Luxury Real Estate

By Scott Rudolph

…Are meant to provoke, stimulate, to encourage investigation and generally challenge our conventional thinking. The “buzz” cultivated with a healthy provocative statement generates dialog and creative thinking. So I appreciate a good provocative statement. Each year, EDGE.org's John Brockman asks a new provocative question and the world’s intellectuals contribute. Ben Stein, our recent guest speaker, often writes provocative statements and he significantly contributed to a provocative new film entitled “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.”

Maybe Cyril Moulle-Berteaux, a writer for The Wall Street Journal, enjoys them too, judging by his recent opinion piece titled “The Housing Crisis is Over.”  All this being said, I think there should be some fundamental ground rules. I suggest that before we make a provocative statement we analyze:

• The consequences of the statement
• What the benefits would be
• What special circumstances would make it a sensible solution
• The principles needed to support it and make it work
• How it would work moment-to-moment
• What would happen if a sequence of events was changed

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.

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!

By Jennifer Schuyler

The early buzz on the 6th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat, just outside San Diego, has been flowing since the morning of Friday, April 18. Broker/Owner Bob Nathan of RH Nathan & Company, LLC, located in Scottsdale, Ariz., and a frequent attendee of the membership conferences, said this was the “Best of all the LuxuryRealEstate.com conferences to date.”

Mr. Nathan raved about the keynote speaker, economist and actor Ben Stein, stating Mr. Stein was “spot-on and delivered an incredible presentation.” We had no doubt Mr. Stein would captivate his audience! The excitement continued from various attendees regarding the useful and timely content of the variety of breakout sessions that ranged from Marketing, Technology and Referrals to positioning and capturing buyers and international investors in a challenging market.

Also a huge hit was the location itself. Mr. Nathan continued his accolades by letting me know the resort location, The Grand Del Mar located in Del Mar, Calif. “was the most incredible resort I have ever visited.” LuxuryRealEstate.com has three membership conferences annually; two domestic and one in an international locale. The LuxuryRealEstate.com conferences are always held in five-star hotels or resorts for our membership – the Best of the Best.

What more could you ask for than surf, sand & Stein?


Editor’s Note:
Jennifer Schuyler is the Senior Membership Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She has a remarkable history of meeting and exceeding luxury brokers’ marketing needs. Indeed, what more could you ask? We’ve been hearing nothing but positive remarks from our members who were positively energized by their participation in the Spring Retreat. Wonderful!

By Robert Lockard

Here are some quick snippets of all of the wonderful praise being heaped upon LuxuryRealEstate.com for its recent Spring Retreat in San Diego, which ended today:

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 told LuxuryRealEstate.com CEO/Publisher John Brian Losh, “Hey, Brian! Thank you for your commitment to the vision you have regarding Luxury Real Estate being the brand of excellence throughout the world of real estate. Your Spring conference has been the best use of our time in years as we continue to grow and expand our real-estate company.” They closed by saying, “Nice shot!” to reference a phrase Mr. Losh used at the conference.

Derek Overbey, the Vice President of Marketing for Intero Real Estate, wrote in an email, “I had a great time at the conference and enjoyed [everything]."

Bob and Carla Nathan, Broker/Owners of R.H. Nathan & Company, LLC, are regular attendees of LuxuryRealEstate.com conferences. They told Jennifer Schuyler, LuxuryRealEstate.com’s Senior Membership Manager, in a phone call, “The conference was incredible! It went off without a hitch. Ben Stein was beyond fantastic. He was spot-on and highly entertaining.”

They also went on to praise the Technology Advisory Panel for their useful insights, as well as the Referral Roundtable Discussion and the other Breakout Sessions and discussions. “The content and variety of topics were well-balanced and timely,” they added.


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. What a wonderful event. I am so pleased that experts from around the world were able to meet and find solutions together.

By Robert Lockard

The 6^th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat is off and running. More than 250 top luxury experts are in San Diego right now sharing their insights and building new connections.

And tonight, during the dinner and Award Presentation, Ben Stein will make his appearance as the Keynote Speaker at this event. His speech is entitled “The Psychology of Buying Luxury Property.” It will probably be very entertaining and insightful thanks to Mr. Stein’s famous wit and wisdom. Thanks to Harry Tishler with BVG Incorporated for sponsoring Mr. Stein’s presentation.


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. Ben Stein is a great man and I agree with seemingly everything he says about a variety of topics from the economy to Christmas celebrations. Enjoy!

By Yvonne Harvey

On the eve of the premiere of his new movie Expelled, Ben Stein won’t be found in Los Angeles among other Hollywood. Instead, on Thursday, April 17, Ben will be in San Diego mingling with the biggest names in real estate at the 6th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat.

This will truly be a night to remember. Famous for his wisdom and sense of humor, Ben will bestow his brilliant foresight and knowledge of the luxury real estate industry on his listeners.

This is the best-attended Spring Retreat in LuxuryRealEstate.com history, and you will not want to miss it! Please call 1.800.488.4066 to make your reservations. For a copy of the Spring Retreat itinerary, click here.


Editor’s Note:
Yvonne Harvey is the Events Coordinator for LuxuryRealEstate.com. So when you come and enjoy the wonderful presentations, discussions and networking opportunities at Luxury Real Estate conferences, you know who to thank. Ben Stein is a really great man, and I’m looking forward to watching his new movie, Expelled, because I’m interested in the ideas he brings up. I’m sure that he’ll have plenty of additional ideas and wisdom to share as the Keynote Speaker at the Spring Retreat. Enjoy!

By Jennifer Schuyler

I cannot tell you how excited I am about the upcoming Spring Retreat at The Grand Del Mar in San Diego, California!

Over the last five years working within our industry, I have not experienced or met such a high-caliber group of people representing Luxury Real Estate. Our conferences are amazing opportunities to network, increase referral business and allow new and senior members to establish personal and professional relationships.

Please join us and hear Ben Stein speak on the “Psychology of Buying Luxury Property.” Famous for his wisdom and sense of humor, Ben will bestow his brilliant foresight and knowledge of the economy, as well as a wealth of information on the future of our particular industry, on you.

If you have not registered for the conference yet, you may do so at: www.luxuryrealestate.com/conference.

I look forward to meeting our first-time attendees, our newest members and our returning friends in San Diego!


Editor’s Note:
Jennifer Schuyler is the Senior Membership Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She has a remarkable history of meeting and exceeding luxury brokers’ marketing needs. The Spring Retreat will most certainly be a wonderful event for you to attend for a variety of reasons, as Jennifer mentioned. In addition to Ben Stein, other speakers will include Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, President of Real Living, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio and other distinguished Luxury Real Estate members.

By Yvonne Harvey

As the new Events Coordinator at LuxuryRealEstate.com, I am so excited to bring our conferences to a new level. What can I say – I love what I do. It’s been an honor to speak with Luxury Real Estate members and listen to what they want to see and hear at future conferences.

With the Spring Retreat coming up on April 15-18th, I am very excited to have Ben Stein speak on my maiden voyage. I wish I could take all the credit, but my hat is off to Harry Tishler of BVG Incorporated for sponsoring Ben Stein! Harry – you rock, mister! Ben Stein’s brilliant mind will meet the powerful minds of Luxury Real Estate members in San Diego. His foresight and knowledge of the economy will be very informative.

 

I’m sure optimistic about this event. We expect this to be the best-attended Luxury Real Estate Conference thus far, and I am so excited to meet all of the Luxury Real Estate family members.

Anyone … anyone … anyone? Sorry, I had to put that one in there. Ben Stein’s role as the boring teacher in the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” was recently ranked as one of the 50 most famous scenes in American film.

I hope to see all of you in San Diego!


Editor’s Note:
As she mentioned, Yvonne Harvey is the Events Coordinator for LuxuryRealEstate.com. So when you come and enjoy the wonderful presentations, discussions and networking opportunities at Luxury Real Estate conferences, you know who to thank. I share Yvonne’s excitement that Ben Stein will speak at the Spring Retreat. He’s one of my heroes because he stands for good things, which is almost always an unpopular thing to do. He is a good man, and I look forward to hearing his insightful, courageous words.