Former NFL quarterback Christian Ponder and his wife, ESPN broadcaster Samantha Ponder, are leaving their Phoenix home. They’re ready to pass the gated estate to a new owner for $3.9 million.
The couple purchased the property in 2015 for $2.2 million. Before achieving national fame at ESPN, Samantha grew up in the Phoenix area.
Their “beautifully appointed,” 6,923-square-foot main housecomes with an 803-square-foot guesthouse. It all adds up to six bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. The grassy yard is ringed by tall trees, and the home’s front exterior features a covered porch.
Christian and Samantha Ponder’s Phoenix home
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Front exterior
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Living room with access to the patio
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Dining room
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Kitchen with bar seating
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Master suite
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One of two pools
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The cozy and comfortable layout features a family room with a fireplace, formal living and dining rooms with chandeliers, and an additional sitting room just off the entry. French doors from the living area open to the patio outside.
The eat-in chef’s kitchen features marble counters, white cabinets, a chandelier, oversize island, separate counter with bar seating, and Sub-Zero and Viking appliances.
The main residence features a “truly amazing” master suite with a sitting area, luxury bath, and fireplace, as well as a lap pool steps from the bedroom door. There’s also room for an exercise bike and desk.
The 1.69-acre lot include grassy areas, three patios, two pools, a sport court, putting green, and three-car garage. The property is located along the Murphy Bridle Path, a trail popular with joggers, hikers, and dog walkers.
After starring at Florida State in college, Christian played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2011 to 2014. Samantha hosts ESPN’s popular “Sunday NFL Countdown.” The couple also own a home in New York City.
A surge in home-buying demand and limited inventory for existing homes is spurring construction to help fill the gap.
Home builders attribute their robust sales to low interest rates, a shortage of existing homes for sale and consumer willingness to move farther from city centers in exchange for more space.
New single-family-home sales rose 13.9% in July from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 901,000, the highest level since December 2006, according to the Commerce Department. Single-family housing starts, a measure of U.S. home building, rose 8.2% in July from June to the highest seasonally adjusted annual rate since February.
“The demand feels really good right now,” said Martin Connor, chief financial officer of Toll Brothers Inc. “The longer it goes, the more comfortable we are that it’s got longer legs.”
Home builders’ positive outlook is a sharp turnaround from early spring, when coronavirus lockdowns forced construction sites to halt in some parts of the country and builders swiftly cut spending on land acquisitions and new projects. U.S. home-builder confidence rose in August to match the record high last reached in 1998, up from an eight-year low in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
The S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index is up 15.3% this year as of Monday, exceeding the 8.3% rise in the S&P 500 over the same period, according to FactSet.
Housing demand has outpaced supply for years, but the housing shortage has become even more acute in the existing-home market in recent months as the pandemic has made some sellers reluctant to list their homes. At the current sales pace, there were 3.1 months of existing homes available for sale at the end of July, according to the National Association of Realtors. In comparison, the new-home market had 4.0 months’ supply available at the end of July, according to the Commerce Department.
When Stephanie and Sven Christensen moved to Grand Haven, Mich., this year for Mr. Christensen’s job, they couldn’t find anything on the market that fit their needs. They decided to build a new house instead.
“We’re super, super excited,” Ms. Christensen said. But “we would have much preferred to find a house that would work for us that we could just buy and move into.”
In response to the strong demand, home builders are raising prices. The median sales price of a new house sold in July was $330,600, up 7.2% from a year earlier.
Home builders are limited in how quickly they can grow due to shortages of skilled labor, delays in obtaining some appliances and rising land costs, said Ali Wolf, chief economist at Meyers Research.
Lumber futures also have climbed to a record high, pushing the cost of building a single-family home up by more than $16,000 since mid-April, according to the NAHB.
Eighty percent of builders in August said challenges on the supply side are going to affect their sales plan this year, up from 30% in June, according to a Meyers Research survey.
“You can’t just build 25% more houses,” said Sheryl Palmer, chief executive of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Taylor Morrison Home Corp. “We just won’t be able to meet the demand overnight.”
Housing economists say high unemployment could also limit home sales in the coming months, especially if job losses spread to affect more high-paid workers.
Ty Andersen paid a deposit on a townhome under construction in Bluffdale, Utah, in April, before being laid off from his digital-marketing job in May. He hopes to find a new job before he applies for a mortgage loan in the fall.
“I’m beginning to worry more” about the home purchase falling through, he said. “I just keep pushing forward with the hope that I will find a job and that it will work out.”
The fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and his wife, Dee Ocleppo, have once again placed their stylish Miami-area mansion on the market. The Golden Beach, FL, abode is now available for $24.5 million.
Last on the market two years ago, the waterfront residence made a splash with colorful interiors done by celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
The artful retreat was offered for $23.5 million in 2018. It had originally been listed in 2017 for $27.5 million, before the price was dropped to $25.9 million later that year.
The couplepurchased the place in 2013 for $17.25 million, and then completely redid the interiors to match the color schemes of some of their pop art collection.
It was featured in 2014 on the cover of Architectural Digest, and the home doesn’t appear to have changed since then, with the owners’ art still hanging on the walls, and the funky decor still filling the rooms.
“We’re here for the weather, the Latin flavor, the art, and the palm trees. Most of all, we’re here for the fun,” Hilfiger told the magazine at the time.
Fun is definitely the theme of this one-of-a-kind, designer-decorated beach house.
Tommy Hilfiger’s home in Golden Beach, FL
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Two-story entry with black marble staircase
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Black-and-white dining room
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Chef’s kitchen
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Trippy media room
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Master suite
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Fire pit and pool
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It’s set on over a half-acre, with 100 feet of secluded beach frontage, and the listing notes that this oceanfront showcase offers 14,075 square feet designed for “leisurely, luxurious living.”
With seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and four half-bathrooms, the layout also includes a black marble staircase and is highlighted by a double-height gallery to display works of art.
Wallpaper patterns, artwork, and flooring combine for a unique look to each room. The living room features walls of windows and a bar. The master suite features a mirrored bed frame and a wall of windows.
The adjacent gourmet kitchen features black-and-white geometric flooring, as well as Miele, Gaggenau, and Sub-Zero appliances. The formal dining room also features a black-and white theme. The media room is covered with bold, patterned wallpaper.
Hilfiger’s office is decked out in his trademark red-and-blue hues. The floor plan boasts a blood-red home theater, a gym, elevator, and two guest apartments, and can “easily accommodate a large family or frequent houseguests.”
Outside, the infinity pool looks out to the ocean. The grounds also include a beach cabana, lounge area with fire pit, bar, barbecue. The home is just steps to the white-sand beach.
The couple continue to wheel and deal in the housing market. They sold their quirky penthouse at the Plaza Hotel in 2019 for a reported $31.25 million. They had purchased two units for $25.5 million in 2008 and combined them. The four-bedroom unit had been on the market for as much as $80 million before finally selling last year.
The couple also let go of a Mediterranean-style mansion in Palm Beach for $35 million in 2017, $1 million more than they had paid a year earlier.
Oren Alexander with Douglas Elliman holds the listing.
Like a nice bottle of whiskey or a favorite pair of jeans, many homes simply get better with age.
But don’t just take our word for it. Have a look at the 10 oldest homes in the U.S. to land on the the market this week, and prepare to be impressed by these well-preserved residences.
The oldest property dates back more than three centuries, to 1709, and the whippersnapper of the group is only 270 years young. Both homes, and all the others in between, are spectacular, filled with memories, history, and character.
Stone fireplaces, wide-plank wood floors, and land ringed with established gardens and century-old trees—the elements are there, waiting for a buyer to take these homes into their next phase.
So when it comes to homes, older is very often just better. Scroll on down for a closer look.
Price: $775,000 John Stevens house: Built in 1709, this three-bedroom Colonial sits just steps away from Newport Harbor.
The 1,940-square-foot home offers plenty of charming details, including pine flooring and many built-ins. The kitchen has been updated, and outside you’ll find a fenced-in patio that’s a perfect spot for warm-weather entertaining.
Price: $695,000 Bucks County farmhouse: The original fieldstone farmhouse dates to 1710. The three-bedroom home still has pumpkin pine floors, a stone fireplace, and a pie staircase going from the second-floor master suite to a third-floor office space.
The 4-acre property comes with a stream, and there’s a barn with a basement.
Price: $1,325,000 Artist studio: Impressionist artist Matilda Browne used to paint here in the early 20th century, but the Cape Codder dates to 1710.
After a meticulous restoration in 1998 by an antiques renovator and an addition in 2006, the four-bedroom home now features a generous 3,690 square feet of living space. The property also includes a studio with plumbing, gardens, and a patio.
Price: $885,000 Amerscot House Inn: This 14-room Colonial was built in 1732 and has operated as a bed-and-breakfast for years.
Updated with modern amenities, the five-bedroom home has 4,731 square feet of living space and comes with 2.5 acres. An innkeeper’s wing was recently added, along with a two-car garage. This charmer could continue as a B&B or be converted into a sumptuous single-family home.
Price: $344,750 Captain Bradley house: Beautifully restored, this three-bedroom Colonial was built in 1739.
Highlights include the refinished wide-plank chestnut floors, remodeled kitchen, and a basement. Outside, the 2-acre yard includes a porch and a brook.
Price: $699,000 The farm: This sprawling 30-acre spread dates to 1747. The three-bedroom home features a wood-burning fireplace, beamed ceiling, and pumpkin pine floors, all of which date to the home’s construction.
Out back, there’s a large deck overlooking gardens, an in-ground swimming pool, as well as a summer kitchen with a barbecue and refrigerator.
Price: $475,000 Iconic farmhouse: This local landmark was built in 1750 and has been in the same family for 250 years.
The listing notes that the home has hosted presidents, governors, and other dignitaries throughout its history. The four-bedroom house comes with 2 acres and is ready for a new chapter.
Pop star Justin Bieber and his wife, model Hailey Baldwin, just bought a posh property in the Beverly Park neighborhood of Beverly Hills, CA, for $25.8 million, according to Variety.
The high price is actually a serious discount from when the property debuted on the market two years ago. At a list price of $42 million, it was our most expensive new listing of the week.
Built in 1988, the estate was completely renovated before its April 2018 debut. At the time, listing agent Christopher Dysoncalled it “reimagined to an exacting standard.
“To have a practically brand-new, move-in ready opportunity, in what many consider to be the most exclusive community in the city, is very special,” he said.
Special, yes, but buyers weren’t enticed. The price was slashed to $38.5 million in late 2018, dropped to $34.8 million at the beginning of 2019 and then $29.5 million late last year. Lastmonth, it was relisted for $27.25 million.
Bieber’s $25.8 million sale price represents a 39% discount from the 2018 price.
Picture-perfect property
And since its initial renovation, the home has undergone another makeover. It’s now “completely updated to 2019 standards with state-of-the-art amenities throughout,” according to the listing.
New staging with contemporary furnishings in a neutral palette also made the home much more appealing.
Set behind gates on 2.5 acres, the 11,000-square-foot home has seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.
The layout includes a gallery foyer, large living room, den, library, and formal dining room. The eat-in kitchen comes with top-of-the-line appliances and is adjacent to a family room. Walls of glass open to the patios and lawn.
Upstairs, you’ll find six bedrooms and the master suite. The latter comes with a sitting area, dual closets and bathrooms, and heated floors.
The floor plan also includes a home theater, wine cellar, and gym.
The grounds feature a grassy lawn, koi pond, infinity pool, tennis court, lounging and dining space with a barbecue and pizza oven.
The home is “perfect for large scale entertaining” and is “completely private and secluded”—a big plus for the paparazzi targets—according to the listing.
Pool and spa
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Entry
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Living room
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Kitchen
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Library
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Home theater
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Wall of windows
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Outdoor living space
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Dining room
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Master suite
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The perks of Beverly Park
The upscale community of Beverly Park is considered one of the “most exclusive, expensive places in Los Angeles,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
It’s primarily known for its celebrity inhabitants and big houses, with each property boasting “a minimum of 2 aces with the most beautiful grounds,” says listing agent Sally Forster Jones with Compass. “It provides a private, quiet community away from the city hustle, but is also just minutes from the best of Beverly Hills.”
It’s the neighborhood where a massive mansion and vineyard owned by Vanna White were recently sold for $19.3 million.
It’s also the location of the most expensive home in the country, currently listed for a jaw-dropping $160 million.
“North Beverly Park is one of the most prestigious enclaves in Los Angeles,” says Tomer Fridman of Compass. “Being behind gates, surrounded by discreet and high-end neighbors, and having the luxury of secluded, large-lot estates comes at a premier value.”
Bieber is just the latest celebrity to put down roots in the exclusive enclave, which has reportedly been home to folks such as Denzel Washington, Sylvester Stallone, and SofiaVergara.
Located in the southern section of Beverly Park, Bieber’s home is close enough for the couple to borrow a cup of sugar from the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Magic Johnson, and Prince Alex von Furstenberg, according to Variety.
“It draws celebrities and high-profile individuals because of the maximum privacy. The community is guard-gated, with most personal residences providing additional gates, and any guests must be invited and screened to enter,” says Jones.
Fridman also touts the location: “Being in close proximity to either studios and meetings in the San Fernando Valley or to a night out of city entertainment in Hollywood or Beverly Hills makes Beverly Park a highly sought-after location.”
Real estate redux
Bieber and Baldwinreportedly purchased a place in Beverly Hills last year for $8.5 million.
After years of renting, Bieber became the proud owner of a 6,132-square-foot property with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The home has a number of perks, including a wine cellar, library, and home theater. The grounds feature an infinity pool and fire pit.
It was the first place Bieber had owned in the U.S. since 2014, when he sold his Calabasas mansion to reality TV star Khloe Kardashian after an infamous egg-throwing incident made him persona non grata in the neighborhood.
As a renter in Beverly Hills, he was dubbed “Worst Neighbor Ever” and banned, at least for a time.But he returned to the 90210, first as a short-term renter in the so-called “Salad Spinner” house. He then rented again, paying a reported $55,000 a month for a Beverly Hills contemporary.
For five years the pop star bounced from one rental to another, including a place he and Baldwin rented for a whopping $100,000 a month in San Fernando Valley. The couple made a hasty retreat after serious plumbing problems surfaced at the home.
Kurt Rappaport represented the seller.Joshua Altman with Douglas Elliman represented the buyer.
Reebok founder Paul Fireman has sold his lavish estate in Brookline, MA, for $23 million—after four years and multiple price cuts. The 27,000-square-foot mansion comes with 7 acres. An additional 7 acres adjacent to the property is still available.
While one of the priciest homes on the market for the area, the sale price represents a steep discount from the initial ask in 2016. That year, the custom-built home was listed for $90 million, which eventually landed it on our list of the 10 most expensive homes on the market in 2017.In early 2019 the home was relisted for $69 million, then reduced to $38 million late last year. The home was most recently listed for $33 million.
Built for Fireman in the late 1990s, the home was completed in time for the 1999 Ryder Cup golf tournament, which took place at the adjacent country club. Fireman and his wife, Phyllis, enjoyed the elegant estate for almost two decades.
Designed by the architecture firm Shope Reno Wharton, the mansion features Indiana limestone and melds traditional architecture with modern luxury.
Aerial view of Paul Fireman’s estate
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Limestone-clad exterior
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Domed entry hall
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Living room
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Formal dining room
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Family room
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Wood-paneled billiard room and study
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Bedroom
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5,000-square-foot terrace
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The mansion comes with eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and five half-baths, and it boasts a glorious natural setting just five miles from downtown Boston.
The grand entrance hall features a domed ceiling and curved staircase. The space flows to the formal living and dining rooms. The library, billiard room, and study are all wood-paneled. The master suite takes up the second floor, with two closets, a bathroom, exercise room, and study.
Other notable features include classical columns, wrought-iron balconies, ornate fireplaces, and a wine cellar.
Outside, a 5,000-square-foot terrace allows for entertaining.
The mansion is just down the road from Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s vacant mansion. The couple listed their custom-built mansion before the quarterback’s move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it has since come off the market.
George Sarkis and Manny Sarkis, founders of the Sarkis Team at Douglas Elliman, held the listing.
According to George, a detailed explanation of the property was part of the winning strategy. “We also brought the builder, ThoughtForms, through the house with the buyer to intelligently explain the home, its materials, and finishes at a high level,” he says. “According to ThoughtForms, ‘It’s what you don’t see that cost the most and makes this home truly special.’”
The buyer appreciated that “the home truly was a timeless masterpiece,” adds George.
The locale was also a draw. “The buyers wanted to be close to downtown and close to some of the best private and public schools for their children,” says George.
The Sarkis Team with Douglas Elliman represented the seller. Terrence Maitland with LandVest represented the buyer.
