Did you know…?

 

Sears used to sell mail-order houses. In the early 20th Century, Sears, Roebuck & Co. let Americans order entire kit homes through Sears Catalog Homes delivered straight to their doorstep. Sears sold over 70,000 home kits before ending production in 1940.

 

Russia sold Alaska to the US for 2 cents per acre.

In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the US for just $7.2 million. At that time, many saw the land as a frozen wasteland, but it later proved to be a gold mine of natural resources like gold, oil and timber.

 

The iconic Hollywood sign was originally a real estate stunt.

The Hollywood Sign wasn’t always a symbol of fame and fortune – it stated as a real estate ad! Originally reading “Hollywoodland”, the sign was built in 1923 to promote a new housing development. Over time, the last four letters were removed, and it evolved into the legendary icon of the entertainment industry that we know today.

 

The largest residential home is in Mumbai, India.

Antilia, the largest residential home in the world, is located in Mumbai, India, per the Guiness World Records. Owned by Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, this 27-story building spans 400,000 square feet and is worth an astonishing $2 billion. The house features luxury amenities such as three helipads, nine high-speed elevators, a 50-seat theater, a snow room, and 168-car garage.

 

The Eiffel Tower has a secret apartment.

Gustave Eiffel, the civil engineer who designed and constructed the Eiffel Tower, created a private apartment for himself at the top (third level), roughly 1,000 feet above Paris. Eiffel designed the apartment to contrast the industrial structure of the tower, decorating it with warm wallpaper, wooden cabinets, and a grand piano. The space was used to entertain famous guests such as inventor Thomas Edison and composer Charles Gounod.

 

It’s bad luck to give a knife as a house warming gift.

Gifting a knife for a house warming is considered bad luck in some cultures. According to superstitions, a knife symbolizes severing a relationship or cutting ties between the giver and the home owner! But, if you want to give a knife as a house warming gift, include a penny with the knife. This way, the homeowner can return the penny to you as “payment” for the knife. So, technically it’s not a gift!

 

Architectural eagles symbolize freedom from mortgages.

There are many ways homeowners celebrate the full payment of their mortgage. One of the more popular (and deeply American) ways was to put a cast-iron eagle on the outside of a home. The eagle represents strength and freedom, which align with financial independence.