Straits, Weights and Kettlebells: Marketing Luxury Real Estate With a “Dwell Well” Test Drive

One of my wildest dreams has been to market luxury real estate like this: “Try Before You Buy”.

We try on shoes, clothes, and test-drive cars. All of those are a hell of a lot cheaper than a home. But who gets to “try a house” to see if you really love it? Why not take it for a “test-drive” before you sign on the dotted? 

That is exactly what The Perry-Miller Streiff Group of Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate the week before the election. They took 4920 Mangold Circle, lovely creekside cul de sac off Strait Lane, not too far from Jennifer Staubach Gates’ pad on Keyhole, not for a just a test drive, but a lifestyle test. It’s called Dwell Well. Exercise and lifestyle experts from Equinox came over to implement a very successful program they have been developing in other states: real-time workout sessions around the pool, fitness and health tips, and nutritional snacks in a private listed residence.

It’s called “Sweat-working”.

“This is how you would actually live in this setting,” says Christina Marshall, Director, Central Regional Marketing for Equinox.”This is a chance to interact with the home, maybe invite a few friends over, and see how it fits while you try out the high performance lifestyle.”

4920 Mangold Circle is definitely a high performance house, befitting of a relationship with the Equinox brand. In fact, Equinox is owned by Related Companies, a privately owned real estate firm in New York City with offices and developments in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, even Abu Dhabi. The company was founded by Stephen M. Ross in 1972. Under it’s belt are Oxford Properties, Vornado Realty Trust, SL Green Realty, The Blackstone Group and Equinox. Formidable siblings, real estate in the blood.

“Fitness is no longer just in the gym,” says Christina, “It’s in your life. We provide you an amazing place to come to in the community, but we also venture outside of our four walls to show how we practice our three pillars and incorporate it into busy lives.”

Those pillars would be movement, nutrition and regeneration.

And so listing agents Dave Perry-Miller and Ryan Streiff filled the 7882 square foot contemporary home with weights and kettle bells, delectable but healthy food from Dish, and a host of interested clients who participated in a 45 minute exercise class around the stunning swimming pool. They actually sweat!

“Sweat-working” is bonding for business not over high calorie drinks and foods, but yoga mats and weights. Christina says Equinox, with 86 facilities globally, is turning “Sweat-working” into the ultimate home event.

“We have done this in NYC, LA and Miami with great success, and it is a great way to get people into these homes where they can envision themselves living in it in new ways. People can sometimes see these homes as daunting,” says Christina, “we have been able to open their eyes.”

Speaking of open eyes, Mangold Circle is one of those homes where you will never shut your eyes because every molecule is so dang sexy, sleek and beautiful. First of all, as I mentioned, Triple AAA location off Strait Lane north of Royal. The architectural design is totally Austin transitional with Leuders Limestone and a standing seam metal roof.

And the soft contemporary is practically brand new. In fact, the home was just completed this spring by Robert Raymond, with the talented William Briggs as architect. The floor plan flow is wide open with huge windows and tall ceilings that bathe the entire home in natural light. Based on a U-shape design, the home embraces an infinity pool with what I call “function rooms” in one wing, the master and a secluded guest room in another.One of my favorite touches, and in fact a new architectural trend I am seeing, is the side front door. What Bible says you must always have the front door front and center and facing to the street directly? A side-opening door is perfect and may actually be safer from a security perspective. The entrance faces a dramatic, floating staircase that is a work of art unto itself. 

The “function” rooms are magnificent. The kitchen has quartz countertops, high performance appliances, thoughtfully hidden outlets and dual pantries. There is a large, light-embracing window directly behind the gourmet gas stove — which makes indoor cooking vastly more interesting. A Butlers pantry serves almost as a caterer’s kitchen. A large hallway and mudroom lead to the 3-car garage, and the laundry room is roomy as well as conveniently located. The entertainment areas are abundant inside and out, and the home offers folding glass doors which fuse the outdoor living area with the interiors.

Outside, the covered terrace offers a veritable full kitchen: grilling station with Lynx grill, refrigerator and full pizza oven.

Everywhere the eye can take you on this three-quarters acre plus lot is an adventure in architectural beauty, but the infinity-style pool views trump all.

Technically, the pool is not a true infinity but has the visual effect based on the lot gradually sloping away from the home and the beautifully terraced stairs off the back of the pool. It is huge, sparking, and the focal point of every view, as it should be.

The downstairs master suite has that marriage saver, dual spa baths, plus huge dual closets with organizational shelves and drawers. The free-standing tub is a work of art. Also in this wing: a well-placed guest room and study. Upstairs are three oversized bedrooms, all with en suite baths, and of course more living space in the form of a sitting room for these occupants.

“Fitness is no longer just in the gym,” says Christina, “it’s in your life.”

In every aspect of it. In fact, 4920 Mangold just feels like a healthy house.

“We want to connect a person’s life and lifestyle, and what better place to do it than their future homes.” says Christina.

Listed for $3,695,000, the pricing is surprisingly reasonable given the sophistication of the home’s interior and exterior, it’s near nascent age, and the generous lot. The current owners barely moved in this spring before they were relocated. 

In fact, this home may actually may give “Sweat Equity” a whole new meaning!

Visit DPMFineHomes.com/4920mangold for more information and images.