Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Century 21 McGuigan Pepin

Artist Biographies

Powell Trudeau (1910-1984) – A renowned Montreal born artist, studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and the Art Association. His work has been on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and has also been in exhibits in Toronto. His art is often held by private owners. Powell’s paintings are primarily done in oils and watercolours who strived for his art to be an individual freedom of expression.

Marguerite Millette – A Canadian artist, who also attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, uses a mixed media style. She has also been displayed at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and several galleries including the Wadington, Agnes Lefort, and the Elizabeth Lawrence Gallery. Millette’s unique perception and representation of urban landscapes is exceptional.

Courtesy of Sereno Group

Yesterday was an awesome day.

We held our 2013 company-wide meeting aptly titled, Sereno Session 2013. The day served as a chance for the entire company to get together for a day of ideas, inspiration, and community.

At Sereno Group, we have always made our culture a priority. Since opening in July of 2006, we have focused on creating an environment of collaboration, support, and friendship, among others. The intent of Sereno Session 2013 was to reinforce these cultural standards while creating a dialogue of the future.

Highlighting the event was having Silicon Valley legend and visionary, Guy Kawasaki, as our keynote speaker. As far as Silicon Valley history, Guy is one of a few people who have taken part in shaping the entrepreneurial spirit of the early days of the area’s innovation and openness to technology.

Guy served as Apple’s Chief Evangelist during the early years of the company’s awakening and is a New York Times bestselling author of twelve books, including The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battled-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything, Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions, and APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur.

Click Here for full Sereno Session details.

Courtesy of Amy Plotkin of Surterre Properties

If you love to peruse gorgeous gardens for inspiration and appreciation, or simply want to support a great cause, stop by “Paws in the Garden” – the 5^th Annual Garden Tour hosted by The Ark of San Juan.

This Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Ark of San Juan – a non-profit organization dedicated to saving local lost and abandoned companion animals – invites you to tour four homes in South County, one of which is currently listed with Surterre’s own, Nedra Jenkins.

Located at 26201 Paseo Armonia in San Juan Capistrano, the beautifully appointed and completely turn-key, Jewel by the Sea offers the quintessential California living experience. With meticulously manicured lawns, garden and fruit trees — landscaped by award-winning expert Robert Graves — this luxurious residence proves as richly gorgeous as it is inviting.

To inquire about 26201 Paseo Armonia, please contact Nedra Jenkins at 949-533-8141 or njenkins@surterreproperties.com. You can also visit www.NedraJenkins.com.

To get tickets to “Paws in the Garden”, or for additional information about The Ark of San Juan, visit www.arkofsanjuan.org.

Courtesy of Amat Immobiliaris

As we do each year, on the last Friday before Easter Week we held the General Meeting of Amat. Both Joana and I are impressed when we see the number of people in our company: now standing at 65! We’re not sure whether to start running without stopping. As in most companies, I suppose, the general meeting serves to explain how the previous year had gone and what the projects and objectives are for the current year. For our part, we also take this opportunity to have a speaker give a talk that helps everybody to reflect on the future.

This year the speaker was Josep M. Galí, academic, consultant and writer, who reflected about three concepts that form part of the way we go about things as a society, and that therefore transform life, businesses, companies:

CO for collaboration, cooperation, consumption, collaboration, etc. The truth is that in our organisation we have already experienced this, for example, when we have rented a shared flat.

RE for reutilisation. Josep M. explained that in the future greater value would be accorded to products that had been designed with a view to their reutilisation. We know of a company devoted to the reutilisation of children’s clothing, Trastus. Within our company, too, more and more things are being reutilised.

SO for society. Society recovers its role; we enter into a secularised society, understood as a society that has confidence in itself and feels capable of resolving its problems.

I leave you with those snippets from the talk, for those who might like to think about them.

In general, March was perhaps a little better that January and February, and reservations for the purchase of flats were made at all our offices. The prices are really very good for purchasers, and there are excellent opportunities. But what remains an increasing worry is the rise in unemployment, a phenomenon we see every day in the patrimonial department, where we are in contact with very many people. And what is not only worrying but also disappointing is the behaviour of many of our politicians.

That is why we find truth in the words “els que volen dialogar de debò s'han d'afanyar en la penetració del pensament recíproc” (those who really want to enter into dialogue have to try hard to get inside reciprocal thinking) - Salvador Espriu

Courtesy of Liz Bloeser of Harry Norman, REALTORS ^®

Atlanta, GA – The Druid Hills Civic Association is gearing up for another year of the annual Druid Hills Home and Garden Tour, April 19-21, 2013. The premier tour of homes and gardens in Atlanta, the tour celebrates the evolution of the architecture and design of the Druid Hills neighborhood. The tour will feature five phenomenal homes, including Diana and Andrew Farley’s home at 886 Lullwater Road, which will be hosted by Harry Norman docents. The tour will also feature the lush Parkwood Gardens Park on West Parkwood Road and the Lullwater Conservation Garden at 926 Lullwater Road.

New this year, the tour will also feature a speaker series on the history of the neighborhood and a classic car show, sponsored by Lambda Car Club of Atlanta.

The event takes place Friday, April 19 from 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday April 20 from 10 am until 5 pm; and Sunday April 21 from 1 pm to 5 pm. Tickets may be purchased in advance on the website: www.druidhills.org/tourofhomes/. Proceeds from the tour and events benefit the Druid Hills neighborhood, which the noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, designed during the late 19th century. The neighborhood is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We are delighted to share some of the compelling ways that residents have transformed their homes to accommodate modern use,” said Barbara Vogel, Chair of the Druid Hills Homes & Gardens Committee. “By highlighting the adaptive spaces, we hope to inspire visitors to consider new and inspirational designs that complement the neighborhood’s historic legacy.”

About Harry Norman, REALTORS^®

Founded in 1930, Harry Norman, REALTORS ^® is one of Atlanta’s first and most successful residential real estate firms with 12 sales offices, various franchise and satellite offices and more than 1,000 real estate professionals. Harry Norman, REALTORS ^® is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Harry Norman, REALTORS ^® is the exclusive Atlanta affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate and achieves additional international exposure through membership in such exclusive real estate networks as Luxury Portfolio International, Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. More information is available at www.harrynorman.com.

About The Druid Hills Civic Association

The Druid Hills Civic Association was founded in 1938 to preserve Atlanta’s Druid Hills neighborhood and to protect its unique heritage of parks and architecture. The Association carries out these responsibilities by exercising vigilance in zoning matters, maintaining a liaison with local governing bodies, informing the citizens of community issues, and promoting the general welfare of the community for the enjoyment of its residents today and in the future.

Courtesy of Silvana Malpelli  of Women In Relocation

Women In Relocation, a group of relocation professionals founded with the hope of supporting our nation’s housing needs one community at a time, is pleased to announce they are now accepting new members.

If you would like to be a member, the only thing we ask for is a donation to the group we are supporting each year. There is no initiation or annual fee. Although it would be lovely if all members could make it to our meetings, the most important thing to us is the groups we support. Our goal this year is 100% member participation! Additionally, all members have an equal voice in all decisions that are made.

For more information, please visit our website at www.womeninrelo.com or call Silvana Malpelli at 212-508-7362 for more information.

Courtesy of Amy Plotkin of Surterre Properties

We are excited to announce our second ever Orange County Open House Event will take place Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th! Over the course of the weekend, Surterre will help buyers streamline their search for the perfect home by allowing them to explore an extensive selection of properties in just two days.

Our agents will be out in full force, showing their current listings throughout Orange County. From opulent estates in Newport Coast, ocean view abodes in Laguna Beach and seaside retreats in San Clemente, to spacious custom homes in Irvine and remodeled residences in Newport Beach, there is a wide range of available properties with price points and styles to accommodate every buyer.

“Inventory in Orange County has reached its lowest level in years, but we still have exceptional homes on the market,” explains Surterre’s President and CEO Gary Legrand.

“We’re holding our Orange County Open House Event to help buyers see just how many wonderful homes they have to choose from right now. We want them to find what they’re looking for, and find it easily and efficiently by having our agents show as many of their listings as possible during this weekend.”

Stay tuned for the complete listings lineup for Surterre’s Orange County Open House Event!

Courtesy of Jenika Scott of Premier Estate Properties

In February Premier Estate Properties and Land Rover Palm Beach co-hosted and showcased Harbour View Estates. Harbour View Estates has an extremely unique history of resident owners. Initially purchased and developed by the grandson of William H. Vanderbilt, Seward Webb Jr., the property was sold in 1957 by typewriter heiress, Gladys Underwood, and again sold to third-generation shipyard magnate John Caddell II. The parcel of land was purchased in 2011 to be developed into six custom estates with deeded beach access, of which three of the six estates provide deep water dockage. This event was a fantastic way to inform potential clients about the unique history and prestige of these properties, as well as give attendees an exclusive test drive experience of Land Rover’s 2013 lineup of automobiles. Developing partnerships with like-minded ultra-luxury brands has become quintessential in today’s ultra-competitive business environment. Sometimes it is not only what a person knows, but also who that person knows. It’s important to have established deep-rooted relationships with many highly-acclaimed and well-known companies. These co-brand relationships as mutually beneficial, helping to increase brand exposure and awareness for both the company and the global partners. “Here at Premier Estate Properties, we love to host a great party. In the past month, three exceptional events have topped the list: our Estate Debut of Sandy Lane in Vero Beach, the viewing of Harbour View Estates in Gulf Stream, and the showing of a turn-key estate on East Lake Drive in Fort Lauderdale. All three of these events would not have been made possible if not for the collaboration from our valued global partners,” stated Gerard Liguori.

Premier Estate Properties also hosted the Sandy Lane Estate debut event with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Wells Fargo Private Bank. The breathtaking $17.9 Million Dollar property, listed by Premier Estate Properties’ Vero Beach office, was on display along with beautiful paintings by renowned artist, Julia Carter. Invited guests were given the choice to test-drive a prestigious Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedan, Phantom Drophead Coupe or Ghost, listen to an economic forecast from keynote national speaker, Morrison Creech, Head of Private Banking, and enjoy epicurean delights with smooth Mount Gay Rum of Barbados. It was a night of beautiful music and friendly interaction.

Located on majestic Lake Sylvan, the New Harbor Beach Deepwater Estate became the ideal focal point for the upcoming showcase event. Premier Estate Properties will host the wonderful evening with luxury brands, Aston Martin and Neiman Marcus of Fort Lauderdale. This exquisite 10,000+/- square foot estate was intricately built by Mark Timothy, Inc. and the interior spectacularly designed by Marc-Michaels Interiors. The evening will be complete with an acoustically pleasing instrumental ensemble, palate-satisfying offering of fine wines and Champagne, new fashions modeled by Neiman Marcus, and a heart-racing exclusive Aston Martin test drive experience.

The events of the past month have been resounding collaborative successes for Premier Estate Properties and their co-brand partners. It not only was a testament to supreme attention to detail by our team at Premier Estate Properties, but also because of the wonderful and lasting relationships created with chief global partners; Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Wells Fargo Private Bank, Julia Carter, Land Rover Palm Beach, Seaside Builder LLC, Aston Martin, and Neiman Marcus of Fort Lauderdale. Premier Estate Properties thanks their partners for their continued collaboration; it has been pivotal to their current success.

Premier Estate Properties is Florida’s only high-end real estate brokerage, setting extraordinary records in the market and selling of the most important estate properties priced exclusively in excess of one million dollars. The firm is dedicated to providing their tradition of stability, integrity, personal attention, and breakthrough innovation to their customer’s needs. Since their inception, Premier Estate Properties has provided the highest level of customized service; matched and exceeded only by the highest level of performance. For more information, please call 561.394.7700.

Courtesy of Brad Johnson of Gulf Coast International Properties

Naples, FL - Gulf Coast International Properties hosted it's Annual Gala at 220 North Lake Drive in Olde Naples on March 2nd. It was an incredible evening and a majestic waterfront setting for GCIP to entertain more than 150 family, friends, and clients. Professionally catered by Evoo and music by El Gato made for a terrific all around affair that was enjoyed by all.

More About Gulf Coast International Properties

GCIP is the #1 selling luxury real estate boutique in Southwest Florida. With more than $250m in closed sales last year with merely 15 agents, we continue to deliver client exceptional results across Naples' luxury markets. We offer an unrivaled combination of service, integrity and luxury experience that delivers to our clients the very best experience to our buyers and sellers. To learn more about our firm, please feel free to contact us at 239.434.2558 or visit us online at www.gcipnaples.com anytime. Live Exceptionally.

Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF

The Expat Explorer Survey, commissioned by the leading international British bank HSBC and now in its fifth year, is the largest independent global survey of expats which aims to provide a unique insight into how expat life differs across the globe.

The 2012 survey questioned over 5,000 expats based in over 100 countries about life overseas, with surprising results. The survey analyzes on one side the economic situation and finances of the expatriates in the country they are based, and on the other life experience and quality of life.

Although Spain, along with the rest of the Eurozone countries, has been subject to economic uncertainty over the past year, the easy lifestyle and good weather has made it a popular destination for expats. In fact, Spain ranks third worldwide with regards to life experience factors, only surpassed by the teeny Cayman Islands and tropical Thailand. In comparison, the UK ranks 18^th and the U.S. 20^th. If economic factors are taken into consideration, the overall country ranking for Spain drops to 13^th position, but even so it remains the favourite Eurozone country for expats. The only other European country to beat Spain in the overall ranking is Switzerland, a country that doesn't belong to the single currency system.

The great Spanish weather means that 79% of expats in Spain expect better weather against a world average of only 29%. Attendees at the Luxury Real Estate 7^th Annual International Symposium in the Spanish city of Valencia, in January, will have been able to see for themselves the fantastic weather we have been enjoying in the midst of winter.

The varied Mediterranean diet also plays an important role as nearly three quarters (71%) of expats have reportedly improved their diet since moving to Spain. There is also a considerable effort to integrate with the locals and 71% of expats try to learn the local language.

Even though the majority of expats in Spain are not happy with current situation of the economy, none are actively looking to leave. Spain provides an ideal balance between working life and family/social life, in addition to vast opportunities for outdoor sports and an extensive entertainment offer, both key factors in deciding to choose to stay in the country and weather out the Eurozone storm.