Tag: second homes

Historical Shelters

Amazing Galveston Home Housed Texas Retail Royalty

by
No Comments

galvestonIt’s not often that the home of what many would consider to be Texas retail royalty comes up for sale — which is why this week’s historical shelter in Galveston immediately caught our attention.

The Victorian Robert I. Cohen built in 1896 is a half mile from the beach and a little more than a mile to the Strand.

If Cohen’s name doesn’t sound familiar, perhaps the store he bought will. In 1917, Pat and James Foley sold their Houston store, Foley Brothers, to Robert, who then turned the day-to-day running of the dry goods store to his son George, who then grew sales to almost $1 million by 1919.

Foley Brothers Store, 1906, Historic Houston Photographs, Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries, accessed November 10, 2018.

By 1922, the Cohen’s moved the store to a three-story building on Main Street in Houston, becoming the city’s largest department store. (more…)
, , , , , , ,
Budget Billets

Gulf of Mexico Second Homes Easy on the Budget in Cape Coral

by
No Comments

Cape CoralEditor’s Note: Recently, MoneyWise revealed its list of the 40 most frugal and friendly places to retire. In a bid to provide an idea of what housing inventory is available in these cities and towns, we’re taking a look at listings in each of the cities on the list.

Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?

Last week, we looked at the 40th city on the list — Scottsdale, Arizona. This week, we look at Cape Coral, and found lots of incredible inventory for as low as the $150,000s to the millions.

There is something for every budget, it seems.

“Although there will be some rebuilding to do in this city after Hurricane Irma, Cape Coral is a lovely town worthy of your consideration,” Moneywise said. “Cape Coral is located on the west coast of the peninsula and is known for its low crime rate, excellent restaurants, and perpetually sunny Florida weather!”

“The cost of living in Cape Coral is relatively low when compared to the cost of living in Miami or Fort Lauderdale,” the story added.

The city offers much in the way of amenities (as do many of the planned communities), including golf, splash grounds, art studios, and more. But with more than 400 miles of canals, you can bet that boating, fishing, and other water activities take center stage.

ONE STORY HOME CLOSE TO GOLF AND KAYAKING ACCESS

Price: $259,900 (more…)
, , , , , ,
crime and second homes

Paul Manafort: Walk Like An Egyptian? Live Like A Felon!

by
No Comments
Manafort

Manafort’s Long Island Home at 174 Jobs Lane, Water Mill, New York

In the first of two trials, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was found guilty in August on eight of 18 counts of fraud. All that kept him from being found guilty on all 18 counts was a lone juror.

The “witch hunt” had found another witch. Not eager for a potentially worse repeat at his upcoming second trial, Manafort cut a deal with the feds pleading guilty (admitting his witchcraft) and agreeing to surrender a bunch of assets including some real estate some are valuing at $22 million.

In a “birds of a feather” twist, Manafort’s spec builder son-in-law Jeffrey Yohai filed for bankruptcy in 2016 as four multi-million dollar (unsold) spec homes fell into foreclosure. The whole affair also ignited lawsuits by Dustin Hoffman and others claiming Yohai was running a Ponzi scheme. No stranger to legal troubles, Yohai and wife Jessica Manafort were sued for running an illegal Airbnb operation from their three New York apartments – in the middle of divorce proceedings. (more…)
, ,
ski homes

Mother Nature’s Hot Tub: Mystical Secrets of Steamboat Springs

by
No Comments
Steamboat Springs Hot Springs

Photo courtesy of the Colorado Tourism Office

Every ski town seems to have its own appeal. It’s easy to get to, or it’s isolated and exclusive.  It’s snowboarder heaven, or it’s snowboard-free. It a great place for beginners, or  it’s dominated by advanced-level runs and black diamond-lovers don’t have to navigate around skiers like me.

Steamboat Springs in northwestern Colorado is known as an exceptionally family-friendly town. It’s known for lots of programs for children, kids-only lifts, and play areas and parks designed with juveniles in mind.  But,  the area has a unique natural feature with special appeal for adults: mystical natural hot springs where skiers, snowboarders, and hikers can relax and soak away tired muscles and aches and pains.  Click here for a look at these therapeutic wonders and a gorgeous new vacation home listing in Steamboat Springs:

(more…)
, , , ,
Hawaii

Live Like a Local: Regency at Kahala Offers a Slice of Old Hawaii

by
No Comments

regency-exterior-1

When I say “old Hawaii,” I mean places where locals have lived for decades.  These are not the new flashy high-rises in Kaka’ako, but rather buildings like this one that rose from the ground in 1969.  The Regency at Kahala is a tall, 20-plus-story slice of Hawaii.

There are four units per floor … a one-bedroom, two two-bedrooms, and a three-bedroom unit.  There are minor differences in square footage in the same floor plan due to some units having enclosed their patios (and you know how I feel about that!).

Sunday, I braved sheets of rain to walk over to a quadruple open house that featured two one-bedroom units and one example each of two- and three-bedroom units.  My favorites were the one-bedroom and the three-bedroom units, which mostly came down to view.  These two face the water, though on Sunday they all faced the rain.

(more…)
, , , , ,
House Candy

Kathy Fielder Creates Personalized Space For ‘The Bold and The Beautiful’ Actor Sean Kanan

by
No Comments
Soap star Sean Kanan asked Dallas designer Kathy Fielder to create a vibrant, personalized space.

Soap star Sean Kanan asked Dallas designer Kathy Fielder to create a vibrant, personalized space.

When you envision the interiors of your second home, you might gravitate toward relaxing color schemes and open spaces with comfortable furniture. It should be a space for relaxing and letting go. A space for enjoyment, not practicality.

Not everyone has the talent to create that kind of space, nor the time. That’s why Sean Kanan, a renowned daytime TV star, enlisted Dallas-based veteran designer Kathy Fielder to create the perfect environment for his vacation home in Palm Springs.

“The combinations that Kathy put together echo my taste,” Kanan said. “She utilized a combination of  bold patterns with solids all within a neutral palette that I love.”

Photo Jan 31, 6 30 04 AM

But how do you achieve that look without succumbing to design ennui? We asked Kathy for a few tips on designing the perfect spaces for your vacation home.

(more…)
, , , , , , , , , ,
Texas Hill Country

Terra Verde Group Acquires Texas Hill Country Escape Boot Ranch

by
No Comments

Boot Ranch 17

I was sitting in Craig Martin’s office up at Windsong Ranch — if you haven’t seen or experienced the amazing Windsong Ranch in Prosper, then you don’t know  North Texas real estate greatness —  and he was telling me about this amazing ranch in the Hill Country just north of Fredericksburg.

Boot Ranch I asked? I love the place!

Yes, he said. We are buying it!

But I was sworn to secrecy until the deal was closed. Closed, signed and sealed it is: Terra Verder Group LLC, the devloper of Windsong Ranch, has indeed purchased the 2,000 acre Boot Ranch north of Fredericksburg. Terra Verde and financial partner Wheelock Street Capital bought the luxury vacation home golf course community from Lehman Brothers.

Boot Ranch, the brainchild of Texas golfing great Hal Sutton, opened in 2006 just in time for the Great Recession. Like so many of its brethren, Boot fell into foreclosure. But during the four years that Lehman Brothers operated it, the community slowly, steadily kept the momentum moving forward. In fact, Boot Ranch may well become a poster child success story for how a vacation home community survives a downturn.

“The previous developer opened the project at the wrong time in the market,” said Terra Verde founder Craig Martin. “Our plan is to complete the development.We like Boot Ranch because of its proximity to Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Midland-Odessa – within a 4-hour drive.”

Read more about this amazing acquisition on CandysDirt.com!
, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Lake homes

Live Big on Lake Worth: 3.2 Acres, 500 ft. of Lake Frontage Just 15 Minutes From Downtown Fort Worth

by
No Comments

935-25

Sometimes we want to get away, but the thought of travel is just too much. Packing up everything, getting the kids ready, and climbing in the car or in a plane for hours is enough to keep us at home, ensconced in air conditioning and watching the latest releases on Netflix.

But what if you could enjoy a lake house that was just 15 minutes from downtown Fort Worth? What if there was a property big enough to host you and your extended family without feeling cramped and uncomfortable? What if you could enjoy all the best things about lake living without the drive?

935-1

DCIM101GOPRO

We’ve found just the thing! Go check out this hip pocket listing from Williams Trew over on CandysDirt.com, as it is the absolute perfect spot for a low-key family Fourth of July getaway that feels private.

 
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,