Luxury Real Estate

Pierre-Yves Guillaume with Rive Droite Immobilier

Located in a charming French hamlet at one hour drive from Geneva (Switzerland) and Lyon (France), this breathtaking estate is one of the most prestigious properties currently offered in Europe.

This elegant and refined castle , which can accommodate 100 persons, has just been entirely restored by some of the best European craftsmen. The current owner received the European Union Cultural Commission’s grand prize for a prior restoration.

The entire property is comprised of the main castle, a keep tower, a gardener cottage, the stables and its outbuildings, a workshop, pavilion and barn.

Established as a Barony since 1582, the estate has a surface of 130 hectares including 80 hectares of fenced and lanscaped grounds with a french park, 10 horse paddocks, a covered riding school,15 km of private roads, tennis court.

The castle is divided into 5 levels of living space.

The lower ground floor (150 sqm / 1,625 sq feet) offers a fully equipped kitchen with serving hatch, service room, shower room, toilets, laundry room, and several service rooms.

The ground floor (480 sqm / 5,150 sq feet) is where you will find the large entrance hall decorated by a 16th-century tapestry, the astonishing ball room with a fireplace of sculpted wood, original 1880 tile floors and splendid paneling, a breathtaking round smoking room, a charming Orangerie with views of the park, small dining room, the formal dining room for 40 persons with its Renaissance fireplace, classified as a French historical monument, the elevator, a gallery with wardrobe and toilets for visitors. From the ground floor there is also access to the 3-story tower with a bedroom on the first floor, a large terrace and a second bedroom on the second floor.

The second floor of the castle ( 480 sqm / 5,150 sq feet) is home to an impressive large central reception room with its subtly decorated wooden fireplace, beautiful herringbone parquet floor and painted ceiling, the royal apartment is furnished with a Louis 13th canopy bed, and features a large terrace and an extraordinary round bathroom. The prince apartment, the count apartment and the Baron apartment, all beautifully appointed with the finest details and their own bathroom .

The third floor ( 357 sqm / 3’850 sq feet) holds 8 more bedrooms and bathrooms, including two superb Louis 16th style bedrooms, plus an elegant Egyptian-style reception room and turret.

The fourth level of the castle features 7 additional apartments, a large family room, storage room and the maid¹s room with a small shower. All the bedrooms of the castle are furnished in different styles of furniture that cover all the French historical periods from Louis 13th to Louis-Philippe.

The impressive keep features a wine cellar, a billiard room anorded with a charming balcony, a library with a 17th century fireplace and embellished by an 18th century tapestry, two very charming small apartments with ceilings «à la française» and delightful small bathrooms. The top level is an amazing terrace overviewing the whole estate.

By José Ribes Bas of Rimontgó

Rimontgó was founded in Jávea in 1959, but the commercial tradition of the family dates back to 1890, when Mateo Ribes Simó, great grandfather of the Ribes brothers, began a thriving business exporting fruit to different parts of Europe. His determination and business ethics formed the underpinnings of a family tradition that is now in its fourth generation.

The addition of his son José Ribes Bas helped the expansion of the production and warehousing capacity that the firm had in the fishing quarters of Aduanas del Mar. It was perhaps this fishing tradition that inspired José Ribes to successfully diversify his business when Spain’s borders with the rest of Europe were effectively closed after the civil war.

In 1941 José and his firstborn son José Ribes Buigues built a new warehouse for tuna fishing, curing works and later sale in the market (Almadraba). In 1948 they developed the emblematic ‘Novick‘ and ‘Dogma‘ brands of orange international distribution. The fishing operation, however, ceased in 1953 after a series of strong sea storms.

When in the 50’s the astute father and son team realised that the country’s nascent tourism industry was a future giant, they started their first real estate transactions, involving mostly land. The first deals were closed in 1956, 57 and 58 with the purchase, development and sale of plots. The demand for homes from those who ‘discovered’ this region was such that José Ribes Buigues was forced into a steep learning curve. It was one thing to set up

 Picture of José Ribes Bas (grandfather to José, Antonio and Eduardo) showing a plot to a foreigner.

 plots with the required infrastructures, another to actually construct properties. This required greater technical and construction resources, but again the Ribes’ sense of adaptability rose to the fore, as José became known not only for his creativity and technical expertise in the field of property development, but also for the integrity with which he conducted his business.

He decided to build his first villa in 1959. It was sold to a visiting German tourist the very same summer. Later in the same year he and his father bought a hectare of land and developed it to allow the construction of five villas.

The 1960s were characterised by the development of a range of different properties aimed at a growing and increasingly diverse clientele. As he built more homes, José Ribes acquired more land, becoming in the process a constructor and developer whose name was starting to be known beyond the immediate area of Jávea. Clients both foreign and Spaniards spread the word to friends and colleagues, thus helping to promote a sector that was growing in scale and know-how. The villas constructed under the auspices of Rimontgó were increasingly refined and luxurious.

At the beginning of the 1970s José Ribes Buigues befriended a Swedish couple (Hermansenn). He set out to produce the finest properties yet seen in this part of Spain, and travelled 3,400 Km. (2,100 miles) in a Seat 850 car to Sweden to proudly present his vision in situ. He returned with a bagful of contracts.

José introduced his three sons, José, Antonio and Eduardo, to the family business in a gradual way. Starting by working in the gardens of the houses their father built, they later sat in for the company secretary during her holiday visits to relatives in the UK. Later, their father’s insistence on becoming fluent in English stood them in good stead when they were drawn upon to show prospective buyers around. In fact, the Ribes’ mother, like many other mothers, also had to participate in running the family business, in this case dealing with the rental of villas and apartments.After the founder of the business passed away in 1979, his son and grandsons continued to run business as before.

Local swedish press informing about José Ribes Buigues’ “curious” trip.

The 1980s and 1990s period up to the present moment the company really saw Rimontgó confirmed as a major and highly respected force in the region’s real estate sector, as well as its ascendance into an internationally recognised firm.

It would, however, be untrue to say that it has all been plain sailing. As with their father, grandfather and great grandfather before them, prosperous years were interspersed with meagre ones, when hard work and single-minded determination were required simply to survive. Antonio and José ‘Pepe’ Ribes are just as proud of coming through such difficult times with their integrity intact as they are of the growth and progress achieved during the good years, remembering periods such as the oil crisis of the early 70s, the financial problems that hit Spain in 1982 and the market collapse of 1989 that followed the stock market falls. Now we are once again faced with difficult and challenging times, following the ‘discovery’ of another economic and financial crisis in July 2007.

Looked at this way the Company has been through four major national and international recessions. With the current crisis yet to play itself out they know from experience what it takes to survive such times: dogged determination, flexibility and the willingness to work harder for less and go that extra mile for your clients. Throughout it all, however, the sense of integrity and honour instilled by their father remains a constant guideline, both in good and bad times.

Today Rimontgó forms part of some of the leading international collectives of luxury real estate agents. To membership, since 1974, of the official Association of Real Estate Agents were added, amongst others, founding membership of the national luxury property organisation Nacional Premier and exclusive representation of Sotheby’s International Realty for the region of Valencia until 2004. The latter status was replaced by the exclusive representation of Christie’s Great Estates in the same region as of 2004, when Rimontgó became a founding member and driving force behind EREN - the European Real Estate Network.

The company, in the persona of José, also sits on Christie’s Great Estates International Advisory Board - an organisation made up of just eight members from around the world. Rimontgó, furthermore, is also a member of Luxury Portfolio, the Fine Property Collection and of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, for the latter of which it is one of six members elected to its International Committee. José Ribes Bas is vice-president of EREN.

Antonio and José have taken the principles of integrity and ethics in business, dedication to clients, honesty and loyalty as inherited from their father and grandfather, and have applied these to a more modern age in which values stand out even more.

The ongoing relationship with companies such as Construcciones San Rafael and the long-serving loyalty of invaluable team members such as Penny -the very first assistant-, Pat Turner, Marisa Simón, Fina Doménech, Rosa - Antonio’s wife - and Loli Tortajada, who has been with the company since 1995, bear testament to a firm that is securely rooted in its sector and its home ground. Today, people such as Maria del Mar Bas, Rosana Morant, María Márquez, Toñi Bas, Fabiola Doménech, Cristina Martínez, David Tornero, Alicia Martínez, Margot Duncan-Etchegaray, Ignacio (Nacho) Artagoitia, and Mª Carmen Luis form the basis of a team that gives and receives loyalty. Imbued with the dedication to their work and their clients that made the difference for Rimontgó, they are a key part of its growth and success. Contributing to this core team are the skills of people such as Modesto Granados and Michel Cruz, amongst many other professionals, and the valued advice and friendship of colleagues such as Diane Ramirez, Benedetta and GiorgioViganò, Diana Morales, Sharon Michnay, Michael Saunders, Eric Bryn, José Miguel Martínez Medina, José Antonio Fernández Gallar and Paul Boomsma, to name a few.

Over the years Rimontgó has won its share of both national and international awards, ranging from Most Influential Global Real Estate Leader Award 2007 to the Luxury Real Estate Best Web Site Award 2008. An even greater satisfaction, however, is to receive compliments from happy clients, to build a cohesive team whose members - bosses included - grow and learn together, building a sustainable business of which they can all be proud. For José and Antonio, every day is the continuation of a learning curve that started back in the late 1960s, when they helped out after school, and continues today as they steer the business through changing times - as ever guided by the desire to build upon the proud name and legacy inherited from the hard work of previous generations.

This is the pledge of excellence they make to their grandfather, their father, their employees, their colleagues and indeed their clients.

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,

By Jim Walberg
From his blog: Some East Bay Real Estate Is On The Slippery Slide Of FEAR!

Once you get on the Slipper Slide of Fear, it is difficult to get off! Please stay off that slippery slide!

So, I picked up USA Today last Saturday on my flight to the Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference in Philadelphia where I was a presenter. The USA Today headline was, “FEAR is a slippery slide!” In some of my past comments I have used the sailor’s mantra, “Do not be fearful!” It still applies today, in spite of an almost 900-point recovery on the Dow Jones the past two days. Don’t forget… once you step on the “slippery slide” of fear, the momentum carries you away very quickly.

The voice of experience, the voice of the local authority, and the voice of credibility can still prevail. And we are the ones that need to be that voice. I just completed a walk from the Philadelphia Ritz Carlton to Constitution Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other reminders of the work our founding fathers did on our behalf 230+ years ago. What an inspiring day! (You may recall this is the organization that is the acknowledged authority of luxury real estate! It was founded by John Brian Losh with a vision of connecting the best luxury brokers and agents in the world – 1,900 members from 65 countries.)

Do you think they were afraid? Of course they were. But, the consequence of letting fear paralyze them from action was not acceptable. Instead of the “slippery slide” of fear taking them away from the liberty and freedom they so dearly wanted for our country, they discovered – step by step – the actions needed to create the most incredible democracy in our world’s history. It was very hard. Thousands of lives were lost as part of that payment for liberty. And, the founding fathers never lost site of end result that was required – FREEDOM!

There is a book I have enjoyed reading several times – “The Tipping Point.” They have a very insightful analysis of Paul Revere’s ride in Boston a few days before the Revolutionary War was officially declared. His ride was so effective that it mobilized the citizens along his route in a manner that called them to action in stopping the British from confiscating their arms stored in Concord. Did you know there was a second rider who was sent in a different direction to alert another section of Massachusetts to immediately prepare to defend Concord. Does anyone remember his name? In fact, I had never heard of him before I read “The Tipping Piont.” He was totally and utterly ineffective in his call to arms.

What was the difference between these two men with similar intentions? Paul Revere was one of the most respected local authorities on what was happening within the colonies which he believed required a liberation movement to break away from British rule – even if it meant war. I would like to be as effective as Paul Revere during these uncertain economic times. We are the local citizens calling our “citizens” to action in order to work through the financial crisis we are in. Will you join me as we serve our clients and communities, and help them off the “Slippery Slide of Fear?” (You get bonus points if you email me with the other freedom rider’s name whose ride was a waste of time.) Contact me with your thoughts. Until next time…


Editor’s Note:
Jim Walberg is the co-Broker/Owner of The Bay Area Team, the most-successful team at Keller Williams Realty-Danville. He is also a member of the global Luxury Real Estate network. Jim is an exceptional blogger, as you can see by visiting his blogs, East Bay Real Estate and Caribbean Islands Realty, and reading his great blog entries like the one above. He is the master of fractionals and other luxury homes in the Bay Area and the Caribbean, and he always has a lot of great opportunities to share. Simply marvelous. This is the last blog entry from Jim that I will have the privilege of editing and posting to the Luxury Real Estate Blog. I am always impressed by his enthusiasm, cheerful disposition and unparalleled kindness. Thank you, Jim, for being such a good person and being a light to a world of shadows and fear. You are amazing.

By Robert Lockard

I have some very fun news to share. A new TNT movie starring Oscar® winner Cuba Gooding Jr. is currently filming in the Detroit area, and part of the filming is being done at a waterfront luxury home on Windmill Point Drive in Grosse Pointe Park. This property is being represented by Higbie Maxon Agney, Inc. Realtors, a member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and the Board of Regents.

Check out this wonderful story in the Grosse Pointe News that I received earlier this week. Sorry I don’t have a link to the story online. Apparently, that newspaper doesn’t post some of their stories on their Web site, but luckily I have a PDF version of the printed article.

The movie is called “Gifted Hands: The Story of Ben Carson” and it follows the life of Ben Carson, born into poor conditions, who was able to lift himself up and become a famed pediatric neurosurgeon. It’s scheduled to debut on TNT on Feb. 7, 2009. I love inspirational stories about good people triumphing over difficult circumstances. Actually, this discussion reminds of a blog entry that Jim Walberg, the co-Owner/Broker of The Bay Area Team, just wrote about not giving in to fear despite our difficult financial market.

The luxury property on Windmill Pointe Drive is quite remarkable. It includes near two acres of land, its own private dock and 12,000 square feet of living space for $7.3 million. If you’d like more information, you can contact Heather Adragna Ulku or check out this brochure on the property.


Editor’s Note:
Robert Lockard is the Public Relations & Media Specialist with LuxuryRealEstate.com. I am Robert. I create all of Luxury Real Estate's newsletters, write the editorials in LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine and much more. Feel free to share your good news like this with us, as well. I love reading and writing good stories for the Luxury Real Estate Blog. The photo of Cuba Gooding Jr. is from www.flickr.com/photos/rafamado/2635448556 and it is the copyright of Rafael Amado Deras.

By Brian Langhorst

As many of you know, our 13th Annual Fall Conference is being held this October 11th – 14th at the historic Ritz Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. But did you know that Philadelphia:

- Has 0% sales tax on certain items!
- Is the largest city in Pennsylvania.
- Is the sixth most populated city in the United States.
- Is home to famed Morimoto Restaurant, run by chef Masaharu Morimoto, one of the original Iron Chefs.
- Is the nation’s 4th largest consumer market.
- Has the oldest diamond district in the United States!
- Is home to luxury jewelry stores Lagos and Tiffany & Co.
- Was the nation’s first capital in 1774.
- Is home of the Rodin Museum and houses the second-largest collection of works outside of France.
- Is home to Comcast, Lincoln Financial Group, CIGNA, Sunoco and many more.

We are very excited to be traveling to Philadelphia this fall and hope that you will join us at this industry-leading event bringing together the best luxury real estate professionals from around the world.

To learn more about Philadelphia, visit helpful websites like www.GoPhila.com.

Contact me to register for the Fall Conference: BLanghorst (at) LuxuryRealEstate.com

I look forward to seeing you there!


Editor’s Note:
Brian Langhorst is LuxuryRealEstate.com’s Membership Manager. He meets members’ unique needs through the dynamic services LuxuryRealEstate.com provides. The Fall Conference is a great opportunity to meet with agents and brokers who specialize in luxury homes. Don’t miss out! The photo above is from www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/20975366 and it is the copyright of aymlis.

By Andrew Harper

Many people have a list of places they’d like to visit before they move on to the next world; here are a few American suggestions of my own.

For conversation’s sake, I have avoided the obvious targets, but a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge or a trip up the Empire State Building is still definitely worth it.

Though we are lucky to live in a beautiful country, I have focused on smaller, man-made locales, simply because a catalog of pretty American places could stretch on forever.

This list is admittedly subjective, but it comes from 30 years of professional wandering. Some places are more well-known than others, but all share a sense of tranquility and wonder.

And since I review small boutique hotels for a living, I have included nearby recommended places to stay. Happy travels!

Madison Valley, Montana

Montana’s Madison Valley, which runs between the Madison and Gallatin ranges down to West Yellowstone, is magnificent Lewis and Clark territory. This is unspoiled land, vast and uncompromising – everything you hope Big Sky Country will look like. Harper Recommended Hotel: The Lodge at Sun Ranch.

San Francisco de Asis Church, Ranchos de Taos

Famously painted by Georgia O’Keefe and described by her as “one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards,” this handsome adobe mission a few miles outside of Taos Pueblo yokes together a staggering five centuries of American history. Harper Recommended Hotel: Casa de las Chimeneas, Taos.

Whaling Museum, Nantucket

At its whaling peak during the first half of the 19th century, the small island of Nantucket had 88 ships scattered across the oceans. The Whaling Museum is wonderfully evocative of this era (plenty of scrimshaw and rusty harpoons), and out-of-season Nantucket Town, with its Greek Revival mansions and cobblestone streets, is equally enchanting. Harper Recommended Hotel: The Wauwinet.

Battery District, Charleston

The historic Battery District of Charleston, South Carolina, home to dozens of stately antebellum mansions, is one of the prettiest American neighborhoods I’ve ever explored. Follow the promenade along the shores of the Charleston peninsula; Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, sits broodingly across the Cooper River. Harper Recommended Hotel: Planters Inn.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Housed in a charming Venetian-style palazzo, this gem of a gallery displays works by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Whistler and Sargent. It’s small enough to tour in an hour or so, and you can spend the rest of your time enjoying the sunny, flower-filled courtyard. And if your name happens to be Isabella, you get in free. Harper Recommended Hotel: XV Beacon.

The Four Seasons Restaurant, New York

If you had to choose only one restaurant in New York City to visit, the Four Seasons Restaurant would be the one. The city’s prettiest dining room was designed by architects Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, and astutely hasn’t been touched since its introduction in 1959. The Pool Room is a study in muted sophistication, despite some of the outsized egos at the tables. Harper Recommended Hotel: The Lowell.

The Rothko Chapel, Houston

This small, non-denominational chapel located just off the Menil gallery in Houston’s Museum District seems unassuming at first, but spend some time surrounded by the 14 mysterious paintings by Mark Rothko, and it may start sinking into your skin. Harper Recommended Hotel: St. Regis.

The Huntington Gardens, San Marino, California

Mr. Huntington did quite well in railroads, and he’s left us with a wonderful afternoon escape just outside of Los Angeles. After admiring some of the spoils of his industry – a Gutenberg Bible, a Shakespeare folio, Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy” – venture out into the superb botanical gardens, home to dozens of unique environments: an almost eerily authentic Japanese garden, a lily pond straight out of a Monet painting, and an entrancing collection of cacti. Harper Recommended Hotel: Hotel Bel-Air.

Robie House (Frank Lloyd Wright), Chicago

The Robie House, the world’s first modern home, was designed in 1908 by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and still seems startlingly contemporary 100 years later; with its broad horizontal lines and sleek art glass windows, it looks like a modernist yacht. Wright himself showed up to protest the planned demolition of the house (it was to be replaced by a seminary dormitory) at the ripe old age of 90. Harper Recommended Hotel: Four Seasons.

The Oregon Coast

Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast swerves through 360 miles of jagged cliffs, rocky outcrops, sweeping dunes and temperate rain forests. The coastline lacks deep harbors, so there are no large cities here – just old logging towns, fishing villages and the occasional artist colony. And the entire coast is public land, which makes for excellent picnic opportunities in rugged and remote spaces. Harper Recommended Hotel: The Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach.


Editor’s Note:
For more information on this company, contact Margaret Temple, the Business Development Manager at Andrew Harper in Austin, Texas. Andrew Harper is an exclusive partner with Luxury Real Estate. This is some great advice for travelers seeking great deals. For more than a quarter century, Andrew Harper has explored the world as an incognito traveler. Always paying his own way, his unbiased reviews of the finest hotels, villas, yachts, restaurants and culturally authentic travel experiences are legendary. Through a variety of media, complemented by highly personalized travel planning services, members of Andrew Harper’s luxury travel club enjoy the resources to dream, plan and realize an unparalleled level of globetrotting. This blog entry is chock full of great information, just like Andrew Harper’s previous blog entry. Be sure to keep checking back at the Luxury Real Estate Blog for scoops like this!

By Robert Lockard

There are so many fun one-liners I could use to sum up this story, it’s hard to pick just one. I’ll go ahead and try this one: Elvis has left the building, and now that building can be yours! Yeah, that’ll work.

Elvis Presley’s “Graceland West” estate in Palm Springs, Calif. is now for sale. Talk about a house with some history, this two-acre estate, nestled in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains, is where Elvis (the king of Rock and Roll) lived for almost eight years, recorded eight songs in the living room in 1973 and spent his last birthday. He died on Aug. 16, 1977 at the age of 42.

The seller of the estate is being represented by Honey Brooks of Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate, a member of Luxury Real Estate in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you’d like more information about this historic luxury property, email Honey Brooks or call her at 415.345.2585. You can also read much more about this property in a news release by Karen Monroe on LuxuryRealEstate.com.

By the way, whenever I think of Elvis Presley, the first thing that comes into my mind is the scene from “Top Secret” (1984), one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen, where Val Kilmer sings his hilarious rendition of Elvis’ famous song “Are you Lonesome Tonight?” Thanks to the magic of YouTube, you can watch Val Kilmer’s version and Elvis’ original below. Toward the end of his parody of the song, Val Kilmer sings so well that it’s hard to distinguish him from the king!






Editor’s Note:
Robert Lockard is the Public Relations & Media Specialist with LuxuryRealEstate.com. I am Robert. I create all of Luxury Real Estate’s newsletters, write the editorials in LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine and much more. I was really tempted to call this blog entry “Wake up with the King” Luckily, I refrained. You can share your blog entries on the Luxury Real Estate Blog by emailing them to me. The Elvis Presley portrait is from www.flickr.com/photos/bootbearwdc/2491351807 and it is the copyright of dbking.

By Janice Ridge

An historic luxury home has come on the market in Piedmont, Calif., USA. Listed at $3.5 million by Prudential California Realty Fine Homes Specialist and Top-Producing Broker Vickie Robinson, the house is the very oldest house built in the community of Piedmont. It’s located in an enclave of homes in the Oakland Hills known for its excellent public school system, its small-town atmosphere, low crime rate and desirable views of the entire Bay Area.

How old is old? Well that depends. In Piedmont, that is 130 years old or 130 years new, depending on your perspective. Built in 1878, the home is old by Bay Area standards, where the average “older” home was built in the 1920s. This is a vintage luxury home that needs a lot of TLC, so for the price, what you get is a historically significant property in a central Piedmont location with all the amenities that Piedmont has to offer. What you don’t get is a remodeled kitchen and bathrooms!

For more information on this little piece of Piedmont history, contact Vickie Robinson at vickie.robinson at prurealty.com or call her at 510-703-8207.


Editor’s Note:
As the Director of Membership & Relocation at LuxuryRealEstate.com, and herself a licensed REALTOR®, Janice Ridge is devoted to coordinating the efforts of all of the LuxuryRealEstate.com membership and Account Managers, so that each of our members is given superior service. This is a great luxury home for sale. Thanks for pointing it out, Janice! I’d like to know more about this home’s history, like who lived in it, what famous events it’s been through and things like that. Old things fascinate me.

By Yvonne Harvey

I was surprised to see a copy of US Airways Magazine on my desk this week with a sticky note on it saying “Info for Conference.” I was perplexed on what that would have to do with our conference in Philadelphia. Then I saw it. In the top right-hand corner in small letters are the words “Philly’s Best-Kept Secrets.” Well, hello!

I thought I would list them out for you, and maybe you can guess which one really jumped out at me.

1) Center City – It’s dynamic and diverse, but also compact and walkable – offering something for everyone.

2) America’s Most Historic Square Mile – The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, The National Constitution Center.

3) A Lively Arts Scene – Music, dance, theater – whatever calls to you, Philadelphia has it.

4) Tax-Free Shopping for Apparel and Shoes – Enough said.

5) Entertainment & Nightlife – With dozens of trendy nightclubs and other up-to-the-minute hot spots, you’ll be able to party ‘til the wee hours.

6) Great Eats – From cheese steaks to five-star dining, Philadelphia has culinary offerings to satisfy every palette.

7) Room to Roam – Even though Philadelphia is a big city, it also has some great outdoors. Run wild in one of America’s largest urban parks.

8) Easy Access – Philadelphia is a quick Amtrak train ride from Washington, D.C. and New York. The airport offers 1,600 daily departures and arrivals to 122 domestic and international destinations.

9) Rooms for Everyone – We have lots of hotel rooms, meeting spaces, and the Convention Center all in the heart of Center City.

10) Historic Service – The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau sales and service team is one of the most critically acclaimed in the industry.

So, did you guess which one jumped out at me? Wait for it …. TAX-FREE SHOPPING! Can we say Neiman Marcus, Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors and Juicy Couture!

As it says above… enough said.

See you in Philly!


Editor’s Note:
Yvonne Harvey is the Events Coordinator for LuxuryRealEstate.com. So when you come and enjoy the wonderful presentations, discussions and networking opportunities at Luxury Real Estate conferences, you know who to thank. It looks like there are now 13 great reasons to attend the Fall Conference in Philadelphia – besides, of course, the networking opportunities, knowledge waiting to be shared, etc. The photo above is from www.flickr.com/photos/vic15/15082596 and it is the copyright of vic15.