TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/279715
Th e M Rep o RT | 11 Houston, Texas Rank: 6 December 2013 Level: No data available Annual Change: No data available Hot home: Bayou Breeze is what they call this gorgeous estate located in the exclusive River Oaks neighborhood. Occupying a 3.7-acre bayou lot, this spacious English country home was designed by Curtis and Windham, with interiors by New York designer Bunny Williams. The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion has antique wood floors, an elevator to all three floors, a wine cellar with dining area, a media room, a separate guesthouse, and a two- bedroom apartment over the garage. It also has a pool with a cabana, a putting green , and stunning garden views from every window. The home lists for nearly $17 million. Seattle, Washington Rank: 7 December 2013 Level: 159.32 Annual Change: 12.4% Hot home: What do Christian Grey of "50 Shades of Grey" fame and San Francisco Giant Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum have in common? They both lived in the Escala, the swanky Seattle condo tower featured in the best- selling book. Lincecum is now selling his condo, once described as a "barren, artless wasteland" by the Seattle Weekly, for $2.495 million, much more than the $1.575 million he paid for it in December 2010. The condo features glorious views of the city from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Chicago, Illinois Rank: 8 December 2013 Level: 125.29 Annual Change: 11.3% Hot home: The home of the late filmmaker who set the tone for '80s teenage love is back on the market. John Hughes' Forest Lake estate, located in a suburban Chicago neighborhood, originally listed in 2011 after Hughes perished from a heart attack. The seven- bedroom, 6.5 bathroom, 11,000-square-foot manse originally sported a price tag of $5.89 million, but now it's selling for $4.295 million. Many of Hughes' iconic films like The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, Sixteen Candles" and Home Alone were shot in the neighborhood. Denver, Colorado Rank: 9 December 2013 Level: 146.26 Annual Change: 9% Hot home: This home is special because it was built to be a completely sustainable LEED structure, making it perfect for the rugged mountain environment. The 5,645-square-foot residence sits on 11.6 acres and has five bedrooms and 4.5 baths. It has slab granite counters, the latest in appliances, and a copper bar. For those who love getting out of the house in all climes, the estate has a four-stall barn, a heated workshop, and an expansive greenhouse. Las Vegas, Nevada Rank: 10 December 2013 Level: 128.53 Annual Change: 25.5% Hot home: Carlos Santana has had an illustrious career spanning decades; however, his fate with real estate hasn't been so successful. The legendary rock-fusion musician placed his Vegas palace on the market for $3.75 million in March 2013, and it still sits there. The hotel-styled manse has accent lighting, skylights, an elevator, and large pocket doors perfect for merging indoor-outdoor living spaces. The 7,240-square- foot contemporary home has four bedrooms and six baths, a theater, and a serene backyard oasis. The master suite has a fire pit—a perfect feature for those cool desert nights. Sources: Information acquired from Trulia and CoreLogic. Moving Toward Recovery