It caught my eye: The Dorton arena in Raleigh, NC

On my way to a hardware store in Raleigh, literally by chance I discovered the Dorton arena.

But while it sat there patiently waiting for loving gaze (yeah right), I find it odd that during years of visits to the Triangle none of my local architecture-crazed friends and acquaintances has ever mentioned this interesting building:

The 25,000 sf/2,322 m2 structure, the brainchild of Polish architect Maciej Matthew Nowicki, then head of NCSU's Department of Architecture, boasts the world's first cable-supported roof system.

Sadly, Nowicki was killed in an airplane crash before the construction began, so local architect and friend William Henley Dietrick supervised the completion.

The building's innovative design features a steel-cable-supported saddle-shaped roof in tension, held up by parabolic concrete arches in compression. The arches cross about 20 feet above ground level and continue underground, where the ends of the arches are held together by more steel cables in tension.

Because of the innovative approach, the outer walls of the arena support nearly no weight at all, and the suspended roof eliminates any necessity for structural steel supports and presents no view obstructions from any seat.

Located on the grounds of the North Carolina State Fair, the arena with a seating capacity of just over 6,500 opened in 1952. Originally named the "State Fair Arena", it was dedicated to Dr. J. S. Dorton, former North Carolina State Fair manager, in 1961. The building made the National Register of Historic Places and the List of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks.

While Dietrick's rendering shown above calls it "Lifestock Judging Pavillion", the arena holds multiple types of events including music concerts during the state fair, and is currently the home base for the Carolina Rollergirls roller derby team. During a slightly more glamorous past, notables of the music scene such as Ray Charles (1962), Jethro Tull (1972), Lou Rawls (1967) and Prince (1982) played here.

Completely oblivious to all this background but recognising a gem with open doors, I snuck in and was able to take a few shots:

Good detailed info including nice b/w-photos from the construction phase are at ncstatefair.org

Have you been at the arena during a concert? How was it?

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Photos: tckaiser; aerial shot via bing.com

13 tips on how to boost your chances as a home buyer

If you've decided to buy a home this spring, good luck to you. Your challenge will be not just finding a home you like, but also beating out all the other homebuyers who like it and want to make an offer on it, too.

The number of homes for sale is low nationwide, particularly in the price ranges desired by first-time homebuyers. The latest figures from the National Association of Realtors show that that there was only a 4.4-month supply of homes for sale in February, which is lower than the six-month supply that indicates a balanced market. One-quarter of February's transactions were all-cash sales, according to the NAR, and investors bought 18 percent of the homes that were sold.

That means that if you want to end up with a nice home, you need to be strategic. Knowing what's most important to the sellers can be key to creating a winning offer. Here are 13 tips to help you get the house you want this spring:

1. Get your finances in order

When the inventory of homes for sale is low, you can be sure that other buyers are looking at the same house you are. At least two months before you intend to start looking, get copies of your credit reports to make sure you're in a financial position to buy. And unless you buy cash, shop for mortgage financing before you start looking. Many Realtors will not take buyers to showings unless they provide a pre-approval letter or proof of funds.

2. Know your priorities

Carefully analyze your requirements for a home. Write down what you want and need, and put the essential features at the top of the list. No home is perfect, and it's unrealistic to expect to find all the features you desire in one property. You'll have to compromise.

3. Commit to an experienced real estate agent

Find and commit to an active real estate professional who specializes in the area or the type of property you want to buy. Many sales today occur because the agent brings buyers and sellers together on unlisted homes or those which just hit the market.

4. Don't make snap judgments based on listing photos

A house that doesn't look appealing in photos could still be a great house. Estate sale or homes with tenants inside often yield particularly poor photos. Plus, photos fail to convey the feeling of a home or the floor plan.

5. Do some homework yourself

Browse sources such as realtor.com and local real estate listing sites. Set up alerts for the neighborhoods and characteristics you’re looking for. Drive through your target neighborhoods. If you see a home for sale you like, send the address to your agent, who can schedule a showing for you.

6. Stay in close contact with your real estate agent, and be ready to move quickly

Your agent will be on the lookout for the newest listings that meet your criteria. Be ready to see a house as soon as it goes on the market — if it’s a great home, it will go fast. That often means rushing out to see new homes within hours of them being listed and writing up an offer immediately if you like the house.

7. Review your priorities from time to time

If you can't find the right home in 30 to 60 days, take another look at your priority list. You may have to consider different ideas. Buyers who are willing to look at homes in a different location or make cosmetic improvements increase their odds of buying a home in a tight market.

8. When you find “It”

A well-priced property in good condition will draw many interested buyers the first few days on the market. So, when you find the right home, sign an offer right away. If you have to think about it overnight, you may as well forget about it. Out-of-town buyers, or those who have to travel, are at a real disadvantage. They take the chance of missing out on the right home every time they leave town. To prevent frustration and disappointment, make sure that a close friend or family member knows exactly what you're looking for. Then, if the right property comes on the market, someone can preview it for you, and if it sounds right you can make a "blind offer" with an opt-out clause through your agent.

9. Start with your best offer

A competitive market is not the right environment to negotiate a bargain. You may get only one chance to make an offer, and your offer may be one of several the seller can choose from. Consider an escalation clause, offering to pay up to a certain amount in cash if the appraisal comes in lower than the purchase price. Another type of escalation clause offers a specified amount above the highest offer received, usually with a cap.

10. Write a personal letter to the sellers

Some sellers are interested only in how much money their home sale will yield, but others love their home want it to go to a new family that will love it just as much. If you really like a house, include a personal letter and a family photo with your offer. This is not for everyone, but for some buyers it works like a charm.

11. Make a big earnest money deposit

The expected size of the earnest money deposit, and the rules about when you get it back, vary by locality. But sellers often see a larger deposit as a sign that you're serious about the deal.

12. Be realistic about the inspection and repairs

The more competitive the market, the less likely a seller will be to make repairs, though some sellers may lower the price if the inspection reveals expensive defects. The purpose of the inspection isn't to get the seller to repair every small problem but to find out for sure that the house does not have major defects.

13. Make your offer as clean as possible

Most offers are made contingent on the buyer getting a mortgage, the appraisal being equal to the purchase price and the buyer approving the inspection. Waiving any one of those contingencies can be risky, but may be the right move in some circumstances. Include as few contingencies as possible: you want the offer to excite the seller and listing agent and still protect yourself.

Questions or additional tips? Please email me any time!



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compiled from Realtor.com and yahoo finance, April 2016

Preservation Alert: Paul Rudolph's Biggs residence, for sale at $1.495m

Update May 2016: the price has been dropped to $1.495m –motivated sellers!
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Rudolph (1918-1997), the highly regarded modernist architect of "Sarasota school" fame and Chair of Yale University's Department of Architecture for six years, has built mostly on the Florida Gulf coast.

But occasionally there are also some commissions from him are to be found on our coast, such as this gem in Delray Beach, the Biggs residence built in 1955-56.

Listed by my dear colleague Linda who showed me the house last week, it was renovated and added to by local architect Bob Currie. Located east of the Intracoastal Waterway, it is only about two easy walking blocks from the ocean.

For sale at $1,795,000, it offers 5 bedrooms with 5 baths on 4,320 sf. The house is in need of a little love, but who at age 60 isn't? During an hour or so in the house, I did not observe anything terrible or deal-breaking.

If you are interested in saving a great modernist home with serious architectural pedigree, and if you love the idea of being an active preservationist – please step right up, here is your chance! Just contact me for a showing at your convenience at any time.

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Photos: Linda Lake, Tobias Kaiser

Pritzker-price winner and Architect Zaha Hadid dies suddenly at age 65

Sadly, today masterful architect Dame Zaha Hadid died suddenly from a heart attack, after being hospitalised with bronchitis in Miami where she was working on a new condominium project.

The British architect, born in Iraq in 1950, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth (thus "Dame", the female equivalent to "Sir") and also won a Pritzker price, architectur's equivalent to the Nobel price.

Three good pieces on Hadid you will find at the NYTimes, ArchDaily and Curbed.

To the many photos of her outstanding work if I find them(!) I may add a few of my own from her incredible Bergisel ski-jump in Innsbruck, Austria, as well as from her Nordpark railway stations in Innsbruck as well.

It Caught My Eye: "Kienzle Automat" clock

Recently I found this lovely mid-century modern mantel/desk clock made by Kienzle, one of Germany's oldest watchmakers, founded in 1822 (!) in Schwenningen (Black Forest).

Likely made in the mid- 50s to early 60s, this clock, the “Kienzle Automat”, is also featured in Kienzle’s wiki entry. The body is venereed wood, possibly walnut, hands and hour-circle are brass. It runs on an old (original?) battery-operated movement, and actually keeps time pretty well.

I know because I bought it. 

If you are interested in such clocks, let me know; I may be able to help you find one.

A Happy-Christmas-Greeting

As always for Holiday greetings, I use photos I shot myself, and this one I like a lot. I took it with an HTC Sensation mobile in December 2012 on the terrace of the (sadly now defunct) Graf's Bistro in Starnberg/Bavaria.

And believe it: quite a few people do sit outside even in winter, wrapped in blankets and enjoying a latte or a hot cocoa. Delicious.

To a delicious Christmas and to a Blessed New Year!

Tobias Kaiser

8 Reasons To Buy A Home During The Holidays

Spring is the start of the hot real estate season for a few obvious reasons, nice weather and the desire to move during the summer when kids are out of school at the top of the list. But embarking on a home search during the holidays can be advantageous to buyers. Thinking about taking the plunge? Here are a few reasons you should be looking for a new home now.

The potential for a great deal

There's an assumption that anyone selling over the holidays, and thereby taking time away from family get-togethers and Christmas shopping and is selling because they have to, not because they want to. That assumption tends to be true. And it can payoff for buyers.

"Sellers tend to avoid the end of the year due to the short days, wintry weather and conventional wisdom that says buyers are otherwise occupied, says Tim Deihl, associate broker at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty in Boston," said Bankrate. "But those who do choose to sell at year-end are often under pressure and highly motivated to cut a deal. And that's why the year-end might be a smart time to buy: Determined house-hunters can take advantage of sellers' urgency."

Lower prices

Experts say that homes listed over the holidays may have a lower sales price. If you're looking for a deal, braving weather conditions and skipping out during a football game to see a listing might make sense.

Less competition

A smaller buyer pool during this time of year means less competition for homes that are on the market. That can give you great negotiating power beyond the listed sales price. And, it can take some pressure off what is already a high-stress situation.

"Less competition from other buyers during the holiday season might mean you'll be able to negotiate a favorable price for a home you want to purchase," said Bankrate.

Added CBS News: "Holiday home sellers often have to adjust their price downward or make other concessions if they want to sell. Keep this in mind as you search for homes. Bargains may be available, and listed prices may be more open to negotiation."

Lower interest rate

Rates going up at the end of the year can make mortgages more expensive and also spell doom for those who are already at the top of what they can qualify for. Getting preapproved now to lock in a lower rate can save you even more on your new home.

Faster closings

The time of the year may also play in your favor if you want to close on your home quickly.

"Generally, all parties involved have incentive to complete transactions toward the end of the year," said CBS News. "Lenders want to close their books, real estate agents want to receive their commissions before the year closes, sellers want to move on to their new home and settle in for the holidays—and just like the sellers, you want to settle in as well. Since all parties are motivated and there are fewer transactions taking place during this time, it should be easier to put everything in place for a smooth and rapid closing."

If you're not able to close before the end of the year, rest assured that the real estate market doesn't spring to life as soon as January hits. You should be able to have a clear path to homeownership for a few months before the spring thaw hits and the hot buying season begins.

More money for Christmas presents

If you're selling an existing home and walking away with money, you'll have more to spend on others—especially if you factor in the delayed first house payment on your new place.

Better deals on real estate-related items

Slow seasons for movers may get you a better deal. Be sure also to compare and contrast cable/satellite companies and utilities to see where the best deals are. Many companies have special offers for new customers and might also have specials running during the winter.

A no-sweat move

Nothing is worse than packing, moving, unpacking, painting, breaking down 700 boxes, and making 12 dozen trips to the trash in unbearable heat. And when you're working that hard, anything over 80 degrees can be unbearable!




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Original article "Why It's Smart To Buy A Home During The Holidays" by Jaymi Naciri for Realty Times was published on 13 December 2015