Condo.com - Condo News

New Jersey Mansion of "Real Housewife" Hits the Market

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Real Housewives of New Jersey actress Melissa Gorga, 32, has listed her Montville, N.J., home for sale for $3.8 million. She and her husband are looking to move just 16 miles away as they look at homes in Franklin Lakes, N.J.

The Montville home has six bedrooms, seven baths, a screening room, built-in bookcases, a billiards room, and upscale features including Italian marble staircases and foyer, hardwood floors, wrought iron, domed ceilings, chandeliers, stucco and copper gutters.

With 13,500 square feet, the home also has a library, theater and recording studio.

Melissa’s brother Joe Gorga built the home on two acres in Morris County in 2009.

Wood Countertops Making a Comeback in Kitchens

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Interior designers are noticing a new look in some kitchens in condominiums across America. Some homeowners who are building or remodeling a condo are taking another look at using wood for their kitchen countertops.

In both contemporary kitchens and more modern ones, butcher-block countertops seem to be making a big comeback over the past few years. But don’t just think of the maple-wood butcher blocks of yesteryear. Instead think exotic with woods such as jatoba, teak, wenge and mahogany.

If you're moving to a condo that has wood countertops, here’s a tip that will leave them looking good for a long time, while helping to avoid staining or damage to the wood. A treatment of mineral oil is all it takes. No need for heavy coats of varnish as may have been the case years ago.

Over the years, if your kitchen’s wood countertops do sustain some damage, just give them a light sanding to remove minor stains and scratches. Then apply a coat of mineral oil and you will make your countertops look almost new again.

Plus, here’s a neat trick to make some wood countertops in the kitchen impervious to water damage: Apply a finish of a liquid called Durata. But heed this: It is recommended that you use Durata first as a test on a wood countertop that is not in your main work area because some owners have scratched wood tops to a point where they are not repairable.

So for your next new home, or for your next kitchen remodeling, take a look at how wood countertops might work for your lifestyle.

Billy Joel’s Miami Beach Home For Sale

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Billy Joel has listed his Miami Beach home for sale with an asking price of $14.75 million. He purchased the home in 2006 for $13.5 million. The South Florida residence is located at 82 Lagorce Circle on the exclusive La Gorce Island, where many famous celebrities and other wealthy people live. The Piano Man owns a number of homes on the East Coast, some of which he has sold and others that still owns.

The South Florida waterfront estate has more than 8,800 square feet of living area with seven bedrooms, 8.5 baths, gourmet chef’s kitchen, formal dining and living rooms, wine cellar, bar office and an outdoor living area with summer kitchen.

The home overlooks 150 feet of water frontage and offers gorgeous views over Biscayne Bay.

Six-time Grammy winner Billy Joel's Southampton, N.Y., home was pulled of the market earlier this year.

Other celebs who have called La Gorce Island home at some time include the late Maurice Gibb of Bee Gees fame, singer and actress Cher, and rapper Lil’ Wayne.

Tiger Woods' Beachfront Condo Up for Sale

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

A 2,000-square-foot Corona del Mar condo owned by Tiger Woods is on the market for $2.5 million. According to reports, he bought the place for $3 million. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom condo at 2616 Ocean Blvd. overlooks the Newport Harbor jetty.

Complete with high ceilings, large patio and balcony areas, surround sound, gourmet kitchen, and unobstructed ocean views, this California condo for sale is fit for a king or queen.

Woods has been building a $50 million estate on Jupiter Island in Florida, with its own backyard green, complete with sand trap. The property also has a tennis court, a fitness room, an oxygen therapy room, a diving pool, lap pool and two boat docks, reported HousingWatch.

Sopranos Star Michael Imperioli Sells NYC Townhouse

Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Michael Imperioli, famously known as Christopher Moltisanti on the hit HBO series Sopranos, and his wife, Victoria, have sold their renaissance style townhouse in New York City located at 138 West Broadway.

The four-story cast-iron building built in the early 1870s has a retail tenant on the ground floor and basement.

The second, third and fourth floors are set up as a four-bedroom single family home, with a large wooden-decked open terrace on the roof.

The unique property has classic features such as oak floors framed by mahogany trim, 12-foot high ceilings with decorative moldings, and large picture windows on every floor.

NC City Named 'Best Small Town in America' - See Why it Appeals to Many

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

One of the fastest-growing small towns in America is drawing attention from skiing aficionados, including retirees who are seeking a return to a stronger sense of community. Oddly enough, it’s not in the traditional ski towns of Colorado or Utah but rather on the east coast of the United States.

Welcome to Boone, N.C., a city outside of Winston-Salem that has seen a population increase of nearly 15 percent over a four-year period that ended in 2010. There are about 17,000 people who live in Boone, where the median sale price of homes in 2010 was under $220,000. It has a median income of $31,967 and an unemployment rate of 7.2%, which is below the national average.

Situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwestern North Carolina, Boone has three ski resorts nearby as well as trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking in the winter. When there’s no snow on the ground, Boone also offers other adventures, from white-water rafting to backpacking through the wilderness.

The city has been named a “Best Small Town in America,” and in addition to its outdoor attractions, it is known for good health care, the arts and being home to Appalachian State University. Residents enjoy spectacular mountain views and easy access to Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the country's most scenic roads.

The city is named after the legendary Daniel Boone who explored the area in the mid-1700s.

Temperatures range from the mid-20s Fahrenheit in the winter to the high 70s in July. Boone is about a 90-minute drive to the Winston-Salem region.

If you’re looking for a small-town atmosphere with adventure, Boone, N.C., is a contender.

Former Mattel CEO Lowers Price on Bel Air Mansion

Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

The former chairman, president, and CEO of Mattel, Jill Barad, and her husband, Thomas, have lowered the asking price of their Bel Air mansion for sale. The original asking price last year was close to $15 million. The home is now listed for $11.25 million. Property taxes alone are nearly $68,000 a year.

The home for sale in West LA at 11065 W. Sunset Blvd. was built in 1991 and has 9,393 square feet.

The exquisite estate has six bedrooms, 10 baths, a master wing on several levels, a marble-infused master bathroom, formal living room and dining room, a wood-paneled den/library with wet bar, family room, and a gourmet kitchen outfitted with Thermadore, Viking and Sub-Zero appliances.

Other features include nine-foot ceilings, marble flooring, hardwood floors, a bar, two staircases, a theater/game room and breakfast area. Constructed on more than an acre of land, the home also has a swimming pool, a three-car garage and 16 parking spaces.

After leaving Mattel, Jill Barad focused her attention on nonprofit organizations such as Children's Medical Network and Children Affected by AIDS Foundation.

Jill Barad joined Mattel in 1981, and is credited with re-establishing the Barbie doll as an American icon by changing the doll’s image from a sex symbol to a professional woman– which reportedly increased Barbie’s worth from $200 million to $1.9 billion. She ran the company for three years, until she was “forced out” in 2000 with a severance package of more than $40 million.

Ryan Seacrest Lowers Asking Price of His Hollywood Hills Home

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has dropped the price of his Hollywood Hills estate for sale from $14.9 million to $11.9 million. The so-called Casa di Pace (House of Peace) sits behind wrought-iron gates high atop Nichols Canyon in one of the area’s most prestigious communities of homes in Los Angeles.

The 10,000-square-foot mansion was built in 1974 on nearly an acre of land, offering canyon and citywide views. The luxurious residence has six bedrooms,, 6.5 baths, a living room with volume ceilings, a screening room, billiards room, library, bar and wine cellar. Past the peaceful gardens outside are a detached garage, pool and spa, and a championship tennis court.

Ryan bought the home for $11.5 million from filmmaker and actor Kevin Costner, who purchased it in 1995 from actor Richard Dreyfuss for a mere $2.5 million.

Seacrest transformed the guesthouse into a club room inspired by the Hôtel Costes in Paris, and the downstairs recreation room became a 4,500-bottle wine cellar and tasting room. The master suite has an Indonesian flair, and the state-of-the-art fitness room features hotel-style TV monitors attached to treadmills.

Ryan Seacrest, 37, made approximately $51 million last year, and last week renewed his contract with American Idol, signing on as host for two more years for $30 million. He is also producer of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. His girlfriend is Dancing with the Stars’ star Julianne Hough.

'Glee' Star Lea Michele Buys Home in Hollywood Hills

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

A star of the hit TV show Glee has purchased a home in Hollywood Hills for $1.4 million, just one month after it was listed. The Bronx-born Lea Michele paid $5,000 above the asking price for the 1920s-era bungalow sold by photographer Norman Jean Roy.

The Los Angeles-area home says less “celebrity” and more “cute and comfy,” with 1,800 square feet, two bedrooms with French doors, two baths, an outdoor dining room with a built-in barbecue and a trellis for shade, and a solar-heated saltwater pool in the lushly landscaped backyard.

Michele, 25, has played aspiring soprano Rachel Berry on the television series Glee since 2009. She will be the voice of Dorothy in the animated film Dorothy of Oz due out this year.

Golf Pro 'Bubba' Watson Selling North Carolina Lake Property

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Professional golfer Gerry “Bubba” Watson has listed his North Carolina house for sale not long after winning the 2012 Masters Golf Tournament, a prestigious contest that draws the sport’s biggest stars. Watson is asking $1.45 million for the lakefront property in Lexington, located at 178 Foxglove Lane. He purchased the home for $1.1 million in 2009.

The gated 5,000-square-foot home with water views on three sides has four bedrooms, five baths and two indoor kitchens. The home is located on two-thirds of an acre, and also has a detached three-car garage with guest quarters above it.

Living is easy outside of the home as well, as there is an entertaining area with a stainless-steel kitchen, a heated saltwater pool and spa, a television specially manufactured for outdoors, and a fireplace. Fishing trips are easy as well, launching from a floating pier with a covered boat lift.

Watson, 33, and his wife, Angie, have used the home that sits off High Rock Lake, the state's second-largest, primarily as a summertime retreat. Homes in this Thomasville metro area range from multimillion-dollar grand estates to trailers.