By Staci Colville
In trying to find my voice and really thinking I am too old to blog, I have decided to write about something that I live every day. Part of why I enjoy working at Luxury Real Estate as an Account Manager so much is because of my darling members. I am passionate about helping them become the most successful they can be. It really hit home last night when my beautiful 11-year-old daughter was telling me about her research project on Egypt and how rehearsal went for the school play, and I was vacant. She said, “Mom are you listening to me?” and I said, “No, honey, I was thinking about work and some of my members.” She gave me one of her patented Exasperated Daughter Looks™, and said, “Why? You are not at work,” (Terrific work ethic for the future there, I can tell!) and I replied, “Honey, these members are always on my mind.”
By Staci Colville
In trying to find my voice and really thinking I am too old to blog, I have decided to write about something that I live every day. Part of why I enjoy working at Luxury Real Estate as an Account Manager so much is because of my darling members. I am passionate about helping them become the most successful they can be. It really hit home last night when my beautiful 11-year-old daughter was telling me about her research project on Egypt and how rehearsal went for the school play, and I was vacant. She said, “Mom are you listening to me?” and I said, “No, honey, I was thinking about work and some of my members.” She gave me one of her patented Exasperated Daughter Looks™, and said, “Why? You are not at work,” (Terrific work ethic for the future there, I can tell!) and I replied, “Honey, these members are always on my mind.”
On my ride home from work I will think “Did Ralph Randall sell that beautiful home in Dallas, yet?” or “Did I give Randy Wojcik all the information he needed to please his sellers?” or “I haven’t talked to Karen Foley in a week.” I guess what I realized is I am passionate about providing the best service I can to my members…sometimes maybe to a fault, but it is only because I care! Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about them, which is quite frightening, and believe me I need all the beauty sleep I can get, as my daughter will happily tell you!
I actually love the fact that I am so passionate about everything I do. I hope my passion comes across to my members. Having passion for life, love, career, family, friends…well, it is the only way I choose to live, and I’m proud of it! I know many of you reading this feel the same way…so cheers to passion!
So my weekly blogs will be about some of my favorite, super cute members.
COMING SOON… “Don’t mess with Texas.”
Editor’s Note:
Staci Colville is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She helps members take advantage of the various services of LuxuryRealEstate.com. She’s definitely not too old to blog! I said it before and I’ll say it again – Staci has an amazing sense of humor, and she’s very warm and kind to everyone. Luxury Real Estate members who work with her are sure to emerge feeling better about themselves and the world, in general. She’s that nice.
By Joey Pauley
After years in the business of creating websites, it still surprises me how uninformed people are about their website and how it attracts customers. I summarize their view as "If you build it, they will come." Well, I’m not Kevin Costner and this is not Iowa.
By Joey Pauley
After years in the business of creating websites, it still surprises me how uninformed people are about their website and how it attracts customers. I summarize their view as "If you build it, they will come." Well, I’m not Kevin Costner and this is not Iowa.
People are always asking me why they don’t get more traffic on their website. The first question I ask is "How do customers find your site?" There are a multitude of responses to this question, but the one I hear most is silence.
Then I follow up with "How do people find your office?" The answers to this question start before I have a chance to finish asking. The responses include “I advertise in the newspaper,” “We have a wonderful location,” “People we have worked with recommend us to their friends,” and the list goes on and on.
What is ironic is the answer to both questions should be the same.
If you advertise in the newspaper then advertise on the Internet news sites. If you invest in a wonderful brick-and-mortar location, invest in a high-ranking spot on search engines, like Google. If people recommended you to friends in the midst of a conversation then why not invite them to link to you on their website?
Make the same strides you do to advertise outside of the Web on the Web. Then you can expect the same result. Now get out there and play ball!
Editor’s Note:
As a Technical Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com, Joey Pauley helps members with their Web and technology needs. It’s pretty incredible to think that using some of the same tactics and principles you use every day can help you gain more success online. Give it a try! Also, check out Luxury Real Estate’s Web Design services for innovative updates to your Web site.
By Jim Walberg
We have just ended the first month of 2008 and my January 3rd Predications are being confirmed every day regarding the trends of Caribbean real-estate buyers! The deeded fractional ownership is having a dramatic impact on the buying patterns of Baby Boomers, Brits, Europeans and Canadians. Their appetite for full ownership of second and third homes/condos in the Caribbean is being refocused on the fractional-ownership resorts being developed by BIG international companies!
By Jim Walberg
We have just ended the first month of 2008 and my January 3rd Predications are being confirmed every day regarding the trends of Caribbean real-estate buyers! The deeded fractional ownership is having a dramatic impact on the buying patterns of Baby Boomers, Brits, Europeans and Canadians. Their appetite for full ownership of second and third homes/condos in the Caribbean is being refocused on the fractional-ownership resorts being developed by BIG international companies!
Buyers seeking Caribbean properties are recognizing that they are not going to live there full-time, so why have the responsibility of full ownership when there is an excellent resort management company in place to maintain and even rent a deeded fractional-ownership property as part of the purchase? An example of this trend can be witnessed in Aruba. There are more than 2,000 fractional-ownership units planned for this island by international developers cashing in on waves of buyers! (There are always exceptions to this thinking when the price point and the product are too good to pass up for full ownership, such as South Beach – Belize)
What does all this mean for the sellers and buyers of Caribbean real estate? If you are a seller, get your home on the market NOW with the most experienced international REALTOR® you can find who understands this market and has an effective Internet-based marketing strategy in place. As a buyer in 2008 for Caribbean real estate, you are going to have your pick of some great bargains, and ones that have huge upside appreciation that are available to those who know where the values are.
Some of the real-estate “hot spots” are St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Anguilla, Belize, Dominic, and the Dominican Republic. The outlook for buyers and sellers in the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean is “bullish” for 2008!
Deeded fractional ownerships will continue to gain market share away from the fully owned homes and townhomes/condos products. Those who have Euros, Pounds or Canadian dollars will have the best buying power for any real estate connected to the U.S. dollar. Again, be sure to find the best REALTOR® you can to represent you in all of your international real-estate transactions. A great resource for top-quality international REALTORS® is Luxury Real Estate!
Editor’s Note:
What an enthusiastic endorsement! To contact Jim Walberg, email Jim@JimWalberg.com or visit www.CaribbeanIslandsRealty.com. Fractional-ownership resorts have a lot of advantages as second homes and vacation spots. In fact, I recently wrote a four-page editorial on fractional-ownership resorts, which are also known as Private Residence Clubs, for LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine. The story will be appearing in the Spring 2008 issue of the magazine. Click the following link to read the Winter 2008 issue of LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine.
By Allyson Metters
Nearly one in five REALTORS® has sold a home to an international client in the past year, according to new research by the National Association of REALTORS®.
The 2007 NAR Profile of International Home Buying Activity explores the characteristics of second-home purchases in the United States made by international clients.
By Allyson Metters
Nearly one in five REALTORS® has sold a home to an international client in the past year, according to new research by the National Association of REALTORS®.
The 2007 NAR Profile of International Home Buying Activity explores the characteristics of second-home purchases in the United States made by international clients.
Some interesting points:
By Scott Rudolph
For those of you multi-tasking overachievers, the advent of video distributed online is just what the Doctor ordered. Rest assured while glorified slideshows, or virtual tours, have become the viewing norm, the typical attention span is only 15 seconds!!!
By Scott Rudolph
For those of you multi-tasking overachievers, the advent of video distributed online is just what the Doctor ordered. Rest assured while glorified slideshows, or virtual tours, have become the viewing norm, the typical attention span is only 15 seconds!!!
Specializing in video production, distribution and presentation, our partner Realty Video USA has captured the art of real-estate video unlike any other company. Have you ever arrived to the theater a bit too early and watched a movie preview? Trailers are meant to stir emotion and captivate attention – building excitement and anticipation to the point that you come back in a couple weeks and pay to watch the movie when it is released at the same theater. Now let’s imagine a movie trailer for RAMBO as a slideshow or virtual tour. Hmm…doesn’t quite capture the essence, does it?
Video touches the human psyche on an emotional level that simply cannot be reached with photos and text. As a matter of fact, video is statistically proven to be 80 percent more captivating to the viewer than print, photos or text. The logical conclusion is simple – real-estate agents who are serious about marketing need video. Realty Video USA will not only produce the video, but will market it to more than 55 real estate and video-based websites, as well as provide you the option of emailing the video to every real-estate agent within the state of your choice!
Although many companies try to mimic Realty Video USA’s success, none have come close to establishing the corporate partnerships and client loyalty that this company has formed in as little as two years. Stephen Schweickart and his father Jim, founded the company just after the YouTube phenomenon and haven’t looked back since. For examples of Realty Video USA’s work, please click on the following link: video.realtyvideousa.com.
Editor’s Note:
Scott Rudolph is the Director of Business Development for LuxuryRealEstate.com, which means that he works with companies in a variety of luxury industries to expand the LuxuryRealEstate.com influence. This is a very interesting topic because I often hear that movies based on books are not as good as the books. However, movies and videos are able to convey more information faster than still images or words. Of course, I’m the kind of person who likes to both read and watch information.
By Jaime Sanders
I recently received a great email from Joanne – a wonderful real-estate agent in Folsom, Calif. Typically, I’m not huge fan of forwarded emails, but this one struck a nerve. It is about letting go and moving forward, which is really hard at times! Especially with the negative press in our industry, people seem to quickly forget about moving forward and start to drown in the mire of the news and problems in life. Please take a moment to read and think about HOW MUCH you can accomplish in 2008! Best wishes for the year ahead…
By Jaime Sanders
I recently received a great email from Joanne – a wonderful real-estate agent in Folsom, Calif. Typically, I’m not huge fan of forwarded emails, but this one struck a nerve. It is about letting go and moving forward, which is really hard at times! Especially with the negative press in our industry, people seem to quickly forget about moving forward and start to drown in the mire of the news and problems in life. Please take a moment to read and think about HOW MUCH you can accomplish in 2008! Best wishes for the year ahead…
2007 is done...
...make 2008 unforgettable...
The 28 days of February stretch before you like blank pages of a Personal Diary. What will be written on those pages by this time next month? Next year? Will it be a tale of health, wealth, romance and wondrous prosperity...or will it be more of the same?
Fact is, the "movers and shakers" have long ago moved beyond 2007 and are looking ahead. Those are the same people who always seem to be "on top of their game" all the time. How do they do it? How can you run with this crowd? How can you leap one step ahead?
The simple answer is these people know the wisdom of "looking beyond today" and laying the groundwork for the months and years ahead. It's called taking action - Making a game plan, implementing, and CONTROLLING their future.
The time is NOW for YOU.
Editor’s Note:
Jaime Sanders is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She assists many brokers in their endeavor to maximize exposure of their properties through creative marketing techniques. I definitely share Jaime’s sentiment of striving to improve ourselves in the present and future. Don’t worry about other people’s negative predictions too much – they’re just guesses, really. Simply focus on doing as much good as you can and improving yourself and your luxury real estate business day by day. That’s what I think.
John Brian Losh, the president and CEO of LuxuryRealEstate.com, greets members from World Properties & Investment’s headquarters in Athens, Greece. Enjoy the surprise ending!
John Brian Losh, the president and CEO of LuxuryRealEstate.com, greets members from World Properties & Investment’s headquarters in Athens, Greece. Enjoy the surprise ending!
By Kimberly Fulwyler
When I was little, my brother and I would spend a good amount of time building tree houses and forts outside. These tree houses came with secret code words and special knocks. On the visual side, my tree houses were made of love, imagination, and not much else. In today’s luxury housing market, tree houses are becoming a popular new home addition that’s appealing to both adults and children.
By Kimberly Fulwyler
When I was little, my brother and I would spend a good amount of time building tree houses and forts outside. These tree houses came with secret code words and special knocks. On the visual side, my tree houses were made of love, imagination, and not much else. In today’s luxury housing market, tree houses are becoming a popular new home addition that’s appealing to both adults and children.
Designers are creating and building tree houses above and beyond what I could have imagined at the age of seven. Gone are the days of jutting nails and unstable floor boards. Tree houses today are built as luxury add-ons that will add value to a home. The new generation of tree houses are being used in a multitude of ways: home offices, guest rooms, and of course, a children’s tree house that can rival Cinderella’s castle at Disneyland.
I don’t think anyone has captured this trend as well as the Swiss Family Robinson when they said, “The world is full of nice, ordinary little people who live in nice, ordinary little houses on the ground. But didn't you ever dream of a house up on a treetop?”
Editor’s Note:
Kimberly Fulwyler is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com, so she provides customer service and marketing materials to a variety of LuxuryRealEstate.com members.
By Courtney Jackson
Unique Homes is now in the process of compiling the 2008 edition of Ultimate Homes, an annual magazine dedicated to the listing and ranking of the top 1,000 properties currently on the market for purchase. Since 2005, Ultimate Homes has served as the standard for ranking the best in luxury real estate by price.
By Courtney Jackson
Unique Homes is now in the process of compiling the 2008 edition of Ultimate Homes, an annual magazine dedicated to the listing and ranking of the top 1,000 properties currently on the market for purchase. Since 2005, Ultimate Homes has served as the standard for ranking the best in luxury real estate by price.
"We believe a vehicle that ranks and lists the most expensive estates here in America was information that was fractured and incomplete. For the first time, the consumer now has a comprehensive source to compare and contrast by price the most sought after properties currently on the market for purchase," said Nick Antonicello, Director of Sales for both Unique Homes and Ultimate Homes.
As in the past, the publication will not only list the top 1,000 listings by price, but also the top ten listings by price, by state. "This is a twist to the rankings that ensures geographic balance to the information provided. For the most part, the list is dominated by California, Florida and New York. By also offering the top ten properties by state, the consumer gets added insight on smaller markets like Utah, Montana or Idaho," said Antonicello.
Last year the states of New York, California and Florida represented nearly $12.5 billion of the $19.1 billion or 65% of all the homes in the list of 1000 properties. The Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate network (LuxuryRealEstate.com) represented 112 different properties in this exclusive list or nearly 12% of all properties!
Like in past editions, editorial will focus upon the top ten listings as well as the top ten agents with the most listings. In addition there will be breakdowns by companies, networks and organizations who represent the best of the luxury segment here in the United States. The list will feature current listings between $11 million and $165 million. If an agent currently represents an estate property in this price point, they are qualified to advertise the property on a half-page, full-page or two-page basis.
"Ultimate Homes is the ultimate publication for marketing the most expensive properties currently on the market. It will be sent complimentary in a hardbound edition to the agents and sellers whose properties are advertised beyond the list and the magazine will be sold off newsstands in some 80 countries. It is a once-a-year opportunity to truly allow the agent to promote a significant property in a special venue designed to reach high net worth consumers currently in the market," said Antonicello.
For details please contact LuxuryRealEstate.com Print Director Courtney Jackson, Courtney@LuxuryRealEstate.com or 800-488-4066.