BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Million-dollar homes buck housing slump]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/11/million-dollar-homes-buck-housing-slump/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/11/million-dollar-homes-buck-housing-slump/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/11/million-dollar-homes-buck-housing-slump/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A neighbor in my middle-class neighborhood of $200-$400,000 homes recently bought two adjacent houses and bridged them to create a 10,000-foot, $1+ million mansion. I thought he was nuts, until I read the New York Times article that suggests this is the best price point in today's market.

No one quibbles that selling a modestly-priced home in virtually any American market today is an exercise in despair. According to a report on NPR yesterday, the country is sitting on a one and a half year supply of new homes. And the numbers seem to be getting worse for some new home builders (see Eric Buscemi's post on the cancellation numbers at Ryland).

The ultra-expensive spreads, such as the $165 million Hearst estate Peter Cohan blogged about yesterday, are also struggling on the sales block. The 'tweeners, though, such as gentrified Boston homes, generous Manhattan flats, or Gold Coast condos, seem to be bucking the trend.

So maybe my neighbor has the right idea. Perhaps the multitude of house-flipping shows on cable television will be replaced with home mergers, turning two modest homes into one gargantuan (and sellable) property. If our society's income is stratifying, the new wealthy will need their estates, and the rest of us, our wattle huts.

Million-dollar homes buck housing slump originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>estate pricesestate salesEstatePricesestatesEstateSaleshome priceshome salesHomePricesHomeSaleshousing boomhousing slumpHousingBoomHousingSlumpmansion pricesmansion salesMansionPricesmansionsMansionSalesrealty marketRealtyMarketRylandWed, 11 Jul 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mansions of billionaires: Where too big means barely adequate]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/27/mansions-of-billionaires-where-too-big-means-barely-adequate/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/27/mansions-of-billionaires-where-too-big-means-barely-adequate/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/27/mansions-of-billionaires-where-too-big-means-barely-adequate/#commentsFiled under:

Pity the poor Chinese; pockets full of cash, but saddled with a government that frowns on overt displays of wealth as injurious to social harmony. How are their magnates to claim their rightful place on the world tycoon runway if they can't build their own palaces?

After all, the size of one's estate has always been the best gauge of one's moral worth. Obviously, Mukesh Ambani of India agrees, as evidenced by his plan to build the first private $1 billion home.

Luckily, we live in a country that understands the need for excess. Forbes recently did a survey of the most expensive homes in the world. The top home in the U.S. was the 56,000 square-foot Hala Ranch, a $135 million hovel in Aspen. Imagine trying to live in a place with only 15 bedrooms and 16 baths! Those with more modest tastes might appreciate Tranquility, a $100 million home in Lake Tahoe (at least, I think it's still there; how worried would you be about forest fires if you owned this place?).

Continue reading Mansions of billionaires: Where too big means barely adequate

Mansions of billionaires: Where too big means barely adequate originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billionairesbilmore estateBilmoreEstatecastlesdubai housingDubaiHousingestateshala ranchHalaRanchhousingmagnatesmansionsmost expensive housemost expensive house in americamost expensive house in u.S.MostExpensiveHouseMostExpensiveHouseInAmericapalacespalm island devleopmentrichrich in americatycoonswealthyWed, 27 Jun 2007 13:20:00 EST