Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate (LuxuryRealEstate.com) named Unique Homes its MVP, or Most Valuable Partner, at its 13th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference in Philadelphia last week.

"For nearly eight years, Unique Homes has had the pleasure to be a strategic marketing partner with Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and LuxuryRealEstate.com," said Nick Antonicello, director of sales for Unique Homes and UniqueHomes.com. "In that time we have worked together to develop one of the category’s most successful and widely distributed private label magazines as well as an indispensable presence in products such as Elite and Ultimate Homes.

"The partnership has proved invaluable to both Unique Homes as well as Who’s Who. We appreciate the opportunity to work with one of the industry’s top networking real estate organizations, representing some of the most successful brands in the luxury niche. I would like to thank John Brian Losh (publisher/CEO) as well as Meghan Barry (executive vice president) for that opportunity to service the network over the last decade," Antonicello said.

The awards banquet topped off a weekend of discussing strategies and reports on current market conditions. Other award recipients included:

Best Brand Integration: John Daugherty, Realtors

Best Overall Marketing Package: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

Most Innovative Marketing Technique: Waterfront Properties and Club Communities

Best Web Site – Design: Rimontgó (www.rimontgo.es)

Best Web Site – Innovation: Chase International (www.chasenation.com)

Most Outbound Referrals: Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty

Best Print Marketing: Harry Norman Realtors

Best Industry Networking: Arizona Best Real Estate

Billionaires Club (Individuals selling more than $1 billion of property):
Bob Melvin, Gasparilla Properties, Inc.
Patricia Petersen, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
Shari Chase, Chase International
Cathy Jones Coburn, Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate

Most Transactions in 2007 – Individual: Eleanor Farnsworth, Prudential Gardner

Hightest $ Volume in 2007 – Company: Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate

Highest $ Volume in 2007 – Individual: Jacky Teplitzky, Prudential Douglas Elliman

Outstanding Rookie: Michael Marquette / Simon Turner, Marquette Turner Luxury Homes

Best New Community: Four Seasons Residences, Bora Bora

Biggest Sale in 2007: Heather Lemon, Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate

Extraordinary Philanthropist: Tim Murray, Alain Pinel Realtors

Lifetime Achievement Award: Lois Schneider, Lois Schneider Realtor

The Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate network includes 1,912 of the world’s finest real-estate companies with properties in 98 countries. The next LuxuryRealEstate.com event is the 4th Annual International Conference, and it will be hosted in Paris on Jan. 21-23, 2009. For more information on this upcoming event, visit www.luxuryrealestate.com/conference.

Realty Video USA and Real Estate Shows have joined together to offer real estate professionals a simple and cost-effective solution for real estate video, which complements Realty Video USA’s high-end custom video production for luxury homes. This inexpensive real estate video solution will be offered to both brokers and agents to help market their properties, as well as integrated into Realty Video USA’s new turnkey video content solution, VScreen, which helps real estate firms tap into the power of online video. To see an example of such a photo based video tour, click here.

“Given that video makes up one-third of all consumer Internet activity, and combined with the fact that 84 percent of homebuyers begin their search online, brokers and agents alike are looking to ensure they don’t miss out on capturing those new potential leads,” said Stephen Schweickart, co-founder of Realty Video USA. “Real Estate Shows truly understands the delicate balance of achieving simplicity, while at the same time maintaining quality. They are a nationally respected virtual tour provider and the custom technology that we have built out with them is unmatched in the industry.”

“Teaming up with Realty Video USA; being able to offer Real Estate Shows in a video format; and providing an essential value element to round out this unique and powerful video Internet marketing program is thrilling for us,” said Jeff Turner, the president and founder of Real Estate Shows.

For more information on Realty Video USA, visit www.RealtyVideoUSA.com.

For more information on Real Estate Shows, visit www.RealEstateShows.com.

Residents and visitors in Connecticut during Peak Foliage Week will have a unique opportunity this year to see nature’s show from a rare vantage point while helping a good cause.

The Marble Villa in Oxford, Conn., is hosting a fund-raiser for The Kennedy Center on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Kennedy Center is in its 57th year, and it currently serves 1,100 individuals with disabilities and special needs on a daily basis.

“Charitable events that benefit The Kennedy Center Endowment Fund have always been special affairs held in the most elegant of settings; however, this year’s Autumn at the Villa, may prove to be the most extraordinary of them all,” stated Martin D. Schwartz, president and CEO of The Kennedy Center. “On Sunday, October 26th, the hills that we’ll view from the Marble Villa are certain to be alive with color at the peak of Connecticut’s leaf-peeping season. Music of a jazz duo will permeate the rooms and patio of this European style 76-acre country estate in Oxford, Connecticut. It will be a wonderful opportunity to meet with friends and new acquaintances, sip wonderful wines, eat hearty hors d’oeuvres, and raise money to benefit a great cause.”

The event also offers folks a chance to see The Marble Villa itself, which is for sale for $5.4 million. A 76-acre estate with panoramic views of the vineyards and distant hills, the Mediterranean-style home offers a touch of Europe with 130 tons of European marble, limestone and granite imported from 10 countries. Two curved, symmetrical marble staircases and a two-story waterfall greet visitors after they pass through the 180-year-old French wooded and wrought iron double doors. Brazilian cherry wood, hand-painted ceramic tiles and stained-glass windows by a well-known international artist are throughout the home.  The listing is held by Mary Kay Daughters of Hoffman International Properties.

Tickets to the benefit start at $100.

“While our volunteers and staff plan and implement at least seven fundraising events each year, holding an early afternoon get-together that also adds funding to The Endowment is the best of all worlds. Our guests have a great time, have fun looking into the future (with a Tarot Card reader), and they make a real difference in these tough financial times,” confided Martin Schwartz. “An Endowment Fund serves as an “insurance policy – a rainy day fund” that can be tapped when non-profit agencies experience a tougher economy. That rainy day does seem to have arrived,” he added.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the The Kennedy Center, may do so by donating online at www.thekennedycenterinc.org or by sending a check to The Kennedy Center Endowment, 2440 Reservoir Avenue, Trumbull, CT 06611.

Prices for Manhattan apartments exhibited stability during the third quarter of 2008, although some sectors showed signs of softening. The average price of $1,473,351 was 12% higher than a year ago, but down slightly from the previous quarter. While the number of closings decreased by 14% compared to the same period a year ago, the median price of $910,000 posted a 12% increase from the third quarter of 2007, and was the second highest figure on record.

“Softening prices are signaling a gradual market shift in Manhattan, however the result should be more balance and ultimately a healthier marketplace,” said Hall. F. Willkie, president of Brown Harris Stevens. “In recent years we have seen record growth and high-end developments, such as 15 Central Park West and The Plaza, which sharply drove up average prices. Yet despite today’s turmoil in the financial services sector, our real estate market fundamentals are still solid, reinforced by limited inventory, a low percentage of investor-owned properties and tremendous equity due to cooperatives restricting financing.”

The market share of new developments increased once again, and comprised 39% of apartment sales and 70% of condominium sales during the third quarter of 2008. These new development units posted an average price of $1,669,216. The condominium average price overall was $1,651,677; however if 15 Central Park West and The Plaza are factored out, the adjusted figure of $1,541,806 represents a 7% decrease from the previous quarter.

The average price for cooperatives during the third quarter of 2008 was $1,199,909, a decline of 7% from the previous quarter but up 14% from the same period a year ago. The median price of $680,000 was positive gain of 6% compared to the third quarter of 2007.

—The East Side saw four closings of over $30 million during the third quarter of 2008, driving the four-bedroom and larger average price up by 95% when compared to the previous year.
—Average sale prices for West Side apartments, in all size categories, posted gains from the third quarter of 2007, led by a 13% increase in average price for one-bedrooms.
—Studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments Downtown all increased in average price when compared to the same period a year ago.

Transaction data for this market report is provided by ValuExchange, a proprietary database containing the largest known survey of the Manhattan residential market. This report is based on 3,165 reported Manhattan apartment sales.

The former home of Senator John and Cindy McCain is currently on the market for $12 million. Resting on more than two and one-half acres, the Phoenix, Ariz., listing is scheduled to be auctioned off on October 25th and subject to the sellers’ approval. Within the 14,000-square-foot Old World-style home one will find nine bedrooms, eight baths, three-plus fireplaces and a chef’s kitchen. A guesthouse, bar, pool and spa accent the exterior. Bob Hassett of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty has the listing.

http://russlyonsir.terabitz.com/homes/AZ/Phoenix/7110_N_Central_Avenue/63442/index.html

—Lauren Varga