Archive for September, 2010

The Celebrity Beat: Relocation.com's Celebrity Real Estate Report

By Serena Norr

Pricey real estate listings seem to be theme  in this edition of “the Celebrity Beat.” Starting with Candy Spelling’s mega-mansion — a 14-bedroom, 27-bathroom home that has been on the market since 2009 and recently placed on the multiple listing services (MLS). Asking price? A cool $150 million, which her lawyer recently stated “is not a lot for the home.” Another expensive property we noticed this week was the sale of the Olsen twins’ NYC penthouse. On the market since 2005, the home was listed for $11 million in 2007 that was finally sold to a property developer for $8.4 million. Meg Ryan is also in city, but as a renter. She is reportedly leasing an apartment in Soho for $25,000 a month while her home in California is on the market. Well, all of these millions are making us realize that we have a lot to save in our piggy banks before we can purchase a home – much less a million-dollar one. Until next week…

•    Katy Perry and Russell Brand Purchase Home in NYC for $2.9 Million
Pop singer Katy Perry and her fiancé comedian Russell Brand (of “Take Him to the Greek”)  recently purchased a 1,500-square-foot duplex in TriBeCa. This luxurious and renovated two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse cost the pair $2.9 million that RealEstalker describes as an “oddly shaped.” The modern penthouse includes the standard real estate amenities like built-in bookcases, stainless steel appliances, large windows, exposed beams and high ceilings. The penthouse also includes a gorgeous cherry wood staircase that leads up to the master suite — that is lacking a closest. The lack of storage space probably doesn’t bother the couple that will spend most of their time in their recently purchased 4,706-square-foot house in Los Angeles.

•    Angie Harmon and Jason Sehron List Home for $3.9 Million
Actress Angie Harmon and her husband Jason Sehorn have recently placed their Hidden Hills, California home on the market for $3.9 million. The real estate listing describes this Cape-Cod style home as a “pastoral setting with no nearby sidewalks and street lights” that is also located near equestrian trails. Purchased in 2005, the 6,872-square-foot home sits on 1.5 acres of land that includes a pool, an office, hardwood flooring, five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. To match its natural setting, the home includes a barn, a sprawling lawn and a tree-lined driveway.

•    Olsen Twins Sell West Village Penthouse for $8.45 Million
Michelle Tanner better known as Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen recently sold their five-bedroom NYC penthouse for $8.45 million (that “Full House” franchise sure did them well.) The 5,700-square-foot penthouse – located at 1 Morton Square – has been on the market since 2005 that was listed in 2007 for $11,995,000 that has finally found a buyer with property developer Bruce Eichner for a lowered, but still expensive price tag.

•    Meg Ryan Renting NYC Apartment for $25,000 a Month
According to Housing Watch, America’s former sweetheart, Meg Ryan, is now renting an apartment in Soho. This rental agreement will have Ryan paying $25,000 a month for a three-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom unit. This place, though, isn’t a typical rental – it includes 2,500-square-feet of living space, a private bar and lounge, an on-site pool, sauna that is housed in a glass building.

•    Candy Spelling Places Home on the Market for $150 Million
Candy Spelling, wife of the late Aaron Spelling, recently placed her California mega-mansion on the MLS for $150 million. Dubbed “the Manor,” the four-floor home, located in the posh Holmby Hills, includes 14 bedrooms, 27 bathrooms (!) and 56,500-square-feet of living space. On the market since 2009, Spelling recently placed it on MLS in hopes of a sale but did not lower the price — with a response from her lawyer stating that “this is not a lot for the home” [Wall Street Journal]. Of course for a $150 million-dollar home there has to be extras and this estate has plenty. Amenities like a billiard room, arcade room, doll museum, a bowling alley, an art studio, a tennis court, a personal gym and a 16-car garage are just some of the extras found in this mega mansion. Spelling also reportedly purchased a-yet-to-be-completed penthouse in Century City where she is looking to downsize, which to Spelling is a $47 million dollar condo with 16,500-square-feet of living space. Spelling will customize the condo with her own architects and designers that is expected to be completed in two years.

Housing and Vacation Swaps: How Do They Work?

By Faith Teel
Special to Relocation.com

Have you ever dreamed of taking an international vacation, but then stayed home after you calculated the cost of travel and lodging? Traveling isn’t always necessarily expensive, but the costs of housing often make or break ones decision. If you have “champagne” tastes but a “wine cooler” budget, then a housing or vacation swap might be the perfect option for you. These temporary living situations are growing in popularity where some people are even testing out a new city in someone else’s home in order to determine if moving is right for them. Here’s our guide on how to swap and get started for an exciting temporary relocation.

The Basics:
In a housing swap, you use an online service to find someone who lives in a vacation destination that you like. You write to them offering to swap houses for a period of time, so that each of you eliminate or reduce the cost of lodging during your vacations. Some housing swaps come with a car or (in cities) a bicycle or subway pass, but you don’t have to include your vehicle in the swap.

In addition to helping you save the money you would have otherwise spent on a hotel, a housing swap can offer other perks: it may make your vacation seem more intimate, because it allows you to live just like a local. Most private homes are more charming and comfortable than a hotel, and of course, you’ll have access to a full kitchen and other amenities. This means that you could also save money by cooking your own food and washing your own clothes.

Who Can Swap?
Obviously, if you live in a ritzy beachfront house in Los Angeles or a swanky New York condo, you are going to get more offers to swap than if you live in a quiet suburb, in say Michigan. On the other hand, many swappers are looking for places to be near to relatives, business conferences or specialized hospitals. If you’re not sure what your area has to offer, do a little research and find out why people visit your city right now.

If you live out in the country and life seems too quiet to be interesting to a tourist, remember that what seems dull to you may be a quaint and restful paradise to a busy businessman from the city.

How to Get Started:
The internet offers a wide variety of housing swap services. Many of them charge a membership fee in exchange for the ability to list their house. These websites often offer perks, such as databases search-able by locations or amenities. For example, you could search for a beachfront house, or a house with a hot tub, or a condominium in France.

Paid sites also offer a ratings system, which allows users to give feedback on the swaps that they have already tried. Some sites even offer to referee in the event of a disagreement.

Some classified ad sites (such as Craigslist) offer simple, no-frills listings. These may not offer the same perks as the paid sites, but they are free of charge.

Practical Considerations:
Of course, there are practical considerations with housing swaps. As you plan your swap, keep in mind these simple precautions:
•    Get to know your swap mate as well as possible. Exchange photos, phone calls and emails. If possible, meet in person. Keep in mind that if anything seems strange, you can cancel the swap.
•    According to popular vacation swap services, theft and vandalism are rare in housing swaps, but it never hurts to take precautions. Put away your most valuable items, and put fragile items out of harm’s way.
•    Get the physical address of the residence you’re planning to visit. (Be wary of anyone who refuses to give the address.) Check it out online, using Google Maps or a similar service.
•    Check with your insurance company to ensure that the swap is covered. Your swap mates are usually covered as “guests” in home insurance plans and “permitted drivers” in auto insurance plans, but may guidelines vary, so make sure.
•    If possible, be on-site when your swap mates arrive, or have a friend show them around the house. If there are any pets to be cared for during the swap, this should be discussed beforehand.
•    Many swap services offer simple contracts which can be signed beforehand, and which cover the most important legal aspects of swapping.

Once you get started with swapping, you’ll be addicted!

The Celebrity Beat: Relocation.com's Celebrity Real Estate Report

By Serena Norr

What would you do if you had $312 million dollars? Most people would invest or travel or save or buy a nice piece of real estate. But if you are Greek billionaire Constantine Alexander-Goulandris you wouldn’t use the money for all of those luxurious items, but rather, use it to purchase a penthouse in Monte Carlo. Dubbed as “the world’s most expensive penthouse,” Alexander-Goulandris’ new pad includes six bedrooms (three of which include a theater, kitchen, dressing room and two bathrooms) and a sprawling backyard that we are guessing would be ideal for late-night and opulent parties. Back in NYC, we learned that Kelsey Grammer and his new girlfriend took a peak at 200 Eleventh Avenue (the very building that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban recently purchased). The $5.95 million-dollar property includes massive windows to view the Hudson and beyond, three bedrooms and the much talked about Sky Garage. We’ll keep you posted on that exciting sale. In NYC, Yankees star Derek Jeter is also on the Beat for listing his 70th floor condo for $20 million. Jeter’s pad is currently empty, but we are thinking that he little to worry about, especially since he has homes in Florida, New Jersey and Upstate NY.

•    Kelsey Grammer Eying Hudson River Property
Kelsey Grammer of “Cheers” and “Fraiser” fame has recently been making an appearance in the gossip columns for splitting with his wife, having a new (pregnant) girlfriend, and what we care about the most: his search for a new property with said girlfriend. Although, Grammer rents in the West Side of Manhattan it looks like he may be looking to settle down at 200 Eleventh Avenue (the very building where Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban reside). Overlooking the Hudson River, $5.95 million-dollar property includes three bedrooms with a master suite and 3.5 bathrooms as well as 2,364-square-feet of living space (more than enough for Grammer and his growing brood).  The fifth-floor duplex also includes a private elevator that leads to the living room and a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Also included with this hot property is the one-of-a-kind sky garage, an automatic car elevator that will go directly to Grammer’s swanky pad.

•    Judge Judy Sells Penthouse for $2.25 Million
Judy Sheindlin better known as the fearless Judge Judy recently sold her Sutton Place apartment. Originally listed a year ago at $3.15 million, the price was lowered to $3.15 million and finally sold for $2.25 million. The undisclosed buyer will enjoy quite the penthouse – which includes two floors, an outdoor terrace, a fireplace and three bedrooms with walk-in closets. The Judge and her husband won’t be without a home – it was reported that they already purchased a new two-bedroom co-op for $6.75 million dollars [City File].

•    Home of the Late Jerry Garcia for Sale
According to Zillow.com, the Marin County home of the late Jerry Garcia is on the market for $3,995,000. A very different home that what we would expect from Garcia, the five-bedroom, six bathroom home has a Mediterranean-feel, open floor plan and numerous windows. The 7,189-square-foot home also includes an outdoor swimming pool, a personal gym, a master suite with a sauna and a private deck. The new buyer will also enjoy views of the Berkeley Skyline and Mount Tamalpais and being near San Francisco.

•    The Most Expensive Penthouse Sold for $312 Million
According to Housing Watch, the most expensive apartment was recently sold for $312 million in the equally opulent Monte Carlo. Greek billionaire Constantine Alexander-Goulandris purchased the property – dubbed La Belle Epoque – that includes six-bedrooms (three of which include a theater, kitchen, dressing room and two bathrooms), a library, spa and sprawling gardens. The home also features immaculate décor that underwent a $40 million-dollar remodeling project since the home damaged was damaged in a fire – where the previous owner, Edmond Safra, died.

•    Derek Jeter Lists Manhattan Penthouse for $20 Million
Just as DJ’s teammate, Alex Rodriquez, is looking for a new pad Derek Jeter is selling his luxurious home-in-the sky. Located on the 70th floor, the penthouse purchased in 2001 for $12,600,000 was recently listed on the market for $20 million. Now the elevation is a bit steep for us, but if you’re willing to live that high up (not to mention pay 20 million) you can look forward to 5,425-square-feet of living space, four bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms; not to mention a bare apartment to decorate. The condo also includes 16-foot ceilings, an eat-in kitchen, a library, laundry facilities and an 84-square-foot storage facility which will also be sold to the new owner. Jeter is no stranger to real estate; he is building a mega mansion in Tampa, Florida, he owns a mansion in Marlboro, New Jersey and an historic mansion in Greenwood Lake in New York.

Veggie Tales: America’s Best Towns for Vegetarians

By Joann Pan

These days being a vegetarian isn’t as hard as it used to be, but we say that from a big city standpoint. We’re not quite sure how it is for folks in small towns. Here in NYC, instead of getting a burger, there’s always an option for pizza or salad. Instead of having a sausage sandwich for breakfast, there’s always an option to get some sweetly caked waffles from a food truck. With a plethora of stands, kiosks and restaurants in New York City [average rent for a two-bedroom apartment $5,286: Figure provided by www.mynewplace.com]that seem to take up every nook and cranny of our beloved city, it’s actually hard to eat meat every day (and not that hard to eat meat ever again) when there’s so much vegetarian food around—from the cheap and delicious falafel sandwiches on St. Marks, avocado rolls in Midtown, to the meat-shaped tofu Asian place that we enjoy when we visit the beloved borough of Queens. Our vegetarian food tours of our hometown have inspired us to see what’s available in other hometowns across the U.S. This is for you current veggies or wannabe vegetarians out there: Relocation.com’s Guide to the Best Vegetarian Towns in the U.S.

Austin, Texas [average rent for a two-bedroom apartment $1,239: Figure provided by www.mynewplace.com]
Wow—who knew that there was such a big vegetarian metropolis in the southern state of Texas where the beef and poultry are abundant. Personally, without having taken a trip to out West, I only know of Texas from the old-time cowboy movies and from trying out a Texas-style steakhouse in Queens (pre-veggie days). From doing vast research online; we found out that Austin vegetarians love living animal-friendly in their city. They are really proud of the fact that they can ride their bicycles (Austin is also one of the greenest cities in the U.S., according to USAToday.com) to get to a dozen vegan trailers and cafes with ease. Some of the mentionable restaurants are: Counter Culture (we hear that their Jackfruit Philly is delicious), Korean vegetarian restaurant Koriente and Casa de Luz (picture lush green decorations and pebbled paths leading to the most peaceful meal you’ve ever had).

Portland, Oregon [average rent for a two-bedroom apartment $1,626: Figure provided by www.mynewplace.com]
Goveg.com and Relocation.com love Portland, Oregon—who recently named it “America’s Best Vegetarian-Friendly Large City” and the top city people are relocating to (in respective order). They say Portland is a big city (much like NYC) that persuades people to eat vegetarian with convenient veggie meals on wheels, amazing animal-free meals at star restaurants and vegan desserts you can only have here. Such as something called a Voodoo Doughnut that sells many vegan options that includes the “Fruit Loop Donut,” which you can imagine looks like something out of your childhood breakfast bowl and the “Old Dirty Bastard,” which actually doesn’t look how it sounds—it’s a doughnut with chocolate frosting, crumbled Oreos and peanut butter drizzle. And when we looked up vegetarian places in Portland we came up with over 1,035 restaurants, carts and bistros that include popular digs such as Vita Café in Alberta Arts District, Paradox Café in Southeast Portland, and Swagat Indian Cuisine in Alphabet District.

San Francisco, California [average rent for a two-bedroom apartment $3,969: Figure provided by www.mynewplace.com]
San Francisco the city by the bay is a perfect location for vegetarians because of the plethora of vegan restaurants and organic food markets. I can even say that the vegetarian establishments can outnumber the city’s large number of cafes. PETA lists it in spot number seven on a list of “The Most Veg-Friendly Cities in North America.” I believe it should be higher on the list. There were over 2,777 restaurants that came up as vegetarian when we did our own search. Some of the most popular vegetarian/vegan restaurants we know of are: Weird Fish in the Mission neighborhood, Greens in Cow Hollow, Enjoy Vegetarian Restaurant in Inner Sunset, The Plant Café Organic in Cow Hollow (we seriously recommend the green curry) and Golden Era Vegetarian Restaurant in Civic Center.

Asheville, North Carolina [average rent for a two-bedroom apartment $827: Figure provided by www.mynewplace.com]
Asheville is different than the big vegetarian cities we’ve featured because it’s a small town nestled in the back woods of North Carolina. Asheville was once named “the Happiest City in America” by Self Magazine; probably because of all the vegetarian eateries and pleasant neighbors that the city has to offer. Asheville veggies love the Sunny Point Café and Bakery that serves amazing tofu chorizo, we hear, and the best mussels in town. After dinnertime, head over to the Crispycat, where you can buy and taste the very first candy bar of its kind made from fully organic ingredients. There is the chocolate sundae flavor, mint coconut flavor and the toasted almond bar, all made from real organic ingredients.

Of course, we have only skimmed the surface of the best vegetarian-friendly towns in the U.S. What are your favorite vegetarian cities? Let us know where you had the best vegetarian/vegan meal—we never pass up the opportunity for a good food story.

Here are other lists for the best vegetarian towns:
• North America’s Most Vegetarian-Friendly Cities [GoVeg.com]
• Top 16 Best Vegetarian Cities in the USA [Vegetarian-Restaurants.net]
• The Most Veg-Friendly Cities in North America [PETA]

Joann Pan is a freelance writer and photographer based in New York City. She has interned and contributed to Buffalo Spree Magazine and Racked NY.

The Celebrity Beat: Relocation.com's Real Estate Report

By Serena Norr

Part gossip report part real estate news, this week on the Beat we are reporting on Tiger Woods and his search for real estate in NYC as well as Alex Rodriguez and Cameron Diaz who are looking for a pad in the same city that never sleeps. In California, T.R. Knight (of “Grey’s Anatomy”) is also looking to relocate to NYC, but first he has to sell his 4,160-square-foot Los Angeles home. Amy Adams, though, is staying in LA and recently purchased a 3.5 bedroom home in Beverly Hills that is the perfect size for her and her new baby.

•    A-Rod and Diaz Looking for a Pad in NYC
Alex Rodriguez and his main squeeze of the moment, Cameron Diaz, are currently looking for a luxurious apartment in NYC. According to the NY Post, Rodriguez and Diaz were reportedly spotted checking out a 5,600-square-foot duplex called the Aldyn. Situated along the West Side Highway, the six-bedroom condo includes a huge terrace overlooking the Hudson River, a private swimming pool, a hot tub,  a squash court, bowling alley and climbing wall and a Kidsville, an indoor playground for children.

•    Ricky Martin’s Home on the Market
Ricky Martin, the 90’s pop sensation, has been trying to sell his this 9,882-square-foot Mediterranean-style estate since 2007 that is now back on the market for $18.9 million. This two-story Golden Beach, Florida estate is located on a private and secure beach community – about 12 miles north of Miami Beach – that includes five bedrooms with a master suite, seven bathrooms, a walk-in closet, a five-car garage, a media room and a terrace with views of the ocean.

•   Tiger Woods Looking to Score (A New Apartment)
Infamous for his skills as a pro golfer and most recently for his well-publicized divorce, Tiger Woods is back in the news but this time it involves his search for an apartment in NYC. Woods is currently scouting out a condo on Hudson Street called the Printing House — a 19th-century commercial building that was converted into condos in the late 1970s. Described as an “Italian-Renaissance-palazzo-style” reports have been unclear as to which unit Woods is interested in, but a $5,200/month two bedroom, two bath unit was recently sold where reports have speculated that Woods was the buyer. This unit includes hardwood flooring, high ceilings, a walk-in closet, dishwasher, central air and a personal gym. Woods can also look forward to having a building with a doorman, a concierge, a pool, a sundeck, video security and valet service.

•    T.R. Knight’s Home on the Market for $3.9 Million
T.R. Knight of “Grey’s Anatomy” fame recently placed his 4,160-square-foot Los Angeles home on the market. The four-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home has been T.R’s home since 2007, but now that he ended his stint on that show he is looking to relocate to NYC. The 1930s Tudor-style home is listed at $3,995,000 that includes gothic furnishings, exposed beams, parquet flooring and an outdoor area with a covered fireplace, terrace and landscaped grounds.

•    Amy Adams Buys Home in Beverly Hills
Two-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams recently purchased a home in Beverly Hills for $3,165.000. The four-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home, described as a “Cape Cod estate,” includes 4,311-square-feet of living space, hardwood flooring, a fireplace, walk-in closets and a private patio with views of the ocean. The property is also protected by a secured gate and features contemporary glass panels, a den, built-in bookcases and French doors.

Celebrity U – Celebrities and Their Alma Maters

By Joann Pan

As college kids across the country are moving back to school, we couldn’t help but think of all of the Hollywood’s finest actors, actresses and designers that also decided to go back, even though they were making $25 million with a hit movie over one weekend. It just goes to show you that, you can work hard over several years and get your undergraduate or graduate degree and, of course, still go back to have a successful (and well-rounded) career. Being that it is back to school season, we at Relocation.com were curious about some of our favorite celebs and where they went to school (perhaps we are even more curious if they actually had to write an admissions letter and what grades they received in school, but that’s a discussion for  another post). So, without further adieu we hope you enjoy Relocation.com’s list of our favorite celebrities and the schools they attended. You’ll be surprised where they went and what they majored in…

Betsey Johnson
Profession: Womenswear Designer
Alma Mater: Syracuse University

Betsey Johnson, renowned for her free-flowing dreadlock-ish locks and frilly party dresses bedazzled with huge bows and ruffles is certainly a maven in the fashion world. But before girls were wearing her designs across the globe, Johnson was attending Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY where she studied dance.  Syracuse is a pit stop along the college route of New York State between other college towns Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton and Albany. She graduated college in 1964 with magna cum laude Latin honors.

Maggie Gyllenhaal
Profession: Actress
Alma Mater: Columbia University

Not only is Maggie Gyllenhaal a film gem appearing on screen in the indie gem “Secretary” (2002) and “The Dark Knight” (2006), she also seems to have a good head on her shoulders who was in pursuit of a higher education in 2003. She attended Columbia University in New York City, studying religion with Uma Thurman’s father, Professor Robert Thurman and later studied at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Natalie Portman
Profession: Actress
Alma Mater: Harvard University
Major: Psychology

A pronounced vegetarian and screen beauty Natalie Portman is as smart as she is talented. She has appeared in movies like “The Professional” (1994), “Heat” (1995), “Beautiful Girls” (1996), “Mars Attacks” (1996) and “Closer (2004)” for which she was nominated for an Oscar.  But, perhaps, the biggest career endeavor this wise-beyond-her-actress ever embarked on was attending Harvard University in 1999 to become a psychologist. She graduated in 2003 from the private Ivy League institute located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cambridge has directly grown and benefit with Harvard University’s growth and expansion that has made it one of the leading academic institutions in the world.

James Franco
Profession: Actor, director, screenwriter, film producer
Alma Mater/Current Schools: Columbia University, UCLA, NYU, Yale University
Major: English, Creative Writing and Filmmaking

It may seem as if James Franco wants to be the person in Hollywood with the most college degrees, and judging my his recent summer romping through NYC collegiate systems he may just accomplish this After starring in hit movies such as the Spider-Man Trilogy, “Pineapple Express” (2008) and “Milk” (2008), Franco decided to broaden his horizons by going back to school for a masters degrees in English, creative writing and filmmaking. His educational career started off in Los Angeles, California at UCLA with an undergraduate degree in English, he went to New York City to attend Columbia University where he studied filmmaking, and in March 2010, his manager announced he would be attending Yale University to get his Ph.D. in English. (Yale University would be one of the four schools we would attend to if we had the time and the tuition money. They have a picture-perfect campus in New Haven, Connecticut.) There’s nothing like a tall, dark handsome man with educational ambition. (And hobbies like appearing on “General Hospital” as a psycho killer in Port Charles, NY—if you were wondering it is a fictional city).

Jon Stewart
Profession: Actor, Funnyman, Host of “The Daily Show”
Alma Mater: College of William & Mary
Major: Psychology

Jon Stewart went back to the alma mater in 2004 to deliver a commencement address in which he said, “I came to William and Mary because as a Jewish person I wanted to explore the rich tapestry of Judaica that is southern Virginia.” [Yahoo! Education] William and Mary is one of the oldest colleges in America that offers a great education. Located in Williamsburg Virginia, they are dubbed a “Public Ivy” offering a superior education that is affordable, too. Jon Stewart was a native of the tri-state New York/New Jersey region studying psychology before he held the reigns of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” aka one of the funniest politicos making fun of politics (at least in our humble opinion).

Kristin Cavallari
Profession: Reality T.V. Star
Alma Mater: Loyola Marymount University at LA
Major: Journalism

Today her name may be synonymous with drugs, rehab or ‘boyfriend stealer’ to those who watch MTV’s popular discontinued drama series “The Hills.” But back in the day Cavallari was the cute blonde on campus who wanted to be a broadcast journalist before the hit “Laguna Beach” ever came out. She never finished her time at Loyola Marymount, but says “I read a lot of books, you know.” [the NY Post] Loyola Marymount University is located in the heart of West Los Angeles, California, and was ranked one of the “Best Colleges in 2009” by U.S. News & World Report.

Joann Pan is a freelance writer and photographer based in New York City. She has interned and contributed to Buffalo Spree Magazine and Racked NY.

Tips for a Successful Roomate Search

By EasyRoommate.com

Searching for a room or roommates is a bit more complicated than trying to find an apartment rental.  Apartments are easy, you find a place you like, and if you qualify for it financially, it’s yours (most of the time).  With room rentals, and when trying to find a roommate for your spare rooms, you have to deal with other issues like different personalities,  sharing bills and groceries — all in a small space. Before any lease is signed, you will have to meet your new roommate. Here’s are some tips to find the house mate of your dreams.

Nice to Meet You:
The meeting phase is usually toward the end of the room/roommate search, so how do you get there efficiently?  Your first step is to start searching on a roommate service that specializes on room and roommate matching.  When you are entering your information on what and who you are looking for, be precise.  When you’re looking for a room, if you are a smoker, enter it in your information as a smoker, if you have a pet that will come along with you, put that in as well.  These specific attributes are important to note because they are not compatible with every person, however, there are people that would be a perfect match for you. Be sure not to leave any information unanswered; this will only waste your time and those of the renters.

Be Specific With What You Want/Don’t Want:
When renting a room out, the rules are the same, if you do not want a smoker, put down no smokers allowed if you don’t want pets, put that down as well.  Of course, smokers and pets are the primary examples I am using, but this applies to any aspect of your search.  Some people don’t believe in this, where they put a very broad search criteria or advertisement, and wait for people to contact them.  Does this work, yes, if you are willing to get numerous phone calls and emails of people that don’t match what you really want.  Would you rather get 50 people contacting you, but then have to spend the time to turn 40 of them down, or get 10 contacts in which they are all good possibilities?  Think of the time you will save yourself, and those searching.

Make a Roommate Contract:
Now that you have narrowed down your possible rooms and roommates, what do you do now?  You should establish some basic guidelines — much like a contract — that you will discuss with potential roommates.  Discuss their work hours, how the bills/rent will be paid, who will clean and on what days, talk about guests and what time they can come over, appropriate noise levels, etc. Again, these are just examples, but the key point is to bring up anything that you would be against right upfront before you actually sign a lease.  It is better to discover that you will not be compatible roommates before are actually living together.

For additional reading:

• Roommate Issues (Smoking, Debt, Loudness, etc) and How to Deal With Them
• How to Host an Apartment-Warming Party
• Your Apartment Rental Checklist

The Celebrity Beat: Relocation.com's Celebrity Real Estate Report

By Serena Norr

Sometimes it takes awhile for a home to be sold and a few of the celebrities on this week’s Celebrity Beat certainly know about this. Take Christina Aguilera and the late Leona Helmsley (Queen of Mean to some) whose homes have been listed on the market since 2008 and 2007, respectively. Aguilera has recently reduced the price of her home by $2 million bucks in hopes to garner a sale while Helmsley’s estate has reportedly sold the property, but for less than $55 million dollars (almost half of the $125 asking price). But then again, sometimes home sales are quick. Liam Neeson recently listed his co-op for $1.375 million and it was sold only five days later for $1.352. Here’s hoping other celebs on the Beat — Andrew Dice Clay and DeShawn Snow (Real Housewife) — don’t have to wait that long to sell their recently listed properties.

•    Liam Neeson Sells NYC Co-Op for $1.352 Million
Liam Nesson recently sold his Central Park West two-bedroom co-op that was only listed on the market for five days. Originally listed for $1.375, the co-op was sold for $1.352 to Alan Holtz, a corporate restructuring expert at Alix Partners. In addition to being right across the street from Central Park, the 2,300-square-foot corner apartment also includes two bathrooms, high-beamed ceilings and oversized windows that Nesson and his late wife Natasha Richardson lived in since 1994.  Wouldn’t it be nice if all home sales were this easy?

•    Christina Aguilera Drops Price of Home by $2 Million
Then again sometimes it takes time for a home to be sold. Take pop star Christina Aguilera who has been trying to sell her Hollywood Hills home since 2008. In an attempt to get it sold, she recently lowered her asking price to $5.995 million (a full $2 million dollar drop from the original asking price of $7.995). Purchased by Aguilera in 2003 for $5 million, the 1,200-square-foot home includes a master bedroom suite, four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a professional screening room that seats 18, a personal gym, an outdoor pool, a spa fit for 12, a fireplace and gorgeous views of the beach and downtown Los Angeles. Currently, Aguilera resides in a Beverly Hills home that was once owned by Ozzy Osbourne.

•    Leona Helmsley’s Mansion Sold for Less Than $55 Million
According to the NY Post, Leona Helmsley’s 40-acre mansion is rumored to have been sold this week for $55 million or less. Located in Greenwich, Connecticut, the home referred to as “Dullenellen Hall” has been on the market for three years following Helmsley’s death in 2007. It is reported that an undisclosed buyer was able to lower the price from $125 million, which is most likely due to its extensive repairs and damages ranging from leaky faucets to bad plumbing. The home, built in 1918, also comes with 26 rooms, an outdoor and outdoor pool, a koi pool, a wine cellar, a theater, tennis courts and two guest cottages. Proceeds of the sale will go to a Helmsley’s charitable trust.

•    Andrew Dice Clay Lists LA Home for $1,399,000
Long Island’s raunchiest insult comedian, Andrew Dice Clay, has recently placed his Los Angeles home on the market for $1,399,000. This 2,720-square-foot abode includes three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a fireplace, huge windows, a garden room and an eat-in kitchen with modern appliances. The exterior of the house is painted in mint green and is located on a huge luscious landscape.  Clay also owns a home in Las Vegas.

•    DeShawn Snow (Former Real Housewife of Atlanta) Selling Home for $4,998,000
While we are not so sure who this real housewife is, one thing is for certain: DeShawn Snow certainly know how to live large.  Listed for $4.9 million, the 10,317-square-foot estate home, which was recently renovated in 2008, includes six bedrooms with a master bedroom, nine bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, central air, seven fireplaces, a six-car garage, landscaped grounds and an outdoor pool with a fire pit. Located in Alpharetta, Georgia, the home also includes a “billiards room, card room, wine cellar, full bar, family room, dry sauna, exercise room and an on-site salon,” according to Zillow.com.