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$9.1M Dallas Mansion Once Owned by Former Texas First Lady Is Tastefully Texan

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At 11,323 square feet, this Greek Revival mansion in Dallas is Texas-sized indeed. It once belonged to Rita Crocker Clements, a former first lady of Texas who championed historic preservation in her home state and spearheaded the renovation of the governor’s mansion.

And while the four-bedroom property is stately and classic, it is also sprinkled with whimsical homages to the Lone Star State.

Every detail of the home is luxurious—from the sweeping staircase to the carved moldings, the elegant chandeliers, parquet wood floors, coffered ceilings, plentiful built-ins, beautiful cabinetry, designer wallpaper, and stone countertops. And yet, it’s the touches of Texana that stand out.

Volk Estates, Dallas
Staircase with chandelier

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Volk Estates, Dallas
Formal dining room with murals

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Volk Estates, Dallas
Red bedroom

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Volk Estates, Dallas
Texas-themed tile backsplash

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The massive kitchen features butter-colored cabinets, a huge island, a butler’s pantry, and a formal breakfast room. And amid the formal blue wallpaper and matching Roman shades, a small backsplash is covered in tile featuring Texas landmarks such as the Alamo and the Menger Hotel.

The library paneled in warm, honeyed wood, with built-in bookcases, a coffered ceiling, and a chandelier is another nod to formal design. But carved into the wood mantel are the governor’s mansion, the state Capitol, and a modified state seal backed by the six flags that once flew over the state.

Volk Estates, Dallas
The library

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Volk Estates, Dallas
Salmon sitting room

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The master bedroom is downstairs, featuring dual baths and offices. Up the grand staircase, there are three en suite bedrooms with fireplaces. The home has a three-car garage topped with an apartment, and there’s a full basement. It sits on just under an acre of land in the Volk Estates neighborhood.

Considering its location, style, custom accents, and previous owner, this house is about as Texas as you can get without buying a ranch or slapping a pair of longhorns on your wall. With its $9.1 million price tag, you might need some family oil money to make it yours.

Volk Estates, Dallas
State seal carved into the mantel

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Volk Estates, Dallas
En suite bedroom

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Volk Estates, Dallas
Kitchen

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Volk Estates, Dallas
A carving of the Statehouse

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The post $9.1M Dallas Mansion Once Owned by Former Texas First Lady Is Tastefully Texan appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.


Texas Mansion With World’s Most Famous Closet Back on the Market for $7M

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It’s baaaaack. The Woodlands, TX, mansion with the three-story closet is up for grabs again. Still in search of a buyer with a wardrobe (and pocketbook) worthy of the price, the property is now listed for $7 million.

Initially listed in 2014 for $12 million, the home found no buyer and went up (unsuccessfully) for auction in 2016 with a starting bid of $5 million. Accompanying the latest price point is a new strategy: to get out of the eye-popping closet and focus on the rest of the equally glamorous house.

“It’s a great house, a great family house,” says listing agent Claudia Fathivand. She notes the market didn’t support the property’s previous price tags at the time. The publicity surrounding the closet also didn’t help seal a deal.

Three-story closet

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A closet for handbags

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Champagne bar

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The unique space did make plenty of headlines, displaying the homeowner’s collection of red-soled Christian Louboutin heels, Chanel handbags, and designer clothes. 

Good Morning America” aired a segment on the closet, and the rapper Gucci Mane filmed a video in the home.

We admit it’s hard to look away when such a storage space is so sumptuous.

“Her closet brings a lot of attention,” Fathivand says. “But to me, the house has a lot more to offer than a closet.”

In part, the media glare was drawn to the owner of the closet, Theresa Roemer, who is married to oilman Lamar Roemer. Theresa, an entrepreneur and former beauty pageant contestant, reportedly spent $500,000 on the 3,000-square-foot closet.

Connected by a spiral staircase, the bright-white closet sits behind a wall of glass. It features back-lit open shelving and a chandelier, a Champagne bar, hair and makeup station, and lounge space with a banquette. Glass doors with Swarovski crystal handles offer entry into this over-the-top boudoir.

One of two kitchens

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Wine cellar and tasting room

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Master suite

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Resort-style pool

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Built in 2006, the home was completely remodeled after the Roemers purchased it in 2012. Sitting on 2 acres right on the eighth tee box of the Carlton Woods golf course, the 17,315-square-foot mansion has seven bedrooms, eight baths, and three half-baths.

The posh space done up in a palette of black, white, and gray includes a wine cellar and tasting room, entertainment area with wet bar, two family rooms, a “sky terrace” with views of the surrounding grounds and nature reserve, two kitchens, a formal living room, formal dining room, hair salon, and playroom.

There’s also a home theater with tiered seating, an elevator, and a gym.

Outside features include a pool and cabana with fireplace, a kitchen and bar, a lounge area with a fire pit, and a giant chess board.

This impressive spread could easily house a multigenerational family, thanks to a third-floor guest suite, which includes additional living quarters.

Best of all? No family member of any age can ever complain about a lack of closet space.

The post Texas Mansion With World’s Most Famous Closet Back on the Market for $7M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

The Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities Aren’t Where You’d Expect—and Home Prices Are Rising in Them

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Fastest growing markets, san antonio

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The South may just rise again.

The nation’s fastest-growing cities are mostly far from the ultrapricey tech hubs on the West Coast and the soaring skyscrapers on the East Coast, according to a recently released U.S. Census Bureau report. Instead, about more than half of the 15 cities that saw the biggest population booms were in the South, in areas where unemployment is generally low and companies are hiring.

That means home prices are rising in those cities as longtime and new residents compete for a limited number of homes for sale.

“Increases in population definitely drive demand for the housing market,” says Chief Economist Danielle Hale of realtor.com®. “Sellers can expect that if they price a home well and it’s in good condition [they may] see maybe even multiple offers come in. Buyers in these areas can expect that they need to make a quick decision if they want to nab a home.”

Remember the Alamo? Yep, that’s San Antonio, site of the ill-fated battle between Texan independence fighters and Mexican troops in 1836. These days, the Texan city about an hour and a half southwest of Austin and three hours west of Houston is rallying residents for a different reason. It saw an influx of more than 24,200 new residents from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017, according to the report. That was the most of any U.S. metro—and it was already the country’s seventh most populous city.

“Our cost of living is much more reasonable than most places,” says local real estate agent Scott Jauregui, of Keller Williams Realty. About a third of his buyers are from out of town, particularly California and Florida, as well as flood victims from Houston.

The military town, home to the Air Force’s Joint Base San Antonio and USAA, a financial services firm formed to serve the military community, is also seeing more tech companies opening up shop. And that means plenty of good-paying jobs luring residents in.

To meet that demand, builders are putting up scores of single-family homes in several large, master-planned communities on the west side of the city. And move-in ready, three-bed, two-bath abodes priced under $250,000 are going off the market in a matter of days, Jauregui says. Many are located in suburban-style neighborhoods within the city limits.

“San Antonio is such a diverse city, and it has something for everyone,” he says.

Phoenix saw the second most growth, at just over 24,000 new residents—and the housing market is feeling the impact.

“Supply is at record lows, and prices continue to climb,” says Tucker Blalock, an associate broker at The Brokery, in Phoenix. Many of his clients are coming into the area from California, and still see the Phoenix housing market as filled with bargains.

“Even as prices increase, they perceive the market as still having tremendous value compared to where they are coming from,” Blalock says.

15 of the fastest-growing cities

1. San Antonio, TX
2. Phoenix, AZ
3. Dallas, TX
4. Fort Worth, TX
5. Los Angeles, CA
6. Seattle, WA
7. Charlotte, NC
8. Columbus, OH
9. Frisco, TX
10. Atlanta, GA
11. San Diego, CA
12. Austin, TX
13. Jacksonville, FL
14. Irvine, CA
15. Henderson, NV

The post The Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities Aren’t Where You’d Expect—and Home Prices Are Rising in Them appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Dallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan Selling His Texas Home for $2.47M

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Leon Halip/Getty Images; realtor.com

Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan‘s Dallas-area home is now on the market, asking a not-bad-for-Dallas $2.47 million. Located in swanky Highland Park, the five-bedroom home is a Texas-sized 4,724 square feet.

Linehan is in his 29th year of coaching. He started his career as a high school football coach in the late 1980s, and rocketed all the way to the NFL. He landed with the Cowboys as a passing game coordinator in 2014 and was promoted to O.C. in 2015, a role he’s held ever since.

Before the Big D, he was head coach of the St. Louis Rams for a little over two seasons, a stint that didn’t end well back in 2008. There are no rumors that Linehan is in the mix for another ride on the head-coaching carousel, so he might just be looking for a change of scenery.

Scott Linehan house
Front view

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Scott Linehan house
Pool, hot tub, and guesthouse

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Scott Linehan house
Outdoor living space

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The two-story house, which has almost certainly hosted his brother-in-law, the actor Jim Caviezel, features a gym, office, pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, outdoor fireplace and socializing spot, sport court, and separate guesthouse with a bedroom and bathroom. The main house has an updated kitchen with Caesarstone countertops, dual islands, commercial appliances, wine storage, drink drawers, and warming drawers.

Beautiful bay windows in the living room reveal views of leafy trees, and the formal dining room, informal dining space, and family room ensure there’s plenty of hangout space on the first floor. Three fireplaces keep the home cozy on chilly Dallas winter nights.

The spacious master bedroom has a sitting area, dual custom closets, gorgeous herringbone tile, a jetted tub, walk-in shower, and all the luxe upgrades you’d expect from a high-end Dallas home. Built in 2007, the home has been recently renovated and is filled with upgraded touches throughout.

Scott Linehan house
Master bedroom

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The neighborhood, “justifiably known as a wealthy enclave that’s becoming seemingly wealthier all the time,” according to Dallas Magazine, has small-town charm, tree-lined streets, and fantastic elite public schools. Heck, even if you don’t care about football, this looks like a great house.

Scott Linehan house
Master bath

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Scott Linehan house
Wine storage space

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Scott Linehan house
Informal dining space

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Scott Linehan house
Family room

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Scott Linehan house
Formal dining

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Scott Linehan house
Living room

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The post Dallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan Selling His Texas Home for $2.47M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

NBA’s Danny Ferry Selling Stylish and Vintage San Antonio Estate for $2.9M

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Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT/Getty Images

Danny Ferry‘s time as a player and executive for the Spurs ended a few years ago, and now he’s ready to part with his marvelous Mediterranean mansion in San Antonio for $2.9 million.

Built in 1929, the 5,000-square-foot home features plaster walls and colorful redondo tile floors throughout. The five-bedroom, 3.5-bath home has been extensively renovated and now includes a two-story guesthouse designed by architect John Grable. A three-car garage was also added along with the guesthouse.

The home sits on a lush, landscaped half-acre, complete with intimate courtyards, pool, outdoor fire pit, and pizza oven.

Front exterior

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Kitchen

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Master bed

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Ferry was the second player picked in the 1989 NBA draft after starring in college at Duke. After spending a decade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he played the last three seasons of his career with the San Antonio Spurs before retiring in 2003.

With his days as a player behind him, Ferry was made director of basketball operations for the Spurs before leaving the team in 2005 to take the general manager job of the Cavaliers. Ferry eventually returned to San Antonio in 2010 as the vice president of basketball operations.

In 2012, Ferry became the general manager of the Atlanta Hawks but was later fired for making racially insensitive remarks. He made his return to the NBA in 2016, serving as a special adviser to the Pelicans GM Dell Demps.

He’s now ready to pull up stakes and part ways with his Mediterranean masterpiece in the Lone Star State, giving a buyer the chance to own a unique piece of real estate with serious NBA cred.

The post NBA’s Danny Ferry Selling Stylish and Vintage San Antonio Estate for $2.9M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Faceless Bunker From ‘Fixer Upper’ Season 2 on the Market for $1.15M

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Chip and Joanna Gaines of “Fixer Upper” are known for performing makeover magic, but will the dynamic duo be responsible for million-dollar makeover magic?

One of the memorable homes featured on the show may reveal if their beloved aesthetic translates into a seven-digit sale.

The “Faceless Bunker” house from Season 2 is now on the market for $1.15 million. If a fan of the popular show pays full asking price, the home will sell for quadruple Waco’s median list price of $265,000.

However, this house is far larger than an average Waco home, so let’s compare apples to apples.

This four-bedroom, 3.5-bath house measures 4,113 square feet, which works out to $280 per square foot. The median price per square foot of a home in the area is currently a budget-friendly $112—way less than half of the price of this Magnolia-renovated beauty. Gaines premium pricing, anyone?

The home was last on the market in 2014, for $349,900. If the current owners paid somewhere in the neighborhood of that price, we figure they stand to almost triple their investment, minus renovation costs, of course. And what a grand renovation it was by the “Fixer Upper” crew.

Let’s take a look at what Chip and Joanna did to justify the price jump.

Before: The “Faceless Bunker” house

Magnolia

First, they gave the place a “modern beach home” vibe and removed the brick and added new siding.

They also added a faux balcony to bring some dimension to the front of the house and installed new windows. The front door was replaced and painted, and all-new landscaping was added to create a tropical feeling for the home.

After: A faux balcony was added to give dimension to the front of the house.

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Inside, the entire layout and orientation was overhauled. A new stairwell with iron railings and steel cables was installed. French doors and windows were added, and the fireplace was simplified and refaced with black tile. Bamboo flooring was added throughout the first floor.

Before: Old stairs and railings painted white

Magnolia

After: New stairwell with iron railings and steel cables

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New living room with black-tiled fireplace

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The kitchen was also redone and relocated to a more central area of the house. New windows, cabinets, countertops, a peninsula, shelves, and state-of-the-art appliances were added. The open area was also extended to include a dedicated homework space and a walk-in pantry.

Old kitchen

Magnolia

New kitchen

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The dining room got a new set of French doors, along with new flooring and light fixtures.

New dining room

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All the bedrooms and bathrooms were renovated, with the master bath being a particular highlight of their work. Chip and Jo also added a game room to the house.

New master bath

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New game room with bar

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There were a couple of things that Chip and Joanna didn’t change, but helped to highlight: the gorgeous views of Lake Waco and the nearly 2-acre lot. Why mess with perfection?

Aerial view of the property, with Lake Waco in the background

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The price of this home is ambitious. The “Plain Gray House” from Season 4 was much smaller, but it landed on the market for only $260,000. The famous “barndominium” and shotgun house both had asking prices in the million-dollar range, and neither one shows any evidence of selling.

The post Faceless Bunker From ‘Fixer Upper’ Season 2 on the Market for $1.15M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

NRA Spokeswoman Dana Loesch Sells Her Former Southlake, TX, Home

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Dana Loesch landlord

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch sold her former Southlake, TX, home for an undisclosed amount in late May. She had put the home on the market in late April for $615,000.

The new homeowner—C.L. Swanson Corp.—quickly listed the home available to rent for $4,600 a month. 

Loesch, a conservative pundit, had purchased the four-bedroom home in 2013. In 2017, Loesch and her husband upgraded and bought a roomier residence, also in Southlake.

Dana Loesch’s former home, which is available for rent

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Updated kitchen

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Living room with fireplace

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Backyard with pool

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It was easy to turn the property into a rental—the renovated home was in turn-key condition. The 3,672-square-foot house sits on a half-acre lot in Chapel Downs Subdivision. The “gorgeously remodeled” home is in a cul-de-sac and surrounded by large trees. 

The master bedroom has a walk-in closet, private balcony, and en suite bath with separate vanities. Two more bedrooms share a bath, and there’s a fourth en suite bedroom.

The updated kitchen features stone counters and white cabinets. The living room has large windows and a fireplace, which is connected to the formal dining room. Outside, a grassy lawn, pool, and spa beckon.

In great news for potential tenants, lawn and pool maintenance, along with pest control, are provided. Pets are also allowed.

Loesch has appeared on Fox News, CNN, ABC, CBS, and HBO. She holds the post of special assistant to the executive vice president for public communication with the National Rifle Association, and hosts “The DL” on NRA TV. She is also the author of “Hands Off My Gun” and “Flyover Nation.”

The post NRA Spokeswoman Dana Loesch Sells Her Former Southlake, TX, Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

PGA Star Hunter Mahan Selling Texas Lakefront Getaway for $3.8M

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Hunter Mahan

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Pro golfer Hunter Mahan is selling his lakefront home outside of Dallas for $3.8 million. The custom-built home looks like an ideal spot for a family to get away in style.

The 5,300-square-foot, six-bedroom home features a clean white palette, giving off sun-bleached, casual summer vibes. But don’t be lulled into thinking this is just a basic lake house.

The home sits on an acre lot in the gated community of Long Cove in Malakoff, TX, which is about an hour outside of Dallas. It overlooks a lakeside pool and features a wraparound porch. There’s a pool house outfitted with an indoor grill and kitchenette, and nearby you’ll find a grassy area and boat dock.

For future farmers of America, the property also includes a toy barn.

Exterior

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Kitchen

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Family room

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Master bedroom

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Master bathroom

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Pool

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Mahan was a Texas golf champion in high school and has six wins on the PGA Tour since turning pro in 2003. He’s won over $30 million on the tour and is no stranger to the multimillion-dollar real estate game.

In 2016, Mahan sold his Dallas mansion to fellow golfer Jordan Spieth for $7.15 million. The golf simulator in the basement might have helped seal that deal. Previously, Mahan sold a spectacular mansion in Coto da Caza, CA, in 2014 for $1.8 million.

The post PGA Star Hunter Mahan Selling Texas Lakefront Getaway for $3.8M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.


A Modern Outpost (With Silo!) in the Middle of a Traditional Dallas Neighborhood

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In the middle of an upscale Dallas neighborhood filled with traditional-style architecture, there’s a pocket of six oddball modern homes. One of them, measuring two stories and 2,162 square feet, is now on the market for $525,000.

Built in 1987, the three-bedroom, three-bath home is topped by a circular dormer window and fronted by what look like silos. An unusual blue door, inset with glass panels, matches the circular window.

Like many modernist homes, this one combines spare lines with organic patterns. That aesthetic can be seen in the wooded bluff setting for the contemporary home.

“It’s in a heavily wooded, treed lot near a creek, so it almost feels like a treehouse,” explains listing agent Rocky Zablan.

So what about the silos? The circular structures house the walk-in closets. Each bedroom has a round closet, and there are “skylights in the tower, too, so the closets actually get natural light,” says Zablan.

Dallas Modern
The silo holds closets.

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Dallas Modern
Bedroom with circular closet

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Dallas Modern
Another bedroom with circular closet

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The interior of the home is also contemporary, thanks to a $110,000 update done by the seller.

“The goal was to take that old ’80s style out of the house and modernize,” Zablan explains.

The renovation included adding cement floors, wooden stairs, metal railings along the upper walkway, floating shelves in the bedrooms and bathrooms, glass walk-in showers, quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, wine fridges, and a glass backsplash in the kitchen.

Dallas Modern
Updated kitchen

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Dallas Modern
Living room

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The circular closets, which are doorless and include built-in cabinetry, were preserved.

If you’re a buyer looking for something different in Dallas, we urge you to see what’s up with this modern home with a silo.

Dallas Modern
Deck

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Dallas Modern
Bathroom

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Dallas Modern
Upstairs living area

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Dallas Modern
Blue door

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The post A Modern Outpost (With Silo!) in the Middle of a Traditional Dallas Neighborhood appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Jeff Kent Makes Big Splash With Half-Million Price Slice on Texas Mansion

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Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images; realtor.com

Jeff Kent knows how to make a splash. The former All-Star second baseman hopes to avoid a belly flop on his second attempt at selling his Austin, TX, home, with its own private water park.

In 2016, he put the custom-built home, which has a 90-foot water slide, on the market for $3.1 million.

With no takers, the spacious home with views of Lake Austin has come back with a half-million dollar price slice to $2.6 million. Perhaps the big cut will make waves with prospective buyers?

Let’s jump on an inner tube and take a tour of Kent’s digs.

Living room with exposed beams

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Dining room with picturesque views

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Kitchen with granite counters and custom cabinetry

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Private water park

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One of multiple decks

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The 8,794 square feet of interior space feature six beds plus seven full and two half-baths. The house was built in 2004, and its supercool amenities include exposed beam ceilings in the living room and dining area, with a fireplace and picturesque views, an eat-in kitchen with granite counters and custom cabinetry, and a casual eating nook. 

The master suite boasts a fireplace and dual vanities in the bath. There’s also a game room, a media room, and a casita. In one area of the house is a virtual sports complex, with a fitness area, indoor archery, batting cages, and golf simulator.

But the true MVP of this resortlike estate is the pool area.

It comes with a professionally designed 90-foot water slide that twists and turns on the way down. The water-based features also include a swim-up bar, waterfalls, and a multilevel spa. The pool and water slide were developed in co-ordination with New Braunfels General Store, the manufacturers for Texas’s Schlitterbahn water parks.

You can also stroll down to the dock for water skiing, fishing, or boat rides. 

If you prefer land-based activities, there’s a basketball court or a 400square-foot fitness room with air conditioning.

If you’re looking for some down time, head over to the outdoor lounge area, have a seat by the fireplace, enjoy the views from the covered terrace, or fire up the grill.

“This is the most fun house in Austin,” says listing agent Bill Sill. Along with oodles of fun, the next owner will be scoring a sweet deal. “Kent built the home for $4.1 million. The buyer is going to get the home for $2.6 million,” Sill says.

The finishes also include solid Douglas fir ceiling beams, and Texas mesquite hand-milled wood flooring. In fact, Sill notes, the fireplace mantles and trim in the house were “built out of Texas mesquite from Jeff’s ranch and cut and hand-milled on site.”

Kent played in the majors for 17 seasons and finished his career with the most home runs ever hit by a second baseman—377 dingers, to be exact.

Now that his kids are grown, the five-time All Star has reportedly moved to a ranchette in the Austin area. He apparently also owns a 200-cattle ranch on 4,000 acres in Tilden, TX.

The post Jeff Kent Makes Big Splash With Half-Million Price Slice on Texas Mansion appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Dinosaur Days: How a T. Rex Costume Helped Dress Up a Texas Home

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Remember the real estate agent who dressed up in a panda suit to try and sell a home in Spring, TX? It worked like a charm, and got her 12 showings in the first two days. You can’t argue with that kind of success.

But you can move up the food chain. The real estate agent selling this two-bedroom, one-bathroom lake house in Granbury, TX, has hired an extra straight from the Cretaceous era to help out with the listing photos: a giant T. Rex.

Open layout

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Among the lovely shots of hardwood floors, lake views, and a screened-in patio, we see ol’ Tyrannosaurus raiding the fridge, taking a nap, fishing in the lake, and even mowing the grass. That’s pretty impressive for a guy with such tiny arms, no?

T. Rex
You’d better hope there is a Flintstone-style slab of meat in there.

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“We came up with the idea a few years ago and have been waiting for the right client and right house to try it,” explains listing agent Casey Lewis. “It was a great way to get extra exposure to an already great property.”

T. Rex
Now that’s a roomy bed!

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Quite apart from filling in as a Jurassic Park testing facility, the 796-square-foot house has a fireplace, two porches, and a deck, and access to a community boat slip around the corner. The asking price was just $89,900.

So did it work? “The reach was amazing,” says Lewis. “The listing has been featured on local news, shared hundreds of times on social media, and I’ve received calls from all over the country asking for information about the property.”

T. Rex
This guy has an alarming gleam in his eye.

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Lewis had over 45 showings, and was in contract within the first two days. It might be a goofy gimmick, but it certainly did the trick. The real question is, why aren’t more real estate agents putting on wacky animal costumes for listing photos? Next time someone tells you they’ll do what it takes to sell your home, send them to the costume shop!

T. Rex
Seriously, this guy never stops eating.

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T. Rex
Eeek!

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T. Rex
Pros: mows the lawn. Cons: wants to eat you.

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The post Dinosaur Days: How a T. Rex Costume Helped Dress Up a Texas Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Broadcaster Glenn Beck Selling Massive Suburban Dallas Mansion for $6M

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Rex C. Curry/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Conservative media personality Glenn Beck is selling his massive home in Westlake, TX, for $5.9 million.

The mansion’s sale comes as Beck’s company struggles through rounds of layoffs and speculation that Beck is ready to pull up stakes and leave Dallas, TX, for Los Angeles.

Built in 2004, the home has six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and three half-bathrooms and more than 9,000 square feet of living space. It’s stylish and surprisingly subdued throughout, with touches like cut stacked stone, French brown wide-plank hand-scraped floors, and a lovely gourmet kitchen.

The refined, restrained home is surprising, considering the brash on-air personality of its seller.

The home sits on a grassy, green 3.5-acre golf course lot in the exclusive Vaquero community and includes a pool, spa, cabana, fire pit lounge area, guesthouse and even its own garage for golf carts. The listing also touts the property’s “extensive security.”

Exterior

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Library

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Family room

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Kitchen

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Master bed

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Pool

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According to The Daily Beast, Beck’s media company, Mercury Radio Arts, which operates The Blaze, has been plagued by a declining audience and rounds of employee layoffs. The article opines that the operation, which once brought in $90 million a year, is on its “last legs,” and that some of his employees think Beck is planning to close up his business headquarters in Dallas and move the operation to smaller offices in L.A.

But Beck recently took to the airwaves to offer another explanation for the sale of his home.

“I am putting my home up for sale because I fear this economy, as we are headed for trouble and I don’t want to be sitting with a big huge house,” Beck said.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Beck moved to the Dallas area and set up his own multimedia studio in 2011, prior to his departure from Fox News.

The post Broadcaster Glenn Beck Selling Massive Suburban Dallas Mansion for $6M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Country Farmhouse From Season 1 of ‘Fixer Upper’ Is Listed for $475K

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Fixer Upper” slammed the sliding barn door shut after five glorious seasons packed with shiplap. Yet the show’s legacy lives on!

Another renovation sensation from the wily design duo of Chip and Joanna Gaines has just landed on the market in Crawford, TX.

Cast your mind back to 2014, when “Fixer Upper” was in its debut season on HGTV. The Magnolia empire was still a glimmer in the Gaineses’ eyes, but the decrepit farmhouse the couple renovated for a Baylor professor and his wife turned out to be one of their most impressive projects ever.

Now the resulting gorgeous, rustic home can be yours for $475,000.

Owners Devon and Hannah Jonklaas feared that the house might be a teardown when Chip and Joanna first showed it to them. However, they were soon convinced that the 3.65-acre lot and the wood and stone structure had potential, so they negotiated on the $220,000 asking price, eventually paying $197,000, and placed their trust in Chip and Jo. Smart move.

The farmhouse today

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The farmhouse before it was renovated

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Chip and Jo proceeded to spend close to $48,000 on the renovation. When all was said and done, Chip estimated the new resale value for the home to be around $305,000.

But that was four long years ago. Now real estate prices in Waco, TX, and nearby areas are booming, thanks in no small part to “Fixer Upper” as well as the Gaines-led attractions like The Silos and Magnolia Table restaurant.

The property’s current price comes out to $164 per square foot, which isn’t much higher than the median $148 for homes in Crawford.

But your average Crawford home hasn’t had the magic of a Chip and Joanna makeover. Their “Fixer Upper” crew was able to preserve the home’s original charm and truly make it into a showpiece.

Renovated living room

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The episode was titled “Country Farmhouse Goes From Scary to Sensational,” and it’s easy to vouch for its accuracy. The 2,889-square-foot home now has four bedrooms and three baths, but those are simple numbers. The true story is how Chip and Joanna worked their magic and made this farmhouse fabulous.

The home’s original cedar and stone exterior was brought back to life on the show with some pressure washing, sanding, staining, and resealing.

“Relatively little of the original wood had to be replaced,” Chip said in the episode.

Cedar and stone exterior

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They updated an outdated country kitchen by removing the wall separating it from the dining room. They then spruced up the space with new stainless-steel appliances, light blue-gray cabinetry, brushed-nickel hardware, and an island with a black granite countertop.

Renovated kitchen

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The living room redo was also a work of art. They added sliding barn doors, scrubbed the stone fireplace, and painted the built-in shelving white. They also replaced the blue carpeting with wood flooring, which made a world of difference.

Living room before

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Living room after

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Other features were added, included exposed wood ceiling beams, a balcony off the master bedroom, a bonus room, and an inviting front porch.

Current master bedroom

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Bonus room

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Chip had deemed the project “a piece of paradise in the country.” It will be fascinating to see how long it takes a buyer to snap it up. We’ll keep you posted.

The post Country Farmhouse From Season 1 of ‘Fixer Upper’ Is Listed for $475K appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

QB Sneak? Robert Griffin III Selling Texas Mansion for $2.6M

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Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III is hoping to score a sale of his massive estate in Conroe, TX, for $2.6 million.

The mansion wasn’t in the QB’s grasp for long. He’d purchased the waterfront property in 2016 for $2.25 million, according to real estate records. 

Now that the 28-year-old Heisman Trophy winner is in camp with Baltimore, he may not need to relax at the lakefront retreat that’s located just a few hours’ drive from his childhood home, in Copperas Cove.  But he’ll pocket a small profit if the home sells for its asking price.

Let’s see what the spacious spread has to offer…

Robert Griffin III’s lakefront mansion

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Two-story entry

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Open kitchen with ornate cabinetry

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Dining area

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Game room

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Pool, spa, and covered patio

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Built on just over an acre in 2007, the Mediterranean-style mansion has seven bedrooms and 10 baths. It features a two-story foyer, game room with wet bar and wine grotto, home theater, study, playroom, and four balconies. The chef’s kitchen has a spacious island, “ornate” cabinetry, and high-end appliances.

The master suite boasts a master bath with dual vanities, a garden tub, and rain shower. The backyard sports a covered patio, beach-entry pool with swim-up bar, spa, outdoor kitchen, and bathroom. There’s also a private dock with two boat slips. 

This isn’t the only real estate deal the former Redskins star has tackled. He recently sold a Florida mansion he used as a training retreat. The 13,000-square-foot property in Reunion was sold for $3.2 million in June. Griffin had purchased the place in 2017 for $2.85 million.

Also in 2017, he listed his farmhouse-style property in Leesburg, VA. The space is rented through 2022 and is described as an “investor’s dream.” The 9,000-square-foot luxury home is still available for purchase for $2.7 million.

Griffin got his pro start with Washington, winning the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Injured in 2015, he was released by the team and then joined the Cleveland Browns, where he also suffered through an injury-filled season. He spent 2017 as a free agent and signed with the Ravens in the off-season.

Lance Loken of Houston Portfolio Real Estate represents the listing.

The post QB Sneak? Robert Griffin III Selling Texas Mansion for $2.6M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal Selling His Dallas Megamansion for $11M

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Jermaine O'Neal

Rob Carr/BIG3/Getty Images

Retired six-time NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal has listed his megamansion in Southlake, TX, for $11 million. It could signal the next chapter in Drive Nation, O’Neal’s successful youth sports program.

The mansion is on a 5-acre lot located in a tony Dallas suburb and measures more than 16,000 square feet—ideal for a 6-foot-11 basketball superstar.

Built in 2012, it features luxe fixtures and finishes, including dramatic chandeliers throughout the home. Built as a sports enthusiast’s paradise, the home has a home theater, game room with bowling alley, weight room, basketball gym, pool with waterslide, and plenty of rolling lawns.

Exterior

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Living room

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Kitchen

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Master bed

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Master bath

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Bar

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Theater

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Basketball court

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Bowling alley

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Pool

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A lot of cash was spent to create the perfect atmosphere. So why would O’Neal want to leave?

Last month, the former center dropped a hint when he expressed interest in trying to replicate the success he’s had in Texas with Drive Nation in his hometown of Columbia, SC.

“I would love to partner with the city and private venture area to do something that is impactful, to keep our kids out of streets and prisons,” O’Neal told The State. “I want to make sure I am able to do something in my hometown.”

O’Neal entered the 1996 NBA draft right out of high school and wound up playing 18 years in the league. He made the NBA All-Star team six seasons in a row while playing for the Indiana Pacers.

In 2016, he started Drive Nation, a sports training facility in Irving, TX, where young, aspiring professional athletes get high-powered help developing their talents. The listing of O’Neal’s Texas home could signal he’s ready to move back to Columbia.

Regardless of the reason for the sale, there’s now an impeccable estate for sale that truly embraces the Texas “bigger is better” aesthetic. Forget home court—who wouldn’t want to be able to host a Monday night pickup game in their own gym with a true NBA pedigree?

The post NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal Selling His Dallas Megamansion for $11M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.


Custom-Built Austin Home Offers SoCal Style in the Lone Star State

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This custom-built beauty in Austin, TX, is a genuine artist’s abode with a great mixture of substance and style. Priced at a cool $2.75 million, this work of art will be a perfect addition for an astute buyer settling in the Lone Star State.

Known for its wide variety of housing stock, Texas’ capital city has a few Mid-Century Modern abodes dotting the landscape. However, one couple devised their own twist on the style with a custom-designed home on the city’s south side.

Located in the eclectic and popular Zilker neighborhood, the home also offers a distinct SoCal vibe.

Front exterior

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So it’s no surprise to find owners Kristen and Joe Cole are designers and art collectors who hail from Los Angeles. Their eclectic preferences were brought to life by Burton Baldridge of Baldridge Architects. The final product has been featured in Architectural Digest magazine and Texas Monthly magazine.

As described in Texas Monthly, the house “marries [the Coles’] East and West Coast sensibilities with a decidedly Texas twist.”  Unsuspecting Austin residents might think the 3,302-square-foot property is just another humble home—the exterior of the home is fashioned in “unassuming charcoal brick,” according to Architectural Design.

The home’s signature L shape was designed to preserve the lot’s mature oak trees, which provide significant shade during the hot Austin summers. There’s also a small lap pool for escaping the three-digit temperatures.

Backyard and pool

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Master bedroom

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Living room

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The interior of the home is infused with splashes of vibrant color and rich textures, and the Coles’ extensive art collection currently hangs throughout. Each room has its own unique style, offering an atmosphere for every mood.

The kitchen is appointed with stainless-steel appliances, white and gray marble countertops, and a swath of honey maple cabinetry. It opens to the airy dining room and living room, which are separated by a beautiful stone fireplace. More honey maple built-in bookshelves and cabinets are dotted throughout these two rooms.

The living room is put together like an elegant puzzle, with a built-in, L-shaped couch and a built-in bookshelf running the length of the wall. It begs for an owner to sit a spell and relax.

The home has four bedrooms and 3.5 baths, all with clean lines and colorful touches.

And if you think a mix of terrazzo, marble, polished chrome, stone, and ceramic would create a mismatched finish, Baldridge—in conjunction with the Coles’ keen eye for detail—found a way to make it all work seamlessly. It’s all aces in Austin.

The post Custom-Built Austin Home Offers SoCal Style in the Lone Star State appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Selena Gomez Cuts Additional $300K Off Price of Her Fort Worth Mansion

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Christopher Polk/Getty Images; realtor.com

Pop star Selena Gomez just knocked an additional $300,000 off the price of her mansion in Fort Worth, TX.

She’s been trying to sell the property since 2016, when it went on the market for $3.5 million. This isn’t the first time Gomez has dropped the price on the home. In February, she tried to sell it for $3 million. It’s now priced at $2.7 million.

The Texas native grew up just 30 minutes away in Grand Prairie, but this mansion’s proximity to her hometown wasn’t enough to justify the chart-topping singer keeping the place in her property portfolio. Built in 2005, the 10,000-square-foot mansion has five bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms and sits on 1.5 acres within the exclusive Monteserrat neighborhood.

The interiors are traditional and done up in a muted palette. Luxe amenities include a media room with candy bar, crafts room, game room with coffee bar, and abundant space for entertaining. Outdoors, the grounds include a full sport court, putting green, kitchen, cabana, and pool with a water slide.

Exterior

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Living room

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Kitchen

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Master bed

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Game room

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Theater

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Pool

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Although the home checks all the boxes for a wealthy young celebrity, plenty has changed in Gomez’s life since she bought it in 2015.

Gomez underwent a kidney transplant in 2017 and has continued to recover, seemingly without missing a beat. The former Disney star was nominated for several Teen Choice Awards, and announced she’s designing a fashion line for Coach. Also, she celebrated her 26th birthday in July and, despite high-profile breakups with The Weeknd and Justin Bieber (yes, again), she’s looking happy and healthy surrounded by friends.

With a life this busy, it’s no surprise she can’t find time to maintain the huge Fort Worth mansion.

The post Selena Gomez Cuts Additional $300K Off Price of Her Fort Worth Mansion appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

As Texas Recovers From Harvey, Port Arthur Struggles

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Rev. Kevin Badeaux walks through repairs in the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Arthur.

Loren Elliott for The Wall Street Journal

PORT ARTHUR, Texas—A year after Hurricane Harvey upended the lives of most people here, the concrete floors on Laura Welch’s home remain uncovered, her kitchen is only partially usable and she has to wash dishes in a bathtub.

Ever since the storm flooded the three-bedroom home she shares with her 20-year-old daughter and 15-year-old special-needs son, Ms. Welch has received $12,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency out of the approximate $40,000 she said she needs to fully restore it. There are piles of carpet, tile and other materials that have been purchased, but they sit near her front doorway until she can afford to have them installed.

“All we want is to have our house back, but I just can’t do it on my own,” the 52-year-old social worker said as her son, Kobe King, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, played on a tablet computer in his wheelchair.

With a poverty rate of 29%, Port Arthur was among the poorest communities along the Texas Gulf Coast before Hurricane Harvey—and in the year since, it has struggled to recover from flooding that left almost the entire city of 55,000 underwater. The 60.5 inches of rainfall recorded just north of Port Arthur over four days broke a new U.S. record for a storm total, and covered many homes up to their rooftops.

Home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of oil refineries, Port Arthur was still recovering from direct hits from two other hurricanes, Rita in 2005 and Ike in 2008, when it was inundated by Harvey in late August last year.

The storm caused as much as $1.3 billion in damage in Port Arthur, according to a city recovery plan. Despite 80% of the housing being damaged, the city trails many others along the Gulf Coast in rebuilding. That’s in part because, so far, roughly $10 billion in approved disaster aid for the Harvey region has been slower to reach it, according to housing advocates.

For example, the Texas General Land Office in June allocated 80% of the state’s first $58 million in federal Harvey housing aid to Harris County, where Houston is located, with the rest dispersed for rental housing in three tourism-dependent counties. Coastal tourist towns like Rockport and Port Aransas have reopened many of their closed hotels and shops, but Port Arthur’s Jefferson County didn’t get any of that initial funding.

Port Arthur recently was allocated $15.7 million out of $156.7 million in federal money slated for communities in southeast Texas for home buyouts, infrastructure repairs and other housing needs. But, critics say, per home, the city came out far below most other cities. Port Arthur received $71 per home, compared to as high as $151,495 in one upscale community, according to an analysis of the grant money by Texas Housers, a housing advocacy group in Austin.

The group suggested race might have been a factor: Port Arthur has a relatively high percentage of African-American and Latino residents, at 38% and 32%, respectively.

Others say Port Arthur is more likely a victim of its geography, sitting 90 miles east of the giant Houston metro area. “If you are a big city like Houston, you get attention,” said Rosa Rios Valdez, president and chief executive officer of Business and Community Lenders of Texas, a nonprofit that has brought in donated supplies and other relief to Port Arthur and other flood-damaged cities.

Brittany Eck, spokeswoman for the General Land Office, dismissed race as a motive, noting the official who heads the agency’s disbursement program is African-American. She said her agency doled the money out in accordance with guidelines from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which specifies where it should go. A HUD spokesman deferred comment to the state.

Ms. Eck also said the land office this month awarded $13.3 million to a project for low-income housing in Port Arthur, subject to a final review.

Officials of the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission, which is disbursing the $156.7 million, said Port Arthur received the largest amount of any local city in its three-county region, which doesn’t include Houston’s Harris County.

Beatrice Sanders is living in a FEMA trailer parked next to her home, which Harvey left uninhabitable with rot and mold.
Beatrice Sanders is living in a FEMA trailer parked next to her home, which Harvey left uninhabitable with rot and mold.

Loren Elliott for The Wall Street Journal

Federal aid was so slow in coming to Port Arthur after Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008 that the city just received a check for about another $2 million in Ike relief money last month, Mayor Derrick Ford Freeman said.

Beatrice Sanders said she also was still awaiting government help in rebuilding from Hurricane Ike when Harvey hit and flooding rains submerged her house.

Now, a year later, the 71-year-old great-grandmother is still living in a FEMA trailer parked next to her home, which Harvey left uninhabitable with rot and mold. Ms. Sanders said the $17,000 she has received from FEMA isn’t nearly enough for the $80,000 she estimates it will cost to rebuild.

“I hardly ever smile, because it’s not a happy story,” Ms. Sanders said as she sat in a rocking chair outside her home, with her Chihuahua, Jake.

Meanwhile, Mr. Freeman himself remains shut out of his three-bedroom home, pending the arrival of federal aid to repair extensive damage. He, his wife and their five children are sharing a relative’s two-bedroom home.

“Would you say I’m frustrated across the board?,” asked the 42-year-old mayor. “Yes, sir.”

The post As Texas Recovers From Harvey, Port Arthur Struggles appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Former Texas Ranger Michael Young Auctioning Off Home With No Reserve Price

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Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images

Former MLB player Michael Young is auctioning off his home in the Dallas suburb of University Park. The home, which first went on the market in 2016 for $4.3 million, has no reserve price.

The former Texas Rangers star has already left the premises, moving to a North Dallas neighborhood closer to his sons’ private school.

At nearly 8,000 square feet, the all-star property was built in 2006 and incorporates old-world charm with modern amenities. 

Young purchased the estate in 2007, in the middle of his All-Star career with the Rangers. Designed by Emerson Residential, the custom home includes a dramatic arched maple front door, hand-scraped floors, beamed ceilings, seven beds (including five en suite), and 7.5 baths.

Michael Young’s home that’s up for auction

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Custom front door

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Formal living room

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Game room with sports memorabilia

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Designer kitchen

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Family room

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Staircase and formal dining room

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Master bath

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The designer kitchen features granite countertops, island with seating, Lacanche range and oven, Sub-Zero refrigerator, and dual dishwashers.

Other spaces include a keeping room off the kitchen with a fireplace, formal living room and den, and outdoor entertaining area including a fireplace. 

The master suite includes his-and-her vanities, a claw-foot tub, and walk-in steam shower. A game room sports a billiard table and sports memorabilia. A third-floor bonus room includes a sink, refrigerator, TV, and bathroom.

“The home’s best features are the easy, flowing entertainment space and the master bedroom,” Young says. “My favorite part of the house is the master bedroom. The bathroom was truly our place of Zen. It’s comfortable and spacious with easy proximity to our sons’ bedrooms.”

The auction of the home will be held on Sept. 1 with Elite Auctions.

Young played in the MLB for 14 seasons, including stints with the Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He helped the Rangers reach the World Series in both 2010 and 2011. He retired after the 2013 season, and was later hired by the Rangers as a special assistant to general manager Jon Daniels. 

The post Former Texas Ranger Michael Young Auctioning Off Home With No Reserve Price appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Well-Preserved and Ready to Roll, Round House in Dallas Hits Market for $1.7M

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An iconic piece of Lone Star State lore, the round house in Dallas has rolled onto the market for $1.7 million.

Considered a shining example of Mid-Century Modern architecture, the well-preserved home looks almost exactly as it did when it was built in 1962.

The distinctive design was reportedly inspired by the work of architect Bruce Goff and conceived and commissioned by his protégé Eddie Parker. Goff was known as a whimsical outlier among Mid-Century Modern architects who were obsessed with function, according to Dallas Magazine.

In addition to the circular design theme, the house featured an odd mix of materials in its construction, including walnut paneling, Frankoma tile, onyx terrazzo, 24-karat gold tiles, and rock walls.

Even if you don’t know a darn thing about design or rare materials, it’s easy to see this five-bedroom home is shockingly beautiful. Every detail of its almost 6,000 square feet has been carefully considered with an artist’s eye. The result is an installation you can live in.

Exterior

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Skylight

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Glass-tiled wall

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Office

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Kitchen

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Master bed

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Pool

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Perhaps the most jaw-dropping aspect of the home is the master suite with its round bed, mirrored walls, and rock wall. Every room offers a delicious little surprise, leading out to a pool area wrapped in privacy by the home around it.

The home is located in the Jan Mar neighborhood, which is known for its sprawling ranch and Mid-Century Modern homes.

In 2009, the homeowners removed the famed steel-domed entrance to the horror of local preservationists, according to the Dallas Observer. With or without the dome, the round house is still an exquisite jewel. Potential buyers had better act fast, because this home is likely to spin off the market in no time.

The post Well-Preserved and Ready to Roll, Round House in Dallas Hits Market for $1.7M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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