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UNIQUE HOMES Fall 2010 | Volume 39, Number 5
State & Country Index Features
PHOTO BY EVERETT FENTON GIDLEY, LLC
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PHOTO COURTESY COLDWELL BANKER CITY
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COURTESY FIRST HAMPTON INTERNATIONAL REALTY
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Departments
55 The Road to Recovery Relationships, Not Residences As the high end leads the comeback, luxury consumers find a new norm. By Camilla McLaughlin 61 Five Top Resort Retreats From Maine to Mexico, these vacation-home markets are hot. By Jessica Decina 83 The Hamptons: Resilient & Stable Long Island’s paradise is still the place to be. By Jessica Decina 86 The Ultimate Series The Ultimate Landscape, Gardens & Grounds View our latest contest winners. 128 In Closing Harmony and Politics An architect “conducts” and a former mayor turns to real estate. By Ken Weingartner
Special
10 Editor’s Letter
23 Estates of Distinction
18 Unique Spotlight
61 Resort & Vacation Properties
46 Unique Places
109 Coldwell Banker Previews Section
48 Unique Properties
124 Luxury Property Specialists
49 Unique Perspectives 127 Advertiser Index
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23 Cover Story From Notre Dame to Lake Arrowhead Built by French craftsmen, this country estate has its own peninsula. By Camilla McLaughlin
UniqueHomes.com
Alabama 94-96
New York 42-43, 82, 84
Arizona 40-41, 78-79
North Carolina 82, 90, 116-117
Arkansas 100
Oregon 103, 114
California 5-7, 14-16, 24-29, 31, 36, 44-45, 63, 104-107, 110-113, 115, Back Cover
South Carolina 93
Connecticut 21, 69
Texas 22, 35, 100, 116
Florida 12-13, 19, 30, 3739, 50-53, 70-74, 88-89, 118
Utah 32-33, 80-81
Georgia 34, 82, 90, 97-101 Idaho 15 Illinois 75 Maine 14, 65 Maryland Inside Back Cover Massachusetts 64, 66-67, 120 Montana 57 New Hampshire 120 New Jersey 82, 102 New Mexico 108, 114
Tennessee 90, 116
Virginia 68, 90, 102, 119 Washington 54, 114 International Bahamas 122-123 Bora Bora 15 Canada 16, 76-77, 121 Costa Rica 14 Dominican Republic 85 Italy 16 New Zealand 58-60
Every king deserves a castle.
Whether it’s a resort property or a year-round palace, you expect the best. That’s why Fine Homes International from Prudential Real Estate has created a higher standard of performance for affluent clients, with specialized knowledge from seasoned professionals, access to our extensive network—and of course, a name that’s trusted worldwide for excellence. Experience the royal treatment from a leader in luxury real estate. SM
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© 2010 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. Prudential Real Estate brokerage services are offered through the independently owned and operated franchisees of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc., and its related entities, used under license.
Editor’s Letter PUBLISHER Richard A. Goodwin EDITOR IN CHIEF Kathleen Carlin-Russell MANAGING EDITOR Mark Moffa ASSISTANT EDITOR Lauren Varga EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jessica Decina EDITORIAL INTERN Kimberly Turner
A record-breaking sale of more than $50 million almost on the heels of a $46 million sale is certainly cause for a little fanfare in the world of luxury. In April of this year,
Bootjack Ranch in Colorado sold for a reported $46.5 million. Less than three months later, Le Belvédère in Bel Air, Calif., sold for what is now the highest sales price of the year, reportedly more than $50 million. Do such large residential sales signal a trend? Are things turning around? As is always the case in real estate, location seems to dictate the answer as well as the level of consumer confidence. The market is performing differently depending on where you are, but luxury seems to be leading the comeback in many places. Pent-up demand certainly accounted for some of the sales surges seen in the first half of 2010, while some markets, such as Denver, are enjoying a more prolonged uptick in sales. As one luxury specialist we spoke to for our latest Road to Recovery story (page 55) noted: “...People are getting tired of sitting on their wallets. Americans want to spend, want to enjoy themselves...” And they are finally feeling that now is the time to do that, for the right property at the right price in the right location. Today’s buyer is an educated buyer, and they are ready to make a purchase, especially in an area that has seen significant price decreases. “People are shopping value, and shopping value hard,” says one Kennebunk Beach, Maine, Realtor, noting that activity in her area is up sharply from just a year ago. It’s just one of the resort locales we cover in the article leading off our annual Resort Properties section. From Maine to Mexico, we look at a variety of destinations that have long been known as vacation hot spots and see how they’ve performed in 2010. One Realtor noted a dramatic increase in sales so far this year, selling more residences in the first seven months of 2010 than in all of 2009. To find out which market is seeing that kind of activity, turn to the resort story, found on page 61. Lastly, bringing us full circle, Publisher Rick Goodwin offers his thoughts on the Le Belvédère sale in a special column found on page 48. Until next time...
ART DIRECTOR Jonathan Bayley PRODUCTION MANAGER Wendi Lauber EDITORIAL OFFICE 877.688.1110 / 609.688.1110 Fax: 609.688.0201 327 Wall Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 uhproduction@uniquehomes.com DIRECTOR OF SALES Nick Antonicello 800.732.4092, Ext. 14 / 310.883.7945 nantonicello@uniquehomes.com ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS Joan Anderson 866.242.1013 / 212.595.2310 joananderson@earthlink.net Bruce Griset 888.928.9020 / 919.928.9020 bruce@griset.net Christina Lodar 800.443.7373 / 561.495.1392 clodar@mindspring.com ADVERTISING SALES 800.732.4092 / 310.883.7245 / Fax: 310.883.7246 201 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 306 / Santa Monica, CA 90401 OUTSIDE SALES—AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND Michael VanDerMolen - Michael, Maya & Co. Pty. Ltd. Cell: 61.420.746.816 realestatemarketing@unwired.com.au ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER Greg Shrader, gshrader@uniquehomes.com PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Cheryl Jock PRODUCTION MANAGER Alisa Hudson GRAPHIC ARTISTS Andrea Reeves, Robert Edghill, Alison Kennon, Nabil Khan, Melanie Henley VICE PRESIDENT OF ONLINE SERVICES TJ Weyer CIRCULATION MANAGER Kurt Coey NEWSSTAND MANAGER Bob Moenster
PRESIDENT, HOME DESIGN DIVISION Adam Japko SENIOR VP, OPERATIONS Stuart Christian DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING OPERATIONS Rick Higgins
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HURWITZoJAMES COMPANY
The Famous SAFE House, Hollywood Hills, CA
Lovell, Maine
AS PREVIOUSLY FEATURED ON YAHOO, this modern-day fortress was created by Al V. Corbi, designer of ultimate security systems for individuals, super yachts and governments worldwide. This 8,000plus-square-foot home features an elevator, theater, heliport, 5 bedrooms, 8 baths, 2 offices, a wine cellar, rooftop patio, parking for 20 cars, 2 safe cores, 2 panic rooms, extensive surveillance and more. Featured on numerous television and press outlets throughout the world, this stunning residence has been called “One of the safest homes in the world.” www.theSAFEestate.com Offered at $6,900,000
LOCATED ON THE WORLD-CLASS KEZAR LAKE is the Garcelon Estate, with panoramic views of the lake and Mt. Washington. It was built in 1908 by European master craftsmen who designed the property with impeccable details. The lakefront compound includes several buildings on lushly wooded grounds. The guesthouse features water views and an adjacent Sugar House used to harvest maple syrup. The 4-car detached garage paves the way to the stately main house, filled with ornate molding and exotic hardwoods, encompassing more than 9,000 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 5 full baths. The 26-plus-acre estate has been updated and extremely well cared for. www.KezarLakeEstate.com Offered at $4,395,000
World’s Largest Penthouse, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Rancho Mirage Estate, California
GENESIS PUNTARENAS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MID 2010 and will be located in the Pacific Coast city of Puntarenas, about a half-hour drive from San Jose via the region’s new six-lane toll road. Units are priced from $473,000 to $3.3 million. The penthouse, offered at $50 million, will be a sprawling 68,459-square-foot, 10-bedroom masterpiece with 3 stories, a private helipad, pool and tennis court. All units will showcase top-of-the-line treatments, including marble floors, quartz countertops and brand-name, stainless-steel appliances. www.CostaRicaGenesis.com or www.WorldsLargestPenthouse.com Condos priced from $1,500,000 to $50,000,000
OWN YOUR OWN PRIVATE RESORT—This 5-acre estate boasts approximately 18,000 square feet, 24-foot coffered ceilings, massive fireplaces and a great room that is large enough to host several hundred guests. Fine finishes embellish the entire house, including a theater, library, and a 2-bedroom guesthouse with a living room and full kitchen. The resort-like grounds include a lake, waterfalls and a glass-tiled pool with a grotto, barbecue and tennis court, just to name a few. A true trophy property. www.RanchoMirageResidence.com Offered at $16,700,000 ALSO AVAILABLE FOR TRADE AND EVENT BOOKING
HURWITZ♦JAMES COMPANY
Coeur d'Alene Estate, Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Oceanfront, Malibu, California
WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS of Lake Coeur d’Alene, this entertainer’s paradise boasts 30,000 square feet on 15 gated acres with a private drive, helipad and acres of perfectly manicured lawns. The main rooms open to the outdoors via dramatic disappearing glass panels. This gem features rare hardwoods, imported marble and granite, 10 fireplaces, state-of-the-art security and is offered with custom furnishings. Sparkling indoor and outdoor pools await, as well as indoor and outdoor championship tennis courts. There is a game room with a bowling alley, par-3 golf hole and a 9car garage with room for a limousine. www.15AcreIdahoEstate.com Offered at $27,000,000 Now Offered at $17,500,000
THIS GRACIOUS 2007 CALIFORNIAN VILLA on 3 acres offers indoor/outdoor living beyond all expectations. Enjoy a sparkling saltwater pool with spa and a private stone pathway leading to La Piedra State Beach. With great flow for entertaining on a grand scale, the home features gracious rooms scaled for large parties but designed with extraordinary details. The gourmet eat-in kitchen with ocean views opens to the dining room and family room, and this entire space opens to the outdoors via operable glass walls. www.TheMalibuBeachEstate.com Offered at $49,500,000 Now Offered at $39,950,000
Razor: Residence As Art, La Jolla, California
Faaopore Bay, Bora Bora
A UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE designed by Wallace E. Cunningham, one of Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Designers. Set behind gates and constructed from white polished concrete and floor-to-ceiling glass, this magnum opus suspends the boundaries of ordinary living and commands uninterrupted views of the ocean, open sky and natural landscape. High above Torrey Pines State Reserve, the 11,000-square-foot pièce de résistance showcases 4 bedrooms, 6 baths, a guesthouse, a 6plus-car subterranean garage and private access to Black’s Beach. www.ResidenceAsArt.com Offered at $25,000,000
LOCATED ON BORA BORA, the pearl of the Pacific, Villa Faaopore is a truly exceptional property. Its mountainside location gives breathtaking views of what heaven on earth would be like! This recently constructed estate is conventional yet contemporary with 7,000 square feet and 6 guesthouses built on 35,800 square feet of lush grounds. The ground floor boasts stunning views over Bora Bora’s famous lagoon, the Pacific Ocean and neighboring islands. The views are truly special from the master bedroom, which leads out onto a terrace beside the 17-meter infinity pool. First time on the market. www.VillaFaaopore.com Offered at $8,000,000
HURWITZoJAMES COMPANY
Dapplegray, Bell Canyon, California
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
LOCATED IN THE EXCLUSIVE GUARD-GATED COMMUNITY of Bell Canyon, this 7,300-square-foot, custom architectural home boasts panoramic views from almost every room. Featuring 5 bedrooms and 7 baths, it includes a spacious office, a gym, a media room and a wine cellar. The estate is surrounded by patios and features outdoor/indoor fireplaces, a suspended infinity pool with spa, an outdoor kitchen and a rooftop patio. The home features a grand entrance through heavy stainless-steel doors, formal dining and living rooms and a kitchen with Miele, Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and Caesarstone countertops. www.175dapplegray.com Offered at $4,750,000
IN THE WHISTLER AREA, the town of Pemberton is home to this architectural estate known as Morningstar. Beautifully situated on 16 acres of forest and meadows directly adjoining 50 acres of protected Crown Land. This 3-story, 6,000-square-foot home with an open floor plan combines form and function into a creative masterpiece of familial comfort. The location is unmatched with the best ski resorts in North America, 2 world-class golf courses, not to mention river rafting, hiking, snowmobiling and heli-skiing, or enjoy the nearby world-class equestrian centers. www.whistlerpembertonestate.com Offered at $4,800,000 CDN
Dume Drive, Malibu, California
Castle Carbonana, Umbria, Italy
THIS PRIVATE, WALLED AND GATED MALIBU ESTATE in the exclusive Point Dume neighborhood includes deeded beach rights and gorgeous mountain views on 1.67 acres of lush landscaping. Moments away from shopping and Zuma Beach, this estate is decked out with travertine flooring throughout, a huge grassy backyard with a built-in barbecue, a wet bar, a saline pool with spa and a lighted tennis court. The interior features a gourmet kitchen with skylights and Viking appliances and a lavish family room with soaring beamed ceilings. The lux master offers views, an office area, a walk-in closet, a master bath and a large deck. www.DumeDrive.com Offered at $3,950,000
A PRICELESS OPPORTUNITY to own a 44-plus-acre Umbrian estate and castle steeped in history and nestled in the foothills of the Medieval town of Gubbio. The former home to a pope and a Templar knight, the historic title “Count of Carbonana” will pass to the new owner—pass this legacy on for generations to come. Inquire further about a complete renovation. www.CarbonanaCastle.com Offered at 8,000,000 € / $11,000,000 Now Offered at 6,000,000 €/$7,900,000
Hollywood
California
Bora Bora
California
Malibu
Italy
Italy
Rancho Mirage
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD SOLD
When the Owners of the World’s Most Exclusive Estates Decide to Sell, They Call One Company…
HURWITZ o JAMES COMPANY Marketing Estates Worldwide
Bob Hurwitz 310.477.8865 Bob@HurwitzJamesCo.com www.HurwitzJamesCo.com PARTIAL HURWITZ JAMES INVENTORY
Canada
Idaho
Italy
Ukraine
Mexico
La Jolla
South Africa
UNIQUE SPOTLIGHT
CELEBRITY ESTATES
3 GREAT GETAWAYS Vacation homes you won’t want to leave
by Lauren Varga
Source: Kerry Donovan & Karin Baker, Chase International, Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Source: Shara Turner, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Source: Spring Island Realty, Spring Island, S.C.
PHOTO COURTESY SPRING ISLAND REALTY
On Spring Island in South Carolina, residents come home to the Colleton River, low country hospitality and, if you’re lucky, this 8,000square-foot home resting on two lots. With deep-water frontage and live oaks, this 2.83acre property, listed for $4.495 million, is ready to host the family reunion. Three bedrooms in the main home and three in the guest cottage, as well as a home theater and a screened porch complete the listing.
PHOTO COURTESY STACEY THOMAS, VIDEO OPEN HOUSE
A grand statement, this penthouse residence occupies the entire 15th floor of Cypress Place, a luxury development in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Open the terrace doors of this $4.98 million CDN listing and a 5,000plus-square-foot masterpiece will open with panoramic views of the water, city and mountains. Vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, high-quality appliances, timber beams and custom wood cabinetry create a sophisticated and warm interior.
2,000-square-foot carriage house offers two bedrooms and a living room. While the interior spaces of the dwellings are accented with the finest materials and architectural design elements, what lies beyond the square footage is the true story. Glorious sunsets over distant islands, perfect swimming and kayaking conditions, and evening entertaining spaces accentuate this private estate. Source: Nancy J. Callahan, Island Sotheby’s International Realty, Maui, Hawaii.
With more than 100 hits on the Billboard Top 100, singer/songwriter Carole King has placed her $16 million, Stanley, Idaho, home on the market. Famous faces such as Clark Gable as well as kings and senators, have been hosted at Robinson Bar Ranch, a historic ranch in Salmon River country. The more than 128-acre property is high-
lighted by a restored 7,337-square-foot lodge and an owner’s residence that overlooks Warm Springs Creek. The property also features a caretaker’s home, guest cabins, equestrian facilities, a greenhouse and a professional recording studio. Surrounded by national forest, the home’s two pools and radiant heat utilize hot water from energy-saving geothermal springs. Source: Stoney Burke, Hall and Hall, Sunny Valley, Idaho. Photo courtesy Hall and Hall.
— Lauren Varga 18
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PHOTO COURTESY DON BLOOM OF TROPICAL LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO COURTESY MATT WALCO
Exuding an Old Lake Tahoe feel, Villa Lake Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, Nev., was designed to take advantage of an open, inviting setting. From window seats bellowing with plush throw pillows to expansive grounds with dining and entertaining areas, there is sure to be a place to relax and take in views of the 100-foot shoreline. Priced at $8.79 million, this original Pine Cone Circle residence has been masterfully renovated and decorated by interior designer Catherine MacFee.
Actor Richard Chamberlain’s Keawakapu Beach estate in Maui, Hawaii, is being offered for $19 million. The property’s main residence features two master suites, a formal dining room, an atrium, media room, library and a chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry within 6,150 square feet. The almost
In the fabled back country of Greenwich, Connecticut…
…a timeless Dutch Colonial that embraces today. A PROMINENT LANDMARK OF GREENWICH, historically known as the “John Sands House” and presently called Sunset Farm. Built in the 1840s, this sophisticated and elegant Dutch Colonial was recently rebuilt by famed builder Mark Mariani. Offering state-of-the-art accommodations while celebrating its historic origins. Defined by its exquisite craftsmanship and impeccable taste and detail, this special home features more than 13,000 square feet, 10 bedrooms, 6.3 baths, 5 fireplaces, a banquet-style dining room with wet bar and a gourmet kitchen. The 2nd level features a stunning master suite with fireplace, his-and-her vanity areas, a domed bath with radiant heated marble floor, plus 4 other large-scaled bedrooms. The finished lower level features an exercise room with sauna and steam rooms. Sited on almost 3 acres of sweeping park-like lawns leading to the heated in-ground pool. A separate cottage offers 2 bedrooms, a full bath, living room, laundry and kitchen. Price upon request. ®
ENGEL & VÖLKERS
335 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 203.661.7777 Greenwich@engelvoelkers.com www.engelvoelkers.com/greenwich
ESTATES OF DISTINCTION dedicated to residential properties in excess of $5 million
From Notre Dame to Lake Arrowhead
PHOTO BY EVERETT FENTON GIDLEY, LLC
By Camilla McLaughlin
Vacation homes come in all sizes and shapes, but very few match the profile of luxury presented by this month’s cover, a landmark country estate sited on the tip of its own private peninsula on Lake Arrowhead, roughly two hours by car from Los Angeles. “It’s rare to find a vacation home of this quality,” observes Joyce Rey, who is listing the home for Coldwell Banker Previews International. Equally uncommon is a property that expresses a classic architectural style with so much discernment. “The owners lived in France and have a great affection for the French Normandy style of architecture,” explains Rey. “They brought craftsmen from France who had worked on the restoration of Notre Dame.” A good example of the attention to detail can be seen in the multi-colored roof tiles that were imported from the French Burgundy region and created in the 13th-century style. The exterior is
composed of honey-colored granite. Inside, Beaumaniere French limestone and warm woods enrich the subdued elegance. Even the kitchen with glazed Douglas fir beams and Parfeuille tile confirms how skillfully the style has been executed. “Epitome of good taste” is another accolade Rey applies to the property. The two-story living room and adjacent library are especially handsome. The living room’s dramatic vaulted wood ceilings are designed by a master boat builder and evoke the feeling of a boat’s hull, while the tall windows flanking the room capture rolling lawns and Lake Arrowhead sparkling in the background. Both rooms also have a wonderful feeling of ease and comfort that extends throughout the home. Vicki Smith of Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty is co-listing the property with Rey for $15 million. For more on this property, please see pages 24-25.
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Lakefront Landmark Lake Arrowhead CALIFORNIA ARROWHEAD POINTE—Beautifully positioned on the tip of its own private Lake Arrowhead peninsula just a 2-hour drive from Beverly Hills, this exceptional 6-bedroom, French Normandy-style masterpiece melds classic Old World architecture with state-of-the-art amenities. This recently completed residence is like no other. An extraordinary 2-story vaulted living room, gourmet kitchen, professional projection room, intricate stone carvings, imported limestone and honey-colored granite all defy description. The multi-colored roof tiles imported from the French Burgundy region were created as in the 13th-century style. Rolling lawns, towering trees, a private dock house and double gated security offer a unique opportunity and an amazing lifestyle. www.1000robinhoodlane.com $15,000,000
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JOYCE REY Executive Director Coldwell Banker Previews International 166 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310.285.7529 / Fax: 310.278.4882 joyce@joycerey.com / www.joycerey.com
VICKI SMITH Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty P.O. Box 1089 Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352 909.499.9639 vickismith@coldwellbanker.com UNIQUE HOMES
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Turn-of-the-Century Estate
Montecito CALIFORNIA
ENTER INTO THE ENCHANTED WORLD of a by-gone era through formal gates on one of Montecito’s historic private lanes. Come home to this grand estate house, designed in 1895 by legendary architect Stanford White, which has been totally and lovingly restored. The casually elegant 9-bedroom, 10,000-squarefoot main residence with wraparound columned verandas creates a warm and friendly retreat. The 3.8 acres of glorious grounds include wonderfully landscaped gardens, which create a visual feast with abundant flowers to harvest, a large stone entertainment terrace that surrounds the pool and fully equipped pool house, a tennis court, a charming 2-bedroom second residence and expansive lawn areas with mature trees. This comfortably luxurious private estate, with its magnificent architecture, offers exceptional amenities for a casual indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Price upon request.
SUSAN BURNS 805.565.8822 | www.susanburns.com 1290 Coast Village Road, Montecito, CA 93108
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Saladino Villa
Montecito CALIFORNIA
ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT WALLACE FROST and crafted of local stone quarried onsite in the 1920s, this intriguing Montecito home was completely restored by designer John Saladino. Transforming the property involved, simultaneously, new construction, reconstruction and restoration, interior and landscape design. His recent beautiful book and DVD, Villa, 2009, chronicles the years of work and his love affair with the villa. The 13 acres of glorious park-like grounds feature some 2,000 trees in a variety of shapes and sizes and tones of green. Both relaxed and proper, old and new, classical and modern, Saladino created a home of serenely timeless interiors and gardens that are his hallmark! This extraordinary 6-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot stone villa, infused with the comfort and technology of this century, is a true masterpiece. Price upon request.
SUSAN BURNS 805.565.8822 | www.susanburns.com 1290 Coast Village Road, Montecito, CA 93108
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Elegance And Grace Hidden Valley CALIFORNIA RARELY, IF EVER, WILL YOU FIND the attention to the extraordinary that 2500 White Stallion Drive has cultivated throughout its 23 acres of masterfully designed and meticulously manicured grounds. The expansive rolling green lawns quietly lead you into a French formal estate that was recently renovated and redesigned for the sole purpose of pursuing the art of fine living. Throughout the 16,000-plus square feet of living space, you’ll find a wealth of traditional European culture and charm at every turn, an appropriate prelude to the sophistication and style the living quarters have to offer. The grounds are a showcase of elegance and grace, covered with delightful red and soft white begonias, limestone walkways lined by flowering magnolia trees, magnificent
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handcarved French limestone fountains and planters, and a variety of exquisitely arranged and executed parterres inspired by the gardens of Versailles. Hidden Valley serves as the secluded retreat for this spectacular residence. Celebrated for panoramic vistas that stretch from the Santa Monica Mountains to the blue Pacific, spectacular equestrian and bike trails and century-old oak trees that dot the countryside, Hidden Valley is called home by those in search of quiet country living while still having easy access to all that the Greater Los Angeles area has to offer. $27,500,000
NICKI LAPORTA & KAREN CRYSTAL Ewing & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty www.NickiandKaren.com Nicki: 805.390.6591 / nicki.laporta@sothebysrealty.com Karen: 805.625.0304 / karen.crystal@sothebysrealty.com UNIQUE HOMES
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Astonishing Estate Belleair FLORIDA THIS MAJESTIC ESTATE, located high on a bluff with magnificent views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Clearwater Pass to the Gulf of Mexico, features incredible architectural details and stunning craftsmanship. More than 17,000 square feet of living space accommodates spectacular living areas with multiple fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen with an adjoining butler’s pantry, an incredible master suite with his-and-her luxury baths, 2 lavish bedroom suites and a large exercise room with an adjoining glass-enclosed spa. On more than 1.5 manicured acres with a gentle rolling lawn to the water, this gated property offers a dock with 2 boat lifts and space for a personal watercraft; a boathouse with a kitchenette; a pool with a 2-tier waterfall set on a flagstone terrace; a 4-room guest apartment above the 4car garage; and a 2-room playhouse. On an exclusive treelined street in the residential town of Belleair, this exquisite residence is owned by television personality Hulk Hogan. $10,900,000 www.ChateaudeWilladel.com 30
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Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 727.432.9019 www.TheThornCollection.com
S a n t a
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A Remarkable Estate
GARY GOLDBERG DRE # 01172139
Owner/Broker Coastal Properties Realty Office: 805.969.1258 gary@coastalrealty.com garygoldberg.net
CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, this Contemporary split-level glass house is curved to capture magnificent panoramic views of the city, ocean and coastline. The home will include three bedrooms, three full baths, a powder room and two laundry rooms. Among the many remarkable architectural features are a glass tube elevator, a media room, an ultra high-tech state-of-the-art kitchen, a gym, cantilevered floating glass stair treads and a three-sided infinity pool with an aluminum louver cover, plus high-capacity pumps and a cabana with a full kitchen. The house is computerized for sound, video, temperature and touch-panel drop-down window shades. A three-car garage is planned, as well as security features such as fire-proof zinc eaves and a front-gate camera. The approximate living area will be 6,135 square feet, on two lots combined for a total of two acres. Offered at $18,500,000
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Deer Valley Estate Park City UTAH DEER CREST—THIS ULTIMATE SKI AND VACATION HOME for your family and friends enjoys direct ski access to Deer Valley just steps from the door via the private community of Deer Crest. Massive stone fireplaces, trussed vaulted ceilings, 8 bedrooms, 7 fireplaces, a theater, ski prep room, billiards room, fitness room, 2 wet bars and warm gathering spaces will ensure a quality experience for all seasons within this 12,700square-foot home. Fantastic views of the Jordanelle Reservoir are part of the outdoor living spaces, which include walkout patios, decks and a fire pit. As a bonus, the property is located less than 1 mile from the new St. Regis Hotel within the Deer Crest development. Caretaker's quarters are located on the lower level. $16,000,000
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RICK SHAND Prudential Utah Real Estate Town Lift Office 1030 Park Avenue, P.O. Box 1226, Park City, Utah Cell: 435.655.1930 / rshand@pureutah.com www.TheLangeGroup.com
Wolf Creek Ranch Park City UTAH A 160-ACRE MOUNTAIN ESTATE located in the exclusive gated community of Wolf Creek Ranch, surrounded by mature aspen trees and just minutes from Park City. This ultra high-end home features 8 bedrooms, 9 full and 6 partial baths with commanding views of the famous Timpanogos Mountains. In addition to the 12,870-square-foot main house, the estate has a 2,000square-foot guesthouse, an 8,500-square-foot barn with a 66-foot diameter indoor riding arena with a sand base and stables, and a trout pond with yurt. The home is offered fully furnished, including custom-made furniture, hand-painted accents and a home automation system. The master bedroom has a saltwater spa with a fireplace and waterfall, sauna, exercise room, his-and-her baths, laundry and a coffee bar. $17,500,000
WILL LANGE Prudential Utah Real Estate Town Lift Office 1030 Park Avenue, P.O. Box 1226, Park City, Utah Cell: 435.640.0001 / wlange@pureutah.com www.WillLange.com UNIQUE HOMES
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Lakefront Paradise & 117 Holes of Golf Lake Oconee GEORGIA Located in the golfer’s paradise of Reynolds Plantation in Lake Oconee, this stunning home is sited on approximately 6 lakefront acres just 75 miles from downtown Atlanta. Pebbled walkways guide you through endless manicured lawns and gardens, featuring azaleas, roses and hydrangea. The residence’s Tuscan-inspired architecture is accented with 7 bedrooms, 8 full and 4 half baths, an epicurean kitchen with a breakfast nook and a keeping room with lake views. From the grand marble entry foyer and formal living room with walls of glass to the fabulous master suite and the ballroom-sized trophy room, this home will lure in the most discriminating
DANA LESHLEY HARRY NORMAN, REALTORS 404.310.5536 http://dana.leshley.harrynorman.com REYNOLDS PLANTATION REALTY, LLC 800.800.5250 34
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buyer. Views of the lake are enjoyed from a wealth of windows and from each bedroom. Entertain in the wine cellar and tasting room or by the outdoor kitchen and on grand terraces. Better yet, take guests to enjoy a round of golf at Reynolds Plantation, which features 117 holes of championship golf from designers Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, Bob Cupp and Jim Engh. Named “Best of the Best” Golf Community by Robb Report, Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Reynolds Golf Academy and the TaylorMade Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation. Visit www.1270ClubCove.com for more information. Offered at $13,000,000.
Phenomenal Texas Estate Southlake TEXAS THIS SECLUDED THREE-ACRE phenomenal estate, exuding quality, craftsmanship and an unequaled attention to detail, is perfect for today’s discriminating buyer. Countryside living is just minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth or Alliance airports and centrally located for an easy daily commute to either Dallas or Fort Worth. The heavily wooded, gated estate property welcomes guests from the gracious circular fountain drive to the spectacular ambiance offered by more than 12,000 square feet of luxury living space. Amenities, from formals and multiple family living areas, sophisticated smart-home features, including a media room that makes watching a movie a real experience, to multiple master suites and every other attribute, all have been carefully crafted and designed. Richly stained cabinetry and ceiling treatments, spa-like baths with steam showers, a real gym, incredible entertainment areas and a backyard paradise of manicured grounds, including a sports court secluded under large trees out from under the Texas sun, complete this exceptional estate. You may have just found your new home, so call for your private tour today and expect to be impressed. For more information, visit www.PhenomenalSouthlakeEstate.com. Offered at $6,500,000.
ROXANN TAYLOR Roxann Taylor & Associates, Realtors 640 N. Carroll Ave, Suite 100, Southlake, TX 76092 817.312.7100 Roxann@RoxannTaylor.com www.RoxannTaylor.com UNIQUE HOMES
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Villa De Madre Estate Suisun Valley CALIFORNIA A BEAUTIFUL GEORGIAN MANSION surrounded by 70 acres of vineyards. The grand entrance, showcasing a double winding staircase with custom grape-motif iron balustrades, welcomes one into the 22,882-square-foot main house with handpainted ceilings and murals throughout. The home’s 6 bedroom suites include a master suite with his-and-her private offices and a luxurious master bath with a marble/tile steam shower and Sheryl Wagner fixtures. A coffered cherry-wood ceiling and cabinets warm the game room and adjoining bar, and a climate-controlled wine cave and a hydraulic elevator accent the interior. The professionally equipped chef’s kitchen designed for entertaining features all Viking appliances, including 3 ovens, 3 warming drawers, 2 large and 2 small dishwashers, 2 crispers, 4 freezer boxes, 2 ice boxes and
2 trash compactors. All of this is beautifully displayed under handpainted ceilings with painted wood cabinets, granite slab countertops and built-in step stools. Limestone, travertine, marble and porcelain tile and 6 amazing fireplaces create a sense of luxury. A fabulous indoor pool room with an in-ground pool, spa, fireplace, built-in barbecue and enclosed patio/play area are also featured. The pool area is highlighted by 6 skylights, plus a glass ceiling and fans to remove humidity. Beyond the main house are 3 auto barns with an antique gas station, full maintenance bay and a fully equipped diner. A skeet shooting range, a 4-bedroom, 2-bath caretaker’s house, and separate guest quarters with its own entrance enhance the 80-acre estate. Offered at $22,000,000. For more details and photos, go to www.VillaDeMadreEstate.com.
BOB & ROSEMARIE OGAN Country Estates, Inc. 707.864.1128 / 707.344.3439 / bobogan@aol.com / www.GreenValleyNapaHomes.com 36
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FORT LAUDERDALE: F r o m
The Grand Canals...
INTRACOASTAL POINT LOT
DEEPWATER AND TENNIS COURT ESTATE
Stunning and substantial, this magnificent Mediterranean estate offers 11,000± square feet of enchanting living areas, tropical waterway vistas plus 300± feet of water frontage. $10,995,000 Web Ref: F1047192
Newly completed, this Palm Beach-inspired residence enjoys almost 17,000 square feet of opulence, comprising three lots with 250 feet of water frontage, a private tennis court and six air-conditioned parking bays. $9,995,000 Web Ref: F1059870
LAS OLAS POINT ESTATE
LAS OLAS DEEPWATER RESIDENCE
Prestigiously located close to the beach, this newly and beautifully constructed residence totals more than 11,000 square feet of absolute luxury with waterway views and 264 feet of water frontage. $6,995,000 Web Ref: F1064292
A brand-new, top quality construction and superior floor plan offer immediate South Florida residency. Enjoy resort style living in great proximity to the beach, shopping and dining. $4,595,000 Web Ref: F1077468
*Luxury Broker Preview Tour Available:
Visit www.LuxuryRealEstateFtL.com for an introduction to Fort Lauderdale’s finest luxury real estate.
To The Beautiful Beaches
VILLA ATLANTIQUE
VILLAS AT OCEAN ENCLAVE
Superbly located directly on the Malibu Beach of Fort Lauderdale, this magnificent, walled and gated four-story estate offers the ultimate in ocean views and luxury beachfront living. $6,995,000 Web Ref: F1052423
Tropical paradise available now! New construction built to the highest standard and walled and gated for privacy. Pick your choice of three opulent and exciting custom villas directly on the sand. Priced from $5,495,000 Web Ref: F1055407
*Luxury Broker Preview
LAS OLAS BEACH CLUB PENTHOUSE
PENTHOUSE WITH 60 FOOT BOAT DOCKAGE
A choice of two fabulous oceanfront penthouses. Select from a fully furnished, designer decorated residence or a decorator ready residence for your own finishes. $4,250,000 / Web Ref: F1028758 or $2,595,000 / Web Ref: F941653
This extraordinary penthouse with contemporary styling offers four bedrooms plus a den, expansive terraces and deeded boat dockage. $2,950,000 Web Ref: F1071660
Julie Jones, Broker Associate 2424 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Direct: 954.328.3665 Facebook.com/JulieJonesFLA Twitter.com/JulieJonesPEP
Julie@PremierEstateProperties.com LuxuryRealEstateFtL.com
Sacred Eagle Estate
A rare opportunity to live in a work of art, Sacred Eagle Estate encompasses two magnificent custombuilt residences, two guest casitas, two 3-car garages and is secluded at the end of a private road bordering U.S. Forest Service land. This enchanting estate is a sanctuary that echoes its awe-inspiring environs. Peaceful mountain solitude and private canyons surround this Zen-like compound on 8 acres within minutes from central Sedona. Wraparound stone patios afford panoramic world-class red rock and Oak Creek greenbelt views with access to private hiking trails, a Kuan Yin Fountain, cascading water features and outdoor sculptures. The interior spaces are exquisitely detailed, with Verde Fire granite countertops, stone fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows framing this magnificent panoramic scenery. The beauty and design of this contemporary Southwest architecture parallels the dramatic surrounding rock formations. Price upon request.
Sedona, Arizona
MARILYN HOFFMAN MARILYN HOFFMAN WORLDWIDE PROPERTIES Scottsdale, Arizona: 623.321.3284 Dallas: 214.698.1736 / 214.674.3961 East Texas: 903.638.9588 www.MagnificentProperties.com
www.SacredEagleEstate.com
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YATES RANCH IS A COLLECTION of 6 of Northern California’s finest working ranches. A total of 4,770 acres, including 402± acres of pasture grazing land, 658± acres of dry land farming, 486± acres of pivot-irrigated alfalfa, a total of 1,546± acres of farmable land, 7± wells and 5 spring-fed year-round ponds. Look out over mountain meadows, grazing and timber land. The property also features a main residence, plus 3 additional houses, presently rented, and 2 new 1,000-ton hay storage barns. This is a chance of a lifetime to own a unique ranch. Check out www.YATESRANCH.com. Yates ranch is offered for sale for $750.00 per acre with Seller Financing.
THIS BRENT DICKENS CUSTOM HOME features an open floor plan with a huge living area and dramatic custom kitchen, plus a 4-plus-car garage and a custom pool. The home is located at the end of a country lane and boasts exceptional architecture, handcrafted detailing and absolutely breathtaking views. Nestled on more than an acre, this home has a sense of privacy, but is less than 5 minutes from popular outdoor recreational areas, Highway 101, shopping and restaurants. Call for a private showing. Check out www.200oakview.com. Price upon request.
TASSAJARA VALLEY’S FINEST EQUESTRIAN ESTATE includes a main home with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, an elegant living room with a fireplace, and a tile entry. A formal dining room with French doors leads out to the flower gardens. The gourmet kitchen has granite countertops and outside has a waterfall, a pond, an outdoor kitchen patio area and a fire pit. The stable area has 4-plus box stalls, a grooming area, a tack room and covered equipment area plus hay storage barn. The estate is completely fenced in with 3 large outdoor paddocks, complete with galloping bridle path for exercising horses. Check out www.255JosephLane.com. Price upon request.
Jerry R. Vaughn Alain Pinel Realtors 588 San Ramon Valley Boulevard | Danville, CA 94526 925.791.2545 | Cell: 925.200.3030 Jerry@JerryVaughn.com | www.JerryVaughn.com DRE# 00908970
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PLACES
BY CAMILLA MCLAUGHLIN
ON LOCATION
88 PIECES OF ART IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
The BVI has been called the yachting capital of the world. A high standard of living, political stability, and absence of taxes add to its appeal.
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sites range from 1.5 to 10 acres and are nestled into hillsides, hug ridgelines or stand on high plateaus. Here, panoramic views include the Caribbean Sea, North Sound, Atlantic Ocean and the coves of Virgin Gorda as well as nearby Neckar and other islands. “Oil Nut Bay is not only unique in that it is one of the few communities offering freehold ownership in the British Virgin Islands, but with its low-density master plan and commitment to protecting the
national beauty of the land, the homesites are like 88 pieces of art, each one spectacular and different of every other,” said Johnson, chairman of Victor International. The architecture is designed to melt into the terrain. During a recent visit, workers were putting finishing touches on the beach club’s main building, a dramatic open air palapa, which includes four private dining/meeting spaces ... all in preparation for a December 2010 opening.
Oil Nut Bay’s eco-friendly design includes wind and solar power, on-site desalination, and the capture of rainwater.
Homesites are from $1.95 million to $25 million. Amenities include a nature center and kids club, helipad, tennis, spa, marina and restaurants.
PHOTOS COURTESY TURNER PUBLIC RELATIONS
NO MATTER HOW VIBRANT, virtual worlds still pale in comparison to the real thing. Without the turquoise blue of the Caribbean shimmering in the background, soft breezes caressing one’s shoulders or the flash of pink as you pass a flamingo idling in a pond, it’s easy to underestimate the appeal of the British Virgin Islands, especially Oil Nut Bay, a new ultra-luxe development on Virgin Gorda, the third largest island. For the affluent today, the value of real estate comes from the experience. A multi-generational focus at Oil Nut Bay invites families and friends to gather in an atmosphere that emphasizes learning, wellness, a reverence for nature and, most especially, having fun. Along with all of this comes a large measure of privacy and the freedom to enjoy, because Oil Nut Bay’s peninsula is only accessible by boat or helicopter. Even nearby Biras Creek Resort is a short jaunt on the water. David Johnson and his team from the developer, Victor International, are taking their cues from the land as much as they are from the new values of affluent consumers. Only 88 homesites are scattered throughout the resort’s 300 acres, leaving miles of sandy beaches, hiking trails and open space. In addition to beachfront villas, roughly a quarter of the
GOING GLOBAL PHOTO COURTESY MARQUETTE TURNER LUXURY HOMES
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Seven Nobel laureates slept at the Hotel Du Parc on Mont-Pelerin in the Vevey-Montreux region of the Swiss Riviera overlooking Lake Geneva before it was shuttered at the turn of the century. Now the grand 140-room hotel is being restored, not just to its former glory, but to an even higher plane, with, among other luxury amenities, two levels of concierge service. The circa-1907 building has been saved from the wrecking ball by the Swiss Development Co. and is being turned into Du Parc Kempinski Private Residences, including 21 two- and three-bedroom apartments and three penthouses, each with unobstructed views of the lake and the French Alps beyond. All layouts will face south. Otherwise, each will be unique, custom-fitted to “very demanding” clients, including “elite retirees, trendsetting
entrepreneurs and home collectors who demand the very best.” The goal here, says awardwinning developer Nicolas Garnier, is “to create an environment in which owners might live the way they feel.” On-site amenities will include a Davidoff cigar lounge, Givenchy spa, lifelong membership to Lavaux golf, indoor and outdoor pools, a putting green and a private theater. Kempinski, the world’s largest Europeanbased luxury hotel operator, will handle on-site concierge services from its close-by hotel, Le Mirador Kempinski, while Quintessentially, the private members club with 24-hour global services, will cover all “lifestyle needs,” no
FABULOUS FINDS
PHOTO COURTESY COSTA BLANCA
AN OASIS IN NEW YORK CITY
Between the complex’s two buildings, The 505’s outdoor garden offers a little greenery in the midst of the concrete jungle. Residents also can enjoy this view from the all-glass fitness center just a few steps away.
For more information on these projects, visit kempinski-residences.com and the505hk.com
matter how extraordinary or challenging. Prices range from $4 million to $20 million U.S. One third of the units are already claimed — deposits escalate as the property nears its anticipated spring 2012 completion. —Lew Sichelman
Once upon a time, Hell’s Kitchen in New York City was exactly what its moniker implied: a little hellish. So the timing couldn’t have been better for the development of 505 West 47th Street, or The 505. It’s a rare find for the neighborhood: a hip new building with a plethora of amenities, stellar views and generous amounts of outdoor space. Suddenly, Hell seems almost heavenly. “It’s unbelievable how [buyers] want to be here,” says Vince Rocco, the exclusive broker of The 505, which has sold more than 95 percent of its 108 units. “This is a neighborhood of old housing stock; you don’t find doormen, an elevator, amenities. And because it’s affordable, they’re able to do it.” With affordability in mind, it became developer Ian Reisner’s goal to create “the lowest-priced condos that felt
Rocco says The 505’s garden has created a sense of community, a place where people can unwind and get to know the neighbors.
both efficient and luxurious.” Prices range from $425,000 to $2.695 million. The 505 offers a different approach to space that isn’t often seen in urban environments, Reisner says. “It’s criminal [how] most developers don’t get involved in design. There’s a beam here, a beam there and everything comes across as OK-ish. If you’re building from scratch, why have a hallway to the living room? Why separate?” Instead, each unit has a constant flow to each room, creating what Reisner describes as “clean, walk-right-in, loft-like living.” If the indoors aren’t enough, there’s the stunning courtyard — a 6,000-squarefoot “urban oasis,” that “makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a garden in Europe,” Rocco adds. “It’s quiet and no one knows it’s there. When I sell this place, it’s not hard to do. I just look out my window.” —Jessica Decina
Looking for more from Switzerland? You can find 140 Swiss properties for sale on our website, UniqueHomes.com
UNIQUE HOMES
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PROPERTIES
LE BELVÉDÈRE SELLS
One of the country’s premier listings, the Le Belvédère estate in Bel Air, Calif., sold in June for more than $50 million, making it the most expensive sale so far in 2010. The home was featured on our June/July 2009 cover; at that time it was listed for $85 million. The 48,000square-foot manse was reduced to $72 million in August of last year. For more on the home, we looked back to the story Camilla McLaughlin wrote for us last year:
As with most exceptional properties, the many over-the-top features, such as the opulent materials, a ballroom that seats 200 or more or the traditional Turkish hammam (the cover photo), garner the most initial attention. But delve more deeply into our cover and you might just discover that you’re falling in love with this home, with the exceptional beauty of intricate but refined details, such as the embossed leather or hand-carved ceilings, the elegant stateliness of the architecture and the tranquility that comes from having every facet in perfect alignment. Slip through Le Belvédère’s massive entry gates, past the swan pond and you are transported back to an era more romantic and gracious than 21st-century Los Angeles. Inside, the foyer dazzles with views that extend past the infinity pool to a
280-degree panorama of the city below. “It is so magic when you enter this house,” says Stacy Gottula, who, with Joyce Rey, is listing the property for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Beverly Hills for $85 million. The artistry of the embellishment created by more than 100 master craftsmen from Morocco, Mexico, Italy, China and Russia would in itself make this home exceptional. But the real magic comes from melding modern technology with Old World ambiance. For example, the screening room offers the highestquality audio and video in a setting akin to ornate opera houses of France and Russia. The best real estate realizes the magic that lives in all of us, and that’s what renowned developer Mohamed Hadid has done with Le Belvédère.
Industry icon Joyce Rey, along with Stacy Gottula, now have their names on not only the most expensive home sale in the U.S. so far this year, but also the most-expensive home sale ever by a broker in the L.A. metro area. commentary by Publisher Rick Goodwin Joyce and Stacy took an aggressive marketing stance. They placed ads in international publications, they hired a PR firm to help get the word out, and they reached out to the brokerage community — locally, of course, but globally as well. Joyce told me she thought the buyer would probably come from outside the L.A. area and, quite possibly, from outside the U.S. That meant a marketing campaign that was heavy on providing information. Homes on this scale can take many years to sell, yet Le Belvédère took less than 18 months. In light of Joyce’s and Stacy’s success, I have to wonder about the efficacy of the pocket listing or the “shadow market” that we covered in our last issue. Shrouding a listing in secrecy seems to me a rather surreptitious and unreliable approach to getting a home sold. We know some sellers won’t let their agents promote their properties publicly. This brings to mind an old marketing pro I used to work with; he had a poster in his office that said, “What happens when you don’t advertise? Nothing!” I couldn’t agree more.
HOUSES DON’T SELL THEMSELVES A
On UniqueHomes.com, you can find almost three dozen properties in California alone, priced at more than $10 million.
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Mohamed Hadid developed Ritz-Carlton hotels in the 1980s, and now constructs homes in Los Angeles and Mexico, among other locales.
The previous 2010 record belonged to Bootjack Ranch, a Telluride, Colo., estate on 3,500 acres in the southern San Juan Mountains.
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PERSPECTIVES
CRYSTAL CLEAR It’s an almost celestial work of art. Beautifully sculpted with diamond cuts, though this is no sculpture. It’s a bathtub. Cut from a single 10 thousand-kilo Amazonian crystal, the bathtub was designed by BALDI, an Italian company known for its uniquely exquisite handicraft. The white crystal piece was precisely carved to showcase the rock’s natural roughness. “This is more artistic, like a sculpture,” said Luca Baldi, CEO of BALDI. “The design was according to the shape, to the angels. This is something very, very special.” This is the second tub to be chiseled from the rock, imported to Italy over a sixmonth period. The ethereal-looking creation costs nearly $800,000 and was on display at Harrods in London until the end of July. —Kaitlin MacRae
TOP PHOTO COURTESY IAZIONI PRIVILEGIATE PUBLIC RELATIONS; MIDDLE PHOTO ©BARBARA BUTLER; BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO COURTESY RUNCO; BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO COURTESY URBAN GREEN ENERGY
Play Time It’s every child’s dream: a secret hideout, the promise of adventure, and a place where imagination thrives and where adventure can be found around every corner. It’s a Barbara Butler custom creation, and it’s definitely upping the ante on play time. Butler began designing custom play structures in 1987, and her company has since made structures for celebrities such as Will and Jada Pin-
ket Smith, Robert Redford and Kevin Kline. Ranging in price from $2,500 to upwards of $100,000, each fantastical play set is built from natural redwood, proving to be both fun and environmentally friendly. Butler’s play structures know no limits. From tree houses to play forts, and play houses to theaters, the structures put the focus on outdoor play and entertainment. —Kaitlin MacRae
BRING THE HOME THEATER OUTDOORS
SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND: EDDY
Why sit in front of the TV inside when you can watch while enjoying the great outdoors? Runco, the leading brand in luxury video solutions, makes this possible with its Climate Portfolio weatherproof series. The latest LCD display models are the CP-42HD and the CP-52HD. Both the 42and 52-inch displays offer top-notch video performance with 1080p resolution, reflection-rejection glass and a 176-degree viewing angle for convenient outdoor screening. These TVs have been engineered for maximum durability and year-round performance. The custom aluminum cabinet is sealed to ensure protection from extreme environmental conditions. The Climate Portfolio series is available with Runco’s ColourPalette, making it easy for homeowners to custom match any space. The CP-42HD and the CP-52HD make a great addition to any outdoor space at $6,495 and $13,995, respectively. —Emily Schuit
Welcome Eddy, the wind turbine from Urban Green Energy. With its silent, vibration-free technology and its impressive design resembling a work of art, its entrance will barely make a breeze. A 600W vertical access turbine, Eddy produces energy regardless of the direction or cleanliness-level of the surrounding wind. Eddy has a maximum safe wind speed of more than 120mph and a lifetime of 20 years. While lowering the amount of energy from the grid, Eddy also provides energy security, which ensures that essential devices are working even when the power goes out. Eddy is available with UGE’s Solar Ready control system that can connect directly into an existing solar system. Plus, Eddy is available in various tower heights and optional mechanical lifts, making it easy and affordable to install. —Emily Schuit
The first bathtub carved from the crystal was sold for $859,000. To learn more about the art of BALDI, visit baldi.biz
Butler specializes in building structures on challenging and unusual spaces such as trees. For more, visit barbarabutler.com
Runco International is at Runco.com For more on Eddy, see UrbanGreenEnergy.com
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The Cove at Reeder Bay Whidbey Island Washington
This Pacific Northwest Craftsman luxury home is situated within a very rare 28-acre nature preserve beachfront setting. “The Cove at Reeder Bay” is an exclusive enclave of 6 luxury island homes on 1,300 feet of private Puget Sound and low/no bank beachfront. Within the grounds lie 19 acres of permanent reserve, including 5 acres of open space and 14 acres of old-growth native forest and hiking trails. Each homesite exceeds 1.5 acres in size, including panoramic sound views, deeded tidelands with salt-water access and magnificent Mount Baker views. Enjoy salmon fishing, crabbing, or simply viewing the abundance of diverse wildlife including whales, sea lions, eagles and blacktail deer. Located a little more than an hour’s drive from downtown Seattle, or shorter using a private float plane or helicopter to land on the property. We invite you to come view the model home to experience first-hand how beachfront living is defined! See the online movie of "Kingfisher" at http://www.walkthroughmedia.com/51522 Homes from $1.5 million, “Kingfisher” model home for $2,196,800.
Chip McBroom Skyline Properties, Inc. (425) 894-4043 | chip@skylineproperties.com www.skylineproperties-chipmcbroom.com
THIS IS THE FOURTH PART IN OUR SERIES DEDICATED TO TRACKING LUXURY REAL ESTATE’S ROAD TO RECOVERY.
Relationships, Not Residences The high end continues to lead a muted comeback, but for how long? The economy may hold the answer. But whatever happens in the short term, one thing is clear: luxury consumers are adjusting to a new norm.
©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/UNIQUEHOMESART
By Camilla McLaughlin
MONTHS HAVE PASSED since the Great Recession was officially pronounced “over,” but as 2010 slides into fall, uncertainty over whether the recovery can be sustained persists. At the same time, luxury remains real estate’s top performer, with sales continuing to gain momentum and a growing number of potential buyers actively searching for primary and secondary homes. Questioning the vitality of the recovery at this point is not unusual, says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com. “This business cycle is different in many obvious respects from all the others, but the one constant is that our economy’s underlying strengths will ultimately prevail.” Still, Zandi and other economists recently tweaked near-term outlooks. “With unemployment so high and policymakers increasingly perplexed over how to respond, the risks to the recovery are rising again,” he noted in a mid-year revision to his outlook that narrowed the odds of a double dip recession from one in five to almost one in four. Even these odds come with caveats, such as the extension of emergency unemployment benefits through 2010 and the assumption
that Congress and the administration will be able to “forestall most of the tax increases now legislated to take place at the start of 2011.”
UPSCALE SALES, FULL SPEED AHEAD Although the number of transactions is still below the historic highs of the boom, luxury sales have been steadily gaining momentum, a trend that began at the end of last year in some locales. The most recent data from the National Association of Realtors shows May 2010 sales of $1 million-plus properties were up 77.3 percent over May 2009. Already this year, benchmarks for highest-priced properties have been set and broken with the $46.5 million sale of Colorado’s Bootjack Ranch this spring followed by Le Belvédère in Bel Air, Calif. At press time, the Le Belvédère price remains undisclosed but reportedly it is well above the plateau established by Bootjack. “Sales have picked up from the same period last year pretty much across the board, including land, which is a good sign. Typically land is the last thing to come back and it is a good sign that builders are beginning to plan to build again,” says Steve Roney, president
Savannah, Ga.
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“THE FEELING I GET IS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GETTING TIRED OF SITTING ON THEIR WALLETS. AMERICANS WANT TO SPEND, WANT TO ENJOY THEMSELVES AND WANT TO TAKE THEIR FAMILIES TO DO THINGS.” —JOHN DIXON
©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/UNIQUEHOMESART
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
to where it stood at the end of 2007. The most important catalyst has been growing consumer confidence. “Uncertainty is the most paralyzing thing for people and that’s what caused the halt in purchases. We’re beyond that now and people are starting to come back into the market,” says Steve Dering, a founding partner of DCP International, a Park City, Utah, firm specializing in the design, marketing and sale of Equity Residence Club developments. Still, a change in attitude on the part of both luxury buyers and sellers can’t
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be discounted. Recent research from the Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World reveals the wealthy are feeling more secure and “more positive about the economy and the future in general.”
WELL ON THE WAY The first story in our Road to Recovery series discussed the new normal for luxury. Recent sales as well as aggressive price cuts show many affluent consumers understand the days of the boom are long gone. Rather than looking back,
The Phillips Club
Owners at The Phillips Club receive a real estate deed conveying a one-eighth interest in a club residence. The club offers studio, and one- and two-bedroom options.
Fractional Ownership: The Best Option or Just Good Enough? Like vacation homes in general, the uptick in activity for fractional ownership, especially private residence clubs, began last fall. A good example is the Phillips Club in Manhattan, where sales from November through March exceed the entire prior 18-month period. For affluent homeowners today, lifestyle trumps appreciation. And with prices projected to wobble around the current lows, more owners are finding fractional ownership’s cost-commensurate-withusage model aligns with luxury’s new values. “We have been the fastest-growing segment of the vacation home market for six years. That’s a significant statistic for those who wonder if this is going to perform like real estate. Overall, residence clubs have actually performed better than whole-ownership in each location,” says Steve Dering, who pioneered the residence club concept with the Deer Valley Club decades ago.
PHOTO COURTESY TURNER PUBLIC RELATIONS
of Prudential Utah Realty. Even in South Florida, high-end spec homes are being constructed in choice waterfront locations. Also, sales of land are returning here as well, often double lots for custom homes on or near the water, according to Joseph Ligouri, managing broker of Premier Estate Properties in Boca Raton, Fla. At the Ford Plantation, an exclusive resort community outside Savannah, Ga., spring brought a flurry of sales, including six homesites. Resort properties overall have staged an especially strong resurgence this year. On Cape Cod, Paul Grover, co-owner of Robert Paul Properties, is seeing a 56percent hike in sales over last year. In Park City, Utah, where the average price for a home is $1.3 million, sales are up 43 percent year over year. In Lake Tahoe, the upswing in luxury began in the last six months of 2009 and continued in the first half of 2010. “We are looking forward to what the last half will bring,” says Shari Chase, CEO of Chase International in Lake Tahoe. Also benefiting from the luxury boost are resort and second-home markets in hard-hit states such as Michigan. Dan Elsea owner of Real Estate One in Traverse City, Mich., saw an uptick in sales when the gun went off in May and June for the prime buying season in the northwest corner of the state, a favored destination for Chicago and St. Louis denizens, “It’s coming back. It’s going to be a good year, relatively speaking,” says Mike Riggle, owner of RE/MAX Irish Hills in Manitou Beach, Mich. The region is a second-home haven for residents of Detroit and Toledo, Ohio. A year ago, potential buyers looking at Oil Nut Bay, a new upscale resort on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, were not ready to do anything more than gather information. This year, they are actively searching, engaged in the process and ready to discuss pricing, says Michael Lorrance, vice president of marketing and sales for the developer, Victor International. Affluent consumers once again perceive real estate as a solid investment and the number of individuals able to acquire multimillion-dollar homes bounced back
savvy sellers today understand the dynamics of the market in 2010. Going forward, “people have to adjust their expectations just like the market has adjusted. This is kind of the new normal,” says Grover. This acceptance sometimes translates into a reinvigorated inventory of homes on the market and exceptional opportunities. In 2008 and 2009, many potential sellers in resort areas in Michigan were still holding on to the belief that the market would return to the highs of the boom in the not-too-distant future. “Now it’s evident this market is pretty well entrenched. The reality is we’re in a trough and we’re going to stay in this down part for awhile,” Riggle says. Another catalyst is a growing awareness that today’s opportunities may not be there tomorrow. Last year, anyone passing on a property could reasonably expect to find a similar comparable home in the future. Today, most buyers “aren’t quite as complacent,” observes Grover. “They’ve heard about friends losing homes they wanted so they are ready to make a decision.” “The feeling I get is the American people are getting tired of sitting on their wallets. Americans want to spend, want to enjoy themselves and want to take their families to do things,” says John Dixon, who originally hails from the United Kingdom. Dixon is the sales director for El Corazon de Santa Fe Private Residence Club, which offers both whole and fractional ownership.
reevaluating the value of everything in their life, he says. Rather than uber luxury, consumers are purchasing homes that will fit the lifestyle they want for their family, and often that translates into location, property size and the comfort it affords. Looking ahead, nothing could be a better foundation upon which to build real estate, and especially luxury real estate, for the next decade. However, for luxury and real estate in general, several red flags suggest the near-term prospects are not without potential snags. “Many factors are still weighing heavily on the (housing) market,” says Nicolas Retsinas, director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. “Elevated vacancy rates, record foreclosures, the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit and continued high unemployment are all causes for concern.” A myriad of problems related to lending continue to put a damper on sales. Stellar candidates sometimes don’t make the cut with mortgage companies or the property doesn’t appraise for the sale price. In some locations, issues with appraisers being unfamiliar with the location, local values or upscale properties haven’t been resolved. The good news is that rates for jumbo loans are coming into line with mortgages in general and overall mortgage rates have never been cheaper. The expectation of housing economists such as Douglas Duncan, chief economist for Fannie Mae, and Stan Humphries, chief economist for Zillow.com, is that the bottom for prices will come in the third quarter of this year followed by an extended
RELATIONSHIPS, NOT RESIDENCES
period with little or no price appreciation. That’s good news for real estate overall. There is still a huge inventory of foreclosed homes to hit the market, but at press time the number of foreclosures seems to be moderating slowly. “I am still cautiously optimistic about the second half of the year. The one thing we know, there is a tremendous amount of money on the sideline. The pendulum is swinging back toward that investment in real property. You can still touch it and use it,” says Roney.
At the heart of the new normal are new luxury values. The consciousness of the nation is shifting to one that is relationship driven rather than one driven by materialism, observes Chase. “It’s not just about acquiring a trophy property,” comments Paul Boomsma, president of the Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. “Today, the luxury consumer is more grounded, realistic,” and
In the Next Issue... The Global Issue
A Look at Luxury Living Worldwide Featuring:
Part 5: The Road to Recovery Our year-long series on the high-end market
Golf Course Properties The Ultimate in Home Entertainment Rooms and...
Luxury Specialists of California, New York, New Jersey & Connecticut For more info go to: UniqueHomes.com or contact your Unique Homes representative UNIQUE HOMES
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5 PHOTO COURTESY COLDWELL BANKER CITY
Top Resort Retreats
Puerta Aventuras, Mexico
From Maine to Mexico, these vacation-home markets are among the hottest in North America. By Jessica Decina
Puerto Aventuras, Mexico Buyers seeking a European flair in a Caribbean setting should look no further than Puerto Aventuras, a gated resort community located along the Riviera Maya. It’s just south of Cancun, which is not as popular of a market as it once used to be, according to Sally Wood Evans of Coldwell Banker City. “Basically, Americans are not buying in Cancun.
They started out buying there and then as the Riviera grew, they followed it there. There’s a wealth of things to do here. The beaches are fantastic, the snorkeling is great, [there is] world-class cave diving,” she says. But she can remember when residents had to rely on making the trip to Cancun for basic needs and supplies. In the last decade, a number of malls, groceries and other industries have appeared in Puerto Aventuras, making it a much more self-sufficient area, while still being easily accessible to historical sites such as the Mayan ruins of Coba. Evans also affirms “nobody should be scared to come to the Riviera Maya.” “I have been here for 14 years and there has never been a problem. It’s very safe and very beautiful,” she adds. Buyers can expect to pay approximately $550,000 for an oceanfront property, down about 15 percent in the last two years, Evans says. However, she remains confident she’ll come back to the $750,000 price range. “There’s only so much oceanfront in the world. You’ve got to make your prices attractive. My typical buyer is much more careful of what they’re buying. They really want to buy quality. The buyers that we have now are people who want to be down here and it’s just a question of the recession in the United States,” she explains. continued on next page
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“Prices are lower than they have been in years. There’s nothing compared to what California has in general; we’re much more exclusive up here.”
Lake Arrowhead, Calif.
“People are shopping value, and shopping value hard.”
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Kennebunk Beach, Maine Only in Southern Maine could a “ramshackle fish shack” be transformed into a beautiful antique cottage on the ocean worth $1.4 million. “It was an older home that had been renovated,” explains Gail Arnold of Kennebunk Beach Realty. “But it shows the uniqueness and quaintness of our area is very much alive.” Arnold reports a lot of activity in the market compared to this time last year, and attributes the strong market to the versatility of the area. The scenery and offerings of both the coastal and inland areas of the Kennebunk Beach region make it ideal for “second-home buyers, retirees, families seeking close-knit communities,” she says. “We’ve got a diversified range of people and it’s hard to pinpoint anything exact. Maine has a reputation for being more laid-back. It’s a tranquil environment. I think it’s the way of life here,” she adds.
The latest development in Southern Maine is the brand-new Cottages at Seagrass Lane, which was formerly an old motel chain that was completely renovated into luxury oceanfront condos. Some units have sold for as much as $2.3 million, Arnold reports. “It has been tremendously successful. We’re amazed that a developer took the project on last year and did it so well. It has turned out quite lovely. We started with 11 cottages and only have three left,” she says. Arnold suggests that a buyer can purchase a home within walking distance to the beach for a little more than $500,000. She reports that many of her customers are long-time renters looking to buy. As she puts it, “People are shopping value, and shopping value hard.” continued on page 91
PHOTO COURTESY KENNEBUNK BEACH REALTY
Kennebunk Beach, Maine
tend to be in the $2 million to $4 million range, although a number of homes are more than $5 million. Smith has seen a resurgence of second-home buyers who have settled into areas such as Palm Springs and want to live in Lake Arrowhead in the summer months. “It’s such a great lifestyle. Half the population lives here full-time. It’s a very safe neighborhood, very community-oriented, family-friendly and a great place to bring kids for the summer. It’s a great place for families to come and have family gathering — there are great memories to be made up here,” she says. According to Smith, residents in the community have been buying up into larger properties as well. “Prices are lower than they have been in years. There’s nothing compared to what California has in general; we’re much more exclusive up here.”
PHOTO COURTESY COLDWELL BANKER SKY RIDGE REALTY
Lake Arrowhead, California Vicki Smith of Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty couldn’t believe the crowds that gathered at Lake Arrowhead this summer. After a quiet Memorial Day weekend, when the community sees a huge population increase, Independence Day weekend “was packed.” “You could barely drive down the street,” Smith recalls. “What tends to happen is that we have more sales in the later half of the summer. We get a lot of newcomers who come up 4th of July or Memorial Day and then they really like it a lot and decide to look for something.” Tucked away in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California, the close-knit community of Lake Arrowhead offers plenty to do for water sport lovers and boating enthusiasts. Homes will sell anywhere from $250,000 for “a small fixer upper” to as much as $15 million, Smith reports. She says lakefronts
RESORT PROPERTIES
LAKEFRONT RETREAT Lake Arrowhead . California
C
entrally located in the heart of Southern California’s mountain resorts, only 90 miles from Los Angeles, this lakefront estate is nestled among tall pines in the picturesque community of Lake Arrowhead. Set on 3 lakefront lots for ultimate privacy, this impressive residence is perfect for memorable family gatherings or a corporate retreat. Upon entering through the hand-carved birch doors, a sense of warmth and comfort permeates the grandeur of this beautiful home. The numerous amenities include a grand 2-story living room overlooking the lake, handsome oval-shaped library, pub area, presidential dining room opening to a lake-view balcony, comfortable family room, private office, gourmet kitchen that would delight the finest of chefs, a wine cellar with tasting area, elevator and a game room with a pool table, ping pong and its own soda fountain. There are 8 bedrooms, including a luxurious master suite and a 2bedroom guest or staff apartment. The lushly landscaped grounds lead to a lakeside patio and a double dock. Offered furnished. $8,995,000.
VICKI SMITH Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty 909.499.9639 E-mail: VickiSmith@ColdwellBanker.com
For more details and a full tour of this property, go to www.27417northbay.com UNIQUE HOMES
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Chatham | Cape Cod | Massachusetts
Mill Pond Lane
Watch Hill Way
Walk to the village from this 4,209-square-foot waterfront home with a deep-water dock and views of Mill Pond. The main level features both formal and relaxed living areas and is highlighted by a generous 50-foot-by-17-foot brick and flagstone patio surrounded by lawns and gardens that slope to the water’s edge. The second level features 5 bedrooms, including a master suite with magnificent views. A private guest quarters occupies the second floor above the 2-car garage. $5,495,000
A saltwater-front estate parcel including the original 4-bedroom carriage house with original details and charm intact. The double entrance doors open to reveal a fantastic great room with soaring ceilings and original bead board. The Windmill House offers 2 additional bedrooms and a bird’s eye view over Chatham Harbor, North Beach Island and beyond. The property encompasses 1.60 acres, offers fields of wildflowers and the possibility of subdivision. $3,588,000
Indian Trail
Moonpenny Lane
This spectacular property on 1.3 acres offers salt marsh views of Bucks Creek and Nantucket Sound beyond. The Contemporary home has floor-to-ceiling glass on 3 levels with an exercise room, media room, 3 fireplaces and custom touches throughout. The gourmet chef ’s kitchen boasts granite countertops, double ovens, dishwashers and microwaves. Outdoor facilities include expansive decks, a catwalk, an irrigation system and a 2-car garage. $3,495,000
This 4,491-square-foot Greek Revival home has 4 en suite bedrooms, an elegant great room, formal living and dining rooms, an office, first- and second-floor master suites and a secondfloor family room. Enjoy extensive built-ins, a laundry room, wood-burning and gas fireplaces, a mahogany deck and a sweeping wraparound porch. The gourmet kitchen features granite countertops and a butler‘s pantry. On nearly an acre, this property features a John Miller barn with wide pine floors and a loft. $1,999,000
Pine Acres Realty Exclusive Affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates • 938 Main Street, Chatham, MA 508-945-1186 | www.pineacresrealty.com
RESORT PROPERTIES
SUMMERWIND
SUMMIT COTTAGE
Kennebunkport . Maine
Kennebunk Beach . Maine
When you imagine the magnificent coast of Maine with spectacular ocean vistas and sea foam melting onto the glistening and massive rocks, try to visualize yourself in this home. Offering more than 4,500 square feet of stunning living space and sited on 1.5 private acres, the home enjoys the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a serene nature preserve on the other. Nothing can compare to this. Contact Laura J. Ross, ljross@kennebunkbeachrealty.com. Offered at $4,875,000.
It is rare that a home in this prime location becomes available for sale. Relax on the
BE DAZZLED
WATERFRONT BUILDING LOT
expansive porch and enjoy the beautiful views of the coastline. Built circa 1895 and renovated with care in 1994, this home offers 6 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a secondlevel deck. The expansive living room and gourmet kitchen are perfect for entertaining. Just steps away from Mothers’ Beach, this is a property not to be missed. Contact Linda Ruskoski, lindar@kennebunkbeachrealty.com. Offered at $2,300,000.
Kennebunk . Maine
Kennebunk Beach . Maine
As you enter the grand foyer of this exquisite home, you will be swept away by the unsurpassed attention to detail. Perched on the Kennebunk River, the home’s open floor plan has a soaring cathedral ceiling over the family room, architectural columns, wood and tile floors, a magnificent master-bedroom suite and a custom chef’s kitchen. The second floor is no less spectacular, featuring a gorgeous staircase, billiard room, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Contact Rebecca Bourque, bbourque@kennebunkbeachrealty.com. Offered at $1,275,000.
This waterfront lot offers the perfect site to build your beachside residence. A sandy beach is at your doorstep and the property also has access to the river for boating. Watch boats entering Kennebunkport’s harbor from this hilltop site. The views of the coastline and sunsets are positively magnificent. Located on a private road, the property is within walking distance of the village of Kennebunkport. Contact Claudette Pittman Batignani, claudette@kennebunkbeachrealty.com. Offered at $2,300,000.
KENNEBUNK BEACH REALTY 25 Western Avenue, Kennebunk, ME 04043
For more details on these properties, go to www.kennebunkbeachrealty.com
207.967.5481
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RESORT PROPERTIES
Onancock . Virginia
Onancock . Virginia
THE FITZGERALD HOUSE is a classic Eastern Shore-style home. This 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home is built on deep water with new bulkheading, 2 docks and 2 boat slips. The original home was built in 1798 and totally renovated with an integrated addition in 2006. In-town living on .9 of an acre is priced at $965,000.
THE CAPTAIN JOHNSON HOMESTEAD was a part of a 1720s land grant. This home was built in 1830 and a large addition was added in 2005. The home features 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a library, a gallery hall, a gourmet kitchen, brick patios, plus bulkhead deep water with a dock, 4 boat slips and a boat house. Offered at $875,000.
Belle Haven . Virginia MOUNT PLEASANT ON OCCOHANNOCK CREEK IS A 94-ACRE ESTATE, which lies within a 1636 Queen's Land Grant. This property is composed of the 4,800-square-foot main house, a 2,000-square-foot guesthouse, 3 additional smaller residences, a pool house with a 30-by-60 in-ground pool, a barn and numerous outbuildings. Enjoy 4,200 feet of deep-water frontage with a dock. The enclosed family cemetery dates back to the early 1800s. The main home, built in 1942, has 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, a grand foyer, a garden room and a library, and every room has a view of the water. Offered at $4,900,000.
Onancock . Virginia THE OUTERMOST HOUSE is 66 acres with two-thirds of a mile on Back Creek with extensive views of Onancock Creek and Chesapeake Bay. The home was designed by Jeremiah Eck and was featured in Southern Living Magazine. This is the ultimate property for privacy, nature and to sit back and enjoy the surroundings, including spectacular sunsets. The nearest neighbor or public road is a mile away. This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home is situated adjacent to a 750-acre Natural Area Preserve, with an active Bald Eagle nest, deer, wild turkeys, ducks, geese, herons, osprey, hawks, swans and dozens of migratory birds and wildlife. Offered at $1,900,000.
For more details and a full tour of these properties, go to www.mason-davis.com
JANE K. BULETTE WEICHERT REALTORS, Mason-Davis 47 Market Street, Onancock, VA 23417 757.787.1010 / 800.288.7037 / E-mail: jbulette@mason-davis.com
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Belle Maison Middlebury, CT
Words cannot describe this magnificent, 8-year-old, shingleand-stone, 14-room, French Country estate in scenic Middlebury, Connecticut, off Route 84. Drive along Tranquility Road with open fields, 200-year-old stone walls and views of Lake Quassapaug. A short distance later sits the secluded, 8-acre estate with extensive landscaping and dramatic foliage up-lighting, all displayed down the 1/4-mile driveway to the main residence with 4 flat, cleared acres of lawn. The 2-story entry foyer with a curved staircase leads to the 2nd-floor landing, 5 large bedrooms, a study and playrooms. This 5-full- and 2-half-bath home also has a separate guest/au-pair wing with a bedroom, bath and laundry, kitchen and living room areas. The 1st floor features a large master suite with a tray ceiling, walk-in closet, stone fireplace, French doors to the terrace/lawn and a master bath with limestone walls/floor, radiant floor heat, a double shower and a Jacuzzi. There is a separate office with cherry built-ins, high ceilings and a private entrance. Brightly lit by 2-story windows, the living and dining rooms feature 14-foot cathedral ceilings, wainscoting and a formal fireplace. The family room has a coffered ceiling, stone fireplace and custom cherry built-ins and leads to the 1,250-square-foot terrace. The gourmet gas kitchen has Wolf, Thermador and Sub-Zero appliances, a large island, huge walk-in pantry and a separate eat-in kitchen. Detail, quality and craftsmanship are exhibited throughout. Adjacent to a 40-acre horse farm, this home has it all, including many more details not to be missed! Price upon request.
MARY KAY DAUGHTERS Hoffman International Properties, LLC Two Sound View Drive, Suite 100, Greenwich, CT 06830 203.325.1281 / Mobile: 203.829.8113 E-mail: Hoffman2@Optonline.net Website: www.HoffmanIP.com
941-954-9000
Candy Swick & Company
Real Estate Savvy
941- 954-9000 www.candyswick.com www.downtownexpert.com 2063 MAIN STREET, SARASOTA FL 34237
Casey Key, Florida—Nearly 3 Acres on Casey Key! An unspoiled gulf-to-bay property with protected waters, 2 boat docks, a private beach and 3 vintage bungalows for a total of 3 gulf front lots and 2 bayside parcels. Minutes from shopping, dining and downtown SRQ! Offered at $7,500,000
Sarasota, Florida—West of Trail - Oyster Bay! This newerbuilt, 2-story residence boasts magnificent square footage with all of the customary finishes that one would expect. Near the downtown area and close to many of the diverse cultural activities and attractions! Offered at $975,000
Sarasota, Florida—A modern home near downtown! This newer residence is spacious with 3,545 square feet, including a separate guest cabana, superlative finishes and state-of-the-art upgrades, plus serene outdoor living with a pool! Offered at $1,100,000
Field Club, Sarasota, Florida—With grandeur and prestige, this expansive, 3,481-square-foot residence is the perfect combination of Santa Monica panache, fused with a Florida lifestyle. Situated on a private lot with a desirable West-ofTrail address! Offered at $950,000
Lakewood Ranch, Florida—A modern-day Magnum Opus! Only a select few will ever be fortunate enough to relish in the lifestyle afforded by this luxurious 7,516-square-foot home overlooking golf-course views in a gated community. Offered at $2,950,000
Sarasota, Florida—Downtown Sarasota, Ritz-Carlton! A 4,704-square-foot penthouse boasts 5-star amenities overlooking beautiful bay views and captivating city vistas. Enjoy luxury appointments set close to a cultural hub of activities. Offered at $3,395,000
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DERMOT OBRIEN 561.317.1177 info@singerislandflorida.com www.twitter.com/singerislandfl www.SingerIslandFlorida.com Scan this code with your smartphone reader.
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2700 North Ocean
Resort at Singer Island
Oasis Singer Island
242 Residences in 2 Towers From $800,000 to $5,100,000.
66 Tower Residences, 239 Hotel Condominiums & On-Site Marriott Hotel. $200,000 to $3,995,000.
38 Residences in 2 Towers. Only 1 Residence Per Floor $1,750,000 to $3,500,000.
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Beachfront Singer Island
Ocean’s Edge
Via Delfino Singer Island
One Singer Island
58 Tower Residences, Ocean-toIntracoastal Views. $700,000 to $2,900,000.
40 Tower Residences, 2-year golf membership. $1,100,000 to $3,000,000.
33 Tower Residences, Dramatic Water Views. $550,000 to $2,700,000.
15 Tower Residences, Ultra-Exclusive. $1,995,000 to $4,995,000.
NEW YORK . NEW JERSEY
2 MYSTICAL ISLANDS
ELEGANT BEACHFRONT HOME
Lake George . New York
Cape May . New Jersey
Two mystical islands of your own, plus an enchanted mainland world of beauty with a 4-bedroom+ 2 lofts Adirondack masterpiece. The windows are angled to capture exquisite sunset lake and mountain panoramas and there are 270-degree views in every direction, plus 330 feet of lakefront with a sundeck covered crib dock complex. Watch the sun rise and set from paradise! $2,995,000.
The quintessential Cape May beach house, this 8-bedroom, 6-bath home offers breathtaking ocean views from the multi-level decks and front porch. The oceanside 3rd-floor master-bedroom suite has a private deck. Amenities include an elevator and a top-of-the-line kitchen with granite countertops. $4,999,000.
DAVIES-DAVIES & ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE LLC
Dolores K. Lanzalotti | Jersey Cape Realty
518.656.9068 / www.davies-davies.com
800.643.0043 / E-mail: dee@jerseycaperealty.com
For more details on this property, go to www.jerseycaperealty.com
739 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Luxur y Properties for Sale or Lease
Private Ski Lake Community Dallas, Georgia
Splendid Views Pinehurst, North Carolina
This 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath property has a brand new roof and a beautiful updated kitchen plus much more. It features 3.8 acres with covered boat dock and lift. Visit sites.google.com/site/youratlantawaterskihome for more information. Offered at $460,000.
A splendid view of the lake and golf course surrounds this magnificent home. Perfectly private, this estate has 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, a guest wing, a master suite, two 2-car garages, formal and casual dining areas, 5 fireplaces, an exercise room, a Carolina room, 272 feet of waterfront and a boathouse with a dock. $2,555,000.
Cheryl Wheatley, Associate Broker | Keller Williams Signature Partners cell: 770.826.7654 | cherylwheatley@kw.com | http://atlantawaterskiparadise.com
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Joel Rich | Prudential Gouger O’Neal & Saunders Real Estate | 910.315.4009
PHOTO COURTESY PRUDENTIAL DOUGLAS ELLIMAN
One of the nation’s premier luxury markets, the Long Island paradise is still the place to be.
The Hamptons: ‘Resilient and Stable’
PHOTO COURTESY FIRST HAMPTON INTERNATIONAL REALTY
BY JESSICA DECINA
When it comes to the Hamptons, there seems to be one general rule: If it’s a bad day on Wall Street; it’ll be a bad day on Main Street. If it’s a good day in Manhattan, the same applies to the Hamptons. So where’s the sense of balance? Lawrence Citarelli of First Hampton International Realty believes you can find it with smart business and good intentions. According to him, buyers in the Hamptons are fed up with practices that led to the current economic state – overspending, greed, borrowing money that couldn’t be spent. “People are truly yearning for business dealings to be honest, transparent and a bit simpler while still possessing the modern amenities and technologies we have all become accustomed to,” he explains. With that attitude in mind, Citarelli recently was able to transform a Westhampton estate that he purchased, tore down and completely re-designed – all done debt-free. He also sold a 12,000-square-foot waterfront estate for $13.5 million. “We’re the only organization [comprised of three companies, First Hampton International Realty, Lawrence III Corp and Citron Holdings] out here that I’m aware of that can take someone ‘in-house’ through the entire process. Whether purchasing or selling a property/home, our top-tier services run the gamut: from zoning analysis, design, permit expediting, renovation, new construction to mortgage, title, financial and legal services, et cetera,” he says. “One needs to be humble in their successes and appreciative of their opportunities.” The Hamptons buyer has not lost a sense of appreciation for the area, affirms Robin Kaplan of Prudential Douglas Elliman, who specializes primarily in singlefamily homes. She finds that since most of the buyers aren’t strangers to living in the Hamptons, they already know how they want to spend their money and what
each region has to offer. “It’s a matter of people trying to balance what they do with their money. And if they’ve been here for season after season, they know the different feelings of the different towns. South Hampton is more formal; East Hampton is the town that has the most to offer; Amagansett is the chosen resort area,” she explains. She adds that buyers are flocking to Montauk. Kaplan used to see a “younger crowd” primarily interested in the area’s beaches; nowadays, there’s more interest in the vineyards. “We have so many vineyards out here [because] we’re on the same meridian as France. We echo their soil, their growing season and the amount of rain. We’ve produced some excellent Bordeaux from Montauk,” she says. That, combined with price drops, has generated buzz in the community,
A firm believer in karma, Citarelli donates a portion of all of his Hamptons and other projects to various humanitarian efforts. The proceeds of his newest venture, Cristal Beach in the Dominican Republic, went to building a new school for the area’s children and earned him a Congressional Medal of Honor from the Dominican Republic.
according to Kaplan, who has seen properties come down in price by about 22 to 30 percent in some cases. “I sold a house in Montauk this year that was on the market originally for $2.5 million,” she says. “It’s a very exciting, cutting-edge, modern house. It didn’t sell for its asking price, but we had a number of people who were interested.” In the end, it’s all about balance. But if you know where to look, you’ll certainly find it in the Hamptons, according to Citarelli. “The Hamptons is a Mecca: proximity to New York City, the quaint smalltown life and some of the most beautiful beaches. Market swings have come and gone, but the Hamptons remains one of the most resilient and stable markets.” UNIQUE HOMES
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THE NEXT CONTEST in our series is for the Ultimate Entertainment/Game/ Theater Rooms. We’ll feature our favorites in the next edition of Unique Homes.
THE ULTIMATE
LANDSCAPE GARDENS & GROUNDS The Home Outside Your Home.
We continue our yearlong “Ultimate” series this issue with the Ultimate Landscape, Gardens and Grounds contest. Realtors were invited to submit luxury listings with amazing outdoor designs and spaces. We sorted through terrific entries from coast to coast, and we narrowed the field to about two-dozen finalists. Our editors were tasked
4821 Pinetree Drive, Miami Beach, Florida $22 million Tucked away behind stately mahogany and iron gates is a rare historic architectural masterpiece on Miami Beach. “Villa Vecchia,” built in 1928 by renowned architect L.M. Barrett for Byron D. Miller Esq. (president of the F.W. Woolworth Co.), is a stunning 18,000-plus-square-foot gated compound, composed of three buildings. Outside, enjoy the use of a resort-style pool pavilion and waterfront gazebo. Other amenities include a waterfront dock (which can accommodate a yacht of 100 feet), a children’s playground and four fountains spread throughout the lush grounds. Listed by Nancy Batchelor, Esslinger Wooten Maxwell
with selecting six winners. Here they are.
The Ultimate Pool/Outdoor Entertainment Space Winner Last issue, we showcased the Ultimate Pool/Outdoor Entertainment Space. Out of our five winners, our Readers’ Choice was an amazing $22.9 million Manalapan Beach, Fla., listing from Pascal J. G. Liguori of Premier Estate Properties. The home, “Acqua Liana” (the Tahitian and Fijian word for “water flower”), is the latest masterpiece from Frank McKinney, and was featured on our November 2009 cover.
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55 Armour Court, Hendersonville, North Carolina $2.4 million On about one acre with the Blue Ridge Mountains as the backdrop, mulched pathways connect an arboretum-like array of trees, plants and hardscape, including a wisteria and clematis trellis, a British climbing rose garden, a cutting garden, and gardens featuring antique roses, daylilies and moss. Mountain laurel/rhododendron railings complement a 170-plus-foot water feature with 2 ponds, a stream and multiple waterfalls to provide the perfect background “music.” Add in a 16zone irrigation system and accent lighting, and you’ve found serenity. Listed by Mary Kay Buhrke, Beverly-Hanks & Associates
Who’s Number 1?
We have not ranked the top six. That’s up to you. Go to UniqueHomes.com and click on the Features tab to view more photos of our Ultimate Landscape/Gardens & Grounds winners and to vote for your favorite.
1325 Monte Carlo Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia $8.6 million This new-construction estate on about 2.95 acres in Buckhead has lake frontage and tons of privacy. The perfect entertaining/family home, the wine cellar, home theater, billiards room/bar and exercise room indoors (on the terrace level) are paired with a double-edge infinity pool, loggia, outdoor kitchen, summer pavilion and flat yard space outdoors. The kitchen’s mahogany doors open to incredible lake views, and the grounds offer room for additional garage space, a guesthouse or a tennis court.
Listed by Alona Dishy, Realty Executives
Listed by Debra Johnston, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
1403 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Georgia $3.5 million On 2.8 acres along Patten Road, you’ll find one of Chattanooga’s premier luxury estates, perfectly situated on Lookout Mountain’s brow with sweeping eastern views. Stunning from the moment you enter, you will truly appreciate the charm and elegance this 5-bedroom, 7-full- and 2-half-bath home has to offer. Perfect for both family and entertaining, this home was designed for both function and formality. The gorgeous views, beautiful gardens and in-ground pool add to the allure of this stunning property.
10137 E Horizon Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona $6.75 million In the Desert Mountain community, this Zen-like home was built around a reflection garden and a 350-year-old Saguaro cactus. An outdoor living area offers covered and exposed terraces and ceiling heaters. An entertainment alcove has travertine flooring, a gas fireplace with stacked-stone surrounds, a flat-screen TV in a copper cabinet, and charcoal and gas barbecues with slab granite counters. The three-level Pebble Tec negative-edge pool and spa has a shallow sitting area where you can dip your feet while in a lounge chair in the pool.
Listed by Jay Robinson, Robinson Real Estate
Listed by Colleen Seymour and Don Baron, Desert Mountain Real Estate
PPHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN BAMBER PHOTOGRAPHY
375 Brightwaters Boulevard NE, St. Petersburg, Florida $14 million Perry Snell’s waterfront mansion is considered one of the finest in Florida. Tropical plantings of old, towering palms encircle the property and a hundred-yearold oak sprawls over the expansive lawns, coral walkways, salvaged cypress and salvaged fishing piers. Top-of-the-line sound, video and lighting systems were quietly added, and keep the home as gracious and discreet as it was in the 1920s. The 600 feet of waterfront provides breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, while one watches the dolphins and manatees play.
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ALONA DISHY
T he Finest Estate on the West Coast of Florida
375 BRIGHTWATERS BLVD NE
◆
ST. PETERSBURG
◆
TAMPA BAY
SNELL ISLE MANSION ◆ ST. PETERSBURG ◆ TAMPA BAY ◆ FL ◆ $14,000,000 The finest property on the West Coast of Florida! A landmark estate restored to world-class standards. A premier property on 1.6 acres that recently underwent a full-scale restoration to preserve Perry Snell’s crowning architectural achievement. Built in the 1920s on 600 feet of waterfront, Perry Snell, the legendary developer, staked out this rare site for his main residence. A spectacular setting for this palatial 10,000-square-foot, Mizner-style beauty with guest quarters, a 75-foot heated pool and spa, a dock and panoramic views of Tampa Bay. The restoration is exceptional, many of the restored items are centuries old and found in castles throughout Europe. Master craftsmen replicated columns, added balconies, revived paintings on ceiling beams, salvaged pecky cypress and marble, unveiled fireplaces and arches, replaced all windows, restored floors, redesigned kitchens, the butler’s pantry and bathrooms, and so much more. Crafted to the highest quality, rooms were seamlessly added as was state-of-the-art audio/visual and security systems. Every square foot of the home is top-quality. Located in the heart of Snell Isle, walk downtown; 20 minutes from Tampa International Airport. Simply put - this is the nicest home on the West Coast of Florida. Call Alona Dishy for more details, 727.458.8037. View the tour online at www.AlonaDishy.com.
Visit www.AlonaDishy.com for the finest portfolio of homes in St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay
HISTORIC ◆ LUXURY ◆ WATERFRONT HOMES ◆ RELOCATION SPECIALIST Top Producer ◆ 727.458.8037 ◆ Realty Executives ◆ alonadishy@gmail.com W W W. A L O N A D I S H Y. C O M
MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN MANOR
SPECTACULAR ESTATE HOME
Lookout Mountain |Georgia
Ooltewah | Tennessee
One of Chattanooga's premier luxury estates, this home is situated perfectly on Lookout Mountain's brow with sweeping eastern views. Stunning from the moment you enter, this 5-bedroom, 7-full- and 2-half-bath property offers charm and elegance. The main level features a gracious entry hall, a handsome library, formal living and dining rooms, a light-filled sunroom, a morning room, a fabulous kitchen with an oversized pantry and a breakfast room. The second level boasts the master bedroom suite with a sitting room plus 4 additional bedrooms and 4 full baths. Perfect for both family and entertaining, this home was designed for both function and formality. The gorgeous views, beautiful setting and in-ground pool add to the allure of this stunning property. Price upon request.
This elegant yet inviting 4-bedroom home with a guesthouse is located on 3 acres with brow views. No detail was overlooked in this stunning home with oversized rooms and gorgeous finishes.The gourmet kitchen is open to the breakfast and keeping areas with access to the screened porch and tiered decks with amazing views.The upper level features the master retreat with a private living room, the master bedroom with sitting area and the luxurious master bath. Two bedrooms are adjoined by a Jack-and-Jill bath, and the third bedroom suite has a bath and a private sunroom with deck access. The 2-story guesthouse and in-ground heated Gunite pool round out this beautiful property. Price upon request.
ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY – VIRGINIA
GRACE AND ELEGANCE Raleigh . North Carolina This stunning 9,500-square-foot, 7-bedroom, grand Georgian estate has endless views on Cary’s prestigious Prestonwood Country Club Golf Course. It features an extraordinary 1,200-bottle eat-in wine cellar, a home theater, custom woodwork throughout, plus travertine and American cherry hardwood floors, a carriage house with guest quarters and 6 garages. Offered at $3,000,000.
CONNIE FLOYD Prudential York Simpson Underwood 919.931.0222
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www.1181crabtreecrossing.com
Skylark Farm is a magnificent 365-acre mountaintop retreat along the Blue Ridge Parkway providing a sense of seclusion, yet only 15 miles north of Wintergreen Resort. At an elevation of 3,300 feet, there are incredible sweeping views to enjoy in all directions. Currently owned by Washington & Lee University, the buildings include a main house, a manager’s residence, a guesthouse and a 3-car garage/workshop with a walk-out basement. All improvements are constructed of stone, cedar and Hendrick’s tile roofs, all of which are time-tested materials. Amenities include a picnic shelter with a stone fireplace overlooking the springfed pond adjacent to the tennis court. A portion of this property also remains an active tree farm. Rarely has there been an opportunity to purchase such an extraordinary mountain property. $4,500,000.
1 Boar’s Head Place, Charlottesville, VA 22903 434.296.6104 | questions@stevensandcompany.net www.stevensandcompany.net
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Top Resort Retreats continued from page 62
PHOTO COURTESY ILLUSTRATED PROPERTIES
Palm Beach, Florida On the pristine beaches of Palm Beach, the resort/vacation property market can perhaps be best summed up by the phrase “mixed messages.” Dermot O’Brien of Illustrated Properties, who specializes in luxury condos, feels that the market is gaining strength, but “you never know how it’s going to turn out,” he adds. O’Brien has sold more condos from January to July than he did in all of 2009. It’s surprising to him, given that Palm Beach is not typically popular in the summer months, but with these numbers, O’Brien suggests that the region could be well on its way to becoming “a year-round resort destination, little by little.” “[Buyers] arrive at Thanksgiving and stay to Easter time. There’s a lot more people coming down into the area for weekends. Say people have bought a condo down here — what they’re doing is staying down in the their winter condo with kids. They’re saving money but still going on a vacation.” He also attributes the high property taxes in New York and New Jersey to the spike in extended stays in the area. Those who live in Florida for six months
PHOTO COURTESY CHARTER ONE NORTH REALTY & MARKETING
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Palm Beach, Fla.
and one day are exempt from those taxes, he explains. “It’s in their interest to make this their homestead, a more annual kind of place,” he says. Homes are selling anywhere from $450 to $500 per square foot. It rounds out to about $1.5 million for an oceanfront condo, though O’Brien notes “people paid $2 million a few years ago.” Earlier this year, he sold a fully furnished, 4-bedroom unit at The Resort at Singer Island for $1.49 million, down from $1.6 million. However, he also sees prices beginning to creep back up in some cases. “The buyers seem to sense that we’re within the bottom,” he says. “The only way you know what’s happening is if the units keep selling.”
The Carolinas Welcome to the Carolinas, where variety goes hand-in-hand with resort properties. Whether it’s an oceanfront estate, a home on the Inner Banks or a place in the historic district, there is something for everyone. Just ask Jan Tomlinson of Charter One North Realty and Marketing of Hilton Head Island, S.C., who has seen a huge rebound in highend single-family homes on the island. “We’re selling more this year than we were last year. People are taking advantage of fantastic inventory, fabulous interest rates [and] realistic prices for properties to use as second homes and then retire to. Prices are not increasing, but more people are seeing the value,” she says. Buyers have paid as much as $2 million or $3 million for an oceanfront home and $1.5 million to $1.8 million elsewhere on the island; on average, it’s about 30 percent less than prices from 4 or 5 years ago,
Hilton Head Island. She recently sold a home to a family from New Jersey who were shocked they could get a property “with a screened lanai, pool and a bike path to a lagoon, in a gated community” for less than $1 million. While the southern end of the island tends to boast more highend and resort properties, the entire island offers pristine beaches, biking trails, golfing and wildlife. Plus, it’s a lifestyle that many soon-to-be retirees are after. “People are looking at this for their future,” Tomlinson says. “Whatever your interest is, it’s such a wonderful lifestyle.” Further north and a little more inland, North Carolina’s Inner Banks, particularly New Bern, are becoming an increasingly significant region, according to Drake Bratton of Coldwell Banker Willis-Smith. Buyers are moving away from the beaches, though not necessarily the waterfront, which gives the Inner Banks a leg up over the better-known Outer Banks, N.C. “We’re waterfront, but not the front line,” he explains. “What happens is people have done the beach or something really coastal and now they’re looking for quality. They’re not on the beach anymore. It’s all about new urbanism, creating these neighborhoods that are more than just an escape.” Bratton describes the buyers in four categories, each having a domino effect on the other: “It starts with the tourism and that’s what keeps our market going. It ultimately brings in the retirement, which
Tomlinson says. “The prices are realistic. What I am finding is that even the highend buyers are being conservative in spending right now. In the home market, we have hit the bottom. We’re selling more but the prices are not going up yet,” she says. She adds that many buyers are surprised that they can afford
brings in the industry. The military is the fourth leg of the stool. It’s pretty diverse [and] it has kept us very stable.” Recently, New Bern has become a huge area for industry. Bratton notes that companies such as Bosch and Hatteras Yachts have set up shop in the area, attracted to the idea of being able to mix business with leisure. “People will come here and see what’s going on. [They] can run their business and play golf, too.” UNIQUE HOMES
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ul•ti•mate - adjective: being the best or most extreme example of its kind.
kitchens
In this issue: landscaping/grounds see page 86
Unique Homes is looking for the best of the best in luxury living spaces, indoors and out. We’re accepting submissions now. As part of our year-long “Ultimate” editorial series, we are looking for the most spectacular luxury spaces, from kitchens and baths to pools, gardens and more. The November/December 2010 issue will offer our top 5 choices for the ultimate home theater/game/interior entertaining rooms.
baths
pools/outdoor entertaining spaces
Currently accepting entries for: home theaters/game rooms
the homes of the year
If you have a luxury listing with a spectacular indoor entertainment space that is cutting-edge and contains truly exceptional amenities, we want to see it. We’re currently looking for fabulous home theaters and game rooms, but other creative indoor entertainment spaces will do as well. Please submit as many photos as possible and a detailed description. There are no entry fees, and the only requirement is that the home currently be listed for sale. Each issue, we feature the five best entries in Unique Homes’ print and digital magazines. We post more information about each property on www.UniqueHomes.com, including as many photos as you send us. And, we ask visitors to our website to vote for their favorite of our five selections. You can check out the “Features” page on our site to view the winners from the previous categories. Email us today at UltimateContest@UniqueHomes.com to see if your listing is the “Ultimate.”
Submissions should be sent to UltimateContest@UniqueHomes.com.
SHOAL CREEK, ALABAMA —
THREE CHERRY HILLS 9-Plus-Acre, Lakefront Georgian Estate $4,750,000
THE PAM AUSLEY TEAM
RE/MAX Southern Homes 205.981.1706 Fax: 205.313.8501 E-mail: realtypam@bellsouth.net
www.PamAusleyTeam.com
GOLFING PARADISE
ENJOY SHOAL CREEK • Mild Climate • Southern Hospitality
• Ambience of National Forest / 5-Star Resort • True 24-hour Security
Only minutes from Birmingham’s International Airport, Shoal Creek is a tranquil, private residential community built around the renowned country club and Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Tour golf course. Amenities include a full-service equestrian facility and more than 2,000 acres of natural beauty with 11 lakes, spectacular views and abundant wildlife. Club membership and stalls are separate with related costs. Homes starting at $699,000 (on the 12th green!). Each home unique and totally private. Lots available.
The property at 3 Cherry Hills also includes a pool house, a guesthouse and a carriage house—the best of everything!
ESTATES OF THE SOUTH
OAK ISLAND FARM—Own 2,000 feet of Lay Lake shoreline on 50 glorious acres with top-of-the-line barns, a lighted arena and every amenity needed for a first-class equestrian operation. $4,900,000. Home is available on 12 acres for $2,700,000.
SHOAL CREEK, ALABAMA This 60,000±-square-foot mansion has the timeless design and grandeur of a European castle. The 17-acre estate includes an equestrian center and is within the secure gates of Shoal Creek golf course community. $17,800,000.
LONGLEAF ESTATE (FORMER SCRUSHY ESTATE)—This 1950s mansion updated for today’s lifestyle includes 18,000 square feet, a theater room, an exercisre room, a guesthouse, a 10-car garage, a pool, fountains 11-plus acres and spectacular mountain views in a convenient, close-in location with security and privacy. Offered at $4,700,000.
THE PAM AUSLEY TEAM
RE/MAX Southern Homes 205.981.1706 Fax: 205.313.8501 E-mail: realtypam@bellsouth.net
www.PamAusleyTeam.com
GEORGIA
Lake Burton . Georgia
Lake Burton . Georgia
With sweeping views of beautiful Lake Burton, this 5-bedroom, 5-bath traditional home boasts a coastal flare with eyebrow windows and covered porches. The large custom kitchen, stacked-stone fireplace, spacious bedrooms and natural landscaping add to the open and bright feel of this lakefront home. $3,995,000.
This newly constructed 5-bedroom, 5-full- and 2-half-bath lakefront home boasts extraordinary design, materials and workmanship. Enjoy the sunset views and outdoor entertainment afforded by this large lot. Reclaimed heart pine and turnof-the-century cabinetry make this lodge truly "Rainbow’s End." $5,900,000.
Lake Burton . Georgia
Lake Burton . Georgia
Reminiscent of a 1940s lake lodge, this 5-bedroom, 3-full- and 2-half-bath home was designed for richness and comfort with heart pine, quality craftsmanship and character. A great room, rocking-chair porch, gently sloping grassy lot leading to the 2-stall boathouse and outdoor kitchen for entertaining friends. $3,650,000.
This 6-bedroom, 6-full- and 1-half-bath, fee simple Lake Burton luxury home offers a lodge feel with charm and elegance. Custom touches, soaring beamed ceilings, a 2-story stacked-stone fireplace and a large screened porch add to the special ambiance of this home with majestic mountain and lake views. $3,700,000.
Lake Burton . Georgia
Lake Burton . Georgia
This exquisite 4-bedroom, 5-bath Lake Burton escape features high vaulted ceilings with heart pine beams and arched doorways. On a gentle lot, this home is perfect for entertaining with a gourmet kitchen and wet bar, dining area for 10plus, a screened porch with a fireplace and a lakeside stone patio. $2,999,999.
This 5-bedroom, 4-full- and 1-half-bath timber-frame lodge with a 4-car garage and a spacious family room featuring a stone fireplace was designed for comfort and livability. A handmade wrought-iron chandelier and railings, an entertainment loft and a screened porch make this lake home a must-see. $3,650,000.
JULIE BARNETT Harry Norman, Realtors
For more details and a full tour of these properties, go to www.juliebarnettrealtor.com
P.O. Box 2009, Clayton, GA 30525 404.697.3860 / 706.212.0228 E-mail: julie.barnett@harrynorman.com
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GEORGIA . ARKANSAS . TEXAS
TRANQUIL RETREAT Augusta . Georgia Tranquility abounds in this 225-acre estate with 2 custom-designed homes. This 6-bedroom, 7.5-bath Georgian-style home is built with attention to detail throughout to include large rooms, extensive millwork, marble fireplaces, hardwood floors and a 3-car garage. The second home offers 5 bedrooms, 4 baths and a 2-car garage. Other features include the loop system, a 40-by-70-foot barn/shop, a Gunite pool, a clubhouse designed for
BRENDA JENKINS HOLLAND Vander Morgan Realty Mobile: 803.517.0511
the cook, fenced pastures, a natural lake, planted pines and a gated entrance. E-mail: brenj_3987@yahoo.com
Price upon request.
For more details go to www.myvisualhomes.com/privateretreat
LIVE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
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RAINBOW LAKE ESTATE
Jonesboro . Arkansas
Hunt . Texas
A Greek Revival home on the Ridgepointe Country Club golf course. Within 8,165 square feet are 5 levels and an elevator. Panoramic views of 7 fairways are afforded from the sunlit observatory and verandas with 28 lighted columns. Grand architecture outside and modern living inside, this home is in a safe college town near Memphis, Tenn. Luxury simplified. $899,000, negotiable.
50 private, pristine acres in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. 17-acre spring-
For more details, go to www.realtor.com
island and peninsula! By owner $4,250,000.
fed, constant level lake with 4-acre peninsula and a natural waterfall. Prestigious family retreat with lakefront cottages and a main lodge. Breathtaking hilltop vistas. A recreational paradise for family and friends or corporate clients. Abundance of wildlife. A retirement Shangri La. Own your own lake,
DON & SANDRA SMITH
www.RainbowLakeEstate.net
870.219.6282 / 870.740.2966 / dsmith28003@hotmail.com
Elice Strickland / 888.471.8288 / E-mail: elice@elice.com
UniqueHomes.com
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN NEWNAN. The impressive foyer of this home opens to formal living and dining rooms. The butler’s pantry leads to a gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, granite countertops and breakfast room. The sun-lit family room with fireplace and built-ins overlooks a covered porch and deck. The luxurious master suite includes a sitting area and fireplace. The property has a full basement, living area with tray ceiling, bedroom, sun porch. $523,746. Van Mottola, 770.296.5807 and Melinda Parrott, 678.877.7919.
HANDSOME EXECUTIVE HOME OVERLOOKING PRISTINE LAKE REDWINE. Located on a 1.5-acre estate lot, this 6-bedroom, 6.5-bath home is on a full, finished basement, which features a theater room. There are 2 master suites — one on the main floor. Enjoy a spacious island kitchen and the sunroom with a fireplace and a wall of windows. The property also includes a 5-car garage. $1,199,000. Sally McEntire, 678.378.4186.
CLASSIC TRADITIONAL HOME IN HISTORIC NEWNAN on 2.5 acres. This beautifully appointed home features 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. There are rich hardwood floors, formal rooms and 4 fireplaces. The spacious family room and brick patio overlook private gardens and your own pond. Easy walking distance to downtown parks and shopping. $795,000. Happy Green, 770.301.6552 and Parks Cole, 770.314.6768.
CUSTOM BEAUTY! There is room to grow in this spacious 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath Mitch Ginn design with a full, finished basement. The master on the main floor connects to a covered deck with an outdoor fireplace. The estate also includes 10-foot ceilings and 8-foot doors, a gourmet island kitchen and a vaulted study. The terrace level is finished in keeping with the main floor with windows galore. $599,000. Sally McEntire, 678.378.4186.
ELEGANT AND INVITING DESIGNER SHOWPLACE in Newnan’s most prestigious neighborhood. The immaculate interior features 4 bedrooms, with 3 full and 2 half baths. The recently remodeled kitchen features stainless appliances and Silestone countertops. Beautifully landscaped gardens with winding paths form a perfect private retreat. Agent is related to seller. $715,000. Leslie Binion, 770.843.8958.
STATELY ROCK & BRICK LAKEFRONT HOME. This 5-bedroom, 5-bath property sits on a full, finished basement. It has extras galore, with a master on the main floor, plus an additional bedroom suite. The screened porch off the kitchen overlooks Lake Redwine’s 300-acre lake. Vacation can begin at home with a pontoon boat, a dock and a seawall already in place. $785,000. Sally McEntire, 678.378.4186.
37 Calumet Parkway, Suite N Newnan, GA 30263 770.253.7005 /www.parksandmottola.com E-mail: info@ParksAndMottola.com
VIRGINIA . NEW JERSEY
OLDE PORT COVE HOME
CUSTOM-BUILT LAKEFRONT
Yorktown . Virginia
Yorktown . Virginia
This Olde Port Cove home features an open floor plan with spacious rooms and great traffic flow. The big kitchen opens to the vaulted-ceiling family room and there are dual stairways to the second floor. There are 3 fireplaces, including 1 in the master bedroom. The home has 4 total bedrooms, 3 baths, plus a study/playroom/office. The property sits on .63 of an acre in a community with a pool, tennis, clubhouse and other extras. $670,000.
The open, flowing floor plan of this house makes it easy to accommodate a large crowd. The kitchen features a double pantry, an island and a breakfast bar. The sun porch overlooks a multi-tiered deck, a pergola with swing and a lake with fountain. There are 3 large bedrooms plus a spacious bonus room over the 2-car side-loading garage. All bedrooms have large walk-in closets and there is also attic storage. $539,000.
For more details and a full tour of these properties, go to www.LynnGrimsley.com
COUNTRY FRENCH ELEGANCE
LYNN GRIMSLEY, RE/MAX Peninsula 825 Diligence Drive, Suite 126, Newport News, VA 23606 757.806.6015 / E-mail: Lynn@LynnGrimsley.com
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION
Mendham Township . New Jersey
Tewksbury . New Jersey
A custom-designed Country French home is set on more than 5 acres of private and secluded property with exquisite finishes and appointments in 15 rooms. Highlights of this home include a gourmet kitchen, handcrafted library, resortlike master-bedroom suite and a 3,000-plus-bottle wine cellar/tasting room. $3,795,000. Michael Lattmann, 908.672.3930 & Jerry Kienlen, 908.432.8740.
Graceful elegance distinguishes this 6-bedroom Colonial on more than 4 lush acres. Rich in amenities, this 13-room home is finished to perfection with extensive molding and superb finishes. A luxurious pool with a built-in hot tub, extensive patios and decking afford endless entertaining possibilities. Recently reduced to $1,599,000. Cindy Andrews, 908.696.8659, 908.625.4685 (cell).
KIENLEN LATTMANN REALTORS 68 North Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908.696.8600 / Fax: 908.696.8680 / E-mail: uniquehomes@klrealtors.com
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in Bend, Oregon
Central Oregon Country Estate Living At Its Best This lodge-style home has soaring vaulted ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling, wood-burning Montana mossy-rock fireplace and west-facing windows that include dramatic views from Mount Bachelor to Mount Jefferson. There are 2 exquisite master suites with Montana mossy-rock fireplaces, private baths and gorgeous mountain views. The dream kitchen has Italian Cambrian antiqued black granite with slivers of mica and obsidian fighting to be admired through the dark layers of stone, plus stainless-steel appliances. The home also includes a lavish media room with reclining seating and a
1080-dpi projection screen and a big library room. The expansive great room has artistic, massive hand-distressed timbers. Classic distressed hickory floors keep the elegant rustic feeling. Extensive use of custom glass and slate tiling throughout the estate. Gorgeous landscaping with flowerbeds, stone and stamped concrete and multiple water features, including a large Koi pond with a waterfall for a tranquil experience. Take advantage of Central Oregon’s stunning summer evenings with an outdoor kitchen. Property is plumbed for an exercise pool, greenhouse and backs to 120 acres for the ultimate privacy.
Jim Birtola & Ruben Garmyn Prudential High Desert Realty Bend, Oregon 541.312.9449
www.BendOregonRealEstate.com Keyword: 18929 PINEHURST
California Vineyard Estate/Retreat
uperbly situated high above the San Juan Valley, this estate offers the ultimate California lifestyle amidst a breathtaking mountaintop setting with vineyard charm. Here, a world of enchantment and privacy unfolds, allowing you to indulge in the best rural secluded living has to offer with all the conveniences of large urban metropolitan areas just a stone’s throw away. This estate is situated within 30 minutes to Carmel and Monterey and roughly 40 minutes to the San Jose Airport. The ready access to popular destinations makes a day trip very feasible for a break in a rigorous schedule.
S
he main residence encompasses approximately 18,000 square feet of building area above grade, including the master suite and 5 guest suites (there are 6 bedrooms, 9 full and 2 half baths in total). The gourmet kitchen features granite countertops, cherry floors and cabinetry, Viking double ovens with 6-burner grills, a pantry, plus a butler's pantry and a separate Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer. The great room boasts an aerobic-impact floor, a revolving observatory-style dome skylight, which allows you to open the roof to the midnight skies, his-and-her locker rooms, an adjacent theater room and panoramic views of the farm-rich San Juan Valley below. Additional features include a lower-level wine cellar and tasting room with additional case storage, a detached garage and a circular motor court. The estate is surrounded by acres of manicured landscaping with each room designed to showcase its own special view and interaction with the surrounding grounds. Alternative possibilities for this equestrian estate as a winery, corporate retreat, or spa are boundless. And, with the latest addition of our adjoining neighbor, Grahm Estate, LLC, of the Bonny Doon Vineyard, San Benito County is quickly becoming a diverse wine-making region.
T
his incredible property is being offered with 50 acres at a reduced price of $4,500,000, reflecting an almost $1.4 million price reduction. This property won’t last long and offers will be accepted and evaluated throughout the next several weeks. Up to an additional 440 acres may be available upon request. See more at www.SagradoRidge.com.
T
IRWIN SEWELL III, PRINCIPAL, REALTOR® (469) 585-4000 www.SagradoRidge.com Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Photography by Cherie Cordellos. California license #01797543
180 Robin Road, Hillsborough, CA • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Stunning French Country Estate Breathtaking San Francisco Bay Views 2 Gated Acres with Merlot Vineyard Expansive Lawns & Bluestone Patios 5 Bedroom Suites & 2 Half Baths Dramatic Two-Story Foyer Grand Living Room with Fireplace Mahogany Wood-Paneled Library Spectacular Chef ’s Kitchen Family Room with Media Center Magnificent Solarium with Views Study with Built-In Workstations Charming Turret Playroom
Offered at $5,475,000 #1 Coldwell Banker Agent for Hillsborough Top 100 Agents Nationwide - 2008 Wall Street Journal
JIM ARBEED International President’s Premier | Top 1% Internationally
(650) 558-4248 • www.JimArbeed.com
CALIFORNIA
SAN DIEGO OCEANFRONT Encinitas . California
N
ewly rebuilt in 2006 with 40 feet of water frontage, this rarely lived-in estate is elegantly finished with a sweeping staircase, travertine floors, crown molding, cherrywood cabinets and a marble master bath. This home has 3 bedrooms and 4 baths with almost 4,000 square feet. The master bedroom enjoys a complete second kitchen, a second washer/dryer and a very expansive patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The main kitchen is highly upgraded with a walk-in pantry and a large breakfast nook overlooking the water. Not many oceanfront homes have a pool — this one does, and even has swim jets for those days the ocean just does not work. Additionally, there is a grassy rear yard with a wonderful fire pit. The home is located only a couple of blocks to Moonlight Beach, shopping, restaurants and I-5. Seller will entertain offers between $3,900,000 to $4,445,876.
California Realty
ROBERT W. SAYLER DRE#00630115
Prudential California Realty 858.720.7790 / cell: 858.922.2283
For more details and a full tour of this property, go to www.robertwsayler.com 106
UniqueHomes.com
LUXURY PROPERTIES
AMAZING TUSCAN ESTATE—Superbly crafted with contemporary flair, designed and decorated with no detail untouched, this home offers 8 spacious bedroom suites, one of which is comparable to a 2nd master suite, and 12 baths. For more visit: www.southorangecountyliving.com. Offered at $9,500,000.
STUNNING ARCHITECTURE—Amazing custom estate with spectacular views on a prime lot overlooking Coto Valley and the surrounding Saddleback Mountains. Gourmet kitchen and private screening room. For more visit: www.southorangecountyliving.com. Offered at $5,295,000.
ABSOLUTE LUXURY—This spectacular custom estate features 5 large bedrooms plus a separate casita, family room with a walk-behind bar, billiards room, library and a gourmet kitchen sure to be a chef’s delight. For more visit: www.southorangecountyliving.com. Offered at $4,400,000.
ELEGANT ESTATE—A simply breathtaking property on more than 6 acres, this home has it all! The main house offers 5 spacious bedrooms, 6 baths plus a spacious guesthouse and 15-car garage. For more information visit: www.southorangecountyliving.com. Offered at $13,500,000.
STUNNING VICTORIAN ESTATE—An absolutely gorgeous Victorian custom estate on more than 2 acres, this charming home features 5 spacious bedrooms, a large family room and a gourmet kitchen. For more information visit: www.southorangecountyliving.com. Offered at $4,900,000.
OCEANFRONT—This gorgeous 3-story home sits perfectly in the exclusive guard-gated community of Surfside Colony. It offers 2 spacious bedrooms plus an office or 3rd bedroom. For more information visit: www.southorangecountyliving.com. Offered at $4,350,000.
MARIANN CORDOVA Luxury Property Specialist & Relocation Specialist DRE# 01157910
Office: 949.858.0405 | Cell: 949.307.4040 | mc@southorangecountyliving.com Web site: www.southorangecountyliving.com
NEW MEXICO
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT Silver City . New Mexico A luxury Arts-and-Craft-style home on 5 acres covered with Ponderosa Pines and bordering the 3 million-acre Gila National Forest. Only minutes from town, this lovely home is 2 years old and has 3,000 square feet of Italian porcelain tile with in-floor radiant heat, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a study, a formal dining room and a state-of-theart gourmet kitchen. Enjoy wonderful living areas both inside and out. $950,000.
For more details and a full tour of this property, go to www.bevhamill.com
BEVERLY HAMILL RE/MAX Silver Advantage 575.590.7674 / 575.538.3847, Ext. 23 E-mail: bev@bevhamill.com
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COLDWELL BANKER
I N T E R N AT I O N A L 速
P ORTFOLIO OF E XCEPTIONAL H OMES
HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA
HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA
THE BOURDET RANCH is 1,530 acres of working cattle ranch. Just
EL RANCHO ESCONDIDO is 1,200 acres of Central California
40 minutes to San Jose or Carmel. It can be sold in 3 pieces for
ranch (within 50 minutes of Carmel and San Jose). Huge potential
$3,090,000, $4,900,000, $5,265,000 each or all 3 for $11,929,500.
and great income just minutes from town. $11,888,888.
G I L R O Y, C A L I F O R N I A
S A N J UA N B AU T I S TA , C A L I F O R N I A
THE “FARAWAY” RETREAT is on 176 acres. It has a 5,000-square-
THE HOLTHOUSE RANCH is 367 acres with a 4,040-square-foot home
foot home, a 2,000-square-foot recreation hall, pool, spa, tennis, 3
designed in traditional California Mission style. There are corrals, barns, a
other homes and beautiful redwoods. $4,248,888.
workshop and 3 other dwellings, just 40 minutes from San Jose. $3,999,993.
HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA
TRES PINOS, CALIFORNIA
THE HOGAN RANCH is 418 acres with very unique rock
THE SOUTH BLUFF ESTATE—This 2-year-old, Santa Barbara-
fences, an old homestead and beautiful views. A stocked pond.
style, 5,000-square-foot, single-level home and the 850-square-
Just 10 minutes to town but light years away. $3,340,000.
foot pool/guesthouse offer exceptional views. $1,999,999.
PAGE WELTON, COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE 950 Tennant Station, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 408.776.7153 fax: 408.778.2899 pagewelton@coldwellbanker.com www.pagewelton.com
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P ASADENA, C ALIFORNIA
P ASADENA, C ALIFORNIA
This elegant estate, situated on more than 35,000 square feet of
This architect-designed, turn-of-the-century home offers
manicured grounds with a pool, spa and pond, offers 6 bedrooms
meticulous restoration with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, a family
and baths, a family room and a gourmet kitchen! $2,350,000.
room, den and music room. Mills Act approved! $1,695,000.
P ASADENA, C ALIFORNIA
SIERRA MADRE, CALIFORNIA
The ultimate address located in the Old Pasadena retail district. The
This light-filled residence boasts 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, a state-
lavish residences with 2 to 4 bedrooms and spa-like baths include the
of-the-art kitchen, guesthouse, wine storage and a workshop on
latest in technology and finishes. Priced from $799,000 to $1,400,000.
a wooded lot of more than 21,000 square feet. $1,198,000.
S OUTH P ASADENA, C ALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
A 1925 Spanish home offering character and an ambiance of lux-
This stylish, elegant and spacious home features 4 bedrooms, 2
ury features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a living room, formal dining
baths, a remodeled kitchen with granite counters and stainless-
room, office, bonus room and breathtaking views. $898,000.
steel appliances, and a formal dining room. $798,000.
JOHN FAIRBANKS, MARION FAIRBANKS & KEVIN SWEETEN COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE 626.398.9000 FairbanksGroup.com
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OAKVILLE, CALIFORNIA Magnificent Wine Country Estate
Tucked away on more than 75 acres just minutes from Oakville, the timeless beauty of this spectacular French country manor embraces the gracious lifestyle enjoyed in Napa Valley. Incredible views and dramatic sunsets are to be enjoyed while relaxing around the 60-foot pool and the expansive outdoor entertaining area, complete with a massive fireplace and your very own Cabernet vineyard. The office and luxurious master suite are in a separate wing from the other 3 bedrooms. This is a home made for private comfort or for grand entertaining. The spacious family room with fireplace is open to the amazing kitchen with its huge granite island and a 6-burner Viking range and griddle. A generous butler’s pantry gives you room for everything you need. The dining room is fit for the most elegant of dinner parties you can create. Your guests will love to wander out to the back patio and drink in the amazing views over the Mayacamas Appellation past the sparkling pool. Come imagine yourself in this enchanting world. $4,995,000. CAROLYN ROBERTS, COLDWELL BANKER BROKERS OF THE VALLEY 1775 Lincoln Avenue, Napa, CA 94558 707.258.5248 carolynroberts@number1agent.com www.carolynroberts.com
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N A PA , C A L I F O R N I A Nestled amongst the majestic oaks, this gated estate property is tucked atop a beautiful knoll overlooking 15 acres. There are 7.5 acres planted to Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc vines. This offering includes 4 bedrooms plus a den/office, 3 full baths and 2 half baths, a spacious kitchen, both formal dining and living rooms, a wine cellar, 3 fireplaces and a lofty artist retreat located above the extraordinary master suite. $3,295,000.
N A PA , C A L I F O R N I A This enchanting vineyard estate is tucked away on more than 4 acres with magnificent oaks, stunning views and 4,200 Cabernet vines. It is located near every convenience, yet far from ordinary. It offers a gracious main house of more than 3,600 square feet of dramatic living space overlooking a sea of vineyards and mountains in the distance. An exquisite guesthouse and sparkling pool complete the lifestyle of casual elegance. $2,995,000. CAROLYN ROBERTS, COLDWELL BANKER BROKERS OF THE VALLEY 1775 Lincoln Avenue, Napa, CA 94558 707.258.5248 carolynroberts@number1agent.com www.carolynroberts.com
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B END, O REGON Pride of ownership is evident in this handsome lodge-style home on 10 acres. The 6,383-square-foot home is open and light and features a great room plan, 5 bedroom suites, a fabulous office and an expansive 1,500-book library with private reading area. The kitchen will delight any chef with its Viking appliances, butler’s pantry, Sub-Zero refrigerator and Miele espresso maker. Impressive stone and iron work, a 1,000-bottle wine cellar, cherry-wood cabinetry and custom built-ins, a luxurious master suite with a fireplace and a private garden outside are also included. The exterior features include a fireplace, built-in barbecue, hot tub, swimming pool, gas heaters and a covered sitting area. $3,250,000. NORMA D U BOIS, BROKER, PC, GRI, CRS COLDWELL BANKER MORRIS REAL ESTATE 541.383.4348 norma@normadubois.com www.normadubois.com
W I L L A PA B AY , W A S H I N G T O N
RIBERA, NEW MEXICO
This lodge-like retreat sits on 9 private acres with 275 feet of
This fabulous double adobe boasts stunning views. Licensed as a bed-
tidelands. Surround yourself with the serenity, wildlife and beauty of
and-breakfast, this one-of-a-kind residence sits on 533 acres with rock
Washington’s coast. Luxurious details and a perfect integration with
outcroppings, pinon/juniper coverage and pastures. Privately sited
nature. This 5,000-square-foot home features expansive views and
between celebrity ranches just 45 minutes from Santa Fe, it has 7,435
exquisite gardens. Visit: www.thebayhouse.net. $1,485,000.
square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, a great room and more. $3,499,990.
JAMES CONGDON COLDWELL BANKER TRAILS WEST REALTY, LTD. 800.775.5550 505.988.7285, Ext. 302 www.jamescongdon.com
CATHY HUMPHRIES, COLDWELL BANKER BAIN 7808 SE 28th Street, Ste. 128, Mercer Island, WA 98040 cell: 206.300.6142 cathyhumphries@cbbain.com
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S T. H E L E N A , C A L I F O R N I A Sophisticated elegance amongst a sea of Cabernet grapevines on the hillside of desirable Spring Mountain in beautiful Napa Valley, California. This estate boasts all the amenities one would expect, such as views, privacy, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, guest home, vineyard, orchard, olive grove, gardens and a granitesurfaced chef ’s kitchen. There is also a 70-foot pool, outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, gas fire pit, rose garden and your very own heliport. There’s more! Call for a detailed list! Offered at $21,000,000.
YOUNTVILLE, CALIFORNIA Yountville is at your doorstep with all its charming shops, restaurants and wineries. This 2,800-square-foot home features hardwood floors, a fabulous master suite and bath, flagstone patios, 2 fireplaces and hillside views. Offered at $1,099,000.
DEBORAH RUSSELL BROMAN COLDWELL BANKER BROKERS OF THE VALLEY direct: 707.967.4655 cell: 707.337.4976 deborahb@sonic.net www.napavineyardestates.com
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A NGIER, N ORTH C AROLINA
A PEX, N ORTH C AROLINA
This 4-acre, charming Craftsman-style home has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Elegant and comfortable, this nearly-1-acre, 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath
and formal living and keeping rooms. Gourmet granite and stainless-
home is flagstone-accented with an open floor plan. The estate offers
steel kitchen with a 3-zone wine cooler and 6-burner Viking stove. The
a theater, a keeping room, a 1st-floor master plus an outdoor living
outdoor living area offers a fireplace, built-in grill and pool/hot tub.
area with a fireplace and a covered grill. The residence also includes a
There are garages available for 5 cars plus an office. $525,000.
3-car garage plus a detached garage with an office above. $950,000.
EDNA COLE, REALTOR/BROKER COLDWELL BANKER HOWARD PERRY & WALSTON 919.388.5323 colee@hpw.com
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS
LEBANON, TENNESSEE
A builder/designer’s own home with 10,000-plus square feet of
Custom built on 5 private acres and fronts corp. property, this home offers
architectural wonders, including a 30-foot ceiling in the great room
6,183 square feet, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. Awesome kitchen, breakfast
with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. Nestled in the heart of Carlton
and keeping room overlook grounds, saltwater pool and covered porches.
Woods, the home has 10 sets of wrought iron doors, a gorgeous pool,
Great room, dining room, rec room, media room, office and 8-car
spa, outdoor kitchen, casita and so much more. Offered at $2,475,000.
attached garages, 3 on main. Indoor-outdoor fireplaces. $1,200,000. DEBBIE WATSON MELVIN, COLDWELL BANKER BARNES 615.758.0488 toll free: 800.884.8710 DebbieWatson3@aol.com www.DebbieMelvin.com
BETH FERESTER COLDWELL BANKER UNITED, REALTORS 713.702.6334 beth@ferester.com www.ferester.com
Each office is independently owned and operated.
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N EW B ERN, N ORTH C AROLINA
N EW B ERN, N ORTH C AROLINA
This 5-bedroom, 5.5-bath, 6,500-square-foot, Trent River waterfront
A Trent River waterfront estate on 1.6 acres. The 3-story, custom-built
home features a pier, an elevator and a generator. A heated pool, office,
home with extraordinary craftsmanship offers stunning river views
triple garage and game room is only a sample. $1,690,000. MLS# 73595
and a landscaped lot with a 2-tier boat dock. $1,450,000. MLS# 77063
NANCY STALLINGS - 252.617.7520
STEWART SMITH - 252.635.2384
N EW B ERN, N ORTH C AROLINA
N EW B ERN, N ORTH C AROLINA
All the comforts that one desires are found in this waterfront brick
Yesterday’s grandeur, today’s elegance, this 3-story, Federal Revival,
home with a dock and boat lifts. Views abound from almost every room
5,300-square-foot home offers 5 bedrooms, 4 baths and a private
on the 1.36 acres with outdoor living spaces. $1,299,000. MLS# 77718
courtyard. Within a short walk to the marina. $1,100,000. MLS# 77450
JOANNE ASHTON - 252.626.4089
LINDA HOLLAND - 252.259.0756
N EW B ERN, N ORTH C AROLINA
N EW B ERN, N ORTH C AROLINA
This historically significant residence offers modern luxuries while
Truly outstanding details are the hallmark of this property. Elegant
maintaining its Colonial past. Southern living close to waterfront,
built-ins, trim work, 4 fireplaces and a gardener’s house are just a few
dining, shopping and the first state capitol. $975,000. MLS# 76962
of the 5,000-plus-square-foot home’s features. $859,000. MLS# 70693
ANN MAUDE - 252.349.5611
DRAKE BRATTON - 252.635.2382
COLDWELL BANKER WILLIS-SMITH COMPANY 800.334.0792 www.ColdwellBankerHomes.com
Each office is independently owned and operated.
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T A M PA , F L O R I DA With breathtaking views of Hillsborough Bay to the downtown Tampa skyline, this Charleston-style pool home underwent a magnificent renovation. In an ideal location just one house off Bayshore Boulevard on one of South Tampa’s most picturesque streets, canopied by gorgeous Grandfather Oaks. Century-old charm has been dramatically enhanced by the many recent improvements completed in the last 4 years. $1,495,000. BILL & CYNTHIA PERRY COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE 813.245.2871 bcperry13@aol.com www.billandcynthiaperry.com
C ORAL G ABLES, F LORIDA In prestigious Gables by the Sea Estates in Coral Gables’ exclusive waterfront community, this residence’s walk-in front entrance welcomes you with a spectacular water view. Luxurious features include frameless solid-core oak wood doors, huge kitchen window panels, KitchenAid appliances, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, granite master bath shower, and a spa/whirlpool/double vanity. Built-in architectural glass walls and a dry bar accent the 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 2-car garage home. Enjoy a 120-foot-wide canal with direct ocean access and no bridges, a 100-foot-long dock with ship-to-shore power and a seawall built on interlocking steel pilings and reinforced concrete. Reduced to $1,875,000. JULES MAZZARANTANI, COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE 1760 Bell Tower Lane, Weston, FL 33326 cell: 954.817.6475 Jules.Mazzarantani@floridamoves.com JulesMazzarantani.sef.mlxchange.com
Each office is independently owned and operated.
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S M I T H M O U N TA I N L A K E , V I R G I N I A Graciously nestled on 1.25 acres featuring lush formal gardens and dramatic sunset views over a private cove, this spacious and custom-crafted home blends flawless design with impeccable detail. Offered at $1,950,000.
R U R A L R E T R E AT, V I R G I N I A This hillside compound is located on 13 gorgeous acres adjoining a national forest. Enjoy total harmony with the environment and spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Offered at $999,950.
S ALEM, V IRGINIA This beautiful Stephen Fuller design offers architectural detail and a floor plan that comes together in perfect union of form and function, highlighting an exciting variety of amenities. This 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath home also offers spectacular views. Lowest priced home in a unique southern-living subdivision. Price upon request. BILL GEARHART, COLDWELL BANKER TOWNSIDE, REALTORS 4005 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24014 540.989.3311 cell: 540.354.4863 bgearhart@coldwellbanker.com www.CBTownside.com
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D OVER, M ASSACHUSETTS
B OXFORD, M ASSACHUSET TS
This 26-acre estate is located in one of Dover’s finest neighborhoods
Accessed by a gated drive is this Cape-style residence on 11 acres.
and is connected to the local trail network. Composed of rolling lawns,
The exquisite home features a media room, a gourmet kitchen,
woodland and 2 scenic ponds, the property boasts a guest cottage, a
an indoor pool, a dog kennel, an exercise room, a
recreation lodge, a carriage house, a tractor barn, a greenhouse, a pool,
racquetball/squash court, a pistol range and a guest suite.
a tennis court and a buildable lot. Contact Jonathan P. Radford,
Contact Gwen Washburn, 978.887.6536. $2,700,000.
617.335.1010. $7,499,000. COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE www.NewEnglandMoves.com
C H A R L E M O N T, M A S S A C H U S E T T S
LYME, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Located in the Berkshire Foothills with awesome views, a pool,
This comfortably elegant and up-to-date, 4-bedroom, 5-bath
tennis court, pond, waterfall and privacy. This Post-and-Beam
Contemporary sits on 42 acres and affords views over Lyme
Contemporary offers cathedral ceilings, top-of-the-line appliances,
Village to Vermont. The 4,941 square feet of living space offers
passive solar, a hot tub, brick and oak floors. A separate 30-by-40-
spacious rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking lush
foot garage with 2nd-floor guesthouse is included. $635,000.
perennial gardens, rock gardens and stone walls. Offered at $2,850,000.
COLDWELL BANKER UPTON-MASSAMONT REALTORS Serving Western Massachusetts 800.LAND.ETC www.CBUMR.com
Each office is independently owned and operated.
SANDY ALLEN, COLDWELL BANKER REDPATH & CO. 603.643.1884 sandy@cbredpath.com
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C ANADA
H A M M O N D ’ S P L A I N S , N O VA S C O T I A
L U N E N B U R G , N O VA S C O T I A
A fabulous, custom-built, 6,000-plus-square-foot home nestled
An 8-acre waterfront estate offering unparalleled views/sunsets from
amongst trees on the 4th tee of the Glen Arbour Golf Course with 2
the 3,083-square-foot home with a double garage. With 400-plus feet
golf privileges. A huge lot; stunning landscaping. $995,000 CDN.
of protected oceanfront and deep-water mooring. $1,975,000 CDN.
C H E S T E R , N O VA S C O T I A
C O N Q U E R A L L B A N K , N O VA S C O T I A
Your 3,369-square-foot dream home awaits on a landscaped double lot
This fabulous brick waterfront home offers beautifully landscaped
with a private backyard, including a waterfall and custom stonework.
grounds and a private dock! You’ll love the balcony off the master,
The open floor plan is perfect for entertaining. $998,500 CDN.
dream kitchen and awesome living room with views. $549,900 CDN.
B E D F O R D , N O VA S C O T I A
T E R E N C E B AY, N O VA S C O T I A
A beautifully detailed, luxury home with exquisite finishes, including
Stunning and gated, Tern Point offers a 6,700-plus-square-foot home
an elevator. Enjoy spectacular views, a great layout for entertaining, a
with a 6-car garage, 5.8 acres of enchanting and meticulously groomed
fenced yard for children and an indoor heated pool. $1,685,000 CDN.
gardens and roughly 700 square feet of waterfront. $1,499,900 CDN.
MARIANA COWAN, COLDWELL BANKER SUPERCITY REALTY 128 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax, NS B3S 1A2 Canada 877.450.5752 fax: 902.450.5753 mariana@supercityrealty.com www.marianacowan.com
Each office is independently owned and operated.
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P ARADISE I SLAND, B AHAMAS Kokomo House is located within the prestigious community of Ocean Club Estates on Paradise Island. The property has 150 feet of private sandy beachfront and 75 feet of protected inland waterway. Kokomo House comprises 9 bedrooms and 9 baths with more than 18,000 square feet and includes a boathouse and dock. Offered by open bid. Internet ref.# 7126. Spencer White, spencer@coldwellbankerbahamas.com.
P ARADISE I SLAND, B AHAMAS Ocean Club Residences—These two 4th-floor residences total more than 6,724 square feet. Equipped with a 65-foot yacht slip with an optional upgrade to a 120-foot slip, the residences provide access to a private beach club and an on-site marina. Swimming pools, a fitness center, 24-hour security and reserved parking are also included. $6,995,000 US. Internet ref.# 7183. Colin Lightbourn, colin@coldwellbankerbahamas.com.
P ARADISE I SLAND, B AHAMAS Capanna Lussa—On Lot 76 on the Ocean Club Estates waterway and comprising a total of 32,855 square feet with 86.39 feet on the canal, this residence is a perfect blend of elegance, style and comfort. The house wraps around a central atrium and is positioned to take advantage of the views down the harbor. Enjoy 5 en-suite bedrooms. $9,200,000 US. Internet ref.# 7132. Colin Lightbourn, colin@coldwellbankerbahamas.com.
242.393.8630
Each office is independently owned and operated.
COLDWELL BANKER LIGHTBOURN REALTY 18 Shirley Street, Nassau, Bahamas info@coldwellbankerbahamas.com www.coldwellbankerbahamas.com
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N A S S AU, B A H A M A S
A BACO, B AHAMAS
Stunning vacation homes with 100 feet of water frontage. Steps to a pri-
Man-O-War Cay—Perched on a double oceanfront lot, this
vate beach, this property boasts a 2,700-square-foot, 4-bedroom, 3-bath
impressive 3-bedroom, 3-bath home is located on charming, post-
main home with sweeping ocean views and a 3-bedroom, 2-bath cottage
card-pretty Man-O-War Cay. Features include wraparound verandas,
with a private garden and water access. Turn-key condition. $1,995,000
central air conditioning and a well-designed floor plan that takes full
US for both homes or $1,330,000 US for the main home only. Internet
advantage of the sweeping views. $1,200,000 US. Internet ref.# 7205.
ref.# 7071. Heather Peterson, heather@coldwellbankerbahamas.com.
Mailin Sands, mailin@coldwellbankerbahamas.com.
BIMINI, BAHAMAS
ELEUTHERA, BAHAMAS
Located on the harbor side of Bimini Bay of the resort community of
Double Bay—“Endless Summer” sits on 2.8 acres of land and has 200
Bimini Bay, this charming home has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, travertine
feet of beachfront. This 3,800-square-foot residence offers the best in
tiling, plantation shutters, high ceilings, a fully equipped kitchen and 7-
beachfront living. Airy and spacious, the 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath home
foot French doors leading to a wraparound veranda. Enjoy 130 feet of
has a gourmet kitchen, living and dining rooms with vaulted ceiling,
dock frontage with room for a luxury vessel. $1,600,000 US. Internet
and a wraparound patio. A guest cottage is included. $2,300,000 US.
ref.# 7033. Rudy Carroll, rudy@coldwellbankerbahamas.com.
Internet ref.# 7222. Brian Hanna, brian@coldwellbankerbahamas.com.
242.393.8630
Each office is independently owned and operated.
COLDWELL BANKER LIGHTBOURN REALTY 18 Shirley Street, Nassau, Bahamas info@coldwellbankerbahamas.com www.coldwellbankerbahamas.com
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UNIQUE LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALISTS WORLDWIDE | THE CARIBBEAN & CENTRAL AMERICA | CANADA | BAHAMAS | NEW ZEALAND | MAINE | MASSACHUSETTS | MARYLAND VIRGINIA | CONNECTICUT | NEW YORK WORLDWIDE
LUXURY PORTFOLIO
luxuryportfolio.com Inside front cover, pages 1-4 THE CARIBBEAN & CENTRAL AMERICA
RE/MAX CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA remax-caribbeanislands.com remax-centralamerica.com Page 20 CANADA
MARIANA COWAN Coldwell Banker Supercity Realty 128 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3S 1A2 Canada 902.452.1639 / 877.450.5752 mariana@coldwellbanker.ca marianacowan.com With support from her Home Selling Team, Mariana’s experience and expertise make her one of Nova Scotia’s leading specialists in luxury homes. She promotes a variety of Eastern Canadian prestigious waterfront and golfing community properties, highlighting their true value on the global market through the Coldwell Banker Previews International program. Page 121 BAHAMAS
RUDY CARROLL Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty 18 Shirley St., Nassau, Bahamas 242.393.8630 coldwellbankerbahamas.com info@coldwellbankerbahamas.com A former offshore banker who has traveled Europe extensively, Rudy has a true appreciation for varied culture and credits his knack for pinpointing a buyer’s needs to this experience. Rudy also holds a degree in business administration and management and is a member of STEP, Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners. He swayed from banking to real estate about five years ago for the satisfaction of helping others fulfill their dreams. In 2009 Rudy was given the International Sterling Society award, given to the top 8 percent of 96,600 sales associates/reps in the Coldwell Banker worldwide system. Pages 122-123
HEATHER LIGHTBOURN PETERSON Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty 18 Shirley St., Nassau, Bahamas 242.393.8630 coldwellbankerbahamas.com info@coldwellbankerbahamas.com Heather Lightbourn Peterson has real estate in her blood. She joined her father’s company in 2000 after a double major at the College of Charleston studying architectural history and historic preservation and community planning. Heather is a five-time winner of the Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle award, an award given to the top 9 percent of Coldwell Banker agents internationally. She has won numerous awards throughout her real estate career. Pages 122-123
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RON AMOS Residential Sales Consultant Barfoot & Thompson MREINZ Whangaparaoa, Licensed Agent 2 / 719 Whangaparaoa Road Whangaparaoa, Auckland, NZ +64.9.424.9199 / Cell: +64.21.432.109 r.amos@barfoot.co.nz “I’ve lived in New Zealand most of my life and now specialize in quality homes in the north of Auckland. I’m a detailed person, have integrity, love giving excellent service, I’m straight-up, no-nonsense, and most importantly, I listen! So if you want to work with someone you can trust, call me now. Integrity is being honest even when no one is looking.” Page 59
PETER LAWRENCE Licensed Branch Manager Whitianga Richardsons Real Estate Ltd. MREINZ, Whitianga Branch Coromandel Peninsula, 3510 NZ +64.7.866.2373 Cell: +64.21.841.898 / richardsons.co.nz peterl@whitianga.richardsons.co.nz Peter has listed or sold more than 1,000 Whitianga properties in New Zealand since 1984, totalling more than $100 million in value. Richardsons Real Estate, although an independent company, accounts for more than 50 percent of residential sales on the Coromandel Peninsula. Peter is a dedicated, energetic family man and believes that in a good market, selling property is not hard, and negotiating a premium price in any market is an art form. Page 60
WARWICK SEARLE Rural Property Specialist Harveys Gisborne - First City Realty MREINZ Gisborne 4010 New Zealand +64.6.867.9679 Cell: +64.21.362.778 wsearle@harveys.co.nz / harveys.co.nz Warwick entered the real estate industry 6 years ago after completing a degree in accounting and property at Massey University. Starting out in the Bay of Plenty town of Whakatane, he soon had the market share of the larger farms that changed hands. A highlight of his 3 years there, he notes selling $9 million in property under the hammer at auction in one day. He joined Harveys Gisborne 4 years later. Warwick is now a shareholder and key member of the rural team. With contacts from the Bay of Plenty dairy scene, and a reputation for selling substantial properties, he adds true value to Harveys Gisborne! Passionate about marketing rural real estate, Warwick takes an enthusiastic, no-nonsense approach. Page 60 MAINE
CLAUDETTE PITTMAN BATIGNANI Kennebunk Beach Realty Claudette@ kennebunkbeachrealty.com With more than 25 years of experience selling coastal properties in the Kennebunk/ Kennebunkport area, Claudette can help you find the home that is just right for you. Kennebunk Beach Realty is the leading real estate company in the area, handling a range of vacation & year-round properties. Page 65
NEW ZEALAND TERRY SPICE, Partner Luxury Real Estate New Zealand Ltd. MREINZ, Central Otago, NZ Tel: +64.21.755.889 terry@luxuryrealestate.co.nz luxuryrealestate.co.nz Terry Spice is New Zealand Ambassador for Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate, a group of the world’s finest luxury real estate brokers. Specializing in the marketing and sales of unique homes, estates and lifestyle properties, Terry offers his clients the opportunity to reach a qualified global market through international networks, personal referrals and private database. Luxury Real Estate New Zealand will arrange and facilitate property tours showcasing luxury throughout the country. Teaming with the leading inbound operators, luxury lodges and travel experts, they guarantee a tailor-made recreation and educational experience. Page 58 MASSACHUSETTS
BETT MCCARTHY Kinlin Grover GMAC Real Estate 1123 Route 28 South Yarmouth, MA 02664 508.362.2723 / kinlingrover.com bmccarthy@kinlingrover.com With 560 miles of waterfront, Cape Cod is in high demand as a perfect place to live. Kinlin Grover GMAC Real Estate serves the entire area with 13 offices. In 2007 Kinlin Grover achieved a 96 percent satisfaction level for premier service and captured a 26 percent market share of the luxury market. Pages 66-67
LORI SMITH & CHRIS RHINESMITH Pine Acres Realty, Inc. 938 Main St., Chatham, Cape Cod, MA 02633 508.945.1186 sales@pineacresrealty.com Pine Acres Realty has been opening doors to exceptional homes on Cape Cod since 1948. Through our affiliation with Christie’s Great Estates, we have access to some of the world’s most unique and outstanding homes. Page 64 MARYLAND
HEIDI KRAUSS Krauss Real Property Brokerage 3 Shawan Road Hunt Valley, MD 21030 Cell: 410.935.6881 410.329.9898 / heidikrauss.com hkrauss@heidikrauss.com / Inside back cover VIRGINIA
JANE BULETTE & ANDY MASON WEICHERT REALTORS, Mason-Davis / Onancock, VA 800.288.7037 / mason-davis.com 757.710.0319 / 757.710.8497 jbulette@mason-davis.com / andy@mason-davis.com WEICHERT REALTORS, Mason-Davis, is the oldest continuously operating real estate firm on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We specialize in representing buyers and sellers in the sale or purchase of waterfront and non-waterfront estates, homes and land. Page 68
BILL GEARHART Coldwell Banker Townside, Realtors 4005 Electric Road Roanoke, VA 24014 540.989.3311 / 540.354.4863 CBTownside.com bgearhart@coldwellbanker.com / Page 119 CONNECTICUT
MARY KAY DAUGHTERS Hoffman International Properties, LLC Two Sound View Drive Suite 100 Greenwich, CT 06830 203.325.1281 / 203.829.8113 / 203.622.3939 Hoffman2@Optonline.net / HoffmanIP.com Mary Kay is a multimillion-dollar producer and firm founder/owner with 20 years of experience. She is certified as a Luxury Home and Buyers Specialist, a Previews Broker and an International Property Specialist. Mary Kay lists/sells properties in Connecticut, U.S. and Europe. Especially skilled in marketing upper-tier properties, she utilizes Internet strengths and a global market network. A multi-award winner, Mary Kay is also an expert in horse property and waterfront listings. Mary Kay works one-on-one with exclusive clients, previewing properties locally, nationally and internationally, and protecting clients’ privacy. She has a full-service team that includes agents, architects, builders and interior designers, all available to clients, helping keep their search focused for dream estates. Page 69 NEW YORK
LAWRENCE CITARELLI JR. First Hampton International Realty 631.288.2122 631.325.3925 lcitarelli@lawrenceiiicorp.com cristalbeachresort.com / firsthamptonrealty.com Lawrence Citarelli Jr. is a successful, former finance/economics executive of 14 years and possesses more than 17 years of real estate investment and development experience. In the past 8 years, he has forged a multi-award-winning design/build organization, Lawrence III Corporation, along with Citron Holdings LLC, his real estate acquisition and development firm. They both continue to receive accolades and awe. He is also the president/owner of First Hampton International Realty. FHIR is a full-service, conciergestyle, boutique firm that offers a perfect blend of traditional real estate transactional business coupled with a myriad of luxury lifestyle services. Clients and customers are provided with an experience and service model that is unrivaled in the industry. The finance, economic and psychology degrees, along with an insatiable work ethic, street smarts and strict adherence to disciplines, continue to add to his successes. Citarelli is a consummate humanitarian. He recently was awarded a congressional award for his international business dealings, which are specifically tied to helping less fortunate children and the communities where he is active. His newest project, Cristal Beach Resort, will undoubtedly become the premier destination on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. Pages 84-85
UNIQUE LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALISTS NEW YORK | ILLINOIS | GEORGIA | FLORIDA NEW YORK
GEORGIA
TIM DAVIS
JULIE BARNETT
Senior Managing Director The Corcoran Group 631.283.7300, Ext. 211 tgdavis@corcoran.com corcoran.com/tgdavis timdavishamptons.com Lifelong Hamptons resident Tim Davis is an accomplished career real estate broker who boasts more than 28 years of experience and is considered to be an expert in the Hamptons marketplace. He has personally brokered nearly $2 billion in sales. A top producer and Luxury Market Leader who has long enjoyed status among the top echelon of East End residential specialists, Tim capitalized on his creative sales and management skills in 1993 to become a principal of Allan Schneider Associates. His leadership resulted in expansion of the firm to 12 offices from Westhampton Beach to Montauk, Shelter Island and on the North Fork, with 350 agents and $1.2 billion in sales. In August of 2006, Tim and his two partners sold Allan Schneider Associates to NRT/Realogy. Under the Corcoran umbrella, as part of the Corcoran management team, Tim continues to manage the prominent Southampton office where he takes a hands-on supervisory approach. He additionally serves a select group of discerning real estate clients and customers for whom he personally handles the gamut of real estate needs. Tim is known not only for the attentive, thorough service he provides his loyal buyers, but for the customized results-driven marketing plans and personal service he offers sellers of the finest Hamptons properties. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 he was listed as one of the 30 “Top Agents in Volume” in the United States with $325 million-plus in sales for the three years combined. In January 2010, Tim sold the highest-priced listing in the market, “Westerly” for $38.5 million—a record price for an interior estate property in the Hamptons. Pages 42-43 ILLINOIS
PRUDENTIAL RUBLOFF PROPERTIES www.rubloff.com Prudential Ruboff Properties is honored to be selected as the exclusive marketing firm for the following Fine Homes™ properties. These homes receive worldwide recognition through our Fine Homes International™ luxury program. We invite you to view the latest of our Prudential Ruboff Properties Fine Homes collection. Prudential Ruboff Properties has 17 sales offices with nearly 900 sales professionals and staff in Chicago’s Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and South Loop, as well as Evanston, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Northbrook, Winnetka and Michigan’s Harbor Country. Prudential Ruboff Properties is the exclusive provider of Premier Market Watch Reports, a consumer trend and analysis tool for neighborhoods and communities in Chicagoland’s Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties. For additional information, please visit PruPref.com/MarketWatch. Prudential Ruboff Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, a fullservice residential and commercial real estate network with nearly 1,940 franchise offices and more than 62,000 sales professionals in the franchise network in the United States and Canada. Page 75 Rubloff Properties
Harry Norman, Realtors 404.697.3860 / 706.212.0228 julie.barnett @harrynorman.com juliebarnettrealtor.com Julie Barnett specializes in marketing and sales of Lake Burton homes and properties in the North Georgia Mountains. Her attention to detail and market knowledge make her your perfect choice. Page 97
DANA LESHLEY Harry Norman, Realtors 404.310.5536 dana.leshley.harrynorman.com Page 34
FLORIDA
SCOTT AGRAN President/Broker Lang Realty 2901 Clint Moore Road Boca Raton, FL 33496 561.989.2100 / langrealty.com s.agran@langrealty.com Lang Realty is the leading independent luxury real estate company in Palm Beach County. Recently, Lang Realty announced the formation of the Carriage Trade Collection, an ultra-luxury division to serve our clients with $2 million-plus properties. Lang Realty has an international affiliation with Savills, the United Kingdom’s leading real estate company. Pages 70-71
JILL EBER & JILL HERTZBERG Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 1691 Michigan Avenue, #105 Miami Beach, FL 33139 Jill Eber: 305.915.2556 Jill Hertzberg: 305.788.5455 info@thejills.com / thejills.com In every profession a group of leaders emerges who set the standard for the rest. “The Jills,” Jill Eber and Jill Hertzberg, have been selling luxury real estate with a commitment to excellence for more than 20 years and are two of those leaders. Their success in the real estate arena is evident in their numerous record-breaking sales in Fisher Island, Miami Beach Islands, Bal Harbour, Gables Estates, Tahiti Beach, Golden Beach and South Beach. Page 19
NIKI HIGGINS Seaside Properties Group, Inc. 2100 N. Ocean Blvd, #402 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305 888.242.4422 seasidepropertiesgroup.com info@seasidepropertiesgroup.com Ten years ago, Niki Higgins founded Seaside Properties Group, Inc., a unique and specialized real estate agency, which focuses exclusively on oceanfront estate homes and luxury condominiums from South Beach to Palm Beach. Since its inception, the company has been a dominant force in the South Florida waterfront market. Pages 12-13
JULIE JONES NANCY BATCHELOR Esslinger Wooten Maxwell Inc., Realtors 419 Arthur Godfrey Drive Miami Beach, FL 33140 305.672.1300, Ext. 7718 Cell: 305.903.2850 nancy@nancybatchelor.com / nancybatchelor.com Nancy knows the South Florida luxury real estate market. Specializing in Miami Beach waterfront properties and South Beach condos, Nancy is a Realtor with EWM with a commitment to excellence for more than 10 years. Earning numerous awards and recognition from her peers, she has a reputation as a savvy, hard-working and win-win negotiator. Page 89
ALONA DISHY
Fine Homes
Realty Executives St. Petersburg, FL 727.458.8037 alonadishy@gmail.com alonadishy.com Page 88
BILL EARLS John R. Wood Realtors 3255 Tamiami Trail North Naples, FL 34103 239.777.6622 / 800.982.8079 billearls.com Page 74
Premier Estate Properties 2424 East Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954.328.3665 luxuryrealestateftl.com julie@premierestateproperties.com Facilitating almost half of Fort Lauderdale’s 2008 ultra-luxury transactions and managing $209 million of Premier Estate Properties’ $1.65 billion portfolio, Julie is the go-to broker for ocean and waterfront residences. Superior marketing knowledge and techniques, tenacious negotiating and high professional ethics make Julie the broker of choice for discerning clients worldwide. Pages 38-39
MARK NAUMANN Carlton Naumann Homes 17499 McGregor Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33908 239.454.1333 cnchomes@earthlink.net naumannproperties.com Since 1986, Mark Naumann of Carlton Naumann Homes has been specializing in the design, development and marketing of many of Southwest Florida’s premier luxury homes and communities. For more information on Carlton Naumann Homes and a company profile, please visit naumannproperties.com, or call 239.454.1333. Page 37
DERMOT O’BRIEN Illustrated Properties 3800 N. Ocean Drive Singer Island, FL 33404 561.317.1177 info@singerislandflorida.com singerislandflorida.com Dermot O’Brien started his real estate career in East Hampton, N.Y. He then moved with his family to Singer Island and has spent the last five years specializing in luxury sales on this idyllic barrier island. He brings a wealth of experience, having worked directly for a luxury developer on Singer Island for several years and was the developer’s top producer—culminating in $36 million in sales in 2006. He was also the recipient of the prestigious 5-Star International Property Award for this project. Dermot is a qualified professional with an MBA from the Kellogg Business School with a great breadth of experience in marketing and management consulting. Whether selling or buying luxury property on Singer Island, Dermot O’Brien has won the unique insight that will benefit you. Page 73
LISA H. RICHARDS Isleworth Realty, Inc. Windermere, FL 34786 407.876.0111 / isleworth.com sales@isleworth.com On Central Florida’s Butler Chain of Lakes, Isleworth has established itself as one of the world’s most prestigious luxury living communities. A 606-acre community with seven miles of lake frontage, Isleworth is extremely private and boasts an 18-hole golf course conceived and designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, and recently enhanced by Steve Smyers. Amenities include a lavish clubhouse, tennis center, and a boat launch and dock. Downtown Orlando and the Orlando International Airport are just 30 minutes away. Residences from this fine collection are offered by Isleworth Realty, Inc., the exclusive central Florida affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates. Pages 50-51
CANDY SWICK Candy Swick & Company Sarasota, FL 34237 941.954.9000 / candyswick.com candyswick@verizon.net Celebrating more than 2 decades of success in Florida, Candy Swick & Company serves you as a full-service real estate boutique and caters to individuals and corporate clientele who demand personal attention in the upscale Sarasota market. By partnering with us, you will have selected a Realtor who will provide you with a sense of trust and who boasts a proven track record. Your success is critical to our success. Page 72
MARTHA THORN Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 727.432.9019 thethorncollection.com Martha is among the top .5 percent in Coldwell Banker worldwide and the top agent in the Tampa Bay area. She is an expert in creating custom marketing strategies, committed to being service-oriented and going the extra mile for every customer. Martha awaits the opportunity to help you with your real estate needs with her tireless enthusiasm and in-depth experience. Page 30
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UNIQUE LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALISTS FLORIDA | SOUTH CAROLINA | NORTH CAROLINA | TEXAS | ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | UTAH CATHY WILLIAMS Lake Nona Realty 9801 Lake Nona Road Orlando, FL 32827 407.851.9091 / lakenona.com realty@lakenona.com Lake Nona Realty exclusively sells homes behind the gates of Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. Lake Nona features a world-renowned championship golf course, is bordered by more than 1,000 acres of sparkling lakes and is now enhanced by world-class education, wellness and recreational amenities. With homes ranging from $1 million to more than $7 million, there is no place like it in central Florida. Pages 52-53 SOUTH CAROLINA
MARILYN HOFFMAN Marilyn Hoffman Worldwide Properties 6835 Westlake Avenue Dallas, TX 75214 214.698.1736 / 903.569.5392 marilynhoffman@sbcglobal.net magnificentproperties.com Marilyn Hoffman has sold some of the world’s finest estates and ranches, including a $30 million Texas ranch, the most beautiful home in Kentucky and the Circle C Ranch in Marin County, Calif. She was awarded the Superstar Award for setting a world record in real estate. Her Dallas sales include the Lee Trevino estate, the Mary Kay estate, the Don Meredith estate, the Hugh Prather estate, the Troy Post estate and a 15,000-square-foot Park Cities estate. Pages 40-41
JAN TOMLINSON Charter One Realty & Marketing / Hilton Head Island 843.681.3307 / 843.422.6890 jan@destinationhhi.com destinationhhi.com Jan has been involved in the real estate industry for more than 20 years through many facets, including selling, training, mentoring, coaching, recruiting and running a national brokerage. She has earned many designations, including Accredited Buyers Representative, Certified Relocation Professional and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. NORTH CAROLINA
COLDWELL BANKER WILLIS-SMITH New Bern, North Carolina 800.334.0792 coldwellbankerhomes.com Page 117 TEXAS
VANESSA ANDREWS Hoffman International Properties 5611 Colleyville Boulevard #260-111, Colleyville, TX 76034 972.816.3014 magnificentproperties.com vanessa@magnificentproperties.com Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Vanessa is a recognized top producer with a degree in marketing and a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. Vanessa is responsible for finding the buyer for the company’s top sale to date in record time: 8 days. Frequently featured on HD Net Television’s Luxury Home Shows, Vanessa is available to help you with all your real estate needs. With her very impressive client list, you can feel assured your real estate needs and confidentiality will be met. ARIZONA
ROXANN TAYLOR Roxann Taylor & Associates, Realtors 640 N. Carroll Ave., Suite 100 Southlake, TX 76092 817.442.4244 / 817.312.7100 roxann@roxanntaylor.com roxanntaylor.com “The only name you need to know in real estate” is what Roxann’s clients state. Roxann’s three decades of real estate experience and the specialized training of her seller and buyer agents give her clients a competitive edge in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Give them a call today. Page 35 CALIFORNIA
DEBORAH RUSSELL BROMAN Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley Direct: 707.967.4655 Cell: 707.337.4976 deborahb@sonic.net / napavineyardestates.com Page 115
SUSAN BURNS Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Montecito, CA 805.565.8822 susan@susanburns.com susanburns.com / Pages 26-27
MARIANN CORDOVA Luxury Property Specialist & Relocation Specialist Prudential California Realty 949.858.0405 Cell: 949.307.4040 mc@southorangecountyliving.com southorangecountyliving.com Page 107
FRANK AAZAMI Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty 7135 E. Camelback Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480.266.0240 faazami@gmail.com / frankaazami.com Pages 78-79
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ROB GIEM HOM Real Estate Group 1200 Newport Center Dr., # 100 Newport Beach, CA 92660 949.933.7046 / 949.554.1200 rob.giem@homgroup.com robgiem.com / homgroup.com Back Cover
THE FAIRBANKS GROUP Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 388 South Lake Avenue Pasadena, CA 91101 626.398.9000 est8homes@aol.com thefairbanksgroup.com Successfully selling “Unique Homes” in the Greater Los Angeles Area since 1986, John, Marion and Kevin have a proven track record with more than $600 million in closed sales; this team has been out performing all others for the past 10 years! Passion brings results with these well-educated experts as Marion is a graduate of USC, John a graduate of UCLA and Kevin a graduate of the Army & Navy Academy. If you require confidence, strong negotiating skills and integrity, The Fairbanks Group will make your real estate transaction a success! Page 111
ROBERT W. SAYLER Prudential California Realty 3790 Via de la Valle, Suite 201 Del Mar, CA 92014 858.720.7790 / 858.922.2283 rsayler@robertwsayler.com robertwsayler.com Robert has been serving buyers and sellers in the San Diego area since 1977, beginning in La Jolla. He received his real estate license after graduating from UCLA. Robert has represented several large land transactions, new subdivisions and has been recognized nationally as a top agent in production for the last 23 years. Page 106
IRWIN SEWELL III, Realtor 469.585.4000 sagradoridge.com Page 104
ROBERT HURWITZ Hurwitz James Company 310.477.8865 bob@hurwitzjamesco.com hurwitzjamesco.com Bob Hurwitz has been a real estate broker for 26 years. He is president and founder of Hurwitz James Company, started in 1987, and specializes in the marketing and sales of multimillion-dollar estates. Bob is regularly featured on “Extra” and “NBC First Look” as a top Realtor in Los Angeles dealing with high-profile properties/clients. His clients range from entertainment personalities to foreign buyers. His listing inventory often exceeds $600 million. His extensive expertise consulting and negotiating with attorneys and business managers ensures a smooth transaction. Pages 14-17
BOB & ROSEMARIE OGAN Country Estates, Inc. 707.864.1128 / 707.344.3439 bobogan@aol.com GreenValleyNapaHomes.com Page 36
CAROLYN ROBERTS Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley 1775 Lincoln Avenue Napa, CA 94558 707.258.5248 Cell: 707.953.1798 croberts99@aol.com / carolynroberts.com Over the last 20-plus years, Carolyn Roberts has been successful at representing buyers and sellers in the Napa Valley. She is extremely knowledgeable in all areas of real estate. Her expertise is country and estate properties. With a strong commitment to excellence, superior market knowledge, hard work and integrity, Carolyn has gained the respect of her clients and colleagues. She has won many awards for her performance and has consistently been a multimillion-dollar producer. Her philosophy always has been to provide superior customer service, while focusing on her customers’ needs and desires. She is recognized for her integrity, honesty and professionalism. Pages 112-113
VICKI SMITH Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty 909.499.9639 vickismith@ coldwellbanker.com Page 63
PAGE WELTON Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 7789 Wren Avenue Gilroy, CA 95020 / 408.848.7932 pagewelton.com pagewelton@coldwellbanker.com A real estate licensee since 1979, Page specializes in southern Santa Clara and San Benito counties, including Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy, Hollister, San Juan and rural San Benito County. She has been a member of the International President’s Elite since 1988. Page has won numerous production awards and earned professional awards and designations, including Coldwell Banker’s International Previews Property Specialist. She retains membership in the National Association of Realtors, GRI, California Association of Realtors, the South Clara County Real Estate Board, South Country Realtors Association and the San Benito County Real Estate Board. Page 110
UTAH
WILL LANGE Prudential Utah Real Estate Town Lift Office 1030 Park Avenue P.O. Box 1226, Park City, Utah Cell: 435.640.0001 wlange@pureutah.com / willlange.com Page 33
ADVERTISER INDEX ALABAMA RE/MAX Southern Homes, 94-96
Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors, 120 Kinlin Grover Real Estate, 66-67 Pine Acres Realty, 64
ARIZONA Marilyn Hoffman Worldwide Properties, 40-41 Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, 78-79
MONTANA ERA Landmark Real Estate, 57
ARKANSAS Don & Sandra Smith, 100
NEW HAMPSHIRE Coldwell Banker Redpath & Co., 120
CALIFORNIA Alain Pinel Realtors, 44-45 Coastal Properties Realty, 31 Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley, 112-113, 115 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 24-27, 105, 110-111 Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty, 24-25, 63 Country Estates, Inc., 36 Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty, 28-29 HOM Real Estate Group, Back Cover Hurwitz James Company, 14-16 Irwin Sewell III, Principal, Realtor, 104 Prudential California Realty, 106-107 The Grubb Company, Realtors, 5-7
NEW JERSEY Jersey Cape Realty, 82 Kienlen Lattmann Realtors, 102
CONNECTICUT Engel & Völkers, 21 Hoffman International Properties, LLC, 69 FLORIDA Candy Swick & Company, 72 Carriage Trade Properties, 70-71 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 19, 30, 118 Esslinger Wooten Maxwell, 89 Illustrated Properties, 73 Isleworth Realty, 50-51 John R. Wood Realtors, 74 Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, 52-53 Naumann Properties, Inc., 37 Premier Estate Properties, 38-39 Realty Executives, 88 Seaside Properties Group, Inc., 12-13 GEORGIA Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, 98-99 Harry Norman, Realtors, 97 Harry Norman, Realtors / Reynolds Plantation Realty, LLC, 34 Keller Williams Signature Partners, 82 Parks & Mottola Realty, LLC, 101 Robinson Real Estate, 90 Vander Morgan Realty, 100 IDAHO Hurwitz James Company, 15
NEW MEXICO Coldwell Banker Trails West Realty, LTD, 114 RE/MAX Silver Advantage, 108 NEW YORK Davies-Davies & Associates, 82 First Hampton International Realty, 84 The Corcoran Group, 42-43 NORTH CAROLINA Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston, 116 Coldwell Banker Willis-Smith Company, 117 Prudential Gouger O'Neal & Saunders Real Estate, 82 Prudential York Simpson Underwood, 90 OREGON Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate, 114 Prudential High Desert Realty, 103 SOUTH CAROLINA The Carolina Real Estate Company, 93 TENNESSEE Coldwell Banker Barnes, 116 Robinson Real Estate, 90 TEXAS Coldwell Banker United, Realtors, 116 Elice Strickland, 100 Keller Williams, 22 Roxann Taylor & Associates, Realtors, 35 UTAH Accelerated Marketing Partners, 80-81 Prudential Utah Real Estate, 32-33 VIRGINIA Coldwell Banker Townside, Realtors, 119 RE/MAX Peninsula, 102 Stevens & Company, 90 WEICHERT REALTORS, Mason-Davis, 68
ILLINOIS Prudential Rubloff, 75
WASHINGTON Coldwell Banker Bain, 114 Skyline Properties, Inc., 54
MAINE Hurwitz James Company, 14 Kennebunk Beach Realty, 65
INTERNATIONAL BAHAMAS Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty, 122-123
MARYLAND Krauss Real Property Brokerage, Inside Back Cover
BORA BORA Hurwitz James Company, 15
MASSACHUSETTS Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 120
CANADA Coldwell Banker Supercity Realty, 121
Hurwitz James Company, 16 RE/MAX Masters Realty, 76-77 COSTA RICA Hurwitz James Company, 14 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Cristal Beach Resort, 85 ITALY Hurwitz James Company, 16 NEW ZEALAND Barfoot & Thompson, 59-60 Harveys Gisborne - First City Realty, 60 Luxury Real Estate New Zealand, 58 Richardsons Real Estate Ltd., 60 MISCELLANEOUS Hurwitz James Company, 17 Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection, Inside Front Cover, 1-4 Prudential Fine Homes International, 9 RE/MAX Caribbean and Central America, 20 The RE/MAX Collection, 11
15 TAKING INVENTORY
1
Bob Hurwitz Hurwitz James Company $50 million www.CostaRicaGenesis.com Page 14
2
thru
Bob Hurwitz Hurwitz James Company $39.95 million www.TheMalibuBeachEstate.com Page 15
3
Tim Davis The Cocoran Group $38 million www.cocoran.com Page 42
4
Tim Davis The Cocoran Group $29 million www.cocoran.com Page 43
5
Nicki Laporta & Karen Crystal Ewing & Associates Sotheby’s Int’l Realty $27.5 million www.NickiandKaren.com Pages 28-29
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Closing in
By Ken Weingartner
A Hollywood ‘Romantic’ This architect views his art as a harmonious experience. hen a client brings an idea to architect Lewin Wertheimer, it is music to his ears. “It’s such a great gift to bond with someone whose home I’m designing,” says Wertheimer, whose Venice, California-based firm has worked for numerous Hollywood elite. “When that client has something wonderful to offer that wasn’t apparent, it’s great. I’m not a dictator; I’m more the conductor of an orchestra. I’m there to kind of take a piece of music and figure out how to put the orchestra together to make it sound wonderful.” Wertheimer was born in Los Angeles, but spent his teen years in southern Spain. He studied architecture in Madrid before transferring to USC. He also studied a year in Florence, Italy. “When I was in Spain, we lived in an Andalucian fishing village and I loved the diversity of forms and shapes with the simplicity of materials,” says Wertheimer. “I guess the word ‘romantic’ comes into play in the way I think about forms and shapes. I like
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for things to have a very human scale and to be inviting and comfortable. That stretches to whatever style we’re working with.” Wertheimer never considered a career in architecture until he graduated high school and a friend’s mother, who had seen his drawings of landscapes and buildings over the years, suggested it. “A light bulb kind of went off; it sounded pretty interesting,” says Wertheimer. “The process is such a joy. The clients make every project different and fresh. Every client is unique and we’re designing what very often is their dream home. It’s very exciting to see our work being built.” Just like creating a great piece of music. “There is rhythm and consistency in the mathematics of music and the mathematics of architecture,” says Wertheimer. “I think there are definite parallels.”
— With two decades of design experience, Lewin Wertheimer views his works as the results of passion, detail, collaboration and environment.
Still Making A Difference Salt Lake City’s mayor turns to real estate for her post-political career.
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uring her two terms as Salt Lake City’s mayor, Deedee Corradini got to experience running a community. As part of her new career in real estate, she has seen what it is like to build one. Corradini, the senior vice president of corporate development for Prudential Utah Real Estate, was involved in marketing and selling Huntsman Springs, a 1,350-acre residential development, with a 500-acre wildlife refuge, in Idaho’s Teton Valley. She also helps executives relocating to Salt Lake City or Park City as part of her duties with Prudential. “When I was mayor, I wanted our city to be first class and did whatever I could to enhance it,” says Corradini, who was Salt Lake City’s mayor from 1992 to 2000. “To be part of building a new community, only from the real estate side, was very exciting.” Corradini’s accomplishments as Salt Lake City’s first female mayor included the creation of a light-rail system, the redevelopment of the downtown Gateway District, and leading
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the effort to land the 2002 Winter Olympics. In addition to working in real estate, Corradini is vice president of the International Women’s Forum, which has chapters in 23 countries and seeks to empower female leaders and professionals. She also is president of Women’s Ski Jumping USA and is leading the push for the sport to become an Olympic event. “My time as mayor was eight years of the most challenging, but exciting, times of my life,” says Corradini. “I’m very proud of having an impact and making changes for the good; not only as mayor, but in my life and the lives of others. “I think in real estate you can make a difference as well. Buying a home is a very personal life event. It’s wonderful to be able to help.”
— Deedee Corradini mentored teens and developed a late-night basketball league to reduce gang violence while Salt Lake City’s mayor.
Read more about Deedee Corradini on UniqueHomes.com