Category Archives: House Candy

Cinnamon Shore’s Town Growth Goes Gourmet, Takes on Hollywood

Written by Candy Evans on June 19, 2012

Perhaps you have procrastinated, like I have a tendency to do. Maybe you haven’t decided where to take the family for a fun-filled vacation, and it’s mid June. May I suggest Cinnamon Shore, Mustang Island’s seaside village, located in Port Aransas on Texas’s Coastal Bend? It’s not that far from Big D and offers a whole schedule of summer events planned to make vacationing in paradise even sweeter. Plus who knows: you might like it so much you decide to buy a second home there. Continue reading →

Posted in Beach Homes, Celebrity Homes, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Cinnamon, Cinnamon Shore, Cinnamon Shore Mustang Islands, Cinnamon Shores | 1 Comment

Champ d’Or Sure Gets Around: National Exposure for the North Dallas Manse that Took Ten Years to Sell

Written by Candy Evans on May 8, 2012

Thought you might enjoy seeing the national/international post I wrote for Concierge Auctions, on our illustrious Champ d’Or, they being the folks who spurred the sale of our most famous or infamous mansion to date.

Posted in Dallas real estate news, European housing trends, House Candy, Second Shelters | Tagged Champ D'Or | Comments Off

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 | Comments Off

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 | Comments Off

When the Second Home is Better Than The First: Sean Payton Buys $3.4 Million Vaquero House Complete With Lit Up Disco!

Written by Candy Evans on March 9, 2012

It’s official, he owns dirt in the Lone Star State. Sean Payton and fam are now card-carrying Texans! In early January, Sean and his wife bought a stunning 7,785 square foot home in a delicious part of Vaquero that is honestly one of the most beautiful homes I’ve seen out there, maybe anywhere. I mean, no offense NOLA, but you would not find a house like this in Louisiana. No way Jose. PLEASE check out this slide show for detailed photos. Continue reading →

Posted in CandysDirt.com, Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, House Candy, Real estate market news, Second home trends, Second Shelters | Tagged Brazos Court, Dallas real estate news, January Sean, Slide Show, Stunning Square Foot, Vaquero | Comments Off

Why Everyone Leaves Dallas In August, and Where They Go: The Dallas Second Home Report

Written by Candy Evans on August 14, 2011

Do you find it impossible to get anything done in Dallas in August? Let’s face it: everyone in town has taken a hike. And do you blame them? I’d much rather be at the seashore in Maine, on the Gulf Coast at Alys Beach, even down at Cinnamon Shore (which opens a new coffee house next week) in Port Aransas, in Colorado, in Pebble, in Montana, God even in Santa Fe.

Posted in Beach Homes, Celebrity Homes, Dallas real estate news, House Candy, Maine, Mountain Homes, Ranches, Real estate market news, Santa Fe, Second Shelters | Tagged Alys Beach, Ellen Terry, Real Estate Sales, Residential Real Estate Sales, second home destinations of Dallas, Seven Year Itch, where wealthy Dallasites vacation, White Rock Lake | 2 Comments

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.

(Now she wants a blog of her own!)

Posted in CandysDirt.com, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Second Shelters | 2 Comments

Friday Ranch Porn: Too Hot To Live In Dallas, Get Thee To A Ranch STAT

Written by Candy Evans on August 5, 2011

I think we can honestly survive 100 degree plus temps better on a ranch. Less concrete, more trees and shade. I love the ranch life and in my perfect world I’d have a ranch a few hundred miles away from Dallas, our beach house in Maine, my beach condo in Florida on the Gulf coast, and then maybe something at a lake. That’s the only way to survive!

Posted in House Candy, Ranches, Real Estate, Second Shelters | Tagged Brazos River, Carter Ranch, Guest Quarters, Hilly Acres, ranches in Texas, Silverado On The Brazos, Weatherford Texas | 1 Comment

We’ve Got Company: The Design Guide + SecondShelters = Party

Written by Candy Evans on July 21, 2011

We like to have fun over here on SecondShelters, and we REALLY like company. (Who likes to prattle around in a house all by themselves?) So now, we’ve REALLY got company, a whole bunch of the very best designers in Texas who read and utilize the very best source for design. The Design Guide and Secondshelters are proud to announce a fun new partnership. The Design Guide, THE design source book in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio for fine home furnishings, products and services, is coming over for sort of a pajama party. We’ve invited DG design talent — they’ve got a plethora of it — to share their second home projects, design tips, new products and ideas on SecondShelters. We figure anyone interested in homes will love to hear the dish from real designers ? This blog will share luxury real estate stories on DGpublishinginc.com — a fun way to keep Design Guide readers up to date on real estate news.

Posted in House Candy, Real estate market news, Second Shelters | Tagged Candy Evans, Design Guide, Furnishings Products, Martha Griffin, Pajama Party, Prattle | Comments Off

Living Here Costs Tiger Woods $5.4 Million a Year: Is He Looking To Downsize?

Written by Candy Evans on July 18, 2011

How would you like to dish out more than half a million a month just to pay for and maintain your home? Welcome to the world of Tiger Woods. Word on the pro golf circuit is that Tiger Woods may be hurting for money. That divorce was not cheap, he’s not exactly winning at golf these days, and he’s experienced a drastic drop in advertising income. Even the uber wealthy sometimes need to downsize: does Tiger Woods need to unload his more than fabulous Jupiter Island home?