Blog contributions are provided exclusively from Luxury Real Estate members throughout the world.
Courtesy of De Maravilla
Luxury Real Estate (LRE), una de las principales redes de profesionales del sector inmobiliario, celebrará su simposio internacional en Valencia este año, desde el martes 29 al jueves 31 de enero.
La inmobiliaria Rimontgó, uno de los miembros más longevos de la organización, actuará como anfitriona de este evento. Al ser una empresa valenciana, recibirán a un amplio contingente de importantes firmas inmobiliarias de Norteamérica, Europa e incluso el Lejano Oriente, además de una impresionante lista de ponentes y delegados de un amplio abanico de sectores de negocio, instituciones educativas y administraciones públicas.
Cuando Rimontgó fue invitada a albergar este simposio, su única condición fue que, en vez de centrarse exclusivamente en el mundo inmobiliario, el seminario de este año reuniera a los especialistas del sector inmobiliario junto a académicos, empresarios y organizaciones públicas en un intercambio de ideas acerca de la recesión actual en el mundo desarrollado, los desafíos y oportunidades que se presentan, y más importante, los pasos a dar para volver a crecer. La mayor parte de las noticias que aparecen fuera de España no reflejan la realidad de muchas empresas españolas que son un ejemplo de dedicación y trabajo constante, siendo más competitivas cada año. El actual balance positivo de la cuenta de resultados, por primera vez en varias décadas, es resultado directo de esto.
Sentando las bases para el crecimiento
La conferencia principal se centrará exactamente en esto, con ponentes que van desde el importante economista Ramón Tamames, el periodista televisivo Fernando Jauregui y los directores de empresas como Porcelanosa, La Rioja Alta y la planta de Ford en Valencia, que ofrecerán su punto de vista acerca de cómo países como España pueden expandir sus mercados internacionales y utilizar las exportaciones como un camino de regreso al crecimiento.
A las sesiones matinales en el hotel Westin Valencia seguirán unos cócteles y comidas de “networking”, y las sesiones vespertinas se centrarán en el sector inmobiliario. La interpretación simultánea facilitará la naturaleza bilingüe Inglés – Español del evento, mientras que por las tardes, los delegados extranjeros que visiten Valencia tendrán la oportunidad de verla y experimentarla, y por supuesto, probar su cocina.
El último día, el jueves 31 de enero, se dedicará a inspeccionar algunas de las mejores propiedades de la ciudad, además de visitar el nuevo centro tecnológico de Cessna y elcircuito de Moto GP, finalizando con una comida tradicional a base de paella en la impresionante Albufera de Valencia, al sur de la ciudad. Tras esta comida habrá una visita guiada por la fábrica de Lladró en Valencia, la ciudad en la que nació.
Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey Sterling Properties & Estates - Santa Barbara Luxury Homes and Real Estate
If you’ve been keeping up with our blog the past few weeks, you’re well aware of the many fun and spirited ways that owners of Santa Barbara homes have to make to most of the holiday season. This weekend, the holiday cheer continues in full force with these great events around town.
Una Noche de Las Posadas El Presidio State Park - Friday, Dec. 14th 7-10pm El Presidio Historic State Park was originally a Spanish military outpost built in 1782. From this site, the city of Santa Barbara grew outward, as evidenced by the great number of historic adobes and landmarks in close proximity. This Friday, El Presidio State Historic Park will host Una Noche de Las Posadas, a chance to experience the rich cultural traditions of Santa Barbara’s earliest Spanish and Mexican residents during the Christmas season. Attendees can look forward to enjoying traditional songs, food, and a reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter.
Holiday Nature Craft Workshop Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Saturday, Dec. 15th, 10am – noon The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden will be holding a Holiday Nature Craft Workshop event this weekend where visitors can make handcrafted holiday decorations such as fresh wreaths, ornaments, and other items inspired by nature while sipping hot cider and enjoying the gardens and natural beauty of the American Riviera.
59th Annual Milpas Holiday Parade Milpas St. (From Canon Perdido to Mason) - Saturday, Dec. 15th, 11am The 59th Annual Milpas Holiday Parade is a fun parade that combines a celebration of the holidays, classic cars, and the youth community of Santa Barbara. The parade will include quite an array of participants, featuring marching bands, dance teams, Boys and Girls Club, bike surreys pedaled by school board members, martial arts groups, schools and retro cars. There will also be live music and a toy drive.
Holiday at the Ranch Rancho La Patera - Saturday, Dec. 15th and Sunday, Dec. 16th, 11am-4pm Rancho La Patera was established in the late 1800s, when the Stow family planted the first commercial lemon orchard in California at Rancho La Patera after discovering that the mild weather in the verdant Goleta Valley, adjacent to Santa Barbara, was ideal for growing lemons. This weekend, Rancho La Patera offers a glimpse back into history during their signature holiday open house with tours of the house which has been decorated throughout, photos with Santa, crafts, cookie-baking, and live holiday music.
Holiday Julefest Performances Solvang - Saturday, Dec. 15th and Sunday, Dec. 16th Julefest (Yule-fest) in Solvang is a celebration of holiday traditions honoring the town’s rich Danish roots. With free live entertainment including local musical groups performing in various locations around the heart of Solvang, this Santa Ynez Valley gem provides a fantastic holiday getaway. Enjoy strolling amongst over 100 festively decorated live fir trees lining Solvang’s walkways or attend the Julefest Nativity Pageant on Friday at 5pm and 7pm.
There's something wonderful to do in Santa Barbara every day, whether you're searching for luxury homes and real estate with us, attending the many events, festivals, and celebrations that our city offers or simply taking in the natural beauty of the Riviera landscape. We hope you'll be able to join us in your search for the best in Santa Barbara homes and real estate in our coastal paradise!
Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey of Sterling Properties & Estates - Santa Barbara Luxury Homes and Real Estate
Love the winter holidays but hate harsh winters? Owners of Santa Barbara real estate enjoy the best of both worlds! One of the great things about Santa Barbara is that we are south-facing, meaning we experience a year round, mild, Mediterranean climate very similar to the south coast of France, or the Amalfi coast of Italy. Owners of Santa Barbara homes are familiar with the benefits of our ideal climate and this is one of the many reasons we live here. While we may not experience the traditional charm of a snow-sprinkled landscape, we do take advantage of the opportunity to attend outdoor events year-round, such as the Downtown Holiday Parade this Friday, November 30th at 6:30pm along historic State Street in downtown Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Downtown Holiday Parade is a time honored tradition in our city by the sea, held the week after Thanksgiving each year since the 1950s. It is Santa Barbara’s only night-time street parade, allowing the dazzling displays to light up the night. This year marks the 60th year of the Santa Barbara Downtown Holiday Parade, and as such this year’s theme is “A Diamond Holiday.” With more than 50,000 Santa Barbara residents and guests expected to be in attendance, there will be no shortage of holiday cheer! The parade will include marching bands, holiday themed floats, giant balloons, an array of local performance groups, and much more. In addition, Olympic Gold Medalist Kami Craig will serve as Grand Marshal for the 2012 Santa Barbara Downtown Holiday Parade.
As we string the palm trees with lights and build sand castles for Santa Claus, there’s no question that we at Sterling Properties and Estates in Santa Barbara are already enjoying the holiday spirit! Contact us at Sterling Properties and Estates today to learn more about Santa Barbara, our climate, our neighborhoods, the current Santa Barbara real estate market and inventory, and how we can help you find your Santa Barbara dream home!
Courtesy of LuxuryRealEstate
Properties listed by Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate members will be featured in ALEM Magazine, a Turkish lifestyle publication. The Bay Area Team and Rimontgó were selected to feature properties that they list in the Dekorasyon (home décor and lifestyle) section. Please view the articles here: http://luxre.com/u/s
Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey of Sterling Properties & Estates
When people think of Santa Barbara, the scenes that often come to mind first are of architecture with gleaming white stucco structures topped by our famous red rile roofs, luxury homes in exclusive neighborhoods such as Monetcito and Hope Ranch, an endless array of boutique shops, decadent dining options, world class wineries, resplendent resorts, meticulously maintained golf courses, and our spectacular waterfront. Santa Barbra excels in all of these areas, making it a treasured hotspot for luxury lifestylers and celebrities as well as an excellent destination for anyone interested in arts and culture. However, some of the most exciting and inspiring aspects of Santa Barbara’s arts scene are found not in polished, pristine galleries or grand theatres, but in Santa Barbara’s legendary Funk Zone.
Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone is located just off historic State Street, extending to Garden Street to the east and bounded top and bottom by Monetcito Street and Cabrillo Boulevard. In these last few blocks, downtown Santa Barbara ends and the beach begins. Don’t be fooled by the name – Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone is a flourishing center for the arts community, drawing a quite impressive selection of local artists and businesses working together to revive this special area of town. In the Funk Zone, visitors can find everything from painted murals stretching along entire facades of buildings, to surf shops, art galleries, restaurants, and more in a charming and quirky mixture of new, old, marine, residential, and industrial style buildings. In addition, many of the participating wineries of Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail are located in the Funk Zone.
Santa Barbara has a vibrant community-driven arts scene, one not limited to the confines of museums, galleries and theatres. Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone serves as a refreshing break from the ordinary, and a journey into this eccentric little amalgamation of shops, homes, studios, and more is a great way to spend a day in Santa Barbara. If you would like to know more about Santa Barbara or are searching for your dream home in the Santa Barbara area, Sterling Properties is glad to be of service to you - contact us today!
Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey Sterling Properties & Estates - Santa Barbara Luxury Homes and Real Estate
Living in idyllic Santa Barbara, nestled between soaring mountains and the sparkling Pacific Ocean, enjoying the selection of some of the finest luxury real estate opportunities in the world, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve been completely whisked away from the rest of the world. However, with Veterans Day approaching, it is important to remember and honor those who fought so bravely for the many freedoms that we enjoy today.
Santa Barbara is honoring Veterans in a number of ways over this weekend. Bright and early Saturday morning, the Santa Barbara International Marathon begins. This great event will honor veterans throughout the course of the race, with a Color Guard fly-over of WWII war planes at the beginning of both the full and half marathon, authentic WWII Jeeps escorting the runners, and a “Veterans Mile.” The “Veterans Mile” will occur along the entire final mile of the race, which will be lined with veterans, active duty personnel, and supporting members of the community proudly holding American flags and the campaign flags of all the wars and conflicts of the 20th century alongside a display of military vehicles. After the race, a concert will be held with performances by the Westmont College Orchestra and local high school choruses. Selections of music will range from our National Anthem to music identified with the different wars. Later in the evening, the 17th Annual Military Ball will be held at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort along the waterfront, one of Santa Barbara’s premiere resorts.
On Sunday morning, attend a special Veterans Day ceremony at the historic El Presidio de Santa Barbara, which will include a wreath ceremony, the playing of taps, and a cannon and musket firing. Following this ceremony at 12:30pm, the Veterans Day Parade will begin its journey along State Street, just a moment’s stroll from El Presidio. This spectacular parade will begin in the air with a fly-over of both vintage and modern aircraft. On the ground, the Santa Barbara Veterans Day parade will include hundreds of participants from all sections of the armed forces and many historic vehicles.
Sterling Properties & Estates thanks all those who have served our country and we wish you a very happy Veterans Day!
Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey Sterling Properties & Estates - Santa Barbara Luxury Homes and Real Estate
While the East Coast is recovering from one of the most severe storms in our nation’s history, the West Coast continues to have unseasonably warm weather. One of the great things about Santa Barbara is that we are south-facing, meaning we experience a year-round, mild, Mediterranean climate very similar to the south coast of France, or the Amalfi coast of Italy. Owners of Santa Barbara homes are familiar with the benefits of our ideal climate and this is one of the many reasons we live here. From maintaining raised garden beds, now planted with winter vegetables, to lush gardens and outdoor living areas on their property, we truly enjoy the Santa Barbara lifestyle! With the spirit of free enterprise, another wonderful benefit is that Santa Barbara has a thriving community of local farmers who are able to make the fruits of their labor available at Santa Barbara’s many Farmers Markets each week!
Six days a week, rain or shine, the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association holds events throughout the Santa Barbara area where local agricultural experts share their goods. Founded in 1983, the Association consists of over 130 grower members who are committed to promoting local family farmers, environmental protection and restoration, and sustainability efforts. With events in downtown Santa Barbara on historic State Street, Montecito, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Solvang, residents across the Santa Barbara area can enjoy an exceptional selection of the finest local produce, baked goods, and more nearly every day of the week (see the complete Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Weekly Schedule).
The Santa Barbara Farmers Market is a fantastic way to support the health of the local economy as well as your own health! If you are interested in finding out more about the wonderful advantages of living in and owning a home in Santa Barbara, contact Sterling Properties & Estates today!
25
Halloween in Santa Barbara
Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey Sterling Properties & Estates - Santa Barbara Luxury Homes and Real Estate
Santa Barbara boasts some of the most stunning mountain and ocean vistas in the world, a wealth of historic architecture throughout town (we recommend the Red Tile Walking Tour), a premier selection of beaches and resorts, and of course plenty of gorgeous luxury real estate properties. In addition to all this, owners of Santa Barbara homes enjoy a wonderful selection of local events year-round. With Halloween approaching in less than a week, Sterling Properties in Santa Barbara is excited to share our favorite ways to celebrate this haunted holiday with you!
This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, visit the Santa Barbara Zoo for the 2012 Boo at the Zoo festivities. Hailed as one of the most beautiful zoos in the world, the Santa Barbara Zoo is home to more than 400 animals from 160 species. Each year during the Halloween season, the Santa Barbara Zoo transforms into a trick or treater’s paradise. This year’s theme, “Land of Adventure”, promises khaki-clad explorers and adventurers in addition to the usual cast of pirates, faeries, mermaids, and other volunteers who help make Boo at the Zoo a truly special experience. With over 20 treat stations throughout the zoo featuring sustainable goodies, a Trick or Treat Trail, Boo Choo Choo train rides, Creepy Crawly encounters, Spooky Storytelling, Goblin Games, Costume Parades each night, and no worrying about traffic, Boo at the Zoo is a fantastic choice for celebrating a safe Halloween and remains one of the most popular Halloween events in the area.
Santa Barbara enjoys a rich Spanish and Mexican history, and as such our local Halloween season festivities include celebrations of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. On Sunday, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art will be hosting a Día de los Muertos Free Family Day, to share the Mexican tradition of remembering and honoring the dead. Attendees can look forward to a colorful celebration featuring music, dance performances, bilingual storytelling, displays of altars created by local school and community groups, and opportunities to make your own art. Historic Casa De La Guerra will also be hosting a Día de los Muertos Craft Day on Sunday, where visitors can participate in making traditional holiday crafts such as skeleton masks, sugar skulls, tissue paper marigolds, and prints while enjoying pan de muerto (a sweet bread) and Mexican hot chocolate.
Sterling Properties in Santa Barbara wishes you a safe and spooky Halloween!
Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey Sterling Properties & Estates - Santa Barbara Luxury Homes and Real Estate
The wait is finally over…it’s Fiesta time! Santa Barbara has a rich and vibrant history, and each year we celebrate our heritage during the Old Spanish Days Fiesta since 1924 with celebrations of music, dance, cuisine, art, history, culture, and spirit. Here’s what we’re looking forward to during Santa Barbara’s 2012 Fiesta season…
Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta officially kicked off with La Fiesta Pequeña on Wednesday, which filled the grounds of the Santa Barbara Mission with music and dance in the Californios, Flamenco, Spanish classical, and Mexican folklórico styles under a radiant August full moon. On Thursday morning during La Misa del Presidente (the Mass of the President) at the Mission, attendees are invited to attend a historic mass dating back to 1936 followed by a reception in the Mission’s beautiful gardens in the foothills. If you feel like taking a walk on the wild side, head to the Santa Barbra Zoo Thursday evening for the Celebración de los Dignatarios – mingle with local dignitaries and enjoy fine cuisines and wines as well as music and dancing along with the Zoo’s residents!
Flor y Canto on Friday presents a wonderful opportunity to take a step back in history to 19th century Spanish California through song and dance interwoven with historic narration. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening, head to the elegant sunken gardens at the Santa Barbara Courthouse to experienceNoches de Ronda, a spectacular variety show featuring the Flamenco from Spain and Folklórico dances from many regions of Mexico. On Saturday afternoon at Tardes de Ronda, youth from the Santa Barbara community will showcase their talents and heritage in their own show. The weekend will be full of music, with the Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival on Saturday at the Santa Barbara Bowl and a free concert by the West Coast Symphony in the sunken gardens of the Courthouse on Sunday.
Throughout the weekend, visit the colorful mercados (outdoor markets). At El Mercado De La Guerra, El Mercado Del Norte, and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercado, find a dazzling array of authentic Mexican and Spanish cuisine, arts & crafts, souvenirs and gifts, entertainment, and carnival rides (at El Mercado Del Norte).
No festival is complete without a parade – and during Fiesta, we celebrate two! El Desfile Histórico (the Historical Parade) on Friday is a central event of Old Spanish Days, and is one of the largest equestrian parades in the US. The parade proceeds along Santa Barbara’s beautiful waterfront and up State Street. On Saturday, Santa Barbara youth will parade along State Street in traditional and historic costumes to celebrate Santa Barbara’s heritage during El Desfile De Los Niños (the Children’s Parade).
Fiesta always succeeds in bringing the Santa Barbara community together, and this year’s theme of “Viva La Familia” (Long live the family) reminds us of the importance of honoring our past. So from our “family” at Sterling Properties to yours, have a great weekend and ¡Viva la Fiesta!
Courtesy of: Frederick Peters, President of Warburg Realty
I like to say that residential real estate is a relationship business disguised as a transaction business. If you don't build trust with your customers and clients, if they don't feel confident about your knowledge and integrity, you have nothing. Maybe someone will find your listing on line, as they used to find it in the paper. Maybe they will contact you for an appointment, and maybe you will even sell them the property they come to see. But it doesn't happen all that often. To make it in residential brokerage in New York City, which has almost as many licensed agents as it does real estate sale transactions in any given year, agents need repeat business and referrals. The agents who are successful, year after year, are those who have built a reputation for professionalism which translates into referrals. Many of them have so many referrals they cannot handle them all, sharing their business with assistants or junior colleagues learning the ropes.
To earn that trust, there are many things agents have to do. If absolutely necessary, they make beds and clean bathrooms. They sometimes endure the contempt of attorneys and the threats and blame of unhappy would-be buyers and sellers. Their time is wasted because it is "free." And most importantly, they build real relationships, as facilitators of one of the most personal and significant decisions in the lives of their clients.
A colleague and I were recently discussing the unique relationship which exists between the residential agent and his or her client. For a while, we as agents become intimately involved with the lives of those we serve. We know all about their kids, their jobs, their earnings - we have to know the full story to advise them successfully. And usually, along the way, we share some facts about ourselves. We find points of commonality: schools, interests, beliefs, life situations. The relationship becomes quite intense, and it lasts as long as the transaction takes to consummate, which is almost always months and sometimes years. Over this period a bond develops. The agent and the client both seek the bond: it enables them to work together more effectively, to develop a shorthand which expedites the deal and helps to move it across the finish line. Sometimes a real friendship develops.
Then the deal is done. The agent moves on to the next transaction, the buyers to renovate and move into their new home. Speaking for myself, I always want to see how the new place turns out. I like to stay in touch, both because it is good business and because I feel connected to the lives my work has touched. Although the agent/client relationship is intense but (relatively speaking) brief, it is resonant. Agents feel a residual sense of connection to those to whom they have sold property and whose properties they have sold, and we hope they feel it too. We hope it will reach across the years to us when they are ready for another deal, or their friend or relative calls us to say "We need an agent, and so-and-so said you were the one to call."
So are we friends? Sometimes, though not always. But the shared experience connects us long after the deal is done.
You can read more on www.warburgrealty.com/blog
Submit Your Blog
To submit a blog entry for consideration on this web page for FREE, please send your materials to our PR Department: pr@luxuryrealestate.com
