Thursday, November 20, 2008

Feeling Nosy about DC? MD? VA?

Ok, I know you're probably not planning on moving this very second, but here's this week's list of interesting-looking listings that have just come on the market. Mind you, they may not actually be my personal listings --- just intriguing properties I've come across this week.

Feeling nosy about the District of Columbia?
Feeling nosy about Virginia?
Feeling nosy about Maryland?

If you know someone who might be interested in this list, please forward it on to him or her. And if there's a listing that you're curious about yourself, just let me know ... and I'll show it to you ... just for the hell of it ... no obligation ... *I promise*. Really. (One of the perks of being the friend of a real estate agent ought to be that you get to freely snoop around other peoples' homes!)

Tori Spelling's Westwood Home For Sale for $2.395 million!

With all the negative news about the economy and real estate once in a while I like to think about the rather insignificant but interesting news in real estate. So, today I would like to share an LA Times article about Tori Spelling putting her house on the market in LA's Westwood neighborhood. Check out the story here:

By ANN BRENOFF
November 1, 2008

If Hollywood had true royalty, Tori Spelling -- the daughter of Candy Spelling and the late Hollywood producer Aaron Spelling -- would be its reigning princess. And the princess is switching castles.

Spelling just bought a Tuscan-style villa in Encino with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms in 6,718 square feet. The two-story home has four fireplaces, wood, parquet and stone flooring, a formal dining room with silver-leafed coffered ceilings, a study, wet bar and gourmet eat-in kitchen. There is a fenced pool and spa and a putting green. The sale price was $2,950,000, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

Harriet Cameron of Prudential California Realty, Sherman Oaks, and her partner, Judy Cycon of Prudential's Beverly Hills office, had the listing.

Now Spelling just needs to sell her old house in Westwood, which she just listed at $2,395,000.

It has five bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms in about 3,300 square feet. The home has French doors off the main rooms that lead to a manicured lawn, an outdoor dining area with a built-in barbecue and a solar-powered saltwater pool with a Baja shelf and spa. The master suite has two oversized custom closets and city views.

There is a custom-designed fireplace in the living room, a formal dining room and a media room. The recently upgraded kitchen has imported marble countertops and top-of-the-line appliances. The house has a state-of-the-art sound system and hardwood floors.

Tori Spelling's best-known role was that of forever-virgin Donna Martin on "Beverly Hills, 90210," a character she played in 292 episodes of the show's 10-year run. The episode where Donna's schoolmates protest her suspension with the chant of "Donna Martin graduates" rocketed the phrase into pop culture lingo, where it still resides.

After "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990-2000), Spelling appeared in "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" (2004) and "Kiss the Bride" (2007). She is married to Dean McDermott, with whom she stars in the reality show "Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood."

Amy Colvin of Hilton & Hyland, and Sara Berger of WEA, both Beverly Hills, co-listed the property.




Of course I am happy to refer anyone who is interested in this property to the agents out in LA, just let me know! No really, if you are thinking of buying or selling in DC/MD/VA just drop me a line at 202-369-9821 or Michael@RealAstute.com.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Feeling Nosy about DC? MD? VA?

Ok, I know you're probably not planning on moving this very second, but here's this week's list of interesting-looking listings that have just come on the market. Mind you, they may not actually be my personal listings --- just intriguing properties I've come across this week.

Feeling nosy about the District of Columbia?
Feeling nosy about Virginia?
Feeling nosy about Maryland?

If you know someone who might be interested in this list, please forward it on to him or her. And if there's a listing that you're curious about yourself, just let me know ... and I'll show it to you ... just for the hell of it ... no obligation ... *I promise*. Really. (One of the perks of being the friend of a real estate agent ought to be that you get to freely snoop around other peoples' homes!)

RealAstute.com Home Team Sponsors CHAW Ball!

Michael Dillon and Kevin Shirley of the RealAstute.com Home team were proud to be "Arts Enthusiast" sponsors of the annual Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) Ball that took place on Friday, November 7th at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill. The Ball benefits CHAW's work as a haven for youth and adults to explore their multi-faceted artistic talents and foster essential skills that extend beyond the arts into their daily lives while building community through the arts. Learn more about CHAW at www.chaw.org.

This year's Ball was themed "An Evening in Morocco" and featured Moroccan food and even belly dancing! A great night was had by all to benefit a wonderful cause on Capitol Hill!


Michael and Kevin enjoy seeing themselves as sponsors in the program!

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Feeling Nosy about DC? MD? VA?

Ok, I know you're probably not planning on moving this very second, but here's this week's list of interesting-looking listings that have just come on the market. Mind you, they may not actually be my personal listings --- just intriguing properties I've come across this week.

Feeling nosy about the District of Columbia?
Feeling nosy about Virginia?
Feeling nosy about Maryland?

If you know someone who might be interested in this list, please forward it on to him or her. And if there's a listing that you're curious about yourself, just let me know ... and I'll show it to you ... just for the hell of it ... no obligation ... *I promise*. Really. (One of the perks of being the friend of a real estate agent ought to be that you get to freely snoop around other peoples' homes!)

We Are Going to Build!

As many of you may know, my best friend John and I own 2 lots in the Deanwood neighborhood of NE Washington DC. We bought the lots on the DC tax sale "bid off" auction back in 2005. After the lengthy court process to become owners we have spent the last year trying to sell our lots with no success. Recently we were approached by a local builder/developer about the possibility of teaming up with him to build a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom modular house on the lots and then selling the house.

To be honest, when I first heard modular home I thought of a trailer park! After educating myself a little more about the product I realized it was probably a great economical choice for the lots. One of the really good modular home builders is Penn Lyon Homes Corporation. You can see plans and pictures of their homes at www.PennLyon.com. We haven't picked the house just yet, but I plan to post that to the blog when the decision is made.

I am pleased to be moving forward with the building project. Today I am taking the vacant lots off the MLS and we are moving forward with the builder. I plan to track progress of the construction on this blog. Here is a picture of the lots from just 2 weeks ago, we will call it the before picture!



Of course, if you are interested in vacant lots, investing or any other real estate services please do not hesitate to contact me (Michael Dillon) at Michael@RealAstute.com or 202-369-9821.