One of the most awe-inspiring listings to come on the market in recent memory, the Bob and Dolores Hope Estate in Palm Springs, CA has officially been listed with Luxury Portfolio members Patrick Jordan and Stewart Smith of Windermere Real Estate Southern California for an impressive $50 million.

Designed by revered Modernist architect John Lautner, this landmark property is situated within the prestigious Southridge Community. The largest private residence ever designed by Lautner, the Hope property is the ultimate expression of his aesthetic: “The purpose of architecture is to create timeless, free, joyous spaces for all activities of life.” The 23,000 square foot home enjoys magnificent living space with features befitting a “contemporary castle,” as Dolores described the estate. A total of nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms provide ample accommodations for entertaining, as the Hopes frequently played host to friends such as Tony Bennett and Glen Campbell.

Panoramic views overlooking the Coachella Valley and San Jacinto Mountains beyond are emphasized by the home’s dramatic structure. A grand courtyard located in the center of the home under the protection of the undulating roof offers unparalleled outdoor living space. Additional amenities include two swimming pools, one indoor and one outdoor, a tennis court and a putting green.

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, aka LeadingRE, was recently featured in a cover story in RIS Media’s leading industry publication Real Estate Magazine, lauding the strength of our parent company’s brand. The recognition does not go unappreciated as it has been a long journey, pioneering a business model that many believed could not succeed.

Centered on a “for brokerages, by brokerages” mentality, LeadingRE has attracted the top independent real estate companies from over 35 countries (and growing, in fact now closer to 40) around the world. RIS Media notes consumers’ increasing preference for independent, local brokerages over corporate-backed franchises has played a significant role in our company’s development.

Luxury Portfolio has greatly benefitted from the established and respected reputation of LeadingRE. Uniquely situated to market high-end property, we are proud of our ability to bring the world’s best independent brokerages together and provide unsurpassed international exposure that was once only afforded to franchised companies.

To see the whole article, including the cover featuring our CEO Pam O’Connor and COO of LeadingRE and President of Luxury Portfolio Paul Boomsma, click here.

Luxury Portfolio International^®, in conjunction with Harrison Group, recently unveiled a new white paper entitled “The Emotional Role of Home.” This fascinating study, available only to Luxury Portfolio members, examines the mindset of today’s luxury home buyer in America with vital insight gathered from select findings from the 2012 Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, produced by American Express Publishing and Harrison Group, along with information collected exclusively for Luxury Portfolio.

With access to thought-provoking statistics and detailed evaluations you’ll find key takeaways like:

The Emergence of Worth – how the affluent consumer has become savvier in this changing market
The Home as a Refuge – the emotional association the affluent consumer has with his or her property
Looking Ahead – what to expect from the next generation of home buyers

Luxury Portfolio members can review the white paper in its entirety by logging in to LuxeXchange.

To see the executive summary click here.
To read Luxury Portfolio’s press release regarding the white paper click here.

The latest edition of the Luxury Portfolio International Magazine is now online. Click here or on the cover to the left to see the latest in luxury living, design trends, exceptional home sales, loft style living and much more!

Enjoy nearly 150 pages of content, beautiful photos and information about the most extraordinary luxury properties in the world.

Be sure to look for the Luxury Portfolio International Magazine in the U.S. at Barnes & Noble and on international newsstands in 50+ countries around the globe.

Read the press release to learn more.

LuxuryPortfolio.com has a new face, with a recently updated homepage. The site still welcomes visitors with a slideshow of some of the finest properties from around the world, which has been greatly increased in size to better showcase the breathtaking luxury homes.

In addition to an enhanced look at the properties the larger photos also accommodate the rapid move toward larger computer monitors, filling the entire display while still leaving room for our luxury property search, site statistics, social media links and more. Check it out at LuxuryPortfolio.com.

The latest edition of the Luxury Portfolio International™ Magazine is now online. Click here or on the cover to the left to see the latest in luxury living, design trends, architecture, celebrity homes and more!

Enjoy nearly 150 pages of content, beautiful photos and information about the most extraordinary luxury properties in the world.

Be sure to look for the Luxury Portfolio International Magazine in the U.S. at Barnes & Noble and on international newsstands in 50+ countries around the globe.

Read the press release to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s always sad to see icons pass, and in the real estate world we have had a couple leave us recently.  Jack Conway of Jack Conway & Co., based locally in Massachusetts, passed away late last month. Jack established his real estate business in the mid-1950s and since then it has grown to be one of the largest independently owned real estate firms in Massachusetts, with 42 offices from the North Shore of Boston to Cape Code and the South Coast. 

We were also very saddened to learn of the passing of Lois Schneider, a Luxury Portfolio inaugural member, and principal of Lois Schneider Realtor.  It’s hard to imagine real estate without Lois Schneider.  She ran an amazing one-office company that managed to be #1 in Summit, New Jersey with many larger players. Relatives and friends of Lois are invited to call on Monday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the William R. Dangler Funeral Home in Summit. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 10:45 a.m. at St Teresa of Avila R.C. Church.

Jack and Lois were mentors to many in the industry, as well as philanthropists and revered personalities in their markets and beyond. Our deepest condolences to their families and everyone who worked with them in their professional families.

Today, Michael Jordan’s luxury home in Highland Park, Illinois, has been listed for sale. With an asking price of $29 million, the secluded compound offers over 56,000 square feet of livable space; including nine bedrooms, more than 15 baths, and five fireplaces.

The estate also features an attached three bedroom guesthouse, an indoor/outdoor entertaining and pool area, an outdoor tennis court, a putting green, a deep water pond, three separate climate-controlled multi-car garages and an extraordinary indoor basketball complex with full-size regulation court, custom sound system and competition-quality lighting.

The longtime personal residence of the NBA legend is presented for sale by Katherine Chez Malkin of Luxury Portfolio member Baird & Warner Real Estate. Read the full release.

See even more in a special sneak peek of an article appearing in the Luxury Portfolio International Magazine to be released later in March:  Michael Jordan’s Championship-Level Compound

March 22-24 at the fabulous Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Luxury Portfolio International will be hosting its annual SUMMIT for top sales associates and luxury marketing professionals. The exclusive event for Luxury Portfolio members provides insights on luxury homes, lifestyles and trends to help professionals better serve their elite clientele.

The program will feature prominent speakers including keynote speaker Robert Frank, one of the country's leading authorities on wealth and philanthropy, Dr. Jim Taylor, vice chairman of Harrison Group, who will share insights and sales opportunities for those serving the affluent, word-of-mouth marketing expert Spike Jones, as well as many of the top brokers and agents from around the world.

There’s still time for Luxury Portfolio agents and brokers to register and join us for this MEMBERS ONLY EVENT to network, learn and enjoy an elegant luxury resort. The early bird deadline is quickly approaching (February 10) - see more details and register at summit2012.luxuryportfolio.com.

Take a look at some of the latest updates and news from Luxury Portfolio International™, including website updates, informative blog posts and news from our members:

Monumental July Sales: Encouraging news this past month as two remarkable properties listed by Luxury Portfolio members sold. The Spelling Mansion in Holmby Hills, California sold to 22 year old Formula 1 heiress Petra Ecclestone. It was last listed at $150,000,000 by Hilton & Hyland. Across the country in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC, the Evermay estate – last listed at $25,900,000 by Long and Foster® Real Estate Inc. – also sold this month. And the buyer came from within the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World network too. Read more about these remarkable luxury home sales.

Find a Broker in Your Market Faster: We recently updated our Luxury Portfolio Broker search by location, making it easier to find a broker in your area – consumers can and find a Broker quickly by country, state/province, and/or city.

See Video Content on our New LPTV Channel: Video is an exceptional way to tell a story; and now neighborhood features, Luxury Portfolio member updates, LuxeTour™ property video tours and more can be seen on LuxuryPortfolio TV at LuxuryPortfolio.com/video. Also on the channel are the wonderful architectural style videos which we have partnered with HGTV’s Frontdoor.com to create. Check out more on the different architectural styles on our blog.

Secrets of Staging: One of our most popular blog posts! Read Martha Webb’s expertise on home staging in this recent post: Staging Helps Buyers Evaluate - Not Eliminate.

MEMBERS ONLY EVENTS: There’s still time for Luxury Portfolio agents and brokers to register and join us for the International Symposium in beautiful Madrid, Spain! Being held October 19-21, the symposium is a great opportunity to network, learn and enjoy an amazing city. See more details and register at symposium.LeadingRE.com.

Also be sure to save to date our 2012 Luxury Portfolio SUMMIT in Orlando – March 22-24 and the 2012 Annual LeadingRE Conference in Orlando – March 24-26. We look forward to seeing you there!