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    14
    Sep
    2011
    2:35pm, EDT

    Epperson: Renting could be a good option

    Today Money financial expert Sharon Epperson joined us for a live Web chat Wednesday to answer your questions.

    Here’s one of her answers to questions from the live chat. (See below for the full Q&A and video of Sharon’s TV appearance this morning.)

    Darla asked:

    “Hi Sharon. Me and my husband would like to downsize on our home, but our credit isn't good so we probably aren't in a position to purchase another home. We'd like to get something less expensive but see no way out. Any advice you can provide? Thanks!”

    Sharon replied:

    “Why don't you rent? Take the headache of home ownership (lawn care, home repairs and unexpected emergencies) off the table and focus on rebuilding your credit and building your savings.”

    Here’s the full chat archive and Sharon’s TV appearance:

     

     

    If you have a question for our TODAY Money experts, submit it here.

    To sign up for an e-mail reminder for our next chat, click here.

     

    Comment

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    Explore related topics: economy, real, housing, estate, finance, investing, featured
  • 6
    Sep
    2011
    7:32am, EDT

    Listing of the Week: A Pacific Northwest palace

     

    Zillow.com

    This palace-like estate on Mercer Island is the most expensive piece of real estate in the Seattle area.

    By Zillow

    The Boulevard Estate, Mercer Island, WA
    For Sale: $28,800,000

    Not all houses that are slated for auction are foreclosures. Take, for example, an enormous, high-end estate on Mercer Island, Wash., near Seattle. The 13,000-square foot home sits on a large parcel and offers significant water and mountain views, as well as a short commute to downtown Seattle. Even with median Mercer Island home values currently $734,700, a home listed at $28.8 million has a significant price tag.

    It went up for auction August 30 through the auction site JP King, and while the home didn't sell during the auction, JP King identified four interested buyers.

    "We'll work with the bidders to get a deal that wasn't made on auction day," said Caley Newberry, communications manager at JP King.

    The home first made a splash last year when it was listed for $32 million, making it the most expensive real estate listing in the Seattle area.

    But, after a year on the MLS, the owners decided to auction the property.

    "The great thing about the auction is that there's a 90-day turnaround. The owners don't have to wait around; they buy it on their terms," said Newberry. "A property has been on the market five years, then you put it up for auction and it sells."

    High-end real estate usually takes longer to sell than a market-priced home. Using an auction site, says Newberry, speeds up the process because the auction company will market internationally to a specific group of potential buyers.

    Additionally, sometimes it's hard to tell the market value of a multimillion dollar estate like the Mercer Island home for sale.

    The owner "put a lot of money and time into this house and it's hard to tell exactly what the value is because it's so customized," explained Newberry. With an auction, "you know you're getting the market value because the market speaks up."

    The estate sits on a 1.66-acre lot and has 160 feet of beach frontage. Completed in 2010, the home has 7 bedrooms and 11.25 bathrooms. One of the bedrooms is an owner's suite, with high ceilings, granite fireplace, sitting area with lake views and access to a private terrace, as well as a deluxe master bath. Four other rooms are located in the children's wing, which has a playroom and wraparound terrace that also features lake views.

    Additionally, the home has a 200-bottle capacity wine room, movie theater, command center for lighting, security and music as well as two elevators and a basement entertainment center that features a karaoke bar, indoor pool, sauna and gym, covered lounge and snack bar.

    Wondering what it would cost you monthly to live in a palatial place like this? Even with low mortgage rates, currently at 3.986 percent for a 30-year-fixed in Washington state, if you put 20 percent down, you're looking at a payment of $128,341 a month.

    View the full listing at Zillow here.

    Zillow

    The gourmet kitchen features 14- foot ceilings, three sink stations, two Sub-Zero refrigerators with wood inlaid cabinetry panels, three ovens, and three dishwashers

    Zillow

    A premier place to enjoy the end of summer: pool, lounging area and covered BBQ.

    Zillow

    Pick your body of water to lounge by-- the pool or the lake!

     

    Comment

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    Explore related topics: real, auction, estate, seattle, expensive, featured, luxury, listing, mercer-island

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