Economy | Candy's Dirt | Dallas Real Estate News and Blog by Former Dallas Dirt Editor Candy Evans

With Inventory Tighter Than Ever, Reza Derakhshani’s Austin Compound Won’t Be on The Market For Long

Written by Joanna England on May 8, 2013

Just like right here in Dallas, Austin is experiencing some serious growing pains.

According to a report from Austin’s KXAN, available inventory in Austin is so low that many more modest homes inside the city limits are going for luxury-level prices. And luxury homes that are priced right are flying off the shelves. Continue reading →

Posted in architects homes, Austin real estate news, Celebrity Homes, Economy | Tagged Affordable housing, Austin Luxury Real Estate, Austin real estate news, Dallas Austin, Paul Hilgers, Reza Derakhshani | 2 Comments

Uptown Look a Lot Cleaner This Week? Here’s Who Helped Get Uptown Spic N’ Span

Written by Candy Evans on May 6, 2013

Last Saturday, about this time, several Dallas Realtors and the Uptown Residents Council were springing from their beds because they had a busy, busy Saturday morning ahead of them, cleaning. Not just house cleaning, mind you, but dirty, gritty, wear your rubber gloves Uptown street cleaning. In conjunction with the annual “Celebrate Uptown” events of April 24th, 25 & 26th, and Earth Day, Council folks rolled out of bed, rolled up their sleeves and donned rubber gloves to pick up every piece of you-know-what (um, that too, literally) in between Woodall Rogers and 75, the Katy Trail and Cedar Springs focusing on Cityplace west, near the trolley turntable.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, celebrity real estate, Dallas real estate news, Economy, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Realtor news | Tagged Dallas Realtors, Earth Day Council Folks, Rubber Gloves, Uptown Dallas, Uptown Residents Council, Woodall Rogers | Leave a comment

Case Shiller’s Great Housing News: Dallas Home Values Increased at Greatest Rate Since C-S Even Started Taking Surveys

Written by Candy Evans on May 1, 2013

David Woo The Dallas Morning News

I mean, dang! Dallas home prices are up 7.1% from last year overall. Is that not great to hear? Prices of pre-owned homes scooted up a whopping 7.1 percent in February from February 2012, a record increase. Like, the biggest increase since Case Shiller has been keeping records. Talk to the agents, they say North Texas home prices are up about 8 percent over the first three months of 2012, according to the MLS. And many sales are being made outside of the MLS.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, celebrity real estate, Dallas real estate news, Economy, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Realtor news | Tagged Case Shiller, David Woonbspis, Detroit, Phoenix, San Francisco | Leave a comment

“Mi Patria” Expands the Perots’ Real Estate Portfolio: Don’t Forget That Lakeside Lot in Highland Park, the Old Bright Estate

Written by Candy Evans on May 1, 2013

Alan Peppard reminds me that Ross and Sarah Perot still own the old Bum Bright homestead dirt at 4500 Lakeside Drive. I wrote about that one in March of 2008, when they tore down the old Bright estate. The Bright home was a gorgeous Mediterranean hacienda with a clay-tiled roof, massive stucco archways, and a long tiled porch that knew many feet. The Perots bought the 1.3 acre home in July 2006 — the property had only been on the market for a little over six months. Remember how hot our market was in 2006? Ross Jr. paid exactly $12 million, the asking price and original list price. I mean, he paid $1501.31 a square foot for this dirt. Cannot beat the location. People sure complained when he started tearing down the house in spring 2008, but I have been told the home was not in the best of shape. The home had been built in 1916 for heaven’s sake, but it boasted almost 8,000 square feet, five bedrooms, five and a half baths, study, gameroom, and second master. There was no pool and here is something that really dates this home: it had one carport. No garage. But it also had multiple staircases, an elevator and guest quarters. Last time I looked, the lot was still naked but gorgeous. Anyhoo, they have Gillon, The W penthouse on the market, this lot, a home in Bel Air, and at least one vaca home in Vail. There are also the lots in Peninsula Papagayo… wonder if they ever got a home down in Costa Rica, too?

Posted in Celebrity Homes, celebrity real estate, Dallas real estate news, Economy, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Realtor news | 4 Comments

Monday Morning Millionaire: Robert Edsel’s Landmark Estate Hits the Market for $16 Million on Turtle Creek Plaza

Written by Candy Evans on April 29, 2013

Photos: Dan Piassick Photography

Yes, this is the home with the blue-tiled roof. Wait until you see the gardens, smell the lavender, rose, and hydrangea. Actually, it’s listed for $15,900,000 with the capable Madeline Jobst at Dave Perry-Miller & Associates, an Ebby Halliday Company. And it is one of the most significant homes in Dallas, a landmark estate owned (and restored) by one of our most well known and remarkable citizens, the man who has helped publicize stolen cultural artifacts and art confiscated and hoarded during World War II by Adolph Hitler, his henchmen, and various soldiers.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, celebrity real estate, Dallas real estate news, Economy, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Realtor news | Tagged Adolph Hitler, Dave PerryMiller Amp Associates, Jean Dujardin Bob Balaban Hugh Bonneville, Madeline Jobst, Robert Edsel | 8 Comments

Dallas Election News: Early Voting Starts Today, So Here is a Replay of Our Candidate Questionnaires

Written by Joanna England on April 29, 2013

Get out and vote! Early voting starts today and runs through Friday May 3. Election Day is Tuesday, May 7. You can find early voting locations here.

This year we did something a little different here on CandysDirt.com: We sent out candidate questionnaires to every Dallas City Council candidate running in a contested race. As a real estate blog focusing on residential properties, we asked questions about city issues that affect property owners such as rules governing water-wise landscaping, the athletic field lights planned for the Ursuline Dallas campus, and how the candidates would help solve the Museum Tower impasse with the Nasher Sculpture Center.

Posted in Dallas, Dallas real estate news, Economy, Real Estate, Realtor news | Tagged Candidate Questionnaires, Dallas City Council, Early Voting, Early Voting Locations, Museum Tower, The Nasher Sculpture Center | 1 Comment

Now We Know Why Ross Perot, Jr. is Selling His W Penthouse: the Perots Just Bought an $18 Million Home in Bel-Air

Written by Candy Evans on April 29, 2013

I knew something was up. I mean, people of means like to buy real estate the way I like to buy shoes! And you can bet my last dollar that if I ever had a couple billion, I’d have a closet-ful of homes. Remember when I told you (and CultureMap) that Ross Perot Jr. had quietly listed his penthouse at the W? My dear buddy Mama, aka The Real Estalker, alerts me to the recent purchase of an $18 million, 10,000 plus square foot totally amazing historical home called “Mia Patria” that she says Ross Jr. just picked up in the Los Angeles area, specifically Bel Air. I know because she (he) (a) rocks and (b) hollered at me to ask me, don’t he and the missus P have a substantial residence nearby?

Posted in Celebrity Homes, celebrity real estate, Dallas real estate news, Economy, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Realtor news | Tagged Bel Air, Freddy De Mann, Mia Patria, Missus De Mann, Ross Perot Jr, Square Foot | 6 Comments

Big Shot! That John Spano Story I Wrote for D Magazine in 1998 Comes Back to Bite Me

Written by Candy Evans on April 27, 2013

This story about one of the biggest scams in sport history may have been my first reckoning that when I write about homes, I write, really, about dreams and aspirations… homes today have become statements of personal success, trophies, our financial statements on display. Eight thousand square feet is not enough – I want 15,000 and a room of animal heads. Or I want a waterpark for my kids.

Posted in Celebrity Homes, celebrity real estate, Dallas real estate news, Economy, emerging real estate markets, House Candy, Real Estate, Real estate market news, Realtor news | Tagged Dallas Stars, Financial Statements, John Pickett, John Spano, New York Islanders, USA Film Festival | 4 Comments

Dallas Realtors Who Attended the George W. Bush Presidential Center Enjoyed Political VIPs and DART

Written by Candy Evans on April 26, 2013

Five-living-presidents-at-George-W.-Bush-Presidential-Center-dedication-in-Dallas_160512

Courtesy Alex Wong/Getty

Several Dallas Realtors attended yesterday’s remarkable dedication for the George W. Bush Presidential Center, including independent agent Mickey Stuart and Dave Perry-Miller’s Steve Collins. I have not heard from her yet, but am certain Allie Beth Allman and Pierce were included, and Kari Schlegel may have accompanied her parents. Mickey, a Dartmouth buddy, gave me a full report, and shared some fabulous photos: