AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/I Spy: Pierce Brosnan Ready to Sell?http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/19/pierce-brosnan-home-for-sale/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/19/pierce-brosnan-home-for-sale/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/19/pierce-brosnan-home-for-sale/#commentsFiled under:



Last week, the landscapers were installing the vegetation necessary to keep our prying eyes from seeing Pierce Brosnan's new Malibu house. And today we noted in the MLS that his old house -- also on Malibu's Broad Beach -- had a status change to pending. If the MLS was Facebook, we'd say Brosnan is now engaged, with nuptials planned imminently.

pierce brosnanPending means that Brosnan's property has a buyer under contract, although backup offers will still be accepted. We'd have to say "about time" on this one. The MLS says it's been on the market for more than 500 days, originally listed in June 2010 at $3.9 million and later reduced to $2.79 million. No word on the sales price.

The house is a Mediterranean with 3,800 square feet. It has three bedrooms, was built in 1997 and has ocean views. The property is gated, has high ceilings with wood beams, walls of glass, a custom fireplace and farmhouse sinks. Nice place, but nothing comparable to the one that Brosnan just had custom-built for himself. Erase those 007 images of Brosnan racing around the world in fast cars and instead go Zen.

No word yet on the buyer.

Ellen Francisco of Coldwell Banker had the listing, says the MLS.

See more photos at HuffPost LA.

Click on the images below to see other celebrity real estate recently on the market in Malibu and beyond:



See more celebrity real estate and homes for sale in Malibu, Calif., on AOL Real Estate.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>celebrity real estatepierce brosnanpierce brosnan homeAnn Brenoff2011-12-19T17:30:00 00:00Sale Pending? Brad Pitt's Malibu Home Pulled Off Markethttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/09/brad-pitt-malibu-home-sale/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/09/brad-pitt-malibu-home-sale/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/09/brad-pitt-malibu-home-sale/#commentsFiled under: ,,



Brad Pitt's house in Malibu, Calif., was withdrawn from the market, according to the MLS. In the world of celebrity real estate deals, this generally happens when the seller has reeled in a buyer and the ink on the deal is just about dry. So far, there's been no recorded sale, but since a moving company was spotted at the house, removing its contents, our radar says the deal is all but done.

%Gallery-141473%
For the record, listing agent Ellen Francisco of Coldwell Banker Malibu says Pitt's house was not sold. Her office received a request from the business manager asking that the listing be withdrawn. You say "to-ma-to," I say "to-mah-to." A house is not legally sold until escrow closes. That, or she's right and I'm not.

Pitt's house, listed at $13.75 million, came on the market in August. It has four bedrooms in 4,088 square feet and sits on 1.26 acres atop an ocean view bluff.

See the full story on The Huffington Post Los Angeles.

Click on the images below to see other celebrity real estate recently on the market in Malibu and beyond:



See more celebrity real estate and homes for sale in Malibu, Calif., on AOL Real Estate.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>beach homesbeach housesBrad Pitt homeBrad Pitt housecelebrity homescelebrity real estateEllen DeGeneres houseMalibu homesMalibu real estateAnn Brenoff2011-12-09T13:00:00 00:00Chicago Sports Figures in Real Estate Bidding War?http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/08/theo-epstein-chicago-cubs-golden-boy-gets-into-bidding-war/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/08/theo-epstein-chicago-cubs-golden-boy-gets-into-bidding-war/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/08/theo-epstein-chicago-cubs-golden-boy-gets-into-bidding-war/#commentsFiled under:

theo epsteinWhat do you get when you mix a Chicago Cubs exec with a Chicago Blackhawks player? A bidding war over a Lakeview house, if speculation is to be believed. And let's just say that bidding wars in today's real estate market are about as rare as the Cubbies heading for the World Series.

Theo Epstein, the current Cubs savior, paid $3.25 million for a newly constructed 7,800-square-foot house near Wrigley Field, according to the Chicago Tribune. But what makes the sale especially intriguing is that the same house -- on and off the market for about a year at just under $3 million -- was in escrow to be sold to Blackhawk forward Patrick Sharp. Escrows, we know, can fall apart, and while nobody connected to the sale is talking to us about it, it certainly would seem like a Hawk just got outscored in the final period. Epstein sealed the deal five days after Sharp's escrow fell apart, records show. (The other possibility is that the Chicago-based developer, PLD Homes, threw in some last-minute upgrades.)

See the full story at The Huffington Post.

Also see:
Jason Kidd Lists Dallas Condo During Downtime
The LeBron Effect: Home Values When Celebrities Move In

%Gallery-140184%
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
See celebrity real estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Blackhawk forward Patrick SharpChicago BlackhawksChicago CubsChicago real estateChicago real estate newsLakeview homes ChicagoLakeview real estateTheo EpsteinWrigleyville real estateAnn Brenoff2011-12-08T09:01:00 00:00David Spade's Malibu Beach Home Sees Price Erosionhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/01/david-spades-malibu-beach-home-sees-price-erosion/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/01/david-spades-malibu-beach-home-sees-price-erosion/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/12/01/david-spades-malibu-beach-home-sees-price-erosion/#commentsFiled under: ,,



Master-of-the-putdown comic David Spade just listed his Malibu beachfront home at $13.5 million, a bit closer to earthly realities than when he first tried to sell it in 2007 for $16 million.

The razor-tongue Spade is perhaps learning the "Rules of Engagement" of the current housing downturn. He bought the 3,763-square-foot architectural home in 2005 for $9.3 million and extensively remodeled it. The home has four large fireplaces, hardwood floors and numerous doors that open to the sand. It's located on La Costa Beach, not far from neighbors Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne who are also trying to sell their home -- listed at $9.45 million. Spade's place is a spit closer to Carbon Beach, which is where all the real Hollywood movers and shakers are.

Spade, who may be best known for his caustic humor on "Saturday Night Live," has another home in Los Angeles and uses this one primarily as a beach house. By the way, we assume that when he shaved the price of his house, he also shaved his face. Spade was one of the celebrities to participate in "Movember," a global campaign where men grew mustaches in November to raise money and awareness for male cancer charities.

Listing agent is Bryan Harper of Coldwell Banker, according to the MLS.

%Gallery-140891%Click on the images below to see other celebrity real estate recently on the market in Malibu and beyond:



See more celebrity real estate and homes for sale in Malibu, Calif., on AOL Real Estate.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>David SpadeMalibu beachfront homesMalibu real estateRules of EngagementSaturday Night LiveAnn Brenoff2011-12-01T17:00:00 00:00Viewpoint: Is Housing Crisis Just a State of Mind?http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/30/viewpoint-is-housing-crisis-just-a-state-of-mind/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/30/viewpoint-is-housing-crisis-just-a-state-of-mind/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/30/viewpoint-is-housing-crisis-just-a-state-of-mind/#commentsFiled under: ,,,,,,

Is it possible that the housing crisis is really just a problem caused by our state of mind, not the state of the economy? Is the thing stopping people from buying houses nothing more than their perceptions? Apparently, to some extent, yes.

We are having what, if economists talked like this, could be described as an irrational fear of commitment.

The facts: The recession is considered over, the country's gross domestic product is growing, unemployment is down and consumer spending is up. Yet, the housing market remains comatose. The only explanation is that we are either all still unemployed and not being counted or we're scared out of our boots.

Want some more evidence that we're just one giant anti-anxiety pill away from fixing what ails the housing market?

1. The number of applications for mortgages is down.

It's becoming a broken record: Interest rates are at all-time lows yet nobody is applying for loans. Yes, lending standards are tighter now -- tight enough to put the kibosh on almost 16 percent of all home deals that open escrow -- but the bigger problem is that potential buyers are afraid to even try to get a loan. Loan applications for home purchases were down 10 percent in a week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey.

Buyers are just plain scared that banks won't approve their loan. This is the grownup equivalent of hiding in the playground bushes during recess because you think the cool kids won't pick you for their team.

2. People don't believe the worst is over.

They are afraid that home prices might fall further. They are afraid that they could lose their jobs tomorrow. They are afraid of looking like a chump, buying when nobody else is buying.

Without question, the days of house-flipping are over. If you are buying, you are buying for the long haul. Remember this: Rents will most certainly go up -- that's why investors are buying properties like mad nowadays; but mortgages that are locked into the current record-low rates will not. If you are planning on staying put, doesn't it make sense to buy?

As for losing your job tomorrow, ask yourself this: Really? Do you really think that's likely? While new jobs aren't being created with anything close to wanton abandon, neither are they being eliminated with the gusto of three years ago. Do you really want to put your life on hold while you wait to see if The Man sneezes in your direction?

Looking like a chump is a tough one. No one wants to be the last soldier killed before the war ends and no one wants to be a homebuyer who bought when prices were still falling. But that gets back to the long-term strategy. You aren't buying for now, you are buying for the many years to come.

Fear can be paralyzing, but so can group-think. If you read how nobody is buying, you figure all those nobodies must know something. Yeah, they know how to be lemmings.

3. Consumer confidence has plunged, yet we are spending again -- just not on houses.

A recent Nielsen poll found that nine of 10 Americans think the country is still in a recession. The memo went out a while ago that the recession officially ended in June of 2009. Pain and misery have clearly lingered and depressed consumers don't spend money. But if we're all so depressed, how do you explain why consumer spending rose in the third quarter by 2 percent. We're even back to our old ways regarding charging and not saving: Consumer credit is back up to 2009 levels and our savings rate has dropped to 3.6 percent, the lowest level in four years. I see our old ways creeping back, don't you?

We may not be happy, but we're spending again. I have but one question: If you are willing to hit Macy's with enthusiasm, why not the housing market?

%Gallery-139870%
Also see:
Survey: Most Boomers Would Cover Kids' Down Payment
Will FHA Be the Go-To Source for High-Cost Mortgages?
When It Comes to Mortgages, Women Don't Shop Enough

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>consumer spendingconsumer spending patternsAnn Brenoff2011-11-30T11:00:00 00:00House of the Day: Malibu Short Sale With a Steep Price Drophttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/30/house-of-the-day-malibu-short-sale-with-a-steep-price-drop/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/30/house-of-the-day-malibu-short-sale-with-a-steep-price-drop/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/30/house-of-the-day-malibu-short-sale-with-a-steep-price-drop/#commentsFiled under: ,,,,



Think the high-end of the market hasn't been felled by the economic downturn? Guess again. Here's a lovely four-bedroom contemporary home in Malibu, Calif., that is now being offered as a short sale with a recent price drop of $1 million. Ouch.

The 5,000-square-foot home is now listed at $2.85 million, subject to the lender's short sale approval. So what does this really mean? It means the lender could say no to that price or it could mean someone is going to pick up a bargain. The home has been listed at $4.2 million.

The home has whitewater ocean views, top-of-the-line finishes that include Viking and Miele appliances, granite counter tops, Brazilian walnut floors and high wood-beamed ceilings. There is a fossil stone wine cellar and an 1,800-square-foot balcony made of Chinese slate stone. The property is an easy walk to the beach and membership in a private tennis club is included.

Click on the images below to see other premium homes for sale in Malibu, Calif.:



See more Houses of the Day and more homes for sale in Malibu, Calif. on AOL Real Estate.

Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email ann.brenoff@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to respond to each submission.)

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
See celebrity real estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>high-end luxury markethome of the dayHouse of the Dayluxury real estateMalibuMalibu real estateshort salesAnn Brenoff2011-11-30T06:00:00 00:00Home Design Can Trigger Memory Lapse, Research Sayshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/29/senior-moments-may-be-caused-by-home-design/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/29/senior-moments-may-be-caused-by-home-design/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/29/senior-moments-may-be-caused-by-home-design/#commentsFiled under: ,

doorwayI regularly walk into my kitchen and open a drawer, only to forget what I am looking for. I walk into our laundry room to claim some clean socks, only to forget what it was I needed. When I call for the dog, my kid's name sometimes comes out of my mouth. And as much as I dislike Rick Perry, I totally got how he couldn't remember the third federal department he plans on eliminating if we elect him president.

Now finally, we have something to blame for those unfortunately named "senior moments." It's the doorway.

New research from University of Notre Dame Psychology Professor Gabriel Radvansky says that the act of passing through a doorway causes memory lapses. Entering or exiting through a doorway serves as an "event boundary" in our minds.

He says, "Recalling the decision or activity that was made in a different room is difficult because it has been compartmentalized." In other words: If you are gift-wrapping at the dining room table and walk to the bathroom to get the scissors, you won't remember that it was scissors you were after once you cross the threshold of the doorway because the decision to get them still lives in the dining room.

Read the full story on Huff/Post50.

%Gallery-138464%
Also see:
Forget Senior Homes: 'Aging in Place' Gains Ground
Happy End of the Road for RVers: Assisted Living on Wheels

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
See celebrity real estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>event boundaryhome design tipsNotre Dame Psychology Professor Gabriel Radvanskyretiree livingsenior livingsenior moments home designAnn Brenoff2011-11-29T13:23:00 00:00Watch the Bay From Pamela Anderson's Rentalhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/28/pamela-anderson-renting-malibu-colony-beach-house/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/28/pamela-anderson-renting-malibu-colony-beach-house/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/28/pamela-anderson-renting-malibu-colony-beach-house/#commentsFiled under: ,,,,

pamela anderson"Baywatch" queen Pamela Anderson -- and for the record, we're Borat-size Pamela fans -- is either giving the website Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO) a major publicity boost or the businesswoman in her (the only Malibu mom we've ever seen reading The Wall Street Journal at Little League games) sees a way to put her empty Malibu Colony home to good use. We suspect it's both. The rental price to sleep where Pamela once slept: $20,000 a week or $75,000 a month.

The Canadian-born Anderson identified herself on the VRBO site as the property owner and explains that she has been traveling a lot and spending more time with family in Canada. Who needs an empty property that is just sucking up money for mortgage and taxes and not earning its keep?

The house is described as a three-bedroom with a pool and rooftop deck. She proclaims her remodel of the green "Lautner-inspired" home as her "humble stab at perfection." Anderson, known as an animal rights activist, welcomes well-behaved dogs.

%Gallery-140413%
Readers, what do you think? How much is celebrity afterglow worth to you?

Click on the images below to see other celebrity real estate recently on the market in Malibu and beyond:



See more celebrity real estate and homes for sale in Malibu, Calif., on AOL Real Estate.

See also:
Bruce Willis Lists His Idaho Ski Retreat
Lady Gaga's Pre-Stardom Pad Hits Market
Rent Oprah's Chicago Co-op for $15,000 a Month

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>BaywatchBoratcelebrity homescelebrity real estateMalibu ColonyMalibu Colony homes for rentPamela AndersonAnn Brenoff2011-11-28T14:40:00 00:0010 Things to Be Thankful For, Even in Real Estatehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/24/viewpoint-10-things-to-be-thankful-for-even-in-real-estate/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/24/viewpoint-10-things-to-be-thankful-for-even-in-real-estate/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/24/viewpoint-10-things-to-be-thankful-for-even-in-real-estate/#commentsFiled under: ,,



Finding things to be thankful for in real estate this year requires a little creativity, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here goes our list of things and people for which we are grateful:

1. We are grateful for still having our homes. There were at least 2.7 million foreclosures in the past five years and another 3.1 million homeowners are staring down the barrel of the foreclosure rifle, according to a study by the Center for Responsible Lending at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Since there are about 130 million housing units in America (yes, we know the census was counting apartments in here too), it still means that most of us have not lost our homes so far. For this, we are grateful, although we acknowledge that it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

Candy Spelling mansion2. We are grateful for Candy Spelling, who sold her house for $85 million to Petra Ecclestone, the luckiest 22-year-old heiress this side of the Atlantic. We are grateful because this means we don't have to write about it anymore as the highest priced listing in America. We are grateful to Mrs. Spelling for her willingness to take $65 million off her asking price of $150 million and are certain that her listing agents share in that gratitude. We wish we could say the same about the Fleur de Lys mansion owned by Suzanne Saperstein, which has been on and off the market since the dinosaurs roamed without a price drop from its perch of $125 million.

3. We are grateful to Matt Perry, Charlie Sheen and Ozzy Osbourne, for continually buying and selling properties and giving us things to write about. Please forgive our occasional unkindness as we wonder aloud about your collective sanity for listing homes in this market when you don't have to. Although in Ozzy's case, we do wonder if he has to. For more on Matt's madness, click here and here and here. Charlie bought this and sold this. As for Ozzy's homes for sale, he has this one in Malibu and his principal residence in Hidden Hills.

4. We are grateful that Las Vegas is having a modest little housing recovery thing going. Sure it's all investors, and yes most of the properties being sold are priced under $100,000, but still we're encouraged. May what happens in Vegas, not stay in Vegas just this one time.

5. We are torn over being grateful for investors, since most of them are from overseas. While we welcome new money to our shores, we fear that America will become a nation of renters mailing our rent checks to people in China, Brazil and Canada. Is this really what we want?

Kamala Harris6. We are grateful for Kamala Harris, California's feisty state attorney general (pictured left), who told the big banks where to stick it. Harris withdrew her state's involvement in the work-in-not-so-much-progress settlement agreement that the nation's attorneys general have been hammering out with lenders -- the ones who brought us robo-signing and other foreclosure "oversights." Harris held a hard line and said that she won't give the banks a do-not-go-to-jail card unless they cough up some principal reductions. Can she please run for higher office soon?

7. We are grateful for low-interest mortgage rates, even though it appears that no one can get them. We fail to understand why banks, whose business it is to lend money, appear so unwilling to do that. Too many people can't buy homes because of tighter lending standards. Too many other people are simply afraid to try. With more people working in the gig economy -- holding a series of freelance and part-time jobs -- it's just plain dumb for banks to insist on seeing corporate paychecks as our main sources of income. The recession changed how we support ourselves these days and lending standards need to reflect it.

8. We are grateful for the absurd thinking that occurs when those with vested interests in saving the housing market get together to come up with out-of-the-box ideas. When it isn't especially cold-hearted, we find it amusing. We did not laugh or feel gratitude, however, when the banks began bulldozing homes to reduce unsold inventory. And we are not thankful for HAMP, HARP, Streamline loan modifications or any other drop-in-the-bucket plan out of Washington that didn't work anyway.

9. We are grateful that we live in a democracy where, when we have a government who has been so ineffectual in helping people through difficult times and prefers to diddle around blaming someone else, we can do something about it. We are grateful for Occupy Wall Street for starting a national discussion. (Read our piece about the Occupy Movement taking on today's housing problems here.)

10. We are grateful for the American spirit, which we do believe in the long run will reconnect us with our national sense of compassion for those crushed by the bad lending policies and collapse of the workforce.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Also see:
The New Homeless: Living Behind the Wheel
When It Comes to Mortgages, Women Don't Shop Enough

%Gallery-139870%

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Candy SpellingCharlie SheenFleur de LysforeclosuresMatt PerryMatthew Perrymost expensive listingOzzie OsbourneOzzy OsbournePetra Ecclestonerate of foreclosuresSuzanne SapersteinAnn Brenoff2011-11-24T08:10:00 00:00Bruce Willis Lists His Idaho Ski Retreathttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/23/bruce-willis-lists-his-idaho-ski-retreat/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/23/bruce-willis-lists-his-idaho-ski-retreat/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/23/bruce-willis-lists-his-idaho-ski-retreat/#commentsFiled under: ,,,,




Actor Bruce Willis is a fixture on the Sun Valley Idaho real estate scene, owning multiple properties in the ski resort area. He's about to own one less though, having just put his 20-acre, lakefront ranch on the market for $15 million.

Willis' agent, Janine Bear with Sun Valley Sotheby's International Realty, told The Wall Street Journal that Willis is selling because he just isn't spending enough time there. He bought and rebuilt the 8,400-square-foot main house in 2003. The property in Hailey includes a detached guesthouse and Willis added a gym. There is also a heated pool with water slides, a waterfall and a rope swing, as well as several man-made ponds on the grounds.

Willis (pictured at left) starred in the "Die Hard" franchise and in the movie, "The Sixth Sense." A much-in-demand actor, he has multiple films slated for release in the next 12 months. Willis has also listed for sale his Sun Valley bar and restaurant complex called The Mint, with a current price tag of $4.5 million, down from about $6 million in August 2010.

Willis' ex-wife Demi Moore and her soon-to-be-next-ex-husband, Ashton Kutcher, reportedly spent some time together at Willis' other vacation home in the Turks and Caicos trying to work out their marital issues. Maybe they should have tried the ski place instead.

%Gallery-140175%
Click on the images below to see other celebrity real estate recently on the market.

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/friends-star-david-schwimmer-lists-for-10-7-million/

See more celebrity real estate and other homes for sale in Hailey, Idaho, on AOL Real Estate.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Bruce WillisDie HardSun Valley IdahoAnn Brenoff2011-11-23T14:51:00 00:00The New Homeless: Living Behind the Wheelhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/23/the-new-homeless-living-behind-the-wheel/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/23/the-new-homeless-living-behind-the-wheel/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/23/the-new-homeless-living-behind-the-wheel/#commentsFiled under: ,,,,



During the Great Depression, people who were forced to live in their cars were known as "Ford families." Today, they go by the far more impersonal name of the "vehicular homeless," and you can count 45-year-old Carey Fuller and her two daughters, 8 and 17, among them.

The Fullers (pictured above) became homeless in April 2004 when Carey lost her job in the financial services sector in Seattle. With the job loss came a move from a three-bedroom apartment into a two-bedroom -- but that wasn't enough to cut expenses. Seeing what was waiting for her around the corner, Fuller took her final bit of income, a tax refund, and used it to buy an RV that she and her girls could live in. After a while, even gas and maintenance on the Winnebago became more than she could afford, so she traded down for a minivan. Fuller takes whatever work she can find, often landing part-time jobs. She also blogs about her life as a homeless mother living in a van.

As the economy continues to circle the drain and the number of foreclosures rises, more and more people are following in Fuller's tracks. Some cities, like Venice and Palo Alto in California, have even created parking areas for people who live in their vehicles.

"Cars are the new homeless shelters," says Joel John Roberts, CEO of PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) Partners, the largest services provider for the homeless in Los Angeles County. Car and van dwellers don't show up in U.S. Census Bureau data because census workers don't knock on car windows, Roberts says.

How They Got There

How did so many families wind up sleeping in cars, vans and RVs? In most cases, they were hit with a job loss or health crisis that cost them their home. The move from roof to backseat is often swifter than expected, and in the case of those whose homes have been foreclosed, there is often a sense of disbelief that the actual day of eviction will come. Departures are often fast and furious, with things thrown into a van. Often, the newly evicted don't travel far; they camp out in the neighborhood where they lived. They quickly learn which public parks leave their restrooms unlocked and that joining the local YMCA provides access to a shower.

In some cases, it's divorce, not unemployment, that puts people in their cars at night. Rudy Salinas, director of outreach for PATH, recalls finding a man living in his car in a supermarket parking lot a few months ago. The man had a stack of neatly dry-cleaned uniforms next to him, which he wore to work each day. But at night, separated from his wife and unable to support two households, he slept in the market's parking lot.

Salinas said that PATH did its own census of the homeless population in Hollywood, Calif. They counted 748 people without homes; 151 of them were car dwellers.

"In my 19 years of doing outreach, I have never seen such a spike in numbers like the one in the past 18 months," he says.

Carey Fuller, the single mother in Seattle, advocates for the homeless while being homeless herself. She says that she parks "anywhere I can" at night, picking spots near foreclosed homes to avoid police detection. Her daughters do their homework in the school library and they do laundry in public laundromats. Meals are taken at church soup kitchens or purchased in convenience marts that have microwaves to heat things up. She lives on an inconsistent child support payment of $150 a month and $500 a month in food stamps for the three of them. Showers are taken at the community pool; on weekends, they hang out at the library where there are many free events.

She gave up trying to use the overtaxed housing assistance system, because of the long waiting lists for apartments.

Is she just a job away from being able to rent an apartment? Fuller says it isn't as simple as that. Landlords discriminate against the vehicular homeless, she says, and demand to see a current rental history. After sleeping in the car for nearly eight years, she doesn't have one.

She's been doing this for so long that it's become a way of life.

"My life feels normal to me," she said, "We live just like every other family except we sleep in the minivan."

A New Community

Car and van dwellers have formed a community of their own, often exchanging survival tips online. Fuller has taught people how to make a "coffee can cooker" on Facebook.

For a long while, the Wal-Mart Stores chain was known for its tacit willingness to let RV-ers use its parking lots overnight. In the evening, the campers served as a de facto security force, making sure that no one did anything to give the police reason to come calling. In the morning, the campers frequented the store, often buying their day's food and supplies there. Gradually, more and more Walmarts became less hospitable to the community. Word quickly spread among the van dwellers about which ones you could park safely in without getting in trouble.

Warm climates tend to draw those living in their vehicles, for the obvious reasons. Southern California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada are popular among the displaced, although many people initially try to stay close to the spot where they fell. They want to keep their kids in the same school, stay close to family and friends. And they lack the money for gas to crisscross the country without direction or purpose.

Salinas tells of the single mother who works at a minimum-wage job and has her 5-year-old son sleep in her sister's Section 8 apartment. She herself sleeps in the car out in front of the apartment each night, fearing that her presence inside would violate her sister's HUD-landlord agreement, which limits the number of adults allowed. She doesn't want to cause her sister to become homeless too, Salinas said. It's not illegal to sleep in your car, by the way, unless a municipality makes it so.

As for today's "Ford families," it's not without some irony to give them the moniker. Although Henry Ford did help a small number of distressed families by giving them loans and some land to work, he also laid off thousands more. And he deeply angered many with public comments about how the unemployed should do more to find work for themselves.

Also see:
Detroit Mom Offers to Trade Her House for a Car
Protesters 'Liberate' Foreclosed Homes
Squatting: Social Menace or Economic Necessity?

%Gallery-138078%
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Carey Fullerfamilies living in carsfamily living in vanhomeless familieshomeless living in carsliving out of a vanRudy Salinasvehicular homelessAnn Brenoff2011-11-23T11:45:00 00:00House of the Day: French Norman, Now Remove Your Shoeshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/22/house-of-the-day-french-norman-now-please-remove-your-shoes/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/22/house-of-the-day-french-norman-now-please-remove-your-shoes/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/22/house-of-the-day-french-norman-now-please-remove-your-shoes/#commentsFiled under: ,,,,



There are some architectural styles that just dictate my behavior. For instance, whenever I see a French Norman estate, I feel like I should lower my voice to a whisper and put paper slippers over my shoes before I traipse on in. This is one of those places.

Located in Bel-Air, a Los Angeles community of expensive homes that prefers understatement to exclamation points, the home came on the market at $18 million -- although this is one of those situations where if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.

One of my favorite features of the 7,500-square-foot mansion is not just that it has eight bedroom suites, but that there is a separate children's wing. How many times have I dragged my weary bones home from work and wished our house had a separate wing for the little ankle-biters?!

The estate occupies almost an acre, most of it spent on creating a mini-park -- all behind gates, of course.

The rooms are of a grand scale: formal and everything looks manicured and perfectly royal -- the way a French Norman home should be.

There is a motor court and a three-car garage.

Joe Babajian of Rodeo Realty has the listing.

Click on the images below to see other homes for sale in and around Bel-Air:


See more Houses of the Day and other homes for sale in Bel-Air on AOL Real Estate.

Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email ann.brenoff@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to respond to each submission.)

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
See celebrity real estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Bel Air real estateBel-AirBel-Air CaliforniaFrench Normandyhome of the dayhouse of the dayJoe Babajian of Rodeo RealtyRodeo RealtyAnn Brenoff2011-11-22T06:00:00 00:00When It Comes to Mortgages, Women Don't Shop Enoughhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/18/when-it-comes-to-mortgages-women-dont-shop-enough/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/18/when-it-comes-to-mortgages-women-dont-shop-enough/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/18/when-it-comes-to-mortgages-women-dont-shop-enough/#commentsFiled under: ,,,



There's a surprising new finding that says women get lousier mortgage rates than men, but not because of gender discrimination. It's because instead of shopping around for cheaper loans, they rely on the recommendations of friends.

To recap: When it comes to mortgages, women don't shop enough.

The report published in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics set out to explain why women were 32 percent more likely to get a subprime mortgage than men in a 2006 study. According to a team of researchers led by Florida Atlantic University's Ping Cheng, the answer wasn't discrimination because of gender or even income disparities.

Women pay higher rates because they are more likely to listen to friends' recommendations, whereas men are more likely to shop around for the best deal.

"Our empirical test confirms that search effort is rewarded in marketplace, and suggests that gender disparity in mortgage rates may be addressed by policies aimed at improving women's financial literacy and search skills," the report summarizes.

It makes sense to Daily Finance columnist Laura Rowley. "It's not surprising, because mortgage shopping can be incredibly complex, so we look to people we can trust to help make the decision," says Rowley. "But this is one area where you don't want to get by with a little help from your friends."

Instead, she advises, call two mortgage brokers and a direct lender, preferably a local small or mid-size bank, and try the following script: "Hi, my name is ____ and I'm in the market to buy a $____ house, and I'm going to put down ____ percent. I'm getting three written estimates, and then I'm going to choose. Can you email me a cost-estimate worksheet stating all the fees and the interest rate?"

Be sure to get the estimates on the same day, as rates can change quickly. Also, don't ask for rates and fees by phone; unscrupulous brokers will simply low-ball their estimate to get you in the door, says Rowley.

For more tips on shopping for a mortgage, see these AOL Real Estate guides:

How Much Can You Afford [Video]
How to Get a Low Mortgage Rate
Mortgage Jargon in Simple Terms

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
See celebrity real estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economicsmortgage ratesmortgage rates for womenmortgagesshopping for a mortgageAnn Brenoff2011-11-18T11:00:00 00:00Divorcing? Don't Do What Demi May Have Donehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/17/divorcing-dont-do-what-demi-may-have-done/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/17/divorcing-dont-do-what-demi-may-have-done/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/17/divorcing-dont-do-what-demi-may-have-done/#commentsFiled under: ,,

Let's preface this by saying Demi Moore didn't call us to consult on her plan to divorce Ashton Kutcher (or anything else for that matter). So we really don't know about any existing or non-existing pre-nups, legal agreements or much of anything else that transpired in their marriage and pre-divorce planning.

But what we do know is that shortly after they married, Moore took her Beverly Hills house out of one blind trust (an entity known as the "4770 Trust") and created another blind trust (called the "Tree House Trust"). Using even our limited powers of deduction, we'd have to assume this was to add his name to her house.

Love, being blind and all, causes us to do crazy things. And this may be one of her crazier ones. Why give away half your house? Since this is California, a community property state, the gesture may have been moot anyway, but still: Is there a lesson here to be learned about protecting one's assets when one marries someone much younger and less established?

According to public records, Moore bought the home in 2003 for $3.15 million. She married Kutcher in September 2005 and then several months later in 2006 moved the ownership of the house to the new trust. So does this mean that in 2006, Moore handed Kutcher a very handsome gift worth millions?

The contemporary house was built in 1957 and sits on about an acre. Moore and Kutcher expanded it to 6,716 square feet; it was featured in Architectural Digest. Photos show it has walls of windows, mahogany, teak and Brazilian rosewood cabinets, a beautiful pool, deck and koi ponds.

Kutcher meanwhile appears to be having a little real estate sell-off of his own. In 2009, public records show that he sold a pre-Demi five-bedroom 4,860-square-foot Beverly Hills house he owned for $3.675 million; he bought the home through his Vista Street Trust in May 2001 for $1.69 million.

Kutcher leased that house out when he and Moore got together, but not before claiming that this was the place where he partied with President Bush's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara -- underage at the time.

Kutcher also sold another property that he owned last June for $2.35 million. It is believed that he bought this house for investment purposes and never lived in it.

Click on the images below to see other celebrity real estate recently on the market.



See more celebrity real estate on AOL Real Estate.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>ashton kutcherAshton Kutcher homeDemi MooreDemi Moore and Ashton KutcherDemi Moore homeDemi Moore propertydivorceprenupAnn Brenoff2011-11-17T18:55:00 00:00Joe Paterno's Real Estate Transfer: Suspicious or Not?http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/16/joe-paternos-real-estate-transfer-suspicious-or-not/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/16/joe-paternos-real-estate-transfer-suspicious-or-not/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/16/joe-paternos-real-estate-transfer-suspicious-or-not/#commentsFiled under: ,,,



Why would former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno transfer ownership of his house, worth $594,484, to his wife for $1 in July, unless he knew that he was about to be drawn into the college's sex-abuse scandal, with potential civil lawsuits and damages heading upfield toward him?

While his lawyer told The New York Times that the ownership transfer was nothing more than a step in a long-term financial estate plan, the move raised some eyebrows. Was the sale an attempt by Paterno to shield assets, fearing that some jury down the road might take him to the cleaners? And by transferring his home to his wife, Sue Paterno, did the coach who once walked on water just sink deeper into the dark hole of public scorn?

AOL Real Estate spoke to several estate lawyers and heard pretty much the same thing: Joe Pa probably didn't do anything fishy, at least when it came to giving his wife the house for $1 plus "love and affection." The couple (pictured at left) had previously held joint ownership of the property, for which they paid $58,000 in 1969.

David Shulman, an attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., whose practice focuses on trusts and estates, says there's no obvious reason to link the home transfer with an attempt to protect assets or do an end-run around prospective creditors. In Pennsylvania, Shulman noted, as long as the property is held jointly -- as Paterno's was -- it can't be subject to the creditors of just one of the spouses. And since Sue Paterno hasn't been linked at all to the sex-abuse scandal, she has no liability or exposure.

"I haven't seen the documents," Shulman said, "but from what's been made public, it just doesn't make any sense that this was an attempt to protect assets."

Then what was Paterno up to? Shulman said the 84-year-old Paterno's decision to transfer the house more likely had something to do with age-related issues, such as Medicaid and tax planning. To qualify for Medicaid-covered nursing home care, for example, a recipient must "spend down" to a certain level. And people are constantly looking to protect their assets from taxes to ensure that their heirs inherit as much as possible.

Since Paterno has good insurance and a degree of wealth, he probably didn't do it for Medicaid purposes. Far more likely it was done as an estate planning move to avoid probate, said Shulman. "It is a fairly typical thing for people of means to want to protect their assets for their children or whoever will inherit them," he said.

Paterno, who was fired as the football coach at Penn State, has been harshly criticized by many for not taking more aggressive steps after a suspected sexual assault of a child by one of his former top assistants was reported to him. And if the reaction to the house transfer is any indication, it's a safe bet that the burgeoning scandal will cast suspicion on everything else the coach does.

[Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly referred to Paterno as Joe Pop; his nickname is Joe Pa.]

Also see:
Taking a Tax Loss When Property Value Declines
Happy End of the Road for RVers: Assisted Living on Wheels

%Gallery-138464%
More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Joe PaternoPaterno house transferPenn State scandalPenn State Universitysex scandalsex scandalsSue PaternoAnn Brenoff2011-11-16T15:21:00 00:00Longtime Resident k.d. lang Lists Laurel Canyon Homehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/15/longtime-resident-k-d-lang-lists-laurel-canyon-home/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/15/longtime-resident-k-d-lang-lists-laurel-canyon-home/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/15/longtime-resident-k-d-lang-lists-laurel-canyon-home/#commentsFiled under: ,,,



There is no finer driving music than k.d. lang singing "Hallelujah" with the volume cranked up so loud that it rattles the windows in the car next to you. Don't even think about arguing with me on this one. And with the news that the four-time Grammy award-winner is selling her longtime home in Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles, we're wondering if the Canadian-born lang (pictured below) is leaving us.

She listed her single-story eclectic-but-rustic cabin at $1.975 million. The home has almost 3,000 square feet and sits on a heavily treed lot. Privacy is a good thing.

The MLS says that lang's house was featured in Metropolitan Home magazine and has Craftsman influences that are eluding us for the moment. There are stone fireplaces in the living room, dining room and master bedroom.

The home has hand-crafted beams, hardwood floors, and all the rooms have either French doors or big old windows looking out at the trees. There is a pool and large outdoor entertainment area.

%Gallery-139476%
Denny Kagasoff of Prudential Realty, Beverly Hills, has the listing.

In the meantime, enjoy!



Click on the images below to see other celebrity real estate recently on the market.



See more celebrity real estate and homes for sale in and around Los Angeles' Laurel Canyon on AOL Real Estate.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>kd langAnn Brenoff2011-11-15T17:02:00 00:00House of the Day: Tuscany on the Beachhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/15/house-of-the-day-tuscany-on-the-beach/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/15/house-of-the-day-tuscany-on-the-beach/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/15/house-of-the-day-tuscany-on-the-beach/#commentsFiled under: ,,,,


There comes a time in every real estate writer's life when she simply can no longer see the forest for the trees. She complains aloud that there should be a lifetime ceiling on just how many Mediterraneans one can reasonably be asked to describe and prays that the one she just wrote about will be her last.

And then along comes a not-so-little charmer that just has a twinkle in its marble flooring that brings her back home. Yes, I'm back in love and checking my sofa cushions to see if $7,195,000 has fallen out of my pockets.

%Gallery-139339%

This Tuscan-inspired estate in Vero Beach, Fla., has a whopping 10,000 square feet of living space and actually does what other listings only claim to accomplish: combines Old World craftsmanship with state-of-the-art modern construction. The six-bedroom home has a gourmet kitchen, wine cellar, separate guest house with elevator and, according to the listing, "a covered loggia with a summer kitchen." (Sorry, but isn't it summer all-year-round in Florida?) There is also a lagoon pool with spa.

The home sits just 20 feet above sea level and has a seawall and gated privacy wall. Zoning in Vero Beach has kept high-rise hotels and large commercial centers at bay, so what remains is a quiet atmosphere of vacation homes and gated communities.

Kimberly Hardin of Treasure Coast Sotheby's International Realty in Vero Beach has the listing.

Click on the images below to see other Vero Beach, Fla. listings:



See more Houses of the Day and other homes for sale in Vero Beach, Fla. on AOL Real Estate.

Got a tip for House of the Day? Know of an exceptional or unusual property currently listed for sale? Please email ann.brenoff@huffingtonpost.com with your suggestions and be sure to include links to listing details and photos. (Due to the volume of response, we unfortunately are unable to respond to each submission.)

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
See celebrity real estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Vero BeachVero Beach FloridaAnn Brenoff2011-11-15T06:00:00 00:00Charlie Sheen Pulls Off a Housing Market Miraclehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/charlie-sheen-housing-market-miracle/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/charlie-sheen-housing-market-miracle/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/charlie-sheen-housing-market-miracle/#commentsFiled under: ,


With tiger blood coursing through his veins, Charlie Sheen pulled off a housing market miracle. He sold a house for $2.9 million that he bought in 2007 for $2.575 million. The buyer was actor Simon Helberg, star of "The Big Bang Theory."

For the record, if there is anyone else out there who bought in 2007 and sold this year for more than what they paid, we'd like to talk to you. Charlie, you the man!

%Gallery-139363%

The house in question is in the oh-so-cool Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Feliz. Sheen bought the estate with then-wife Brooke Mueller and has had it on the market for several eons, at least since the middle of 2009.

But it's a nice house and deserves a nice owner, so this news makes us happy.

It was built in 1927 and has just under 4,200 square feet. Our friends at Realtor.com say the restored interior features Bouquet Canyon stone flooring, trestle-style vaulted ceilings and a formal dining room. The home sort of blends Mediterranean and Southwestern styles, has a great tiled courtyard and a pool.

We suspect the neighbors are popping champagne. Meanwhile, Helberg has his own house to sell. Check it out here.

For more Charlie Sheen real estate doings, click here.

See more celebrity real estate and homes for sale in Los Feliz, Calif. on AOL Real Estate.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Charlie SheenThe Big Bang Theorytiger bloodAnn Brenoff2011-11-14T19:30:00 00:00Howie Mandel Lists Malibu Home for $7.25 Millionhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/howie-mandel-lists-malibu-home-for-7-25-million/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/howie-mandel-lists-malibu-home-for-7-25-million/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/howie-mandel-lists-malibu-home-for-7-25-million/#commentsFiled under: ,,,


Will it be "Deal or No Deal" for comic and TV host Howie Mandel, who just listed his Malibu ocean view home at $7.25 million?

Mandel's Cape Cod has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms in almost 6,000 square feet. The Point Dume area home was designed by architect Douglas Burdge and sits on more than an acre. It has a large pool and outdoor patio area.

%Gallery-139362%

Mandel, always recognizable with his signature clean-shaven head, spent six seasons on the NBC medical drama "St. Elsewhere" before moving into TV game-show hosting. He is best known as the host of NBC's "Deal or No Deal," but also replaced David Hasselhoff in the fifth season of "America's Got Talent." Mandel created and starred in the children's cartoon, "Bobby's World."

Click on the images below to see other recent celebrity listings:


See more celebrity real estate and homes for sale in Malibu, Calif. on AOL Real Estate.

More on AOL Real Estate:
Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.
Find homes for sale in your area.
Find foreclosures in your area.
Find rentals in your area.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Deal or No DealHowie MandelAnn Brenoff2011-11-14T18:30:00 00:00'Friends' Star David Schwimmer Lists for $10.7 Millionhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/friends-star-david-schwimmer-lists-for-10-7-million/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/friends-star-david-schwimmer-lists-for-10-7-million/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/11/14/friends-star-david-schwimmer-lists-for-10-7-million/#commentsFiled under:


And baby makes three ... which still doesn't explain why an 11,000-square-foot house isn't big enough for former "Friends" star David Schwimmer and his new family. Schwimmer bought this Mediterranean a decade ago for $5.5 million, so we're thinking the new Mrs. (Zoe Buckman) wants to put her mark on things. Fair enough (although couldn't she just redecorate?). Anyway, it's now listed at $10.7 million.

%Gallery-139355%
The listing calls it "gated and private," although when last we looked, it was neither. That said, the 1926 home has been meticulously restored and has nine bedrooms. There is a state-of-the-art screening room, a formal dining room and a detached guest house with a loft. It's a house with some history, since it was built by the architectural firm of Koerner & Gage, whose other claim to fame is that it designed the Beverly Hills City Hall.

Since "Friends" broke up in 2005, Schwimmer has had a recurring voice-over role in the "Madagascar" films.

If Schwimmer's place is too rich for your blood, here are some other area homes for sale:



See more celebrity real estate on AOL Real Estate.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>celebrity real estateDavid SchwimmerFriendsHancock Park real estateAnn Brenoff2011-11-14T17:00:00 00:00