On and Maybe Off the Market: Sleek and Sexy Clarendon Heights Abode Hits the Market and Takes an Offer

× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Thursday, May 12, 2011, by Sally Kuchar 140 St Geramin has barely been on the market (asking $5,000,000) and its sale is already pending. Let's take a look around. The 5-bed, 7-bath, 5,701 square foot (you read all of that right) contemporary mega house used to be a 2-story, 2,220 square foot house built in 1960. Then SF Modern developed and designed it and what you see above is the end result. For some fantastic and insightful commentary, check out the before and after photos on SF Modern's project page. The house is packed with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a property of this caliber: unobstructed views from all three levels; an elevator; gym; wine cellar; solar panels and "eco-friendly features." Dwell photo shoot, anyone?
· 140 St Germain [Redfin]
· St. Germain Project Photos [SF Modern]

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Trulia and Century 21 Team Up to Offer Premium Marketing Solutions

Today Trulia released some exciting news for CENTURY 21 Brokerages across the country:  Trulia and Century 21 Real Estate LLC have entered an agreement to offer Trulia Premium Listings as part of Century 21’s Showcase Advantage listing program.   For a limited time, Century 21 brokerages will receive discounts up to 75% off regular pricing on Trulia Premium Listings.   Using Premium Listings allows brokerages to increase the leads they receive from Truila by more than 500%.   Century 21 brokerages who wish to enroll in the program can get more information by clicking here.

“Trulia is dedicated to making valuable connections between consumers and real estate professionals through our online marketing solutions. It is our goal to become the industry’s number one marketing channel and our partnership with CENTURY 21 Real Estate brings us one step closer to that goal,” said Georg Gerstenfeld, VP of Business Services at Trulia. “We are confident that CENTURY 21 brokerages will benefit from access to Trulia’s audience of buyers and sellers.”

For more information about the Truila and Century 21 partnership, read our official press release here. 

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On the Market: The Country's Best High Schools Offer Prime Real Estate to Match

× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Monday, January 31, 2011, by Rob

In this country, one of the perennial desires of family-oriented homebuyers is a prime school district. The best of the best offer talented students the chance to thrive and penny-pinching parents the opportunity to save some cash on private school tuition. That said, real estate in the most favored districts often fetches a premium. So when we set out to find a house within the purview of each of the top five high schools in the country, it wasn't surprising when the results included some primo listings. When you're saving up to $35K a year per kid on tuition, that should leave plenty of cash left over for the house, right? Well, not when you're shelling out $9.5M for a riverfront brick colonial. That's how much this 12-acre property in Virginia's Fairfax County is asking (above). Then again, the buyer will be getting a lot more than just potential enrollment for the little brainiacs in the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, the country's No. 1 public high school according to U.S. News and World Report. The 7,200-square-foot main house features six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a swimming pool with a pool house, pre-war craftsmanship, and direct access to the Potomac River. Yes, of course there are cheaper options, but proud parents deserve some swanky digs, too.

? Five hundred miles from the rolling hills of Virginia, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. is home to the International Academy, No. 2 in the U.S. News ranking. Traditionally called home by the wealthiest Detroit-area residents, Bloomfield Hills features demanding schools and some familiar architecture, including this $2.95M "exact replica of Westover," a sprawling Virginia plantation." Let's hope that tradition of plagiarism doesn't carry over to the classroom.

? Next, we head out to the relatively anonymous SoCal community of Cerritos, home to No. 3 Whitney High School. A less rarified town than the frontrunners, it won't take more than a million dollars to score some of Cerritos's prime real estate, like this four-bed, four-bath spread with a classy address on Bogart Circle. Though we're certain ol' Humphrey had little to do with it, this house is still asking almost $900K. Glamorous it's not, but a good choice for the family nonetheless.

? Not far away, in Cypress, Calif., this four-bedroom is one of the priciest gateways to nearby fourth-place Oxford Academy. Though the curb appeal is a bit wanting, the interior is well suited to a growing family. For those raising a large brood—say, six kids—the $720K to be saved on private school tuition brings the price of this $925K home to just $205K. Now, just start convincing the kids to bunk up.

? Finally, near No. 5, TAG Magnet in Dallas, comes the greatest deal of the lot. For $135K, once can score this brand-new 1,400-square-foot home with three bedrooms. Not only that, but it's set to be built to LEED-certified standards. The only potential hiccup is in, well, the building stage. Right now, it's just a Sims-style rendering. Hard to deny the deal, though!
· America's Best High Schools: Gold Medal List [US News]
· 9500 Ferry Landing Court, Alexandria [Washington Fine Properties]
· 1099 Orchard Ridge Road [Real Estate One]
· 18900 Bogart Circle [Trulia]
· 9859 Carrara Drive [Zillow]
· 1115 Claude Street [Zillow]

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