Thinking of buying a well-located $1 million luxury flat in London, Paris or Tokyo? Think you’ll get a bargain?Think again: 1. In London, you’ll get 328 square feet. 2. In Paris, you’ll do better with 522 square feet. 3. In Tokyo, you can really spread out with 594 square feet. These are averages reported by the most recent issue of Forbes magazine. The weakened dollar against the Sterling, Euro and…
As of this writing, San Diego County has 32 luxury homes priced above $10,000,000, with the most expensive perched at $50 million. The loaded question: Are these San Diego properties moving? Well, three are in escrow and 13 have sold within the last twelve months. It isnt exactly a booming market, but it certainly isnt dying on the vine either. In any market, these properties will appeal to many, but…
by Roberta Murphy When I first entered this newer San Diego luxury home, I was amazed by its wall and ceiling finishes. Walking slowly from room to room, I ran my fingers over the cool burnished walls and the gray stone door arches. Even the ceilings and dome gave the impression that we had indeed been transported to a Venetian villa. Had I not known the responsible artisan for this…
Insuring Luxury Homes (and Elephant Hide Wallpaper) by Roberta Murphy I didnt consider luxury home insurance to be that interesting or that blogworthy until I read of an appraiser who tried to figure out the replacement value of the elephant skin wall coverings in a Seattle manse. That appraiser, James King with the Chubb Insurance Group, makes it a practice to thoroughly investigate the luxe and unusual features in Chubbs…
Luxury home buyers are subliminal collectors of natural art. So often, it is a home’s breathtaking views of oceans, lakes and mountains that creates its unique intrinsic value. The attraction? What a gift to awaken in the morning and see the light of a new day as it glints over the water or emerges from behind the mountains. And how better to end the day, when one can relax and…
Want a romantic evening? Forget the candles, turn out the lights and slide into an illuminated bathtub! This surreal bathtub invites meditation, relaxation and wonder. Designer Jan Puylaert with Italy’s imaginative WET Studio has an array of delicious colors for both the Light bathtubs and sinks with matching faucets and accessories. I love the ambience of this bathtub as well as the drain in the middle. It appears the tub faucet would…
by Roberta Murphy There is a class of homes that can only be called, for lack of a better word, the ultimate. These are the extreme and exceptional estates that are among the most expensive in the world. To call them luxury homes is an understatement. These properties have singular presence and price tags that now exceed nine figures. This year, all barriers were broken. Donald Trump’s lavish seven-acre estate…
by Roberta Murphy Buyers have gone through this golf and ocean-view Encinitas Ranch home, and jokingly asked if the the red hot Ferrari in the garage might come with the purchase. Well, as of this afternoon, it does! A free Ferrari goes to the lucky buyer. The owners of both the home and the car are ready to move and had already reduced the price of their singular property, when…
by Roberta Murphy It is a tough task in relativity to define a luxury home. One’s perspective has as much to do with the definition as does the opulence, location or architectural significance of a particular property. One man’s simple home is another man’s castle, and vice versa. Perhaps it is easier to consider what a luxury home is not. It is not a cookie cutter home in…
