The Cambridge model, by Borelli Homes, located at 1235 Gordon River Trail within The Estuary at Grey Oaks, has sold.
Completed in September 2011 and sold in December 2011, the custom home was listed for $6,700,000.
Specifics of the property include 8,800 square feet under air, six bedrooms, including a private two-story apartment, eight full baths and two half-baths, a library and loft area.
“The expedited sale of this custom-built home speaks to the continued interest and confidence of the luxury homebuyer to purchase in The Estuary,” said Todd Kendall, Director of Sales for The Lutgert Companies.
“The Estuary has a city location with the feel of country club living. The homesites are exceptional in size with views of lake and golf course—there is no area in Naples to rival its attributes. “
Additional highlights of The Cambridge include a city-chic kitchen with black slab granite counters contrasted by stainless steel accents and white cabinetry. The island is generous in size to use as a food prep area and breakfast bar with chair seating.
The family room boasts a dramatic coffered ceiling and opens to a spacious outdoor living area that includes a summer kitchen, fireplace, pool and spa. The master suite has an inviting sitting area and his-and-her baths. Rounding out the unique characteristics offered in this home include an elevator, a private guest casita, and 4-car plus golf cart garage.
New construction activity in this golfing community continues at a swift pace with custom homes currently under construction by builders BCB Homes, London Bay Homes, Covelli Development Group, and Harwick Homes. Five additional homes are slated for construction to commence this season.
The Estuary is joint venture between The Lutgert Companies and Barron Collier Companies, renowned leaders in the luxury real estate industry. Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is the exclusive sales and marketing representative of Estuary at Grey Oaks, and division of The Lutgert Companies. Models are open daily. Visit the Estuary at Grey Oaks on-site Sales Center located at 1220 Gordon River Trail. The Estuary is located off Golden Gate Parkway just west of Airport-Pulling Road or call 239-261-3148. www.estuaryatgreyoaks.com.
About Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is a division of The Lutgert Companies founded in 1984 by Chairman Scott F. Lutgert. The firm has offices strategically located from Marco Island to Bonita Springs to Clearwater with headquarters in Naples, FL. The Lutgert Companies has operated in Southwest Florida since 1964, when Raymond L. Lutgert started the development of Park Shore, which includes 17 luxury high-rises. The Lutgert Companies is also developing the high-rises at Bonita Bay. In addition, The Lutgert Companies has developed two golf course communities, various shopping centers and office buildings including Estuary at Grey Oaks, Linville Ridge, The Village on Venetian Bay, The Promenade, The Northern Trust Building, and most recently, Mercato, a mixed-use center in North Naples. The Lutgert Companies also owns Lutgert Title, Lutgert Insurance, Premier Commercial, and Signature Sotheby’s International Realty, with three offices in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Venice.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc.
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. In February 2004, Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system by Realogy’s subsidiary, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.
The Lutgert Companies announced the redesign of its welcome center and sales office in the Blue Ridge Mountain development of Linville Ridge in North Carolina.
Renowned Stan Topol & Associates of Atlanta, Georgia were retained as the design firm to work under the direction of The Lutgert Companies CEO, Scott Lutgert.
“When members or potential buyers walk into our new welcome/sales center, we want them to immediately feel what Linville is all about,” said Scott Lutgert. “It is more than great golf, it is about family, a place to getaway and feel at peace, but most of all a place to call home.”
The enhancements include first level welcome reception and mailroom with special flooring, straw treated walls and furnishings to bring about a relaxed atmosphere. A custom railing, distinct to Linville Ridge, was installed on the stairwell, which leads up to the Linville Ridge Sotheby’s International Realty sales center.
Expansive windows are positioned to bring in the majestic mountain views so potential buyers experience the Linville Ridge lifestyle. A model of “the Ridge” is displayed. Walls were finished with a fabric covering and trimmed with extensive wooden detail. A powder room, morning kitchen and family-style furnishings were added.
“As with all our clients, I sit down and discuss their vision, said Stan Topol. “We talk about the message they want to convey to clients, and functionality of the space, and then customize to build around those concepts.”
The Linville Ridge golf course is the highest elevation golf course east of the Mississippi River. Of the retreats total 1800 acres, 157 are dedicated to golf. The development offers a range of properties for sale to include estate homes, town homes, cottages and homesites. A spa, tennis, kid’s activities, pool, hiking trails, bridge, croquet and multiple dining venues come with a variety of memberships offered in the community.
Under the tutelage of acclaimed interior design master, Billy Baldwin, Stan Topol co founded Stan Topol and Associates in the mid 70s. The firm’s distinctive style is chronicled in countless publications including Atlanta Magazine, Southern Magazine, Southern Accents, Interior Design, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, Interiors of the World, Elle Decor, Veranda Magazine and Architectural Digest.
The Lutgert Companies are also developing the luxury residential communities of The Estuary at Grey Oaks and The Strada at Mercato in Naples, Florida; and The High-Rises at Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty announced that the “Mariana” model at 1280 Osprey Trail in Estuary at Grey Oaks has sold. The classically designed model by Covelli Development Group features 6,910 square feet of indoor living space with six bedrooms, five full baths, a powder room, pool bath, theater room, cherry wood paneled library and an 1,100-bottle temperature controlled Malaysian mahogany wine room.
The “Mariana” is Estuary’s first green new model home certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition and has won several awards from the building industry. Besting over 220 entries in the 2010 Aurora Awards, the “Mariana” won Best Home in the category of single family homes over $3,000,001. The Aurora competition covers a 12-state region of builders, developers, architects, planners, interior merchandisers, landscape architects and other disciplines demonstrating excellence in building and design.
The “Mariana” also earned awards for Best Home over $3.5 million, Best Kitchen Design, Best Theatre, Best Outdoor Living, Best Master Suite and Best Interior Design by the Collier Building Industry Association at their 2010 Sand Dollars competition.
Covelli Development Group is a Naples-based, custom-home builder in Southwest Florida, and one of the preferred custom-home builders at Estuary at Grey Oaks.
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is the exclusive representative of Estuary at Grey Oaks, and the real estate division of the Lutgert Companies. Estuary’s sales center is off Golden Gate Parkway, immediately west of Airport-Pulling Road N. Online at www.estuaryatgreyoaks.
About Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is a division of The Lutgert Companies founded in 1984 by Chairman Scott F. Lutgert. The firm has offices strategically located between Bonita Springs and Marco Island with headquarters in Naples, FL. The Lutgert Companies also owns Lutgert Title, Lutgert Insurance, Premier Commercial, and Signature Sotheby’s International Realty, with three offices in the Sarasota region.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc.
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. In February 2004, Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system by Realogy’s subsidiary, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.
Joshua Bahoff bought a three- bedroom luxury condominium in Naples, Florida, in December for $235,000, about one-third of the price that the seller paid near the height of the U.S. housing boom.
“It was a great deal,” said Bahoff, 59, a Philadelphia dentist who plans to spend one week a month every winter in the 2,700-square-foot (250-square-meter) property in Fiddler’s Creek, a residential and golf development south of the city’s downtown historic district on the Gulf of Mexico. “We can’t see this market going down any lower.”
While much of Florida’s real estate market remains depressed by foreclosures, buyers seeking a second home in the state’s affluent vacation enclaves are “finally getting off the fence,” Karen Van Arsdale, an agent at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in Naples, said in a telephone interview.
Sales in the Naples area last year rose 10 percent, the first annual increase in at least five years, while the median price for homes listed at $300,000 or more gained 4 percent to $544,000, according to data compiled by the Naples Area Board of Realtors. About half of the properties in the market are second homes, and discounts from 2006 peak prices average about 25 percent, said Brenda Fioretti, president of the group.
“Wealth determines housing, and the good places pick up first,” Karl Case, 64, a professor emeritus in economics at Wellesley College in Massachusetts who has been visiting Naples since a family vacation took him there when he was 13, said in a telephone interview. “For people with deep pockets, it’s generally a flight to quality.”
Atlantic Coast
Resort towns on Florida’s Atlantic coast are starting to follow the lead of Naples, said Patricia Fitzgerald, president of the Florida Realtors. Sales in Boca Raton, Jupiter and West Palm Beach rose 32 percent for existing houses and 40 percent for condos in February from a year earlier, according to the group.
Rising stock prices and the decision by President Barack Obama and Congress not to increase tax rates in 2011 contributed to the surge in deals, according to Van Arsdale. Record cold temperatures in parts of the Midwest and Northeast this winter “nudged people” to make real estate purchases they’d been putting off, she said.
Home values in South Florida markets may show a “surprise upward” trend while U.S. prices remain flat this year, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist in Washington for the National Association of Realtors.
“Given that they are historical vacation destinations for the wealthy, and the stock market having risen so much, it’s possible that they get a nice snap back even though I’m calling for no change nationwide,” Yun said.
International Buyers
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, a benchmark for U.S. equities, has risen 91 percent since reaching a 12-year low in March 2009.
International buyers seeking to protect their wealth with U.S. hard assets may also buoy South Florida, according to a June 2010 report by the Chicago-based Realtors association. Florida properties accounted for 22 percent of all purchases made by buyers from outside the U.S. in the 12 months ended in April, the most of any state, according to the report.
The surge in Naples luxury prices contrasts with much of Florida’s housing market, where values are falling amid a glut of foreclosed properties. Loan servicers have been slow to resume home seizures as state attorneys general investigate mortgage-industry practices such as robo-signing, or using employees to sign affidavits and other documents, according to RealtyTrac Inc.
Foreclosure Ranking
Florida’s ranking of foreclosure filings per household fell to eighth among states last month from second in September, before the robo-signing controversy broke, the Irvine, California-based data seller said March 10. Florida ranked second in the number of filings sent to property owners with 18,760.
“The foreclosure market is completely dysfunctional,” said Michael Olenick, founder of LegalPrise Inc., a data seller based in Palm Beach that focuses on distressed properties. “People have given up finding a really cheap foreclosure.”
WCI Communities Inc., a Florida homebuilder that emerged from bankruptcy in September 2009, has “aggressively” reduced peak prices by as much as 40 percent at nine of its developments around the state, including three in Naples, Chief Executive Officer David Fry said in an interview.
The Bonita Springs-based builder, which cut its staff from 4,000 to 600, expects to sell 300 units this year and almost double that number in 2012, he said.
Land Prices
“The stock market has favorably affected confidence in recent months,” Fry said as he sat on the back patio of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Golf Resort in Naples, which WCI developed in 2002 as part of its Tiburon community. The hotel hosts the Naples Winter Wine Festival, a charity auction and social event that raised $12 million in January, 48 percent more than last year.
Land prices are rising as the real estate recovery takes hold, according to Steve Hagenbuckle, managing principal of real estate investment firm TerraCap Management Corp. in Cape Coral, Florida. Undeveloped land with zoning approvals in Estero, north of Naples, sold to a public builder he declined to name for $40,000 per quarter-acre lot. Eight months ago, Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL) bought similar land for $10,000, he said.
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty sold 41 Naples residences priced at $2 million or more this year through March 17, a gain of 14 percent over the same period in 2010, according to Lutgert Cos., a Naples property developer that owns the brokerage. There were 55 sales of homes priced between $1 million and $2 million, an increase of 17 percent, President Howard Gutman said in an e-mail.
Closing the Deal
“The buyers are value-conscious, but they’re making decisions,” said Van Arsdale, who brokered four transactions for a combined $27 million since Christmas. The properties sold for about 30 percent less than peak prices, she said.
Richard Azrael, 65, wanted to buy last year at WCI’s Marquesa subdivision next to the Ritz-Carlton until the company bankruptcy delayed his purchase. Last month, he closed on a three-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot condo and golf membership for $720,000, saving about $80,000 over the 2010 price, he said.
“We’ve been thinking of this for several years, and we felt that if we were going to do it, we should do it now,” said Azrael, a real estate developer from Columbia, Maryland. “We’ve been spending a lot of time in Florida on both coasts, and we happen to like the pace and environment in Naples.”
Interstate Access
Naples, with a bay like its namesake Italian city, was developed in the late 1880s by John S. Williams, a U.S. senator from Kentucky, and Walter Haldeman, publisher of the state’s Louisville Courier-Journal. They built homes, a pier and a 16- room hotel, according to the Naples Historical Society website.
The town, about 170 miles (270 kilometers) south of Tampa, remained “a small, lovely oasis along the Gulf of Mexico” until the 1950s, the website says.
After U.S. Interstate 75 was extended from Tampa to Naples and international service began at Southwest Florida Airport, Ritz-Carlton opened the first of its two hotels, a resort on Vanderbilt Beach near downtown, in 1985.
“That put Naples on the map,” Gutman said.
Midwest residents had always been the core vacation group, driving south on I-75, and now they were joined by air travelers and international visitors, Gutman said.
The office portion of the Mercato commercial development, a Lutgert joint venture with Barron Collier Cos. that opened in late 2008, is 83 percent leased with tenants including securities brokers Merrill Lynch & Co. and Wells Fargo Advisors, Gutman said.
Click here for more on Naples Housing Market. Via Bloomberg.com.
RISMEDIA, February 26, 2011—Recent increases in significant sales for the high-end real estate market underscore the need for brokers and agents in this segment to think outside the box when it comes to providing financial options that can help close a sale. Here, Philip White, President and Chief Operating Officer at Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC discusses how real estate professionals can take advantage of the unique value the high-end real estate market holds.
Buyers are recognizing the unique value that high-end real estate presents as part of a long-term strategy for building wealth. Often, potential buyers move from the sidelines into action based on the different ways that a deal can be structured financially.
Below are some tips for making that happen. As a standard practice, all tax-related questions should be referred to a tax advisor.
Financial Structure: For large pieces of real estate, subdividing the property into separate parcels can allow a buyer to structure the financing more creatively.
In some cases, the seller can take back a first mortgage on the undeveloped parcels instead of a second, which is more common. This provides greater protection for the seller, making this concept more enticing for a buyer. The buyer can then sell those adjacent parcels and pay down the overall debt on the property.
Incentives: Sometimes closing a transaction can require unique financial incentives. For example, a property exchange allows a buyer to transfer a current real estate holding as part of the purchase price and defer the capital gains tax under certain conditions.
In 2010, Peaks Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty in Telluride, Colorado, sold Bootjack Ranch for approximately $46.5 million, a price point that at the time was the highest known for a residential sale within the United States in the previous 12 months. By incorporating this type of exchange, the broker handling the sale overcame the buyer’s objection that he had another property to sell.
Tax Benefits: Buyers with a high income should be aware of the tax benefits available to them through conservation easements. Transferring the development rights of a tract of land to a nonprofit easement group provides the buyer with a way to take certain tax deductions based on the appraised value of the donation.
Click here for more on High-End Real Estate Provides Unique Value.
RISMEDIA, December 30, 2010—In 2004, when the Sotheby’s International Realty brand launched a full franchise system, the real estate market couldn’t have been much hotter. In the years since then, the high-end market—like the rest of real estate—has seen quite a swing. Yet, the brand continues to thrive…even considering 2010 to be a favorable year for high-end transactions. Here CEO Mike Good and Philip White, president and COO, discuss the brand’s initial focus, its evolution and why a name—Sotheby’s—can be so powerful.
Stephanie Andre: Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC began its franchising model close to seven years ago. Can you discuss the brand’s evolution since it launched?
Mike Good: We began this journey with a huge gift: the name Sotheby’s and the heritage that’s tied to that. After the legalities, brand development and overall preparation for launch, we’ve been actively awarding franchises for just over six years and, since then, we’ve grown at a very steady pace.
We are currently operational in 42 countries worldwide, with approximately 500 offices. We have close to 185 companies worldwide as part of the Sotheby’s International Realty network; approximately 142 of them are in the U.S.
Over the past few years, as the market’s changed, we’re still thrilled and very appreciative of the quality growth we’ve had. Part of that is due to the wonderful name we carry and license. The Sotheby’s name represents integrity, quality and reliability, and we are proud to be part of that legacy.
We have remained steadfastly committed to our goals, which remain unchanged: building our network with quality firms and helping them be successful, remaining true to our focus on building a unique value proposition, and showcasing the power of our name and heritage.
SA: To what do you attribute the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s success?
MG: Our success is really built on three factors. The heritage of this extraordinary brand is first and foremost. The name Sotheby’s provides consumers with the confidence that they are working with quality. Second is the growing network of firms and professionals that represent this brand every day in the world’s top luxury real estate markets. They are committed to the art of selling real estate. And third would be the tools and systems we have designed to help our affiliates be the best they can be and differentiate themselves in their markets.
As the Sotheby’s International Realty brand has evolved, we’ve developed a truly distinctive marketing platform. Through our unique programs, we are able to provide our franchisees and, in turn, their agents with great value.
Phillip White: We were able to take our brand name and put it together with a great value proposition that really speaks to brokers in the luxury market. All of this has resonated with them and as a result, many have chosen to affiliate with us. Many attribute affiliating with the Sotheby’s International Realty brand as having significantly contributed to improved results. This is especially true in traditionally high-end markets like Hong Kong, Aspen, Paris and Telluride. Not to sound cliché, but it really is quality over quantity.
That’s one of the things that is important to us as a company: when we look back, we can be proud that so many quality companies want to be part of the Sotheby’s International Realty network.
SA: How has the brand changed since its inception?
MG: In our early years, the focus was really to increase awareness for the brand so that people knew who we were and that we were establishing a global footprint. That focus was very effective in helping people understand that, through us, they could search throughout the world for luxury homes. Once we grew to the point that our sign was proudly displayed on more than 26,000 homes, we began to focus more on driving leads to our network. We are centered on promoting the brand through interactive marketing as we believe that is the key to success in today’s environment. As a result, we’ve been able to drive consumers to our websites and deliver leads to affiliates.
But at the core of all of our efforts from the very beginning, and through today, is quality and a focus on lifestyle. That permeates everything we do, from our marketing to the way you can search for a home on our website.
SA: What have you seen from the luxury market as the overall market’s shifted downward?
PW: The luxury market is a bit different. This year, in the first six months, we saw twice as many million-dollar transactions for the same time period in 2009. We’ve also seen an uptick in the sale of properties in the $2.5 to $5 million range and even higher.
The high-end market has done better than expected. Unlike the rest of the market, it’s getting stronger. The value proposition in the high-end arena has also strengthened. Given that the stock market has improved and interest rates are low, it has brought buyers back to the high-end market. And, because it’s still a buyer’s market, they’ve been able to make some really great investments for their money.
SA: How does the Sotheby’s International Realty brand keep strong, even during market downturns?
PW: Our strategy is to stay with our game plan. We have focused on helping our companies grow and expand their market share so they could earn a larger portion of the business. Through all of this, we actually were able to improve our lead generation and spent time refining our skill sets for high-end clients.
SA: What are the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s goals for the short term and long term?
MG: We’ve been very consistent in our focus and that will continue. One of our key priorities is quality growth in markets we are not currently serving, both domestically and internationally. We will also remain focused on existing markets where there are opportunities for our affiliates to grow through mergers and acquisitions. And we will continue to develop strategies that differentiate our brand and strengthen our unique positioning in the marketplace.
For more information, visit www.sir.com.
Tavira
Wide open floor plans that open to wide terraces offering spectacular views of the Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico will be experienced by all residents of Tavira.
Elegant design with masterful detail are the foundation for a lifestyle that includes world-class golf, a private marina, miles of hiking and jogging trails and everything you have come to expect from the Lutgert Companies residences in Bonita Bay.
The views of the Gulf of Mexico, the perfect union of carefree living and unparalleled recreation, the links, the sand, the dance floor are in balance with coastal nature and good health.
Bonita Bay’s five courses represent a unique level of artistry. The Marsh, Creekside and Bay Island courses are Arthur Hills masterpieces. Tom Fazio’s Cypress and Sabal courses challenge and delight golfers of every level.
Click here for more on Tavira.
Judy Green, President & CEO of Signature Sotheby's International Realty & Premier Sotheby's International Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced that Premier Properties of Southwest Florida, Inc., in Naples, Fla., has joined its luxury real estate network and now will do business as Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. Premier Sotheby’s International Realty will continue to be a wholly owned subsidiary of The Lutgert Companies, with Scott F. Lutgert as chairman.
“It has been our long-held objective to bring the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s services to Naples,” said Michael R. Good, chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “Our goal was to find the ideal company to represent us in this critically important luxury real estate market, and I believe we have done that. Our worldwide network of affiliates now can benefit from this additional valuable source of referrals, and consumers in this market now will have access to our global reach.”
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and its team of 225 professionals join the Sotheby’s International Realty network’s more than 11,000 sales associates located in approximately 500 offices in 42 countries and territories worldwide.
“This is a long-term strategic move and will serve to solidify our corporate footprint and reach,” said Lutgert. “We’re extremely proud of the reputation for excellence that we’ve created, and we look forward to our new affiliation with the Sotheby’s International Realty brand. In addition to extending our immediate geographic reach, this affiliation will enhance our ability to serve our luxury clients and is a major milestone for The Lutgert Companies.”
In a related transaction, Premier Properties of Southwest Florida also has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Signature Sotheby’s International Realty, effective Nov. 15. The firm will continue to operate as Signature Sotheby’s International Realty in Sarasota and Manatee Counties under the leadership of Judy Green, its current president and chief executive officer, who will now serve in a dual role as president and chief executive officer for Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.
According to Green, the Signature Sotheby’s International Realty team looks forward to joining forces with the Premier Properties organization and the Lutgert family. “This is a story of two luxury real estate leaders bringing together their complementary strengths,” said Green. “The result, we believe, will be a new energy within our company and an increasing competitive advantage in the Naples and Sarasota markets combined as we look to the future. In our new organizational structure, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and Signature Sotheby’s International Realty will enjoy the No. 1 market share position for transactions more than $1 million in southwest Florida from Longboat Key to Marco Island.”
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and Signature Sotheby’s International Realty listings will be marketed on the www.sothebysrealty.com global website. In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firms’ brokers and clients will benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. In February 2004, Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system by Realogy’s subsidiary, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.
The Rotary Club of Bonita Springs Noon will host International Fest 2010 on Thursday, October 7, 2010 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.at The Mercato on US 41 in North Naples. The event features a beer and wine tasting at all Mercato restaurants. There will be an after party starting at 8:00 at Blue Martini with live music for those who wish to continue enjoying the evening.
The event is open to the public. Attendees will receive a souvenir beer-tasting mug or wine glass to taste the various international beers or wines. In addition, restaurants and several retail outlets will serve complimentary hors d’oeuvres and provide gift bags. Passports will also allow participants to attend an after party at Blue Martini, so that no cover charge will apply.
Restaurants participating in the tasting event include AZN Azian Cuisine, Blue Martini, Bravo! Cucina Italiana, McCormick & Schmick’s, Piola Famosi Per La Pizza, Pure, Silverspot, Stage 62 Deli, The Capital Grille and The Pub.
Retail stores participating by offering gift certificates for the raffle, gift bags or hors d’oeuvres the evening of the event are: Sur La Table, Whole Foods, Spectacles, Bobby Chan, and others.
Passports include a registration form good for one entry into a grand prize drawing of an All-clad® 3 quart sauce pan from Sur La Table, a $250.00 value. Raffle tickets may be purchased for $1.00 each for a chance to win gift certificates from the Mercato restaurants and retail stores.
Passports may be purchased in advance for $25.00 by calling Nelson Marine at 239-992-6645 or the night of the event while supplies last for $30.00. Cash, Visa and Mastercard will be accepted. Advance tickets may be purchased and picked up at the International Fest 2010 Will Call on the sidewalk across from Blue Martini.
Proceeds from the evening’s event will benefit The Bonita Springs Assistance Office, Kids Against Hunger, Grace Place in Golden Gate (Naples), Bonita Nature Place and The Rotary Club of Bonita Springs Noon Foundation which supports various local charities and scholarships throughout the year in Lee and Collier counties.
This event is made possible in part with additional support from Coastal Beverage, Republic Wines, Baird Wealth Management, Bentley Naples, Naples Daily News and The Lutgert Companies.
The editors of Golf Inc. magazine announced that Linville Ridge Country Club, in Linville, North Carolina, has been selected as the winner in the $1.6 Million-$4 Million project category of the 2009 Golf Inc. “Renovation of the Year Competition”.
This year’s entries for Renovation of the Year were exceptional,” said Katina Cavagnaro, publisher of Golf, Inc. “We are honored to highlight these outstanding renovation projects from some of the world’s most distinguished operators and notable courses.”
All winners and finalists will be recognized in the summer issue of Golf Inc. magazine. Judges for the competition were John Harbottle of John Harbottle Design, Jeff Brauer of GolfScapes and Doc Belitz of OB Sports.
This winning entry began 25 years ago when Raymond Lutgert and son, Scott, brought in an engineering firm from Augusta, Georgia to determine how a golf course could be constructed on the mountain. They looked on top of the mountain and then at some lower, flatter terrain along the northern end of the property and after careful examination and consideration, the decision was made to build the course on the Blue Ridge Mountaintop because of the incredible views. However, a few years ago, as the club approached its milestone anniversary, Scott Lutgert began to reassess the course’s conditions.
“We have a lot of pride in our course, and we want to remain one of the premier courses in North Carolina,” said Scott. “I really liked the Olde Farm Golf Club near Bristol, VA; which Bobby Weed designed, so I had him examine our course,” said Scott Lutgert, referring to the layout that Golf Digest ranked as the best new private course in America in 2000.
Weed’s opinion of the course was mixed. “The decision and investment to build the course right on the mountaintop was inspired, but the details of the layout were showing their age.”
In particular, Weed felt the bunkering could be much improved. Most of Linville Ridge’s holes had bunkers guarding the front of the greens. Weed opened up the front of the greens to create an option for shots to reach them by air as well as by ground. Many of the bunkers had evolved into ovals of similar size and shape. Weed established more broken lines in keeping with the rugged mountain terrain and revised their positioning to reflect the modern game.
“When the course was built,” Weed continued, “people used persimmon drivers and balata balls. Our objective was to improve the playability and interest of each golf hole to reflect the technology today. We wanted to provide a fun and interesting experience for all golfers by giving them strategic choices. We altered the placing of bunkers, varied their size, shape, depth and location. Some tees were shifted for better angles. We created more options for all calibers of players, thus making for a more fun and interesting round.”
Linville Ridge holds the distinction as the highest course east of the Mississippi. “What makes this place so special from the other area courses is that you are looking down on everything,” said Weed. “You are on top of the world and the course tumbles around the ridges. We simply added character to freshen it up.”
Linville Ridge’s Chief Operating Officer, Steve Sheets, oversaw the renovation, which was completed in spring 2009. Concludes Sheets, “When I look down at the dramatic bunkering around number thirteen green, it looks like we have a brand new golf course again, and I cannot help but smile.”
About Linville Ridge
Construction began in 1980 by developer Raymond Lutgert and his son Scott, Linville Ridge is a luxury mountain golf course retreat located in the western North Carolina Mountains near Blowing Rock, Boone and Asheville. Linville Ridge offers exclusive North Carolina real estate with spectacular views of Grandfather Mountain, the Mile-high swinging bridge and 50 miles of mountain vistas. The course has been recognized as one of the Top 25 courses in North Carolina. Golf Reporter named it one of North Carolina’s favorite courses and Golfweek reported it as one of the Top 50 courses in the Southeastern United States.
About Bobby Weed Golf Design
Bobby Weed began his architect career working under the tutelage of Pete Dye and later as the Chief Designer for the PGA TOUR. Weed worked on a number of TPC courses, including TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship, before establishing his own firm in 1995. Today, Bobby Weed Golf Design is an internationally recognized leader in the development of golf courses and golf course communities. Based in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Bobby Weed Golf Design offers their clients a refreshing and contrasting style that represents the difference in successful golf development today.
About George Cobb
George Cobb, who had designed several mountain courses in the past, was recommended as the best person to design the course for the Linville Ridge project. High country golfers are quite familiar with Cobb’s work of over 75 golf courses. Local favorites include Hound Ears, Mountain Glen and High Meadows. The most notable course in Cobb’s portfolio is the par-three course at Augusta National. Assisted by Bobby Jones, Cobb made several significant design changes at Augusta National’s famed Masters Course. Linville Ridge would be Cobb’s last course.
Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Linville Ridge, created by The Lutgert Companies, is a spectacular mountaintop golf community. The private country club retreat features an outstanding collection of residences, eight Har-Tru tennis courts, a European-style spa, a fitness center, hiking trails, an international croquet court, golf and tennis pro shops, a heated swimming pool, a variety of culinary options and a 30,000 square-foot Clubhouse. For more information, call (800) 898-5150 or online at www.Linvilleridge.com.
