The home, which was featured on the cover of the March/April 2010 issue of Ocean Home magazine, was sold recently to readers Glenn and Debra Weinberg of Owings Mills, Maryland. “The oceanfront properties featured in Ocean Home magazine are always stunning. This was especially true of the Obama Winter White House feature, which first introduced me to our new home,” commented Mr. Weinberg, who is a vice president of The Cordish Co., a real estate development firm based in Baltimore.
One look around and it’s no surprise why the new homeowners feel it was well worth the $6.9 million dollars paid for the estate, which came fully furnished. Spread out over 6,896 square feet of covered living area, the Plantation Estate features five bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, a large, open living room attached to a chef’s kitchen, and a media room with a 60-inch flat-screen TV with speakers embedded in laser-carved mahogany leaves. Details like the etched windows, stained glass, natural stone tiling, and African mahogany carvings set the scene for the ultimate in presidential and Hawaiian relaxation.

Just beyond the seven-foot lava rock walls that protect the estate from the nearby road, a sprawling courtyard welcomes visitors with lush vegetation, a lagoon-style pool, tropical waterfalls, and a lavish island spa. And then there are the stunning views of Kailua Beach, Mount Olomana, and The Mokulua Islands, which, according to Weinberg, were a big selling feature.

Weinberg says he hopes the First Family will return to the Winter White House for a visit. Good news for the Obamas, Mr. Weinberg stated that they do not plan to redecorate and the home is available for rent. For more information, visit www.paradisepointestates.com .

Take an exclusive look inside the Weinberg’s new home and President Barack Obama’s winter retreat in the Mar/Apr 2010 issue of Ocean Home magazine. www.mygazines.com/issue/6807

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

—Scott Kauffman

Share on Facebook

June 11, 2010 – The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) announced the winners of its 60th Annual Journalism Awards at its conference on June 4, 2010, recognizing luxury oceanfront lifestyle publication, Ocean Home magazine, in two categories.

Ocean Home received second place in NAREE’s journalism awards category for Best Shelter Publication. In a comment about Ocean Home magazine, judges said, “Using the most stunning photography of any entry in the contest, this magazine is for those who dream about a life of leisure by the seashore. The articles and photographs suggest many useful ways to improve or design both interior and exterior environments.”

Additionally, Ocean Home contributor Scott Kaufmann received NAREE’s second place award for Best Real Estate, Mortgage or Financial Report in a Magazine (see “Why Dubai is Being Downsized”).  Judges commented on Kaufmann’s piece, stating, “A nice mix of information complimented with stunning photography, this story about commercial real estate in Dubai provides an eye-opening reassessment of development in what many consider a paradise.”

NAREE’s Journalism Awards program recognizes excellence in reporting, writing, and editing stories about residential, commercial, and financial real estate and home and design. NAREE’s 60th Annual Journalism Awards featured a near-record number of entries from professional journalists across the country, the group announced, with winners named in 25 categories. All award winners were selected by a panel of expert judges from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. Professor Patrick S. Washburn, a former news reporter and editor, chaired the panel of jurors.

The following is a full list of category winners:

Category 1: Best Residential Real Estate Report in a Daily Newspaper. Winner: Tim Logan and Kevin Crowe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Second Place: Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune. Honorable Mention: Bob Hagerty, Wall Street Journal.

Category 2: Best Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Report in a Daily Newspaper. Winner: Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel. Second Place: Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune.

Category 3: Best Commercial Real Estate Report in a Daily Newspaper. Winner: Anton Troianovski, Wall Street Journal. Second Place: Kris Hudson, Wall Street Journal.

Category 4: Best Report in a Daily Newspaper under 250,000 Circulation. Winner: Carol Hazard, Richmond Times-Dispatch. Second Place: Josh Brown, The Virginian-Pilot.

Category 5: Best Report in a Weekly Business Newspaper. Winner: Kari Hamanaka, California Real Estate Journal. Second Place: Kim A. O’Connell, Onsite/Washington Business Journal.

Category 6: Best Real Estate, Mortgage or Financial Report in a Magazine. Winner: Lisa Gibbs, Money Magazine. Second Place: Scott Kaufmann, Ocean Home Magazine.

Category 7: Best Trade Magazine Report for the Residential Real Estate, Mortgage/Finance, or Homebuilding/Residential Development Industries. Winner: Matt Power, Green Builder Magazine. Second Place: Jenny Sullivan, Builder Magazine.

Category 8: Best Trade Magazine Report for the Commercial Real Estate Industry. Winner: Les Shaver, Multifamily Executive. Second Place: Rachel Azoff, Multifamily Executive.

Category 9: Best Residential Real Estate or Mortgage/Finance Report or Feature. Winner: John Gittelsohn, Bloomberg News. Second Place: Karen Aho, MSN Real Estate.

Category 10: Best Commercial Real Estate Report. Winner: Daniel Taub and Ari Levy, Bloomberg News. Second Place: Andrew Deichler, CoStar.com News.

Category 11: Best Blog. Winner: lIyce Glink, “Home Equity” Moneywatch.Bnet.com. Second Place: Tim Bryant and Tim Logan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Category 12: Best Broadcast Report — Online, Radio or Television — Local, Network or Cable Channels. Winner: John Wordock (with Ann Cates), MarketWatch.com and MarketWatch Radio Network. Second Place: Rebecca Teagarden, Seattle Times.

Category 13: Best Home and Design Feature. Winner: Aisha Sultan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Second Place: Mary Beth Breckenridge, Akron Beacon Journal.

Category 14: Best Column. Winner: Ken Harney, Washington Post Writers Group. Second Place: Lew Sichelman, United Features Syndicate.

Category 15: Best Series. Winner: Kirsten Grind, Puget Sound Business Journal. Second Place: Michael M. Phillips, Wall Street Journal.

Category 16: Best Collection of Work by an Individual. Winner: Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union Tribune. Second Place: Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel. Honorable Mention: Carol Hazard, Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Category 17: Best Newspaper Real Estate or Home Section More Than 250,000 Circulation. Winner: Stacy Downs, Kansas City Star. Second Place: Maryann Haggerty, Elizabeth Razzi, Renae Merle and Dina EIBoghdady, Washington Post.

Category 18: Best Newspaper Real Estate or Home Section Less Than 250,000 Circulation. Winner: Michael Gottlieb, California Real Estate Journal. Second Place: Paul Weideman, Santa Fe New Mexican.

Category 19: Best Shelter Magazine. Winner: Gail Ravgiala, Design New England Magazine. Second Place: Jack Morris, Melissa Gillespie, Ocean Home Magazine.

Category 20: Best Residential Trade Magazine. Winner: Denise Dersin, Builder Magazine. Second Place: Kati O’Keefe, Matt Power, Green Builder Magazine.

Category 21: Best Commercial Trade Magazine. Winner: Matt Valley, Sibley Fleming, Denise Kalette and Jaun Mims, National Real Estate Investor Magazine. Second Place: Bryan Pope, Tierra Grande Magazine.

Category 22: Best Newsletter. Winner: Danielle Douglas, Distressed Assets Investor. Second Place: Daren Blomquist, Foreclosure News Report.

Category 23: Best Website Solely Devoted to Residential or Commercial Real Estate and/or Home Design. Winner: Inman News. Second Place: Jean Dimeo, Katy Tomasulo, Jennifer Goodman, Rick Schwolsky, Shelley Hutchins and Ian Blyth, EcoHome.

Category 24: Best Team Report. Winner: Jeanne Lang Jones and Kirsten Grind, Puget Sound Business Journal. Second Place: Dina EIBoghdady and Dan Keating, Washington Post.

Category 25: Best Investigative Report or Series. Winner: Michael Braga, Chris Davis and Matthew Doig, Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Second Place: Kelly Bennett and Will Carless, VoiceOfSanDiego.org.

About Ocean Home magazine
Published bi-monthly by RMS Media Inc., Ocean Home puts the luxurious lifestyle of oceanfront living into the palms of our readers’ hands. From high-end developments in the Caribbean to private beachfront estates in California, Ocean Home not only unveils the dream homes of the world’s wealthiest real estate investors, but also reveals the best travel destinations, the top designs for ocean homes, and interviews the key players in the next generation of luxury oceanfront living. Ocean Home is available in print and online. For more information visit www.oceanhomemag.com, call 978-623-8020, or follow Ocean Home on twitter @oceanhomemag and Facebook.

About NAREE
NAREE, the National Association of Real Estate Editors, is the only professional association for the nation’s journalists covering residential, commercial and financial real estate and home and design for the consumer, business, and trade media. NAREE members report on real estate finance, housing policy, the environment, urban growth, land use, investment, construction, urban and building design and related trends. Active members include editors, staff reporters, columnists, bloggers and freelance writers working in print, broadcast and online media. More information about NAREE’s Journalism Awards is available at www.naree.org.

# # #

Share on Facebook

Who: The Honorable Governor Donald L. Carcieri; Ocean House Owners,  Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Royce; President and Managing Director, Daniel Hostettler; Ocean House investors, management and employees; business and community leaders from across the state will be in attendance.

Interviews: The Honorable Governor Donald L. Carcieri; Ocean House Owners,  Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Royce; President and Managing Director, Daniel Hostettler; investors and Ocean House representatives may be arranged.

Visuals: Cameras will be allowed on-site to document the ceremony as well as inside the Ocean House for a first look at the completed property

Why: By way of history, the resort is known for its warm, yellow façade and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.  It originally opened in 1868 and has been home to generations of families and guests who have enjoyed the warm hospitality.  In 2004, when engineers confirmed that salvaging the building was not an option, a group of passionate summer residents sought to preserve the Ocean House under the leadership of Mr. Charles Royce.  They have been faithfully replicating the historic property and have salvaged some 5,000 artifacts.  More than 300 people were employed during the five-year multi-million dollar restoration. In addition to creating jobs in Rhode Island, the Ocean House project is committed to increasing local and state tourism.

Share on Facebook

A LEGACY PROPERTY with access to all of Kapalua’s luxury amenities including the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, fine restaurants, sandy beaches, whale watching in season, tennis, golf and world-class spa. A unique once-in-a lifetime offering.

METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED, built with the highest quality, this exquisite 12,000-square-foot property is comprised of a wonderfully appointed single-level main residence, attached cottage with private entrance and a second two-story structure with separate guest and entertainment quarters featuring a total of 8 bedrooms, 7 baths, private offices, exercise and game area, tennis court and two garages to host up to 5 cars and a golf cart.

DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE VIEWS and accommodate an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, the main home opens to unobstructed views of the ocean, sunset, golf course and neighbor island of Molokai. Lush landscaping frames the magnificent setting and surrounds the infinity pool, with a slide to a second lower pool, spa and spacious stone deck.

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

NEWPORT, RI, May 2010 – Wimco Villas adds an extra touch of pizzazz and elegance to the June 17-20 Nantucket Film Festival with the addition of its new Nantucket villa collection.  Celebrating its 15th year, the Festival has become one of the East Coast’s premier annual events drawing film enthusiasts and Hollywood notables who flock to this historic island for four days of screenings and panels, roundtable discussions and cocktail parties.

The Wimco Villas collection brings a new level of accommodation and services to festival goers with an exceptional array of 30 homes ranging from intimate beachfront cottages to lavish oceanfront estates.

With the social whirl of cocktail parties, lively debates on the featured films and culinary delights to be enjoyed during the festival, guests will treasure simply relaxing and enjoying their home away from home. To this end, as a special gift – worthy of a Hollywood swag bag – guests who confirm and enjoy a Wimco Villas Nantucket getaway during the Film Festival will receive a complimentary selection of foods and wines delivered directly to their villa.

A signature concierge program, the first of its kind on the island, provides guests with seamless services ranging from securing tickets and passes to the Film Festival to arranging in-villa private chefs and spa treatments to booking coveted tables at the island’s top dining venues.

As a special inaugural season incentive, all guests who reserve a seven-night Nantucket booking through Wimco will be entered into a drawing for a free week in a two-bedroom Wimco villa on St Barts available for travel in the next 12 months.

For more information on both of the above Wimco Villas specials please visit www.wimco.com/villa-rentals/americas/nantucket/specials.aspx.

During the Film Festival, Wimco guests will also receive a dining advantage with Wimco’s exclusive “Friend of the Island” restaurant card which provides 10 percent off lunches and dinners at an array of participating Nantucket restaurants including Toppers, Brant Point Grill and Harbor Wok.  This successful Wimco client program is also available on St. Barts.

Share on Facebook

Image: NASA

Google has created an interactive map that allows users to track the flow of the devatstating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that was caused after an explosion at an offshore BP oil rig killed 11 rig workers and injured 17 others. You can view the latest imagery of the spill, watch videos, and upload your own content here:

http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/oilspill/

Share on Facebook

• Four for three deal, starting at $1,566
• Seven for five deal, starting at $2,982
• 25% discount on packages-applies to all packages which include the Sun and Seclusion, Parrot Cay Honeymoon, Dr. Perricone COMO Shambhala Experience, Wellness programs, and the brand new Babymoon and Romantic Runaway packages.

For more information: www.parrotcay.como.bz

Share on Facebook

True, his hair was slicked back in signature style, but his rumpled cotton shirt looked nothing like the pressed suits he favored while governor of the Bay State. Tufts of gray hair poked above the open neck, and a bronze California glow replaced the pasty complexion normally found amid a New England winter.

Since losing his presidential bid in 2008, Romney has gone West Coast. It’s part of a personal and political repositioning as he looks to avoid campaign trouble spots and reorder his life ahead of a second White House campaign in 2012.

Romney not only sold his family home in Belmont, Mass., but he bought a house—for $12 million—in the northern San Diego community of La Jolla. He traded a snowy commute for early morning beach strolls amid the dog walkers. And he’s become a familiar face at California political events, addressing the state Republican convention last month and campaigning on behalf of his former Bain Capital protege, Meg Whitman, a candidate for governor.

That prompted speculation Romney may want to run for one of California’s Senate seats or governor himself, but he laughs off the prospect.

“I wanted to be where I could hear the waves,” Romney said, despite living for most of his adult life on the Atlantic coast.

The house purchase was part of a personal downsizing—at least square-footagewise—that occurred after Romney wrapped up his presidential campaign and watched the eventual GOP nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, take a drubbing over his vast real estate holdings.

Romney also had just spent $47 million of his own money on his campaign, and the stock market, where he invested the bulk of the remaining fortune he built as a venture capitalist, was in a nosedive.

Romney and his wife, Ann, sold the 6,500-square-foot Massachusetts colonial where they raised their five sons, fetching $3.5 million. They also unloaded a 9,500-square-foot family retreat at the Deer Valley ski resort in Utah for close to its $5.25 million asking price.

The couple held onto their waterfront home at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, while adding a 3,000-square-foot oceanfront house carved from the California estate once owned by actor Cliff Robertson.

They still do not own a property in Massachusetts, forcing them to claim temporary residence at a basement apartment in the Belmont home owned by their eldest son, Tagg. It’s the address Romney used to vote in Republican Scott Brown’s recent victorious Senate special election race, all legal with town officials.

Spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said the Romneys are buying their own home in Belmont, but a March closing was pushed back to June because of “contractor delays.” That has put forced the Romneys to watch the number of days they spend in California, ensuring they do not raise questions about their primary residency for tax, voting or other legal purposes.

Romney still describes Massachusetts as “my state” or “our home.” And his political action committee is headquartered in a Lexington, Mass., office park.

The La Jolla home, with a long lawn sloping to a seawall, beach and the crashing Pacific waves, gave Romney the ocean sounds he craved and his wife, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, the warmer weather and horse-riding access she yearned. Ann Romney believes riding has a therapeutic effect. She had successful surgery and radiation treatments last year for early stage breast cancer.

The purchase also put the couple closer to sons Matt and Craig.

“With six grandkids, two sons, two daughters-in-law, I wanted to be in this area,” Romney said.

Romney wrote much of his new book, “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness,” at the home. La Jolla is also amid a southern California cluster of fellow Mormons. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owned the La Jolla store where Romney recently signed copies his book, and it’s located just across Interstate 5 from a towering Mormon temple. Many of the nearly 1,000 who lined up were Mormons, based on interviews.

“To me he represents the spirit of being industrious, productive, positive, earning your way, and whether or not Gov. Romney seeks candidacy the next election, he’s inspiring the spirit of service in America,” said one of those who waited, Bradley Hill, 60, of La Mesa.

While the streets of La Jolla are filled with emblems of capitalism, from exotic car dealerships to pricey retailers and high-end restaurants, Romney has decidedly lowbrow tastes.

He said one of his favorite meals is the turkey burger at the Burger Lounge. Another favorite place is the Marketplace Grille, where he orders the chicken bowl—chicken served with tabbouleh, a choice of white or herbed rice, and lavash bread. It is served on paper plates with plastic utensils.

“He comes in with his grandchildren,” said Mehran Izadi, the restaurant’s co-owner. “He’s very down to earth. You don’t expect that from a politician.”

mercurynews.com

By GLEN JOHNSON AP Political Writer

Share on Facebook

Forty years ago, the nation’s first developed tourism area was around Puerto Plata and Cabarete on the northern coast. But for the past two decades, the north has been largely overshadowed by the southeast, especially La Romana and the heavily developed Punta Cana peninsula.

Now, thanks to infrastructure improvements and the simple desire to find the next hot place, second-home buyers are heading back north, spurred by the development of the Samaná Peninsula. A new highway, part of a huge ongoing government infrastructure investment, links Samaná with the capital, Santo Domingo, and has dramatically reduced travel time from more than five hours to under 2½.

The newly emerging Samaná Peninsula began as a second-home destination for Dominicans but is increasingly being “discovered” by overseas buyers.

“On the south of the peninsula, the biggest city is Samaná, which has the cruise dock and several new developments, the largest of which is Puerto Bahia, attracting more Dominican buyers,” says Pedro Purcell, a broker with Dominican Properties in Santo Domingo.

“The two highest-profile developments are on the north, Balcones del Atlántico and El Portillo. There are more American buyers in the north, as well as French, Germans and Italians.

“Unlike Punta Cana, Samaná is mostly condos, not the big villas and estate homes, and it is not as expensive as Cap Cana or Casa de Campo to the south, where people look for celebrities,” Purcell adds.

“Here, they look for the beach lifestyle, and while the projects are high-quality, they are not nearly as large as in the Punta Cana area.”

A look at three North Shore neighborhoods

• Puerto Plata. The Dominican Republic’s first major tourism enclave, this beach town has a lot of hotel and restaurant development, but with few second homes besides Seahorse Ranch, which was built in the 1980s. The gated 250-acre equestrian and beach community has more than 100 private homes ranging from $500,000 to $8 million. The Victoria Hotel within the Playa Dorado golf resort here plans to begin offering a fractional ownership club this year.

• Cabarete. Less developed than Puerto Plata, beach-centric Cabarete has until recently attracted mainly European buyers. That is about to change with the transformation of the Playa Grande golf course — known as “the Pebble Beach of the Caribbean” — into a high-end residential community. It will include an equestrian center, clubhouse and recreational facilities, with villas and estate houses on sale later this year. Luxury Asian developer Aman is also planning a private enclave of residential villas here.

• Samana Peninsula. Several towns on this 40-mile-long peninsula are seeing development, but for U.S. buyers, the runaway favorite is Las Terrenas. Already home to several boutique hotels, the longtime fishing village is emerging as a culinary hotspot, with European chefs taking advantage of the seafood. A 66-acre former coconut plantation, Las Terrenas’ Balcones del Atlantico will have 350 residences, from apartments to beach villas, from $475,000 to $1.7 million. The second of three phases, which includes a hotel from RockResorts, opens this summer.

USATODAY.com

By Larry Olmsted Special for, USA TODAY

Share on Facebook

The first destination privileged to receive Wimco Villas’ (www.wimco.com) highly discerning stamp of approval is Nantucket Island – the St. Barts of New England – where a collection of 30 villas are available as summer rentals effective March 30, 2010.

Arriving with the new Wimco Villas’ Nantucket roster is an extensive array of full concierge travel services that will be a welcomed addition to the island’s vacation home rentals market.

“No longer do you have to ‘do it yourself’ in Nantucket,” said Stiles Bennet, Wimco’s vice president, marketing. “Up to now arranging services has been a bit tricky on the island and not easily or readily available with most vacation rentals,” he said. “The Wimco travel services model is all about making your vacation as seamless and easy as possible starting from the moment you contact Wimco to inquire about a vacation rental.”

As a special inaugural season incentive, all guests who reserve a seven-night Nantucket booking through Wimco will be entered into a drawing for a free week in a two-bedroom Wimco villa on St Barts available for travel in the next 12 months.

Additionally, oenophiles, film lovers and epicureans alike will enjoy access to an array of special island events.

Clients whose villa bookings overlap the Nantucket Wine Festival from May 19-23 will find a complimentary mixed case of wines in their villa when they arrive. Wimco is planning several exclusive client events during that weekend when over 100 elite wineries descend on the island for four days of wine tastings, dinners and special events.

During the Nantucket Film Festival, June 17-20, Wimco’s concierge can arrange tickets and entry into select screenings and events. Coveted reservations to top Nantucket dining venues can be accessed during Nantucket Restaurant Week June 7-13, and private yachts can be chartered for front-and-center views of the Nantucket Race Week, when a regatta of different classes of vessels colorfully sail around the island and harbor.

Wimco’s guests will also receive a dining advantage with Wimco’s exclusive “Friend of the Island” restaurant card which provides 10 percent off lunches and dinners at an array of participating Nantucket restaurants including Toppers, Brant Point Grill and Harbor Wok. This successful Wimco client program is also available on St. Barts.

The new Nantucket villas are located in the island’s most desirable spots, from Nantucket Town where guests can walk to shops and restaurants, to the privacy of Sconset, to the bluffs above Dionis Beach. The collection ranges from intimate and romantic one or two-bedroom villas for a couple’s getaway to large five and six+ bedroom vacation rentals for families or couples traveling together. Highlights include the two-bedroom villa NAN JEF in town starting at $3,300 for a seven-night stay; five bedroom NAN BRA in popular Brant Point starting at $15,000 a week, and the seven-bedroom 8.5 bathroom villa NAN SQU, a stunning oceanfront property in Wauwinet, at $55,000 a week.

Wimco’s concierge services team can arrange almost anything including private chef dinners, catered parties in the villa, coveted reservations at the island’s top restaurants, in-villa spa treatments, provisioning villas with food and beverages prior to the guest’s arrival, booking private surfing lessons, renting bicycles for guests and delivering them to the villa, arranging private horseback riding excursions, tuna and bluefish fishing excursions, and more.

About Wimco Villas
Wimco Villas is an award-winning luxury villa rental company, providing access to some of the world’s most beautiful and exceptional private villas. In the Caribbean, Wimco represents over 270 villas on St Barts and offers an expansive selection of privately owned villas throughout the region including the US and British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Barbados, Mustique, Nevis, St Martin, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. In Europe, Wimco represents villas in Italy, the South of France, and Mykonos. In the Americas there are villa rentals on Nantucket, Maui and Oahu, Hawaii, and in Punta Mita and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Voted ‘Best Presented Villas’ by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Wimco Villas’ inspection process of visiting and evaluating each villa insures that a match is made for each client’s expectation of value. As well as providing accommodation and destination information, Wimco Villas can tailor make the villa holidays to suit each client’s needs, whether it be arranging for private chefs, yoga instructors, yacht charters or simply a restaurant reservation.

For additional information on Wimco Villas please visit www.wimco.com or call 800-449-1553.

Share on Facebook

Click here for the story from the Malibu Real Estate Blog.

Share on Facebook

Parker also delighted young viewers with his performances in “Old Yeller” and “Daniel Boone.” In more recent years, he attained a second stardom as a winery owner of the sprawling Doubletree resort along beachfront Santa Barbara, Calif., and the Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos, Calif.

Click here for the story from the Hollywood Reporter.

Share on Facebook

The developer of 1200 Hillsboro Mile, the new ocean-to-Intracoastal condominium residences along the prestigious “Mile” in Hillsboro Beach, Fla., announces the release of 18 residences within a planned oceanfront building. The 11-unit building bordering the Intracoastal Waterway is already completed and partially sold and occupied.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of pre-construction pricing directly on the ocean, especially because these condominiums provide exceptional value and there is no other new condominium construction taking place in this area, which is central to Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton,” said David DePaolo, executive vice president with West Seneca N.Y.-based Marrano/Marc Equity Corporation.

Nita Summers, associate broker at Keyes Company Realtors at Mizner Park in Boca Raton, the exclusive sales agent for 1200 Hillsboro Mile, concurs. “Our buyers recognize that they will never see prices like this again for prime waterfront property. In addition, the developer has secured access to financing for qualified buyers who want it.”

The newly released oceanfront residences are offered at pre-construction price points from $1,295,000 to $1,995,000.  The five remaining residences within the Intracoastal building are available for immediate occupancy, starting from $650,000 upward to $1,149,900.

Two floor plan options are offered at 1200 Hillsboro Mile, each with three bedrooms, two and one-half baths, more than 2,000 total square feet and large, covered terraces.

1200 Hillsboro Mile has completed amenities that include an Intracoastal dock for overnight visitors’ boats; a pool, pool house and spa; a designer-furnished lobby; a club/media room with an outdoor entertainment deck; a fitness center; and private, deeded beach access.

Summers pointed out that monthly homeowners fees are very reasonable compared to fees charge in larger, full-service buildings. “This, too, is a draw for many of our buyers because they don’t want to be strapped with exorbitant fees, particularly if 1200 Hillsboro Mile is used as their vacation residence,” she explained.

She was quick to point out that some buyers are living at 1200 Hillsboro Mile year round, while others are “snowflakes” who visit frequently, as well as investors who anticipate long-term financial gains from their purchases.

1200 Hillsboro Mile is situated in the town of Hillsboro Beach, a small peninsula just over three miles long. Though it has a quaint village residential feel, it is convenient to world-class restaurants, shopping and entertainment.  In 30 minutes or less, residents can be at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades, or the Boca RatonTown Center mall.

For more information, call (954) 418-8033, or visit www.1200hillsboromile.com.

Share on Facebook

2010 Miami Int’l Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami makes waves with thousands of boats, deals

New features include an appearance by the star of National Geographic’s ‘Expedition Great White,’ product unveilings, Big Boat Row, and more

Miami, Fla. – February 1, 2010 – The 69th annual Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami cruises into town February 11-15, 2010, where new and experienced boaters from throughout the world can gather in one place to view, board and buy the best the boating industry has to offer. With special deals on everything from sportfishers, sailboats and mega-yachts to engines and the newest electronics, the 2010 Miami International Boat Show is the ideal place to shop, save and enhance every boating experience.

The five-day event draws tens of thousands of visitors each year and hosts more than 2,000 exhibitors from around the world, filling the Miami Beach Convention Center and Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center with thousands of boats and hundreds of booths showcasing the latest gear and accessories.  And for the first time ever, powerboat and sailing enthusiasts can gather in one location to see the best of everything as Strictly Sail Miami moves from its traditional venue at Miamarina at Bayside to Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center, joining forces with the Miami International Boat Show’s powerboat in-water location.

“There is no other boating event in the world that provides boating enthusiasts with the opportunity to shop the best and biggest selection of boats and accessories at unprecedented deals,” noted Cathy Rick-Joule, vice president of southern shows. “With thousands of products to choose from in one of the best boating destinations, the Miami International Boat Show is THE destination to find out why life is better with a boat, continuing to give boaters something for every lifestyle and budget.”

In addition to the vast selection of boats and marine accessories for sale, there are plenty of activities boaters of all ages can enjoy throughout the five-day event.

Features of the 2010 Miami International Boat Show include:
·         Affordability Pavilion – Boating is more budget-friendly than you may think! The Affordability Pavilion is returning for the 2nd year, showcasing boats for those with smaller budgets, highlighting pricing options and displaying boats that visitors can finance for $250 or less.
·         Big Game Room – The Big Game Room is celebrating its 7th year as the one-stop marketplace for every angler.  With new exhibits, the latest fishing products and destinations, activities and daily seminars from the pros, the Big Game Room is a must.  Have a drink at the Marlin Bar while waiting for the next educational seminar to begin or take a walk over to the interactive Bait Rigging Station, where visitors can improve their rigging techniques.
·         Discover Boating Center – This one-stop resource for new boaters is staffed by experts who can answer any boating question and offer advice on the best course to choosing a boat that’s perfect for your lifestyle and budget.
·         NEW! Expedition Great White: An Evening with Chris Fischer, Expedition Leader – The Miami International Boat Show’s Big Game Room is hosting “An Evening with Chris Fischer,” professional angler and Expedition Leader on National Geographic’s ground-breaking new show, Expedition Great White. Fischer will appear in the Big Game Room on Friday, February 12 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. to talk about the expedition and his experiences getting up close and personal with one of the most dangerous and fascinating creatures on the planet. Visitors will also be able to see a replica of one of the Great White’s caught during the Expedition. Fischer will be available for a Q&A with his audience and an autograph signing after his presentation.
·         NEW! FIRST MATES Course by the U.S. Coast Guard (Saturday, Feb 13 and Sunday, Feb 14 ONLY) – For the first time, the Miami International Boat Show is offering the United States Coast Guard’s FIRST MATES course in the Big Game Room Feb 13 and 14 from 10:15-11:45 a.m. The course will teach what every skipper’s right hand man should understand while underway; topics include boater’s language, basic navigation rules, environmental protection and more.
·         NEW! Guy Harvey Artist Pavilion (room 2700) – Boating enthusiasts and art aficionados can meet marine legend Dr. Guy Harvey in the new Guy Harvey Artist Pavilion in addition to shop the largest collection of Guy Harvey artwork, apparel and merchandise ever available at the show. Dr. Guy Harvey is celebrating his 25-year career as a world-renowned artist, photographer, diver and scientist and was recently inducted into the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame.
·         Miami Herald Discover Boating Photo Contest – How did you Discover Boating?  Sponsored by the Miami Herald, visitors to the show are encouraged to submit their best photos of how they discovered boating for a chance to win an Adirondack Pack Boat and a $500 show shopping spree.  Send them to the show office or bring them to the Discover Boating Center at the show.  All entries must be received by Saturday, February 13 at 4:00p.m.  Visit MiamiBoatShow.com for more details.
·         Miss GEICO – Miss GEICO is back! The world’s fastest offshore racing boat, powered with the same turbine engines that flew missions in the first Gulf War and can reach speeds of more than 185 miles per hour, will dazzle any boating enthusiast with a need for speed.
·         New product introductions, one-of-a-kind innovations – Get an exclusive sneak peek at the newest boats, cutting edge technologies and must-have accessories throughout the show floor as exhibitors from all over the world showcase their latest and greatest. Boat show “must-sees” include the U.S. unveiling of a Mercedes-inspired Cigarette racing boat; the introduction of Al Copeland’s Phenomenon racing boat, a beauty boasting to beat Miss GEICO; the world’s only amphibious boat, SeaLegs; and more. Click here for a sampling of new products that will be featured at the show.
·         NEW! Pre-Show Shopping – The Miami International Boat Show’s newest online offering allows attendees to pre-shop the 2010 show for the greatest deals on the newest boats by visiting MiamiBoatShow.com.  Show goers can plan ahead and search boats by brand, model and more, in addition to scheduling dealer appointments onsite or at the dealership.
·         SpongeBob Squarepants appearance – Meet Bikini Bottom’s favorite resident! Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants is making a special appearance at the show and will be on hand Saturday, February 13 ONLY, to meet and greet fans.
Features of the 2010 Strictly Sail Miami portion of the show include:
·         Author’s Corner – Stop by the Author’s Corner and visit with one of your favorite story tellers and pick up the latest adventure novels. Visit StrictlySailMiami.com for a list of participating authors.
·         NEW! Big Boat Row – Looking for the BIG sailboats? Begin the day at Sea Isle Marina, then head over to Bayside Marina by way of Strictly Sail Miami’s FREE water taxi service to view some of the largest sailboats and catamarans featured at the show. Lagoon America, Leopard, Prout, Seawind Catamarans, Hylas, Passport and others will all have boats on display at Big Boat Row.
·         Daily Sailing Seminars – Visitors can hone their skills and receive tips for enhancing their sailing experiences through a daily series of nearly 100 FREE seminars led by renowned experts.
·         NEW! Eric Stone Band, Live on Feb. 13 – Don’t miss the Eric Stone Band live on Saturday night, February 13 during the 5th annual Latitudes & Attitudes Miami Cruiser’s Bash. Enjoy the tropical sailing sounds of the popular group on stage with free pizza and beverages. Everyone is invited! Concert goers must be inside the Strictly Sail gate on Saturday night by 6:00pm. So come early, enjoy the boat show and stay for the concert. Latitudes & Attitudes TV will be on hand to record the concert for a one-hour special to air later.
·         FREE Sailboat Rides presented by Discover Sailing (Pier 5, Sea Isle Marina) – Stop by the Discover Sailing tent to experience sailing first-hand with free half-hour sails along Biscayne Bay with a skipper. Sign up early as boats fill quickly.
·         Kids Aboard Boatbuilding Workshop (16th Street Festival Area) – Kids are invited to help build a 10-foot wooden boat, which will be launched to sail at the show on Monday, Feb. 15. Visit ww.kidsaboard.com for more information.
·         Two Day Marine Meteorology Weather Course (Level 1) by Lee Chesneau – For serious skippers, Lee Chesneau’s two-day marine meteorology weather seminar series, Feb. 14-15, is a must!  Chesneau’s 38 years of forecasting marine weather and strategic route planning on a global, synoptic, and local scale for mariners has been now successfully transferred to the classroom where he takes sailors step by step toward understanding both the ocean and atmospheric environment of any waters. Course fee is $325; attendees can find more information and sign up at StrictlySailMiami.com.

Show details:

When:              Thursday, February 11, through Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, Feb. 11 (Premier Thursday): 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday, Feb.12-Sunday, Feb.14: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Monday, Feb.15: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily

Where:             Miami Beach Convention Center
1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach

Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center
NEW FOR 2010 – Now home to Strictly Sail Miami in addition to the Miami International Boat Show’s in-water display.
1635 North Bayshore Drive, Miami

Admission:       Premier Day (Feb. 11): $30
Adults: $16
Two-day adult pass (valid Feb. 12-14): $30
New! Five-day adult pass (valid Feb. 11-15): $75 – a $19 savings!
Youth (ages 13-15): $6.00
Children under 12 get in FREE

Tickets include a one-year magazine subscription to one of the following: Yachting, Motorboating, Salt Water Sportsman, Islands or Cruising World ($10.00 value)

Advance tickets can be purchased at MiamiBoatShow.com or StrictlySail.com.

Parking:           FREE South Beach shuttle-bus service connects show locations with more than 15,000
parking spaces.

Park and Ride service is available from the America Airlines Arena with continuous
service to both show sites. The daily rate is $10.

Valet parking is available on a first come, first served basis at the Miami Beach Convention Center for $15 per day. The valet drop-off is located on Washington Ave at the Fillmore Theater entrance.

Info:                 Call (954) 441-3220 or visit MiamiBoatShow.com or StrictlySailMiami.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Members of the media are encouraged to visit MiamiBoatShow.com to sign up for a media badge; preview photos, interviews and additional info are available by contacting Sarah Ryser at 312-946-6285 or sryser@nmma.org.

Twitter – Follow us @MiamiBoatShow.

Facebook – Become a fan of the Miami Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami for additional updates.

###

About the Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami
The Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami is produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world’s largest producer of boat shows.  NMMA is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry in North America. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information visit www.nmma.org.

Share on Facebook

Porto Cupecoy, the 182-residence luxury seaside village developed by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., will be holding a Grand Opening event on-island on Friday, January 29. The white glove marina, luxury residences, gourmet restaurants and shops will welcome the first owners in the coming weeks. Porto Cupecoy is offering special pricing and incentives on remaining residences through the January 29 Grand Opening.

For those press interested in attending Friday’s festivities, the schedule of event is as follows:
12noon – 5:00pm        Consumer open house
5:00pm                       Press tours of Porto Cupecoy
7:00pm                       Speeches by Filip Boyen, VP Operations for Orient-Express Hotels, Bernard Sarme and Commissioner William Marlin
Cocktail reception in central plaza

To RSVP for the event, please contact info@portocupecoy.com.

Orient-Express Director of Global Real Estate, Phillip Gesue was recently quoted as saying “…sales volume continues to build at an unprecedented rate with more than 10 units sold over the past weeks in anticipation of our Grand Opening.”  Also fueling second-home sales are the project’s attractive price points, which range from USD $400,000 to $2.8 million per unit, thanks to pre-opening discounts and other pre-grand opening incentives such as 90% financing and two year’s complimentary homeowner’s association fees.

There are many factors contributing to the appeal and successes of Porto Cupecoy. Porto Cupecoy is the finest quality new development in the Caribbean, with tasteful European design including giant marble or travertine bathrooms, Viking stainless steel appliances, teak wood kitchens, oversized balconies and mahogany interior doors and millwork. Dutch St. Maarten offers a variety of highly-unique financial benefits for buyers, including no property taxes, no capital gains taxes, and lower than average closing costs for purchase. Additionally, non-stop flight service to St. Maarten has increased, making the destination one of the most accessible islands in the Caribbean. Finally, unlike many other condominium communities, Porto Cupecoy benefits from a large contingency of primary home buyers who are trading up to Porto Cupecoy from their primary homes elsewhere in St. Martin, St. Barts and the Caribbean, ensuring that the development will turn into a real community.

Located in the Caribbean’s Netherlands Antilles, Porto Cupecoy embodies the characteristics of a true Mediterranean village with high-end shopping, dining, services and amenities, in addition to residences and a luxury marina.  The architectural inspiration for the property is Portofino, located on the Italian Riviera, and the community is similarly anchored around a marina, the most exclusive and upscale on the island.

The marina has a unique structure in that the majority of yacht slips will be owned by the community’s residents, and rented on their behalf by the marina management when they are not in use. Prices for yacht slips, including mega yacht slips up to 200 feet in length, range from USD $150,000 to $3 million.

Homeowners will be able to enjoy a wide range of on-site amenities, including tennis courts, swimming pools, several dining options, as well as concierge and “white glove” marina services. For residents interested in renting out their home or boat slip while not in use, the community has its own dedicated professional onsite vacation rental management program, creating hassle-free rental revenue for owners.  The beach is immediately across the street, 50 yards from the community’s entrance.

For more information on Porto Cupecoy or to watch a “fly thru” preview video, please visit www.portocupecoy.com.

Share on Facebook

KONA, Hawaii, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Concierge Auctions (www.conciergeauctions.com), the leading luxury real estate auction company, today announced the sale of Cher’s home in the exclusive Hualalai Resort in Hawaii to a buyer from Arizona for $8.72 million. The January 18 auction included the successful sale of five properties in Kona, Hawaii, for a total of more than $19.4 million.

In addition to Cher’s home, a property at 72-3209 Ka Nehe Place in the Kuki’o Golf and Beach Club and Residences selling absolute was purchased by a buyer from Beverly Hills for $4.95 million. A second home selling absolute in Kuki’o, at 72-3205 Punaloa Place, was purchased for $3.85 million. Collectively, the prices achieved for the homes in Kuki’o were $10 per square foot higher than the average price per square foot for other homes sold in the Maniniowali section of Kuki’o over the past six months. Additionally, two home sites in Kuki’o sold for $990,000 and $962,000, respectively.

Read More…

Share on Facebook

Rumors have swirled for weeks about the future of the Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort and Conference Center. Yesterday, Wesley Finch, chairman of the Florida-based Finch Group, which has owned a 43 percent share of the resort since 1993, confirmed a purchase-and-sale agreement had been signed. Read more…

Share on Facebook