One of the most satisfying aspects of the real estate business is that no two days are the same and each day presents us with new opportunities to learn and become more skilled at our craft!  I had an instance last week which illustrates this point perfectly! I was contacted by a colleague that had a prospective purchaser who was interested in viewing several of my listings.  One of the personal policies I have committed to is not only do I qualify buyers and sellers, but I am equally as diligent in making sure that other agents also do their jobs and qualify their buyers properly.  In my discovery, the agent confirmed that the prospect was qualified for up to $400,000 and that she had confirmed this with the prospect's loan officer at the bank.  In my mind, that was good enough for me ... 09/13/2010

RISMEDIA, September 7, 2010—Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC announced that leading Swedish real estate firm Skeppsholmen Fastighetsmäkleri in Stockholm has joined its luxury real estate network. The firm will do business as Sweden Skeppsholmen Sotheby’s International Realty and is owned by Lars Andersson, who signed an exclusive 25-year master franchise agreement to develop the Sotheby’s International Realty brand throughout Sweden. Andersson established Skeppsholmen Fastighetsmäkleri in 1992, a real estate business specializing in the sale of luxury residential and commercial properties. “The addition of Sweden Skeppsholmen Sotheby’s International Realty to our network reinforces the strength of our presence in key markets across Europe,” said Michael R. Good, chief execu... 09/13/2010

La femme qui pleure (Weeping woman) is expected to fetch up to £700,000 alone La Minotauromachie, is seen as a masterpice amongst Picasso's printworks because of its complexity The piece is one of 58 Picasso prints to be sold this month at Sotheby's in the "most important" sale of his prints in decades. The artist's works are expected to raise up to £3 million in total and have been released by single private European collector who wishes to remain anonymous. La femme qui pleure (Weeping woman) is an extremely rare print, with only 15 impressions of this particular run, and is expected to fetch up to £700,000 alone. It was created as a study for Guernica, the huge mural commissioned for the Spanish Pavilion of the 1937 International Exhibition in Paris. The weeping woman is intended as... 09/13/2010

The Bahamas’ “Shakespeare in Paradise” has just announced its 2nd annual theatre festival to be held in Nassau, October 1 – October 11, 2010. The following are the eight productions for this year’s festival: A Midsummer Night’s Dream is their signature Shakespeare production, to be performed by students from the College of The Bahamas and the Festival Director, Nicolette Bethel. The work has been specially imagined for a Bahamian landscape. Patti-Anne Ali, out of Trinidad and New York, co-director of last year’s The Tempest, will return as director. Woman Take Two makes its first public stage appearance since 1995. Written by Telcine Turner Rolle in the 1970′s, the play examines the darker side of Bahamian society. Bahamian-American author James Weldon Johnson’s God’s Trombones will no... 09/12/2010

Congrats to Roxann Taylor, Unique Global Estates Luxury Ambassador Spokesperson, from Dallas and Southlake, Texas! After 10 long months, several re-writes and re-negotiations of a contract on one of her listings priced at $3.5M, escrow closed today. I think this is very important on many fronts.  First, the price range from $1-4M has been difficult in our re-set market.  However,  through sheer determination, focus, and, of course, experience, she kept everyone coming back to the table until the detail was completed and closed - very close to asking price. Also, the exclusive development carries a $175K club membership along with the price of the property. In our economic times, pulling both of these together is not a task for the faint of heart.  Roxann is truly an Ambassador of the hi... 09/04/2010

A staff member displays a floral medallion vase enamelled in the imperial workshops with an estimated price of 60-80 million HK dollars in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 31, 2010. Sotheby's Hong Kong held an auction preview of fine Chinese ceramics and works of art autumn sale series 2010 on Tuesday. The auction that will be held on Oct. 7 and 8, 2010 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center offers over 370 lots with an estimated value of 780 million HK dollars. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaoyong) http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-09/01/c_13472238.htm 09/03/2010

  Kerzner International's mega-resort, Atlantis, is going after college-level and professional sports games as a way of generating high-profile athletes, buzz and well-heeled fans. File photo shows Atlantis in November 2008. CAPTION By Johansen Krause, Atlantis Virginia Tech, Mississippi State and two other men's college basketball teams have signed on to play Dec. 18 at the Bahamas' giant Atlantis resort in an arrangement that could give the players a free, warm vacation and Atlantis a shot at capturing more sports-related business. The "Battle at Atlantis" will pit Mississippi State against Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech against Richmond in a court set-up that will seat about 4,500 people. "We like to have appeal across a bunch of audiences that no other destinations can offer," says... 09/03/2010

Nik Wallenda, self-professed "King of the High Wire," broke his own world record in a stunt at Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas, as thousands of resort guests looked on. #plain_module { width: 590px; height:222px; border: none; float:left; margin:0px; font-size:12px;} #plain_module img {border:none; width: 13px; height:14; border: 0px; margin:0px; } #plain_module .mini_main { margin: 0px; padding:0px; width:585px; height:220px; repeat scroll 0 0} #plain_module .mini_item_header {padding:10px 0px; margin: 0px 0px; font-size:16px; color: #555555; border-bottom:1px dotted #CCCCCC;} #plain_module .mini_item {padding:5px 0px; margin: 0px 0px;} #plain_module a { color: #49A3CA; text-decoration:none; } #plain_module a:hover { color: #F98419; text-decoration:underline;} span.gray {colo... 09/03/2010

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Cruise ship passengers still prefer voyaging to Bahamian shores as the destination was recognised as the top choice for travelers this year, according to an international report. The information was revealed in the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2010 market overview of the cruise industry, which provided an analysis of the sector for the first half of the year from a global standpoint. The report projected that, based on volume of sales from last year, The Bahamas would once again be the top travel destination, ahead of regions such as the Mediterranean and Europe. It also mentioned that so far in 2010 the country accounts for almost half of the occupancy rate of fleets associated with CLIA. "From a capacity standpoint, utilization is consistently over ... 09/03/2010

CASE IN VENDITA IN SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA - ARIZONA IMMOBLILI - COMPRAVENDITA IMMOBILI IN ARIZONA SE SIETE IN CERCA DEL PERFETTO INVESTIMENTO IMMOBILIARE IN ARIZONA, VISITATE IL MIO SITO WEB, DOVE TROVERETE INFORMAZIONI E PREZZI DI PROPRIETA' IMMOBILIARI IN SCOTTSDALE, CAREFREE, CAVE CREEK E PHOENIX   CLICCA LA FOTO PER INIZIARE LA TUA RICERCA 08/29/2010

08/29/2010

Diana Olick  reports today that "Despite a catastrophic collapse in home sales, home prices remained stable and actually added 0.7 percent year over year." She continues with in the "$1 million+ the sales numbers are actually up. Sales distribution consequently moved in July, with the percentage of homes in the $500,000+ range growing in share." A few blogs ago, I quoted a recent survey from Zillow that found "that nearly a third of homeowners would have considered putting their homes up for sale if the market were better. Nationally, that would mean between 11 million and 30 million homes that aren't listed but are waiting on the sidelines." I would think that if these homeowners were approached with a good offer to purchase, they would consider it carefully. Our research from our Luxu... 08/25/2010

Diana Olick  reports today that "Despite a catastrophic collapse in home sales, home prices remained stable and actually added 0.7 percent year over year." She continues with in the "$1 million+ the sales numbers are actually up. Sales distribution consequently moved in July, with the percentage of homes in the $500,000+ range growing in share." A few blogs ago I quoted a recent survey from Zillow that found "that nearly a third of homeowners would have considered putting their homes up for sale if the market were better. Nationally, that would mean between 11 million and 30 million homes that aren't listed but are waiting on the sidelines." I would think that if these homeowners were approached with a good offer to purchase, they would consider it carefully. Our research from our Luxur... 08/25/2010

GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD #5710 http://tiny.cc/tuauuBEST WATERFRONT PRICE #5708 http://tiny.cc/aeqsmBEST DEAL IN BAYROC #2227 http://tiny.cc/vtwnmOPEN ZONING #5385 http://tiny.cc/jmcr7TWO VILLAS + GUEST COTTAGE #5685 http://tiny.cc/d0rvuABACO, SCHOONER BAY #5671 http://tiny.cc/n1je0MOTIVATED SELLER, MAKE OFFER #1756 http://tiny.cc/4bu15QUIET AREA OUT WEST #5637 http://tiny.cc/ggo1v 08/25/2010

Mexico has one more beauty... Jimena Navarrete, Miss Mexico,  won Miss Universe 2010 last night in Las Vegas after she defeated the other 83 contestants from around the world. Jimena Navarrete became the second Mexican to win the title of Miss Universe. Jimena Navarrete earned the title of Nuestra Belleza Jalisco 2009 and represented Jalisco at the National Stage Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2009. Jimena won at the first place with Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps at the first runner-up. Meanwhile, Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, who was chosen by fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality, landed on the second runner-up. Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska and Miss Philippines Venus Raj were at the third and fourth runner-up respectively. Navarrete replaces Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela w... 08/24/2010

Golf Course Homes on the Gulf Coast Looking for a gated golf course community or a second home well now 's the time to take advantage of the housing slump on the Gulf Coast. I am not saying take advantage of someones misfortune, but the golf course communities on the gulf coast are full of foreclosure homes. Therefore homeowners who are wanting to sell, and many who need to sell are having to price their homes at a low price.  Many of these homes are much lower than the appraised value.   A second home on the Gulf Coast is now within your reach. If your desire is to live on the Gulf Coast and/or in a gated Golf Course community, I can assist you with your rel estate needs.  For a Second home on the Gulf Coast or a Golf Course Community, on the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf  Coast call me... 08/22/2010

Yesterday, I was asked a question that surprised me. The question was  "Since we at Unique Global Estates focus on the luxury end, the approximate top 2% of the real estate market, why am I so passionate in my blogs about the entire market?"  My concern is not driven directly by the "move up" market.  I'm just practical and understand that until we get the entire real estate mess straightened out, everyone is impacted at different levels and the engine that drives our economy is stuck. Every family is touched in some way. Even the top 2% has family, acquaintances, doctors, dentists, favorite restaurant owners etc. who are struggling and going under.  Privilege does not make one immune to road rage, increased crime ,and just the sadness that comes from knowing that one in eight Americans... 08/17/2010

View the Gallery / 14 Photos » Remember those paparazzi pics of Kim and Justin Bieber in the Bahamas!? Well... they were shooting for Elle Magazine! The theme of the shoot was ‘The Graduate,’ for obvious reasons. http://kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/2010/08/10/justin-bieber-kim-kardashian-elle-magazine/ 08/17/2010

August 12, 2010 Senior guard David Campbell (Wheaton, Md./Good Counsel) chronicles the High Point University men's basketball team's trip to the Bahamas. The Panthers went to the Bahamas from Saturday, Aug. 7 through Thursday, Aug. 12 and played two game, getting a pair of wins, against local competition. Day 1: The first day of our trip included a mixture of both traveling and the excitement of the Atlantis on Paradise Island. We left campus at 6 a.m. to catch our plane from Charlotte. The anticipation of our arrival made the two-hour plane flight go by so quickly. Once we arrived, we immediately noticed the difference between the airports we were accustomed to and the airport in Nassau. It didn’t take long to realize that we take many amenities for granted. For instance, most of the a... 08/17/2010

North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams used the Tar Heels' last trip to the Bahamas - in 2005 - to build team chemistry and an NCAA tournament-caliber squad. He's hoping this week's excursion does the same thing. North Carolina will play the Commonwealth Bank Giants tonight at the Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau, followed by a Thursday matchup with the Bahamas All-Stars. The two-game exhibition tour allows the Tar Heels to get an early start on the season. (Neither game will be televised or broadcast locally on the radio.) The Tar Heels scheduled the trip earlier this summer, after the NCAA passed new legislation allowing freshmen to play in summer foreign tours. It allows Williams an early look at rookies Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall. The NCAA a... 08/17/2010