Posts Tagged Luxury Real Estate


Houlihan Lawrence in London for Christie’s Global Conference

0 Comments By Anthony Cutugno on September 22nd, 2011
Tags: , ,      Categories: Houlihan Lawrence News, Luxury Country Properties

London 2 150x112 Houlihan Lawrence in London for Christies Global ConferenceLast week, our management team attended the annual Christie’s International Real Estate Conference in London – a gathering of Christie’s real estate affiliates from around the world. As the exclusive Christies affiliate serving our region, the event was a great opportunity to reconnect with Houlihan Lawrence’s international partners and showcase our premier listings.

Between visits to Christie’s new London headquarters, a tour of Buckingham Palace and dinner at the unforgettable national museum at Hertford House surrounded by Titians and Rembrandts, we shared strategies on how to meet the demands of the modern global consumer. 

christies conf 150x101 Houlihan Lawrence in London for Christies Global ConferenceEspecially fascinating was a report on the growing influence of the Chinese buyer in the luxury real estate arena. Now more than ever, selling luxury real estate is all about powerful international connections and our Christie’s partnership offers us extraordinary access to discerning buyers from around the world.

Houlihan Lawrence: London Report

0 Comments By Anthony Cutugno on December 15th, 2010
Tags: , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Luxury Country Properties, Luxury market, Market Conditions, Putnam, Uncategorized, Westchester

London: A Destination for Luxury Buyers

Tony at Mayfair 150x150 Houlihan Lawrence: London Report

Mayfair's Nick Churton and Anthony Cutugno

A global hub for luxury real estate, London is home to one of our premier European affiliates, Mayfair International Realty. Recently I was pleased to attend Mayfair’s annual conference, held at the Royal Air Force Club in fashionable Piccadilly, where over 350 luxury brokers, representing some of the highest priced properties in the UK and Europe, got together to discuss the state of the business in their respective markets.

Outlook 2011: A Stabilized Luxury Market in the UK and Europe

Spurred by reports of several high-end sales in London and Europe,  Nick Churton, Managing Director of Mayfair International Realty, reported on the improved outlook for next year especially for properties that are properly priced. Similar to the market conditions we see here in the New York area, European luxury properties priced for today’s marketplace are seeing activity while overpriced properties continue to languish. Whether you are in London or Paris or Bedford or Rye, homebuyers in every price range want a “deal” and pricing  will continue to be the driving force in today’s marketplace.

Marketing in the International Domain

It was a valuable experience to hear from these leading international brokers first-hand and a great chance to introduce our important estate properties to this esteemed group. Members particularly enjoyed hearing about Devonshire in Bedford Corners , named for the famed aristocratic clan, the dukes of Devonshire and their  ancestral seat, Chatsworth House in Britain. More and more , our international outreach and affiliation with the world’s leading experts in real estate  is critical to our success in the marketing of  our local estate properties,  where buyers can come from anywhere in the world.

Stellar Stairs

0 Comments By Anthony Cutugno on February 17th, 2010
Tags: , , , , , ,      Categories: Luxury Country Properties, Westchester

In many homes,  the main staircase often represents a visitor’s first glimpse of the architectural splendor and decorative style that lies beyond.  

Many of our area’s most distinguished estates are introduced by beautifully-designed staircases that are truly works of art. Whether elegantly curved or boldly ornate, here are a  few staircases that guarantee an impressive arrival.

Stairway 150x150 Stellar Stairs

Cassiobury in Bedford, a 1920s brick Georgian built with architectural elements reclaimed from one of England’s most important historic  houses, features a beautiful curved main staircase. It is a duplicate of the staircase taken from the original Cassiobury in England, the ancestral seat of the Earls of Essex, that was dismantled in the 1920s. The original staircase made its way to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and is still on display today.

foyer 1 copy low res 150x150 Stellar StairsThe split staircase capped by a soaring ceiling at Rockledge in Rye offers a dazzling introduction to this newly constructed, majestically scaled home.

 

 

Gallery 150x150 Stellar Stairs

The grand staircase at Devonshire in Bedford is highlighted by a Tiffany glass-domed ceiling, both original to the circa 1901 English-style country house set on over 100 acres.

 

 

Pool 2 150x150 Stellar StairsThe outdoor staircase at Fourviews in Bedford offers a striking approach to the oversized pool, patterned after the pool at Paradise Island’s famed Ocean Club Resort.

 

 

Foyer 150x150 Stellar StairsEntertaining on a grand scale can easily be accommodated in the entrance hall at Silver Oaks in Purchase, which spans 1300 square feet and hosts a magnificent floating staircase accented with hand-forged metal work.

“Less” is the new “More” in Luxury Real Estate

0 Comments By Anthony Cutugno on January 27th, 2010
Tags: , , ,      Categories: Buying, Luxury Country Properties, Luxury market, Market Conditions

Less conspicuous that is. From jewelry to luxury cars to luxury homes, reports are widespread that in response to our slowed economy and public opinion, the new luxury buyer is more restrained in their purchases than ever before.

But for those of us in the luxury real estate business, the good news is that high-end homebuyers are back in the market and buying.

Luxury home sales experienced a resurgence at the end of 2009 and based on our recent sales, first quarter 2010 promises to be even stronger.  Read more about the new habits of the affluent buyer in this recent New York Times article, “Ready to Spend, But Not To Boast”.

Tell us how the economy has changed the way you spend. Are you still holding back on major purchases, or are you experiencing the “frugal fatigue” cited in the article and finally treating yourself to some indulgences?

Quarries, Quarries Everywhere!

0 Comments By Anthony Cutugno on August 27th, 2009
Tags: , , , , , ,      Categories: Buying, Dutchess, Luxury Country Properties, Selling, Westchester

While many people are attracted to our region for its natural beauty,  many don’t realize that some of our area’s crystalline lakes were actually active quarries in the first half of the 20th century.

Now filled with water, these “retired” quarries offer some of the most dramatic scenery around – offering a ruggedly beautiful landscape that is more expected in the Adirondacks than in such close proximity to Manhattan.

By happy chance, two of these spectacular properties are available right now.

In Dutchess County, eighty-acre Clearwater Farm in Wingdale sits on a private 10-acre lake, a former marble quarry that dates back to the 1800s. For details and more photos visit the website. Click below for a Video Tour.

Sitting on the edge of a former rose quartz quarry in Westchester County, Quarry Lake in Bedford celebrates nature with a striking modernist home that showcases the remarkable surroundings. For more information and additional photos of Quarry Lake visit HoulihanLawrence.com

Elizabethan England Thrives in Bedford

0 Comments By Anthony Cutugno on August 3rd, 2009
Tags: , , , ,      Categories: Luxury Country Properties, Westchester

One of the most interesting estates we are currently marketing for sale is Cassiobury in Bedford, a magnificent brick Georgian built with architectural elements reclaimed from one of England’s great historic homes.

The original Cassiobury House in Watford, England was the home of the Earls of Essex for more than 250 years and dates back to the 1500′s.

Cassiobury Front 300x196 Elizabethan England Thrives in Bedford

Cassiobury - Offered at $9,800,000

Once one of England’s great historic homes, sadly Cassiobury fell into disrepair and was torn down in 1927.  But much of the Elizabethan-era rose colored bricks, fireplace mantels, staircases and fine old woodwork were preserved and subsequently offered for sale.

England’s loss was our gain when some of  the bricks and antique woodwork traveled across the Atlantic and was incorporated into the classic Bedford house that stands today.

Set on almost 24 acres with twin gatehouses, a barn and pool, the Bedford residence offers 6700 square feet of classical beauty, completely renovated for 21st century living. From its stately facade crafted with 16th century bricks to its serenely beautiful grounds,   Bedford’s Cassiobury more than lives up to its illustrious roots.

Read more about Cassiobury on Britain’s  Country Life Magazine’s website,  the UK’s premier resource for luxury real estate.

For more information on Cassiobury, please contact Linda Gracie at our Bedford Brokerage, 914.234.9099, lgracie@houlihanlawrence.com, or visit us at www.houlihanlawrence.com for a preview of all our luxury listings.

Highest Sales of the Year

0 Comments By Anthony Cutugno on July 31st, 2009
Tags: , ,      Categories: Buying, Luxury Country Properties, Market Conditions, Selling, Westchester

While top-tier sales in First Half 2009 have slowed dramatically, a handful of recent sales hint at renewed interest in estate-caliber properties, the hardest hit segment of our local real estate downturn.

For example, our sale of a vintage brick Georgian Colonial on 2.5 acres in Milton Point, Rye ranks as one of the region’s highest sales this year.

Milton Point Front1 300x200 Highest Sales of the Year

Rye Residence - SOLD

Brokers Donna McElwee and Diana Plunkett of the Houlihan Lawrence Rye Brokerage represented the seller and buyer respectively on this property, last offered at $6,995,000.

Another southern Westchester County property in Scarsdale, most recently offered at $6,750,000 also ranked among the highest sales regionwide.

Also a brick Georgian Colonial, a popular architectural style for estate properties, this home was accompanied by a pool, tennis court and guest cottage.

Morris Lane Living Room2 300x200 Highest Sales of the Year

Scarsdale Residence - SOLD

The transaction was handled by Eileen Brennan and Deborah Glasser, both of Houlihan Lawrence’s Scarsdale Brokerage.