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Mrjoshua
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Username: Mrjoshua

Post Number: 1303
Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 1:31 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Rock's Jack White
Sells Detroit Home

By BEN CASSELMAN
April 20, 2007; Page W10
The Wall Street Journal

Grammy-winning musician Jack White, lead singer and guitarist of rock duo the White Stripes, has sold his Detroit home for $590,000, well below its initial $930,000 asking price. Mr. White recorded his hit 2005 album "Get Behind Me Satan" in the foyer of the 5,800-square-foot home.

The 1914 house was designed by C. Howard Crane, best known for theaters on Broadway and elsewhere. The home has four bedrooms, a paneled library, a sunroom and a garden with a koi pond and fountain.

Mr. White bought the property in 2003 for $524,000, records show. Last August, he put the house on the market for $930,000 and later cut the price to $650,000. Listing agent Mike Kramar of Coldwell Banker Callan said the buyers are a retired couple from Maryland, but wouldn't identify them.





Mr. White, 31 years old, founded the White Stripes with his then-wife Meg White in 1997. (The couple has since divorced, but continue to perform and record together.) Mr. White has won five Grammies, both with the band and independently. He also belongs to the rock group the Raconteurs, appeared in the 2003 film "Cold Mountain" and now lives in Nashville, Tenn., where he paid about $3.1 million for a nearly 20,000-square-foot house in December 2005. Mr. White declined to comment.

In Detroit, the average price of a home fell 23.5% in the first two months of 2007 from year-earlier levels, the Michigan Association of Realtors says.
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Gistok
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Username: Gistok

Post Number: 4152
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 1:45 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Funny thing is... I can't think of a single Broadway theatre that C. Howard Crane designed...

His major claim to fame in NYC was the 4,088 seat Brooklyn Fox (razed 1960's), largest theatre in any of the outlying burroughs of NYC.
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Scottr
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Username: Scottr

Post Number: 495
Registered: 07-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 1:55 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, the Detroit Opera House is on Broadway... just not the one most people will think of when they read that :-)
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Fishtoes2000
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Username: Fishtoes2000

Post Number: 195
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 1:55 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I heard that the retired couple's move to Detroit caused quite a stir on the MarylandYes! forums. The thread had six replies. (Hey! six is a lot on the MarylandYes! forums.) The couple was seen by many as a strong supporter of the Old Line State and their abrupt exit left former followers bitter and disillusioned. There was no word regarding any financial gain or loss resulting from their real estate transaction.
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Mthouston
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Username: Mthouston

Post Number: 830
Registered: 01-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 5:51 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Slow News Day..........

Nice image though, kinda looks like Michael Jackson.
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Detroitplanner
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Username: Detroitplanner

Post Number: 1214
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 9:01 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That dude must be full of himself. He owned the property for a couple of years and tried selling it for almost twice what he paid?

Whoops better not say that too loudly he might kick my butt at a bowling alley or something.
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Mackinaw
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Username: Mackinaw

Post Number: 2703
Registered: 02-2005
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 10:08 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Goes to show that a star living in a particular house doesn't neccesarily make it worth more. He did make money on a 4-year turnaround, though.

Anyone know which house/address?
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Thejesus
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Username: Thejesus

Post Number: 965
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 10:38 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"Anyone know which house/address?"

There used to be more stuff on the site but it's all gone now...but that's the address

http://www.detroityes.com/0sea rchboth.htm

(Message edited by thejesus on April 20, 2007)
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Thnk2mch
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Username: Thnk2mch

Post Number: 874
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:00 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

1701 Seminole
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Mackinaw
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Username: Mackinaw

Post Number: 2705
Registered: 02-2005
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:59 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks. Knew it was IV.
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Janesback
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Username: Janesback

Post Number: 316
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 12:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Is this the same guy that looks like Barny Fife, aka Don Knotts , the one who was the goofy deputy in Andy Griffith?

I went to that same site, and everythings gone except the photo of an older gentleman who looks like Knotts?
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Tiorted
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Username: Tiorted

Post Number: 87
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 12:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

1731 Seminole
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Pam
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Username: Pam

Post Number: 1392
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 12:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

I went to that same site, and everythings gone except the photo of an older gentleman who looks like Knotts?



That was Knotts. Somebody was trying to be funny.
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Quozl
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Username: Quozl

Post Number: 470
Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 12:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jack is funny alright:

http://www.1731seminole.com/au dio/froggieWentAcourtin.wav
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Detroitbill
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Username: Detroitbill

Post Number: 215
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 2:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

After his selling commissions he probably broke even without discounting the time value of the money. Actually, considering the current market for larger historic homes, its not too bad. Shows there is people still shopping.
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Skulker
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Username: Skulker

Post Number: 3794
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gross sales number to gross sales number, thats 12% return in 4 years. I wouldn't complain.

All around, I think the article portrays a very skewed view of this transaction. The seller gunned for an 81% return in four years and settled for a 12% return. Hardly indicative of a terrible market condition. I am also wondering about the 27% drop figure. Is that the City of Detroit or the Detroit region? WSJ likes to use those interchangeably at times.

Mr. White more than broke even. Assuming 3% for each broker, $35,400 was taken out of the deal, for a net of $31,000....assuming there were not major upgrades that Mr. White performed like a new kitchen, updated windows etc that should boost the homes value. We'll ignore personalization items like painting everything red and white or some such, which frankly probably limited the selling price more than the newly acquired provenance boosted the selling price.

(Message edited by skulker on April 20, 2007)
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Charlottepaul
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Username: Charlottepaul

Post Number: 812
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Let me give a heart-felt greeting to Detroit's new couple from Maryland that is going to be moving into this home: WELCOME!
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Tiorted
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Username: Tiorted

Post Number: 89
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

When the the website http://www.1731seminole.com/ was up it talked about all the improvements he did to the house: HVAC, plumbing, electrical remodeling etc. Well over 100k I would think.

It looks to me like Mr. Nashville lost a bunch on this deal.
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Swingline
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Username: Swingline

Post Number: 793
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:49 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I believe that I read in a profile somewhere that Mr. White did spend a bit of money on renovations. Backyard, basement and kitchen and that kind of thing. I think if you add in his renovation costs, he might have lost some money on the sale.

1701 Seminole is a nice IV property, but $525K in 2003 seems a little above the market to me. I think that he did well to get $590K in 2007. He lost money because he overpaid for the house. It's ok though. Entertainment industry folks can afford it, right? He probably spends more on catering for a single studio session than he lost on this sale. I'm kind of sorry to see Mr. White cut this tie to Detroit.
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Quozl
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Username: Quozl

Post Number: 474
Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

I'm kind of sorry to see Mr. White cut this tie to Detroit



Don't worry, he still has loads of family still up there including his Dad in Livonia. Please don't forget about his ex-inlaws in GP!

Anyone know where MegBot is living these days?
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Dabirch
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Username: Dabirch

Post Number: 2255
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 5:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

Anyone know where MegBot is living these days?




Same place she has for a while.

She hasn't moved.

I have to say, it was kind of fun running into Renee at Farmer Jack and Blockbuster every once in a while.
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Jerrytimes
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Username: Jerrytimes

Post Number: 47
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 5:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I've heard that Jack doesn't have much nice to say about where he's from.
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Quozl
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Username: Quozl

Post Number: 476
Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 5:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

NEW YORK (AP) — Jack White has become one of the most famous faces on Detroit's music map, but the rocker said he had to quit his hometown because it turned against him.

White, who now lives in Nashville, with his wife, model Karen Elson, and their baby daughter, Scarlett, told The Associated Press in a recent interview that he needed to leave Detroit because "I couldn't take the negativity anymore."

"It was so super-negative," said White, 30, leader of White Stripes and a member of the rock quartet The Raconteurs. "It was draining me, I had to get somewhere where I could breathe again."

White told the AP that although he tried to help boost the city's rock scene — working with unknown bands and acting as its musical ambassador — some in the community didn't appreciate it.

"I was just trying to fight a losing battle, trying to keep a community of musicians together and keep it positive at the same time," he said. "I did that part of trying to be non-egotistical, I tried to not make it about myself."

White said the White Stripes aren't the only band to get ill treatment from their native city. He also griped about a recent article in a New York publication that lambasted the homegrown band The Strokes.

"When that happens, you can't stay in your hometown," he said. "Because they'll just turn on you."

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Eastsidedame
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Username: Eastsidedame

Post Number: 112
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 2:43 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In Detroit, Charles Howard Crane designed the Fox Theater, United Artists Theater and the first theater in Detroit specifically for showing films (Columbia Theater 1911)...oh, yeah, and Orchestra Hall! All together, he designed 52 theaters here.

That must be some house...I'll bet it has great acoustics!
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Thnk2mch
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Username: Thnk2mch

Post Number: 877
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 9:05 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

1731 Seminole



You are correct.
I stand corrected.
Thanks Tiorted.
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Dougw
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Username: Dougw

Post Number: 1656
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 3:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

That dude must be full of himself. He owned the property for a couple of years and tried selling it for almost twice what he paid?


I give him a lot of credit for bringing the price down to market value so it actually sold, at least. There are plenty of assholes out there who will just sit on a house, offering it at way above market value for years on end while it sits vacant.
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 680
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 4:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If you're looking for a step down from Jacky's mansion, I'm pretty sure that Jason Stollsteimer of the Von Bondies still has his house for sale in Boston-Edison. I know he was considering renting it if he couldn't find a buyer, though.

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