The seaside town of Penarth is home to Wales' priciest street of 2020.

Using the most recent available data on average selling prices from the Land Registry of houses that have sold during 2020, we can see the 10 streets in Wales with the highest average sale prices.

Most years Cardiff dominates the most expensive property landscape, and a street from a county in the north of the country usually features, but this year there is a noticeable shift.

The capital city appears four times in the top 10 with Swansea claiming the second and fourth spot. Cowbridge, which usually makes an appearance, can be seen at number eight and Newport appears for the first time at number five.

But it's the popular Vale of Glamorgan seaside town of Penarth that claims the top spot as well as position seven.

These are Wales' most expensive streets of 2020.

This seaside town close to Cardiff and the Glamorgan Heritage coast can always claim to have some of the most expensive streets in Wales within its boundaries.

Popular with families due to its good schools, parks, and pretty, substantial homes, the town is also a hot spot for workers wanting the ease of links into Cardiff but all the benefits of living outside the city.

Coast and country are on the doorstep while boutique shops, pubs, and eateries along the pretty town's high street all add up to make the location a permanent hotspot. This popularity can also mean the town is pricey.

As well as the 1m-plus mansions occupying clifftop positions along tree-lined avenues the town has apartments and attractive terraces to tempt buyers with less than a seven-figure buying budget.

According to property portal Zoopla, the current average property value in Penarth is 328,198, which is an increase of over 33,000 in just 12 months. This compares to an average of 253,020 in Cardiff with an increase of 16,679 over 2020.

However the huge variety in housing stock in the capital, especially at the lower end of the market, can partly explain the difference when compared to Penarth.

The average value of a property in Victoria Road in the town is 685,873 which is a huge 57,644 change over the past 12 months, with the average price paid 870,000.

This is despite the fact that the attractive suburban avenue, lined with distinctive Victorian villas, includes apartments which by reason of their lower price bring the average figure down.

An apartment within a handsome house in the road sold in July 2020 for 290,000 with David Baker & Co. Other sales in the street include a detached house for 1.75m and another detached property was snapped up for 940,000.

Visit the road called East Cliff on the Gower Peninsula and there's no prize for guessing why this country land running along the coast of this beautiful landscape near Swansea is one of the most expensive in Wales in 2020.

Not only is the road lined with large, expansive detached houses along this particular stretch but it is also flanked on one side by large expansive sea views.

Close to all the incredible beaches the Gower can offer, and the convenience of pretty seaside town Mumbles and further down the coast Swansea, these houses have an isolated coastal feel but with urban centres close by.

Over the past 12 months, according to Zoopla, the road has seen a 47,508 increase in the current average property value.

The pictured five-bed detached house sold for 905,000 in January of 2020 with Fine & Country Swansea.

Now the new owner is now enjoying sea views over Hunts Bay and Deep Slade Bay, a heated swimming pool and a spacious home close to Pennard golf course, while the cars are happy in a triple garage.

Even the horses can live on-site in the double stables at the back of the property.

This popular street is in the heart of the permanently desirable suburb of Pontcanna.

This affluent and characterful area to the west of the city centre, Bute Park, and Pontcanna fields is bursting with streets lined with a characterful mix of pretty period properties.

The suburb has, in the past, been named by The Sunday Times as one of the 30 most fashionable places to live in the UK and within the top 20 in TravelSupermarket's UK Hip Hang-out Neighbourhood Index.

Pontcanna can boast boutique shops, pubs, cafs and eateries making it a busy destination for residents and Cardiffians who live further afield.

Within walking distance of the city centre and flanked by vast open and undulating parkland it's not a surprise to find house prices continue to climb.

According to Zoopla the road has experienced an increase in average value of almost 39,000 over the last 12 months to 553,838, although the average price paid is more in the region of 675,000.

This super-stylish house (pictured above) in the street was sold by estate agents Jeffrey Ross for 675,000 in July 2020 and it's not a challenge to see why.

The sellers had created a gorgeous kitchen diner at the rear of the property by extending out into the side-return and cleverly adding multiple roof windows into this new slice of accommodation.

This long and winding road stretches along the seafront from Swansea to, you guessed it, the pretty coastal town of Mumbles.

It is lined by the sea of Swansea Bay on one side and a massive variety of property on other, including some substantial houses both in size and price.

Of course the closer the property is located to Mumbles and the better the sea view the higher the price a house hunter can expect to pay on this street.

This seven-bed detached house in the area of West Cross, between Black Pill and Mumbles, had space, a huge garden, partial sea views, and a vast amount of space stretching over three floors.

The house sold for 695,000 with Fine & Country Swansea in February 2020.

The road's average price paid for a property in 2020 was 650,000 and the section of the road in West Cross saw the biggest average increase during the year of 39,500.

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The city of Newport makes an appearance on the most expensive streets list and it's in the form of a new street within an exclusive four-house development on the outskirts of Llanwern.

The luxury homes were marketed with the promise of hi-spec kitchens, underfloor heating, and a massive open-plan kitchen, dining, and living room at the rear of with three sets of doors leading out onto the garden patio.

Upstairs the master suite had a dressing room and en suite plus there were three further double bedrooms on this floor as well as a family bathroom and a grand central galleried landing.

The part stone-rendered faade and black-framed windows ensured that each house looked ultra-contemporary and also distinctive and enticing.

It seems the kerb appeal and all the interior design goodies inside worked their magic and, according to Rightmove, a house here went for in the region of 645,000 via Kingston Newell, Newport.

This popular suburban street in the ever-popular north Cardiff suburb of Radyr has a variety of period properties lining its route as it wanders through the heart of the pretty suburb.

The main road through Radyr can offer terraces, semi-detached, and detached homes on both sides of the street.

Within the catchment area of Radyr High School and with amenities including a tennis club and a village centre of local shops the suburb attracts families from around the region.

This long road through the suburb has a current average value of 519,447 according to Zoopla a 32,780 increase over the last 12 months.

This handsome double-fronted period property in Heol Isaf sold in April for 865,000 and offered a new owner oodles of space including four reception rooms, four bedrooms, a large kitchen-diner lounge, and immaculate interior design over three storeys.

It could be argued that the bathrooms in the property were the star of the potential buyer's property tour, offering a five-star standard of soak in the bath or shower.

Find your next perfect home here:

The Vale of Glamorgan coastal town is represented again in the top 10 most expensive streets of 2020 and this time the road is a route that travels through a number of areas where homes can be found. It starts in Penarth, skirts past Cosmeston, and ends up at Sully.

According to Zoopla the street has seen a hefty 40,678 increase in the average value over the last 12 months to 484,005 with an average price paid of 567,500.

It's not a surprise then to discover that this long road saw a number of property sales during 2020 including this Edwardian detached home with mock Tudor detailing and large bay windows.

Outside the period property is full of traditional character but inside the home has been extended and converted into a light and spacious modern abode complete with an impressive and substantial kitchen-diner lounge at the rear.

Many of the glorious original features remain and ensure this home is a successful blend of past, present, and future.

The home sold for 727,500 in July with Watts & Morgan.

This is the only entry in the top 10 for this popular and pretty rural market town in the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan.

Cowbridge is popular for attracting commuters out of the cities and large towns to set up home in a charming and characterful place surrounded by countryside and close to the coast.

The town is continually popular for attracting visitors too and is still able to offer an individual high street packed with boutique and independent shops, cafs, pubs, and and restaurants.

The current average property value in the town, according to Zoopla, is 479,180 with the value increasing by 25,112 over the last 12 months to arrive at that figure.

Eastgate is actually just a section of the main road into the town from the east and has an attractive mix of period cottages, terraces, and substantial properties lining both sides.

This charming stone cottage in Eastgate sold in February for 329,950 with Watts & Morgan and offered the new owner three bedrooms, spacious open-plan living with kitchen and diner running from the front to the back on the ground floor.

This tree-lined avenue that travels into the heart of the suburb of Rhiwbina and its village-style high street is strewn with mainly large detached homes or attractive period semi-detached houses.

Some plots in the street are occupied by period bungalows and some plots have seen the bungalow squashed and a contemporary urban mansion replace it.

A proportion of the suburb is described as Rhiwbina Garden Village , which was developed between 1913 and 1923.

The current average value of the road is 517,860 which was arrived at by a 34,055 increase in value over the last 12 months.

The village high street includes a collection of shops featuring both national brands and independents as well as cafs and restaurants.

This four bed semi-detached house in the road was a stunning mix of period features, beautiful interiors, and modern open spaces.

The house sold in May 2020 for 585,000.

This street lined with substantial period properties, mainly semi-detached, is in the north Cardiff suburb of Whitchurch and is always popular with families due to the area's good schools, parks, community neighbourhoods, local events and blend of shops, pubs, and cafes.

There is a village-like feel to the suburb. It was once a small independent village before Cardiff expanded and it was swallowed up in the city's urban spread.

Within Whitchurch Bishop's Road is one of the most popular places for families to put down roots.

Such is the demand for family-friendly homes along the street, houses that are in need of modernisation are snapped up as soon as they go on the market for over half a million pounds.

That was the case with this house a four bed semi-detached and well-loved home in need of updating with a huge garden and oodles of space inside.

The house was sold in July 2020 for 544,000 by estate agent Hogg and Hogg.

According to Zoopla the average price paid on this street is 540,000, up by 28,682 within the last 12 months.

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The 10 most expensive streets to buy a house in Wales in 2020 - Wales Online

PLANS to develop 1,000 apartments at the old Ford distribution site on Centre Park Road at Corks docklands have been met with a mixed reaction from city councillors.

Detailed plans for the development site have been published in recent days.

For a number of years, the Live at the Marquee concert series has been held at the site. The concert series is also expected to take place there from May until June of 2021.

The new plans have been devised by Kildare company Marina Quarter Limited and include the construction of 1,002 apartments comprising a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bed apartments in 12 blocks, ranging in height from four to 14 storeys.

The 1,002 homes are to be built on 5.97 hectares in the area, situated within the South Docks Development area, approximately 1.9km from Cork city centre.

Blocks 1 to 12 include commercial and community facilities, including the provision of five retail units, one montessori school, one creche, a medical centre, bar, caf, venue/ performance area, and two community resource spaces.

An application has now been lodged with An Bord Pleanla for the strategic housing development which can be decided on by the planning board as it exceeds a development of 100 homes and, therefore, does not have to go through the local authority for planning permission.

The application is for a 10-year planning permission period.

An environmental impact assessment report has been prepared in respect of the proposed development and accompanies the application.

Mixed reaction to plans

Fine Gael Councillor Des Cahill said he was delighted to see the application but was concerned the developer would struggle to build the project with current construction costs and said the apartments might not be affordable for people.

In contrast, Independent Councillor Kieran McCarthy said he had a number of concerns about the project including a lack of green space and public realm, overdensity, and potential traffic congestion.

Mr Cahill said the city was crying out for apartments and he would not be too concerned with the current plans as it would be tweaked and changed as it goes through the planning process, but Mr McCarthy said he was uninspired and unimpressed with the architecture of the development and would be making a submission to An Bord Pleanla outlining his numerous concerns.

Mr Cahill said the project has to be high spec and high density. You cant go building semi-detached houses in the city centre, Mr Cahill said.

Mr McCarthy said the landscape layout and design was not jumping out at him and said while he acknowledged the area needed to be developed and the developer has obviously put a great deal of time and money into the project, he thought the project was out of sorts with what the city needed.

I am conscious that there is a city development plan in the works with the city council and I feel this project is premature. There is a new master plan coming and there are developments being proposed before the plan, that are haphazardly being put to An Bord Pleanla.

Plans for the development have been published online here.

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Mixed reaction to plans for former Ford site at docklands - EchoLive.ie

Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson, who was elected to a historic fifth term without opposition this year, said 2020 had bright spots, despite its challenges, and expects better things in 2021.

As we come to the end of what has been for many a very tough year, I dont think Americans have ever been more anxious to start a new year than they are now.

Despite the challenges associated with the pandemic, 2020 had some high spots for the City of Andalusia. In January, we were able to close on 143,000 square feet of space in 18 mostly-vacant buildings in our historic downtown. We announced the acquisition on March 10 just three days before the first announcements of closings in Alabama in the wake of the coronavirus.

We were able to work out an agreement with Andy Gibson and Draftstone Properties to renovate the building commonly known as the Opera House, and are very pleased that his first tenant opened there in December. He has further renovations planned, and a waiting list for the apartments that will be developed upstairs.

Across the street from him, Lee and Debbie Williams were inspired to renovate the old Brunson Bakery and will open the Bluebird Coffee Co. next week.

Michael and Shaun Jackson set opening week records when they opened the new Firehouse Subs. The pandemic delayed announcements of agreements they have at Covington Mall, but we expect those to be announced soon.

It is good to see local people investing in our community, and these are all examples of just that: People who live in Andalusia, believe in Andalusia, and are helping us grow.

As Johnson looks ahead, he said he is hopeful for a return to more normalized patterns in the community.

As we look ahead to 2021, we are anxiously awaiting the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, first, for our first responders who will begin receiving them this week, and then for others in our community. Once we get through January, when the virus is expected to surge, and begin to get people in the general population vaccinated, we are hopeful for a return to more normalized patterns in our community.

Carlisle Corp. has come out of the ground with the foundation for the new Wendys, and we expect it to open near the end of the first quarter of 2021.

For much of 2020, we worked on upgrading an existing spec building in our industrial park for Covington Casket. That project also is nearing completion, and they should have all of their operation moved there by the end of the first quarter.

Another project begun in 2020 that should be completed early in 2021 was the construction of the first house in our new Garden District in the Church Street School area. The City of Andalusia has partnered with Hila Gatewood of Gatewood and Sons to develop the garden district housing. The plan calls for renovation of some homes, as well as construction of new ones designed to blend in older neighborhoods. All will be part of a neighborhood association that sets standards for landscaping and maintenance.

Out at Johnson Park our crews have been working on the installation of our new splash pad, which will open when it gets a little bit warmer this spring.

Very soon, well begin working on the new parking lot downtown at the former Brooks Hardware site, and we expect to have that done by the end of the first quarter. This project is critically important for the redevelopment of our downtown.

We also expect to announce three new contracts for space in our historic downtown by the end of the first quarter, and are continuing to negotiate with others interested in downtown redevelopment. We also are seeking grant funding to add bike lanes to East Three Notch, which will make our downtown safer and more livable.

In 2021, Johnson said they will continue to work in partnership with other municipalities and county governments to develop a rails to trails project. We have taken the first steps to put a coalition together, and continue to negotiate with the railroad to acquire the property.

There was good news for much of Alabama in the spending package President Trump signed into law on Sunday, and specifically for the Wiregrass. The package included $1.2 billion for flight training at Fort Rucker, which means their helicopters will continue to land and refuel in Andalusia, which is important for the South Alabama Regional Airport Authority. I cannot overstate the importance of the airport and the industries surrounding it to the economic health of our community.

Like most other Americans, I am looking forward to 2021, and believe it will be another good year for Andalusia.

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Andalusia Mayor reflects on 2020 - The Andalusia Star-News - Andalusia Star-News

Automotive product planning requires lead times measured in years. And good thing, too, because otherwise I might not have had much to cover this year. Despite the pandemic, new cars kept rolling out and we here at Car and Driver kept driving them, albeit sometimes only around our homes. And, as always, certain themes emerged over the course of the year. Some were as obvious as a supercharged Hellcat (of which there are now many) and some were more subtlelike the persistent accommodations for physical keys, even in the Age of the Fob. Before opening the first notebook of 2021, a few leftovers from 2020's pages.

1It's All Hellcats These Days

This year, Dodge took a look at its lineup and decided it was sadly bereft of 700-horsepower V-8s. So they put a Hellcat engine in the Ram. They put a Hellcat engine in the Durango. Then they took a look at the Charger and decided that, you know, it wasn't Hellcatted enoughso they Redeyed it with 797 horsepower. Dodge held a track day at Carolina Motorsports Park. It was raining. All the cars were sterilized between drivers, so the only thing you had to worry about was 797 horsepower and rear-wheel-drive in the rain.

2This Was The Year of EV Drifting

3Metal Keys Live On

Sure, all but the cheapest cars use proximity keys (or now, even your phone) to unlock and start, but the old-school metal key remains a faithful backup. Did the battery die on your Ferrari Portofino? Fear nothere's your lock cylinder on the door, just like you'd find on a 1983 Ferrari 308. It's almost like we still don't fully trust electronic components in mission-critical situations, and there might be an analogy to autonomous vehicles here but I can't quite figure it out.

4"Your Frontier Is So Old..."

"Yo, your Nisan Frontier is so old, it has a big round plastic puck next to the steering column because its platform predated RF key fobs and they had to cover up the ignition switch when they added that later!" Also, its VIN is 00000000000000001.

5Confirmed, Again: Touchpads Are Not A Good Way To Do It

This is one from Lexus. It is not a good way to do it. Two knobs or a scroll wheel and a few buttonsthat's a good way to do it. But the LC500 Convertible (which, uh, this is not) can do whatever it wants because look at it.

6Touchpads Are Not A Good Way To Do It, Part II

The 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec is a lot of fun. Except for this. Look at those two items on the right: They're so close to getting it.

7Not To Get Too Salty About Toyota Ergonomics, But...

Most cars orient their start buttons vertically, to the right of the steering column, or horizontally on the console. The 2021 Toyota Venza has a button next to the steering wheel, butsurprise!it's for the trip odometer. The start button is hanging out under the climate control. Yeah, you'd get used to it. But "let's move the most important button farther away" seems like an odd design decision.

8Most Hardcore Crossover Suspension: Volvo XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered

So you can push a button and adjust the suspension on your crossover? That's cool, but not as cool as the Polestar XC60's manually adjustable hlins setup. To adjust the dampers, here's all you do: pop the hood, turn the adjustment knob 20 clicks one way or the other, then count how many clicks you turn it the other way to make the damping softer or firmer. Then do the same on the opposite side (don't lose count of those clicks!). Then close the hood and go to the rear of the car, where there are similar knobs on each side. But they're covered by a dust cap that you'll have to removeonce you jack up the rear of the car to get some clearance, because you probably can't fit your hand in there between the tire and the fender. So anyway, you're never going to do this are you?

9Subaru Brought Back Gold Trim

Remember the 90s? There were no pandemics and plenty of cars had awesome gold badges. Sadly, gold fell out of fashion, along with low-rise jeans and Creed. But it's back, baby, thanks to Subaru. Just look at this 2021 Crosstrek badge! Subaru calls that color "plasma yellow pearl," but we know it's totally golden.

10CVTs Aren't Bad... With Turbos

While the Michigan crew tested the AWD Buick Encore GX, I got the FWD version, which uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) instead of a nine-speed automatic. I was primed for disappointment, yet the CVT wasn't bad, thanks to the 1.3-liter turbo's 174 lb-ft of torque. Without need to ever rev the little three-banger very high, you can forget what kind of transmission you have, for the most part. Thanks, turbos!

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Ezra Dyer's Hellcat of a Year: A Few Notes on 2020 - Car and Driver

Pittsburghs housing market will stay strong through the end of this year, with low interest rates. And with the election behind us, people are focusing on the future, says Lori Hummel of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.

It is busy, Hummel says. While there is still an inventory problem we need more inventory there are good options out there for people. And if someone is thinking about listing a house, nows the perfect time to do it. Your house never looks better than it does around the holidays when its decorated for people to come visit.

There are apartments, townhomes and some spec homes for those wanting new construction, as often is the case with people moving here from out of state, Hummel says.

Were seeing a lot of that people moving in from other areas as a result of Covid. Someone who will be working from home might say, Why am I staying here in D.C., in an expensive rental, when I can move back to Pittsburgh and be near family?

The higher-end market can be a little more challenging, but even at the $400,000 price mark there are options in and around the city. Just be prepared: Homes are still selling quickly. Heres a sampling across the region to see what this price point gets you in different neighborhoods.

SOUTH

752 North Meadowcroft Avenue in Mount Lebanon.

Neighborhood: 752 N. Meadowcroft Ave., Mt. Lebanon

Asking price: $399,000

Style: Colonial

Description: Built in 1940, this 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath brick home has a 1-car garage, fenced backyard and hardwood floors throughout. The living room has a fireplace and access to a slate patio; the kitchen has a pantry and breakfast bar. There are touches of character throughout, such as a window seat at the top of the stairs and a built-in bookshelf in the family room.

1800 McMillan Road in Upper St. Clair.

Neighborhood: 1800 McMillan Road, Upper St. Clair

Asking price: $399,900

Style: Colonial

Description: This brick home has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a large landscaped yard and a 2-car garage. The central hall with an open staircase and the main floors hardwood floors speak to formality, but the family room with a gas fireplace and the eat-in kitchen make this a welcoming home. Theres a finished basement with a wet bar and full bath. A park is within walking distance.

EAST

6332 Burchfield Avenue in Squirrel Hill.

Neighborhood: 6332 Burchfield Ave., Squirrel Hill South

Asking price: $399,900

Style: Three-story

Description: This 4-bedroom, 2-bath home on a tree-lined street is located near Frick Park and all the amenities of Squirrel Hill. Beyond the front porch is a well-kept interior with hardwood floors and good-sized rooms. The bedrooms have large closets and the third-floor bedroom could be an office or play space. There is a back porch, fenced yard and a detached garage.

458 44th Street in Lawrenceville.

Neighborhood: 458-44th St., Lawrenceville

Asking price: $395,000

Style: Townhome

Description: This remodeled townhome is indicative of what makes Lawrenceville so popular. Built in 1900, the 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath property is move-in ready. The hardwood floors, kitchen and baths have been completely redone; an enclosed porch could be a four-season room. The attached garage with parking for 2-3 vehicles is an unusual bonus for this neighborhood.

NORTH

113 Charterwood Drive in Ross.

Neighborhood: 113 Charterwood Dr., Ross

Asking price: $395,000

Style: Multi-level

Description: This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home in the North Hills School District has an open floor plan and a spacious yard made for families. The master bedroom has two walk-in closets; an office/den on the main floor could be a fifth bedroom. The kitchen has been remodeled, with an island, and the family room has a decorative fireplace. Theres a 2-car integral garage.

2394 Bellwood Drive in Franklin Park.

Neighborhood: 2394 Bellwood Dr., Franklin Park

Asking price: $405,000Style: Colonial

Description: Built in 1979, this stately 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home has mature landscaping and wooded views. The kitchen opens to the family room, with a wood-burning fireplace. Bedrooms are large, with double closets, and the bathrooms have been updated. The 2-car garage has cabinets and a work bench. Theres a back porch and a covered patio.

WEST

403 Patriot Drive in Carnegie.

Neighborhood: 403 Patriot Dr., Carnegie

Asking price: $399,100

Style: Two-story

Description: Built just four years ago, this 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home has an open floor plan and 4-car garage. The main floor includes a bonus room and sunroom; the laundry room is on the second floor. In the finished basement, theres a multi-purpose room with a kitchenette and media/theatre area. Theres a large backyard, and the neighborhood has a swimming pool.

200 Church Drive in Coraopolis.

Neighborhood: 200 Church Dr., Coraopolis

Asking price: $399,924

Style: 1.5-Story

Description: This home, built is 1987, is well-appointed inside and out. Custom built, it has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, an oversized 3.5-car garage and a covered deck. Design details include vaulted ceilings, two fireplaces, built-ins and a 14-by-16 closet in the master suite. The first floor has a laundry room and computer room. Gardens with a stone waterfall surround the house.

STRIP DISTRICT

2512 Penn Avenue in the Strip District.

Neighborhood: 2512 Penn Ave., Strip District

Asking price: $399,900

Style: Two-story

Description: This beautiful remodel in the heart of the Strip District features exposed brick walls, laminate flooring, a basement game room, a main-level laundry room and a fenced backyard. Built in 1890, the home has two bedrooms and 1.5 baths and an easy, open floor plan. Its close to Pittsburgh Opera and DiAnoias Eatery.

16 Greenbush Street in Mt Washington.

Neighborhood: 16 Greenbush St., Mt. Washington

Asking price: $399,000

Style: Multi-family Victorian

Description: Built in 1920, this home has a great floor plan and outstanding views from all floors. The high ceilings and detailed woodwork show off its Victorian design. The first floor could be a 1-bedroom apartment; the second floor has a living room, dining room, kitchen, den and laundry room. The third floor has a master suite and two more bedrooms.

Looking for more real estate? ReadWhat $350,000 will buy you in Pittsburgh right now.

Pittsburgh housing marketPittsburgh real estate

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What $400,000 will buy you in Pittsburgh right now - NEXTpittsburgh

At 16 years old, Shawna Huston found herself homeless after her mother died in a car accident. At 21, she remodeled and fixed up a rental she was occupying in exchange for lower rent. Three decades later, Huston would continue to spruce up and update living spaces and homes all around the county, finding her home in many.

There is something that my friends call a quintessential Shawna House, Huston said about homes she chooses to remodel. Generally, the home will have a big, beautiful front porch, be a beautiful farmhouse style with a lot of character. Those are signs of what people would call a Shawna House.

Huston got her start in remodeling homes not long after she fixed up her rental, and her inspiration to work in real estate goes back even further. When she was a child, she would ride in the back of her parents car as they looked at real estate. While she might not have understood everything her parents were talking about she knew one thing: real estate was exciting and there were opportunities everywhere. Following her rental fixup at 21, Huston bought a 10-acre parcel of land in La Center and divided the property into two separate 5-acre plots. She sold one of the 5-acre plots and used the funds to put in a well, septic system and build her first spec-house, a house you build for profit. Once she was finished, a career was born, and for the next 30 years, Huston would see, do and participate in every part of the remodeling process.

Buying, selling, designing, flipping. After 30 years, there isnt much I havent seen or done, she said, mentioning that she has worked on everything from tiny houses to homes with more than five bedrooms.

While there are a few aspects that make up a typical Shawna House, Huston said she has done everything from a small remodel that required just a new paint job, to completely renovating a house from the ground up.

When looking at homes to fix up, Huston uses a two-step process. First, she decides whether or not the project will pencil out, a phrase she uses to describe whether or not the project will work out financially. To decide whether or not it's worth it, Huston takes into account finances and how much work she is going to need to put into the house. Because Huston does nearly every part of the remodel on her own accord without contractors, some homes can take years to complete. Secondly, Huston takes into account what the house needs and where she is at personally.

I ask myself, do I want to bust my butt right now or just make this a quick flip? she said.

Instead of living in a permanent residence and flipping homes on the side, Huston moves into the house she is working on so she is always there. The home shes currently residing in with her husband Joshua, who is helping he with the project, was built around the time of the Great Depression and is a four-square with a big solid porch and has six bedrooms. According to Huston, the Woodland home was built to house workers building the railway that runs through the town in the early 1900s. Huston said it was in terrible condition when she bought it a year ago as the home lacked heating as well as having both porches caved it when she bought it. She finally moved into the home in July.

Its starting to get very cozy now, she said, mentioning that while she's doing the remodeling work, she does everything she can to not get emotionally attached to the home.

The home Shawna Huston is currently living in was built around the time of the Great Depression and housed people building the railroad. Huston said the home was in terrible condition when she bought it and is hopeful for its future.

Another unique thing Huston adds to her builds and remodels is the presence of a real wood fireplace or wood stove. Many places Huston chooses to remodel have them already installed, but if they dont, Huston makes sure they do. As to why she does it, Huston said she grew up with wood-fired heating in her home and went to bed with a potato at her feet to keep the bed warm. She wanted those memories in every house.

I just love a home that oozes comfort and joy, she said. I want everyone to feel welcome.

Huston does nearly every single part of the remodeling project on her own. If a house needs tile, shes there to install it. Fresh coats of paint and primer are applied by her as well. Everything down to the foundation is touched by Huston to ensure the final product is perfect.

Ive knocked down so many walls you wouldnt believe, she said.

Even though she does most of the heavy lifting, Huston said her favorite part of working on homes is the design process. She said houses and real estate are her art form and compared a piece of real estate to a blank canvas. She said many people will look at a house and think what a piece of crap, but Huston said she can see the end product in her mind, no matter the current situation.

People will come back a year later and see the work Ive done and just be blown away, she explained. In my mind, all I ever see is the end product.

After completing 24 homes in the Clark and Cowlitz county areas, Huston said she isnt done fixing up houses yet, but does hope to eventually retire to a piece of land with property. For now, she is the self-described queen of the five-year plan and said she always plans out five years in the future. The five-year plan keeps her on her toes and holds her accountable for her projects. Some of her favorite projects of years past were an older farmhouse in the Hockinson Area she dubbed the Original Hockinson Farmhouse and a project where she worked on a cottage near Lake Merwin with her daughter.

As Huston looks at prospects of retiring from the business, she continues to make a mark in her family. Her daughter, currently abroad in the United Kingdom, seems to have found the same love of real estate as her mother. Huston said her daughter's love of house flipping was inspired by growing up in it. Because the family never had a permanent residence, her kids were used to moving into a house and seeing every aspect of the remodel process.

They see value in something that no one else wants, Huston said of her children.

As far as permanently settling down in the future, Huston said her dream is to own a large plot of land to stay on with a beautiful house and landscaping. Because she gardens in her free time, she wants her permanent residence to have a place for garden and landscaping work. Most of all, she wants a place where she can enjoy life and create a place where a family can thrive.

Shawna Huston holds her son, Sean Haug, on the porch in front of one of her favorite projects that she dubs the Battle Ground Parkway House in 1999.

Coming where I came from at 16 and not having those things, its extremely important to me, she said. Im looking for a place where I can enjoy my grandkids and a life well lived.

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Flipping it around: Local spends time flipping houses all over the county - The Reflector

This 6,616-square-foot new build on Strait Lane fits the streets reputation for large, elaborately designed homes. The design is open, modern and minimalistic.

Listing agent Janelle Alcantara said the home has a unique design.

This is really dramatically different from any other house thats out there, Alcantara said.

The home was built by architect Doug Guiling, who has worked primarily in commercial architecture but wanted to build a speculative home. This is the second home he has built on Strait Lane. The other is next door.

The home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and three half-bathrooms. The open concept in the living areas is magnified by large windows and natural light.

Neutral tones flow throughout the home with varying colors of wood throughout.

The living, kitchen and breakfast area are in a large room that is open to the second level. The room overlooks the natural backyard and the pool on the back porch through a wall of windows. A secondary kitchen (or catering kitchen) sits behind a wall in the primary kitchen, making more room for entertaining and preparation. Wood cabinets in the kitchen match the paneling details throughout the living room and on the stairway that leads to the second level.

The grand stairway is accented by a large, round window of glass that looks between the stairs and the living room.

A formal dining area, living area and wine room are also on the first floor.

The primary suite, a first-floor room, overlooks the backyard and porch. It has an attached sitting room with a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows.

The remaining four bedrooms are on the second floor, each with their own en suite bathroom. An upstairs living area, study and a play room with patio access add to the homes living space.

Outside, there is a covered pool adjacent to the back patio of the home with a nearby sitting area. The remainder of the back yard is open and has a natural feel.

11468 Strait Lane is listed for $3,695,000 by Janelle Alcantara of Briggs Freeman Sothebys International Realty.

1/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

2/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

3/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

4/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

5/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

6/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

7/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

8/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

9/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

10/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

11/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

12/12A look at the property at 11468 Strait Lane in Dallas.(Shoot2Sell Photography)

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Peek inside this Dallas spec house on Strait Lane and marvel at the modern details - The Dallas Morning News

Randy Renner and his son, Randy Renner Jr., specialize in restoring old homes, but thats not what they did at 7635 Westmoreland, just north of downtown Clayton. Rather, the Renners, co-founders of Period Restoration, built a new house on that lot, one that would be in harmony with the historic residences nearby.

When we do infill, we go to great lengths to make it fit, says the younger Renner. In this case, they werent enacting any specific clients vision. They were constructing a spec home, and relied on their own instincts for the design and build.

They wanted the kitchen to have ample natural light, so they installed three large windows in the main wall. That decision shrank the space available for upper cabinets, but theres plenty of room for storage elsewhere: inside the island, which is 4 feet deep, and on the adjacent wall, which holds lighted cabinets that stretch up to the ceiling.

That ceiling is a showstopper. Its molding is a nod to the coffered plaster ceilings found in many architecturally significant homes in the St. Louis area. Its fine, angular shapes jell visually with the trapezoidal range hood of stainless steel and polished nickeland with the biconical light fixtures and sconces by Visual Comfort.

The Renners wanted the future homeowners to be equipped to entertain, so they installed two sinks and two dishwashers. The island features a niche offering enough legroom for guests wishing to sidle up to it on stools and rest their cocktails on the Carrara marble countertop. Adjacent to the kitchen is a wet bar outfitted in handsome dark wood. Renner Jr. says he and his father prefer to feel their way through projects like these rather than follow a meticulous blueprint.

We dont ever have plans, he says. We just do it as we go. After they finished this project, late last year, the COVID-19 crisis gained steam in St. Louis, forcing them to remove the house from the real estate listingsbut they plan to put it back on the market soon.

Standout Feature:The refrigerator and freezer are concealed by quartersawn oak panels. The latches, from Locks & Pulls Design Elements, are made to mimic the look of a 1920s icebox.

Read more here:
How Period Restoration borrowed from the past to make a kitchen for today - St. Louis Magazine

Blaine Noland Construction has moved to a new location on Third Street, and has also begun building new, custom residential homes

Blaine Noland Construction and Painting has moved to a new location.

Blaine Noland moved his office in November 2019 to 896 NE Third in Prineville, a site formerly occupied by Jay Porter CPA. Noland's construction skills are evident throughout Crook County, including the remodel of Club Pioneer, the paint job on the Associates Real Estate building, several new shop constructions and countless paint jobs and remodels. In addition, Noland also builds custom, new residential stick-built homes.

Noland said that he remodeled the Stafford Inn (now Country Inn and Suites), which included 60 rooms and 10,000 square feet of tile. He has remodeled a number of offices in Prineville as well.

Noland provides services as a general contractor in construction remodeling and additions, interior and exterior painting for both residential and commercial jobs, and handyman work. Recently, Noland has added residential construction.

"I started off just myself, and then I brought on a painter," Noland indicated of his beginnings as a contractor.

He started his business six years ago. Prior to beginning his own business, he worked for his father doing construction. They were partners for four years. Noland grew up around construction. His first remodel was the "Roundup" building on Northeast Harwood Street.

"I was scared to death and got my license and was on my own, and next thing I knew I needed employees."

Noland has expanded to the current level of 15 employees. His wife, Ali, works in the office. He has resolved to not have partners in his business.

"I am here in a wonderful new location, and I have great employees, great painting side, handyman and construction side," Noland exclaimed of his current location.

He indicated that their business does 300 to 400 estimates for jobs per year, and lands about 250 jobs per year.

"It ranges from a 20-minute fix-it to building houses," he noted. "I build my own spec houses."

He also started flipping houses approximately three years ago. Since then, he has done a number of houses. He added that when he began doing new constructions, he started with custom shops and that has grown to building custom residences.

Noland did his first custom shop in Powell Butte about four years ago. Since that time, he has built several similar custom shops, which include apartments.

"My motto is, we have moved a few times. However, we are not moving out of town. We are just moving on up," he said.

Noland also supports Crook County sports and he supports sponsorships in Prineville. His company does an annual paint give-away. He also donated the labor and paint for the CC signs on the hill on the south side of Crook County High School.

He commented that he specializes in designing spaces and helping people reconstruct spaces.

"I just love doing that," Noland said. "That is definitely what I specialize in; helping people understand their space and understanding how to fix something anything."

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Blaine Noland Construction and Painting

Owner: Blaine Noland

Business Address: 896 NE Third St., Prineville 97754

Phone: 541-233-9619

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 to 4:30 (lunch 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

Call for free estimates

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Expanding business in a new location - Pamplin Media Group

Some architects design monuments, even entire cities. Others build custom homes for private clients. One requires assistants, political acumen, lots of money. The other can require an extra dose of empathy and patience when dealing with finicky clients and lots of money, too.

Norm Applebaum focused on private residences.

My clients become my family, he once said. Their homes, and the architecture I create for them, are my children. They can never be duplicated, and the bond we share lasts a lifetime.

Applebaum designed and remodeled dozens of homes in more than 50 years and gave names to some of them, like Wings in Escondido and Sun Catch in Rancho Santa Fe. And unlike some architects who become frustrated with finicky clients, he befriended his clients for life.

Applebaum, a Chicago native and San Diego resident since the late 1960s, died March 25 of leukemia. He was 80.

He was a passionate guy, said his widow, Barbara Roper. He loved everything with depth.

Keith York, founder and curator of the Modern San Diego website on local architecture, said Appleton was one of those weird, unique bridges to the past to San Diegos post-World War II generation of architects who started their careers in the 1940s and 50s.

A member of the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects since 1974, Applebaum received its highest honor in 2018, the Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement Award.

His abilities and passion as an architect, artist and master craftsman are impressive, and they are readily reflected in his work, the citation read.

Norman Martin Applebaum was born in Chicago on Dec. 28, 1939, and moved with his family five years later to Los Angeles, where his mother was a mezzo-soprano and his father, a violinist.

Norm took up the trombone and studied at the Los Angeles Music Conservatory. He played jazz with the likes of Stan Kenton, Dick Shearer and Peter Sprague.

My background as a musician strengthens my creative process, he once said, and as a jazz musician, more so, because of improvisation.

Applebaum attended the Merchandising Institute in Los Angeles and took an aptitude test at LA City College to see if he was suited to be an architect. The test didnt say so, but he ignored the results and earned an architectural degree in 1968 from Arizona State University. He soon moved to San Diego, worked for several firms before earning his architectural license and started his one-man firm in 1972.

All my homes are done artistically, Applebaum said. I dont do any development or tract work or spec work. All my individual custom homes are art.

Applebaum took his cues from Southern Californias pre-World War II architectural heritage, drawing on both its Hispanic traditions and contemporary styles.

It began in the 1930s, he told The San Diego Unions architecture critic Kay Kaiser in 1984. So we should keep using it, whatever the contemporary ideas may be.

Roper, Applebaums third wife, said contemporary styles went only so far with her husband.

He hated the downtown area with all the Vancouver-like buildings with all the balconies, she said.

Applebaum never wanted to visit the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park, home of many Old Masters, she said, because the 1960s modern building clashes with the Spanish Colonial revival buildings around it.

One of Applebaums biggest and most contemporary homes was what he called Sun Catch, the Rancho Santa Fe residence completed in 2006 for investment company executive Charles Brandes and his wife Tanya.

Among its many features are 27-inch-thick steel beams, covered in wood, that extend the roof as much as 85 feet beyond the walls and act like sun catchers.

When you start defying gravity, you create a mystique, Applebaum told a Union-Tribune interviewer at the time. (People will wonder) how did he do it.

One of Applebaums many clients who became a devoted friend was Richard Matheron, a retired U.S. ambassador to several African countries. In 1988 Applebaum designed a home he called Wings, overlooking the San Diego Zoos Safari Park, and a replacement when it was lost in the 2007 Witch Creek-Guejito Fire.

He was my best male friend over the years, Matheron said. He used to say frequently that he must have done something right if clients continue to invite him back to dinner.

Applebaum would typically interview clients about their goals for a new or remodeled home and then build intricate models out of corrugated cardboard that were works of art in themselves.

Both Kay (his late wife) and I always enjoyed the process, Matheron said. We never felt we were in a hurry.

When the first house was lost, Applebaum met the couple shortly afterward and began planning a replacement, this time with photovoltaic cells and other sustainable architectural features.

The first house had much of a zen quality, he said. This house is, in a way, more monumental. The fireplace is massive.

In recent years Applebaum joined Matheron and other buddies at the AMC Mira Mesa multiplexs live simulcasts of New York Metropolitan Opera productions. They then would walk to Mimis Cafe for lunch. Applebaum insisted that Matheron order the French pot roast.

Youll want that, Applebaum said, but Matheron judged it Frenchish not French. It became a running joke.

Roper said Applebaum did not travel in San Diego society circles, where architects sometimes find their best clients.

He was hungry for work at times but he never complained about it, she said.

Roper said Applebaum arranged to have his drawings and other works donated to the UC Santa Barbara Art, Design & Architecture Museum with more than 275 collections include papers and drawings by leading California architects.

Norm said hes in good company, she said.

Besides Roper, Applebaum is survived by his two sons, Anthony and Jeffrey, who both live in San Diego, and five grandchildren. The family requests friends make donations in his memory to the San Diego Blood Bank or a charity of their choice.

Roger Showley, a freelance writer, can be reached at rmshowley@yahoo.com and (619) 787-5714.

Read more here:
Norm Applebaum, architect as friend and artist, 80 - The San Diego Union-Tribune