Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of La Costa Resort and Spa

CARLSBAD, Calif. (April 14, 2011) – The first ever resort spa in the U.S. and recently recognized as the #1 Resort Spa in Southern California (Spa Magazine) and the #4 Resort Spa in the U.S. and Canada (Travel + Leisure), The Spa at La Costa is a picturesque Spanish-colonial style haven from the everyday. The crowning glory of La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., the spa offers 28,000 square feet of indoor space and a 15,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard. The spa features 42 treatment rooms, the full-service Yamaguchi Salon, a spa boutique, Spa Café and movement and fitness training studios. As an integral element of the current $50 million renovation, “The Next La Costa” features a new spa concept, interior redesign, a series of new treatments, expansion of the Spa Café, new Café menu items, creation of social spaces, and the addition of a Reflexology Path and Herb Garden in the Spa Courtyard.

For a complete list of updates and renovations, click here.

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds

If you’re a regular Private Trade Winds blog reader or if you follow us on Facebook and Twitter, then you’re probably already aware of our new “Spotlight Destination” promotion. The promotion launched in June with our Spotlight shining on Hawaii where we featured villas on the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai. The weeks following brought us to the coastal communities and wine country of South Africa; the desert, mountains and beaches of California; and lastly the laid-back beauty of Mexico! It’s been a blast, and I’m happy to report that people are loving it!

Each week we’re shining our Spotlight on a new destination which will be announced on our blog, facebook and Twitter. Don’t worry, if social media isn’t your thing you can also email jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com and let us know that you would like to receive our weekly Spotlight Destination announcement in your email.

So, what’s it all about? In the interest of full disclosure – we want to spoil you! We’re giving you the opportunity to travel like a Private Trade Winds client. It’s our version of a try before you buy program. Just book any villa featured in our weekly Spotlight Destination and you will receive all the value added inclusions normally reserved for clients of Private Trade Winds. That would be services like daily housekeeping and roundtrip airport transportation; the personal assistance of our dedicated Travel Advisors and Concierge for all your air and ground transportation, and a welcome gift will be waiting for you at your chosen destination, along with something special from Private Trade Winds to make your trip more enjoyable. It could be a decadent spa treatment, a round of golf or perhaps a personal chef credit. Each destination has its own unique offering which is gifted to you by Private Trade Winds. Other amenities await your arrival like luxurious spa robes, high-end bath amenities, and bottled water and coffee replenished daily.

Why are we doing this? We’re giving you the opportunity to try before you buy. We’re confident that once you take your first Private Trade Winds Villa Vacation you won’t want to travel any other way. So be sure to check in daily on our blog, and follow us on facebook and twitter to see where our Spotlight will be shining next. Remember you can also email Judy Sweetland at jsweetland@privatetradewinds.com or call 866.PTW.4LUX Ext. 804 to receive your announcements and updates. Spoiler Alert - this week . . . Costa Rica!

Courtesy of Ron & Alexandra Seigel of Napa Consultants, International

Diana Bull of  Sterling Properties and Rebecca Riskin of Villagge Properties, both Luxury Real Estate members, are mentioned in this article  on the Napa Consultants, International blog Language of Luxury.

Courtesy of Teressa Francis of Intero Real Estate

SILICON VALLEY, CA – June 16, 2011 – Intero Franchise Services, Inc. announced its continued expansion with the grand opening of a new California location: Intero San Jose Evergreen Valley.

On June 16, 2011, a former Windermere Real Estate office located in the Evergreen area of San Jose, California, led by Denise and Marvin Morris, will transition to the Intero brand. The Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting will be at 2pm.

As a Real Estate broker and owner since 1990, Denise has proudly served Santa Clara County and the surrounding areas. During this time, she managed over 100 agents and a Loan Center with 20 agents as a broker and owner of two highly ranked Century 21 Offices. As the owner and broker of the new Intero San Jose Evergreen Valley office, she is committed to her clients and the community she serves.

Denise’s mission is to build a Real Estate relationship with integrity, loyalty, honestly and hard work. She is a highly trusted Real Estate Broker in the community. She can be counted on for enthusiasm and innovative ideas to achieve to help people achieve their goals.

With currently 15 agents on board, Denise Morris along with business partner and husband, Marvin Morris, plan to grow and create an office of agents who work together as a team and who possess the qualities for success.

Intero San Jose Evergreen Valley
2230 Quimby Road
San Jose, CA 95122
408-223-1511

The launch of Intero San Jose Evergreen Valley follows the recent announcements of Intero El Dorado Hills, Intero Rancho Cucamonga and Intero Scottsdale locations.

About the Intero® Brand:

Founded in 2002, Intero Real Estate Services, Inc. has quickly become one of the premier real estate brands in the U.S. In 2004, Intero Franchise Services Inc. began franchising and currently is operating in many of the western states. In 2009, Intero International Franchise Services, LLC embarked on developing territories in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Americas. The companies are private and headquartered in California's Silicon Valley. Contact: Teressa Francis +1 408 342 3010 tfrancis@interorealestate.com

Courtesy of Carmel Realty Company

Originally built in 1950 the architecturally stunning home known as the Butterfly House has undergone a thoughtful renovation and update to modernize the breathtaking property consistent with it's historic origins. The home is one of five true oceanfront properties located directly on Carmel Bay in Carmel, California. This is a true collector's dream with sweeping views from Point Lobos to Pebble Beach in an unmatched oceanfront setting.

The home and restoration project is featured on the cover of Trends Magazine. Click here to read about the Frank Wynkoop designed home and renovation by the current home owner and architects Thor and Ian Wynkoop (children of the original architect).

The Butterfly House is available for sale exclusively represented by Mike Canning and Lynn Knoop of Carmel Realty Company. Carmel Realty Company is the Luxury Real Estate Board of Regents representative for Pebble Beach and Carmel, California.

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Michael Edlen of Coldwell Banker in Pacific Palisades, California has listed the architecturally signifcant home known as the Casa Miraflores Estate located on famed Amalfi Drive in Pacific Palisades. This sought after estate was designed by the world renowned architect Richard Landry. Mr. Landry worked closely with the interior designer, Lorna Auerbach, to create a worldly estate with Andalusian and Moorish architectural elements and touches throughout. The home has been featured in Architectural Digest and has received several awards including 2 Gold Nugget awards bestowed by the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. The 10,000 square foot home is sited on a 26,000 square foot corner lot with 6 bedroom suites with 6 full baths and is available for sale priced at $14,000,000. The listing is shared by fellow Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate members Joyce Rey and Debra Smalley.

“The mission of the Lightship was a life saving mission, to stand resolute regardless of peril and guide all to safe haven.”
—The Nantucket Lightship WLV-612: Brief History and Ship Specifications

The Luxury Real Estate Vacation Rental program is proud to introduce its newest member, Nantucket Lightship WLV-612. With the first Lightship placed on station in 1820, WLV-612 was created near the end of the Age of Lightships. It started out in San Francisco in 1950, three miles off of the Golden Gate Bridge (of course, back then the ship was known as the “San Francisco”). After serving other California locations over the years, the ship traded the Pacific Ocean for the Atlantic and was posted in Maine as the “Portland”. Lightships were slowly but surely being replaced with 40 foot unmanned buoys, so it wasn’t long before the 612 (at this point known as its current name, the “Nantucket”), had the distinction of being the last Lightship station in the United States, 45 miles southeast of Nantucket Island and it was decommissioned in 1985.

The WLV-612 is one of a proud line of Nantucket Lightships which were known as the Guardian Angels of the North Atlantic. Lightships serving this station were in international waters and were exposed to the dangers of fog bound collisions, enemy attacks and natural disaster from hurricanes to severe winter storms. From 1854 to 1983, it was the Nantucket Lightship and not the Statue of Liberty which first greeted mariners and immigrants to America.

In 2000, Bill and Kristen Golden bought the ship on Ebay, preserving and refurbishing it, offering the luxury yacht for charters, vacation rentals and events. As one of only a dozen lightships remaining, Bill and Kristen seek to showcase the Nantucket Lightship WLV-612 as a new model for historic marine preservation so that other ships may be saved for future generations.

This unique opportunity not only allows you to relax in a beautiful nautical setting—it can also be the perfect dockside venue for events requiring grandeur and glamour. Choose an itinerary that suits your tastes: Jazz Fest in Newport, Opera Cup in Nantucket, anchor in remote coves, explore the quaint seaside towns of Martha’s Vineyard or other coastal communities between Maine and New York.

Join the log of senators, CEOs, entrepreneurs, celebrities, film producers, entertainers, adventurers and romantics that have made the Lightship a “Grand Salon” over the last decade.

CNBC.com used LuxuryRealEstate.com as a resource for a recent story featuring a slideshow of ‘Famous Family Estates for Sale’. Members featured included: Lion & Davis of South Burlington, Vermont, Hammond Residential Real Estate in Boston, Massachusetts, Pamela Cromey Real Estate in Tuxedo Park, New York, Mason Morse Real Estate in Aspen, Colorado, and Joyce Rey of Coldwell Banker Previews International in Beverly Hills, California. All but one of the companies mentioned are members of our network.

(Pictured: Governor Chittenden Homestead)

Courtesy of Robert Kenyon of Willis Allen Real Estate

Caveat Emptor plays a serious role in the marketplace no matter what the purchase. Real Estate is positioned somewhat differently in that the potential buyer within California has a period of time, normally 17 days, with the help of chosen experts to make a diligent search for flaws in the property or other notable concerns, which might affect their decision to buy. Ultimately, the potential buyer can provide the seller with a list of repairs to complete, negotiate responsibility for those repairs or is allowed to rescind the contract in "good faith" should they find that their concerns are such that the property does not meet their standards, thereby negating the sale and recouping their initial deposit.

One important factor to consider within Rancho Santa Fe is whether the particular home is on the list of historical sites. Presently, the list includes 18 such homes. A number of these homes fall under the Mills Act, which statutorily defines them as such and which have been designated so by agreement between the home owner and the local governing body, while others simply have been designated historically important sites by the Rancho Santa Fe Association, the controlling body that oversees the upkeep and development of the "Ranch" according to the Covenant by-laws which define how the assets within the community should be maintained. The importance of knowing whether a home falls under the heading of a historical site is paramount in that it will be excruciatingly difficult to make any changes outside of the structure of the home and potentially painstaking as well to make major changes within the home.

Should the buyer plan to scrape the home, it is with near certainty that this will be challenged and even should the buyer prevail, it will become a lengthy and tedious process. The Art Jury within Rancho Santa Fe will take a close look at the plans with a conservative eye in keeping with the traditions of what the Covenant was meant to protect and preserve. It is incumbent upon whoever has interest in making a purchase of a home within Rancho Santa Fe, among other acts of due diligence, to ascertain whether that particular home that otherwise meets their needs is included on the list of historical sites, designated as such under the Mills Act or by the Rancho Santa Fe Association.

Courtesy of Robert Kenyon of Willis Allen Real Estate

Certainly a long time in passing, perhaps never before, has there been a better time to purchase a home in the prestigious community of Rancho Santa Fe, CA. The inventory of homes is high, the interest rates are historically low and for some sellers, the need is pressing. For those who have the fortitude to pursue a Short Sale or Foreclosure Sale, the options are even greater.

With easily obtainable jumbo loans no longer a possibility, the qualified buyers who can close an escrow on a multi-million dollar home certainly has decreased, allowing those who can bring cash to the table to become powerful contenders. Cash is king is a cliche that holds true meaning.

Given the apparent timidity of buyers who continue to hesitate as they await further price reductions, together with the fact that a majority of buyers simply cannot pass the full documentation requirements by banks for large-sized loans, thereby in real measure decreasing the numbers of qualified buyers in the marketplace, sellers are more likely to listen to what at any other time would be considered a low-ball offer.

Considering the amount of distressed properties now on the market, together with the worrisome, unknown numbers of homes being held by the banks in their "Shadow Inventory," it is anyone's guess as to when the market might truly rebound. Having said that, for a buyer who is serious about acquiring a grand property at a great price, the time is now. With all of the unknowns, one consequence is for certain. Interest rates are just itching to climb from what are now historically low percentages. It matters not if a buyer were to acquire a property for a lesser price by waiting until spring or summer, because should the interest rate have gained a percentage, that simple rise ultimately would offset any savings on a price reduction by having paid a much larger amount in interest over the life of the mortgage.

Sellers on the other hand, who are intent to sell, need to restructure their estimate of preconceived equity in their home. A seller's focus should be on the acquisition of their next purchase, be it to downsize, move laterally or upward and not to focus on trying to sell for a top dollar amount. The longer the house sits on the market, the greater a buyer's hesitation. A seller must price it to sell, close the escrow and join the buyers' market, which should allow the seller to recoup and if wisely acted upon when purchasing a new property, perhaps even realize a gain against lost equity.