In today’s uncertain economy, a growing number of home sellers are turning to auctions. Many people might consider this selling tactic a desperate move, but when the auction is monitored by the nation’s top-selling real estate group, desperate might be the last word that comes to mind.

Known throughout the worldwide luxury real estate arena for its innovative marketing and sales strategies, the Newport, California-based McMonigle Group recently launched its new 90-Day Certain Sale Program, which speeds the selling process, optimizes equity and sells homes within 90 days.

Accounting for a 60-day marketing period and a 30-day escrow, the program begins with a meeting between an interested seller and representatives from the company. During this analytical meeting, a seller’s property is evaluated for eligibility and a value-based listing price and predetermined sales price are set.

If approved for the program, a seller’s property will be featured on the 90-Day Certain Sale Web site, as well as the McMonigle Group’s Web site, the MLS and events such as open houses. On the 90-Day Web site, potential buyers can view detailed information about listings, browse photo galleries, take virtual tours and place a bid on properties they are interested in purchasing.

"The 90-Day Certain Sale Program is an innovative marketing and sales strategy that provides an innovative way to sell your home and maximize your equity in this challenging market," said John McMonigle (founder and principal of the McMonigle Group) in a press release this week.

An initial selection of six properties, ranging in price from $450,000 to $3,495,000, stretches from South County to Newport Beach. For more information, to set up a personal profile, to register or to bid on a property, visit 90daycertainsale.com

– Sarah Binder

The Watermark on Hudson—a WCI Communities, Inc., development—is defined by luxury, uniqueness and location and is not a victim of the down economy.

Located just beyond New York City limits, The Watermark on Hudson is positioned on the Gold Coast in North Bergen, N.J. From the 12-story tower residence one will enjoy New York skyline views and the glimmer of city lights reflecting off of the Hudson River.

Though some real estate markets and projects are suffering, The Watermark on Hudson has been selling multiple units each month. To date, The Watermark on Hudson only has 11 residences remaining of the original 206 residences and penthouses.

What is alluring buyers?

To start, guests and residents are welcomed home by a 24-hour valet. Services such as automotive care, babysitting and nanny referrals, boat charters, access to sporting, concert and theatrical events, pet sitting, restaurant delivery, technology assistance and laundry and dry cleaning further enhance the amenities of this luxurious address.

Residences within the building range from 906 square feet to approximately 3,000 square feet in size—each with views of the Manhattan skyline. For a luxury, two-bedroom condo, a buyer should expect to pay anywhere from $800,000 to $1.4 million. With this price comes top-of-the-line amenities, including European cabinetry, granite countertops, floor-to-ceiling windows and wood floors. The high-end master baths include Kohler Seaside soaking tubs and separate, glass-enclosed marble showers. Each residence is complete with a gourmet kitchen accented by KitchenAid stainless-steel appliances.

A health club, grand salon, social room, business center, golf simulator, indoor and outdoor pools, screening room and guest suites are also positioned to captivate the most discerning buyers. And alas, nothing is left to desire.

WCI Communities, Inc., offers more than 50 master-planned communities, neighborhoods and high-rise towers throughout Florida, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

—Lauren Varga

Organically shaped bathroom furnishings that look as though they’ve been naturally sculpted and boast precision, high quality, and design, are just a few features of Laufen’s elite collection of designer bathroom offerings.

The Swiss bathroom manufacturer is the first ceramic bathroom product manufacturer in Switzerland, and boasts collections conceptualized by renowned designers and architects.

The Palomba Collection, seen here, is the brainchild of interior designers and husband-and-wife team Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, and is a collection that exudes quality, vision, and the smoothness of architectural lines and high functionality. Guilio Cappellini, art director of Laufen Bathrooms, says, “Ludovica and Roberto love lightness and, therefore, water. In their design projects a real passion for this natural element comes through and this reflects the clarity they use when they design.”

Recently introduced in the U.S. and Canada, The Palomba Collection has won six internationally recognized awards and provides clients the sophistication of a bathroom culture that matches the refinement of their entire residence.

Simply put—this is not your grandmother’s bathroom.

—Holly Marie Busacca
 

The Home Price Index for December was released by the Integrated Asset Services, LLC (IAS). The index reflects a 13.8% decline in house prices for 2008 and an overall decline of 19.1% since the market’s peak at the tail-end of 2006.

The report also notes 10 counties hit the hardest during the national decline, showing that many were in states that saw the largest gains during the housing bubble, including California and Florida.

At the U.S. Census region level, both the West and the South experienced double-digit declines for the full year 2008. The West, which dropped 18.4% in 2008, fell over 24% from its peak in 2006, while the South, down 12% during 2008, was off nearly 18% from its high. The Northeast saw declines of 9.4% for 2008 and 11.7% from its peak. The Midwest, despite significant declines, was the least impacted region in the U.S., and posted declines of 7.4% in 2008 and 10.4% from its peak.

At the MSA level, San Francisco, San Diego, and Miami were the hardest hit areas in 2008, with declined rates of 23.9%, 22.7%, and 20.8% respectively. Within San Francisco’s MSA, Contra Costa County declined at an astonishing rate of 35.5% during 2008 and 42.2% since its 2006 peak. Also within the San Francisco MSA, Marin County and San Francisco County posted less astonishing declines of 11.3% and 13.9% from the 2006 high, while declines accelerated to 15.4% and 16.1% across 2008.

But an end to the decline may be in sight, as noted in a in a story published on Bloomberg.com. Despite the continued price fall, Moody’s Economy.com suggests the light at the end of the tunnel is approaching. Prices will likely continue a decline through much of 2009, but are expected reach bottom by year’s end. For more on this, check out the story at Bloomberg.com.

 —Robert Burke

*The IAS360 House Price Index is a comprehensive housing index tracking monthly change in the median sales price of detached single-family residences across the U.S. The index, based on all arms-length transactions, tracks data of 15,000 “neighborhoods”, which is rolled-up to report on the changes in 360 counties, nine census divisions, four regions, and the nation overall.

Educational video access at your fingertips—RealtyAcademy.com offers exactly that!

Through cutting-edge video technology, real estate experts now have free access to professionally produced videos featuring many of the industry’s top coaches, speakers, vendors and authors. RealtyAcademy.com’s video channel highlights industry experts and covers a variety of topics including strategies, techniques and principles designed to assist agents during challenging times.

Interviews with real estate experts are recorded regularly in both the Realty Academy’s Orlando area studio, as well as at other locations around the nation.

The multi-channel video player allows real estate professionals to view experts and topics on-demand, while learning at their leisure.

RealtyAcademy.com’s one-click functionality offers the ability to e-mail the videos, as well as embed them on blogs and websites.

For more on Realty Academy, visit RealtyAcademy.com

Realty Academy is a division of Realty Video USA, which offers a wide variety of specialized video content and services for the real estate industry.

—Robert Burke
 

The newest addition to the extensive and comprehensive real estate inventory available at Condo.com, River Cities Condos, is sure to stand out amongst the competition. As CEO of River Cities Condos, developer and 30-year boating enthusiast David Nelson conceptualized the company’s initial offering, The Marquette, after spending 19 years living on a houseboat in St. Paul, Minn. The Marquette offers buyers the unique opportunity to travel thousands of miles without ever having to leave the convenience and familiarity of their own homes. The 600-foot-long, 108-foot-wide vessel formed by four barges will be topped with 185 to 200 condos, which will travel 6,600 miles along the Mississippi River, connecting rivers and intracoastal waterways annually.

Thirty crew members will join the 350 residents aboard The Marquette, which boasts a long, open-air center atrium complete with plants, benches and six elevators for accessing the vessel’s various levels. Each condo, ranging from 528 to 924-plus square feet, is complete with a private waterfront balcony and will be able to access high-definition television as well as high-speed Internet.

Full-year, six-month, four-month and two-month purchase plans are available, ranging from estimated prices of $54,600 for two months spent in a 528-square-foot condo to a full year at $499,000 in a 924-square-foot residence; Homeowners’ Association fees are an additional cost and pay for staff salaries, port fees and insurance costs.

Serving to enhance the cruising experience will be amenities such as 24-hour concierge services, pools and hot tubs, an 18-hole half-acre golf course, a theater and a library. River Cities Condos arranges for land transportation but leaves land activities up to the realm of its residents’ imaginations.

Rivercitiescondos.com offers a video introduction, as well as scheduled informative online meetings.

– Sarah Binder

A private island with 124 acres of lush rain forest and towering coconut trees all lined by more than a mile of pristine beaches—Sound inviting? Welcome to the Cacao Pearl, the first non-profit luxury eco-resort community. Located in Palawan, South East Asia, the Cacao Pearl will present a unique opportunity to enjoy a stunning eco preservation locale. 

Designed by former film director Antonio Calvo, the low-density boutique resort concept will offer sustainable development and enjoyment.  Even more attractive about this unique island resort is 100% of the resort’s net operating profits will be used to support local environmental and social programs.

The very best for a luxury lifestyle—Five-star service, designer homes with zero carbon cost, infinity pools, a secluded destination spa, private media rooms—coupled with an eco-friendly approach to the area’s natural surroundings is certain to delight the most discerning guest.

For more information on this island paradise, visit www.CacaoResorts.com and www.BarefootSophistication.com.

—Robert Burke

Ranging from urban and edgy to classic and clean, Brooklyn-based Kamp Studios offers clientele hand-painted, site-specific murals and finishes to complement any home or office space.

After moving to New York by way of Florida, Ken Miller and Kim Collins were introduced by a mutual friend and began a unique business in the Big Apple. When describing the union of Kamp, Collins says, “It was rough at first—it’s New York City after all. We came here to live the dream and sure enough the work kept coming in and before we knew it we were landing some really extraordinary projects. We have a great time working together and somehow from the beginning always had an unspoken understanding of each other’s strengths. We came to New York to set up ‘kamp’… and we have done just that! ”

With inspiration ranging from fabric samples and images to a client’s individual style, Kamp uses digital renderings to fashion a design, ultimately hand-painting the motif to ensure precise placement and bespoke appeal.

The duo boasts more than 20 years experience in scenic and decorative arts, and when coupled with their love for innovative finishes and dramatic designs, the Brooklyn-based firm is sure to make a lasting impression—and not just with the pleasing patterns you’ll see—but the exceptional detail to every mural and personalized service to each client.

Contact Ken and Kim at Kamp Studios at www.KampStudios.com or at 917.443.2250.

—Holly Marie Busacca

Photos courtesy Kamp Studios.
 

Depending on how you look at it, entrepreneurs are either hindered greatly by the current financial climate, or they are best positioned to weather these uncertain times. Either way, bold self-promotion these days can’t hurt, and real estate daredevil Frank McKinney continues his unique career with the February 13th co-unveiling of Acqua Liana, his $29 million green mansion in Manalapan, Fla. and his three new books: Burst This! Frank McKinney’s Bubble-Proof Real Estate Strategies; The Tap; and Dead Fred, Flying Lunchboxes, and the Good Luck Circle.

Guests to the soiree, who are asked to dress in Valentine’s Day or Friday the 13th-inspired costumes, will enjoy “Friday the 13th Manalapan Mojitos” while awaiting the traditionally dramatic arrival of McKinney and the debut of his island-inspired estate, which will be hidden beneath a massive curtain.

The first home of its size to be certified green by the U.S. Green Building Council and the Florida Green Building Council, Acqua Liana lies on 1.6 acres and encompasses three stories and 15,000 square feet. The seven-bedroom, 11-bath residence is accompanied by meandering water gardens, floating sun terraces, a waterfall spa with a fire feature in the water and a guesthouse partially submerged in a lagoon. A 2,180-square-foot oceanfront master suite, fitness studio, oceanfront glass office, two glass elevators and a glass wine cellar are just a few features of the green masterpiece.

Proceeds from sales of the books will benefit McKinney’s Caring House Project Foundation, which creates a self-sustaining existence for underprivileged families across the globe.

For more information on the event, the three books, Acqua Liana or McKinney’s real estate philosophies, visit www.Frank-McKinney.com

– Sarah Binder

The Wall Street Journal posted a story on the private Caribbean island owned by timber magnate, Tim Blixeth. As it turns out, Blixeth is willing to part with the 5-acre Turks & Caicos island paradise for $75 million. The unique twist is that he has offered to trade the island property for another valuable hard asset— possibly a Gulfstream jet, or maybe even a New York apartment.

Make no mistake—caressed by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean—the island is truly a tropical paradise. Here, one will find a 30,000-square-foot residence with nine bedrooms, a guesthouse, several docks, a manmade beach and even a retractable bridge that links the private island to the mainland.

Check out the story in the Wall Street Journal’s real estate section.

—Robert Burke