Unique Homes Blog

As luxury continues to rebound, we follow the latest reports from around the United States.

By Jessica Decina

In the South, Nashville’s High-End Sales on the Rise

Nashville, Tenn. — Business has been booming for luxury real estate in Nashville. Bill Henson of Silver Pointe Properties reports that since January, 72 homes priced at $1 million and above have sold at an average price of $1.33 million. While the number is expected to exceed 2010’s sales, Henson is cautiously optimistic, noting the price adjustment.

“The market says the overall pricing continues to be a little soft on those premium homes,” he says. “But the fact that we’re selling more homes does spell recovery. We are seeing a lot of energy; a lot of folks are looking.”

Henson affirms that much of Williamson County, including Franklin and Nashville, are simply “a phenomenal place to be and live.” He is currently listing an 11,000-square-foot home in Laurelbrooke, a sought-after community near Franklin, for $3.995 million; homes in the community go as high as $13 million.

In the Southeast, Development Sales Soar in Florida’s Gulf Coast

Sarasota, Fla. — New home sales are up in Lakewood Ranch, an 8,500-acre master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Already home to 15,000 residences, the development is reporting about 160 homes that are currently under construction, compared to just 80 last year. Homes can range as high as $5 million in the community. Milt Flinn, the community’s president, attributes the strength of sales to the “tremendous value” of master-planned communities.

“It’s such an incredible lifestyle,” he says. “[You] don’t have to leave Lakewood Ranch. We have 2 jobs for every home, 90 holes of golf, 150 miles of walking trails, 14 schools, 3 universities. There’s a lot of educational and employment opportunities.”

With a projected sales total of 400 homes for the year, Flinn expects the success of Lakewood Ranch to lead the surrounding areas toward recovery.

In the West, Tools of the Trade Boost Aspen Sales

Aspen, Colo. — There are signs of promise for the Aspen real estate market, which saw a 39-percent leap in sales compared to 2010, thanks in part to a little
creativity.

Just ask Aspen broker Steven Shane of SDS properties. Recently, he has negotiated deals in which a seller will come down on the price of his or her property in exchange for a buyer’s property as partial compensation: “swapping.”

“Typically, there’s a buyer who wants to take advantage of lower prices,” Shane explains. “If I can identify a seller who may want to retire or reduce a significant amount of their debt, that seller might be willing to take a lesser-valued home in partial payment for their home.”

In the East, Luxury Residences Springing Up in DUMBO

New York, N.Y. — Previously known for its industrial sector, Brooklyn’s waterfront community of DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is quickly becoming an appealing place to live, thanks to the launch of two new upscale residences. Two Trees Development announced GAIR2, named for Robert Gair, a prominent 19th-century architect. The 106-unit complex offers 1- to 2-bedroom apartments available for rent; each unit boasts custom Italian kitchens and white oak floors; the rooftop deck offers spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. Rents range from $2,300 to $6,000.

Just around the corner, Halstead Property Development Marketing is selling 45 luxury residences at Kirkman Lofts. The building, once home to the Kirkman & Sons soap factory, incorporates the original steel silos of the factory into the design, offering studios to 4-bedroom homes, as well as three 4-story townhouses. Prices for these luxury lofts range from $555,000 to $1.6 million.

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