This highly competitive environment makes real estate branding for agents and brokers a serious matter.  The severity of this issue is often clouded by misconceptions about marketing real estate services.  Most of these misconceptions are involve thinking a dynamic-looking logo plastered on a flashy website, yard signs, brochures, print media, and other avenues are what create a stable and powerful brand which is not the cases. Neither slick graphic designs nor catchy tag lines attract customers, you cannot strengthen your competitive position unless you clearly identify why you have an edge over the competition. A company must, through hard work, define their brand identity, not create a logo or schema first. Their identity, which pours out through its logo and image, must be memorable and clear, if your company wants to be imprinted in the minds of consumers.

In order to create an effective brand, here are some tips, first notice that every real estate professional, hobbyists, or firms views their role in the industry differently.  The best thing is to not get sidetracked by assuming everything that could be said about a real estate professional has been.  Instead, clearly understand what your strengths and weaknesses are, what you enjoy and do best, what are attributes associated with promising leads and great prospects, decide what types of clients work best with your approach, and above all, find out what separates you from the lot. Look yourself in the mirror and ask: “How am I unique in the minds of buyers and sellers?” and if you aren’t how you can position yourself to be! It’s never too late to define yourself as a brand, so get started!

Delivering vast, breathtaking open-water views, this electrifying, ultra-luxurious, 7,043-square-foot, 2005-built residence boasts a lifestyle of waterfront opulence rarely found in Florida. Towering open spaces, agnificent stone columns and balusters, travertine staircases, inspiring architectural elements, impressive cast-stone fireplaces, forgeous ceilings, faux treatments and intricate woodwork achieve a stunning richness and splendor.

Kitchen is a masterpiece of form and function - thick level 5 granite, tumble stone, lavish custom cabinetry, Thermador, Sub-Zero, Miele appliances, center island, huge bar area and a beautiful climate-controlled wine room are an elegant blend of color and contrast.

Lovely cherry floors, huge informal sitting spaces and a superb cherry office add to the distinctive charm and character.

All bedrooms are en suite and include impressive covered decks that give way to sweeping open-water views. The master suite has large his and her walk-in closets, and a dazzling master bath with extensive use of granite, marble and all the luxury amenities.

Overlooking the Sunshine Skyway is a brilliant backyard anchored by a zero-entry freeform Pebbletec pool with spa and a cascading stone waterfall tightly integrated with lush, tropical landscaping.

When you dream of life on the water, this is what you see!

This property is listed by Dania Perry with Century 21 Jim White & Associates. For more information, click here.

Many people associate luxury real estate with the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous, with conspicuous consumption, creature comforts and sheer opulence. Although, this side of luxury can definitely be found on the Hawaiian Islands, there is a deeper, transcendent story of affluence to be discovered here. It can be found in the richness of cultural diversity that is honored and championed on the Islands combined with a true sense of community, sharing and giving that is expressed in the Aloha spirit. 

The pure beauty of the Islands is a feast for the eyes. The fresh, locally grown organic fruits and vegetables excites the taste buds. The sweet smells of lush flowering trees provide aroma therapy and the year-round temperate climate calms the mind. Hawaii is a place to rest and heal. It is this balance of nature and community that makes owning a home in Hawaii one of life’s true luxuries.

OAHU

Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own unique characteristics and identity. Selecting the right island to call home is an important decision. “If you are looking for a cosmopolitan experience, says Patricia Choi, the leading luxury real estate professional in the state of Hawaii, Oahu is the best choice for you”. She adds, “Many people do not realize that Honolulu (which actually takes in all of Oahu) is one of the ten largest cities in the United States.

According to Margy Grosswendt, “There are more world class cultural experiences to be found here than on the other islands. Oahu has big city shopping and many more fine restaurants.” On Oahu there is more commerce, more trade and more to do”, says Myra Brandt.

Jack Terrell specializes in marketing Honolulu’s premiere high-rise condominiums with panoramic ocean and Diamondhead views, such as Hokua and Trump International Hotel and Tower. He says, “The freedom to walk to restaurants, shopping, theatres or the beach, this is the carefree lifestyle that both foreign and American second home buyers crave here”.

Myron Kiriu has observed that “because Diamond Head is a familiar landmark for foreign buyers, the fine single family estate properties in this area are sold at a premium.  Asian buyers typically prefer to buy where their friends have bought. They like to congregate where others speak their language”.

“One of the major reasons that buyers select Oahu over the other islands is the incomparable medical facilities”, says Anne Perry.  Close proximity to health care can mean saving lives which is especially significant for those in their retirement years.

Anne Oliver notes that “many younger professionals are attracted to areas outside of Honolulu proper because they are able to work via the internet. They prefer more affordable properties with sandy beach access for the family. Yet, they can drive to town within a half hour when traffic is not at its peak”.

“With just 4.9% unemployment, Oahu is ahead of the curve in economic recovery, states Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn, who specializes in selling luxury homes in East Oahu, particularly Windward Oahu. She says, “The growth rate in jobs mirrors price increases in homes, although the luxury sector lags somewhat behind this trend here”. 

Bryn Kaufman explains that “The North Shore of Oahu is laid back.  It has a country feel with more land, less people, bigger beaches and huge waves. It is perfect for those who don't have t work in town. ”

“After traveling beyond Hawaii, says realtor Pat Case, I always smile on the way back. I try to sit on the window seat of the plane so I can see the Islands as I return home. When asked how she would sum up her experience of Aloha Spirit Pat said, “No burning bridges, just building bridges”. Broker Sachi Braden describes the Hawaiians in this way, “We are a gentle people with a proud history who welcome and accept differences in international cultures”.

Special thanks to Chuck Garrett for inspiring this article and also to Delores Bedionis and Tracy Allen for their insights.  Photos are courtesy of the realtors included in this article.

This blog posting has been provided by Ron and Alexandra Seigel, the Language of Luxury Community Founders and managing partners of Napa Consultants, International, the leading luxury real estate strategic marketing firm. They specialize in personal and company branding, luxury real estate website design and social media marketing. Pictures provided by Ron and Alexandra.

Hidden Valley Ranch: Hidden Valley Hideaway is perched atop a hill overlooking the natural beauty of Bitterroot Valley. This sprawling estate, selling fully furnished, is situated on 259+/- acres of pristine Montana countryside. Located in the charming town of Victor, Hidden Valley Hideaway is the ultimate in luxurious living and ideal for entertaining. Boasting a spacious and lavish design, this home offers a large entertainment deck and attached heated 3-car garage. The home features 4 impressive bedrooms, each with private bathrooms, 3 powder rooms, grand room with full wet bar, a 750-bottle wine room, sun room, office, exercise room, game room, and theater. The master suite has a vaulted ceiling, private deck, fireplace, and bathroom with dual vanity and luxurious tub/shower area. This award winning kitchen is a chef’s dream with gorgeous cabinetry, granite countertops, designer fixtures and top of the line appliances.

This property is available for auction on July 20, 2011 at 11 A.M. Contact J. Craig King to learn more.

Celebrate the thrill of moving-in right away. A perfect time to personalize the elegance you desire. Have the pleasure to décor the upcoming trend by incorporating your personalized rare royal accents, reflecting upon 'who lives there'. Standby master artists can expand your dreamily ideas into 'The Art of Living' you desire. Your privileged access to pamper your family at the legendary Silverleaf Club can begin right away. Allow your imagination soar within this 12,440 square foot home with a 3,800 square foot master.

To view this property, click here.

Welcome to Stone Haven - located in the heart of Barrington Hills, Illinois. This exceptional one-of-a-kind, custom, all stone, lakefront estate home is situated on 5 tree-lined acres in an established neighborhood.

This spectacular home features five luxurious bedroom suites with first and second floor master suites, separate guest apartment, seven full and two powder rooms, American walnut floors, custom wool carpeting, and three stone fireplaces.

A gourmet kitchen with furniture quality cabinetry, granite countertops, butler's pantry and professional appliances is found in the home as well.

Additional features include a solid walnut paneling gentleman's library and family room both with vaulted beamed ceilings along with a walkout lower level and second family room, theater, billiards, exercise, craft and game rooms with full service kitchen and bar. 5-car garage with porte-cochere, stunning pool and much more!

Outstanding architectural detail with extensive millwork. Beautifully designed and finished. Miniutes from Barrington's downtown, schools and shopping; also within close proximity to Chicago and O'Hare airport. No detail has been missed in this gracious and comfortable home. This is a rare opportunity in Barrington Hills offered at $5.9 million.

To see more information on this listing, click here.

We posted the other day that the Miami Heat is bringing in a lot of profit for their hometown, including in the luxury real estate sector. A report from Cervera Real Estate bolsters that idea, saying that international buyers have purchased almost $13 million in penthouses since April. "Sales of these upscale condo penthouse residences are a sign of the increasing wealth in Miami and an understanding of what our city offers," says Veronica Cervera, CEO of the real estate company. One of the penthouses sold features an over-sized whirlpool and sweeping views of the city from the terrace. [World Property Channel]

Global real estate service Savills is reporting that foreigners will spend $6 billion on luxury homes in London in 2011 alone because of the weak pound and London being a financial haven. The pound’s 18 percent slide against other currencies since the end of 2007 has attracted overseas buyers to residential properties worth at least 1 million pounds there. Most purchasers come from western Europe, but those from Eastern Europe, Russia and former Soviet countries spend an average of 6.2 million pounds on London homes. [Bloomberg]

Historic Italianate Mansion in San Francisco, California

San Francisco's luxury home market is showing signs of a turnaround, according to Bay Area Realtor Cece Doricko. Citing figures from Coldwell Banker's latest San Francisco Luxury Market Report, Doricko reports a 13.6 percent increase in the number of home sales in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to that of the same period last year. "Buyers of Pacific Heights luxury real estate and other luxury properties in San Francisco are starting to make their presence felt once again," says Doricko, "and it's not surprising why. Homes in these kinds of neighborhoods have always been sought-after and now there are quite a few that are priced lower than they have been for some time. It's no wonder, then, that buyers who have the means are not letting these opportunities pass them by." Read the entire press release at SFGate.com.

Sometimes one finds perfection and this is it! Built in 2002 on a private cul-de-sac waterfront location in prestigious Tierra Verde, this magnificent 7,500-square-foot estate embodies the warmth of a family home as well as the elegance and luxurious details expected in such an exquisite residence. The location was chosen for both the safe, deep-protected water for their yacht and easy access to open water, as well as the rare opportunity to have an expansive additional yard for the family to play and entertain guests!

The gorgeous water views begin the moment you enter the breathtaking entryway that enjoys dramatic cathedral ceilings, stone floors, and a grand sweeping staircase designed with intricate ornamental ironwork. Magnificent faux finishes, bar area, mahogany finished study and formal dining room grace the first floor living areas.

The gourmet kitchen boasts top of the line Viking, Sub-Zero, and Miele appliances as well as a hospitality kitchen - all finished in warm cherry-stained solid wood cabinetry and granite counters. Asjacent to the kitchen, you can relax in a casual dining area with inlaid mahogany ceilings and a family room with projection entertainment system and built-in audio cabinetry.

The second-level grand master suite features picturesque water views, sitting area, stone mantled fireplace and a spectacular master bath.

The outdoor area was designed to create an elegant upscale experience for party guests highlighted with a fire pit and a brilliant saline infinity pool and spa.

For more information on this estate, click here.

Villa Michelle is a recently completed home with 19,633 total square feet under one roof - 8,105 square feet heated and air-conditioned. Built by Windstar Homes in conjunction with Pasquale Designs, an unprecedented waterfront property has been produced. This home sits on an acre overlooking the Gulf of Mexico on an exclusive quiet cul-de-sac on Tierra Verde Island. Just down the street is Fort DeSoto State Park - named America's Top Beach for the second consecutive year by TripAdvisor.

The winner of 2010 Florida Aurora Builder Awards for "Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home" and "Best Kitchen" in the highest priced categories, plus "Best Pool and Landscaping Design" as well as "Best Interior Detailing," Villa Michelle is minutes from I-275 with easy access to Tampa International Airport.

From the ground up to the soaring thirty-foot ceilings and window walls, Villa Michelle is equipped to meet every family's needs as well as boasting a state-of-the-art "smart house" system.

The kitchen features granite countertops, cherry wood cabinetry, pecky cypress inlaid ceiling, Sub-Zero side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, Wolf gas range and dual Wolf ovens with warming drawers, massive stone hood avoce the range, and a functional walk-in pantry behind hide-away cabinetry doors all make this award-winning kitchen any chef's dream come true.

The full-sized game room and theater in mahogany boasts a Runco state-of-the-art projector, 7:1 surround sound, lighted movie poster boxes, and eight-reclining leather theater seats with integrated drink holders.

The master bedroom features his and her separate walk-in closets. The master bath offers private laundry, make-up vanity, Jacuzzi tub and his/her separate shower heads. The master study is encompassed in the master wing overlooking the pool and Gulf of Mexico. The second-story retreat provides guests with three "ensuite" bedrooms, a private wet bar, family room with computer work stations and plasma entertainment center, plus a large laundry room.

The outdoor "open-air" covered entertaining area includes a casual seating area with plasma TV and fireplace, gas-grilling station and kitchen area with serving bar. The pool features two mosaic glass chaise lounge chairs and swim-up bar with four stools. Across from the pool lies a separate guest house with full bath and the same outstanding finishes.

The exterior is completed with a garage for up to five vehicles and an oversized Trex composite dock capable of holding a 100-foot motor yacht with a 16,000-pound boat lift and double jet ski lift.

Villa Michelle is listed by Carole Merritt with Coldwell Banker Previews International for $5.99 million. Interested buyers can call 727-580-4447 or visit www.1360OceanView.com.

The Miami Heat has been a huge economic boost for the Southern Florida city, as different businesses are seeing a rise in profit, especially in real estate and travel. Luxury condo sales are spiking, and hotel bookings are at a record high for the city. The luxury condo building Marquis Residences, which is just a block from the Heat's home arena, had a record month in sales in May because of the playoffs, and Miami has had the highest booking rates (80.6%) in the United States over the past four months. Many buyers and visitors are international and huge fans of the Heat and LeBron James. "The meter started running the very night LeBron James announced his decision on national TV that he was coming to Miami, and the phones haven't stopped ringing since," says Bill Talbert, President of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. [World Property Channel]

A recent study put out by Streeteasy.com says that more NYC apartments priced at $10,000+ per month were rented this May than in the same time period last year and the year before, and those apartments went off the market faster and without cuts in price. It may be caused by the constantly-changing housing market, as many luxury home owners are having a hard time selling their properties and taking huge price cuts. “If you’re purchasing something at $20 million plus and you have those funds in some sort of account that’s bringing a good return, it does not necessarily make sense to invest it all in an apartment," Margaret H. Bay, a vice president at Brown Harris Stevens, told The New York Times. But with a higher figure rental comes better amenities, and luxury renters expect the best: multiple bedrooms and sweeping terraces in the apartment itself along with luxury extras in the building, such as a single-lane bowling alley, basketball court, gym and pool. [The New York Times]

Japanese-born architect and current owner of the "Island in the Sky" mansion in Water Mill, NY, Setsuo Ito is putting the estate up for auction. He lost his home in Japan due to the earthquake/tsunami that hit March 11, which is part of the reason he's selling. But, to help the victims of the natural disater in Japan, 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale will benefit relief efforts. The auction will take place on June 26. [Curbed]

View the listing on the duPont REGISTRY for the Island In The Sky here.

Due to the enormous amount of debt that the country of Greece has amounted over the past few years, the government plans to sell up to $42.9 billion worth of public property in the country. A few of the sales are going to include the government's stake in Mont Parnes Casino resort in Athens, hotels, and a concession to build a luxury resort on the island of Rhodes. The government currently owns 75,000 pieces of public property, but they plan to make a slow start by selling 20 to 30 properties at first. Currently, the Hellenic Public Real Estate Corp., the part of the Greek government that manages public property, is making sure all land that plans to be sold isn't be sold illegally or with any restrictions as to what buyers can build on the property. [Wall Street Journal]