Gene Simmons

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Co-founder, bassist, and ‘The Demon” of legendary rock band Kiss has been a longtime superstar and resident of Beverly Hills, California. In 1986, Simmons and his wife, Shannon Tweed, purchased a Beverly Hills abode for $1.34 million. For more than three decades, the property has been home to him and his family as the primary setting for seven seasons of his A&E reality series, “Gene Simmons Family Jewels.”

The once two-acre estate boasted a 3,500 square foot farmhouse which Simmons renovated into an impressive 13,400 square foot mansion for about $12 million. However, the iconic musician decided to bid farewell to his custom-built home in October of last year when the property was listed at $22 million. The home, however, went unsold and was taken off the market before being relisted in March for $25 million. By mid-May, the price had been reduced to $20 million. Now, the property has finally been sold for a $16 million as Simmons claimed he would like “a quieter lifestyle” while planning to relocate to Lake Tahoe.

Down a long winding pathway, the Beverly Hills home rests beyond gated walls and opens to a dramatic entry with sweeping staircases. The palatial space with a two-story foyer and great room with catwalk includes seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Two of the rooms have previously encapsulated a Kiss inspired theme but have since been stripped of memorabilia after being listed on the market. Stepping outside, the exterior space offers luxe amenities. The front yard presents a tennis court while the backyard boasts a swimming pool and lush lawn surrounded by patios.

Josh and Matt Altman of Douglas Elliman California represented both ends of this deal.

The post Kiss Goodbye: Gene Simmons Bids Farewell To Longtime Beverly Hills Mansion appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Taylor Hackford and Helen Mirren

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The lavish Hollywood Hills estate dates back to 1908 and reportedly completed construction in 1911. Since its completion, the newly listed estate has been owned exclusively by Hollywood dignitaries. The first owner was American singer and movie star Dustin Farnum of “Squaw Man,” one of Hollywood’s first feature films. The home’s second owner was journalist, columnist, and film producer Mark Hellinger who inspired "The Roaring Twenties" with James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. Following was successful actress and producer Gail Patrick of “My Man Godfrey.”

In the 1980s, Mirren and Hackford purchased the esteemed property and have since renovated the home while maintaining its original aesthetics and charm. Now, the celebrity couple reportedly resides on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe and are bidding farewell to their illustrious Hollywood Hills home after more than 30 years of residence. The hillside compound presents an asking price of $18.5 million and is also available for lease at $45,000 per month.

As the second largest available property in the Hollywood Hills, Mirren and Hackford’s former estate spans a whopping 6.5 acres of picturesque land with 10,200 square feet of living space. The property runs from La Brea Terrace into Runyon Canyon and consists of multiple structures: a five-bedroom main home, three-bedroom guesthouse, and apartment atop a five-car garage. At the end of a winding private driveway, the primary residence presents a white stucco exterior with a vibrant red front door and blue shutters. Entering the home, the step-up foyer highlights a dazzling chandelier and leads to the spacious living room lined with French doors. The interior layout also includes a spacious kitchen with floor to ceiling brick fireplace, lounge with bar, and wood-paneled library. Throughout the residence, decks and balconies overlook the lush grounds and bustling cityscape for an indoor-outdoor flow. Stepping outside, the exterior space offers a terrace perfect for entertaining and a swimming pool set amid the gorgeous Californian hills and palm trees.

The listing for this property is held by Joyce Rey and Stephen Apelian of Coldwell Banker Realty.

The post Historic Hollywood Hills: Helen Mirren And Taylor Hackford List $18.5 Million Estate appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

What is your favorite way to network with other professionals in the real estate industry?

Alex Min, Lake Tahoe, NV: "In-person and live. Visiting the various affiliate offices has been one of my primary tools."

Bento Queiroz of The Bento Queiroz Group, Southwest Ranches/Weston, FL: "In the business field"

Brian Pearl of the Pearl Antonacci Group, "Currently, social media, group Zoom calls and virtual happy hours."

Clara Hartree, West Vancouver, British Columbia: "Phone calls."

Claudia Llanes, Edgewater, FL: "I like attending open houses and conferences such as the Power Women Conference held every year by Biznow."

Dante DiSabato, Naples, FL: "Golf events or other charity events that are going on."

David Welles, Wellington, FL: "During COVID, the use of Zoom calls with my associates from around the country has helped establish new and lasting relationships that will lead to new business opportunities."

Debra Johnston, Atlanta, GA: "Social Media, particularly Instagram."

Doug Labor, Steamboat Springs, CO: "From email and online forums to picking up the phone, there are many ways to network. My favorite way is the forums. They offer a variety of topics and allow many brokers from different perspectives to give their insight and opinions."

Elisa Linton, Humble/Kingwood (Houston metro area), TX: "Virtual Events are more common. In-person events in small groups where social distances are practiced"

Elliot Bogod of Broadway Realty, Upper West Side, New York City, NY: "Zoom and webinars is a new way of life. LinkedIn is offering ways to connect with like-minded real estate professionals as well as LinkedIn groups. We started our Broadway Realty group that increased to over 700 professionals in a couple of weeks."

Ernie Carswell, West Hollywood, CA: "Price opinion invites to properties preparing to hit [the] market."

Frank D. Isoldi, Westfield, NJ: "I love the exclusive networking that Haute Residence offers to its members. It’s always refreshing to brainstorm with like-minded agents."

Jennifer Brilliant, Surfside, FL: "We don't have meetings and events in person as much anymore, so I rely heavily on email and calls with other realtors to discuss new listings, etc."

Jochen Lucke, Highlands, NC: "LeadingRE, Inman conference, one-on-one with brokers in target markets."

Karen Kenyon, Vancouver Island, British Columbia: "Private Facebook groups."

Kathleen Floryan, Jacksonville, FL: "IdealEstate, LinkedIn, various Facebook groups, Virtual Meetings, and one on one phone calls."

KC Martin, Paris, France: "While there are many online tools currently available in the market, personal contact is still the best way to build and maintain personal and professional relationships. Reaching out via phone, Zoom, or occasionally socially distanced meetings proves still that real estate is a people business built on real relationships."

Kelly Ringer-Radetich, Redwood City, CA: "In person, but with Covid, Zoom will have to do, or phone calls.."

Krista Richman, Fort Lauderdale, FL: "Project events are an excellent way to learn about the project itself and meet new faces in the industry."

Leslie S. Modell of the Leslie S. Modell Team, Midtown East, New York City, NY: "During this period where we can't get together socially, we get on Zoom panels together, team meetings, phone calls, and send out e-blasts."

Mark Salmon,  South Tahoe, CA: "Professional social media sites."

Nilou Henderson of Henderson Ventures, Charlotte, NC: "Social media. Due to the current climate, I am utilizing social media to network with fellow agents, our community, and our clients."

Roberta Ingletto of RGI Realty, South Miami/Pinecrest, FL: "Smaller events/meetings more on a personal level."

Ryan Knowles, Bahamas: "Instagram."

Sandra Fiorenza, Miami Beach, FL: "Lunches and events."

Scott Goshorn, Brentwood, CA: "Events and masterminds."

Tim Fenton of Blue Zone Realty International, Costa Rica: "I prefer to communicate in live time, either on zoom or on the phone. So much emotion is lost in text or email."

For more, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post How To Network In The Real Estate Industry appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

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Read below for how they see their areas' price activity in real estate.

Alex Min, Lake Tahoe, NV: "Up 30% at a minimum in the last six months."

Alison Melton of The Melton Group, Hilton Head Island/Bluffton, SC: "On average, we are +30% from last year and sales volume is +64% for residential homes."

Bento Queiroz of The Bento Queiroz Group, Southwest Ranches/Weston, FL: "Inventory is shrinking and therefore prices are steadily increasing."

Brian Pearl of the Pearl Antonacci Group, "Median list prices in Boca Raton are up 34.7% from last year in single-family homes."

Catherine Burgess of The Burgess Group, Boulder, CO: "Our area has appreciated substantially since last year."

Clara Hartree, West Vancouver, British Columbia: "[On] average, 10% [up]."

Claudia Llanes, Edgewater, FL: "Prices have increased due to the low single-family home inventory that's currently available."

Dante DiSabato, Naples, FL: "Prices are slightly increased but not as much as you think they would [have]. There is just a lack of inventory and prices will rise here shortly."

David Welles, Wellington, FL: "Prices are up approximately 10-12%."

Debra Johnston, Atlanta, GA: "Going up and continue, estimated 5%."

Doug Labor, Steamboat Springs, CO: "Residential prices in the Steamboat Springs area are up an average of 11% from last year."

Elisa Linton, Humble/Kingwood (Houston metro area), TX: "Increased."

Elliot Bogod of Broadway Realty, Upper West Side, New York City, NY: "Manhattan is the only area not increase will be remembered as years of opportunity in residential real estate. Prices are expected to stabilize before the end of the year and increase after the pandemic is over."

Ernie Carswell, West Hollywood, CA: "Prices are generally up 5-7% for properties under $6 million."

Frank D. Isoldi, Westfield, NJ: "Our market has 1/3 the inventory that we had last year, which is driving our average sales price up across the board."

Jennifer Brilliant, Surfside, FL: "Prices for houses are higher this year. Prices for condos are about the same."

Karen Kenyon, Vancouver Island, British Columbia: "Significantly higher and still trending upwards due to low inventory."

Kathleen Floryan, Jacksonville, FL: "Up."

KC Martin, Paris, France: "Prices are generally holding or up, depending on the area. Buyers are looking to make moves in real estate now with interest rates low, Covid uncertainty, and looking to diversify their investment portfolios, which includes real property."

Kelly Ringer-Radetich, Redwood City, CA: "We have seen prices, in some areas, climb, and in other areas [stay] steady."

Krista Richman, Fort Lauderdale, FL: "Prices are going up, inventory is going down!"

Laura Livaudais, Asheville/Western North Carolina: "Simply put - the prices are higher. The average list price ($397,829) was 20% higher while the average sales price ($390,696) was 23% higher. You can readily see from those prices that Asheville maintains its status as “recognizably affordable.”

Mark Salmon,  South Tahoe, CA: "50% higher."

Nilou Henderson of Henderson Ventures, Charlotte, NC: "Steadily increasing. Some areas have seen an increase of almost 20% in the last year. I expect the increases to remain as inventory remains low."

Leslie S. Modell of the Leslie S. Modell Team, Midtown East, New York City, NY: "The prices I would say, on the luxury side (over $3 million), are off about 10-20%."

Roberta Ingletto of RGI Realty, South Miami/Pinecrest, FL: "Maybe 20% higher. It's crazy how demand has gone up - first homes, now condo sales are picking up as well."

Ryan Knowles, Bahamas: "Similar [to last year]."

Sandra Fiorenza, Miami Beach, FL: "Home prices have increased by 30%. The number of listings has decreased by 50% and inventory is very small."

Scott Goshorn, Brentwood, CA: "Up. However, the market was on fire about this time last year... then Covid threw a bucket of cold water on it."

Tim Fenton of Blue Zone Realty International, Costa Rica: "Prices are up approximately 11%."

For more, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Real Estate Prices Are Up In U.S. Markets And Abroad appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Here are seven reasons why leaving it to the pros far outweighs doing a "For sale by owner" real estate transaction, featuring members of the exclusive Haute Residence Network of top real estate professionals.

Online Marketing

"Statistics show that real estate brokers are selling for 32% more. And it is not that homeowners who sell their homes themselves sell them for less money, it is that homeowners who sell less expensive homes, mobile homes, and condos in rural areas are more likely to choose to sell their homes themselves. In NYC, the majority of homeowners are far better off using a real estate broker to help them sell their homes and to get the best price. Brokers have various tools and staging ways to market property online and to bring maximum exposure to a listing. In today’s market, the buyer makes the decision to buy before visiting a property and the broker is the one who makes that magic of online marketing." - Elliot Bogod, Upper West Side, New York City, NY.

The Right Pricing

"Working with an agent gives homeowners the advantage of intelligent pricing, negotiation skills, and broader exposure to sell their home quicker and for more money."  - Nilou Henderson, Charlotte, NC.

Negotiation

"A good real estate agent will get you top dollar for your home through skilled negotiation and with the maximum exposure in marketing the home." - Georgina Jacobson, Newport Beach, CA.

Knowledge of the Market

"Hiring a real estate broker gives you a professional partner who possesses unrivaled market expertise that can help you achieve top dollar for your home." - Jenny Lenz, Upper East Side, New York City, NY.

Homeowners Can Be Their Own Obstacle

"It's hard for sellers to represent themselves, especially to prospective buyers, simply because they cannot remove themselves, or their emotions, from the potential deal.  As a party to the contract, emotions can run high, which can complicate any deal, especially when working on something so personal." - Alex Min, Lake Tahoe, NV.

Its Importance Cannot Be Overstated

"Selling your home will likely be one of the biggest transactions of your life. Real estate agents get broader exposure for your property, negotiate a better deal, and are experts at managing expectations." - Kathryn Shafer, Beverly Hills P.O., CA.

The Many Details a Real Estate Sale Includes

"People are emotional and overvalue their homes.  A local Realtor® helps you price it right, market, negotiate, and maximize results." - Curtis J. Wright, Essex and Morris counties, NJ.

For more articles featuring the top real estate agents in luxury markets, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Seven Reasons Why “For Sale By Owner” Is Not A Good Idea… Have A Professional Do It! appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Alex Min presents

Unique opportunity with many allowable uses. Zoned light industrial, you can mix living space, office space, warehouse space, configure it to suit your unique needs! 2 story building, ready to break ground, with 1927 sq. ft. on the street level that can be used as industrial or commercial space, and 1722 sq. ft. on the upper floor set up as a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, and large living room/3rd bedroom living space, with parking and storage space as well. Excellent location, blocks to Lake Tahoe and next to trail system!

Address: 620 Bear Street, Kings Beach, CA 96143

Price: $1,850,000

For more information, please contact Alex Min at 530-320-7232 or alex@homesatlaketahoe.com

Alex Min is the exclusive agent representing the Lake Tahoe, CA real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

Photo Credit: Scott Thompson, Vista Visuals Estates Photo Credit: Scott Thompson, Vista Visuals Estates Photo Credit: Scott Thompson, Vista Visuals Estates Photo Credit: Scott Thompson, Vista Visuals Estates

The post Alex Min Presents A Unique Opportunity In Kings Beach appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

I  hope this message finds you well and you are enjoying the tail end of summer. As we rapidly move into fall, I want to start with my sincere gratitude to all the firefighters and first responders on the front lines of these fires throughout California. 2020 has been a year that will never be forgotten in our minds and hearts. It's been filled with challenges which have made us rethink our lives, who's most important, and how we can create a life more balanced. All of these fears and challenges have been brought to the surface to witness our humanness, the stratification within our society, and for many, the imbalance in our lives.

Photo Credit: Kurt & Candace Williams at Photo Tecture

The Tahoe real estate market has been a direct reflection of these ideas this year. The market has broken historic sale records. The entry-level market has been wiped out with low-interest rates, competitively low inventory, and first and second home buyers seeking to have a place to come, now that many of their jobs have a "work from home" mandate due to COVID. The entry-level Luxury market has been highly competitive with multiple offers on many of the new listings and a 23% increase in square foot price in just three months. The Upper luxury market has been fluid and strong.

Homes that have been sitting on the market for over 180 days have now been purchased at near asking price and inventory of these homes are at a historic low. Luxury neighborhoods like Martis Camp have moved their entry-level inventory from $4M in 2019 to $5.5M currently. Lakefront sales are no different, there have been several sales above $20 million with the highest being $38 Million sold over on the east shore. For a more detailed explanation of the micro markets around Lake Tahoe, California or Nevada, feel free to call me directly on my cell phone or contact us at our website.

Photo Credit: Kurt & Candace Williams at Photo Tecture

For our Buyers - It's worth spending the time and figuring out where and what you're looking for, and be perched and ready to offer quickly as inventory is not sitting long and there is a ton of pent up demand.

For our Sellers - In my 17 years of selling real estate in Lake Tahoe, I have never seen a better time to sell your estate or property. Seller's should expect very thorough inspections, short contingency periods and a quicker than normal close.

It's my hope moving into the fall, that we can forge ahead and ride the remaining portion of this year with style, grace, and collaboration. We have included several links below to donate to fire victims and firefighters. Thank you all for rising to the challenge

of this year. "We welcome the opportunity to help you or someone you love". Thanks for reading and enjoy.

Kind Regards,

David Gemme

For more information, please contact David Gemme at (530) 277-8881 or david@gemmegroup.com

David Gemme is the exclusive agent representing the Carnelian Bay / Squaw Valley / Truckee / West Shore / Schaffer's Mill / Martis Camp / Lahontan / Tahoe City, CA real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

Photo Credit: Kurt & Candace Williams at Photo Tecture

The post Tahoe Real Estate Market, A Message From Expert David Gemme appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The webinar was hosted by Haute Living's Erik Haase. If you missed the live viewing or would like to see it again, watch the recording below.

Top left: Dana Bambace; Bottom left: Ernie Carswell; Middle: Shelton Wilder; Top right: David Gemme; Bottom right: Ben Bacal

Here are the upcoming Haute Residence live webinars:

Friday, April 17th at 2PM EST will feature an international panel. From Los Angeles to Aspen to Paris, Haute Residence hosts a live webinar with four of the top Coldwell Banker real estate agents worldwide: Joyce Rey, Cyd Greer, Carrie Wells, and Laurent Demeure. REGISTER HERE.

On Monday, April 20th at 2PM EST, two of New York City's biggest names in real estate, Adam Modlin and Richard Steinberg, will be together in an exclusive webinar. REGISTER HERE.

See the video of today's webinar above. About today's panelists:

Ben Bacal: Record-breaking agent in LA with over $2 billion in sales, among The Wall Street Journal’s Top 100 Agents in the US

Ernie Carswell: More than $1 billion in sales, over 2 decades among The Wall Street Journal’s Top 100 Agents in the US

Shelton Wilder: Award-winning real estate agent in Santa Monica, and recipient of the 2018 Douglas Elliman Gold Award.

Dana Bambace: Dominant leader in Carmel/Pebble Beach market, with 25 transactions in 2019.

David Gemme: Among Lake Tahoe’s top brokers, with over 22 years of experience with more than $500 million in career sales.

Highlight quotes from today's webinar:

Ben Bacal: "The homes that are reduced in price are getting offers. There's action out there. It's an opportunity for buyers to get in."

Ernie Carswell: "It's a great time to buy. It's a definite time to sell if you can." 

Shelton Wilder: "We have been telling buyers to get ready, going over all of the steps to have an offer ready to go."

Dana Bambace: "We are really stepping up to apply new techniques. For the sellers that are considering (coming into the market), we encourage them to list and get exposure before the bulk (of supply) comes on."

David Gemme: "If you provide valuable information, clients can make a conscious decision on what's right for them."

Watch other Haute Residence webinars about the latest on the real estate market in national and international markets at dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post California Real Estate Expert Panel Talks About Industry During Quarantine In Live Webinar By Haute Residence appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Address: 1354 Winding Way, Glenbrook, NV 89413

Price: $2,100,000

For more information, please contact Fawne Hayes at (530) 416-2272 or fhayes@chaseinternational.com

Fawne Hayes is the exclusive agent representing the Lake Tahoe real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

Photos courtesy of Fawne Hayes 

The post Nevada Home With Lake Tahoe Views appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Some people work and strive their whole lives hoping to acquire their lakefront getaway. They are enraptured by the slowness of time spent on the lake, the shimmering water, the cool, inviting breezes that form a sense of peaceful balance.

The writer Wallace Stevens once said, "Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake."

These lake house properties offer the tranquility of nature while not sacrificing an ounce of modern luxury.

Bill Gates' Medina Lake House Mansion

The Microsoft co-founder's $82.2 billion net worth could afford him the ability to build anywhere. For his extravagant "Xanadu 2.o" Bill Gates chose a parcel on the edge of Lake Washington in Medina.

This is Gates dream house, and a quote from the Great Gatsby covering the library's ceiling confirms that fact. It reads, "He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it." The library also contains Leonardo da Vinci's actual 16th-century notebook Gates purchased in 1994 for 30.8 million.

The estate is built into its natural surroundings making it 'earth-sheltered.' This decreases the environmental impact by making the home more energy efficient.

As anyone would expect from a giant in the tech industry, all 66,000 square feet are loaded with technological innovation. Wall art can be switched out digitally as its displayed on 80,000 worth of LCD monitors.

GPS tracking pins are given to each guest, enabling them to change the temperature, lighting, and music anywhere in the house with the push of a button. Electrical outlets, phone jacks, and servers are hidden inside walls for a sleek seamless look throughout.

There is also a famous "trampoline room" which only select guests get to enjoy, but it's rumored to be part of a 2,500 square foot fitness facility that also includes a sauna, steam room, and separate men's and women's locker rooms.

Those wishing to take a swim, have a 60-foot pool with its own underwater music system located in a separate building on the property. By swimming underneath a glass wall, someone in the water can surface near a terraced area nearby.

The residence took over seven years to complete and cost over 63 million. Like the fictional Charles Foster Kane, Bill Gates is living in a real-life Xanadu–a mega-mansion of enviable proportions.

A Lake House Jewel on Lake Tahoe

Located on over 5 acres and taking up two prime lakefront parcels, this jaw-dropping 75 million dollar residence is a harmonious blend of creativity, ingenuity, and luxury.

A private gated drive leads up to an entry pavilion. The residence has an attached guest house and the estate also includes a beach house with its terraced lakeside beach.

Surrounded by private forest land, this eight bedroom, ten bathroom estate offers every imaginable comfort during the day or at night. There are manicured gardens, a 4-car garage, 13 fireplaces, two funiculars to lift guests from the lake to the house, a 10-seat theatre, and a 1,687 bottle wine cellar.

Lake Tahoe is America's largest alpine lake. Located on the border of Nevada and California, this setting has it all. No wonder Mark Twain called it, "the fairest picture the whole world affords.”

George Clooney's Italian Lake House

Clooney put Lake Como on the map for Americans when he moved into a charming eighteenth-century villa on the exclusive Italian lake in 2002. However, if he hadn't gotten lost on his motorcycle in the lakeside area of Laglio in 2001 and discovered the beauty of the place, Lake Como may never have gotten its most famous resident.

The Clooney's spend the summer at the lake, and Clooney even allowed part of Oceans Twelve to be filmed here. George and his wife, Amal, enjoyed an intimate dinner at a Lake Como restaurant just three weeks ago. Clooney is staying at his villa while he recovers from a recent motorcycle accident.

Lake House Luxury in the Carolinas

His Airness, Michael Jordan, plus a bevvy of NASCAR stars all call Lake Norman home. Located due North of the banking city of Charlotte, Lake Norman boasts some grand estates on one of the most beautiful lakes in the South.

Lake Lure, best known as the lake where Patrick Swayze lifted Jennifer Grey out of the water in the '80's romance, Dirty Dancing is another majestic lake offering pristine views from stunning luxury properties.

Some of the world's most desirable homes are lake houses. With plenty of party space, ample boating and fishing areas, and the natural buffer of miles of clean, clear water–it's easy to see why so many wealthy residents are choosing to spend so much time at the lake.

The post Luxury At The Lake House appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

You would think that the type of cyclist that could achieve world-champion status would have to be an absolute machine of a person–eschewing all social gatherings and devoid of fun.

Enter Peter Sagan, holder of three consecutive world championships plus numerous other wins and titles who is also, quite possibly, the most fun guy on two wheels.

It's not uncommon to see Sagan pop a wheelie mid-race. A move he pulled on Mt. Baldy in the Tour of California (A grand tour he won outright in 2015). In the offseason of 2016, Sagan and his wife, Katarína Smolková, recorded an elaborate Grease tribute video complete with lip synching and costume replicas of what Olivia Newton-John and Travolta wore in the 1978 movie.

"I don't like thinking about the things I do. I just want to have fun," Sagan once said in a post-race interview. His skills on the bike and personality off it, have made the Slovakian a European superstar. Even his rivals think he is "cool," "talented," and "impressive." With his lion's mane of laid-back surfer hair, he can't even go to the supermarket without being mobbed. It's a pretty big change for a guy who grew up in Slovakia–a tiny country about the size of the state of Tennessee.

from Peter Sagan's twitter @petosagan

So where should a wealthy and charismatic champion cyclist, known for his skills and antics, live with his wife and one-year-old baby Marlon? In Monaco, a place where he can blend in with other prominent people and get some peace.

Three years ago, Sagan spent $7 million on a luxury four-bedroom apartment overlooking the Mediterranean. Surrounded by mature palms that give it a beach-y vibe, the complex has 24-hour doormen, housekeepers, and gardeners in constant rotation, but the best feature is the  Helitransport. If Sagan wants to be on a flight to anywhere in the world, he can order a helicopter to pick him up on the roof of his building and fly him in 10 minutes to a waiting plane at the Nice airport.

It's probably comforting to Sagan and his wife that little Marlon will be safe here. Monaco has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe and more police per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

The Monaco climate and topography are also conducive to an outdoor athlete. "It's a good life in Monaco, I can cycle and ski pretty much in one day," Sagan says. Ironically, the only thing he's not allowed to do is ride his bike in the building. That's a small concession to make to live in a place populated by race car drivers, tycoons, and royalty. Princess Stephanie is one of Sagan's neighbors. Her apartment with its private pool is nearby.

As long as Peter Sagan spends six months out of the year living in Monaco, he can enjoy his residence and all its amenities tax-free.

However, staying there for any length of time has been a challenge. In addition to Sagan's grueling global cycling schedule, which has him jetting all over the world, he keeps a family home in Slovakia for holidays. Sagan also likes coming to America. He does altitude training at Lake Tahoe and purchased a grey 1,000-horsepower Dodge Charger that European emission laws won't let him take out of the United States.

Sagan is a man on the move–whether he's emerging at the front of the peloton to win a bunch sprint, making a film for sponsors stateside, or training on the edge of a high mountain for the start of the Tour de France in three weeks, he won't be anywhere for long.

from Kate Sagan's Blog

When racing is over for the season, it must be nice for Sagan to return to Monaco's sunny spotless streets, pull into his guarded underground garage (where cameras can't catch him) and take an elevator up to his apartment to join his wife and son on the balcony looking out onto the azure water. It's the type of royal entrance befitting the current king of cycling.

The post Why Peter Sagan, The World’s Greatest Cyclist, Chose To Live In Monaco appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The second guest bedroom is huge with two twin trundle beds and a Murphy bed. There is a small deck through a sliding glass doors with a view of Lake Tahoe.

Heading up the stairs you will find the beautiful kitchen that is well equipped for your cooking needs. The dining room and living room are next to the kitchen area. There is a dining table that will seat 6 people. The living room is comfortable with a wood burning fireplace in a rock surround not to mention the views of the lake that can be seen from the deck off of the living room area.

The master bedroom is located off the kitchen, it has a king size bed and its own full bathroom. The maximum occupancy on this unit is 8 people. The development is close to all that Tahoe City has to offer. Rocky Ridge is a gated community of 60 acres surrounded by State Forest Land, where you can enjoy nature on one of the many hiking or mountain biking trails just steps away.

Amenities include 2 swimming pools, 2 spas (one of which is open all winter long), tennis, basketball, playground, Bocce Ball court and a private beach with pier, buoys, BBQ facilities, clubhouse and volleyball court. Every vacation condo rental offers vaulted mountain-style ceilings, beautiful rock fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens, all set in an open two-story floor plan.

Address: 1877 N Lake Blvd #49, Tahoe City, CA 96145

Price: $950,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

View the listing here.

For more information, contact Trinkie Watson at 530-582-0722 or twatson@chaseinternational.com.

Trinkie Watson is the exclusive agent representing the, Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada, real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

Images courtesy of Trinkie Watson

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An intriguing home, it was designed and built to suit by the owner/architect/contractor Rich Loverde in 1986 for his own family’s mountain retreat. It is truly a one-of-a-kind, unique design and is reminiscent of a New England covered bridge.

Visually and structurally amazing, the two sides of trusses that span 80 feet, one story high, are supported by six three-foot diameter concrete columns and one shear wall.

The length of the south side has skylights over the interior of the home and adjacent green house, providing a passive solar system. Seasonal chill is a non-factor with the forced air heat system. This system is augmented with a return air intake that moves the passive-solar warm air though the home.

Approximately 4000 sq. ft., the house contains a gracious main floor entry made from Pluto stone from the Blackwood Canyon. Features include 100+ year old doors from a grandmother’s San Francisco home, cherry and oak wood flooring, stone, tile and carpet.

The kitchen is well-equipped to serve many with plenty of textured slab-granite counter space, a pantry, gas range, newer double convection ovens and refrigerator/freezer.

Combined dining/family room offers access to the covered outdoor spa, open terrace for relaxing, BBQ and ample space for enjoying the natural scenery.

The living room boasts history and charm with the 100+ year old fireplace from Chambers Landing Lodge. Powder and laundry room accompany on this main level.

Up the staircase to the second floor are the master suite, grand office, guest room and bath with steam shower. The third floor boasts large bedrooms and can also accommodate a third full bath should that be a need.

Welcome the outdoors-in with several large windows/doors that open wide for plentiful light and air circulation. Most furnishings are included.

Should the new owner of this property want additional accommodation and garage access, the adjacent property with cabin is available.  Start your Tahoe Legacy today for a gathering place for generations to come!

Address: 405 Ellis Road, West Shore, Lake Tahoe

Price: $1,875,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.4

View the listing here. 

For more information, contact Trinkie Watson at 530-582-0722 or twatson@chaseinternational.com.

Trinkie Watson is the exclusive agent representing the, Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada, real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

Images courtesy of Trinkie Watson 

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From a private estate to a private school, the property was ultimately developed into 22 homes in the early 1980s, maintaining the architecture of "Old Tahoe" charm and ambiance. The original Yacht Club serves as the compound's club house with kitchen, wet bar, and 22 individual lockers. It was featured in Francis Ford Coppola's classic film, The Godfather II.

Containing the most fabulous private harbor on the lake, Fleur du Lac offers each home a private boat slip. Owners also enjoy 1000 feet of shoreline and a pier with lighthouse. The main club house comes with a guest suite for owner reservation, a small boat house, pool, spa, gym, bocce ball court, two tennis courts, concierge services and onsite office.

This stunning home offers lake front living and amenities in a gated setting. The open-floor plan with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout boasts views from all angles. A grand chef's inspired kitchen (two dishwashers and a six-burner gas stove with griddle) with a full lake view opens to the lakeside dining area and spacious great room.

Truly an entertainer's and boater's dream! An owner's suite flaunts a fireplace and sitting area, as well as a spa style bathroom. The property also has three guest en-suites and a gym room, a media room, fully-equipped wet bar, and over 4200 sq. ft.

Providing luxury accommodation for many guests, it is located on Lake Tahoe's popular West Shore. The home is close to Homewood Ski Resort, the West Shore Cafe and Swiss lakewood Restaurant, as well as to world class skiing, shopping and dining.

Address: 4000 W Lake Blvd, Unit 17, Homewood, CA 96141

Price: $5,300,000

View the listing here. 

For more information, contact Trinkie Watson at 530-582-0722 or twatson@chaseinternational.com.

Trinkie Watson is the exclusive agent representing the, Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada, real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

Images courtesy of Trinkie Watson 

The post Fleur Du Lac Residence With Unmatched Vistas And Enviable History appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Gated for privacy, the level grounds with lawn and stately cedar trees lead to 100' of breathtaking shoreline on Lake Tahoe, four buoys and a pier that is shared with the neighbor. Enjoy warm summer days on the water and long summer nights by the lakeside stone gas firepit.

Bark-sided railings lead up a stairway and into the home's entryway from the front yard. From the foyer, the main floor is revealed. A quaint office with media leads to the lakeview dining area, bringing the outdoors in with 20 ft.-wide folding glass doors opening to a spacious lakeside deck, wonderful for entertaining or just enjoying the lake's tranquility.

The open kitchen was created for the culinary artist. The large living room is dominated at its northern end by the granite boulder fireplace hung with a stately moose head (not shot by the owner). Intimate sitting areas dot the room, allowing a large number of people to gather while maintaining spaces for private conversation.

A well thought-out floor plan allows the upper floor for seclusion. The master bedroom opens via French doors to a small deck with space for two chairs and a fantastic lake view. In the bedroom, a small reading nook surrounds a fireplace. The master bath has a solid stone bathtub and unique double-doors that, when opened, disappear into the walls.

Downstairs offers a huge recreation room with pewter-covered bar, ​a 2-way fireplace into the library/reading room and a sauna nearby. A Sherlock Holmes-style bookcase functioning as a hidden door, opens to reveal a small corking room and wine storage. There are four adjoining lake view bedroom suites as well.  Between this flex room and the garage is a mudroom with plenty of cabinets and storage space. Above the garage is the caretaker 's or guest unit, complete with bedroom, living area, kitchen and bath.

Granite plays a large part in grounding this home's exterior and landscaping, giving it a sense of permanence. Interior design and furnishings by Michael McCollough of Newport Beach add to the enticing elements created to satisfy a connoisseur's quest. Throughout, this home's design and construction were intended to have a timeless, durable elegance, enough to last many generations. What else would you want in a legacy home?

Address: 5020 W Lake Blvd, Homewood, California 96141

Price: $19,950,000

Bedrooms: 6

Bathrooms: 6.5

View the listing here. 

For more information, contact Trinkie Watson at 530-582-0722 or twatson@chaseinternational.com.

Trinkie Watson is the exclusive agent representing the, Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada, real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

Images courtesy of Trinkie Watson

The post Legacy Lake Tahoe Home with Timeless Ambiance appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The grand family compound features a variety of guest houses and sheds, including a 5,111-square-foot barn that was built in 1873 and later furnished with a kitchen and a wine room. The upgraded barn once hosted former President George W. Bush, who commented, “They don’t make barns like this in Texas.”

Bush was not the sole renowned person to set foot on the property, though. As part of its annual “rootin’ tootin” rodeo, held in support of research for degenerative brain disorders, the estate’s long-time owners Larry and Camille Ruvo have welcomed celebrities in the likes of the late comedian Robin Williams, in addition to Lionel Richie, Kenny Loggins, and Jay Leno.

The Shakespeare Ranch, which takes its name after a nearby rock formation that locals believe resembles the English bard,  boasts a lakefront house and seven guest houses that make up for 15 bedrooms and 16 full bathrooms. It also includes an indoor pool, a freestanding office, animal enclosures, horse stables, and vegetable gardens.

Architect Marc Appleton, who designed many of the existing constructions on the estate, has also drawn the layout for a new main house that fits in the property’s overall clapboard and shingle style.

The Shakespeare Ranch was first listed in 2015 for a little under $100 million. Since then, the owners have pared down the sale from six to four parcels, in order to lower the cost and expand their pool of potential buyers. The two removed plots, one of which has a lake frontage, however, can still be purchased.

Located off Glenbrook Road in the Lake Tahoe region, Shakespeare Ranch is listed by Christie’s International Real Estate.

Images courtesy of Christie's International Real Estate

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Positioning on the lake includes a ‘sand box’ and space for chairs along the water where a sandy bottom invites wading and ball tossing for Fido. Along with a bocce ball court, the updated pier has a 6,000# lift, articulating section and composite decking, and there are two buoys. Lake water is imported for landscape use. The spacious lakeside deck off the living room offers outdoor living all summer, and the two guesthouse bedroom suites have their own lakeside deck for private viewing and enjoyment.

Park your car in the two‐car garage and walk down covered steps to the first lawn and short walk to the main house, built in 1967. A lakeview living room with beautiful rock fireplace, window seat and high ceilings greets.

The adjoining updated country kitchen features six‐burner‐and‐bbq double‐oven gas stove and dining room with brick‐enclosed fireplace provides cozy dining in winter months. A powder room and laundry/pantry complete this level.

Upstairs is the master suite that has a fireplace, office/sitting room and bath with shower and stone floor. A small deck seldom used could be enclosed for additional space. Interesting custom carpet, wood and stone floors spread throughout. Wide stairs lead from the living room to a spacious family room with built‐in under‐stair bed, outdoor inground lakeview hot tub, second bedroom, bath and utility room. A door opens to a few stairs down to a large patio with fireplace, second level of lawn and a few more stone steps to the pier and beach.

Across the upper lawn and under the garage are the two guest bedroom suites accessed from their own deck. The main house contains 2,472 sq. ft., per the Assessor’s record, and the guest suites comprise an approximate 400 sq. ft. Lake frontage is 125’ in two parcels for almost 1/3 of an acre: APNs 115‐070‐013, 014.

The current owners have updated the property with the following: a  composition roof, renovated kitchen including a new DOS gas stove, custom fridge/freezer; renovated master bathroom; double paned windows; added staircase and family room, downstairs bedroom and bath; in‐ground hot tub and waterfall; new main deck including foundations; garage roof framing and reinforced foundation. Most of the additions and renovation was completed in 1997, with the two guest suites renovated in 2008 along with the covered entry. The garage currently has one bay converted into a ski room with boot warmers, ski racks and outerwear hanging space, easily converted back to parking.

For the buyer looking for a beautiful and rare property with great feeling of privacy, it’s hard to beat the ambiance this delightful updated “Old Tahoe” home offers.

Address: 4694 N Lake Blvd, Carnelian Bay, CA 96140

Price: $6,750,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 4.5

View the listing here.

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Lemelson tapped design duo Eric Thiele and Rod Ashley to design the contemporary home, which sits among towering old-growth trees on the famous lake, where California and Nevada meet. The property boasts a library, pool, sculpture garden, a dock on the lake, and guest house.

Chase International have the listing.

Source courtesy Zillow Blog. Photos courtesy Chase International.

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