The place where a seven-bedroom Victorian wonder would once run you under $100,000. Now they’re all well over a million, at least the nice ones, but it’s still bliss.

See floor plan and photos at Observer.com >

Victorian quietude. High culture and low. Wood galore adorns the inner rooms…really, there’s wood everywhere. It’s like living in a secluded forest in Brooklyn.

Big City living with spacious rooms. A fine kitchen for a food-obsessed borough. How about this deck?

All flanked by a lush, landscaped back yard. There’s even a koi pond! (Of course there’s a koi pond.)

SLIDESHOW: This Is What Ditmas Park Is All About. >>

Such aquatic vistas don’t come cheap, though, particularly in the deluxe locations these houses occupy — one is even located on a stretch of road known as “Millionaire’s Mile.” But one million dollars just isn’t going to cut it: the “bargain” in this company is a rental asking $175,000 per month and, for truly big spenders, there’s a $60M spec house.

What they all have in common is a contempt for walls spoiling the view. The solution? Floor-to-ceiling glass to make the most of that location, location, location.

Here’s five transparently beautiful homes near the water that are appealing to us:

This $34 million Incline Village, NV home is near Lake Tahoe.

Location: Incline Village, Nev.
593 Lakeshore Boulevard, Incline Village, Nevada, 89451
Price: $34,000,000
The Skinny: The $100M estate Tranquility casts a long shadow over Lake Tahoe real estate, but, if this compound is any indication, it doesn’t exactly hurt to be second best. Sited on eight acres, Osprey was built in a more contemporary style than its mega-mansion neighbor, but the results are no less luxurious.

The 7,100-square-foot eight-bedroom main house rests comfortably among towering old growth trees, but it’s the 1,000-square-foot guest house (above) that really takes the cake. Paneled in mahogany, the guest house features floor-to-ceiling glass facing a sculpture garden and glorious views of the lake. Unfortunately, to get that little slice of lakefront heaven, you’ll have to cough up for the whole estate. The $34M price might not be $100M, but its no drop in the bucket.

This $25 million LaJolla, CA home overlooks the Pacific.

Location: La Jolla, Calif.
9826 La Jolla Farms Road, La Jolla, California, 92037
Price: $25,000,000
The Skinny: Set above the pristine Torrey Pines State Reserve, this modern glass house known as The Razor occupies one of the premier locations on the Pacific coast. On the crowded SoCal coastline, where new construction is usually stuffed into a cramped lot, this sort of space borders on unique. Instead of a park ranger’s rustic cabin, this is a sprawling 11,000-square-foot mansion, replete with seven bedrooms, eight baths, a subterranean parking garage, a home theater, and an infinity pool.

This house impressed us with its jaw-dropping bedroom, but it turns out that was just for the guests. So while this place might be all about location, location, location, the house sure doesn’t hurt. Know what does? The price. All $25M of it.

This $40 million Hillsboro, FL home has a stunning ocean view

Location: Hillsboro Beach, Fla.
927 Hillsboro Mile, Hillsboro Beach, Fla., 33062
Price: $39,950,000
The Skinny: Set on aptly-named “Millionaires Mile,” this 20,000-square-foot seaside sanctuary might be the pick of the lot. Hillsboro Beach might not be the first name in pricey Florida real estate, but with a population of less than 2,500, this sleepy strip of sand offers a true escape compared to the snowbird crowds of nearby Boca Raton and Palm Beach. Boasting 2.8 acres—and fronting on both the Atlantic and Intracoastal Waterway—this property comes equipped with a deep-water yacht dock, infinity swimming pool, seven bedrooms, three elevators, and a nine-bay underground garage.

And while the stark interiors might not be for everyone, they’re a soothing respite from the overwrought Italianate standard in South Florida. All those clean lines don’t come cheap, though; a $40M price tag makes this one of Florida’s most expensive.

This $60 million Miami, FL home has a record price and a compelling vista

Location: Miami, Fla.
3 Indian Creek Island Road, Indian Creek, Fla., 33154
Price: $60,000,000
The Skinny: The WSJ covered this massive spec house back in January, but when broker Julian Cohen, the property’s exclusive broker who works with Prudential Douglas Elliman, sent us some brand-new snapshots, we couldn’t help but take another look. This brand-new megamansion on Miami’s exclusive Indian Creek Island was completed last fall to great fanfare and a whopping $60M price tag, which, if realized, would make this the most expensive home in Miami history.

Thus, it’s not surprising that the place is stocked with the ritziest of features: a 3D projection movie theater, fingerprint-secured wine cave, and hidden art vault. That vault will come in handy, too, considering the 30-foot sliding doors probably take a mighty long time to close. More accurately considered a personal resort, the modernist manse stretches over 30,000 square feet, with 10 bedrooms and 14 baths. It all impressed A-Rod so much when he toured it that he convinced Cohen to bump the price to its current ask.

If you like mother nature, this is your $1.3 million place.

Location: Sitka, Alaska
2323 Halibut Point Road, Sitka, Alaska, 99835
Price: $1,285,000
The Skinny: Thanks to the warming effect of the Pacific Ocean, Sitka enjoys a more mild climate than one would expect. The expected high on Christmas Day? Forty degrees fahrenheit, and on average, the temps dip below freezing just 13 days a year. That might make this the perfect place to pretend to flex your macho while catching up on Deadliest Catch from the couch. For $1.29M, this glass-walled waterfront retreat offers up Carrara marble and walnut flooring in a contemporary style rare in Sarah Palin’s home state. And no, there’s no private dock, but come now, this is a far cry from Into The Wild. Still, we want to know: can you see Russia from there?

A recent survey by the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, conducted late last year at an informational kiosk at Canal and Baxter streets, showed that the majority of those using the kiosk were confused by a map of the area and weren’t able to locate the historic neighborhoods’ main shopping corridors.

The survey, which drew the data from 100 interviews, found that visitors often got turned around after viewing the kiosk’s large map because it is oriented in a different direction from where the person is standing on the street.

The data also showed that fewer than a quarter of tourists could name Little Italy’s main street (Mulberry Street) and that only 12 percent could name Chinatown’s main street (Mott Street), where most of the neighborhoods’ shops and restaurants are located.

“You’re missing a great opportunity to inform people,” said Robert Weber, and urban planner who designed the survey.

The effort to educate visitors about both neighborhoods — which were designated as a single historic district by the state in 2009 — comes as part of push to secure funding from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, which was established to help revitalize downtown following 9/11.

To make their case, the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council joined with the Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation and the Little Italy Merchants Association Tuesday to unveil the survey and press for more recognition of the area as a destination.

“Culturally, we want our children and our grandchildren to have a Little Italy and Chinatown to walk through,” said Ralph Tramontana, president of the Little Italy Merchants Association. “This is going to ensure that both neighborhoods survive.”

The survey showed that nearly double the number the respondents found their way to the kiosk from SoHo as they did from lower Manhattan, despite Ground Zero’s popularity as a tourist destination.

The 9/11 Memorial will likely be one of the most-visited tourist destinations when it opens in September, meaning that nearby Chinatown and Little Italy could stand to capitalize on that traffic, said Chinatown Partnership executive director Wellington Chen.

But encouraging that tourism requires creating better “way-finding” information, advocates noted, starting with the kiosk.

For example, the survey found that about three-quarters of visitors to the kiosk — nearly half of whom hailed from foreign countries — didn’t know it was open and staffed with workers.

In response, the group has recommended creating a less-confusing map that is more closely focused in on the neighborhoods, lists more points of interests, and highlights Mulberry and Mott streets.

The group also suggested highlighting the points where both streets intersect with Canal Street by adding signage, lighting, public art and more kiosks.

“Way-finding is not about one point,” Chen said. “It’s about connecting all the dots.”

Homeowners should of course invest in renovations that are going to make them happy and improve quality of life. It is “home” after all! But if you’re going to be putting your home on the market any time soon or are in the business of flipping houses, certain upgrades could end up doing you more harm than good.

If you think you might be selling your home sooner than later, here are four improvements to avoid:

1. Over-the-Top Kitchen Renovations

You may love gourmet cooking, so a $30,000 kitchen upgrade might be just to your liking. But this could be a turnoff for potential buyers who aren’t crazy about cooking. To them, the restaurant-sized stainless-steel stove, kitchen island and fridge just seem excessive, and they’re not going to want to pay for them. Instead, they’ll pass on your home and end up buying one with a regular kitchen.

Take a look at some kitchen remodeling ideas on a budget. You can still enjoy an upgraded kitchen without going overboard and compromising the value of your home. In fact, remodeling a kitchen for less than $1,000 is definitely a possibility.

2. Over-the-Top Bathroom Renovations

That ultra-deep jacuzzi tub and custom Kohler 360-degree shower you just installed might make your mornings a blast. But to budget or eco-minded buyers, all that water use is going to be a serious drawback. As with your kitchen, keep your bathroom remodeling ideas modest if you think you’ll be putting your home on the market any time soon.

3. A Pool or Hot Tub

Yes, a pool addition can add significant value to your home (11 percent on average in the Southwest, but only 6 percent in the Midwest where the swimming season is much shorter). If it’s above-ground, though, then knock 2 percent of your home’s purchase price, since they’re less appealing than in-ground pools. The problem is that pools are polarizing. There are constant swimming pool costs ($1,500 on average per year) and they require a lot of maintenance.

They’re also a liability, especially for families with young children, and could affect your homeowners insurance coverage. Pools will limit how many people want to buy your home, so keep that in mind before you have one installed (or consider buying a home with an existing pool).

4. Overly Specialized Rooms

So, you just tore down the garage (which you never used) and built a four-season sunroom which resembles an English manor conservatory. You’re thrilled, but your potential buyers are going to be rolling their eyes. Where are they going to park the car and store the lawn mower and all their kids’ sport equipment? Installing nontraditional customized rooms (like indoor basketball courts or a basement music studio) is great if you’re going to be in your home for awhile. But potential buyers are likely to see this as a waste of space, and a project (and expense) they’ll have to deal with if they buy your home.

Final Word

We all want to live in a home that reflects our tastes and interests, and our homes should be exactly how we want them to be. Just keep in mind that if you plan to sell your home in the near future, those upgrades and expensive renovations might end up devaluing the home you’re trying to sell for top dollar.

What do we mean by a bargain? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as an “advantageous deal.” On that score Omaha qualifies, thanks to a list-leading combination of affordable real estate and a healthy ratio of income to living costs.

To compile our bargain city list, we started with the 50 largest U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and then compiled a mix of data aimed at handicapping the overall affordability of living in each.

We looked at the current median asking price of homes on the market in each city, using data from Altos Research, a San Francisco-based real estate research firm. We got the median salaries of workers with bachelor’s degrees or higher from PayScale.com and compared it to a cost-of-living index from Moody’s Economy.com (the cost-of-living index factors in transportation, insurance, food, utilities and other factors). Finally, we factored in the latest unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to reflect the relative strength of local economies.

The result is a list of the top 15 urban affordability hot spots.

Omaha Stakes

As the home of major corporations like Union Pacific, ConAgra Foods and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, Omaha boasts inexpensive real estate, a low cost of living and an unemployment rate little more than half the national average.
Most Affordable Cities: Omaha, Neb.
No. 1 Omaha, Neb.

Omaha’s job market will actually grow by 1.6% in 2011, according to Moody’s Economy. In fact, the Nebraskan hub will be a “city that thrives in 2011,” adds online real estate database Trulia.com.

“Its home prices have stayed steady through the recession, owing to the fact that they never saw the inflation of the bubble era,” explains Tara-Nicholle Nelson, consumer educator for Trulia.com. “In Omaha, it seems to be steady as she goes.”

The Midwest dominated our bargain city list. Other heartland metropolises offering good deals include Indianapolis, Ind. (No.4); Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. (No. 7); Oklahoma’s namesake city (No. 9) and Tulsa (No. 15); and Ohio’s three largest metros, Cincinnati (No. 5), Cleveland (No.8) and Columbus (No. 13).
Most Affordable Cities: Buffalo, N.Y.
No. 2 Buffalo, N.Y.

Indianapolis, Kansas City and Ohio’s three enclaves have real estate deals available at low price points. Although Oklahoma City and Tulsa offer some of the lowest median salaries among the 50 MSAs ranked, their home costs are also near the bottom, making both cities highly affordable.

At $249,000, the current median asking price for homes in Minneapolis-St. Paul remains higher than those of its neighbors on our list. The Twin Cities make up for it in quality of life, touting low unemployment rates and a healthy cost of living vs. salary.

“Minneapolis-St. Paul has very strong institutions of medical research and higher education, a highly educated population and a desirable amenity base,” says Stuart Gabriel, director of the Ziman Center for real estate at the University of California Los Angeles.

“Minneapolis has weathered the downturn better than most places and its prospects continue to look relatively bright,” says Gabriel, who has researched the quality of life as it relates to real estate economics.

Motor City … Rocks?

Surprising but true, Detroit, the Michigan metro known best for cars, crime and urban decay, took third place on our list.
Most Affordable Cities: Detroit, Mich.
No. 3 Detroit, Mich.

Detroit is a rough place with a staggering 13.3% unemployment rate and a high per capita crime rate, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data. Its foreclosure rate is among the 10 highest in the U.S. There were 45,000 Real Estate Owned (REO) residences in the Motor City as of last November, according to online foreclosure site RealtyTrac.

That said, if you have a college degree under your belt and a steady job to show up to, your money gets great mileage in Detroit. The median salary for degree-toting workers is $60,600 (15th out of the 50 cities) while the cost of living remains super cheap (second out of 50).

With a median asking price of $132,635, Detroit homes are dirt-cheap. Gabriel warns that “the low house prices in Detroit are no accident. They’re a reflection of depressed land values, depressed amenities, depressed employment.”

In other words, don’t expect this overall housing market’s value to rise anytime soon. Some experts believe it may even depreciate further in 2011. Detroit is a deal only for stably employed residents looking to buy a long-term home.
Most Affordable Cities: Indianapolis
No. 4 Indianapolis

Couple that with a blossoming arts community and the tentative hope that Detroit’s auto industry is resurrecting itself, and this city is a haven for pioneering bargain-hunters.

Other metros ripe for a homemade deal? The Northeast blue-collar hubs of Buffalo, N.Y. (No. 2) and Pittsburgh, Pa., (No. 6); southern belle, Raleigh, N.C., (No. 11); and two Lone Star cities, Houston (No. 10) and Dallas (No. 14).
Most Affordable Cities: Cincinnati
No. 5 Cincinnati

Five of America’s Most Affordable Cities

Omaha, Neb.
Asking Price Rank: 9
Salary Rank: 43
Cost-of-Living Rank: 5
Unemployment Rank: 1

Buffalo, N.Y.
Asking Price Rank: 2
Salary Rank: 47
Cost-of-Living Rank: 1
Unemployment Rank: 12

Detroit, Mich.
Asking Price Rank: 1
Salary Rank: 15
Cost-of-Living Rank: 2
Unemployment Rank: 48

Indianapolis, Ind.
Asking Price Rank: 7
Salary Rank: 31
Cost-of-Living Rank: 4
Unemployment Rank: 24

Cincinnati, Ohio
Asking Price Rank: 4
Salary Rank: 25
Cost-of-Living Rank: 6
Unemployment Rank: 32

That may sound like plenty of cheer, but fully staffed properties have 20 to 30 workers, all of whom count on the extra cash to brighten their holiday seasons.

“People tip the staff they see,” said Teri Rogers, of BrickUnderground.com, which did the unscientific poll. “The people who mostly get burned are porters and handymen. They’re not as visible to residents, but they do the hardest work.”

Doormen on late-night shifts will likely wind up with fewer fat tip envelopes, too.

“You can pay your bills . . . get a little extra cash in your pocket,” said Richard Figueroa, 28, of Brooklyn, who’s expecting about $2,000 in tips from a 35-unit building in Chelsea. “I don’t ask for too much, I don’t expect too much.”

Doorman Rick Cintron says he’s thankful tips keep getting better at his building on Seventh Ave. in Manhattan, despite the economic downturn.

“It hasn’t changed that much, even in the bad economy,” said Cintron, 48, who lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, adding that he doesn’t care when people tip. “It doesn’t matter as long as they come.”

The holidays haven’t been so cheery the past two years for Richard Boakye, who works at a building on W. 21st St.

“Sometimes you get presents. Sometimes you don’t get anything,” said Boakye, 66, of the Bronx. “It doesn’t look good, but when it comes, I’ll appreciate it.”

Rogers did extensive interviews with doormen on the upper West Side, the upper East Side and Greenwich Village to generate a holiday tipping guide.

Most are happy with the tips they’re expecting to get this season, except for those in buildings with high vacancy rates or lots of subletters, who are typically low tippers because they feel like transients.

The doormen know not to expect too much from elderly tenants on fixed incomes but may balk at doing extra work in their apartments for free, Rogers said.

Some cheapskates say they resent having to tip, while others are clueless new arrivals to New York City apartment living or are making a statement about poor service.

Photo caption: Joseph Boakye, who works as a doorman, doesn’t expect big holiday tips, but appreciates it.

The 6-foot-high structure, which is small enough to fit on a sidewalk, is made of bamboo strips, wood chippings, sack bags, and grass seed that’s expected to grow in the spring.

The pod features a solar panel on the roof that powers a lamp in the cozy space. The house cost around $1,000 to build (6427 yen), according to China Daily.

It seems Haifei has taken the trend of living in tiny spaces to a whole new level.

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16,000 square foot storage and warehouse facility, tenants in place, video security system, on site manager and office, three loading docks, climate controlled, high ceilings, great location…

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As Americans downsize in the aftermath of a colossal real estate bust, at least one tiny corner of the housing market appears to be thriving. To save money or simplify their lives, a small but growing number of Americans are buying or building homes that could fit inside many people’s living rooms, according to entrepreneurs in the small house industry.

Some put these wheeled homes in their backyards to use as offices, studios or extra bedrooms. Others use them as mobile vacation homes they can park in the woods. But the most intrepid of the tiny house owners live in them full-time, paring down their possessions and often living off the grid.

“It’s very un-American in the sense that living small means consuming less,” said Jay Shafer, 46, co-founder of the Small House Society, sitting on the porch of his wooden cabin in California wine country. “Living in a small house like this really entails knowing what you need to be happy and getting rid of everything else.”

Shafer, author of “The Small House Book,” built the 89-square-foot house himself a decade ago and lived in it full-time until his son was born last year. Inside a space the size of an ice cream truck, he has a kitchen with gas stove and sink, bathroom with shower, two-seater porch, bedroom loft and a “great room” where he can work and entertain — as long as he doesn’t invite more than a couple guests.

He and his family now live in relatively sprawling 500-square foot home next to the tiny one.

Shafer, co-owner of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, designs and builds miniature homes with a minimalist style that prizes quality over quantity and makes sure no cubic inch goes to waste. Most can be hooked up to public utilities. The houses, which pack a range of amenities in spaces smaller than some people’s closets, are sold for $40,000 to $50,000 ready-made, but cost half as much if you build it yourself.

Tumbleweed’s business has grown significantly since the housing crisis began, Shafer said. He now sells about 50 blueprints, which cost $400 to $1,000 each, a year, up from 10 five years ago. The eight workshops he teaches around the country each year attract 40 participants on average, he said.

“People’s reasons for living small vary a lot, but there seems to be a common thread of sustainability,” Shafer said. “A lot of people don’t want to use many more resources or put out more emissions than they have to.”

Compared to trailers, these little houses are built with higher-quality materials, better insulation and eye-catching design. But they still have wheels that make them portable — and allow owners to get around housing regulations for stationary homes.

Since the housing crisis and recession began, interest in tiny homes has grown dramatically among young people and retiring Baby Boomers, said Kent Griswold, who runs the Tiny House Blog, which attracts 5,000 to 7,000 visitors a day.

“In the last couple years, the idea’s really taken off,” Griswold said. “There’s been a huge interest in people downsizing and there are a lot of young people who don’t want to be tied down with a huge mortgage and want to build their own space.”

Gregory Johnson, who co-founded the Small House Society with Shafer, said the online community now has about 1,800 subscribers, up from about 300 five years ago. Most of them live in their small houses full-time and swap tips on living simple and small.

Johnson, 46, who works as a computer consultant at the University of Iowa, said dozens of companies specializing small houses have popped up around the country over the past few years.

Before he got married, Johnson lived for six years in a small cabin he built himself and he wrote a book called “Put Your Life on a Diet: Lessons Learned from Living in 140 Square Feet.”

“You start to peel away the things that are unnecessary,” said Johnson, who now lives in a studio apartment with his wife. “It helps you define your priorities with regard to your material things.”

Northern California’s Sonoma County has become a mini-mecca for the tiny house industry, with an assortment of new businesses launching over the last few years.

Stephen Marshall, 63, worked as a building contractor for three decades before the real estate market tanked three years ago. That’s when he jumped into the tiny house business, starting Petaluma-based Little House On The Trailer.

His company builds and sells small houses that can serve as stand-alone homes equipped with bathrooms and kitchens, and others he calls “A Room of One’s Own” that can be used as a home office or extra bedroom. Many of his customers are looking for extra space to accommodate an aging parent or adult children who are returning home, he said.

He said his small houses, which sell for $20,000 to $50,000, are much cheaper than building a home addition and can be resold when the extra space is no longer needed. His company has sold 16 houses this year and aims to sell 20 next year.

“The business is growing as the public becomes aware of this possibility,” Marshall said. “A lot of families are moving in with one another. A lot of young people can’t afford to move out. There’s just a lot of economic pressure to find an alternative way to provide for people’s housing needs.”

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