Back in the summer of 2005, I was dispatched to Southern California to assess the newest of the new on the region’s booming resort scene. From the St. Regis in (but not on) Monarch Beach to the Parker in Palm Springs, to the plastic-fantastic Bacara just outside of Santa Barbara, it was a brave new world out there, a world of super-sized luxury. Of complimentary Evian spritzers and hunky towel sommeliers, of rooms with nightly rates as high as the GDP of some small island nations. (Well, almost.) It was certainly a good time, driving around with the top down in the sunshine, dipping my toes into one gorgeous pool after another, being massaged into oblivion in too many spas to count. Along the way, however, I stopped in Los Angeles for a peek at one of the West Coast’s most classic hotels, just to see how it was keeping up with the times.  Poolside at the newly-renovated Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. THAT WAS THEN The Hotel Bel-Air, tucked away among the trees just north of Sunset Boulevard in one of the most exclusive sections of Los Angeles, had been sequestering Hollywood’s brightest stars since the 1940s. Steeped in history and offering warm and familiar service, its shabbiness had long ago begun outweighing its chic. It had all the right elements: a cloistered location on Stone Canyon Road. It had expertly hosted everyone from the British Royal Family to Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev to Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. It also had a staff that had upgraded me to a garden room and fussed over my unregistered guest sister and her baby with sticky buns and teddy bears. Still, our room in the original wing had, as I noted in a Post review back in 2005, "faulty plumbing and a tub-to-shower switch that wouldn’t flip, until it popped out and slimed our hand." We also felt that "their reluctance to part with the time-honored, slightly worn Tavern on the Green-like décor" was charming, but should have meant no nickel-and-diming, such as the $20 fee to self-park, and a $13 Internet fee. It turns out that the hotel wasn’t as reluctant to part with its shabby bits as I’d assumed. It was just waiting patiently for its facelift. In 2009, the hotel, owned by the Sultan of Brunei’s Dorchester Collection, underwent a comprehensive multi-million dollar renovation in which nearly every aspect of the hotel was refreshed, at the added massive opportunity cost of being closed for approximately two years. The design services of The Rockwell Group were retained; Wolfgang Puck agreed to rethink the food. While it was out, everything changed. At this point, who even remembers Bacara, or the St. Regis? It finally opened, but who cares about the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes? Nobody mourns the gone-and-forgotten Four Seasons Aviara, now a deadly-dull Park Hyatt in a remote North San Diego location. And what of the plans for world domination laid out by the folks behind the Montage Laguna Beach? A subsequent hotel in Beverly Hills is more than fine, but it has never garnered much buzz. (Locals refer to it as The Monstrosity.) The Irvine Company’s Resort at Pelican Hill, which came in on the tail end of the boom, is a perfectly nice resort, but its sterility is almost oppressive.
In Los Angeles, old is new again at the Bel Air Hotel. The Hotel Bel Air has been one of the local favorite hangouts for years.
Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
Famous Architects, Unusual Buildings, Historical Landmarks & Architectural Terms.
 28-11-2011 If you cannot see this email correctly click Here
| | "In my experience, if you have to keep the lavatory door shut by extending your left leg, it's modern architecture." Nancy Banks-Smith | 
| Floating House from Movie 'Up'recreated in Real LifeThe folks over at National Geographic have built a house inspired by the Pixar movie Up! that can really fly. Read More | Unusual Buildings | 
| Chapel in the Rock (Arizona, USA)Spectacularly situated between red-rock towers in Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Catholic chapel with amazing views, especially around sunset, making this a special attraction for those seeking divine inspiration. Read More | Architecture and Travel | 
| A (very brief) Guide to DubaiShort a construction crane for a building project? Blame it on Dubai. It's estimated that this architecture capital has 25% of the world's cranes working around the clock. Read More | Famous Architects | 
| Zaha Hadid (1950 - Present)Born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1950, Zaha Hadid was the first woman to win a Pritzker Architecture Prize. Read More | Historical Landmarks | 
| California Missions - San Gabriel Arcangel
Brainstorming lunch at Villa Blanca with the Geronsin team from Orange County: Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Bel Air Homes, Hollywood Hills, Sunset Strip, celebrity mansions, luxury real estate, luxury estates, homes for sale, Los Angeles Realtor, Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com Christophe Choo Coldwell Banker Previews International 1(310)777-6342 www.ChristopheChoo.com Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne Creator of The Secret and The Power From The Secret Daily TeachingsHappiness is a state of being, and comes from the inside of you. By the law of attraction you must become on the inside what you want on the outside. You are either choosing to be happy now, or you are making up excuses for not choosing to be happy. But there are no excuses for the law! May the joy be with you,
Rhonda Byrne
The Secret... bringing joy to billions
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Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
 AGBeat | 2011/11/15 | 42 Comments 
Home buying trends for 2011 The 2011 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers surveyed 5,708 home buyers and sellers, learning that the demographics of home buyers and types of homes being sold has shifted drastically this year, mostly due to job instability and insecurity as well as tightened lending and that more buyers are married, older and have higher incomes and there is a striking lack of diversity in the home buyer pool with 85 percent of American buyers identifying themselves as Caucasian, and almost all were born in America and primarily speak English. Why are consumers buying? They cite a desire to own a home as a top reason to buy with affordability close behind. Most people purchased a home because of life changes like a new baby, relocated job or empty nest, and because it was “just the right time to buy.” We’ve covered in depth that home buyers now expect to live in their homes much longer and make fewer compromises when purchasing, and they’re getting better deals and are buying bigger homes, typically because the type of buyer is more mature this year as first time buyers don’t qualify for loans as frequently. Charts, charts, charts Our in-depth coverage of the recent NAR report has helped the industry to understand not only what NAR reports but what other indicators to consider, painting a picture of an increasingly practical nation that is having difficulty getting loan approval all the while buying bigger, more expensive homes for those who can get loans, and they plan to stay put for 15 years on average. Sometimes words do not click with everyone and our number crunchers prefer to see data charted, so we’re bringing all of the charts to you that outline what and why buyers purchased this year: Click any chart to enlarge. 
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 Thanks for spreading the word This article published on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 at 6:21 pm | Contact the editor Keywords: News, real estate economy, Real Estate News Topics: News
33 Charts Revealing What Impacted Home Buyer Decisions in 2011.
Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
Making smart decisions when buying real estate, or for any large purchase for that matter, requires educating oneself on the process and risks and then taking the time to evaluate, analyze and mitigate those risks. The final analysis should then be used to make the best decision possible. When buying real estate, far too many Americans fail to take even the most basic levels of precaution by doing the proper due diligence. This is troubling because real estate is typically the largest and riskiest asset someone will ever buy. We’ve all learned this many times over in the last few years via the housing crisis, and it will continue happening until people better educate themselves on the real estate process and mitigate their risks. 
Flickr user alancleaver_2000 So what issues should a buyer should consider? Most of the items are not complicated, however running through the important tasks when you are actually buying property is time consuming and tedious. Realize if you fail to do the hard work involved to protect yourself, and something goes wrong, you only have yourself to blame. Doing the proper due diligence to lower your risk is the responsibility of you — the homeowner making the mortgage payment. Note: There is no risk-free real estate. Even the most diligent of buyers who do all the proper due diligence they know can lose money on some deals due to a variety of unknown, unanticipated, underestimated reasons; or simply bad luck. The main tasks to do when purchasing a property: (there may be more depending on your situation.) - Purchasing process – Understanding the overall purchasing process
- Cash flows and returns – Penciling out an investment property cash flows and how much you will earn on your money
- Rent vs. own – Doing a financial analysis to see if purchasing makes sense for you
- Tax benefits picture – Understanding the tax benefits of owning real estate
- Mortgage financing – Properly evaluating mortgage financing options and offers
- Homeowners associations – Reviewing the homeowners association finances, operations and any litigation situation
- Home inspection – Using the home inspection information to make better decisions
- Dwelling and liability insurance – Do you have the proper type and amount of insurance in place
- Title insurance and escrow – Did you read through your title insurance policy and all the sales and escrow documents and ask questions if you did not understand
- Non-standard investments – understanding and possibly avoiding non-standard investments like land, second homes, vacation rentals, flipping property, etc.
To help you better understand the process, join us for a free webinar on this topic at ZillowAcademy.com Monday, November 28 at 10 a.m. It will be 100 percent useful for buyers and sales professionals alike. Experienced buyers know how and take the proper steps to protect themselves on their largest and riskiest purchase; you should too! Leonard Baron, MBA, CPA, is a San Diego State University Lecturer, a Zillow Blogger, the author of several books including “Real Estate Ownership, Investment and Due Diligence 101 – A Smarter Way to Buy Real Estate”, and loves kicking the tires of a good piece of dirt! See more at ProfessorBaron.com. Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.
Want to Make Smart Wealth Building Real Estate Decisions?
Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Luxury home values rose in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the second quarter, according to the First Republic Prestige Home Index(TM) by First Republic Bank, a leading private bank and wealth management company. In the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2011, the Index indicated the following: -- Los Angeles area values rose 0.7% from the second quarter of 2011 and increased 2.5% from the third quarter a year ago. The average luxury home in Los Angeles is now $2.01 million. -- San Diego area values increased 1.1% from the second quarter and fell 3.9% year-over-year. The average luxury home in San Diego is now $1.63 million. -- San Francisco Bay Area values climbed 1% from the second quarter and declined 1.4% from a year ago. The average luxury home in San Francisco is now $2.53 million. "Luxury home prices in many California communities increased due to low inventories, low interest rates, and home prices that have declined over the past few years. This has improved the economics of investing in residential real estate," said Katherine August-deWilde, President and Chief Operating Officer of First Republic Bank. "All three major metropolitan areas in California experienced gains in home prices in the third quarter, which is the first time that has occurred since the fourth quarter of 2010." First Republic Bank produces the Prestige Home Index each quarter with Fiserv CSW Inc., a leading provider of automated property valuation services and home price metrics to U.S. financial institutions. Historical results of the Index, which has tracked luxury homes since 1985, are accessible at www.firstrepublic.com . First Republic Bank is an active lender in the luxury home market for primary residences and vacation homes. Los Angeles Area Values In Los Angeles, values have increased in three of the past four quarters. The highest end of the luxury market appeared to be the most robust, agents said. "For homes priced at $5 million and up, the market remains active," said Jane Brill Graven of Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills East. "There are well-qualified buyers who are looking for properties at the very top end and they have the upper hand. Owners are having to reduce prices to where the market is." Along the beach communities, the market was largely unchanged from a year ago. "If we had more and better product, we would have had more transactions in the past 12 months," said Barry Host of South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach. "Buyers with money are out there, but there is also a lot of uncertainty. Unless the news starts to settle, the market will continue to bump along." San Diego Area Values San Diego prices turned positive again after declining in the first half of 2011. Despite the modest quarterly increase, luxury home prices remain soft, and many buyers remain uncertain. "We are very busy, but every single deal is a major struggle," said Lucy Kelts of Prudential California Realty in Rancho Santa Fe. "You have to talk realistically with sellers up front. We're not going to get out of this mess until the jobless rate goes down by half." Greg Noonan of Prudential California Realty in La Jolla said the lower end of the luxury market was picking up. "I'm seeing a bit of pent up demand in the $1.5 million to $3 million range. At $4 million and above, it is a fairly soft market. Buyers are being extremely aggressive in their thinking about price. If a property is on the market for $4 million, buyers want to pay $3.5 million to build in some downside protection." San Francisco Bay Area Values In San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the luxury market is strong due to technology-driven wealth creation, lower interest rates and lower home prices. The market also benefitted from higher rents, which further enhances the attractiveness of residential real estate as an investment. "The higher end market has been pretty strong," said Hugh Cornish of Coldwell Banker in Menlo Park. "There has been less inventory in the higher end and more from $2.5 million to $5 million. Palo Alto has been the strongest market, followed by Menlo Park and Atherton. We are seeing multiple offers, but not for every property." In San Francisco, the higher end of the luxury market was active. "Above $5 million, the market is healthy," said Mary Lou Castellanos of Sotheby's International Realty. "Smart money is buying now and is taking advantage of lower prices and lower interest rates. At the same time, a growing number of sellers are getting more realistic about price." In the Wine Country, a number of high-dollar sales have taken place over the past few months. "We're seeing a real surge in the upper end of the market," said Jim Perry of Pacific Union in St. Helena. "People have been waiting on the sidelines. With interest rates so low and prices down, that's hard to pass up." About The First Republic Prestige Home Index The First Republic Prestige Home Index(TM) is the first statistical model of its kind customized to measure changes in homes valued at more than $1 million in key California urban markets. Some common features of luxury homes in the Index: 3,000 to 6,000 square feet, three to six bedrooms, and three to six bathrooms. San Francisco Bay Area properties include a cross-section of luxury homes in Alamo, Atherton, Belvedere, Danville, Healdsburg, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Mill Valley, Moraga, Orinda, Palo Alto, Piedmont, Portola Valley, Ross, St. Helena, San Francisco, Saratoga, Sonoma, Tiburon and Woodside. Properties in Los Angeles represent a cross-section of luxury homes in Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, La Canada Flintridge, Encino, Los Angeles, Malibu, Marina del Rey, North Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Playa del Rey, Santa Monica, Studio City and the West Los Angeles enclaves of Bel Air, Brentwood and Westwood. San Diego properties represent a cross-section of luxury homes in Carlsbad, Coronado, Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, La Mesa, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego and Solana Beach. In producing the Index, Fiserv CSW Inc. draws upon its economic database and years of experience in tracking single-family home values; collects and cross-checks data from multiple sources; achieves a weighted balance of validation elements such as repeat sales, comparable sales, and physical home characteristics; and combines this with First Republic's extensive local market knowledge. About First Republic Bank First Republic Bank /quotes/zigman/2803861/quotes/nls/frc FRC +0.76% and its subsidiaries provide private banking, private business banking and private wealth management. Founded in 1985, First Republic specializes in exceptional, relationship-based service offered through preferred banking or wealth management offices primarily in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, San Diego, Portland, Boston, Greenwich and New York City. First Republic offers a complete line of banking products for individuals and businesses, including deposit services, as well as residential, commercial and personal loans. First Republic is a component of the S&P Total Market Index, the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index(SM), the Russell 1000(R), Russell 3000(R) and Russell Global indices and six Dow Jones indices. About First Republic Private Wealth Management First Republic Private Wealth Management is the investment management, trust and brokerage group of First Republic Bank. First Republic Private Wealth Management offers objective advice and fully customized solutions with the same level of exceptional client service that has been the hallmark of First Republic Bank for more than 25 years. First Republic has the flexibility to provide individuals, families, businesses, endowments, schools and non-profit organizations with appropriate choices that responsibly meet a client's specific investment objectives. Securities Products and Services are offered by First Republic Securities Company, LLC - Member FINRA/SIPC. First Republic Securities Company and First Republic Investment Management are wholly owned subsidiaries of First Republic Bank. Unless otherwise disclosed, investments through First Republic Investment Management and First Republic Securities Company, LLC are not FDIC-insured, not bank guaranteed and may lose value. SOURCE: First Republic Bank Blue Marlin Partners Greg Berardi, 415-239-7826 greg@bluemarlinpartners.com Copyright Business Wire 2011 /quotes/zigman/2803861/quotes/nls/frc  Volume: 153,332 Nov. 28, 2011 12:19p 
California Luxury Home Values Rise in Third Quarter of 2011 - MarketWatch
Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
Yes it is 85 degrees and sunny in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles today. Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Bel Air Homes, Hollywood Hills, Sunset Strip, celebrity mansions, luxury real estate, luxury estates, homes for sale, Los Angeles Realtor, Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com Christophe Choo Coldwell Banker Previews International 1(310)777-6342 www.ChristopheChoo.com Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
> > The Beverly Hills Farmers' Market is empty today, I guess everyone is still full from Thanksgiving. > > > Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Bel Air Homes, Hollywood Hills, Sunset Strip, celebrity mansions, luxury real estate, luxury estates, homes for sale, Los Angeles Realtor, Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com
> > Christophe Choo
> Coldwell Banker
> Previews International
> 1(310)777-6342
> www.ChristopheChoo.com
> Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
It is going to be a gorgeous and sunny 80 degrees in Beverly Hills today. Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Bel Air Homes, Hollywood Hills, Sunset Strip, celebrity mansions, luxury real estate, luxury estates, homes for sale, Los Angeles Realtor, Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com Christophe Choo Coldwell Banker Previews International 1(310)777-6342 www.ChristopheChoo.com Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
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