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Michele Hughes Sells 34-acre Kauai Secret Beach Properties

Three parcels of oceanfront land totaling 34 acres in Kilauea on Kauai’s North Shore were sold to an undisclosed buyer in an auction conducted by New York Concierge Auctions.

The properties, located above Kauai’s Secret Beach, include two five-acre parcels with houses known as Hale Nanea and Hale Lani, and a 24-acre oceanfront site on Kauapea Road. One buyer purchased all three parcels, Concierge Auctions said in a statement. The price was not disclosed.

The seller, Michele Hughes of the Michele Hughes Co., had assembled the parcels over a total of 33 years. She had purchased the lots from various sellers, including one from actor Sylvester Stallone, Hughes told PBN.

“I am a developer, and it’s time to go on to the next project,” she said. “I’m looking for my next — you could call it reinventing myself — my next project.”

The buyer and a partner plan to build one estate home on the property, she said.

“They’re allowed to build six (homes),” she said. “They want to keep the property as a private estate instead of building out the density.”

The property’s two vacation rentals, marketed as Secret Beach Hideaway, will continue to operate under the new owners, she said.

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/

Jim Carrey Lists His Malibu Beach House

Canadian-born comedic actor Jim Carrey has been pulling down the big bucks since the early ’90s, becoming one of Hollywood’s highest paid actors along the way. So it must be that Carrey, who was recently spotted checking out penthouses in Manhattan, is simply tiring of his beach house in Malibu, and not in any financial straits. Not that you’d know it from the listing, which refers to the five-bedroom spread as “priced for an immediate sale.” Of course, that doesn’t mean the place is cheap, far from it. Carrey has the 2,900-square-foot California contemporary listed for $13.95 million.

While most beachfront houses in Malibu cost a pretty penny, this one is especially exclusive for being located inside the guard-gated Colony, a private community popular with celebrities. Six-figure rentals are not uncommon in the sought-after neighborhood and a laundry list of luminaries have passed through its gates. The Shah of Iran built an extravagant home for his first daughter here in the 1970s, Pamela Anderson has taken to renting out her place as a vacation home for $75,000 a month, and producer Brian Grazer listed his 0.25-acre plot and house here last year for almost $20 million. Meanwhile, in the Big Apple, the frenetic funnyman has been renting for $25,000 per month while hunting for a suitable permanent pad. In February, Carrey was spotted checking out an $8.6 million unit at Tribeca’s 101 Warren Street. The three-bedroom apartment, which rented back in April, sits up on the 32nd floor and boasts an enormous outdoor space.

Source: curbed.com

Late Gianni Versace’s Miami Mansion Hits the Market

Versace is a name with resonance in the fashion industry, so if you wish to be surrounded by the luxury that used to be a part of late Gianni Versace’s life and happen to have $125 million laying around, you can now purchase the late designer’s Miami house as it was just listed on the market.

Celebrity homes have always been a point of attention for people and one of the celebrity mansions that still manage to make traffic stop is late Gianni Versace’s Miami home which is situated on famous Ocean Drive, facing the Atlantic Ocean. Beautifully forged iron gates featuring the fashion label’s trademark logo guard the grand entrance to the amazing mansion which features 10 bedrooms that display a high dose of luxury, 11 baths featuring custom Italian marble, a personal Observatory room, a gorgeous pool that will steal all the attention and more. The house has been listed for the asking price of $125 million, so if you happen the have that kind of money laying around, the house could become your dream mansion.

 
The late fashion designer, Gianni Versace, who was shot to death on the steps of his mansion which is also known as ‘Casa Casuarina’, chose to go all original with the designs of his home and opted for fresco paintings on the walls, beautiful colors, all deluxe elements that combine classic elegance with a drop of opulence and an irrefutable high level craftsmanship.

 

The house built in the 1930s was purchased by Gianni Versace in 1992 and it’s been reported that the Italian fashion guru spent a whopping $33 million renovating the mansion to turn it into his dream house. That is still an impressive sum of money to spend on renovating even today, so no wonder that the house still maintains that classic, fantasy, chateau allure that has made the designer fall in love with the home. The house was in 2009 turned into a boutique hotel and restaurant and now the owner has decided to put the house on the market.Each room has a different décor featuring hand painted frescoes on the walls and massive wood furniture that goes perfectly with every detail of the home. If you’re an outdoor person you’re going to love the backyard which features a Versace logo path and a gorgeous 54-foot long mosaic tiled pool lined with 24K gold.
 

Source: travel-living.becomegorgeous.com

Largest Residential Estate to be Auctioned

Auction.com, the nation’s leading online real estate marketplace, will auction an exceptional Italianate villa occupying the largest private estate in Newport Beach on April 26.

Once listed at $87 million and currently listed for $37 million, the estate is one of the most exquisite properties in the area. It includes a 16,600-square-foot main residence in the final stages of construction, along with a 7,000-square-foot 17-car garage and a variety of other luxury amenities.

The one-day auction will be held at The Resort at Pelican Hill, which is near to the property located at 1 Pelican Hill Road. Online bids via a webcast will also be accepted through Auction.com’s innovative platform that allows sellers and buyers of luxury homes to meet in a transparent auction process. The auction is a bankruptcy court mandated auction and there is no opening bid on the property. There is a 2 percent broker co-op available for agents who pre-register a successful buyer.

“The vast size of the property and the elegance of the improvements are attributes that are rarely found in the luxury market, especially in Southern California,” said Robert Friedman, Auction.com’s chairman and a founding principal. “When you also consider that the home must be sold, and there is no opening bid, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for bidders.”

The singular acreage includes vast expanses of mature gardens, a private lake, tennis court, a wine cave, a horse stable and riding area. The luxurious main residence has seven bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, which comprise a private compound that rivals any other real estate property in the region.

Terraced waterfalls, canyon, city light and distant ocean views all contribute to the majestic aura. Enhancement opportunities are virtually limitless and include the ability to add guest and accessory buildings thereby creating a personal compound unlike anything else in Newport Beach. A one-bedroom gate house also sits on the property.

“By delivering a high volume of qualified buyers to each property, we help each seller achieve the home’s true market value,” Friedman added. “At the same time, the buyer for this luxury property will be able to purchase it through an efficient system that brings transparency to the bidders. As a result, it’s a win-win for both sides.”

Auction.com’s marketing efforts have already attracted 700 open-house attendees with an additional open house scheduled on April 22 from noon-4 p.m. Bidders must pre-register online at www.auction.com/luxury.

A Beach Where Marilyn Monroe Walked

Interior View

On a secluded Pacific beach where Marilyn Monroe once strolled in retreat from Hollywood celebrity is a two story, 5-level custom-designed and exquisitely crafted home, located in a gated seaside community between Ventura and Santa Barbara. With many rooms positioned to provide views of the ocean, mountains and a classic California coastline, the beachfront sanctuary is going to auction on May 5, 2012.

Represented by Sotheby’s International Realty, the original list price of the property was $5,950,000. The opening bid is set at $3,900,000 representing a 35% decrease from the original price. This is an unbelievable value considering beachfront property is limited and the quality of the home is spectacular. The property at 2956 Solimar Beach Drive is Southern California’s most recent offering in the high-end real estate trend of marketing “trophy properties” through auction.

The Monroe Factor

Indeed…Marilyn Monroe’s voice coach rented a cottage in Solimar Beach Colony under her own name so that her study could stay there and rehearse incognito.  Although impossible to validate, there’s also a widely told story that Ms. Monroe engaged in clandestine trysts with John F. Kennedy at two separate homes in the Colony.  Confirmed is that while married to Joe DiMaggio and experiencing marital problems, Monroe was stopped by a police lieutenant for walking nude down the beach; an account of the incident—and a photo of the cottage rented by her voice coach—appeared in a 1954 issue of Confidential magazine.

Just 15 minutes south of Montecito and 5 minutes from increasingly hip Old Downtown Ventura, Solimar Beach Colony is one of the region’s better-kept secrets …the oldest private beach colony in Southern California predating Malibu Colony.  It also offers a rare joint ownership of over six acres of greenbelt with tennis courts and play area. Some of the original cottages on the roughly one mile of coastline are from the 1940s and 1950s.  Most of the properties have either been remodeled or rebuilt, thus raising the overall property values in the Colony.  The location has been chosen as home to numerous sports and Hollywood celebrities through the years allowing celebrities and their families, privacy and anonymity.

The seller in this auction is the former CPA Patricia Duggan, who is well known for her 400-acre Stonehaven Ranch in Westlake, California, where she rescues and cares for a wide array of animals including exotic emus, llamas, alpacas, peacocks and goats.  “I made use of over 30 year’s experience of oceanfront living to incorporate the best aspects of beach living into the design and building of this home,” said Duggan.  “But at this stage of my life, caring for the animals is my priority, and that means I choose to be at my ranch full time.”

With construction completed in 2008, the newer home categorically surpasses being defined by a labeled style although you may feel as if you have stepped into a tropical retreat.  The home marries a harmonious blend of a neutral palette enhanced by design elements and details of various influences.  Amenities include: a gourmet kitchen with Viking stainless steel appliances, granite and Quartz Caesar countertops and island, alder wood custom cabinets, travertine flooring, an elevator with stops at all five of the home’s distinct levels, two ocean-side master suites with a connecting balcony, hand-carved Brazilian and Honduran mahogany doors, three fireplaces and recessed lighting.  Hot tubs and fire pits can be found on both the beach-level deck and the rooftop deck.  It is protected by a full security system that includes cameras.

 

“Although home auctions are generally associated with distressed properties – the polite term for late payments, mortgage defaults and bankruptcy foreclosures – they are increasingly being held for stable, premium homes,” says Tony Fitzgerald, a broker and partner with the Manhattan Beach-based Premiere Estates Auction Company, “as in the case of this property.”

In fact, Fitzgerald has been in the business of quietly auctioning un-distressed high-quality homes and land for about 20 years.  “Because potential buyers are uncertain about prices, the market is slow,” he explains.  “But when you have a trophy property, the one-time-event of an auction can bring a sense of urgency to the sale. Our accelerated marketing brings the deal to the world as everyone wins; but ultimately, it’s the deal to be had that drives buyers and gets the property sold on auction day”.  Fitzgerald added that it’s an increasing trend in the high end, trophy real estate market place and expects auction sales to double this year from record highs last year’.

The Solimar Beach auction is scheduled to commence at 2:00 P.M. on May 5th.  Bidders should call for an invitation to attend and bid.

“This is a dream home for an owner who appreciates a custom home, but doesn’t have the desire or time to go through the arduous process of construction and permitting” noted realtor Janet Caminite, who is overseeing the sale for Sotheby’s International Realty, in conjunction with the Premiere Estates Auction Company,  “And then there is the location’s ‘cool factor’ coming from its interesting and seductive history and the fact that there isn’t another private gated community in the area that offers everything Solimar Beach Colony does with unobstructed and sweeping views of the Pacific, Islands, Coastline and Mountains.  This property is one of the most beautiful oceanfront homes I have seen become available in years.”

Even today, its takes only a wee bit of imagination to envision a beautiful, blond-haired apparition, frolicking on the sands of Solimar Beach.

Ten Top Vacation-Home Markets

Reuters compiled a list of some of the most popular and promising places for vacation-home shopping, with recent median list prices from real estate shopping site Zillow.com

Aspen, Colorado Median list price: $1,725,000

Sales were brisk in winter playground Aspen during the last year as motivated sellers accepted prices 25 percent off their 2007 peak, says local real estate agent Steven Shane.

The Hamptons, New York Median list price: $2,100,000

Bidding wars these days aren’t uncommon for well-priced homes in this group of upscale enclaves on eastern Long Island, says Cia Comnas of brokerage Brown Harris Stevens, especially for properties close to the water. Home prices surged 22 percent in the third quarter of 2011, but smaller Wall Street bonuses could slow sales in 2012.

Hilton Head, South Carolina Median list price: $475,000

Home sales in Hilton Head, known for ocean breezes and world-class golf, were up 13 percent last year over 2010, says local agent Andy Twisdale. Prices on this South Carolina island benefit from a limited supply of land.

Santa Barbara, California Median list price: $799,000

Temperate climate and easy access to the ocean and mountains draw buyers to this posh community about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The high-end market especially is heating up, with half of all deals in cash, says broker Bridget Murphy.

Avalon, New Jersey Median list price: $1,350,000

A barrier island near the southern tip of New Jersey, this seashore community has long been one of America’s most expensive zip codes. Beachfront homes range in price from $4 million to $12 million, according to local broker Paul Leiser. “As of February, there’s been a stampede of buyers,” Leiser says. “From modest condominiums to beachfront, we’ve seen an incredible run.”

Miami Beach, Florida Median list price: $447,000

International jet-setters have descended on Miami Beach in recent years, with buyers from South America and Russia in particular gobbling up high-end properties. “It’s a seller’s market,” says agent Allison Turk.

Sun Valley, Idaho Median list price: $649,000

Prices are down 25 percent to 30 percent from their 2007 peak in this year-round resort, but realtor Dan Gorham has already seen 17 properties over $2 million close this year — three times more than all of 2011, he says.

Phoenix, Arizona Median list price: $120,000

In 2006, Phoenix, a popular destination for Midwestern snowbirds, became the epicenter of the mortgage crisis as home prices tumbled. Prices ultimately dropped more than 60 percent on average, but the market seems to be back on its feet. New-home sales in the hottest areas are up 35 percent over the past month, say Jim Belifore, a local real estate consultant.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Median list price: $299,000

Inventories are still rising at this lakeside resort town two hours from Chicago, but local brokers say prices have hit bottom after falling more than 25 percent since 2006. Sales are climbing. “The market last year was impressive, with a full volume recovery evident by year’s end,” wrote local real estate blogger David Curry. “Yet this year, Geneva Lake is on track to absolutely obliterate recent sales results.”

South Lake Tahoe, California Median list price: $265,000

In South Lake Tahoe, tucked in the Sierra Nevada mountains, home prices are down 50 percent in the last five years, according to local real estate agents Gary and Richard Bolen, but demand was up 7 percent in 2011 and sales of properties under $300,000 grew by nearly 20 percent. Bargains are still available: Homes in the $600,000 to $650,000 price range are nearly two-thirds larger than they were in 2005.

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