Category Archives: emerging real estate markets

North Texas Mansion Champ D’Or Closed Monday: Meet the New Owners

Written by Candy Evans on May 3, 2012

Could they be buying it as a second or third home?

Champ d’Or closed Monday, April 30, according to Laura Brady of Concierge Auctions. Which means it is official: Shirley and Al Goldfield no longer own the Hickory Creek mega mansion they have been trying to sell almost since the day they completed the 40,000 square foot plus home. Talk about things you might regret: I saw Realtor Marilyn Hoffman a few weeks ago at the patron party for the Dallas Art Fair. She told me she once brought Mr. Goldfield an offer for $44 million he turned down. Another high profile agent tells me he was almost kicked out of the house when he offered to take the listing for an asking price of no more than $29 million back in 2009. We know Champ sold at auction a month ago at a reserve starting at $10.3 million, which means that was the minimum bidding price. Do you recall the story I wrote with another luxury real estate auction house when I asked what would happen if the reserve was not even met?

Posted in CandysDirt.com, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real estate market news, Second Shelters | Tagged Al Goldfield, Champ D'Or, Dallas Art Fair, Laura Brady, Marilyn Hoffman, Mr Goldfield, real estate | Leave a comment

Time For an Easter Egg Hunt in One of Dallas’ Most Beautiful ‘Hoods: Happy Easter from SecondShelters.com

Written by Candy Evans on April 8, 2012

I cannot think of a better place for your Easter egg hunt than this lush lush LUSH backyard oasis snuggled away over at 4612 Watagua in Bluffview.Well maybe not snuggled: the home is actually on a ridge, has great topography and I felt like I was back in the hills of Napa! I know they say the Hill Country begins in Oak Cliff, but sometimes, when I’m in Bluffview, I think it starts right there. Built in 2000, this 7863 square foot home has gone through three owners all of who have added more, more and more to make it perfect. Great example: The Casita, built by current owners/sellers in 2007, which rests along the eastern edge of the site. It has a living area, powder bath plus fully appointed bath with double lavatory, IT’S OWN LAUNDRY FACILITY! How cool is that, guestst can do their own laundry or snack up in the efficiency kitchen. Even better: a Juliette balcony overlooks the front grounds while the dining area looks over a terraced outdoor banquette and the croquet lawn. I am going to ask if I can buy The Casita and just live there!

Posted in California, Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, Real estate market news, Second Shelters | Tagged Bath, Dallas real estate news, Easter Egg, Efficiency Kitchen, Far Niente Winery, Harold Weidner | 1 Comment

Champ d’Or Mansion in Denton County, Texas Auctioned Off, SOLD!

Written by Candy Evans on April 1, 2012

I have been on pins and needles waiting out this auction, bugging Robbie Briggs and Laura Brady at Concierge Actions all day yesterday. At about eight p.m. Friday night Robbie Briggs emailed me that “It was a fascinating process, and it appears to be successful.” Saturday morning I heard from Laura Brady who said — “we haven’t released details to anyone… the high bidder has formally requested confidentiality about their name and the high bid amount.” Which means the house did sell, we just don’t know for how much and who it sold to.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, Famous Architects, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Realtor news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Champ d' Or, Concierge, Concierge Auctions, Confidentiality Clause, Denton County Appraisal District Champ DOr, Laura Brady, Robbie Briggs | Leave a comment

Second Home Sales Surged in 2011 by 65%, Vaca Home Sales Up by 7%

Written by Candy Evans on March 30, 2012

It had to happen sooner or later, especially with prices slashed and dashed by 40 to almost 60% in some markets. But sales of second homes, some vacation, most investment, shot up in 2011. The combined sales of vaca and investment homes was at the highest it has been in this country since 2005. The NAR says purchases of investment homes rose by more than 64%. Buyers rushed in to take advantage of those slashed prices and low finance rates, when, that is, they could obtain financing. Meantime, sales of vacation homes were up 7 percent.

Posted in Beach Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Calistoga Ranch, Investment, Investment Buyers, Lawrence Yun, vacation home sales | 3 Comments

Second and Vacation Homes: Coldwell Banker Survey Says One Home is Never Enough With Baby Boomers — And It’s Way Cheaper than a Divorce!

Written by Candy Evans on October 13, 2011

(Above) John Raymond’s Cheese at Calistoga Ranch

There has been a lot of chatter out that the Baby Boomers might be the last generation to embrace home ownership. Well, a new study now says what I have long suspected: with Baby Boomers, one is never enough. The Millenials and offspring of the Baby Boomers tend to want smaller homes and fewer of them. This generation is also more likely to rent. But a new survey of Realtors acros the nation by Coldwell Banker tells me exactly what I am seeing happening among Baby Boomer peers: those in the 47 to 64 age bracket are delaying the sale of their large family homes, due to the sputtering market, and investing in second homes that may ultimately become retirement pads or family vacation spots.

Posted in California, emerging real estate markets, real estate and divorce, Second Shelters | Tagged Baby Boomer, Baby Boomers, Baby Boomers and vacation homes, Extracurricular Work, Family Vacation Spots, John Raymonds, second homes, Ulterior Motives | 1 Comment

Guest Post: Austin Real Estate Is Kicking Major Butt: What Are They Doing Right? THEY’VE GOT JOBS!

Written by Candy Evans on October 3, 2011

Get this: Austin has an unemployment rate of only 6.7%. That could be why, except for South Padre Island, Austin now has the highest priced median homes in Texas: $194,600, according to the Real Estate center at Texas A&M University. Sales of existing single-family Texas homes in August were up 24 percent from a year ago, according to the most recent Multiple Listing Services (MLS) data compiled by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. More than 21,200 existing single-family homes were sold, data showed. The median home price was $153,200, about the same as a year ago, and the state’s overall inventory was at 7.4 months.

Posted in Economy, emerging real estate markets, national news stories affecting second homes, neighborhoods, Second Shelters | Tagged Aampm, Latest Financial News, Median Home Price, Multiple Listing Services, South Padre Island, Unemployment Rate | 1 Comment

Second Homes of the Rich and Famous: Where the Rich and Famous Labored on Labor Day

Written by Candy Evans on September 6, 2011

While you and I cleaned out the pool, braved NorthPark Mall in Dallas, or invited friends over for BBQ and margaritas, the rich and famous played quietly at their second homes. I mean, who got this whole second home fad started anyhow –celebrities and the very wealthy. William Randolph Hearst built his Hearst Castle in San Simeon with 41 bedrooms so he could invite friends. I mean, what fun is 95,000 square feet if you live there alone and can’t fill it up?

Posted in Celebrity Homes, emerging real estate markets, Second Shelters | Tagged Goldie Hawn, Hearst Castle, Private Island Retreat, Randolph Hearst, second homes of the rich and famous, Tony Romo, Watercolor Florida | Comments Off

Five Percent of the Nation’s Housing Units Qualify as Second Homes. But Where The Hec Are They?

Written by Candy Evans on August 29, 2011

VERY interesting story here from the National Association of Home Builders that tells us where most of the second homes in the United States are located. There are 6.9 million housing units that qualify as second homes — that’s about 5% of all the U.S. housing units. There are 26 counties where at least HALF of the housing stock consists of second homes. This was surprising: six of those counties were in Michigan, five in Colorado, and two each in Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania!) Utah, Massachusetts and California. One such county was located in each of these states — New York, Alaska, Idaho, Missouri, Wisconsin, Texas and New Jersey. Not surprising, large stocks of second homes are located in areas with larger populations. Since at least one county in each of these states contains more than 25,000 second homes, these are the second home hot spots: Florida, California, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Delaware, Michigan, South Carolina, Nevada, Massachusetts, Illinois and Arizona. Not surprising — coastal areas, mountains, and major metropolitan areas.

Posted in emerging real estate markets, Real Estate, Second Home deals, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged California One, Coastal Areas, Delaware Michigan, National Association Of Home Builders, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, where are second homes?, York Alaska | 1 Comment

So Maybe You Should Buy A Second Home in Frisco, Texas?

Written by Candy Evans on August 15, 2011

Where they are selling like hotcakes. A Frisco Realtor makes me eat my words…

Posted in CandysDirt.com, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Frisco, Frisco TX real estate, TX real estate | Comments Off

Home Staging: Do Designer Pets Help Sell Homes, First or Second? Dallas Real Estate News

Written by Candy Evans on August 7, 2011

I knew it was only a matter of time before this happened. After all, Realtors have been stealing tips from ad pros for years to make homes look glorious in photographs to entice buyers. What have I been telling you for years — it’s all about the photos, right? Now we hear that “placement pets“, as they are known in the advertising world, are increasingly showing up in home listing photos. The point is to convey a subliminal message to would-be buyers, and make them feel as warm and fuzzy about the house as one of my fluffy Golden Retrievers. Let’s face it, pets have become status symbols and are increasingly the “children” of empty nesters and gay couples. A hunting dog looks great snuggled on a hearth; Vizsla’s or Standard Poodles are chick magnets, so why wouldn’t they lure in buyers? You may have noticed that my furry child, Bree, is proudly displayed on this blog.