Like many major metropolitan areas across the country, Seattle is seeing a resurgence in downtown life, and recent near-record sales of luxury properties show that buyers remain confident in the value of living in Seattle.

"As we continue to press through the Covid-19 pandemic, the resurgence of Seattle and its real estate market in the downtown core is becoming more and more apparent,” says Scott Wasner, co-founder and executive vice president of Christie’s International Real Estate Seattle. “In the last four months, I have orchestrated two of the most significant sales the city has seen since 2020. These sales, along with others, showcase the growing demand for in-city residences as astute buyers see the current and long-term value of a downtown property.”

Since July, Wasner has closed on two spectacular penthouses in Escala, one of Seattle’s most exclusive condominium towers, located at 1920 4th Avenue. The first, in July, was penthouse #3102, a 4,522 sq. foot residence that sold for an astounding $7 million - the highest residential sale price in Seattle since October 2020. “This penthouse has arguably the best views in the city - water, city, and mountain,” Wasner says. The three-bedroom penthouse takes advantage of its superior location with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout and three incredible terraces to enjoy the breathtaking vistas. “The level of stonework, woodwork, and cabinetry found throughout is also second to none.”

On the heels of penthouse #3102 came the sale of Escala’s penthouse #3002 in early October for an impressive $6,625,000. This 4,500-sq.-ft. residence is a brand new residence that offers a posh, downtown living experience. It was designed with a flowing floor plan that takes advantage of its incredible city and water views and features a distinctive style that uses a masterful blend of wood, marble, and porcelain from around the world along with state-of-the-art lighting, appliances, and technology.

“The robust and diverse economics of the region, including the significant involvement of many iconic global brands, continues to attract buyers from out of state as well as overseas,” Wasner continues. “The revitalization of many of the city’s cultural attractions is certainly helping the real estate market too. Restaurants, bars, and in-person sporting events have taken the main stage in bringing foot traffic back to the sidewalks of Seattle.”

“As an in-city resident, I have personally invested in Seattle and continue to bet on its future.”

For more information about luxury properties throughout Washington, please contact Scott Wasner at scottwasner@christiesrealestateseattle.com or 206-910-1410.

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Wild Turkey Farm, an elite equine breeding and training facility, sits on 215 acres along the Willamette River in beautiful Wilsonville, Oregon. Fueled by a love of horses and a passion for quality and performance, Wild Turkey Farm’s owner designed this riverside, equestrian property to be a world-class estate for sporthorse breeding.

“Every detail of this extraordinary complex was carefully planned, designed and built over ten years,” says Kendra Ratcliff, vice president and principal broker for LUXE Christie’s International Real Estate. “For a buyer who wishes to pursue an equestrian business and live onsite in a stunning home, Wild Turkey Farm is ideal. You will be hard-pressed to find another all-inclusive estate like this on the West Coast.”

Every structure, whether for horses or humans, has been built with luxury and functionality in mind - from the gorgeous Montana stone on the facade of each building and the shimmering infinity pool at the main residence to the state-of-the-art equipment in the breeding lab and the 106 security cameras located throughout the property.

When designing Wild Turkey Farm, the owner took advantage of the vast acreage and created exceptional spaces for all of the equine needs. With competition practice in mind, the complex has a 175’ x 300’ outdoor arena as well as a 150’ x 225’ indoor arena room to set up eight stride lines. Surrounding the indoor area, the training barn and stallion barn are 24 60' x 60' turnouts that alternate with grass and all weather footing. The indoor arena boasts multiple viewing areas, a large equipment storage area and extensive trailer parking. Wild Turkey Farm’s horses are treated like 5-star hotel guests in the estate’s five barns. Ninety-seven large stalls, each with a private run, accommodate stallions, mares, foals, and retired horses. The barns include top-of-the-line HDPE wood stall fronts, automatic feeders and waterers, wash racks, grooming stalls, vet rooms, tack and feed rooms, laundry facilities, offices, and more.

In addition to the exceptional equestrian facilities, the estate has a distinctive 9,855 sq. ft. owner’s residence that overlooks the summer pastures, surrounding wooded acreage and property beyond. The home’s outdoor amenities, including a shimmering infinity pool, patios surrounded by beautiful landscaping, and an outdoor kitchen and living room are perfect for enjoying Oregon’s beautiful summers and mild, year-round weather. Inside, an open plan great room and gourmet kitchen, den, library, media room, four guest suites, luxurious master suite, and detached garage with private office, offer residents and guests exceptional space for living, working and entertaining.

A private, gated entrance opens to the estate’s south side where shedded pastures, the retirement barn, pump house, and caretaker’s house are located. This is also where you’ll access the property’s Willamette River frontage. A wooded path winds down the hillside to a perfect picnic spot at the top of the gangway that leads to a floating dock.

“Having river frontage adds so much to the estate,” continues Ratcliff. “This affords the opportunity for boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and more. Or you can simply sit on the dock with a glass of wine and enjoy the river’s peaceful scenery!”

This distinctive estate not only offers an exceptional equestrian and waterfront lifestyle, but it is located within Oregon’s famed wine region, the Willamette Valley AVA, and is close to shopping, dining and entertainment. Wild Turkey Farm is one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest and most-respected breeding and training facilities, but it is more than that. It is an incredible place to call home!

For more information about Wild Turkey Farm or other luxury properties in Oregon, please visit OneBrokerOneWorld.com or contact Kendra Ratcliff at 503-330-6677 or kendra@LuxeCIR.com.

The post Real Estate Talk – Elite Equestrian Estate In Beautiful Wilsonville, Oregon appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Robert Greenwood was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Greenwood’s illustrious career with credible experience abroad building an understanding of his clientele, joining the highly esteemed Christie's International team, and his eventual ascendancy in the Turks & Caicos Islands luxury real estate market.

Robert Greenwood is on a Directors and Partner of Regency-Christie's International Real Estate, operating as one of the firm's Senior Brokers and Real Estate Advisors and a member of the Christie's Masters Circle. With veteran knowledge and proficiencies in high-value sales, resort management, development, and offshore investment, he has more than 35 years of personal work experience within the Turks and Caicos Islands. His extensive portfolio includes golf courses, condominiums, colleges, and hotel resort projects. Being affiliated with Christie's International Real Estate for almost a decade now, Greenwood has gained invaluable experience in the luxury real estate market guiding buyers with experience, professionalism, and trust.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Greenwood.

Seth Semilof: What exactly is a partner of the Regency Christie's International Real Estate and member of the Christie's Masters Circle?

Robert Greenwood: Christie's International Real Estate is one of the top luxury real estate brands in the world. We have been affiliated with Christie's for almost two decades now. With an investment angle, that has really helped us with our global exposure and the trust of the brand name. We have a fantastic team here at Christie's in the Turks and Caicos Islands with a breadth of knowledge. It is a great collaboration with Christie's and our team of 10 agents works very efficiently in the high-net-worth, high-value world of real estate.

SS: What made you want to get into real estate on the buy and sell side?

RG: It happened organically. At one point, I did the triad where I had a management company, a construction company, and a real estate company where one would feed the other. I did that for a long time, but I always gravitated towards real estate. I love the different styles of architecture. I really enjoy interacting with the people that we meet here. We get such a wide demographic of buyers from across the world, and you never know who you are actually dealing with everything from A-listers to captains of industry. The Turks is not just reserved for mega villas in the $20 million range. We are very price affordable in certain areas and certain condos, so I get to meet some incredible people.

SS: How was the island when you first launched the brokerage firm? What was your strategy?

RG: It was certainly very different than it is today. We did not have the technology that we have today. We did not have the inventory that we had today, but we also did not have the amount of brokerages. There are 16 brokerages within the Turks, but back then, it was three or four. It has always been very word of mouth in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It was slow-moving. Operating a real estate company was not aggressive at all and did not need to be. I do say quite often I have never really sold any real estate. The island already does that for me. My job is to simply guide you through the process.

SS: Tell us about who your mentor was or who helped mold you into where you are at today.

RG: I cannot mention his name, but he has an extensive background in commercial real estate in Canada. He was actually one of my first sales. The majority of my clients become my friends. You have to have the passion and the love of what you do. I love living in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I love what I do and love the people I meet. People see that and they recognize it is authentic. That is what makes the difference. You can read all the books you would like. You can have all the mentors you like. You can learn all the psychology of sales, but it really comes down to true authenticity. Make sure buyers get what they want. They will tell you everything you need to know.

SS: Who are the buyers? Where are they coming from?

RG: A lot of buyers are from the United States. It is a big demographic for us, and we are so easy to get to. It is a hop, skip, and a jump three and a half hours from New York. 90 minutes from Miami. We have direct flights from Charlotte, from Atlanta, and from Houston. Now, we are getting interest from new demographics in California and Vegas. Predominantly, U.S. buyers, but Europe is another big one and South America. The grand prize here is going to be exceptional, not just for real estate, but for tourism. They go parallel when you come down here. You fall in love on vacation, and we can offer you a condo from $290,000 to $68 million or $86 million. It has the full range.

For more information, please contact Robert Greenwood at (649) 432-7653 or robert@tcibrokers.com

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 13: Robert Greenwood appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

"We saw an influx of out-of-state buyers coming to Oregon in 2020 despite expectations of a slowdown in the high-end luxury market, and we expect the same through at least the second quarter of 2021. Large homes are in demand, which reflects a new normal as buyers are maximizing space to enjoy life while working remotely." - Kendra Ratcliff, vice president and principal broker of LUXE Christie’s International Real Estate, Oregon.

Photo Credit: Christie’s International Real Estate - Seattle

"Seattle’s luxury market has been strong and resilient, and we see no signs of it slowing down in 2021. We’ve benefited from the exodus of residents from other states where high taxes have become burdensome. Plus, the strength of the high-tech industry is helping to fuel growth throughout the region. Overall, the Pacific Northwest remains a strong market." - Scott Wasner, co-founder and executive vice president of Christie’s International Real Estate Seattle.

Read more expectations for 2021 from members of Haute Residence, including the areas of the Caribbean, South Florida, the west coast of Florida, Southern California and Northern California, the New York tri-state area, and Canada.

The post Pacific Northwest Real Estate Expectations For 2021 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Through the pathway of real estate, Cindy Shearin, Founder of The Shearin Group in Manhattan Beach, California, has fashioned an amazing career. During her 30 years in the South Bay market, Shearin’s position as an acclaimed Realtor, Developer, and Interior Designer has been achieved through a combination of skill and sheer determination and steadfastness in how she does business. These qualities have found Cindy great success, respect, and an unmatched store of knowledge.

In an exclusive interview with Haute Residence, Shearin takes us inside the world of being a ‘generational realtor’ and how she develops trust and life-long relationships.

Photo Credit: www.shutterstock.com

Trust is key in growing your client base in real estate.  How are some ways you have achieved this with your clients? 

To achieve success in the real estate business you must always have your client’s best interest at heart. I will recommend that my clients walk away from a contract or negotiation that does not adequately serve his or her needs. 

My reputation for putting my client first has earned me the moniker as the ‘generational realtor’; I have earned the trust of many men and women whom I have represented throughout their lives, from property to property, even into retirement. This natural process extends into my clients family members and close friends.  I am the ‘family’ realtor to many of my clients. As a result, after three decades, my network is immense.

You are well known for masterfully selling many of your properties ‘off-market’. How did you achieve this gifted ability, and what are some reasons why clients want to sell off-market?

This really circles back to my previous answer about winning a client's trust. Building such a massive network of clients, and selling to multiple generations in individual families adds to my success in being able to buy and sell properties off-market for clients. On numerous occasions over the years, I have sold the same home or income property multiple times. I am so grateful that clients for decades have put their trust in me, which is always earned.  I care about my clients and their well being is important to me.

Regarding the motivation for clients wanting to sell off-market, we have a lot of high-profile clients that simply don’t want droves of people walking through their homes on weekends during an Open House. They trust in my proven network and my diligence to work tirelessly to find them the right buyer without going to market.

Photo Credit: www.shutterstock.com

How are some ways you save your clients money?

My unique combination of skills provides numerous opportunities for me to save my clients money and also maximize their returns. I have four areas of expertise that I have developed through many years of experience and market study … Interior and Exterior Design, Real Estate Marketing, Ground-up Construction, and Real Estate Development and Financing. Each area has its own set of complexities that can be employed to maximize a client’s return, depending upon the unique characteristics of the situation.

One situation in which these skills can significantly affect cost is in preparing a home for sale. When I work with a new property/client, I practice a sort of ‘A to Z’ exercise where I assess and create a timeline of what is needed to come to market. My construction knowledge allows me to evaluate the cost versus return of any upgrades; my marketing background lets me assess the best marketing vehicles to employ, and my interior design knowledge assists me in effective staging decisions. Often, clients are advised to hire expensive staging companies to help prepare a home for market, but I can save my clients time and money by staging with the minimum amount of expenditure. We bring in some fresh new accessories/pieces and repurpose where needed to be most effective. Starting with eye-appealing existing home pieces and adding “the new” transforms a home from good to fabulous! 

Much like the staging process, I have an eye for evaluating the pros and cons that are key when a client is buying a home. Helping a buyer visualize a home's potential comes very natural to me, where others can easily overlook relatively simple design solutions. I have subs and contractors that are available to assist with small to large rehabs that can help a client see the potential in a contemplated purchase.

I have also sold homes that are under construction and negotiated with the builders to agree to allow my clients to make the final selections. It’s a win-win for all; and with my expertise, I can assist both parties in the completion process.

Photo Credit: www.shutterstock.com

You are known as a South Bay real estate expert.  How did you get this reputation?  

Being a South Bay real estate expert is comprehensive. Living here, and practicing real estate for 30 years, I know the ins-and-outs of the South Bay. I raised my family in the South Bay and know the school system, youth organizations and opportunities, and sports platforms.  I also appreciate the unique characteristics of each of the South Bay communities. In addition, I have spent years acquiring the micro-information about each individual neighborhood, from block to block. No algorithm could ever pick up this type of tangible and value-influencing knowledge.  

The Shearin Group continues to be ranked in the Top 1% of Realtors in the nation, while I locally was ranked #2 in transactions for the past several years through the parent firm Strand Hill Christie’s International. Through Christie’s, our global reach is vast, with representation in 47 countries and across 1350 offices around the world.  

My firm, The Shearin Group, not only has a powerful affiliate network, but also generates staggering numbers on social media. We are proud to be the exclusive South Bay real estate firm for mega social platforms Haute Residence, Haute Living, The Fourhundred, and Luxury Realtor. Through these affiliate platforms, we boost monthly viewership and exposure to upwards of Three Million Viewers/Subscribers, providing an outstanding reach on social media.

We design the most effective marketing programs for all the homes we represent, including, but not limited to, very effective marketing methods uniquely available to The Shearin Group. We are known for creating a big push in advertising via print and online in the appropriate platforms for the type of property we are marketing. 

The post Cindy Shearin On How To Capture And Retain Real Estate Clients And Their Trust appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.