Vanity Pricing Consolation Prize for Luxury Real Estate
Filed under: Real Estate Developments
You have 320 choices if you're looking for a home that costs more than $20 million – though if you're smart, you shouldn't have to pay nearly that much. Why? As you'd expect, real estate agents are having trouble moving these houses, so they are staying on the market for a while, and age doesn't do much for a property's value.
The top listing right now belongs to Aaron Spelling's widow – at least until she can sell it. This is a difficult proposition, however, with a price tag of $150 million. Four years ago, the highest price on the market was half what Spelling is asking. This year, $75 million isn't good enough to make the top 10.
Since the number of listings is up, you'd expect sales to be down ... and that's how it's working out. In the Hamptons, year-over-year sales were off 43 percent in the second quarter, with the median price down 17 percent. Homeowners who can't sell are trying to rent instead, with mixed results. Joseph Farrell, who has a home in Bridgehampton, would like to sell it for $59.5 million. Until that happens, he has to be content to rent it, which he's doing now at $425,000 for two weeks.
So, if homes aren't moving, why continue to price them above $20 million? The answer is as old as consciousness: vanity. An absurd price is guaranteed to get some attention (as I've just demonstrated).


Hot real estate news,
Live from Microsoft's New Generation Xbox event!
Xbox Reveal liveblog on Joystiq
Dozens Killed in Oklahoma Tornado; Death Toll to Rise
Justin Bieber Booed, Gets Standing Ovation at Billboard Music Awards
2013 Billboard Music Awards Best and Worst Dressed
Watch: Kansas Meteorologist Seeks Shelter From Tornado
Xbox One architecture panel liveblog!
Two Pilots Fired After Brazilian Pop Star Takes Captain's Seat Mid-Flight
Selena Gomez Leaving Justin Bieber's House: Booty Call Rumors Swirl
Oldest Water on Earth Found Deep Underground