Coziness is definitely a factor when I look at homes on zillow #seventeengoingonthirty

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I love @zillow I save favorite houses in all the possible job cities so when he finds one I’ve already got houses narrowed down #imprepared

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Looking athouses on zillow; so ready to move!!!!!!!

— ☆★Juicy Juice★☆ (@BlkDiva_Ali) May 13, 2012

Well Zillow is the best app ever

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I could daydream on Zillow for hours.

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As the real estate market starts to heat up again in some markets, we sometimes forget what’s happened in the past. We get caught up in the home search and the desire to own. Some buyers even forget the old real estate adage: location, location, location.

So it helps if you step back for a second. Look into the future. Think about the home you want to buy now and imagine yourself selling it years later. What problems might you face then? If you take this into consideration, you might avoid making a mistake that all too many people make: Buying — or building — the best house on the block.

For example, consider the fate of what became a conspicuously large house for sale in an Atlanta suburb.

Don’t Super Size!

A few years ago, at the top of the market, the owners purchased a small fixer-upper, then renovated and significantly expanded it. Once completed, the owners tried to sell their McMansion in one of the worst real estate markets ever. After a year without success, they had to lower the asking price multiple times — and ultimately walked away with a big loss.

The fact that they bought at the top of the market and tried to sell during a decline in values certainly didn’t help. But it wasn’t the only factor by any means. On one side of the house was an apartment building. On the other sat a home that was an eyesore.

The proximity of these two properties should have been a warning to the owners: Don’t super-size your house when it’s surrounded by properties that aren’t at least equal in value. Instead, the owners had gotten caught up in the market frenzy. They didn’t think about what would happen when it came time to sell.

Look at Comps

In today’s market, potential buyers — having weathered the real estate bust and the recession — should take one look at the biggest, best house on the block and say to themselves: “No way.”

From an investment standpoint, owning the biggest house on the block has never been a good strategy. Home values in a neighborhood are intertwined because comps are so important in determining how to price — and what to pay for — a home. So the value of your McMansion will be limited if it’s surrounded by homes of considerably lesser value.

For similar reasons, you should avoid buying a house on a block with a parking garage, one full of apartment buildings,or rented homes. It is thought that renters don’t care for the properties where they live, as are absentee property owners. Their indifference can only hurt the value of nearby homes.

Buy the worst house on the block best instead

A better strategy, no matter what kind of market, is to buy the worst house on the best block. You can always improve the property and therefore increase its value. And because it’s on a great block, improvements you make to the home will be practically guaranteed to give you a top return on your investment.

Just don’t get carried away and turn the worst house on the block into the biggest and most expensive one.

Related:

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• Advice for Buyers Bidding on Home With Multiple Offers
• Why Sellers Shouldn’t Be Present at Open Houses

Brendon DeSimone is a Realtor® and real estate expert based in San Francisco and New York. He is a contributor to Zillow Blog, has collaborated on multiple real estate books and is often quoted by major media outlets. Follow Brendon on Twitter.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

885 Hill Ln, Lake Tahoe NV
For sale: $3,700,000

When Paul Arnold and his wife Elizabeth decided to build their custom home, they wanted something beyond fun. They wanted something fantastic.

Hence, “The Hobbit House” was born.

“As a framing contractor, I do hundreds of homes a year,” explained Arnold. “To do something different and beautiful was always our mindset if we were going to do something for ourselves.”

For years, Arnold has worked alongside Jim Brashers, a local expert in designing, constructing and renovating historic and period homes.

“We have built lots of really cool Disneyland-looking mountain cottages,” explained Arnold. “My wife has always wanted to have a Jim Brasher-designed house.”

The resulting property is something that belongs in a fairy tale — literally: A forested lot complete with a waterfall, views of a lake and a 1700s European-style cottage that is more the size of a castle, ringing in at 6,640 square feet.

It is a most fascinating mix of whimsy and formidable architectural styling.

A carved stone entry and 3-foot thick door, built from trees on the property, lead into the home where visitors are greeted by a handmade dragon chandelier holding court over an enormous entryway with hickory floors. Most of the woodwork was hewn from trees on the property, including the cabinetry and paneling — a decision made by Arnold’s wife.

“She asked me if we could build the house without taking down any of the trees,” said Arnold. His compromise was to build the house the best he could around the trees, and to incorporate the few trees that fell into the home’s design.

Other whimsical details in the Reno-area home include a giant wood-burning fireplace, guest suites with small windows looking over a great hall, and an indoor pool that is only accessed by a stone bridge. An outdoor wine cellar is built into the side of the hill.

And of course, detailed murals cover many of the walls.

“That’s a very favorite part of the house,” Arnold says. “There was an artist in that house for months, and the artwork on the walls is spectacular; we just cut him loose.”

Despite the rustic appeal, the home is firmly planted in the 21st century — a blend of a “yesterday and tomorrow,” says Arnold, who amped the home with technological details, including a controlled lighting system by Creston.

The 4-bedroom, 5.5-bath home is listed by Ronda Moll of Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty.

According to Zillow’s mortgage calculator, a monthly payment on the home would be $13,616 a month, assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year-fixed mortgage.

According to real estate agent Brendon DeSimone, “nearly every home buyer considers the outdoors in some way as a requirement for a property they’re considering.”

Certainly this is in the case with luxury real estate, where outdoor spaces are often as opulent as the interiors. Stone patios, infinity pools meeting ocean and sky; outdoor gas fireplaces, private cabanas and curated greenery: All combine to create the perfect garden — and a major selling point for buyers looking for their personal Shangri-La.

Pond-perfect

17872 Via De Fortuna, Rancho Santa Fe CA
For sale: $8,950,000

A small private lake? Check. Green willows, lily pads and a small guest house overlooking it all? Check. Swan? Well, a swan is about the only thing missing from this watery wonderland. And if the private lake isn’t enough to sway you, the grounds of this Encinitas house also feature a full equestrian facility, tennis court, pool and spa.

Conservatory chic

22380 NW Meier Rd, Hillsboro OR
For sale: $15 million

This Hillsboro home for sale sits on 93 pastoral acres with pools, barns, a lake, landscaped gardens and trellises, as well as an enormous green house filled with foliage and charming places to sit. The home is just as expansive at 9,516 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.

Bringing Outdoors In

2406 – 2408 Carver Bay, Whitefish MT
For sale: $12,950,000

Sure, this Whitefish home features 224-square-feet of lakefront, but even more impressive are the ponds and water features that abut the home’s enormous flagstone patios. The 7,905-square-foot main home is accompanied by two separate guest houses to total 9,575 square feet of living space on over an acre of land.

Italian loggia

5050 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley, CA
For sale: $15,950,000

This Portola Valley home, coined “Villa Laurison” by its first owner, is designed to embody the grandeur of a Florentine estate. Stone arches, marble outdoor terraces and lush greenery add to a property comprised of over 30 rooms, including 7 bedrooms and 11 baths.

Tree house territory

1857 NW Roundhill Cir, Seattle WA
For sale: $2,250,000

Putting a new spin on the backyard picnic area, how about this platform tree house surrounded by gardens? This home sits in the urban center of Seattle, but you wouldn’t know it. The property is an oasis of greenery. Built in 1931, the Spanish-style estate also features ocean views from its bluff location.

Greening the concrete jungle

196 W Houston St, New York NY
For sale: $14,950,000

A patio with a few trees may not seem like a whole lot, but in Manhattan real estate, private outdoor space is at a premium, like the one found in this 7,500-square-foot Greenwich Village townhouse. According to DeSimone, “New York City apartments with a deeded, usable outdoor space often sell for 20-to-30-percent more than the same apartment without the highly sought-after outdoor access.”

Secret garden

Undisclosed address, Charleston SC
For sale: $5,900,000

Dine al fresco out of the Charleston humidity under a leafy canopy, hidden in the corner of the yard. The historic property, while updated, still contains much of its Southern charms with hardwood floors, high ceilings and intricate moldings.

Botanical wonder

1401 Rubio St, Altadena CA
For sale: $2,995,000

The listing description for this Altadena home has it right. It is a “botanical wonder,” boasting two acres of property laden with foliage, green houses and an extensive, vine-wrapped arbor.  Listed for the first time in 50 years, the estate contains two parcels, which hold an elegant Colonial as the main house and a generously sized guest house.

Water features

37W756 Woodgate Rd, Saint Charles IL
For sale: $7,900,000

Although the exterior of the modern Saint Charles home is minimalist, the grounds are far from it. The home features a five-acre Japanese garden with numerous waterfalls, pools and ponds, all surrounded by Zen-inspired sitting areas to make for a true “spiritual oasis.”

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Why, it hardly looks like the home of an evil queen.

In fact, with its classic mid-century modern lines and minimalist decor, the house owned by “Game of Thrones” star Lena Headey exudes the taste and sensibility of someone far more cool and reasonable than the incestuous character Queen Cersei.

You can judge for yourself, now that Headey has listed the Beverly Glen house for $1.395 million. It’s an interesting price drop from the $1.685 million Headey paid for the 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home in 2008.

Of course, much has happened since then, including a real estate market implosion and the cult-like following that “Game of Thrones” has won since its debut in 2011, not to mention the bevy of awards for which the show and cast have been nominated.

Maybe she wants to give up Hollywood for the mythical “Thrones” land of Westeros, who knows? But given the desirable style of the home, not to mention the star quality of its owner, no doubt the place will attract buyers — or at least curiosity seekers, especially those who will appreciate the clean, modern space in the prime Los Angeles neighborhood.

With 2,500 square feet set on a quarter acre, Headey’s home boasts  separate living room and dining area with walls of glass, bamboo floors, fireplace and cocktail bar that are perfect for entertaining. The listing reads like rave reviews — which is fitting given the kudos Headey and her “Thrones” co-stars have been racking up.

The gorgeous well-appointed gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances opens to a grand media/family room with Terrazzo floors and skylights for a relaxed and fun hangout. The amazing master retreat has dual vanities, a spa tub, a separate shower stall and walk-in closet. This sun filled home with many architectural details has walls of glass and sliders from all living areas and bedrooms which allow a seamless transition to the private and tranquil exterior entertaining areas including a grassy yard.

Related:

• Report: Jennifer Aniston Renting Beverly Hills Home
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• Brad Pitt’s Malibu Mid-Century Home Listed

Most decks are supported on one side by the building, and on the opposite side by the earth.  The photo below shows a deck collapse that happened in Minnesota. This is exactly how most decks collapse. The cause of collapse is quite obvious. It wasn’t attached properly.

The best way to avoid deck collapse is to know the answer to this question: Is your deck properly attached to the building?

It’s not always possible to know for sure, but let’s go over  a few different ways of attaching a deck to a building.  It all centers on something called “the ledger.” The piece of wood that connects a deck to a building is called the ledger, or ledger board.  So get ready to hear this word used a lot!

Lag Screws

Traditionally, lag screws have been the most common method of attaching decks to buildings.  To properly attach a deck ledger using 1/2″ lag screws, 5/16″ holes need to be pre-drilled through the ledger and rim joist.  After that, a 1/2″ hole should be drilled through the ledger only.

For specific spacing and installation instructions, you can turn to page 12 of the Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide. There’s no way of knowing if all of these steps were followed just by looking at a deck, but if lag screws are visible, you can feel a little better about the deck attachment to the building.

One problem that I occasionally find with lag screws is that they’re not attached to anything substantial behind the ledger.  When a home is constructed with floor trusses and there is no rim joist for the deck to attach to, it’s important to figure out what the screws are going in to.  In the photos below, the lag screws at this townhouse were only attached to the fiberboard wall sheathing, which is basically worthless.  You wouldn’t want to put too many people on that deck.

Lag screws are fairly inexpensive, but they take special steps to install correctly.

Special Ledger Screws

Because of the tedious process involved in drilling several pilot holes in the wood to use lag screws, there are a few products available that are designed for the specific purpose of attaching a deck ledger to a building.  One such fastener is the FastenMaster LedgerLok®, which is pictured above. Simpson Strong-Tie makes a similar fastener, called the Strong-Drive® SDS Screw. These fasteners are designed to be installed without any pilot holes, and they already come with a washer attached to each head.

While these fasteners may cost a little more, they’re fast and easy to install, and they’re code approved to be used in place of 1/2″ lag screws.

Through-Bolts

Through-bolts can be used to attach a ledger to the house when the interior of the rim joist is accessible.  This is typically done using carriage bolts, pictured above.   When through-bolts are used, you’ll either see the head of the bolt or the end of the bolt at the ledger.  Lag bolts work in a similar manner.

All things being equal, a through bolt makes for the strongest connection per fastener.  Without all things being equal, there are certainly ways of installing through-bolts improperly.  In the examples below, you can see the end of the bolt where a washer and nut were fastened.  The problem with this installation is that someone didn’t have long enough bolts, so they had to chisel out a bunch of holes in the ledger to sink the washers and nuts in to.

This is probably the least common method of deck attachment because it takes more time, and requires more running in and out of the building.

Nailed Ledgers

Nails are not an acceptable way of attaching a ledger to the building, because they can pull out.  I don’t have any statistics to quote, but this is probably the most common cause of deck collapses.  If you look at a deck ledger and all you can see are nails holding it in place, it should be addressed. This is one of the most common deck problems that home inspectors find, and the repair is usually an easy fix.

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Reuben Saltzman, Structure Tech Home Inspections, Minneapolis, Minn., is a second-generation ASHI Certified Inspector whose experience with home remodeling and construction began at age four when he helped his father steam wallpaper. He has worked for Structure Tech since 1997 and joined ASHI in 2004. Visit his blog at www.structuretech1.com/blog/.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Detroit is hardly lacking for symbols of its Great Recession free fall, but there’s fresh evidence that the Detroit real estate market continues to be the most troubled in the United States.

While some regions are starting to report a bottom for housing prices, Detroit continues to offer some of its majestic past for just pennies on the dollar. That includes the grand old home once owned by the family of James Scripps — the man who founded in 1873 what is now the Detroit News.

Elaborate woodwork in the Scripps home. SOURCE: Curbed

According to Brian O’Connor, Detroit News Finance Editor, the wood paneling that adorns some of the walls at Scripps home in the historic Indian Village real estate market of Detroit looks a lot like the paneling inside the News headquarters. That makes sense, since the News building and Indian Village homes were built at the same time.

But whereas the News has been able to hang on despite the newspaper business downturn, the former Scripps home is in foreclosure, another symbol of Detroit’s slide.

Now, for $195,000, a buyer can own the 12,000-square-foot home at 2535 Iroquois Street that has for a century stood as a stately reminder why Detroit of the Gilded Age was once called “The Paris of the West.”

Taxes are the issue

According O’Connor, the city’s fiscal woes haven’t just hurt the list price of the Scripps home, but the home could be hit with higher taxes.

“Whoever buys this house may also get hit with a big jump in property taxes, thanks to a state amendment that limits how high taxes can rise on any one homeowner. Once the home is sold, however, the tax rate resets to the new price which, even now, can be more than the old limited value,” O’Connor said.

With 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, the property needs work but has the grand space that would make it a worthy rehab project, given the library, family room and large entertainment hall. Who knows, maybe restoring this home would coincide with a Motor City comeback — although O’Connor offers a bleak forecast for Detroit’s fiscal recovery, especially the real estate market.

• Detroit values are in a free fall. While other major cities in the U.S. have seen home values decline, all of them except Detroit remained above at or above their 2000 values even during the depths of the Great Recession.

• In Metro Detroit, however, values dropped down to levels not seen — on average — since the 1980s. The city also has been hit by an ongoing financial crisis in the schools, cutbacks in city services, very high insurance rates (due to crime and fraud) and a virtual exodus of the middle class. A city that was home to nearly 2 million people in the 1960s is now down to 700,000 residents — but still faces keeping up the same infrastructure with a far lower tax base.

• Investors have scooped up scores of foreclosed homes in Detroit for cash, some selling for just a few thousand. Real estate experts say they assume one-fifth or so of the properties will be uninhabitable, but that the rest can be inexpensively fixed up and rented, while the investors wait for values to rise. We’ve had organized bus tours of Chinese investors come through town, for example.

• Right now, the city is on the verge of bankruptcy, while the state tries to negotiate an emergency financial manager who can come in and cut budgets, tear up union contracts and restructure or privatize services.

James Scripps original home on Trumbull Ave., now burned down.

Other Scripps properties

Meanwhile, James Scripps’ original mansion at Trumbull Ave. and Grand River Ave. burned down, leaving only a gated entrance. Among other public buildings left by James Scripps is the Detroit Institute of Art.

Scripps’ son, William, went onto the embellish the family legacy, taking over the News and becoming an aviation buff and, in 1927, building the real Scripps Mansion — a mammoth Tudor-style mansion at 1840 W. Scripps Rd. in Lake Orion, MI.

The property remains on 45 acres of what was original 3,200 acres of sprawling farmland — so big that Amelia Earhart once used the Scripps’ airstrip. In 2007, the Scripps Mansion was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.

Scripps Mansion in Lake Orion, MI, was built by James Scripps son, William, and is no longer open to the public. SOURCE: Wikipedia