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The 11 Most Expensive Homes On The Market

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Last month we showed you homes listed for under $10 thousand. Now it’s time to look at the 11 most expensive homes on the US market!

11. This residence was once a boutique hotel and was converted into luxury condos in the 1950s. $95 million gets you 15 rooms in this Sherry-Netherland building. Remember, this is the cheapest home on the list. It’s a bargain!

10. Talk about another bargain! This New York Bloomberg Tower duplex is only $98 million which is a $17 million price decrease since last year.

9. How about a quaint Southampton home with some acreage? Here it is! And for a measly $98 million. This estate was once owned by the Woolworth family and Edmund C. Lynch. With it you also get an extra 15 acres, you know, just in case you want to add an addition.

8. This seven bedroom Mediterranean home has its own commercial pizza kitchen and a staircase that leads you to the beach. What more could you need?

7. Talk about a view. Why is it so magnificent you ask? Because this penthouse is the highest terrace residence in the US!

6. This 16,000 square foot historic mansion surrounded by 47 acres is for sale for $100 million, but there’s a twist. You can only move in after the current resident dies.

5. These views are magnificent. This Martha’s Vineyard home is situated on 314 acres that include 1,200 feet of private shoreline and a 35 acre freshwater pond.

4. How about a private island in the Florida Keys? Well, here it is! And only a 10 minute helicopter ride from Miami’s South Beach. Where is the helipad? Oh, you can just use the tennis courts.

3. This beautiful Palace of Versailles style residence was once home to Wall Stress investor and Florida Panthers owner, Vincent Viola. It is 16,000 square feet and has an expected monthly mortgage payment of $444,000.

2. Of course, this wouldn’t be a top 11 without Beverly Hills making the list. This stunning home was where the Kennedys spent their honeymoon in the 1950s. Its listing price has been all over the place starting at $165 million in 2010 then dropping to $95 million and is now back up to $135 million.

1. Number one goes to this $150 million dollar listing in Holmby Hills, California. This one you have to see to believe.  

Make Your Home Move-In Ready

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Buyers want a good home buying experience. The last thing they want is to be overwhelmed by how much extra work they’ll have to do to make your house their home. Before you put your house on the market imagine yourself as the buyer and take an honest look at everything that needs a good cleaning.

1.      Pressure Wash

Get rid of the layers of dirt and grime that are covering your home. Spray down the walls, sidewalk and driveway. If you don’t own a pressure washer there’s no need to buy one. Some hardware stores have them for rent.

2.      Revamp The Yard

Give the yard a spring cleaning. Pull the weeds, trim the trees, rake the leaves and replace the dead plants. All of this can be done in a day’s work and will vamp up your home’s curb appeal.

3.      Clean The Garage

Clutter makes spaces feel much smaller than they actually are and the garage is no exception. Not only are garages the “hold all” for everything that you don’t want cluttering up the house, they also gather dust, leaves and dirt as well as unwelcome insects. Give your garage an overhaul and get it nice and tidy for your open house.

4.      Re-grout

Old mildewed grout is a big turnoff to buyers. Even if your home is spotless the day buyers come by, dirty dark grout is going to be a big red flag. Avoid this problem completely and make this necessary improvement.

5.      Clean The Carpets

Just like mildewed grout, dirty floors can be a deal breaker for buyers, but many floors can be given a fresh start with a good thorough professional cleaning. You’ll be surprised at how great your floors can look afterwards.   

Buyers: Don’t Let These Be Deal Breakers

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Turn-key homes mean turn-key prices. If your realtor is showing you older homes you’ve probably been distracted by what you think are “deal breakers”. But wait… we’ve got a remedy for each of your easily fixable deal breakers! Before saying “no” to what could be your perfect property take a look at what you can do to make a house the home of your dreams.

  • Paint Colors

Paint colors can be extremely distracting, but instead of focusing on something that is easy and inexpensive to change, focus on the layout of the home and if it has all of the features you’re looking for.

  • Wallpaper

The idea of having to remove wallpaper can be a bummer, but just like paint, it’s an easy fix.

  • Hardware and Accessories

Especially with older homes hardware and accessories can be dated or downright ugly. Replacing these won’t be a big hit on your budget and take no time at all.

  • Old Carpet

Flooring is a more expensive replacement, but well worth it if you’re buying an older home with a price that leaves room for improvements.

  • Popcorn Ceilings

These have been outdated for years. Popcorn ceilings are also a bit expensive to remove, but again well worth it in the end. You can either take this project on yourself or hire someone to do it for you.

  • Curb Appeal

Great curb appeal doesn’t always depend on the home itself. Curb appeal includes a well-kept yard, clean driveway, trimmed trees and hidden trashcans and air-conditioning units. With all of that in order and a fresh coat of paint on the house you’re good to go!

  • Privacy

Privacy is especially important in tight neighborhoods or when an unfriendly neighbor lives next door. Hedges and fences make great barriers between you and the surrounding homes.

Richest Real Estate Billionaires

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Property values are rising around the world, creating wealth (and new billionaires). These real estate moguls joined the Forbes ranks in 2014.

  • Lee Shau Kee

Lee Shau Kee comes in at number 35 in the billionaire ranking with a net worth of $19.6 billion. He is one of Hong Kong’s richest landlords.

  • Cheng Yu-tung

With $16.2 billion to his name Cheng Yu-tung has long been one of Hong Kong’s richest men.

  • Wang Jianlin

Wang Jianlin owns 75 department stores, 85 shopping plazas and 51 five star hotels and is the richest man on mainland China.

  • Donald Bren

The wealthiest real estate developer in the US, Donald Bren has a net worth of $14.4 billion and is ranked 69th on the Forbs billionaire chart.

  • Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor

Mr. Grosvenor is the U.K.’s richest landlord with $13 billion to his name and is number 81 on Forbs’ list.

  • Thomas and Raymond Kwok

The Kwoks have $12.6 to their family name. They reside in Hong Kong and sit at number 86 on Forbs billionaire list.

  • David and Simon Reuben

The real estate mogul brothers live in the U.K. and are worth $11.5 billion. They are number 95.

  • Robert and Philip Ng

The brothers own more than 700 hotels, malls and condos and are worth $11 billion.

  • Joseph Lau

Joseph is another one of Hong Kong’s largest real estate investors. He is worth $8.4 billion and shares 75 percent of his company with his father.

  • Peter Woo

The last real estate mogul to make the Forbs billionaire list is Peter Woo with wealth totaling $7.2 billion.

6 Steps To Selling Your Home Fast

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Selling a home takes time and effort whether you sell it with the help of a realtor or on your own. No matter the course of action, there is work to be done before listing. Taking these 6 steps to bring attention to your property will help ensure its quick sale.

1. Leave Nothing Out

Many of today’s home shoppers start their search online. To help home buyers know if they are truly interested in your property you need to give them all the information they could want. List your home’s square-footage, amenities and special features.

2. Look At Comparables

Take a look at other properties on the market in your area. Consider what has sold and for how much and take and honest look at how you home measures up.

3. Set A Price

If you want to sell your home quickly your biggest deal maker is the price. For a quick sale, discount your home 5-25 percent below the rest of the market. If other homes in your area are listed at an average of $250,000 consider a price in the $230s or into the $100s.

4. Landscape

Poorly kept landscape can be a big turnoff for buyers just like a nicely kept yard can attract the buyer you want. Take a good hard look at your home and think about what a potential buyer will see. Rake, trim and paint to give your home an inviting appearance.

5. Clean It Up

If you want a quick sale chances are you’re ready to get out of there yourself. Make your home inviting to buyers ready to move right in by cleaning it from head to toe. The cleaner and more inviting your house is the quicker someone will fall in love with it.

6. Get It Out There

Now it’s time to get your house seen. Print flyers, place adds in papers and utilize online real estate sites. The more people who see your house the better chance you have of finding its next owner.

4 Reasons Why Buyers Don’t Like A Home

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No matter how great a property looks in pictures and sounds on paper, sometimes there are things home buyers just can’t look past after seeing a property in person.

  1. The Neighbors: Neighbors can either be assets or liabilities, but more times than not they are the latter. Bad neighbors with overgrown yards and a collection of rusty cars in the backyard, or those who are just a little odd can be major deal breakers for home buyers. Landscape can make all the difference. If your home is plagued by bad neighbors consider putting a natural barrier between homes.
  2. The Grape Vine: Rumors spread like wildfire and can get in the way of a sale if the buyers have “heard some things”. Most of the time rumors are just that; rumors. Gather all the information you can about your neighborhood and your home. Give buyers no reason to doubt how great your area is.
  3. Less Than Thrilled: There is a lot of excitement in home shopping and sometimes that excitement can lead to disappointment when buyers have their sights set beyond their budget or simply don’t have experience shopping for homes. Those who have “been there, done that” know that home shopping takes time and patience and not all homes are as charming in person as they sound online. Provide potential buyers with lots of pictures and an honest description of your home.
  4. A Tight Fit: In some cases the furniture has the last say. If it doesn’t fit it’s on to look at the next house. In the end, a piece of furniture isn’t always worth turning down a great home. Staging can help buyers see the potential in a home. Decluttering also gives buyers a true view of how roomy a home is.