Chelsea Handler revealed her biggest financial mistake was renovating her five-bedroom home into a two-bedroom to prevent family visits, which decreased its value and led to costly re-renovation. She now owns a luxurious property in Mandeville Canyon and advocates for investing in real estate as a stable financial strategy.
A property in Alameda, California, is on the market for $400,000, considered a bargain despite being underwater. The current owner bought it sight unseen for $100,000 at an auction, only to discover its submerged state. Realtors believe the location has potential for a luxurious home built on stilts, though it will require significant investment and special permits. The site offers peaceful waterfront views and could attract wealthy buyers from Silicon Valley.
Florida-based designer and builder Troy Ippolito is moving back into the house he grew up in, representing a trend of Americans expecting to inherit their parents’ homes. Stemming from a family legacy of builders, Ippolito is reimagining his childhood home into a 10,000 square foot dream home, prioritizing family values and long-term investment. He emphasizes the emotional attachment and value of maintaining and preserving family cultures and encourages others to evaluate and try to save their parents’ homes and the memories within.
California-based Realty Income Corp has agreed to acquire Dallas-based Spirit Realty Capital Inc. in a $9.3 billion all-stock deal. The combined real estate investment trusts will have an estimated value of $63 billion, expanding Realty Income's opportunities for growth. Spirit Realty owns over 2,000 properties nationwide, primarily retail stores and warehouses, while Realty Income owns more than 13,000 properties across the US and Europe. The merger is expected to create immediate earnings accretion and enhance the diversification of Realty Income's real estate portfolio. The transaction is set to close in early 2024.
Three property investors bought an abandoned high school near Pittsburgh for $100,000 and spent $3.3 million converting it into 31 luxury apartments. The renovation retained much of the school's original design, and it took 18 months to complete. The investors initially considered using the building for a recording studio or renting it out to sports teams, but ultimately decided on a residential complex. The building's size limited them to using only 20,000 square feet for the apartments.
Real estate experts warn that cracks in the foundation or walls, uneven floors, outdated or faulty electrical systems, poor insulation, leaks and water damage, and poor ventilation are red flags that a home may not be worth the investment. These issues can be costly to repair and may indicate fundamental, hard-to-solve problems that could drain a buyer's bank account. Prospective buyers should carefully consider a property's flaws before making a purchase.