Philip Johnson's Elevated, Exceptional Wiley House Asks $14M | Waccabuc Real Estate

Photos by Paul Rivera/Archworks

Location: New Canaan, Connecticut
Price: $14,000,000

Originally measuring just 3,000 square feet of glass, steel and stone, Philip Johnson's Wiley House has left an oversize footprint on architecture, standing out even in the masterpiece-dense modernist haven of New Canaan, Connecticut. Its material contrasts and simple conceit—public space cantilevered over a stone base of bedrooms—elevated the living room above the surrounding hickories, and offered a sleek, straightforward model of contemporary living in the posh suburb. Now back on the market with William Pitt Sotheby's for $14 million (the listing will go on MLS later today), the property isn't merely showcasing Johnson's work; a 4,620-square-foot addition designed by Roger Ferris + Partners and commissioned by the current owner includes a barn turned modern art gallery.

Frank Gallipoli, president of an energy trading firm and art enthusiast, moved into the home in 1994 and found that, despite its pedigree, it needed work. He replaced the glass panels with double-paned windows, following the initial drawings. While any new owner can take advantage of Gallipoli's work, there's one aspect of living in the Wiley home that can't be replicated. Gallipoli got to know Johnson during the end of the architect's life, and even visited him at his famous glass house.

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http://curbed.com/archives/2015/06/19/

America's Next Top Kitchen Trends | Waccabuc Real Estate

When it comes to kitchen design, what’s the next stainless steel? 

Good question.

For nearly 30 years, the finish has reigned as the top choice for appliances, sinks and faucets. And despite reports every few years that it’s on its way out, the trend hasn’t faded just yet. (So you’ll just have to keep dealing with all those fingerprints for a while.)

That doesn’t mean new trends aren’t emerging, however. Here are a few to keep an eye on in 2015 and beyond:

(Can’t find the refrigerator? That’s the idea. Photo: DecorPad)

Matching Panels

As open-format home plans become more popular, people want large appliances to blend in rather than stand out. (In other words, you might not want to sit in your living room and have a view of a shiny, hulking refrigerator.) Paneling appliances so they resemble cabinetry helps them fit easily into a space.

“Among my clientele … integrating the refrigerator into the design scheme is much more typical, rather than [having] a large ‘mattress size’ swatch of stainless steel in the kitchen,” says leading kitchen designer Matthew Quinn.

Indeed, in its 2015 trend report, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) identified French-door and built-in cabinet depth fridges as growing in popularity. And if you’re curious as to which cabinetry wood is on the rise, it’s walnut, says John Petrie, CMKBD, owner and designer at Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry in Pennsylvania. 

“Whether it’s entire walnut kitchen or as an accent we’re doing a fair bit of it,” he says. “It reminds me of a midcentury modern look.”

(Glass-front refrigerators allow everyone to see how healthy you eat. Photo: Bravo)

Glass-Fronts

Whites and off-whites are currently the most popular kitchen color schemes, according to NKBA data. And so, clean, modern, glass-front appliances are hot at the moment, says Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, a San-Diego based kitchen designer.

“I’m seeing glass fronts, especially white,” says Gold, also author ofNew Kitchen Ideas That Work. “There are black glass fronts, but the whites are popular with homeowners creating glossy, white modern kitchens.  I believe these glass-front appliances are gaining traction because of the popularity of white cabinets and white iPhones as a design inspiration.

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https://www.yahoo.com/makers/beyond-stainless-steel-americas-next-top-kitchen-112259152735.html

Types of Mortgage Lenders | Waccabuc Real Estate

Shopping for a mortgage can feel overwhelming. It’s intrusive because lenders require every detail of your personal and financial life to do their job. It’s complex because rate quotes and associated fees (also known as points) can be presented many different ways, plus rates change daily based on economic conditions. And it’s confusing because there are different kinds of lenders who all have a pitch as to why their model is the best.

If you know how to choose the right lender, you’ll feel more comfortable providing your profile and more confident when analyzing their rate quotes. Here’s a guide to the three main sources for consumer mortgages. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll know how to navigate the available information, and ask the right questions when you’re mortgage shopping.

Retail banks

These companies range from the biggest name-brand institutions down to smaller local banks and credit unions. They underwrite, approve and close loans for consumers, then either keep the loans on their own balance sheets or sell the loans to investment firms, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, who bundle the loans into mortgage bonds, aka mortgage backed securities (MBS).

Retail banks usually retain servicing rights, which means you would get your monthly mortgage statement directly from that bank, and the loan agent that handled your loan would remain your primary point of contact for all future inquires.

Advantages: Retail banks are usually a big brand or well-known local brand. These organizations can often be more flexible on loan approvals because they have the option to keep loans on their books, as opposed to selling the loans, which means more stringent underwriting. They also offer non-mortgage financial services like checking, savings, credit cards and financial planning, and they usually offer lower mortgage rates if you use them for additional services like a checking account.

Mortgage banks

Like retail banks, these companies underwrite, approve and close loans for consumers. They then sell the underlying loans to retail banks, investment firms, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, who bundle the loans into MBS.

Larger mortgage banks may keep servicing rights, so you’d get your monthly statement from the mortgage bank and retain your loan agent as primary contact for future inquiries. Smaller mortgage banks sell servicing rights along with the loans, which means you’d be contacting the new bank servicer for future inquiries.

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http://www.zillow.com/blog/3-types-of-mortgage-lenders-166562/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ZillowBlog+%28Zillow+Blog%29

Report: Credit card debt nearing "tipping point" | #Waccabuc Real Estate

As the housing market continues to remain stagnant, consumers are quickly racking up credit card debt and teetering the edge of instability, according to a report released today.

The average household credit card balance increased by $174 during the second quarter of 2014, now up to $6,802, according to a recent study by CardHub.

And this is expected to easily surpass the $7,000 mark during 2014, officially reaching levels not witnessed since the end of 2010.

"Assuming the above projection holds true, by the end of 2014 U.S. consumers will be roughly $1,300 away from the credit card debt tipping point, where minimum payments become unsustainable and delinquencies skyrocket," CardHub said.

This year’s second quarter increase was 46% higher than the next highest Q2 debt buildup, which was recorded in 2011. And it is nearly 200% higher than the increase witnessed in Q2 2009, when the country’s economy was just emerging from the Great Recession.

The year started off strong, with consumers actually paying down their credit card debt in a big way in the first quarter of 2014.

But this all quickly changed. “For the first time in the past six years, consumers reversed almost the entirety of their standard first quarter paydown during the second quarter of the year,” the study found.



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http://www.housingwire.com/articles/31334-report-credit-card-debt-nearing-tipping-point

Park Grove Shows Off Floorplans for Two of its Three Towers | Waccabuc Real Estate

15 images

Renderings of Park Grove, the Terra Group/Related Group towers in Coconut Grove designed by starchitect Rem Koolhass, give the impression that the project is basically two wogly hourglass-shaped towers (one commenter suggested they look like testicles). But, oh, apparently floor plans have been released for two of the project's three towers, all of which are 22 stories. #2 and #3, which is also being branded Park Grove's 'Club Residences' tower. These are smaller, and no, probably don't have as much of a bay view. So, what gives? An earlier version of the design had as many as five or six slender towers (with one or two units per floor) but, you know, things happen, budgets are imposed, designs are revised and refined, and boom.


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http://miami.curbed.com/archives/2014/07/24/park-grove-shows-off-floorplans-for-two-of-its-three-towers.php

Cute Windsor Terrace Townhouse Asks $1.95 Million, and More | Waccabuc Real Estate

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↑ First up on this weekend's roundup is a cute, two-story brick townhouse in Windsor Terrace asking $1.95 million. The single-family, 20'-wide home has been well-preserved and has an original staircase, wood floors, moldings, and tin ceilings. There's also a pretty nice garden and some really, really dreadful art.


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http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/06/22/cute_windsor_terrace_townhouse_asks_195_million_and_more.php

Fixed Mortgage Rates Largely Flat | Waccabuc NY Homes

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS^®), showing average fixed mortgage rates largely flat compared to the previous week amid light economic reports.
News Facts

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.14 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending June 5, 2014, up from last week when it averaged 4.12 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.91 percent.
  
• 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.23 percent with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.21 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.03 percent.
  
• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.93 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.96 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.74 percent.
  
• 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.40 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.41 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.58 percent.
  

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for the Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.
QuotesAttributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.
"Mortgage rates were little changed amid a week of light economic reports. Of the few releases, real GDP was revised down to -1.0 percent growth in the first quarter of 2014. ADP Research Institute estimated the private sector added 179,000 jobs in May, which followed a slight downward revision of 5,000 jobs in April. Meanwhile, the Institute for Supply Management reported the manufacturing industry saw a slight acceleration in monthly growth for May."

Simple Pleasures: The Art of Being Neighborly | Waccabuc Real Estate

Being part of a welcoming community makes daily life so much more pleasant. Whether you are already friends with your neighbors or want to get to know them better, these ideas for simple parties and heartfelt gestures will help strengthen those bonds. Please add your own stories of neighborliness in the Comments.

Beth Dana Design

Save to Ideabook

Email Photo

Welcome a neighbor with a thoughtful gift. Make the new arrivals feel at home with a small but thoughtful gift, hand delivered to their door. It doesn’t need to be store bought — bring cut flowers from your yard, homemade cookies or a jar of pickles or jam. The old-fashioned feel will be sure to charm them.
Help a neighbor in need. Whether you help an elderly neighbor carry in heavy groceries or bring a home-cooked meal to a family with a newborn, gestures of support mean a lot.

Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC.

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Email Photo

Host an open house or a potluck. If you’d like to throw a party and invite the neighbors, consider doing an open house or a potluck. Having several hours with people drifting in and out puts less pressure on you, and asking folks to bring a dish to share is a great way to get to know people (and avoid lots of cooking).

 

 

 

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http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/26897168?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u506&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery5

How To: Clean Granite Countertops | Waccabuc Real Estate

In many people's minds, granite means strength and resilience. But to clean granite countertops successfully, a homeowner must act with caution. The stone can actually be damaged by many of the products and techniques that are perfectly safe to use on other kitchen surfaces. You don't have to be a genius to clean granite countertops; the job just requires a bit of extra care and attention. Follow the steps outlined here, and you're bound to be satisfied with the result of your efforts.

[inset]

REGULAR CLEANING
Your best bet is nothing more sophisticated than mild dish soap that's been diluted with water. Bear in mind, however, that because granite scratches easily, the solution ought to be applied with a cotton cloth or soft sponge—that is, not with an abrasive scrubber. Before gently wiping down the counter, wring out the cloth or sponge so as not to compromise the highly absorbent stone (it can become discolored under standing water). Dry off the countertop as a final stage in this routine, not only to protect the granite from water damage but also to eliminate streaks and leave the surface with an eye-catching, irresistible shine.

STAIN REMOVAL
Don't panic! Most of the time, stained granite countertops can be cleaned with household items so common that you probably already have them in your pantry. No matter the source of the stain, start with baking soda. If you wish to clean a water stain, mix the baking soda with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. For an oil-based stain, mix the baking soda with water. In either case, the mixture should generate a thick paste. Generously spread that over the stain, then cover the area with plastic wrap, taping down its edges. Leave the stain remover overnight (or even for a couple of days), before rinsing and wiping down the granite.

ADDING PROTECTION
Most installations of granite are protected by a layer of sealant. If you've repeatedly tried and failed to remove stains from your counters, chances are that the sealant has ceased to function as it should. In situations where the sealant is to blame, stained granite becomes difficult or impossible to clean, at least for the average do-it-yourselfer. Your best bet is to hire a professional to completely clean and then properly reseal the stone, thereby preventing future problems.



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https://homes.yahoo.com/news/clean-granite-countertops-232934104.html

Come Party at a Neon Vacation Villa in Where Else!? Ibiza! | Waccabuc Real Estate

Photo via Design Milk
Built on a tree-lined, hillside property in Ibiza, Spain, this stunning Villa Terramar vacation house—designed by Spanish architecture firm Andres Jaque Architects—just might be the most Ibiza party palace of all time, thanks to its funky, stilted layout, nightclub-worthy color palette, and dance floor-esque terraces. The dayglo home is split into four free-standing bedrooms—all lofted to different heights—but rents as a single residence for €430 a night ( that's about $595 a night.) The largest of the units houses an aqua blue kitchen dotted with palm trees growing up through the floor, as well as a large, airy living space that opens onto a massive infinity pool and groovy hot tub. Take it all in, below...



http://curbed.com/archives/2014/04/16/come-party-at-a-neon-vacation-villa-in-where-else-ibiza.php

Final chapter for Rizzoli bookstore as demolition awaits | Waccabuc Real Estate

Rizzoli Bookstore at 31 West 57th Street

The Landmarks Preservation Commission is weighing an application to preserve the interior of the Rizzoli Bookstore, just days before the retailer plans to shut down
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The LeFrak family and Vornado Realty Trust, owners of the property at 31 West 57th Street, intend to demolish the property, along with two adjacent buildings. Rizzoli has served as the anchor tenant at the 109-year-old, six-story building for 29 years. The store is offering 40 percent discounts on merchandise prior to its last day on Friday.

The Landmarks board already rejected Rizzoli’s request for individual landmark designation, deciding that it did not meet the criteria. LeFrak and Vornado have not yet filed permits for demolition.

“It is important to note that if a building or interior is landmarked, the Commission does not regulate use,” a spokesperson for the commission said in a statement cited by DNAinfo. “Therefore, a business — like a bookstore — can relocate at any time based on their specific lease agreements.”



http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/04/08/rizzoli-bookstore-set-to-close-as-landmarks-mulls-new-bid/

10 spectacular bathroom innovations | Waccabuc Homes

10 spectacular bathroom innovations - Yahoo Homes

It's Official, All the Coolest Lofts Have Little Houses In Them | Waccabuc Real Estate

Photo via Design Milk
First, there were the white boxes in one windowless Japanese home, and after them, the cabin and the treehouse that sit inside the most Brooklyn loft ever. According to the rule of three, this redesign of a Brussels apartment by adn Architectures means that filling one home with a few smaller ones is officially a trend. And what a trend it is! According to a project statement from the firm, the point of the overhaul is to give shape to "two internal bodies that embrace the envelope without touching it, opaque, translucent, airy, abstract," but any five-year-old knows what we have on our hands here: forts, wonderful forts.

Check 'em out from the inside. >>

The clients requested a loft conversion that made efficient use of their limited space; little did they know they would end up with "purity of form and functional simplicity" in the form of two perforated metallic boxes. The first floors hold the laundry room and bathroom, with a bedroom and an office above them, each without a ceiling, leaving the second levels open to the entire apartment. With a deftly concealed wall of storage cabinets between the two, and a raw concrete ceiling lending the white and airy space some much needed weight, it seems like a pretty swell setup.


http://curbed.com/archives/2014/03/20/its-official-all-the-coolest-lofts-have-little-houses-in-them.php

Hybrid ARMs are Hot | Waccabuc NY Real Estate

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Part-time landlords flocking to super-bowl-rentalz.com | Waccabuc Real Estate

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This Mod, Glass-Sided Beauty is an Exhibitionist’s Dream | Waccabuc NY Real Estate

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Incredible treehouse hotels | Waccabuc Real Estate

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Branstad, MidAmerican officials plan major wind energy announcement | Waccabuc Real Estate

Branstad, MidAmerican officials plan major wind energy announcement | Waccabuc Real Estate | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Canada’s Big Housing Markets Avoid Autumn Chill | Waccabuc Real Estate

While it wasn’t a chilly autumn for housing markets in the greater Toronto or greater Vancouver areas, with both posting gain in prices and sales activity, it wasn’t overly hot either.

In Toronto and its suburbs, the average sale price in November rose just over 11%, to 538,881 Canadian dollars ($504,098) from the same month last year, according to the Greater Toronto Area Realtors group. On the surface that looks like a big jump, but it partly reflects the sales mix.

In the latest period, there was a higher concentration of detached, single-family houses sold, which generally cost more than condominium units. In the year-ago period, sales of those higher-end homes had stalled, in part because of a new set of mortgage restrictions that effectively required bigger downpayments for homes that cost more than C$1 million.

The MLS Home Price Index Composite Benchmark, which levels out the housing mix, reveals a more modest, 5.7% price increase among like-for-like domiciles in Toronto. And while that’s strong, it’s not unreasonably so, says Robert Kavcic, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto.

In general, policymakers look for prices nationally to grow at or slightly below the rate of incomes, he said, which is currently about 4% across Canada.

So, while Toronto’s home prices are running slightly ahead of that rate, Vancouver’s are running well below.



http://blogs.wsj.com/canadarealtime/2013/12/04/canadas-big-housing-markets-avoid-autumn-chill/

Reports Show Canada Housing Market Worries Remain | Waccabuc Homes for Sale

After slowing for several months and then accelerating again, the trajectory of Canada’s housing market remains a subject of intense debate, with some warning that a sharp correction remains a risk.

Four reports released Tuesday offered different takes on Canada’s housing market, but the tone overall was one of worry about the possibility of an abrupt slowdown.

Reuters

A mortgage brokerage office on Danforth Avenue in Toronto.

Thanks to interest rates hovering around near-record lows, Canada’s housing market continues to show signs of frothy sales and prices despite concerns from policymakers about high household debt levels.

That home price growth has been “broad-based and rapid,” and has moved at a faster pace than what fundamental drivers would suggest, bond-rating firm Fitch Ratings said in a report.

Fitch sees Canada’s housing market as about 21% overvalued, with homes in British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario seen as being at risk of a significant price correction.

“With a high level of employment and individual net worth tied to the value of the housing stock, a housing downturn could have serious consequences for the overall economy in Canada,” said Stefan Hilts, director at Fitch.




http://blogs.wsj.com/canadarealtime/2013/11/19/reports-show-canada-housing-market-worries-remain/