Luxury Real Estate

Legendary basketball star Michael Jordan is selling his house in Chicago, Illinois. Luxury Real Estate Board of Regents member Baird & Warner has the listing here.

“Michael Jordan's longtime personal residence in suburban Chicago is for sale for $29 million.”

To read the story in its entirety on MSN Fox Sports, click here.

Courtesy of Frederick Peters, President of Warburg Realty

Like other consultants, real estate agents both commercial and residential perform one function in the service of another. What we apparently do is make deals. But our real business is marketing our profound and fundamental belief in this beautiful city.

I like to say to my agents that we are the critical front line for the New York City Chamber of Commerce. And in recent years we and our colleagues in the commercial world challenged the status quo with every deal. The commercial market, so long in the doldrums, has continued to improve as more companies decide to recommit to headquarters in New York. Small businesses seek space to expand, often in boroughs other than Manhattan. Entertainment, technology and communications – New York reshuffles the deck and reinvents itself over and over again and we are on the front lines finding the spaces to make it work. On the residential side, we have traveled from a market with NO big ticket sales to a market of feverish big ticket selling – and not just to foreigners. But it isn’t just at the high end. There is competitive bidding all over Brooklyn. And now, as rentals remain so tight and so high, absorption is finally accelerating in the one bedroom markets on the East Side of Manhattan.

For real estate agents, more than those involved in almost any other business, there is no moving to New Jersey or Connecticut. We ARE the city we represent. Each morning we recommit ourselves to the excitement and uniqueness of living and working here, because more even than selling or leasing bricks and mortar, we are selling the concept of New York. I remember after 9/11 talking week after week about our commitment – how we had to believe that in the wake of that shattering event New York would be perhaps different but no less great. Amidst all that fear we needed to be agents of belief. And that has been true again during and after the recession. In persuading people not to move their companies or their families out of the city, we focus on the life the client is accessing even more than the space they may want to buy. Art, music, theater, playgrounds, schools, offices – all are easily accessible and nearby. And no matter what outsiders may believe, New York extends its welcome to everyone. We are a warm vibrant mix of sub communities within which everyone has a place. During the past week I walked through Central Park, went to theater at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, heard music at Avery Fisher Hall and the Armory on 67^th Street, went to see the Rembrandt portraits at the Met, visited with friends, ate in some terrific restaurants, shopped, worked, relaxed. I didn’t once need to get in my car. It was all right there.

Every day, we live it. We love it. So every day, residential or commercial, high price point Fifth Avenue penthouse or well priced Greenpoint warehouse, we aren’t just making deals. We are selling New York.

You can read more on www.warburgrealty.com/blog.

Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey of Sterling Properties

Just 35 miles north of Santa Barbara, past scenic Lake Cachuma and tucked away amidst the Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountain Ranges, the Santa Ynez Valley is a scenic California treasure not to be missed. Between the valley’s verdant landscape, expansive vineyard properties, magnificent estates, and sprawling ranches, this area offers a wide variety of ways to enjoy incredible luxury lifestyle opportunities.

The Santa Ynez Valley is celebrated for its world-class vineyards and wineries. Boasting the greatest concentration of wineries (over 75) in Santa Barbara County, this region produces some of the finest wines in the world. Most of the wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley are owned and operated by families or individuals, allowing for a more personalized, intimate experience with the added benefit of supporting the local economy and small businesses.

However, the rich agriculture in the Santa Ynez Valley is certainly not limited to vineyards. There is ample opportunity to spend your afternoons strolling through apple and walnut orchards as well as berry and lavender farms while enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Many of these orchards will also allow you to pick your own – it doesn’t get fresher than this!

Within the Santa Ynez Valley lies the historic city of Solvang (Danish for “sunny fields”), which was built up around the Mission Santa Inès in the early 1900s. In this little town, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve been whisked away to quaint Northern Europe. Each year in September, residents and visitors from around the world celebrate Solvang’s history during Danish Days. The town’s dedication to its rich Danish roots is evident in its Danish Provincial style architecture, authentic dining options, festivals, and of course its 4 windmills! Just outside of downtown Solvang is the luxurious Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, an exceptional hideaway with the romantic charm of the old west, steeped in history. The Alisal offers a world-class golf course, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, first-class accommodations, spa services, and the finest dining.

Another special point of interest in the Santa Ynez Valley is the tiny town of Ballard, home to Santa Barbara County’s oldest school. The Ballard School is an iconic red schoolhouse which has been holding classes since 1883. This school perfectly captures the essence of this charming rural town. Within walking distance of the school is The Ballard Inn, an ideal country getaway. Each room is unique and designed to reflect Santa Ynez’s history, with authentic antique furniture and a gorgeous front porch which looks out over a lush garden lined with a white picket fence. The Inn even has its own wine tasting room, featuring the best wines produced in the valley.

For a Victorian style retreat, be sure not to miss Los Olivos, named for a nearby ranch consisting of over 5,000 olive trees at the time of its founding in 1887. Enjoy an equestrian adventure by taking a ride with the Vino Vaqueros - daily horseback rides wind through the stunning Los Olivos countryside, with trails leading through the award-winning Fess Parker vineyards followed by an exclusive wine tasting.

The Santa Ynez Valley offers an exceptional mingling of a relaxed countryside paradise and an exclusive luxury lifestyle. Its many wineries, luxurious hotels and homes, fine equestrian trails and facilities, and dedication to its rich history make the Santa Ynez Valley a one-of-a-kind destination.

Courtesy of Kathleen Caputi of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty

Locust Valley, NY. February 21, 2012. Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty (DGSIR), one of the nation's leading realtors, recently hosted a Private Watch Evaluation Day conducted by Daryn Schnipper, Chairman of Watches at Sotheby's. Appointments were scheduled in advance for valuations of fine watches and timepieces in anticipation of the "Important Watch Auction" in Manhattan on June 14th.

"Our affiliation with the Sotheby's Auction House enables us to provide a multitude of services for our clients and customers," said DGSIR SVP and Locust Valley sales manager Bonnie Devendorf. "There are many benefits from our association with the Sotheby's Auction House, which also promotes real estate referral opportunities with their clientele. Our real estate listings have the significant advantage of exposure to exclusive Sotheby's International Realty marketing, advertising and referral services."

About Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty

Founded in 1922, Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty consistently leads the nation in achieving one of the highest average sales prices in the country. Voted Best Residential Real Estate Company in the Long Island Press annual readership poll for the second consecutive year, Daniel Gale Sotheby's is a billion dollar plus organization with close to 600 sales associates in 21 sales offices spanning Long Island. Services include award-winning marketing and technology, relocation services, and separate new homes, commercial and rental divisions; Ambassador Abstract, a full-service title company, and a Wells Fargo Home Mortgage affiliation. Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty has been the exclusive Sotheby's International Realty® affiliate for Long Island's North Shore since 1976. Over the course of this relationship, Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty has gained exceptional national and international recognition, including taking top honors worldwide for the past several years.

Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty is on the Regents Board of "Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate," a global network of leading real estate companies and active in both Real Trends and The Realty Alliance (some of the real estate industry's most influential companies with participation "by invitation only"). More information may be obtained at www.danielgale.com.

Photo: Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty (DGSIR), one of the nation's leading realtors, recently hosted a Private Watch Evaluation Day conducted by Daryn Schnipper, Chairman of Watches at Sotheby's. Appointments were scheduled in advance for valuations of fine watches and timepieces in anticipation of the "Important Watch Auction" in Manhattan on June 14, 2012.

L to R: Margaret Mateyaschuk, Assistant Manager, DGSIR, Locust Valley, Daryn Schnipper, Chairman of Watches, Sotheby's, Bonnie Devendorf, SVP and Manager, DGSIR, Locust Valley, and James P. Retz, SVP, Marketing & Technology, DGSIR.

Courtesy of Realty Trust Group

Portland’s Real Estate Market has been slowly showing improvement in the housing market. Now is the time to buy in one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Rated in the top five by Moody’s Economy.com and MNSBC.com for being one of the first major metropolitan cities to see recovery.*

*Information from MNSBC.com

The average sale price of $249,100 for January 2012 was virtually the same as the $248,900 posted in January 2011, while the median declined 3.5%. Compared to December 2011,the average price fell 4.5% ($260,800 v. $249,100) and the median fell 4.2% ($216,600 v. $207,500).

Over the rolling twelve month calculation which compares February 2010-January 2011 with February 2011-January 2012, the median price dropped 6.9% & the average price declined 6.1%.

* Data taken from Portland’s RMLS January 2012 Report.

The year has started off on a positive note. Sales activity in the Portland metro area continued to show improvement in closed and pending sales when comparing this January to the same month a year ago. Closed sales experienced a 18.3% increase, posting the highest numbers for January since 2007. Pending sales saw growth of 22.4% in the same comparison. Market time also improved, decreasing from 160 to 136 days.

There were 16.5% fewer newly listed residential properties. The combination of higher sales and fewer new listings helped to create a much lower listing inventory for this season than seen in the previous two years. At January’s rate of sales, the active listing count of 8,514 would be exhausted in only 7.0 months.

*Inventory in months is calculated by dividing the active listings at the end of the month in question by the number of closed sales for that month.

About Realty Trust Group

Realty Trust Group is a locally-owned real estate company that has achieved the highest sales volume per agent in the Portland Metro Area and has provided more than a decade of service to its clients and community.

For more information about the Portland housing market visit our site www.realtytrust.com or call us at 503.294.1101.

To read the full report, click here.

Courtesy of Frederick Peters, President of Warburg Realty

I had a big birthday last week, and big birthdays make you think. In addition to the larger questions, I have also been contemplating my love affair with living space, and how that fascination with the ways space is organized and deployed has informed my real estate career. Furthermore, I think the way we structure our living spaces can offer substantial insight into what we value and believe to be important.

I grew up in one of those big, full floor, Upper East Side apartments designed by J.E.R.Carpenter. The staff rooms were inhabited by the staff. The kids were, mostly, supposed to stay out of the kitchen. Breakfast, lunch (on the rare occasions we were home for lunch), and dinner were eaten in the dining room. My parents entertained frequently, so the living room, with its extremely formal furniture, was often in use. When there were no guests, or only a couple of them, they sat in the library. We kids mostly stayed in our rooms, which we shared with a sibling. No one in the family had his or her own bathroom, and there was no powder room; it was a regular occurrence that some middle aged guy would walk through my room while I was doing my homework to use the bathroom. There was no family room-- had they even been thought of in the 50s? I think life had changed little, at least for our family, since the time the building was built in 1916.

Then came the 60s! The era when children were to be seen but not heard ended; my brothers and I talked, talked, talked from morning till night. And where did we subject my increasingly frazzled mother to the diatribes? The kitchen-newly liberated from its function as a place for the staff (most of whom had retired)! We sat in the kitchen, drinking endless cups of tea while deconstructing the old world order. That was the time when the EIK entered the Manhattan acronymic lexicon as a place for the FAMILY to eat. The grand old apartments were reconceived by a new generation of parents who actually wanted to interact with their kids. And suddenly these kids had needs: each of them needed a bathroom. They needed walk in closets (for what? I had a blazer, a winter jacket, a summer jacket, and a suit. I did not need to walk into anything to find THEM.)

During the 50s, apartment house architecture was pretty much at a nadir. White brick was ubiquitous, as was “efficiency.” Apartments were tight: low ceilings, smallish rooms and bathrooms, minimal foyer and hallway space. The 60s weren’t much better, and then in the 70s the city was broke, nearly went into bankruptcy, and there was a big overstock of housing no one wanted to buy or rent, since the common perception was that the city was dying. However, it didn’t die, and in the 80s apartment house construction came back, And, little by little, the changed priorities which I had dimly begun to perceive sitting around the kitchen table as a teenager became architecturally codified. Foyers came back in the new condos of the 80s and 90s, as a symbol of grace and a recognition of the importance of a sense of entry. Every bedroom got a bathroom, and master bathrooms became larger and more opulent, a reflection of the new consumer’s taste for high end materials and a sense of pampering. Bedrooms remained small however-- a place to sleep. The locus of family life (which I would have to say was probably the dining room when I was growing up) became the kitchen. Being a good cook became important, even if you HAD a cook. And even if you DIDN’T cook, you still had to have a fancy kitchen with expensive name brand appliances. A family room, perhaps made out of those now obsolete maids’ rooms off the kitchen or the increasingly obsolete dining room, was the new place to hang out and watch TV.

The high end new condos of today try to emulate the prewar ideal in an updated manner. Most of them still have small secondary bedrooms, but each one has a bath. There is ALWAYS a powder room. Master baths are huge marble clad affairs, often putting to relative shame the bedrooms which they serve. Kitchens are large and as tricked out as possible with name brands: Gaggenau cooktop, Miele dishwasher, SubZero fridge. There may be a servant’s room, rarely two, never more. These homes are clearly designed for a far more democratic life than that which I lived as a child. Today, everyone hangs out together. The stratification of my life as a child was reflected in the architecture we inhabited: the service area of the apartment reserved for servants, the bedroom wing where most of the lives of the children took place, and the grand public spaces designed for the adults. Luxury today tends to be reflected less in room size (although there are some big big living rooms in some of the new condos) or the way functions are divided. Open, loft like spaces, in which everyone is happily interacting with everyone else, are very popular. High end finishes, multiple bathrooms, spacious kitchens and family rooms-these are the markers for today’s affluent but far more casual user. 

You can read more on www.warburgrealty.com/blog.

Courtesy of Barb Harrington of Royal Shell Vacations

Captiva, FL (Feb. 20, 2012) – If you haven’t yet experienced Naples Soap, you need to put it on your must do list! These wonderfully scented soaps make perfect thank you and hostess gifts. Don’t let their good looks deceive you; they are very effective solutions to real skin conditions. The packaging reflects Naples Soap Company’s commitment to producing a natural product and the aroma of the individual soaps is divine. Soaps are created with 85% organic materials using natural oils, essential oils and herbs. Currently you can delight your senses with Florida Sunrise, Orange Hibiscus, Bay Rum, Key Lime, and Coconut scents. Individual soaps are priced at $5.99. The Sea Salt soap works for a variety of skin types and makes a great shaving soap. It’s perfect for sensitive skin during radiation treatments, and helps relieve symptoms of eczema, psoriasis and chronic dry skin.

You’ll find these little works of art in Royal Shell Vacations’ gift shop located at 15050 Captiva Dr., the big building on the corner of Andy Rosse Lane and Captiva Drive. We are pleased to be an exclusive island distributor for Naples Soap Company. If you are already a fan of Naples Soap Company products you no longer need to travel off island to find them. If we don’t carry your favorite product, let us know and we will order it for you.

Photo: Individually packaged soaps, salt soap, gift basket and natural sponges. Just a few of the Naples Soap Company products available at Royal Shell Vacations’ gift shop on Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva.

At Royal Shell Vacations’ gift shop you’ll also find Naples Soap Company Bath Bombs. Drop a fragrant “bomb” into your bath or hot tub and enjoy an effervescence that will relax away your aches and pains whether from chronic pain or overexertion. Bath Bombs have wonderful fragrances thus providing an aromatherapy component to the experience. To complete the pampering experience you’ll find solid moisturizing bars, shampoo and conditioner bars (great for flying), gift baskets, natural sponges and sisal soap sacks in the shop.

Everyone is invited to stop and shop in Royal Shell’s gift shop and discover the fine Naples Soap Company products. The perfect gift for that accommodating hostess or something special for yourself!

Courtesy of Staci Caplan and Michael Humphrey

Although there are many beaches sprinkled along the Santa Barbara coast, Montecito’s stunning Butterfly Beach stands out among the rest. This local treasure is nestled in Montecito, an exclusive community of incredible luxury real estate and beachfront properties. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Santa Barbara, this beach is a favorite among locals. One of the reasons it is so special, is witnessing the annual mating of the Monarch butterfly. Taking place every spring, the sole existence of the butterfly is to mate. Then, they fade to dust seven to ten days later. It is said that the clusters of buzzing butterflies are so robust, that they appear as thick as tree trunks. Butterfly Beach is one of the few west facing beaches in the Santa Barbara area, making it an ideal place to relax on the warm sand, watch surfers work the break or enjoy a colorful sunset. From the beachfront, you can see Stearn’s Wharf in the distance, which marks the end of State Street. Miles of coastline stretches out along the horizon, offering Santa Barbara’s unique Riviera views with spectacular, purple colored mountains and the Pacific Ocean in one sweeping, dramatic landscape.

Just a stone’s throw from the beachfront itself is the world renowned Four Seasons Biltmore located on Channel Drive. Built in 1927 and remodeled beginning in 2001, this resort features remarkable Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and gardens with a lush array of both local and exotic vegetation – perfect for complementing a stroll among the cabanas. Another beautiful feature is the outdoor pool. The pool’s surface is crusted with smooth abalone shells and music is piped from speakers under the water for a unique swimming experience.

If you’re feeling a bit peckish, be sure to check out all of the Biltmore’s luxury dining options. Enjoy five-star dining at Bella Vista which serves excellent organic, Italian-inspired California coastal cuisine. Watch the dolphins play in the Pacific while sitting on a marble-tiled terrace with stunning views of the water. The Ty Lounge serves a delectable selection of specialty drinks and classic cocktails and features a huge stone fireplace with couch seating. If you are a Resort guest or a member of the club, be sure not to miss the chance to dine at the resort’s legendary Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club’s Coral Café and Bar for casual poolside dining with gorgeous 180 degree oceanfront, island and coastal views. Also available to Resort guests and members is Tydes, cleverly named after local philanthropist and owner of the Resort, Ty Warner (famous for the creation of Beanie Babies and sponsor of the Ty Warner Sea Center).

Butterfly Beach and the famous Four Seasons Biltmore are absolutely must-see destinations for experiencing the luxury lifestyle of Montecito and positively ideal for taking a break from the excitement and crowds of downtown Santa Barbara. Escape from the ordinary and visit today!

Lauren Beale of the Los Angeles Times recently reported the sale of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Malibu home.

“Call central casting. Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have sold their Malibu beach house to talk-show host and comedian Ellen De Generes for $12 million.”

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

Courtesy of Royal Shell Vacations

Captiva, FL (Feb. 11, 2012)- The gift shop located in Royal Shell Vacations’ Captiva Welcome Center at 15050 Captiva Drive just received a shipment of adult and children’s t-shirts in assorted colors. These locally created t’s declare your status as a native whether you’re lucky enough to live here all year or an island guest who goes native while you’re here.

“We’re excited to add Norman Love Confections to our inventory”, states Randy Bacik CEO of Royal Shell Vacations. Currently the assortment features chocolate bars in dark, milk and white; turtles, barks and toffee. The chocolates come in two varieties, brown and gold ribbon wrap the regular chocolate, green ribbon wraps the sugar free. Norman Love Confections are perfect hostess gifts and we are anxious to expand our offerings depending on community needs. Please stop in and tell us what you’d like us to carry.

Royal Shells’ gift shop is open to all-- island guests and locals. We invite you to stop in, get your native on and delight your taste buds with some Norman Love!