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Empty Land Offers Opportunity Once Obstacles are Cleared
By Lisa Klein & Luxury Portfolio International
Building one’s ideal house from scratch is a dream for many luxury homeowners.
Add in beautiful, sprawling land in a rural area, and there is a recipe for the perfect property.
“Whether you’re thinking about buying a couple of acres or hundreds of acres, there’s something very appealing about living in a peaceful countryside setting,” said Sister Hood, an agent in the Atlanta, Georgia, area with Harry Norman, Realtors.
Jumping the Hurdles
The appeal of a custom estate may be obvious – everything is designed to the specifications of the property owner, who may also have acres of trees, lake access and peace and quiet.
“Anytime you please you can hike, bike, birdwatch, fish, hunt, go horseback riding and much more,” Ms. Hood said of a rural Georgia setting.
According to Ms. Hood, more rural buyers are looking for homesites rather than permanently empty land to use for hunting or camping.
When considering an empty plot of land, however, it is important that buyers thoroughly research their options and enlist the help of experienced professionals for every step of the way.
First, it is important to check the zoning of a property and determine whether it can be easily petitioned for a change, if needed. Not all land is automatically approved for residential use.
A survey is also a must, as unused land may have somewhat unknown property lines or encroachments, intended or unintended. Others may even be using parts of the land legally.
“It is not uncommon to come across easements on rural properties,” Ms. Hood said. “These can be right-of-ways for neighboring properties or even gas and electric company easements that allow them to run lines across the property as well as access the property for maintenance.”
Thorough environmental testing should not be skipped, either.
“Depending on a property’s prior uses, it could be beneficial to look into environmental contaminations,” Ms. Hood said.
Use Case
Potential buyers will also need to know how well the soil drains and any topography issues that could affect building.
Homebuilders may even have to pay for running utilities to their new house. Road access could also be a factor.
Last, but not least, seekers of a blank slate should investigate the surroundings of their possible purchase.
“Always be sure to look at the uses of neighboring properties,” Ms. Hood said. “Rural areas can include dumps, garbage transfer stations, commercial gravel pits and many other rural commercial and industrial businesses that can impact surrounding properties.”
Buyers should also check the value of homes in the area, as the costs of building from the ground up may exceed the home’s new worth.
All that hassle can be worth it once the right property is found.
“You have the ability to really build however you like within the limitations of the local building codes,” Ms. Hood said. “You can create your dream house the way you prefer.”
Tradition, Pop Culture Artfully Combine in New Glass Collection
By Lisa Klein & Luxury Portfolio International
Artemest, a leading online marketplace for handmade Italian-made luxury goods, recently decided to play matchmaker, partnering up street artist Bradley Theodore with top Murano glassmakers for a bespoke collection of pop art pieces.
The resulting glass items are being showcased in a special exhibit, BLOW: Bradley Theodore meets Murano, during Milan Design Week 2022.
“In a time when everything boasts the signet of design – from a toothbrush to a work of art – Artemest cast American artist Bradley Theodore in the hands of Murano artisans as author and provocateur,” said Ippolita Rostagno, cofounder and creative director of Artemest, in a release.
“The result is a curated collection which witnesses the idea that ‘clash’ and ‘culture’ are no longer at odds,” she said.
Mr. Theodore, raised in Turks and Caicos and now splitting time between Miami Beach and New York, worked with nine Murano glassmakers – Covi e Puccioni, Fornace Mian, Fratelli Tosi, Luci Italia, Multiforme, Ongaro & Fuga, Specchi Veneziani, Venice Factory and Vetralia – on the collection.
Murano glassmaking is a centuries-old medium practiced on the isle of Murano in Venice, known for its craftsmanship, bright colors and the soda and lime added to the standard silica used in glass.
Mr. Theodore, on the other hand, is known for his giant urban murals and skull motifs.
The one-of-a-kind pieces that rose from the unusual combination mix motifs from Mr. Theodore’s tropical island childhood with Venetian symbols into lobster mirrors, pineapple chandeliers and, of course, plenty of skulls in the form of mirrors and sconces.
Mr. Theodore’s visits to the different Venetian makers were documented and cut into a short film on the creative process that is being screened at the exhibit space.
The entire BLOW collection is available for purchase from Artemest.
“It was a great experience to go behind the scenes with the glass makers and draw inspiration from the history of Venice,” Mr. Theodore said in a release.
“The essence of art lies in freedom of expression and creative exchange, and I am honored to have worked with the best in their field to create something new and exciting,” he said.
Seven Trends: Defining the Luxury Home of Today
The State of Luxury Real Estate 2022 (SOLRE) research spans 20 countries and 4,673 interviews among high-income (top 5%) and high-net-worth individuals (USD $1 million or more). it fields data collection in the fourth quarter each year and focuses on luxury home (USD $1 million or more) buyer’s wants and needs, preferences and lifestyle.
The Luxury Home of Today reports the heart of the luxury market to describe and detail what consumers deem to be essential features of the home and life.
- Security and self-sufficiency are top priorities in the next luxury home.
- Sustainability is a key differentiator in luxury homes. Basic features such as energy efficiency will suffice for now, but more fundamental expressions will be needed in the future including design elements and building materials.
- At-home entertaining is coming back – formal living and dining rooms, a chef’s kitchen with dual luxury brand appliances, a dedicated wet-bar and an outdoor kitchen all top the list.
- Indoor styling is moving outside. In addition to the outdoor kitchen, buyers want a pool area with lounge seating, fire features, smart technology and wireless Internet.
- The Great Outdoors calls as buyers seek grassy yards and areas for gardening. Whether flowers, edibles or the stones found in a tranquility garden, buyers love bucolic scenes.
- Lifestyles are dominated by a pulsation of active and idle time. Buyers love reading, learning new skills and contemplative time in relative quiet and solitude. When that is over, they love being active, spending time with family, exercising or training and using the latest in at-home technology to recover more quickly.
Read the full publication here.
Boulder Lands In The Top 5 Of Best Places To Live In America By U.S. News & World Report
Credit: Katy Marquardt & USNews.com and CBS4 Denver
The 2022 rankings identified places in America that have the best “combination of jobs, desirability, cost of living, quality of life.” And it apparently helps to be tucked up next to beautiful Rocky Mountains.
For Boulder — No. 4 — the U.S. News writers described the city as “a looker” whose backdrop is “the snow-capped Indian Peaks.”
Boulder gets high marks for incredible fitness and wellness options and a special nod is given to the rock climbing scene there. In fact, the publication chose to feature the city’s popular Flatirons in its tweet announcing the new rankings.
What’s it like to live in Boulder, CO?
Snug against the foothills where the Great Plains give rise to the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is nothing if not a looker. This city reveals its spectacle at the crest of a hill on U.S. Route 36 from Denver with its iconic sandstone slabs rising from the mountains, prefaced by pine-clad mesas and cradled within the backdrop of the snow-capped Indian Peaks.
For residents seeking wellness, Boulder has opportunities from forest bathing and free meditation sessions to an abundance of marijuana dispensaries, spas and alternative health care studios. The full spectrum of yoga disciplines is represented here, as well as a plethora of fitness options to ignite your curiosity, including parkour, aerial dance and “Animal Flow” ground-based movement classes. People looking to bring balance to their work life can find job perks that include participation in the city’s annual Tube to Work Day. Had it with the 9 to 5? Make like Boulder’s dirt bag climbers and live in a van, work odd jobs and become a fixture at the area’s legendary crags.
This blissed-out enclave attracts young professionals, families, academics, scientists, transplants from both coasts, old guards who insist it was way cooler in the 1970s and, above all, lovers of outdoor recreation. Trail runners, hikers, climbers, cyclists and more move here to live in this perpetual playground, where the answer to “What do you do?” is often one’s activity of choice, not occupation.
See all the best places to live in Colorado.
Vibrant Interiors – Living Large at Home
Designer Andrea Monath Schumacher Celebrates Living Vibrantly in Her First Book of Interiors
By Lisa Klein & Luxury Portfolio International
Andrea Monath Schumacher has been creating personality-filled spaces for over two decades.
Last week she released her first book, Vibrant Interiors: Living Large at Home, detailing six playful projects that embody the layered and bold yet balanced style of her design firm, Andrea Schumacher Interiors, based in Denver, Colorado, with a new outpost in Santa Barbara, California.
Below, she discusses her design philosophy and new adventure as a book author with Luxury Portfolio.
Photo courtesy of Gibbs Smith from Vibrant Interiors. Interior design by Andrea Monath Schumacher/Andrea Schumacher Interiors. Photo by Roger Davies
First of all, can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started as a designer?
I founded my design firm in 1999 almost by accident.
I had been working as an intern set designer for “Days of Our Lives” and Columbia Pictures and decided to continue my education. I was taking courses towards a masters [degree] in architecture at the University of Colorado when clients started approaching me to design their homes. From there, things took off, and now we are a firm of 11 and growing.
Vibrant Interiors is your first book – what made you decide to write it?
I feel honored to work in design and to be able to touch the lives of so many through creating beautiful, livable spaces.
Our environments hugely impact our emotions, and I want to create spaces that make my clients feel wonderful. This book includes tips, tricks and insight into how others can do the same for themselves.
What can readers expect to find in the pages?
My grandmother was an artist who taught me the importance of living beautifully. I learned so much from her, and I always like to imbue artistry into the home, whether it be with antique Chinese doors or captivating snake candleholder sconces. Great design is all about the details.
Photo courtesy of Gibbs Smith from Vibrant Interiors. Interior design by Andrea Monath Schumacher/Andrea Schumacher Interiors. Photo by Roger Davies
So, what does make an interior vibrant?
Going back to my days as a set designer, we were always thinking about the stories we were conveying through the spaces we designed. I do this today with my clients. I think an interior is vibrant when it tells your story authentically and lets you live to the fullest.
How would you describe your design style?
My style is all about mixing colors, time periods and inspirations to create elegant, layered interiors.
Growing up, my dad was a virologist for the CDC, so we lived everywhere from Atlanta to Nigeria. Living in so many corners of the globe was essential to developing my design eye and is backed by my education.
What are some of your favorite design elements to work with?
I really enjoy working with unusual, unique furniture pieces and art. I’m also no stranger to pattern and color.
You do use a lot of color in your designs. What do bright, bold colors lend to a space?
I love color. It makes everything more exciting, but it is all about using color correctly and achieving a balance. Too much of a good thing is never good.
I typically begin by finding one element in the room that will serve as the foundation of the palette – for example, a piece of art or a fabric. From there, color can be splashed across the walls or used more restrainedly, like on a lampshade.
Photo courtesy of Gibbs Smith from Vibrant Interiors. Interior design by Andrea Monath Schumacher/Andrea Schumacher Interiors. Photo by Roger Davies
What do you do to balance out louder elements such as color and pattern?
I think about how all elements interact with one another, including the room’s flow and the architecture. The careful attention to scale allows for a nice foundation upon which to add color and pattern. It is methodical so as not to tip the scale too far.
I will also create visual pauses – for example, solid pillows or fabrics for color blocking.
How do you inject some personality into each space?
I do this by creating interiors that reflect the lives of the homeowners. Where have they been? What do they collect?
Conversation pieces are also an important part of the storytelling process. They can be rare or simply out of place and unexpected. They allow for connection with others and with our homes.
How does Vibrant Interiors reflect your work overall?
The book focuses on six projects. They all have their own unique spirit but reflect my love of the mix to create truly inspired spaces with a wink.
COVER STORY: Colorado Landmark, Realtors receives global recognition for Marshall Fire recovery efforts
Two Cities in Northern Colorado named among Wall Street Journal’s Top 10 Emerging Housing Markets for Spring 2022
The Hottest Places to Live Now Are Often the Most Affordable
By Nicole Friedman, The Wall Street Journal
Less expensive cities with strong local economies climbed The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Index in the first quarter, another sign that many home buyers are giving priority to affordability.
Fast-rising housing prices have pushed buyers from expensive coastal cities into cheaper housing markets in recent years. Expanded remote-work opportunities and a search for different lifestyles during the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated the trend.
The migration is poised to continue as home prices set new highs and rising mortgage-interest rates increase borrowing costs for home buyers, economists say. The average 30-year mortgage rate jumped from 3.1% at the end of 2021 to 5.0% by mid-April, adding hundreds of dollars to the typical monthly mortgage payment.
“People are chasing affordability,” said Sam Khater, chief economist at mortgage-finance giant Freddie Mac. In response to high housing prices and increased remote-work flexibility, he said, “people are reordering where they live.”
The Rapid City, S.D., metro area of about 145,000 people near the Wyoming border was the top-ranked market for the quarter. It was followed by Santa Cruz, Calif.; North Port, Fla.; Santa Rosa, Calif.; and Naples, Fla. The top 20 cities in the ranking have an average population size of about 600,000.
The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Index identifies the topmetro areas for home buyers seeking an appreciating housing market and lifestyle amenities.
The top-ranked markets in the first quarter had faster home sales, higher wages and shorter commute times than the market as a whole, said George Ratiu, manager of economic research at Realtor.com. News Corp, parent of the Journal, operates Realtor.com.
North Port and Naples were the top two markets in the fourth quarter and held in the top five as Florida continues to attract migration from other states. Some of the top-ranked markets are also desirable vacation destinations, including Santa Cruz, Naples and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Rapid City, South Dakota’s second-biggest city, is a tourist and retirement destination because of its proximity to the Black Hills mountain range and Mount Rushmore. The metro area’s economy also depends on education, military and the healthcare sector, with Monument Health as the largest employer, Mr. Ratiu said.
Buyers have flocked to Rapid City in the past two years from Colorado, California and the East Coast in search of fewer pandemic-related restrictions, access to outdoor recreation and a small-city feel, said Shauna Sheets of Keller Williams Realty Black Hills. Investors also have been drawn to the market’s affordable prices and rental demand, she said.
“What I hear more and more [is], ‘Rapid City is what Fort Collins used to be, it’s what Colorado Springs used to be, it’s what Denver used to be,’ ” she said. “What I’ve heard is, ‘Now we know how our state will react in a crisis, and I don’t like how my state reacts.’ ”
Rapid City’s house prices have climbed in response, making it more difficult for local buyers to compete, said Stuart Martin of Re/Max Results in Rapid City. The average sale price in the area hit $364,000 in the first quarter, up from $311,000 in the same quarter a year earlier, Ms. Sheets said.
About 77.5% of page views on Rapid City-area property listings came from outside the metro area in the first quarter, according to Realtor.com. The top metro areas for interest in Rapid City listings were Washington, D.C., Denver, Omaha, Neb., and Sioux Falls in eastern South Dakota.
In Topeka, Kan., which ranked 16th in the first-quarter rankings, affordable prices also are attracting out-of-state buyers and investors, said real-estate broker Abbey Wostal. The median sales price in the Topeka metro area was $155,000 in the first quarter, down 1.6% from the same period in 2021, according to the Sunflower Association of Realtors.
“Topeka, we’ve always said, we’re kind of a great little secret,” she said. “It may not be where you choose to vacation, but it is a great place to live, because it’s affordable.”
The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Index ranks the 300 biggest metro areas in the U.S. In addition to housing-market indicators, the index incorporates economic and lifestyle data, including real estate taxes, unemployment, wages, commute time and small-business loans.
Q2 Trends: Sinking inventory, Russia and China’s impact, return of cities and millennials on the move
By Mickey ALAM KHAN
The prime property market is ablaze as agents worldwide continue to experience record levels of activity. But increasingly, concern is mounting around inventory, which remains at an all-time low – even at prime price points. This trend is the most palpable in the United States, where bidding wars on select properties are still prevalent and aspirational buyers continue getting priced out of lower-tier luxury properties.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), only 6% of all home sales are for properties in the $1 million+ price point.
Because of this supply-and-demand imbalance and subsequential spike in prices, markets that were once subsidiaries – i.e., satellite towns – have now become luxury destinations, such as areas outside New York City or around Seattle.
The post-COVID landscape – where remote or partially remote work environments remain in place – will continue to magnify this trend.
For example, pre-COVID, a 90-minute commute from Manhattan would have been considered an outlier. But now, if someone needs to be in the city two or three times a week, a longer commute is no longer considered onerous. That has “stretched” the commute to particularly more suburban areas, even rural communities in Northern Connecticut.
Where else is the money going? Atlanta’s luxury real estate sector has become quite pricey as tech companies, such as Microsoft, open new campuses there.
Charlotte, N.C. is also feeling the pressure of a hot housing market, fueled by banking industry business and an uptick in new residents.
Yet the most compelling markets to watch include Florida, which has become the posterchild for unbridled growth, as well as Texas and Tennessee –Nashville is currently one of the most sought-after markets for high-end homes.
While inclusive of all price points, the National Association of Realtors reports that the South accounts for 46% of all home sales.
And while the Sun Belt is certainly a literal hot-bed, New York is back. Prices of condos in the city are up 20% in many cases, and in the suburbs, it is nearly impossible to find a reasonably priced, move-in ready home.
It is a similar narrative in Chicago, where sales are up between 10% and 15%. Internationally, all eyes are on Dubai, which is seeing record activity levels, fueled, in part, by Russian investors. London, too, is seeing sales coming back in upscale neighborhoods.
Looking ahead, we see the next phase of luxury growth being powered by wealthy millennials.
The amenities they want in their properties – for example, completely wired homes that are fit for remote work as well as more space, “green” access and a great location –will be major influencers on the industry and give way to important opportunity zones.
Co-primary markets will continue to be a mainstay as high-net-worth individuals work from home and seamlessly go between residences. And despite the explosive growth in housing, office districts in major metros such as New York will continue to struggle.
We do not foresee the spike in interest rates – now at 4% – acting as a deterrent for high-net-worth home purchasers in the United States, but it will hamper aspirational buyers.
As a whole, the biggest threats on horizon are geopolitical, tied to Russia and China.
Affluent individuals in Europe may be thinking about moving their assets to safer havens, such as the United States.
Most foreign purchasers of real estate in the U.S. in the last couple of years happened to be affluent consumers from China, Canada, India, United Kingdom and Mexico.
China accounted for the biggest drop of foreign investment in New York real estate as the pandemic hit. So, the absence of Chinese money will be far more impactful than the sanctions or retreat from Russian buyers in the New York market.
It bears keeping in mind that the U.S. and European sanctions only apply to freezing the targeted Russian oligarchs’ assets, not seizures. It is difficult to totally seize the sanctioned Russian oligarchs’ wealth unless governments have established a paper trail linking the purchase of those assets to illicit wealth.
Overall, demand in the market is there, but supply is not. Expectations are high, and the next few months are sure to offer an intriguing glimpse into how the industry will continue to adapt to market gyrations and disruptors on a global scale.
This article originally appeared on rismedia.com.
Happy Earth Day 2022
As we face an accelerating climate crisis, and many other challenges affecting our dear Mother Earth today, the message of Earth Day is as important as ever.
Join the celebration of our great planet by planting a tree, exploring the city’s mountain parks or by participating in a local event.
Here is a fantastic list from the City of Boulder of local events and celebrations to get involved in climate action today and every day!
Cool Boulder
Join in a community-wide effort to implement natural climate solutions. Cool Boulder is mobilizing and supporting our community to regenerate our soils, trees, and habitats for a resilient community, climate and future. Sign up to join an action team or become a community resource specialist.
Spring Fest and Earth Day Celebration with Jeff and Paige
Bring the family to the Sombrero Marsh Environmental Education Center for fun activities led by Thorne Nature Experience educators and a performance by kid-favorites, Jeff and Paige. Learn more and register for the free event online.
Ride Boulder BCycle for Free
April 22 through 24, get free access to Boulder BCycle. Enjoy unlimited 60-minute e-bike trips with your 3-Day Weekend Pass. To get the pass, download the BCycle App and select Bosch Earth Day Pass.
Tree Planting throughout the spring and at the Columbia Cemetery
Even though they’re not having Earth Day-specific events, the city’s Forestry team in the Parks and Recreation Department is focused on sustainability by planting trees! Approximately 400 trees in city parks and public street rights-of-way, at both residential and commercial sites, will be planted this spring.
The team is also working with Flatirons Elementary School to plant 10 trees at Columbia Cemetery on April 29 as part of their Arbor Day events.
Resource Central
Celebrate our planet with Resource Central and Eco-Cycle at 6400 Arapahoe Ave from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tour Resource Central’s renovated reuse facility, get inspired for your summer DIY projects, and rock out to local bands. There will also be food and free family activities to enjoy. Check out Resource Central’s website for more information and RSVP on Facebook.
Community Cycle’s Bicycle Film Festival
Watch a series of short, international films that celebrate the bicycle. The festival will also feature panel discussions about cycling topics, local food and drink, and the opportunity to chat about biking with other Boulderites. Learn more and purchase tickets.
Community Calendar
Access the Boulder.Earth community calendar for even more ways to get involved.
Looking for something you can do yourself?
If these events aren’t the right fit for you, access the city’s guide to climate action. There, you’ll find ideas on how to live a more sustainable life and create positive change for our climate.
Happy Earth Day!