Enjoy this post from one of our CB colleagues that attended Generation Blue last week..... (re-posted by Lori Arnold)

       From the day I started at Coldwell Banker Real Estate on December 19, 2011 I knew that Gen Blue was going to be one amazing event. As the rookie of the group I sat in on Gen Blue planning meetings still unsure of what to expect when we actually got to New Orleans. I did know that it was going to be unlike anything I had ever attended and I was right.

The highlight of Gen Blue for me was seeing firsthand how dedicated Coldwell Banker agents are to their careers. Over the three day experience I was exposed to stories from agents who answer to a “higher calling.” Day after day they are committed to helping people to believe in housing again. Coldwell Banker agents look beyond price tags and commission rates and offer buyers a look at the true Value of a Home.

One moment at Gen Blue completely defined this idea of agents answering to a higher calling and when it occurred I can honestly say I had goose bumps.

The story I am about to share involves an agent, Victoria Rabb of Coldwell Banker United in Pensacola, Florida, and an active duty Military family, Jared & Amy Albright. This story demonstrates the importance of the work real estate agents do every day; many are in this job for their love of helping people achieve the dream of home ownership.

Now I could tell the story, but it’s much more powerful coming from the Albrights. Take a look at what they have to say about their real estate agent:

We heard about the Albright’s story shortly after I began my career at Coldwell Banker. It was a no-brainer to invite them to be our honored guests at The Generation Blue Experience. They were delighted with the offer and told us that because they were both on active duty in the United States Air Force they had never been away on a vacation together, not even for their honeymoon!

After showing the video above at Gen Blue, our CEO Jim Gillespie welcomed Jared and Amy to the main stage where they were greeted with a lengthy standing ovation, clearly showing their gratitude for all the Albright’s and other active military personnel have done for our country.

Jim Gillespie welcomed Jared and Amy to the main stage where they were greeted with a standing ovation.

While I tried to hide the tears rolling down my cheeks I quickly realized everyone around me was wiping away tears between clapping as well. It seemed there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!

The Albright’s were extremely touched by the way they were recognized while on stage, but what happened next completely blew them away.

As they enjoyed sightseeing in New Orleans they were stopped nearly everywhere they went by someone from Coldwell Banker who recognized them. They were greeted with hugs, stories of loved ones who are also on active duty in the United States military, and even received a bottle of champagne from an agent!

Despite being on their “honeymoon,” Jared and Amy decided to spend a majority of their time with us at the Gen Blue experience. In just a few days they had become part of the Coldwell Banker family.

The Albright’s with David Marine and Lindsay Listanski at the Gen Blue closing party.

After a sad goodbye at our final night party we were delighted to run in to Jared and Amy at the airport for one last laugh and final picture together.

One last laugh and final picture together at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

A huge thank you goes to Victoria Rabb who persevered through 628 challenging days to sell Amy and Jared’s Florida home. And a very special thank you to Jared and Amy Albright for believing in Coldwell Banker and for all that you have done and continue to do for our country.

$27 million oceanfront home in Malibu, CA listed by Chris Cortazzo

At Coldwell Banker Real Estate, we come across some incredible homes from across the globe, but this Malibu home listed by Coldwell Banker mega-agent, Chris Cortazzo, grabbed my attention from the first photo.

When you dream of heading to Southern California and living that Pacific Coast lifestyle, this is the exact home I envision myself in. Sure it’s probably not realistic for me, but hey it’s my dream. Perfectly located on the bluffs in Malibu and overlooking some of the most premium beachfront you can find is this California castle. Listed for $27 million it boasts 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, a 50 ft pool in the back and the interior design was done by Tim Clarke.

I love how Chris Cortazzo describes the interior in his property details on coldwellbanker.com, he says “Interior designer Tim Clarke’s coastal modern aesthetic imbues the home with warmth and livability.” I like warmth and I love livability.

Magnificent doesn’t do this place justice. I think it needs it’s own Spotify playlist to listen to while viewing the property details.

Check out all the pics and the full details on this 10,000 sq. ft. home on coldwellbanker.com.

A new design for the coldwellbanker.com home page

Today we released a new look for our award winning website, coldwellbanker.com. The home pages has been updated with a much warmer and home-related look than we’ve ever had before. When you visit coldwellbanker.com you’ll notice that when you click on the home search tab or the agent tab the visuals in the background highlight what it is you’re searching for. We’ve also simplified the menu options, updated our highlighted sections and added a few other touches here and there.

It’s kind of like we repainted our entryway, installed some brass hardware to the front door and added a few nice accents from Crate & Barrel to brighten up our main foyer.

This is just the first of a number of changes coming from Coldwell Banker Real Estate in the coming months. Coming in March we’ll unveil what we believe is a significant and timely change in the real estate conversation. More to come, but for now we hope you enjoy this new design for coldwellbanker.com as you look to buy, sell or just dream about that new home.

Here’s to all the things that make a house a home.

I recently heard some great tips from Susanita de Diego, broker/owner with Coldwell Banker Your Calgary Home Selling Team; about simple staging tips that could help boost a home’s appeal and give homeowners a competitive edge when selling their home. Your own agent will likely suggest a lot of similar things, so I wanted to share so you would gain some insight into why these ideas make sense.

• Stage rooms with one purpose. Rooms that have many uses can confuse or even deter homebuyers, so staging rooms with one purpose is vital. Determine who your most likely target market will be, whether it’s young professionals with no kids, families, or even empty nesters. Then present your areas to fit their needs. If you’ve been using a room as a guest room/kids playroom/home office, pick the one use that best suits your buyers.
• Tackle the easy “do-it-yourself” projects. Spruce up your home by updating kitchen and bathroom fixtures and updating cabinet hardware. Add a fresh coat of paint in a neutral palate that won’t distract from your home’s features.

   

  

  A fresh coat of neutral paint goes a long way

• Focus on the living areas. Potential buyers should envision themselves entertaining friends and family in the living areas of the home. Make sure those areas feel as spacious as possible by removing any unnecessary furniture to allow for easy traffic flow.
• Make sure the master bedroom appeals to both sexes. Remember that the master bedroom is a room that a couple will be sharing, so the décor should appeal to both sexes. It should feel like a calm and peaceful refuge, not a frilly boudoir. Remove any feature that seems too gender-specific and paint the walls a neutral colour.
• De-clutter & depersonalize. Buyers want to picture their family living in a home, not the previous owners. You’re going to be moving anyway, so start now by packing away family photos, personal mementos knickknacks. Store away valuables under lock and key. Some property owners find they need to store some of their belongings off premises to create an open feel.
• Furnish the home, but don’t overdo it. While an empty house may look spacious, it’s often hard for buyers to visualize their belongings in a home if they’re just looking at bare walls and floors. Leave the basic components that allow the viewer to define each room.
• Don’t forget the outside spaces. First impressions can play a key role in a consumer’s decision-making process, so don’t neglect your home’s curb appeal. Make sure the home’s exterior is inviting by trimming the bushes, mowing the lawn and painting faded window trim. Buyers will appreciate the seller’s efforts with the yard work, and will tend to assume that the same attention to detail has been

The time has arrived, the air is cold and crisp and my favorite Sunday is just around the corner. As many of you know, I’m a diehard Giants fan and am waiting in anticipation for the final matchup against the New England Patriots. Win or lose, I am looking forward to the annual ritual of finger food, commercial judging, half-time show viewing, and of course, watching some football.

How are you planning to celebrate the Super Bowl this year? Will you be hosting friends and family at your home?

I got to thinking about how our homes are the true centerpiece for Super Bowl Sunday, bringing together family and friends for some good ‘ole fashion American fun. With this in mind, I took a look on coldwellbanker.com and found a lot of our listings are in the Super Bowl Sunday party spirit:

Home for sale on Manning Mill Road in Lafayette, GA

• Americans love their football and nearly 170 homes mention football in the description
• About 10 home listings mention the Super Bowl
• For the hostess with the mostest, nearly 16,900 homes are great for entertaining
• Another 760 say they are terrific for hosting parties

• Giants fans will be happy to know:
  • 69 home listings actually mention “Manning” – such as Manning Mill Road, Manning Street, etc.
  • And 19 homes have “Giants” in the description

• For Patriots fans:
  • 38 homes mention “Brady” in the listing – such as Brady Drive, Brady Canyon, Brady Trail, etc.
  • And 21 home listings have “Patriots” in the description – with two listings that reference Patriots Place

Welcome to another week in 2012. Some of us had a three day weekend and most of the nation caught a little NFL playoff fever. But with one month of 2012 half gone, here are some real estate headlines to keep you in the know:

• The KCM Blog has a post on creating wealth through home ownership and the proof to back it up.
• Realtor.com profiles a modern fortress in today’s security conscious culture that is available for $5.9 million.
• MSN Real Estate declares “Finally a Bottom for Home Prices.”
• CNN Money calls housing “the one bailout America could really use.”
• A new study by Yahoo! find the American Dream Home is turning “green.”
• And finally, LXTV Open House takes you inside a $30 million mega mansion listed by Coldwell Banker Real Estate superstar team, The Jills.

I don’t know about you, but I love to take home tours when I’m on vacation or even in my hometown of Dallas, Texas, when I have visitors from out of town. Related side bar: For those of you who have never visited Dallas, Texas  it should definitely be on your weekend getaway list.

The Grand Trianon at Versailles. Less grand than The Palace but not as modest as the Petit Trianon, where Marie Antoinette preferred to stay,  this place is magical. Everything had this amazing tone of rusty pink, whether inside or outside. And when the wind blows while walking on the breezeway you can smell the fragrant lavender growing abundantly in the surrounding landscape.

Breezeway at The Grand Trianon

Magnificent Room in The Grand Trianon

Front view of Rembrandt's home

Getting up close and personal with the home's architecture

Hemingway’s home in Key West. Crazy to think he bought this amazing home in Old Town Key West for a mere $8,000 but then went on to spend $20,000 on an in-ground swimming pool when running water wasn’t even available in Key West at the time.

There’s nothing quite like a new year to reset your life a bit. Resolutions to be made. Goals to be set. And a full 365 days to achieve them. But for now we’ll start with baby steps and get you some of the most interesting real estate headlines for this new year.

• The KCM Blog compares real estate to other investments and concludes that you can’t live in your IRA.
• MSNBC polled people to find out who is the most and least wanted neighbors. Tim Tebow is #1 on the most wanted listed while the cast of Jersey Shore takes the prize on the least wanted.
• Investopedia writes about how you can use real estate to put off tax bills.
• TheAtlanticCities.com takes a look at the awkward art of neighborhood naming.
• And finally PTMoney.com lists the 5 big benefits of a smaller home.

Photo provided by Flickr user Jeff Kern

Happy New Year! As you start thinking about your goals and dreams for 2012, if one of those includes buying a new home, congratulations. It's one of those great "life adventures" that most of us look forward to as we chose a home that reflects our current lifestyle. There is a lot to think about when making the decision, so let me share a few thoughts with you about this important path you may be considering for 2012.

• Select a qualified and trusted real estate agent: At Coldwell Banker, we have a network of knowledgeable, trustworthy agents. Agents understand the local market and can help you find all the information and resources you need to get started. Researching on your own is important, and using free online tools is a great way to start, but meeting with an agent will ensure you don’t miss any important steps along the way. In fact, the next three tips were sourced from the great advice of our agents.

• Create your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” list: Easier said than done, right? But it’s next to impossible to find a first home with everything. You’ll need to think about your lifestyle needs and prioritize the non-negotiable home accommodations, such as a bedroom for each family member, over items you may want, but not need, such as a large master suite. Everyone’s list is different, but knowing your “must-haves” in advance will help you stay focused.

• Determine your budget: Be realistic about what is affordable. An agent can help you find comparable home prices and hone in on approximately how much the payments will be. You should also plan to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Doing this prior to house hunting will let you know how much money you qualify for, and how much you can afford. You’ll also be able to figure out which mortgage type is best for you.

• Identify the perfect “location, location, location”: Everyone has heard this phrase before, and while the surrounding neighborhood and home itself may improve over time, the physical location will remain the same. Determine in advance how close you would like to live to work, schools or extended family. A short commute to work, proximity to family or having easy access to highways and mass transit will often be items for your “must-haves” list.

Hope your 2012 is off to a good start. If you’re starting your home search in 2012, we’d love to hear what you’re doing to get the home search process started.

Image provided by Flickr user Creativity103

In these economic times, people often take a look at ways they can downsize their spending and make less do more. One area that is seeing some growth is what I’ll call “the smaller house” movement. While we love to tour mansions and watch TV shows that showcase extravagant spaces, the opposite side of the real estate spectrum is getting serious attention from home owners across the globe.

One cause for this is the increasing popularity of books like Sara Susanka’s Not So Big Solutions for Your Home which goes into detail on simple ways you can make more out of the small spaces in your home. Having browsed the book myself I can tell you that Susanka’s latest book, More Not So Big Solutions for Your Home, comes with some extremely useful tips on managing the space in your home while keeping these more modest rooms personal and attractive to even the most scrupulous of designers. From tips on where to position your television to rethinking the formal dining room to getting creative with a bathtub and shower, the book has gained attention from home owners everywhere.

In addition to these books more small house designers are gaining attention, like Tumbleweed Tiny House Co., who’s XS House is a mere 65 square feet that somehow manages to boast a queen size bed, a living room with desk and two closets although the kitchen isn’t fit for those aspiring Gordon Ramsey types. Cook+Fox Architects have built what they call the “Live Work Home” in Syracuse, NY which is an energy efficient and environmentally friendly structure with an open design that can double as a home and an office as paying for a mortgage and renting office space can be a burden for many small business owners.

While McMansions may have been the home of choice in the past decades, this current era of homeowners may be looking for more modest living spaces that are more efficient and can still be a personal, comfortable place to live.

Photo: Cook+Fox Architects

Would you live in a house that's a shoe?

By now you’ve probably made your list, checked it twice and discovered you still have more presents to buy. It’s the week before Christmas and the hustle and bustle is upon us. To get your week off to the right start, here are some real estate headlines:

• Calculated Risk has ten economic questions for 2012 that need to be answered about the housing market
• US News has a list of 10 rookie home buyer mistakes to avoid
• Yahoo Real Estate features some real life storybook homes that are more than make believe.
• And finally…Inman News came out with their list of the 100 most influential people in real estate. Coldwell Banker CEO, Jim Gillespie, and COO, Budge Huskey, both made the list.

Frank Sinatra's former home is currently listed by Coldwell Banker for $12 million

If ever there was a home that had stories to tell, this is the one. Simply known as “Farralone” this amazing estate was once famously owned by Frank Sinatra and is currently listed by Coldwell Banker agent, Lynn Teschner, for $12 million.

The 10,000 square foot residence was owned by Sinatra in the heart of his Rat Pack years and boasts more parties and celebrity visits than almost any other home you’ll come across. It’s rumored that this is where John F. Kennedy met Marilyn Monroe and was also the location for Judy Garland and Vincent Minelli’s wedding. Sinatra would also shoot off fireworks in the backyard to signal to his neighbors that it was time for happy hour.

Aside from the amazing history of the home, the residence is truly a magnificent piece of architecture with 16 feet walls of glass curtains, a 50 ft. swimming pool in the back and a 1,000 sq. ft. guest house with its own private pool. Farralone sits on 14 acres of land that includes a vineyard and parking for up to 200 cars.

While the home boasts many stories of yesteryear it’s also a popular location for many modern pop culture venues. The home is most prominently seen today in AMC’s Mad Men and was also used in Usher’s Burn music video.

While $12 million is nothing to balk at, to me it sounds like a bargain given the history and glamour of the listing when compared to other home prices in exclusive Southern California markets. Besides, how cool would it be to live in Sinatra’s house? I guess one owner will soon discover what it’s like to have the world on a string.

To see more photos and details on the Farralone estate, click here.

Photo: Everett Fenton Gidley 310-990-0106 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 310-990-0106 end_of_the_skype_highlighting www.efg3.com

If you haven’t noticed, the holidays are upon us. In years past, Coldwell Banker has done some unique holiday related advertising. Last year, we created a billboard in Times Square that featured agents and locations with holiday themed names.

This year we partnered with NBC to not only create a holiday themed TV spot, but also advertise on some of the most notable holiday programs. This week, we launch our holiday themed ad which we call “Crowded House.” Our recent survey of consumers showed that 40% of people have more than 15 people living under one roof during the holiday season! As you’ll see in the video below, we played off that concept in what we think is a relatable TV commercial.

In addition, this new ad will be running on the marquee holiday programs on NBC including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting as well as other holiday related programs throughout the upcoming weeks.

As we reference in an earlier blog post, the holidays bring out a new appreciation for home and it plays a larger role in the memories and the enjoyment of the holiday season. From our home to yours we hope you have a happy holiday season.

Take a look at our holiday ad below and be on the lookout for it this week on NBC.

In these economic times, people often take a look at ways they can downsize their spending and make less do more. One area that is seeing some growth is what I’ll call “the smaller house” movement. While we love to tour mansions and watch TV shows that showcase extravagant spaces, the opposite side of the real estate spectrum is getting serious attention from home owners across the globe.

One cause for this is the increasing popularity of books like Sara Susanka’s Not So Big Solutions for Your Home which goes into detail on simple ways you can make more out of the small spaces in your home. Having browsed the book myself I can tell you that Susanka’s latest book, More Not So Big Solutions for Your Home, comes with some extremely useful tips on managing the space in your home while keeping these more modest rooms personal and attractive to even the most scrupulous of designers. From tips on where to position your television to rethinking the formal dining room to getting creative with a bathtub and shower, the book has gained attention from home owners everywhere.

In addition to these books more small house designers are gaining attention, like Tumbleweed Tiny House Co., who’s XS House is a mere 65 square feet that somehow manages to boast a queen size bed, a living room with desk and two closets although the kitchen isn’t fit for those aspiring Gordon Ramsey types. Cook+Fox Architects have built what they call the “Live Work Home” in Syracuse, NY which is an energy efficient and environmentally friendly structure with an open design that can double as a home and an office as paying for a mortgage and renting office space can be a burden for many small business owners.

While McMansions may have been the home of choice in the past decades, this current era of homeowners may be looking for more modest living spaces that are more efficient and can still be a personal, comfortable place to live.

Jennifer Aniston's Gramercy Park Apt.

For some parts of the country this is an election week. I know my town is littered with campaign billboards in front yards as well as the usual Coldwell Banker yard signs. So as you measure the quality of character of your candidate, here’s your real estate headlines of the people, by the people and for the people:

• Haute Living reports that actress Jennifer Aniston has found some new digs in Gramercy Park for a cool $9 million.
• Inman News has a report on the top 20 healthiest housing markets. #1 is Minneapolis.
• CNN Money has a headline that makes most parents cringe: “I’m home! Adult children move back in.”
• And finally, Time’s Moneyland has a list of the 9 priciest homes currently on the market. The Fleur De Lys estate tops the list at $125 million.

Would you want a Lego kitchen?

Today’s architects and home builders may have all started their careers by building a home with the same object: Legos. For decades Lego has allowed children and adults alike to build mansions, castles and homes of all sizes using just dotted bricks and their imagination. In addition Lego pieces can be found hidden under almost any couch, radiator or refrigerator of homes with children. My house included.

While this post is a few months old, I just came across it recently and it immediately caught my attention. Legos have become more than just building blocks for kids. They’re a cultural phenomenon that’s invading all facets of our society including home decor.

Walyou has a list of 20 Lego items to outfit the ultimate Lego home. From desks to tables to toasters (yes, toasters) and even a Lego radiator you can find an amazing assortment of Lego pieces for your home.

I’ve got my eyes on the Lego grandfather clock. What Lego piece would you most like to have in your home?

The first time home buyer is becoming a bigger part of the real estate market these days. Recently on NBC’s LXTV Open House, we did a segment on some of the key things first time home buyers should know about when they start their search for that first home. Take a look:

Houses have always been a central element in the spooky and scary tales of Halloween. There’s something about a house with Gothic architecture, boarded up windows or even the aura of the supernatural that can send tingles up your spine. I’m sure all of us can think of that one house in the neighborhood that you ran past instead of just leisurely strolling past it.

With Halloween just a few days away I though it was time to take a look at some of the scariest houses that have existed. Some are real homes and others are fictional, but all of them will haunt your thoughts. Ok, that was a bit much, but they’re still pretty creepy.

The Amityville Horror House	5. The House from The Amityville Horror   The house at 112 Ocean Ave in Amityville, NY is both real and fictional at the same time. The book written about the horrors that happened at this home, which then led to a series of movies, has come under debate as to whether they are truly based on real life events. No matter the case, this house and the paranormal activities that surround it make it one of the scarier residences that I never care to enter. It was also recently on the market again. Rumor has it that it’s a killer deal.
The Barone Residence	4. The Barone House from Everybody Loves Raymond   What’s that? You’re surprised to see this house on the list? I’m surprised that it’s only #4. Think about it. What’s a scarier situation than living across the street from your overbearing, critical mother/mother-in-law who thinks your place has an open door policy. On top of that add a brother/brother-in-law who never seems to go to his own place. I’m not sure there’s a scarier place. At least haunted houses are ok in the daytime. The Barone residence has frightening characters at all times of the day.
American Horror Story	3. The House from FX’s American Horror Story   This show may only be a few episodes old, but this home is already near the top of the all time creepy list. It’s got everything: cedar floors, Tiffany light fixtures, body parts in jars in the basement. Then of course there’s the fact that this is the scene of several murders, your housekeeper is probably a ghost, strange people in leather outfits appear out of nowhere and the worst part is your neighbors think your house is always available to them. Creepy does not do this home justice. Macabre is a more suitable adjective.
The House on Haunted Hill	2. The House on Haunted Hill   Whether it’s the home of Vincent Price’s character, Frederick Loren, in the 1958 original or the later remakes, I don’t care what kind of party is being thrown or what the prize money is. I’m not staying here. This lurid domicile has no lights and all doors locked after midnight. Don’t even think of trying to escape or the ghoulish figures that spook the house will make sure it’s the last thing you do. Well even if you don’t try and escape they will still nag you or worse. Side note: The original movie has one of the most chilling endings of all time.
The Money Pit	1. The House from The Money Pit   You want to talk about scary? How about buying a new house only to have everything that you can imagine be wrong with the home come to fruition. Contractors that tell you renovations will take “two weeks” only to have it be four months. I can’t even imagine how many Home Depot trips are required during the span of this movie. I’m balled up in the fetal position just thinking about it. Without a doubt, this is the house that haunts me the most.

Got another scary house to add to the list? Share your favorite in the comments.

I love my iPad. And one of my favorite apps is Zite. If you don’t have it, get it! It pulls articles of interest to you and essentially creates a daily online magazine with sections of interest to you. And what’s really cool about it is that it doesn’t only pull content from mainstream outlets, but allows me to read “off-the-beaten path” articles or blogs I might not have found before.

My “real estate” section routinely pulls blog posts from an outfit called The KCM blog. Yesterday I saw this great post and thought I’d share it. As a math guy, I loved the simple presence. The author broke down the National Association of Realtor’s estimate for annualized home sales for 2011 and determined that nearly 14,000 homes are being sold every day.

I’d like to break it down a little more. With 22% of all August sales being to investors, that leaves 10,749 homes being sold every day to “regular” people. Those with a lifestyle need. Births. Marriages. Job promotions or transfers. A myriad of other reasons.

Why is that figure important? Because it showcases that those with a lifestyle need and the financial viability to do so ARE buying homes. They are taking advantage of the lowered – yet correcting – prices, increased inventory affording choice and all-time low mortgage rates. These nearly 11,000 “regular” homebuyers a day are really smart.

I know there are many, many people who would love to enter the home buying process today but can’t. The economy is tough, unemployment is high and consumer confidence is low. And, I know, we as people are almost pre-wired to follow the herd.

But in homeownership today, I caution you to make sure the herd has your individual best interests at heart.

No matter where I travel and no matter how many people I meet – both inside and outside of real estate – I continually hear stories of people who just bought a home. These people looked at their individual situations and made the determination that was OK for them to be an active participant in the home buying process.

Is it home ownership for everyone today? No. But for nearly 11,000 “regular” people a day it is!

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.