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12 homes with great summer porchesEach of these houses has a great perch for evening relaxation.
Where are these movie homes? See if you can guess where you can find the homes from these movies.
Most expensive home in the U.S.Copper Beech Farm has an asking price of $190 million.
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Modern Shakespeare in film
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Ahoy'
One more time on a must see ! House that costs big bucks & tax ~~ You can afford a new 2013
Winne for less than 70K and if you want to change the view just turn on the key. Fuel is less than
tax. Happy Trails.
My god, msn real estate sure needs some work on their feature houses! This was easily the WORST group of houses I have EVER seen on this site. Holy sh!t, my house would give these a run for their money! What did you do, take the houses that have been on the market the longest and put them on a 'Summer Real Estate Site' and call them "Great Summering Homes" or some BS like that? It's now going to be a while before I come back to your site again, for fear that I might end up wasting another 10 minutes of my time looking at houses of the same caliber as I own.
Way to sell the dream folks, way to sell the dream...
Roman history should tell you that all great city's end up a ghetto ! For a $100K you can live
where the sun will always be on your puddum or go where the money and best foods are
this beautiful country builds hi-teak homes on wheels that rival the mundane mud huts of the
ancient past and enjoy life.
Happy Trails~
11 homes where it's always summer
By Christopher Solomon of MSN Real Estate
Is the Earth's slow tilt toward winter making you blue? The dark days? The cold mornings? The rain and dishrag skies?
Maybe you need a change of scenery. We're not talking a measly one-week vacation, either, but a move to one of those mythical sunny places where nobody owns a snow shovel and the short-sleeve shirts are never stored with mothballs in the attic.
Sit by the fire and check out the 11 homes for sale that we found with help from Realtor.com. They are scattered from Florida to Hawaii, in a huge range of prices — and are all in spots where the sun will warm your neck all winter long. Then start packing your sunscreen.
NOTE: All descriptive information is courtesy of listing agents. Properties were on the market and listed as available at the time of publication in November 2012, unless noted otherwise.
11 homes where it's always summer
Laguna Beach, Calif.
Size: 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3,100 square feet
Price: $7.55 million
Wow — talk about California livin': This oceanfront property in South Laguna Beach has dramatic views of the Pacific coast from floor-to-ceiling windows. That may be enough to chase away the winter blahs. It's also just five doors away from the swanky Montage Laguna Beach resort.
This beach-chic home has a gourmet kitchen with all the usual bells and whistles, plus a dramatic fireplace in the open living area and a master bedroom with dual (his and hers) master bathrooms. Once owned by a designer, the home also has updated lighting and hardwood floors in most living areas.
Realtor.com: Find more Laguna Beach homes for sale
- On our blog, 'Listed': Builder confidence, existing-home sales both rise
- MSN Local Edition: Find news, weather & events for Laguna Beach
11 homes where it's always summer
San Antonio
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,791 square feet
Price: $250,000
San Antonio, in south-central Texas, is sometimes called "the place where the sunshine spends the winter." It's not hot in the winter, but it's often bright outside — and temperatures drop below the freezing mark on average only 20 days a year, according to City-Data.com.
This home, built in 2003 in an established neighborhood, welcomes its new owner with big, mature trees and a covered patio. Inside is a two-story great room with large windows to let in that winter light and views of the covered rear patio and backyard.
The neighborhood has access to a pool, tennis courts, volleyball court, sports court, park, playground and jogging trails.
Realtor.com: Find more San Antonio homes for sale
- Bing: What's the median home value in your area?
- MSN Local Edition: 10-day forecast for San Antonio
11 homes where it's always summer
Honolulu
Size: 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1,282 square feet
Price: $1.825 million
Talk about a great place to spend the winter — the water temperature in Waikiki dips into the oh-so-chilly high 70s in the winter.
This ocean-view home is in the heart of Waikiki's renaissance in the Trump Waikiki, steps from white sandy beaches, shopping and dining. The flexible floor plan has one bedroom, a den that can be used as a second bedroom and two full bathrooms.
Enjoy the neighborhood's Friday night fireworks from two lanais. The condo comes fully furnished down to the linens and kitchenware, and the building has valet parking, an infinity pool, a spa and a workout room.
Realtor.com: Find more Honolulu homes for sale
11 homes where it's always summer
Oro Valley, Ariz.
Size: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,622 square feet
Price: $480,000
Maybe the warm, dry air of the Arizona desert is what you need. Oro Valley, six miles north of Tucson, is a prosperous suburb of about 43,000 people.
This home in the Copper Ridge community greets visitors with natural desert landscaping and an entry of stacked stone. A great room has high ceilings, a fireplace, a built-in entertainment center and a wall of windows. The large kitchen has two ovens, a gas cooktop, a breakfast bar and an eat-in area with a view of a cactus garden outside.
At night, fall asleep in a master suite with 10-foot ceilings and a bathroom with a ceramic-tiled shower. Outside the home is a large central patio with a pool, a rock spillway and views of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Realtor.com: Find more Oro Valley homes for sale
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11 homes where it's always summer
Palm Springs, Calif.
Size: 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 4,152 square feet
Price: $3.5 million
Ah, Palm Springs — winter stomping grounds for the Rat Pack. And now maybe for you, too: This house in the 93-home, 400-acre Smoke Tree Ranch community dates to 1938. But don't let that fool you.
The home was transformed and enlarged in 2009 while remaining in the tradition of early California style. The formal living room has vaulted and trussed ceilings, and large picture windows that frame the ranch. Outside are a private pool and spa. A family great room with a fireplace opens to the backyard with desert views.
Realtor.com: Find more Palm Springs homes for sale
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11 homes where it's always summer
Las Vegas
Size: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4,029 square feet
Price: $575,000
Las Vegas is one of the sunniest cites in the United States, with sunshine a ridiculous 85% of the time, according to government data.
This home in the gated, guarded community of Corta Bella was built in 1994 and has been remodeled with granite countertops and handsome cabinetry. A library has built-in shelves.
Out back, you can take advantage of all those sunny days by hopping in the pool or dodge the sun by sitting on the covered patio. The home is also within walking distance of schools and parks — not so usual in sprawling Vegas.
Realtor.com: Find more Las Vegas homes for sale
11 homes where it's always summer
Mobile, Ala.
Size: 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms; square footage not available
Price: $499,999
Are you looking for a warmer climate where you — and your aging parents — can relocate to soak the sun into your bones yet also be near one another? This large home in Mobile, in southern Alabama, could be just the ticket.
Built in 1985, the home has been completely updated and is much like one home stacked on top of another. The first floor is a spacious in-law suite with two bedrooms, a kitchen, den, laundry and dining room. The rest of the house, including a climate-controlled woodworking shop, is on the upper floors. A large deck overlooks the home's refinished 20-by-40-foot pool.
Realtor.com: Find more Mobile homes for sale
- On our blog, 'Listed': Builder confidence, existing-home sales both rise
- MSN Local Edition: Find news, weather & events for Mobile, Ala.
11 homes where it's always summer
Poway, Calif.
Size, including guest house: 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 3,562 square feet
Price: $1.025 million
Poway is a city of nearly 50,000 people in the dry country north of San Diego, and it gets plenty of bright sunshine. Its nickname is "the city in the country."
This single-story, custom home and its guest house sit on one acre that's zoned for horses. A long driveway leads to the main house of about 3,012 square feet, with four bedrooms and five bathrooms. The detached guest house is 550 square feet, with one bedroom and one bathroom.
Built in 1998, the main home has a backyard pool and spa, plus a built-in grill area. It has an open floor plan, with the master bedroom on one side, plus a large family room with built-in shelving.
Realtor.com: Find more Poway homes for sale
- Bing: What's the median home value in your area?
- MSN Local Edition: 10-day forecast for Poway, Calif.
11 homes where it's always summer
Santa Fe, N.M.
Size: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3,300 square feet
Price: $499,900
Santa Fe isn't Brazil. It gets cold here — temperatures can fall into the 20s at night, with occasional snow. But that Southwest sun and those green chilies just seem to make daily life in winter that much brighter.
Located in a horse-oriented community, this home is on 6.4 acres with mountain views. Surrounding the home is an adobe-style courtyard wall.
In true Southwestern style, this home has hand-troweled plaster walls and coved viga ceilings.
Realtor.com: Find more Santa Fe homes for sale
- Bing: What are the sunniest U.S. cities?
- MSN Local Edition: What's the weather like in Santa Fe?
11 homes where it's always summer
Orlando, Fla.
Size: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,242 square feet
Price: $210,000
Orlando isn't where snowbirds come to roost for nothing. The average high temperature in January is more than 70 degrees — just what you need to escape the slush and winter blues after another Buffalo blizzard.
This home is a short sale in Dr. Phillips, an unincorporated suburb of Orlando; Phillips was a citrus magnate. The master bedroom in this house is on the main level. Three bedrooms are upstairs. The house has an open floor plan, high ceilings and an elevated dining area, and the eat-in kitchen has stainless-steel appliances.
Outside is a tile patio for a cool drink on a balmy February afternoon. And in case the temp drops into the (gasp) 40s, the home also has a wood-burning fireplace.
Realtor.com: Find more Orlando homes for sale
11 homes where it's always summer
New Orleans
Size :1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1,275 square feet
Price: $300,000
In the summer, the Big Easy may make the Farmers' Almanac's five worst summer-weather cities. But come winter, New Orleans is downright pleasant, with high temperatures often a nudge above 60 degrees.
If you're looking for a different, modern space, check out this condo near the shops of Magazine Street. The architect-designed, light-filled home has a living room and kitchen downstairs with high ceilings. Sliding glass doors lead to a private outdoor space with plants.
Upstairs, the large master bedroom has a view of the urban landscape, and there is a separate room for use as a den or office.
Realtor.com: Find more New Orleans homes for sale
- On our blog, 'Listed': Builder confidence, existing-home sales both rise
- MSN Local Edition: 10-day weather forecast for New Orleans
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