Oh Dear…

Sacramento Luxury Real Estate

Yesterday, good friend and Sacramento real estate broker Gena Riede declined to take a $2 million listing in Whitney Oaks–located in Rocklin, just outside Sacramento. The home has magnificent views, is in a fine golf course neighborhood, and offers over 7000 square feet of potential living area.

This was a listing appointment that Gena had prepared for in detail. She had reserved space here for an article about the property, had made arrangements for us to leave information about the home with top luxury brokers in Northern Europe when there later this month, and had a professional photographer on stand-by.

Gena leaves little to chance.

The floor plan, unfortunately, turned out to be a bit illogical with unspecified rooms at the entry level and an enormous living room and foyer upstairs.  The master bedroom was surprisingly small with an adjoining bath that was surprisingly large with sink perched on black-lacquered 2×4’s. There were gaps in drywall around electrical outlets and cracks at drywall joints. The general impression was one of an unfinished home.

This, in short, is NOT a luxury home. It is a project-in-process that demands to either be either professionally finished–or sold to someone who can see it to completion. And given that other smaller and finished homes have sold in this fine Sacramento neighborhood for less than $1 million, it is an improbability that this unfinished property will sell at a luxury home price.

Gena Riede is Sacramento’s premier luxury real estate broker–and is willing to professionally represent true luxury homes in the Sacramento real estate market. She can be reached at 916-417-2699 or at gena@genasell.com

Advice to luxury home sellers: Make sure that your home and it finishes match luxury home standards in your community and neighborhood. Don’t expect the potential buyer of your home to finish it for you.

by Roberta Murphy

At San Diego Previews, we deal with a number of people who are relocating to the San Diego area. They may be from from the East Coast, the desert, Bay area, Midwest or Europe, but all have pretty specific ideas about the lifestyle they anticipate in sunny Southern California.

Many of these seekers are seasoned and affluent home buyers–ones who can be pretty specific about the features they want in their next home. Their demands might very well include:

• A formal and separate entry with natural stone or wood flooring.
• An office off that lovely entry
• Formal dining room with outside patio for al fresco meals.
• In Southern California, a great room with fireplace off the spacious and well-equipped kitchen. Great for wine and cheese soirees, family fun and casual entertaining.
• At least one bedroom with full bath on ground level.
• Spacious master suite with balcony for sunset wine sipping–and spa bath with jetted tub. Huge closet also a plus!
• Outdoor kitchen for year-round entertaining is a must.
• Some want pools and some don’t, but most would like a private rear yard large enough to accommodate one.

We have recently listed a newer 5 bedroom, 4.5-bath home at 7289 Calle Conifera in Carlsbad, which offers all these features and more–including a butler’s pantry, large laundry room, 3 fireplaces, Brazilian cherry and polished travertine flooring, granite surfaces, 3-car garage, 4225 square feet, and numerous other custom upgrades. This La Costa Oaks listing is also in the highly desired San Dieguito school district, has reasonable taxes– and a price tag of just $1,150,000.

The move from a luxury home can be a daunting one–especially when grand pianos, snooker tables and valuable art need to be both carefully packed, insured and moved into new abodes.

One of our readers, Kirstie Birkewitz, is not only a writer, but co-owner of a careful moving company in San Diego–and has some excellent tips for luxury home relocation

Luxury Home Defined

by Roberta Murphy

It is a tough task in relativity to define a luxury home.

One’s perspective has as much to do with the definition as does the opulence, location or architectural significance of a particular property. One man’s simple home is another man’s castle, and vice versa.

Perhaps it is easier to consider what a luxury home is not. It is not a cookie cutter home in a subdivision tract, even if it is magnificently appointed. Why? It is probably lacking in presence, in architectural originality and may very well be lacking in coveted location.

New subdivisions throughout affluent communities are abounding in 5000 square foot stacked boxes with crown moldings, coffered ceilings and granite surfaces. The prices may reach seven figures, but do they really qualify as luxury homes? I have argued this with other luxury home specialists, and as soon as we agree upon a particular standard, exceptions to the rule emerge.

I am one of several directors with Windermere Exclusive Properties’ Distinctive Properties division in San Diego, CA. Luxury real estate in San Diego County is our specialty. It is our task to collectively approve or disapprove a listed property for that coveted “Luxury Home” designation.

It has proven to be a sometimes-difficult task. Price alone does not distinguish that status. It is location, property entry, arhcitecture, decor, decadent amenities, entertainment capability, lovely grounds and myriad other details that help a home stand out from the ordinary. A supersized McMansion does not qualify as a luxury home, unless it has the requisite extras, superior location and a view…perhaps. Or what about a cute $2 million cottage in Malibu that lacks both architectural clout and luxe surfaces? Does exquisite location make up for a dated or tacky interior? An architecturally significant home on a Midwestern prairie might qualify, even though it lacks in modern opulence.

As discerning and honest luxury real estate professionals, we believe we know one when we see it–especially when the home has all the markings of luxury, location and panache. What I am hoping occurs within this site is the discussion and display of luxury homes. I hope we can discuss trends, touches and tools that help to define the luxury home and luxury living. I am hoping we hear not only from Realtors, but from interior designers, builders, home stagers and other seasoned professionals who contribute to the luxurious homefront.

And from this continuing interchange, perhaps we can develop ongoing relationships where we can share information, ideas, trends–and perhaps even referrals to those professionals we will have come to know and respect.