 $175 MILLION SALE SETS NEW U.S. RESIDENTIAL SALES RECORD - Most expensive property for sale in the Valley: $20 million
The U. S. housing market overall may be suffering from the doldrums, but wealthy home buyers continue to invest in homes at the very top of the market. Evidence of the strength of the luxury home segment was revealed in late November with the sale of the Trinchera Ranch in Colorado for a record-setting $175 million. This sale breaks the U.S. residential sales record of $103 million set earlier this year in New York’s Hamptons.
By comparison, the most expensive property currently on the market in the Valley, in Paradise Valley, is $20 million, according to Heather Tawes Nelson, a real estate professional with Realty Executives Mountain View. “This property is certainly more affordable than the $165 million home in Los Angeles that is the priciest listing in America today,” said Tawes Nelson. Currently, there are 182 properties in the Valley on the market for $5 million or more. Of those homes, 75 of them are in Paradise Valley. The $20 million property has 6 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms and sits on multiple acres. Scottsdale has the most homes for sale in the $5 million plus range with 90, topping out at $16.4 million for a 7 bedroom, 9.5 bathroom estate. Other cities with $5 million and up listings include Phoenix, with six, Cave Creek, with three and Carefree, with one.
Sellers of the Colorado property were the heirs of the late Malcolm Forbes, who acquired control of the historic Trinchera ranch in 1969. The buyer is billionaire hedge fund manager Louis Moore Bacon, who appears as number 286 on the Forbes list of the wealthiest Americans. Trinchera is the largest ranch in Colorado and its 171,400 acres contain five residences and a Western-style lodge with 16 bedrooms.
Although the Colorado sale set a U.S. sales record, it fell short of the world record residential purchase, also set this year, with Sheikh Hamad of Qatar’s acquisition of a penthouse condominium in London for £100 million - equivalent to about $200 million at the time of the sale.
“Although the vast Colorado ranch, the ocean front lot in the Hamptons, and the London penthouse condominium are not apples-to-apples comparisons, they are each indicative of the health of the very top of the world’s luxury home market,” said Laurie Moore-Moore, Founder of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, an international organization which tracks the luxury home market and trains luxury real estate agents.
“These sales illustrate the fact that there are more rich households than ever before and the world’s wealthiest have shifted more of their investment dollars out of alternative investments like commodities and into multiple residences. Based on this year’s World Wealth Report from Merrill Lynch and CapGemini, the world’s über rich have invested 12% of their total portfolios in homes other than a primary residence,” said Moore-Moore. “In short, there is more money than ever competing for homes at the very top of the market. The luxury residential market is the good news story in real estate.”
Tawes Nelson, a member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, agrees. “In most markets across the country, the very top of the market remains healthy – luxury is the ‘sweet spot’ in real estate.”
For current information on the upper-tier market, contact Heather Tawes Nelson at Realty Executives Mountain View (602) 751-1675 or e-mail heathertawesnelson@scottsdaleagent.net.
December 2007 |
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 HEATHER TAWES NELSON JOINS TOP AGENTS TO DISCUSS LUXURY REAL ESTATE MARKET - “Leaders in Luxury” Event Debuts New World-wide Research on Über-Rich
DALLAS, Texas. (October 16, 2007) – From Hawaii to New York, and Canada to Florida, over 100 of the top real estate professionals working in the upscale residential market converged last week in Santa Fe (NM) at The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing’s annual Leaders in Luxury (LIL) conference where they heard predictions from an international luxury market futurist. According to Heather Tawes Nelson, an agent with Realty Executives Mountain View , the exclusive event was an invitation-only educational and networking opportunity for real estate agents who handle million and multi-million dollar homes and estates. “The event attracted top luxury home agents who, on the average, work with properties priced at $3 million and above, with many working with homes valued at $10 million to $100 million,” said Tawes Nelson.
Highlights of the conference included a presentation on “Cultural Rebooting: The New, Emerging, Global Elite are Rewriting the Rules of Luxury” by Martin Raymond, Founder of Future Laboratories in London, England. Raymond shared new research findings-- the North American debut of the information -- on the new echelon of global wealthy and how they are reinventing luxury and changing the upper-tier housing market.
Mrs. Mary Louise Starkey, Founder of Starkey International (also known as “Butler Boot Camp”) shared information on “Working for the High Net Worth Individual.” Other speakers and panelists for the event discussed a variety of topics, including tips for working with the international buyer and seller, how to use blogging to build business, tips for succeeding at the $10 million and above price point, and how to write real estate copy Madison Avenue style.
“LIL registration was limited to only 115 top luxury agents,” said Laurie Moore-Moore, Founder of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, “to give our attendees the opportunity to build an exclusive network of contacts focused on the upscale residential industry while sharing with the best in the business. Since competency is the key to working successfully with the luxury buyer and seller,” added Moore-Moore, “Leaders in Luxury is designed to provide attendees with important knowledge and insights giving them a competitive edge in meeting the needs of the affluent.
Tawes Nelson considers attendance at Leaders in Luxury to be essential for success. “Attending the Leaders in Luxury event is an investment for my clients,” said Tawes Nelson. “With the current real estate market, I have to be proactive to stay on top of the industry. By networking with the best in the business, sharing ideas, and learning about the latest trends and outlooks, I can help my affluent clients find success where others are finding challenges.”
The conference is an annual event. For information, visit www.LeadersinLuxury.com or contact The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing at 214-485-3000.
For more information on the luxury market, please contact Heather Tawes Nelson at Realty Executives Mountain View (602) 751-1675 or HeatherTawesNelson@scottsdaleagent.net.
About The Institute of Luxury Home Marketing
The Institute has 5,000 members on four continents. Members who have completed special training and met performance standards may earn the prestigious Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation. Associates who demonstrate competence in the million dollar and above property arena are recognized with membership in The Institute’s Million Dollar Guild. Find training and membership information at www.LuxuryHomeMarketing.com or phone 214-485-3000.
October 16, 2007 |
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 LOCAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL RECOGNIZED FOR MILLION-DOLLAR SUCCESSES
Heather Tawes Nelson Earns Membership in Prestigious Million Dollar Guild
Scottsdale, Arizona - Heather Tawes Nelson, of Realty Executives Mountain View, has been recognized by the prestigious Institute for Luxury Home Marketing for her recent performance in the million-dollar and above luxury home market within Scottsdale and Flagstaff.
“Real Estate professionals who have earned admittance to The Institute’s Million Dollar Guild not only have specific upper-tier market knowledge, but they also understand the unique needs of affluent buyers and sellers and recognize the importance of being discreet,” said Institute President Laurie Moore-Moore. “Whether you’re buying or selling a multi-million dollar property, you can depend upon The Institute’s Million Dollar Guild members to have the competencies necessary to help you meet your objectives.”
“To have this recognition of my accomplishments in serving Scottsdale and Flagstaff is an honor,” said Tawes Nelson. “It has strengthened my commitment to the community and its residents.”
Members of the Million Dollar Guild are Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialists (CLHMS) who have documented their success in assisting affluent buyers and sellers with million-dollar properties. The recognition is awarded by the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing which trains real estate agents in the luxury home market and awards international designations to those who meet stringent performance standards.
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About The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing
The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing exists to help real estate professionals around the world provide high quality service to buyers and sellers of luxury properties. Institute members have completed special training to build expertise in the marketing of upscale homes and estates and those who meet performance standards may earn the prestigious Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation. Information and an international membership list can be found at www.CLHMS.org. Members are also listed on the Wall Street Journal’s RealEstateJournal.com website.
September 17, 2007 |
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 SALES PROFESSIONAL EARNS INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATION FOR LUXURY HOME MARKETING EXPERTISE
Scottsdale, Arizona - Heather Tawes Nelson with Realty Executives Mountain View has earned the prestigious Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation in recognition of her experience, knowledge and expertise in the luxury home market. “Heather Tawes Nelson is an example of a real estate professional who has worked to develop market knowledge and the special skills and competencies necessary to provide exceptional service in the fine homes and estates marketplace,” said Institute President Laurie Moore-Moore, upon announcing (LAST NAME’S) designation. “Affluent buyers and sellers can turn to sales professionals who have this designation and be confident that they have special expertise and experience in the luxury home marketplace.”
“I am committed to providing outstanding service to my clients,” said Tawes Nelson “the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation is evidence of my ability to meet the needs of affluent buyers and sellers. My membership in The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing also provides me with marketing tools and networking capabilities that benefit my clients.”
Tawes Nelson is an award-winning real estate professional who has gone through special training and met performance standards in the upper tier market. She has been in real estate since 2005 and specializes in the Scottsdale, Carefree, Paradise Valley and Phoenix markets.
For current information on the upper tier market, contact Heather Tawes Nelson at Realty Executives Mountain View (602) 751-1675 or e-mail heathertawesnelson@scottsdaleagent.net.
September 17, 2007 |
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 LOCAL REALTOR® ACHIEVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Scottsdale, AZ - Heather G. Tawes Nelson of Realty Executives Mountain View has been awarded the Accredited Buyer Representation (ABR®) designation by the Real Estate BUYER'S AGENT Council, Inc. (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR).
Heather G. Tawes Nelson joins more than 32,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the ABR® designation. All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in buyer representation and an elective course focusing on buyer representation specialty, both in addition to submitting documentation verifying professtional experience.
REBAC, founded in 1988, is the world's largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing the real estate buyer. There are more than 43,000 active members of the organization worldwide. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is the world's largest professional association, representing over 1,000,000 members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry.
You may contact the REBAC Council by telephone, (800) 648-6224, by e-mail, rebac@realtors.org, or by visiting the REBAC website, www.REBAC.net.
August 2, 2007 | |