1. Es recomendable que se realice un mantenimiento en tuberías, corrientes eléctricas para prevenir accidentes y atajar problemas mayores.
2. Guardar cosas en las gavetas de la cocina es práctico y elegante. Si tus gabinetes actuales no te gustan, busca gavetas que tengan lo que necesitas.
3. Las casas remodeladas se venden más rápido y por más dinero.
4. La banca comercial actualmente ofrece la tasas de interés más bajas históricamente, entre el 7.3% y 12%, por lo que se abren las posibilidades de realizar los cambios que tu hogar necesita sin perder liquidez.
5. Recuerda remodelar tu hogar de acuerdo a tus necesidades, es mejor tomar decisiones basadas en tus propios gustos.
Antes de comprar verifica los metros ya que acarrea multas adquirir un bien que no tiene registrada toda la construcción.
Comprar una propiedad que tuvo modificaciones sin los permisos correspondientes puede traer riesgos. Para hacer una ampliación en una casa se necesita un permiso por parte del Municipio, pero no todas las personas la tramitan.
¿Cuáles son los riegos que existen al adquirir un inmueble que se amplió sin los permisos correspondientes?
Actualmente se están tomando fotografías aéreas de las propiedades y en caso de que se den cuenta de alguna ampliación sin regularizar estarían sujetos a posibles multas. 75% del cobro del permiso es lo que se genera como monto extra por no registrar una ampliación a tiempo. También es necesario verificar que el uso del suelo sea el correcto ya que se puede cometer el error de comprar un inmueble y no tiene uso de suelo autorizado.
¿Se puede vender una casa que cuenta con metros de más construidos sin regular?
No se debe de vender, se tendría que regularizar los metros adicionales ante las autoridades del municipio, siendo esto un trámite muy sencillo.
¿A quién se debe acudir si alguien se da cuenta que el inmueble que planea comprar tiene adecuaciones no registradas?
Se puede acudir antes las autoridades del municipio y también puedes asesorarte ante un notario público o empresas inmobiliaria expertas en bienes raíces.
¿Hay papelería que se entregue con la casa y que nos haga darnos cuenta que hay ampliaciones sin permiso?
Los antecedentes de las escrituras de la compra venta
El último predial pagado donde vienen claramente los m2 de terreno y construcción registrados y los planos autorizados por el municipio.
¿Cómo debemos asesorarnos para que no nos ocurra algo así?
Con una empresa inmobiliaria profesional o un arquitecto o empresa constructora que realice un levantamiento topográfico o físico de las medidas de la propiedad.
¿En cuánto podría llegar a salir una multa por no regular una construcción a tiempo?
Depende del municipio donde se encuentre la propiedad.
La multa no se le dará a la persona que sea responsable de las remodelaciones sino a quien este como dueño del inmueble.
La recomendación es asesorarte con un notario público y una empresa inmobiliaria profesional para evitar multas y adquirir una casa en orden.
From Mykonos to Malibu, these vibrant international resorts offer picture-perfect settings for luxurious wedding ceremonies and once-in-a-lifetime celebrations
The world’s most enchanting wedding destinations tend to have certain characteristics in common: they’re usually warm and sunny, they have great food and cultural attractions, and they’re relatively easy to get to. While some couples find that renting an estate for family and friends simplifies a destination wedding, others choose a locale that’s en route to an exclusive honeymoon spot. The 10 resorts noted below have their own local color and character, making them ideal for different types of wedding festivities, from the exotic and adventurous to the traditional and serene.
New York-based event planner and wedding expert Joseph St. Cyr, President and CEO of Joseph Todd Events, says that choosing the right place is the key to planning an unforgettable event. “Start with the look and feel you’re after,” he advises. “White linen and bare feet on a Hawaiian beach is a different vibe than a black-tie wedding at an Italian villa.” Each of these luxurious international locales offers the promise of an unforgettable wedding that’s well worth the extra mile.
Paradise Island, Bahamas
Known for its low-key atmosphere and calm waters, Paradise Island is just a quick jaunt from nearby Nassau.
Paradise Island is nestled just across the water from the city of Nassau in the Bahamas. It’s family friendly and lively—one of its resorts was the site of the movie Casino Royale—yet its pace is unhurried. Formerly a private estate belonging to a Swedish industrialist, the island is home to a cluster of historic residences. Its newer houses tend to blend modern amenities with classic seaside architectural features. As a destination, Paradise Island has a feeling of delightful remoteness but is easy to reach. “When selecting your dream destination, be sure to consider the travel involved for your guests,” advises St. Cyr. “A direct flight with a short ground transportation hop is always a win.” A non-stop flight to Nassau followed by a ferry ride to Paradise sounds just about right.
To obtain a marriage license in the Bahamas, the happy couple must provide government-issued photo identification such as a passport and reside in the Bahamas for 24 hours prior to the date of the marriage license application. Additional requirements and advice about organizing a wedding ceremony in this picturesque Caribbean destination are available from the country’s Weddings and Honeymoon Unit of the Ministry of Tourism.
When selecting your dream destination, be sure to consider the travel involved for your guests.
Joseph St. Cyr President and CEO of Joseph Todd Events
World famous for its Mayan ruins and pristine beaches, Tulum can be reached by direct flight in just four hours from New York City.
Mexico’s spectacular beaches draw swimmers and surfers from all over the world. Its unique mix of ancient ruins, sophisticated cuisine, and natural beauty make it a top choice for wedding planners as well. The coastal city of Tulum is known for its 13th-century Mayan archaeological sites—and one of the most beautiful Caribbean beaches in the region. In honor of the local surrounds, couples may choose to be married by a Shamen or incorporate ancient Mayan rituals into their wedding celebration, such as the groom gifting the bride a muhul (gold chain), listones (wooden hair barrettes), as well as a traditional sleeveless dress called a huipil in order to take a temazcal traditional purification bath prior to the ceremony.
Direct flights from New York City to Tulum are just under four hours, and the city has an array of superb restaurants, five-star and boutique hotels that are ideal venues for a dreamy destination wedding. Luxurious venue options include the boutique hotel BeTulum which is ideally situated between the rainforest and the ocean, the eco-friendly Jashita Hotel located directly on the beach, and the new ultra-luxe Nest Tulum hotel.
Malibu, California
Located just 30 miles west of Los Angeles, Malibu is renowned for its beaches and breathtaking oceanfront homes.
Malibu and California’s sunny and not-too-humid climate are hard to beat, and weddings here at any time of year are apt to be idyllic. Known for surfing and for its modern beachfront architecture, Malibu also hits many of the right notes for a destination wedding. It’s beautiful, convenient, and has “locavore perks like California wines,” as St. Cyr puts it. Its regional specialties can spark great ideas for day trips and adventures or souvenirs and gifts for the wedding party.
Couples must apply for their marriage license in person at the County Clerk’s office and provide proof that both parties are single. Malibu offers numerous luxurious options for wedding venues including Calamigos Ranch in Malibu wine country and the 75-capacityStone Manor Estate in the Malibu Hills.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic boasts a tropical landscape dotted with colonial architecture, vibrant wildlife, and lush foliage.
The Dominican Republic is a great destination for couples who love sports. Known for its golf resorts as much as for its beaches, the Dominican Republic allows wedding parties and guests to play on world-class courses in the tropical sun. Private enclaves such as the exclusive Puntacana Resort and Club on the eastern tip of the country offer proximity to the beach, and access to the highly rated Tom Fazio-designed Corales Golf Course.
Couples choosing to marry in this picturesque beach destination must bring a number of documents prior to the wedding ceremony. These include a sworn declaration stating that they are both single and eligible to marry, a valid passport, and a copy of a foreign birth certificate that has been translated into Spanish.
Encourage your guests to make the most of their stay by planning a few optional activities.
Joseph St. Cyr President and CEO of Joseph Todd Events
The blue waters and bright white houses that line the shores of Mykonos are synonymous with this historic island’s unique brand of sophisticated relaxation.
The Greek islands are hard to top when it comes to wedding locations. One of the best known, Mykonos, has an irresistible combination of culture, food, sandy beaches, and ocean views that combine to cast a romantic spell on visitors from all over the globe. Mykonos has historical sites stretching back several millennia and spectacular beaches in equal measure, so it’s worth making schedules flexible enough for some spontaneity. “Encourage your guests to make the most of their stay by planning a few optional activities,” says St. Cyr, “and be sure to leave enough free time for them to explore on their own.”
In order to marry in Mykonos, the couple must place a notice announcing the wedding in a local Greek newspaper and foreigners must provide an official translation of their birth certificates. Luxurious wedding ceremony options include five-star boutique hotel Kivitos amnd Mykonian Royal, a luxurious hotel located above a reserved section of Elia, one of Mykonos’ famous beaches.
Kahuku, Hawaii
Hawaii is an adventurer’s dream wedding destination with spectacular beaches, mountains, canyons, and volcanoes to explore.
Hawaii offers American travelers the fun of a Pacific adventure without the need for a passport. For those on the West Coast, Hawaii is about six hours away on a direct flight. The islands that compose Hawaii are spread across 1,500 miles in the Pacific Ocean and are home to an astonishing array of plants, wildlife, and climates. A variety of beaches that cater to surfers as well as swimmers plus volcanoes, jungles, mountains, and canyons await, making Hawaii a favorite destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
In a location with so much to explore, St. Cyr recommends helping guests get their bearings. “Go the extra mile, which they have done for you,” he says, “and provide your guests with welcome-bag goodies including sweet and savory local nibbles, water, sunblock, and the wedding-weekend schedule.” Kahuku in particular is an especially lovely setting for a wedding. Its ocean vistas provide a scenic backdrop that’s both laid-back and exquisitely beautiful.
White linen and bare feet on a Hawaiian beach is a different vibe than a black-tie wedding at an Italian villa.
Joseph St. Cyr President and CEO of Joseph Todd Events
Porto Cervo on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda is known throughout the world for its idyllic climate and prestigious yacht club.
Porto Cervo offers visitors a particular variety of la dolce vita, with a leisurely pace that sets it apart from the vibrant metropolises of Milan and Rome. Yet it has everything that makes Italy the world’s romance capitol: the cuisine, the poetic language, and the beauty of the Sardinian coastline make Porto Cervo an ideal wedding destination. Established as an enclave for the the 1950s jet set by Prince Karim Aga Khan, Porto Cervo remains the premiere resort on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda.
Home to the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, it remains a favorite of serious sailors from all over the world, and offers plenty of sights and adventure for those who prefer to remain on land, including the Maddalena Archipelago National Park and the Museo Nivola. Foreign couples intending to marry in Sardinia must bring birth certificates that have been translated into Italian, an Atto Notorio declaration from their home country which states that there are no impediments to prevent the couple from marrying, as well as a Nulla Osta which states that the couple is free to marry in Italy and must be obtained locally.
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s beaches and natural beauty are just a few hours from New York City by plane.
Like Hawaii, Puerto Rico offers US citizens a refreshing change of scenery without the need for a passport. While Old San Juan is steeped in colonial charm, the island’s tropical rainforests and extraordinary biodiversity appeal to nature lovers of all types. Fajardo, Puerto Rico is about a four-hour flight from New York City and offers outdoor activities and pure relaxation in equal measure. The El Yunque National Forest, where hikers will find waterfalls and spectacular plant life, is about 10 miles away and serves as a popular wedding venue location in the Fajardo vicinity, as does El Conquistador, a Waldorf Astoria luxury hotel.
County Cork, Ireland
Ireland’s temperate climate and unspoiled green landscape are widely enjoyed by golfers and hikers.
For couples who crave adventure in cooler climates, Ireland offers a green, rugged landscape dotted with castles and cliffs—as well as some of the best seafood in Europe. While the cultural mecca of Dublin attracts scores of tourists, some of the quieter pockets of this picturesque country are breathtaking. County Cork at the southern tip of the island is home to numerous attractions including the famed Blarney Stone and the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest yacht club in the world. Visitors might even hear Irish spoken here in one of Cork’s Gaeltacht regions. Wedding parties can find both grand historic houses and fairytale cottages for hosting family and friends, such as Hayfield Manor and Castle Martyr Resort.
Couples may choose to incorporate traditional Irish rituals into their wedding ceremony for added local flavor including handfasting, where the couple is tied together to symbolize their union (handfasting is also the origin of the phrase “tying the knot”), as well as incorporating horseshoe trinkets throughout the ceremony, a traditional symbol that bestows good luck upon the couple.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport boasts a well-deserved reputation as a chic summer getaway. Its attractions and natural beauty make it an ideal destination for a seaside wedding.
Newport’s Gilded Age mansions are a must-see for architecture lovers, and the city itself is every bit as charming as the colorful boats that line its busy harbors. In addition to having a fascinating history, Newport is a sophisticated foodie mecca as well as a destination that’s quite easy to reach from New York, Boston, or Philadelphia. Newport’s spectacular coastline is the ultimate backdrop for a summer wedding, and the city offers plenty of excursions for visitors to enjoy. Its grand coastal estates were designed to hug the shoreline in order to maximize water views and provide a completely secluded escape.
*Fuente: LuxuryDefined, Christie’s International Real Estate
The Roaring Twenties are no longer a distant murmur in this striking collection of homes that evoke the glamour, grace, and architectural ingenuity of the Jazz Age
turn to a golden era of opulent living as Luxury Defined presents its collection of fine homes that evoke the Jazz Age exuberance and the glitz, glamour, and style of 1920s’ architecture. Gone are the speakeasy, the flapper’s beaded dresses and cloche hats, the collegiate “Oxford bag” trousers, and wasp-waisted suits. But the iconic architecture of, what F. Scott Fitzgerald dubbed, the “age of miracles, the age of art, and the age of excess” will never go out of vogue. Whether the style is Art Deco, Moderne, Bauhaus, Neo-Georgian, Spanish Colonial, or Mission Revival, you will see simplicity and richness of design, clean lines, warm-toned palettes, lavish textures, and visual grace notes as refreshing to contemporary taste as they were to the Gatsbyesque residents of that excessive, often turbulent, but ultimately glamorous epoch of the 20th century.
Splendid Chateau (1927) Westmount, Quebec, Canada
Taking the form of a French château, this opulent seven-bedroom, six-bathroom home in the affluent Montreal suburb of Westmount is graced with a host of lavish features for a taste of 1920s panache layered with all the modern luxuries.
The spirit of post-WWI affluence and style lives on at this château-like manor in a leafy enclave of Montreal. Built in 1927, the four-story, seven-bedroom residence commands 8,000 interior square feet and nearly half an acre of tranquil wooded grounds. The interior architecture harks to the splendor of the past: nine-foot ceilings and mahogany floors, crafted millwork, wainscoting, and coffered ceilings. A library with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooks the garden. Fireplaces warm the grand salon and dining room, which seats 16 comfortably. Creature comforts include an elevator, gourmet kitchen, numerous fireplaces, wine cellar, bar, billiard room, sauna, and gym. There are ample accommodations, seven bedrooms including staff quarters and a master suite complete with fireplace, dressing room and boudoir/office with a private terrace with breathtaking views of Montreal.
Casa Espanol (Mid-1920s) Long Beach, California
The essence of classic, California Spanish architecture is captured in this 2,300-square-foot, turreted home in the historic Long Beach enclave of Belmont Heights. Its elegant exterior exudes privacy, yet encloses a lush, open courtyard.
Buster Keaton shot silent movies in Long Beach, and he would feel at home in this classic,three-bedroom Spanish Colonial hacienda, restored to its mid-1920s’ grandeur. The interior’s earthy palette uses cream and tan walls accented with dark wood tones, with custom fresco hand-painted crown moldings and ceilings, burnished wood floors, and Spanish tile throughout. The sensational amenities include a gourmet kitchen, separate kitchenette, laundry room, powder room, and library/den. French doors off the formal dining and living room open to the courtyard’s resplendent garden with waterfall, pond, and seating area surrounding a fire pit. Upstairs, the three bedrooms all have individual balconies and cedar walk-in closets. The garage includes superb guest quarters above.
Riverfront Grandeur (1920) James Island, Charleston, South Carolina
This Stono River home offers spectacular views from airy interiors with a formal living room, a vast galley kitchen, and a cedar-clad library, as well as its own private dock — and that river to dream on.
This star of this elegant waterfront home is a breathtaking front-row panorama of Charleston’s Stono River. Adding to the splendor is a deepwater dock with a 30-foot floater, eight-ton boat lift and a dry slip, all serviced by a generator, water line, and boat shed. The ornate 4,560-square-foot interiors have retained all of their 1920s opulence. A study with cypress built-ins adjoins the family room and formal living room with fireplace. The covered patio with Jenn-Air grill is just off the eat-in kitchen with Wolf appliances and a wet bar. The second floor’s master suite has a large walk-in closet and a lavish spa bathroom. The third and fourth guest bedrooms look out upon enchanting views of the river.
Rationalist Villa (1928) Benimàmet, Valencia, Spain
This Rationalist-style villa in the Moorish enclave of Benimàmet in the city of Valencia was built in 1928. A restoration in 2008 has preserved its striking façade and 1920s architectural motifs, such as stained glass windows and mosaic-tiled floors.
This traditional Valencian villa was built in 1928, during the Spanish Rationalism period, when clean lines, geometric forms, and structurally defined spaces were paramount. Renovated in 2008, the residence features a multi-tiered façade and original Art Deco elements such as ornate stained glass finishes, beautiful mosaic-tile floors, and decorative beamed ceilings. There are five bedrooms, formal reception rooms, and luxury amenities including a wine cellar and lower-level recreation area for entertaining in style. The mature landscaped garden is an oasis of serenity complete with spaces for alfresco entertaining, including a unique paella cooking area.
Mediterranean-Revival Manor (1923) San Antonio, Texas
From its grand foyer to its Neoclassical-inspired terraces, this 7,849-square-foot Mediterranean Revival mansion in San Antonio is the epitome of Roaring Twenties glamour — Texas style.
Built in 1923, this Mediterranean Revival is distinguished by its exquisite proportions and craftsmanship. Evoking a Gatsbyesque grandeur, a gated entrance opens to a long driveway that winds past close-cropped lawns to arrive at sumptuous Neoclassical-inspired checkered terraces and a grand foyer. Arched sliding pocket doors open onto a library with outdoor access, a dining room, and a formal living room with a detailed fireplace and adjoining sunroom. The large-scale kitchen offers restaurant-grade appliances and a butler’s pantry. A grand staircase ascends to a spectacular living area that opens onto a balcony revealing enchanting views of the parklike grounds, replete with a canopy of trees and specimen plants. Seven classically appointed bedrooms and five bathrooms comfortably accommodate owners and overnight guests.
Villa Hoogenoord (1923) Doorn, Utrecht, Netherlands
A stately mansion built in 1921, Villa Hoogenoord has been exquisitely restored and updated for 21st-century country living.
Villa Hoogenoord was built in 1921 on three quarters of an acre of landscape-sheltered grounds in the pastoral, Medieval province of Utrecht. Behind massive wooden double doors, roomy, light-filled interiors await, especially the 645-square-foot living room, with its monumental tiled fireplace and half-round sunroom. The dine-in kitchen is an epicurean’s dream with a fireplace, wainscoting, and a coffered ceiling. The upper floor has a balcony revealing a pastoral perspective at the front of the house. The central hall accesses three bedrooms (two with a balcony) and the luxe master suite. A detached stone outbuilding provides a cozy living space with underfloor heating, kitchen, sauna, and parking garage. In addition to glorious grounds, this exclusive estate enjoys proximity to the historic center of Doorn, famous for the eponymous castle that was home to the last German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II.
*Fuente: Luxury Defined, Christie’s International Real Esate
Think floors are boring? Think again. Arguably it was photographer Sebastian Erras’s project @parisianfloors that got us studying the world beneath our feet so intently.His Instagram account features pictures of the intricate and colorful floors that he found himself surrounded by in Paris, and has more than 80,000 followers. But this isn’t news to designers and architects the world over, who have long known the power of a solid floor, from glittering marble to humble wood, to make or break a building.
Mosaic: Sicis Sicis, located in Ravenna – itself on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for its spectacular collection of mosaics dating back to the fifth century – uses marble, silver, and gold in its dazzling creations. Each design is produced by master craftsmen, who combine centuries of acquired knowledge with cutting-edge technologies to create bespoke, contemporary mosaic works of art for homes and public spaces.
Above, and banner image: Mosaic designs by Sicis. The company’s founder and president, Maurizio Leo Placuzzi, hopes the new flagship store in London will become a “destination venue for professionals and clients looking for inspiration, uniqueness, and fine craftsmanship.”
Marble: I Vassalletti Tuscan design company I Vassalletti also looks to the past when it comes to manufacturing its sumptuous inlaid floor designs, paneling, and one-off pieces of furniture – to the artisan shops of the Renaissance where young masters learned their craft from the elder statesmen of design. To create unique floors, handcrafted paneling, and interior schemes, the firm works exclusively with a small team of trusted local craftsmen, who between them have thousands of hours of experience, and who are keeping traditional craft alive in an ever-more-mechanized world.
Noteworthy I Vassalletti projects include an oak wardrobe inset with transparent resin that is backlit to glow ethereally in different colors, and the Giona flooring (above) in absolute-black marble, which features oak inlay that’s finished with natural wax.
Tiles: Heath Ceramics Known for its beautiful glazes, handcrafted character, and high quality, Heath Ceramics was originally founded by Edith and Brian Heath in 1948. Edith was the first non-architect to win the prestigious AIA Industrial Arts Medal, for the exterior tiles on Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum, and original examples of her work can be found in the permanent collections of museums such as MoMA. The California company – now with showrooms in San Francisco and Los Angeles – has been run by Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey since 2003, and although the iconic, midcentury aesthetic remains, these days the company collaborates with artists, mavericks, and individuals looking for something extra-special for their home.
Hand-glazed and characterized by a midcentury aesthetic, Heath Ceramics’ tiles provide endless opportunities for creative, custom designs – such as this mix-and-match concept by Stacia Garriott Kass for her vintage store, Sojourn, in Sawyer, Michigan. Photograph: Mike Schwartz
Wood: Dinesen For those who like their floors pale but interesting, this 118-year-old family-owned Danish company is the place to turn to. They passionately believe in the natural beauty of wood; their mission is to “preserve and respect the personality of the original tree” when producing their 50-foot (15-meter) planks of Douglas fir, responsibly sourced primarily from the Black Forest.
Favored by design aficionados and architects worldwide, Dinesen epitomizes the Scandi-luxe look, and was the floor of choice when Copenhagen’s Noma was redesigned.
*Fuente: Luxury Defined, Christies International Real Estate
From kitchen updates to backyard decks, these are the features to consider if you’re hoping to sell to a first-time homebuyer.
If you own a midsized home (especially in a hot suburban real estate market like Cary, NC, or Chesapeake, VA), you may be selling to a younger demographic. Millennials have begun entering the home-buying market and, according to a Trulia survey, are specifically interested in homes between 2,000 and 2,600 square feet. If your house already includes these five features, you’re in luck: Your house has the amenities this group will be looking for by 2018, when 72% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 plan to buy a home. Read on to learn which features will help you sell your home fast, and how you can renovate your home now to be ready to sell in a few short years.
1. Backyard deck
Few things disappoint a millennial more than discovering their otherwise-perfect dream home has no back deck. If you don’t have one, or if you have a tiny afterthought-type deck, consider building one for the 59% of millennial homebuyers who, according to Trulia’s survey, adore this feature.
Besides pressure-treated pine, there are composite deck materials, which many homebuyers prefer. Composite materials require less maintenance and can be just as beautiful as wood — or even more so. But they often cost more to build with. Split-level decks and built-ins are also great features to consider when designing a back-deck addition.
2. Gourmet kitchen
Remodeling your kitchen can be a great way to see a sizable ROI and will keep your home attractive to buyers in a competitive market — 53% of young buyers surveyed are interested in gourmet kitchens. But do you know what constitutes a gourmet versus a functional kitchen? Here’s your formula for a millennial’s dream kitchen: state-of-the-art appliances, impressive surfaces, and storage galore.
Gourmet cooks and gas ranges go together like love and marriage. Double ovens (one being convection), warming ovens (much better to keep foods warm than zapping in the microwave), and a microwave drawer are other impressive features to include in a kitchen overhaul. And if you don’t have room for a separate fridge and freezer, choose a fridge with a freezer drawer on the bottom.
Stainless steel or stone countertops are good options, especially when paired with a subway tile backsplash. If those just aren’t in the budget, choose a laminate that mimics the look. “Millennials have grown up on HGTV and want the look of a granite countertop, even if the seller has used less expensive materials to achieve that look,” says Melissa Rubenstein, a New Jersey real estate agent. And you know cooks will open all the cabinets and drawers to see what’s what. Impress potential buyers with a big pantry, impressive use of space — such as a sliding spice rack — and lots of cabinet room.
Can’t afford to go totally gourmet? “Definitely spend the money on a cosmetic update,” says Ann Wilkins, a San Francisco, CA, real estate agent. “New counters, subway tile backsplash, and freshly painted (white) cabinets go a long way in updating a kitchen for minimal money.”
3. Open floor plan
If you have an open floor plan, you’ll attract 45% of millennials, who use the space for socializing while cooking, keeping an eye on the kids, and having a more impressive entertaining space. Plus, the open floor plan lets in more light, which makes your house show better. If your house still has a staged living and dining room, be honest: How many times a year do you use these rooms? Only on holidays, right? Remove those walls and create an open floor plan. (Of course, you might need to leave up a partial wall or install some posts to hold up the house!)
4. Balcony with a view
If you’ve got a balcony with a view, you’re golden — 60% of millennials put this at the top of their lists in Trulia’s survey. While you can’t create a view from scratch, you can make your balcony more inviting. Add some flower boxes on the top railing for enhanced privacy. Create a welcoming seating area with bench seating along the walls or add outdoor tables and chairs to show potential buyers how they can enjoy dining alfresco.
5. Vegetable garden
Question: What do millennials and the sweet grandma down the street have in common? Answer: They both love vegetable gardens.
Besides posting pictures on social media of their homegrown produce, large numbers of millennials are truly interested in getting back to nature and living a simple, healthy lifestyle. Buying organic can be pricey, so being able to grow produce is hugely attractive to 40% of millennials surveyed. Start a garden yourself, or at least point out the perfect spot in your yard for growing vegetables.
These stars are experts at scratching that real estate itch.
In the 10 years since Zillow rose from a twinkle in co-founders Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink’s eyes to an online real estate powerhouse, home-loving celebrities have been powering through some real estate of their own.
Oprah was far and away the top home buyer during that decade-long stretch. But Ellen DeGeneres, Cher and Nicolas Cage (hello, “Moonstruck”!) were no slouches in the home buying and selling arena during that time.
Oprah Winfrey
America’s favorite billionaire owns homes all over the country, from Chicago to Nashville to Hawaii. She’s even bought a 2-bedroom in a small Indiana town where she once owned a whole farm.
Recently, the television mogul paid $14 million for a high-tech mansion in the box-canyon ski town of Telluride — complete with a seven-person hot tub and a “wine mine” — and $28.85 million at a recent auction for this sprawling horse farm in Montecito.
Ellen DeGeneres
Beloved comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres has been buying copious numbers of homes since before she married Portia de Rossi. “I’ve never bought to sell. I always say: ‘This is it. I’m never moving.’ People laugh at me now,” she told The New York Times.
DeGeneres bought this Malibu home from fellow house-flipper Brad Pitt.
She also spent $26.5 million on an acreage in Montecito with ocean views.
A couple of years ago, she went on a streak of owning homes for just 6 months each, including the famed Brody House in Los Angeles.
Nicolas Cage
“Other people own beachfront property; I have ghost-front property,” actor Nicolas Cage said of owning the most haunted mansion in New Orleans, the Lalaurie House.
Not that he limits himself to ghosts. Among the dozen-plus places he’s called home over the past decade are a castle in Bath, England, and a castle-looking home in Rhode Island, which he sold at a 60 percent loss.
Cher
The multi-talented entertainer with seemingly endless energy found time over the past decade to trade real estate, including buying this home in the coveted 90210 ZIP code.
She also bought a home in Malibu where family reportedly live. It’s near her villa there, where she told Architectural Digest “every room has two views of the ocean.” The remodel of her villa wasn’t cheap, she acknowledged. “My mother once said to me, ‘What you need is a very rich man.’ And I said, ‘Mother, I am a very rich man.’”
Cher has also sold a slew of homes in recent years, from Palm Springs to West Hollywood to Los Angeles, where her son Elijah Blue reported lived in this home near Venice Beach:
And she auctioned off her Hawaiian estate for a hefty $8.72 million:
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
Here’s a power couple with a powerful appetite for real estate. They’ve bought at least six homes in the past decade and sold one to Ellen DeGeneres. That doesn’t even count the $22.5 million sale of the Beverly Hills home Pitt and ex-wife Jennifer Aniston sold after their split.
Jolie and Pitt recently cut the listing price on the New Orleans mansion they bought in 2006 for Pitt’s Big Easy filming of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” by $850,000.
Julia Roberts
Here’s a superstar with a super-long list of homes. Roberts bought her main residence, at Malibu’s Point Dume, in the early 2000s, but has done a fair bit of transacting in the meantime.
She’s asking $26 million for a lush Hawaiian estate that’s near two other Hanalie properties she owns:
While she dropped the price on that tropical oasis, Roberts raked in more than she was asking — for a total of $5.35 million — on a Greenwich Village penthouse for which she paid $3.9 million in 2010:
Roberts still has a pad in Manhattan, which she’s reportedly renting out. But she’s unloaded a lot, including homes in her hometown of Smyrna, GA, and in Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills and Venice, the latter to actor Tim Robbins. Across the country, she’s sold homes in Tennessee, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
For a guy his size, Dwayne Johnson is surprising nimble — at home trading.
The Rock has leaned mostly toward home selling over the past decade — most of those homes in Florida. He’s unloaded at least 10 homes there over the past decade, including this mega-mansion outside Miami with two 3-car garages and a deluxe master bath:
Rosie O’Donnell
Here’s another talk-show host with a voracious appetite for real estate. O’Donnell’s most recent score is this mansion in West Palm Beach with 180 feet of waterfront:
She paid $5.3 million for it, fully furnished, which shouldn’t be a stretch given the $9 million sale a couple of years ago of her Greenwich Village penthouse:
She tried unsuccessfully to sell four riverfront homes she collected in Nyack, NY:
But the comedian had better luck selling multi-million-dollar homes in Chicago, Manhattan and Miami Beach.
Kelsey Grammer
While Sideshow Bob was busy being a, well, sideshow on “The Simpsons,” the actor who voices him was center stage in the first season of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” in which his marriage fell apart — precipitating all sorts of real estate swaps.
The property-loving Grammer unloaded many of his and ex-wife Camille’s holdings in recent years, including their main home in Malibu:
The Grammers also let go of homes in Beverly Hills, Hawaii, The Hamptons and this ski retreat in Colorado:
Before his marital woes began, Grammer sold a Bel-Air estate to actress Salma Hayek for $13.5 million.
Reese Witherspoon
For a while, this Oscar winner was a Brentwood fanatic. She bought three homes in the posh Los Angeles enclave, including an “enchanted cottage,” that collectively went for $13.6 million in 2014.
Witherspoon sold her Ojai getaway at a loss:
She picked up a $12.7 million Pacific Palisades mansion, along with two homes in Nashville suited to a Southern belle. One of them is a historic home she plans to restore:
