Personal thoughts from within the Luxury Real Estate network
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 4th 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 4th of July! Don’t hesitate to come visit us in Portsmouth this summer.
DENVER – Nina O’Kelley, a leading broker associate with Kentwood City Properties, has announced the annual LoDo Loft Tour scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2009 to benefit Family HomeStead’s Back-to-School project. Family HomeStead is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless families get back on their feet by providing housing and case management. The tour in the Lower Downtown Historic District runs from 2-5 p.m. and light refreshments will be served at each loft.
All the lofts showcased on the tour are located along Wynkoop Street, including a two-story penthouse at The Ice House at 1801 Wynkoop. This stylish residence includes a cool spiral staircase and two terraces. A three-story penthouse with a roof-top deck overlooking Union Station in the Wynkoop Mercantile building is also featured at 1792 Wynkoop.
Loft tourists will enjoy viewing a totally remodeled loft in the historic Street Car Stables at 1720 Wynkoop, plus a gorgeous condominium in the newly-built Wynkoop Residences at 1411 Wynkoop.
“Remember getting new shoes and a special backpack for that first day back at school?” asks O’Kelley. “Volunteers make this happen for the Family HomeStead children. We encourage tour participants to bring school supplies or make a cash donation to Family HomeStead. Supplies may include backpacks, No. 2 pencils and colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, and both wide and narrow-tip markers. You may contribute erasers, crayons, two-pocket folders, marble covered composition notebooks, and spiral notebooks. Other items include three-ring binders, notebook paper and dividers, graph paper, glue sticks, scissors, dictionaries, calculators, compass and protractors, a supply bag, and more. This is an extremely worthy cause and your contributions will give needy children a head-start when school resumes in late summer.”
To adopt a family and outfit children for school, contact Family HomeStead’s Judy Mugler at 303-623-6514. If you can’t make the tour but wish to make a tax-deductible contribution, send checks payable to HomeSteaders to 1ST Bank, attn: Shannon Jones, Sr. VP, 370 17th St., Denver, CO 80202. To join HomeSteaders, contact Mary Ann Wadas at 303-825-0969.
For more information on the Loft Tour, contact Nina O’Kelley of Kentwood City Properties and incoming president of HomeSteaders at 303-478-6703, or send an email to Nina at nina@kentwoodcity.com.
Kentwood City Properties, formed in 1999, is the newest member of The Kentwood Companies, known nationally as Denver’s premier real estate company. The company’s street-front office at the corner of 17th and Wynkoop streets, directly across the street from Union Station, is comprised of nearly 50 of metro Denver’s most experienced real estate professionals serving residential buyers, sellers, and developers. For more information phone 303-820-CITY (2489), and visit online at www.kentwoodcity.com.
The Kentwood Companies is comprised of Kentwood City Properties, The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, and The Kentwood Company in the Denver Tech Center. View all Kentwood listings at www.DenverRealEstate.com.
By: Jon Larrence of Perry & Co.
Perry & Co. hosted their 9th Annual Client Appreciation Party last night at Denver’s Four Mile Park. Food was catered by The Food Guys while the band Kick’d played classic rock songs of the 70’s.
Perry & Co.’s Annual Client Appreciation Summer Party was a drenching success at the Four Mile Historic Park on the last Thursday of one of the wettest Junes in Colorado history. Over 300 guests donned their raincoats and boots and headed to the oldest park in Denver for a down-home barbeque dinner, music and as it turned out, mud!
“We love hosting our events at Denver’s historic, scientific and cultural facilities to introduce them to people who’ve never quite found the time to visit them. This year was no different – only many guests simply couldn’t get here!” said Don Larrance, President of Perry & Co. Real Estate Professionals. Roads were closed throughout Denver due to flash flooding and many guests just didn’t want to risk the drive.
Those guests who did join the festivities enjoyed a picnic spread created by The Food Guy, which included three kinds of barbequed meats, two salads, rolls, beans and warm peach cobbler. “Best party food ever!” remarked Perry agent Chuck Anderson. “The food was killer,” stated attendee Susan Doerr. The band, Kick’d, was moved inside to the Grant Family Education Center where the crowd could dance indoors. Appropriately the band opened the night with The Doors’ “Riders On The Storm.”
While the pioneer children’s activities were cancelled due to the weather, many still walked the park with their parents and discovered an historic game that children throughout the ages enjoy: splashing in mud puddles.
Since only about half of this year’s guests could attend, the remaining barbeque picnic was donated to the Denver Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter in downtown Denver. The extra sodas and lemonade were donated to the Four Mile Park for their 4th of July event.
Click here to read about Perry & Co.’s 2008 Annual Client Appreciation Party.
Written by Perry & Co Real Estate Professionals, Denver, CO
By: Jillian Parker
SEATTLE – (June 25, 2009)- Matt Smith, internationally renowned communications facilitator, and improvisational theatre expert will be facilitating his “Unmasking Potential” training at the 14th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference held in Vail Valley, Colorado September 13-16, 2009.
Matt Smith has studied and mastered the theory of improvisational theatre in which he uses his skills gained to perform effective training workshops. The focus of the session will be on effective communication and how to overcome the obstacles that interfere with successful communication among members of an industry. Through this interactive hands-on workshop, the members of LuxuryRealEstate.com will work towards answering a key question: What strives do we—as individuals and groups—need to make to ensure effective communication? Mr. Smith describes his workshop as “interesting, interactive, challenging” and foremost, “fun.” He consolidates his performance, writing and teaching experience in developing successful trainings based on improvisational theatre theory in: Teambuilding, Creative Brainstorming, Stress Management, Managing Change and Conflict Resolution.
Mr. Smith co-founded the legendary Seattle Improv and Stark Raving Theatres with Ed Sampson where they created numerous shows and monologues including, Beyond Kindness, My Last Year with the Nuns, Helium and award winner Here/There. He has also had influences in on the film and television screens in shows such as Outsourced, Spiderman, Sleepless in Seattle, Whiteface, Northern Exposure, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and Almost live! Mr. Smith’s clients include REI, Microsoft, Bank of America and Boeing. His teaching experiences in workshops and intensive trainings have included universities such as Duke, Stanford and University of Washington.
To learn more about Matt Smith, visit his website. For more information on the 14th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference and other upcoming events, visit www.luxuryrealestate.com/conference.
About LuxuryRealEstate.com
LuxuryRealEstate.com, a 2009 Webby Award Honoree, is the most-viewed luxury real estate specific website in the world. The Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate network includes 1,500 of the world’s finest real estate companies with properties in 98 countries. Participation is strictly invitation-only by CEO/Publisher John Brian Losh. The Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate network is governed by the Board of Regents.
By Janine Carey of Damianos Sotheby's International Realty
A gala banquet was held at the Atlantis Resort on May 29th, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Bahamas Real Estate Association and its achievements over the years. The President of the Bahamas Real Estate Association, Mr. William Wong, welcomed His Excellency Hon. Arthur D. Hanna, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham and all the members present. In his key note address, Prime Minister Ingraham spoke in detail about the recently amended Real Property Tax Act.
The Governor General Hon. Arthur D. Hanna, presented awards to the Past Presidents in attendance and gave honourable mention to all the Founding Members of the Association. There were plaques given in recognition of dedicated service to BREA.
George Damianos, President of Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty and a BREA Board Member and his sister, Virginia Damianos Premock, Vice President of Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty and Treasurer of BREA, were recognized for their long and dedicated service to the Bahamas Real Estate Association.
Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty, serves the entire Bahamas and is headquartered in downtown Nassau with offices in Lyford Cay; Governor's Harbour and Spanish Wells Eleuthera; Marsh Harbour, Hope Town and Elbow Cay, Abaco; with associates in Treasure Cay, Abaco; Exuma, and Freeport. The Bahamas, offers exclusive Sotheby’s International Realty marketing, advertising and referral services designed to attract well-qualified buyers to the firm’s property listings. In addition, the firm and its clients benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house, which promotes real estate referral opportunities with auction house clientele.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. In February 2004, Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system by Realogy’s subsidiary, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.
By Camille Richardson of Beth Wolff GMAC Real Estate
In our GMAC real estate family, Houston’s Beth Wolff GMAC Real Estate principals, Beth Wolff and Ed Wolff, were sponsors for the It’s My Heart Walk.
Tenley, Ed Wolff’s daughter and Beth Wolff’s granddaughter, and her twin brother Jake were born early at 31 weeks gestation. Jake was fine but Tenley went into congestive heart failure. She was operated on at Texas Children’s Hospital by Dr. Charles Fraser and then spent the first five months of her life in the cardiovascular unit. Thanks to the dedicated team of doctors and nurses at Texas Children’s Hospital, today Tenley is an active child enjoying life as a four year old and participating in It’s My Heart events to help raise awareness for others with similar challenges.
It’s My Heart’s mission is to provide support, spread awareness, educate and advocate for those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects by creating alliances with fellow families, hospitals, support groups and the community.
Perry & Co. Vice President Jon Larrance has been nominated for the Denver Board of Realtors‘ 2009 Director Election. Denver Board of Realtors’ members, primary or secondary, in good standing will elect three Directors for three year terms, which run from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2012. The DBR Director election will take place July 15, 2009.
The following candidates have been selected by the Nominating Committee and approved by the current Board of Directors.
- Jetta Brouker, ZipRealty
- Tony Cline, Cliffdwellers
- Greg Geller, Vision Real Estate
- Jon Larrance, Perry & Co.
- Charles Roberts, Your Castle
- Ellen Smirnoff, Keller Williams DTC
- Vafa Sohi, Luxe Group
Congratulations to all the candidates! Candidate bios and photos will be included in the July 2009 issue of The Denver REALTOR® newsletter. Ballots will be mailed and emailed at the end of June 2009.
Campaign Statement: "I joined Perry & Co. in 2002 as the Director of Technologies, which was a perfect fit after 14 years as Owner of a video and web production business during which I wrote and produced over 100 real estate training videos and dozens of real estate company websites. I am a second generation Denver native and a second generation Realtor®.
"In my current position at Perry & Co. as Vice President, my responsibilities include staff management, relocation, training, and IT. I am active in Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate as an Executive Director on the Board of Regents, and the Denver Board of Realtors’ Ethics Committee. I routinely teach technology classes to the Who's Who members. I am also an active blogger - my "Information For Realtors" articles can be read at 3033997777.com.
"My goals as a DBR Director are to uphold the highest standard of Realtor® ethics, foster the greater use of technology, and promote Denver in the international markets.
"I hope you take the opportunity to introduce yourself to, or Google, your candidates to learn more about each of us."
By Carl Peralta of 77 Great Estates
Around 50 cars dating from the pre-war period to the 1970s took part in the Valletta Grand Prix on Sunday 17th May 2009.
The cars were driven around Valletta for three times each starting from the near the Gun Post, past 77 Great Estates’ seafront office and finishing close to the Phoenicia hotel.
They were divided in four categories – pre-second world war, 1950s to 1960s, 1960s to mid-1970s and classic, such as Maseratis and Ferraris.
This Grand Prix this year was restricted to Maltese drivers.
By Carl Peralta of 77 Great Estates
Aaron Ciantar steers Team Seagull to overall victory
Aaron Ciantar and Angelo Tedeschi claimed overall victory in the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea for the second year in a row as the current world champions, aboard Team Seagull, were declared winners of yesterday’s endurance race in Sliema.
Ciantar and Tedeschi, who last year topped the charts at the end of the season-opening Malta GP aboard Conam Yachts, had finished second behind Team 26 in yesterday’s race. However, the race jury imposed a four-minute penalty on the British duo for overspeeding, meaning that Ciantar and Tedeschi were awarded victory ahead of Baia Attolini.
Audrienne Ciantar and Shelley Jory completed a podium double for Chaudron and the Ciantar family yesterday as their Iko Casa team were promoted to third place.
In the Evolution class, victory went to Giancarlo Ciangiano and Hannes Bohinc aboard OSG Racing Team. Bullet Racing Team, of Jan Falkowski and Drew Langdon, placed second. Lucas Oil and Cigarette Smash Poker had to retire while Cranefield failed to start the race.
Inevitably, much of the attention of the thousands of local watersports enthusiasts was focused on the Supersport class were a keenly-contested fight ensued along the Sliema seafront with Team 26, Team Seagull and Baia Attolini fighting neck-and-neck for victory.
The Donzi boat of Team 26 sped to victory when taking the lead with three laps to go but were adjudged to have exceeded the speed limit and were subsequently penalised. Thus, victory was assigned to Ciantar and Tedeschi.
“It’s a great feeling to be on top of the podium once more,” Aaron Ciantar told The Times yesterday.
“We knew at the start of the season that we had a very competitive boat and I think that our performances here show that we are among the top teams in the Supersport class. Still, winning the world championship will not be easy but we’re ready to fight to keep the title.”
“Team 26 will be disappointed with the outcome but race rules on speed limit are very clear and all the teams know well that when the rules are broken, penalties are imposed immediately,” Ciantar said of the punishment handed out to Team 26.
“It’s important that everyone competes within the rules so that safety is maintained in all the races of the P1 world championship.”
For his part, Tedeschi said the weather conditions in Malta last weekend did not suit their Chaudron boat.
“When the sea is calm, as it was today, it’s always very difficult for us to race to our full potential. Our rivals have smaller boats and that makes them very strong in mild conditions,” Tedeschi said.
“The race for the world championship is certainly going to be very interesting this year. Baia Attolini and Team 26 are very competitive while another Donzi boat is expected to enter the championship in the next round in Turkey.
“But, this is healthy for the sport as it makes it more interesting. We have always enjoyed competition and in the coming weeks, we intend to work on making our boat even faster as our target is to defend our Supersport title.”
Audrienne Ciantar, making her competitive return to the Powerboat World Championship after a year’s break, was delighted with her podium finish.
“A top-three position was my main objective ahead of the first race,” Audrienne Ciantar said.
“To finish third aboard a boat I had never driven before in a race and with a new partner, is a great achievement. We have made a very encouraging start and I believe we can only get better as the season progresses. Our goal is to challenge the leading teams and I think we have the package to stay in the top positions this season.”
The 2009 Powerboat P1 championship continues on the weekend of June 19- 21 when the Turkish Grand Prix of the Sea is held in Istanbul.
Results
Evolution class: 1. SNAV OSG (Italy) 1:00:25.15; 2. Silverline (Britain) 1:04:47.00; 3. Lucas Oil Budweiser (US) retired after 11 laps; 4. Cigarette Smash Poker (Italy) retired after three laps; 5. Cranefield Wines (Germany) did not start.
Supersport class: 1. Seagull Chaudron (Ukraine) 1:04:40.70; 2. Baia Attolini (Italy) 1:05:44.27; 3. Iko Casa (Italy) 1:05:49.43; 4. Big Sergio (Italy) 1:07:11.14; 5. MasForce (Belgium) 1:08:03.89; 6. Team 26 Racing (Britain) 1:08:14.19; 7. Blue Shaft (Italy) 59:06.10 (retired after 10 laps).
Overall standings
Evolution class: 1. SNAV OSG (Italy) 181; 2. Lucas Oil 171; 3. Silverline 163; 4. Cigarette Smash Poker 100; 5. Cranefields Wines 66.
Supersport class: 1. Seagull Chaudron 190; 2. Baia Attolini 163; 3. Team 26 160; 4. MasForce, Iko Casa 147; 6. Blue Shaft 115; 6. Big Sergio 73.
By Carina de Sousa of IRG International Realty Group
Ole Jespersen, owner and Managing Director of IRG International Realty Group was very proud to be representing 3 of Portugal’s top resorts/developments, Troiaresort, Palácio Estoril Residências, Pine Hill Residences at the Estoril Open 2009 that took place from 2 - 10 May 2009. The beautiful weather contributed to the success of the 20th edition of Portugal's prime tennis event. Hundreds of clients came to visit us at our beautiful stand in the sponsor village and were able to see the best of tennis at the centre court. Indeed this was one of the best PR events ever!
In an exciting final between Albert Montanes (ESP) and James Blake (USA), Albert Montanes became the first Spaniard since former ATP World Tour No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2001 titlist, to capture the Estoril Open title.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
IRG International Realty Group
Marketing Department
T. +351 289 397 653
F. +351 289 397 683
E. info@irgportugal.com
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