Lake Minnetonka & Twin Cities Luxury Real Estate Blog by Eric Kodner

Are You Inviting Buyer Prospects to use SMS Text Messaging to Contact You?

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:19:38 -0500

I recently got into a discussion about this topic with a number of real estate agents on another blog. I've noticed an increase in the number of buyer prospects who contact me via text messaging, particularly over the past six months or so.

How many real estate agents out there are inviting prospects to text message them? For example,

Do you offer an SMS Text number on your real estate sign riders?
Do you put your Text Messaging number on property flyers or brochures?
Do your blogs and social networking profiles offer a Text Messaging number to contact?
Is there a text messaging number on your business card?

If you do happen to encourage contact with clients and prospects via text messaging, what kind of statistics are you encountering?

Are prospects messaging you? If so, are they mostly in a particular age group?

Pawlenty Budget Proposal Threatens to Decimate the Arts in Minnesota

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:32:17 -0600

Govenor Tim Pawlenty's latest budget-balancing idea is sure to appeal to folks who are bad at math.

The Governor has proposed phasing out funding of the Minnesota State Arts Board by 2011 to zero. The ten million reduction under his proposal won't do a thing to balance Minnesota's five billion dollar deficit, but the Governor wants to dismantle the State Arts Board anyway, turning it into a "privatized" nonprofit organization.

Not only artists suffer from the plan (yes, artists pay income taxes too). Here's a partial list of who gets hurt by Governor Pawlenty's not-too-bright idea:

The State and Orpheum theaters, the Guthrie Theatre, the Minneapolis Children's Theater, Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Arts (plus over a hundred other for profit and nonprofit arts organizations).

Downtown Minneapolis & Saint Paul restaurants, parking ramp and lot owners, operators and employees, waitstaff, cooks, buspeople, ticket office staffers, ushers, hospitality industry personnel and arts audiences get shafted as well.

Municipalities lose significant revenue from ticket tax, not to mention tax on monies earned by restaurants, bars, parking facilities, transportation providers, the Metropolitan Transit Commission, limo drivers and restaurateurs.

Taxpayers get the short end of the stick if this proposal becomes law.

Crippling the Arts in Minnesota won't help balance the State budget.

The Arts accounted for over $1 Billion in economic activity in Minnesota alone last year.

In Minnesota, every dollar government invests in the arts returns $11.

Take away the performing arts, museums, art galleries, dance companies, theater and concerts, and you'll turn the Twin Cities area into Omaha with pro sports.

2009 Offers an Opportunity to Put Aside Real Estate Market Cliches

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:04:52 -0600

The public is tired of hearing that "real estate is local".

Okay, real estate sales conditions are local. That is pretty obvious. But, at the same time, NAR uses this cliche phrase over and over in television and radio commercials, in an attempt to reassure the public.

It almost sounds as if NAR is trying to persuade consumers that there are particular areas where the impact of the national economy goes completely unnoticed, like a sort of Shangri-La, where it never rains and the streets are paved with gold.

The phrase "real estate is local" happens to be one of Lawrence Yun's favorite slogans (Yun is, after all, NAR's chief economist).

The public isn't buying it.

Here's another NAR cliche. "All markets are different". Duh. Yes, all markets are different, and this one certainly is no exception. Things are different allright. They're different enough that the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve are, at the urging of Congress and the Executive Branch, frantically pouring money into bailout programs for banks, lenders, securities firms and Fortune 500 companies.

And here's another one from NAR's "Economist's Commentary" online: "For many, this is a golden opportunity to buy"

No one is saying there aren't opportunities out there. But the general public sees pronouncements like this one as self-serving real estate industry cheerleading.

NAR is fond of talking about declining mortgage rates. Ask the consumer on the street how easy it is for the average person to get one of these wonderful cut-rate mortgages. Yes, it may be relatively "easy" if you have a top FICO score and lots of cash for a downpayment.

My point is this. Let's take advantage of the New Year to level with the public. 2009 gives us all the golden opportunity to start with a clean slate, to consistently provide consumers with a true picture of the real estate marketplace, whether national or local.

Minneapolis' Pho Quan Restaurant on Nicollet Avenue - Homely Decor, Outstanding Food!

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:38:26 -0600

I discovered Pho Quan Restaurant in Minneapolis, located at 1815 Nicollet Avenue, some years ago. It's still there, still homely, and still one of the best places to grab lunch in the Twin Cities.

Don't look for charming ambiance, clean tables or cute southeast Asian decor. You won't find it at Pho Quan. But the Vietnamese noodle soup is the best anywhere.

The place is frequented by some of my musician friends from the Minnesota Orchestra, including colleagues Robert Anderson (bass) and Taichi Chen (violin). Pho Quan was recently rated among the "25 Great Places to Eat" in the Twin Cities by TwinCities.com and other food sites have followed suit.

Choose from vegetable, beef, chicken or shrimp bowls, available in three sizes. The price is astonishing and the Pho is unquestionably tasty!

What a Relief! Fox Nine News Interviews Clergyman to Reassure Us about the Supercollider

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:19:35 -0500

Don't you just love Fox News and their local affiliates?

Fox Nine News in the Twin Cities just ran a segment this evening about the CERN Large Hadron Collider project, located near Geneva, Switzerland. The Fox Nine News spot dealt with the current delay in the widely-publicized LHC beam collision experiment, now scheduled to take place in early 2009.

Fox Nine News devoted nearly half of the segment to an interview with a Twin Cities clergyman, who spoke on camera to reassure all the little people that the world probably won't come to an end when the LHC is finally operable and that they shouldn't worry about those nasty Europeans meddling with God's universe.

You know, when you have a concern about quantum physics or the function of the world's largest particle accelerator, it's always reassuring to hear an opinion from someone with a Theology degree.

Now I'll be able to get a good night's sleep.

Twin Cities Catholic Chorale Announces 2008-09 Schedule of Masses With Orchestra at the Church of Saint Agnes

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:22:34 -0500

The Twin Cities Catholic Chorale has recently published its 2008-09 season schedule of Masses with full orchestral accompaniment, to take place at the Church of Saint Agnes, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Chorale is joined by a professional chamber orchestra which includes former and present members of the Minnesota Orchestra and area freelance musicians [all instrumentalists are members of The Twin Cities Musicians Union, Local 30-73, American Federation of Musicians].

This fall, the Chorale begins its thirty-fifth season of presenting glorious sacred music in the Twin Cities.

Here's the schedule (through December 31, 2008) of Latin Masses with orchestral accompaniment. Mass performance times are at 10:00 A.M. Sundays, unless indicated otherwise below:

October 19, 2008: Schubert Mass in C
October 26, 2008: Herzogenberg Messe, Op. 87
November 2, 2008: Faure Requiem in D minor
November 9, 2008: Haydn Theresienmesse
November 16, 2008: Haydn Little Organ Solo Mass
November 23, 2008: Schubert Mass in A flat
December 24, 2008: Mozart Coronation Mass, K317 (Midnight Mass, with Christmas music beginning at 11 p.m.)
December 31, 2008: Mozart Piccolomini Mass, K258

The Church of Saint Agnes is located at 548 LaFond Avenue, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, about one mile west of the Minnesota State Capitol building.

Saint Paul Decides Not to Prosecute Journalists Arrested While Covering RNC

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:57:52 -0500

Well, that only took a couple weeks..

Saint Paul Mayor Coleman and city attorney John Choi announced today that the city has graciously decided not to prosecute journalists arrested while covering the Republican National Convention at the beginning of September.

Those arrested included a KARE-11 photographer whose shoulder-mounted video camera was perhaps mistaken for a lethal weapon. I suppose those network television cameras with the rather conspicuous multicolored NBC peacock emblazoned on the side look a lot like FIM-92 "Stinger" missile launchers to some police officers.

The Society of Professional Journalists has applauded Mayor Coleman's decision to drop those misdemeanor charges against journalists. They and others, including the citizens of Saint Paul, should be asking why it took the Mayor nearly three weeks to make the right move on such an obvious First Amendment issue.

"Corn Days" celebration is underway in beautiful Long Lake, Minnesota

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:48:32 -0500

Today and tomorrow, August 9-10, the annual Long Lake "Corn Days" celebration will take place in Long Lake, Minnesota.

"Corn Days" is a two-day festival of food, arts, crafts and family activities in Long Lake, just a few minutes west of Wayzata, Minnesota. This year's Corn Days festival takes place at the Church of Saint George, at 133 North Brown Road.

Events at this year's celebration will include entertainment by local bands, including "The Teddy Bear Band & Panda", "Absolute Gruv", "Stray Voltage", "Locklin Road" and "Fire Ants". Saturday events include a silent auction, Bingo, pony rides and a spaghetti dinner. There'll be a Sunday pancake breakfast at Saint George's, followed by a parade sponsored by the Long Lake Chamber of Commerce. There will also be a four-mile "fun run" (sponsored by Gear West) and a 4:45 p.m. Super Raffle.

This weekend the weather promises to be superb, so take the family and head out to Long Lake for an old-fashioned town celebration!

Willard Munger State Trail offers over sixty miles of scenic trails from Hinckley to Duluth, Minnesota

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:09:39 -0500

The Willard Munger State Trail is a network of multiple-use trails that connects Hinckley, Minnesota with Duluth, Minnesota. Depending upon the season, the interconnected trails offer hiking, bicycling, inline skating and snowmobiling.

The 63 mile Hinckley to Duluth trail is the longest paved trail of its kind in the world. It passes through the towns of Finlayson, Rutledge, Willow River, Sturgeon Lake, Moose Lake, Barnum, Mahtowa and Carlton.

The network of trails also connects the town of Carlton with Minnesota Highway 23, just south of Jay Cooke State Park, via the Alex Laveau Memorial Trail. And the eighty mile Boundary segment begins at Saint Croix State Park and runs northward to the town of Holyoke, just north of the Nemadji State Forest.

The impressive fifty miles of scenic bicycling trails include a fifteen-mile segment (downhill the entire way) into Duluth. And you can bicycle along twenty miles of remote Saint Louis River trails as well.

My favorite portion of the trail is where the Laveau Trail touches the southwest corner of Jay Cooke State Park, near Wrenshall, Minnesota. Jay Cooke Park is one of the most unspoiled and dramatically beautiful wilderness areas in the State of Minnesota!

Bicycle rentals can be arranged through the Willard Munger Inn, in Duluth, Minnesota, by calling 218-624-4814 or 1-800-982-BIKE.

What's wrong with this picture?

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:52:02 -0500

Over the past three decades, worker productivity in the United States has increased by a whopping seventy-six per cent. But during the same period, real hourly wages, adjusted for inflation, have increased by less than two per cent.

Meanwhile, we have a housing crisis, aggravated by a sluggish economy and the fact that a growing number of Americans can't qualify for a mortgage.

The diminishing number of real estate agents have turned to looking for those remaining folks who can afford to buy. The problem is, there just aren't enough of them to go around. In a market where you see seven or nine or eleven months (or more) worth of inventory on the market and sluggish sales, there almost seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

Add to the mix the complicated problem of rising gasoline prices, rising electricity, heating and cooling costs, and rising transportation costs for everything we consume, including the food we eat and the clothes we wear.

What will happen if $7 a gallon or $8 a gallon gas causes workers to say "I can't afford to commute to work anymore"? Do we pay them to drive to and from work? What happens to the economy when some in the labor force just can't make it on what they earn?

We gave big tax breaks to large corporations and individual earners in the last decade, under the assumption that those grateful beneficiaries would turn around and reinvest the money in our economy. Instead, much of the money went overseas to build plants and factories and to hire foreign labor.

What's the answer? Do we shove some more money at the top five per cent of earners, again hoping somehow that it will come back to us?

If you keep throwing a boomerang and it won't come back to you, do you keep throwing it?

Or do you buy a new boomerang?

Minnesota Youth Symphony completes its 35th Anniversary season

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:26:23 -0500

Founded in 1972, the Minnesota Youth Symphony was founded (under the direction of the organization's first Music Director, Ralph Winkler) for the purpose of providing intensive education and performing experience to talented young musicians.

MYS has just completed its thirty-fifth anniversary year, under the direction of Minnesota Orchestra principal trumpet player Manny Laureano and his wife, Claudette.

Over the years, MYS has grown from a single orchestra of fifty-eight students to a major educational organization with four orchestras, a summer festival and community outreach program that serves over 600 music students.

I'm proud to say that my late mother, Mildred Kodner, served on the Board of Directors of MYS back in the 1970s. Mom was a professional violinist in the Chicago area during the late 1940s and she also free-lanced as a performer in the Twin Cities area until her death in 1997. She was very devoted to supporting MYS and promoting its educational activities.

Two great ways to support the effort to protect Lake Superior

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:03:24 -0500

Lake Superior is the largest and cleanest of the Great Lakes. But Lake Superior faces constant threats from pollution and other challenges.

The Save Lake Superior Association, organized in 1969, is dedicated to preserving and protecting Lake Superior. The group was originally formed to protest the dumping of taconite tailings into Lake Superior by Reserve Mining company.

The future goals of the Association include:

Opposing the stocking of non-indigenous game fish in the lake
Making efforts to eliminate chlorine discharge by the paper milling industry
Fighting the discharge of other toxic contaminants into the lake, including mercury and pesticides

Another organization fighting to protect Lake Superior is the Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE). Located in Duluth, Minnesota, EAGLE publishes "Making Waves", a monthly newsletter that discusses ecological alerts and other issues pertinent to Lake Superior.

A one-year membership in the Save Lake Superior Association is just $5.00 per person. A lifetime membership is $100.

EAGLE accepts donations of any size, including donated office and computer equipment and items for the organization's annual silent auction event.

SourceWatch takes on the big lie in politics

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:30:36 -0500

SourceWatch is a project of the Center for Media and Democracy. The organization has the mission of documenting the public relations and propaganda activities of various PR companies and lobbying groups. SourceWatch also tracks the activities of think tanks, corporate-backed organizations and other paid shills which masquerade as "advocacy groups". At present, SourceWatch has over 36,000 articles on such groups.

Alongside other organizations such as Common Cause, The Center for Responsive Politics and Freepress.org, SourceWatch has recently turned its efforts to examining the role of so-called "527 committees", which some argue are serving as a "loophole" for politicians to avoid Federal Campaign Finance Reform laws.

SourceWatch has exposed many notorious "front groups" such as:

"Hands off the Internet" - Pretending to be a "nationwide coalition of Internet users", this group is nothing more than a front for major telecommunication firms fighting government regulation.

"Center for Union Facts" - A false front for lobbyists and mega-corporations opposed to the activities of labor unions. The organization disseminates outrageously anti-union propaganda on behalf of corporations seeking to reduce or eliminate the minimum wage and dismantle the Wagner Act.

"NetCompetition.org" - Another misleading site claiming to represent the Internet user but actually an industry-sponsored (and industry-funded) group which opposes Net Neutrality.

Next time someone quotes statistics from a think tank or lobbying group, do your homework and look that organization up on SourceWatch. Chances are, you'll find that source listed. And you'll learn the true agenda and intent of the quoted source for yourself.

Knowledge is power.

Where does NAR political lobbying money go?

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:06:25 -0500

Want to know which candidates are receiving lobbying money from the National Association of REALTORS®?

You'll find this information on the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website. The Center reports Federal Election Commission data for the current election cycle (actually a two-year period).

For the 2008 national election cycle (as of April 28, 2008), nearly sixty per cent of NAR lobbying contributions have gone to Democratic candidates, while just over forty per cent have been sent to assist Republican politicians.

[Screenshot from the Center for Responsive Politics data on NAR political lobbying expenditures since 1990]

This year's lobbying figures are in sharp contrast to the 1996 election cycle, when roughly two-thirds of NAR's lobbying money went to Republican candidates.

Our Esteemed Real Estate Colleagues in the United Kingdom

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:59:15 -0500

Many American real estate professionals are unfamiliar with our colleagues around the world, including our counterparts in Europe.

When perusing the 2008 Edition of "Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate" (published by John Brian Losh of LuxuryRealEstate.com), I came across their roster of featured real estate firms in the United Kingdom. Among the many fine firms in the directory, the UK boasts the following:

Chase International Europe - Shari Chase, CIPS, CRS has established a twenty-year reputation for conducting business at the highest possible standard. Chase International is located at 111 Mount Street, Mayfair, London, England W11K 2TT. Chase International is a Regents Member of LuxuryRealEstate.com. In the United States, Shari maintains an office in the Lake Tahoe area of Nevada.

Knight Frank LLP - Knight Frank has more than 140 offices in over thirty countries. The London office is located at 20 Hanover Square.

Unique Living International Real Estate - The Unique Living Residential Department is based in London and the company maintains a network of offices across southern Europe, including the Cote d'Azur in France, Costa del Sol in Spain, Portugal, Mallorca and Cyprus. The company is located at 41 Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4AA in the United Kingdom.

Precious Villas Ltd. - Based in London, Precious Villas deals in fine properties throughout Europe, including the French Riviera, Italy and Spain. The company's address is Medius House LG-2 Sheraton Street, Soho, London.

Should you encounter the need to consult with a real estate professional in the United Kingdom, I most highly recommend the above firms. All are members of the LuxuryRealEstate.com broker network.

Bill O'Reilly and Rupert Murdoch think media reform is a "crazy" idea

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:12:47 -0500

Bill O'Reilly is at it again.

Fresh from a recent gaffe where film was released of O'Reilly throwing a tantrum during a broadcast, the bad-tempered Fox commentator recently attacked media icons Dan Rather and Bill Moyers as "radicals" for supporting legislation to control media for hire and mega-consolidation of television, radio and newspaper ownership.

The details on the controversy can be found here:

http://www.freepress.net/

FreePress.net has recently unveiled its 2008 "Media Hall of Shame", a list of corporations and politicians-for-hire who oppose net neutrality and efforts to expose corrupt practices. The list was revealed at this year's National Conference on Media Reform, held during the first week of June in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Have you experienced working with "celebrity" clients?

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:35:13 -0500

If you stay in this business long enough, and specialize in the luxury real estate market, sooner or later you'll encounter the celebrity client.

I use the term "celebrity" in a generalized manner, to describe a client who is highly-visible, perhaps very wealthy or a public figure. People in this category might include professional athletes or coaches, "Fortune 500" executives, entrepreneurs, television, radio or film entertainers, politicians, media figures, or people with ties to well-known families.

Some agents may find it a bit shocking to encounter their first highly-visible buyer or seller prospect. But working with the well-known client can be rewarding if you handle things properly.

Here are a few pointers:

Google your celebrity prospects - Your goal here is to learn as much as possible about that individual. The prospect's notoriety can work to your advantage, because you're likely to find plenty of information about them on the Web.

Don't "kiss and tell" - A smart agent doesn't run around town broadcasting that "so-and-so" contacted his/her office to inquire about property. The celebrity client often desires privacy. In many cases, they have their own publicist. If they want to go public about where they're buying, let them do the talking!

Treat them as you would any valued client - It would be a mistake to go overboard, fawning all over a celebrity client. That could be perceived as annoying. Most celebrity clients want to be treated in a professional manner.

Listen - The celebrity client may have specific needs and wants that may be out of the ordinary, compared to those of most of your real estate clients. That is to be expected. Your most important role is to listen carefully and pick up on the client's personal preferences.

One more piece of advice would be to remember your role in the process. Keep your focus on listening to the celebrity client and then work to meet their needs. Your role is to act as an agent, not necessarily to book travel arrangements or lodging reservations or plan their recreation while in your area. By all means, refer them to great resources if they ask, but assuming the role of concierge could diminish your credibility.

Not all real estate answers can be found on Google.

Let us help you gather the information you need to achieve your real estate goals. Contact Wayzata Lakes Realty today at 612.670.2539.

Eric Kodner is a luxury property specialist and real estate educator in the Minneapolis & Saint Paul area with a unique perspective on the Twin Cities real estate market. Wayzata Lakes Realty LLC is a member of the LuxuryRealEstate.com broker network.

You've just gotta love the news media!

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:45:23 -0500

I don't make a habit of poking fun at the television news media, but this one really made me chuckle.

The network news reported this evening that longevity in America has now increased to the point where "Americans are living longer than ever before".

The reporter attributed the improvement in longevity to "falling mortality rates".

HOW STUPID IS THAT STATEMENT?

That's like reporting the reason more Americans are living longer is because fewer are dying until later in life. DUH.

Death kills. And if you live longer, you'll be older when you die.

Who's scripting these news stories for the networks?

I guess you just can't find good help these days.

Should agents recruit other agents?

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:09:58 -0500

Should a real estate agent be involved in recruiting other agents?

Some company models encourage or even expect agents to recruit. Why? First, it saves the company money and marketing expense if existing agents are enlisted to help grow a company. Even if a company offers a profit-sharing scheme to agents who recruit, the net result is a winning one for large companies.

RECRUITING OTHER AGENTS IS A LARGELY UNREGULATED ACTIVITY UNDER MOST STATES' LICENSE LAW.

A lack of regulation regarding recruitment may have helped to contribute to licensee overcrowding in recent years.

How much of any state's licensing course is devoted to recruitment?

How much license law is aimed at preventing recruiters from making false or misleading statements in order to recruit new agents?

How many agents were lured by recruiter promises of easy commission earnings and the potential of a lavish lifestyle during the past decade?

NAR has been relatively quiet on the subject of recruiting. Since NAR is a trade association that benefits when membership increases, they're unlikely to have much incentive to get involved.

Company recruiters have been given the freedom to do pretty much whatever they wish in order to recruit new agents. This includes misleading advertising ("we're a 100% commission company") and other inducements designed to fill desks, build new offices and collect desk fees.

Maybe recruiters should recruit and agents should stick to listing & selling. Recruiting creates conflicts of interest. And it also tends to divert the agent's attention from the practice of real estate. We're not licensed to be recruiters.

Not all real estate answers can be found on Google.

Let us help you gather the information you need to achieve your real estate goals. Contact Wayzata Lakes Realty today at 612.670.2539.

Crazy about island properties? Visit "The Official Private Islands Blog"

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:02:03 -0500

Blogger Mark John Amherst (who refers to himself as "islomaniac") has created a blog designed for people who dream of owning a private island retreat.

Amherst's "Official Private Islands Blog" features articles about celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Johnny Depp (Depp and his wife own an island in the Bahamas and recently lent it to Lindsay). There's also an interview with private island expert Farhad Vladi, of Vladi Private Islands in Hamburg, Germany (Vladi has sold over 1500 private islands worldwide during his career as a real estate broker).

The site includes dozens of links on island travel, island vacations, global/political considerations involved in island ownership and much more.

As a broker who sells island properties myself, I'm intrigued by sites like this one.

If your niche is the luxury market, I'd point out that island properties are considered among the most unique and upscale luxury purchase items available. This is a good place to pick up on what the upscale consumer is seeking.

Not all real estate answers can be found on Google.

Let us help you gather the information you need to achieve your real estate goals. Contact Wayzata Lakes Realty today at 612.670.2539.

A reminder - CRS has approved Institute For Luxury Home Marketing course for elective credit towards CRS designation

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:55:32 -0500

Early this year, the Council of Residential Specialists® (CRS) approved the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing course for two elective credits towards earning the CRS designation.

Now, agents and brokers interested in earning their CLHMS® designation (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist) may also obtain CRS elective credits for doing so.

The two designations are a perfect match for real estate professionals. CRS has long been the "gold standard" in real estate education and agent networking. And the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing has established itself, both though the quality of its coursework and its networking savvy in the luxury homes market, as a leader in luxury properties marketing.

It's a welcome sight to see two such quality organizations joining forces to offer agents more and better educational opportunities!

Not all real estate answers can be found on Google.

Let us help you gather the information you need to achieve your real estate goals. Contact Wayzata Lakes Realty today at 612.670.2539.

Another great source of luxury marketing ideas on the Web

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:58:30 -0500

Assouline Publications in New York has built a nest of luxury publications into a successful empire of luxury marketing ideas and products.

Assouline has a track record of creating and publishing luxury books and web publications that explore the concept of luxury from many dimensions. I found the Assouline website via a link from the popular LuxuryCulture.com website.

The company has also built a network of stores catering to the luxury lifestyle. Featured items include sets of elegantly-bound luxury book editions, You'll find ideas for unique closing gifts that would be perfectly-suited to the tastes of your luxury home clients.

I highly recommend adding this Website to your luxury marketing idea file!

Not all real estate answers can be found on Google.

Let us help you gather the information you need to achieve your real estate goals. Contact Wayzata Lakes Realty today at 612.670.2539.

LuxuryCulture.com Website introduces "Properties" advertising section

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:55:29 -0500

Yaffa Assouline's gorgeous LuxuryCulture.com electronic newspaper has scored another success with its introduction of a "Properties" advertising category in the Windowshopping section of this opulent-looking online publication.

Among the featured advertisers in the Properties section is renowned island broker Farhad Vladi (of Vladi Private Islands, in Hamburg, Germany). The Vladi page highlights a twenty-five acre private island for sale in the Seychelles. Vladi Private Islands is a member of the LuxuryRealEstate.com broker network.

Other real estate advertisers in the online publication include SoHo Mews in Manhattan and Astral House in Los Angeles.

Browse LuxuryCulture.com and you'll notice some of the most elegant and poilshed-looking luxury marketing on the Web today. Alongside the luxury properties section, you'll see jewelry by Boucheron, Cartier and Piaget; motorcars, motorcycles and helicopters by Bentley, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Hermes; leather by Ferragamo and Louis Vuitton; and fine art from Christie's, Phillips and Sotheby's.

If you're looking for new and innovative ways to market a luxury property (or any luxury item), this is a site you should visit frequently!

Not all real estate answers can be found on Google.

Let us help you gather the information you need to achieve your real estate goals. Contact Wayzata Lakes Realty today at 612.670.2539.

What are the best-known luxury home areas in your state or province?

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:58:58 -0500

Browsing through the 2008 edition of "Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate", I found my way to the portion of the book that lists individual cities and towns represented in the book. The directory provides an insight into some of the best-known luxury home areas in each state. The directory also lists luxury locales in foreign countries, including the Canadian provinces.

"Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate" is published by John Brian Losh, creator of the enormously-popular LuxuryRealEstate.com website. This nearly 800-page member directory is a must-read for anyone in real estate who wishes to familiarize themselves with real estate firms that specialize in the luxury home market.

Of course, some luxury property locales are obvious to all of us, regardless of where we live. Places like East Hampton, NY or Nantucket, MA or Beverly Hills, CA are among the most highly visible luxury hotspots in the United States.

But what about other towns or areas across the country that may be less familiar, but are equally well-known to local residents as luxury home destinations? Some of the information in "Who's Who In Luxury Real Estate" may surprise you.

[Note that the individual towns listed in the directory represent the primary service location of member companies belonging to Who's Who and LuxuryRealEstate.com]

For example, in the State of Georgia, the directory lists Alpharetta, Marietta, Albany and Savannah.

Idaho luxury locales in the directory include Coeur d'Alene, Sun Valley and Tamarack.

Under Illinois, you'll find Barrington, Lake Forest, Oak Brook, Oak Park and Winnetka.

The Michigan luxury areas listed in the directory include Grosse Pointe Farms, Ann Arbor, Caseville, Traverse City and Birmingham.

Minnesota entries include Minnetonka (the greater Lake Minnetonka/Wayzata/Orono/Deephaven area) and Duluth.

Montana luxury locales on the list include Bozeman, Kalispell, Whitefish, Hamilton and Bitterroot Valley.

New Hampshire luxury enclaves in the book include Concord, Franconia, Hampton, New London, Portsmouth, Rye, Peterborough and Rye.

In the directory, Santa Fe, New Mexico is listed as a luxury-specific area.

In Virginia, the directory lists Fairfax County, Chesapeake, Charlottesville, Alexandria, Burke, Middleburg and Urbanna.

And the Wisconsin luxury property locales listed in the directory are Ephraim (Door County, Lake Michigan), La Pointe (Madeline Island/Apostle Islands of Lake Superior) and Madison.

This is by no means a complete list of luxury property hotspots across the country. If you have a referral client who is considering relocating to another part of the U.S., or who may be planning to buy a retirement home elsewhere in the country, knowing these luxury locales could turn out to be immensely valuable to you!

FEEL FREE TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR OWN LIST OF LUXURY PROPERTY HOTSPOTS IN YOUR STATE OR PROVINCE.

Not all real estate answers can be found on Google.

Let us help you gather the information you need to achieve your real estate goals. Contact Wayzata Lakes Realty today at 612.670.2539.

CLIQUES AND NETWORKING DON’T MIX

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Luxury Homes — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:42:19 -0500

Remember high school? Everybody belonged to a clique.

You had the popular kids, the jocks, the cheerleaders and prom queens, the nerds..you sat with your own clique at lunch and hung out with them before & after school.

And those groups seldom mixed with people outside the clique, because you just didn't do that.

Adolescents like being part of a clique. It gives them a necessary sense of belonging. It's an answer to the question "where do I fit in?" and it's a key step towards building an adult identity.

But ActiveRain is a social networking community for adult real estate professionals (even though a few members may occasionally act like they're in high school at times) and that means you network with industry colleagues. Networking brings credibility and establishes you with peers as someone knowledgeable and competent. It can lead to referrals, buyer/seller leads and other business and personal opportunities.

Networking successfully means you abandon the "clique" scene. It means mingling with others and engaging them.

In order to succeed, you need to go outside your comfort zone and meet people who are not necessarily just like you are.

ACTIVERAIN IS NOT MEANT TO BE A COUNTRY CLUB

Go out on a limb. Chat up someone who's not from your state or your part of the country.
Break out of your clique. Comment on a post by someone you DON'T KNOW.
Your Associates and Subscribers are a reflection on who you meet and engage. Ideally, your list should be a cross-section of people in our industry. That means people of varying age groups, geographic locations, industry segments (home stagers, mortgage brokers, agents, etc.) and so forth.

If you can do that, you'll succeed in social networking. Of course, we still have our cliques, our "popular" members (and their groupies), our nerds and other types on ActiveRain.

The real estate industry is a microcosm of society. Those cliques and groups represent a cross-section of the people you'll meet in the real world. And we need them all.

Not all real estate answers can be found on Google.

Let us help you gather the information you need to achieve your real estate goals. Contact Wayzata Lakes Realty today at 612.670.2539.