SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Luxury home values declined slightly in Los Angeles and San Francisco,
but rose in San Diego in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the
third quarter, according to the First Republic Prestige Home Index™ by
First Republic Bank, a leading private bank and wealth management
company.“Since the beginning of the year, the market has
changed. People are buying houses, and the number of showings has
skyrocketed. We’ve even had some multiple offers. This is going on
across every price range.”

In the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011, the Index indicated the following:

• Los Angeles area values declined 1.8% from the third quarter of 2011
  and dipped 0.1% from the fourth quarter a year ago. The average luxury
  home in Los Angeles is now $1.97 million.
• San Diego area values rose 1.1% from the third quarter but dropped
  3.7% year-over-year. The average luxury home in San Diego is now $1.64
  million.
• San Francisco Bay Area values fell 0.3% from the third quarter and
  were down 3.1% from a year ago. The average luxury home in San
  Francisco is now $2.52 million.

“Luxury home prices in urban, costal markets in California were mostly
stable in the fourth quarter,” said Katherine
August-deWilde, President and Chief Operating Officer of First
Republic Bank. “Low rates, good values and positive economic news have
led to increasing interest in home buying in 2012. San Francisco and
Silicon Valley, in particular, are likely to benefit from the strength
of the technology and social media sectors.”

First Republic Bank produces the Prestige Home Index each quarter with
Fiserv CSW Inc., a leading provider of automated property valuation
services and home price metrics to U.S. financial institutions.
Historical results of the Index, which has tracked luxury homes since
1985, are accessible at www.firstrepublic.com.
First Republic Bank is an active lender in the luxury home market for
primary residences and vacation homes.

Los Angeles Area Values

In Los Angeles, values have remained in a narrow range over the past two
years. In the first quarter of 2010, the average price of a luxury home
in Los Angeles was $1.98 million. In the fourth quarter of 2012, it was
$1.97 million.

Agents said buyer activity rose toward the close of the fourth quarter.
“The end of the fourth quarter closed very strong,” said Mary Beth Woods
of Coldwell Banker in Brentwood. “The problem is that we don’t have as
much inventory as we need. Buyers are hunting for properties. If the
home is priced close to recent comps, it will sell.”

Rory Posin of RE/MAX in Beverly Hills said the market has clearly picked
up. “I don’t think I could be any busier. Pricing is flat, but activity
is strong.”

In Santa Barbara County, the market appears to be firming. “The high-end
market in Montecito was slow the last couple of years, but it heated up
at the end of 2011,” said Rebecca Riskin of Village Properties in
Montecito. “Since January, we have seen multiple closings for over $9
million, as well as several homes above $15 million enter escrow. Buyers
remain price conscious, but there is a greater level of confidence in
the market.”

San Diego Area Values

San Diego values posted a second consecutive quarterly gain, but prices
were still down 3.7% year-over-year.

“Most of the high-end sales in the fourth quarter were on the
oceanfront,” said Andy Nelson, President and CEO of Willis Allen Real
Estate. “In the first quarter, we have seen new buyers looking for
properties. That’s a good sign. We also have reduced inventory and that
could help push prices. If prices start improving, we may see sellers
re-enter the market.”

In La Jolla, activity has increased markedly since the beginning of the
year. “The fourth quarter was slow, and we were worried it would carry
over into the New Year,” said Peggy Chodorow of Prudential California
Realty in La Jolla. “Since the beginning of the year, the market has
changed. People are buying houses, and the number of showings has
skyrocketed. We’ve even had some multiple offers. This is going on
across every price range.”

San Francisco Bay Area Values

In the Bay Area, Silicon Valley and San Francisco were the most robust
markets for luxury homes.

“You are starting to see the positive impact of social media IPOs, hedge
fund wealth, and interest from foreign buyers,” said David Barrett of
Warwick Properties Group in San Francisco. “The market is benefitting
from good old-fashioned consumer confidence. We recently had 100 people
at a showing.”

In Silicon Valley, the market was strong. “In the fourth quarter,
especially in the last two months, the market really picked up,” said
Monica Corman of Alain Pinel in Menlo Park. “Just about everything was
selling. Palo Alto has been strong, and it has spread to other
communities. There’s incredibly low inventory and pent-up demand.
Silicon Valley also has experienced job growth and IPOs. All of this is
driving the market.”

In Marin County, prices were stable. “The market is largely flat and
will remain flat for the next two to three years, with only modest
increases likely,” said Brad Garsten of Frank Allen Howard Realtors in
Greenbrae. “We’re going to continue to teeter along the bottom until the
economy comes back nationally and globally.”

MIAMI, Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
A timeless Mediterranean estate situated on nearly 2 1/2 acres in Palmetto Bay, Florida will be sold to the highest bidder at luxury auction on March 17, 2012. While the property was previously offered for over $4 million, the suggested opening bid at the auction is only $1.25 million. Platinum Luxury Auctions LLC, a Miami-based firm specializing in the auction of luxury properties, is conducting the sale.

Known as Villa la Maison, the property is one of Miami-Dade County’s most charming estates. The residence was custom built by its original and only owners, who are now looking to downsize.

The property’s immense and lushly landscaped lot is surrounded by a perimeter wall and secure entry gate, making it an ideal retreat for a large family or for those who cherish their privacy. The grounds of the estate feature a large courtyard with stone fountain and an oversized pool with Jacuzzi and plenty of finished patio space. The home itself offers approximately 8,414 interior sq. ft. and 10,732 sq. ft. of total living area, with 8 beds and 8 1/2 baths (including separate staff quarters above the 3-car garage).

“A tour of Villa la Maison evokes feelings of an Old World Palm Beach mansion and a European Villa, mixed with a dash of Miami glamour. This property is truly something special,” said Trayor Lesnock, president of Platinum Luxury Auctions.

Notable features of the property include a 2-story, atrium-styled grand foyer with skylight and fountain, an elevator (which services the two main floors and the basement wine cellar), wood-burning fireplaces, butler’s pantry with walk-in cooler, third-story observatory tower and many wonderful Old World touches such as crystal chandeliers and gilded fixtures.

For more details on this luxury auction, please visit VillaMaisonAuction.com or call 1.800.262.5132.

About Platinum Luxury Auctions LLC: Platinum is the only auction company founded exclusively on luxury, non-distressed real estate auction experience. The firm’s principals have closed more than $250 million in luxury real estate auction sales, and have consulted and advised on nearly $1 billion in luxury auction property in total. Platinum also has luxury yacht and aircraft divisions. The firm specializes in luxury assets in excess of $1 million. Contact Platinum at 1.800.262.5132, inquire@platinumluxuryauctions.com or visit
www.PlatinumLuxuryAuctions.com .

SOURCE Platinum Luxury Auctions

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Trump Hotel – Chicago

We’re entering a new age in luxury hotel marketing. Top-tier hotels are now using Twitter for concierge services, social geo-locating platforms to unlock free gifts, Facebook for customer service and YouTube to showcase unique properties. They are finding new, large and responsive audiences across the social web. No doubt, luxury travel’s latest destination is online.

Yet who is leading the charge in this recent wave of innovative hotel social media strategies? What are their methods and how are they finding success? In our ongoing series “Luxury Hotels Social Media,” Pursuitist is interviewing the top luxe hotel leaders (Four Seasons, The Peninsula, Waldorf Astoria and many more) to gain insight into the online strategies of the industry’s elite.

Today’s interview is with Lisa (Tully) Lavian, Director of Marketing for the Trump Hotel Collection.

Q. Why is Social Media important for your company? 


A. Trump Hotel Collection provides guests with the latest information via social media platforms. With technology rapidly increasing, social media is a major influence when communicating brand messages and leveraging promotions to generate revenue.

The Trump Hotel Collection believes that social media is an ideal medium to communicate a brand’s message that both educates the customer as well as creates an open forum for customer relationships. Additionally through our social channels, we are providing our guests with another layer of customer service that allows us to talk to guests in real time. These types of interactions are very important in showing that our brand is always listening and value our customers’ loyalty.

John Wayne has been specializing in luxury homes and vacation properties in La Quinta and its surrounding areas, including Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and the PGA West development, for more than 30 years.

La Quinta, CA (PRWEB) February 21, 2012

Homebuyers, sellers, and vacationers interested in rentals in the Coachella Valley can now turn to a new online resource that will help them achieve their real estate goals—http://www.johnwayneinc.com. This new website provides another online search tool for users requesting relevant information and insights on the real estate market in the region.

“This site was designed to serve as an easily accessible gateway to real estate in the Coachella Valley,” says John Wayne. “Here, those who are looking for a La Quinta vacation rental or a home for sale in PGA WEST can find extensive and up-to-date listings. Resources are also available for those planning on selling their property and for distressed homeowners who need advice and guidance.”

A prominent LA Quinta Real Estate Broker, John Wayne has been specializing in luxury homes and vacation properties in La Quinta and its surrounding areas, including Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and the PGA West development, for more than 30 years. He has successfully completed over a thousand transactions in the course of his career and his areas of expertise include real estate development and construction, land acquisition, and Luxury Custom Homes.

John Wayne’s new site channels his extensive knowledge and years of experience and is a must-visit for anyone planning on buying, selling or renting a home in the region. Looking for a Palm Desert, PGA West, La Quinta or Indian Wells vacation rental? The site has comprehensive listings of both vacation rentals and properties for sale, as well as virtual tours that provide 360-degree views of specific properties.

For more information on the rental and housing market in the La Quinta and surrounding area, as well as John Wayne and his team’s wide range of services, visit http://www.johnwayneinc.com.

Long Foster is launching a new co-branding effort called the “New Look of Luxury,” to promote its luxury brand, Extraordinary Properties, with the company’s prestigious affiliations with Christie’s International Real Estate and Luxury Portfolio International.

“These affiliations with Extraordinary Properties offers our clients worldwide exposure for their luxury properties and touts the strength of our international network of the most impressive real estate companies in the world,” said P. Wesley Foster, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of The Long Foster  Companies.

“Only Long Foster companies within our exclusive Christie’s International Real Estate territories may offer Christie’s International marketing and branding. Along with the power of our other luxury affiliate partners, this is a winning combination that helps make Long Foster the leader in the luxury market,” Foster added.

The New Look of Luxury program will feature two co-branded options for yard signs, sign riders and other marketing materials — one for Christie’s International Real Estate and one for Luxury Portfolio International. The newly-designed marketing materials rolled out earlier this year.

New signs

“The fresh designs of the signs were created to make a consistent impact in the high-end market. The co-branding shows each passer-by that Long Foster is not only top in the local market but is also aligned with the top names worldwide, delivering the message that each property is marketed globally,” said Jeffery S. Detwiler, president and chief operating officer of The Long Foster Companies, Inc.

“This innovative and exclusive marketing effort is just one more way we are increasing the value of our global reach by further leveraging the power of our affiliate partnerships with Christie’s International Real Estate and Luxury Portfolio,” he added.

Long Foster is the exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate in select markets. Only brokers with leading market share and who meet Christie’s International Real Estate strict business standards of service excellence and consistent achievement are awarded affiliate status, the company said. Long Foster is the largest independent residential real estate company in the United States and the top seller of million-dollar-plus homes throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Through its affiliation with Luxury Portfolio, Long Foster is afforded unique advertising opportunities in such publications as Unique Homes, duPont Registry, Country Living International and LUX Interiors + Design, magazines and The Wall Street Journal. Additional advertising opportunities are available in Luxury Portfolio’s own magazine, which as has a distribution of more than 85,000 copies internationally.

Long Foster’s Extraordinary Properties program includes all properties priced more than $1 million or those that are in the top 5 percent of home prices for the market area. The program embraces a visual multimedia marketing approach that includes the Extraordinary Properties website, virtual tours, a YouTube channel, and the Extraordinary Properties magazine, each leveraging the power of its luxury affiliate partnership, such as Christie’s International Real Estate, Luxury Portfolio International, and Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate.

NEW YORK, Feb 16, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
–Wholly Owned by Christie’s, the World’s Leading Art Business, Christie’s International Real Estate Delivers Unparalleled Expertise in the Luxury Market

Christie’s International Real Estate, the world’s leading luxury real
estate network, welcomed six firms to its Affiliate network at the close
of 2011, only to add four additional firms in January 2012 for a total
of ten new brokerages.

“Christie’s is a name that resonates with luxury buyers worldwide,
both in art and real estate,” says Neil Palmer, Chief Executive Officer
of Christie’s International Real Estate. “Our success in recruiting new
Affiliates is, ironically, due in large part to the increasingly crowded
arena of organizations marketing high-value real estate. One name cuts
through the marketing clutter and stands apart as the proven luxury real
estate expert: Christie’s International Real Estate.”

“In this increasingly competitive environment, where reaching
qualified buyers worldwide is paramount, leading independent brokerages
appreciate the need to align with an international brand,” adds Jarvis
Slade, Head of the Americas, Christie’s International Real Estate.
“After joining, Affiliates gain access to our proprietary marketing
programs and services, our award-winning magazine, and our global Web
platform. They best serve their important clients by promoting their
listings in excess of US$1 million with elegance and effectiveness.”

The most recent local market leaders carefully selected to join
the elite Christie’s International Real Estate network are:

Kentwood
Real Estate, with a total of approximately
175 real estate professionals operating from three strategically located
offices in Denver, Colorado, represents the luxury enclave of Cherry
Creek, among others. “We are pleased to be affiliated with Christie’s
International Real Estate,” said Peter Niederman, Chief Executive
Officer of Kentwood Real Estate. “We are firmly established as the
leader in the luxury home market in metro Denver and select mountain
communities.”

Serving Georgia’s coastal region and the city of Savannah, Seabolt
Brokers is led by luxury real estate specialist and
Managing Broker Elaine Seabolt. “Seabolt is the third brokerage
affiliated with Harry Norman Realtors to gain admittance to our network
of luxury specialists,” says Rick Moeser, Senior Vice President. “That
speaks volumes to the high esteem with which we hold Harry Norman, our
valued Affiliate since 2007, and all of its associated businesses. It
also speaks to the company’s endorsement of the programs and services of
Christie’s International Real Estate.”

Randall,
Realtors Real Living Real Estate, a leader in the
US$1 million-plus residential market, was founded 35 years ago by Doug
Randall. The family-owned firm is now one of the largest real estate
companies in Connecticut, and is ranked as the country’s 129th largest
residential real estate firm. In January 2012, Randall Realtors acquired
the Guilford-based Page Taft Real Estate firm, which will retain its own
identity locally. The merged companies will continue Page Taft’s
affiliation with Christie’s International Real Estate.

Luxe
Platinum Properties in Lake Oswego, Oregon will
exclusively represent the Christie’s brand in the Portland metropolitan
area and the Northern Oregon Coast. Led by Terry Sprague, the area’s
proven leader in the marketing and sale of luxury real estate, this new
venture will serve buyers and sellers by adhering to the highest
standards to quality, integrity, and passionate expertise which
distinguish the Christie’s brand.

Regency
International Estates in the Turks and Caicos
joined the network in late 2011, for a total of 13 brokerages in the
Caribbean. Led by Katherine Baryluk and Robert Greenwood, Regency
International Estates will exclusively represent the Christie’s brand
throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands including the island of
Providenciales, which was ranked the best beach destination in the world
in 2011 by Trip Advisor.

Oliver
Luxury Real Estate Peninsula. The newly established
firm exclusively represents the Christie’s brand in California’s San
Mateo County, including the upscale communities of Atherton, Woodside,
Hillsborough, Portola Valley, Burlingame, and Menlo Park. This boutique
brokerage is lead by long-standing luxury real estate expert Michael
Oliver and his company, Oliver Luxury Real Estate, which joined the
Christie’s International Real Estate network earlier in 2011 with its
Lake Tahoe office. Michael has joined forces with third-generation
Peninsula property specialist Kristin Cashin.

Dream
Properties is the brand name synonymous with
prestigious real estate in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. Marilyn Wilson
has over 22 years experience selling and marketing luxury real estate in
the Ottawa area and is known for her intuitive ability to match buyers
and sellers. From her years of experience structuring the largest
residential real estate transactions in Ottawa, Marilyn has developed a
reputation as the ne plus ultra marketer of fine properties.

Often called the prettiest town in Canada, Niagara on the Lake in
Ontario, Canada, has a distinguished history dating to 1781 and is home
to the network’s area Affiliate, Niagara
on the Lake Realty. Having served the real estate
needs in the town for more than 30 years, the firm expanded in 2007 with
an additional office in St. David’s to meet the needs of its growing
business and the Town of Niagara on the Lakes plan for development in
the area.

In Africa, Kensington
Finest Properties–the exclusive Affiliate of
Christie’s International Real Estate in Mallorca, Spain–will now also
represent the Christie’s brand in the Marrakech region of Morocco. The
company, a proven expert in the top-tier market, will serve an elite
global buying clientele, predominately from France, Germany, and the
Middle East drawn to the “Ocher City” and its exotic international
lifestyle and stunning location in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

In Europe, the network welcomed Cote
Ouest Immobilier in Saint Jean de Luz. Managed by
Nicolas Descamps, the Cote Ouest agency specializes in high-end real
estate on the Basque coast and south of the Landes area and proposes a
highly selective range of houses with character and charm, in some of
the most sought-after places of the region. Nicolas Descamps has worked
in the luxury real estate market in Biarritz for seven years, before
deciding to open his own agency.

Christie’s, originally founded in 1766 by James Christie, pursued an
innovative real estate venture in 1995 by acquiring Great Estates, a
luxury real estate network founded in 1987. Christie’s International
Real Estate is an invitation-only Affiliate network composed of the
world’s most proven and qualified real estate specialists. The company
has central hubs in London and New York; field offices in Beverly Hills,
California, and Palm Beach, Florida; an operations centre in Santa Fe,
New Mexico; and circa 130 Affiliates in Europe; North, Central, and
South America; and the Caribbean as well as Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Visit
www.christiesrealestate.com
for more information.

SOURCE: Christie’s International Real Estate

        Christie's International Real Estate
        Lisa Bessone, +1-505-216-1414 (office)
        +1-505-603-8039 (cell)
        Vice President, Director of PR  Communications
        lbessone@christies.com
        press@christiesrealestate.com

Copyright Business Wire 2012

Cabin fever takes hold of most of us in February, no matter how mild the winter of 2012 has been. Boredom usually ensues.

“Savor, Sip and Style” — a luxury home show in its sixth year at Turf Valley Resort in western Ellicott City— is just what the seasonal-affective-disorder doctor ordered. More than 75 vendors will gather at the Ellicott City hotel complex Feb. 18 and 19 to show, tell and teach you what spring has in store.

Though the main emphasis is on enhancing your home and landscaping, this event lives up to its catchy, alliterative hype and then some.

There will be a wide variety of libations to sip, from beer to vodka to an assortment from Boordy Vineyards, which will offer Seyval Chardonnay Vidal, Shiraz, Vidal and Sangria, for instance. Visitors can savor such goodies as creamery cheese, chocolate bark, homemade barbecue sauce and Greek specialties.

A cooking demonstration by Baltimore’s own Father Leo Patalinghug, who a couple years back beat Chef Bobby Flay on the Food Network’s “Throwdown! With Bobby Flay,” will be a highlight. Short seminars are also slated by such local entrepreneurs as architects Judy Miller and Karen Pitsley, designers April Pardoe and Drury Lane Interiors and real estate expert Bob Lucido.

Despite the sour economy over the last three years, the all-things-to-all-people formula of this event has ensured that it remains well-attended, said Turf Valley’s general manager, Pete Mangione.

“People who may be wanting to move, but can’t get the price that they feel their house is worth, are deciding that if they’re going to stay in their homes, then they’re going to make them nicer,” he said. “This is an upscale home show for people who are already in the market, or think there may be something they can do” to improve their homes.

“Besides, it’s February! What else is there to do?” said Regina Ford, Turf Valley’s marketing director. “People are craving spring and now they don’t have to wait for it.”

This is the first year that Turf Valley will manage the show, which had been operated in the past by a marketing firm that rented space at the resort.

“There’s definitely a learning curve this year, but we’re applying the principles of our bridal show, which we’ve held for 32 years,” Mangione said. “We’ll be fine-tuning it as we go.”

Vendors will offer to renovate and redecorate homes with spring just around the corner.

Divano Designs will display furnishings in a style known as Hollywood Swank, according to Nittoo Singh, who co-owns the store with his wife, Ginny. The shop, which opened in April 2010 in the McGaw Court space formerly occupied by longtime Columbia staple Top Drawer, focuses on contemporary furnishings with an eye for the transitional.

The couple, who immigrated to Howard County from India in 1993, says customers are still spending in these difficult economic times when they see something they like.

“Consumers today are more careful and more cautious,” but they still make purchasing decisions based on perceived value, Singh said. That’s why this event is appealing, he claims.

“People are still investing in something better despite the economy because they know they will retain it for a longer period and it will pay for itself over time,” he said. “Customers here are well-educated and come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, so we try to offer unique things and fresh ideas.”