To remain on top you must stay in touch with you clients, friends and associates and always give great service every single time.

What is your favorite aspect of working in your market?

My favorite aspect of working in my market is the great city of San Francisco, its diverse real estate and my fellow top producers who operate with knowledge and professionalism.

For more information on Dona Crowder, visit her HLRN profile and website.

Can’t get enough of the latest and greatest Haute Real Estate news? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For Haute pics of the latest and greatest listings, be sure to visit us on Instagram.

The post Dona Crowder Talks Keeping the Lead and Favorite Market Aspects appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The kitchen, master bath/closets, and family room (in that order) are the most important.

What would you consider to be the biggest “must have” that clients are seeking in homes in your area?

Many clients seek family rooms open to the kitchen.

In recent years, the trend of buying “green” luxury homes has grown tremendously. Is there a demand for green homes in your area? If so, has that changed the landscape of your market?

Yes, but to a small degree so far. They are still much more expensive.

What is the number one avoidable mistake that many homebuyers make, and what approach would you recommend to overcome/ prevent it?

Many homebuyers pay too much attention to the décor and not enough to the structure, spaces and systems.

Granite and stainless steel have always been big selling points for those who seek the perfect kitchen. Do you predict that this trend will change in years to come?  If so, what will trendy kitchens of the future look like?

I think that stainless and granite are the most durable for countertop surfaces, but a mix of materials is now more fashionable. Also, renewable resources like Caesarstone are received very favorably. For the modern enthusiasts, clean sleek lines are all the rage.

The post Dona Crowder Shares Insight on Luxury Home Trends, Renovations, and Homebuyer Mistakes appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Premiere Bay Are Realtor Dona Crowder shares her insights on changing demands and new strategies in luxury real estate marketing for 2013.

What do you see as your company’s greatest success in 2012?

We crossed the billion dollar annual sale mark before Thanksgiving this year! We closed one of the highest residential sales ever in SF and have current listings on several others in that category!

What do you see as some of the biggest opportunities in the coming year ahead?

Our biggest opportunity is the same as our biggest challenge….. Inventory.  The opportunity is that the average price has rebounded enough that more people will be motivated to sell, trade up or down.

What changing market aspects will have the greatest impact on the way you conduct business in 2013? 

We look forward to increasing buyer demand, including substantial influx of Chinese buyers into our luxury market in the bay area.  Of the 6000 or so that came to the US to purchase last year, 45% wanted to be in the bay area. How we reach those buyers and how we advertise our listings is changing, from print to the Internet, but still through our networking…… a learning curve impacts the agent, especially our most experienced agents. However, one of the reasons we were attracted to this business is that it is always changing … we must keep up and renew ourselves all the time!

What is it about you and your company that sets you apart from the rest?

TRI Coldwell Banker Previews International is just that, truly an international company.  This particular office has a long history of dominating the luxury market in SF. We have agents with a great deal of experience over time in varied market conditions.

What are the most important questions a client should ask themselves before selecting an agent in your market?

What is the agent’s network and integrity? Are they qualified to guide you through the complicated local process?

To Learn More: Visit Dona Crowder’s Haute Real Estate Profile

The post New Challenges, New Opportunites, New Ideas: Bay Area Realtor Dona Crowder Looks Forward to 2013. appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

When clients come to you with an idea of what they want, how do you help them refine their criteria prior to finding a match?

Buyer questionnaire assists in refining what elements are critical or not……..  it isn’t unusual for the buyer to eventually find something quite different than described… I call it the “what is home to me” factor!

What is the most important thing you look for when purchasing a home for yourself?

Location & condition.

If you had to choose one piece of advice for first-time home buyers, what would it be?

Use a qualified professional and listen to their advice to avoid many mistakes made by first timers.

If you were not selling real estate, where would you be today?

Doing research aboard a marine biology vessel

What would you say is your most proud accomplishment as a real estate agent so far?

Chairing the local association committee to bring our MLS to the Internet and working with organized real estate leadership to provide updated tools for our agents in order to have our profession better serve clients

What property do you currently have listed that you wish more people would see?

2901 Broadway

Perched high above the city on San Francisco's prestigious Gold Coast, this Renaissance Mansion, designed from a Palazzo in Fiesole, Italy, is an example of "determined neoclassicism". From its prominence on the hill, breathtaking views from almost every room include such landmarks as the Golden Gate, San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the Marin Headlands as well as views toward Fisherman's Wharf, Russian Hill and the East Bay.

This magnificent estate is imbued with the city's colorful history and located in Pacific Heights, near the Presidio. Offered for the first time, the impressive four-story residence was designed circa 1927 by award winning California architect Henry Clay Smith for industrialist Milton S. Ray.

A dramatic curved drive graces the east portico of this palace. On the main level, from the northern vestibule, an immense leaded-glass window overlooks the grand reception hall that opens to elegant formal rooms on the main level. In addition to the impressive living and formal dining rooms, other areas include a music room, powder room, breakfast room, butler's pantry, spacious kitchen, two staff rooms plus full bath, rear pantry, rear stairs and separate entrances.

A graceful winding marble stairway leads upstairs to an expansive family living level and gallery. The spacious master suite and dressing room are situated on the northeast corner. Five additional family bedrooms and four baths include the Curio room that once housed Ray's extensive oological collection, and now serves as an upstairs sitting room with shared bath. Interior doorways allow the master suite plus its adjoining bedroom, with the Curio room, to open into one massive suite of rooms, baths, closets and dressing areas facing the spectacular north Bay views.

Below the main level, accessible by rear stairs or elevator are the utility rooms, including a massive laundry and work space with bridge views, shower and bath, lower hall, children's library and office with full bath and finally the library that once housed Mrs. Emma Mitchell's expansive book collection with hardwood floors, richly paneled walls with built-in shelves and casement windows.

A mezzanine joins the library level to the garage by a rear stairway. It consists of a kitchenette and spacious room previously used as a home theatre. Its interior balcony looks down to the garage with soaring ceilings and to the porte cochere and east entrance drive.

An adjoining private tennis court on the south elevation provides outdoor fitness and recreation. The only private court in Pacific Heights, it has adjoining access to a dressing room, bath and shower through a courtside entrance to the house.

A formal elevator entrance off the driveway on the ground level also access the spacious 4+ car garage and storage area.

bay area real estate    San Francisco   Real Estate   Dona Crowder   san francisco real estate

To learn more about Dona Crowder and San Francisco Real Estate check out her HLRN Profile: http://dev.hauteresidence.com/member/dona-crowder/

And the   C.A.R Housing Forecast 2013

The post Jump Into The Bay Area: Advice From Expert Realtor Dona Crowder On San Francisco Real Estate appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.