Unique Homes Blog

Stuttgart/Sunny Isles Beach — Germany-based Porsche Design Group (Porsche Lizenz- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG), and prominent New York/South Florida developer Dezer Properties, today announced a master licensing agreement to expand the iconic luxury brand’s reach into the residential real estate market. The venture’s first project in this new arena features a proposed 57-story ultra-luxury tower in Sunny Isles Beach, showcasing a one-of-a-kind robotic parking system. This system will allow owners to park their vehicles in “sky garages” directly next to their units. The City of Sunny Isles Beach has approved plans for the 132-residence tower.

The Porsche Design luxury brand, founded by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the designer of the legendary 911 sports car, is renowned for its technical innovation, forward thinking, and unique iconic style. The new tower would reflect Porsche Design’s brand hallmarks for delivering groundbreaking ingenuity and superlative quality.

“I could not envision a more exceptional project for our brand,” says Dr. Juergen Gessler, CEO of the Porsche Design Group. “The Porsche Design Tower would be representative of our company’s commitment to engineered luxury and the fundamentals that redefine luxury and deliver technically inspired products, such as this state-of-the-art parking system.”

The proposed building, to be located on a 2.2 acre parcel at 18555 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, will feature three circular platforms at the building’s center which operate as passenger-speed “automobile elevators” equipped with sensors that will take vehicles and their owners to their designated floor. The cars will then be parked at one of 284 robotic parking spaces adjacent to the owners’ units.

“We feel honored to partner with such a prestigious enterprise,” adds Gil Dezer, President of Dezer Properties. “Our development team is confident this building will serve as a catalyst for other Porsche Design Towers throughout the world.”

Units at the Porsche Design Tower will range from 3,800 to 9,500 square feet. More than one-half of the units feature a duplex layout, with the ocean-facing units inclusive of a private pool. Porsche Design Tower units are expected to range in price from 2.9 million to 9 million U.S dollars.

Dezer Properties has developed six buildings within two Sunny Isles Beach projects in collaboration with New York real estate mogul Donald Trump. Generating an unprecedented response from a broad range of local, national and international buyers, the prolific developer has successfully sold over 2,000 units at their Trump-branded properties.

“There would simply be no other building in the world with such unsurpassed technological and design elements,” concludes Gil Dezer. “The design team engaged in conceptualizing the Porsche Design Tower has addressed every imaginable detail a potential owner might anticipate. It has been nothing short of a privilege working with such an esteemed group of dedicated professionals.”

According to the LA Times, the 2-acre Pacific Palisades estate owned by actor Dennis Quaid has been sold for $9.5 million.

The estate was built in 2004 and features two houses. The 8,4000 square-foot main house has eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms, complete with a studio, barn, home gym and wine cellar. The second house on the property registers in at 2,158 square feet and has a scenic view of the swimming pool and spa.

The house was put on the market in March and listed for $16. 9 million, but the price was reduced to $10 million before it was sold at $9.5 million.

— Victoria Moorhouse

Celebrity chefs may have an act for making fabulous food, but their houses are sure to make your mouth water as well.

The website, Toptenrealestatedeals.com, gathered 10 of American’s favorite celebrity chefs and gave a quick peak of their homes. The list features beauty’s like Paula Deen’s southern suite, to Mario Batali’s Michigan masterpiece. Check it out.

— Victoria Moorhouse

New York, NY—According to the fourth quarter Manhattan residential market report released today by Brown Harris Stevens, the average Manhattan apartment sale price of $1,391,745 was down slightly from the last quarter and down just three percent from same period in 2010. A leading factor in the lower average price was a steep decline in condo sales, which accounted for 40 percent of all sales, compared to 46 percent in 2010’s fourth quarter. Condos typically sell for more than co-ops and when they comprise a smaller share of sales, the overall average apartment price will be driven lower. The average price for cooperatives sold during the fourth quarter of 2011 was on par with a year ago, at $1,149,203. The average condominium price was $1,825,728, up four percent from a year ago with most size categories seeing an increase in price. There were 1,645 fourth quarter closings reported at the time of this report, 13 percent less than a year ago.

“A key factor in the decrease in closing in the fourth quarter, was the threatened expiration of the Bush tax cuts which led many high-end owners to sell before 2010 ended,” said Hall. F. Willkie, president of Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales. “New York City’s recovery remains well ahead of schedule. This combined with a relatively low rate of available apartments has led the Manhattan market to continue to outperform the rest of the nation.”

• The average price for three-bedroom and larger co-ops rose 18 percent over the past year, all other size categories of co-ops saw their average price decline during this time.
• Helped by three closings for more than $20 million, the average price for three-bedroom and larger apartments on the East Side rose 42 percent compared to 2010’s fourth quarter.
• Sales at The Laureate once again impacted average sales prices on the West Side. The average price per square foot for condos jumped 20 percent over the past year to $1,571.
• In the Downtown market, the average condo price per square foot rose five percent over the past year to $1,257. Co-op prices declined, with the average price per room eight percent lower for prewar and four percent lower for postwar apartments.

Silver Creek, New York—As an Apple licensee, Reverie’s exclusive technology allows users to easily download their Reverie control app at the iTunes® store onto their iPad® or iPhone®, turning their device into a remote control for the Reverie sleep system. They may use either the Bluetooth® or Wi-fi features of their devices to control all the functions of the sleep system. Reverie has also integrated remote control power outlet technology into the sleep system, so a touch of the iPad® screen can turn on/off appliances around the room. With soothing massage, zero gravity, and control of the bedroom all at the fingertips of Reverie’s customers, it’s never been easier to relax in luxury!

The Reverie Showroom, B-925, will also be the place to see two Concept Beds that will give visitors a look into the not-so-distant future. The Concept Beds will have an all new look, unique adjustable features, new electronic controls and an array of exciting accessories.

The new technology focus at the 2012 World Market is a continuation of Reverie’s technology revolution that starts with the rollout of a new remote control for the current Reverie Deluxe Adjustable Base. The new remote consists of a sleek new design with added features such as Anti-Snore and programmable memory positions.

Visitors to the Reverie showroom will be able to learn more about the Reverie technology revolution, while exploring mobile technology tools that are being developed to relay product information to consumers and retail sales associates.

For more, visit http://www.reverie.com

— Victoria Moorhouse

If you had an opinion on some of 2011’s show-stopping estates, here’s the time to let it be known. The Wall Street Journal compiled an interactive slideshow of the past year’s 10 most popular homes featured in the series, House of the Day.

But voting on your favorite may be easier said that done. Among them, a 14,600 square-foot log home in Oregon complete with a gymnasium and hot tub built into a cave, a 1929 Philadelphia estate listed for $3.95 million, and a portion of a luxury resort in New Zealand listed for $42 million. All the homes top the charts with sights, square-footage, and some serious amenities.

— Victoria Moorhouse

Designing extravagant interiors is something Kelly Fleming definitely has perfected — even for her own personal projects. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal explores the work of the interior designer’s newest masterpiece. After designing for P.F Chang’s and Ruth Chris’s steak-houses, Kelly Fleming turned to designing her home and winery in Napa.

The article dives into the winery’s French design influences, a look into Fleming’s wine business, and her less-is-more approach to decorating. Writer Nancy Keates describes how Fleming used sparse decorations and bold wooden furniture to keep the interior classic and natural.

You can check out her winery here as well.

— Victoria Moorhouse

Zephyr Cove, Nev. — Year-end home sales at Lake Tahoe are holding steady compared to 2010 with some indicators on the rise, according to a quarterly report released by Lake Tahoe-based real estate firm Chase International, which notes a 1-percent increase in units sold around the lake.

The National Association of Realtors recently reported that existing home sales rose again in November and remain above a year ago, and the latest Tahoe housing market sales figures concur with this national trend. In fact, while real estate sales and prices took a slight dip around the lake overall, the East Shore market segment saw a 1-percent increase in median home price ($575,000) and a 35-percent jump in average price ($1,286,924). Volume sold on the East Shore was up 26 percent, while the number of units was down seven percent.

Although the number of units sold is up slightly, the median price of a home in Lake Tahoe is down 13 percent to $365,000 from 2010’s year-end numbers. The average home price fell 14 percent to $607,683.

“High-end home sales on the East Shore helped buoy the Lake Tahoe market,” said Susan Lowe, corporate vice president for Chase International. “It definitely is still a buyers’ market as average and median prices have continued to fall, but with units sold rising, we believe the market is strengthening.”

Truckee (Calif.) reflects this same trend, seeing a 2-percent increase in units sold and a 17-percent rise in units sold for less than $1 million. The median price of a home in Truckee is $438,166 (down 10 percent) and the average price is $562,811 (also down 10 percent).

The condominium market around Lake Tahoe experienced a 6-percent decline over 2010 in units sold. However, for units sold for more than $500,000, a notable 29-percent jump occurred. Tahoe City experienced the most pronounced increase in sales over 2010 sales figures, with a 3-percent rise in units sold and up 50-percent in units sold for over $500,000. South Lake Tahoe saw a 21-percent increase in overall volume sold, with median and average prices rising 14 and 69 percent, respectively. The median price of a condo in Lake Tahoe is $262,000 (down 8 percent) and the average price is $348,868 (down 12 percent).

For more, visit www.chaseinternational.com.

This week’s Top of the Tweets
By Camilla McLaughlin

Guesstimates for real estate 2012 continue to fly. RE/MAX’s Dave Liniger expects the number of sales to increase as will the number of homes on the market. More foreclosures are in the offing and distressed properties are expected to make up about half of all sales. Investor purchases will account for about 25 percent of transactions. The readers of Inman News, an online real estate news outlet, recently selected Liniger, who is the co-founder and current chairman of RE/MAX, as “the People’s Choice Most Influential Real Estate Leader in 2011.” Check out Liniger’s top 10 predictions: http://bit.ly/wqbSf0

In his U.S. Macro Outlook, Economy.com’s chief economist Mark Zandi calls for a “tentatively better year” tweets @dismalscientist.

Luxury sales records. Metro Vancouver’s luxury housing market broke all records in 2011, according to a report by @Macdonald_Rlty with 691 homes selling above $3 million last year topping 2010’s record of 375. However, sales of high-end homes are starting to cool. A tip of the Tweets hat to @mario_felicella and @Macdonald_Rlty for the story. http://t.co/NEuOtSDL More positives come from Silicon Valley as sales rose to the highest level since early summer according to Coldwell Banker. @DavidCauchi tweets this story. http://t.co/S5J4qrCB

A five-year high in Miami! Miami’s strong recovery continues with a 5-percent increase in November. The upper price brackets captured the largest gain, with a 26.9-percent year-over-year increase in the number of homes selling for $800,000 or more. The multimillion-dollar market, homes selling at $2 million and above, rose 36.4-percent year-over-year. Also showing strong gains, 21.2 percent, were homes priced under $100,000.

Few real estate markets received as much scrutiny during the recession as Florida’s, but 2011 saw a growing number of positives regarding luxury sales from Naples, Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale in addition to Miami. In Sarasota, 18 luxury homes or condos sold for more than $1 million in December blurbs @LeadingAgents.  http://t.co/r9sGVuYT Rosemary Beach along Florida’s panhandle is known for high-end properties and agents say 2011 was a breakthrough year for luxury sales. The highest sales fetched over $7 million. Check out the story via @FineJenn and others. http://t.co/LmkX2M7r

Wealth and the wealthy under the microscope. This week The New York Times took a look at the fabled 1 percent with what they describe as a “more nuanced portrait of the rich.” Take a look at @nytimes peek under the hood of the 1 percent. Nyti.ms/yPOdaj

“Content, content, content” is most critical to marketing efforts this year says @btobmagazine. Content is also one leg of a new media model B to B dubs “Paid/Owned/Earned.” Also important tends are mobile apps and social integration. Check out all 10 trends. http://bit.ly/z5nIZn

Trade shows shift into high gear in January The Consumer Electronics Show, which took place last week, always generates buzz, but another headliner was the Detroit Auto Show, where energy efficiency was the big news with a range of concept cars boasting higher gas mileage, including models from Acura and BMW offering some version of a hybrid. The big news came from American manufacturers, who continue to challenge imports. The Ford Fusion was named the best designed car in the show. Cadillac introduced a smaller sporty sedan, more lightweight and fuel efficient with plenty of power. The top 10 new cars from the Detroit Auto Show via @time: ti.me/yiRaPF

Looking for something rarer? Next month, a rare — one of only six built — Jaguar XJ220 will hit the auction block in Arizona; estimates for the winning bid are in the $225,000 to $300,000 range. @IconicAutos tweets the story   aol.it/weurPN

Make it simple! Information overload has most of us wanting to access and digest information quickly, which, when it comes to website design means simple is better today. @TMGmedia offers this as one of five ways to future-proof your website is.gd/hgnhs9

With two private terraces, a combined 535 square feet, this Bal Harbor home is not shy of views of the ocean and Intracoastal that dazzle. Enjoy an early morning breeze and sunrise or wind down from your day with a calming sunset. This luxurious residence, features 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass, a gourmet kitchen with granite counters and a wine chiller, 2 large bedroom suites and 2.5 marble baths.

This gorgeous home, listed by Niki Higgins of Seaside Properties Group, Inc for $2,495,000 million, is located at the Haulover Inlet, which offers the unique combination of a private residence and the services and amenities of the renowned One Bal Harbour Resort and Spa. Every resident can access the 5-star dining facilities, a world-class spa, concierge, full beach service and valet of the Bal Harbour Resort and Spa. This home is complete with the security of using the private facilities such as the movie screening room, the ocean-side swimming pool and the club room.

—Kimberly Turner