Entries Categorized as 'RSS'

Tweet This: Twitter Co-Founder Evan Williams Lists SoMa Penthouse

Date October 1, 2009

A little birdie (Curbed SF) let it spill the old-fashioned way (blogging) that the sweet SoMa penthouse of Twitter co-founder Evan Williams is on the market for $1,498,000. Evan then followed up with his own tweet:

The penthouse at 6014th St, San Francisco, CA 94107 is described as a “Manhattan-style penthouse loft” in the historic Heublein [...]

Homes of Former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski on Market

Date October 1, 2009

This must be the year that prime real estate once owned by disgraced businessmen hits the market. We’re talking about former Tyco International CEO Dennis Kozlowski and Ponzi-schemer Bernie Madoff, who are both serving jail time for their acts of fraud and deceit.
Luxist reports that Kozlowski’s homes in Nantucket and Boca Raton are both [...]

New Refinance Break-Even Point and Savings Graph

Date October 1, 2009

Zillow Mortgage Marketplace recently launched a unique Break-Even Point graph on every loan quote borrowers receive from lenders.  This graph helps borrowers who want to refinance determine their “break-even” point, which is when they would start saving enough from a new loan to offset the costs of refinancing.

After anonymously submitting a refinance request, borrowers are presented with custom quotes from [...]

Michael Jordan Planning Mega-Mansion in Jupiter, FL

Date September 30, 2009

It looks like former NBA superstar Michael Jordan will put down some roots in Palm Beach County, Florida. Like, really, really deep roots with a home of nearly 38,000 square feet, 11 bedrooms, an elevator, a ginormous fireplace, grand stairway, cottage, and guard gate, according to Jose Lambiet of the Palm Beach Post.
Sir Air made [...]

Ira Rennert Mansion is Largest Home in the U.S.

Date September 30, 2009

Many complain that McMansions are unreasonably large for a single-family home, but McMansions have nothing on what is reportedly the largest home in the U.S.
Located in Sagaponack, NY, this massive waterfront compound was built on 63 acres. Construction began in 1998 and was completed in 2003, but not without an outcry from the local community, [...]

Is Our Daughter Considered a ‘First-Time Home Buyer?’

Date September 29, 2009

Reggie15 asks on Zillow Advice:
“Is our daughter considered a ‘first time home buyer’ for the purpose of the 8,000 tax credit?”

The worried parent continues:
“We purchased a condo six years ago and added our daughter’s name to the deed.  We paid cash for the condo - we paid the homeowners and the taxes, and she [...]

Mortgage Rates Trend Down

Date September 29, 2009

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed rates decreased slightly this week, with the weekly average rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 5.02%, down from 5.04% the week prior. For 15-year fixed mortgages, borrowers were quoted on average, 4.42% and for 5/1 ARMs, 3.94%.
This morning, the national rate for 30-year fixed purchase mortgages was [...]

Is Earthquake Insurance Worth It?

Date September 29, 2009

If you live in an earthquake prone area (yes, Seattle is one — that’s where Zillow is located), you probably wonder if earthquakes are covered under your insurance policy. Chances are, probably not.
So, this earthquake question in Zillow Advice is a good one:
Is it worthwhile to buy earthquake insurance?
Several insurance agents are chiming in such [...]

Pro Golfer Fred Couples Sells Montecito Home for $9.56 Million

Date September 29, 2009

While pro golfer Fred Couples didn’t get the asking price of $12.5 million for his Montecito home at 1144 E Mountain Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, he did make a nice profit from his original purchase price.
Couples bought the Colonial-style Montecito home for $4 million in 1999 and just recently sold it for $9.56 million [...]

Zillow COO Spencer Rascoff Discusses Next Wave of Foreclosures on Fox Business

Date September 28, 2009

Our own Spencer Rascoff appeared on Fox Business this morning to discuss the next wave of foreclosures lurking on the horizon and how this will impact any housing recovery.
Foreclosure resales already make up 20 percent of home sales nationwide (and in certain places like Central California, Florida and Arizona that number is much, much higher).  Another 1.4 [...]