

New York Post, Syndication, Unique Homes, Video

Inside the Rare $24.5M NYC Mansion That Shouldn’t Exist

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Mike B

14
Apr

A 44-foot-wide townhouse is hitting the Manhattan market. That’s not supposed to happen.

At 345 W. 19th St., a six-story, 8,000-plus-square-foot mansion standing at 44 feet wide is about to list for $24.5 million, The Post has learned.

It is the product of two crumbling 22-foot-wide townhouses stitched together, gutted to bedrock and rebuilt from scratch over five painstaking years. The result is something so rare it barely has a category.

“There’s probably two dozen or under” townhouses wider than 40 feet south of 34th Street, Douglas Elliman broker Chris Riccio — who is co-listing the property alongside colleagues Joe Monteleone, Elana Zinoman and Terry Martinolle — told The Post. “In Chelsea, I’m hard-pressed to think of another actual 44-foot-wide mansion that is fully renovated.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen anything over 30 feet in Chelsea in terms of a house,” he said, “unless it’s some strange corner house that has a commercial element or garage piece to it,” Monteleone, who has worked in the townhouse market for decades, added.

Interior details of a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — The residence is a product of two crumbling 22-foot-wide townhouses merged, gutted to bedrock and rebuilt over five years. (Hayley Ellen Day)

The back of a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — The property spans more than 8,000 square feet of interior space and nearly 2,400 square feet of outdoor space across six stories, making it one of fewer than two dozen townhouses wider than 40 feet south of 34th Street in all of Manhattan. (Hayley Ellen Day)

For context, the most celebrated comparables sit in the West Village. Properties like 105-107 Bank St. and 138-140 W. 11th St. are the gold standard of the double-wide genre — and they trade near $70 million. Chelsea has produced nothing at this scale. Until now.

The seller is an angel investor who bought the two adjacent wrecks in 2020 and 2021 for $7.5 million combined. But, according to Monteleonie, they were not an investment. They were a dream.

A fireplace in a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — The seller, an angel investor, bought the two derelict properties in 2020 and 2021 for $7.5 million combined with the intention of creating a permanent family compound, spending close to $9 million on renovations that required crane operations, custom fabrications shipped by cargo ship and years of permit battles with the city. (Hayley Ellen Day)

Living space with a large dining table and brick walls in a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — The 44-foot width unlocks architectural possibilities impossible in a standard townhouse, including a 20-foot vaulted great room with a custom sliding-glass-wall system that opens fully to a 44-foot-wide private garden below. (Hayley Ellen Day)

“The sole purpose was to stay there forever, to be honest,” Monteleone said. “I’ve worked with the owner for almost 25 years.”

He envisioned a compound where his twins could sprawl, where visiting family from England and his wife’s relatives from out west would have real space.

“They wanted to offer people who come to the place to stay something that’s comfortable as opposed to a guest room with no windows and a tiny closet kind of scenario,” Monteleone said.

A bedroom in a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — The primary suite occupies nearly an entire floor and centers on a glass-enclosed sunlit atrium with an outdoor shower, while a self-contained guest apartment with its own entrance adds nearly another 1,000 square feet of independent living space. (Hayley Ellen Day)

A heated pool outside at a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — At the penthouse level, a 3,000-gallon heated endless pool faces the Empire State Building and Hudson Yards skyline, surrounded by an outdoor fireplace, a kitchen, a custom bar and a dining terrace. (Hayley Ellen Day)

The houses he bought were barely standing.

“The staircase was made of temporary plywood,” Monteleone said. “There were a few beams holding things up; seeing it required a hard hat and signing a waiver.”

The grand staircase in a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — The building’s facade was preserved to blend discreetly into the block, while everything behind it was structurally re-engineered from the ground up, with Manhattan bedrock still visible in a corner of the basement. (Hayley Ellen Day)

A tub and large shower in a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — An ensuite bathroom. (Hayley Ellen Day)

The previous owner bought both homes and then abandoned the project during the pandemic after a breakup. The latest owner stepped in and commissioned architecture firm RAAD Studio to rebuild everything — facade preserved, interior entirely re-engineered, straight down to the Manhattan bedrock still visible in a corner of the basement.

The renovation cost close to $9 million.

A bathroom in a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — Intricate details and moldings appear throughout the home. (Hayley Ellen Day)

“Four-plus years of renovations, permit and DOB navigations, crane operations and custom installations,” Monteleone said.

The family rented an apartment for years while the work dragged on, moving in only last year, finishing the final rooms in the back half of 2025.

Standard Manhattan townhouses run 19 to 22 feet wide. At 44 feet, the architecture becomes something else entirely.

Interior space with a pool table in a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — An entertainment space. (Hayley Ellen Day)

“In most houses, you would never do a 20-foot high living room because you’d lose an entire floor of the house,” Monteleone said. “In this space, since they had that double width, they can afford to make those kinds of choices.”

The great room delivers exactly that — vaulted ceilings adorned by what Riccio described as “the largest fabricated doors,” a custom sliding-glass-wall system 20 feet high that opens the room entirely to the garden below.

Outdoor bbq at a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — Privacy is extreme on both sides, with the front facing the back of a school and the rear overlooking a 200-year-old stone church, delivering near-total silence day and night. (Hayley Ellen Day)

“The backyard is like a soccer haven for his son and his daughter’s a gymnast and has a balancing bar back there,” Monteleone said. “They wanted to create a kind of a world like that, but family isn’t visiting as much as they thought, so they’re considering moving across the pond to Europe or out west. The kids are at a good age where changing schools isn’t a problem for them. And so that’s kind of why they’re making this move.”

Upstairs, the primary suite occupies nearly an entire floor — close to 1,000 square feet on its own. At its center sits a glass-enclosed atrium open to the sky, with an outdoor shower inside it.

The backyard with balconies in a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — Materials throughout reflect the same obsessive care, including reclaimed Coney Island boardwalk wood refinished for the primary bath, artisanal plaster, custom millwork and a library with a retractable guillotine window. (Hayley Ellen Day)

“It’s got this 10-by-12 glass living atrium that’s sunlit, full of snow in the winter,” Monteleone said. “It kind of illuminates the entire room.”

The guest apartment is a full unit — nearly 1,000 square feet, one bedroom, its own entrance, its own outdoor space, entirely self-contained. The stuff of New York fantasy.

Six stories up, above Chelsea’s rooftops, the penthouse opens onto a heated endless pool with the Empire State Building and Hudson Yards skyline directly in frame. An outdoor fireplace, a kitchen, a custom bar and a dining terrace surround it.

A rooftop dining table at a newly renovated luxury wide townhome in Chelsea Manhattan New York — The rooftop offers al fresco dining. (Hayley Ellen Day)

“It’s a 3,000-gallon pool,” Monteleone said. “It’s a little bigger than a hot tub, a little smaller than a pool you’d see in a backyard.”

The front of the building faces the rear facade of a school. The back faces a 200-year-old stone church.

“Walking down the street, most people I brought through didn’t even know this thing exists,” Monteleone said. “You walk in and suddenly it’s just space and drama and incredible details everywhere.”The materials throughout carry the same intentionality. Reclaimed wood from the Coney Island boardwalk, which is refinished and artisanally installed, lines the primary bath. Custom millwork, artisanal plaster and a library with a retractable guillotine window fill out the rest. Radiant heat, a private elevator and 35 windows round out the home.

“Many of these trade off market between friends and young tech billionaires,” Monteleone said. “Lots of people don’t even get a chance to step into these or even get an opportunity to purchase one.”

Discover more stories. Read the latest real estate news at New York Post.

California, Homebuying

EXCLUSIVE: Lizzo Finally Sells Beverly Hills Home at a $3.9 Million Loss After Spending More Than a Year Trying To Find a Buyer

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Mike B

14
Apr

Pop sensation Lizzo has finally sold her beleaguered Beverly Hills, CA, mansion—but has taken a $3.9 million loss on the property after spending more than a year trying to secure a buyer.

The “Tempo” hitmaker, 37, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, snapped up the dwelling for $15 million nearly four years ago, but after just a year and a half of ownership, she put it back on the market in December 2024 for the elevated asking price of $15.99 million.

Built in 2018, the property was constructed on the same parcel where musician Harry Styles had previously owned a home, however that dwelling was demolished soon after he moved out in 2016 and replaced with the newer abode.

But for all its celebrity ties, the property struggled to find a buyer—prompting Lizzo to steadily lower her asking price on multiple occasions over the following year, eventually dropping it to $12.5 million in January.

Earlier this month, Mansion Global reported that Lizzo had found a buyer for the home, and now Realtor.com® can exclusively reveal that the songstress has closed on that deal, accepting an even lower offer of $11.15 million, nearly $4 million less than she paid for the home four years ago and more than $1 million below the most recent asking price of $12.5 million.

Pop sensation Lizzo has finally sold her beleaguered Beverly Hills mansion—but has taken a $3.9 million loss on the property after spending more than a year trying to secure a buyer. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Amazon)

According to the listing, which was held by James Harris of Carolwood Estates, the abode is “nestled within the prestigious gated enclave of Oak Pass Road in Beverly Hills.”

It was described a “modern sanctuary [that] embodies a rare synergy of architecture and nature. Positioned on a peaceful .32-acre lot, this three-bedroom, five-bathroom retreat offers a secluded haven with panoramic canyon and hillside vistas,” the listing adds.

The pad is crafted with “wood, stone, glass and fire elements,” that allow every room in the home to “welcome the outdoors through expansive floor-to-ceiling glass, creating a zen-inspired atmosphere for ultimate relaxation.

“The home’s L-shaped design and sculpted landscape enhance privacy, embracing the surrounding natural beauty,” the listing notes.

Upon entering the property, guests are greeted with an expansive living room that comes complete with a built-in bookshelf and a chic stone fireplace.

Adjacent to the living area, there is an elegant dining room with wood-beamed ceilings and black glass doors doors the give way to the outside.

The chef’s kitchen features a large marble island with enough seating space for four people, state-of-the-art appliances, and an expansive glass window that overlooks sweeping views of California.

Upstairs, there is a moody crystal room filled with crystals, a cozy couch, and a slew of musical instruments—making it the perfect spot for the songstress to record her hits.

Built in 2018, the property was constructed on the same parcel where musician Harry Styles had previously owned a home. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Pandora)

“A dedicated gym and wellness area, private studio/office, theater room, and an outdoor kitchen with a fire pit complete this residence, a true celebration of refined, tranquil living in an extraordinary setting,” the listing adds.

The chic bathroom is the definition of luxury as it comes complete with a large soaking tub and a glass shower.

Outside the abode, there is a saltwater infinity pool, which offers breathtaking views from the lounge chairs, and plenty of lush greenery.

“Terraces along the property reveal sweeping views of the private backyard and surrounding mountains, with an inviting spa and lounge area designed for alfresco dining and gatherings, the listing stated.

“Oak Pass Road is an exclusive gated neighborhood in Beverly Hills Post Office situated west of North Beverly Park, with only 42 private residences offering unparalleled access to the shopping, dining and nightlife of Rodeo Drive and the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel.”

Lizzo rocketed to superstardom six years ago when she released her third studio album with hits such as “Juice” and “Tempo.”

She’s since created an extensive collection of Grammy-winning music, and she won an Emmy for her reality competition show, “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.”

Before her breakout success, Lizzo trained as a professional flutist and struggled to work her way into the hip-hop industry. She also famously had a stint living in her car.

Uncategorized

27 Cabin Exterior Ideas Turning Basic Entryways Into Photo-Worthy Views

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Mike B

11
Feb

Dreaming of a cabin that feels rustic, welcoming, and effortlessly picturesque? These 27 cabin exterior ideas are cozy, charming, and full of natural character — perfect for creating an outdoor look that blends warmth, wilderness, and timeless getaway magic.

27 Cabin Exterior Ideas That Bring Rustic Charm and Modern Warmth to 2025

Cabin exteriors are getting a fresh upgrade in 2025 with warm wood tones, matte black accents, and nature-inspired textures that make every retreat feel both timeless and newly polished. Think expansive porches, cozy stonework, ambient lighting, and clean-lined silhouettes that blend beautifully into forest, mountain, or lakeside settings.

Whether you’re dreaming of a serene getaway or refreshing your home’s rustic aesthetic, these cabin exterior ideas capture the perfect balance of rugged charm and modern sophistication. Keep scrolling for inspiration that transforms your cabin into the coziest escape before you even step inside.

1. Forest-Modern Glow

This modern cabin feels like it was quietly tucked into the woods by someone who really understands the magic of stillness. The tall windows glow like lanterns at dusk, creating that irresistible contrast between the cool forest air and the warm life happening inside.

The angular architecture adds a sculptural presence, but the natural wood siding keeps things grounded and organic. It’s contemporary, yes—but softened by the mossy landscape and impossibly tall trees standing watch.

It’s the kind of place you wander into after a long hike, cheeks flushed, and instantly think, Oh… I’m staying here forever.

2. Heritage Cabin Blend

This home is such a beautiful merging of old and new—like a historic cabin got to have its dream renovation without losing an ounce of soul. The original log structure stays front and center, those stripes feeling wonderfully nostalgic, while the modern extension adds clean lines and quiet sophistication.

The moody green siding is a perfect companion to the surrounding forest, letting the house settle into the landscape rather than fight it. And the little pops of red around the windows? A touch of Americana that brings everything to life.

It’s cozy, rooted, and thoughtfully updated—proof that the best cabins honor their own stories.

3. Frosty A-Frame Retreat

Few things feel more enchanting than an A-frame glowing against a snowy backdrop, and this one is chef’s kiss winter magic. The steep roofline cuts into the landscape like an arrow, guiding the eye straight to that buttery warm interior light.

Even from afar, you can imagine the crackle of a fire, the smell of pine, and that satisfying crunch of snow under your boots as you approach. It feels both adventurous and deeply comforting—like a winter postcard brought to life.

It’s the kind of cabin that makes you want to sip hot cocoa with both hands and watch the snowfall in total silence.

4. Log Cabin Country Haven

This log cabin looks like it was made for long, slow summers and crisp early-fall mornings. The chunky logs, the stone chimney, the wraparound porch—all those timeless cabin details come together in this charming, almost fairytale-like setting.

The little terrace with wooden chairs feels like the perfect spot for sunrise breakfasts or late-night stories under the stars. And the gardens tucked around the property soften the rugged logs with pops of color and life.

It’s warm, lived-in, and inviting—like a family home that’s been loved for decades.

5. Timberline A-Frame Charm

Every detail of this A-frame feels personal, from the shingled roof to the soft glow spilling from inside. The surrounding forest feels almost enchanted, especially with the string lights weaving a quiet sparkle through the trees.

The dark wood exterior gives the cabin this moody, storybook feel—like the perfect retreat for rainy weekends, good books, and soft blankets. And that stone chimney? A sturdy anchor in all the wilderness.

It’s simple, magical, and a little mysterious—exactly what an A-frame escape should be.

6. Little Log Haven

This adorable cabin instantly feels like a hug. The log exterior, the warm golden windows, the tiny covered porch—it’s all so welcoming and sweetly nostalgic. You can almost hear the creak of that rocking chair and smell a fresh stack of firewood.

The green trim is such a thoughtful detail—earthy enough to blend in, but bright enough to feel cheerful and inviting. And those string lights across the roofline add just the right amount of glow as the sun dips.

It’s the quintessential tiny cabin dream: intimate, warm, and full of charm.

7. Porchside Forest Escape

This cabin leans fully into the joy of porch living. The wide deck wraps the home in a gentle embrace, perfect for morning coffee, evening breeze, or simply watching the forest settle for the night.

The muted sage exterior feels calming and fresh, pairing beautifully with the surrounding evergreens. And those simple outdoor chairs? They speak to the relaxed, nothing-fussy mood of the whole space.

It’s a cabin designed for slowing down—where the porch becomes the living room, and nature does all the decorating.

8. Rustic Timber Cottage

This sweet timber cottage feels like a handcrafted gem—simple, sturdy, and full of quiet character. The weathered wood siding gives this instant sense of history, even if it’s brand new.

The small covered entry is the kind that feels extra charming during a spring rain, and the sturdy timbers add a sense of craftsmanship that’s impossible to fake. Surrounded by rolling greenery, it becomes its own little world.

It’s a humble, picturesque retreat—the kind of place where life feels slower in the best possible way.

9. Storybook A-Frame

This A-frame feels like it was plucked straight from a modern mountain fairytale. The dramatic roofline, the smoky charcoal siding, and that amazing integrated wood stack give it a clean, contemporary presence.

But then the warm wood door and deck soften it into something incredibly welcoming. The landscaping—even the simple greenery—frames the cabin beautifully, like nature giving it a gentle hug.

It’s cozy yet bold, polished yet playful. A perfect mix for anyone craving a modern escape that still feels like a classic cabin.

10. Cliffside Sunset House

This cabin brings drama in the best way—perched high on the rock edge with panoramic windows that capture every bit of the horizon. As the sun sets, the entire home glows like a lantern suspended above the trees.

The mix of stone, wood, and glass creates a beautifully balanced exterior, and the wraparound decks practically beg for long evenings outside, listening to the forest wind. The structure feels both grounded and soaring at once.

11. Forest-First Minimalism

There’s something magical about a cabin that feels woven into the trees, and this one does it so gracefully. The light wood, the angular roofline, the massive triangular window—everything works together to create a calm, no-fuss escape that still feels elevated. It’s the kind of place where morning coffee tastes just a little better simply because the forest is right there with you.

What I love most is how open it feels without shouting for attention. It’s modern, yes, but in that soft-spoken way that blends into the hillside rather than competing with it. The wildflowers at the foundation just make it even sweeter.

Step inside in your imagination and you can practically hear the quiet—like a retreat created specifically for deep breathing and slow weekends.

12. Rustic Barn Charm

This little dark-wood beauty feels like the perfect mix of rustic grit and thoughtful styling. The deep stain, black trim, and metal accents bring a sense of polish, while the exposed beams and textured siding keep it rooted in classic cabin spirit.

There’s something incredibly cozy about the small scale—it feels like the kind of spot where you’d kick off muddy boots, light a lantern, and settle into a slower rhythm. The driftwood pendant over the porch is such a clever touch too—organic, sculptural, and perfectly imperfect.

It’s simple, but in the most intentional and confident way. A modern barn dream.

13. Glass-House Retreat

For anyone who’s ever wanted to live inside a forest and a design magazine—this is your moment. With wrap-around glass walls and those pivoting doors, this cabin dissolves the boundary between indoors and out.

It’s so striking, but never cold. The warm wood framing and lush greenery soften the whole structure, making it feel like the world’s most stylish reading hideaway. Imagine rainy afternoons here, curled up with a book while the trees sway on all sides.

It’s bold modernism, but with soul. And honestly? Irresistible.

14. Timber & Stone Grandeur

This is the cabin for people who want their retreat to feel like a legacy. Massive stonework, heavy timbers, and that dramatic wrap-around porch—it all whispers old-world craftsmanship with a fresh, updated finish.

The scale is generous without feeling boastful. And that outdoor patio tucked along the stone terrace? The perfect stage for long, golden-hour dinners and star-soaked nights.

It’s classic log home energy, dialed all the way up.

15. Farmhouse Glow

Warm lantern light, corrugated metal, porch rockers—it’s pure pastoral charm. This cabin leans into nostalgia in the sweetest way, the kind that instantly makes you want to sit down, sip something iced, and wave at every passerby.

The trailing ferns and soft sunset backdrop give the whole place such an inviting glow. It’s simple beauty—the kind that doesn’t try too hard because it doesn’t have to.

A little slice of summer evening magic.

16. Twilight Timber Elegance

String lights under timber trusses… need I say more? This entryway hits that perfect balance between rustic architecture and soft, romantic evening lighting. The symmetry, the stone columns, the warm doors—it all feels like a warm embrace as soon as you step onto the path.

It’s classic lodge style, but elevated with just the right amount of sparkle. Definitely the kind of cabin you’d look forward to returning to at nightfall.

Everything about it says “welcome home.”

17. Sweet Garden Cabin

This little charmer feels like it was plucked straight from a storybook. With its pergola front porch, hanging lanterns, and warm honey-toned siding, it’s whimsical without being fussy.

The raised stone border and tucked-away garden make it feel lived-in and loved—a place where herbs thrive and afternoon tea happens daily.

It’s cozy, romantic, and grounded in nature in the most delightful way.

18. Big-Sky Farmhouse Wrap

Expansive, classic, and full of quiet confidence—this farmhouse-style cabin feels made for big family gatherings and slow mountain mornings. That wrap-around porch is such a dream, offering a shady spot no matter where the sun lands.

The crisp white siding and green windows keep it simple but unforgettable. And the mountain backdrop? Truly the finishing touch.

It’s understated beauty, made for golden fields and open skies.

19. Warm-Glow Treehouse Vibes

Suspended among the treetops, this glass-wrapped structure feels like a lantern floating above the forest floor. The amber light spilling through those walls gives the whole cabin a soft, dreamlike quality—especially at dusk.

It’s modern, but warm. Elevated, but still deeply connected to nature. A hideout for anyone who craves both creativity and calm.

A perfect blend of architecture and atmosphere.

20. Autumn Path Hideaway

This tiny cabin tucked deep in the woods might just be peak cozy. The warm light glowing through the front door, the Adirondack chairs, the string lights that lead you in—it’s like walking into the best kind of fall weekend.

The setting is everything: crunchy leaves, tall trees, a soft trail curling right up to the porch. It feels intimate and welcoming in that “come sit for a while” way.

It’s small in the most romantic sense of the word—compact, charming, and thoughtfully placed in nature’s embrace.

21. Elevated Pineside Escape

There’s something about this scene that instantly slows your breath. Maybe it’s the navy-painted cabin hugging the hillside, or the way the deck gently leads into the trees like a secret invitation. The dark siding feels moody and cozy — like you’re stepping into a modern-day storybook — and that oversized pinecone on the table? A quiet nod to the natural beauty surrounding everything here.

I can practically hear the sizzle of the grill as golden hour hits, sunlight flickering through branches overhead. It’s the kind of place that makes a regular Tuesday night feel like a weekend away. Rustic, unfussy, and so well-loved.

22. A-Frame in the Making

Here’s the thrill of new beginnings wrapped in Tyvek and geometry. This under-construction A-frame is pure architectural optimism — full of angles, light, and the promise of future mornings with coffee and mist rising through the woods. The big, bold windows hint at a space that’ll feel just as airy and expansive inside.

And while it’s still bones and scaffolding now, it already whispers its personality: crisp lines, quiet luxury, and maybe a midcentury-meets-mountain vibe once it’s finished.

23. Rendering Dreams

This rendering doesn’t just show a cabin — it paints a full moment. Lush landscaping, Adirondack chairs circled around the firepit, and the elegant rise of that roofline like it’s reaching for the clouds. Everything about it feels intentional and relaxed. Think barefoot dinners on the deck, sunset chats, and windows that pull nature right into your lap.

It’s giving: cozy but sophisticated. The kind of home where linen throws live on every chair, and your playlist is all Bon Iver and Fleetwood Mac.

24. Firelight at Dusk

The same cabin, now cloaked in twilight. There’s a cinematic softness here — string lights aglow, fire crackling, and that warm, golden interior light spilling out just enough to guide you back inside. It’s proof that good design doesn’t disappear when the sun goes down; it just changes mood.

And can we talk about the landscaping? Those soft curves, tidy boulders, and wispy blooms ground the space in nature, yet feel completely polished. It’s luxury that leans into the land.

25. Stone & Timber Serenity

Rustic done right. This cabin has the texture game nailed — warm wood siding, a stacked-stone fireplace tucked between windows, and a symmetrical charm that feels balanced and welcoming. It’s giving timeless mountain lodge energy with just enough modern edge.

There’s something about cabins like this that make you want to light a fire, pour something warm, and stay still for a while. A perfect blend of cozy nostalgia and grown-up getaway.

26. Modern Lodge Meets Resort Bliss

Okay, imagine staying here and waking up to that view. This pool-front lodge might have the bones of a traditional cabin, but the sleek black beams and soaring glass panels scream contemporary luxury. It’s like the love child of a high-end spa and a Pacific Northwest escape.

And don’t even get me started on those red umbrellas — they’re playful, chic, and a little bit Palm Springs (in the best way). A mountain escape with resort-level perks? Yes, please.

27. Mountain Charm, Maxed Out

We’re ending on a fairytale. This steeped-in-sunlight home looks plucked from a forested dream, with warm cedar siding, a lush rock-lined path, and porch blooms that spill over like cottagecore confetti. It’s the kind of place where morning coffee tastes better, and every corner begs for a cozy nook.

What makes it extra special is how grounded it feels — built into the hillside, rooted in its landscape, and brimming with personal touches. A forever kind of cabin.

The post 27 Cabin Exterior Ideas Turning Basic Entryways Into Photo-Worthy Views appeared first on Trendir.

Basketball Court, Michael Jordan, Scottsdale AZ, Unique Homes

Enormous Arizona Mansion With a $300K Custom ‘Sneaker Room’ and Full-Size Basketball Court Hits the Market for $23.5 Million

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Mike B

18
Feb

An Arizona megamansion that boasts a custom-built $300,000 “sneaker room,” a full-size basketball court, and a golf course has hit the market for $23.5 million—providing one very wealthy sports fanatic the opportunity to snap up a piece of paradise.

Located in Scottsdale, the awe-inspiring mansion offers 21,410 square feet of living space, which includes seven bedrooms and 18 bathrooms. Outside, residents get the run of two resort-style pools.

Then there is the celebrity heritage. Built from the ground up by Brett Hardt, a longtime sports aficionado and founder of the brand Attitude Is Free, the home has played host to a huge number of A-list athletes, including Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and Damian Lillard.

After buying a 5-acre lot in 2014, Hardt began building an epic sports-focused escape, which includes a regulation-sized basketball court that is located 15 feet below the ground.

Far from being a simple place to shoot hoops with pals, the basketball court more than holds its own against some of the NBA’s most popular venues. It features a professional scoreboard, a locker room, private parking, and stadium seating.

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Enormous Arizona Mansion With a $300,000 Custom 'Sneaker Room' and Full-Size Basketball Court Hits the Market for $23.5 Million — An Arizona megamansion that boasts a $300,000 “sneaker room,” a full-size basketball court, and a golf course has hit the market for $23.5 million.

(Realtor.com)

The impressive home also calls attention to legendary players’ longtime influence on the fashion industry, courtesy of a $300,000 customer “sneaker room.” Also known as the “Jordan Room,” it features a “museum-quality display of 290 Michael Jordan sneakers.”

The room holds Hardt’s personal collection of Air Jordans, which he began collecting in 2004. But there is space to display 325 pairs of sneakers.

Additional amenities include a nine-hole putting green, a golf simulator, a home theater, a full bar, a gym, and a 2-mile jogging track.

The main residence offers five bedrooms and 18 bathrooms, which feature marble flooring, glass chandeliers, and soaking tubs.

The living room has floor-to-ceiling windows, a dramatic fireplace, and tile flooring. Adding elegance are the Costa Rican-inspired wood ceilings. The chef’s kitchen boasts state-of-the-art appliances, a marble island, and wooden countertops.

Despite the enormous size of the mansion, homeowner Brett Hardt insists that his family is “humble” and that he went to great lengths to ensure that the property didn’t look ostentatious from the street.

The primary suite is “a private sanctuary with spa-like amenities, stunning views, and direct outdoor access,” the listing notes. “Family-friendly spaces include a dedicated playroom with an enclosed grassy area for children.

“A separate 1, 551 sq. ft. guest house with two bedrooms offers privacy and comfort for extended stays, complete with its own entrance and amenities. The estate’s amenities are unparalleled.”

“Architectural highlights include Costa Rican-inspired wood ceilings and Chicago brick accents, reflecting the owner’s roots, while the Elan Control System integrates smart home technology for effortless living.

“Additional features include three Wolf ovens, including a conduction model optimal for gourmet cooking, and a jogging track encircling the entire property. The track measures 3/10 of a mile, with seven laps equaling two miles,” the listing continues.

Hardt purchased the plot of land in 2014 for $920,000 and millions more in building his personal paradise.

However, in an interview with AZ Central, Hardt insisted that he went to great lengths to ensure that the size of his home didn’t send the wrong message about his family.

“It may not seem like it because of the size of the house, but we are humble people. We designed the house so that it didn’t look pretentious from the street.”

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Uncategorized

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann Finally Sell Their Georgia Mansion for Less Than Half Their Original $6 Million Asking Price

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Mike B

18
Feb

Embittered exes Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann have finally found a buyer for their beleaguered Georgia mansion—just weeks after it was taken off the market amid a looming foreclosure auction.

However, it’s a bittersweet deal for the warring former spouses, who, according to records seen by Realtor.com®, have offloaded the home for $2.75 million, which is less than half of the $6 million list price they sought in October 2023.

Property records indicate that the mansion was purchased via an LLC in January. TMZ, which broke the news of the sale, noted that a buyer came through “just in time,” because the property had been scheduled to go under the hammer in December.

In the 16 months that the home was on the market, its price steadily decreased as the duo fought to keep it from being sold by the bank in a foreclosure auction.

Zolciak, 46, and Biermann, 39, have defaulted on several loan and mortgage payments in recent years and came close to losing their home to foreclosure on multiple occasions, first in 2014 and again in February 2023.

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Embittered exes Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann have finally found a buyer for their beleaguered Georgia mansion—just weeks after it was taken off the market amid a looming foreclosure auction.

(Realtor.com)

Property records indicate that the former couple offloaded the home for $2.75 million—less than half their original asking price.

(Realtor.com)

Most recently, they managed to negotiate a 90-day delay with their lender, Truist Bank, giving them an opportunity to try to sell their Alpharetta property by the end of August 2024, which they failed to do.

Now, they’ve managed to end the foreclosure threat once and for all by agreeing to accept a lowball offer—one that is almost $1 million lower than their most recent asking price of $3.65 million.

Zolciak and Biermann had purchased their home in 2012 for $800,000, then transformed it with major renovations. The estranged couple were both understood to be living in the home together, despite their separation, along with their four children.

The home sits on 1.78 acres and overlooks a golf course. The luxury space features seven bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a wine cellar, a billiard room, a home theater, a six-car garage, a chef’s kitchen, a pub, an arcade, and a heated pool.

The sale of the mansion marks a big step in the couple’s ongoing divorce battle, during which Biermann has been very outspoken in his criticism of Zolciak’s spending habits—and the alleged impact on their shared finances.

Legal documents obtained by TMZ reveal that Biermann has accused his estranged spouse of “frivolous” spending, claiming that her penchant for expensive purchases had left them with just one joint asset: their marital mansion.

The home was sold just in the nick of time—having been scheduled to go under the hammer in a foreclosure auction in December.

(Realtor.com)

The property had been the source of much tension between the warring exes as they fought over the best way to sell it.

(Realtor.com)

Biermann had previously attacked his estranged wife over her spending habits.

(Realtor.com)

He asked a court to “remove [Zolciak] from any decision-making process” related to the sale of the home and enable him to offload the property for a price that he believes is reasonable.

Biermann, a former NFL linebacker, also accused Zolciak of refusing to accept an offer of less than $3.85 million because she believes that would not leave her with “enough money to purchase a home” of her own.

The documents state that “there is a $1.32 million lien against the home from the IRS” and that their mortgage lender, Truist Bank, is owed around $2.2 million. In addition, they owe $250,000 on another lien.

Biermann noted in the filing that Zolciak’s “complete disregard” of the gravity of their financial situation could have “devastating consequences” on their children.

It’s understood that neither Zolciak or Biermann has been living in the property for some time, with Page Six reporting in December that the former had moved out of the home for good.

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According to the outlet, Zolciak was planning to live in another Georgia home with her and Biermann’s four children: Kroy Jr., 13; Kash, 12; and twins Kaia and Kane, 11. Kim also has two children—Brielle, 27, and Ariana, 23—from previous relationships.

Uncategorized

Lori Loughlin Puts L.A. Mansion Back on the Market for $16.5 Million—After Shaving a Hefty $1 Million Off Asking Price

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Mike B

18
Feb

“Full House” actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, have relisted their Los Angeles mansion at a major discount, having cut a hefty $1 million from its original $17.5 million asking price.

The 60-year-old actress and the 61-year-old fashion designer purchased the property for $9.5 million in August 2020—the same month they were sentenced to multiple months in prison for their involvement in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.

However, by April 2024, Loughlin and Giannulli had decided to part ways with the 11,808-square-foot dwelling, putting it on the market for $17.5 million, close to double the price they had paid four years earlier.

Six months later, the couple took the six-bedroom, nine-bathroom dwelling off the market.

Now, in what could be a bid to hit the ground running ahead of the springtime rush, the couple have put their enormous abode back on the market, this time at the discounted price of $16.5 million.

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“Full House” actress Lori Loughlin (in a tan suit) and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli (in a green tie), have relisted their Los Angeles mansion for $16.5 million—one million less than the initial asking price.

(Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The 60-year-old actress and the 61-year-old fashion designer purchased the property for $9.5 million in August 2020—the same month they were sentenced to multiple months in prison for their involvement in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.

(Realtor.com)

In April 2024, the couple decided to say goodbye to the 11,808-square-foot property and put it on the market for $17.5 million. This was nearly double what they paid four years earlier.

(Realtor.com)

The luxe pad sits on 1.57 acres in the gated Hidden Hills community, which is home to other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Lil Wayne, and Kevin Durant.

The modern farmhouse residence, which has been listed by Tomer Fridman of Christie’s International Real Estate and Marc Shevin of Douglas Elliman, combines “modern luxury with rustic charm,” according to the listing description.

It features maple flooring, high ceilings, and a neutral palette. The roomy living spaces include a formal living room, dining room, and family room.

The kitchen is equipped with marble counters, top-tier appliances, and white oak cabinets, and the primary suite has a fireplace, two baths, and mountain views.

Additional amenities include a tricked-out gym, a home theater, and a wine room.

The grounds include a pool, bocce court, fire pit, barbecue area, and covered dining space.

The home was built in 2018; however, it underwent renovations while the actress and her spouse lived there.

The six-bedroom, nine-bathroom property failed to sell in 2024. Now, the Hollywood A-listers have offered a steep discount of $1 million on the home.

(Realtor.com)

Amenities include a tricked-out gym, a home theater, and a wine room.

(Realtor.com)

The home, which was built in 2018, underwent renovations while the actress and her spouse lived there.

(Realtor.com)

Loughlin is best known for playing Aunt Becky on the TV sitcom “Full House” and its Netflix sequel, “Fuller House.” However, her Hollywood career became mired in controversy in 2019 when she and her husband were among the first 50 people charged in the infamous Varsity Blues case.

During her trial, Loughlin admitted she paid the scheme’s “mastermind” $500,000 through what was described as a “side door” to gain admission to the University of Southern California for her two daughters Olivia Jade, 25, and Isabella Rose, 26.

Fixer William “Rick” Singer then arranged to have the two girls recruited onto the prestigious school’s rowing team—even though they had never taken part in the sport.

Loughlin pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and served two months in prison. She was ordered to pay a $150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

Giannulli served a five-month sentence after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge and had to pay a $150,000 fine and serve 250 hours of community service.

Loughlin admitted she paid $500,000 for a “side door” admission to the University of Southern California for her two daughters, Olivia Jade, 25 (pictured), and Isabella Rose, 26.

(oliviajade/Instagram)

In 2021, the actress secured her first role following the scandal in the “When Calls the Heart” spinoff, “When Hope Calls.”

She is now starring as a police officer in the Amazon Prime show “On Call,” which marked her first role as a law enforcement agent.

She previously told Entertainment Tonight that the role gave her a whole new appreciation for law enforcement.”

Loughlin did find humor in her situation, even poking fun at herself on a guest spot on the final season of the HBO show “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” in which she appeared as a fictional version of herself and made thinly veiled references to her role in the college admissions scandal.

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Also charged in the scam, among others, was “Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman, who served 11 days of a two-week sentence.

California

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi Are Already ‘Eyeing Up’ New UK Mansion—After Facing ‘Several Issues’ With $18 Million Farmhouse

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Mike B

18
Feb

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi have only been living in the United Kingdom for a matter of months—however, new reports suggest that the couple is already “eyeing up” a brand-new home, after facing a spate of “issues” with the $18 million farmhouse they initially moved into.

DeGeneres, 67, and de Rossi, 52, made the move over the pond toward the end of 2024, quitting their longtime home in California in favor of pursuing a new life in a tony countryside community outside of London.

However, while sources said the couple were delighted with their new life in the U.K., it seems the same cannot be said of their feelings about their new home—which has reportedly been bogged down in a number of problems, including flooding and planning “clashes” with neighbors.

According to British newspaper the Daily Mail, these so-called issues have now led DeGeneres and de Rossi to set their sights on a new 10,000-square-foot mansion, which they are already said to have “looked at several times.”

A source told the outlet: “Ellen and Portia have had several issues with the place they initially moved into. First there was the flooding, of course, then there was an issue with some locals complaining about some building work carried out at the property.

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Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi are reportedly ready to relocate to a new property in the United Kingdom after their $18 million farmhouse was flooded, and they found themselves in hot water with their neighbors.

(Netflix)

According to a report from London-based newspaper the Daily Mail, DeGeneres, 67, has decided to ditch her farmhouse after finding that the property’s surrounding fields were submerged in water due to a prolonged rainstorm that caused a river’s banks to burst.

(ellendegeneres/Instagram)

The couple is now reportedly ready to find a new, lavish place abroad to call home and have already locked their eyes on an enormous, 10,000-square-foot mansion.

(David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)

“So the upshot seems to have been that they started to have a look around and then this property came up. They looked at it several times. And they liked it more each time they looked.

“So it does look like it’s happening. They’ve been seen around there several times in recent weeks and have even had interactions with neighbors.”

Their new property is believed to feature expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows and is a stark change to their traditional farmhouse.

According to the outlet, de Rossi first fell in love with the home when she spotted it on social media and begged her comedian spouse to see it in person.

The news of their alleged relocation comes after the outlet previously revealed that the former TV show host was “in peril of getting on the wrong side” of a high-profile member of her new neighborhood after she “committed a ‘technical breach’” during the build of a single-story extension at her new abode in what was described as a “planning clash.”

DeGeneres and her wife are understood to have purchased the home back in June, five months before news of their relocation plans were revealed—with sources alleging at the time that the pair would be settling down in the Cotswolds, a charming region about two hours from London.

However, their fresh start across the pond was soon dampened after three local councillors raised concerns that DeGeneres and de Rossi’s extension might “increase flood risk in the village” and “disturb Roman remains.”

DeGeneres and de Rossi are reported to have received several objections from their neighbors who have spoken out against their extension plan.

Council documents seen by the Daily Mail stated: “The onus is on the owner to report any historic remains uncovered.”

Ellen DeGeneres Relists One of Her Last Remaining L.A. Homes — Last month, the comedian cut all ties with the U.S. by listing one of her last remaining homes in the U.S. at a highly discounted rate.

(Realtor.com)

Meanwhile, other residents expressed concern that the hedge-and-wire fence at the comedian’s home could lead to flooding if trash gets “caught in the fence” and limits the “flow across the field.”

Despite the protests, a spokesperson for West Oxfordshire Direct Council insisted that the Roman remains sit over 200 yards from DeGeneres and de Rossi’s property and that the work was “completed to a high standard.”

“The works at the property involved a single-story extension and garden landscaping,” the spokesperson told the New York Post. “Although the extension technically breached permitted development rights, it was considered acceptable in planning terms.

“As the works were completed to a high standard with no impact on surrounding amenities or other planning concerns, no further enforcement action was necessary, and the case has been closed.

“Regarding concerns about Roman remains on Akeman Street, the site is more than 200 meters away from the Roman road, and no interference was identified.

Interestingly, the reports come just weeks after a piece was published in Vanity Fair in which several unnamed locals from DeGeneres’ former community of Montecito, CA, accused her—along with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—of driving up house prices in the area.

“[The Montecito locals] attribute the increase in housing prices to [Meghan and Harry] as much as DeGeneres and point to out-of-towners coming in, driving too fast, and taking up all the street parking by local trails like the one Meghan was photographed hiking on while Harry was in the U.K. for Charles’s coronation,” the outlet claimed.

In November, when news of DeGeneres and de Rossi’s move was first revealed, it was claimed by TMZ that their decision to “get the hell out” of the U.S. was cemented by Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election—despite the fact that they’d purchased their home months earlier.

DeGeneres was an outspoken supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, publicly endorsing her in a post shared on Instagram back in August.

Another source told The Wrap that DeGeneres and de Rossi had made plans to part ways with their home in Santa Barbara, CA, claiming the property has “been pocket-listed or will be listed soon.”

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi — Their move across the pond was dampened when they received numerous reports from their neighbors who objected plans to extend their farmhouse. (The couple pictured at a pub in the U.K.)

(Instagram/Lisa Hogan)

Ellen DeGeneres Porta de Rossi — Having called it quits on her popular daytime show in 2022, DeGeneres has certainly had more time on her hands to devote to flipping properties, purchasing four properties and selling three in 2022.

(Instagram/Ellen DeGeneres)

Last month, the comedian—who has built a reputation for herself as an amateur property investor—cut yet another tie with the U.S. by listing one of her last remaining homes in Los Angeles at a highly discounted rate.

The former daytime TV host and her wife bought the five-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom home for $29 million back in November 2022 and quickly put it back on the market for $33.9 million just 18 months later.

However, the property was not cut out for the quick flip that the pair seemed to have been hoping for—remaining on the market for close to 100 days, before its listing was removed in August 2024.

In January, DeGeneres and de Rossi decided to try their luck again, relisting the property for the discounted price of $29.99 million, reducing their potential profit on the home by a hefty amount.

A sale would mark only the fourth time the property has changed hands since it was built in 1955 by famous architect Richard Neutra, having been owned by the same family for 40 years until being sold for the first time in 1994.

That owner, who purchased the modernist home for the bargain price of just $1.42 million, held on to the property for 25 years before putting it on the market in 2019, when it sold for $20 million.

Three years later, DeGeneres and de Rossi added the elegant abode to their already-impressive property portfolio, paying out $29 million for the dwelling.

They have since renovated the home extensively, helping to restore Neutra’s “pioneering vision,” while also adding a host of modern-day amenities.

Per the listing description, the home, which is widely known as “The Brown House,” has plenty to offer a potential buyer, not least the architectural caché that comes from owning a Neutra design.

During the past decade, DeGeneres and de Rossi have made a name for themselves as talented real estate moguls, buying, flipping, and selling multiple homes in California—largely for a hefty profit.

In August, the comedian offloaded one of her most expensive properties to date, a $96 million estate in Carpinteria, CA, which she and de Rossi purchased in two parts back in 2022.

First, the couple snapped up the main property—a five-bedroom, eight-bathroom, Tuscan-style mansion that sits on a 3.44-acre plot—for $41.7 million. They then paid $28.2 million for a vacant, 6.58-acre plot of land that sits alongside the home, in order to create a jaw-dropping, 10-acre estate atop a bluff overlooking the ocean.

The sale came just months after DeGeneres and de Rossi offloaded another staggering piece of real estate: an enormous mansion in nearby Montecito, CA, where the comedian lived within a stone’s throw of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

DeGeneres offloaded that property for a relatively paltry $32 million in February of this year. It had been listed for sale in October 2023 for $46.5 million.

The home was, according to multiple reports, snapped up by billionaire mining tycoon Robert Friedland—the same man who is understood to be behind the purchase of DeGeneres’ Carpinteria property, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In 2011, the comedian opened up about her love of real estate, explaining that her passion for homebuying began after she started making real money from her on-screen career.

“We never had a house when I was growing up,” she told Architectural Digest at the time. “We always rented. But my father would dream, and we used to look at houses all the time. I’d pick out which bedroom would be mine and get all excited.

“The first thing I did when I made money was buy a house. And then …” she went on, prompting her wife to jump in and quip: “Another one. And another one and another one and another one.”

Having called it quits on her popular daytime show in 2022, DeGeneres has certainly had more time on her hands to devote to flipping properties, purchasing four properties and selling three in 2022 alone.

Many of the homes have been purchased in off-market deals via LLCs and trusts, making it nearly impossible to know just how many homes DeGeneres and de Rossi now own. Sources have not revealed whether the pair plan to retain any residences in the U.S. or if they want to sell them all and cut their ties with the country altogether.

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Multiple reports claimed that the home in Montecito that the pair are allegedly planning to sell is a stunning Bali-inspired mansion, which they purchased for $27 million back in 2019—however, they have already sold that, offloading it for $33 million in 2020.

Cash Sale, Colorado Springs CO, Data Journalism, Durham NC, Homebuying, Mortgage Rates, Seattle WA, Unique Homes

Million-Dollar Home Sales Are Growing—and Affluent Buyers Are Paying in Cash

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Mike B

18
Feb

The market for million-dollar homes is expanding across the United States, but growth isn’t limited to traditional luxury hubs. The metros of Colorado Springs, CO, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, and Seattle are also seeing significant increases in seven-figure sales, driven by distinct factors.

In Seattle, tech wealth and limited housing are driving the trend, whereas the appeal of Colorado Springs as a military hub and an influx of high-income residents are fueling its growth. Meanwhile, Durham-Chapel Hill’s tech and life sciences industries are attracting investment and boosting demand.

Unsurprisingly, California’s coast continues to draw a steady stream of affluent buyers, many of whom are paying for their homes in cash. Cities such as San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles exemplify this trend, with a high proportion of sales exceeding the million-dollar threshold.

The expansion of the $1 million-plus housing market is largely being driven by rising property values, which continue to push more homes into the luxury category.

“In some markets, particularly in high-priced California metros, $1 million isn’t necessarily a luxury price—it’s just the norm for a typical home,” says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®.

Nationally, there have been increases in both the number and share of such sales in more than half of the 200 largest metros in the year ending November 2024, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

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And, over the past year, nearly 300,000 home sales surpassed the $1 million mark, up from 275,000 the previous year, according to Realtor.com data.

Many high-end buyers either purchase homes in cash, avoiding borrowing costs entirely, or use financing strategies that help minimize the impact of higher mortgage rates.

Experts point to a combination of rising interest rates and limited inventory as key drivers of this trend. With 30-year fixed mortgage rates hovering between 6% and 7%, many potential buyers are being priced out of homeownership.

“Million-dollar homebuyers are often on their second or third home transaction, with a significant percentage of cash down payment, allowing for greater budgetary flexibility,” says Jay K. Gupta, broker associate at Equity Colorado Real Estate.

Coastal markets lead the way

California’s coastal cities remain at the forefront of the seven-figure home boom. San Luis Obispo recorded the largest surge, with 38.6% of all home sales surpassing $1 million—a 6.5 percentage-point increase from the previous year. The Los Angeles metro area followed closely, with sales over $1 million climbing by 5.9 points, now comprising 47.7% of all transactions.

Other coastal cities, such as Seattle, also saw notable gains. The share of $1 million-plus home sales in Seattle rose by 5.5 percentage points, now representing 27% of the market.

Cash transactions remain a major factor in these markets. In Los Angeles, nearly half of purchases in this category are cash-based—a trend similarly observed in Seattle.

San Luis Obispo, CA, recorded the largest surge, with 38.6% of all home sales exceeding $1 million.

Luxury growth beyond California

While California leads the high-end real estate market, other metro areas across the country are also experiencing a sharp increase in sales of homes above the $1 million mark.

In Colorado Springs, 14.2% of homes sold in 2024 exceeded seven figures, reflecting a 6.3 percentage-point jump from the previous year.

“Colorado Springs is a highly livable city, consistently ranking on livability indexes. With abundant trails, open spaces, and a strong school system, it’s an attractive place to live,” says Benjamin Day, managing broker at LIV Sotheby’s International Realty in Colorado Springs.

In 2024, 12.6% of homes sold in Durham-Chapel Hill surpassed $1 million, marking a 5.5 percentage-point increase year over year.

The Triangle region, which includes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, is a growing hub for industries such as technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and clean technology. Major employers like Duke University, IBM, and Cisco Systems, alongside hundreds of biotech and research firms, are fueling innovation and job growth in the area.

“The Durham-Chapel Hill area is home to numerous colleges, universities, and medical facilities, which have driven significant migration and employment opportunities. North Carolina has historically been more affordable than many other markets, and it offers a mild climate,” says Cara Ameer, a real estate agent licensed in California and Florida with Coldwell Banker.

Meanwhile, Colorado Springs has positioned itself as a rising tech hub, ranking second among North America’s emerging technology markets. Companies such as Oracle and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have expanded their operations there, attracting high-income professionals. Over the past five years, tech wages in Colorado Springs have surged by 20%, further driving demand for luxury homes.

“The city is home to major industries, from aerospace and cybersecurity to a booming tech sector. With five military installations, a large defense industry, and even a five-diamond resort like The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs has a diverse economic foundation,” adds Day.

Colorado Springs, CO, recorded a sharp increase in high-end home sales, with 14.2% of home sales surpassing $1 million.

A resilient luxury market

The continued demand for luxury properties highlights the resilience of the high-end housing sector, even as affordability challenges persist for the broader market. Realtor.com data shows that the median national list price reached $400,500 in January 2025.

“Buyers in higher price tiers are generally better equipped to handle rising rates and tend to prioritize factors like location or home size,” adds Jones.

According to the Realtor.com 2025 Housing Forecast, existing-home sales are expected to grow by only 1.5% year over year, reaching an annual total of 4.07 million sales.

“The luxury market has been surging, and luxury buyers are largely insulated from high mortgage rates and down payment concerns. They move because they want to, and they often seek change, investment opportunities, or a new lifestyle,” says Ameer.

The growing presence of tech companies in cities like Colorado Springs is another factor expected to sustain demand for high-end properties. As these businesses continue expanding, they attract highly paid professionals willing to invest in luxury real estate—further pushing prices upward.

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As home prices rise and economic factors shift, the million-dollar-plus housing market remains one of the most resilient segments of the real estate industry.

With affluent buyers continuing to drive demand, million-dollar home sales will likely remain a key indicator of market strength in 2025 and beyond, says Day.

cottage, DIY, Small Houses, South Carolina, Unique Homes, YouTube

‘We Built Our Dream Home for Just $68,000—by Transforming a 770-Square-Foot Shed Into a Stunning Tiny House’

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Mike B

16
Feb

A mother of four who set out on a journey to create a comfortable and loving home for her family of six—without spiraling into significant debt—has revealed the unique solution she and her husband devised for their housing conundrum: moving into a shed.

Less than a year ago, Natalie and Jordan Holland were living in Houston with their four sons, aged 1 to 11, when they began searching for a home that would provide their family with more space—and more simplicity, away from busy city life.

The couple began searching for a location where their boys could have room to run around and play, and where they could see themselves living for years to come. That is how they came across a parcel of land in South Carolina.

They knew that they wanted to build a home that would provide them with a long-term base—and they weren’t interested in renting a space while saving up funds for a newly built property.

Reluctant to amass debt to make that dream a reality, they began thinking outside the box. They came up with a unique alternative to a traditional home: transforming a simple shed into a 768-square-foot house, a dream that they were able to realize in just three months.

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“We found out that you can live in a smaller home that’s beautiful and full of things you love without going into debt,” Natalie tells Realtor.com®.

The couple ordered a customized 16-by-48-foot, pre-fab shed, which was delivered straight to their property. It would serve as the focal point for their family home.

Natalie Holland gives a tour of their freshly finished Shed-to-cottage home. — Natalie Holland gives a tour of their newly finished shed-to-cottage home.

(YouTube: Natalie Holland )

The Holland family starting out their home building adventure in South Carolina — The Holland family shared their homebuilding adventure in South Carolina—and gained a growing audience on social media.

(Alexandria Smith)

The shed consisted of basically four walls, a roof and a floor. — The shed consisted of basically four walls, a roof, and a floor.

(Courtesy Natalie Holland)

Eliminating the loft over the kitchen and raising the ceiling gave the room a more expansive feeling.

(Courtesy Natalie Holland)

Their plan was to live in the shed for however long it took for them to save up enough money to build a bigger home.

They chose a shed as the foundation for their property because it can be easily transported if and when they decide to move, Natalie explains.

It could also bring in income if they decide to rent it out as a short-term vacation property.

“We opted for the shed because it can be moved,” Natalie says. “As long as you don’t go bigger than 16 feet wide, it can be relocated.

“It can go to another family when our other home is ready, or we can rent it out as an Airbnb. Either way, we come out ahead.”

At the time, Natalie was working as a stylist for weddings and food and product photo shoots. She had no professional interior design experience.

Jordan had a day job in customer merchant processing, but he also had some handy skills that he learned from his mother.

Despite having no professional construction experience, Natalie and Jordan were determined to do as much of the work themselves to save on costs.

Her husband watched YouTube videos to learn the skills he needed to transform their property, the mother of four explains.

Using wainscoting instead of a headboard in the bedroom saves space and looks great.

(Courtesy Natalie Holland)

The boys love the independence they have in their own private sleeping loft. — The boys love their private sleeping loft.

(YouTube: Natalie Holland )

While they waited for the shed to arrive, they cleared a pad and built a raised foundation supported by blocks. They added a deck for the front of the house.

The unit that was delivered consisted of four walls with windows and doors built in, plus a sturdy roof, two lofts, and a floor. It was up to the Hollands to figure out where the interior walls would be added, as well as the plumbing and electricity.

The Hollands were able to come up with an ingenious floor plan that made use of every last inch of the 768 square feet of space.

The shed was delivered with two lofts, one over the kitchen and the other over the bedroom. The Hollands eliminated the loft over the kitchen and living room, opting to raise the ceiling to its full height of 11.5 feet.

“It makes the area feel so much bigger and brighter,” explains Natalie. The extra clerestory windows they added brought in lots of light.

They built a staircase to the loft above the home’s single bedroom—that’s where the older boys sleep now. Natalie says the boys are thrilled with the space, which they consider their private fort.

“They sit on the floor and build with Legos, and since I’m not up there a lot, they get to leave them out.”

The younger ones sleep in the parents’ bedroom, which has space for a crib, king-size bed, dresser, and closet. The adjacent bathroom has a double vanity, toilet, and shower/tub combo.

But the kitchen is Natalie’s pride and joy.

“We love how large the space is. In other homes of this size, the kitchen is kind of an afterthought. But we knew that everything revolves around the kitchen, so we knew we needed to prioritize it,” she says.

The kitchen features full size appliances, a pantry and a dining island. — The kitchen features full-size appliances, a pantry, and a dining island.

(Courtesy Natalie Holland)

The dining nook is also a home schooling classroom. — The dining nook is also a homeschooling classroom.

(Courtesy Natalie Holland)

In images and videos, the kitchen appears spacious and luxurious, filled with natural light and all of the amenities that one might want in a cooking space.

It has a dining island, prep space, full-sized appliances, a farmhouse sink, and even a pantry.

The dining nook, which accommodates the whole family, features a built-in bench with storage space. It’s also where Natalie homeschools the kids.

Other creative storage spaces in the home include the staircase, under which is a nook for the washer and dryer.

The living room has a built-in wall unit, with kitchen uppers installed as lower cupboards, where school supplies, toys, and books are kept.

There’s even an entry closet right when you walk in the front door.

“This is such a nice extra space,” says Natalie. “We keep our printer, our router, jackets, hats, and extra things in the dresser. It’s an invaluable drop zone.”

The living room features a wall unit with extra storage space, and there's also a washer/dryer setup under the stairway. — The living room features a wall unit with storage space, and the washer and dryer are set up under the stairway.

(Courtesy Natalie Holland)

There's even an entry closet right by the door where they keep their printer, router, jackets, hats and extra things in the dresser. — In a closet by the front door, the Hollands keep their printer, router, jackets, and hats.

(YouTube: Natalie Holland )

Home sweet home for six — The picturesque home is the perfect place for Natalie and Jordan to raise their family.

(YouTube: Natalie Holland )

The Hollands shared their housing adventure on social media—and attracted a growing audience of fans. Their YouTube videos went viral, and podcasters invited Natalie to share her story.

Young couples just starting out, seniors who are downsizing, and those whose homes have been ravaged by hurricanes or fires are among the people making their way to Natalie’s social media pages and website. They want to know how they can achieve their own little American dream, even in these seemingly impossible times.

“My husband has a helping heart,” says Natalie. “He’s been assisting people in the area figure out how to build their own charming, cost-effective homes.”

After being overwhelmed with requests to share their floor plan, the couple decided to upload the specifics to Natalie’s website, JadeMagnolia.com.

They also offer whatever zoning and permitting advice they can, with Natalie stressing that they differ in every county across America. In some areas that have been hit hard by natural disasters, some zoning restrictions have been lifted, making it easier to rebuild quickly.

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“Living in a home you love is the American dream,” says Natalie. “It may not be as difficult or expensive as people think.”

Uncategorized

Anna Kournikova Is Seen in a Wheelchair in First Public Sighting in 2 Years—After Retiring From Spotlight To Lay Low in $26 Million Miami Home

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Mike B

29
Jan

Where Is Anna Kournikova Seeking Refuge Amid Health Speculation? — Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images

Former tennis champion and model Anna Kournikova is back in the headlines after she was pictured in a wheelchair while enjoying an outing with her daughters in Miami.

The 43-year-old Russian athlete, who retired from professional tennis in 2003 and has since been laying low in the expansive Florida mansion she shares with longtime partner Enrique Iglesias and their three children.

However, she made a very rare appearance at Bal Harbour Shops in Miami on Jan. 19, with photos obtained by the New York Post showing Kournikova wearing a black ensemble and a large medical boot while being wheeled around by a friend.

The former tennis pro was accompanied on the shopping trip by daughters Lucy, 7, and Mary, 4, who is the twin sister to Kournikova and Iglesias’ only son, Nicholas.

Bal Harbour Shops is just a 35-minute drive from the custom-built megamansion that Kournikova and Iglesias share with their children. The stunning waterfront property occupies two plots of land and was designed to suit the family’s every need.

Iglesias and Kournikova first purchased the property in 2009, paying $5 million for just one of the plots that their future home would sit on. Today, Realtor.com® estimates that single property is worth close to double that amount.

However, the incredible mansion that now occupies the land has been valued at up to $26 million over the years—with other properties on the same road selling for as much as $85.2 million in recent months.

Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias

(John Parra/WireImage)

The mansion, which took several years to complete, boasts seven bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. It sits on a plum plot that offers staggering views of Biscayne Bay.

The two-story home, which was completed in 2013, offers 17,528 square feet of living space and comes with a lavish pool as well as a tennis court.

It is located in the luxurious neighborhood of Bay Point, which is home to numerous celebrities, including musicians Willy Chirino and DMX, as well as athletes Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, and Liván Hernández.

The exclusive gated community affords its residents ample privacy, something that Iglesias and Kournikova have taken full advantage of over the past few years as they have tried to raise their children away from the spotlight.

Images of the home reveal that it boasts a private dock and a boat jetty, as well as an enormous cabana-style building that sits alongside the pristine tennis court.

Kournikova and Iglesias, who began dating in 2001 after meeting on the set of one of the singer’s music videos, spent the first few years of their relationship regularly being photographed in public together—and their romance was regularly featured in headlines across the globe.

Kournikova retired from tennis in 2003 after garnering 16 career doubles titles under her belt and making it to Wimbledon in 1997.

(annakournikova/Instagram)

However, in recent years, the couple have withdrawn from the spotlight, with Kournikova all but vanishing from the public eye as she focuses on her role as a mother to their children.

The couple were last spotted together in public on May 8, 2022, according to the New York Post.

Kournikova retired from tennis at the age of 21 after suffering a series of back injuries, including a herniated disc.

During her career, she won 16 doubles titles—but failed to ever win a Grand Slam as a single player.

Iglesias previously opened up about their relationship in a candid interview with People magazine, in which he explained how their shared experiences with fame helped to bring them together.

“When we met—although she came from the sports world—in a way, we kind of got each other,” he said.

“She knew what my world was like. I kind of knew what her world was like. So that understanding helped a lot. We just started connecting little by little and got stronger and stronger and stronger.”

While the pair have been hunkered down in their Miami megamansion for more than 10 years now, it is by no means the only property that they have owned together.

In 2018, they put another Miami property on the market for $4.85 million, having built the abode for their relatives, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The couple purchased the property in 2015 for $1.8 million and then embarked on a major renovation, expanding the home and remodeling it for Kournikova’s grandparents.

But the finished product was too large for the intended residents, so the couple decided to flip it.

The listing for the home noted that the six-bedroom, 6.5-bath house was “perfect for a larger family,” calling attention to its 5,331 square feet of living space.

Unique Homes

Lavish $725,000 Hawaii Condo Is Listed for Just $1 in Unbelievable ‘Flash Sale’—So What’s the Catch?

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Mike B

29
Jan

Homebuying is often a very pricey business, particularly if you’re looking at properties in an enviable or exotic location—but one Hawaiian condo listing is flipping that script and offering up a 99% discount as part of a “flash sale” that has seen the abode priced at just $1.

That’s right, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling on the island of Honolulu—which was originally listed for $775,000—is now available for a buck. At least in theory.

Unsurprisingly, the Dollar Store-style price has raised many questions among interested parties, many of whom are clamoring to know: Is this deal too good to be true?

On paper—and in images—the property appears to be in pristine condition.

Built in 1979, the condo has been fully renovated and comes with two parking spaces. The “sleek and functional” design includes split AC, recessed lighting, updated kitchen, and newly done baths.

Kaneohe, HI condo kitchen — The condo’s updates include baths and the kitchen, which features a white tile backsplash, wood cabinets, and white counters.

(Realtor.com)

Kaneohe, HI condo bedroom — The unit has two baths and two bedrooms.

(Realtor.com)

Located in the town of Kaneohe, the apartment offers views of the Koolau mountains from the spacious lanai.

Community residents have access to a recreation area, which includes barbecue grills, tennis courts, and a pool, the listing notes.

So far, so perfect.

Though the property seems wonderful, it’s had trouble attracting a buyer. The updated unit has been on and off the market since last year. It last changed hands in August 2024 for $570,000, according to Realtor.com® records.

The condo came back on the market in October 2024, listed at $775,000. By December, the price had been reduced to $730,000. In mid-January, it was relisted for $725,000. On Jan. 27, it was priced at a shocking $1.

That ultralow price tag may work on one level: Grabbing attention.

In drawing interest to the listing, the agent could well spark a bidding war that may start at $1 and then quickly climb to a sum that is closer to the original list price.

But the strategy is risky.

“I have not seen the $1 flash sale before as a selling tool, but I have seen properties aggressively priced below market value to create hype and stir interest,” says Cara Ameer, a licensed real estate agent in California.

Ameer notes that the seller “likely has no interest in selling the property for $1 or anywhere close to it,” adding that the agent could well bump up the price to a more suitable sum should the “flash sale” tactic fail to secure a buyer willing to pay a reasonable amount for the home.

Deal or no deal?

So what is the catch?

First off, if you want to grab this deal, you do have to act fast.

The “flash sale” offer, as it’s described in the listing, is available until Feb. 3. And you might want to offer for more than just a dollar. The listing notes that “best and final offers” are due by 8 p.m. HST.

This means the final price of the property, while possibly under its discounted $725,000 ask, will probably be way more than just one smackeroo.

The listing agent, Brian Terayama with Real Broker, posted the killer deal on Instagram and received nearly 600 likes and comments that expressed amazement and disbelief.

The agent’s post also lists some caveats. Terayama notes that the “seller reserves the right to accept offers as they are received. If no offer is accepted by 2/5/2025 8:00PM HST, the ‘Flash Sale’ is over and the list price will be updated accordingly.”

One commenter pointed out on Instagram, “That’s a good way to get people to put in an offer.”

Terayama replied, “That’s the goal!”

Another commenter joked, “Best I can do is $20 and a poke bowl.”

Kaneohe, HI condo asks $1 — This condo in Kaneohe, HI, is asking $1 for a short time.

(Realtor.com)

Kaneohe, HI condo association has a community pool — The condo comes with access to a community pool, tennis court, and barbecue area.

(Realtor.com)

Kaneohe, HI condo deck — The covered lanai offers mountain views.

(Realtor.com)

High monthly costs

The condo does come with some fees, such as monthly maintenance costs.

One commenter asked about the cost of the maintenance fees, to which Terayama replied that “maintenance is $1,393/month which includes a $361/m assessment for insurance until the end of 2025.”

One noted the high monthly costs, posting, “$1,400 in Maintenance is Crazy.”

So, even in theory, if the apartment unit sells for $1, the monthly costs will set the buyer back a good deal more.

Ameer notes that there may be a reason that the condo is having trouble selling at list price.

“Buyers are likely staying away because of the HOA fees,” she says. Depending on the community’s “covenants and restrictions,” owners may not be able to offer it as a short-term rental.

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