Kardashian Rental in Bucolic Southhampton Has a Private Beach

AUTHOR:EMILY HEFFTER
ZILLOW

The quaint village of Southampton is charging “Kourtney & Khloe Take the Hamptons” producers $500 a day to film the E! reality show there this summer, but they will not be allowed to film on the beach. But no matter — the sisters are renting their own. The Kardashians have leased a waterfront mansion for the summer for $300,000, according to Page Six. 

The 5-bedroom, 6.5-bath home they reportedly chose is for sale for $13.9 million, listed with Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

The private estate sits on 3 acres surrounded on three sides by water. It has a heated pool and private dock, all within close proximity to Southampton Village, where the sisters have reportedly rented a storefront for a pop-up version of their Dash boutique.

“We’ve had some push-back from the residents,” said Southampton VIllage Administrator Steve Funsch. “They’re just afraid they’re going to bring a lot of paparazzi and publicity to the village.”

Southampton’s population swells from 3,000 to 12,000 in the summer, when the very wealthy go there to get out of the public eye and relax.

“We have a lot of hedge fund people out here. (Vice President Joe) Biden comes to visit, Howard Stern comes out to visit  … but they can walk around in jeans and a T-shirt and nobody bothers them,” Funsch said. “They don’t want all these people coming in here with throngs of paparazzi.”

Tips for Moving Furniture

From TheFamilyHandyman.com

Make a mattress sling

Easier carrying

Trying to wrestle a heavy, floppy mattress anywhere is tough. Many mattresses have handles, but they're not intended for carrying. They're actually made to help you position the mattress, so they're not very strong. Here's an easier way to carry a mattress: Make a simple rope sling that will give you and your helper a lot more control. Thread the rope through the mattress handles and attach your grips as shown. Flip the mattress over so the sling is on the bottom and you're on your way.

Tip

Slip a 5-in. piece of 1-in. PVC pipe over the rope ends and then loop and tie each end to create a comfortable sling grip.

Summer Fun: A guide to outdoor sporting options in Miami this summer

Have fun and stay fit

By Brittny C. Valdes

Miami.com

Looking to stay fit and have fun? Try these summertime fun activities, from glow-in-the dark paddleboarding to free yoga around town.

Deep-sea fishing excursion
What: The Reward Fishing Fleet offers anglers a four-hour trip aboard a 70-foot angling boat with all the latest in fish-finding technology. Guests are provided with fishing equipment plus bait. The boat offers various dining options and an air-conditioned TV room. 
Where: South Pointe Park, 300 Alton Rd., Miami Beach 
Price: $50 for one; $100 for two 
More information: 305-372-9470; www.fishingmiami.com 


Kiteboarding experience
What: Glide along the ocean with the Miami Beach Paddleboard Company as it offers a kite-boarding training session and a 90-minute tour across South Beach’s clear waters. Instructors teach safety tips, steering and flight control before taking off.
Where: 1416 18th St., Miami Beach
Price: $150 per person
More information: 786-428-4402; www.miamibeachpaddle board.com

Sea-Doo Sea Scooter underwater tour
What: Use the new Sea-Doo Sea Scooter to propel through waters quickly. The hand-held engine is great for reaching nearby islands and exploring coral reefs. The two-hour underwater adventure comes with a kayak and snorkeling gear.
Where: Pier 3 at Port of Miami, 1635 N. Bayshore Dr. 
Price: $150 per person
More information: 843-901-8901; www.wbmiamirental.com 


Glow-in-the-dark paddle boarding
What: Embark on a sunset paddleboard expedition with the Miami Beach Paddleboard Company’s LED-lit paddleboards. Each board illuminates up to five feet underwater and 15 feet around the board. 
Where: 1416 18th St., Miami Beach
Price: $45 per person
More information: 786-428-4402; www.miamibeachpaddleboard.com

Off The Wall Trampoline
What: With five trampoline courts, a laser tag arena, an indoor rock wall and an arcade center, the Off The Wall Trampoline Fun Center is a one-stop shop for families and groups of all ages looking to have a fun-filled summer day.
Where: 4939 Coconut Creek Pky., Coconut Creek
Price: $40.15 per person for every three activities 
More information: 954-973-3031; www.offthewallfl.com 


The Flyboard experience
What: Choose a body of water in South Florida and We Deliver Watersports will deliver equipment for any requested water activity. Among its most exciting offerings is the Flyboard jet pack. Riders strap the powerful boards to their feet and are able to hover over the water up to 25 feet in the air. Lessons by instructors are also provided.
Where: Deliveries made from Miami to Fort Lauderdale
Price: $300 value 
More information: 978-692-1000; www.flyboardsurfclub.com 

Free yoga around town
What: Don’t pay for yoga classes this summer. The creators of Yoga in the Park at Bayfront Park are offering free 75-minute yoga classes in Little Haiti and Southwest Eighth Street through July 31. 
Where: Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., on Mondays, Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m.; Little Haiti Cultural Center, 212 NE 59 Terr., on Thursdays at 6 p.m.; Jose Marti Park, 362 SW Fourth Ave., on Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
Price: Free
More information: 305-358-7550; www.bayfrontparkmiami.com/pages/yoga.html


Tandem sky rides
What: Experience South Florida from the clouds at Florida Ridge Air Sports Park. Guests can hang glide from 1,500 feet to 5,280 feet in the air with an instructor or solo for more experienced riders. An aircraft lifts riders to the designated height and then releases the glider for a breath-taking experience. 
Where: 12671 E. State Road 80, Clewiston
Price: $369 for 5,280 feet; $199 for 2,000 feet; $179 for 1,500 feet 
More information: 863-805-0440; www.thefloridaridge.com 


Everglades air-boat rides
What: Experience nine miles of wildlife in the Florida Everglades with Coopertown’s original air-boat rides. Visitors can choose between sunset or picnic lunch tours. Private tours are offered in addition to general tours. Private tours can cover up to 30 miles of the sea of grass. 
Where: 22700 SW Eighth St., Coopertown
Price: $23 for adults; $11 for kids ages 7-11; kids under 7 are free. Call for private tour pricing. 
More information: 305-226-6048; www.coopertownairboats.com


Hiking Biscayne National Park
What: Hike the enchanted seven-mile Spite Highway Trail at Elliot Key Island, Biscayne National Park’s largest island, this summer. The island is only accessible by boat, and once there, hikers can enjoy an array of plant and animal life as they walk under the canopied trail. A remote beach greets hikers at the end of the trail. 
Where: 9700 SW 328 St., Homestead.
Price: No entrance fee; prices vary for camping and overnight boat docking 
More information: 305-230-7275; www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm

Water view condos escape brunt of housing crash

By Paul Owers, Sun Sentinel

Nearly five years ago, Ron Reck paid $803,000 for a new residence at Las Olas Grand, one of the tallest condominiums in downtown Fort Lauderdale.


The 39-story luxury building, which fronts the New River, boasts breathtakingly clear views of the Atlantic Ocean two miles away. Reck, an entrepreneur who is moving to San Diego, sold the 12th floor unit last month for $800,000 — or a loss of less than 1 percent.

"It's pretty close to a wash," he said. "If you break even, you did well in this economy."

Nearly every condo in South Florida lost value in the past four years, with some tumbling 50 percent or more. But a few haven't been hammered nearly as hard, mostly benefiting from their proximity to water.

"Oceanfront properties didn't experience the same kind of hits, especially in areas where there was not a lot of overbuilding," said Frank Thomas, a real estate agent for Condo Vultures, a Bal Harbour-based consulting firm that conducted a sales history analysis of condos in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The median price for existing condos in Broward in March was $73,600, a 66 percent drop from the February 2006 peak of $216,800, according to the Florida Realtors trade group.

Palm Beach County's March median was $90,900, a 61 percent slide from the July 2006 peak of $231,300. The Realtors' group began releasing statistics for existing condos four years ago.

Historic price declines among condos were inevitable, analysts say. Short-term investors helped create the housing boom during the early part of the past decade, scooping up units at preconstruction prices and then flipping them for huge profits in a matter of days or weeks.

To meet the seemingly insatiable demand, and with a dearth of prime locations available, South Florida developers started converting modest apartments — even those near railroad tracks with no water views — into condos, with some prices approaching $300,000.

Developers also bought land for new condo projects in less-than-ideal settings, including the western suburbs, far away from jobs and a vibrant nightlife, said Brad Hunter, a housing analyst with Metrostudy in Palm Beach Gardens.

Values in those condos fell the most and dragged down prices across the board.

While virtually no buildings have been spared, values in high-end condos hugging the coast have been the most resilient because of the inherent lure of the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, analysts say.

"They ain't making any more of that," said Craig Werley, senior principal at Focus Real Estate Advisors in Coral Gables.

Another factor hurting condo prices: Oversupply.


Developers flocked to the downtowns of Miami and West Palm Beach in the past 10 years, ultimately creating a glut of empty units that still has prices there depressed.

In Fort Lauderdale, though, city commissioners limited the number of downtown condo units in response to concerns about overdevelopment, said Alan Hooper, a builder of boutique condos in the city.

The move ultimately kept price declines from ravaging the area, though Hooper said he doesn't think that was commissioners' intent. "It was just lucky," Hooper said.

Foreclosures also affect building values.

When large swaths of condo developments go vacant, homeowner associations face budget shortfalls and struggle to pay for cable TV, valet service and other amenities. To compensate, condo boards raise fees and impose special charges on the owners who remain.

"As soon as the quality of life disappears, so do the values," said Peter Zalewski of CondoVultures.com.

Las Olas Grand opened near the peak of the housing boom in summer 2005, but it hasn't been hurt by widespread vacancies or owners in financial distress, said John D'Angelo, Reck's real estate agent.

The 213 units are selling for $550,000 to $1.8 million, down from $750,000 to $2 million during the boom years, D'Angelo said. During the first three months of 2010, six units sold there. On average, the sellers got a quarter less than they paid.

"They're not happy about the 25 percent," D'Angelo said. "But that's still pretty good. In this market, that's hard to accomplish."

In Palm Beach County, Mizner Tower in Boca Raton also has avoided major price declines, in part because it's a stable development that opened more than a decade before the boom, according to CondoVultures.com.

The 136-unit Mizner Tower, which opened in 1989, sits on the grounds of the Boca Raton Resort and Spa and also has views of the ocean and Intracoastal. Ron Bachrad, an agent with Boca-based Lang Realty, said the building has had few foreclosures, if any.

Three of his listings sold this year for more than $1 million. He estimates prices there have fallen by about 20 percent since the market peaked.

For second-home buyers, who generally pay cash, it's an ideal community because of its extensive amenities, including boat docks, tennis courts, valet parking, a health club, concierge and food service, Bachrad said.


For all that, he said, "People are willing to pay somewhat of a premium."

Charlie Sheen Selling Home With Poolside Views

AUTHOR:EMILY HEFFTER
ZILLOW

Source: IMDb

Charlie Sheen’s myriad personal problems — from addiction to divorce — have made him a regular tabloid target. His frequent buying and selling of Los Angeles-area properties has also made the actor a popular topic for real estate blogs.

This week, Sheen listed one of his homes — a 1989 contemporary in the Westlake Village neighborhood — for $1.695 million, just over a year after buying it for $1.6 million.

The 4-bedroom, 4-bath home at 1896 Smokey Ridge Ave features hardwood floors, views and a custom granite kitchen. The infinity pool overlooks the city, and the listing describes the outdoor space as an “exquisite backyard refuge.”


Sheen owns several properties in the Los Angeles area, and this new listing comes as tabloids are reporting he has sold his Mulholland Estates home, which he bought last summer from producer Mike Medavoy. The Los Angeles Times first reported the Westlake listing.

Interior House Painting Tips & Painting Techniques for the Perfect Paint Job

From TheFamilyHandyman.com

Use cotton drop cloths rather than plastic

Spills and spatters happen, regardless of how careful you are. It’s a lot easier to pre- pare for them than to wipe them out of your carpeting or off your wood floor later. All it takes is canvas drop cloths in your work area (a 4-ft. x 15-ft. cloth costs $15). The thick canvas stays in place, so you don’t need to tape it, and you can use it to cover any surface. Plastic drop cloths are slippery to walk on or set a ladder on and don’t stay in place. Even worse, paint spills on plastic stay wet, and they can end up on your shoes and get tracked through the house. Canvas is slippery on hard floors, so rosin paper ($10 for 400 sq. ft. at home centers) is better over vinyl, tile and hard- wood. Tape the sheets together and to the floor to provide a nonslip surface.

But even with canvas or rosin-paper drop cloths, large spills still need to get wiped up right away or they’ll seep through. Clean spills with paper towels or cloth rags. Likewise, if you splatter paint on any other surface,wipe it up immediately.

Protect floor with cotton drop cloth

Equity: What's That?

From the Superpages.com

Equity is the market value of your home minus your outstanding mortgage. Every mortgage payment you make is an investment, building equity. Meanwhile your home is also appreciating in value. Lending institutions, namely the one that holds your mortgage, will loan you money against your home equity.

Although this is not something you should jump into without counting the cost, it may be wise to borrow against your equity to remodel, make repairs, finance an education, or to consolidate higher interest rate debt. Many home owners have been grateful for the availability of a home equity loan.

Equity Loans

Two types of home equity loans are the second mortgage and the home equity line of credit. The second mortgage is a loan of a lump sum of money and just like your first mortgage is to be paid off through regular monthly payments with interest for a fixed period of time.

The home equity line of credit provides the borrower with a credit card or checks with which you borrow against the home equity. With the home equity line of credit, interest only accrues on purchases you make with that credit card or checks provided. Interest paid on a home equity loan is tax deduct able.

Equity Loan Procedures

When taking out a home equity loan the procedure is much like getting your original mortgage but not quite so involved. You will want to be prepared just as you were for your mortgage by having a good credit rating and hopefully your record of paying those mortgage payments is on track.

The lending financial institution will consider your credit score and income to debt ratio along with the equity you have built up in your home. If you’ve made home improvements already, this is a plus as it increases the home’s market value and as you recall, equity is the market value of your home minus the outstanding mortgage.

Whatever your particular needs, home ownership is a sound investment as you will find when you get approved for a home equity loan. Consolidating debt, making home improvements or repairs, financing a child’s or your own education, or perhaps some other investment, the choice is yours when you borrow against your home’s equity.