Location: Fort Myers - The Lee County Bar Association will present Law in the Mall on April 30, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Dillard's Court at Edison Mall, Southwest Florida's only enclosed and climate-controlled shopping destination serving the Greater Fort Myers and Naples area. During this time, visitors can receive FREE one-on-one legal advice and attend informative seminars hosted by volunteer attorneys. Additionally, the Lee County Bar Association will present the following free public seminars: -Bankruptcy - 10 a.m. -Simple wills and estates - 11 a.m. -Power of attorney, guardian advocate cases and guardianships - noon -Family law - 1 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring any related legal paperwork with them when visiting.
via Florida Events Calendar: Fort Myers http://ift.tt/236op4N
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Nick Lachey Lists His Mansion Before Going on Tour
The gated home on a tree-lined cul-de-sac is listed with Mauricio Umansky, Farrah Aldjufrie and Craig Knizek of The Agency. It spans more than 8,000 square feet and boasts an open floor plan with formal living and dining rooms, a theater with stadium seating, and a spacious family room off the chef’s kitchen.
There’s a butler’s pantry and breakfast area, plus three more rooms on the ground floor that can be used as guest rooms, offices or a gym.
Two bedroom suites share a separate wing of the home, with the master suite comprising its own private getaway with a sitting room, two large closets, and a grand bathroom featuring a soaking tub and a large, separate shower.
The home’s decor exudes luxury and comfort simultaneously, with fireplaces, soaring ceilings, exposed wood beams and large windows with tree and mountain views. Many rooms in the home feature access to the yard, with patios, a veranda with a fountain, and a swimming pool with a cabana.
Photos courtesy of The Agency
Related:
- Star Maps Maven: Her Family Has Tracked Celebrity Homes for 80 Years
- Thomas Middleditch Nabs 1920s Home with Hollywood History
- Grateful Dead Bassist Phil Lesh Lists Marin County Estate
via Zillow Porchlight | Real Estate News, Advice and Inspiration http://ift.tt/1XVQdYb
Thomas Middleditch Nabs 1920s Home with Hollywood History
Thomas Middleditch, the actor best known for his role as entrepreneurial nerd Richard Hendricks on HBO's Emmy-nominated "Silicon Valley," has nabbed a 1920s bungalow. Alas, it isn't in Silicon Valley, rather, Los Angeles, but it does come with a Hollywood history.
Middleditch and his wife, costume designer Mollie Gates, will be quite at home in the 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom bungalow that once belonged to well-known set designer Charles Lisanby. Lisanby was instrumental in early color television set design, and won an Emmy himself.
The couple purchased the house less than a month ago for $1.5 million - an expensive upgrade from their previous bungalow, which they bought for $849,000. (It must not have suited their tastes, since that was less than a year ago, and the home is for sale with a pending offer.)
Moving shouldn't be too hard for the couple, though, as the two homes are in the same Hollywood Hills neighborhood.
Built in 1927, the couple's new home was last sold in 1979, so it seems to be a keeper. The time period shines through with original detailed molding, stone fireplaces, large Palladian windows and exposed rafters. The rest, however, shows off an eclectic style that belies the traditional California bungalow exterior.
The living room exudes a French country feel, with blue-and-white chandeliers hanging from a cream-colored exposed wood ceiling. Classic 1920s tile and woodworking take the main stage in the entrance. The dining room has an Oriental feel, with red-and-gold wallpaper, and the kitchen is a mix of decades, as is the romantic bedroom suite with large walk-in closet.
A large studio space is available above the garage, perhaps as storage for Middleditch's collection of knight and Renaissance fair costumes, or as a video-gaming haven for him and his dog, Potter, named after Harry Potter.
Related:
- Star Maps Maven: Her Family Has Tracked Celebrity Homes for 80 Years
- Britney Spears Lists a Mansion Fit for a Pop Star
- Fred Armisen Buys in Trendy Los Feliz
via Zillow Porchlight | Real Estate News, Advice and Inspiration http://ift.tt/240ALBd
The Pros and Cons of Month-to-Month Leases
Navigating the rental market isn't easy. Between bait-and-switch listings on sites like Craigslist, deceptive landlords, and confusing legal language in lease agreements, finding the right apartment can be a time-consuming, mentally taxing process. But before you even begin your search, you'll need to determine whether you're looking for a short- or long-term lease.
Not sure where you stand? Consider these advantages and disadvantages to month-to-month leases - then decide what makes the most sense for your needs.
Pro: You get greater flexibility
If you're thinking about buying a property in the near future, or moving to a new city, a short-term lease gives you more flexibility and can save you money in the long run. When you sign a 12-month (or longer) lease, you're legally obligated to pay 12 months of rent even if you decide to move before the lease expires. (Read: breaking a long-term lease will cost you.)
Granted, "some landlords will let you terminate a 12-month lease early if you find a new renter to take your place," says Joe DeFilippo, a real estate agent and rental specialist with City Chic Real Estate in Washington, D.C.
However, if you want to be able to move on short notice without paying a penalty, a month-to-month rental is your best option. Bear in mind you'll still need to give the landlord at least 30 days' notice (or more, depending on the lease agreement).
Con: You pay more in rent
Owners want rental property occupied at all times so they can continually collect rent. But when a tenant moves, finding a replacement can be a hassle - and there's a chance the unit will be vacant for a while. Therefore, month-to-month renters pay a premium, says Rae Wayne, an agent with The Bizzy Blondes Real Estate Team in Los Angeles.
How much more you'll pay depends on the market. In Washington, D.C., month-to-month leases cost on average 50 percent more than 12-month leases, says DeFilippo. In Manhattan, landlords usually charge 15 percent to 20 percent more - and rent is high in New York, points out Marin King, an attorney and real estate agent at Keller Williams NYC.
Pro: You can (usually) switch to a long-term lease
In general, if you're a good tenant, the landlord will be open to you converting to a 12-month lease, but there are some circumstances where that's not the case. For example, if the owner is planning to make the property their primary residence in the near future, you'll eventually need a new place to live. Find out what the landlord's motivation is before signing a lease.
Con: Your rent isn't fixed
Arguably the biggest benefit of signing a 12-month lease is that you get to lock in your rental rate, which makes it easier to manage your budget.
Meanwhile, when you're on a month-to-month lease, the landlord could decide to raise your rent on a whim and - depending on where you live - may only need to give you 30 days' notice.
Pro: Many are fully furnished
Some apartments are specifically designed for short-term renters and come furnished. Residential buildings near universities, for instance, are ideal for summer interns, who are often willing to pay more since they don't have their own furniture.
Furnished rentals can be convenient if you’re looking for a short-term home. Courtesy of Zillow Digs.
The good news: many jurisdictions place a cap on how much landlords can increase rent within a 12-month cycle, so you'll probably have some protection. But you're still in a less favorable position than you would be in a long-term lease.
Con: Moving ain't cheap!
A month-to-month lease might make sense in the short term, but if you start going from one short-term lease to the next, you'll burn money that you could be saving for a down payment.
Even if you don't hire a professional mover, your lease may require fees to cover your application, utility transfer, and cleaning. Also, some buildings charge new tenants a move-in fee of up to $500.
Moreover, there may be lag time in terms of your previous landlord releasing your security deposit. "There can be a lot of money in flux during a move," says King. Not to mention that packing boxes and carrying heavy furniture isn't exactly a pleasure cruise.
Con: You may have to do some digging
Landlords tend to prefer a long-term lease, since it offers guaranteed income over a set period of time, and reduces the risk of the property sitting vacant in between tenants, says DeFilippo. Hence, you have fewer options if you're looking for a short-term rental.
Related:
- 5 Tips for Renting in a Pricey Market
- Renting or Buying a Home: Which is Best for You?
- Hidden Fees and Add-ons to Watch for in Your Lease
via Zillow Porchlight | Real Estate News, Advice and Inspiration http://ift.tt/240qzIP
Star Maps Maven: Her Family Has Tracked Celebrity Homes for 80 Years
Linda Welton remembers the time her mother came home from work and said Marilyn Monroe had bought a map. It was a big day for a woman who’d sold Star Maps on a sidewalk near Sunset Boulevard for decades.
“She said she was wearing white and was very nice,” recalled Welton, the Star Maps heir who now sits in a folding chair across from Michael Jackson’s former Los Angeles home and sells maps like her mother did, showing where the area’s biggest celebrities live.
Dr. Phil once dropped by on a visit to Jackson’s home and joked about not being on the map, while Jay Leno bumped into Welton in Whole Foods and was happy to hear that he is. “The people who are on the map are top notch,” Welton said.
Some celebrities approach her to see if they’re on the map, without realizing that she knows who they are, said her friend Keith Holman, a celebrity designer who worked with Jackson and others. “One of the beauties of Linda is that she remembers the legendary people as well as the new people.”
Zsa Zsa Gabor is an example, as are Diahann Carroll and Buddy Hackett. A 1940s Oscar winner, Celeste Holm, once approached Welton to ask if she could be included, and Welton said “yes.”
Welton’s grandfather, a retired vaudevillian, started the Star Maps business in 1936, well before the Internet and sifting through property records came into vogue. He would send Welton’s mother and her cousin to chat with gardeners and innocently ask who lived in the home — a tradition that continued with Welton.
It’s not all star sightings and sleuthing, though. Star Maps also means the gritty, flesh-pressing business of selling the glossy, full-color maps that start at $15.
Then there was the lawsuit.
Welton’s mother spent five years fighting a lawsuit that characterized her as a public nuisance. It went all the way to the state supreme court, and in 1978 she won in a verdict that Welton carries with her, just in case.
After all, she doesn’t want a hiccup in her legacy.
Related:
- Jillian Michaels’ Malibu Beach House Is in Great Listing Shape
- Wes Craven’s Former LA Home Will Make You ‘Scream’
- Britney Spears Lists a Mansion Fit for a Pop Star
via Zillow Porchlight | Real Estate News, Advice and Inspiration http://ift.tt/1VQCaWG
Monday, April 25, 2016
Is Your Home the One Buyers Want?
When it comes time to sell your home, whether you've lived there for three years or 30, you need to see it as a product for sale. And just like an item on a store shelf, you want your home to stand out from the competition.
Of course, your feelings and emotions about your home - and all of the memories you made there - may make it difficult to detach and view your home as a product. But sellers who quickly transition away from the emotional connection and into investment mode will reap the financial benefits many times over. Homes that go into contract quicker and with few (if any) price reductions ultimately sell for more money. And isn’t that every seller’s goal?
What’s on buyers’ wish lists
Homes that sell quickly probably have many of the features today's buyers find desirable. Smart retailers try to understand better what consumers want, and then deliver to them. Home sellers should do the same.
When you’re preparing to sell your home, consider small renovations, updates, cleaning and even some light staging. I've seen sellers make significant upgrades to their home before listing, leaving them to question if they actually want to move.
Today's buyers look for move-in ready and turn-key homes. The more bells and whistles, the better.
Focus on kitchens and baths
It’s a pretty well-established fact that kitchens and baths sell a home. If your kitchen or bathroom is tired or outdated, consider modest upgrades that pack a punch.
Painting cabinets white gives the kitchen a clean and fresh look. Consider new stone countertops like quartz or granite. And replace old faucets with shiny new ones.
Spending a modest sum can reap incredible benefits - tenfold.
If you've got it, flaunt it
Research shows that certain features help sell a home faster. Even if you don’t have time for renovations, you might luck out and already have some of the items on buyers’ wish lists.
For example, subway tiles in the kitchen or bathroom, barn doors, and craftsman features are proven to help homes sell faster. If your home has these, play them up, because today's buyers want them.
Just like companies figure out the next hot car, handbag or shoe for their respective industries, smart home sellers must know their audience and market their product to meet customer demand.
When it comes time to sell, consider your buyer, and try hard to make your home into a top-notch product.
Related:
- Quiz: Can You Match the State With Its Top Listed Home Amenity?
- Best Home Improvement Investments
- 3 Tips for Enhancing Curb Appeal
via Zillow Porchlight | Real Estate News, Advice and Inspiration http://ift.tt/1VP2H6I
Grateful Dead Bassist Phil Lesh Lists Marin County Estate
The $10.35-million home in Marin County is no brokedown palace: It’s 7,900 square feet of Dutch colonial splendor with enough space - 7 bedrooms and 6 baths - for a band.
The home is filled with light, from a sun room off the formal living room to a large downstairs bedroom with French doors on two sides - one set leading to a secluded outdoor patio. The master bedroom upstairs is even more luxurious, with a fireplace, hardwood floors and a bright master bath with a soaking tub and separate shower.
There are fireplaces in the living room and dining room, and a family room with a wall of built-in shelves and drawers, plus more French doors that open onto the expansive backyard. The large kitchen with a six-burner stove and a giant eat-in island also opens through two sets of French doors onto the yard, which includes a pool, a living room with its own fireplace and a vast lawn for walking out in the morning dew.
The listing agent is CJ Spielman of Paragon Real Estate Group.
Related:
- John Cusack Looks to Sell or Rent His Malibu Beach House
- Ice-T and Coco List Opulent Penthouse in New Jersey
- Houston, We Have a Listing From the Apollo 13 Commander
via Zillow Porchlight | Real Estate News, Advice and Inspiration http://ift.tt/26p0EZY
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