Luxury Real Estate Blog : Archives for April 2008

Life lessons from Ben Stein’s new movie “Expelled”

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:49:00 -0400

By Robert Lockard

On Saturday, April 25, 2008, my younger brother and I decided to make a rare visit to our local movie theater to watch a film we both felt a great desire to see. That movie was “Expelled,” a documentary starring and co-written by the great actor and economist Ben Stein. In addition to starring in this movie, Mr. Stein actually had some incredible insights that he shared on the current luxury real estate market at the 6th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat in San Diego two weeks ago. He is an incredibly brilliant man in a variety of fields.

I really enjoyed this movie. It brings up so many interesting points that I’ve often considered. It basically encourages us to keep an open mind and not close our hearts to true concepts, even if they present new challenges. I highly recommend this film to everyone who would like a balanced perspective on life.

One key idea I took away from this film has to do with something said at the Spring Retreat, which Staci Colville quoted in her April 24, 2008 blog entry. Patricia Hoferkamp, President and CEO of Burgdorff, Realtors ERA, led a breakout session entitled “A Culture of Service." During this session, she said, “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”

How interesting. Selfishness is not as effective as we might think when it comes to being successful. Caring for those who are weaker than us is quite preferable to our consciences than taking advantage of them.

I find it ironic that we live in a society bombarded with the idea of “survival of the fittest” being the rule, and yet we go to great lengths to help our weak and lift up the downtrodden.

For example, yesterday morning I was on the bus going to work and at one stop, a woman in a wheelchair was waiting at the front of a long line of people waiting to get on the bus. I don’t think that she was the first to arrive, but no one cried foul when she went straight to the front of the line.

The bus driver lowered a lift so that the woman could roll onto it and then be lifted into the bus. The process took more than a minute. Then the bus driver, who was elderly, slowly rolled up five seats so that they would not be available for regular bus riders to use in order to make room for a single wheelchair. The bus driver took a few minutes to properly strap the woman in. She had trouble with the seatbelt and I was sitting nearby so I was able to get it loose for her and help a little.

While all of this was taking place, the people outside the bus patiently waited in the cold morning air, waiting to enter the warm bus and get to their destinations.

None of this was selfish. The scene was filled with inconvenience for dozens of people to offer this bit of kindness and convenience to one person. Despite the seeming injustice of this all, there is actually nothing unjust about it. There is something profoundly right about it.

Editor’s Note:
Robert Lockard is the Public Relations & Media Specialist with LuxuryRealEstate.com. I am Robert. I create all of LuxuryRealEstate.com’s newsletters, write the editorials in LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine and much more. Yesterday was my birthday and I started writing this blog then. I love kindness. I hope that we will all have soft hearts and be able to accept truth. Be sure to check out Ben Stein’s movie “Expelled”! The photo above is copyright of Ilya's Photography.

Exploring fractional…

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:28:00 -0400

By Scott Rudolph

Piers Brown, the founder of www.FractionalLife.com, is moving into his second day hosting one of the largest and most diverse fractional ownership and asset-sharing exhibitions in the world. This event caters to the growing number of people who want to enjoy a lifestyle of luxury items and experiences - without the ties, responsibilities and capital outlay of a complete purchase.

The Expo is playing host to a number of different fractional-ownership and asset-sharing purveyors: Property – houses, hotels, residence and destination clubs, Motoring – classic vehicles and supercars, Sea – boats and yachts, Air – aircraft and jets and, finally, Lifestyle – wines and spirits, sports, even handbags and other relevant assets and investments.

Piers tells me Tiff Needell, in his capacity as founder member of new supercar outfit Club Velocitá, came by and gave his thoughts on the benefits of “fractional” car clubs. Tiff discussed his TV work as part of the Fifth Gear team, his racing career as well as extolling the virtues of car-club schemes.

For those who like their cars fast and exotic, there was plenty on offer with exhibitors throughout the Expo, including Club Velocita, Marque II and ecurie25 showing the latest from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Audi.

For more information, log onto www.fractionallifeexpo.com.

Editor’s Note:
Scott Rudolph is the Director of Business Development for LuxuryRealEstate.com. He works with a variety of luxury-focused companies to expand the LuxuryRealEstate.com influence.

More praise for our Spring Retreat from Austin, TX

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:28:00 -0400

By Staci Colville

I received the following two reviews from Diane Dopson and Nancy Hardie of Diane Dopson Properties. These two members joined us from Austin, Texas. Here is what they had to say about the 6th Annual Spring Retreat:

Nancy: “It was a wonderful experience to network with top agents all over the U.S. Everyone was very interested in sharing ideas and marketing ideas and opportunities to refer clients when they are moving to a different city. The weather was ‘California Perfect’ and the hotel was a 5-Star, without a doubt.”

Diane: This conference was one of the best ever, with lots of upbeat, positive comments, great topics and discussions and lots of valuable information. The hotel was one of the most beautiful I have ever stayed in!

I had the pleasure of meeting these two spectacular ladies in person and I must say what a treat it was! They have some beautiful listings on their website www.dianedopson.com. The picture above is of one of their beautiful listings.

Thanks, Diane and Nancy, for joining us!

Editor’s Note:
Staci Colville is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She helps members take advantage of the various services of LuxuryRealEstate.com. I’d also like to thank these wonderful members for their kind comments. It’s so wonderful to hear such positive feedback about our event. Be sure to sign up for our next exciting networking opportunity, the 13th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference in October.

Lunar Luxury Real Estate?

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:46:00 -0400

By Michael Edlund

“The view is out of this world.”

I overheard this comment at an open house during our recent Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat in San Diego. We visited an amazing property on top of a hill with vast spectacular views over a beautiful landscape. Spectacular, but still of this world. No matter how crazy, ridiculous and out of touch with reality it seems today, there might actually be a day when we buy and sell property elsewhere in the solar system.

There were a few articles published recently that made me think of this. First of all, I read about Virgin Galactic currently building Spaceport America with the support of the state of New Mexico. It’s a huge-scale initiative by the Virgin Group’s eclectic founder Sir Richard Branson, aiming to bring commercial space travel to the general American public no later than 2012. It is now decided that Virgin will build Spaceport Sweden as the gateway for European space travelers.

It’s not a matter of if but when wealthy individuals can add space travel to their wish list of spectacular experience and adventure travel. And it seems to be happening sooner than many might imagine.

With space travel, I would say that there will inevitably be a whole new service ecosystem created around this new branch of the travel industry. I would guess that one of them will be accommodation. That brings attention to The Lunar Republic Society, which sells acre-sized lots on the moon through its shop Lunar Registry.

Buying land on the moon sounds like a joke to us. Nobody owns the moon. Well, the natives of America told the European settlers back in the day that it was a joke to them to claim that man can own land at all. Manhattan was sold for $24 because nobody could imagine that land had any tangible value.

Yes, I see the difficulty for this organization to claim the right to sell moon property. But being the “Earth’s leading lunar real estate agency,” the tens of thousands of individuals that have purchased lunar lots though them are backing them in their claim. Regardless of which organization that officially wins the right to sell moon property, they will be in a very good position to do so.

Just for laughs, I did buy an acre lot in The Sea of Tranquility a while back. I never thought, of course, that there would be even a remote possibility for me to see it in my lifetime. But hey, who knows? I’m wishing Sir Richard Branson all the best of luck with his ideas – ideas that are truly out of this world. Talk about opening up a new market...

Editor’s Note:
Michael Edlund is the Director of Technology with LuxuryRealEstate.com. He is in charge of all of LuxuryRealEstate.com’s Web projects, including Web site creation, software updates and implementation, and much more. Lunar luxury? That's loony. Pardon my pun. It’s funny because I recently watched “The Right Stuff,” the great 1983 movie about the original Mercury 7 astronauts who paved the way for the Apollo missions and other space exploration. It’s funny to look at their primitive ideas of space travel, but maybe in 50 years we’ll look back with similar feelings about our current steps reaching for the moon and other worlds. I think I’d prefer to buy some property on Europa or Io.

The toughest sheriff in the nation meets with Arizona Best Real Estate

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:50:00 -0400

By Colleen M. Olson
Real Estate Consultant

Here is the picture of Sheriff Joe and David MacIntyre. Sheriff Joe is a good friend of David’s, he comes every year to speak to our office. He updates us on the different programs he has implemented and what still needs to be done. You can go on www.sheriffjoe.org to get all the information and his bio.

Editor’s Note:
David MacIntyre is a Broker with Arizona Best Real Estate, a member of the Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate network. We welcome your blog entries to the LuxuryRealEstate.com Blog.

Willis Allen showcases impressive listings in San Diego

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:34:00 -0400

By Brian Langhorst

Willis Allen Real Estate, the Regent member of LuxuryRealEstate.com in San Diego, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, and Del Mar rolled out the red carpet for the attendees of the 6th Annual Spring Retreat. Our host company picked up about 70 LuxuryRealEstate.com members from the Grand Del Mar Resort in luxury motor coaches and took us to two notable listings in nearby Rancho Santa Fe.

The first listing 5959 Ladys Secret is a perfect estate for entertaining and enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather! We were greeted with Strawberries and Champagne at the first listing, which is in the exclusive area of Del Rayo Estates. This $13.7 million listing featured beautiful views of the ocean, Del Mar and Fairbanks Country Club, and the Del Mar Race Track.

The 2.8-acre estate includes well-manicured gardens, lighted tennis courts, an infinity-edge pool, spa and outdoor entertaining areas. The 2008 renovation of this great listing is evidenced in the details throughout. This was a perfect way to begin our evening. Listed by Willis Allen agent Terry Holladay (www.TerryHolladay.com).

The next stop was within the covenant of Rancho Santa Fe. Sian Welch of Willis Allen enlightened our bus with lots of history and facts of this quaint and intimate community. The covenant of Rancho Santa Fe has very strict architectural guidelines to maintain the history and feel of the specific area of town.

The second and final listing of our tour was Extravagance in the Village at $8.9 million being represented by Willis Allen agent Linda Sansone (www.LindaSansone.com). This listing was once again a big hit among all who attended our cocktail reception/property tour! In perfect style, this 2.85-acre estate blends pleasant living spaces with perfectly designed outdoor areas for gatherings and spending time with family and friends. It is a true find considering the size of the lot and close walking distance to the town of Rancho Santa Fe!

Our property tour was a wonderful introduction into the market of Rancho Santa Fe and the variety of opportunities on the market. Thank you very much to Bud Clark and Peyton Cabano from Willis Allen for putting together such a well-thought-out tour!

There are amazing properties available throughout. I would encourage all interested buyers to speak with any of our qualified members in the San Diego area to see the great investment opportunities for yourself!

Editor’s Note:
Brian Langhorst is LuxuryRealEstate.com’s Membership Manager. He meets members’ unique needs through the dynamic services LuxuryRealEstate.com provides. There are many opportunities in California and other markets that are seeing price declines. Take advantage of these unique offers while they’re still hot.

Caribbean real estate: Belize is one of THE top hotspots!

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:06:00 -0400

By Jim Walberg

From his blog: Caribbean real estate: Belize is One of THE Top Hotspots!

South Beach – Belize is perfectly positioned for the explosion happening with European investors in the Caribbean!

Article By Poyel Nelson: The headline on the International Living Magazine in December 2007 is straightforward: Belize: Buy Before the Europeans! (Remember my last posting about South Beach – Belize?) Amongst the financial crises triggered by the real-estate market woes in the United States, caution is advisable over such a bullish statement. So, what are the reasons for such a headline?

Direct flights from Europe to Belize City will be launched by late 2008. This is major news for Belize and its real estate market. Europeans, armed with their strong currency, will most likely start to travel to this English speaking country in greater numbers. Transit though the U.S. will no longer be required for European visitors. They will come for the classic Caribbean experience, the world class diving, the jungles and rainforests, the Mayan ruins, the waterfalls and rivers. And some will want to stay or retire here; hence real estate dollars are likely to follow close behind.

We could observe this effect of new flight routes on real-estate markets before. Wherever Ryanair (Ryaniar is a major European low-cost airline) has started flying, the Irish and the British have followed and real-estate markets have prospered. This is now called the “Ryanair effect.” Rumor has it that direct flights to Belize from Canada might also start soon. Real estate is all about timing and right now could be the time to focus in on this stunning country in the Caribbean. Property prices are still well below regional benchmarks. Let’s look at some of Belize’s characteristics to further elaborate whether the above proposed demand really is valid:

The Belize River flows through the middle of the country. With a Caribbean coastline, the Belize Barrier Reef and the Maya Mountains, there is a diverse countryside with plenty of outdoor recreation. The longest-living barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, and the second-longest in the world, attracts divers from all around the world to Belize. This Central American country is a former British Colony also known as British Honduras and has adopted English as its native language. It is considered one of the most stable Caribbean governments with a Parliament as their ruling body. Retirees in Belize can apply for a special status that provides tax breaks on retirement income and extends easy import of household items and furnishings.

“Belize has the lowest population density in the Central American region, and one of the lowest in the world. There is room for many people in Belize. Adding to Belize’s attractions is the cultural and ethnic diversity. There appears to be almost no friction between the harmoniously blended cultures and races. Belize is home to a wide range of ethnicities, including Mennonites, Chinese, Mayan, Spanish, Lebanese and East Indian. Culture, economy and geography make Belize a desirable place to live. With this Caribbean country becoming more accessible through air travel, it seems to be positioned well for significant growth in its economy, in general travel and, eventually, its real-estate market.

Poyel Nelson certainly supports our interest in South Beach Belize. Remember, pre-construction prices are well below regional markets with lots starting at USD$99,950 to USD$6,913,000 for 36-unit boutique hotel/restaurants. This may be the project to act upon NOW. I will keep you posted as I continue my real-estate detective work in the Caribbean. Contact me anytime. Until next time…

Editor’s Note:
Jim Walberg and Ann Marie Nugent are the Brokers/Owners of The Bay Area Team, the most-successful team at Keller Williams Realty-Danville. They are also members of the global LuxuryRealEstate.com network. Jim is an experienced and wonderful blogger, as you can see by visiting his blog, Caribbean Islands Realty. There are many opportunities in this current market, despite the bad news we often hear. Keep your ears open for great news like this from real-estate experts like Jim. We welcome your blog entries and comments in the LuxuryRealEstate.com Blog.

Abuzz about the Spring Retreat’s technology discussion

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:02:00 -0400

By Joey Pauley

Like everyone who attended the 6th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat, I am still buzzing about from the conference last week. Buzzing, inspired, catching up – the whole gamut of after-conference thoughts.

Willis Allen Real Estate gave us a property tour in which I had the privilege to discuss the homes with Patricia Choi. Pat had some wonderful insights into the potential buyers of these homes. I felt as if I was talking to the Horatio Caine (CSI: Miami) of Luxury Real Estate. She could gain key insights into the buyers for these homes the instant she walked in the door. There is no wonder she is the Queen of Real Estate in Oahu.

Special thanks to Derek Overbey, Scott Lawrence, and David Abernathy for their help in Technology Roundtable Discussion. The only thing that would have made me happier was if Steve Eckhardt of Cornerstone Properties & Investments, Inc. was able to make it. Not only do I consider Steve a friend, but I think his voice would have resonated with the other brokers in the office.

There were other members who were notably missing. You know who you are. You better not miss Philadelphia (my home town) or I will take it as a personal insult.

Editor’s Note:
As a Technical Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com, Joey Pauley helps members with their Web and technology needs. He does a phenomenal job in all of his projects, as you can see by visiting the many websites he has helped design. “In West Philadelphia, born and raised…” The fact that Joey is from Philadelphia reminded me of Will Smith singing the theme song of his TV show “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Anyway, this Spring Retreat was a great opportunity to learn from these amazing technology experts and many others. Don’t miss the 13th Annual Fall Conference!

Nice shot! Annual Spring Retreat a raving success and my AH HA moment

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:11:00 -0400

By Staci Colville

I wanted to write today first about the buzz of our Spring Retreat in San Diego and, second, about a breakout session that was a true Oprah AH HA moment for me.

First, the conference. WOW… what a great success! As a LuxuryRealEstate.com Account Manager and a first-time conference attendee, I was most excited to get to meet our wonderful members face to face, hear about your markets, brainstorm and see what I can do to help. My expectations were surpassed and I must say I am still having post-conference blues. What a wonderful way to start my day to see all your smiling and energetic faces, willing to share and learn and laugh. It was truly one of the top 5 events of my life.

What impressed me the most was the positive energy that flowed throughout the conference. The constant theme was “the glass is half full.” Yes, we might be in a difficult market, but there was no gloom or doom. It was all about “What can we do to better ourselves in a tough time?” Love it!

I truly felt like we were a worldwide network, holding hands globally and saying we are all in this together and we are all here to help. The strategies and ideas I gained as an Account Manager were invaluable.

All I can say to my dear members who were unable to attend is: You missed it and we missed you!

My AH HA moment came in a fabulous breakout session, led by the President and CEO of Burgdorff, Realtors ERA, Patricia Hoferkamp. She was also joined by Wayne Markovich, Burgdorff’s Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing, and my new, dear friend, Karen Foley, Burgdorff's Marketing Manager.

Patricia’s breakout session was entitled “A Culture of Service: Creating a Real Estate Experience” and it was VERY well-received at the conference. The one statement she made that really stuck out in my mind and that I have now posted on my desk is, “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” These words have inspired me to be a better Account Manager, mother and friend. It was truly one of the highlights of the conference for me and, in my humble opinion, her presentation is book-worthy. Simply fabulous, Patricia… Nice shot!

I bet many of you that didn’t attend the conference are wondering about my reference to this mantra, Nice Shot. Our lustrous leader and founder John Brian Losh spoke of his golf game with friends and how he was perhaps not the next Tiger Woods. He pointed out that even though he may not be the best golfer, it sure made him feel good to hear the words “Nice shot!” after he preformed well. We all deserve to hear those words and perhaps should say them much more often. To all of our members who attended and contributed to the best and most energetic conference we have had, the pleasure was mine in meeting you all and… NICE SHOT!

Editor’s Note:
Staci Colville is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She helps members take advantage of the various services of LuxuryRealEstate.com. I enjoy hearing positive messages because if all we hear are negative ones then we can easily forget all of the good that is happening around us. I’m so pleased that Patricia Hoferkamp’s presentation was well-received and effective. Let us all show how much we care and who we truly are when challenges come.

Positive feedback from Spring Retreat sponsor in Mexico

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:13:00 -0400

By Kelly Comegys

This was my first event with Luxury Real Estate and I am more than impressed! I didn’t really know what to expect, but it is safe to say I was blown away. The professionalism of the staff at Luxury Real Estate is noteworthy, as well as its attendees. I found that everyone was eager to hear about the new development, La Amada, in Playa Mujeres, Mexico. I cannot think of a better way to spread the word amongst industry professionals than through networking with Luxury Real Estate affiliates. I plan to attend every event moving forward. Thanks again.

Best,

Kelly Comegys
Master Broker
La Amada Residences
T +1 (786) 316 3006
www.laamada.com

Editor’s Note:
Kelly Comegys is the Master Broker of La Amada Residences in Playa Mujeres, Mexico. She is also one of our fantastic sponsors at the successful 6th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat in San Diego last week. We’re so grateful for all of the exciting words people have been sharing with us. Ben Stein was positively electrifying and all of the messages were very useful for the attendees. Let’s keep moving forward!