On Zillow is it free for you to create a profile page. Your profile can include your picture, a link to your website, details on your background and specialties, the areas you serve, and, of course, your contact information. With the launch of the Zillow Professional Directory, we’re making it easier for consumers to  come to you directly for answers.

The kicker, however, is that you have to be registered on Zillow for these consumer to find you.

Through our listing feeds program, the contact information for the agent representing the home for sale is included on the home detail page. However, this alone does not put you amongst the tens of thousands professionals we currently have in the directory, nor does it allow for your photo to appear alongside your contact information on your listings. You must come to the site and register for this to happen, which is free to do. Make sure you create your profile using the same email address as the entity feeding us your listings is using, to ensure we can match your listings and your profile up correctly.

And don’t think this directory is just for real estate agents. If you’re a home stager, an appraiser, a contractor, and roofer, a carpenter, a lender, an architect, or even an interior designer— the Zillow Professional Directory is a great place to gain exposure to a growing audience of homeowners— and at no cost!

Over 150,000 real estate professionals have already activated their profiles and are part of the directory. Make sure you too are part of this growing community and can be found by future home buyers and sellers that are looking for a professional to guide them though their next real estate transaction.

Sorry to trot out another story about an Extreme Makeover owner who is financial trouble, but the Orlando Sentinel reports that Sadie Holmes of Altamonte Springs, FL is facing some money problems, including a $29,000 lien by the county against her house for code violations, $6,600 in property taxes, and $3,000 a month to rent a storage warehouse for her nonprofit business.

Holmes received her Extreme Home Makeover two years ago, turning her 900-square-foot home into a 7,000-square-foot home and office so she could continue her Sadie Holmes Help Services charity out of the home.  What Sadie is doing is heroic: She is a former drug addict who created a charity to give out food, clothing, furniture, and whatever people need — all this from her 900-sq-ft home. The Extreme Makeover folks were kind enough to build her a bigger home so she can do bigger things, but evidently, she can’t keep up with bills — especially the bill for the code violations. Mercedes Homes, the builder of Sadie’s Extreme home, is helping to collect funds on Sadie’s behalf.

We are all for the Extreme Makeover idea, as long as the replacement house is not such a huge burden on the family or the neighborhood. Sadie’s home now has a Zestimate of $587,500 (at this writing), while homes around hers are in the $110K-$185K range (see Zindex chart on right). Already one Extreme Makeover home is in foreclosure (that we know of), and you can be sure if the EMH team keeps building outsized homes that can’t be supported, we will see many more problems.

The carnival will make its next appearance on Monday, Oct. 13 at Staged4More. Please submit your best post by Sunday, Oct. 12, to be considered. Are you a real estate blogger and would you like to host a future edition?  If so, get instructions on how to do so here. Please check the complete FAQ list if you have other questions as to how to participate.

I’m not convinced that this is real, but there’s a site called “Buy My Dump” in which the owner needs to sell his Houston, TX investment rental property — not sure if it’s a condo, townhouse or house — but it was apparently trashed by his tenant and now the insurer won’t cover the damages the renter left behind. The owner has a mortgage he can’t pay, he can’t (won’t?) clean it to rent it again and wants to just walk away for whatever he can get. The place is allegedly worth $80,000 and there’s a bid in for $38,900 at this writing. Look at the photos — do you have a stomach to fix it up?

The secret to staying young and healthy? According to New York-based architects Arakawa + Gins, it may be your house. But we’re not talking about just any house. The architects, who call themselves “reversible destiny” philosophers, have created Reversible Destiny Lofts in the Mitaka area of Tokyo that are designed to stimulate the inhabitants’ senses and keep them challenged mentally and physically.

The fantastical lofts make even the most everyday tasks more challenging for the people living there, requiring use of their imagination, balance, and strength. The floors look like they have moguls. The power outlets and switches are positioned in strange places. To get to the balcony, you need to squeeze through a tiny door. There’s a clash of colors on every surface. All well and good, but what about comfort? Arakawa + Gins think it should serve only a minor role in homes.

So how much does it cost to buy yourself a longer life? Two of the lofts are currently for rent for 220,000 and 225,000 yen per month ($2,000 and $2,400 U.S. dollars), which seems expensive, but fairly on par with the pricey real estate in Tokyo.

To see a video of the lofts (in Japanese) and more photos, check out this post on Pinktentacle.com.

Yesterday, before the Palin/Biden debate, I came across a thread titled “LIVE VP DEBATE PARTY! Post here during the VP Debate.” 20 some hours and over 150 posts later, people are still chiming in about the debate! Moral of the story: If you have a question, ASK! The answers you’ll find may surprise you.

What differentiates Zillow’s calculator widget from the others out on the Web? Answer: our widget auto-fills the “Interest rate” field with the most up-to-date mortgage rate. This means the consumer doesn’t have to look elsewhere for the most current rate to plug in. Most mortgage calculators list 6% as the default interest rate, but mortgage rates can and do change frequently. There’s no reason to expect home buyers to know what the current rate is, so we took care of that with the auto-fill feature.

Another great reason to use Zillow widgets: our co-branding technology is built into all of our widgets, which means you’ll always be top-of-mind. Visitors on your site who click through to Zillow from the widget will see your photo or logo, contact information, and a link back to your Web site for the duration of their session on Zillow. It’s a great solution for everybody: you give consumers free, valuable tools to use and in return, you get free co-branding on the Zillow site. Pretty sweet!

Remember that if you are a software developer (or know one who can help you), you can also use our API program to access mortgage rates and develop your own calculator.

(Wait a few seconds and you’ll get a 360-degree view of the room.)

Look closely and you may spot some familiar faces. Kratzer included many famous characters — both real and fictional — in his drawings, including Sherlock Holmes, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Claude Monet, and a gathering of artistic greats in Picasso’s Paris salon. He even threw in Rocky and Bullwinkle. Talk about creative!

You can read more about the Sharpie basement in this Lexington Herald-Leader article.

360-degree view courtesy Lexington Herald-Leader

See more Riverside, CA Foreclosures

Hat tip: Inman Blog

Britney Spears’ home
For Sale: $7.9 million
12094 Summit Circle, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
See more Beverly Hills, CA real estate

It looks like Britney is putting her two tumultuous years at this residence behind her. We totally get it. [Source: LA Times’ Hot Property]

Listing description (by Tomer Fridman of Sotheby’s): Exquisite gated Italian Renaissance inspired Villa within the exclusive guard-gated Summit. This magnificent Estate offers approximately 7,500 square feet of luxury, 6 BD, 6 BA, gated motor court, wet bar, maids quarters, library, smoking room/den, sophisticated formal dining room, and a grand entrance foyer. Artisan quality finishes are highlighted by dramatic high ceilings, providing a sense of unmatched scale & volume. Old world craftsmanship and designer details including carved mill work, stone & mosaic tile floors, and elegant iron accents are found throughout. A brilliant state-of-the-art chefs kitchen with Viking appliances, walk-in pantry, & large breakfast nook open to the spacious family room. The breathtaking Master suite offers his and hers baths, fireplace, & romantic loggia. Manicured rear grounds afford a pool, spa, elegant arbor, and lush landscaping ideal for year-round entertaining. This grand estate is offered with select furnishings, accessories, and art work.

Tony Gonzalez’ home
For sale: $3,999,000
228 34th St, Manhattan Beach, CA
See more Manhattan Beach, CA real estate

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez is unloading his Manhattan Beach home after purchasing it in 2003 for $1,575,000. [Source: Real Estalker]

Listing description (by Randy Forbes Jr. of Gibson International): Celebrity beach home with fabulous ocean views! Huge roof top deck, large master, 2 family rooms & gourmet kitchen. Remodeled & freshly painted. Only two blocks to the beach. Must see! Great street & location.

Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks Sr.’s house
For sale: $60 million
1143 Summit Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
See more Beverly Hills, CA real estate

Silent movie stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks threw lavish parties at their Beverly Hills estate, known as “Pickfair” — a mashup of their last names. [Source: Big Time Listings]

Listing description (by Hilton & Hyland): An opportunity to own an important piece of real estate history in Beverly Hills, and the most famous home in America of the 1920’s. This Legendary Estate, known worldwide as “PICKFAIR”, was once the home of Mary Pickford & Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. This Villa design now awaits your updating to become a 21st Century Masterpiece. Shown to pre-screened Buyers only. Sellers will negotiate art, sculptures and would consider exchange for commercial property, business or other.

Jimmy Jam’s house
For sale: $7,995,000
600 W Portero Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
See more Thousand Oaks, CA real estate

Three-time Grammy winner Jimmy Jam, whose work with record producer Terry Lewis helped score huge hits for Janet Jackson (“Control,” “Rhythm Nation”) has listed his 20-acre, gated (photo of the gates above) equestrian estate for sale. [Source: Big Time Listings]

Listing description by Bob Pearson of Coldwell Banker):  Private gated equestrian estate on 20 acres. Covered arena, approved plans for a new 17000 sq.ft estate plus 3000 sq ft guest house, ample room for additional horse facilities, adjacent to Sherwood Country Club.

Watch this video of the gorgeous grounds. Not sure if Jimmy Jam would love the accompanying music.

Ty Warner’s house to-be
400 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL
See more Chicago, IL real estate

According to the Chicgo Sun-Times, Beanie baby billionare Ty Warner is reportedly purchasing the Chicago Spire building’s two-floor penthouse for $40 million. The penthouse (10,000 sq ft) is on the 141st and 142nd floors of the 150-floor Spire and is said to be the highest residence in the tallest building in the western hemisphere — that is, if the Spire ever gets built. See what other units for sale at the Chicago Spire.