Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of: Sereno Group Real Estate

LOS GATOS, CA—March 8, 2010. Sereno Group Real Estate announced the opening of its new Santa Cruz Coastal Office strategically located in Soquel where the company’s Santa Cruz team will be able to service the Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

“We are very excited and pleased to be opening the newest office of the Sereno Group family,” said Chris Trapani, President and CEO of Sereno Group, “We have always felt that the Santa Cruz coast embodies a spirit similar to the core beliefs of our company and feel that our team will be a great addition and fit to the real estate community in the area.”

The office will again embody Sereno Group’s utilization of the natural environment partnered with cutting edge technology. The office will be equipped with custom workspaces supported by state of the art peripherals and a high definition flat screen television that will be utilized for high-end marketing and client presentations. The office will also echo Sereno Group’s philosophy of collaborating with the local community and will feature artwork from local artists and photographers. Sereno Group is also in the process of qualifying the office for Green Certification to be in-line with the company’s eco-initiative and environmental commitment.

Thus far, Sereno Group Santa Cruz consists of six well-established and respected agents: Terry Ballantyne, Steve Byrd, Nancy Comstock, Alistair Craft, Gail Cruse and Roger Knapp. Everyone on the team has longstanding connections to the local community and has worked, served and volunteered in various capacities in and for Santa Cruz related organizations. The company’s plan is to deliberately build the office with strong quality agents similar to the philosophy they have used their other offices.

Open since July 1, 2006, Sereno Group Real Estate has quickly established itself as a market leader by continually attracting top producing agents in the Silicon Valley. During this time, Sereno Group has achieved the highest per agent productivity for residential real estate brokers in the county year to date. Sereno Group now has four offices located in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, and Santa Cruz. The 124 team of Sereno Group agents sell and service the Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties and points beyond.

The new Santa Cruz Coastal Office is located at 2407 Porter Street #150, Soquel, CA 95073. The main office phone is 831.460.1100.

For more information, visit www.serenogroup.com.

By: Paula Louise Berthelot of Prudential Santa Fe Real Estate

Destination - Travel + Leisure Santa Fe Ranked Top N. American Travel Destination - 2009 7/10/2009: For the eighth year in a row, Santa Fe has made Travel + Leisure (T+L) magazine's "World's Best Awards" list of top 10 favorite Continental United States and Canadian travel destinations. For 2009 Santa Fe is ranked as the fifth most popular travel city in North America by the magazine's travel-savvy readers. In 2008 Santa Fe was also in the poll's fifth spot while in 2007 Santa Fe ranked fourth. Clearly, Santa Fe remains an enduring favorite with the publication's large group of sophisticated and passionate travelers.

"For Santa Fe to be consistently rated as a travel destination on a par with cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Quebec City is a tribute to Santa Fe's enduring appeal and customer satisfaction," said Keith Toler, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Visitors are seeking something genuine and original in their travels and Santa Fe's history, culture, people, and attractions deliver that authenticity," he said.

Of Santa Fe, T+L reported: "The heady aroma of burning piñon logs permeates the air every night in Santa Fe, where the altitude-nearly 7,000 feet-ensures that even summer evenings are crisp enough for locals to light up their kiva fireplaces. The scent is a constant presence in this ever-changing city, where thick-walled adobe buildings nearly 400 years old stand cheek-by-jowl with avant-garde art galleries and edgy modern restaurants. It's a reminder that, despite its vibrant population of skiers and hikers, painters and photographers, alternative healers, hippies, and gays, this city is strongly connected to its Spanish-Native American heritage-and to the pristine landscape that surrounds it."

Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, said: "This year's results reflect our readers' travel interests in this challenging economic reality--value, intimacy, service, and discovery are top priorities.

T+L subscribers were provided questionnaires both online, in the February and March, 2009 issues, and by email. The responses were tabulated to reach the final results in this, the magazine's fourteenth annual poll. Cities were rated on 6 criteria: sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping, and value. Scores were compiled using a 1 to 5 rating of each category. A minimum number of responses was required for a candidate to be eligible for inclusion in the awards listings. Results were announced today online and appear in the magazine's August, 2009 issue.

For 2009 the top 10 U.S. and Canadian cities, in Travel & Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards are:

1. New York (1); 2. San Francisco (2); 3. Quebec City (6); 4. Charleston, SC (4); 5. SANTA FE (5); 6 Chicago (3); 7. Savannah (9); 8.Victoria, British Colombia (-); 9. Montreal (7); 10. Seattle (-).
(last year's poll ranking) the - indicates the city was not ranked last year.

New York was given an overall score of 84.65. Santa Fe received an overall score of 82.53.

From The National Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Paula Berthelot of Prudential Santa Fe Real Estate

Perched high in the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains, Santa Fe, New Mexico is unparalleled in its richness of history, arts and culture. Signature adobe architecture and old world charm combine with culinary sophistication and a creative flair to make the city one of the country's most fascinating destinations.

History & Activities

One of the best-preserved cities in the United States, Santa Fe is an ancient city with a distinctive architecture borne out of its remote location and use of local materials. Dozens of historic sites transport visitors back in time, from ancient Native American ruins and Spanish Colonial churches to mining towns and remnants of the nation's Wild West frontier days. Historic walking tours showcase the spirit of Santa Fe, both old and new, most notably the Palace of the Governors, the oldest public building in the country. The revitalized Santa Fe Railyard now serves as a lively downtown commercial and residential hub, containing shops, galleries, restaurants, farmer's market as well as an outdoor park and performance space.

Art & Culture

Santa Fe has long been a center for arts and culture. It now ranks as the country's third largest art market with over 250 galleries and dealers. Perhaps most famous as the home of artist Georgia O'Keefe, Santa Fe boasts more than a dozen major museums showcasing an array of art, culture, history and traditions. Art galleries and boutiques line Canyon Road while Native American vendors representing 19 Pueblos and three tribes can be found everyday under the portal at the Palace of Governors, selling jewelry and handmade goods. The annual Indian, Spanish and Folk Art markets provide opportunities not found anywhere else in the county.

Outdoor Adventures

Surrounded by more than 1.5 million acres of national forest and the 12,500-foot Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe offers year-round outdoor adventure. The breathtaking scenery is an ideal backdrop for hiking, biking, skiing or rafting. With an average of 300 days of sunshine and blue sky, the time is always right to stroll through lush landscapes, explore nature trails at the National Audubon Society center or attend a wine festival in the country’s earliest wine-producing region.

Submitted by Paula in Santa Fe at: March 12, 2009 I moved to Santa Fe about 11 years ago after many visits. Although I will always be a Texan in my heart, I have adopted this wonderful place and have enjoyed every moment I have lived here. If you plan to visit anytime in the near future, you can contact me at Prudential Santa Fe Real Estate, 505/988-3700, and I will give you the latest and greatest restaurants etc,