Sean Penn Walking Away From Malibu

BY MELISSA ALLISON
ZILLOW
He’s asking $6.55 million for an estate near the beach.

“I’m in love with a woman and home is where the heart is, right?” Sean Penn told Esquire magazine earlier this year.

He apparently did not mean his home in Malibu.

The actor, director, and Haitian nonprofit leader – who’s in love with Charlize Theron – is asking $6.55 million for his 1.4-acre estate a short walk from the beach.

The 1960, U-shaped home features views of the pool and large outdoor entertaining area from the master bedroom, family room and living room. The landscaped yard also boasts terraced gardens and a rose garden.

For maximum privacy, the main home’s 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths are detached from a guesthouse and an office adjacent to the garage.

Penn bought the home for $3.8 million in 2009, the year Robin Wright filed for divorce from him. He appears in the new thriller “The Gunman” and directed the upcoming love story, “The Last Face,” with Theron and Javier Bardem.

The listing agent is Marcus Beck of Sotheby’s International Realty.

Tip for a Weed Free Yard - How Thick Should I Apply Organic Mulch?

From the FamilyHandyman.com


A layer of mulch 3 to 4 in. deep will keep most weed seeds in the soil from sprouting and increase moisture retention. However, more isn't always better. Limit the depth to 5 to 6 in., especially around shallow-rooted plants. And pull back mulch from the base of plants so it doesn't cause rot.

If you want to use organic mulch on slopes, apply a shredded type about 6 in. deep. It'll mat together and stay in place better than a thinner layer.

Note: Cocoa bean mulch is popular in some areas because of its deep brown color and chocolate odor. But it's a bit tricky to use effectively. Apply it no more than 1 in. thick, because thicker layers tend to retain too much water and become moldy. You may also have to replenish it more often because it blows away easily when dry. Also be aware that dogs can get sick if they eat or chew on this mulch.

Summer Fun 2015: Your guide to kids programs and camps for the summer in Miami

Compiled by Valerie Schimel | MunchkinFun.com

Miami.com

Keep the kids happy and active

The List: Summer Camps

1. Summer Institute for the Gifted. 
Treat kids 5-17 to a three-week academic summer camp at the University of Miami. 866-303-4744


2. Adventure Biscayne Camp.
Skip the cell phone & immerse your child in a summer of sailing, kayaking, fishing, volleyball, sand soccer, sandcastle building and outdoor fun. 305-361-1505


3. Area Stage Company. 
Have your child participate in a full production of “Disney’s Aladdin or join one-week intensives designed to improve performance skills in acting, voice, and dance! 305-666-2078


4. Perez Art Museum Miami. 
Kids 6-12 will explore weekly themes found in the works on view, make their own works of art and enjoy recess at Museum Park. 305-375-3000


5. Design Lab Miami. 
Campers will flex their creative muscles, learn to work with their hands; and develop their own ideas about textile printing, sketching, and fashion technology. 305-891-0440

Indoor Playspaces
Find a couple hours of air-conditioned fun and child entertainment at an indoor playspace — Miami’s answer to summer parenting. Some of our favorite spots include Play-In in Wynwood (2501 NW 2 Ave., Miami; 305-576-7604); Jump A Roos in Homestead (20505 S Dixie Hwy, Cutler Bay; 305-238-5867); and Cool de Sac at Village at Gulfstream Park (500 Seabiscuit Trail; 954-399-9953). Offerings and pricings vary by location but include trampolines, climbing gyms, crafts, dress-up and snacks.

Make Movie Magic
Summer is prime movie time as local theaters offer free and discounted family-friendly show times. Cobb Theaters offers free family-friendly films Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday at 10 a.m.; while Regal Cinemas offers $1 screenings at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesdays. 2015 featured films include ‘The Smurfs’, ‘The Lego Movie’, ‘Stuart Little’ and ‘Paddington’. Check websites for locations and schedules.

Get Bookish
Storytime is a South Florida parent’s best friend. Up to an hour of books, crafts and indoor fun that’s good for the little ones, good for parents and easy on the wallet. Various library branches offer regular story readings and craft sessions, as do local bookstores like Books & Books (www.booksandbooks.com), the Bookstore in the Grove (www.thebookstoreinthegrove.com) and Barnes & Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com). Visit websites for details.

Joe Manganiello Lists Bachelor Pad With Backyard Oasis

BY MELISSA ALLISON
ZILLOW
The Hollywood Hills home features a curvy pool, hot tub and fire pit surrounded by tropical foliage.

Joe Manganiello’s upcoming nuptials with Sofia Vergara have the “True Blood” and “Magic Mike XXL” star in a listing state of mind. He’s put his Los Angeles pad on the market for $1.995 million, the Los Angeles Times first reported.

The quarter-acre property includes a modern 4-bedroom, 3-bath home, but the best place for a werewolf to hang is probably in the backyard oasis with a curvy swimming pool, hot tub and fire pit surrounded by stone walkways and tropical foliage.

It’s looking like the $10.6 million Beverly Hills mansion that Vergara bought last year will be their “Modern Family” home.

10 Things Every Homeowner Must Know - 8

From theFamilyHandyman.com

Find Your Property Lines

Iron stakes mark property lines in most communities. They're typically located at corners and places where property lines meet. To get started, request a plot plan from city hall. You may be able to find the stakes by dragging a rake over the suspected location. But more likely, the stakes will be several inches underground. In that case, your best bet is to buy or rent a metal detector (inexpensive ones cost less than $40). When you've found your target, dig to make sure that it's really a stake and not just a lost quarter.

Home Equity Calculations and Concerns

From Enlightenme.com'

Deciding to tap into your home equity when you need money is a decision with many layers. Among the first of your considerations on the matter should always be whether you have enough usable home equity to make it worthwhile. The next question on your list should be whether using your equity is the wisest course of action.

Home Equity Laws

Your ability to use your home equity varies based on the state in which you reside and the kind of property you possess. A primary residence in Texas might have very different requirements than a rental property in California. Reviewing your lender’s website or speaking to them in person is the best way to familiarize yourself with your state’s home equity lending policies.

Home Equity Calculations

An important part of any state’s home equity law governs how much you can borrow. This calculation revolves around your loan to value, or the percentage of all the liens on the property against the home’s appraised value. A more conservative state, for example, may limit your total loan to value to 80 percent. This means a home appraised at $200,000 cannot have loans in excess of $160,000, unless you obtained the loans at the time of purchase. If you owe $150,000 on your first mortgage, you have only $10,000 available.

To reach the figures in the above example, simply multiply your home’s value ($200,000) by the maximum loan to value (80 percent). This gives you the home equity limit, or $160,000. Next, subtract your existing mortgages ($150,000) and the resulting number is your maximum loan amount ($10,000). If you get a negative number, this means you have no usable equity in your home.

Home Equity Concerns

Once you determine if you have any home equity to use, you can decide if this kind of loan makes sense in your situation. Home equity loan rates are typically lower than unsecured loan rates, but you must provide your home as collateral. In the event you are unable to make your payments, you can lose your home. Even if your home equity lender does not foreclose, and they rarely do when first mortgage payments are current, your lender can make it difficult for you to refinance either lien or sell the property until you bring your account current.

In general, you should be wary of home equity lenders who try to coax you into a 100 percent loan to value situation. Although it’s common for lenders to let you know when a higher loan amount will qualify you for a lower interest rate, you should not make a habit of borrowing more money than you need. The one notable exception is when you’re in the market for a home equity line of credit because you do not have to use a set amount.

Designer Max Azria Wants $85M for LA Manor

BY MELISSA ALLISON
ZILLOW
The estate features a 6,000-square-foot theater and a clubhouse-style viewing box above the tennis court.

You know the creator of BCBG womenswear is going to have fabulous dressing rooms — and now that Max Azria and his wife, Lubov, have listed their Los Angeles estate, there are pictures to prove it.

The Azrias dress surrounded by glass-fronted closets that make clothes and shoes easily visible. There’s a giant sartorial island topped by a modern chandelier of glowing orbs, plus windows and a set of French doors for taking in the scenery while donning daywear.

The couple is asking $85 million for the 17-bedroom, 22-bath manor, which sits on 2.8 acres that include five distinct gardens — French, Japanese, English, Moroccan and herb — plus a tennis court with its own elevated, clubhouse-style viewing box and two glass-enclosed greenhouses, one for produce and another that’s been converted into a gym.

A zero-edge pool sits alongside a Moroccan bathhouse with a sauna, steam shower and spa.

The 30,000-square-foot estate boasts a walk-in refrigerator and a 6,000-square-foot movie theater with its own snack and popcorn bar. There’s also a 2,500-square-foot office with a gold-leaf ceiling, The Wall Street Journal reports, and separate guest quarters situated around the property.

The Azrias paid $16 million for the estate in 2005. They bought it from a blind trust that, months earlier, had bought it from writer and producer Sidney Sheldon.

Jaime Cuevas, Billy Rose and Mauricio Umansky of The Agency hold the listing.