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Luxury real estate clients are some of the most discerning when it comes to home design.
Although many affluent homebuyers go into a transaction expecting to put their own footprint on a property with upgrades and renovations, others want a turnkey property that’s already outfitted with their preferences. Either way, it behooves a luxury agent to know what clients are looking for today when it comes to home design.
The Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program recently pinpointed key trends and features that clients are looking for in their future luxury homes as determined through a survey of over 200 Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property specialists conducted during September 2023. Agents said that luxury clients are craving a Zen, spa-like atmosphere throughout their homes, across all spaces.
Those findings were then distilled into a “Best of the Best” shoppable guide of luxury products that embody these design trends — just in time for holiday shopping.
Michael Altneu | Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Michael Altneu, vice president of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, told Inman that the brand’s inaugural “Best of the Best” list spun out of a desire to find more ways to engage with the consumer.
“We thought a lot about the typical life of a transaction between a real estate agent and a consumer, and after the close of a home, many times it ends,” Altneu told Inman. “So aside from something that would be more report-like or more data-heavy, we thought, why not try to take insights from our luxury agents and curate it into this holiday shoppable guide that will allow our luxury agents to continue the conversation with their clients and sphere of influence and do it in a different, fun way?”
Altneu clarified that Coldwell Banker is not receiving any kind of commission from other brands whose products are featured in the guide. At this point, the brand is keeping an open mind about whether or not to release another such list in the future and how frequently.
One of the most striking trends to emerge across Coldwell Banker Global Luxury’s agent survey was the desire for wellness to permeate all aspects of a home, Altneu said, and for technology to help facilitate that wellness.
“It all circles back to this essence of wellness and spa-like attributes throughout the entire piece,” Altneu said. “If you look at all the products, everything has what I feel is a very Zen-type role. So I think that’s spread across everything.
“The results were that [homes] are sanctuary spaces,” he added.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury agents said that home features like calming indoor-outdoor spaces, robust kitchens, tech-enabled appliances and smart home tools that promote wellness are all top-of-mind for luxury clients heading into 2024. Here’s a breakdown of what that includes.
Top-of-the-line kitchens
Credit: Zac Gudakov / Unsplash
Affluent clients today want a chef’s kitchen that can hold up both in terms of performance and style.
The most important feature that exemplifies such a kitchen is the double kitchen island, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property specialists reported. A double island feature allows for plenty of space to cook, gather and entertain simultaneously, which allows luxury clients to show off their skills in the kitchen while surrounded by friends and family.
Designer kitchen appliances, including sleek oven ranges and statement range hoods that feature bold colors or unique designs, are another must-have for today’s luxury kitchen, luxury agents said.
Resort-style outdoor spaces that merge indoors
Credit: Hà Nguyễn / Unsplash
When it comes to a property’s outdoor spaces, two-thirds of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury experts said that merging indoor and outdoor living was the biggest trend to-date. Altneu added that this was even a trend seen in cooler climates, which might surprise some.
“Indoor-outdoor [features] were something even in cold weather climates that were important to our luxury agents,” Altneu said. “The ability to — when the warm months are there — to be able to seamlessly blend those two.”
Design trends that embody this idea include cabanas and pergolas that bring the comforts of relaxation outdoors, as well as more robust outdoor living areas like outdoor bars, chef’s kitchens with pizza ovens and grills, and large gas fire pits.
A variety of water features, like heated pools, waterfalls, fountains and plunge pools also help cultivate an atmosphere of an oasis in a homeowner’s own backyard.
Spa-like bathrooms
Credit: Jared Rice / Unsplash
Creating a spa-like bathroom that also boasts wellness features, like hydrotherapy showers and infrared saunas, is also a coveted aspect of today’s luxury client homes, Coldwell Banker luxury agents reported.
Freestanding soaking tubs represent the height of elegance and relaxation and have become essential for most homeowners, agents said. A room within a bathroom that is devoted specifically to spa features, like a sauna with heated floors, has also become in demand.
Wellness smart home tech
Credit: BENCE BOROS / Unsplash
Smart home features that enable a healthy lifestyle have become some of the top tech products in luxury properties today, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury specialists said.
Not only must smart tech make living in one’s home easier, but it must also promote wellness in luxury clients’ homes.
Smart gyms that provide targeted workouts and bring fitness experts into the home with touchscreen mirror displays and smart thermostats that provide air quality monitoring while conserving energy with sensor technology are both keystones in this type of smart home trend.
Advanced air purifiers controlled from an app that guarantee nearly a 100 percent particle-capture efficiency rate have become coveted features for luxury smart homes, Coldwell Banker luxury agents said. In this anxiety-ridden era, human-sized sound therapy meditation pods that mix gentle body vibrations with music serve as a crucial feature in the homes of luxury clients.
Agents and their clients who are interested in seeing what products specific to these various trends Coldwell Banker’s Global Luxury program recommends can visit the 2023 “Best of the Best” guide here.
“This is another way for [consumers] to look at us as trusted leaders in luxury,” Altneu told Inman. “And to see that luxury goes beyond just the price point — it goes into all the elements that make it such, and everyone has different ways in which luxury comes into their spaces, and we can continue to look at things in a fun, unique and different way. I hope that we put something out that gives people a little touch of inspiration and fun in their lives.”
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People who live in Hollister, California, feel most confident about leaving their doors unlocked at night, according to a survey by Automatelife.net, because of low property and violent crime rates.
The verdict is in — the old way of doing business is over. Join us at Inman Connect New York Jan. 23-25, when together we’ll conquer today’s market challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities. Defy the market and bet big on your future.
Would you ever not lock your door at night?
Residents in some of America’s most trusting towns say it’s probably not necessary where they live, according to a survey of 3,000 adults conducted in November by Automatelife.net.
“Through our comprehensive study, we’ve uncovered that the spirit of community trust is still very much alive in certain American towns,” Marty Spargo of AutomateLife.net said in a statement. “These places stand as testaments to the possibility of a society where people feel secure enough to leave their doors unlocked. It’s a remarkable reflection of the local commitment to safety and neighborliness in today’s fast-paced world.”
The online smart home and tech resource found that residents of Hollister, California; Madison, Mississippi; New Braunfels, Texas; Owatonna, Minnesota; and Barnstable, Massachusetts; felt most comfortable potentially not locking their doors at night. Here’s why.
1. Hollister, California
People who live in Hollister, California, feel most confident about leaving their doors unlocked at night, according to Automatelife.net’s survey.
The city is one of the safest in the Golden State, according to a 2021 Safewise study that ranked it as the 30th safest in all of California. Hollister has low property and violent crime rates, which have been steadily declining in recent years. In 2020, violent crime rates were estimated at 2.8 per 1,000 residents and property crime rates at 7.7 per 1,000 residents, likely contributing to residents’ confidence in their city’s safety.
2. Madison, Mississippi
Madison, a city with a population of about 27,000 people, according to Census Bureau estimates, is also one of low crime and high resident confidence.
Ranked second in terms of resident comfort level in leaving doors unlocked at night, the city’s overall crime rate is 54 percent lower than the national average, Automatelife.net reported. Meanwhile, the property crime rate is 47 percent lower than the national average, with residents having a 1 in 92 chance of becoming victim to a property crime.
Located at the edge of Texas Hill Country and along the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers, New Braunfels is affordable, scenic and community-centered. The city’s overall crime rate is 35 percent lower than the national average and the property crime rate is 34 percent lower than the national average, Automatelife.net said.
4. Owatonna, Minnesota
Owatonna’s crime rate is near the average for most U.S. cities at a rate of 12 per 1,000 residents, but compared to other towns in Minnesota, the crime rate is lower than about 32 percent of the state’s communities, Automatelife.net reported. For its size, with a population of about 26,000, the city also has much lower crime rates than comparably sized cities across the U.S.
Located about one hour south of Minneapolis, the city is known for hosting the Steele County Free Fair every August. It is also home to the only known Orphanage Museum in the country, in a building that housed over 10,000 children between 1886 and 1945.
5. Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is the largest community on picturesque Cape Cod with a population of about 49,000, according to the most recent Census Bureau estimates. The town is bordered by Cape Cod Bay to the north and Nantucket Sound to the south, and is comprised of seven different villages.
The chance of becoming a victim to crime in Barnstable is only 1 in 94, according to FBI crime data. Compared to other similarly sized communities throughout the U.S., the town’s crime rate is also much lower than the average.
Other cities that filled out the list of top ten places where residents would feel most confident leaving their doors unlocked at night included Middletown Township, New Jersey; West Des Moines, Iowa; Bristol, Rhode Island; Brookings, South Dakota; and Concord, North Carolina.
The sale of the Como Residences penthouse, located on the exclusive Palm Jumeirah archipelago, is the priciest ever to close in Dubai. The penthouse is expected to be complete in late 2027.
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A new record has been set in Dubai with the roughly $136 million (500 million UAE dirhams) sale of a yet-to-be-developed penthouse on the exclusive Palm Jumeirah archipelago, CNN first reported on Tuesday.
The 22,000-square-foot penthouse will span five bedrooms and be located at the top of the 71-story Como Residences. Once finished around late 2027 by developer Nakheel, the residences are expected to be nearly 1,000 feet tall.
Previously, the record for the priciest sale in the UAE luxury enclave went to a unit at the Marsa Al Arab Hotel, which sold for about $114 million last spring.
The Como Residences deal was brokered by Dubai-based firm Provident Estate.
Como Residences tower rendition | Nakheel Properties and Provident Estate
The penthouse includes a 360-degree “sky pool” and features sweeping views of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, as well as the Dubai Marina, according to Sam Horani, associate partner at Provident Estate.
The buyer’s identity was not revealed, other than the fact that they are from Eastern Europe.
The Como Residences will include 76 apartments that will hold between two and seven bedrooms. The tower will include an elevated private beach, a 25-meter lap pool and a rooftop infinity pool. There will only be one to two residences per floor, each accessible by a private elevator. Other building amenities include concierge services, squash courts, a kids’ pool and a gym.
Palm Jumeirah is an archipelago of artificial islands in the Persian Gulf, which was completed around 2006. The archipelago is known for its high-end hotels, apartment towers and global restaurants, as well as beach clubs.
Chris Boswell, a Dubai-based agent not involved with the sale, told CNN that the Como Residences penthouse is unique due to its scale, despite Palm Jumeira having plenty of luxury residences.
Rendition of terraces on the Como Residences tower | Nakheel Properties and Provident Estate
“There aren’t any real large-scale penthouses like that unless you go for something that is off plan, meaning under construction,” Boswell said. “And people are prepared to wait that long for the best ones.”
Boswell added that he’s seen more buyers come to the area with an interest in actually living there, rather than just investing.
“For many years, we were predominantly dealing with speculative investors, but now Dubai is not the same landscape as it was before; it’s not full of cranes and construction, and people are coming here to live now,” Boswell told CNN. “I’m seeing a lot more inquiries coming from the United States, from Italy, from France, from the UK.”
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The new offices bring The Agency’s total office launch count in 2023 up to 26. The brokerage recently marked another milestone by launching its 100th office in Portland.
The verdict is in — the old way of doing business is over. Join us at Inman Connect New York Jan. 23-25, when together we’ll conquer today’s market challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities. Defy the market and bet big on your future.
Luxury brokerage The Agency is ending 2023 on a high note with new franchise locations in Marbella, Spain, and Boulder, Colorado.
The new offices bring The Agency’s total office launch count in 2023 up to 26. The brokerage also recently celebrated the milestone of launching its 100th office to date, with a new office located in Portland, Oregon.
Last month, the brokerage launched its Marbella location, marking its second location in Spain following its opening in Mallorca last February. The Agency Marbella is led by managing partners Kristoffer “Kris” Enger and Leif Orthmann, and sales director Benjamin Beza.
The Agency Boulder, which the brokerage announced on Tuesday, is led by managing partners Jay Hebb, Jared Blank and Kacey Bingham. The office marks the brokerage’s fourth location in the state of Colorado, with existing offices across Denver, Aspen and Telluride.
“We’re excited to expand our footprint in Europe with the launch of our second Spanish office in beautiful Marbella,” Jim Ramsay, executive vice president of franchise sales at The Agency, said in a statement. “Known for its stunning location and luxury lifestyle, Marbella fits perfectly within The Agency’s portfolio of sought-after destinations.”
The Agency Marbella leaders Kristoff Enger, Benjamin Beza and Leif Orthmann
Marbella is known for its beaches, villas and golf courses in southern Spain’s Costa del Sol. The region’s Puerto Banús marina is also a yachting destination that is home to many high-end boutiques and bars.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to introduce The Agency to Marbella and bring this pioneering brand to the region,” added Enger. “The Agency’s culture of collaboration, unmatched marketing power, and unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional customer service made choosing to partner with the brokerage an obvious choice when seeking to take our business to the next level.”
Collectively, The Agency Marbella’s leaders have more than four decades of industry experience. The new European office is located at Urbanizacion La Coneja, Local 48 Volubilis, Malaga, Spain.
The brokerage’s foray into Boulder builds on its existing relationship with Jared Blank and Kacey Bingham, who launched The Agency Denver in 2021.
“Our strategic expansion in Colorado has been exceptional as we continue to seek like-minded partners who embody The Agency brand,” The Agency founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky said in a statement. “We’re excited to continue our work with Jared Blank and Kacey Bingham and to welcome Jay Hebb to The Agency family as we debut our new office in Boulder, bringing our world-class offerings to buyers and sellers throughout the area.”
The Agency Boulder leaders Kacey Bingham, Jared Blank and Jay Hebb
Blank, Bingham and Hebb have more than 50 years of industry experience combined across the Denver and Boulder markets. Blank and Bingham also currently hold the highest priced listing in Denver, a 15-acre property in Denver’s Cherry Hills Village neighborhood for $28.88 million.
“Following the success of the launch of our office in Denver, I’m honored and thrilled to open our new location in Boulder and to work alongside Jay, Kacey and top agents in the market like Marybeth [Emerson], as well as the entire LATITUDE40 team [Blank’s previous Boulder-based firm],” Blank said in a statement.
Added Bingham, “The collaborative culture and white-glove service afforded at The Agency are the ideal complements to our business, and we look forward to servicing buyers and sellers in the area while harnessing the exceptional offerings of The Agency’s global brand.”
The Agency Boulder is located at 1035 Pearl Street #101B, Boulder, Colorado.
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The video of the New York City-based agent surfaced on Instagram over the weekend, showing him spouting racist terms and bragging about tearing out a Black man’s dreadlocks.
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A New York City-based real estate agent and creative director who was once affiliated with The Corcoran Group surfaced in a grisly Instagram video over the weekend in which he spouted out racist terms and bragged about tearing out a Black man’s dreadlocks.
Joseph “Joey” Sanchez, whose LinkedIn profile states he is currently a licensed real estate agent with SPiRALNY and creative director at a self-created company, JS Atelier LLC, repeatedly said the n-word in two separate videos that were ultimately joined into one video on Instagram over the weekend.
Marcel Bellucci, principal broker at SPiRALNY, told Inman that Sanchez had only been affiliated with the firm for about four weeks in 2022, and that he had contacted LinkedIn about removing the affiliation from his profile, but without success.
In the first video, created by Instagram user @kiykiyblac, Sanchez is shown inebriated on the streets of New York City, yelling at an unseen person recording the video, “You were the slave, not me! I’m white!”
“Yeah, you’re white, you think about that,” the person recording the encounter said.
“You’ve got to live with that s***,” Sanchez continued, as a third voice in the background can be heard asking, “What are you talking about?”
The person recording then told Sanchez to “Wash your motherf*** mouth,” after which, Sanchez identified himself in the video and then called the person recording the video the n-word.
The video cuts after the person recording threatens to slap Sanchez “again.”
In a subsequent video that Sanchez posted himself the next day, he appears to have an extremely swollen black eye, which he claims to have been caused by a Black “prostitute” punching him in the face after the two seemingly were competing for another man’s attentions.
“This dude starting pushing me,” Sanchez said in the video. “And obviously, he had been talking to the same gentleman. I got attacked, and I got into a fight with the prostitute. The prostitute did this to me,” he added, pointing to his swollen eye.
“But guess what? He’s bald now,” Sanchez continued. “I ripped out all of his dreadlocks. I thought it was a wig, but those were his real dreadlocks.
Taking the admission further, Sanchez openly acknowledged that he had used a racist term against the person he had tousled with.
“And I’m sorry, but I had to use the n-word,” he said. “Oopsie.”
“If you are one, you are one — especially if you act like one,” he added. “This Black prostitute jumped on me, and I ended up using the n-word.”
At the end of the video, a screenshot showed Sanchez’s old profile on Corcoran’s website, which no longer appears online.
On Monday, Corcoran Group responded on social media with a post that said, “Corcoran stands united in rejecting racism in all forms. This former independent sales agent has not been associated with us for quite some time and his obscene behavior over the weekend goes against the values we have held dear for more than 50 years.”
In a similar statement emailed to Inman, the brokerage clarified that Sanchez had only been affiliated with the firm for “a few short months.”
Instagram user @thatdaneshguy, who compiled the separate videos from @kiykiyblac and Sanchez into one, said in his Instagram post that the victim claimed he hadn’t even seen Sanchez in the bar and that Sanchez started calling him slurs “unprovoked.” He added that the victim had said, “That was my first encounter with him.”
