Luxury Real Estate

LuxuryRealEstate.com members have been honored by REALTOR Magazine in the list of Top 100 Real Estate Companies for 2009. These rankings are calibrated by sales, with respect to the sides of the transaction held and the total sales volume for the year. See the list here: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/files/2010Top100.pdf/$FILE/2010Top100.pdf

LuxuryRealEstate.com members mentioned include:

2009 Transactions Sides Long & Foster, Ebby Halliday, REALTORS/Ellen Terry, REALTORS/Dave, Perry-Miller & Associates, Baird & Warner, West USA Realty Inc., Williams Raveis Real Estate Inc, Prudential Americana Group, REALTORS, Prudential California Realty/Prudential Nevada Realty, Alain Pinel, REALTORS, Houlihan Lawrence Inc., Intero Real Estate Services Inc., Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group 2009 Sales Volume Long & Foster, Alain Pinel, REALTORS, Williams Raveis Real Estate Inc., Ebby Halliday, REALTORS/Ellen Terry, REALTORS/Dave Perry-Miller & Associates Baird & Warner, Intero Real Estate Services Inc., Prudential California Realty/Prudential Nevada Realty, West USA Realty, Houlihan Lawrence Inc Pacific Union Real Estate and Morgan Lane Marin, Prudential Americana Group, REALTORS, Prudential Georgia Realty, Keller Williams Beverly Hills/, Hammond Residential GMAC Real Estate, Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty, Better Homes and Gardnes Rand Realty, The Keyes Co., McEnearney Associates Inc., Michael Saunders and Co., John R Wood, REALTORS, The Kentwood Co., Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group

Also mentioned in the #1 and #2 spots on each ranking were NRT LLC and HomeServices of America Inc.; several of the real estate firms under these brands are also members of LuxuryRealEstate.com.

Courtesy of: Jim Walberg

(PRLEAP.COM) ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINA -(April 5, 2010) - Jim Walberg, owner of The Bay Area Team, and a 40-year business owner and REALTOR®, who is well-known for his very successful real estate companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Caribbean real estate markets, openly shared his global marketing strategies at the FIABCI-USA 2010 Spring Conference in Alexandria, Virginia.

Five years ago, Walberg said he had a vision of expanding his real estate practice from San Francisco to include the Caribbean Islands. At that time he launched the websites www.EastBayRealEstate.com and www.CaribbeanIslandsRealty.com that allows Buyers from all over the world to purchase real estate in two of the most desirable locations in the world.

"I have spent almost 40 years in the San Francisco Bay area and the Caribbean as a business owner, REALTOR®, and a sailor, so I know these regions of the world very well," said Walberg, the 61-year-old co-owner of The Bay Area Team, and one of the most successful real estate teams at Keller Williams Realty in Danville, California. "I never expected that my dream would create such results so quickly. But, people from all over the world to participate in real estate sales and purchases, is now a reality."

Walberg’s international lead generation experiment has produced amazing results for his real estate companies. "One hundred percent of our San Francisco Bay Area and Caribbean real estate results are coming from inquiries from our blog sites and past clients," he said. "We are receiving inquires each day from a total of 16 countries! This has been a significant addition to our real estate business revenue -beyond any of our expectations!"

Unlike some professionals who guard their successful "marketing secrets", Walberg says that the professionals in the world of international real estate are remarkably open about their strategies for success. "Successful Realtors are the most open and sharing community I have ever found." he said. "They want every member of the global real estate community to win!" Because of Walberg’s success in lead generation from the internet, he was awarded the 2009 Best Global Networking Award from Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate. More than 60 delegates from Europe and the Americas attended this important conference.

About Jim Walberg

Jim Walberg has been a member of the East Bay business community since 1970. He and his wife Ann Marie Nugnet are the owners of The Bay Area Team at Keller Williams Realty in Danville, California. He is one of Keller Williams University’s Regional Trainers. He is also a founding member of the International Luxury Real Estate Society, he has been inducted into the REALTORS® Hall of Fame for the East Bay, and he is in the very top Escalon of Realtors nationally. He loves sailing in the Caribbean traveling the world, collecting fine wines, reading, trout fishing, and skiing. However, the most important part of his life is his personal faith, his loving wife and business partner, and their three children, two of whom are finishing university, and the oldest is a consultant with Accenture Consulting.

About FIABCI

FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, is local, national, and worldwide. Established over 60 years ago, the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) is the only truly international organization of its kind in the world. Comprised of professionals in all areas of the industry, FIABCI’s long-standing and highly respected presence in the international community gives it’s members instant accessibility, credibility, and dependability. Through our individual and association members in 65 countries, FIABCI membership gives professionals access to contacts around the world -over 2,000,000. FIABCI-USA (the US Chapter) is the only international real estate organization representing the entire spectrum of the real estate industry in the US. FIABCI’s mission is to open the international community to it’s members on a local, national, and international level, so that they may develop a broad base of real estate contacts that will translate into increased business opportunities and ultimately financial success. People connecting people to create one global marketplace is the result of membership in FIABCI. For more information log on to: http://www.fiabci-usa.com/

By: Weichert Realtors Points East Properties

The city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire is at its best as it hosts a notable celebration of Independence Day with great events spanning the week leading up to the 4^th of July. This annual historical celebration has a parade, fireworks, living history reenactments, music, and great food.

Portsmouth or Strawbery Banke as it is historical known is well known for its great shopping, fine dining, historical landmarks, and seaport. The intimate community offers a full array of luxury real estate options allowing savvy investors, second home owners, retirees, and even primary home owners a chance to take in this beautiful town and experience the great amenities first hand.

Happy 4^th of July! Don’t hesitate to come visit us in Portsmouth this summer.

By Stephen Pugh of Alain Pinel Realtors

SAN FRANCISCO, (May 20, 2009) – Alain Pinel Realtors (APR) is pleased to announce its appointment by the Lembi Group for the sale of a 232-unit San Francisco apartment portfolio. The portfolio is valued at approximately $43 million and contains 12 buildings located in many prominent neighborhoods of San Francisco, including the Marina, Twin Peaks and Russian Hill. Stephen Pugh and Mark Bonn of APR’s San Francisco Investment Group will be marketing the properties.

“We are thrilled to bring this exciting investment opportunity to the market at a time when buyers are eager to acquire quality properties that generate attractive cash yields last seen more than five years ago,” said Stephen Pugh, Managing Director of APR’s Investment Group. “Buyers have been waiting for an apartment property offering of this kind that’s value-priced relative to current and future income potential.”

The properties will be marketed on a coordinated basis, but will be sold to either individual buyers or one buyer. Many of the properties are fully occupied, yet offer significant upside potential. “San Francisco remains one of the strongest rental markets in the Bay Area and it offers significant future growth potential as economic conditions improve,” said Mark Bonn, Senior Director of APR’s Investment Group. “The properties are located in supply constrained areas of San Francisco that will not be overly impacted by new development, contains dedicated parking stalls and offer financeable value.”

Tim Murray, APR’s Vice President and Regional Manager of San Francisco and the North Bay said, “We are proud to be entrusted with this important sales assignment and I expect to see a very good response from potential buyers that will more than satisfy our client’s expectations.” In addition to Pugh and Bonn, the sales team includes senior sales associates Mirella Webb and James Murphy.

About Alain Pinel Realtors

Alain Pinel Realtors is the largest privately-owned and independent residential real estate company in California. The firm had a sales volume of $5.7 billion in 2008 ($1.1 million per transaction) and has been consistently ranked in the Top 10 firms in the United States. It was founded in 1990 by Paul Hulme, current Chairman and CEO, and is based in Saratoga, Calif. Alain Pinel Realtors served 5,300+ clients in 2008 through its 30 offices in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Alain Pinel Realtors is a founding member of Luxury Portfolio, an operating unit of The Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. The firm also has a joint venture partnership in the mortgage lending institution Private Mortgage Advisors, which is an affiliate of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. For a complete listing of Alain Pinel Realtors offices, services and agents, please visit our website at apr.com.

From theFrontSteps

Vote for our LuxuryRealEstate.com members from Alain Pinel Realtors, Zephyr Real Estate, Hill & Company, Paragon Real Estate Group, and McGuire Real Estate!

The moment we've been waiting for all year - the San Francisco's Sexiest Realtor Contest 2008. What's at stake? Of course, the title of San Francisco's Sexiest Realtor, and this year, the grand prize of a "Real Estate Sucks" t-shirt (and for the losers, a "Real Estate Sucks" t-shirt ).

This year, Poll Daddy will be used for voting. Voters can check back to view how the competition is unfolding by clicking on the "view results" link within the poll, and voting privacy is absolutely 100% guaranteed. To build a little suspense, the "view results" feature will be disabled on Thursday. Voting will be open all week until Saturday 12/20 at 11:59 pm, and the winner will be announced Monday 12/22.

To vote for your favorite (sexiest) female/male Realtor : http://thefrontsteps.com/2008/12/15/vote-now-san-franciscos-sexiest-realtor-contest-2008-is-on/

By Meghan Barry

Someone has to be the one to mention that today is Valentine’s Day, right?

I noticed this article, simply entitled Happy Valentine’s Day, on Boston.com (I am a Seattle transplant… one of the many).

The National Association of REALTORS® suggests "If you can’t fly to Paris, France this Valentine’s Day, take your sweetheart to Paris, Texas" in a press release, entitled Explore American Towns Sharing Names With the World’s Most Romantic Cities.

Paris, Texas (average home price $84,000); Rome, Georgia (average home price $95,000); Seville, Ohio (average home price $122,000); Venice, California (average home price is a bit higher, $1.3 million… it’s California after all).

There may not be much luxury real estate in these versions of Paris, Rome and Seville, but think of the investment possibilities!


Editor’s Note:
Meghan Barry is the Executive Vice President of LuxuryRealEstate.com. She works closely with CEO John Brian Losh to organize a variety of Luxury Real Estate programs, events and services. What’s in a name, anyway? It might be even more unique an experience to seek luxurious opportunities in little-known areas than looking in the obvious spots. You might even fall in love with these smaller versions of great European cities. Happy Valentine’s Day, indeed.