The post Philip Weiser, CEO of Luxury French Real Estate Agency Carlton International, Forecasts the Real Estate Market In 2022 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Philip Weiser was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Philip Weiser’s illustrious career from working in the hotel industry abroad, joining the highly esteemed Carlton International team, and his eventual ascendancy in French and international luxury real estate.

Philip Weiser has worked within the luxury hotel and hospitality industry for decades in London before transitioning to real estate when he and his young family settled in France. Weiser has held his French real estate license for over 40 years and assisted hundreds of buyers and sellers in the sale and acquisition of luxury homes and villas throughout the French Riviera. Launching Carlton International in 1995, the first of the Carlton International brands, Weiser and the Carlton International team collectively speak 14 languages to cater to an international clientele as a leading estate agent on the Cote d'Azur.

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

Seth Semilof: What made you think of moving to France and getting into real estate? Did you move to France first to do hotels, and then do real estate?

Philip Weiser: Not at all. My pre-Airbnb adventure was very successful. I sold the business and decided that I would move my family into a more international environment in the south of France where we have a good selection of schools with the English language. I was on a trip from Paris to Nice international airport and I sat next to a property developer who had opened the state agency in the town where I was living, and he was about to close the agency. Since I had nothing to do, I said, “I will be happy to see if I can make your agency run.” The Monday following, he forgot it, but he was as good as his word. He took me across the road, introduced me to my new boss, and suddenly I was a real estate. That was in 1982.

SS: Tell us how the business evolved from 1982. Where did you go from there?

PW: We were very successful as brokers as well buying, selling, renovating, and constructing. A lot of money was made at that time and I reinvested all the resources into other projects. The banks were throwing money at this time and in 1992, there was the first Gulf War when Iraq invaded Kuwait. Property prices around the world were heavily affected by that. In Europe, especially because we are closer to North Africa, prices dropped by 50% and interest rates were at 18.6%. I had 50% borrowings and 50% cash, but my properties all lost value of 50%, so I lost everything. It was the end of a glorious 10-year adventure.

SS: How is the real estate changed over the last 20 years? Are people building contemporary homes in the south of France?

PW: The architecture is sort of Mediterranean, with a lot of bay windows and tiled rooms like you have in California. That was the staple that together with traditional homes in the area are the two trends, but in the last five years, the word contemporary has become part of the local architecture dictionary. We never spoke of contemporary architecture. It was modern, but it was never contemporary. Now, we have some magnificent contemporary homes. It is very much the trend today. We must have, at least right now, 10 potential buyers looking for land to build a contemporary home or readymade contemporary homes designed by a local architect they can move straight into. There are very few standardized materials, so the cost of construction in spite of that it is clean, nice, and easy is that it is an expensive item here.

SS: What advice would you give to somebody getting into real estate to be successful?

PW: First is never believe anybody until you have proof of what they are saying is correct whether it is a buyer, seller, colleagues, or other brokers. The second is you need resilience because you have to have face the fact that you cannot win them all. The other self-discipline is being able to get up in the morning, go out, do the job, and stick with it. There is no day off. The last one is that when you are successful, do not spend the money. You may be successful this time. Ultimately, I tell everybody, you cannot sell a house. There are no sales in this job. It is understanding the needs of the buyer.

SS: Do you think your experience, training, and education in the hotel industry is what made you successful? Did you bring that to your real estate company?

PW: Certainly, that aspect played a very important role. A hotel is like a small town. You have lots of people of different nationalities and different characteristics. If you are managing, you have to move the people and the visitors first, not just the staff. All these people have their specific needs, their behaviors, and the way in which they react. If you go to have any peace and quiet managing, I will tell you to have to manage the staff and the guests with a lot of psychology, understanding, and great service.

For more information, please contact Philip Weiser at +33 6 14 34 13 14 or info@carlton-group.com

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

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 12: Philip Weiser appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Haute Living's April Donelson hosted Matthew Barry, Managing Director at Optimum Asset Management USA, Edgardo Defortuna, President and CEO of Fortune International Group, and Thomas Mooney, Director of the Planning Department in the City of Miami Beach. Watch the webinar below.

The conversation included a detailed presentation of the fine living to be soon experienced by a select number of buyers at Monaco Yacht Club & Residences, which is being developed in collaboration with two of the top names in design, Piero Lissoni and Arquitectonica.

"One of the highlights of anywhere in Miami Beach is the views. Every unit has the West view across the Intracoastal Waterway," said Barry. He added his personal experience as he detailed the unparalleled landscapes found at Monaco Yacht Club & Residences. "We are fortunate to have a wide Bayview so it is not only unobstructed with the water, it is unobstructed because of the single-family homes and the islands across from us. Having had the privilege in my own life to live in Miami Beach on both, the bay and ocean sides, my wife and I prefer the bayside. More activity, boating, and a lot more happen during the day on the bayside, and then at night after sunset. You get to see the city of Miami come to life, and the dynamic architecture and lighting of the city is always interesting and attractive."

Defortuna and his team at Fortune have presented the Monaco Yacht Club & Residences virtually during the quarantine. "We have a wonderful team of agents," he said. "When we were ready to open the sales center, they couldn't really get the personal touch and the personal feeling (with buyers) due to quarantine restrictions, so we delivered more of a digital presentation." The sales gallery is now open at 6897 Collins Avenue, just a short walking distance from the property site.

He also spoke about the smart investment that buyers will gain. "In comparative values , we are very attractive and, on top of that, you can have your boat docked right at your doorstep. The prices are going to adjust and, I think that being the pioneers in this area for this quality building, the buyers that are going to buy here are going to really see significant increases in their price."

As a distinguished public servant with a career spanning more than 30 years, Mooney spoke expertly about the City of Miami Beach and the different steps and regulations that have been taking place to develop and reenergize the North Beach area (approximately 69th Street to 72nd Street south to north, and Indian Creek Drive to Collins Avenue east to west). "The key here was to develop a more consistent and holistic set of development regulations that strive to create a walkable, 24-hour town center area. The goals of the area were to not just spur development, but to also spring the right type of development."

Join Haute Residence for our upcoming webinar:

Thursday, June 11th at 3PM EST / 12PM PST

Three of the leading Compass real estate agents from the New York and New Jersey area to talk about the latest in their markets and the industry. REGISTER.

To watch more webinars by Haute Residence featuring top real estate developers, brokers, agents and industry insiders, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

Top: Thomas Mooney, Matthew Barry. Bottom: Edgardo Defortuna

The post Watch: Monaco Yacht Club & Residences And The Rebirth Of North Miami Beach appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Once upon a time in the Principality of Monaco not so long ago . . .  before there was the soon-to-be Princess Henry of Wales, Meghan Markle. Before Diana, Princess of Wales. There was the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly: the Hollywood actress turned princess after she married the Prince of Monaco and went from living the life of Hollywood royalty to actual aristocratic royalty. Sound familiar?

Monaco is synonymous with royalty, glitz and wealth. Located on the French Riviera, Monaco offers an enchanting, not-so-quaint lifestyle with the Mediterranean Sea as its backdrop, floating white yachts as part of its daily vista, sought-after shopping in the Carre d'Or, first-class luxe amenities and a temperate year-round climate. The most sophisticated international clientele seek to live in Monaco: either in the idyllic quartier of the Port of Monaco or in the Larvotto quartier with its skyscrapers and beaches.

So, it came as no surprise when Monaco added the most exceptional of high-rises to its list of fabulousness. And the Odéon Tower did not disappoint: it remains on an international scale that one-of-a-kind, modern mixed-use residence that takes luxury to the highest of heights. Why? You may ask. Just read on.

The Odéon Tower is the tallest skyscraper in Monaco that gently dominates the Principality with its extravagant opulence.

Courtesy of Tour Odéon

Its 35,500 square-foot fantastical penthouse flaunts a modern-day trifecta - sexy, dramatic and open - that paid off to create the ultimate sophisticated home. Wall-to-ceiling windows boast the most incredible of views. World-class luxury living has been brought to dazzling new heights with this residence. This super-deluxe penthouse was once on the market for $475 million.

Courtesy of Tour Odéon

Its state-of-the-art indoor pool has classical architectural details mixed with a contemporary edge that takes you beyond the heights of  luxuriousness.

Courtesy of Tour Odéon

The tower affords panoramic and unobstructed views of the Principality and the Mediterranean Sea, the ideal setting for those who prefer to sip champagne at sunset.

Courtesy of Tour Odéon

The sky penthouse boasts a skillfully designed ambience like no other -in Monaco or elsewhere. Its soft, elegant and classy design oozes a neutral-toned, chic interior. The use of light, space and spectacular ocean views embody the true essence of the iconic Monacan lifestyle coupled with today's modern chic cachet.

Courtesy of Tour Odéon

To top it all off, the tower's rooftop infinity pool and water slide splash around luxury. It's Disney's Magical Kingdom brought home to Monaco for only those who live in the Odéon Tower. Undoubtedly, this pool redefines what super-high-end luxury living is all about.

Courtesy of Tour Odéon

The Odéon Tower allows the real estate fairytale fantasy to live on. And on. And on.

Top Image: Infinity pool at the Odéon Tower. Courtesy of Tour Odéon,

The post Out Of The Pages Of A Storybook: Fairytale Living At The Odéon Tower In Monaco appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

When it comes to getting away, there is never a better locale than the south of France. Unlike so many domestic locales in America, Provence is a getaway full of peaceful nature, serene beaches, and beautiful villas like La Bergerie, the ultimate luxury villa from the London-based Richstone Properties. This scenic getaway is everything a vacation should be: a peaceful getaway where you can count on their team and staff to ensure a reprieve from everyday life.

For most, vacation planning can be more work than it’s worth. There’s hotels to book, rates to manage, the claustrophobia of the tiny little rooms not living up to their website purported photos, not to mention the added expenses around every corner for things like meals, drinks, cabs, and those little shampoo bottles that are somehow never small enough to take through airport security. What if that could all go away though? This villa isn’t going to fix the problems of traveler’s anguish, it’s going to make you never want to go to another four-star hotel ever again.

La Bergerie, built in Côte d'Azur’s Terre Blanche, is an oasis of luxe lifestyles and amenities. This mansion sits on a beautiful hillside overlooking the best of the French Countryside. The home features an immaculate pool, veranda, game room, several bedrooms and ensuites, a balcony off the master bedroom, fire pit, fields growing lavender and jasmine, a home garden, and everything in between. The villa is also staffed by a team of highly skilled men and women looking to cater to every need from keeping the property looking pristine to making eggs to one’s liking in the morning. Stop worrying about if the amusement park tickets you bought from that third party site with a coupon will be real for the kids and wake up to the smell of lavender drifting through the open windows of the bedroom while breakfast waits for you downstairs before heading to the Riviera later that day. Doesn’t that sound, like, a million times better?

Richstone Properties has made this home its signature palace in the region, with a driveway to fit a number of cars, water croquet mallets ready for yard games, a quiet section of land, and with close proximity to gold courses just down the road, Cannes and the beach 30 miles to the south, and quaint French hillside villages mere miles away by car, La Bergerie is the ultimate getaway for anyone’s interests be it shopping in the city, swimming at the beach or any of the nearby lakes, hitting the links with guests, or taking in some of France’s nearby historical locales like the Molinard Perfumery, Chateau Font Du Broc, and Château D’Esclans right nearby. The region is also best known for its wine and cuisine. La Bergerie is set right outside the lines of Cannes tourism radius, which means that the restaurants nearby are authentically French, as opposed to catering to the interests and palates of travelers coming to the region. Provence also is responsible for 80% of the world’s rosé. With several vineyards in the region, the locals take their rosé seriously, and are determined to show anyone who thinks otherwise the light about their pale pink drink-of-choice.

Richstone has made a name for the company as one of the premiere development firms in the UK for luxury homes. With the bulk of their properties in the London area, they've drawn interests from clients around the globe by thinking not only of the appearance of luxury for a buyer, but from following through in their thought process to add amenities for those living in these homes day to day. La Bergerie had originally been built for the head of the company's personal vacation home. Luckily, with the business taking off in spades across Britain and Europe, the villa is now available for those who appreciate the finest in quality to enjoy.

The main house can accommodate 12 people across six luxurious bedrooms, with additional lodging in the guesthouse located at the other end of the drive to support 16 total guests. The home makes for the perfect family getaway for the holidays. Granted, this comes with a pretty penny for a price tag. That said, of all the luxury content covered by this publication, I can firmly say it’s the most effective use of that money for what it yields, a vacation that you actually feel rested from when you return. The villa is typically rented out for two weeks at a time, though special accommodations can be made. Whether it’s an intimate wedding with a few close friends, a family holiday getaway, or just somewhere to escape for a while, this Villa needs to be your latest, greatest destination.

The post Make This Incredible Villa, La Bergerie, Your Next Getaway appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

For $475 million, Tour Odéon's Sky Penthouse offers a giant infinity pool, private chauffeurs, and personal caterers.

For nearly half-a-billion dollars (give or take $25 million), the penthouse could be yours. (And by “yours,” we mean people on the Forbes Billionaires list. Others need not apply.)

Previously, the same penthouse reportedly listed for $250 million, with super rich European elites as potential prospects. We’ve heard of inflation, but this is ridiculous—and by ridiculous, we mean special. We’re pretty sure the penthouse’s new speculated price ($475 million) is a better economic indicator than Wall Street of good times to come. Tour Odéon is where old money will give rise to new money—and perhaps a new generation of über wealth.

The first skyscraper built in Monaco since 1980, Tour Odéon boasts panoramic views of the Mediterranean.

Tour Odéon is touted as “the very best that Monaco has to offer.” Who are we to argue? The high-rise is a double tower that houses 70 luxurious apartments, ranging from one to six bedrooms, including two 12,916 square-foot Sky Duplexes and the five-story Sky Penthouse which, at 35,520 square feet, is virtually out of this world.

All apartments here feature floor-to-ceiling windows with natural light and panoramic views of the Mediterranean coastline and sparkling azure waters. Tour Odéon is the ambitious collective vision of architect Alexandre Giraldi, developer Groupe Marzocco, interior designer Alberto Pinto, and landscape architect Jean Mus.

Tour Odéon's 70 luxury apartments showcase two to six bedrooms and terraces with unobstructed sight lines.

If you play in Monaco’s luxury playground, you’re going to need toys. Tour Odéon’s penthouse—slated for completion this fall—features multiple pools (highlighted by a giant rooftop infinity pool with slide), a private disco, and perhaps—according to some renderings—even a palm tree for the billionaire seeking shade from the intense opulent glare. As if that isn’t enough, the penthouse offers a three-bedroom staff quarters, private chauffeur, personal caterer, and 24-hour concierge service. However, the eventual penthouse dweller will have to share a health club, spa, and movie theater with mere millionaires.

Tour Odéon is now the tallest building in Monaco.

The luxury skyscraper is pitched as “your ultimate home between the sea and the sky.” And by “your” the slogan means people like Bill Gates or Paul Allen. Allen is a good prospect. From Tour Odéon’s penthouse infinity pool, he could keep an eye on his megayacht Octopus (formerly the world’s largest at 414 feet long), which sometimes docks in the Port of Monaco.

The post A Glance at Tour Odéon’s $475 Million Sky Penthouse: ‘The World’s Most Expensive Apartment’ appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Sotheby's have the listing, with price available upon request.

Source courtesy Curbed. Photos courtesy Sothebys. 

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