Source: IMDb

Celebrity real estate, like regular real estate, usually hits the market in the aftermath of divorce proceedings.

Patricia Arquette and former husband Thomas Jane, listed their home for sale in Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles after they announced their divorce. First listed on the market in June 2011, Arquette’s home recently sold for $2.775 million — 20 percent less than the original asking price, according to the Real Estalker.

Arquette, best known for her role in TV’s “Medium,” which aired 2005 through 2011, purchased the vine-covered home in 2003 with Jane for $2.25 million. Arquette and Jane — of TV series “Hung” — were married in 2006, they divorced in late 2010.

Built in 1929, Arquette’s former home is a stucco “Rennaisance Revival” home covered in vines and filled with 1920s details. The 4-bedroom, 5-bath home has hand-painted ceilings and stained glass windows  as well as chef’s kitchen with inlaid limestone tile. Situated on a one-third acre lot, the home also has a pool and outdoor living area with barbeque.

Mid-Wilshire home values remain high at $913,000. The pricey L.A. neighborhood is a popular one with stars and is home to Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, as well as Kathy Bates and David Schwimmer.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate hovered between 3.67 and 3.76 percent for the majority of the week, peaking at 3.79 percent on Friday before falling to the current rate this morning.

“Rates drifted slightly up this past week, on expectations of progress in Greece’s bailout negotiations and improving U.S. economic news,” said Erin Lantz, director of Zillow Mortgage Marketplace. “With a shortened and relatively slow week for U.S. economic data, we expect rates to remain fairly steady.”

Additionally, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate this morning was 3.0 percent and for 5/1 ARMs, the rate was 2.75 percent.

What are the rates right now? Check Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for up-to-the-minute mortgage rates for your state.

We’re anticipating the seasonally adjusted month-over-month change from November to December will be -0.6% and -0.5% for the 10- and 20-City Composite Home Price Indices, respectively.

“As we mentioned last time, the Case-Shiller indices are experiencing the bulk of 2011 home price depreciation in the last quarter of the year contrary to the trend displayed by the Zillow Home Value Index, where the pace of depreciation has slowed since the start of this year with only December showing a significant pick-up in the depreciation rate,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. “While home values are expected to fall further in 2012 with a definitive bottom probably a year away, home sales are expected to pick up pace in 2012 stabilizing home prices across the nation.”

The full forecast and further commentary can be found on the Zillow Real Estate Research page.

Since we began forecasting seven months ago, we have very accurately predicted the numbers of both indices. Results of previous forecasts can be found here.

Source: Wiki commons

Mary Kay Mansion
8915 Douglas Ave, Dallas TX
For sale: $3.3 million

The former home of the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics is exactly the color you would expect: A soft shade of light pink. Mary Kay pink, to be exact.

Mary Kay Ash’s stucco mansion was designed in 1984 by Dallas Design Group and served as the businesswoman’s home and headquarters for entertaining Mary Kay consultants until 2000. Although Mary Kay did not design the home, touches of the makeup icon are inherent in many of the home’s features, according to listing agent Karen Luter.

Like, for instance, the solid pink quartz toilet and bath.

The beauty-product queen’s former home is back on the Dallas real estate market for $3.3 million. Mary Kay sold the home in 2000 in her efforts to downsize, and now the current owner, a Dallas physician, is following suit and hoping to move to the San Juan Islands. What’s unusual, notes Luter, is that both Mary Kay and the physician are successful entrepreneurs.

“It’s interesting that it [the home] was purchased by Mary Kay, who was a self-made woman, and it was sold to another self-made woman from humble beginnings,” said Luter.

Ideally, the next owner would follow the trend, but if the buyer happens to be a self-made man, Luter says she won’t discriminate.

Despite its pink-hued exterior, the interior of Mary Kay’s home has an elegance that belies the outside.

The home is built on a grand scale, with 40-foot-high ceilings and a foyer that includes busts of famous composers inserted in the ceiling. Highly detailed paneling and moldings appear throughout the house, as well as enormous floor-to-ceiling, beveled glass windows that look out to the terraced gardens.

Situated on an acre of land in the high-end Dallas neighborhood of Old Preston Hollow, the grounds of Mary Kay’s home were designed to mimic the San Simeon estate, William Hearst’s famous home in California.

The former Mary Kay home was redone by the current owner: New flooring, paint, updated kitchen and geothermal system for heating and cooling.

Mary Kay Cosmetics was founded by Mary Kay Ash in 1963. Frustrated when her employer promoted the man she trained rather than her, Mary Kay quit to write a book to help women succeed in business. Out of her research, she realized she had a business plan that would work for her makeup company. She began giving out pink Cadillacs to her top Mary Kay sellers in 1969.

In an age when many women were not encouraged to work outside the home, Mary Kay’s company was a significant opportunity. Luter shared an anecdote from one of the woman who worked with Mary Kay in the company’s early days:

Mary Kay told them (the consultants) to work really hard all day and then get home and sauté some onions in a skillet. As the fragrance fills the house, your husbands will think you’ve been cooking all day.”

The first recorded celebration of Mardi Gras on Louisiana soil was in 1699 by French explorers. Some 300 years later, the holiday is a state symbol as much as the fleur de lis.

In honor of New Orleans’ iconic holiday, we’re showcasing a few homes for sale within walking distance of the biggest parade routes and party spots — feathers and beads not included.

518 Conti St, New Orleans LA (below)
For sale: $725,000

This four-story townhouse may be a short distance to major New Orleans hot spots like the House of Blues, but it’s not short on style. High ceilings with multiple windows set in brick walls create a loft-like space filled with light. Designed in 1835, the French Quarter townhouse for sale has 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and over 3,500 square feet of living space.

1301 N Rampart St Apt 502, New Orleans LA (below)
For sale: $750,000

Watch the Mardi Gras revelers in luxury from a private terrace of this Tremé Lafitte penthouse for sale. The 2-bed, 2-bath home has marble and pine floors as well as custom mill work and molding that continue throughout the rooms. An enormous soaking tub and shower up the ante in the master suite.

730 Saint Philip St #C, New Orleans LA (below)
For sale: $1,220,000

This home is nearly as colorful as Louisiana’s Krewe parades with zebra-striped rugs, glittering chandeliers and a bright red kitchen. French doors lead from the spacious apartment to two second-floor terraces with views of the French Quarter. Venetian plaster walls, two gas fireplaces and marble bathroom round out the rest of the 3-bed, 3-bath property.

1137 Dauphine St, New Orleans LA (below)
For sale: $750,000

This New Orleans home for sale embraces its French roots, with chic upholstered furniture, painted mural walls and other French-inspired decor. The 2-bed, 2-bath home also features a charming courtyard with a fountain and plenty of greenery.

1124 Burgundy St, New Orleans LA (below)
For sale: $2,800,000

Embrace the history of New Orleans with a classic town home built in the early 1800s. Details of the period are still intact in the updated home, including exposed ceiling beams and several brick fireplaces. The 3-bed, 6.5-bath home has nearly 6,000 square feet of living space as well as outdoor brick and stone patios.

732 Gov Nicholls St New Orleans LA (below)
For sale: $890,000

This jeweled cottage is filled with New Orleans-worthy details.  Curlicued lattice work frames a balcony looking out over the neighborhood while inside features include marble fireplaces, bright wallpaper and a leopard-printed staircase. The home also features a rear courtyard and two-story guesthouse with kitchen.

In 14th-century Europe, rats were responsible for spreading the Black Death, a plague that killed tens of millions of people. And while we now have a cure for the bubonic plague and other bacterial illnesses, vermin like mice, rats and bugs continue to infest houses and apartments in the developed world. They can still spread disease if allowed to roam free, and even if they don’t get you sick, it’s still unnerving to have a pest problem.

No one wants to find mouse droppings in the cupboard or see roaches scatter every time they turn on the lights. The obvious solution is to call a professional, but exterminators can be pricey, and many of the weapons they use can be found at your local hardware store – or even under your kitchen sink.

We talked to the experts to find out which do-it-yourself pest control techniques do and don’t work.

The Tricky Business of Bedbugs

City-dwellers live in fear of bedbugs, knowing that an infestation may mean junking your mattress, washing all of your clothes, paying a professional to de-bug your home and possibly ending up a social pariah. But preventing this nightmare scenario is easier said than done.

While you can buy a bug-proof mattress cover to keep bugs out (and starve any that are already inside), there’s little you can do to prevent a bug from hitching a ride home on your clothes or shoes and setting up shop at your place.

“There’s no true prevention, other than knowing how not to bring them in in the first place,” says Jeffrey White, a research entomologist for BedBug Central, a pest control information website.

Still, there are a few guidelines for effectively dealing with the pests on your own. White says that if you suspect bedbugs have entered your home, you can get bedbug interceptors – small traps that surround the legs of your bed and furniture to catch any bugs that try to crawl up.

And if you think that bedbugs may have already taken up residence in your bed, he advises against spraying pesticides directly on your bed – these will repel but not kill the bugs, which means that you may just succeed in spreading them across your home.

Boric Acid

One of the most effective store-bought chemicals for dealing with cockroaches is boric acid, which is poisonous to roaches. You can buy a bottle of the powder for a few dollars, and it often comes in a “puffer” bottle that blows it into cracks and crevices where roaches dwell.

“They pick it up on their bodies as they crawl through it, and in the process of grooming themselves they ingest it,” explains Phil Koehler, an entomologist at the University of Florida who specializes in pest control.

But buyer beware: Koehler says to follow the instructions on the label carefully, noting that many people who ignore the instructions will simply sprinkle the powder around the house, which often leads to a call to the poison control center if it’s accidentally eaten by a pet or small child.

Koehler adds that people who try to create DIY poison pellets by mixing the powder with globs of peanut butter or other food usually screw it up, so it’s best not to risk it.

“Most people don’t know how to measure out the correct amounts, and cockroaches won’t eat it in the wrong concentration,” he says.

A Line in the Sand

Don’t like the idea of having a chemical poison like boric acid lying around the house? As an alternative, some people recommend pouring a thin layer of powder like chalk, flour or Comet cleaner around cracks and crevices, the idea being that a bug will refuse to cross it.

White says that there’s some scientific truth to this, but that it’s not fool-proof.

“Any of these dusts, even baby powder, are creating a very dry environment, and many insects have moisture regulation issues,” he says. “The problem is, it’s not going to be a line in the sand. Many insects will go through the pile of dust to get to the food they need to survive.”

You Catch More Flies With… Vinegar?

When people say that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, they mean that you’ll get further in life if you’re nice to people. But if you’re actually trying to catch flies, pest experts recommend vinegar.

One common DIY fly trap is to put some vinegar (apple cider vinegar is a common suggestion) in a cup and cover it with a lid or plastic wrap with holes poked in it. The flies will enter through the holes and get stuck in the vinegar. White confirms that he tends to use a mixture of fruit and vinegar to attract flies.

We’ve seen a similar tactic used at barbecues to deal with wasps: Open a can of soda and leave it somewhere far from the action, and it will eventually be swarmed with wasps. Some will fall in and get stuck, but even those smart enough not to land directly in the soda will still be too enthralled by the sugar to bother the rest of your guests.Just be careful that no one knocks it over or tries to drink from it.

Koehler adds that the can of soda can also be used to pinpoint the location of the wasps’ hive:

Crack it open, then watch for the first wasp to land and survey the situation. In all likelihood it will fly back to its hive to report its find, so if you can follow it, then use an over-the-counter product to spray the hive and kill the bees.

Fruit Flies Like a Banana

Want to avoid mice and bugs? Keep a clean house. OK, bedbugs dine on your flesh, so keeping your place clean won’t keep them away. But virtually every other pest, from mice to roaches to fruit flies, are attracted by unclean conditions.

If you want to keep them out, don’t leave food out. A clean kitchen won’t hold much interest for roaches, and while mice can chew through boxes to get the food inside, they’re less likely to come around in the first place if you keep food containers sealed and crumbs swept up. And true to their name, fruit flies generally only come around if you’ve got fruit ripening or rotting out in the open.

“As soon as you see a few fruit flies, it’s all about finding the source,” says White. “If you can eliminate the source, you can eliminate your fly problem.”

Cleanliness also goes a long way in dealing with outdoor pests too: If you want to keep mosquitoes out of your yard, start by getting rid of any standing water on your property. An upside-down trash can lid filled with rainwater might as well be a written invitation to the bloodsuckers.

Natural Predators

Farmers have long recognized the benefits of keeping certain bugs around to feed on crop-killing pests – ladybugs, for instance, helped ensure their status as America’s favorite bug by devouring the aphids that otherwise gobble up plants. The same principle can be applied in the home to deal with domestic pests.

The classic example is getting a “mouser” – that is, a cat intended to catch mice. But the actual success of this all-natural technique is spotty.

Larry, a mouser cat hired by the British government to address the rodent problem at No. 10 Downing Street, reportedly caught a few mice, but came under attack in the British press after a rat appeared at a prime minister’s dinner.

And some experts point out that getting a cat could easily backfire: By leaving a bowl of food on the floor for your new pet, you’re practically laying out dinner for the mice in your building.

But bugs have other natural predators, and some people recommend a pet lizard of some kind and giving it the run of the house. Others will deliberately let household spiders live so they’ll catch any bugs that get too close to their webs. Whether these tactics are right for you depends a lot on how you feel about lizards and spiders running around the house. Regardless, they’re generally not as effective as more conventional pest control methods.

“If you like having an ecosystem in your house that’s fine, but most people aren’t interested in having a spider or a gecko in their house,” says Koehler. “Plus, most pests are able to out-reproduce the predators.”

Yellow Light

Most of the pest control methods we’ve talked about consist of laying some sort of booby trap for the pests and hoping they blunder into it. The ideal solution would be to take the fight to the pests by stomping on them, vacuuming them up or spraying them with roach killer (which only works on direct contact and is more or less useless once it dries up).

There’s just one big problem with this approach: Roaches come out at night, and scatter as soon as you flip the lights on. The solution is to use light the roaches can’t see. Koehler says that he and his colleagues found that placing a yellow filter on a flashlight allows you to see them without alerting them to your presence. That allows you to sneak up on the bugs and dispose of them with whatever method you choose.

As for the best method of killing the bugs, Koehler also debunks a common myth we’d heard about cockroaches: That stepping on them will cause their microscopic eggs to disperse, making your pest problem even worse.

“The most common cockroach, the German cockroach, will carry the eggs until they’re ready to hatch, because the eggs need the moisture [of the parent],” he explains. “If you squish it, they’re not going to hatch.”

Build a Better Mousetrap

Store-bought mouse traps are fairly cheap, and they run the gamut from humane (no-kill traps that allow you to release your pest outside) to the inhumane (sticky traps that give mice a slow death). But you can build a mousetrap of your own with some basic household goods.

One DIY technique that we’re fond of is to balance a cardboard tube off the edge of the counter or cabinet where your mouse is known to frequent, then at the far end of the tube put a bit of bait (peanut butter works) and below it put a barrel or bucket. Your mouse will crawl through the tube in search of the treat, and its weight will tip the tube off the ledge and into the bucket.

If you can’t stomach killing a living thing, you can take your catch out to the woods and wish it luck fending for itself in the wild. If you can, just fill the bucket with the water and the problem should solve itself.

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This post originally appeared on Main Street on Feb. 8, 2012 and was written by Matt Brownell. It is republished here with permission from The Street.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Barack Obama

Prior to his current digs at the White House, President Obama lived off Greenwood Avenue in Chicago. The Obamas’ home, pictured above, was built in 1917 and features 6,199 square feet of living space. President Obama and First Lady Michelle purchased the brick home in 2005 for $1,650,000, shortly after Obama was elected to Senate.

George W. Bush

When it came time for former President George W. Bush to retire from the Oval Office, the 43rd President decided to go back to his home state of Texas, picking up a sprawling 8,000-square-foot home at 10141 Daria Pl, which was a downsize from the 55,000-square-foot White House. The Bushes also purchased the property next door but tore it down in 2008. People speculated at the time that the demolition was to expand the former first family’s yard.

Bill Clinton

Unlike many other Presidents, Bill Clinton didn’t own a home during his residency at the White House. Born and raised in Arkansas, the former President and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chose to stay on the East Coast, and purchased a home in Chappaqua, New York at the end of Clinton’s second term in office. By several accounts, the Clintons are quite popular in the small Westchester County town. Built in 1889, the Clintons’ home is situated on a cul-de-sac lot and has 5,232-square-foot of living space, 5 beds and 4 baths.

Ronald Reagan

Before Ronald Reagan lived at the White House, he lived among the star-studded hills of Pacific Palisades and Bel Air. His former Pacific Palisades property was he and wife Nancy Reagan’s home base until Reagan was elected in 1981. After two terms as the 40th President of the U.S., “The Gipper” and his wife returned to Los Angeles, picking up a prime slice of real estate in the posh Bel-Air neighborhood. The property remains Nancy Reagan’s home today.

Gerald Ford

Not one, but two of former President Gerald Ford’s homes are currently for sale — one listed in California and one in Colorado. Ford’s Vail home, pictured above, is a testament to his love of skiing and the outdoors. Listed for $9.85 million, the ski-in/ski-out home has been on and off the market starting in 2008 with a hefty price tag of $14.9 million. Gerald Ford’s other home is listed on the Rancho Mirage real estate market for significantly less. The $1.699 million listing is a mid-century ranch located on the Thunderbird Country golf course and contains some Presidential memorabilia, including a large portrait of Betty Ford hanging in the living room.

John F. Kennedy

One of America’s most famous families holds one of America’s most storied properties. The Kennedy Compound consists of 6 acres of waterfront property on Nantucket Sound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, a small village in the town of Barnstable. John F. Kennedy’s father, Joseph P. Kennedy, rented a summer cottage in Hyannis Port in 1926 and purchased the cottage 2 years later. The home, which Joseph enlarged and remodeled, became the summer getaway for the couple and their children, who enjoyed sailing on the sound. In 1956, after his marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier, Jack bought a smaller home nearby, and his brother Robert later purchased an adjacent home. Following the death of Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy, the compound was donated to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.

George Washington

While we don’t have the first President’s childhood home– the one where he chopped down a cherry tree — we do have the home where George Washington reportedly slept. It is believed that the first general hung up his wig at this 1739 homestead, named the “Fowler House.” The number of nights Washington slept here is up for debate, but if you believe the historic marker on the home, he often stayed here on his way from West Point to Connecticut. The New York home is 5,800 square feet and has 5 bedrooms and 2 baths and was recently listed on the Brewster real estate market for $500,000.

Are we missing your favorite President? Check out the homes of Truman, Nixon and more Presidents.

Something to keep in mind: If you are planning on trading cash in lower risk CDs or bonds for real estate, you are trading into a dramatically higher risk asset. However, if if you do decide to jump into the investment property game, you should make sure to vet the property investments you plan to acquire to better increase the chances that the real estate you buy will increase your net wealth, not decrease it.

This is, of course, assuming you already understand the most important item in investing: making sure the property you are buying is cash-flow positive based on conservative estimates, and provides you a fair rate of return on your investment. Read more about estimating cash-flow on properties here.

What other items and issues does a buyer need to review when buying an investment property?

Home Inspection

Most people know to always have a home inspection done when they are buying property. While a competent home inspector will note all the items working or not, the inspector is not pricing out the costs to get all those items repaired, nor other items like painting, flooring, etc. that you might plan to have done. It’s your job to put together a list of all the work and get with your contractor to price them out. Put that number into your financial analysis and note that properties in poor condition rarely sell at a large enough discount to compensate for all rehabilitation work that needs to be done!

Title Abstract and Insurance

When you buy property, a title policy protects you in case there is a title problem, like the seller’s ex-fiancée was a part owner in the property but didn’t sign off on the sale. In this case, it is the title insurer’s problem and they will cover costs to defend you and settle any dispute, up to the policy maximum limit, unless the title issue was “Excluded” from the title policy.

The Schedule of Exclusions will note issues the title insurance policy will not cover, like recorded easements. It is vital to review the information there as well as in the title abstract. If there is a title issue that was “excluded” from coverage, it is your problem, not theirs.

Survey, Plats, Legal Description

Your land, lot, or condominium — plus parking spaces and storage — will also have a defined legal description of what you own. There may be a county plat showing it and/or you might want to have a survey done of the lot lines. Either way, you should walk the property and compare when you physically see to what is on the plat/survey to make sure you are comfortable that no neighbors’ fences, driveways, etc. are encroaching on your lot. If it is a condominium, make sure you review the recorded rights to your interior space, patios, parking spaces, storage, etc.

Homeowners Association

If you are buying a property in a common interest development like a condo or town home, you are not only buying your individual unit, you are buying into the larger entity. Thus, you are responsible for your share of the cost to pay for those, via HOA fees. There are many many risks related to HOAs, a few range from unfunded reserves for repairs and replacements to litigation and water issues. You can do analysis to better reduce your risk of buying into an HOA that is in a disastrous state, but you have to do the hard work of doing the proper due diligence.

Financing

You also need to make sure you are getting a fair deal on your mortgage financing. Just getting one bid from one lender is not good enough. Shop around to get pricing from at least two lenders and carefully compare those mortgage bids to determine which one gives you the best fees versus interest rate deal. It’s not easy to do as the Good Faith Estimate forms are quite complicated, but that’s no excuse for not doing the proper analysis.

Insurance

Lastly, do you have the proper type and amount of insurance coverage in place? Make sure to sit down with your insurance agent and determine what you need to be adequately covered. Look into umbrella policies as well as earthquake, interior condominium HO-6 policies and any other coverage you need. Pick your real estate agent‘s brain so you have the proper coverage for your risks.

A real estate investment, whether rental property or a home, is the largest, most complicated, and riskiest purchase you will ever make. Experienced investors know how to better reduce their exposure with the proper due diligence; you need to make sure you know how to do the proper steps too!

It’s your money, and your retirement, at risk. You don’t want to find out, after disaster strikes, that you could have reviewed, analyzed, researched and done the hard work upfront to have protected yourself and avoided that issue from ever happening in the first place.

Leonard Baron, MBA, CPA, is a San Diego State University Lecturer, a Zillow Blogger, the author of several books including “Real Estate Ownership, Investment and Due Diligence 101 – A Smarter Way to Buy Real Estate”, and loves kicking the tires of a good piece of dirt! See more at ProfessorBaron.com.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Buyers prefer that both are clean and in move-in condition. They want to unpack their dishes and glassware as well as their toiletry bag and feel comfortable in their new home right away.

Many homeowners, however, don’t have the time, energy or financial resources for major kitchen and bathroom renovations. Perhaps during their time in the home, the seller focused on turning the basement into a media room or making necessary roof and siding repairs. When it’s time to sell, how can a cash-strapped seller appeal to buyers who want — even expect — an upgraded kitchen and bathroom?

Here are three affordable, quick, easy tips for sprucing up your kitchen and bath right before going on the market.

1. Paint the kitchen cabinets.

It would be too costly to go out and purchase new cabinets just before you sell.  But you and your real estate agent despise the old knotty pine or dark grain cabinets from 20 years ago. A quick fix is to paint them white. It will make the kitchen appear lighter, brighter and cleaner. A fresh coat of paint will give the appearance of new, which will appease many buyers. This can be done in one or two days’ time for just a few hundred dollars.

2. Put some new hardware on the kitchen cabinets.

After you’ve brightened up the kitchen with some new paint, throw on some brushed nickel cabinet door hardware. This hardware with the new white paint in the backdrop will make the kitchen pop. Buyers’ eyes may be drawn away from the older counter tops or appliances. And, given that the cabinets are at or just above eye level, the hardware may be the first thing they notice in the kitchen.  You can buy new hardware for just a few dollars and install them yourself

3. Re-grout or clean the bathroom tile and grout.

Bathrooms should be sanitary places and a new buyer wants to feel comfortable with their new bathroom. Nothing is more of a turn off than a bathroom where the grout is dirty or moldy or full of soap scum. At a minimum, spend an hour with a toothbrush and some bleach and scrub that grout. This is something you can do on your own in just a half a day. If the bathroom is too far-gone, you may want to spend the money on a tiler to regrout the tile. This will make the bathroom pop, giving a new, clean feeling to this important room

There may be other, more important projects for which you’ve budgeted. In many cases, your real estate agent has suggested painting some of the rooms a more neutral color or spending some money on storage for excess furniture. Staging and home preparation are unique for every home. But, given the focus buyers always put on kitchens and bathrooms, these three tips should be seriously considered as you prepare to go on the market.

Brendon DeSimone is a Realtor® and real estate expert based in San Francisco and New York. He is a contributor to Zillow Blog, has collaborated on multiple real estate books and is often quoted by major media outlets. Follow Brendon on Twitter.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Norumbega Castle, Camden ME
For sale: $1,790,000

As explorers crisscrossed the oceans in search of The New World, facts of their journeys sometimes mixed with fiction. Some searched for the lost city of Atlantis. Spain’s Juan Ponce de Leon went after the Fountain of Youth. France’s Jean Allefonsce spoke of Norumbega as a large, rich native city alongside the banks of an enormous river in what is today the state of Maine.

Explorers were never able to find that fantasy city, but the legend never died. In the 19th century, residents of Bangor, ME embraced the legend of Norumbega, when in 1886, eccentric inventor Joseph Stearns built his tribute to the fabled city: An enormous stone castle sitting on the coast of Camden.

Originally from Maine, Stearns became a millionaire with his invention of the duplex telegraphy, which he sold to Western Union.

Norumbega Castle, circa 1800s. Courtesy of Camden Real Estate Company

When Stearns decided to build the Norumbega Castle, he spent a year visiting European castles for inspiration. He hired New York architect Arthur Bates Jennings to incorporate his favorite castle features.

Situated on nearly four acres, Norumbega castle is 10,330-square-feet and has 12 bedrooms and 13.5 bathrooms. Stunning period woodwork, ornate stone fireplaces and views of the bay are featured prominently throughout the house.

Listing agent Scott Horty of the Camden Real Estate Company explained his favorite details of the home:

“[It] has the coolest stair landing complete with a fireplace and built-in window seats and stunning woodwork,” he said.

And in case you’ve ever wanted to sleep like royalty, the main turret is a bedroom.

Converted into an inn in 1984, the home is still available as a single-family property. Described as the “jewel of the Maine coast,” Camden is a historic hamlet nestled between mountains and coast.

According to Zillow’s mortgage affordability calculator, the estimated monthly payment for the Norumbega Castle would be $6,602 a month, assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year-fixed mortgage rate.

In addition, the carriage house that once belonged to the Norumbega Castle is also for sale.

In the 1970s, the carriage house was split from the property as a separate, single-family residence. Like the castle, the carriage house is listed on the Camden real estate market, and features Victorian-era design.

Priced at $4.75 million, the Norumbega carriage house has had a complete renovation.

CMO Amy Bohutinsky interviews Adam Lashinsky

By far, one of the most secretive is Apple.

Fortune senior editor Adam Lashinsky recently wrote a book on Steve Jobs and the inner workings of Apple with his book “Inside Apple: How America’s Most Admired and Secretive Company Really Works.”

Last week, Lashinsky was the latest guest to appear in the Zillow Speaker Series when he stopped by Zillow’s Seattle headquarters to give his take on the power player of Silicon Valley.

Lashinsky said he applied “shoe-leather investigative journalism” to paint a picture of how the notoriously private Apple works day in and day out.

He interviewed as many employees as he could, from the very bottom of the supply chain to top executives, for the book “Inside Apple,” with many of them speaking on condition of anonymity.

Lashinsky autographs a book for Zillow senior developer Leo Liang.

What he discovered was a whimsical brand run by a “work-oriented” company.

“People at Apple have a sense of mission,” Lashinsky explained. “It’s not all shiny and happy inside the doors.”

In spite of the corporation’s sometimes-harsh reputation, Lashinsky argued that every company could learn from Apple — especially in their marketing strategy.

“Every company could be better about honing its message,” he said.

Want to hear from influential speakers like Adam Lashinsky in person? Check out Zillow’s jobs page — we’re hiring.

Previous Z Speaker Series guests include:

• Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
• John Cook of GeekWire
• FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski
• Gordon Stephenson of Real Property Associates
• Bill Gurley of Benchmark Capital
• Richard Tait of Cranium
• Adrian Hanauer of Sounders FC
• Steve Souders of Google

See a snippet of the conversation with Adam Lashinsky in a video embedded at the top of the post.

Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff appeared on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street this morning to talk about Zillow’s record fourth-quarter full-year results.

Spencer explains how mobile usage is driving Zillow’s staggering growth, which is up 102 percent to 31.7 million monthly visitors. In January, over 140 million homes were viewed on Zillow mobile – that’s 53 homes per second. On the weekends, 40 percent of Zillow’s traffic comes from a mobile device.

Watch the segment here.

Perhaps the image that springs to mind is a warm, enticing space where a deep blue body of water can satisfy the need to swim a few laps, or simply serves as a place to relax — without ever leaving your home.

Found in homes for sale from $49 million all the way down to a few million, these magnificent pools in these magnificent homes offer a little of both: Great places for R&R or getting in some cardio.

But please, let’s not think about the water bill.

1. Park City, UT – $49,500,000 (below)
5000 Royal St, Park City UT

Tucked away in Utah’s ski haven of Upper Deer Valley on nearly 60 acres is the ultra-private Huntsman estate belonging to Jon Huntsman, Sr. (father of former Republican presidential nominee Jon Huntsman, Jr). The 20,000-square foot home, which is on the Park City real estate market, was built in 1989 out of reclaimed logs from the forest surrounding Yellowstone Park. It features 12 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a dining room that seats 20, not to mention a gym, library, 2-car garage and massive, lodge-like indoor pool.

2. Greenwich, CT – $13,995,000 (below)
16 Hurlingham Drive, Greenwich CT

With median home values in Greenwich currently $1,134,500, it’s no surprise that this property on the Greenwich real estate market is loaded with over-the-top homes similar to this one, which features a stone-rimmed indoor pool and spa. Set off by an informal gathering room, the spectacular 2-story glass-and-timber garden atrium creates a resort-like setting and captures the picturesque view of Converse Lake from its tiered terraces.

[See Homes of Academy Award Nominees]

3. Telluride, CO – $19,900,000 (below)
113 Highlands Way, Telluride CO

Boasting over 23,000 square feet of living space, this extraordinary and extra-large estate on the Telluride real estate market is in a league of its own. Not only does this 7-bedroom, 10.5-bath chalet have its own AMF bowling alley, 2-lane indoor commercial shooting range, golf fairway and putting green with bunker and a 7-person hot tub, but it also features a 75-foot indoor pool.

4. Telluride, CO – $18,500,000 (below)
111 Autumn Ln, Telluride CO

Here’s another Telluride estate, but this one is a contemporary situated on over an acre with prime ski-in/ski-out access. The brand-new lodge includes 6 bedrooms, 10.5 baths as well as a home theater, wine cellar, and ski locker room. The unique indoor pool wing features a hot tub, dry sauna, steam shower and mountain views through the walls that retract.

[See Homes in Romantically-Named Towns]

5. Mercer Island, WA – $15,500,000 (below)
3051 84th Ave SE, Mercer Island WA

This sprawling Northwest estate that is part of the Mercer Island real estate market sits on over 5 acres and is surrounded with organic orchards, rare fruit and nut trees. It took 16 years to finish and, according to the home’s listing description, the pool area alone took five years to build. It features Japanese Shinzuka trusses and a copper exterior roof.

6. New York, NY – $10,995,000 (below)
232 W 15th St, New York NY

One of the most extraordinary town homes in the Chelsea neighborhood, this 5-floor private oasis features a rare and no longer permitted 26-foot long indoor swimming pool with a swing. And if that’s not enough, the home also has a sauna, hot tub, rooftop sun deck and a 16-foot-high solarium sanctuary.
7. Grants Pass, OR – $4,950,000 (below)
429 Sierra Lodge Dr, Grants Pass OR

The 14,586-square foot Grants Pass estate includes a long list of luxury amenities but the indoor “cave” pool has to be the most notable. The attention to detail is hard to miss and puts the additional 100,000-gallon outdoor pool with slide, waterfall and spa to shame.
8. Andover, MA – $6,500,000
151 Haggetts Pond Rd, Andover MA (below)

If you’re wondering what $6.5 million gets you in Massachusetts real estate, take a quick peek at this 20,000-square-foot family home. Despite the home’s custom cherry and mahogany built-ins throughout, this pad is as far from traditional as possible, boasting 9 bedrooms, 9.5 bathrooms, a full-size basketball court, bowling alley, theater, arcade, putting green and an indoor pool atrium equipped with a waterslide and a bar.

9. Park City, UT – $6,595,000 (below)
1500 Red Fox Rd, Park City UT

The listing description says it all: “Imagine every detail you would expect from the highest caliber home –  those are all here plus more.” Inside the home’s nearly 16,000-square foot interior you’ll find some extremely unique features including a golf simulator, sports bar with 4 TVs, a pizza oven and heated porches. More importantly, the luxury ski chalet also boasts a stunning indoor pool overlooking 10 acres of mountainside vistas.

[See Homes with High-End Bath Tubs]

10. Atlanta, GA – $3,900,000 (below)
7460 Wildercliff Dr NW, Atlanta GA

This contemporary Atlanta home for sale takes the definition of luxury master suite to the next level. Though most master bedrooms may feature a swanky bathroom and walk-in closet, this custom estate has an exercise room and state of the art indoor lap pool as well.

> See More Tantalizing Indoor Swimming Pools

> See More Over-The-Top Amenities

Knicks' sensation Jeremy Lin. SOURCE: Sports Illustrated

From NBA castoff sleeping on his brother’s lower Manhattan couch to NBA superstar: Jeremy Lin isn’t just moving on up, he’s about 20 stories off the ground. Literally.

The newest New York Knick is said to be moving to Trump Tower at 10 City Place in the White Plains real estate market of Westchester County. The New York Post reports that the shooting guard will be set up in a condo owned there by former Knick David Lee.

The sublet will pull Lin out of Manhattan and closer to the Knicks’ practice facility, but it may be just a stopover for the surging star.

The NBA season that almost didn’t happen due to a labor dispute that wasn’t settled until Christmas has not only been salvaged, it’s been elevated by a saint. Or at least that’s what anyone who has seen the Knicks’ sensation have been saying.

The Taiwanese-born Lin was brought in to help the injury-addled Knicks, but something funny happened. On the verge of cutting the temporary help, the Knicks have found themselves saved by the shooting guard.

The fourth quarter was excellent for Zillow, capping off a landmark year in which we went public and delivered record performance across multiple metrics. In Q4, Zillow broke records for revenue, traffic and mobile usage, contributing to our first full year of GAAP profitability. Other Q4 highlights include:

• Record revenue of $19.9 million, up 108% year-over-year.
• Record Marketplace revenue of $13.7 million, up 169% year-over-year.
• Average monthly unique users grew 86% to 23.5 million in Q4. In addition, January 2012 was a record traffic month with 31.7 million unique users, up 102% year-over-year.
• Mobile usage continues to grow substantially. In December, homes were viewed on Zillow Mobile nearly 100 million times, or 36 homes per second. This grew in January to 53 homes viewed per second.

Zillow CFO Chad Cohen and I are hosting our fourth quarter conference call at 2 p.m. PST/5 p.m. EST today and you’re invited to listen in. A link to the webcast is located in the Investor section of our site and a replay will also be available after the call.

I’d like to thank our employees, real estate partners and users for your active roles in such an outstanding year. We’re excited for what’s in store for 2012.

My experience as a stager has shown there are three important areas of the kitchen that are important to home buyers – appliances, counter tops and cabinets.  Replacing old appliances with new working ones makes a huge difference to a buyer.  The buyer doesn’t have to worry about the appliances not working, or having to shell out money immediately to make them functional. There are plenty of places to purchase these cheaply, from appliance outlet centers to the big box retailers.

BEFORE:

Now on to the fun stuff – counter tops and cabinets.  In this picture (right), the appliances were fairly new, but the counter tops and cabinets were decidedly not.  It seems as though each are fighting for attention.

[Related: See Selling With Color on Walls]

This was a property that my client had been renting for some time and now was looking to sell.  The fact that the appliances are fairly new gets lost with the dated cabinets and countertop. Plus the refrigerator had a slight lean towards the back wall, which made the room seem unbalanced.   Lots of chaos!

[Related: See Staging a Vacant Property]

I advised my client to tackle the large visual elephant in the room – the cabinets.  I suggested painting all of the cabinets and the walls the same color — white — to brighten the room and melt the cabinets into the walls, making the kitchen feel larger. And of course, have the refrigerator straightened up. She had both things done and this was the final result…

AFTER:

Look at that! The cabinets and countertops are now playing nice! Notice that the countertops and floors were NOT changed but each becomes less of issue with the cabinets painted.

Sure, the floors could have been updated with self-adhesive vinyl floor tiles but remember – tight budget!  It seemed to work, as the client received 3 offers on the house after the first open house weekend and the house sold quickly thereafter.

As in most kitchens, the cabinets take up the most visual attention in the room so don’t be afraid to address them! You can paint them, update the hardware or even replace cheaply with standard sized cabinets, from  discount cabinetmakers.  If you have the funds to update the countertops with laminate from local hardware store, do it. Just don’t ignore your kitchen, it could easily block your sale more than you know!

Roslyn Ashford, MBA, is a former corporate recruiter turned home stager, and native Washingtonian (as in DC).  She hosts a bi-weekly tweet chat for home stagers and loves to stage small and vacant homes. Learn more about her growing company here or follow her on Twitter to keep up with the daily hilarity!

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Source: IMDb

One, big Chicago real estate deal has hit a sour note.

At the end of November, Jennifer Hudson was reportedly under contract to buy a 12,000-square foot home in Burr Ridge, Il, but somewhere the music stopped. The award-winning singer and actress backed out of the home purchase, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The 6-bedroom, 7-bathroom castle-like home was last listed on the Burr Ridge real estate market for $2,795,000. At the time, NBC Chicago reported the 30-year old star “will get the house for 33 percent less than the original asking price of $4.2 million.”

Why would the Academy-Award winning star back away from the discounted mansion? While the home inspection could have revealed something, the Tribune speculates that Hudson ended the contract due to publicity surrounding her home purchase.

“It had nothing to do with the house or the price,” listing agent Chuck Ivas of Re/Max Elite told the Tribune.

Described as a “majestic estate,” the massive property was custom built in 2007 and features Brazilian cherry floors, a floating staircase, heated garage, two laundry rooms, a third floor bonus room, formal living and dining rooms, theater, eat-in kitchen, and finished walk-out basement.

For Hudson, who sang a tribute to Whitney Houston during the 54th Grammy Awards a day after the troubled singer’s death in Beverly Hills, there’s still time to find a place to extend her roots in her native Chicago.

By Kent Zelas

Scott Hostetler didn’t bother to tell his family that he’d applied online to have their house in Buena Park, Calif., turned into an advertising billboard for the price of their monthly mortgage payment. He figured that it was like taking a chance on the lottery — and who ever expects to win the lottery? Then, about three weeks ago, he got the call from Romeo Mendoza, head of the advertising company that made the offer, Brainiacs From Mars.

Mendoza delivered the shocking news: The Hostetlers’ home had been selected out of some 38,000 applications to be the first to be branded with a very special custom paint job, a deal that would cover the monthly mortgage payment of $2,000 for at least three months and perhaps up to a year — depending on when either the homeowners or the ad company wants to end the contract. At the end of that time, the company promised to restore the home’s exterior to its original appearance.

Until then, though, it would display the bright orange and green colors of Brainiacs From Mars (formerly known as Adzookie). The company signage in the photo above is just temporary; while Buena Park is OK with the paint job, city zoning laws prohibit permanent advertising signs on residences.

Hostetler and his wife, both of whom are deaf, have lived in the home for about 18 years. They both work for Goodwill Industries — he’s an information technology manager and she’s a rehabilitation counselor. Their 17-year-old daughter (pictured with her parents) lives at home; they also have a son who is a freshman at New York University.

The Hostetlers say that they plan to use the extra money sent directly to them monthly from Brainiacs to pay down some bills, replace Scott’s old Chevrolet Suburban, and maybe go on vacation.

Getting Help Into the Hands of the People Who Need It Most

The idea for the Billboard House came to Mendoza, the company’s chief executive, as he picked up his 7-year-old from school. Every day they would pass a sign that advertised a bank-owned property. And when he visited his mother in Las Vegas, there were areas so hard hit by the housing crisis that, he says, they seemed to him like ghost towns. Government can only do so much, he says, while corporations have the money, and this seemed to him like a promising way to get some of that into the hands of people who needed it the most.

While Mendoza figures that about 10 percent of those who applied to have homes turned into billboards “wanted to have a good time” with it and were attracted to the novelty, he insists that “we’re here to help the homeowners.” Applications “have come from literally everywhere,” he says, though he has noticed a higher amount from the “foreclosure states” — Florida, Nevada, and California. Applications have also come from Japan, Spain, Russia, the Czech Republic and many other countries. One city councilman reportedly invited Brainiacs From Mars to paint an entire row of homes in his town.

The advertising company has plans for 100 such homes, Mendoza says, but a goal of 1,000 if they can attract the advertisers. In areas like Buena Park that prohibit advertising signage, they’ll stick to the brand’s colors, but where community zoning allows more, signs would go on the homes.

What Will the Neighbors Think?

While there is no set of particular qualities that Brainiacs is looking for in a homeowner, Mendoza says the Hostetlers are the kind of close-knit family that “felt right” to help debut the promotion. As for official requirements, the applicants must own the home, and local zoning laws must allow the paint job. Selected homeowners also have to be prepared for neighbors’ reactions.

You might think the company would be looking for homes in high-traffic areas, but the Hostetlers’ 1960s house is inside a quiet development of tract houses, at least a block away from main streets and within view of a neighborhood park. You might get a glimpse of the back of the home from nearby Knott’s Berry Farm, though, as you prepare to plunge from the top of its Xcelerator or another towering thrill ride. The house is practically in the shadow of the amusement park, one of Southern California’s top tourist attractions, whose roller coasters serve as a backdrop for the neighborhood.

After its official unveiling recently, the house could become its own neighborhood attraction — along the lines of a elaborate Christmas display, the Hostetlers say. While AOL Real Estate was there on Sunday, members of a motorcycle club that was gathered at a house across the street were taking pictures, and a quartet of teens on skateboards stopped to take a look.

As for the neighbors, they found out last week, on the first day of painting, when Brainiacs From Mars went door-to-door to the closest houses to explain why the olive green and chocolate brown color scheme that the Hostetlers say had earned them compliments and admiring inquiries was dramatically changing. The neighbors were shocked at first, the Hostetlers say, but “that went away, and now they understand.” One neighbor even wanted to have his house turned into a billboard, too. Though another walked by and said, “Your house was so pretty before, what did you do to it?”

Vivian Largent, who lives across the street and a few doors down, says that she thinks the new paint is fine as long as it’s temporary. She would have some concerns about property values if it stayed up for the long term, though.

Largent said that she knows people who could really use some help on their mortgage right now, and had asked Brainiacs how those she knows could apply. (You can find the application on the Brainiacs website.)

She also wondered why the advertising sign that the roofers has posted in her front yard, as they’d worked on her home, was allowed, while the signage that Brainiacs From Mars attached to the Hostetlers house for media photographs had to be taken down.

More from AOL Real Estate

How the foreclosure crisis could affect you
Interior Design Pattern Could Make You Sick
Home Swapping: Cheaper Than a Vacation, Hotter than a Hotel

AOL Real Estate: Your go-to source for real estate advice, news and listings.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Source: IMDb

The born-and-raised Texas actor Matthew McConaughey has reportedly settled down on a 9-acre estate outside Austin with his fiancé, Camila Alves. According to The Real Estalker, the sure sign of the movie star’s presence was his trademark Airstream parked on the driveway.

[Related: See other movie stars' homes]

Best known for his roles in romantic comedies, as well as his chiseled physique, McConaughey currently owns a surf-side Malibu home but spends quite a bit of time in the Lone Star State. Now that he’s the father of two (a son, Levi, and daughter, Vida) — and engaged to Alves — it looks like the Austin property will be a little more practical for his family. The listing notes that his home is “within walking distance to the area’s finest public and private schools.”

McConaughey’s home has bounced on and off the Austin real estate market since 2008 with several price cuts. According to property records, it was first listed at $6,600,000 and dropped to the most recent price of $4,000,000 in November 2010. The home was taken off the market in early January 2012. It’s likely that McConaughey snagged the home for less than the last listing price.

[Related: See stars who sold homes with a price cut.]

Built in 1997, the Lake Austin-area home was designed to imitate works by mid-century Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner. The three-story, 10,800-square foot home has 7 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms as well as several decks and patios for optimal outdoor living.

On Feb. 7, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 3.66 percent – the lowest rate reported since Zillow Mortgage Marketplace launched in April 2008.The 30-year fixed mortgage rate hovered between 3.67 and 3.72 percent for the majority of the week, dropping to the current rate early this morning.

“Mortgage rates showed little change this past week as investors continued to purchase U.S. mortgage bonds that they consider relatively insulated from global uncertainty,” said Erin Lantz, director of Zillow Mortgage Marketplace. “In the coming week, unless there are major new developments out of Greece that might trigger a dip in rates, we expect rates to remain flat to slightly up since lenders are busy with new loans from homeowners anxious to take advantage of historically low interest rates.”

Additionally, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate this morning was 3.0 percent and for 5/1 ARMs, the rate was 2.74 percent.

What are the rates right now? Check Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for up-to-the-minute mortgage rates for your state.

[See "Why Landlords Charge High Security Deposits"]

While it’s never nice to be presented with an eviction notice, there are ways to deal with it gracefully.  Even though eviction laws vary from state to state, and every situation is different, there are some things you can do if you find an eviction notice taped to your door.

1. Don’t ignore the notice.  Whether the notice is considered a legit, court-ordered notice posted by the sheriff or an “empty threat” note posted by an angry landlord, you MUST respond.
2. Respond with common courtesy.  If you feel that the eviction is unfair, then the beauty of this country is that you can have your say in the matter in front of a judge.  However, if you really are behind on your payments and/or have broken some sort of agreement to pay (i.e., a lease or mortgage agreement), then you will likely need to have a really good reason for non-payment.  But you can’t go screaming, yelling or cussing at the landlord or the judge.  Be professional, you’ll get farther with both and maybe find some leniency that is fair.  Just be sure that you have your ducks in a row and have documented everything.
3. Initiate a conversation with the landlord and propose some sort of payment arrangement.  Maybe you can’t make the entire $1,000/month payment, but you can make it in pieces.  Chances are your landlord doesn’t want another vacancy, so maybe they would be willing to make arrangements in which you would pay $500 at the beginning of each month and $550 in the middle of the month for a short term.  If possible, show good faith by offering to pay a little more to the landlord (call it capped late fees) for their efforts.
4. Follow through.  Whether you make payment arrangements or some other sort of agreement, you must follow through.  If you can’t keep the arrangement that are agreed to, then ask the landlord if they have another rental that is less expensive for you to move into that will meet your budget.
5. Accept that truth is truth.  Maybe there is no way of working something out and you must really vacate your home before the landlord and sheriff physically move you and your stuff to the curb. There is nothing wrong with downsizing until you get back on your feet.  Your landlord knows that sometimes people fall on hard times and chances are they are not completely heartless, especially if they see that you are trying.  Therefore, be cooperative and when you are back on your feet, you may still be able to use the landlord as a future reference.

[See "Why Renter's Insurance is Important"]

Notice that every single one of these tips are related to some sort of communication.  Evictions aren’t pretty, but if you do find yourself in one then take a deep breath and let all the parties know what is going on.  Whether it be an exit plan on how and when you are moving out of the property or a payment arrangement plan, good communication will make a sour situation easier to handle.

Jessica Hickok is a REALTOR® Broker and Property Manager/Landlord with Dizmang Properties, Inc. (www.getpaul.com) in Springfield, Missouri. She can also be found on Twitter as @SugarCube.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Howard Hanna president, Hoby Hanna, has posted a short video with his thoughts on his company’s new marketing partnership with Zillow.

Click image above, or watch it here.

Now, the new GOP front-runner, Rick Santorum, has his own real estate pickle.

The last time Rick Santorum was in the middle of a high-stakes campaign with national implications, he was the incumbent U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and the No. 3-ranking Republican. But in 2006, when Santorum’s seat was successfully targeted by Democrats, the outspoken conservative found himself trying to answer this question:

Where, exactly, does Santorum call home?

Santorum became mired in a residence controversy after stating that he spent only “maybe a month a year” at his Pennsylvania home on Stephens Lane, which is part of the Penn Hills real estate market just outside of Pittsburgh.

When he was the Pennsylvania senator, Rick Santorum and his family lived in this Leesburg, VA home. SOURCE: David Pitkin

In reality, Santorum and his family were living in Leesburg, VA, prompting serious questions about why the school district in Penn Hills was paying for his children’s online school tuition for instruction between 2001 and 2004.

Critics complained that Pennsylvania taxpayers were paying 80 percent of the tuition for five of Santorum’s seven children — who lived in Virginia — to attend an online “cyber school.”  The flap forced Santorum to pull his kids from the cyber-school program, but the issue helped doom him against Democrat challenger Bob Casey, who beat Santorum by 18 points. In 2006, the Pennsylvania state Department of Education agreed to pay $55,000 to settle the dispute.

As Santorum surges in polling, the April 24 primary in Pennsylvania will be the first time in six years that the former senator will get tested in what he calls his home state — even though his filing papers with the Pennsylvania Department of State lists his home municipality as Fairfax County, VA. And that very issue of whether or not Santorum is a Pennsylvania resident haunted him not only during his re-election loss in ’06, but again during his bid to become the GOP nominee.

Santorum's Penn Hills home. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On the campaign trail in Iowa last August, where election officials finally awarded Santorum a caucus win over Mitt Romney, Santorum emphasized his Pennsylvania roots by telling a library gathering that he and his wife, Karen, have some fruit trees back home, where they harvested about 600 early peaches and peeled them to make into jam.

He toted about 40 jars of peach preserves to Iowa, where he dubbed them: “Pennsylvania Presidential Peach Preserves.”

The problem for Santorum in representing himself as a Pennsylvanian despite living in Virginia is that Santorum used that same issue against his opponent in his first bid for the 18th District U.S. Congressional seat. In 1990, Santorum attacked incumbent Democrat Doug Walgren for living in McLean, VA, yet Santorum did the same thing when he later served in the Senate.

Santorum bought this Great Falls, VA home for $2 million in 2007.

Meanwhile, since his 2006 re-election defeat, Santorum has since moved into another home in Virginia. In 2007, he spent $2 million to buy a 5,000-square foot home in Great Falls, VA (above).

While Santorum’s financial rise was powered by consulting contracts with fuel producer Consol Energy Inc., faith advocacy group Clapham Group and American Continental Group, a Washington consultancy, as well as media engagements with the Philadelphia Inquirer and Fox News, he has made no secret of his political ambition.

The question is what will Republican voters in Pennsylvania have to say about his “homecoming” on April 24, where another candidate with Pennsylvania ties — Newt Gingrich, who was born in Harrisburg — has fallen way back in polling since his victory in the South Carolina primary.

> See homes of GOP candidates

Save yourself some arguments later by talk about your money now. Here are a few of the questions you need to ask your soon-to-be spouse:

What would you like to be in 5 or 10 years?

Do you both want children right away? Would one of you prefer to land a new job before you consider having kids? And what about those long-term plans to get a business degree — is that ever going to happen? You need to sit down and have a conversation, discussing your hopes, dreams and aspirations.  Then set priorities and come up with a plan to meet your short and long-term goals, one by one — together. This will help ensure a positive outcome!

What are your assets? Liabilities?

You really need to know where the other person stands (Secrets are lethal!).  If you have assets that need to be protected, consider a pre-nuptial agreement (particularly if this is a second marriage and there are kids, step-kids and others involved — assets often get into the wrong hands!). Saddled with high-interest debt? Come up with a plan to eliminate it — preferably before the marriage.

What is your risk tolerance?

In just every relationship, there’s a spender and a saver, and trust me: this can wreak havoc! What will happen if one person gambles away the future? Poof, there goes the marriage!

What’s your credit like?

Zillow Mortgage Marketplace analysis of more than 25,000 loan quotes and purchase requests shows that you need a credit score of 720 or higher to get the best interest rates. The analysis also indicates that if you have score of 620 or lower, you’re unlikely to get a single loan quote. So much for buying a house together (Yes — lenders will consider both your histories if you’re applying for joint financing)! Know where you each stand — get a copy of your credit from annualcreditreport.com.

Where will you live?

How will you come up with a down payment?   Again, this comes down to basic planning and planning starts with a conversation.  Once you decide on where you would like to live (take time to research neighborhoods,) and what you want in a house (list your priorities – what you can/cannot live with/without), you then need to figure out what you can afford.  This entails taking a hard look at your income and expenses, and ultimately setting up a budget. What can you comfortably afford to pay every month for the next 15, 30 years? Coming up with the down payment is just the start (think: 20 percent).

How will you divvy up financial responsibilities?

Some couples like to combine all their finances; others prefer to have a joint account for the household expenses (which you each contribute to proportionately, based on how much you each make), and separate accounts for personal spending. Do what works best for you and your spending/saving habits.  Just have a system!

Vera Gibbons is a financial journalist based in New York City and is a contributor to Zillow Blog. Connect with her at http://veragibbons.com/.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Bob brings nearly 25 years of experience in the real estate industry and will be responsible for creating new partner relationships with real estate brokers, agents and multiple listings services (MLSs). Most recently, he was the chief executive officer of Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (ARMLS), one of the largest and most influential MLSs in the nation.

Bemis joined ARMLS as CEO in October 2007, and immediately began an aggressive program of expanding the product options and raising the quality of customer service and support offered to ARMLS’s nearly 30,000 real estate agent practitioners. He is a regular participant on national panels and forums dealing with real estate issues and was named one of the 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders by Inman News in 2011.

Bob’s deep industry knowledge will help Zillow engage with brokerages and MLSs in a mutually beneficial way as we bring expanded communication and cooperation to our current and potential partners.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of building bridges to Zillow’s current and potential partners in the industry, including MLSs, Associations of REALTORS, brokers, agents, appraisers, title companies, mortgage lenders and other service providers. I intend to foster a spirit of cooperation that has sometimes been missing in the dialog between licensed practitioners, their support organizations and the rest of the industry,” said Bemis.  “This is a very exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the continuing success of an industry that I have been a part of for nearly 25 years.”

We look forward to having Bob join us at our Zillow headquarters in Seattle.  Welcome to the team, Bob!

> Read the full press release here

Launched in June 2011, the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace iPhone App was Zillow’s first mortgage app, which brings our innovative mortgage experience to mobile. We’re excited the app has become a go-to financing tool for consumers, providing home shoppers with instant and on-the-go access to financial calculators, lender reviews and ratings, personalized loan quotes, and real-time mortgage rates. These resources all help to answer important mortgage and financing questions whether shopping for homes, or standing in a lender’s office. In fact, the app’s financial calculators, including a payment, refinancing, and affordability calculator, have been used more than 1.7 million times since launch.

If you haven’t tried the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace Apps yet, download them from the iTunes store or Android Marketplace today!

With an armload of six Grammy’s, Adele was the big winner Sunday night in Beverly Hills. That was fitting, since Adele recorded portions of her mega-hit album “21″ up the road a few miles in Malibu at one of the most famous studios in modern music.

What was the Londoner doing last September in a California coast bungalow overlooking the Pacific singing ballads about love gone wrong?

Adele trying to handle her Grammy's windfall. SOURCE: People

Turns out that Shangri-La, where legends like Bob Dylan, The Band, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and many others have camped out and made some of their own landmark discs, was the perfect place to put some distance between her and her British home.

Adele was wooed to Shangri-La by its owner, Rick Rubin, one of the most successful producers ever. Rubin, who has allowed a range of artists like LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash, Jakob Dylan, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and others to soar with pitch-perfect delivery, has eschewed his famous Los Angeles home and recording studio called The Mansion in favor of the low-key, richly vibed Shangri-La.

According to Rolling Stone:

I was expecting it to be really difficult and that I would be quite scared the whole time, being in his company,” she says. “But I’ve never been so chilled out in my life. Rick is the calmest person I’ve ever met. We would jam out a song for a while, and then see what we had.

The famous Shangri-La studio in Malibu, where Adele recorded "21."

About Shangri-La

Originally built by actress Margo Albert, who starred in the movie “Lost Horizon” and who aimed to recreate a mystical place, the Zuma Beach property continues to elicit ethereal performances from some of music’s biggest stars, just as it has over the past 40 years.

The studio and living quarters have been described by The Band drummer Levon Helm as “a clubhouse and studio where we and our friends could record albums and cross-pollinate one another’s music.”

Now with Adele’s big score at the 54th Grammy’s, Shangri-La continues to be a who’s who in recording history, Not only were portions of “21″ recorded there, but the music video for “Rolling in the Deep” was filmed there.

Shangri-La went on the real estate market last May for $4.1 million and fortunately for musicians and music aficionados, the storied placed was purchased by Rubin in August for $2 million.

> See Famous Homes Where American Music Was Made

Adele during an interview with Spin magazine at Shangri-La studio. SOURCE: Spin

2332 N Cliffview Way, Boise, ID (below)
For sale: $1,997,000

What better than to pair a glamorous bedroom with a similarly glamorous dog? This little white pal is hanging out in one of the bedrooms of this high-end Boise home for sale. The 6-bedroom house includes a wet par, pool, library and chef’s kitchen.

125 Rockwood St, Brookline, MA (below)
Off-market

While this Brookline listing has played the real estate game —bouncing on and off the market in the past year — it appears the two dogs in the photo are also playing a game of their own, chasing each other on the nearly 1-acre lot.

8 Marine Ave, Camden, ME (below)
For sale: $4.75 million

Spot the little guy peering down the stairs? Or are you more focused on the sliding barn door and refinished hardwood? This Camden home for sale was built in 1890 as a carriage house for the Norumbega Castle.

2110 Wylie Ave, Missoula, MT (below)
For sale: $330,000

The Mediterranean meets Craftsman Missoula home for sale was built in 1955 but features new appliances and a new hot water heater. The home sits on a nearly a quarter acre, which means there’s plenty of room for Fido to run around.

We’re honored to help the 134 Howard Hanna offices with
more than 4,700 sales associates across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia with their marketing needs.  Howard Hanna president, Hoby Hanna told us, “We talked to our agents, buyers and sellers and found what we were looking for with Zillow — marketing choice and client value.”

Welcome, Howard Hanna – we look forward to working with you!

Read the complete press release here

“Foreclosures to Climb Before Bank Deal Helps U.S. Housing Market” – [Bloomberg Businessweek]

“Should Mortgage Rate Shoppers Care What Happens to Greece?” — [The Mortgage Reports]

“How to Upgrade a Wall Outlet to USB Functionality” – [Apartment Therapy]

“Texas Squatter With $16 McMansion Kicked Out After 8 Months” – [Good Morning America]

“Going Beyond Price Cuts” – [NY Times]

“Wisconsin Boy Saves Grandma’s House from Foreclosure” – [Good Morning America]

Zillow Tweets of the Week

@zillow Took my #Android for a swim…have an #iPhone now. Downloaded and tried the #mortgage app…very useful!

— Susie Holmes (@SusiePghHomes) February 8, 2012

This year, “The Oscars” will be broadcast live Sunday, Feb. 26 (ABC, 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST.)  And while the media is abuzz with predictions of who’ll win and what they’ll wear, we are more interested in the homes where this year’s potential winners will stash their golden statues.

Best Picture

Source: IMDb

Steven Spielberg, “War Horse”

As far as famous producers and directors go, Steven Spielberg tops the list. The Best Picture nomination for “War Horse,” which he co-produced, is just another notch in the belt of the prolific director. He has won three Academy Awards and has been nominated for Best Picture and Best Director over 10 times.

When Spielberg isn’t directing or producing his blockbusters, he splits time between his homes in Pacific Palisades, the Hamptons and Malibu. Unlike other celebrities, the director isn’t one to buy and sell properties on a whim; most of his homes he’s owned for over 20 years.

His Malibu home (above), in particular, is a spectacular ocean-side property he bought in 1989 for $3,375,033. The 7,000+-square-foot-home, pictured above, sits on nearly an acre of beachfront property and has 7 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and the must-have celebrity amenities like an in-ground pool.

Actor in Leading Role

Source: IMDb

Brad Pitt, “Moneyball”

Although Brad Pitt has been nominated three times previously for an Oscar, the actor has yet to take home a gold statuette. Could the fourth time be the charm?

If Pitt does take home an Oscar, chances are he won’t be stashing it in a home in the U.S. Pitt and his leading woman, Angelina Jolie, as well as their six kids, spend most of their time abroad, specifically in a rental home in southern France. They also own multimillion-dollar homes in Cambodia, and Berlin in addition to homes in New Orleans, and L.A. Pitt also previously owned a home in Malibu he purchased shortly after his divorce to Jennifer Aniston in 2005.

A self-professed architecture buff, Pitt spent months renovating the mid-century modern, pictured above. Although the home has 4,088 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, it was on the small side for the 8-person Jolie-Pitt clan. Pitt sold the prime piece of Malibu real estate to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi in December 2011.

Source: IMDb

George Clooney, “The Descendants”

Although he’s one of the most recognizable faces on the big screen, Clooney spent the early part of his career in bit roles on TV shows until he hit international stardom with his role of Dr. Ross on “ER” in 1994. He made the switch to movies in the late 1990s and added directing, producing and screenwriting to his repertoire. This Oscar season, he’s not only nominated for Best Actor, but also Best Writing, Adapted Screen Play for  ”Ides of March.”

Clooney purchased his home in Studio City at the beginning of his success on “ER,” in 1995. The sprawling Studio City home sits on over 3 acres below a nature preserve. The 8-bedroom, mock-Tudor house has a pool and tennis courts. Clooney also owns a home in Laglio, Italy on Lake Como — and it’s often there he meets up with fellow actor and good friend Brad Pitt.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Source: IMDb

Jonah Hill, “Moneyball”

Although Jonah Hill became famous for his roles in comedy films, this Oscar nomination is for his first dramatic performance in “Moneyball.” The actor has had his hand in many projects that called on his many talents, ranging from directing, writing, and producing.

Jonah Hill’s home is located in the Los Angeles suburb of Tarzana and was listed as a “natural entertainer’s estate” featuring party-friendly amenities like a pool and spa, endless patios, tennis and bocce ball court. This isn’t Hill’s first foray into real estate; he sold a Hollywood condo in 2008 for $835,000 and still owns a home on Mulholland Drive.

Actress in a Leading Role

Source: IMDb

Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”

Glenn Close began her acting career on Broadway and didn’t break into the film industry until she was 35 with her role in “The World According to Garp” alongside Robin Williams. The Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe-award winning actress has yet to win an Oscar, but her nomination for Albert Nobbs is her sixth nomination.

Born and raised in Greenwich, CT, Close spends her time on the East Coast in both Manhattan, and Bedford Hills, NY.

Her Bedford Hills estate, pictured above, sits on 10 acres. Just north of Manhattan, the hills of Westchester County, and in particular,  Bedford real estate, is appealing to many celebrities. Close can count Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren and celeb couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones among her Bedford Hills neighbors.

Source: IMDb

Viola Davis, “The Help”

Like Close, Viola Davis rose to prominence with roles on the stage and has two Tony awards to her name. Since her move to the big screen, she’s been nominated for numerous awards, including best supporting actress for her role in “Doubt.”

Davis purchased a suburban home in Granada Hills, CA, pictured above, in 2005 with her husband Julius Tennon. The 5-bedroom, 5-bath home sits on a quarter acre with 3,917 square feet of living space.

Source: IMDb

Michelle Williams, “My Week with Marilyn”

Michelle Williams first swept audiences and critics off their feet with her performance in the 2005 film, “Brokeback Mountain,” for which she earned her first Academy Award nomination. Her role opposite Ryan Gosling in the romantic drama “Blue Valentine” caught critics’ eye, too, nabbing her both a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She earned both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for her role as Marilyn Monroe in “My Week with Marilyn,” for which she already picked up the Golden Globe.

Williams spends her time off the big screen with her daughter, Matilda Rose, in their cozy, 4-floor house in Brooklyn, NY (pictured above). Williams’ slice of Brooklyn real estate was purchased with late actor and ex-fiance, Heath Ledger, in 2005 for a reported $3.6 million. Ledger, also Matilda’s father, passed away from a reported drug overdose in January 2008.

Source: IMDb

Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”

After performing for 10 years as a stand-up comedienne, Melissa McCarthy made her big break into acting in a supporting role on TV’s popular show” Gilmore Girls.” She then took first billing in the TV show “Mike & Molly,” for which she received an Emmy award. Her role in the comedy “Bridesmaids” is her first Oscar nomination.

McCarthy and husband fellow actor and writer Ben Falcone purchased a modest (by celebrity real estate standards) Toluca Lake home, above, for $780,000 in 2009. The 3-bedroom, 2-bath home is only minutes from network studios,making it an easy commute for both McCarthy and Falcone.

50000 Royal St., Park City UT
For sale: $49,500,000

Source: Forbes

When you have nine children and 56 grandchildren, your winter vacation getaway probably leans more toward mansion than cabin.

Jon Huntsman, Sr.’s Park City home has 20,000 square feet of living space and 12 bedrooms — two of which are bunk bedrooms with 20 mattresses — enough room for his children and grandchildren, as well as any guests.

The father of former Republican presidential nominee Jon Huntsman, Jr., Huntsman Sr. began his business career in an egg-producing company in Los Angeles. He rose through the ranks, culminating with his contributions in the invention of the plastic egg carton. That success led him to form the Huntsman Container Corporation, which manufactured the “clamshell” container for McDonald’s Big Mac and as well as plastic plates, bowls and containers for other fast-food companies. He then founded Huntsman Chemical, transitioning it to the Huntsman Corporation, which went public in 2005.

The Huntsman patriarch designed the home for his family in 1989 out of reclaimed logs from the forests surrounding Yellowstone Park, said listing agent Paul Benson of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty.

“The whole home, even the guest rooms, are filled with timber ceilings and walls,” explained Benson.

The home contains several living areas with cathedral ceilings, stone fireplaces and picture windows, as well as a dining room that seats 20, a paneled library, fitness center and children’s playrooms and massive indoor pool.

Many of the furnishings in the home are available for purchase as well. Benson notes that the estate holds one of the largest collections of American Indian art in the U.S.

Situated in Utah’s ski haven of Upper Deer Valley on 60 acres, the property is private, yet accessible. The seclusion of the home is perfect for the Huntsman family to entertain high-profile guests. Huntsman Sr. previously served as the Republican Party of Utah national committeeman,  as well as the Special Assistant and Staff Secretary to President Nixon. Before running as a Republican party presidential nominee this past year, Huntsman Jr. was formerly Utah governor and an ambassador to China under President Obama.

Huntsman Sr. first listed his home on the Park City real estate market in September 2009 for $55 million. The house was removed in April 2010 and later re-listed with its current lower price. According Benson, Huntsman is letting go of the property to focus on his new development: Huntsman Springs, a golf course and high-end community in Driggs, Idaho

According to Zillow’s mortgage payment calculator, a monthly payment on Huntsman’s estate would be $182,093, assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year-fixed rate mortgage.

Related:

Homes of GOP nominees

The Homes That Inspire Fashion Week

Heartbreak Homes: Divorced Celebs and Their Former Love Nests

Obviously, the scenario where you are still paying monthly for your housing is not an optimal scenario. Luckily, you can do a lot to increase the chances that the real estate you own will have been a net wealth builder over your lifetime. You do this by educating yourself and reducing the risk on real estate you buy and own. It is the real estate choices you make decades before you retire that will probably will be the difference between a comfortable retirement or living on social security to social security check (Note: We all know that Social Security may not be around a few decades from now).

Of course, saving and investing money in mutual funds, stocks, bonds, etc. is also vital to your retirement picture; but your financial adviser can assist you with those issues. In this article, we are just concentrating on real estate.

Making smart choices on real estate during your lifetime, which really effectively means not losing money on high risk real estate and avoiding money-draining real estate choices, will be a big help towards a relaxing retirement future.

The first issue that you should consider in making good retirement choices can be summed up here in determining whether or not your investment is an asset (buy those) or liability (skip those!!!):

Personal Residences:

• Asset = You can comfortably afford the payments, it is not significantly less expensive to rent instead of owning, you bought a modest home for your wealth level, and you plan to own it a long, long time.
• Liability = You are financially stretching to make the monthly payments.

Investment Rental Property:

• Asset = You are positive on net cash flows and are earning a fair rate of return on your invested equity capital; for the corresponding risk you are taking for the type of property you are buying, and you plan to own it a long, long time.
• Liability = You are negative on cash flows or you try to quickly buy and resell real estate at a profit.

If the real estate you buy is an asset, it is more likely to add to your net wealth and help your finances at retirement. Buying liabilities will probably not help your retirement.

You also need to consider if your real estate purchase is a safe and sound purchase, because the lower risk choices you make, the more likely it will add wealth to your retirement. And the actions you take when buying and owning property will determine whether or not you made safe choices. For example:

• Did you buy properties that were generally in good shape and not fixer-uppers? Fixer uppers generally drain a buyer of cash (that could be invested elsewhere) and probably will not add wealth to your retirement for a number of reasons.
• Did you avoid investing money in any real estate deal that seemed too good to be true? You may miss out on some opportunities in taking this strategy, but real estate is very high risk and many people lose money on real estate by putting their equity cash into something that sounds too good to be true. If it sounds too good to be true in real estate, it almost ALWAYS is too good to be true.
• Did you review the financial, operational and legal condition of any homeowners association if you are buying into that community? A community in poor shape usually means you will pay the price over time with higher fees or special assessments.
• Did you get a fair deal on your mortgage financing by getting a couple of bids for your business and did you take out long-term fixed rate financing?
• Are you carrying the proper type and amount of homeowner’s insurance for your property and your risk issues? Do you have an umbrella policy to increase your liability coverage if you have rental properties?
• Rental properties; Are you working hard to get good tenants and keep them as long as possible by treating them well? That includes buying lower risk decent properties and keeping them in good shape.
• When you are buying properties, did you adequately review the title abstract and title insurance policy, plus get a survey or at least review the plat and walk the property to see if anything appears strange?

There are many other tasks you can do to reduce your risk, help make the real estate you buy an asset instead of a liability, and hence add net wealth to your retirement. But it all starts with avoiding bad, high-risk real estate, which are money draining mistakes.

Educating yourself on how to avoid those wealth-destroying decisions will hopefully turbo-charge your retirement. The end result, decades down the road, may be the difference that gives you that comfortable retirement lifestyle.

Leonard Baron, MBA, CPA, is a San Diego State University Lecturer, a Zillow Blogger, the author of several books including “Real Estate Ownership, Investment and Due Diligence 101 – A Smarter Way to Buy Real Estate”, and loves kicking the tires of a good piece of dirt! See more at ProfessorBaron.com.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

If you follow Zillow Blog, you know two things. First, we here at Zillow love a good giveaway. Second, we’re huge fans of home shopping on-the-go using Zillow’s Mobile apps.

That’s why for the next two weeks we are inviting Twitter users to connect with @Zillow for a chance to with a $500 Amazon gift card.

Here’s how it works:

1. Follow @Zillow on Twitter.

2. Tweet @Zillow the name of your smartphone of choice with a Zillow Mobile app. A complete list of smartphones compatible with Zillow apps can be viewed here: http://www.zillow.com/mobile/.

3. Your tweet must include the words “I love my” and the hashtag #ZillowMobile in your tweet. Example: “@Zillow I love my Droid #ZillowMobile” or “@Zillow I love my iPhone #ZillowMobile”.

Don’t own a smartphone? No problem.You are still eligible to enter. Simply check out Zillow’s selection of mobile apps, and tweet us with the the name of smartphone you’d like to be using to shop for homes on-the-go.

ENTER NOW

Source IMDb

Elijah Wood

Listing Price: $1,850,000
Sold Price: $1,759,000

“The Lord of the Rings” star Elijah Wood recently sold his Santa Monica home for $1.759 million. The 2,130-square foot home, which was listed as an opportunity to remodel, hit the Santa Monica real estate market this summer with an asking price of $1.85 million. Wood’s home is a classic 1920s Spanish-style bungalow with a wood-burning fireplace and hardwood floors as well as a Victorian-style front door and British brewery cast-iron tiles in the foyer.

> See more photos of Elijah Wood’s home (below)

Source: People.com

Anna Kournikova

Listing Price: $9,400,000
Sold Price: $7,400,000

Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova recently let go of her Miami Beach estate for two million dollars less than her original asking price. Her beach home sits on a waterfront lot on the luxurious and private Sunset Island, an area of Florida preferred by many celebs, including her longtime singer boyfriend Enrique Iglesias as well as rocker Lenny Kravitz. The 6,630-square foot Mediterranean-style house is within the gated community on the island and features 150 feet of frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as a large dock. Although the home surprisingly doesn’t include a tennis court, it does boast some impressive amenities including a two-story guest house, sauna, large heated pool and Jacuzzi surrounded by a coral rock pool deck and a covered dining area “perfect for outdoor entertaining.”

> See more photos of Anna Kournikova’s home (below)

Source: People.com

Penelope Cruz

Listing Price: $3,695,000
Sale Price: $2,888,000

This past December, Academy Award-winning actress Penelope Cruz finally said “adios” to her 3,334-square foot mansion for $2.88 million. The property had been on the market for more than a year and records show that the final price was $807,000 less than Cruz originally sought and $250,000 less than what she bought it for back in 2005. The 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom Balinese-modern style home was built in 1956, and as since been completely updated by the star and husband Javier Bardem. The unique piece of Hollywood Hills real estate is tucked in a cul-de-sac near Sunset Strip and features high ceilings, carved-wood doors, private courtyard, bamboo floors, and an in-ground heated pool with a luxurious tented cabana.

> See more photos of Penelope Cruz’s home (below)

Source: IMDb

Pamela Reed

Listing Price: $2,995,000
Sold For: $2,710,000

Television actress Pamela Reed, best known for her roles in “Parks and Recreation,” Bravo’s’ “United States of Tara” and “Jericho,” did a little better than the previous stars with the recent sale of her Mid-Wilshire home. Although the home sold for less than its listing price, it was still $1.785 million more than Reed’s 1996 purchase price. Reed’s home includes 6 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, as well as a guest house and cabana with a full bathroom. The home is light filled with an open floor plan that includes a living room with fireplace, grand dining room, den with built-ins, maid’s quarters and basement rec room. The master bedroom features a large bath, walk-in closet and fireplace.

> See more photos of Pamela Reed’s home (below)

> Check out more celebrity homes that recently sold

SOURCE: Wall Street Journal

Today in Washington DC, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced details of the mortgage relief settlement, outlining key provisions of the $26 billion federal-state mortgage foreclosure pact, details of which can be found on the new National Mortgage Settlement website.

The act ends more than 13 months of negotiations between state attorneys general and banks and has the approval of every U.S. state attorney general except Oklahoma. The act will become official once it has been ruled on by a judge. The settlement was agreed upon by five of the nation’s largest lending institutions: JP Morgan/Chase, Citi, Ally, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

With the settlement, banks have agreed that flawed or abusive practices were used in foreclosure processes and have set aside funds to re-mediate homeowners who were foreclosed upon or whose homes are worth less than the mortgages.

“The best thing about the mortgage settlement is that it’s done,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries.

“It will be a good thing for many individuals – and therefore is worthwhile – but it’s important to manage our expectations of the effect it will have on the economy. As far as helping the housing market as a whole, it’s a drop in the bucket. To put it into perspective, negative equity is a $750 billion problem, and this settlement designates $17 billion for mortgage relief.”

The settlement is outlined to provide:

• Immediate aid to homeowners needing loan modifications now, including first and second lien principal reduction. The servicers are required to work off up to $17 billion in principal reduction and other forms of loan modification relief nationwide. State attorneys general anticipate the settlement’s requirement for principal reduction will show other lenders that principal reduction is one effective tool in combating foreclosure and that it will not lead to widespread defaults by borrowers who really can afford to pay.
• Immediate aid to borrowers who are current, but whose mortgages currently exceed their home’s value.  Borrowers will be able to refinance at today’s historically low interest rates. Servicers will have to provide up to $3 billion in refinancing relief nationwide.
• Immediate payments to borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure with no requirement to prove financial harm and without having to release private claims against the servicers or the right to participate in the OCC review process.  $1.5 billion will be distributed nationwide to some 750,000 borrowers.
• Immediate payments to signing states to help fund consumer protection and state foreclosure protection efforts.
• First ever nationwide reforms to servicing standards; something that no other federal or state agency has been able to achieve. These servicing standards require single point of contact, adequate staffing levels and training, better communication with borrowers, and appropriate standards for executing documents in foreclosure cases, ending improper fees, and ending dual-track foreclosures for many loans.
• State AG oversight of national banks for the first time.  Something no court could award.
• National banks will be required to regularly report compliance with the settlement to an independent, outside monitor that reports to state Attorneys General.Servicers will have to pay heavy penalties for non-compliance with the settlement, including missed deadlines.

However, attorneys general in states like New York, California, Florida, Delaware and Michigan have negotiated into the settlement their rights to seek legal recourse against banks for claims not covered by this settlement.

This agreement holds the banks accountable for their wrongdoing on robo-signing and mortgage servicing.  This settlement does not seek to hold them responsible for all their wrongs over the  years and the agreement and its release preserve legal options for others to pursue.

Specifically, this settlement does not:

• Release any criminal liability or grant any criminal immunity.
• Release any private claims by individuals or any class action claims.
• Release claims related to the securitization of mortgage backed securities that were at the heart of the financial crisis.
• Release claims against Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems or MERSCORP.
• Release any claims by a state that chooses not to sign the settlement.
• End state attorneys general investigations of Wall Street related to financial fraud or the financial crisis.

Here are answers for homeowners seeking information about the settlement.

Here is a list of state contacts for information on the settlement.

Oh, and some really cool lighting fixtures and a tiled shower with two shower heads.

Woo Hoo!

And you know you can’t afford that house because you’ve looked around and nobody’s building that cool house for less than a biodiesel-powered truckload of Krugerrands.

You know that the only way to hold down construction costs on a house is to strip all the niceties away.
The only reasonably priced homes for sale in your area are disposable vinyl and Styrofoam junk or ugly piles of brick and drywall

You’re half right. A typical builder’s “spec” home price gets into the stratosphere when you add all the goodies. But, the good news, you’re half right, too! The reason most houses get ridiculously expensive is that they’re pretty poorly planned.

Plan better – WAY better – and you can get what you want and keep those gold coins in your pocket.
Here are 7 ways to beat the high cost of construction and home improvement:

1) Smaller Is Smarter (Really?)

The summit of obviousness, making a home smaller makes it less expensive. But random hacking away with a machete is the wrong approach – we need a scalpel and a surgeon. So think carefully about redundancy – why do you need a dining room AND a breakfast room AND five stools at the kitchen counter? A living room AND a study AND a family room AND a sitting area in the master suite?

Most of these uses can be combined into the same space – one nice large place to eat, for example.
Think about your furniture and how you arrange it – when you don’t know how a room is going to be used you usually make it much too big.

Carefully trim out the wasted, unused space and put the cash into that homey board-and-batten wainscot you love. Or lots and lots of chocolate.

2) Efficient Use Of Building Materials

Way back when, some really smart guys figured out that if building materials were all designed on a common module, they wouldn’t have to use or waste so much of it. So sheets of drywall and plywood are both 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Which works great on an 8-foot x 16-foot wall, but not so good when it’s 9.5-feet x 17 feet.

Lots of wasted material!

For the same reasons, structural lumber for floors comes from the mill in 2-foot increments. So whose idea was it to make rooms 13-feet wide? Design your house as much as possible on the established modules of building materials and stop filling the dumpster with scrap!

3) Use It Where It Counts, Don’t Use It Where It Doesn’t

I visited Steve Wynn’s Treasure Island Resort in Las Vegas a few years back and remember how impressed I was that the décor in the bathrooms in the furthest back corner of the casino was just as nice as the décor in the baths up front.

But Steve Wynn has a net worth of $2 billion. You probably don’t. So while I hope you become a billionaire, don’t spend like one just yet. Go ahead, put the granite countertops in the kitchen and the master bath, but not in the laundry room. (A classic “Parade of Homes” head-scratcher, that one.)

And your kids can do without solid brass faucets, crown molding, and a hand-painted tile backsplash in their bath. (Go ahead, ask them – they don’t care!)

Same with carpet. Nice stuff in the family room, cheaper everywhere else. Put the money in finishes and fixtures you’ll enjoy every day.

P.S. – Steve Wynn still has his $2 billion AND a hundred bucks of mine.

4) Design for Low Maintenance

This one sounds like a paradox: Spend more here to save more later. Cheap siding, roofing, and windows will cost you way more in the long run than quality components will now. There are entire industries built around the hope that you’ll buy replacement windows and a new roof for your house someday, probably much sooner than you think.

Quality is the tortoise in this race. Do it right the first time.

5) Lower Your Energy Bills – Dramatically

This goes way beyond insulation, Argon-filled glass, and geothermal systems, and will be the subject of a lengthy article in the near future. In the meantime, don’t make the mistake of designing a home that isn’t climate- or site-specific and try to force it to be highly energy efficient – you’ll be addressing less than half the problem.

The real problem you need to solve is how your house DESIGN responds to the climate and the site. For example, don’t put a big wall of glass facing prevailing winter winds where the heat will get sucked out like a black hole.

Remember your 7th-grade geometry, how a square encloses the most area with the least perimeter. Remember how you thought you’d never need to know that? Turns out it comes in handy! So call up your old math teacher and tell her she can be proud because you’re going to use that knowledge in your house design. You’re going to enclose your new highly-efficient floor plan in a relatively square footprint and reduce your heat loss with fewer building materials!

Do this right and you get a big bonus – a tight, energy-efficient house doesn’t need an expensive geothermal heating system at three times the cost of a conventional furnace. Cha-CHING!
Bonus #2 – that square box is going to be better-looking, too…read on.

6) Boxy Is Bee-you-tee-full

We have millions of really great-looking homes in this country, though most were built over 70 years ago. The designers and builders of the first American suburbs were experts at making simple homes elegant and attractive.

Good-looking homes are very often based on relatively simple box forms, properly proportioned, composed, and detailed.

Today, too many designers compensate for their lack of skill by loading the exteriors up with as much stuff as they can – gables, complex roof forms, heroic-scaled arched windows, inappropriate details, etc. Lots of money spent and nobody benefits but the home builder (and the replacement-window guy I mentioned above.)

Keep the house forms simple and you’ll save a ton of green on the building materials. Look to the early 20th century suburbs for inspiration and lessons on the elegant simplicity of the box. You’ll have a better looking home that you can be proud of.

7) Good Design Sells

Speaking of good looking, energy-efficient, less expensive, low maintenance, smaller homes, guess what? They sell faster and for more money! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!!

My all-time favorite blow-my-own-horn story is of my client who (8 years later) sold his house in two weeks – without a real estate agent – for twice what he paid to have it built. All he did was stick a sign out front. The buyer said it was the uniquely functional and interesting floor plan and irresistible exterior design that sold him on it.

How happy do you think he is that he invested in better design?

Richard Taylor is a residential architect based in Dublin, Ohio and is a contributor to Zillow Blog. Connect with him at http://www.rtastudio.com/index.htm.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

So what’s a star to do about a little private place to cozy up without the intrusion of the looming lenses? Find a romantic hideaway — preferably one with an infinity pool, hot tub, and manicured and gated grounds!

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re taking a peek past the high walls and security to see where some of the big stars — past and present — hole up with their significant others.

Source: People.com

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux

Since her days on “Friends,” Jennifer Aniston has reaped the “rewards” of stardom like no other, especially since her high-profile split from Brad Pitt. Jennifer’s relationships — and rumors of pregnancies — are a constant source of media fodder.

Her latest relationship with actor Justin Theroux has been no different, especially now that the couple recently purchased a home together. Jen and Justin’s new home is located in the ultra-private and celeb-friendly Bel-Air neighborhood. Priced at $24.9 million, they reportedly snagged the home for around $22 million.

The mid-century modern home, above, was designed in 1965 by noted Los Angeles architect A. Quincy Jones. Set on a 3+ acre promontory with high gates, the home gives Jen and Justin privacy as well as spectacular city views.

Source: US Magazine

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

The vampire couple in the “Twilight” series is a couple in real life too, albeit a super private one. Although it’s commonly reported that they’re together, the two have never formally announced their relationship. They prefer to hide out from the media’s prying eyes in romantic hideaways.

One of “Twilight” stars’ more famous hideaways was a Los Angeles home rental, pictured above, that they snagged last summer. According to previous listing information, the lake home offers “privacy, serenity and tranquility,” perfect for the stars to take a breather between filming. The 5-bedroom, 5-bath home sits on over half an acre of land overlooking the Stone Canyon Reservoir at the end of a gated dead-end drive, but is only minutes from Sunset Strip and the rest of Beverly Hills.

Source: People.com

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen

Gisele Bundchen stands by her man — even when his team loses the Super Bowl. This past weekend the Brazilian supermodel was caught on camera badmouthing the Patriots’ receivers for their Super Bowl performance, something most Boston fans did not appreciate.

Despite her less-than-favorable remarks, Gisele and Tom still have it pretty good. According to Forbes, the beautiful duo is the highest paid celebrity couple, raking in a combined $76 million annually.

Like many couples, the photogenic duo spent their first years of marriage in an apartment. Their home wasn’t just any apartment though; the limestone Boston townhouse, pictured above, was built in 1900 and has over 5,000 square feet of living space.

Recently, Tom and Gisele have upgraded, moving to California, where they constructed a far more sprawling and private living space — a $20 million, 22,000-square foot estate in the Brentwood real estate market in Los Angeles.

Tom Brady’s townhouse is listed on the Boston real estate market for $10.5 million.

Source: People.com

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Power couple Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi met backstage of an awards ceremony in 2004 and began dating shortly after. The two were engaged and married in 2008. For most of their relationship, the two have lived on an enormous custom compound that includes several homes and properties they’ve added over the years. While the 26-acre place was perfect for the animal-loving pair (they own two dogs, three cats, two horses, two cows and two miniature horses) they listed the home on the Beverly Hills real estate market for a whopping $49 million in 2011.

The couple’s new home is a romantic hillside modern, above, located above Malibu’s beaches. Previously owned by another Hollywood power couple — Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie — the home has been completely renovated. Containing 4,088 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms on a 1.26-acre lot, the home will hopefully contain Portia and Ellen’s menagerie.

Source: People Magazine

Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz

Previously linked to Matt Damon, Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughy, Penelope Cruz made it official with her smoldering Spanish boyfriend Javier Bardem in 2010 in a private marriage ceremony in the Bahamas.  The Academy-Award winning actors, she for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and he for “No Country for Old Men,” began dating after appearing in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” in 2007.

It would make sense that the romantic stars would have an equally romantic home. Built in 1956, Penelope and Javier’s home has been completely updated, resulting in a Balinese-modern style. However, their home is on the smaller side, at least in terms of celebrity real estate, and may have led the couple and their  to list the home for sale on the Hollywood Hills real estate market. After nearly a year on the market, the home recently sold for $2,888,000.

Source: Wikicommons

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash

The love story of the country duo Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash was epic even by Hollywood standards and was portrayed in the film “Walk the Line,” starring Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix. A second marriage for both of them, the musicians were married in 1968 and toured together for 35 years until they died four months apart in 2003.

While Johnny and June lived the majority of their life together on a sprawling lakefront home in Henderson, TN, Cash moved to a smaller ranch-style home he owned across the street after June died. The ranch house, which was always referred to as “Mama Cash’s house” because it was where Cash’s mother lived, has been listed for sale on and off since 2009. In addition to being the place where Cash last stayed, the house on Claudill Drive once housed some very unique Cash mementos, including the Gold Record for Cash’s major hit: “I Walk The Line.”

Source: extravaganzi.com

Elizabeth Taylor and first fiance William Pawley, Jr.

Before the weddings, two Academy Awards, and her role in “Cleopatra,” film icon Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to William Pawley, Jr., the son of successful business man and ambassador to Brazil. The two met in Florida in 1949, when Elizabeth’s family had a vacation home. Elizabeth was 17 at the time, William was 28.

Taylor spent quite some time on William’s family estate during their six-month engagement and it was the place where she mailed several of her long, detailed, love letters. Although Elizabeth never married William, the 9-bedroom, 9-bath waterfront home is still a perfect place for a romantic rendezvous.

According to the Zillow Home Value Forecast, national home values will decline less in 2012 than in 2011, ending the year down 3.7 percent. While the Forecast does not show a bottom in home values nationally this year, home values in some individual markets are likely to reach a bottom. In the Washington and Los Angeles metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), the Forecast shows home values increasing by 1.3 and 1.2 percent, respectively, by the end of the year.

Additionally, markets like Riverside, Calif., Phoenix and Baltimore MSAs will likely reach a bottom in home values in 2012.

“As previously stated, we believe 2012 will be a transitional year for real estate. Positive developments will include markets showing organic growth, and home sales increasing as the year proceeds. However, we maintain our forecast that home values will continue to fall in 2012, ” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries on the Zillow Research page. “Negative equity will continue to cast a long shadow over the real estate market, keeping foreclosure rates elevated, and keeping a firm lid on significant home value growth even once values have bottomed in 2013.”

New to this quarter’s report, the Zillow Home Value Forecast uses data from past home value trends and current market conditions, including leading indicators like home sales, months of housing inventory supply and unemployment, to predict home values over the next 12 months for the nation and the 25 largest markets tracked by Zillow.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman wants to retain rights for further investigation and potential charges. SOURCE: AP

After months of high-stakes negotiations by state attorneys general for a multi-billion dollar settlement with banks over mortgage services abuses, a deal was finally announced Wednesday night.

In a country where homeowners face $700 billion in negative equity, the news is an opening salvo for one of the biggest drags on the U.S. economy. Settlement funds will be doled out under a complicated formula, but banks will be incentivized to help homeowners the most underwater.

The deal has the backing of about 40 states, including California and New York, where attorneys general in those large states have been pressing for bigger concessions from the banks and the ability to pursue further lawsuits in cases of abuse. While the settlement figure is $26 billion, the number could grow to about $39 billion in value for crisis-struck homeowners.

California’s inclusion in the deal pushes the settlement total to the anticipated $26 billion in relief. That number is in flux depending on the exact number of states that eventually sign on.

Under the settlement, top U.S. banks — Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Ally Financial — have agreed to contribute, largely by cutting mortgage debt for homeowners whose properties are worth less than their mortgage amounts. Negotiations had been held up by deep-seated concern that the deal was too lenient toward banks.

“For the past 13 months we have been working for a resolution that brings real relief to the hardest-hit homeowners, is transparent about who benefits and will ensure accountability,” said California attorney general Kamala Harris said.

The deal struggled to the finish line as top watchdogs in some of the biggest and hardest hit states worked to ensure any settlement did not let loan institutions off the hook for further investigation.

On Feb. 3, New York AG Eric Schneiderman abruptly called off a press conference and filed suit against the Mortgage Electronic Registration System, a move that signaled how seriously state attorneys general are taking their role in remediating widespread pain brought to foreclosed homeowners. Robosigning on foreclosures was facilitated by what is widely criticized as a loan documentation system that went lax in order to save banks money in the loan-writing process.

By creating this bizarre and complex end-around of the traditional public recording system, banks achieved their primary goal — over 70 million mortgage loans, including millions of subprime loans, have been registered in the MERS system and the industry has saved more than $2 billion in recording fees,” according to the lawsuit filed by Schneiderman.

The lawsuit also claims that over the several years, “banks rapidly securitized and sold off millions of loans, often misrepresenting the quality and nature of the mortgages being transferred.”

Since taking office in 2011, the New York AG had insisted that any robosigning settlement with banks should not grant a legal release from separate claims over how they bundled and sold mortgages to investors.

In New York, where many of these securitized commodities were traded, the AG has fought to preserve the right for a more comprehensive investigation of mortgage-related abuse in order to extract a larger settlement once more of the facts are determined.

While individual homeowners will benefit from this settlement, it is unclear whether the action will move the national housing market to stabilization. The New York Times examined that question in reports.

For additional perspective on the mortgage deal, take a look at these stories:

• Forbes: Mortgage Settlement Talks Look Like Tobacco Settlement Deal
• Banking Fraud Expert Bill Black Interview on financial fraud investigations
• Bloomberg/Businessweek: Bad Home Loans Top $72 Billion in Colossal Failure
• MSNBC: Mortgage Deal: Partial Solution Better Than None
• The Street: Deal Could Move Stocks
• Former FDIC Chair Sheila Blair Could Be Enforcer Banks Fear To Oversee Settlement Terms

The growth was across all segments, but particularly strong in mobile, where Zillow has the most popular suite of real estate apps across every major platform.  During January weekends (prime home-shopping days), up to 40% of Zillow’s traffic came from a mobile device. These mobile shoppers viewed over 140 million homes during the month on mobile – that’s 53 homes per second!

In the real estate industry, we’re often asked how Zillow’s traffic compares to other sites, on a local level and nationally. Unfortunately, third-party measurement services don’t log mobile usage, but we can show you comScore data for website usage across the category. Below is comScore’s latest report from January showing the top sites. This charts national usage; on a local level, the Yahoo!-Zillow Network is the #1 or #2 real estate brand in all 20 of the top 20 local markets in the United States.

(Click image to see larger)

January is typically a strong month for real estate, as buyers wake up from the holidays and more listings come on the market. We’re hearing great stories of foot and Web traffic from other friends in the industry too. How is is the January “buyer bump” treating your real estate business this month? Tell us!

Buyers go to multiple open houses over the course of weeks or months in hopes of falling in love. Just like the search for a partner, a buyer has certain qualities in mind. In home-shopping terms, it’s usually price, location, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the desire for the home to be in a certain condition.

Buyers sift through dozens of properties, maybe even going on “second dates” or in real estate terms, “private showings.” Because the buyer has often been in the market awhile, they know that when the right house comes along, it is the one. They know the comps and are prepared to make an offer at fair market value.

Unfortunately, sometimes love is unrequited — even in real estate.

The seller has every right to reject a buyer for any reason whatsoever. They may stand firm on their price and wait it out for a stronger buyer or for that higher price. It could be they don’t like the buyer’s contingencies, such as the need to sell your home before buying, or they aren’t confident your financing will come through.

Here are five tips for dealing with a seller who is “just not that into you.”

1. Go to your max.

After submitting an offer and even going through a series of counter offers, you realize you’re dealing with an uncooperative seller. You’re wasting time by holding back and playing his game. If you really want the home, it’s time to go to your max. By putting your best offer forward, you’ll have done all you can.

2. Move on.

This is easier said than done, of course. But if the seller isn’t interested in working with you, move on. Hanging around wishing the seller will come to their senses and accept your offer is a waste of time and emotional energy. By pining away in your love affair with that house, you risk missing out on other great properties that are available and whose owners may be more “into” you. And who knows? Sometimes, when you move on, the seller may suddenly show interest.

3. Learn from the experience.

The sheer desire to own a home and the assumption that an available home should be yours doesn’t always translate into home ownership. If things don’t work out for you, analyze what went wrong. What mistakes could you have avoided? Did you spend too much time negotiating with that seller? Did you get too emotionally involved? If you can walk away with some lessons learned, your next try at home ownership should be easier and more likely to succeed.

4. Don’t try to figure out the seller.

You’ve got no idea what’s going on in a seller’s head. For all you know, the seller is emotionally attached to the home and not really ready to sell. Or maybe the sellers are going through a divorce, and one of them is hesitant to sell. It’s certainly tempting to play armchair analyst when a seller isn’t selling to you for mysterious reasons. It’s also, in most cases, a waste of time and energy. Accept the fact that the seller just isn’t that into you for whatever reason and move on.

5. Do try to figure yourself out.

Is there a pattern developing? Are you only going after the ones you can’t have? If so, are you sure you’re ready to commit?

Like finding a mate, buying a home is a huge decision and financial commitment.  If you find that you keep going after sellers that aren’t co-operating, the issue may be you, not them.

Brendon DeSimone is a Realtor® and real estate expert based in San Francisco and New York. He is a contributor to Zillow Blog, has collaborated on multiple real estate books and is often quoted by major media outlets. Follow Brendon on Twitter.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

We first brought Zillow Mortgage Marketplace to mobile in June 2011 with the launch of Zillow’s first mortgage app on the iPhone.  Since then, the financial calculators on the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace iPhone App have been used more than 1.5 million times, proving people want access to mortgage and financing information when they are out looking at homes. On Android, we were able to add additional features that take advantage of the unique menu functionality that lets users easily share information such as mortgage rates and loan quotes from every page.

Just like on the iPhone, the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace Android App’s elegant, intuitive design makes it easy for home shoppers to play around with multiple scenarios until they find the home and mortgage combination that best fits their situation. With three different in-app financial calculators, the app also helps give shoppers on-the-go answers to important mortgage and financing questions, such as:

• How much home can I afford?
• What would my monthly payment be if I bought this home?
• Should I refinance?

In addition to the calculators, the app lets home shoppers and owners get personalized loan quotes with low rates from trusted lenders on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace.  Most importantly, this can all be done anonymously – no need to supply any personal contact information.  If and when you are ready to contact a lender – whether it’s to get pre-approved for a loan to buy a home you just toured, or if you just saw real-time mortgage rates drop and you want to lock in a rate – the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace Apps make it easy to contact a lender directly from your Android or iPhone.

Check it out:  Download the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace App in the Android Marketplace and iTunes® App Store for free!

As we turn 6 today, we can’t help but look back on an amazing 5th year for Zillow.com, Zillow Mobile and Zillow’s websites. It was a year chock-full of Zillow news, including a home giveaway sweepstakes, acquiring two companies, and going public — all of this in between feature releases and additions to the hottest kid on the block — Zillow Mobile, which offers the most popular suite of real estate apps across every major platform.

Let’s do a rundown of Zillow’s accomplishments as a 5-year-old:

Zillow Mobile Keeps Growing

Yikes, where do we start? Zillow Mobile is growing and getting bigger and better every day. Inman News recognized its popularity and functionality by giving Zillow Mobile four #1 rankings. Here’s other Zillow Mobile news in 2011:

• Zillow Launches Zillow Mortgage Marketplace Android App
• Zillow Launches Zillow Mortgage Marketplace iPhone App
• Zillow Adds App for Windows Phone 7
• Zillow iPhone App Expands; Now Includes Zillow Mortgage Marketplace
• New Search Options and Filters Added to Zillow iPhone App
• Zillow Launches App for Amazon’s Kindle Fire
• Zillow Launches Free Real Estate App for Android Tablet
• Draw Your Own Search on Zillow iPhone and iPad Apps

$350,000 Home Giveaway

Perhaps the biggest and most gratifying event of the year was the home giveaway with Pulte Homes. Called the “I Want a New Home! Sweepstakes,” we teamed with Pulte Homes and, yup, we staged a sweepstakes with one lucky winner getting a custom-built home worth $350,000.

More than 120,000 people entered the month-long sweepstakes and on Dec. 20 — just in time for the holiday season — we revealed the “I Want a New Home! Sweepstakes winner. Her name is Valerie from Florida, a recent college grad who double majored in Spanish and sociology. Congrats, Valerie!

Testifying Before Senate Subcommittee

It’s not every day that you’re invited to the nation’s capital to offer ideas for how to deal with the state of the housing market, but Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries was. In September, Humphries traveled to Washington, D.C. to testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Urban Development (part of the Senate Banking Committee) to talk about ways to address the country’s glut of foreclosed properties.

To be consulted on how to help fix the sagging real estate market was a big feather in our cap and Humphries fully embraced the mission, outlining three key points about market recovery. His full written testimony can be found in the Zillow Research section, or his testimony can be viewed here.

Zillow’s IPO

After five years of coming to work in jeans, sandals and casual attire, the execs pulled out their Sunday best to ring the NASDAQ opening bell on July 20 — the day Zillow began trading on the stock market under the stock ticker “Z.”

It was a big day for us and a critical milestone for the company. Going public means we as a company can develop more tools and features to give consumers what they need in making smarter real estate decisions and to help provide agents with more marketing resources (see below).

Acquired Postlets

In April, we acquired Postlets, a leading online real estate listing creation and distribution platform. This service helps individual agents, property managers and landlords distribute their listings across 13 real estate and social media websites, for free. Real estate professionals love Postlets because you create a property listing just once, and Postlets distributes it across the Web.

Purchased Diverse Solutions

In November, we purchased Diverse Solutions, an Irvine, CA company that helps real estate agents market their business and improve their websites.  For Zillow, this is a way to help connect home buyers and sellers with agents and brokers. We couldn’t be more proud of adding this well-respected company to Zillow.

Zillow Adds Social to Home Shopping

By utilizing Facebook’s powerful networking capabilities, we launched Neighborhood Advice in January, which helps people find the best advice on the best neighborhoods from their Facebook friends. It’s also fun to see your friends mapped across the country, so you, too, can find out “your reach.” How many friends do you have in how many cities? Try it out: Neighborhood Advice.

Other Notable Tidbits…

• We continue to have guest speakers come to Zillow’s Seattle offices and talk and meet our employees as part of the Zillow Speaker Series. The latest guest was Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
• We launched Rent Zestimates in March, a tool to help renters and landlords determine a fair estimated rent price.
• Zilllow is People’s Voice Winner and the overall Webby Award winner for the Real Estate category in the 15th Annual Webby Awards.

We Have Jobs!

If you like what you see, come check out Zillow’s job openings.  We have 23 openings right now and are looking to fill these seats with the best and brightest. Is that you? Come see if there’s a fit!

Source: Virginia.gov

Valentines, VA

Is it any surprise that the town of Valentines is located in a state with the slogan “Virginia is for lovers?” This small hamlet is more community than town, located within Brunswick County about 100 miles southwest of Norfolk. Named for the founder and first postmaster, William H. Valentine, the town continues the tradition of stamping mail around February with special Valentine’s emblem.

251 Kelly Dr., Valentines VA (above)
For sale: $474,900

The Valentines home for sale is a rural getaway sitting on the Lake Gaston waterfront. The 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home features a natural, two-sided stone fireplace and large back deck leading to the sloping lawn and private dock.

Source: itawambaconnections.blogspot.com

Romance, AR

Forget Paris and Venice. Find true love in the town of Romance, Arkansas. The story goes that a local schoolteacher, upon arriving in the area, thought the view from the surrounding bluffs was “romantic.” While the town does postmark mail for the holiday, there’s also a recent practice of people getting married on the grounds of the Romance post office.

1212 Highway 31, Romance AR (above)
For sale: $99,900

Like the town of Valentines, Romance is a mere blip on Arkansas’ landscape. Situated off Highway 31, this Romance home for sale was built in 1960 but has numerous updates, including new carpet and flooring.

Source: Panoramio.com

Romeoville, Il

The tale of Romeoville couldn’t be better if the Bard wrote it himself. The legend goes that in the 1830s, nearby Joliet was named Juliet and the nearby settlement Romeo was its twin community. In 1845, Juliet was renamed Joliet to honor the explorer Louis Jolliet. The town of “Romeo” then renamed itself Romeoville to acknowledge the busted relationship.

801 Winnebago Ct, Romeoville IL (above)
For sale: $279,919

This 3-bed, 3-bath Romeoville home for sale has features to inspire a Shakespearean poet or two, including professional landscaping, a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors.

Flickr user: and_illusion

Loves Park, IL

“The city with a heart” was named after its founder, Malcolm Love, who purchased 236 acres of land at the turn of the 20th century. The town is situated just outside Rockford, IL and 80 miles northeast of Chicago.

5450 Woodland Way, Loves Park, IL (above)
For sale: $435,000

This light-filled Craftsman is listed on the Loves Park real estate market and features all the right details, from a sun porch and huge picture windows to hardwood floors and crown molding.

Source: Cycloclimbing.com

Loveland, CO

Although the name implies romance, Loveland, CO is better known as the “Gateway to the Rockies.” Situated at the base of the Rocky Mountain National Park, the town was incorporated with the dawn of the railroad and named for the president of the Colorado Central Railroad W.A.H. Loveland. Like Valentines, IL, the postmaster of Loveland is kept busy around Valentine’s Day resending mail with the Loveland postmark.

3621 Higgins St, Loveland, CO (above)
For sale: $350,000

The town has boomed in the past few years and is currently enjoying a 0.4 percent year-over-year growth in home values. This Loveland ranch home for sale was built in 2008 and has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and over 3,600 square feet of living space.

This represents the lowest rate reported since Zillow Mortgage Marketplace launched in April 2008. The previous low was 3.69 percent, first reported on Jan. 17. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate peaked at 3.7 percent on Friday, steadily declined through the weekend and dropped to the current rate this morning.

“Despite strong employment figures released on Friday, which often give a sustained boost to mortgage rates, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has remained historically low, hovering in an extremely narrow band between 3.65 and 3.7 percent for the past week,” said Erin Lantz, director of Zillow Mortgage Marketplace. “Although European headlines may drive more volatility in the coming week, we expect rates will stay near this range.”

Additionally, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate this morning was 3.01 percent and for 5/1 ARMs, the rate was 2.7 percent.

What are the rates right now? Check Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for up-to-the-minute mortgage rates for your state.

Pitcher Tim Lincecum has two Cy Youngs, a World Series ring and a record annual salary with the San Francisco Giants. SOURCE: AP

The Freak is getting paid. Big time. But the big question in San Francisco is whether some of the franchise-record salary that pitcher Tim Lincecum is now being paid by the San Francisco Giants will be collected for damages that were being sought by Lincecum’s former landlord.

Last month, the former Cy Young award winner inked an interesting two-year, $40.5 million deal, making him the highest-paid player ever for the Giants.

Unlike most Major League Baseball stars who rack up multi-year deals worth as much $252 million — which was what Alex Rodriguez was paid by the Texas Rangers — Lincecum said he preferred a short deal so he could see how he feels in 2014.

Clearly, the windup and the hair aren’t the only freaky things about the Seattle-native right hander.

Lincecum rented the townhouse now listed for sale in San Francisco.

In October, Lincecum was the subject of a claims filed by Mindy Freile, who was seeking $350,000 in damages. The claim alleged that Lincecum, well, basically trashed the place, according to original reports in the San Jose Mercury News and SFGate.com.

When home for the off-season in Seattle, Lincecum lives in his Belltown condo in the trendy Escala building.

Whatever damages might have been done, the townhouse has been re-listed for sale at $1.795 million and appears to have cleaned up nicely. No word if Lincecum will look for another rental in the Mission real estate market.

When Lincecum is home in Seattle in the off-season, he’s apparently making good use of his 3,073-square-foot Escala condominium in downtown Seattle that includes a 531-square-foot deck and stellar views of the Space Needle, downtown and, in the distance and much to the delight of the Husky alum, the University of Washington.

Lincecum bought the place in December 2010, when he allowed a film crew in to show off the residence. Much to the crew’s amazement, the condo was devoid of any decorative elements except a unique, hand-carved wood dining room table — unless a few large flat-screen TVs count. The Seattle Weekly — who dubbed Lincecum “The Pride of Belltown” — was equally unimpressed, joking that Lincecum’s home was a “barren, artless wasteland.”

Perhaps by now Lincecum has had a chance to make good on some plans to install a Dale Chihuly glass light fixture. But no matter what, the pitcher appears to have gotten great use out of the Escala’s gym. After reaching 196 pounds after the 2011 season, the pitcher told reporters in San Francisco last week that he has dropped 22 pounds courtesy of the swimming in the stationary lap pools.

Source: US Weekly

When Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds announced their engagement in 2008, it seemed like an A-Lister match made in Hollywood heaven, akin to the beautiful pairing of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. Unfortunately, like Brad and Jen, the celebrity union didn’t last and after three years of marriage, Scarlett and Ryan filed for divorce.

A little over six months after finalizing their divorce, the couple has cut another tie to their marriage and placed their Los Angeles home on the Los Feliz real estate market for $3.65 million

Named the “Wong House,” Scarlett and Ryan’s home is a classic mid-century modern home designed by Buff & Hensman in 1969. Perched on nearly half an acre, the glass-walled home features sprawling views of the city below. Typical of an outdoor California lifestyle, the home’s enormous living areas open out to spacious decks, a salt-water pool, and grassy yard.

Like any prime piece of celebrity real estate, the home is completely private, hidden behind large gates and under video surveillance.

According to property listings, Scarlett and Ryan purchased the home for $2.9 million in August 2010. The eco-friendly pair renovated much of the home, updating the property with green amenities like solar power.

According to Zillow’s mortgage payment calculator, a monthly payment on Scarlett and Ryan’s home would be $13,396 assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year mortgage.

Today, the idea of bathing takes on a whole different attitude. Bathtubs are so much easier to find, fill, and luxuriate in — especially since in some real estate circles, tubs are nothing short of a status symbol.

Whether you take a dip regularly or enjoy a long soak just once in a while, there’s no denying that being submerged in warm water is an indulgence many of us enjoy. To that end, we rounded up a collection of lavish bathtubs that may have you grabbing for the bubble bath and good book. Perhaps even some bubbly.

Stoneware Soak

6001 La Jolla Scenic Dr S #6015, La Jolla CA
For sale: $14,990,000

Forget porcelain or ceramic. This stunning soaking tub is carved from solid granite and weighs one ton. Situated in the master suite, the tub is only a small sampling of this home’s luxury. From a hospital-grade air filtration system to a home theater with a 20-foot screen, nearly every fixture in this La Jolla home is over-the-top.

Heat it Up

711 Briar Rd, Bellingham WA
For sale: $1,695,000

Forget about feeling chilly drafts when you’re in for the long soak. This Bellingham, WA home for sale has smartly situated a gas fireplace right next to the bathtub. What makes the setting even more inviting is that the soak area is part of the master bedroom, where the tub and gas fireplace combination makes for the ultimate winter retreat.

Classic Clawfoot

106 E 71st St., New York NY
For sale: $26,500,000

What else would you expect in a 1910 limestone mansion, but a gorgeous clawfoot tub? The Upper East Side townhouse has been completely renovated with touches of whimsy, including this bathroom featuring a cloud mural and hanging bubble fixture above the tub.

Free-Standing Function

53 Strand Beach Dr., Dana Point CA
For sale: $23,500,000

While most bathtubs are built into the wall, or set off in a corner, this home for sale in Dana Point makes a strong statement with the unusual placement of a deep soaking tub set in an exposed bathing room off the master bedroom. The Italian-inspired home spans 9,000-square-feet on nearly a quarter-acre property.

Vessel With a View

1200 Club View Dr PH 22, Los Angeles CA
For sale: $22,332,800

Relax in a tub that’s 22 floors above downtown L.A., complete with wide views of the skyline. Developed by the builder of the world’s tallest buildings, the penthouse in Beverly West Residences not only features a phenomenal bathtub view, but also private elevator access, high-tech control of the home through an iPad and 24-hour concierge services.

Après-Ski Spa

189 Larson Dr, Aspen CO
For sale: $25 million

Unwind after a few downhill runs in a retreat home only six miles from the slopes. The European-style home features a deep, free-standing tub facing the Rocky Mountains and the city below. Sitting on 4.13 acres, the Aspen estate also has a dramatic infinity-edged pool and outdoor living spaces for when the snow melts.

Glass-Walled Dip

(undisclosed address), Santa Barbara CA
For sale: $19,995,000

For those who don’t mind being part of the scenery, the bathroom in this Montecito home for sale may be appealing. Like the rest of this modern home, the bathroom walls are all glass with views of the surrounding lawn. The listing agent of the Glass Pavilion claims the property is private, but the bathtub’s location may test the comfort level of any shy bather.

Modern Washroom

(undisclosed address), New York, New York
For sale: $28,000,000

Set against a tiled mural of a Greek figure, this circular, stainless steel tub makes a bold statement. Located in a TriBeCa townhouse, it is one of five bathrooms. An expensive option for even pricey New York, the home features a full-floor master suite, nearly 11,000 square feet of space and three terraces.

Marble Bath

4200 Gordon Dr., Naples FL
For sale: $21,500,000

Bathe as the Romans did, surrounded by marble tile in the tub in this house for sale in Naples. Situated on 0.8 acres, the property includes 125 feet of beachfront and membership to the prestigious Port Royal Club. Built in 2002, the home includes a recently updated audio/visual system with HVAC control and lighting control.

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Give Yourself A Raise – Change the number of allowances you claim on your W-4. Chances are, you need to: More than 75% of us got a refund last year—of about $3,000! This tells us we’re having too much withheld from our paychecks.  Taking extra allowances pushes down your withholding, and pushes up your take home pay.

Nibble Away at the Mortgage -  Even though mortgage rates are at historic lows (currently about 4%), about 12 million creditworthy Americans are overpaying their mortgages – by an average of $436/month!  By refinancing, these homeowners could save about $52,000 over 10 yrs. Refinance calculators like the one on the Zillow iPhone app can show you how much you can save.

Clean Out Your Drawers! – You never know what you might find in there! For example, did you know that we’re sitting on $16 billion in unredeemed bonds? Or that we each have an average of about $300 in gift cards? Cash the bonds (To see what they’re worth, and to redeem them, go to treasurydirect.gov), and consider selling the gift cards if they’re not from a store you frequent.  You can sell them on your own and avoid the middleman altogether, or try designated gift card sites, such as plasticjungle.com or cardhub.com.

Redeem Points and Miles – These numbers will astound you: Americans earn about $48 billion in reward point and miles each year through loyalty programs, but about one third of that amount – or some $16 billion – goes unredeemed each year.  To put this into further perspective: the average household that’s active in loyalty programs earns about $622/yr but does not redeem $205 of those rewards—enough to buy an airline ticket a week’s worth of groceries.

No More Impulse Buys – Retailers literally encouraged us to blow the budget over the holiday season.  They did this any number of ways –  from offering deals that were too good to be true to training their employees to be more engaging to reconfiguring stores that encouraged browsing to stocking the checkout with various temptations – and it worked. We’re now paying the price, suffering from buyer’s remorse.  And yet the spending continues: about 60% of the purchases we make are unplanned, and the average impulse buy costs about $100.

Avoid Retail Ripoffs - While it may seem as though everything is on sale, there are still quite a few items that are ridiculously overpriced, from movie theater popcorn (It’s marked up as much as 1300%!); to the wine you buy at restaurants (It’s marked up 100-200% on bottles; 300%-400% if buy it by the glass — and the highest markups are on the lowest priced wines); coffee (marked up 300%); and pre-cut fruits and veggies, which costs 25-30% more than their whole counterparts. Avoid just one or two of these “ripoffs” and you can easily save over $1,200 yr.

Vera Gibbons is a financial journalist based in New York City and is a contributor to Zillow Blog. Connect with her at http://veragibbons.com/.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.