Luxury Real Estate

By Jean-Yves Piton

Are you presently offering “green” luxury homes to your clients?

With the growing concern for global warming and the depletion of energy, there is an ever-rising enthusiasm for eco-friendly alternatives worldwide.

Clearly, both energy efficient products and organic goods are in high demand with rapidly increasing market shares vis-à-vis other traditional and commercial goods.

For instance, in the automotive industry, Toyota clearly sets the tone vis-à-vis other car manufacturers by pursuing the very successful, environmentally friendly niche market with its world-renowned hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius.

Are you embracing the emerging interest in green real estate and responding to the specific needs of a nature-conscious and educated client base?

According to www.whatgreenhome.com, eco-developers and eco-brokers offer green properties with sought-after features like zero-carbon, zero-waste, sustainable water, local and sustainable building materials and sustainable transport at premium prices around the globe.

Just recently, new green luxury properties are also automatically delivered with a Toyota Prius in the garage at a minimum cost of $2 million USD!

The trend is here! And it will keep on growing as governments around the planet are rethinking policies for nature-friendly communities.


Editor’s Note:
Jean-Yves Piton is the Global Services Membership Manager for LuxuryRealEstate.com. He assists Bente Madtsen, the Director of Global Services, in expanding the LuxuryRealEstate.com brand into even more countries around the world. I’m actually writing an editorial for the winter 2009 issue of LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine on “green” luxury homes. Jean-Yves brings up some good points in this blog entry. It’s always nice to save money on energy, especially since energy prices are quite high at the moment. I’d like to make one point, though. In the spirit of healthy debate, I would like to offer the following link to the 2008 International Conference on Climate Change. I highly recommend listening to these scientists. They have strong evidence that human activity accounts for just a small fraction of global warming, and reducing our carbon emissions will likely have little, if any, effect on the well-being of our planet while costing far too much money. The photo of the green apartment is from www.flickr.com/photos/papalars/375415219 and it is the copyright of papalars.

By Janice Ridge

There are studies that indicate that both buyers and their agents are attracted to online listings that include photos. In fact, when I am searching MLS for a property for a client, I won’t even look at a listing that doesn’t have photos! And I am a real-estate professional! Truth is, most MLS photos are not that good. That’s why most real estate professionals go directly to the agent’s website to see better photos. I imagine the online consumer does, too.

In general, you would think that with the huge marketing opportunity of presenting photos online the quality would be better, but it isn’t. At LuxuryRealEstate.com, we are committed to making our photos stand out. I think we do a great job, don’t you?

But what I want to know is this: Does anyone know of any studies that show that videos on the Internet help to sell real estate? Is this something in which LuxuryRealEstate.com should invest for our members’ listings? Or are you as happy as I am with the quality of the online photos on LuxuryRealEstate.com?


Editor’s Note:
As the Director of Membership & Relocation at LuxuryRealEstate.com, and herself a licensed REALTOR®, Janice Ridge is devoted to coordinating the efforts of all of the LuxuryRealEstate.com membership and Account Managers, so that each of our members is given superior service. Photos are essential for advertising luxury homes for sale, whether in print or online media. I can’t think of a better photographer than Ilya Moshenskiy, the Principal Photographer of Ilya’s Photography. He is one of the finest luxury photographers in the business, and he can bring out the most amazing qualities in your homes. Jim Walberg recently gave some wonderful praise for Ilya’s fine photography. The photo above is an example of Ilya’s work and it is copyright of Ilya’s Photography.

By Renaud Rippert

Before the current season began, there was some concern as to how the real-estate market in Saint Barts would fare, given the number of uncertainties which presently affect global markets.

This concern is clearly justified by factors such as the sub-prime financial crisis, the weakness of the U.S. dollar in comparison to the Euro, and the economic hardship felt in parts of Europe and, most notably, across the United States.

In reality, for Saint Barts, the analysis is very positive.

The island’s position as a particularly unique market has only been reaffirmed. It remains limited in size and thus in development opportunities and its patrons have proven to be less affected by the factors cited above.

North American clients, who continue to show emotional attachment to the island and who find themselves so conveniently located geographically, are able to invest in a strong and secure market and to diversify their investments in a dominant currency.

Europeans, who are less troubled by our currency, are more and more present in our high-end market, which remains reasonable in comparison to other affluent markets, where such clients are frequent investors, as well.

This being said, one can safely affirm that our market is experiencing neither a rise nor a fall, but rather a consolidation of justified pricing. Because, on the contrary, the overestimation of certain properties, which has been observed in the past two years, no longer allows for finding a buyer. Regarding the high-end spectrum of the market, there is considerable demand for such products, with significant prices being offered on exceptional properties. In this respect, the situation in Saint Barts is comparable to those markets that attract a similar clientele, such as The Hamptons, Aspen and the more desirable neighborhoods of London.

As an agency historically and intimately linked to the creation and development of the real-estate market in Saint Barts, Sibarth Real Estate has consistently positioned itself as a “market regulator,” advocating the preservation of the market’s stability over time. We have never participated in the thoughtless inflation of prices or sought to simply market the “Saint-Barth Effect.” It is our mission to sell properties in Saint Barts for their intrinsic quality, and certainly not to sell them to the detriment of the island, capitalizing solely on its popularity, with no respect for appropriate counter values. Our conservative appraisals support a long-term vision, anticipating the present consolidation of our market.


Editor’s Note:
Renaud Rippert is a real-estate agent with Sibarth Real Estate, a LuxuryRealEstate.com member in Saint Barthélemy, Guadeloupe. This is absolutely wonderful. It is so nice to hear from decent, respectful people who will stand up for good and not sell themselves short for a quick sale. Good work being such a responsible brokerage, Sibarth Real Estate. You set a great example for others to follow and I applaud your efforts.

By Patrick Randi Real Estate

Patrick Randi opened his real-estate agency on the left bank of Paris in 1989. Since that date, our office has been playing an important part in the sales on the left bank, which includes the famous V, VI and VII districts and arrondissements of Paris.

While the V district is the oldest, it features many XVI-century buildings, made out of stones and beamed ceilings. It is a colorful district, attracting many students (the Sorbonne), and the apartments are generally smaller and charming.

The VI district is a mixture between the V and the VII centuries, with different periods of construction going from the charming little place to the more exclusive residences.

The VII district is prestigious since, historically, in the XVII, XVIII and XIX centuries enormous mansions with unbelievable gardens were built. Most of them are occupied by French government institutions (Hotel Matignon, house of our Prime Minister), therefore leaving less space for privately owned properties. It is divided in two different areas: St Germain, which is busy with hotels, restaurants and high-end shopping, and the Champs de Mars (Eiffel Tower), which is more residential and quiet. Foreigners adore these three districts, the entire world enjoy walking their attractive streets, where watching is an endless game to play. The Marais is quite similar to the left bank, very active and intriguing.

We also sell many properties on the right bank, the most exclusive being the VIII-century (Avenue Montaigne) and the XVI district (Etoile). These areas are glamorous and we have for sale there a choice group of XIX district apartments. Foreigners also find there the Museums (Grand Palais, etc.), the restaurants and shopping, they are attracted by wider avenues and very large flats (10,000 square feet on Avenue Foch or Avenue d’Iéna), suitable for clients from Russia, the Persian Gulf and United States. In Neuilly, the exclusive suburb of Paris, we handle sales of large mansions with enormous gardens, it is a greener space.

Old prominent French families(most of them a client) live in all these privileged arrondissements, in secluded and amazing properties, featuring the parquet floors, fireplaces and moldings, marvelous showcases for precious family antiques.

The attraction of Paris all over the world is always growing and therefore it may take some time finding the property of one’s dream. Private individuals, as well as investors, are willing to place their money on an ever-increasing market and take advantage of a unique lifestyle.

In Paris, the supply has never been able to keep up with demand, and the prices increase accordingly.

Our most important sales have been to French tycoons, Europeans, Americans, Persian Gulf residents and now we start to welcome Russians and Asians, all of whom are looking for a typically Parisian apartment.

We are lucky enough to be confronted each day with this diversity and vast history. It is fun to encourage and help our foreign clients to «play the French», showing them the open air-markets, the quaint unknown areas, all the little «codes» that make up the French mind or way of life. If we take good care of our long-time French families, we enjoy very much meeting and helping clients from all over the world to settle in Paris for a while or why not forever?


Editor’s Note:
Patrick Randi is the Founder and President of Patrick Randi Real Estate in Paris, France. He is a distinguished member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate. This is a great blog entry, giving us a taste of the French luxury market and Parisian delights. By the way, Paris is where the 4^th Annual Luxury Real Estate International Conference will be hosted. Be sure to sign up for it! The photo is from www.flickr.com/photos/tangysd/2139262874 and it is the copyright of skinnydiver.

By Robert Lockard

On Friday, June 13, 2008, Ewing & Clark, Inc. closed on the sale of a Lake Washington waterfront home in Seattle for $13,300,000, marking the second-highest Seattle real-estate sale in the past eight years. John Brian Losh, Betsy Terry and Jane Powers were the listing agents of the property. This home includes 6,000 square feet of living space, a tennis court and boathouse on a 20,000-square-foot lot with 146 feet of shoreline.

In February, they closed on a home at 1620 Washington Blvd. on Lake Washington for $15,800,000. These are the second- and third-highest sales in Seattle history and the two highest sales in Seattle in eight years. Congratulations!


Editor’s Note:
Robert Lockard is the Public Relations & Media Specialist with LuxuryRealEstate.com. I am Robert. I create all of Luxury Real Estate’s newsletters, write the editorials in LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine and much more. Ewing & Clark is a member of the Board of Regents.

By Meghan Barry

If you have ever visited the LuxuryRealEstate.com Headquarters in Seattle, near the historic Pike Place Market, you may have been to the rooftop deck on top of our building. A popular spot for staff gatherings and summertime lunches, this deck boasts expansive views of Puget Sound and Downtown Seattle. What a perfect place to view Fourth of July fireworks!

In-city living often has its limitation with access to the outdoors. However, on LuxuryRealEstate.com there seems to be ample opportunities to purchase a home with the convenience of a metropolitan location, yet with a ground-floor garden, multilevel terraces, or rooftop decks.

This is an appealing option on New York City, listed by Stribling & Associates, Ltd., in the heart of Chelsea’s gallery district. Looks like the perfect place for a hip Fourth of July barbecue.

www.luxuryrealestate.com/749432


Or this one in Boston, listed by Hammond Residential GMAC Real Estate. You can almost hear the fireworks… and the drum beating of Minutemen.

www.luxuryrealestate.com/869190


A 2005 Recipient of The Carolopolis Award for New Construction, this home has maintained that quintessential Charleston style, with a modern updates. What a stunning view! It’s listed by Disher, Hamrick & Myers.

www.luxuryrealestate.com/610485


Editor’s Note:
Meghan Barry is the Executive Vice President of LuxuryRealEstate.com. She works closely with CEO/Publisher John Brian Losh to organize a variety of Luxury Real Estate programs, events and services. Each of the brokers who represent the properties in this blog entry is a member of the Board of Regents, the governing body of LuxuryRealEstate.com. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the Fourth of July, and hopefully you’ll have a great holiday.

By Meghan Barry

Today I spoke with Jon Larrance of Perry and Co. in Denver, Colo., a member of the Board of Regents. I had called to thank Jon for completing a recent membership survey that we sent to our entire membership. Jon had a lot of great ideas and constructive feedback.

It is very important for us to receive honest input from members. We take this feedback very seriously, using it to refine our programs and products. Particularly in a challenging market, service is key. Communication with your customers can help you to provide top-quality service.

Just for fun, I took a look at some of the Perry & Co. listings on LuxuryRealEstate.com. If I ever move to Denver, I think I want this one: www.luxuryrealestate.com/850804



Editor’s Note:
Meghan Barry is the Executive Vice President of LuxuryRealEstate.com. She works closely with CEO/Publisher John Brian Losh to organize a variety of Luxury Real Estate programs, events and services. Like Meghan said, we really appreciate your feedback about our conferences and other services. Feel free to contact your Account Manager to let us know how we can better serve you.

By Dr. Carl Peralta

MTV has yet again chosen Malta as one of the destinations for its summer concerts. This year’s concert was held five minutes away from the 77 Great Estates office in Valletta.

International music artists, including Enrique Iglesias, Lady GaGa, One Republic, The Kooks and N.E.R.D., rocked thousands of foreigners who flew over for this amazing concert in the middle of the Mediterranean.

The artists fell in love with Malta’s sun-drenched island and we are sure LuxuryRealEstate.com’s clients will enjoy Malta, too. We will be more than happy to assist LuxuryRealEstate.com clients to purchase/lease a property in Malta. For more information about the event, please visit: http://isleofmtv.mtv.co.uk/.


Editor’s Note:
Dr. Carl Peralta founded 77 Great Estates in 2003. Business being his chief interest, Dr. Peralta has successfully co-organized many large-scale entertainment events since 1995. Events like this are great for bringing international attention to luxury hotspots. The celebrities at this concert, and I’m sure many of the fans, have received a taste for the beautiful island of Malta, and I hope that this will provide some excellent incentives for them to return. Feel free to share your positive events like this in the LuxuryRealEstate.com Blog.

By Robert Lockard

Check out this great article I recently read in the Arizona Daily Star, entitled “Home, art inside are both for sale.” I think the sellers in this article are onto something pretty smart by joining forces with a local art museum to sell their property.

Author Christie Smythe points out that showing art in a home can be beneficial for both the artists and the home sellers. Beautiful paintings, sculptures and other pieces of art can add something special to a home that makes it more memorable to potential buyers. Plus, the artists receive exposure to new viewers and their works of art are sold with the house.

This takes home staging to a whole new level. Ordinarily, a staged home isn’t sold in the condition in which it is first shown to buyers. But in this case, all of the art will stay with the house when it is purchased. That’s a pretty novel idea, I think. This is a smart solution because both art and real-estate markets in many parts of the United States are falling on hard times at the moment. Perhaps by joining forces, these two industries can prove that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

The photo above is courtesy of Ilya Estate Photography.

Barbara Stahura, a talented freelance writer, brought this article to my attention. She recently interviewed John Brian Losh, the CEO/Publisher of LuxuryRealEstate.com, for an article she’s writing on “green” luxury homes for an upcoming issue of Steinway & Sons Magazine.


Editor’s Note:
Robert Lockard is the Public Relations & Media Specialist with LuxuryRealEstate.com. I am Robert. I create all of Luxury Real Estate’s newsletters, write the editorials in LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine and much more. What do you think about this creative idea? What are some other ways brokers and agents can attract luxury real estate buyers in tough markets?

By Mark Myhedyn

Few names in the category of products or services possess the cachet or express such distinction as The Ritz-Carlton. For the first time, this storied legacy will be extended to an elegant residential enclave, bringing the finest characteristics and traditions of the world’s preeminent hotels to the most prestigious community in all of Arizona.

In most instances, real-estate ownership at The Ritz-Carlton has been associated with vertical high-rise residences in a condo/hotel setting. For The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley the setting will be as unique as the property it sits on. Expansive Villas, Estate Homes and Estate Home Sites will be positioned within the 110-acre resort. In addition, a 225-room resort will stand as the centerpiece; granting owners access to a world-class day spa, pools, private chef service and a dedicated owners concierge, optional housekeeping and signing privileges at the resort.

For those seeking the simple pleasures of a desert home within Arizona’s most prestigious neighborhood of Paradise Valley, The Ritz-Carlton will be the ideal ownership opportunity.

The initial release of The Villas will take place Summer 2008. Contact one of our property specialists or register your expression of interest online at www.rcpvluxury.com or contact us at 1.866.779.7489.


Editor’s Note:
Mark Myhedyn is the Property Specialist of The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley with S&P Destination Properties. We welcome great news like this from members of the Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate network.