The Mortgage Firm

‘Painted Lady’ for $2.295 Million

richardpeek — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:07:38 +0000

A Queen Anne Victorian, one of San Francisco’s ‘Painted Ladies’ overlooking Alamo Square Park, is on the market for $2.295 million.

On the (Old) Road to New York

richardpeek — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:01:15 +0000

This 18th-century estate in New York’s Westchester County includes a centuries-old milestone used to direct stagecoach drivers and once had its own baseball team.

If Kids Can Play, Will Mom Shop?

richardpeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:08:13 +0000

In their bid to keep shoppers from deserting to the Internet, more malls are adding sprawling play spaces.

CBRE Taps New Vein From Old Deal

richardpeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:08:13 +0000

The real-estate company’s top-of-the-market acquisition of Trammell Crow Co. has turned out to be the deal that keeps on giving, in the form of incoming CEO Robert Sulentic.

Florida’s Next Frontier

richardpeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:08:12 +0000

A parcel of timberland in Florida that is nearly the size of Rhode Island and owned by a who’s who of elites from the worlds of business and diplomacy is now slated to be the next frontier in the state’s real-estate development.

Billings Slip Back

richardpeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:08:12 +0000

After five months of positive readings, the Architecture Billings Index slipped back into negative territory during April, an indication that demand for design services declined.

Fearing the Worst on Park Avenue

richardpeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:08:12 +0000

The national luxury-home builder Toll Brothers is moving to alter two small, pre-Civil War houses that survive amid the tall co-ops of Park Avenue, despite lobbying efforts by neighbors to save them.

Equestrian Estate in Pennsylvania

richardpeek — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:01:56 +0000

This 135-acre equestrian compound has been in the same family for more than a century. It includes four homes, pastures, horse stables and plenty of land for generations to come.

Is Now the Time to Buy Your First House?

richardpeek — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:00:28 +0000

Yes, says RBC Global’s Eric Lascelles, who believes homes are more affordable than they’ve been in quite a while. No, says economic consultant A. Gary Shilling, who contends that home prices have 20% or more to drop before they hit bottom.

An Extreme Kayaker Brings His Work Home

richardpeek — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:06:24 +0000

Perched on a bluff above the Columbia River Gorge, the 3,500-square-foot contemporary has a view of the changing river waters in an area that’s known as a mecca for outdoor sports.

Merv Griffin Estate Near Palm Springs Sees a Price Cut

richardpeek — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:06:24 +0000

Merv Griffin’s former estate near Palm Springs is reduced 34%; Sheik Tarek Al Fassi sells in Miami Beach; a Maryland estate of Phillips Seafood’s Steve and Maxine Phillips lists for $32 million.

Living in ‘Sunny’ San Francisco

richardpeek — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:06:23 +0000

This 1,947-square-foot Victorian home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms in San Francisco’s sunnier Noe Valley neighborhood is asking $1.7 million.

Old Europe on the Upper East Side

richardpeek — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:06:23 +0000

This 1,900-square-foot duplex apartment on New York’s Upper East Side is home to a number of centuries-old European antiques and paintings that give the space an aristocratic touch.

A Modern ‘Traditional’ in Sag Harbor

richardpeek — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:04:46 +0000

This ‘traditional-style’ home in Sag Harbor, N.Y., conceals a decidedly modern streak—it was built recently.

Fannie Posts Biggest Profit Since Rescue

richardpeek — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:04:46 +0000

Fannie Mae reported a $2.7 billion first-quarter profit and will pay $2.8 billion to the U.S. government, marking the company’s strongest quarter since it was rescued 3½ years ago.

Delays in Home Refinancing

richardpeek — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:04:46 +0000

Clogged mortgage pipelines have created headaches for hundreds of thousands of Americans trying to take advantage of low mortgage rates.

Browsing for Homes via App

richardpeek — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:04:46 +0000

A new, free app called HomeSnap lets you take a picture of a home and in less than a minute, you’ll have an estimate of its price, plus details on its square footage, number of rooms, similar homes for sale and other facts.

A Cheery Midcentury

richardpeek — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:08:11 +0000

This home in Bel Air mixes ‘Mad Men’ chic with ‘eclectic modern.’

Sweet Upper East Side Duplex

richardpeek — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:09:44 +0000

This 4,400-square-foot condo on the Upper East Side was tricked out by its owner, a candy store founder, with lavish amenities and a master bathroom with two of everything.

Vacation-Home Markets Heat Up

richardpeek — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:05:55 +0000

Market conditions are improving in some high-end locales. Here’s a guide.