Charlie Sheen has become a household name for his recent ridiculous antics, but now the #Winning actor is making news again for his activity in the California real estate market. The star recently bought a home, listed a home and sold a home. Most recently, Sheen successfully sold his 1920’s Mediterranean style mansion in Las Angeles. The four-bedroom, 4,100 square-foot home was on the market in 2009 for $3.697 million, but failed to sell and was taken off the market in May of this year. The home, which has been occupied by Sheen’s Ex-wife Brook Mueller and their two young children, was recently relisted and  sold for just $2.9 million. The home includes a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, high ceilings, and numerous outdoor terraces overlooking the swimming pool and lushly landscaped backyard.   

Blog and Photos via Curbed

It’s a long held notion that color can affect the senses, emotions and mood of the person they surround. Color palettes influence the ambiance of your home, what your guests feel and most importantly, how you feel. Turns out, there’s more to picking a palette than just choosing your favorite color. For years designers have used outside inspiration, personal experiences and cultural influence to plan themes and color groups for homes. What should you consider when painting your space?

The colors you choose should compliment your lifestyle. Someone who comes home to relax should steer clear of warm tones like red and orange. One should pick their palette by considering atmospheres they enjoy. Choosing cooler blue and green tones will evoke the feeling of the great outdoors and relaxation, or using contrasting colors will give a modern, contemporary feel.

Others choose their home colors based on experiences. Did your adventure in India last summer inspire you? Then you may want to use that experience to influence the décor of your home office or art studio. Childhood adventures or romantic excursions to the beach could inspire you using the soft tones of sea foam and sand to influence their bedrooms.

For every person who is energized by color, there is another who fears brights and should opt for a more neutral, relaxing color scheme. Neutral color palettes make a home look timeless, and are great for selling homes, but can also be bland and emotionless. It is important to mix in varying textures, such as leather and cashmere, or interesting furniture to add depth and interest to an otherwise monochromatic room.

The style of the home should also be considered when choosing a color palette. That modern red wall may not look quite right in a classically designed 1920’s home. Look out your windows for inspiration. The colors of nature in your area are often great options for adding splashes of color to a classic and neutral color palette.

Whatever path you take to creating your dream décor having a personal connection with your home will make it more enjoyable for years to come.

Blog and Photo via freshome

Though many cities in the world may offer incredible beaches, world-class shopping, fine dining and an excellent quality of life, no city quite compares to Palm Beach, Florida.

“Palm Beach is one of the most incredible places to live on the planet,” says Wally Turner, broker with Sotheby’s International Realty in Palm Beach. “I travel worldwide, and almost no other town has what Palm Beach has to offer.”

Perhaps one of the best things about Palm Beach is the exclusivity of the island. “You see, Palm Beach is a small, exclusive island. It’s not like they’re making any more of it,” Wally says. “The city is a resort for executives, entrepreneurs and numerous Forbes listers, and we’ve always attracted people from around the world. We even have a couple of celebrities on the island.”

Though Palm Beach may seem like it’s only for the rich and famous, there are many local private schools and cultural activities in Palm Beach, making it an ideal place to raise a family.

Living in Orlando means being close to multiple amenities, attractions and activities – in this case, location really is everything

“When you live in Orlando, you are right in the center of the state, so you are close to everything,” says Chris Christensen, Broker/Owner of Regal Real Estate Professionals in Orlando, Florida. “You’re only an hour away from the coasts of Florida, two hours away from the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, and only four hours away from a weekend getaway in Miami Beach.”

In addition to that, the city boasts eight major theme parks, all within 30 minutes of each other. There’s access to two basketball teams, three football teams and a professional baseball team. Orlando is home to many racing events, like the Daytona 500, and college sporting events.

Another perk of Orlando is how hot the housing market is right now. “Our inventory has been substantially reduced,” Chris says. “We went from having almost 18,000 homes on the market in January to approximately 9,500 homes available in September. Our market was hit extremely hard, with prices in many cases dropping as much as 50 percent. Because of that, inventories are dropping fast, so interested buyers need to move quickly.”

The Gulf Coast offers two of the finest communities in Southwest Florida: Barefoot Beach & Bonita Beach, both offer a variety of living options for the affluent homebuyer. From high-rise condos to stunning beach and waterfront homes; the old Florida ambiance and warm tropical climate draw a variety of visitors to the area. Its proximity to Naples and Fort Myers offers some of the best shopping and fine dining within 15 minutes of both Barefoot and Bonita Beaches.

Doug Grant of The Grant Group at Coldwell Banker Previews International, says, “The market in Barefoot Beach has strengthened, 13 homes listed for $1 Million (or more) sold in the first 8 months of 2011, compared to only 5 homes sold in all of 2010. Despite the strong sales, there are still outstanding opportunities for the savvy buyer in this unique area.”  On Bonita Beach, Doug represents a new construction beachfront home across from a protected nature preserve. This home includes 4 bedrooms, a 4 car garage, all concrete construction, impact resistant windows and doors and an elevated infinity pool along with multiple sundecks overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. 

“A hidden gem east of Jacksonville, our northeast Florida island village is known for its beautiful white, wide beaches, A-rated schools, Mayo Clinic and championship golf. It attracts people looking for relaxed lifestyles in a small town, with the big city amenities close by,” says Clare Berry, Broker of Berry & Co. Real Estate, of living in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Perhaps best known for being home of the PGA Tour and host to THE PLAYERS tournament, this area also boasts other sports, music and cultural events throughout the year,  including the Kingfish Tournament, Jacksonville Jaguars football and the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.

“Residents take advantage of the tranquility of island living, since we are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, the St. Johns River and many tributaries,” explains Clare. One property that specifically caters to water lovers  is Villa Buco Nero, a magnificent 6,600 square foot home in the seclusion of a gated country club community, with the convenience of a private marina.   “With the breathtaking water views from the decks and terraces and gorgeous stone and stylistic elements brought in from Europe, combined with today’s modern amenities, this property defines timeless beauty,” says Clare. "It's a perfect place for Fort Lauderdale Boat Show patrons to consider for their purchases!" 

The ultra affluent are not slowing down their purchases due to the down economy. Worldwide high-end real estate brokers and agents report a 67 percent increase in sales during the first three quarters of 2011. Many buyers, who are purchasing second, third or fourth homes in the $5 million and up range, are paying cash. This rise in individuals looking to buy globally has created a scarcity of luxury homes in some of the most popular cities, causing prices to rise. Many affluent buyers, hailing from Asia and the Middle East, who are looking to buy in Europe and South America are encountering competitive real estate markets.

Many regions, such as Paris and London, have seen a decrease in new home building due to stricter building codes and limited expansion space. Such restrictions, paired with the increasing demand in the luxury sector are leading to more demand for renovated residences in major cities. Buyers purchasing homes that will not be their primary residence are looking for unique purchases, putting great emphasis on location, sentiment and lifestyle. The finite number of properties at the high-end of the market guarantees that these homes will always have a market, one which continue to grow and prosper regardless of the shaky global stock market.

Blog via Propgoluxury.com

“Naples is the best kept secret in the world,” says Robyn Pfister Griffin of John R. Wood Realtors in Naples, Florida. “With powdery white sands, warm waters, and a tropical climate, it’s an absolute paradise.”
 
Perhaps the biggest misconception of the southern Florida area is that it’s constantly hot. “I used to live in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Naples isn’t any hotter than there,” Robyn says. “Being situated on the Gulf of Mexico gives us a constant sea breeze, and winters are crisp but still comfortable.”
 
While the beach lifestyle is a given with living in Naples, Robyn points out multiple things to do in the area: fine dining and shopping, professional golf courses, beaches, fresh and salt water fishing, tennis, boating, and affluent culture and arts.
 
“Naples is just perfect,” Robyn says. “That’s why people choose to live here.”

Hunky New England Patriots Quarterback and his Supermodel wife Gisele have relisted their Back Bay, Boston home for $10.5 million, $400,000 less than the $10.9 million asking price the penthouse previously held. The property, originally a mansion was divided into condos by Brady in 2006. The couple’s residence consists of the 5,311-square-foot penthouse unit, which includes two floors, three bedrooms, media room, chef’s kitchen, state-of-the-art gym and copper solarium. The couple is not offering a glimpse of the interior of their home to the public yet, but the exterior of the 1900 Beacon Street home is stunning. Included with the price are also four garage parking spaces, roof-top deck with outdoor kitchen and multiple gas fireplaces to keep warm during those brutal Boston winters.

Blog via The Boston Herald Photo via Curbed 

Just a short 90-minute drive southeast from Philadelphia, you’ll find Ocean City, New Jersey – “America’s Greatest Family Resort.” While the city itself is only home to about 15,000 residents year-round, the beaches, warm weather, and plethora of activities attract over 100,000 people to visit the Ocean City area each year.

“The Ocean City area has amazing beaches, playgrounds, and the boardwalk,” says Ashley Franchini, broker associate with Soleil Sotheby’s International Realty. “In the area, you have everything from the rides and mini golf on the boardwalk, to restaurants and nightlife on the bay in Margate, to shopping in Atlantic City.” 

One of the greatest things about Ocean City, says Ashley, is the weather and how the summer season is really five to six months long. “Our summers are incredible, but many locals will tell you, however, that the best time to be at the shore is September and October when the weather and water are still warm. Those months are usually picture-perfect with less heat and a mild breeze.”

The green energy and eco revolution going on worldwide has increased many homeowners interest in renovating their homes to meet the new trend of living in a “Green” home. Traditionally homeowners and interior designers looked to bamboo to meet their flooring needs. Bamboo is both durable and sustainable, reaching a mature harvesting age quickly. However, more exotic woods are emerging on the green flooring market. Not all the options are as cost effective as bamboo, but offer a larger range of color and density options.

Coconut wood, which matures in a mere 6 years, offers high durability, dense texture and deep, rich colors. This wood though is often hard to come by since the majority of coconut trees are used for up to 80 years to produce coconuts for harvest.

A lesser known wood, Lyptus, the cross between two types of eucalyptus trees matures quickly and offers a resemblance to mahogany or cherry. Lyptus is heavier but also much sturdier than many popular hardwoods. Lyptus offers beauty affordability and great sustainability.

Cork is emerging as a more unique alternative to other sustainable flooring options. Cork is the bark of the cork tree, and when harvested correctly is highly renewable. Cork is also a softer option, giving when you walk on it, but extremely durable and resilient. Cork should not be used in kitchens or bathrooms, because of its ability to absorb water and swell. Cork is also hard to install, but once finished makes a unique conversation piece in a luxury home.

Green living is becoming increasingly beautiful as more options become available on the market, making this an excellent option for the luxury homeowner looking at add that special touch to their home.

Blog and Photo via Luxspaces

With more than 2/3rds of the nation’s population and marketplace within 750 miles, Virginia Beach is located at a strategic mid-Atlantic location, allowing quick access to domestic and foreign markets. A great environment for international commerce, this waterfront city is otherwise relaxed, providing ample outlets for outdoor recreation.

The mouth of the Chesapeake Bay supplies inland waterways for boating, fishing, and water sports. One of many golf courses in and around Virginia Beach, The Signature at West Neck, is an Arnold Palmer design featuring a 24,000 square foot club house, a bar, grill, and a verandah and terrace for viewing. Expansive systems of parks, including First Landing State Park, contain scenic pathways for biking, hiking and camping. The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge allows residents and visitors to reconnect with nature while housing some of Virginia Beach’s unique flora and fauna.

Virginia Beach is steeped in a milieu of fine arts and entertainment. The huge Virginia Beach Amphitheater serves as venue for popular music and has hosted great acts in various genres ranging from hip-hop to country. The Town Center brings shopping and festivals together within a 17 block expanse. Art enthusiasts can attend Boardwalk Art Show Festival, a certified “green” event for the supporters of the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia. The charitably inclined Neptune Festival hosts one of the biggest galas on the East Coast, bringing together athletes, wine connoisseurs, seniors, and artists for an unforgettable extravaganza.

Jeanne West of RE/MAX Alliance represents some of the finest properties in Virginia Beach. Notably, the cruise ship style home on Broad Bay offers 180 degree views, holding 6500 square feet of living area within its dramatic design; also, the waterfront peninsula lot, rising approximately 30 feet above sea level, is the ideal location to build a home with amazing vistas safely above the water’s edge. 

Like a rare jewel in a perfect setting, the small residential community of Boca Grande is the main attraction on Gasparilla Island, just one in a chain of pristine barrier islands that extends along the Gulf Coast between Sarasota and Fort Myers.

“Long before roads opened southwest Florida ti general tourism and residential development, privileged northerners came by train to spend the winter on beautiful Gasparilla Island,” says Carol Stewart, Broker-Associate with Michael Saunders & Company in Boca Grande. “Today, the tropical island is now accessed by a causeway from the mainland, but other than that, little has changed since those early days, except for the addition of a number of comfortable waterfront homes and a small handful of low-rise condominiums.”

Boca Grande residents and visitors enjoy fishing, sailing, biking, and golf on the island, and the lack of traffic signals allows them to travel the island roads and bike paths via golf cart- these are just a few of the things that makes Gasparilla Island a very rare retreat.

“Today Boca Grande’s residents are a true cross section of the American ideal,” says Kevin Hyde, Realtor with Michael Saunders & Company. “Everyone from fishing guides to CEO’s and carpenters to investors share a similar love and appreciation for this special place.”

The Napa Valley home of late winemaker Robert Mondavi will be put on the auction block November 16. The estate, which includes 56 acres, an indoor pool with a retractable roof, two tennis courts and an underground wine cellar was listed just last year at $25 million. Bids will begin at $13.9 million for the house that dates back to 1979. The 11,500-square-feet of living space has just two bedrooms but ample entertaining space, both indoors and out. The home is situated just minutes from Mondavi’s famed winery. 

Blog and Photo via Curbed National

The current economic market as a whole may not be an accurate reflection of some markets. Though news and government organizations insist that the market is in the midst of stagnation and that roughly 72 percent of Americans believe our nation is headed in the wrong direction, some argue that the luxury market has not been affected by downward economic trends. The mood and spending trends seem to be less affected by the economy as a whole, but by the trends of the stock market. The top 10 percent of earners are historically more optimistic and confident in their spending and investing.

A good reflection of the luxury markets, whether it is cars, homes or luxury goods, is based on the success of luxury brands. These brands, like Hermes, Ferrari and Tiffany’s, have reported increasing sales for 2011. Many companies also expect continually increasing profits over the coming years. Often customers of these high-end brands are not affected by economic downturns like lower income individuals are. This being said, many affluent individuals have refused to change their spending habits despite downward international market trends. Many companies have put out precautionary statements warning that even though estimates point to increasing numbers, the luxury market is not immune to downward trends.  

Blog and Photo via JustLuxe