Category Archives: House Candy

Shuckey-Darn: New York City Short Sheets Airbnb

Written by Candy Evans on May 23, 2013

You know Airbnb, yes? The sassy vacation rental site that let’s homeowners earn extra money off their homes by renting them out on a short term basis. I had the pleasure of hearing the founders speak two years ago at Inman in San Francisco. They started the concept when they were living in San Francisco, essentially, broke, and made short term cash fast by leasing out their apartment like a hotel. Bingo, a new concept was born.

Posted in Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real estate market news, Second Shelters | Tagged Airb&b, San Francisco, Vacation Rental | Leave a comment

Long Cove on Cedar Creek Lake Appoints Director of Resident Services. And Yes, He Paddleboards

Written by Candy Evans on April 17, 2013

Long Cove is a new, private residential community located just over an hour from Dallas on Cedar Creek Lake. The area is getting a ton of buzz.

Some good news is coming out of East Texas: Long Cove is getting it on. This coincides nicely with some positive news about the second home market: it is no longer dead! Second home sales are up by more than ten percent, while 11% of all real estate purchased nationwide goes for a second homes.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, House Candy, Lake homes, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Cedar Creek Lake, Long Cove, second homes | 2 Comments

Luxury Second Home Fractional Sales Heating Up: Calistoga Ranch Sells Out

Written by Candy Evans on April 11, 2013

In California, they have even sold out of the most famous outdoor showers in the world! The award-winning Calistoga Ranch in the Napa Valley has sold out of its private residence club offering.

Posted in Beach Homes, Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Calistoga, Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley, Wine Country | 1 Comment

Buy This Ranch and You Will Instantly Become a Super Country Western Star???

Written by Candy Evans on February 20, 2013

That’s why, I guess the folks promoting this nice little ranch in Van Alystyne, Texas put this guitar crooner on the website for the ranch. Like, front and center. Five bedrooms, four and a half baths, this place is billed as 30 acres of a horse rancher’s paradise with an executive home, pool, hot tub, riding arena, stables, bunk house, and will only set you back $899,995.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Ranches, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Bedrooms, Front And Center, Horse Ranchers, Little Ranch, Van Alystyne Texas | 1 Comment

T. Boone Picken’s Most Romantic Home in Dallas Would Make a Great Empty Nest Texas Retreat. But No Windmills…

Written by Candy Evans on February 14, 2013

T. Boone Pickens may be a legendary Texas oil and gas executive, and a huge force behind wind energy, but there are no windmills on his Preston Hollow estate in Dallas, Texas. There are gardens, sculpted and manicured French gardens that will make you think you are in Versailles so much that “mais oui” will roll right off your tongue! He is now selling his Dallas estate in the heart of Preston Hollow for $7 million. And it is not listed in MLS. The home was built in 1996, but then when T. Boone and his wife, Madeleine bought it in July, 2005 for about five million, it was redone to the max. And I do mean the max. From a four bedroom home with a master on the first floor, it was taken to a three bedroom home with an expanded second floor master. In fact, the new master bathroom is so large it features a writing desk — what a splendid idea! The new master closet is larger than most starter homes. Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Boone Pickens, Dallas, Dallas real estate, Dallas Texas, French Gardens, Preston Hollow, T Boone, T. Boone Pickens | Comments Off

Tom and Cinda Hicks Put Dallas’ Famous Crespi Estate on Market for $135 Million with Douglas Newby

Written by Candy Evans on January 28, 2013

Looking to find a little estate in the Loire Valley but your spouse wears a “France Sucks” tee? You can have 25 acres that resemble the French countryside and a 48,000 square foot estate so perfect you may never wish to leave. The 25 acre estate of Thomas O. and Cinda Hicks on Walnut Hill Lane and Hollow Way Road in Preston Hollow just hit the non-MLS market for a whopping $135 million. For more photos and all the scoop, check out the site of Douglas Newby, who is the agent. Continue reading →

Posted in CandysDirt.com, Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Acre Estate, Cinda Hicks, Crespi Estate, Dallas North Tollway, Hicks Muse Tate, Tom Hicks | Comments Off

Tourists Are Returning to Hawaii, and So Are Vacation Home Buyers – Honua Kai

Written by Candy Evans on October 22, 2012

Tourism is up in Hawaii, which is a very good sign for Hawaiian real estate. The number one reason buyers purchase a vacation home in any location is because they love it. It goes like this: visit the location, love it, feel like you never want to leave. This is the point where buyers start perusing the real estate and actually, finally, pulling out the checkbook.

Posted in Beach Homes, emerging real estate markets, Hawaii, House Candy, International, Mountain Homes, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Hawaii, Honua Kai, Maui, second homes, vacation homes | 9 Comments

I Left My Heart in San Francisco but Not My Checkbook: The Fairmont Heritage Place at Ghirardelli Square is Quite an Affordable Second Home!

Written by Candy Evans on August 1, 2012

The Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square offers sweeping views of San Francisco Bay. The waterfront project is in a historic part of the California city on the sea that has always captured my heart. I’m here checking out this amazing property that is available as a fractional ownership for a smidgen over $200,000 for a two bedroom, even less for a one-bedroom!

Posted in California, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Bargain vacation homes, Canadian Ron Deyholos, Dallas real estate news, escaping Dallas TX, Fairmont Heritage Place, fractional ownership, French Fairmont, San Francisco, second homes in san francisco, vacation homes | 4 Comments

Houzz Haz It: American Homeowners Want Style More Than Profit

Written by Joanna England on July 30, 2012

By Katherine Nannizzi of Houzz.com

Even as new and existing home sales and prices climb, homeowners are prioritizing aesthetics before profit, according to the annual Houzz & Home Survey conducted among users of the Houzz app and website. The annual survey surfaces building and remodeling trends in the U.S. and Canada. Continue reading →

Posted in Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Bathroom Remodel, Homeowners, Houzz.com, Katherine Nannizzi, Kitchen Remodels | Comments Off

How About a Pool Lined With 24-Carat Gold? For $125 Million, Miami’s Most famous Residence, the Versace Mansion, Can Be Yours!

Written by Candy Evans on July 18, 2012

Our Miami correspondent, Andrea Kavanagh, is back and house-hunting for us! Calling all billionaire art aficionados and free-spending, globe-trotting investors! Miami is all a buzz over Ocean Drive’s most infamous residence to hit the sizzling hot real estate market at a whopping $125 million. Casa Casuarina, also known as the Versace mansion, is an iconic oasis – a piece of art and a piece of history sitting in the middle of South Beach. Located at 1116 Ocean Drive, the mansion is also notorious as the former home of Italian designer Gianni Versace who was shot to death at the front gate in 1997. Grisly as that was, it remains one of the most popular tourist sites in Miami.