Finding the perfect apartment often means discovering a place that feels like a retreat, and there’s nothing more inviting than a beautiful pool to enhance your living experience. We’ve scoured the country to bring you a roundup of the most stunning apartment pools from coast to coast. Whether you’re dreaming of lounging by a resort-style pool in an apartment in Orlando, enjoying a rooftop swim with panoramic views in Denver, or taking a refreshing dip in the pool of a luxury rental in Las Vegas, these apartment complexes offer the ultimate in relaxation and luxury. Dive in with us as we explore these beautiful pools that make coming home feel like a vacation.
1. Metro Edgewater Apartments
452 Northeast 31st Street, Miami, FL
Located in the heart of Miami’s vibrant Edgewater neighborhood, Metro Edgewater offers high-end residences perfect for those desiring an elevated living experience. The apartments feature modern designs with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, and floor-to-ceiling windows providing breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. The highlight is its breathtaking pool, surrounded by poolside cabanas, providing residents with a serene oasis to relax and unwind.
2. Domain at CityCentre
811 Town And Country Blvd, Houston, TX
Domain at CityCentre in Houston perfectly complements urban living with its luxurious amenities and prime location. With over 45 restaurants and 55 retail shops just minutes from your front door, convenience is unmatched. Prefer to stay in? Enjoy the resort-style swimming pool or share a meal with friends at the outdoor patio bar and grill.
3. Essex Luxe Apartments
8000 Essex Point Circle, Orlando, FL
Essex Lux Apartments in Orlando offers a modern living experience with upscale one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Enjoy thoughtfully designed interiors with quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances, and wood plank flooring. The highlight of the resort-style amenities is the zero-entry saltwater swimming pool, perfect for relaxation and leisure. Additionally, residents can enjoy a fully equipped fitness center and a beautiful resident clubhouse.
4. The Apex @Meadows
4480 Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, NV
The Apex @Meadows blends suburban tranquility with urban flair, featuring an expansive courtyard, lush landscaping, and a rooftop lounge with breathtaking views. Residents also enjoy a state-of-the-art fitness center and smart home conveniences. The standout feature is the beautiful pool area, providing a refreshing retreat in the heart of the city.
5. Trivista on Speer
1350 Speer Blvd, Denver, CO
TriVista on Speer is located in Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District. The complex features a stunning pool and spa with a lounge area, perfect for relaxation. Residents can also enjoy amenities such as a two-story fitness center, a rooftop deck with mountain views, and direct access to the Cherry Creek Bike Path. TriVista on Speer combines modern living with the convenience of being within walking distance of Denver’s best artistic and historical attractions.
Jenna is a Midwest native who enjoys writing about home improvement projects and local insights. When she’s not working, you can find her cooking, crocheting, or backpacking with her fiancé.
We all know Whoopi Goldberg as an iconic actress with an impressive roster of nostalgic films. The 68-year-old EGOT winner has crossed over from the big to the small screen effortlessly, bringing her magnetic personality to daytime television.
Being a host on The View made her a household name, but few people know of her achievements beyond her actress/talk show persona. On top of her long-spanning career, her real estate portfolio is also pretty impressive — and Whoopi has an eye for old Victorian homes.
She loves antique houses so much that she has acquired a remarkable collection of historic homes, now living in a nearly century-old residence in, fittingly, America’s oldest planned community.
Whoopi Goldberg currently lives in West Orange, New Jersey
Nowadays, Goldberg resides in the gated neighborhood of Llewellyn Park in West Orange, New Jersey, about an hour away from her workplace in New York. Known as “America’s oldest planned community,” this area is known for its grand estates and architectural pedigree, with famous residents and ex-residents including William Colgate, George Merck, and inventor Thomas Edison.
Born and raised in Manhattan, Goldberg has always considered herself a true-blue New Yorker. But even city dwellers need a little peace and quiet sometimes.
“I lived in the city and had no way of sitting outside,” Goldberg said in an interview. “Because every time I go sit outside, 50 people would come and hang out.”
Whoopi purchased her current West Orange home in 2009 for $2.8 million. The 97-year-old colonial-style abode was built in 1927 and has 9,486 square feet of space. It has eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a large pool, and a gym.
Design-wise, the vintage home is a mish-mash of everything the actress loves. She loves collecting diverse photos and artwork to display on her walls.
“I am sort of eclectic,” she explained in April 2012. “The periods kind of clash all over the house, which is great for me — it feels like you can hang out. It’s formal … and yet it doesn’t give a s—t.”
She bought her first Victorian in Berkeley, California back in the ’80s
Her love for old homes started in the 1980s, shortly after her big break in The Spook Show.
Goldberg bought her first-ever Victorian-style house for $335,000. It featured New Orleans-style architecture with 1,455 square feet of living space, a large front porch, and vintage columns.
It also had a two-story barn, which was converted into a cottage. She sold this property in 2015 for an impressive $2 million — that’s over $1 million in profit!
Whoopi’s Pacific Palisades vintage home
In 1993, she purchased her second historic home in Pacific Palisades for $2.5 million.
Built in the 1930s, the house was owned by famed writer Vicki Baum. The gorgeous vintage estate boasts over 7,000 square feet of living space and sits on a half-acre lot in a private area.
Lush greenery, tall gates, and thick trees line up its perimeter, keeping the property hidden from prying eyes. Creeping vines decorate the facade, adding an enchanting look to the home.
Indoors, modern elements juxtapose its vintage vibe. Checkered floors, marble fireplaces, and expansive windows add a contemporary touch. Other amenities include a large swimming pool and a separate guest house.
Whoopi kept this home for over two decades and sold it in 2018 for $8.8 million.
Her most remarkable property was a 17th-century house on 745 acres of land
All of Whoopi’s homes have their own unique charm, but the most impressive property she owned was her Vermont farm, which sits on 745 acres of land. While 640 acres are conserved land, which means they can never be developed, the estate is vast and teeming with pasture animals, trees, and crops.
The original colonial house, which dates back to the 1700s, had a two-bedroom bunkhouse. It has been reconstructed several times throughout the years.
In 2004, Whoopi decided to strip down the property to its bare bones and do an extensive renovation. A lot of the original structures were scrapped, but the rustic feel from the original cabin was kept. Whoopi sold the estate — known as the Robinson-Winchester Farm — in 2012 for $1.5 million.
Currently, Whoopi is busy promoting her just-released memoir titled Bits & Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me. The semi-autobiographical book discusses her rise to fame and her relationship with her late mom and brother.
In her exclusive statement to PEOPLE, she said: “This book is dedicated to my mother and my brother and our time together as a small, funny little unit. It’s dedicated to anyone who’s found themselves on a scary path not of their choosing or dealing with loss.”
More stories
Denzel Washington’s house, a mega-mansion he’s called home for 20+ years
Brad Pitt’s home in Carmel, the historic D.L. James house
See Gwyneth Paltrow’s house in Montecito, her “Forever, Forever Home”
Inside: In this guide, I reviewed all of the budget apps and compared features and costs to form the best budgeting apps list. Find the best budgeting apps to fit your needs.
The best way to become smart with your money is to actively manage your money.
Make a plan for your money. Some may call it a budget.
At Money Bliss, we like to call it a Cents Plan. This enables you to find financial freedom. Find that place Where Cents Parallel Vision. Today, there are many budgeting apps on the market.
To kick off the new year, I was determined to find the best budgeting app on the market. Guess what?
My list grew each week!! And still growing! There are so many choices.
There are money management apps. Personal finance apps. Budgeting apps. So many apps to choose from! Seriously.
Some are free budgeting apps. Others have a monthly fee. Some have one-time costs.
The key to any budgeting app (free or paid) is to learn to manage your money.
At the very bottom of the post, we will reveal the best budgeting apps available.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances.
Start Your Free Trial.
What is a Budgeting App?
A budgeting app is a tool that helps you manage your money and keep track of how much you spend.
There are many different types of apps, and some may be free while others cost money.
However, they all make managing your finances easy by tracking where your money goes each month as well as providing tools for saving cash flow or spending more efficiently on things like groceries or travel expenses.
The end purpose of a budgeting app is to make managing your money easy.
There are many apps out there that can help you with this, including some from big brand names like Mint which just announced it is shutting down, Acorns, and Quicken. This guide will provide a list of the best budgeting apps for 2024 so you can save time and money!
Quick Answer
The preferred budget apps are YNAB, Empower, and Quicken.
What to Look for in Budgeting Apps
In order to find the best budgeting apps, you need to know what features and functions you are looking for.
The best budgeting apps are often the simplest and focus on ways to make saving a breeze.
They can help ease financial uncertainty by providing tools that allow users to save more money over time.
What’s more, how can you tell what to look for in a good budgeting app?
1. Ease of use
The best budgeting apps are easy to use and do not require manual entry. Different ways of creating a budget include handwriting it out, using a spreadsheet, or logging into an app or software program.
You want to find something that is easy for you to use. Even better, if you find the app fun to use!
2. Budgeting Capabilities
There are many types of budgeting apps; thus, each person will have budget apps they prefer over others. At the end of the day, you need something that will work for you over the long term.
Some have basic features that simply allow users to view their own spending, while others provide a number of tools for managing finances and saving money. Users should choose an app based on what they want as well as the capabilities it offers.
Many budget apps let you define your categories to track.
3. Saves Time
When you have an automatic budgeting app, it tracks how money moves in and out of your bank account automatically with ease. In addition to this, the updating process takes place automatically as well which saves more time for individuals who need it most!
Saving time with the least favorite tasks like budgeting is a win-win!
You want your budgeting app that makes managing your money a breeze.
4. Focus on Financial Goals
You need a budget app that helps you work towards your smart financial goals. This is important.
You want your budgeting app to help you with achieving your financial goals.
5. Synchronization
Synchronization is the process of returning data to a master database from one or more secondary databases. You want the budget app to synchronize accounts automatically.
Most offer automatic synchronization but may lack a feature that allows for a reconciliation of accounts such as bank accounts.
Many budgeting apps can synchronize from desktop to mobile. In addition, you can have multiple users on the same platform.
6. Price
Budgeting apps range in price from free to about $150 per year.
The app that has the most features and options is Quicken, especially given its price point.
Spending $5 a month to manage your finances is cheaper than overdraft fees and the lack of saving money.
7. App ratings
Many financial experts and personal finance gurus agree that a budget is necessary to take control of your money.
Look for budgeting apps that have at least 1,000 reviews in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android), as well as a rating of 4 stars (out of 5) or higher on both platforms.
That will tell you the longevity of the app and user appeal.
8. Security
Specifically, are budgeting apps secure? Are there any security features in place to protect your data? This is a huge feature you need to verify your personal information will be intact.
On my budgeting apps, financial information is safe because they need to go through vigorous testing and pass banking regulations. There are certain vulnerabilities inherent to operating online in the cloud.
9. Additional Features
Most budgeting apps go beyond basic budgeting. Some offer advice on debt and investments, while others identify unnecessary expenses.
Most apps can track your spending and organize your expenses into categories.
The savings apps will automate savings, suggestions to save money, bill alerts, access to credit scores, and investing features.
All of the apps have a different feature set, so it’s important to find what you’re looking for.
Good Budgeting Apps will Help, But First – You Must
Before we dig into the list of good budgeting apps, we must discuss key points first.
In order to be successful, with any type of budget app, you must understand three key areas.
1. Uncover your Money Situation
You can’t hide under the sheets or with your head in the sand and expect changes.
To be successful with money, you must be active with your personal finance situation.
Take time to understand your vision. Figure out where you stand in building a foundation to the Money Bliss Steps to Financial Freedom. Understand where the pits of money are spent every month.
Not sure, where to start? Stick around here at Money Bliss; we have many resources to help you!
Must Read Help:
2. Budgeting Apps Won’t Change Habits
While personal finance or money management apps keep you on track, they are incapable of changing habits.
You have to make changes.
Just because the budget app tracks your usage on the credit card doesn’t mean that you should have spent that money. So, be willing to make changes in your spending habits and those emotional purchases to achieve financial freedom.
You must learn to manage your money.
Related Readings:
3. Still Need Paper & Pen
The first thought is “Wait, I wanted to get away from paper and pen.” Yes, that is the goal for most individuals.
However, it is key to know your net worth over time.
Also, you never know when your favorite budget app will go away. (Ugh!) Personally, I don’t like to be pessimistic, but technology is rapidly changing, and being able to adapt is key.
Keep tracking your personal finance numbers toward financial freedom in a separate place.
Okay without further ado, the full list of budgeting apps on the market.
YNAB
Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances.
Pros:
Comprehensive approach to budgeting, helping you plan monthly budgets based on your income.
Offers expert advice, making it suitable for those who require an in-depth, forward-thinking budgeting strategy.
Superior synchronization skills make it the winner in this area.
YNAB has extra features like goal setting for budgeting, shared budgeting tools for partners.
Option to manually add and upload transactions from accounts each month.
YNAB prioritizes user privacy.
Start 34 Day Free Trial
Full List of Budgeting Apps with Free Trial
The budget apps we selected for this section offer a free trial for users to test out before signing up.
Budget apps are typically inexpensive and start with a free trial.
1. YNAB (You Need a Budget) – A proven method that has helped hundreds of thousands of people break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, get out of debt, and live the life they want to live. YNAB is best for serious budgeters.
2. Simplifi – Manage your money less in 5 minutes each week. Reach your money goals with confidence! Introducing Simplifi by Quicken, the personal finance app that gives you something to look forward to.
3. Tiller Money – Your financial life is in a spreadsheet, automatically updated each day. Track all your accounts in one place, always know where your money goes, and confidently plan your financial future.
4. Rocket Money – Rocket Money is your automated financial assistant and budget tracker designed to put you back in control of your money. Truebill lets you easily track bills, cancel unwanted subscriptions, and proactively request refunds on your behalf, putting real money back in your pocket!
5. Qube Money – The cash envelope system made easy. They invented digital cash envelopes. Real-time financial awareness without the hassle of tracking expenses, updating spreadsheets, and carrying cash.
6. HoneyMoney– HoneyMoney increases your awareness about your money habits. Being fully aware of your money naturally changes how you spend it. Great way to use cash flow budgeting. Plus uses “envelopes” to budget.
7. Qapital – Free, easy way to save money. Get $5 for your first Goal if you sign up here.
8.Money Patrol – MoneyPatrol actively monitors and analyzes financial transactions, and then alerts insights about the trends, patterns, and anomalies observed.
9. Wallet– Wallet is designed to help you get your finances under control from day one, giving you ongoing insight into your financial situation, and helping you stay in control for the long term.
10. Every Dollar– EveryDollar follows the zero-based budget approach recommended by Dave Ramsey, a top personal money-management expert. Create daily and monthly budgets and track your expenses to manage and save money.
11. Expensify – Expensify is the perfect tool for anyone who needs to keep track of receipts and automate expense management.
12. Cost Track – Expense Tracker – Cost Track allows you to: use your money wisely, keep track of your personal and family budget, and quickly enter your income and expenses.
13. Easy Spending – It is a simple and convenient finance tracker that provides the most powerful and convenient daily money management for iPhone and iPad, that neatly tracks all your cash flow between different accounts that you can budget.
Making Your Budget Work for You:
Full List of Free Budgeting Apps
The budget apps we selected for this ranking are completely free! Free budget apps are good options for users who don’t want to pay monthly or a yearly fee. Just to note, the list of free apps is dwindling with each update.
Finding the best budgeting app the best ones do simple things well.
Free apps are not always better than paid ones.
Typically, the free versions of budget apps provide basic features. Plus there are many free budget apps available on the market.
1. Empower– Empower is the best app for investors. This is one of my favorite ways to analyze investment accounts. See all of your accounts in one place, which helps to see spending. Free budgeting app to use. Read myEmpower Review.
Empower Personal Wealth, LLC (“EPW”) compensates Money Bliss for new leads. Money Bliss is not an investment client of Personal Capital Advisors Corporation or Empower Advisory Group, LLC.
2. PocketSmith – Manage your budget and forecast your finances. There are paid levels of access but you can still get basic options for the casual budgeter.
3. Zeta – AskZeta is a financial planning platform designed to help couples manage their finances collaboratively. It provides tools and guidance for setting joint financial goals, budgeting, and navigating major life events to build a secure financial future together.
4. Honeydue – A financial app designed for couples, facilitating shared money management. It allows partners to track and manage their finances collaboratively, providing insights into spending, budgeting and shared financial goals.
5. GoodBudget – Envelope budgeting for the modern world.
6.Fudget – The budget planner you can actually use.
7. Wally – Personal Finance – It helps you compare your income to your expenses, understand where your money goes and set and achieve goals.
9. CountAbout – CountAbout is an online personal finance solution that surpasses the security and ease of use of the other popular commercial solutions on the market while offering complete privacy, zero advertising, and no selling of your personal data.
10. Daily Budget Original – Daily Budget calculation, planning & saving for big spending, basic categories for expenses, backup.
11. Spending Tracker – The simple fact is, by tracking your spending you will be able to stick to a budget and therefore SAVE MONEY.
12. Money Monitor – You can track and organize all your transactions, accounts, budgets, bills, cash flow, and payees in Money Monitor by easy operation but with powerful functions.
13. Money Box – Set your money goals and track your personal savings with this app. Take control of your saving goals and spend cash wisely.
14. Dollarbird– Track and forecast your money as easily as adding events to a calendar! Dollarbird helps you make sense of your financial situation, plan ahead and manage your money together with those who matter.
15. NerdWallet – Whether you want to maximize credit card rewards, earn extra cashback, track your credit score or make budgeting easier, it’s all here.
Budgeting Resources:
16. Buddy – Designed for simplicity and efficiency, helping users easily manage their finances. With intuitive features, it enables users to track expenses, set budget goals, and gain insights into their spending habits for better financial management.
17. Banktivity – Banktivity puts you in the driver’s seat of your finances so you can do both.
18. PocketGuard – With all of your financial accounts in one place, PocketGuard helps you stay on top of your finance and make better financial decisions.
19. Budget Saved – Personal Finance – Budget Saved helps you save money by grouping expenses based on need or want. You input an expense, save it as a need or want, and then you can look back to see which purchases were really necessary. With this information, you can see exactly how much you can save.
20. Albert – Money Management – Combining human guidance with cutting-edge technology, Albert is an intuitive app that automates your financial life — so you can be free to enjoy it. Build savings, meet bills, end the overspending cycle and develop your financial IQ, right from the palm of your hand.
21. Expense IQ – Expense IQ (formerly EasyMoney) is your ultimate money manager app that combines an expense tracker, a budget planner, a checkbook register, integrated bills reminder, and more rolled into one powerful personal finance app!
22. Prism– Never miss a bill or pay late fees again! We automatically track your bills & send due date reminders, for free. See your income, account balances, & monthly expenses at a glance.
23. Coin Keeper– Download CoinKeeper — the handiest way to plan and manage your finances, created especially for smartphones and tablets.
24. Mobills– Mobills is a budget planning app that allows you to create a custom monthly budget that will help you take control of your money. You are able to manage your money, track your spending, and achieve your financial goals all in one place.
25. iSpending – iSpending helps you to track your income and spending. You can add transactions under different categories, such as income, food, and entertainment.
26. Receipt Box – The Receipt Box is a quick app that is conducive to developing a good habit of tracking spending. It indeed performs well on this one.
27. BUDGT – BUDGT will help you keep track of your Expenses in a very simple way and tell you how much money you can spend each day, taking in account what you have already spent during the current month.
Full List of Paid Budgeting Apps
A budgeting app is a type of software that helps you track your money to manage your finances. There are several different ways you can use them, including getting paid upfront or by monthly fee.
Some apps offer discounts for people who pay monthly, but this is not always the case. If an app doesn’t have the capabilities you need to better manage your budget, it’s not worth it.
App users want budget capabilities and prefer to handle bill paying on their own schedules.
1. Quicken– Quicken personal finance and money management software allows you to manage spending, create monthly budgets, track investments, retirement and more. Read my Quicken Review.
2. Moneyspire – The budget feature is very user friendly and can rollover amounts. All of the reports you need at your fingertips. Also, you can move your data from many of the top budgeting apps and Quicken.
3. PocketSmith – Manage your budget and forecast your finances.
4. MoneyDance – Moneydance is easy to use personal finance software that is loaded with all the features you need: online banking and bill payment, account management, budgeting and investment tracking.
5. CheckBook Pro – An easy & quick way to manage your daily finances, Checkbook Pro keeps track of your credit card charges, cash expenditures…etc.
6. HomeBudget – HomeBudget is an integrated expense tracker designed to help you track your expenses, income, bills due and account balances. It offers support for budgeting and allows analysis of your expenses and income, including charts and graphs.
7. Pennies – Keep track of your spending and save money with Pennies, the award-winning budgeting app for iPhone, iPad and Watch.
Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances.
Start Your Free Trial.
Budgeting Apps Off the Cloud:
Due to security concerns, many budgeters prefer to keep their financial information off the cloud.
Here are the best budgeting software that are off the cloud. And if you want, they can be synced.
1. Quicken– Personally, I have used Quicken – pretty much since it was developed. Way before budgeting apps were even a thing and the cloud didn’t exist. Quicken is great for tracking how your money is being spent. Their internal budget feature is not user-friendly and has quirks. However, the cash flow reports are awesome to compare spending. The #1 reason I still recommend Quicken is because of its long history.
Read my Quicken Review.
2. Moneyspire – For those frustrated with Quicken, Moneyspire is your choice. The budget feature is very user-friendly and can rollover amounts. All of the reports you need are at your fingertips. Also, you can move your data from many of the top budgeting apps and Quicken. Start a free trial here.
3. Tiller Money – Tiller is the only tool that automatically updates Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel with your spending, transactions, and balances each day.
4. Banktivity – Get full control of your personal finance situation with Banktivity. Has all the bells and whistles you would come to expect for personal finance budgeting software. There is the ability to connect to the cloud if you prefer. Only for Mac Users.
5. MoneyDance – Moneydance is easy-to-use personal finance software that is loaded with all the features you need: online banking and bill payment, account management, budgeting, and investment tracking.
6. QuickBooks – QuickBooks is most like Quicken. It is the preferred software for most bookkeepers. The features are very helpful, but the price is significantly higher.
Expense-tracking budgeting apps
Expense-tracking budgeting apps are becoming more popular as they allow users to connect to financial accounts. They track transactions and group them into categories, making the best ones based on expense tracking systems.
Some of the top expense tracking budgeting apps include:
Simplifi: Quicken has introduced a new personal finance management solution. It is simple, smart, and intuitive money tracker tool that ensures users can keep track of their income and expenses in real-time.
YNAB (You Need A Budget): YNAB helps to reverse this pattern by living off last month’s income during current month.
Pocket Expense: This app is easy to use and has a clear interface for users who are not tech savvy. With Pocket Expense, you can input your income and expenses, set a budget, and track your progress.
Spendee – Understand your finances better with Spendee, the FREE budgeting app that tracks your spending, optimizes your budget, and helps you save money. This user-friendly app with good features for recording income and expenses as well as the ability to plan future budgets. It also lets you set goals and track progress.
Quicken: Quicken is a personal finance software application that can be installed on Windows, Mac or Linux computers and allows users to organize financial information in order for them to make financial decisions.
Learn where to load your Cash App card.
Investment/retirement planning budgeting apps
Investment/retirement planning budgeting apps are becoming more popular with consumers as the retirement age is being pushed back.
These types of apps allow users to keep track of their investments and review performance, ensuring that they’re on track to retire at the desired time.
There are numbeous different investment portfolio management tools, but most are designed for average investors looking to make changes or work towards long-term goals. Many double as budgeting apps also enable tracking expenses alongside investments in order to ensure that you’re on track to reach your goal.
Empower – read my Empower Review
Quicken
Betterment
Wealthfront
Stash
Apps to Help Save Extra Money:
Looking for easy ways to save extra money?? These budgeting apps will do just that.
1. Acorns: Invest Spare Change: This app rounds up any purchase made with a credit card to the nearest dollar and invests it in an exchange traded fund. They have four different investment portfolios from conservative, balanced, growth, and aggressive.
2. Tiller: This app automatically transfers money from any account you connect to it (like your checking or savings) into a fund of your choice every time you make a transaction.
3. Trim – Trim negotiates your cable, internet, phone and medical bills, finds and cancels unwanted subscriptions, can help you lower APRs and bank fees and more.
4. BillShark – Billshark is the easiest way to lower your bills, cancel unwanted subscriptions, and lock in the best rates for insurance.
Which Budgeting App is right for You?
Budgeting apps are becoming more popular as consumers try to make better financial planning decisions.
Budgeting apps help people with the ability to track spending, create budgets, and save money for retirement or other goals.
Budgeting apps must be paid for because they can be used across all devices and have a variety of features that can really help users save time and money.
As you can tell in this post, there are plenty of options to find your favorite budget apps.
Each of these apps can improve money management.
However, you must be able to make the changes necessary to stay within your means. That is up to you. Don’t try it and give up after a month. Stick with it. Show perseverance.
In the end, you will be happy you are stuck with using a good budgeting app.
Apps That Have Shut Down or Changed
These are budgeting app that have been on our list previously. But, when we recently updated the post, realized they are no longer offering the same services.
Mint: Personal Finance & Money – Mint is a free money management and financial tracker app that helps you get ahead and stay ahead. – Mint app shut down in 2024.
Firstly (formerly Honeyfi: Couples Finances) – The first app to help couples team up on everyday and long-term finances.
Opurtun (formerly Digit) – Digit analyzes your spending and automatically saves the perfect amount every day, so you don’t have to think about it.
mvelopes (merged with EveryDollar) – Everyone knows that cash will keep you on budget. Here is a digital option for your cash envelopes. Your first month free is to check out the budgeting system.
Olivia– Whether you identify as someone who is living paycheck to paycheck, or you’d just like to get smarter with your money in general, you’ve come to the right place! I am here to help YOU become the MASTER of your money.
Your Money Wallet – YourMoneyWallet lets you see all your accounts in one place, understand your spending, monitor your everyday spending, and see all your money transactions in a beautiful well crafted design.free
Joy – Money App– Joy is the brand new money app that will change the way you spend and save money to help you find more happiness in your life.
Advent – Budgeting Made Simple – Advent makes budgeting and tracking expenses super easy! With a very minimalistic design, you can easily maneuver around quickly.
Rolling Budget– Rolling Budget is a personal finance tracker that keeps track of your day-to-day expenses, travel, and fuel costs. Track where your money goes, plan your expenses, and create a budget that works for you!
Best Budgeting Apps
There are many apps available to help people manage their budgets.
The best app for you will depend on the type of budget you want to create and how often you want to make changes. All of these apps are mobile-friendly and work across multiple devices. They also offer additional features like budgeting tasks, reminders, and spending plans.
You can find all of these for iPhone or Android.
You can save time and money by using a good budgeting app.
This is your personal finance journey.
The ultimate goal with any budget app is to learn to manage your money. Not have your money manage you.
Now, make sure you are doing these habits to be successful with budgeting.
Which are your favorite budgeting apps?
Keep on Budgeting:
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
In one of Tribeca’s most iconic century-old buildings, a newly revamped penthouse has landed on the market with a $24.45 million asking price and a whole range of features and amenities you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the city.
The penthouse sits atop one of New York’s most iconic landmarks — the Renaissance Revival-style 108 Leonard, formerly known as 346 Broadway or the Clock Tower Building — originally designed in the 1890s by renowned architects McKim, Mead & White for the New York Life Insurance Company.
The full-block beaux-arts building has since been reborn as a luxury condominium that attracts big names like Nicole Kidman and Samuel L. Jackson, thanks to a masterful transformation at the hands of the Elad Group, a prestigious NYC developer known for historic conversions like The Plaza and for its neighborhood-defining new construction like THE 74 on the Upper East Side.
Spanning three floors, the most coveted residence at 108 Leonard has rightfully been dubbed the Crown Penthouse and resembles “a townhouse in the sky”, as the listing rightfully points out.
It’s now being offered for sale at $24,450,000, with an all-star Douglas Elliman team in charge of the listing (Elena Sarkissian, Jane Powers, Raphael DeNiro, Christopher Salierno, and Matthew MacKay).
The pinnacle of luxury living in Tribeca
Spec-wise, the 6,252-square-foot penthouse residence is a 5-bedroom, 5-bath, 2-powder room triplex with an additional 2,173 square feet of combined outdoor space.
It is a true “townhouse in the sky” occupying the 14th, 15th, and 16th floors of the building which, combined with 108 Leonard’s prestige, location, and architectural details, and complemented by views that extend from the Empire State Building and Midtown skyline to the North, the East River and beyond, make it one of the most desirable trophy homes in the city.
“This is the pinnacle of luxury living in the heart of Tribeca,” says Elena Sarkissian, Director of Sales at 108 Leonard with Douglas Elliman Development Marketing.
“This extraordinary triplex blends the tranquility of a private sanctuary with the vibrant energy of the city’s new gallery district. Towering arched windows and soaring 16-foot ceilings — features impossible to replicate today — set the stage for a truly singular design experience unlike any other.”
Custom-designed interiors by Jeffrey Beers International
The interiors bear the signature of Award-winning hospitality design firm Jeffrey Beers International, which also worked on the Hard Rock Hotel in New York, The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, The Newbury Boston, Peter Luger Las Vegas, Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, and Jay-Z’s 40/40 CLUB, to name just a few of their upscale projects.
They also left their mark on some of the city’s other prominent luxury condo developments, including 277 Fifth Avenue, One West End, and the mixed-use One57.
For 108 Leonard’s Crown Penthouse, the design firm worked to highlight the existing, distinctive design features while also incorporating contemporary finishes, without altering the historic feel.
These include deep crown moldings, chevron wood floors, massive arched windows, and 16-foot high ceilings. The stunning marble fireplaces add a touch of elegance, while the custom Scavolini cabinetry and Arabescato Cerviole marble countertops in the kitchen showcase exquisite craftsmanship.
Additionally, the primary suite features high-honed Calacatta Mandria marble floors and walls in the bathrooms, along with custom double vanities and Fantini polished chrome fixtures.
The 14th Floor is anchored by a ballroom-sized great room
The 14th floor of The Crown Penthouse at 108 Leonard features a gracious foyer leading to a ballroom-sized great room located on the northeast corner of the building — surrounded by massive arched windows offering open views to the north and iconic bridges to the east.
The room also includes 16-foot ceilings, deep crown moldings, chevron wood floors, and a marble fireplace. Double slider doors lead to a windowed eat-in kitchen equipped with custom Scavolini cabinetry, Arabescato Cerviole marble countertops, and premium Miele appliances, including a 6-burner gas cooktop, double dishwasher, steam/convection oven, electric speed oven, espresso station, and a 100-bottle wine refrigerator.
This floor also has a signature powder room with a Nero Marquina marble sink, Murano glass faucets, and a black metal mirror with integrated lighting, as well as a separate bedroom suite ideal for a private home office or guest suite.
The 15th Floor features a media room and bedroom suites
The 15th floor of The Crown Penthouse at 108 Leonard features a large media room with a glass wall that leads to a spacious southern terrace. Adjacent to the media room is a second wet bar area and a signature powder room.
A central gallery on this floor leads to a laundry room and three distinct bedroom suites, each with en suite baths and individual access to either the southern or northern terraces.
The primary suite occupies the entire 16th Floor
The 16th floor of The Crown Penthouse at 108 Leonard is dedicated to the primary suite, which occupies the entire floor.
This suite offers exceptional light and jaw-dropping views from three exposures: the Empire State Building and Midtown skyline to the north, the East River and iconic bridges to the east, and the Municipal Building and City Hall to the south.
The floor includes a sprawling east-facing private terrace highlighted by the building’s historic copper-clad Cupola. The suite features a marble fireplace, a midnight kitchen, ample walk-in closet space, and a separate sitting area/dressing room.
Two separate, glass-wrapped baths face north and include high-honed Calacatta Mandria marble floors and walls, with one bath featuring a freestanding soaking tub and the other an oversized walk-in shower. Custom double vanities with Fantini polished chrome fixtures and two water closets are also included.
Over 2,000 square feet of outdoor spaces & terraces overlooking the city
The Crown Penthouse features an expansive 2,173 square feet of combined outdoor space spread across multiple terraces on the 15th and 16th floors.
The 15th floor has a large southern terrace accessible from the media room, providing additional space for entertaining guests. There is also a separate northern terrace off the bedrooms on this level.
The stunning 16th floor primary suite has its own private east-facing terrace highlighted by the iconic copper cupola atop the building. With over 1,000 square feet of outdoor space, the terrace offers ample room for outdoor furnishings and relaxation while taking in views of the Midtown skyline and East River bridges.
Set inside a century-old piece of Tribeca history
Originally designed in the 1890s by the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, the National Register of Historic Places-listed 108 Leonard building is an iconic example of beaux-arts design.
The full-block building was constructed in the Renaissance Revival style, with Italian Renaissance architectural details. McKim, Mead & White, the preeminent American architecture firm at the turn of the 20th century, is perhaps best known for grand civic structures like the original Pennsylvania Station and the Brooklyn Museum.
108 Leonard’s extensive list of amenities
The Crown Penthouse at 108 Leonard offers residents access to multiple attended lobbies, a discreet drive-in motor reception with private valet parking, and over 20,000 square feet of wellness-driven amenities.
These include a 75-foot lap pool with an adjacent hot tub, sauna, and steam rooms for relaxing and rejuvenating, as well as a spacious 2,200-square-foot fitness center outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment.
Residents can also make use of the chef’s demonstration kitchen and adjacent entertaining lounge for hosting private dinner parties and events. Other posh entertainment options include a private dining room featuring a bespoke wine cellar, a landmarked mezzanine-level lounge known as “the marble room”, and several beautifully appointed media & game rooms, and rooftop gardens.
The Alice in Wonderland-themed children’s playroom is a whimsical space that not only serves its function perfectly but pays tribute to the building’s storied history — with a wall-sized clock and gears hinting at 108 Leonard’s well-known moniker of “the Clock Building”.
A special nod to the marble-clad lobby & marble room
While wellness and entertainment-oriented amenities are a staple of luxury condo developments, 108 Leonard has a few aces up its sleeve that other buildings simply can’t match.
Among them is the double-height main lobby accessed from the Leonard Street entrance. Designated as a New York City interior landmark, the imposing space contains a terrazzo floor, marble walls, and staircases with marble balustrades.
Paying homage to the building’s exteriors — largely made of marble — there’s also a landmarked and restored marble-clad anteroom that has been fitted with bespoke furniture designed by the 125-year-old Italian brand Giorgetti, known for its collaborations with Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Brioni.
More stories
The Dakota, NYC’s first luxury apartment building and its many famous residents
Step inside 130 William Street, one of NYC’s finest new skyscrapers
The San Remo, New York’s 1st twin-towered residential skyscrapers & the A-listers that called it home
On the exclusive, man-made island neighborhood of Palm Island, just off the coast of Miami Beach, a newly built waterfront home sold for a whopping $40,000,000, setting a new record in the process.
This sale marks the highest price ever paid for a property on Palm & Hibiscus Islands, surpassing the previous record of $32 million set in February 2023.
“40 Palm Ave sold at a 25% premium over any other property that has ever been sold on Palm & Hibiscus Islands,” listing agent Liz Hogan of Compass tells us, undoubtedly excited about the home run she brought in for the brokerage.
And just in case you were wondering what $40 million buys you in the ultra-exclusive Palm Island, here’s a breakdown of everything this record-breaking property has to offer.
Property overview
The stunning Palm Island estate spans an expansive 14,930 square feet. The property boasts 8 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, and 4 half baths, with plenty of space for residents and guests.
With nearly 15,000 square feet to work with, the architect designed an open and airy floor plan optimized for entertaining. The home seamlessly combines indoor and outdoor living spaces and comes with some extra cool features like a state-of-the-art home theatre and a gym with steam and sauna.
Architecture and design
Designed by renowned tropical modern architect Cesar Molina, 40 Palm Avenue is a stunning new construction masterpiece featuring his signature style.
Molina is considered one of the preeminent architects in Miami and has designed some of the area’s most exclusive waterfront estates. His aesthetic combines clean lines, an abundance of natural light, and seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces.
For this property, Molina opted for a contemporary facade with sleek white stucco walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and minimalist detailing. The layout takes advantage of the home’s waterfront location, with rooms oriented towards water views and the Miami skyline.
Molina’s trademark tropical modern look shines through in the open floor plan, breezy rooms, and abundance of outdoor living areas like balconies, patios, and sundecks. Natural stone and wood accents add warmth, while black accents add a note of drama and elegance to the space.
Interior highlights
The interior design of 40 Palm Avenue showcases the finest craftsmanship and luxurious amenities. The gourmet kitchen features custom Mia Cucina cabinetry with integrated appliances by Subzero and Wolf.
The cabinetry offers a seamless blend of form and function, with soft-close drawers, pull-out shelves, and clever storage solutions. Gorgeous countertops made from exotic stones complement the clean lines of the cabinetry.
The finest finishes
Beyond the kitchen, the home is outfitted with only the best furnishings and finishes.
Fine detailing abounds, from the lighting fixtures to the door hardware. No expense was spared to create a refined, comfortable ambiance using quality materials and impeccable attention to detail.
Primary bedroom with private oasis
The primary bedroom is an oasis unto itself, featuring a private patio area complete with a luxurious pool just steps from the master bed.
After waking up in the sprawling bedroom suite, residents can walk out to their own secluded outdoor paradise without even leaving the main bedroom.
The patio provides plenty of space for lounge chairs, dining areas, and landscaping around the pool and surrounding the patio itself. Palm trees sway below while sunshine reflects off the turquoise water, creating a serene ambiance.
Rooftop terrace with rare elevator access
One of the most unique features of 40 Palm Avenue is the rare rooftop terrace with elevator access.
The spacious rooftop terrace provides stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding palm trees, turquoise waterways, and the Miami skyline in the distance. It’s an ideal spot for entertaining or simply relaxing and soaking in the scenery.
The rooftop terrace comes with the added perk of having direct elevator access from the inside the home. The elevator opens right onto the rooftop, making it easy to transport guests, food, and decor upstairs.
The Zen spa
“Aside from the incredible tropical architecture design found throughout the home, 40 Palm Ave had an incredible spa with a stone-clad steam room & sauna,” agent Liz Hogan shares, when ased about the most impressive areas of the record-breaking house.
“It is a very zen space and a room that I would use quite often if I lived there.”
The guest house
The estate features a detached upstairs guest home, providing private accommodations separate from the main residence. This self-contained guest house is located above the 4-car garage and can be accessed via a separate entrance and staircase.
With its own bedroom, bathroom, and living space, the guest house functions as a secluded apartment ideal for visiting friends and family or live-in staff.
Boat dock and water frontage
The property features a private boat dock along with a generous 100 feet of water frontage, providing direct access to Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Set in a ritzy enclave
Surrounded entirely by water, Palm Island provides a secluded oasis for Miami’s elite seeking privacy and luxury living.
The island was developed in the 1920s and became a haven for wealthy business tycoons, socialites, celebrities and politicians over the years. Notable residents have included notorious gangster Al Capone, actor Nick Nolte, musician Gloria Estefan and more.
Palm Island is accessible only by the MacArthur Causeway and is guarded by a security gate, adding to its appeal as an exclusive enclave. The neighborhood consists mostly of waterfront estates, many in Mediterranean style, on lots measuring an acre or more. And prices reflect the exclusivity of the area.
Home values on Palm Island range from $3.5 million to over $40 million for the most exclusive properties, with the median listing price for the ritzy enclave sitting at a hefty $12 million.
More stories
Two-time All-Star baseball player known as Mr. Marlin brings Miami-area home to market
Three neighboring properties in Miami Beach eye $150 million sale
Miami Vice-featured mansion in Coconut Grove eyes $29.9M sale
A newly completed architectural masterpiece has recently landed on the market in Palm Springs for $5.495 million. And it pairs a million-dollar location in the heart of Palm Springs with eye-catching design — both inside and out!
Nestled within the exclusive gated community of ONE Las Palmas, this brand-new desert oasis (completed in 2023) is a one-of-a-kind property. From its unique curvilinear design to its luxurious details and amenities, this home is a true work of art that pays tribute to the storied architectural history of Palm Springs.
Sitting on nearly half an acre, the five-bedroom, six-bathroom residence with modern aesthetics and resort-style features is listed with Scott Lyle and Kyle Gilligan of Compass. And here’s a quick overview of what it has to offer future residents:
It boasts a unique curvilinear design
The Palm Springs property features a standout curvilinear architectural design. The unique shape and flow of the house maximize indoor/outdoor living and create a feeling of harmony between the interior spaces and exterior landscape.
The distinct architecture bears the signature of lauded architect Brian Foster, known for his original designs that combine art and architecture to create true masterpieces.
He even designed a modern desert stunner for Sylvester Stallone (though we don’t think that one was ever built, as Sly exited the Palm Springs market a few years back, selling his La Quinta property for a little over $3 million).
The curvilinear design continues inside
Stepping inside, the gaze is immediately drawn up by the soaring 13-foot ceilings. But it’s the curving walls that guide the eye through the open-concept living areas out towards the floor-to-ceiling glass sliders.
The curvilinear layout blurs the lines between inside and outside, allowing the majestic mountain views to become part of the interior design.
The great room has 13-foot ceilings
The expansive great room is the crown jewel of this architectural masterpiece.
With ceilings soaring to over 13 feet high, the space takes on a grand, cathedral-like feel, punctuated by carefully curated art, custom finishes and lighting.
An entire multi-slide wall opens up to the outdoor areas
Full-height sliding glass doors spanning nearly 50 feet across one wall allow the stunning mountain views to basically become part of the decor — and flood the living space with natural light.
The gourmet chef’s kitchen comes fully equipped
The gourmet chef’s kitchen is a foodie’s paradise, designed for both intimate meals and large-scale entertaining. It features an expansive island with luxurious quartz counters, providing ample prep space and seating for guests.
The top-of-the-line Wolf and Subzero appliances are complemented by gorgeous cabinetry that offers plenty of storage space while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic.
The primary suite doubles as a spa retreat
The massive primary suite is an oasis of relaxation and luxury. Large windows flood the bedroom with natural light and showcase gorgeous mountain views.
The primary suite also has the rare feature of direct access to a private zen patio with a two-person outdoor shower, bathtub, and cozy fire feature — perfect for relaxing under the stars.
And the stylish bathroom plays a big role in that
The primary suite also boasts a spa-like bathroom with dual vanities, an oversized walk-in shower built for two, and the finest finishes. But the highlight is undoubtedly the artful freestanding tub placed perfectly to take in the view.
There’s a free-form pool to soak up the sun
Stepping outside, we find a free-form pool that complements the design of the house.
Surrounded by lush landscaping, the pool has a 98-inch TV looming over it for some quite spectacular movie screenings.
And plenty of other outdoor amenities
Beyond the free-form pool, a tanning shelf, an outdoor fireplace, and even a putting green add to the list of outdoor activities to enjoy.
Gentle water features provide tranquil sounds, while an expansive spa overlooking the rockscape provides another opportunity to soak sore muscles.
Sustainability features have not been overlooked
The home is equipped with a full Net $0 Solar system, including batteries and pool heating. It also features a reverse osmosis whole-house system, ensuring clean and safe water throughout the property.
It’s also available for immediate occupancy, with the owner ready to pass on the keys to the next resident. So if you know anyone who’s been dying to move into the idyllic Victory neighborhood from Don’t Worry Darling, make sure to share our article with them. This Palm Springs architectural might be right up their alley.
More stories
Suzanne Somers’ beloved 28-acre Palm Springs retreat re-lists for $8.95 million
Cool Listings: Striking modern desert home blends in with its surroundings in Palm Springs
F1 Champion Jenson Button and his designer wife list glam Palm Springs retreat for $2.3 million
Master essential cleaning routines for a pristine apartment and hassle-free move-outs.
Keep clutter at bay with decluttering strategies for a spacious and organized home.
Ensure prompt maintenance reporting to landlords to maintain apartment integrity and safety.
Renting an apartment brings a unique set of joys and responsibilities. It’s your sanctuary, your haven, your slice of the world to call your own — albeit temporarily. While the allure of the rental lifestyle lies in its flexibility and convenience, it’s crucial to remember that with great living comes great responsibility. Whether you’re renting an apartment in Knoxville, TN or Seattle, WA, maintaining your apartment isn’t just about keeping it tidy; it’s about nurturing a space where you can truly thrive, both now and in the future.
In this ApartmentGuide article, we’ll explore essential apartment maintenance tips that every renter should know. These practices not only enhance your daily living experience but also play a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth move-out process and maximizing your chances of reclaiming that precious security deposit.
A clean apartment isn’t just visually pleasing; it’s also a healthier and more inviting environment to reside in. Implementing regular cleaning routines helps prevent the buildup of dirt, grime, and allergens, promoting a hygienic living space. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to guide your cleaning endeavors:
Surfaces: Sumerae Riese with Rosenbaum Realty Group suggests incorporating daily habits such as wiping down countertops, tables, and other surfaces with a gentle cleanser to remove dust, spills, and stains.
Dusting: Don’t overlook the often-neglected areas like vents, baseboards, and light fixtures. A microfiber cloth or duster works wonders in capturing dust and cobwebs.
Windows: Jacob Lippiatt with Akron Property Management shares how “a quick wipe down of the windows can go a long way to make a rental look cleaner, brighter, and more inviting.” A solution of vinegar and water is an eco-friendly option for streak-free windows.
Patio or balcony surfaces: If you’re fortunate enough to have outdoor space, maintain it by sweeping away debris and giving it a good scrub periodically.
Sweeping, vacuuming, mopping: Floors are high-traffic areas prone to collecting dirt and crumbs. Sweep or vacuum regularly, and mop floors — including closets and beneath furniture — to maintain cleanliness. Harmony Spencer, marketing manager for Portland Property Management cautions to “be extra careful with what you use to clean up carpet messes.” She shares how “a combination of white vinegar, mild dish soap, and water is a tried-and-true all-purpose method–and environmentally friendly.”
Appliances: Extend the lifespan of appliances by cleaning them regularly. Wipe down the exteriors of refrigerators, microwaves, ovens, and dishwashers, and follow manufacturer instructions for deep cleaning as needed.
Bathrooms: Keep your bathroom spotless to prevent mold and mildew. Scrub the tub, toilet, sink, and tiles with a disinfectant cleaner, and don’t forget to replace shower curtains or liners when necessary.
Clutter can accumulate quickly in a small living space, making it feel cramped and chaotic. Justin deVries with Waveland Property Management in Holland, MI, shares how regular decluttering sessions help you “maintain your apartment’s overall appeal and functionality.” Here are some areas to focus on:
Clothes: Sort through your wardrobe periodically and donate or discard items you no longer wear or need. Investing in storage solutions like bins or organizers can help maximize closet space.
Mail: Designate a specific area for sorting and managing incoming mail to prevent paper clutter from piling up on countertops or tables.
Other unused items: Take stock of your belongings and identify items that serve no practical purpose or hold no sentimental value. Whether it’s old electronics, kitchen gadgets, or knick-knacks, consider donating, selling, or recycling them to free up space.
Promptly reporting any apartment maintenance issues or damages to your landlord or property manager is essential for preserving the integrity of your apartment and ensuring your safety and comfort. Whether it’s a leaky faucet, malfunctioning appliance, or structural concern, don’t hesitate to communicate your concerns and request timely repairs.
By adhering to these apartment maintenance tips, you not only enhance your quality of life as a renter but also demonstrate your commitment to responsible stewardship of your living space. A well-maintained apartment not only fosters a sense of pride and contentment but also streamlines the move-out process and increases the likelihood of receiving your full security deposit refund. So, roll up your sleeves, put on your cleaning gloves, and embark on your journey to apartment bliss.
Los Angeles is known for its eclectic mix of architectural styles, but every so often, a property comes along that truly captures the imagination.
Recently listed for $3.3 million, a rare storybook house in Pacific Palisades offers a unique blend of fantasy and historical charm. Originally built in 1930, the home is a whimsical mix of storybook architecture infused with Spanish, Art Deco, and old-world farmhouse elements.
Step through the gated entry, and you’ll find yourself in a fairy tale setting, complete with a turret, archways, and stained glass windows.
The house is also a treasure trove of salvaged items and artistic touches. With doors from the old Los Angeles Athletic Club, a bar and headboard from Hearst’s collection at San Simeon, and even a backyard fence made from old railway ties, every detail of this home tells a story.
And since pictures are worth a thousand words, let’s take a closer look at this fairytale-esque home — now listed for $3.3 million with Compass’ Dan Urbach.
Property overview
Built in 1930, this enchanting home sprawls over 4,234 square feet and features 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and plenty of unique amenities. From its gated front yard with lush landscaping to the spiral staircase and hidden rooms, every corner of this house tells a story.
Especially since the property’s longtime owners have spent the last 60 years sourcing materials spanning from around Los Angeles, the Central Coast, and across Europe – all to create a home that exudes curated, refined character and unique craftsmanship. And their efforts paid off, as we’re about to see.
Breakdown of amenities
Before we caught up in this house’s fairytale-like elements, let’s see what it comes with. Some of the amenities include:
A formal living room with brick fireplace and stained glass
Open dining area and kitchen with vintage O’Keefe & Merrit oven
A spacious family room off the kitchen
A primary suite with vaulted ceilings and an Art Deco-style bathroom
Two guest bedrooms, each with unique character and custom details
A backyard with multiple lounge areas, casita, garden shed, and darkroom
Basement and central heating
A carport with garage door
Architectural charm
This house is a delightful blend of storybook architecture with touches of Spanish, Art Deco, and old-world farmhouse styles.
Storybook architecture, characterized by whimsical designs and fairy tale elements inspired by European folk tales, first appeared in Los Angeles in the 1920s and quickly gained popularity among Hollywood stars who wanted homes that felt like fanciful hideaways.
This home captures that essence perfectly, with its turreted entry, archways, and stained glass windows that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale.
Equally charming interiors
Step inside, and you’ll find a living room for the ages — featuring a brick fireplace with a mantel made from an old oak wine press, leaded glass windows, and vaulted ceilings crafted from reclaimed wood from a Los Olivos farm.
The kitchen’s vintage charm
The kitchen exudes vintage farmhouse charm, boasting a classic O’Keefe & Merrit oven/range, a custom sink and pantry, and architectural details such as archways and copper-clad corners.
The cozy family room
The main hall leads to a cozy family room and an Art Deco-inspired powder room with pink and green hues.
Idyllic primary bedroom
The primary suite offers a large bedroom with vaulted ceilings, a built-in vanity, ample closet space, and an Art Deco-style bathroom.
The charming guest bedrooms
Two guest bedrooms, each with their own unique character, share a beautifully tiled bathroom with a step-down shower and separate tub.
One bedroom features cathedral-like windows and custom closets with a built-in desk, while the other boasts a seating area and a lofted sleeping space accessible by an oak beam staircase.
The loft above the living area
A wrought iron spiral staircase leads to a spacious loft overlooking the living room, complete with bookshelves and secret rooms.
Salvaged treasures
The house is a treasure trove of salvaged items.
The doors in the dining room, blue bathroom, and the big middle room are from the old Los Angeles Athletic Club, salvaged by the owner’s late mother during the club’s renovation.
The master bedroom headboard and the bar in the dining room came from Hearst’s collection at San Simeon. Even the backyard fence is made from old railway ties, adding to the home’s quirky charm.
Hearst Castle connections
Speaking of Hearst Castle, the house has a direct connection to the famous San Simeon estate. According to our sources, the current seller’s parents had a friend who managed to bring several items from Heart’s castle — and helped repurpose them.
The bar in the dining room and the master bedroom headboard were part of Hearst’s collection, originally sourced from Louis XIV’s collections in France. It was initially part of Hearst’s collection of antique French furniture he had shipped over from Europe to decorate San Simeon. The family friend acquired the headboard and repaired it for the current owners.
Art & sculptures abound
Art lovers will appreciate the “Bucket Man” sculpture by Malibu artist Carl Gillberg, which graces the backyard pond. Created in the early ’70s, this whimsical piece doubles as a fountain, adding a playful touch to the garden (provided future owners will rehab the pump).
The house itself is a living piece of art
The eclectic combination of salvaged doors, antique furnishings, architectural details, and repurposed materials come together to create a living art piece. Each room has been thoughtfully designed with artistic vision.
The fairy tale continues outside
The backyard is equally charming, with a deck, lounge areas, a “casita” with a kitchen, and a garden shed. There’s also a lower level with a storage room, a workshop, and a darkroom, perfect for creative projects.
The “casita” is a rustic dream
Made out of reclaimed produce crates and beams, the “casita” is just as unique as the main house, and serves as an extra-charming rustic kitchen with vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and plenty of salvaged items.
Pacific Palisades location
Located in the picturesque Pacific Palisades, this house offers the perfect blend of coastal living and suburban charm. The Palisades are known for their beautiful landscapes, excellent schools, and a tight-knit community. Plus, it’s just a short drive from the beach, making it an ideal spot for those who love the ocean.
Unlike anything else on the market
“There is really nothing like this on the market, especially in the Palisades,” says listing agent Dan Urbach. “Inventory remains low in Pacific Palisades and there is still strong buyer demand for homes priced in a market-value range. Properties with exceptional character and charm tend to sell faster, as they create an emotional appeal.”
This storybook house is not just a home; it’s a fairy tale waiting to be lived in. With its rich history, unique design, and prime location, it’s truly a rare gem in Los Angeles.
More stories
You can rent Walt Disney’s storybook house in Los Angeles – but it won’t be cheap
This charming storybook cottage nestled under the iconic Hollywood sign will take you back to the early days of Hollywoodland
Julia Child’s fairytale cottage in Provence is now available for rent; The kitchen is a Must-See
As the temperatures rise, so do our energy bills, especially for apartment dwellers. However, whether you live in apartments in Phoenix, Arizona, or a home in Tampa, Florida, with a few simple adjustments to your daily routine and habits, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption and lower your utility bills during the summer months.
This ApartmentGuide article unveils nine apartment energy-saving tips to help you keep cool without breaking the bank. Now, let’s get started.
1. Open windows during the morning hours
Take advantage of cooler morning temperatures by opening your windows to allow fresh air to circulate throughout your apartment. This natural cooling method can help reduce your reliance on air conditioning later in the day.
2. Close curtains and blinds
During the hottest parts of the day, Aimee Skrzekut, president of Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, recommends keeping your curtains and blinds closed to block out direct sunlight. This will prevent your apartment from heating up and reduce the need for your air conditioner to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature.
3. Set the thermostat to 78 degrees and use fans
Ambar Orantes with LA Heating Air Conditioning suggests setting your “thermostat around 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at home and adjusting it to 85 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re away. Be sure to utilize ceiling fans or portable fans to help distribute cool air more efficiently. Fans create a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler without having to lower the thermostat temperature.”
Troy Morgan with PanTech Design shares how “pre-cooling during summer months can help you save 15% on your energy bill.” He explains that you can do this by “cooling the apartment early in the morning…and then setting the thermostat to a more normal temperature.”
4. Turn off lights when you’re not home and opt for LED lighting
Make it a habit to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms to save energy. Additionally, Petar with NY Energy Project suggests replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with “energy-efficient LED lights”, which consume less electricity and last longer.
5. Run full loads of dishes with an energy-efficient setting
Wait until your dishwasher is full before running it to maximize its efficiency. Use the energy-saving or eco-friendly setting, if available, to reduce water and energy consumption during the dishwashing cycle.
6. Optimize when and how you wash laundry with energy-efficient settings
Wash your laundry in full loads and use cold water whenever possible to save energy. Most modern washing machines offer energy-efficient settings that use less water and electricity while still providing effective cleaning results.
7. Try to avoid using your oven
Ovens can generate a significant amount of heat, which can make your apartment warmer and cause your air conditioner to work harder. Shannon Hernandez, owner of BrightLife Electric in Reno, Nevada, recommends opting for cooking methods that produce less heat, such as using a microwave, slow cooker, or toaster oven.
8. Check that your windows and doors are properly sealed
Inspect your windows and doors for any gaps or cracks that could allow warm air to enter your apartment and cool air to escape. Seal any leaks with weather-stripping or caulking to improve energy efficiency and reduce air conditioning costs.
9. Assess your options on electricity plans
Christine Ji with LowerEbill recommends that you research different electricity plans offered by utility providers in your area to find one that best suits your energy consumption habits and budget. She shares how “families in deregulated states can achieve substantial savings.” Consider plans with lower rates during off-peak hours or those that offer incentives for reducing energy usage.
Try these energy-saving tips all summer
By incorporating these nine apartment energy-saving tips into your daily routine, you can enjoy a cooler and more comfortable living space while reducing your environmental footprint and saving money on your utility bills this summer. Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to energy efficiency, so start implementing these tips today to reap the benefits tomorrow.
Just a couple of months after it graced the pages of the Wall Street Journal, Oscar De La Hoya’s Las Vegas-area home popped up on the market as a glam $20 million listing.
The championship boxer’s custom-built pad, a triple-gated mansion in the exclusive Strata community in Henderson, Nevada packs almost 9,000 square feet of living space, 2,409 square feet of outdoor living area, and amenities galore. Not to mention plenty of gold accents that hint at the owner’s illustrious career.
After heavily customizing the one-story modern home, De La Hoya moved in late last year with plans to boost boxing’s popularity in Vegas.
And while we don’t know how the rest of his plans are going, the boxer now seems ready to part ways with the Las Vegas mansion — nicknamed Casa de Oro or House of Gold — listing it for $20 million with Zar Zanganeh of The Agency Las Vegas.
Home to a boxing great
For those newer to the boxing game, Oscar De La Hoya is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer who competed professionally from 1992 to 2008.
De La Hoya was nicknamed “The Golden Boy of boxing” by the media when he represented the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal in the lightweight division shortly after graduating high school.
During his prolific boxing career, De La Hoya won 11 world titles in six different weight classes, including the lineal championship in three divisions. His long list of accolades cemented his status as one of the most accomplished boxers of his era. However, he has also been a controversial figure at times, with issues like substance abuse and domestic violence allegations surfacing over the years.
Casa de Oro
Oscar De La Hoya’s Las Vegas mansion, nicknamed Casa de Oro or House of Gold, was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal (paywalled article), with the 51-year-old retired boxer giving fans the tour of his sprawling abode alongside his girlfriend, Holly Sonders, and their microminiature French bulldog, Vida.
After buying the property in 2022 for $14.6 million, De La Hoya spent millions more customizing the modern one-story home over nearly two years before moving in around Thanksgiving 2023.
The 8,954-square-foot house sits on nearly an acre and has a custom tribute room celebrating De La Hoya’s prolific boxing career.
Home specs
De La Hoya’s home sits on nearly an acre and encompasses a spacious 8,954 square feet of living space. The single-level modern mansion contains five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
It also has approximately 2,400 square feet dedicated to luxury outdoor living areas. Some highlights of the home’s specs include:
8,954 total square footage
5 bedrooms
7 bathrooms
2,409 square feet of outdoor living space
Located on a nearly one-acre cul-de-sac lot
Triple gated property
Custom design by architect T. Jones
Single level floorplan
Luxury amenities abound
The newly built home, completed in 2023, is packed with luxury amenities and standout features fit for a champion. Some of the indulgent details include:
A statement modern entrance with water feature and porte-cochere
An elevated home office with panoramic views
A fully equipped gym and separate wet bar perfect for entertaining
A game and sports room complete with golf simulator
Hair salon for pampering and glam sessions
Media room with cinema-style seating
Gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances
Butler’s kitchen for convenient catering
Temperature-controlled wine room to store prized bottles
Sprawling primary suite with retreat, massive closet, spa bath and outdoor shower
All bedrooms feature en-suite bathrooms and walk-in closets
Poolside outdoor kitchen and multiple lounge areas
Private spa and sun deck for soaking up the Vegas sun
Automated pocket doors and glass walls for an indoor-outdoor feel
Design and decor
From the generously sized living areas to the bedrooms, kitchens, and dining spaces, every single room of the house screams luxury — and is adorned with gold touches that hint at its famous owner’s stellar career.
A tribute to Oscar De La Hoya’s career
The standout room is undoubtedly the custom tribute room honoring De La Hoya’s prolific boxing career.
This one-of-a-kind space features boxing memorabilia, championship belts, photos, and other cherished artifacts from De La Hoya’s days in the ring, showcasing his legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats.
More standout rooms
Other notable rooms include the elevated home office with panoramic views, the luxurious primary suite with spa bath and private garden lanai, and the over-the-top gourmet kitchen decked out with top-of-the-line appliances and amenities.
Clearly, De La Hoya spared no expense in appointing the home for luxurious yet comfortable living.
Indoor-outdoor living
The home’s design is a stunning showcase of modern luxury, with an open floor plan that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living spaces. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls and automated pocket doors open onto expansive outdoor patios, creating a bright and airy atmosphere.
Part of the Strata community
The Strata community in Henderson, Nevada was developed by luxury homebuilder Blue Heron. This exclusive neighborhood features just 19 homesites, providing the privacy and seclusion desired by its elite residents.
Strata homes are perched on a mountainside overlooking the picturesque Lake Las Vegas, providing unparalleled views. Like Oscar De La Hoya’s house, each home at the Strata takes advantage of the stunning natural surroundings with floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive outdoor living spaces.
Residents enjoy easy access to the charming Village at Lake Las Vegas. This quaint area along the shores of the lake offers al fresco dining at local restaurants and pubs, community events, concerts, and a neighborhood grocery store.
A Blue Heron home
Blue Heron, the name behind both the house and the Strata gated community, is a design-led development firm that specializes in aspirational living experiences through personalized home design.
The company was founded with the goal of enhancing natural beauty through thoughtfully crafted architecture and interiors. Every Blue Heron home is designed to accentuate its surroundings, with a focus on seamless indoor-outdoor living. Their team handles architectural design, interior design, and construction, allowing for a fully integrated vision.
The company has developed a reputation for luxurious, environmentally attuned communities in desirable locations like Lake Las Vegas and Ascaya. Their homes range from modern to Mediterranean in style, united by a commitment to quality, sustainability and community.
Nearby Ascaya Canyon community
One of Blue Heron’s newest launched communities is also set in Henderson, Nevada, in the private mountainside community of Ascaya.
Dubbed The Canyon at Ascaya, the new luxury enclave was announced earlier this spring, consisting of modern desert abodes ranging in size from 3,391 to 4,407 square feet, with configurations that include three and four bedrooms.
The residences boast dual primary suites, spacious great rooms, and a layout that promotes seamless flow from indoor to outdoor living areas.
Final words
Oscar De La Hoya’s luxury Las Vegas home in the exclusive Strata community certainly lives up to its “Golden Boy” nickname. With its triple-gated privacy, polished interiors, custom tribute room, and sweeping Strip views, it’s one of the finest sports celebrity cribs we’ve seen come to market this year.
And with so many celebrities flocking to the Las Vegas area, we can’t wait to see if another A-lister decides to take off De La Hoya’s hands.
More stories
Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard’s $45M megamansion in Pacific Palisades
UFC Champ Tito Ortiz wants $4.5 million for his Huntington Beach house
The massive Connecticut house 50 Cent bought from Mike Tyson