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For some, it’s the smell of freshly cut grass and the brush of leaves in the breeze, creating an escape from daily stressors. For others, it’s a competitive arena where precision skills are honed. It’s where business is sealed with a handshake, lifelong friendships are forged, wagers are won—and drinking is not only permitted, but encouraged.

It’s been called “a good walk spoiled” (Mark Twain), “the most fun you can have without taking your clothes off” (Chi Chi Rodriguez), and “an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle” (many, many folks).

If the allure of golf has you in its grip, as it does for so many, perhaps you’ve entertained the fantasy of living near a golf course. Affordable real estate with great proximity to a course might sound too good to be true, like hitting a hole-in-one with your first swing of the day (or ever). But we’re here to correct that notion.

The data team at Realtor.com® found the places in the U.S. that have the best balance of great access to golf courses, relatively affordable real estate, and weather best suited for days on the greens. Some of these towns you’ve surely heard of and might assume come with a high price. Others are hidden gems you might not have thought of as great golf markets.

Whether you’re a near pro, a weekend duffer, or someone who just likes the idea of living near a course, you might just find your dream home on the green. Even if you’re not a golfer, these cities offer a lot to appreciate, from excellent weather to a high quality of life.

“In most residential golf communities, it’s only about a quarter of residents who are active golfers,” says Brad Klein, a golf course design consultant and golf journalist. “So what that tells you is that a lot of people are drawn to the golf community, even if they don’t play golf.”

Most golf communities draw a highly diverse group of homebuyers who nonetheless share certain bonds: They’re physically active and crave regular social interaction, says Klein.

“If you have golf, you probably also have pickle ball, swimming, platform tennis, a gym, and a social center at the local clubhouse,” he says. “Even if you don’t play, you have all kinds of options living near this sort of community.”

The cities on our list aren’t just golf havens. Many are also places with a high quality of life, where a cost of living below the national average makes them affordable not just in terms of real estate, but also in terms of everyday expenses.

We found these places by first rounding up all the real estate listings on Realtor.com from the past year within a 10-minute drive (in normal conditions) from one or more of the 6,445 public and private golf courses in the nation that we were able to map out. Then we aggregated home price data for those listings by city.

Then we factored in the number of golf courses clustered in those areas and weighed the climate and weather patterns—favoring places with more warm days to hit the links. Finally, we selected just one place per state, to ensure geographic diversity. (Otherwise, the list would be mostly Florida towns, along with some Mississippi locations and a couple of spots in Arizona.)

Let’s tee off into our top 10 locations for finding affordable homes near a golf course.

This 1,700-square-foot, two-bedroom home that backs up to the course is listed for $325,000.

(Realtor.com)

Nearby golf courses: 28
Median list price* for homes near golf courses: $299,900

Sun City, known for decades as a golf lover’s dream community, has year-round golf weather, a staggering number of nearby courses, and real estate that’s priced about 9% below the national average, vaulting it to the top of our list.

Now, this does come with a caveat: Generally, residents must be aged 55 and up, because this planned community on the northwest corner of the Phoenix metro area is aimed at retirees. The rules for who can live there are a bit complicated, so be sure to read up on the details.

This desert oasis has been drawing golf-minded retirees since it was established in 1960. Sun City was the first active retirement community in the United States, and it earned its pioneering developer, Del Webb, a place on the cover of Time magazine in 1962.

“What’s most impressive about it is how difficult it was to get golf courses out there with so little water,” says golf expert Klein. “The course superintendents getting grass to grow out there, on decomposing granite in the middle of the desert, is just amazing. People must have thought they were crazy.”

The Sun City South Golf Course is one of the most well known of the 28 golf courses in the area.

This 1,700-square-foot, two-bedroom home that backs up to the course is listed for $325,000.

Nearby golf courses: 12
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $245,000

Situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, a little north of Fort Lauderdale, and just south of Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach has great access to golf courses and the shore. (See our annual affordable beach towns list, in case that also strikes your interest.)

The median home price for Deerfield Beach listings within 10 minutes of a golf course is $245,000, far below the national median of around $430,000. That’s because the vast majority of listings are cheaper condos and townhomes under 1,000 square feet.

The climate in Deerfield Beach is classified as a tropical rainforest, with warm, wet summers and mild, dry winters, making it an ideal location for all kinds of outdoor activities year-round.

“I was just in Deerfield Beach,” says Beth Daly, a real estate agent at Re/Max Experience in Fort Lauderdale. “We had the bluest sky, and the ocean was like a glass of water you could see all the way to the bottom.”

Daly says she frequently hears about the golf culture that buyers—especially out-of-towners—are looking for.

“I just had some golfers from Buffalo Grove, outside of Chicago,” Daly says, “They wanted a full-service club to live near, and they had plenty of options to choose from.”

Listed for $324,900, this home sits near the Sunkist Country Club’s championship 18-hole course.

(Realtor.com)

Nearby golf courses: 11
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $215,000

Biloxi is a city that we see often when we look for affordable housing markets with standout quality-of-life features. Homes here are very inexpensive, at just about half of the national median list price.

And the Gulf coast climate means you golfers can hit the links just about anytime of the year. And when taking a day off from playing golf, residents here can enjoy the Biloxi beaches, with the neighboring Gulfport leading our most affordable beach towns list.

This three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house on a third of an acre, for $324,900, is near the Sunkist Country Club’s championship 18-hole course.

Home shoppers can find a three-bedroom home about a half-mile from the Bacon Park Golf Course for $328,000.

(Realtor.com)

Nearby golf courses: 11
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $319,000

One of the most iconic Southern cities takes a top spot on our list, with year-round golf weather, homes priced about 25% below the national median, and plenty of opportunities to hit the fairways. The coastal, Gothic city is also known for its antebellum architecture and arts and culture scene.

The whole southeastern Atlantic seaboard is thick with golf culture and an abundance of world-class courses.

“Savannah, and the areas north into the Charleston area—where we hear it called ‘Lowcountry’ golf—is really popular right now,” says Tom Coyne, a New York Times bestselling golf author. “There’s so much more to this area than just the buddy trip for one or two rounds.”

But it’s not just exclusive or high-priced courses that people should think of in the area.

“There’s a sneaky-good public golf course in Savannah, called Bacon Park, which is just really charming and very affordable, and I believe it was designed by Donald Ross [we checked, and it was], a famous golf course tech,” Coyne says. “To be able to play a Donald Ross course for whatever the greens fee is there, it’s just awesome.”

Home shoppers can find a three-bedroom home about a half-mile from the Bacon Park Golf Course for $328,000.

Nearby golf courses: 7
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $194,900

Mobile, located on the Mobile Bay spilling out into the Gulf of Mexico, has the most affordable golf-proximate real estate on our list. Home prices here are less than half the national median of $430,000 in April. And while the home prices aren’t high, the area is rich with golf history.

“Alabama is known for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, where they have a literal trail of courses designed by the great Robert Trent Jones,” Coyne says. The famous golf course architect designed more than 500 courses between the 1930s and the 1990s.

Mobile and the surrounding areas have a subtropical climate, which means lots of rainfall, so it’s no wonder the area has been a center of golf culture since early in the 20th century.

For less than $100,000, golfers on a budget can find a two-bedroom condo that’s walking distance from the famous Pine Lakes Country Club.

(Realtor.com)

Nearby golf courses: 22
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $290,000

The first thing golf expert Klein asked when he heard about our list: “Do you have Myrtle Beach on the list?”

Myrtle Beach has been referred to as “The Golf Capital of the World” due to the sheer number of courses and the rich golf history in the area. The economy in this oceanfront South Carolina city is driven in large part by the vibrant tourism industry, which is mostly centered on the attraction of the area’s world-class golf courses as well as its amusement parks and famed beach.

Boasting courses from the Pine Lake Country Club to TPC Myrtle Beach, this popular vacation spot is practically synonymous with the sport.

Plus, with home prices per square foot not too far from the national median figure, this golfer’s dream is not just for the well-heeled. And with a population just topping 35,000, Myrtle Beach is the smallest of places on our list, which adds to the homey feel.

For less than $100,000, golfers on a budget can find a two-bedroom condo that’s walking distance from the famous Pine Lakes Country Club.

Buyers can find a three-bedroom home near the Jurupa Hills Country Club for $455,000.

(Realtor.com)

Nearby golf courses: 13
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $569,900

About an hour east of Los Angeles, in the center of the San Bernardino Valley, you’ll find Riverside. It’s the namesake of Riverside County and the most populous city in what’s called the Inland Empire—a broad swath of Southern California’s noncoastal desert region.

With year-round golfing weather and access to more than a dozen courses within 10 minutes, Riverside has the best combo of prices, nearby golfing, and climate in the Golden State.

To be sure, Riverside is the most expensive place on our list, with homes priced more than 30% above the national average, and even more per square foot. But, in the context of California’s real estate prices, Riverside is cheap. It’s around 20% less expensive than the California average and 40% less expensive than neighboring Los Angeles.

Those looking for a place near downtown Riverside but also close to a golf course might want to look at the Jurupa Hills Country Club, where buyers can find a three-bedroom home near the greens for $455,000.

For just shy of $230,000, home shoppers can get a three-bedroom home about 1,000 feet from Saddlebrook Golf Club.

(Realtor.com)

Nearby golf courses: 35
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $229,000

The last three cities on our list are all in the Midwest, where homes have historically been more affordable than in other parts of the country. In Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, homes within 10 minutes of a golf course are still 40% less expensive than the national average. And there are a surprising number of golf courses in this region.

Midwestern winters can be brutal, but the average monthly temperature is still above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for more than half of the year. While that might mean residents consider golf more of a seasonal pastime in these final three cities, the prices are less than half of what you would find in a city like Riverside, CA.

One of the most notable Indianapolis courses is built into the site of the Indianapolis 500, mixing golf with another of the town’s iconic draws.

Saddlebrook Golf Club is one of the closest to downtown Indianapolis, and for just shy of $230,000, home shoppers can get a three-bedroom home on a quarter-acre about 1,000 feet from the course.

The homes nearest to The Camargo Club include custom-built, multimillion-dollar mansions.

(Realtor.com)

Nearby golf courses: 26
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $239,900

Cincinnati, located on the Ohio River, boasts low home prices—and low-cost opportunities to play golf on a good public course.

“It’s so much more affordable than golfing in a place like New York or Chicago or L.A.,” says Klein of playing in smaller Midwestern cities.

Moreover, the Rust Belt city has an indelible golf tradition, in part due to the golf royalty from the area.

“In Ohio, you have a great golf history,” says Coyne. “Anyone who’s done anything big in the sport of golf has left a stamp in Ohio. And Jack Nicklaus hails from Columbus, so there’s got to be something good going on in Ohio.”

The Camargo Club, on the northeastern end of the Cincinnati area, has been ranked one of the best in the state. While the homes nearest to the course include custom-built, multimillion-dollar mansions, a three-bedroom home can be found about five minutes away for just under $280,000.

Nearby golf courses: 23
Median list price for homes near golf courses: $249,950

Golf might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Omaha, Nebraska’s largest city located on the Missouri River. The city is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. It also boasts one of the best zoos and aquariums in the world.

But there are many options in Omaha for those looking for a home near a golf course, says Chris Bauer, a local Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. He’s found buyers are looking for either a more affordable option, usually near a public golf course, or access to pricier private clubs.

“Those are two different sets of buyers,” he says. “For the avid golfers who would only buy on a private course, you have Shadow Ridge, Deer Creek, Happy Hollow, or the Omaha Country Club.”

And for those looking for somewhere to live near a public course: “Pacific Springs, The Knolls, or Johnny Goodman. Those are all popular. There’s a wide spectrum here,” he says.

Watch: The Best Cities in the U.S. for Home Sellers Right Now

* Median list prices are from the last year on Realtor.com.

Source: realtor.com

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Make sure you’re getting the best outdoor space in your next Minneapolis apartment.

Hunting for an apartment in Minneapolis should be fun and not stressful. The first step is to narrow down where you want to live, and maybe seek out a few nearby hidden gems. Next, you need to decide what matters to you in an apartment. Do you want one of those stellar Minneapolis views? Do you need a place that’s pet-friendly?

As you create your list of ‘must haves’ for your next Minneapolis apartment, don’t discount the need for a solid outdoor space. Whether it’s a garden, courtyard or something else, it’s always a bonus to have a place to hang outdoors without leaving home. To help narrow down your options, check out these hot spots with some of the best courtyards and gardens in the city.

Source: Rent. / Dock Street Flats

Chic and ideal for a gathering of any size, the courtyard at Dock Street Flats prioritizes comfortable seating. Pods of couches fill every open space, with a see-through fireplace front and center tying everything together.

Staying focused on the outdoors, this Warehouse District community also provides residents with a community garden for those with a green thumb. Heading out, this neighborhood offers a blend of downtown energy and sophisticated style, giving you plenty of options when it comes to restaurants, cocktail bars, boutique shops and more.

Source: Rent. / Ironclad Residential

Labeled the Great Lawn, this little bit of courtyard at Ironclad Residential is an ideal outdoor gaming spot. There’s a separate, open patch of green that’s perfect for frisbee, as well as this reserved spot already set up for cornhole. Shaded seating off to the side provides a cooler area when it’s time to take a break from the sun.

This Downtown East community is only steps away from so much. Thankfully, it’s a highly walkable neighborhood too, making it easy to get to US Bank Stadium for a concert or a football game, Guthrie Theater for a show or Mill City for shopping and dining. You’re also near the 7.5-acre Gold Medal Park with its stunning views of the Mississippi River and the historic Stone Arch Bridge.

Source: Rent. / Lowa46

While it’s not exactly on the ground floor of Lowa46, this courtyard-like space has quite the amenity package. The swatch of green is just the right length for a bocce game, while the stone-covered spaces include seating areas, an awesome fire pit and a massive outdoor dining table beside the gas grills. You’re also only steps away from the community hot tub.

For true outdoor enthusiasts, Nokomis is the neighborhood for you. Living here puts you beside the city’s best trails, lakes and riverside parks. You can bike along the Greenway, check out Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls or head to the Mississippi River for a scenic walk.

Source: Rent. / New Boston Square Apartments

Multiple courtyards occupy the open space at New Boston Square Apartments. At the front of the building, you’ll find a nice open space with large, healthy trees and thoughtfully designed plant beds. To the back, the railed-off courtyard space is full of grills, red umbrella-topped tables and even a few loungers. Mature trees also help fill in this space as well.

Situated in Minneapolis’ arts district, this Windom Park community provides easy access to downtown without skimping on the local amenities. You’re surrounded by fabulous shopping, excellent restaurants and even a great public library. Windom Park, the neighborhood’s namesake, is also a great place for football, tennis and even ice skating and hockey.

Source: Rent. / Tralee Terrace

The possibilities are endless when you have this much green space to work with. This park-like area at Tralee Terrace is perfect for a peaceful walk, a picnic or even a few outdoor games. Limited patches of bushes and trees mean more lawn to use and more nature to enjoy.

Beyond this fantastic open space, Tralee Terrace also has a large playground, with a jungle gym and swings for the kids to enjoy, as well as an outdoor basketball court. There’s something for everyone to entice them to stay outside and have a little fun, whether relaxing or getting a little exercise.

Source: Rent. / Calhoun Beach Club

The cool courtyard at Calhoun Beach Club does more than deliver a superior outdoor space, it also has killer views. The space seems to run right into Lake Bee Maka Ska. Beautiful landscaped trees and grass along with funky patterns in the stonework give this area a modern touch and exude a super relaxing vibe.

Having a beach across the street from your apartment is quite a luxury, but that’s what you get in the Cedar Isles-Dean community. You can swim, boat or simply enjoy laying out in the sand just steps from your own front door. With several lakes and parks within the area, there’s no shortage of spots for scenic strolls or outdoor recreation.

Source: Rent. / Somerset Oaks

When an apartment community truly feels like a neighborhood, you’re doing something right. At Somerset Oaks, this happy vibe comes out thanks to the expansive lawn that separates buildings. It’s like having a front and back yard all in one, masquerading as a courtyard. A wide stretch of green grass that’s perfectly manicured is offset by a few stately trees and oversized bushes. It’s the perfect pop of nature.

About seven miles from downtown Minneapolis, you’ll find Saint Louis Park. This chill and outdoorsy suburb features a 160-acre Nature Center and over 80 parks for hiking, picnicking and more. You’ll find Somerset Oaks closest in the Oak Hill neighborhood where the park is full of paved trails, open fields, a splash pad and more.

Source: Rent. / Oaks Station Place Apartments

For a sweet gathering spot, you need to check out the courtyard at Oaks Station Place Apartments. Abutting a massive green space, with manicured trees and nicely grouped flowers and bushes, this bricked area offers ideal seating for everyone. You can relax on the lounge chairs, gather on the couches or use the grill to cook a meal you can enjoy at any of the tables.

Another Nokomis community with great promise, the outdoor space here also accommodates those with an active lifestyle. There’s a bike trail and jogging trail on the property. Should you need to head into the city proper, living here puts you right on a bus line, with the train station within a mile. This can help ease the commute since you won’t have to drive all the time.

Source: Rent. / Eitel Apartments

A complete urban feel flows throughout the courtyard at Eitel Apartments. Landscaping is minimal and mostly done in raised planters that hold a variety of small trees and bushes. Limited grass reminds you you’re living in the urban jungle. A nice, large pergola sits roughly in the center, offering a shaded space for hanging out.

Located in Loring Park, this is a neighborhood that takes its green space seriously. You get an expansive area with a lake and walking and cycling paths to keep you busy in the fresh air. There’s also a vibrant art scene here, with plenty of recreational activities and delicious restaurants.

Source: Rent. / Park Glen

There are plenty of well-maintained, garden-like spots all over Park Glen. You’ll find flowering trees and plenty of leafy greens surrounding the fire pit, but the real on-site garden sits just beside the pool. Within this serene garden, you’ll find wide stone walkways that take you around two little pools, large river rocks and beautifully shaped bushes. It’s a little zen and a little local beauty all rolled into one.

Another Saint Louis Park community, you’ll find Park Glen in the Wolfe Park neighborhood. Centered around another great local park, here, there are not only walking trails and a fishing pond but plenty of athletic facilities. There’s space to play basketball, pickleball and sand volleyball. There’s also a playground, picnic shelters and a rentable event space.

Get an apartment with one of the best gardens in Minneapolis

It’s easy to see why Minneapolis is so popular for renters. There are so many cool places to live and there is so much to do indoors and outside.

As you begin to narrow down your list of favorites though, don’t forget to take into account that outdoor space. You’ll definitely want to look at places with solid courtyards and gardens in Minneapolis to take full advantage of what the city does best.

Featured Image Source: Rent. / Park Glen

Source: rent.com

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It looks like Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Billy Joel isn’t in such a New York state of mind these days.

The New York native recently listed his trophy property on the very posh Oyster Bay Harbor for a hefty $49 million.

The 26-acre estate, known as Middlesea, comprises the original 14-acre property the musician bought for $22.5 million in 2002 and the adjoining parcels he’s picked up over the years, according to the Wall Street Journal. It comes with more than 2,000 feet of frontage on Centre Island.

Billy Joel’s estate on Oyster Bay Harbor

( Tyler Sands/Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty)

The highlight of the estate is an elegant, 20,000-square-foot main house with spectacular water views.

Main house

( Tyler Sands/Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty)

There are five bedrooms, six full baths, two half-baths, a playroom, a spa and hair salon, a bowling alley, and a wine cellar. There’s also an indoor pool, which Joel has covered up so he could use the space as a music room, because of its excellent acoustics, according to listing agent Bonnie Williamson, of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty.

Parts of the main house are being renovated and are expected to be completed within the next several months.

Living room

( Tyler Sands/Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty)

Entry hall

( Tyler Sands/Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty)

Main bedroom

( Tyler Sands/Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty)

The estate also features a three-bedroom beach house, a three-bedroom guest apartment, and a four-bedroom gatehouse.

Other luxe amenities include a floating dock and boat ramp, two outdoor pools, and a helicopter pad.

Aerial view

( Tyler Sands/Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty)

You might be wondering why, after spending more than 20 years developing this trophy property so close to his hometown of Hicksville, also on Oyster Bay, the musician would let it go. The Journal reports that Joel, wife Alexis Roderick, and their two young children are spending more time in Florida.

Joel purchased a $22 million Florida estate in 2015 and reportedly owns a Sag Harbor, NY, property. So it appears the music titan will not be moving out of New York completely.

Joel, 74, is a multiple-Grammy winner and one of the world’s bestselling artists of all time.

Source: realtor.com

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A historic Manhattan townhouse that was among the very first to showcase the works of some of the most notable artists of the 20th century (including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Cy Twombly) is now up for grabs in New York City.  

Recently listed for $25 million, the massive property at 4 East 77th Street — whose first two floors currently host the Michael Werner gallery — was also home to prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Maurice Kanbar, who famously invented Skyy Vodka while living here.

Now, the century-old residence is ready to add a new chapter to its storied history.

Image credit: The Renovated Home courtesy of Compass

Compass agents Stacey Kanbar, Julie Kopel, and Leonard Steinberg have been enlisted to find the right buyer for this unique property, which is currently configured for mixed use (with commercial zoning on the first two floors) and has the potential to become one of the most significant single-family residences in all of New York City.

With a highly desirable address (it’s the first house off of Fifth Avenue), plenty of space (11,695 square feet, including the full-height cellar), and countless architectural details, the historic townhouse offers endless possibilities for reconfiguration.

Image credit: The Renovated Home courtesy of Compass
Image credit: The Renovated Home courtesy of Compass

The first two floors, currently housing the Michael Werner gallery, feature exquisite bowed windows that capture light from both the east and west sides, while the upper levels host four vacant residential units on floors 3 through 5.

The third floor hosts a luxurious full-floor apartment with north-facing Juliette balconies and a charming terrace on the east side. Two one-bedroom apartments adorn the fourth floor, while the fifth floor boasts a single floor-through apartment with a stunning 15′ x 19′ south-facing setback terrace, offering magnificent downtown views.

Future owners can choose to either keep the lower-level tenants and earn passive income, or turn the entire townhome into a massive single-family home again, as it was when originally built over a century ago. Renderings that accompany the listing show the many possibilities to transform this grand residence.

Image credit: The Renovated Home courtesy of Compass
Image credit: The Renovated Home courtesy of Compass
Image credit: The Renovated Home courtesy of Compass
Image credit: The Renovated Home courtesy of Compass

The storied history of 4 East 77th Street

4 East 77th Street was built near the end of America’s “Gilded Age,” an era of explosive economic growth and migration. It started at the end of Southern Reconstruction (1877) and lasted two decades. New York experienced an almost exponential population boom during this time, with numerous construction projects popping up all over the city.

SEE ALSO: Here’s the Estate that Served as Inspiration for “The Great Gatsby’s” Opulent House

In 1895, acclaimed developers Robert McCafferty and Richard W. Buckley added another project to the boom with this magnificent, five-story residence.

The 11,695-square-foot property still boasts its original marble façade and includes a full-height cellar.

Just west of the building, where East 77th opens onto Fifth Avenue, lies Manhattan’s Gold Coast district. This seven-block stretch of Fifth Avenue lies between 14th Street and Washington Square Park and is made up of several opulent historical buildings, including many hotels and mansions once belonging to some of New York’s wealthiest, most influential residents.

The buildings here have been impeccably maintained, and the owner of 4 East 77th will be just a walk or bike ride away from this elegantly preserved piece of New York history.

4 East 77th Street’s first owner, Benjamin J. Knower, bought it in 1897. Knower and his wife Mary Constance Allen were active members of New York’s “high society” and had close ties to Caroline Astor, the foremost New York socialite of the era.

It later housed the Leo Castelli gallery

By 1942, 4 East 77th Street had been converted into a multi-family townhouse.

This is when Leo Castelli, a prominent art dealer and a refugee from Nazi-occupied France, bought an apartment on the fourth floor.

Photo credit: DDReps courtesy of Compass

You might not know Castelli’s name, but you’ve likely heard of the major 20th-century artists whose careers he helped launch or develop.

Those names include Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Claes Oldenberg, Cy Twombly, Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, Robert Morris, James Rosenquist, Bruce Nauman, Richard Serra, Joseph Kosuth, Lawrence Weiner, Salvatore Scarpitta, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol.

In 1957, in the living room of his fourth-floor apartment at 4 East 77th Street, Castelli opened the Leo Castelli Gallery. Castelli paid his artists using a stipend system that was groundbreaking for its time. It guaranteed the artists an income whether he used their work or not. This system allowed him to attract, discover and retain a vast stable of young, visionary talents.

Many of the gallery’s artists would get their first one-person shows right there on the fourth-floor living room at 4 East 77th Street.

SEE ALSO: Neil Patrick Harris’ impeccably restored house in Harlem sells for $6.99M, sets new record for the neighborhood

Castelli’s gallery helped shape America’s 20th-century tastes in art. Pop art, minimalism, and conceptual art largely owe their success to his gallery. Castelli also used his success at 4 East 77th Street to help initiate the contemporary art gallery system as it exists today.

The townhouse was also home to Skyy Vodka inventor Maurice Kanbar

Maurice Kanbar, a prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, has owned the property since 1964.

During his residency at 77th Street, Kanbar invented Skyy Vodka, revolutionizing the spirits industry. But the popular drink is by no means his only creation; Kanbar’s numerous inventions also include a safety sheath for hypodermic needles and a cryogenic cataract remover.

Additionally, Kanbar (who passed away in 2022 at age 93) opened the Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village, the first multiplex cinema on the East Coast and the second in the United States. He furthered his impact on the arts by endowing the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at NYU.

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Source: fancypantshomes.com

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Summer is the time to host cook-outs, hit the pool and generally enjoy life. Unfortunately, it’s also the time to sweat, sweat, sweat.

Sweating is expected when a person is outside exercising, but absolutely no one wants to swelter in their apartment this summer. While many communities have built-in HVAC units, especially in the southern states, a lot of areas don’t bother because the heat isn’t as consistently extreme.

Even though these generally cooler climates don’t get and stay as hot for long periods of time, they still hit some pretty uncomfortable temperatures. So if your apartment doesn’t feature air-conditioning already and your landlord isn’t keen to install it, check out some of these excellent options to stay cool.

Find the best air conditioner for apartment living

There are a lot of air conditioners that are perfect for apartments, from window units to portable options to hybrid models. Find the top choice for your apartment home here!

GE 11,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner for Medium Rooms

Image Source: AMAZON.COM

This GE model is eco-friendly and has a cooling power of 11,000 British Thermal Units, making it perfect to cool medium-sized rooms (about 450 square feet, or so). So unless you’re in a studio, this particular option is best used in a large room, like a living area or master bedroom. It includes two fan speeds, and also has a built-in dehumidifier, with a washable filter.

It also has very “now” technology, in that it comes with a digital remote control, which allows the user to easily manage the function and settings without having to walk over to the unit. And unlike many older models that require the user to drain any collected water, this one actually evaporates it on its own.

BLACK+DECKER Air Conditioner, 14,000 BTU Air Conditioner Portable for Room up to 700 Sq. Ft.

Image Source: AMAZON.COM

This portable air conditioner is suitable for rooms up to 700 square feet. It can be placed in a corner or installed in a window to bring fresh air in from the outside. It also includes an auto water evaporation feature, a 24-hour timer and a washable filter, as well as a fan and dehumidifier.

The remote control and LED control panel make it easy to operate, and it’s a cinch to move around, as needed. This particular model garnered 4.5 stars on Amazon, which is pretty tough to beat, making it an easy choice on any best air conditioner for apartment list.

4-IN-1 Air Conditioner Portable for Room with 4 Modes

Image Source: AMAZON.COM

This one is a budget-friendly option, at under $200. Billed by the manufacturer as “ultra-quiet” this unit features three modes (natural, normal and sleep) and three speeds. It comes with a 1.32-gallon water tank, which functions for as much as 21 hours.

Add the included ice packs and/or ice cubes to cool the room off even faster. This portable model is designed to cool smaller rooms of about 300 square feet. Like the other options, it also includes an LED touch-screen panel, as well as a remote control that works from up to 16.5 feet.

Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air

Conditioner

Image Source: AMAZON.COM

With a capacity to cool 500 cubic feet, this slightly more luxe unit has rightfully earned the title of “Best Overall Portable Air Conditioner” from Good Housekeeping, not to mention a 4.5-star rating on Amazon.

It comes with three modes (dehumidifier, fan and air conditioner), as well as ultra-convenient auto-drain technology. It’s also very quiet and even comes with a window installation kit, protective cover for when not in use, activated carbon air filter, washable pre-filter and remote control.

Midea Duo 12,000 BTU (10,000 BTU SACC) HE Inverter Ultra

Quiet Portable Air Conditioner

Image Source: AMAZON.COM

Think of the Midea Duo as the next-generation air conditioner, since it can be controlled using the Midea smartphone app from anywhere and using Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa! This unit cools any area up to 450 square feet and also comes with a window installation kit, perfect for people who want to preserve their floor space.

The model also claims to use less electricity compared with “traditional portable units,” thanks to its inverter technology. Plus, it functions at a noise level of as low as 42 decibels, which the manufacturer notes is, “almost as quiet as a library.”

LG 10000 BTU Portable Air Conditioners Dual Inverter

Image Source: AMAZON.COM

This LG model is perfect for medium to large rooms of up to 450 square feet. It comes with three modes and boasts a 5-star ENERGY STAR certification, which means that it uses less energy to run than many other comparable units.

It also makes hardly any noise, especially in sleep mode. Like the Midea, this model can be controlled remotely using an LG app, as well as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It even has wheels for easy transport to other rooms!

Rintuf 14000 BTU ASHRAE Portable Air Conditioner, Portable AC Cools to 700 Sq.ft Room

Image Source: AMAZON.COM

This air conditioner is perfect for larger rooms, as it can cool up to a 700-square-foot space with ease. Users can also easily control the wind speed and direction, and it’s an adept dehumidifier, as well. The Rintuf model is outfitted with an LED control panel that is touch-sensitive, as well as a remote control. Much like the other models, it can be installed as a window unit (no tools required), if so desired.

Choose the best air conditioner for your apartment and chill out this summer

Your home is supposed to be a comfortable place, so if the temps are soaring check out one of these best air conditioners for use in an apartment. There’s no sense in suffering needlessly!

When you buy through links in this article, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Source: rent.com

Apache is functioning normally

A spectacular, oceanfront estate in Westerly, RI, is listed for $19,995,000, making it the state’s priciest home.

Known as Sandcastle, the 4,976-square-foot residence is within walking distance of swanky Watch Hill.

Built in 1930, the home has an illustrious past.

“It was part of the Archdiocese of Providence for years,” says listing agent Raymond Mott, of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty.

Apparently, the bishops and other leadership members used it as a summer retreat for decades. The diocese sold the home to the current owners in 2003 for $7 million.

The esteemed estate was originally listed for $32.5 million last year. Mott believes the current, lowered price is just right.

Salon

(Realtor.com)

Views

(Realtor.com)

Renovated residence

The interior has been revitalized over the years, but its historic charms remain. A spacious foyer features beautifully handcrafted woodwork that flows throughout the home.

From wood-paneled walls to the two-story, grand salon, the home’s details were designed to shine. Sweeping windows perfectly frame the surrounding views, and the dining room features hand-painted, decorative artistry.

“The woodworking throughout the home is really impressive and is all handcrafted,” Mott says. “Its presence is the most important aspect, located on an acre right on the ocean. There is a beautiful beach … that runs from the Weekapaug coastline to Watch Hill Lighthouse.”

Upstairs

(Realtor.com)

Kitchen

(Realtor.com)

The main estate features four bedrooms, while guest quarters provide another two bedrooms.

A gourmet chef’s kitchen has double-wall ovens, a large island with counter seating, and a wine chiller.

Bedroom

(Realtor.com)

One bedroom is situated on the first floor, along with a spacious family room, wet bar, and den.

Upstairs, there’s an office and three more bedrooms, including a luxe primary suite with a private terrace. The elegant bedroom is surrounded by windows that usher in abundant natural light. The primary bathroom has two vanities, a standalone glass shower, and more windows.

Exterior

(Realtor.com)

Grounds

(Realtor.com)

The outdoor space boasts a slate-covered gazebo overlooking a seaside garden. And above the three-car garage are guest quarters with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a sitting area, and full kitchen.

‘Legacy property’

“It’s the Ivy League of estates in Watch Hill and a great legacy property,” Mott observes, adding that he believes “the next buyer will be someone who wants to wake up and enjoy 180-degree views. I think it will be a legacy property with a family who wants to pass it on to their children.”

Source: realtor.com

Apache is functioning normally

Despite the fact that locking in fixed mortgage rates between 2% and 3% is considered to be a huge financial win, especially now that rates are hovering above 6%, it’s also a bit of a burden. Some homeowners, who locked in historically low rates during the pandemic, are now feeling trapped, or as one homeowner tells Fortune: “We’re prisoners.” They’d like to sell their home and buy something else; however, elevated mortgage rates mean the increased monthly mortgage payment to do so would be financially unbearable.

Look no further than Jennifer Lovelace. The 38-year-old realtor and owner of a local surf school in St. Augustine, Fla., told Fortune that she purchased her home in January 2020 for $215,000, with a 30-year FHA loan at a rate of 3.25%. Her monthly mortgage payment, after putting 10% down, is around $1,300 (including taxes, insurance, and her HOA dues). She and her partner bought their townhouse, thinking it’d be the “perfect starter [home],” and that they’d eventually be able to sell it or rent it out in a couple of years. But home values in her area have gone up along with interest rates, making it “impossible” for them to even consider moving up.

Lovelace told Fortune that it’s “frustrating” living in a 1,000-square-feet home, with her two sons, ages five and eight. But the only way they can afford to move is to go inland, which isn’t feasible for them.

“We’re staying put here for right now, waiting to see if the rates come down or prices come down,” Lovelace said. Still, she’s looking at mortgage rates and homes every single day.

Lovelace isn’t alone. The so-called “lock-in effect” is constraining both the supply and demand sides of the housing market as it sidelines move-up sellers and buyers across the nation. Which explains why mortgage purchase applications remain down 38% on a year-over-year basis. 

Freddy Chica, a 36-year-old federal government employee, recently had a baby and would like to sell his current home and purchase a slightly bigger home, but the numbers just don’t make financial sense right now.

Chica told Fortune that he purchased his home in 2020 and locked in a 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 3.25%. After putting 5% down on his home in Miami, which cost around $207,000, Chica said, his monthly mortgage payment (including taxes and insurance) comes out to $1,263. When he and his partner had their baby, they started looking for a bigger place that was slightly bigger than his 1,100-square-foot two-bedroom condo. He quickly realized it’d cost more than double what he’s paying right now to move up.

Chica was looking at townhomes in his area that were mostly around $400,000, with a rate around 6.5%. If he was to put 20% down on a $400,000 home and take on a mortgage for $320,000 at a 30-year fixed rate at 6.5%, his monthly payment (not including taxes and insurance) would be $2,023. That’d be a huge jump from his current mortgage payment of $856 per month.

“We’re [looking into] getting maybe a couple extra hundred square feet and maybe an extra bedroom,” Chica told Fortune, adding that that’s not enough to justify more than doubling his monthly mortgage payment. “It doesn’t make sense. So it’s hard.”

Chica and his partner have decided to stay put for now and try to free up some space in their home, by using up the attic space, remodeling a bit to build more shelves, and getting rid of stuff they don’t need. 

“It just doesn’t make any sense to sell,” Chica said, adding later that they’re planning to stay another year or two and watch the market in the meantime, looking for rates to go down and prices to stabilize before moving. And at that point, Chica said, he’d still probably keep the place and rent it out. Chica said it was great to have his home at a low rate, but “it really sucks” being stuck. 

“I want my baby to have more space to run around…[but] it kind of leaves you a little stuck,” Chica said, referring to his low mortgage rate that’s keeping him from moving. 

Chris Noguera, a 27-year-old in software sales, locked in a 30-year fixed rate at 2.625% in October 2020 for his home in North Lake, Texas. He purchased the home for $420,000 and put 5% down, and told Fortune that his monthly payment is around $2,900. 

He’d like to move, but after working with his real estate agent and mortgage broker to put down an offer on a larger house, Noguera realized it wasn’t feasible.  

“We live our lives month to month, in terms of monthly bills,” Noguera told Fortune. “The monthly payment just would have been way too high… We just have to wait now…with the current market, we’re not going to be able to move.”

Noguera’s story isn’t unique: There’s a lot of sidelined housing supply and demand right now.

Mason Martinez, a 34-year-old realtor based in Tucson, bought his home in 2021 at a 30-year fixed rate at 2.75% (with a VA loan). He purchased the home for around $440,000, put $80,000 down, and took on a $360,000 mortgage. Martinez’s monthly mortgage payment, he told Fortune, comes out to $2,003 (with taxes and insurance). He and his wife would like to get a home with a bigger backyard for their three kids; however, Martinez says “it’s just not in the cards right now..it just doesn’t make sense, right now, to move, but we absolutely have dreams of moving,” and would’ve done so by now, if rates weren’t where they’re currently at. 

Source: fortune.com

Apache is functioning normally

Millions of Americans would love to become homeowners—if they could only find an affordably priced home to purchase, that is.

Cue the builders. After years of focusing on the more profitable move-up, custom, and luxury homes, they are finally figuring out how to put up starter homes that first-time and other cash-strapped homebuyers can afford.

“Buyers should expect that over the next 12 to 24 months there will be a notable increase in the number of entry-level homes available,” says Ali Wolf, chief economist of Zonda, a building consultancy.

Homebuilders have begun to focus on this group in the wake of rising mortgage interest rates dramatically cooling off the housing market. Many current homeowners who don’t have to trade up into a new home at a higher monthly rate are choosing to stay put.

And that’s left much of the demand for housing coming from first-time and other buyers who aren’t finding the kinds of homes they want on the resale market.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of all new homes cost $300,000 or less, according to Zonda. However, lumber prices soared over that period and global supply chain snafus led to high prices and long delays in receiving materials, appliances, and other building components. In the first quarter of this year, just 15% of new construction was available at that price range.

To produce housing more inexpensively, builders downsized the median new-home footprint about 3% year over year, to about 2,270 square feet in the first quarter of this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The logic goes that smaller homes on less land typically cost less to construct than larger residences on more acreage. So builders can sell these properties at lower prices.

Townhome construction has also risen as builders can put up more residences on less land. Two years ago, townhomes made up 11.5% of all single-family construction, according to NAHB. It has since risen to 15% in the fourth quarter of 2022.

“Whenever you see an increase in interest rates and a decline in housing affordability, the market shifts a little bit toward somewhat smaller homes,” says NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz.

However, buyers shouldn’t get their hopes up too high.

Builders are expected to erect just 6% more entry-level homes this year compared with last, according to the May homebuilder survey from John Burns Research and Consulting.

“Builders will increase their supply of entry-level homes, but it won’t be enough,” says Dietz. This kind of home “will probably remain undersupplied. That’s frustrating news for first-time buyers.”

Why builders aren’t producing more starter homes

Fixing the housing shortage might seem simple: Builders need to put up more homes. But like most things, it’s easier said than done.

In the run-up to the Great Recession, builders erected homes at what seemed like a breakneck pace. But when the housing market went bust in the 2000s, many builders went belly up. Construction workers found other jobs, and sites sat fallow. Even as housing demand has soared over the past decade, builders have struggled to ramp back up. They have also been more cautious this time around, preferring to construct homes they are confident they can sell.

More new construction did go up during the pandemic, and many builders profited from the increase in home prices. But the challenges to putting up more affordable homes aren’t exaggerated.

The shortage of skilled construction workers has persisted, supply chain issues have caused delays and pricier building materials and appliances, and there is a lack of land in many parts of the country. Builders must also contend with zoning restrictions and community opposition to smaller homes. Many local governments also charge builders impact fees, which can total tens of thousands of dollars in some places, to pay for new roads, schools, and water and sewer lines.

Then throw in higher mortgage rates hampering demand for these abodes and a banking crisis that’s likely to make it harder for builders to get loans to erect new homes.

“There is a desire and an acknowledgment of the need for more entry-level housing, but there are also a lot of constraints that prevent that from happening,” says Wolf.

Where are starter homes going up?

While there is a need for starter homes across the country, not every community will see them rise. Builders will focus on areas where there is more land available and fewer costly regulations. They include states such as Texas and Florida in the Southeast as well as swaths of the Midwest.

Starter homes will still be built in the Northeast and West, but costly land, labor, and regulatory expenses tend to push construction prices out of reach of cost-constrained buyers.

“Where the zoning permits it, you are seeing builders trying to provide more affordable homes,” says Dietz.

How homebuilders are making starter homes more affordable

About 42% of builders plan to reduce the square footage of the homes they produce.

(JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

The trade-off that buyers will face as more affordably priced, new construction goes up for sale is that it likely won’t be as luxurious as new homes have traditionally been.

“The home probably won’t feel particularly premium at a low price point right now,” says Wolf.

More than half of builders are changing things on the exterior or in the interior of their homes to bring down costs, according to the John Burns survey. This could be vinyl countertops instead of granite and carpeting instead of hardwood floors.

About 42% of builders plan to reduce the square footage of the homes they produce, 22% will offer smaller lots, and 20% will construct more attached homes, such as townhomes and duplexes, according to the survey.

For example, the nation’s largest homebuilder, D.R. Horton, is shrinking the average square footage of its homes by 2% in the second quarter of this year to address affordability concerns, according to a company spokesperson.

“When affordability gets stretched, buyers will accept smaller square footage and less expensive finishes in order to purchase a home,” says Devyn Bachman. She is the senior vice president of research and operations at John Burns.

Another tool that builders have at their disposal is buying down mortgage rates. Many have their own financing arms, which allow them to offer buyers savings through temporary and permanent mortgage rate buydowns.

The 2-1 buydown allows buyers to shave 2 percentage points off of their mortgage in their first year of homeownership, 1 percentage point in the second, and then it reverts to whatever the rate was when the borrower took out the loan for the rest of the mortgage. That means if rates are currently 6.5%, borrowers would have a 4.5% rate in the first year, a 5.5% rate in the second, and then the rate would revert to 6.5% for the remaining 28 years of a 30-year fixed-rate loan.

“When housing demand pulls back, builders try to provide a more affordable product,” says Dietz.

Source: realtor.com