Personal thoughts from within the Luxury Real Estate network
By: Nicola Christinger of HomeHunts
The present global financial crisis does not seem to be having a significant impact on the outlook of recent international buyers of French property.
On the contrary, according to a survey published last month, carried out by French bank BNP Paribas, there remains strong confidence in the French housing market, with over 90% of buyers from overseas who bought property in France in the last three years who consider the property a good medium to long term investment. There also seem as many who intend to invest further in the French property, as those who propose to sell.
BNP Paribas surveyed 220 international buyers who had purchased a property in France since 2006, around a quarter of whom came from the United Kingdom. The results do contrast somewhat with the view that has been expressed in the media, that some kind of mass exodus is taking place from France. More encouraging, the survey also confirmed what many previous surveys of French property buyers have also shown, that it was the appeal of the laid back lifestyle in France that was the main reason for buying property in France.
By: Nicola Christinger of HomeHunts
Location Spotlight – Paris
Introducing Paris needs no introduction. As the capital of France it is recognized as one of the world’s major global cities for education, business, fashion, entertainment and politics. The Eiffel Tower leads the way in the long line of world-famous landmarks, institutions, parks and gardens. Nicknamed as the “city of lights” the name refers to its reputation for new ideas and its early introduction of street lighting.
The Eiffel Tower celebrates its 120th birthday this year, and Paris is honouring its creator, Gustave Eiffel, with an exhibition about the man who not only gave the country its most recognisable symbol but also was behind numerous beautiful bridges and other impressive powerful and poetic constructions.
Paris is divided into “arrondissements”, which are more like 20 separate villages, that joined to form the city of Paris as the power and influence of the capital became more important. The atmosphere, character and influence of each of the arrondissement are completely individual, making each one unique in culture and way of life.
Property in Paris offers some of the most beautiful, classic buildings in the world and a word often used to describe apartments in particular was Bourgeois. The term Bourgeois, or, Bourgeoisie means (literally) city-dwellers and it evolved from the Old French word burgeis, meaning “an inhabitant of a town”, it meant the middle-class, the merchants and shopkeepers, and in Marxism, it came to mean the ruling classes.
Historically, the bourgeoisie comes from the Middle Ages, whose status or power came from employment, education, and wealth, as distinguished from those whose power came from being born into an aristocratic family of land owners. In modern times, it is the class owning the means for producing wealth.
Over time it is a word associated with grandeur, the characteristics and recognizable architectural features are columns, frescos, large arched windows, high ceilings, wrought iron balconies. Bourgeois property indicated and portrayed an image of noblemen or the rich showing off their wealth.
Strolling through the city of style it is hard not to notice the many building which speak volumes about their history and Paris continues to captivate buyers and investors. Aiming to help investors get the most out of their euros, The International Law Partnership recently revealed its top property investment destinations for 2009 and Paris tops the list. According to the ILP, smart investors looking for a property offering value for money this year should consider a purchase in the French capital, Paris.
The continued popularity of Paris, the most visited city in the world, has meant that it has weathered the initial storm better than many other cities as the economic situation has worsened around the world over the past year or so. Paris-bound investors should be able to capitalize on a strong rental market, with high demand for rental properties likely to last over the next 12 months.
This 2 bedroom apartment (below) in Avenue Flandrin (16th arrondissement) offers living room, 
dining room 1 bathroom , kitchen, shower room and is priced at 1,210,000 euros.
For sale in a 17th century Bourgeoise building in Rue Cambon (below right) in perfect condition is this 105m2 apartment with air conditioning, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Price: 1,350,000 euros.
Located in the Monceau district (below left) this magnificent apartment of 225m2 on the second floor 
of a superb building and includes a fitted kitchen, a living room of 50m2, 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It also offers a private parking space. Price: 2,350,000 euros.
Perhaps the property with one of the best views is this apartment whose bedroom overlooks the Eiffel Tower itself. With approximately 169m2, a kitchen 
looking onto the Trocadero, a dining room, a living room with a marble fireplace and bay windows looking out onto the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. The apartment also has a parking space and a further room. Price: 2,700,000 euros.
If you are planning a property search visit soon then, aim to book your trip between the end of June until the end of July – not only could you return home with a new property but the sales or “soldes” are on.
These sales are not just a couple of euros taken off here and there, but are the chance to purchase many designer luxury goods and a fraction of the original price. Starting on Wednesday 24th June – and continuing until Tuesday 28th July – five weeks of pure bargain-hunting pleasure: the only time of year when businesses are allowed to sell stock at a loss. With the current global economy, many shops will be making an extra-special effort to make money exit your purse and fly into their tills. In France we call that “une opération séduction“! Ernest Hemmingway wrote “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
With its class and culture and so much on offer in the city of lights, Paris will surely satisfy everything.
If you would like more information on properties in Paris then please contact info@home-hunts.com
Information: The exhibition Gustave Eiffel, le Magicien du Fer can be seen at the Hôtel de Ville – Salle Saint Jean, 5 rue de Lobau – from 7th May – 29th August 2009 every day except Sundays and public holidays from 10am – 7pm. Admission is free. www.paris.angloinfo.com
By IRG International Realty Group
Well, we couldn’t really escape it! We, like the rest of the world, are becoming increasingly aware of these networks’ outreach and have decided to assess its potentials, which we understand are enormous and worth exploring.
And the choice is a difficult one. There are endless social media tools available out there that we can all benefit from.
Being a company focused on luxury real estate, connected with several international networks, tools like Twitter and Facebook are a great way to communicate with those partners. Twitter’s microblogging, for example, can be a great marketing tool. Many real estates use it to promote listings. With Facebook you may launch a topic for discussion with your network partners, where everyone can join in, make suggestions and who knows help you solve a problem or clear a doubt much faster than before.
But these are merely two of the tools available and those in the industry really need to have a look at the offer and determine which one, or which ones will benefit them the most. At IRG we have decided to give Twitter and Facebook a go. Though taking baby steps still, we are determined to find out how far these two can take us.
You can follow us on Twitter on http://twitter.com/IRGIntlRG or join IRG International Realty Group on Facebook.
About IRG International Realty Group
IRG International Realty Group is one of the leading international brokerage companies in Portugal and specializes in sales of Portuguese high-end and luxury residential real estate. IRG is the exclusive affiliate in Portugal of Christie’s Great Estates, a worldwide real estate network and subsidiary of the world’s oldest auction house, Christie’s. IRG’s head office is located in the prestigious Avenida da Liberdade in the heart of Lisbon and there are also boutique offices in Quinta do Lago, Algarve, Estoril and Kensington, London.
By: Kitty Laios of Kitty J. Laios Real Estate
Hydra is one of the most unspoilt and romantic islands in the Mediterannean. It lies 33 miles south of Athens and four miles off the coast. The town of Hydra is protected by the European Council as a European monument, and no cars are allowed on the island. Due to the strict building code, the island has retained its character and elegance, and is a haven for artists, from Greece and abroad.
This stunning house is more than 200 years old and is restored to perfection. It consists of several houses joined masterfully together, with a private, domed road running through. It lies in Kiaffa, the old city of Hydra and is situated at the top of the natural amphitheatre of the bay of Hydra, offering spectacular views in all directions. It is a beautiful, very spacious house on several levels, decorated in the best of taste, full of important artwork and antiques. Most of the rooms have wooden ceilings, stone floors and most of the bathrooms offer beautiful sea views. 
The house has six bedroom suites with private bathrooms, a further bedroom with bathroom, a large living room adjoined by a veranda with views to the harbor of Hydra, a study, two drawing rooms, several courtyards and a garden, open air dining room under a pergola, a swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi, private cinema, water purification and pressurization system.
There is multichannel satellite television in all bedrooms and in other spaces. The house has one fully equipped kitchen and cellar for gourmet cooking as well as a kitchenette/bar, to accommodate the pool area.
The distance from the house to the harbor of Hydra is 5 minutes by foot.
By: Jennifer Zimmerman of Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC
Provided by New London Agency
Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced that New London Agency in New London, N.H., is the newest member of its luxury real estate network.
The firm now will do business as New London Agency Sotheby's International Realty, with Stephanie Perkins Wheeler and Pamela Perkins serving as co-owners and brokers.
“New London Agency has a102-year tradition of established real estate sales and providing the finest service to buyers and sellers,” said Michael R. Good, president and chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “They are experts in their markets, which offer the best of vacation and year-round living.”
The firm’s three offices are located at 259 Main Street, New London, N.H.; 1294 Rte. 11, Georges Mills; and 36 River Road, Sunapee, with 11 brokers and 15 associates.
“We are dedicated to providing professional real estate services with honesty, integrity and enthusiasm,” said Stephanie Perkins Wheeler. “Our team of brokers and agents includes experts who I believe are the most knowledgeable, experienced brokers in this region, and we are proud to now represent the Sotheby’s International Realty brand in our market.”
Ocean mansions in Victorian glory
The Providence Sunday Journal, Neighborhood of the Week, June 14, 2009 by Christine Dunn, Journal Staff Writer
Hazard Castle, at 333 Ocean Rd., a Gothic Revival landmark, has been on the market since 2007. Asking price:$7 million.
The Ocean Road Historic District in Narragansett is the kind of place where the houses have names: Indian Rock. Stone Lea. Flat Rock Cottage. Whispering Pines. Whitehall. Spindrift.
The district, which runs along the rocky Atlantic coastline just south of the popular Pier neighborhood and Town Beach, is known for its sprawling Victorian-era shingle-style mansions, many designed by the famed architectural firm McKim Mead & White.
But the neighborhood's most notable property is the Hazard Castle at 333 Ocean Rd., a Gothic Revival landmark on 34 acres with 1400 square feet of frontage on Ocean Road.
Owned by the Diocese of Providence, the property is for sale, on the market for $7 million. The 15 bedroom medieval-style stone mansion was built between 1846 and 1889 for Joseph Peace Hazard, a member of the public-spirited family that founded the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company, a textile mill in South Kingstown.
Hazard, who was Quaker-educated, was also a spiritualist who believed the living could could communicate with departed souls. After the diocese acquired the estate in 1951, it held an exorcism there because Hazard had hosted seances on the site, according to neighbor and conservationist Robert O'Neill.
"There's lots of stories about the property," said John Hodnett, of Lila Delman Real Estate, the company that currently has the Hazard Castle listing. Hodnett said he's also heard about the seances and subsequent exorcism. "It's always had this spiritual aura about it," he said.
O'Neill is also a member of Friends of Hazard Castle, a group formed to advocate for the preservation of the castle and its 105-foot tower. The tower was built as a monument to the Peace, Gibson, Hazard and Robinson families.
In the 1870s, the Hazard family brought railroad service to both Peace Dale, to assist their business, and to the family's seaside property in Narragansett, which led to the development of both the private mansions and the string of resort hotels that once lined Ocean Road, O'Neill said.
Members of the Hazard family owned their Ocean Road estate until about 1950, when it was sold to a man named Halloran from Pawtucket, who then sold it to the diocese for the same price he paid for it, with the understanding that the diocese would own the property perpetually, O'Neill said.
The church operated a retreat center, the Our Lady of Peace Spiritual Life Center, on the estate for many years, but the diocese closed the center and put the property up for sale in 2007. It was first listed with a Boston firm, Meredith & Grew, but the listing went to Lila Delman Real Estate several months ago. Hodnett said there has been a lot of interest in the property, but a sale is not imminent. Although there are a number of properties for sale on Ocean Road, an estate hasn't been sold there since 2005, he said.
According to O'Neill and Hodnett, the diocese has not acceded to a request to require potential buyers to guarantee to preserve the historic structures on the property. Michael Guilfoyle, a spokesman for the Diocese of Providence, said there is no deed restriction on the property, though the diocese hopes that the future owner of the property will use it "in a way that will preserve its present beauty." Guilfoyle said he could not confirm or deny the report about exorcism.
Concern about what may happen to a property so connected with the town's history is one of the reasons the town is now mulling the establishment of local historic districts in Narragansett. The Town Council is expected to consider the issue Monday.
The Ocean Road Historic District in place now is a National Register district, not a local one overseen by a local historic district commission. Local historic districts can have the power to review requests to tear down historic properties and require that certain architectural features be maintained in existing historic buildings.
Hodnett said he supports establishing local historic districts in Narragansett, but he also thinks it is unlikely that any buyer would want to tear down the Castle. "I don't think there's any risk at all of that building ever being torn down," he said. Hodnett said he also expects any new owner to preserve the many specimen trees on the land, many laid out in exquisite patterns that form "natural cathedrals." O'Neill said that the grounds of the property were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture...
...For the brave and nimble of foot, the neighborhood has several public access points with paths that lead to the rocky oceanfront.
There are about 10 angled parking spaces at the end of Bass Rock Road, with a sign marked "Danger Hazardous Rocks." Public access and limited parking is also available on Newton and Hazard Avenues.
The Providence Sunday Journal, Neighborhood of the Week, June 14, 2009
by Christine Dunn, Journal Staff Writer
By Kitty J. Laios of Kitty J. Laios Real Estate
A fantastic landscape of 5 acres embraces this magnificent Villa in Mykonos, facing the Aegean Sea (only 300m. walk distance from Lemonitra Beach).
The villa is built according to feng shui and fills its guests with a unique feeling of well being and relaxation.
You can reach the cosmopolitan town or the famous beaches of Mykonos in 5-15 minutes by car.
The harmonious composition of stone, old marble and wood create the unique atmosphere of the outdoor area.
The old marble pillar, together with the other marble antiques, dominate the pool area.
The villa consists of four luxury suites built in Cycladic style, each one with its own identity.
Old pieces from the owner's collection and unique works of art add style and character to the Villa.
By Ann Adenius of Signature Residences Worldwide
An outstanding, luxurious family home situated in La Moraleja, Madrid, is providing elegant and spacious accommodation – perfect for today’s family lifestyle and entertaining.
La Moreleja is the Madrileño version of Beverly Hills, a tranquil and spacious oasis of luxury villas with private gardens. Its residents include the internationally rich and famous, including film stars, impresarios, politicians and top company directors.
There are 26 schools in La Moraleja area alone (the Madrileño version of Beverly Hills) and about 16 of them are international. You can find for instance ICS (International College Spain), Runnymede College, King’s College School and others for French and Swedish students.
The villa features a living room with large windows, a dining room, a massive, high-tech modern kitchen and breakfast room. The stunning master bedroom comprises a reading and TV area, main bedroom, dressing room, a spectacular Spa bath and shower room. There are three further bedrooms, a music and TV room and a study.
4 bedrooms + 2 bedrooms in the service quarters. The villa offers approx. 1,100m² of living space, while the plot of land is 2,500m².
Price: Euro 9million
Signature Residences Worldwide
Tel: +44 (0)20 7095 8701
11
Modern Masterpiece, Madrid
By Ann Adenius of Signature Residences Worldwide
This spectacular modern masterpiece is truly a unique trophy property
The sculptural home truly amazes thanks to its visual impact and conceptual design: it’s a stratified building with texturized dark concrete facades.
The house is located in the exclusive Somosaguas area, northwest of Madrid.
The interior is full of surprises, solved with a very complex array of spaces with different heights and levels, as well as the particular shape of some of the rooms. The lower level contains the main hall -covered by a curved ceiling that accentuates its relevance-, living and dining rooms, master bedroom, gym, interior pool, kitchen and service areas. The basement is dedicated to health and leisure, with a bar, games room, chill out, massage room, media room, cellar and gym.
There are 5 bedrooms + 3 bedrooms for staff. The villa boasts 1,700 sqm of living space, on a 4,900 sqm plot of land.
Price: Euro 11million
Signature Residences Worldwide
Tel: +44 (0)20 7095 8701
09
Big Names in Small Towns
Happy Client Posts Blog
Written by James Mason
Courtesy of Jeremy Onslow-Macaulay of Alfa Immobiliare Real Estate
I have recently returned from a part holiday, part property search trip to Tuscany. I have been searching for my own little slice of the 'Dolce Vita' for a few years now, and I had almost begun to think that my life long goal of owning a property in the hills of the Chianti, was a goal never to be achieved. Part of my problem has been that the local agents who I’ve been using tend to forget about you when you return home. I have noticed that they go out of their way to help and assist whilst your there, but the minute you've gone you rarely hear from them--out of sight out of mind, so to speak.
While strolling along the main street of the centro storico of Castellina in Chianti, after a long lazy lunch of mouth watering salumi, I noticed a sign I’m very used to seeing in the USA. I had no idea that Coldwell Banker existed in Italy, let alone had a branch in the Chianti district. I decided to enter the agency and to cut a long story short, I am now the proud owner of a delightful barn conversion perched on a hill top with fabulous views and breathtaking surroundings. My life long dream has finally become a reality!! I hope they give me discount for saying this, but it really is all due to the friendly and helpful staff of Coldwell Banker/Alfa Immobiliare Real Estate.
Coldwell Banker is one of those big name companies that exist everywhere in the states, and to be honest you don't really expect to get a personalized service. It couldn't have been more different in Italy however, as I really felt they considered their properties more than just products as often is the case in the USA. Their knowledge and passion in the descriptions were enough to make me want to buy before even doing the viewing. They considered each of their properties as special, and I noticed that they had great relationships with the owners, which made the purchase process so much easier. I now look forward to spending many summers sipping supple Chianti Classico in my Tuscan retreat, and it all came down to a big name company in a small Chianti town, who have incorporated their commercial, mass market way of working with small town, small business, Tuscan values and hospitality, to come up with a service that I found second to none!
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