Archive for December, 2007

Monday Morning MOJO 12/31/07

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Happy New Year MOJO,

As we start a New Year today lets all make a commitment to turn up the heat at least one more degree in 2008 and see what happens. So many times in life the gap between what we have and what we want seems so far apart…but most of the time it is not nearly as far apart as we think. Click this link, watch the video and then turn up YOUR heat at least one degree to make 2008 your best year yet!!!!

http://www.walkthetalk.com/the212movie.php?refsource=vm212prairie

Here are 5 Simple Tricks to Achieving Your New Years Resolutions…HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

1. Get specific

A vague goal is as useful as no goal at all…general ideas about what you want give you nothing to work with and nowhere to go. Its only when you get specific about what you want that the path to success is revealed. Take time to narrow down your resolutions into specific ideas and turn your vague goals into crystal-clear goals.

2. Spread the word

Dont keep your goals all to yourself. The more you share your goals with others, the more life you give to those goals. It gives them the chance to grow and gain momentum. So, tell at least two other people about your goals, and be sure not to make the mistake of giving without receiving; spend just as much time listening to ideas as you did in sharing your own.

3. Buddy up

When it comes to living a better life, few things are as powerful or persuasive as a living, breathing human being. Books, tapes, etc. can help you along, but nothing can compare to one-on-one interaction. The buddy system is one of the most effective goal-achievement tools you can use. By partnering with a goal-seeker, youll have all the support you need to achieve anything you set your mind to.

4. Burn the bridge

While preparing his next book, a famous writer listed his weight at fifty pounds lighter than reality. Not only that, but he did so knowing full well that only months after publication he would be paraded in front of thousands of his biggest fans. Why? To burn the bridge of easy escape. He knew he needed to lose the weight, but he also knew he would give up on the goal without any pressure to follow through. By promising his public a fifty-pound weight loss, he had no choice but to achieve the goal. What steps can you take today to burn the bridge of an easy escape and commit yourself to living a better life?

5. Do something – NOW

As they say, theres no better time than the present, and when it comes to living a better life, they couldnt be more right. The true power of taking one small step comes not in the small step of progress youll make, but in the act of doing something about the things you want. As you know, getting started is often the most difficult part of the process. Millions of people dream, but few actually ever take action…and that is why it is critical that you do something today. Think of one small step you can take right now that will bring you closer to accomplishing your goal and once you have it in mind, DO IT!!!!!! Dont think about it…dont consider it…JUST DO IT NOW!!!!!!

Happy New Year,

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” Lance Armstrong


Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 650.622.1225 or 408.342.3001
Email:
TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com


Monday Morning MOJO 12/24/07

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Merry Christmas MOJO,

I have shared this video before, but it seemed perfect to share again for Christmas…it will put a smile on your face. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!!!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

There are people who prefer to say “Yes” and there are people who prefer to say “No”. Those who say “Yes” are rewarded by the adventures they have, and those who say “No” are rewarded by the safety they attain…


Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 650.622.1225 or 408.342.3001
Email:
TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com


Intero Opens New Office in Roseville

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Led by Barry Mathis, it will serve the greater Sacramento area
Gino BlefariWe’ve recently opened a new office in Sacramento, California. Headed by Broker/Owner Barry Mathis, Intero Roseville opened its doors two months ago and now has 13 agents on board.

This location serves the entire Sacramento Valley area from Oroville to Elk Grove and from Woodland to Placerville.

Barry says there are still great investment opportunities available in Sacramento. For example, right now he’s looking for a buyer on a cash flowing set of four–plexes that are a steal in this market. Intero Roseville also offers property management services for their investor clients.

Contact Barry directly, if you’d like to find out about what’s going on with real estate in the area. He’s pretty optimistic for 2008, saying “I’m looking forward to great things for our office.”


Intero Roseville (Sacramento Valley)
970 Reserve Drive Suite #115
Roseville, Ca 95678

Phone: 916.813.7653 (Direct)
888.688.2828 (Toll Free)

Contact: Barry V. Mathis
Managing Broker, AARE, ePro
BMathis@InteroRealEstate.com



Intero Resorts Presents: The Chateau at Heavenly Village

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South Lake Tahoe’s luxury hotel-condominium is now accepting priority reservations
We’ve gotten word from the folks at S&P Destination Properties that they’re now accepting priority reservations for the new, luxury hotel-condominium project in South Lake Tahoe, The Chateau at Heavenly Village. The Chateau (see below) will be the first whole ownership opportunity at Heavenly Village.

The Chateau at Heavenly Village is part of the massive revitalization that’s taking place in South Lake Tahoe, started back in 1999 when the city broke ground on the construction of Heavenly Village (completed in 2006) and brought in The Marriott Grand Residence Club and The Marriott’s Timber Lodge. Today, The Village is essentially the heart of South Lake Tahoe, with its heated cobblestone sidewalks, wooden archways, covered walkways, open bonfire pits, 8-plex cinema, more than 40 shops, ice rink and more. In the center of it all is the new Heavenly Gondola providing visitors the opportunity to ski or just view the beauty of Lake Tahoe from above.

The Chateau at Heavenly VillageThe Chateau is unique in that it will be the first whole ownership opportunity at Heavenly Village, intertwining the RockResorts signature informal elegance and lavish authenticity with the area’s year-round entertainment and outdoor adventures. First class resort amenities include a 16,000-square-foot RockResorts Spa™, 50,000-square-foot state-of-the-art conference and events center holding up to 5,000 in one area, 24-hour in room dinning, underground valet parking and 24-hour concierge service.

Owners can stroll out their doors to the unique shops and restaurants of Heavenly Village, and they are just steps away from the Heavenly Gondola, offering owners instant access to the ski slopes in winter and miles of hiking trails in the summer. Or, they can take a short walk down to the Lakeside Beach and Marina.

S&P is offering an Exclusive Priority Reservation Program, where potential buyers submit a fully refundable deposit that secures priority access to information before it is released to the general public as well as a spot on the list to attend a private sales selection event to be held later this winter.

The first release of The Chateau at Heavenly Village will include 129 fully furnished studio, one-, two- and three–bedroom luxury hotel-condominiums starting at just under $500,000. Construction began this summer, with an anticipated completion date of early winter 2009 in time for the height of the ski season.

The Mountain itself is going to be seeing many more improvements in the coming years, according to Heavenly Mountain Resort, a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. For 2007-08 Heavenly has added a new chair, a ZipRider cable ride, four new trails, more snowmaking and grooming capacity to what was already the West Coast’s largest system, a healthy food initiative and a host of environmental improvements. And, the company has a master plan for continual improvements for the next decade.


WATCH VIDEO OF THE CHATEAU AT HEAVENLY VILLAGE


To learn more about The Chateau at Heavenly Village, click here.
For more information on Heavenly, click here.

To inquire about Priority Reservations, contact:

Jeff Cleeland
Director of Sales, S&P Destination Properties
866-422-0919
jcleeland@sprealestate.com


Monday Morning MOJO 12/17/07

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Good Morning MOJO,

This is a great one about what it takes to become a winner…to be a Masters winner:

By luck of the draw, my seatmate on a flight back to Charlotte was Zach Johnson. You may have only recently heard of him. He just won the Masters Golf Tournament.

A nice, friendly, family man, and (oh yeah) he just won the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. He beat the master (Tiger Woods) to become the master.

We began to talk “golf.” And I began to take notes. When a champion begins to espouse feelings and philosophies, I become the master — the master student.

Heres what I learned about the master golfer and his approach to the game:

He doesnt get upset at a bad shot or a bad round.

He plays consistent as a golfer and a golf strategist.

He stays in the hunt and is always there to make a run at winning.

He doesnt get nervous at the end of a round. (One of the first questions I asked Zach was whether he was nervous on the 18th at Augusta. “No,” he said. “I just played to win. And played my best.”)

He plays for fun. (He loves the game, the competition, the thrill of winning, and the youthful exuberance of just “being there.”)

He plays to win. (Every time Zach Johnson goes out on the course, he believes hell win the round, and win the tournament.)

“Its a job – a fun job. But its a job.” Zach smiled broadly. “Its my number four priority. Family. Faith. Family. And then fairways.” Cool.

Zach graduated in 1998 from Drake University in Des Moines. YIKES — 1998! I have underwear older than he is. How does such a young man get so high on the success ladder in so short a time?

According to the statements I collected in our-hour long conversation. He was blessed with skills, started playing young (age 10), practiced every day, played competitively starting at age 11, and has a coach — actually several coaches and teachers — one for each vital area of his game. Yes, one of the top golf professionals in the world has coaches and teachers. Do you?

“You have to have a system, a family of coaches, and an inner circle of people who are masters of THEIR game.” Zach refers to his coaches and his family as “the invisible team.” “When you see me on the golf course, I appear to be alone. But you have to understand I got there with the help of a hundred other people. From corporate sponsors and family members to coaches and investors to agents and mentors. All of them are there with me, but no one sees them as I play.”

“My primary coach is a great golf teacher named Mike Bender.” Zach smiled.

“What makes him great?” I wanted to know.

“He doesnt drive me nuts with angles and percentages. He tells me what to do, and I do it,” Zach said in a matter-of-fact manner. “Hes now one of my best friends.”

Keep this in mind as you struggle to be a master: Zach Johnson was NOT number one on his high school golf team, and he was NOT number one on his college golf team. But he knew he had talent, he knew he had skill, and he loved the game. “After college, I wanted to see how far I could get as a golf professional, and I didnt want any regrets, so I went for it.”

He realized he had the talent and the drive, the itch to play, and the desire to win. And Zach took advantage of the opportunity. Big time.

“Im driven to compete. I compete at anything from backyard basketball to pinball. Im a natural competitor. And I compete to win at anything I do – its not just golf. If Im playing cards against my grandma, I wanna win.”

Besides his system, Zach Johnson has a philosophy. He believes that its a combination of hard work and the bounce of the ball, the right people and the right approach to the game. He says, “You must have a combination of the itch (the desire) to play, the deep want to excel and win, the drive (pun intended), and the love of the game. Thats the personal piece.”

He goes on to say, “If you can get others to believe in you as much as you believe in yourself, you can become a master. And not just in golf or business or sales – a master in life.”

The Zach Johnson qualities I saw were a great attitude, a constant smile, a “real person” humility, and a man that loves his family.

Hes is not just a golf champion, hes not just a master. Zach Johnson is a winner.

J Gittomer

Happy Holiday’s,

There are people who prefer to say “Yes” and there are people who prefer to say “No”. Those who say “Yes” are rewarded by the adventures they have, and those who say “No” are rewarded by the safety they attain…


Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 650.622.1225 or 408.342.3001
Email:
TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com


Intero Opens New Palo Alto/Menlo Park Office

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Industry veteran Jeanne Spranzo heads up new location
Gino BlefariI’m proud to announce the opening of our newest Intero office: INTERO PALO ALTO/MENLO PARK.

One of veteran agents, and a terrific leader, Jeanne Spranzo, is Vice President and Managing Officer for this location, which will represent Intero in the southern part of the on the Peninsula.

We already have a strong presence on the Peninsula with our San Carlos, San Mateo and Burlingame offices. It only made sense to complete our coverage with a location in the Palo Alto/Menlo Park area. Much of the credit for our growth and ability to open these new locations goes to our agents and leadership team. As the new year begins, you can expect Intero to continue our expansion into new markets througout the U.S.

Thanks to everyone for all your hard work this year.

Intero Palo Alto/Menlo ParkIntero Palo Alto/Menlo Park, a new 8,000 square foot office, is definitely one of our showcase locations. It can comfortable accommodate dozens of agents, with more than 70 desks, eight private offices, and three conference rooms equipped with audio–visual technology and PCs with flat screen monitors. We’ve put in high–speed wireless network and top–of–the–line color printers, copiers and scanners. It also has in-house mortgage services with Bank of America, First Horizon and Intero Mortgage.

The office is located across from the Stanford Park Hotel on the El Camino Real.

Jeanne is actively recruiting agents, so anyone interested should contact her directly:

Jeanne Spranzo
Vice President Managing Office, Intero Palo Alto/Menlo Park
JSpranzo@InteroRealEstate.com
(650) 543-5900.


Intero Resorts Presents: Tahoe Mountain Resorts at Northstar

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Luxury development in North Lake Tahoe promises big changes and big opportunities
There’s no denying it. Winter is here. If you’re already thinking about that first trip to the slopes, you might want to head to the Sierras and Tahoe. Once you’ve had your fill of carving down the mountain, you can turn your head to the business of real estate. It just so happens that Tahoe is fast becoming one of the hottest resort destinations in the world, spurred on by billions of dollars in development that’s taking place around the “jewel of the Sierras.” If you’ve got clients who are looking for a second home, Tahoe offers dozens of options.

In the next two months, we’ll be looking at several of the high-end developments that are popping up in North and South Lake Tahoe. We’ll start with one of the biggest, a luxury community at the base of Northstar called Tahoe Mountain Resorts (TMR).


TAHOE MOUNTAIN RESORTS TRANSFORMS NORTHSTAR

“We’re building California’s answer to Aspen,” says TMR sales associate Patrick Hourigan. And when you see the scope and size of this place, it’s hard not to agree.

Tahoe Mountain Resorts is an approximately $4 billion project that’s being developed at the base of the Northstar ski resort, just 6 miles from Lake Tahoe and adjacent to historic Truckee. The project is made up of four distinctive communities:

THE VILLAGE AT NORTHSTAR
At the base of Northstar’s slopes, The Village is Tahoe’s premier ski community. It includes an outdoor ice–skating, fire pits, stylish shops and fine dining paired with luxury residences that serve as the heart and soul of the resort. CLICK HERE FOR WEB SITE.

THE HIGHLANDS
A true ski–in/ski–out community situated mid–mountain at Northstar–at–Tahoe and home to the Ritz-Carlton resort and ski-in/ski-out residences (completed in 2009). CLICK HERE FOR WEB SITE.

OLD GREEENWOOD
A premier four-season community with home sites, custom homes, villas and luxury fractional homes all surrounding a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. CLICK HERE FOR WEB SITE.

GRAY’S CROSSING
On a private Peter Jacobsen–Jim Hardy golf course, Gray’s Crossing offers a variety of home sites and a neighborhood village. CLICK HERE FOR WEB SITE.

Tahoe Mountain Resorts

There hasn’t been as much press on this luxury development as it we think it deserves. Perhaps, because the developer (East West Partners) has had so much interest from investment buyers in the last four years, the properties have just about sold themselves.

Since 2003, TMR has sold more than $5 billion in real estate. They have pretty much completed three of the four communities: The Village at Northstar, Gray’s Crossing and Old Greenwood. The Highlands, the fourth and largest—and the community that will host The Ritz—is currently in development with pre–sales for the Ritz being offered in Q2 of 2008. It’s scheduled to be completed in 2009.

The desire for the properties in Tahoe Mountain Resorts is high. In fact, seven of the world’s leading residence and resort clubs are offering fractional ownership and resort club properties. This brings down the price of ownership for one of the luxury residences to something that is affordable for more than just the super–wealthy.

Take, for example, the residences at the Ritz. These two, three and four–bedroom condos at whole ownership range from $2.75 million to $7.8 million. At fractional ownership, they go for $275,000 to $3.45 million. Buyers also get the benefits of one of the world’s most luxurious hotels.

Here’s a list of the companies that are currently offering fractional and resort club properties:

Whether you’re buying fractional or whole ownership properties, East West Partners, the parent company to Tahoe Mountain Resorts, has a history of hitting it out of the park when it comes to residential development that gives buyers a high return on their investment. They’re the company responsible for developing Vail Valley Colorado. Take a look at the average appreciation of the listings some of their other projects over the last 20 years.

We’re only scratching the surface here with Tahoe Mountain Resorts. In the coming months, we’ll talk more about the four luxury communities, the exclusive amenities offered by home–owners through Tahoe Mountain Resorts and the incredible opportunities for those interested in buying or investing there. We’re not exaggerating when we say that this development will change the face of North Lake Tahoe.

In the meantime, if you want to learn more about Tahoe Mountain Resorts or if you have clients you think might be interested in property, either at fractional or whole ownership, the person to talk to is Patrick Hourigan.

Patrick Hourigan
530.263.1824
phourigan@tahoemountainresorts.com
www.tahoemountainresorts.com


Introducing the Intero Brand to a New Market

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Broker/Owner Leonora Prince talks about opening the first Intero office in Hawaii
Intero Real Estate Services Hawaii
Leonora Prince
PB ABR GRI CCIM

Leonora Prince has been operating her real estate office in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii for five years. In May of 2006, she decided to re-brand as Intero Real Estate Services and became the first Intero office to open on the Islands. This presented some unique challenges for her team. One of the biggest was that many locals were unfamiliar with the Intero brand and perceived it as a mainland corporate entity. We talked to Leonora about overcoming these perceptions and integrating Intero into the Island community.

What have been the biggest challenges for you as a business owner on the Islands?

Intero is a great company, but many individuals (and REALTORS®) here had not heard of it and didn’t understand what the name represented, and several wanted to leave it that way. We had to overcome that. More individuals are recognizing the Intero name today, from exposure on the mainland, and that has been big plus for us. We regularly get calls from agents on other islands who love the Intero brand. It has also opened other doors for us. The support from Gino and the gang is invaluable.

What is the most important thing you learned from owning a real estate company in such a unique (and sometimes isolated) place?

It may be different in other localities, but from the perspective of Hawaii, you need a lot of patience. You have to get to know people, and often, the only way to do that is to be watchful from afar. You have to approach the market quietly and respectfully and know it’s going to take time to get where you want to go. There will still be plenty of disappointments as in any business. Everything is greatly magnified here.  But if you’re creative and persistent, you will make headway.

HawaiiMy husband is a perfect example of this. Today, he’s well known and respected in Hawaiian construction as a construction manager for the mega homes.  It took him three years to get there, though. Prior to moving to the islands, he led some of the largest and most sophisticated high–tech construction projects in Silicon Valley (in the billion dollar range), but this meant nothing on the Islands. He initially got into the industry here by starting out as a consultant in Honolulu and then easing his way into the market by partnering with local companies and earning their respect. He now has a recognizable reputation representing mainland owners building homes in excess of $10 million. It just took time, patience and creative thinking on his part.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

It has been really challenging finding people who have a mainland work ethic along with the Aloha spirit. You either get Aloha Spirit but no show when the surf is up or a mainland mentality and a "me, I, my" attitude.

It is hard to find an individual with an Aloha respect for others, uncompromising integrity, humility and ethics. For us, the dollar is not the focus, relationships are. Part of the reason it’s been challenging is that the population is quite small, and the industry even smaller.

How many agents do you have?

We have about a dozen. We do not want be what I lovingly call a “MLM office”
(a revolving door). What we have is a very nice place to come to work. We also have a great image—the Intero image—a great location, and people who genuinely respect one another. That’s what we’ve been striving to accomplish: a superior brand image, a nice working environment/location and good people.

All of these things are important to me because we are not in the business to just make money. It’s far more important to us that we keep the bigger picture in mind and stand out in the community because of our work ethic and reputation.

How has your business strategy changed in the last 5 years?

In terms of growth, we initially talked about opening a second location on the Kohala Coast, but we’ve decided against that. My absolute favorite saying is Wayne Gretzkys’ "Some of the people skate to where the puck is. I skate to where the puck will be." There are still a lot of real estate offices opening up there, despite the fact the market has turned. Ultimately many are going to be closing down as well. That’s happening all over the islands, just as it is on the mainland. Agents that were in this to make a quick buck are now back to waiting tables, as is typical anywhere in this type of market.

We’ve also been able to gradually develop a solid policy and procedures manual. We want to treat everyone fairly, without having to make exceptions just for one person, just one time. The manual does away with, "I don’t understand." Additionally, if someone has a complaint, we ask that they email us a description of the issues along with three solutions. The complaints stopped. It also helped to have a "No Whining" sign above my desk (and I have had occasion to nonchalantly point to it while listening to someone go on and on). It’s all in good fun, though. These things just make it easier for us to avoid conflict, or at least minimize it.

Kai Maluna ProjectWhat’s your next step?

We’ve been working on the Kai Maluna project, a high-end luxury condo development on the Kona Coast. We got an exclusive on that listing about a year ago and have been doing pre–sales We also are working on expanding other divisions of our company that are not Intero-specific but help us to be a full service real estate office for our clients—a truly one–stop shop for all our mainland owners needs. The needs that our clients have are slightly different because of the nature of real estate on the Island. We have to take that into consideration.

For me personally, I am looking for an individual with the right chemistry to take over the management of the Real Estate Division, as I am working on other aspects of growth as mentioned. It would allow me to focus more of my efforts on top-level strategy, recruiting, teaching, and other things that will help this business grow. I’m a creative, futurist, out–of–the–box individual. That’s my gift. With the right person to manage the day-to-day real estate affairs, I could find more time to push us forward to the next level.

Any last suggestion a broker who’s entering a new market?

I think everyone is different, but for me, it comes down to this: put your head down, keep your mouth shut and do the right thing the first time.  The rest, including the money, will follow.


Monday Morning MOJO 12/10/07

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Good Morning MOJO,

Grab your cup of coffee, then sit back and watch this video. Listen carefully to his advice…don’t think anything else needs to be said. After all, he is a Billionaire!!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JPL_NjBjUWE

Make it a GREAT week!!!!!!

Happy Holiday’s,

There are people who prefer to say “Yes” and there are people who prefer to say “No”. Those who say “Yes” are rewarded by the adventures they have, and those who say “No” are rewarded by the safety they attain…


Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 650.622.1225 or 408.342.3001
Email:
TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com