Tom Siebel, Cher House and GoDaddy.com Founder Make Real-Estate News – WSJ.com
Bob Parsons, the founder and CEO of Web-hosting company GoDaddy.com, paid $8.72 million for a Balinese-style house on Hawaii’s Big Island that was built by Cher and went to auction last month. “We never thought in a million years that we’d end up being the buyer,” says Mr. Parsons.
GoDaddy.com helps consumers register Web domain names and is also known for its racy Super Bowl TV ads. The Hawaiian property, at the Four Seasons’ Hualalai resort, includes a main house flanked by four one-bedroom bungalows. Singer-actress Cher bought the 0.76-acre property in December 2004 for $2.9 million and last year began building the house but never lived in it. Concierge Auctions handled the sale along with Rob Kildow of Hualalai Realty. Though the house comes furnished, Mr. Parsons says, “I’m bringing a bigger TV.”
Last month, I wrote about the house that Cher built. Well, the auction is over and lucky Bob Parsons is the new owner of this fantastic island get-away! And wow, what a profit! Although the cost of building the actual house and guest houses isn’t reported, I would bet that the construction bill didn’t reach the $6 million difference. This house looks amazing and although I love the Colorado Springs real estate area, I certainly wouldn’t mind leaving for a destination such as this!
In Pictures: 15 Kooky Inventions – Dust Cover for Dog – Forbes.com
Don’t want your dog getting all dusty? Neither did Seroun Kesh of Detroit in 1964. Actually, Kesh’s main goals with this full-body suit for dogs were to protect house furniture and allow owners to insert a hair dryer into the suit’s end to quick-dry their mutts after their baths. Not a PetSmart bestseller, to say the least.
Colorado Springs is a very dog-friendly area…to say the least. We boast some of the finest dog parks in the country! But with dogs, comes dust. And as we all know Colorado Springs homes for sale with dust covered furniture and floors are sure to miss out on generating the “wow” factor they deserve. But not to worry! Did you know that someone actually invented and patented a Dust Cover for dogs? A part of me says – “that would solve a lot of my dirt problems!” and another part of me says – “but it would cause so many more!” – and yet another part of me says “but does it come in pink?”
City of Colorado Springs – The City introduces the Historic Westside Design Guidelines
The City of Colorado Springs, in conjunction with the Organization of Westside Neighbors (OWN), has completed the Historic Westside Design Guidelines.
The new guidelines are designed to help recognize and preserve the historic significance and architectural qualities of the residential community that developed around Old Colorado City between 1859 and 1930.
The Old Colorado City real estate area is famous for it’s quaint architecture and historic charm. And the City of Colorado Springs has just taken one step closer to ensuring that the character of Old Colorado City we love today, is maintained for the future. The Historic Westside Design Guidelines will have a great impact on not only the appearance of our City but also the property values as well.
For the most part, historic districts attract flocks of buyers looking to own a piece of history. And for history buffs, it just doesn’t get any better than Colorado Springs! From the Santa Fe Trail, to Nikola Tesla, to Van Briggle Pottery, there’s enough past to Colorado Springs to fill a text book. I am glad the City is investing in the preservation of our heritage, and the Westside Design Guidelines are certainly part of that.
Housing Shortage Coming In 2011 – Forbes.com
The focus of the U.S. real estate market lately has been the number of foreclosures and people trying to purchase cheap housing. But Brian Wesbury, chief economist at First Trust Advisors, says that if Americans don’t start focusing on building new houses, the market will have a much bigger problem on its hands.
“We need one and a half million houses per year just to keep up with population growth,” Wesbury said in an interview with Steve Forbes. “And then if you throw in, you know, fires and tear-downs and just worn-out properties, we need 1.6 million or more per year. Right now, we’re down to about six and a half, seven months’ inventory whether you look at new homes or existing homes.”
It’s hard to believe that the States could be positioning itself for a housing shortage. But that’s exactly what some economists are saying. But despite the national outlook for housing, the Colorado Springs real estate area has no shortage of potential home sites. Over the past few years, land developers have platted almost a 7 year supply of lots. In a nut shell, that means that based on average new home sales, it would take 7 years for all available lots to be sold. That’s quite an inventory stock pile!
So what does this mean for new home buyers? Deals. And lots of them! New home builders now have the opportunity to purchase lots for less money, which then, hopefully, translates into more affordable housing for you and me. Combine that, with the home buyer’s tax credit, and you’ve got a win-win situation for buying a new home!
Filed under: Uncategorized —
Jamie @
February 23rd, 2010
Wood Entry Doors | Doors | This Old House – 1
An entryway is the focal point of a home’s facade. And the front door, its most prized asset. Dressed with a fine lockset and handsome knocker, the door extends a friendly welcome while also discouraging intruders and shutting out the weather. It’s the first thing we grab when we arrive and the last thing we touch when we leave.
There’s something to be said for Colorado Springs homes for sale with spectacular front doors. This much overlooked feature not only provides a focal point for buyers from the street, but also offers buyers the very first impression of the house. In the age of garage door openers many of us forget we even have a front door. But the front door can reveal a lot about a home. If buyers come to a front door that has been neglected, they are sure to wonder what else in the home has also been left off the routine maintenance list.
