July 2015

Presenting Sindeo’s inaugural Agent Advisory Council

via Sindeo

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We are pleased to announce the formation of our first‑ever Agent Advisory Council, consisting of a distinguished group of agents from across the country who have a proven record in company leadership and top‑level business innovation. The council, which will meet periodically throughout the year, is intended to provide strategic guidance and industry insights to Sindeo. Members will have the opportunity to impact the transformation of the mortgage industry as Sindeo builds a solution that leverages technology and high‑touch service to provide consumers and their real estate agents with an efficient and transparent end‑to‑end home financing process.

“We are thrilled to have such an influential team of real estate professionals interested in sharing their industry insight and vision with Sindeo,“ said Chief Industry Officer Ginger Wilcox. “With their expertise, we will be able to build a mortgage product that is truly purpose‑built for the real estate agent and their needs – ultimately helping them deliver a better experience to their clients.”

The inaugural Agent Advisory Council members include:

Vanessa Bergmark, Red Oak Realty

Vanessa is General Manager/Partner of Red Oak Realty, overseeing 90 sales agents in two offices located in Berkeley and Oakland, California. By rebranding and reshaping the entire organization, Bergmark is widely admired as a turn‑around expert for growing Red Oak Realty from a small agency ranked 12th in market share to 3rd in just 4 years. She has spoken about branding, culture and agent retention at several conferences including Inman Connect, NAR, CAR and Who’s Who in Luxury. She is part of CAR’s Strategic Planning and Finance committee and is an active participant in organized real estate at the state and local levels. In 2013 she was named as one of Inman’s 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate.

Jennifer Branchini, Better Homes & Gardens Tri‑Valley Realty

Jennifer is a recognized industry leader, having served as President of the Bay East Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors in 2014, as well as being an active member of the California Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors and the National Association of REALTORS®. Branchini is a founding member of the Bay East Association of REALTORS® Young Professionals Network and was the 2012 Chair of the California Association of REALTORS® Young Professionals Network. She was part of the Social Media Advisory Board and the Local Association Idea Exchange for the National Association of REALTORS®, and was named 2010 REALTOR® of the Year by Bay East Association of REALTORS®.

Mark Choey, Climb Real Estate

Mark is co‑founder, partner and CTO of Climb Real Estate, now one of the top brokerages in San Francisco. Mark helps manage the strategic vision and direction of CLIMB and is leading CLIMB | LABS – Climb’s innovation arm. He was SFAR MLS & Technology Committee’s Co‑Chair in 2012 and 2013 where he still actively contributes to SFAR’s MLS long‑term strategic direction. Mark is one of the City’s top‑selling real estate agents and is ranked in the top 5 agents in SF condo sales volume from 2011‑2014. Mark is also the founder of SF New Developments, where he provides resources for his clients to navigate the booming San Francisco residential new development landscape.

Sam DeBord, Seattle Homes Group with Coldwell Banker Danforth

Sam is managing broker for Seattle Homes Group with Coldwell Banker Danforth, the top‑producing full‑service real estate office in Seattle, and the 2016 President‑Elect of Seattle King County REALTORS®. With a background in I.T. and management consulting, DeBord has earned a reputation for being on the cutting edge of issues ranging from technology to legislative policy. He was named one of T3 Swanepoel Power 200’s top 20 Social Influencers and has served as a director and spokesperson for local, state, and national REALTOR® organizations on the topics of industry technology, communications, and government affairs.

Michael DiMella, Charlesgate Realty Group

Michael is Managing Partner of Charlesgate Realty Group in Boston, MA. With a strong background in Economics and years of industry experience, DiMella’s ability to spot trends in the housing market and provide investment and development recommendations has made him a frequently cited expert in local and national news, such as The Boston Globe and The Wall Street Journal. He is a Principal of IGNITION Residential, an interdisciplinary multifamily development advisory and marketing firm, and Charlesgate Property Management, a full service apartment and condo association management firm. DiMella was recently awardedRealtor Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Realtors in America.

Heather Elias, Century 21 Redwood Realty

Heather is the influential blogger behind LoCoMusings.com, as well as a social media pro and brand‑building expert. An industry innovator and leader, she was Century 21 Redwood’s first Training and Technology Director and served two years as NAR’s Director of Social Business Practice. A sought after speaker, Elias has spoken at conferences nationally, including Inman Connect, NAR’s Annual Conference, BlogWorld, and RETSO. Elias is currently Vice President of Industry Engagement at CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty, spearheading the firm’s growth efforts.

Raj Qsar, The Boutique Real Estate Group

Raj is Owner & Founder of The Boutique Real Estate Group and their story goes like this. Beautiful design evokes emotion. Emotion stirs the soul and creates a connection between client, agent and the real estate experience. The Boutique has invested in bringing all aspects of the real estate experience in‑house, providing them with complete control of the design, marketing & technology of luxury real estate while giving them the look of a true marketing agency. This approach has earned Qsar awards worldwide, including Top 33 People Changing The Real Estate Industry, Most Innovative Real Estate Agent in 2014 by Inman, and Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders for 2013. The Boutique was selected as The 2014 Next Generation Real Estate Brokerage. Raj has taken the stage at some of the most prestigious real estate conferences across the country and continues to make his mark in the industry.

Gretchen Rosenberg, Kentwood Real Estate, Cherry Creek

Named Denver’s “Realtor of the Year” by the Denver Board of REALTORS in 2009 and “Broker Manager of the Year” in 2012, Gretchen has 20 years’ experience in residential real estate. She was among the founding agents and is now the Employing Broker at Kentwood Real Estate’s Cherry Creek office, which is now the most successful privately owned real estate firm in Denver and a NAR Top 100 brokerage in the U.S. Gretchen has served on the Denver Board of Realtors Grievance Committee, International Committee, Roundtable Committee and on the Board of Directors. Gretchen was also appointed by the 2015 NAR President as Liaison to India and is heavily involved in multiple philanthropic causes close to her heart.

Maui Estate Seeks Nearly $20 Million – A 16.6% Price Cut

via Mansion Global

The residence features ocean views and direct access to Oneloa Bay

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A beachfront estate on the Hawaiian island of Maui is taking a 16.6% price reduction, according to one of the listing agents, bringing the new price to just under $20 million.

The property was first listed for $28 million before it was taken off the market and relisted with new agents in October of 2014 for $26 million, according to Raj Qsar of The Boutique Real Estate Group, who is co-listing the property with Damien Zanolini of Coldwell Banker Island Properties. The price dropped to $23.9 million prior to the most recent cut.

“We’re now more in line with what’s on the market,” Qsar said. “There hasn’t been a sale on this side of Maui for more than $20 million in quite some time.”

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Situated within the Kapalua Resort, which is located in one of Hawaii’s largest nature preserves, the more than 7,400-square-foot plantation-revival home has direct access to Oneloa Bay. With four bedrooms and 5½ baths, the residence includes living and dining areas, as well as an office and a home theater. The backyard features a limestone lanai with a spa and an infinity-edge swimming pool that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

The property belongs to William and David O’Neil. The couple is selling the estate because they are spending more time at their homes in other parts of the world, Qsar said.

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The community is located within the Kapalua Resort, which features two marine sanctuaries, two golf courses and beaches, among other amenities. RUHM LUXURY MARKETING

View the $19.975 million listing here.

Why I went indy. A REAL estate story.

The Boutique Real Estate Group

The beautiful brand and unique core values of The Boutique Real Estate Group have brought the romance back into real estate for me. The brand is not only captivating and effective, but it’s also crisp and classy; it stands out amongst the competition. Coupling this aesthetic with an exceptionally high level of service and an absolute commitment to excellence has allowed me to connect emotionally to all elements of the transaction. This connection is what has brought the passion back into the business. Taking the time to bond with my clients naturally sets the stage for a wonderful story. Everyone has a story to tell (see recent story from Zillow.com); it’s just about putting the extra time and energy into discovering the perfect way to portray it and push it out to the world. And at The Boutique the world does see it.

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The Boutique is unlike any other brokerage I have ever seen or been affiliated with. The entire process and concept is just different. From the moment a client or prospect comes in (web or walk-in), we speak human, not real estate. Once we digitally sign a listing agreement with a Seller or meet with a Buyer the first time, the next steps aren’t “in your face” aggressive, yet the process is still highly effective. It’s about having an emotional connection with the client and truly understanding their future goals, which allows us to better represent and negotiate on their behalf.

The incorporation of technology at The Boutique is truly world class and something brought in from outside the industry.  The digital tools I am now incorporating allow me to be more productive in a fraction of the time. I’m able to operate on a completely virtual platform and support a paperless transaction. I used to print out a copy of everything for the clients, which was overwhelming and extremely wasteful. Now everything is accessible to the clients and everyone else involved in the transaction via the web or mobile. With technology, prospecting effectively has taken on an entirely new meaning. Having a highly efficient Team CRM with the ability to set up immediate responses to incoming leads, set up workflows for current prospects, and then track progress is extremely straightforward and almost effortless.

The exceptionally high touch, luxury service offered by The Boutique is perfect for the Pasadena marketplace and consumers who love this great city. Pasadena has such a rich and diverse history that is exquisitely expressed through the gorgeous architecture found throughout the entire city. People who live here appreciate unique and that’s exactly what The Boutique offers, and then some! The competition is everywhere, mostly consisting of large offices that focus on quantity, not quality. When consumers in Pasadena and surrounding areas see what The Boutique has to offer – amazing photography, video and film production, 360 high definition walk throughs, in-house interior design and staging, in-house custom graphics and design, in-house social media, and dominating search engine marketing & optimization – they will see the way marketing should be done.

This passion for the creative process is portrayed in everything we do.  Just look at what Mashable said about one of recently shot in house videos, “PLAIN VIDEO HOUSE TOURS ARE ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT WHAT IF INSTEAD OF A DRY, ROOM-BY-ROOM TOUR AROUND A PROPERTY, YOU USED THE video to tell a story and sell a lifestyle? THE BOUTIQUE REAL ESTATE GROUP IS VERY GOOD AT THIS, PRODUCING A SERIES OF GLOSSY ADS FOR HOUSES THAT engage you WITH A SIMPLE PLOT DEVICE, MAKING THEM MUCH more interesting THAN THE AVERAGE TOUR. IN THIS EXAMPLE, SEEING THE KIDS RUN THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL ROOMS AS THEY FIND A SUITABLE CUBBYHOLE FOR A GAME OF HIDE-AND-SEEK IS JUST A genius way TO SHOW THE HOME’S FAMILY-FRIENDLY, ATTRACTIVE LIVING SPACES.”

The emotional connection, advanced technology, luxury service, and creative offerings are all tied together with amazing support from the entire team at The Boutique. From the Founder//Owner, to the broker, to our concierge team, to the agents who are a part of the team, EVERYONE is constantly connected and here to support each other. The feeling of family and warmth here is exactly the type of work environment I want to be in. I really love knowing that my voice is heard and my concerns are addressed whether it’s a hurdle in a transaction or an opinion on a marketing piece. Real estate is a very personal business and it helps me be more successful having The Boutique in my corner of the ring.

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Why This Family Did Both

via Zillow by Catherine Sherman

When you’ve found “the one,” letting go can be tough. But the Mohammads stayed close to home.

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It was their dream home: 4,300 square feet with sweeping views from Palos Verdes to Anaheim Hills. But in 2012, Steve and Yasminah Mohammad sold their Yorba Linda, CA house and bought another.

“Our tendency is to move somewhere every 5 to 7 years,” Steve said. After nearly 7 years at 4123 Dapple Gray Ln, they were ready to downsize.

“Financially, it didn’t make sense to have that big of a house at this time in our lives,” Yasminah said.

The couple used Zillow to see how much homes were going for in their neighborhood, and worked with Raj Qsar of The Boutique Real Estate Group to attract potential buyers.

“I liked his use of technology,” Steve said. “He came in and showed uMohammad-family-bda0d6-1024x768s what he does with everything on an iPad.”

Qsar made a video of the home and posted it on YouTube. He also staged the house using the Mohammads’ existing furniture, which ended up being a huge selling point.

“The buyers came in and they liked the way it was staged, so they purchased everything — including the furniture,” Steve explained.

The offer was too good to turn down. The Mohammads moved out with nothing but their clothes, pots and pans — and smiles on their faces.

“Selling all the furnishings was a clean slate,” Steve said. “My wife loves that. It was an opportunity to change her style.”

Like many, Yasminah’s tastes in home decor have changed over time. She doesn’t like homes that are too contemporary or too traditional, but rather prefers something in between.

“I take mental notes if I like something,” Yasminah said. “Putting it all together is a fun process.”

The couple ended up buying a house just one mile from their previous home.

“We wanted to stick around in Yorba Linda as much as possible,” Steve said. “That, for us, was huge.”

Even though they didn’t travel far, Yasminah has enjoyed making a new home.

“It’s [our] haven, where [we] come home and can put away [our] worries and just relax,” she said.