by Roberta Murphy Last nights annual New Years Eve bash at the Murphy home was lots of fun for all, and almost everyone was ready to drop kick 2007 out the door and welcome the promise of 2008 with open arms. I thought 2007 had been put to rest (save for income tax drudgery); but when I opened todays email I discovered not one, but two 2007 accolades for Luxury…
by Scott Murphy Many top executives at large investment banking firms will be depositing some jumbo bonuses by the end of this month. Despite an overall bonus decrease of 10% due to months of multibillion-dollar bank write-downs and a spreading credit crisis, many will be pocketing some still-sizeable sums. Depending on which firm they work for and the position held, bonuses can range anywhere from up to $2 million to…
by Roberta Murphy It had to happen sooner or later. With the falling dollar, American real estate has become a screaming bargain to foreign investors around the world. Real estate prices in many prime US locales have already declined, and must be irresistible for those who are purchasing with Euros or Canadian dollars. Now, many Americans who have been living abroad are considering a return home, where the purchasing power…
by Roberta Murphy Become a victim of identity theft, and you could be in for the nightmare of a lifetime. We have known several identity theft victims. One family lost their home because of it–and another even fears for his safety. It is a vicious crime that can take years to resolve and the damages can last far longer than that. And all too often, identity thieves are never caught…
by Roberta Murphy Want to know what keeps me terrorized at night? Database management. I am in an urgent race against time–and my nightmare is one that haunts major corporations throughout the world– from retailers to brokerage firms to telecoms to the U.S. Government itself. In our San Diego real estate practice, I have until December 30 to migrate several hundred clients and their specific and detailed property requests over…
by Roberta Murphy Unless an omelet chef is employed for the next luxury brunch gathering, one might go ditzy trying to create custom omelets for each guest. This also makes it impossible for all to sit down in front of a hot plate at the same time. I love American ingenuity. This clever trick was forwarded to me by that wonderful host, Hank Holman, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Thanks to his…
by Roberta Murphy Its always interesting to know how metropolitan communities stack up when it comes to median household income, and San Diego is no exception. There were a few surprises. I had no idea Carlsbad would outrank Encinitas, or that Poway would beat out Coronado. San Diego is full of surprises. When to comes to compiling such reports (and a host of others), there is no finer source than…
by Roberta Murphy [youtube]LGcYkSnvVDM[/youtube] Much has been written and said about Microsoft’s new surface computing technology. It is the WOW technology of the year. Sooner than many of us thought possible, this technology will first become a defining feature in luxury homes, and as adoption increases and prices drop, it will likely appear as a builder option in many tract subdivisions. Imagine interactive coffee tables that wirelessly download photos from…
by Roberta Murphy Several months ago, in an interesting discussion with Marc LaChance, I was introduced to off-the-grid homebuilding. Marc has a plan and the means to build homes where electrical, telephone, gas, water and sewer lines do not run. I saw some early plans for his homes, and was highly impressed with their beauty, functionality and earth-friendliness. It seems when one door opens in the mind, it leads to…
by Roberta Murphy Two years ago, I met a wonderful couple who lived in a lovely custom home overlooking La Costa Resort and Golf Course. The view from their Carlsbad, CA home was picturesque and their home seemed to suit them perfectly. They were both successful writers, worked from home, and appeared to enjoy an idyllic lifestyle. Their La Costa luxury home was on the market, and I was surprised…
