Julia Roberts Reportedly Asks $30M for Hawaii Estate

BY MELISSA ALLISON 
ZILLOW

It’s one of the largest lots in an area where neighbors include Chuck Norris and Mark Zuckerberg.

Julia Roberts has listed her Hanalei, HI estate with more than 200 feet of beachfront for $29.85 million, Pacific Business News reports.

The estate, which the actress bought for $13.4 million in 2011, is called “The Faye Estate” for the sugar plantation manager who bought it in 1915, four decades before Hawaii became a state.

“H.P. Faye had the vision and the finances to purchase not one but two lots in the best part of the Bay,” according to the listing, which is held by Neal Norman of Hawai’i Life Real Estate Brokers.

The 2-acre property has views “mauka and makai,” meaning toward the mountains and seaward.

The 3,792-square-foot home was built in 1946 and has 7 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. Building may be permitted for up to 9,000 square feet for more buildings and a pool.

“Today, almost all of the lots on Hanalei Bay have been subdivided, and many of the original large estates are gone,” the listing says. “The Faye property is one of a few parcels that retain the large, open feel and the only one that is available for sale.”

Chuck Norris and Mark Zuckerberg bought in the area recently, as did a hedge fund partner, according to Pacific Business News.

10 Things Every Homeowner Must Know - 4

From theFamilyHandyman.com

Don't Squish Ants

Place liquid ant bait stations in areas where you've seen ants, like under the sink and along walls, to make it as easy as possible for the ants to take the toxic bait back to the nest. Expect to see more ants (initially) when you set out the bait. That's a good thing. It means more ants are taking the bait back to the colony where they'll share it with the rest of the ants, including the queen.

Home Equity Loan Features

From Enlightenme.com

Every loan has features that are similar to other types of loans and nuances that make it special. Your home equity loan is no different. Learning about the ways this loan differs from others can help you determine if using your home’s equity is the right way to go or if you should continue looking for other options.

Home Equity Loan Basics

As the name implies, a home equity loan taps into your home’s value by using your home as collateral. Specifically, your equity in your home is the difference between the appraised value and the amount you still owe. While the specific amount of the equity you may borrow against varies based on your state’s equity laws, the basic calculation for determining available equity is the same.

If you live in a state that allows a max loan to value of 90 percent on a home equity loan, you follow the same procedure to figure out the dollar amount as someone in a state allowing only 80 percent. You multiply the maximum percentage by your home’s value and subtract what you owe. This means a house worth $150,000 with a first mortgage balance of $75,000 has available equity of $60,000 if 90 percent is the state maximum.

Home Equity Loan Rates

Home equity loans rates are often lower than the rates offered for other kinds of debt, but remain higher than the original mortgage. Your home is a powerful, secure asset and can command lower rates than you might expect for an unsecured loan or automobile purchase because there is less risk for the lender in the event of non-payment. Because your home equity lender takes second lien position behind the original mortgage holder, the position is less secure. When a borrower is unable to make payments to both lien holders and the home is auctioned off, the first mortgage lender receives payment before your equity lender. In times of declining home values, this is an especially precarious situation for home equity loan lending companies.

Home Equity Loan Terms

The amount of your loan is the main factor when determining the length of time you may take to repay your home equity loan. Lenders offer terms up to 30 years, but 15 years is the more common term. Like your first mortgage, the longer terms provide you lower payments, but can more than double the amount of money you pay in interest. For best results, always accept the lowest term with payments you can still afford and attempt to make additional payments for an early payoff.

Zachary Quinto Beams Into Manhattan Loft

BY MELISSA ALLISON
ZILLOW




He’ll live there with his partner and their two rescue dogs.

Zachary Quinto has made a logical leap, shifting coasts as much of his work moves east.

Quinto, who played everyone’s favorite Vulcan in the “Star Trek” movies, has boldly forked over almost $3.2 million for a 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath loft in the Big Apple.

His recent roles include the boyfriend of a gay man who renounces homosexuality in “I Am Michael,” Mimi-Rose’s ex in “Girls,” and the slapper in “The Slap,” all of which filmed in New York.

An elevator opens directly into Quinto’s new home, which he bought with his partner, model Miles McMillan. The 2,295-square-foot space features walnut floors and oversized windows facing three directions. It includes a home office, an open kitchen with a walk-in pantry, custom built-in bookcases and storage.

According to Trulia, which first reported the sale, the couple will live there with their rescue dogs, Noah and Skunk.

Quinto sold a house last year for nearly $1.3 million in Los Angeles’ hip Los Feliz neighborhood.

The listing agents for his recent purchase were Patrick V. Lilly and Martin Eiden of Core.

Air Leak Testing & Sealing - The Top 10 Tips for Saving Money at Home - 7

From the Familyhandyman.com

Fill gaps under sinks

Seal gaps around plumbing pipes
Squirt expanding foam around the pipes inside the wall.

Pull back the escutcheons on plumbing pipes where they enter exterior walls and you'll probably see generous gaps around the pipes. In cold weather, you might also feel the draft coming in. All it takes is some $7-a-can expanding foam to seal those leaks. Shake the can vigorously, then squirt the foam around the pipes inside the wall. Don't completely fill the gap—the foam will expand. If it expands too much and you can’t get the escutcheon back on, wait for it to dry, then slice it flush with the wall with a utility knife.

Queen Latifah Sells Her First NJ Mansion

BY MELISSA ALLISON
ZILLOW

The hip-hop star is still trying to unload her Los Angeles bungalow.

They made her wait, but Queen Latifah has finally welcomed new owners to her New Jersey palace.

After nine months and price cuts of more than $300,000, the hip-hop pioneer and film producer sold the 9.5-acre estate for almost $2.1 million — a smidge less than she paid for it back in 2001.

It was the first house Queen Latifah bought in her native New Jersey. The 6-bedroom, 8-bath home boasts a two-story great room, two decks and a home theater.

The listing agent was Robin Jackson of Coldwell Banker.

The star is still trying to sell a 2,026-square-foot bungalow in Los Angeles that hit the market last fall. She’s asking $1.799 million, down by $140,000 from its initial listing price. Queen Latifah bought the home in 2010 with her personal trainer, Jeanette Jenkins.

Norma Streams of Rodeo Realty holds that listing.

10 Things Every Homeowner Must Know - 3

From theFamilyHandyman.com

Make Your Furnace Last

Regular filter replacement is the very best thing you can do to keep your furnace in top condition. And here's a way to keep track of that task: Buy several filters and label them. With some systems, monthly filter changes are best. Others can go a few months between changes.

Home Loan Lender Strategies

From enlightenme.com

Some borrowers like to shop for a home loan lender the way they shop for a used car. They might kick the tires on a few, find something they can live with and haggle over rate. Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t always work because the relationship you have with your mortgage lender lasts longer than the standard used car-buying transaction. As long as you keep a few key strategies in mind, finding a lender can be easier than buying a used a car.

Set an appointment with a Home Loan Lender

Setting an appointment with any home loan lender seems like the most basic of steps in the mortgage process. In truth, often the basic elements can tell you the most about how your relationship will develop. Test the ease of getting an appointment, as well as the attitude while making it. Unless you’re dealing with someone who can get you 10 percent lower than the going interest rate, it isn’t worth working with a mortgage lender who seems annoyed by your very request for an appointment.

The availability of your potential home loan lender is another factor you should not overlook. Even though you may have plenty of time to close your mortgage, you don’t want to devote a lot of time to someone booked solid over the next two months. If the representative doesn’t have a loan program to fit your needs at the appointment, you’ll find yourself two months behind schedule and still at square one.

Involve all the decision makers

Even if you handle all the financial details for your family, make sure to involve your spouse in the initial consultations. Just because you know the budget like the back of your hand does not mean your husband or wife will never interact with your home loan lender. In fact, you may find that your spouse can handle the communication with your mortgage representative while you work on collecting the documentation the lender needs.

Search for the right fit

Extensive mortgage knowledge is critical for any home loan lender, but not the only thing for you to consider. How does the mortgage lender make you feel during your interactions? If he or she acts annoyed when you have questions or talks down to you, this is not someone you want to handle your loan. Instead, look for someone with the right balance of personality, experience and knowledge.

Negotiate the terms

A good home loan lender will understand that one mortgage loan does not always fit all. Be honest about your finances and speak up if your lender offers you a deal you cannot afford. In most cases, there are ways to modify many of the critical mortgage elements in such a way that both you and the lender can walk away pleased about the deal.

Jonah Hill Reportedly Ready to Unload His Soho Loft

 BY MELISSA ALLISON
ZILLOW

It’s on Howard overlooking Crosby, not Jump, Street.

Jonah Hill, the subwolf of Wall Street, is listing his Soho pad for $3.5 million after trying unsuccessfully to get a bigger moneyball — $3.8 million — for it last summer, Curbed New York reports. He also asked $12,000 to $14,000 a month in rent last fall.

The 2-bedroom, 2-bath loft boasts 13-plus-foot ceilings and superbad views through enormous windows overlooking Crosby (not Jump) Street.

The 2,000-square-foot apartment has its original, century-old hardwood floors, plus exposed brick walls and marble bathrooms. It’s been renovated with a gourmet kitchen, central air conditioning and a washer-dryer. The home is currently configured with a larger master suite with views and a second interior room.

The listing agent is Jared Seligman of Douglas Elliman.

Air Leak Testing & Sealing - The Top 10 Tips for Saving Money at Home - 6

From the Familyhandyman.com

Caulk and cover room air conditioners

Cover the unit securely
Seal built-in units with latex caulk.

A room air conditioner keeps a section of the house cool. The problem is, it’ll keep the room cool all winter long if it isn't covered properly. If you have a window unit, the best solution is to remove it so the cold air won’t flow through and around it. If you decide to leave it in or you have a permanently installed wall unit, grab some removable caulk and a $4 window air conditioner cover to keep out the cold.

Place the cover over the outside of the air conditioner, fitting the sewn-in corner straps over the bottom corners. Wrap the middle straps under and up the sides of the unit, then hook them over the top. Inside the house, apply removable caulk around the air conditioner where it meets the wall or window. If the air conditioner is a built-in unit, permanently seal it with latex caulk.

Miami Science Museum hosts annual Galaxy Gala and Big Bang fundraiser

By Amy Reyes | miamiherald.com

Galaxy Gala returns to raise funds the new state-of-the-art Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in downtown Miami’s Museum Park.

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science hosts its 13th Annual Galaxy Gala: Aqua Lumiere on Saturday, an event that helps raise funds for and highlight the development of the new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, a world-class, state-of-the-art facility under construction in downtown Miami’s Museum Park. 

 
Hosted by Chief Meteorologist John Morales of NBC 6 South Florida, the evening celebrates science using exciting technology and innovative features, including a water and light graffiti interactive experience by French artist Antonin Fourneau. The evening begins with a cocktail reception featuring live animals and an auction, followed by dining, dancing and entertainment from Drew T and DJ Blaze Carreras. Latin Grammy-nominated artist Debi Nova will take the stage for a special performance.

During the Gala, the Museum will honor individuals and organizations who have exhibited exceptional leadership and commitment to the development and building of the new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science: The Visionary Award will be presented to The Batchelor Foundation, Founder George E. Batchelor; the Vanguard Award will be presented to Baptist Health South Florida; and the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science award will be presented to Julia Rea Bianchi.
 
Coinciding with the Galaxy Gala is the Museum’s Big Bang 2015: H2Glow after-party, hosted by the Frost Science Young Patrons. Targeted at young professionals ages 21-40, the Big Bang begins at 9 p.m. with a cocktail reception and at 11 p.m. the doors open to the main event where attendees join Gala guests and “crash” the party. The Gala then transforms into a nightlife-inspired event with DJ, dancing, special performances and cocktails. All proceeds from both events directly benefit the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science and its programs.

New 'Mom' Regular Jaime Pressly Lists Villa-Style Digs

 BY MELISSA ALLISON
ZILLOW

The actress paid a little more than she’s asking for the Sherman Oaks home in 2008.

Actress Jaime Pressly, who just landed an ongoing gig in the CBS comedy series “Mom,” is selling her Sherman Oaks, CA home for almost $2.2 million.

The two-story, villa-style home has 5 bedrooms and 5 baths.

A balcony with an ornate wrought-iron railing overlooks the home’s living room, which boasts an oversized fireplace, built-in bookcase and floor-to-ceiling bay windows.

The master suite features its own fireplace plus two walk-in closets, a large master bath and a veranda overlooking the backyard.

Outside is a covered patio plus sun deck, barbecue area and a gated swimming pool with a hot tub that cascades into the pool.

Pressly paid $2.25 million for the home in 2008.

JoAnna Selby of JohnHart Real Estate has the listing.