CELEBRITY PADS featuring Kim Kardashian & Kanye West

Kim Kardashian reportedly purchased this house in Bel Air, California, with boyfriend Kanye West for nearly $11 million. It’s brand new and in “an über-private, gated community” where the monthly HOA fees alone are what a lot of people would consider mortgage payments ($933/month)! WOW!

                       

Less than two months after Kim and Kanye purchased the sprawling 10,000 square-foot  home in Bel Air, Calif., the parents-to-be have sold the villa for a hefty profit.



Kardashian, 32, and West, 35, have already flipped the $10.75 million mansion to an unnamed buyer for a million dollars more than they paid for it.



The pair wanted to gut the original design to accommodate a 14,000-square-foot Italian villa with its own movie theater, bowling alley, basketball court, and spa, but apparently, this ended up being more of a bother than it was worth!


They've managed to snag $11.75 million from an undisclosed buyer!


Guess it's not too big an issue when you're already on the look-out for new homes in Paris, New York, and Miami.



Either way this home is a beauty!

New CHEESECAKE FACTORY to open in Novi!

The Cheesecake Factory will open its first Michigan restaurant at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi later this year, Taubman Centers said today.

The Cheesecake Factory can be found in nearly three dozen states, but Twelve Oaks Mall will be the popular chain's first Michigan restaurant.

For years, real estate developers in Michigan tried to convince the restaurant chain to open in the state. The restaurant offers an extensive, full-service menu ranging from seafood to steaks along with, of course, a large dessert menu that includes more than two dozen cheesecake choices.
Bloomfield Hills-based Taubman Centers said the Cheesecake Factory will operate an 8,430-square-foot restaurant at Twelve Oaks that will accommodate approximately 225 guests and another 60 on the patio.

“Having grown up in Detroit and watched my parents start their cheesecake business here in the 1950s, opening a Cheesecake Factory at Twelve Oaks feels like a true homecoming,” David Overton, founder and CEO of the Cheesecake Factory said in a statement.

Founded in 1978, the Cheesecake Factory operates 177 restaurants in the U.S.

Creating a focal point that STANDS OUT!

Finding the Main Feature

Each room in your home likely has a natural focal point. It's the place where the eye first comes to rest when entering the room — making it one of the most important features for the well decorated home. 

It [focal point] could be a naturally beautiful piece such as a fireplace, a piano, or a tall, antique armoire — or even a spectacular window view. Or, as in many modern times, it's often the television.

The first step in creating a focal point is deciding what will attract the most attention. Sometimes, a room will have a distinguishing feature built right in that you can highlight, such as a great rug, a beautiful mirror, or a large coffee table. 

If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace in a room, then that will be the focal point. Try dressing up the fireplace by hanging a large mirror or a wall sculpture above the mantel. 


If your home has no distinguishable feature, then get ready to be creative! This is the perfect chance to explore your decorative side and create your own focal point. An elegant area rug instantly draws attention. You're sure to find a floor covering to suit your taste.

Decorating around Your New Focal Point

Once you've identified your focal point, arrange your furniture so that everyone sitting in the room can appreciate it. 

Larger seating pieces such as sofas or love seats should be placed in the room first because these are bolder room-shaping pieces. Adding smaller items such as a round-end table or a storage ottoman complement the larger furniture.

After your seating is in position, you can begin to bring in accessories, such as plants, artwork, shelves, and tables. All seating should have occasional tables close by for drinks and books. If your focal point is an eye-catching area rug, consider a glass-top table for optimum viewing.

Now that your comfortable seating and accompanying decor pieces are in place around your focal point, you're well on your way to an inviting living room.

Beyond the Living Room

Focal points in other rooms should be much easier to find than in the living room. For instance, in the dining room, it's usually the dining table. In the bedroom, it is the bed. Make sure that these items are beautifully adorned, perhaps with a striking table centerpiece,  a handsome headboard, or a richly patterned comforter set.

I'm not ready to buy a house...yet

There are so many advantages to owning your own home. Tax deductions, appreciation value, equity, borrowing power, and stability are just a few. Mortagage rates are also at all time lows and that saves you a bundle! But, owning a home is also a big responsiblity that everyone isn't quite ready for. Everyone's financial situation, goals, and lifestyle are unique.

"I'm running out of space in this apartment", "I don't have a yard for my children and pets to play in", "I would love to have a basement". Does any of this sound familiar? Just because you aren't ready to BUY a house yet, doesn't mean you can't LIVE in a house. You have options. You can LEASE a house.

There are many homeowners that explore leasing their homes instead of outright selling them. There are lease options in all neighborhoods, with homes of all sizes. How does leasing a house work?  Leases are generally written for a period of 1-3 years. You are usually responsible for all utilities.  Repairs and maintenance are subject to the terms of your lease. In most cases, first and last months rent is required as well as a security deposit.

Another option is Lease to Own. A lease-to-own house purchase (also "rent-to-own purchase" or "lease purchase") is a lease combined with an option to purchase the property within a specified period, usually 3 years or less, at an agreed-upon-price. The lease-purchase offers homeownership opportunities to consumers who can't qualify for a loan at that time. During the option period, they have the opportunity to rebuild their credit and accumulate savings while living in the house.

Working with a Realtor can be very beneficial when looking to lease a home. I can help you not only find a house, but also research the market, and understand the terms & conditions included in the lease.  You have questions? I have answers!

~Best,

Kandiss Ecton

Realtor

Dwellings Unlimited

248-875-5868

kandiss@dwellingsunlimited.com

Celebrity Pads featuring Rihanna

Rihanna, one of today's hottest pop stars, recently snagged an exquisite $12 million dollar estate in coveted Pacific Palisades, according to X17 Online.

The Barbados native cashed in on the 11,000 square-foot, seven bedroom, nine bathroom home in the midst of promoting her 7th studio album, Unapologetic.

The home, built in 2010, exudes a strong Caribbean influence.  Almost every room comes complete with walls opening to the backyard allowing for plenty of natural light and easy access to the pool and spa.

Very, very nice!

FREE MONEY available from state housing agency!

Buying a house is a big financial responsibility. But everyone likes FREE MONEY right? The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has set up a $15 million dollar fund for First-Time home buyers.

The program will make $3,000 available to first time home buyers, and $5,000 available to first time home buyers who are veterans, until the $15 million dollars is exhausted.  How AWESOME is that?!

To qualify you must:

• Be a first time home buyer

(defined as a person who has not owned a principal residence in 3 years prior to date of purchase)

• Finance with a qualifying lender

Visit the state's website below for the application and additional details

First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Program

This is fantastic news! But you must hurry before the funds are exhausted.  So now you just have to find a house! Call me so we can get started.

Kandiss Ecton

Realtor

Dwellings Unlimited

248-875-5868

kandiss@dwellingsunlimited.com

Exciting news for Downtown Detroit!

Downtown Detroit has received a new burst of energy!  Dan Gilbert, founder & chairman of Rock Ventures, has acquired 5 buildings in downtown Detroit. This adds to his portfolio of 10 purchased properties in the city. Plans for the past purchases include retail, offices, and multi-family.

How exciting is this news?!?! The fact that a major company, Quicken Loans, has moved it's headquarters to the city, and is acquiring properties gives hope.  The company itself has moved 7,000 workers downtown.

Not only will this bring many oppurtunites, but it also shows progression. Detroit is making strides to move in the right direction.

Now is a great time to purchase a property in Downtown Detroit. Love baseball? Think about how exciting it would be to have Comerica Park within walking distance. Want to catch a show? The Fox Theatre & The Detroit Opera House offer a wide array of performances year round.  There are also many cool bars and elegant restaurants like HockeyTown Cafe, Centaur, and Andiamo in the heart of downtown.  This can all be at your doorstep.

Now, let's talk incentives. It can literally PAY to live downtown! Partnering employers are offering financial incentives for their employees to live where they work. Live Downtown is a residential program to entice you to live and invest in a downtown home.

There are so many exciting opportunities available.  I can help you make the move. Let's talk real soon.

Kandiss Ecton
Realtor
248-875-5868