Community Associations Network Industry News

LAS VEGAS --(Business Wire)-- AxisPointe, Inc., the national leader in warranty documentation management, outsourced call-back management, and subcontractor certification, announced today it has seen a significant up-tick in interest in and adoption of its warranty and document management solution in the multi-family market. Marquee multi-family and condo projects in Las Vegas have recently adopted AxisPointe and experienced nearly immediate return on their investment for their developers. These projects include Boca Raton Luxury Condominiums, Panorama Towers, Vantage Lofts, Newport Lofts, and Loft 5. AxisPointe's market-leading post-construction services will be on display October 2-4 in booth 418 at the Multi-family Executive Conference in Las Vegas.

Multi-family developers face challenges entirely unique to their housing market. First, a large number of housing units or condos will often close in a very short time, which causes a spike in demand for closing walk-throughs, orientations, closing packets, and warranty management by developers. Second, managing documents (like homeowner association regulations) and warranties is a difficult logistical task, especially when units can be highly customized. Third, multi-family housing units or condos are often purchased for investment, and it is essential to maintain continuity of warranty documentation with each resident or occupant.

"We have seen exponential growth among developers eager to bring consistency and continuity to their warranty and document information, no matter what the ownership scenario, from outright sale, rental, or REIT purchase," said Andrew K. Smith, president and founder of AxisPointe. "Our suite of post-construction services stands alone in the competitive landscape with surging adoption rates nationwide. We exist to help builders and developers improve profitability and mitigate risk while increasing satisfaction and referrals."

For every multi-family ownership scenario, AxisPoint's SmartBuilder Suite can provide the unit owner or developer with HomeProfile, a warranty and document management system that offers a unit-specific online account, and printed archive of all its warranties, use-and-care manuals, and documents. The Suite also offers BuilderOnCall, a U.S.-based multi-lingual (English, Spanish, Korean) outsourced call center that fields service calls for builders and provides service ticketing and issue escalation; BuilderCertified, a service that leverages teams of researchers and Web-based tools to gather and track subcontractors' insurance documentation and monitor expirations; and HomeWorx, an outsourced service that assumes the developer's final home walk-through and punch list duties, so customers receive a thorough, consistent orientation from a local, friendly, trained service representative.

This 2007 Multi-family Executive Conference will be held October 2-4 at the Venetian in Las Vegas. The conference focuses on operations with a fresh mix of education, exhibits, and networking opportunities. Attendees will learn how to enhance properties, make smarter deals, and deliver top returns to partners and investors. AxisPointe will be in booth 418.

About AxisPointe

AxisPointe - creator of HomeProfile - offers turnkey, outsourced post-construction services for residential home builders and multi-family housing developers. With special expertise in sectors where builders and developers have the highest legal exposure and greatest risk to their reputations (warranty management, call-back processing, and subcontractor insurance certification), AxisPointe offers four products in its SmartBuilder Suite:

HomeProfile, a digital, online, and print service that offers builders and developers a turnkey, outsourced solution of all post-construction warranty and document management, including service ticketing and delivery of a builder-branded manual.

BuilderCertified, a turnkey, outsourced service that leverages teams of researchers and Web-based tools to track subcontractors' licenses and liability insurance expirations, so builders and developers can effortlessly pass their yearly insurance audits.

BuilderOnCall, an outsourced call center for builders and developers in the U.S., which provides service ticketing and issue escalation.

HomeWorx, an outsourced service that assumes the final walk-through and punch list process, so customers receive thorough, consistent orientations from trained service representatives.

All four services offer remarkably affordable outsourced, time-saving solutions to builders and developers' most pesky problems: call backs, document tracking, and post-construction customer management. Learn more: www.AxisPointe.com; (801) 753-0070.

Posted by Joe at 9:05 AM | Permalink

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pitcairn Properties, developer of The Ellington luxury condominium tower in Center City, today announced what may be the first blog ever launched for a residential development.

The Ellington's blog, an online diary of information and ideas viewable at www.EllingtonCenterCity.com, allows The Ellington's staff to communicate with buyers, brokers, the media, and the growing numbers of people who follow real estate and the Center City revitalization in a truly democratic fashion.

"We are one of the first residential properties to use a technology that's changing how people communicate," said Greg Dwornikowski, Senior Vice President, Pitcairn Properties, The Ellington's developer. "Blogs have emerged as a truly 'interactive' means for talking and learning. That's why we're very excited about having a two-way dialogue that brings things to an entirely new level."

Among the subjects that The Ellington blog will cover: the emergence and power of single women buyers, Center City shopping and entertainment, holiday events and sponsorships, a perspective on the current market for Center City real estate, and the introduction of bi-level penthouse homes at The Ellington/ Interaction with posters will also be viewable.

The Ellington's blog launch is yet another triumph for the renovated building at 1500 Chestnut Street. It is now more than 50% sold, with 88 of the 160 available homes either sold or under contract. In September, The Ellington was named Best Condominium Home of the Year Under $500,000 by the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia (BIA) and won a total of five of the association's 2006 William Penn Awards of Excellence.

To schedule an appointment to view home models in The Ellington's sales center, or for more information please call 215-569-8174.

About Pitcairn Properties. Based in Jenkintown, PA, Pitcairn Properties is a national developer with a substantial portfolio of residential and commercial real estate holdings. Pitcairn has a prestigious client roster that includes many on the Fortune 500, and a proven value-added investment strategy. Over the past 37 years, they have developed more than 45 million square feet of commercial real estate, including a number of Class A high-rise commercial and residential buildings, as well as a variety of suburban office campuses. For more information, go to www.pitcairnproperties.com.

Posted by Joe at 10:40 AM | Permalink

NOVEMBER 20, 2006 -- Destin, Fla. -- Condo Cruise Lines International, a one-year-old locally based company, has signed a contract to purchase a prematurely retired cruise ship, which the firm, along with Tillberg Design, an architecture firm based in Sweden, will convert into condominiums. Renovations, which will total $22 million, are estimated to be completed in June of 2007, when the Murano is scheduled to depart for a two-year cruise around the world.

“This is a very new concept,” Erin LeCel Jones, executive vice president of Condo Cruise Lines, told MHN. “The idea is to create and expand beachfront properties, which have become in high demand.”

Condo Cruise Lines International is comprised of several development companies. Tillberg renovated the Queen Elizabeth II and designed Disney’s first cruise ship, Disney Magic. Sophlex Ship Management and Marine Growth Ventures will manage The Murano, which will spend one day at sea and two days docked at locations such as Venezuela, Argentina, Spain, France, Italy, India, Thailand, Australia, China and Japan.

Condo Cruise Lines’ one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums range from $382,000 to $1.3 million. Owners may live in their units, turn them into floating offices, use them occasionally, or rent them to the vacationing public through Condo Cruise Lines’ affiliation with worldwide cruise travel agencies. Owners will have access to on-site casinos, pools, entertainment areas, bakeries, libraries, fitness centers, sundecks, jogging tracks, salons, dining halls, medical centers, bars, spas, card rooms, cocktail lounges, shops and boutiques.

LeCel Jones said that the firm had originally targeted the condominiums to retiring baby boomers. But surprisingly, she said, the units have been primarily sold to the 35- to 55-age bracket. “It’s a great opportunity for them to purchase real estate that provides high rental income, but it’s also a fun vacation the family can take,” she said. Currently, the Murano’s units are 90 percent sold.

Condo Cruise Lines does not charge for electric, water, phone and cable usage, and insurance is included in units’ price. Residents will not pay property taxes. Homeowner association fees range from $9,000 to $20,000 per year. A designated number of staterooms will not be converted into condos, and will be booked by travel agencies. That revenue, along with onboard passenger expenditures, such as alcohol, duty-free shopping, shore excursions and casino usage, will contribute to the ship’s everyday operating budget.

According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), ships frequently leave port booked at 106 percent occupancy. Mark Boyd, president of Condo Cruise Lines, said the cruise industry is booming, and manufacturers are producing larger ships at a fast rate. Over 10 million people take cruises each year and 80 percent of them are American.

“It makes a lot more financial sense to build and operate one ship that can handle 3,000 passengers than 10 ships carrying 300,” Boyd said. “So, many lines retire their midsize ships early—most with decades of useful life left.”

LeCel Jones estimated that the Murano’s life cycle should be at least 30 years. “In order to take people across the ocean, cruise ships have to pass many codes,” she said. “When at some point, the homeowners association decides it is not worth it to bring it up to code, the ship will be docked in a nice location and used as a floating condo/hotel community.”

Posted by Joe at 8:51 PM | Permalink

DESTIN, Fla., Nov. 15, 2006 -- "Own your own cruise ship" the company slogan goes. Condo Cruise Lines International is a Florida-based company that takes cruise ships that have been prematurely retired and refurbishes them while at the same time combining its staterooms into 1-3 bedroom luxury suites.

The cruise industry is booming and they can't build ships fast enough. With nearly 30 new ships planned for the next ten years, it is estimated that only then will the cruise industry begin to get caught up with its colossal demands. And the ships are getting bigger. Most new ships carry over 3,000 passengers and bigger are on the way. Some now have their own zip codes!

"It's an economy of scale for the major cruise lines," says Mark Boyd, President of Condo Cruise Lines. "It makes a lot more financial sense to build and operate one ship that can handle 3,000 passengers than ten ships carrying 300. So, many lines retire their midsize ships early, most with decades of useful life left. We will buy these ships and spend 15-20 million dollars reconfiguring them with luxurious multi-room suites, then turn around and sell them to individuals that want to own their own home on a world-class cruise ship. Visualize sightseeing over Africa in the ship's hot air balloon, a train trip across Spain, whale watching in the North Pacific, a jeep trip through the Outback in Australia... all that, and you're home for dinner!"

According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), ships frequently leave port booked at 106% occupancy. Over ten million people cruise each year and eighty percent of them are American. That makes owning a condo on a cruise ship an intriguing "real estate" deal. Imagine having a waterfront condo that goes all over the world and brings in around $4,000 a week when you're not using it. And, unlike a true real estate deal, you pay no property taxes, no electric/water/phone/cable bill, no insurance, and you make around three times your mortgage payment as opposed to less than half with a beachfront condo. Plus... all your meals are cooked by a gourmet chef and are free!

Condo Cruise Lines' condominiums start at $382,000 and go as high as $1.3 million for a 3-bedroom Executive Suite. Homeowners Association fees run around $9-20,000 a year depending on the type of unit. The ongoing ship operating costs are covered by a certain number of staterooms that are not converted to condos and will be booked by travel agencies to the cruising public. All that revenue plus onboard passenger expenditures such as alcohol, duty free shops, shore excursions, and the casino contribute to the every day operating budget so the owners should never need to contribute beyond their annual association fee.

Boyd says there are two types of condo purchasers. "The first is the avid cruiser. Many of our customers cruise several months a year and this just makes good sense. The other is the savvy real estate investor. This is the best real estate deal anywhere," he says. "You have rental property where there is already a huge existing demand."

He's right. A large suite on the new Royal Caribbean Freedom Of The Seas was booked into 2008 before the ship was even launched! Other than the last-minute bargain basement fares thrown into the market by tour brokers, most people have to reserve a stateroom six months in advance in order to get a desired itinerary. On luxury ships like the ones Condo Cruise Lines is marketing, the wait is nearly a year.

The company has a booth in the upcoming Donald Trump Real Estate Wealth Expo this weekend at the Javits Center. The expo is produced by The Learning Annex and is conducted in a number of major cities nationwide each year. Prospective speculators can learn just about everything they would need to know to succeed in the world of real estate investing in just a single weekend. Condo Cruise Lines has exhibited at many of their shows across the country and sold over $12 million in condos in two days at last summer's San Francisco event.

Condo Cruise Lines International is headquartered in Destin, Florida and has representatives in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Dallas. The company's toll-free number is 877-350-5392. Their website is: http://www.condocruiselines.com and their location in the Trump Expo is booth 509-511.

Posted by Joe at 10:59 AM | Permalink

Michigan Avenue Tower, in the city's South Loop neighborhood, is poised to become the first residential condominium in Chicago to use 100 percent renewable energy to power its 29-floor building.

Following in the footsteps of major corporations such as Whole Foods and Johnson & Johnson, the building's association has approved a contract to purchase renewable energy credits from an Iowa wind farm. The clean renewable energy will go into the electric grid to alleviate some of the system's demand for coal, gas and nuclear power-producing facilities.

Felix Friedman, the association's president, proposed the idea of creating a "green" building. The condo association brokered a deal to purchase "green credits" from Midwest Renewable Energy Credits in the amount that offsets the total quantity of electricity used by the building. Friedman said the decision was made to help the environment, and to attract environmentally-conscious real estate owners.

Friedman researched similar purchases to estimate that the annual carbon dioxide emissions reduced by this purchase would be equivalent to planting 30,000 trees. "What a lot of people don't understand is that more than half of today's pollution is caused by the home -- running the appliances, air conditioning and these days, two or three computers," Friedman said. "We're offsetting the pollution that we're creating by making sure that every kilowatt of energy we consume is coming from clean renewable energy."

The cost of purchasing wind credits to association members will be approximately $7 per unit per month, but the association plans to pick up the tab through smart investing of its reserves from its annual budget. The purchase of these credits will help fund the construction of a new wind turbine in Winnebago County, Iowa. The condominium's name will be on a plaque on the turbine recognizing the association's contribution to its construction.

Steve Dryden, the president of Midwest Renewable Energy Corporation, which brokered the deal, said it was just a matter of time before the residential market embraced cleaner forms of electrical energy.

"It's an obvious trend to go green," he said. "Those residents that go green now are probably going to see higher resale values of their property and, more importantly, are making their small contribution to control global warming and help the earth."

Posted by Joe at 10:16 AM | Permalink

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2006--American Express today announced that it would begin to pilot Card acceptance for condominium down-payments. The Moinian Group, one of the industry's most active development firms, boasting a portfolio totaling more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, retail and hotel properties throughout the U.S. and abroad, including 13 million square feet in Manhattan alone, will be the first to roll out the new program.

In 2003, American Express announced its program of Card acceptance for recurring payments at luxury rental properties. Soon after the program was announced, The Moinian Group began accepting the Card for rent payments across its luxury rental portfolio. Based on the success of the automatic rent payment program with Moinian and in the industry overall, American Express is now expanding its program to enable Cardmembers to enjoy the convenience and rewards of paying for condominium down-payments on the American Express® Card.

"Our Cardmembers around the country have embraced the benefits of monthly rental payments on the Card," said Kyle Curtin, vice president of Strategy and Business Development, American Express Establishment Services. "Down-payments on the Card bring the convenience and rewards to an entirely new level."

"We are extremely gratified that American Express has once again selected The Moinian Group to roll out this new program in the New York market," said Joseph Moinian, CEO, The Moinian Group. "Amenities are a key factor in a buyer's decision to purchase a home in a Moinian Group property. For American Express Cardmembers, the ability to charge their down-payment and earn rewards is incredibly appealing. We're delighted to offer such a convenient option that insures on-time payment and customer satisfaction."

The Atelier, a 46-story, 478-unit condominium development under construction on Manhattan's Far West Side, has already begun to accept the American Express Card for down-payments.

About The Moinian Group

The Moinian Group, one of the country's largest privately held real estate firms, owns and manages over $8 billion in assets additionally controlling the rights to develop 5 million square feet of space on undeveloped land. Currently, The Moinian Group holds a portfolio of more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, retail and hotel properties throughout the U.S. and abroad, including 14 million square feet in Manhattan. Its extensive acquisitions include trophy buildings like the Downtown Club in lower Manhattan, formerly known as the Downtown Athletic Club and home to the Heisman Trophy, the Sears Tower in Chicago and Continental Towers at 180 Maiden Lane in Downtown Manhattan. The Moinian Group aims to transform long-underutilized areas into dynamic, transit-oriented urban centers by integrating a mix of medium- and high-density residential, commercial, entertainment and cultural land uses. Striving for excellence, it sustains its leadership in the industry with a focus on creating new environments in which to grow, work and live. For more information, please visit www.moiniangroup.com.

About American Express

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, business services, insurance and international banking. Establishment Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe, which welcome American Express-branded Cards.

For more information, please visit www.americanexpress.com.

Contact:
The Moinian Group
Daphne Mayer Viders, 212-808-4000 ext. 280
daphne@moiniangroup.com
OR
American Express
Christine Elliott, 212-640-0622
christine.s.elliott@aexp.com

Posted by Joe at 11:39 AM | Permalink

Seahaus has been named the Best Low-Density Attached Project of the Year by the Building Industry Association of Southern California at the 31st Annual MAME Awards.

"It is indeed an honor to receive such a high level of recognition from the building industry," said Michael D. Pattinson, president of Barratt American. "We at Barratt have always strove to maintain the topmost standards in home design, construction and outfitting, and such a significant endorsement is truly gratifying."

As Barratt's premier urban redevelopment undertaking, Seahaus in the Bird Rock area of La Jolla is no stranger to being first. It was named a finalist in more categories than any other community in the 2004 SAM Awards, produced by the San Diego Building Industry Association and, in 2005, earned top honors in several categories at The Nationals, a building industry award program presented by the National Association of Home Builders.

Despite the effects of a slowing housing market, Seahaus is heading toward a sellout with only a handful of the 138 units still available. This year alone, 20 homes have sold -- most for a million dollars or more.

When Seahaus debuted, two-story townhomes, large elegant flats, single-level oceanview condominium homes and sprightly loft studios were offered in five distinct product lines with prices ranging from the $400,000s to more than $1 million.

Currently available are four one-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath homes and three two-bedroom, two-bath homes. Prices for available units start in the $800,000s.

From atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific, Seahaus captures the elegance of seaside living with classic 20th century coastal architecture. The neighborhood incorporates several fountains on beautifully manicured grounds and recreational amenities such as swimming pool with changing rooms, spa, firepit, barbecue grills and fitness center.

The MAME Awards, or Major Achievement in Marketing Excellence Awards, annually attracts over 500 entries for new-home communities in all six Southern California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and San Diego.

Further information can be obtained by clicking onto http://www.barratt.com/ or calling toll-free (866) SEAHAUS.

Posted by Joe at 10:18 AM | Permalink

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 24, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The first developed phase of The Palisades -- the 1,600-acre, award-winning, master-planned community in Southwest Charlotte on ecologically sensitive Lake Wylie -- has been certified as meeting the rigorous environmental standards of Audubon International's Gold Signature Program.

With this designation, The Palisades is now one of only five master-planned golf communities in the world -- and the first in North Carolina -- to have residential neighborhoods and a golf course certified as a Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary.

The Palisades is the first combined residential, commercial and golf course master-planned community in the world, offering a broad price range of homes from executive to luxury, based on a land plan approved by Audubon International's Gold Signature Program.

With the completion of the commercial component of The Palisades, and approval of that phase by Audubon International, The Palisades expects to be the first combined commercial, residential and golf course community in the world offering a broad price range of homes to earn Audubon International's prestigious Gold Signature designation.

A project of Rhein Palisades, LLC, a Rhein Medall Community, The Palisades certification is the result of intensive planning, implementation of best practices, and careful, innovative development methods designed to preserve wildlife habitats, leave large areas of forest intact, and protect -- and even improve -- the water quality of Lake Wylie. Although zoned for 4,500 homes, Rhein Medall has chosen to develop The Palisades for approximately 2,500 homes. In addition, over 30 percent of the land has been set aside for perpetuity as open space, and most of that has been left in its natural state.

"The Palisades represents our commitment to creating communities while preserving and honoring the environment," said Jim Medall, president of Rhein Medall Communities. "We are proud to be recognized by Audubon International for the time and work we've invested creating The Palisades, and very pleased to be among the five other golf communities in the world to have earned Audubon International's elite Gold designation."

Audubon International's certification of The Palisades was confirmed July 8, following an extensive on-site audit of the community by Audubon International staff. "This is an extraordinary achievement," said Nancy Richardson, director of Audubon International's Signature Program. "Signature certification is awarded only to new developments that are designed, constructed and maintained according to Audubon International's precise planning standards and environmental disciplines." To date, only 11 properties world-wide have achieved the coveted Gold Signature certification, Richardson added.

"We're very excited about the certification and are looking forward to growing our community within the context of the Audubon International program," said Medall. "There is a great deal of interest in building homes in communities that are sensitive to the environment and both building, and living, in harmony with nature."

As new phases of The Palisades are built, Audubon International will conduct new certification audits to ensure that each new section of the community continues to adhere to Audubon's strict principles of environmental sustainability. In addition, Audubon International will conduct annual recertification audits at The Palisades.

Over four years in the making, certification of The Palisades as a Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary began with a $1 million land and water quality plan, followed by rigorous efforts to develop the community with best environmental practices that reduce the fertilizers and pesticides used on home lawns and at the golf course, reduce water velocity, protect ground water, creeks and other watersheds, preserve wildlife corridors, disturb as little of the land as possible during the development process, and protect historic trees and large tree stands. Some specific measures taken include:

-- Hiring of a Natural Resource Manager for the property to
oversee water quality monitoring and development practices
and implement environmental education programs within and
outside the community.
-- Developing no more than 50 acres of land at a time, within
each drainage area, to minimize disturbance of the land and
development pressure on natural resources.
-- Establishing a Resource Advisory Committee of environmental
experts to oversee implementation of The Palisades' plan for
sustainable development. The current committee includes
Nancy Richardson; Tom Martin, a certified master arborist;
Jay Wilson, the erosion control coordinator for the city of
Charlotte; Dave Coleman, the superintendent of The Palisades
Nicklaus Design golf course; and Matt Bossert, the Natural
Resource Manager at The Palisades.
-- Treating storm water in smallest increments possible and
installing velocity dissipaters in every storm water outlet
to slow down the speed of rain water flowing through forested
buffers during storms, thus reducing erosion and removing
pollutants in the watershed.
-- Creating buffer zones near all creeks that feed into Lake
Wylie, and leaving 100-foot natural buffers between homes
or golf course and the perimeters of the lake (local
regulations require a 50-foot buffer).
-- Implementation of Best Management Practices at wetlands,
water bodies, and environmentally sensitive areas during
construction. This included building more than 80 temporary
erosion basins around the property lined with riprap and
wash stone, some of which were converted into ponds.
-- Protecting the watershed for Lake Wylie by developing
landscaping guidelines for the golf course, public areas and
home lawns related to the types of fertilizers, herbicides,
and plants that can and can't be used in landscaping.
-- Providing each Palisades homeowner with a guide to help them
make lawn and garden choices that are healthy for the
environment.
-- Requiring that all home lawns at The Palisades and the
golf course fairway be planted with Bermuda grass, a hardy
grass that requires less irrigation, fertilizers and
herbicides than fescue lawns.
-- Limiting the amount of managed turf on the 180-acre golf
course to less than 60 acres to conserve water and further
reduce use of fertilizers and pesticides.
-- Requiring that The Palisades' residents minimize the use of
pesticides, herbicides, and dangerous nutrients that can
be transported via irrigation or storm water run-off into
the creeks, and then into Lake Wylie.
-- Requiring all builders and their subcontractors to go
through an extensive water quality training program, and
educating them in the specific development rules and
regulations required at The Palisades.
-- Setting aside mandatory 35-foot tree protection areas in
the rear yards of every lot which prohibit mechanized tree
clearing (chainsaws).
-- Ensuring that natural drainage patterns are followed
whenever possible.

Certification of The Palisades Phase One residential neighborhoods and the Nicklaus Design golf course as a Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary is the most recent in a long list of awards, accolades and achievements earned by The Palisades and the developer.

Rhein Medall Communities was recently recognized by the Homebuilder's Association of Charlotte as Charlotte's Developer of the Year for 2006, and The Palisades won several sales and marketing awards in 2005 and 2006 from the Homebuilder's Association. The Palisades also won several national awards in January 2006 from the National Homebuilder's Association, including a National Sales and Marketing Gold Award -- the building industry's top accolade.

The Palisades was selected as the site for Charlotte's 2005 HomeArama. And in April 2004, The Palisades was singled out by Voices and Choices, a study group dedicated to monitoring the impact of growth on metropolitan Charlotte, in their 2004 State of the Region Report, as an example of environmentally-responsible development.

Audubon International is a not-for-profit environmental education organization dedicated to educating, assisting, and inspiring millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. By helping people make sound environmental decisions and take environmentally responsible actions, Audubon International seeks to foster more sustainable human and natural communities. The organization works with more than 3,000 properties and communities in 26 different countries.

The Palisades will be comprised of many neighborhoods woven together by several miles of rustic nature trails designed to accommodate horseback riding, cyclists and hikers. In addition, The Palisades offers a wider array of lifestyle amenities than any other new community in the Charlotte region. This includes The Palisades Episcopal School, a soccer training facility, an equestrian center, The Palisades Country Club, with its private Nicklaus Design golf course, and the Tim Wilkison Signature Club, which offers a wide array of family-focused tennis, swimming and fitness programs. This September, The Palisades will host The Championships at The Palisades, an annual championship pro tennis tournament featuring legendary tennis players over the age of 30, including Jim Courier and John McEnroe.

Rhein Medall Communities is known for environmentally sensitive land planning that includes working with the natural topography of the land, respecting the natural beauty of the landscape and weaving open space into each community design. Rhein Interests was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, by Robert C. Rhein. Mr. Rhein has had operations in the Carolinas for over 20 years as Rhein Interests, and in that time has earned a reputation as the region's premier residential land developer. In 2006, Rhein Interests' operations in the Carolinas were renamed Rhein Medall Communities, to reflect the hard work and dedication of the company's president, Jim Medall, who is now a co-owner of a new company with Robert C. Rhein, Rhein Medall Interests, LLC.

Known for developing carefully thought-out, innovative projects, both Rhein Interests and Rhein Medall Communities are dedicated to setting the standard for the industry by creating communities in all price categories that consistently offer superior value, designed to surpass the test of time.

For additional information, contact Glenna Musante at (919) 783-1865 or (919) 604-7213 or Glenna@musantecommunications.com.

Posted by Joe at 9:52 AM | Permalink

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 5, 2006 -- Berwind Property Group, Inc. was presented with a Digie Award for ‘Most Digital Real Estate for Extreme Multi-family Residential’ building at the Realcomm 2006 conference held in Dallas, Texas last week. The Realcomm Honor Award recognizes outstanding individuals and companies for being among the most innovative in the Commercial Real Estate industry. These outstanding individuals and companies are credited with being pioneers in transforming the real estate industry into a 21st Century Digital Model.

Located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Barbizon/63 (formerly the Barbizon Hotel) is a luxury high-rise condominium. Berwind converted the Barbizon into 66 high-end apartment units equipped with state-of-the-art, fully interoperable technology.

ShoreGroup designed and implemented a fully integrated network connecting HVAC systems, lighting controls, card access controls, video surveillance, voice and data communication systems, and inclusive home automation services such as Internet access, Wi-Fi, intercom and eConcierge services supplied by a multitude of leading technology suppliers. Each condominium unit features IP telephones with touch panels that act as a thin client interface to systems on the network. The foundation for the design is a redundant IP network supporting voice-over-IP, broadband Internet access and all building management systems. The deployment enables the connectivity of all building management systems on a single network - avoiding the time-consuming and costly endeavor of having to implement and manage disparate proprietary networks for each building system.

Providing a complete solution capable of both monitoring and managing building systems via a single network operations console was a key differentiator in ShoreGroup’s participation in the Barbizon/63 development project. ShoreGroup’s CaseSentry System Management solution monitors all building systems, providing fast identification, visualization and communication of issues to enable immediate remediation efforts that minimize the impact to building residents. Integrated workflow and case management applications streamline the handling of issues and service requests within a unified CaseSentry Building Operations Center (BOC) portal.

“ShoreGroup has been a recognized leader driving the intelligent building effort as evidenced by this award to Berwind Property Group,” said Jim Young, the founder of Realcomm who presented the award. “This application truly stands out as the most farsighted and advanced in the nation."

The Barbizon/63 renovation project is truly a first for New York City. By taking advantage of technologically open standards and communications coupled with end-to-end systems management, ShoreGroup has successfully converged the network and building automation systems into one IP-based network providing Berwind with a real estate property that encompasses advanced capabilities while at the same time reducing maintenance and operating costs. “ShoreGroup has been one of our lead technology partners in integrating and monitoring our building’s advanced technology and infrastructure. We are proud to have been selected as one of the nations most advanced buildings,” said Cory Hilderbrand, Director of IT for Berwind Property Group.

“This award emphasizes that the Converged Intelligent Building is not only a reality, but a significant sign of exciting things to come in the real estate space,” said Carl Gambello, Director of Advanced Automation Solutions at ShoreGroup. “Advanced technology buildings are being sought after by customers and commanding premium prices. The future of healthcare, hospitality, education, commercial and residential buildings -- even stadiums -- will be changing. They’ll be migrating to a single, consolidated, all IP infrastructure with unified management. This award recognizes the Barbizon/63 as the blueprint for the future.”

About ShoreGroup, Inc.

ShoreGroup is an employee owned converged solutions provider delivering CaseSentry Systems Management applications, ShorePatrol maintenance services and infrastructure professional services. As a Cisco Gold Certified Partner with IP Communications Specialization, and a Cisco IP Contact Center (IPCC) Enterprise Advanced Technology Provider (ATP), ShoreGroup designs, deploys, maintains and develops leading management and workflow applications for high availability converged networks, customer contact centers and intelligent buildings. Technology expertise includes IP Telephony, VoIP, communications systems and applications, systems and network management, LAN/WAN, building systems, physical layer infrastructure and wireless. Founded in 1999, with over 300 global and national customers, ShoreGroup is based in New York City and Syracuse, NY.

ShoreGroup and ShorePatrol are trademarks, and CaseSentry is a registered trademark of ShoreGroup, Inc. Cisco and Cisco Systems are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries.

CONTACT:
Glenn Yeeles
ShoreGroup, Inc.
The ShoreGroup Building
460 West 35th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 364-6800
http://www.shoregroup.com

Posted by Joe at 9:53 AM | Permalink

AVENTURA, Fla., July 5 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyRise Development Group, one of the nation's premier commercial real estate development firms, has announced the formation of a new residential division to be known as The Condo Group. The announcement was made by David Houri, principal of SkyRise, who will also serve as the CEO of the new division.

The Condo Group specializes in the development of new condominium communities as well as the renovation and conversion to condo of existing rental properties. The company's custom designed proprietary software allows the developer to efficiently track and manage all the steps involved in the conversion process. During the past year, the company's unique formula for property analyses, acquisition, financing, property renovation and management, and sales and marketing, has resulted in the conversion of close to 1000 units in such properties as The Residences in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Villagio On The Lakes in Port Orange, Florida. Currently, The Condo Group is completing the successful conversion of a 60's era rental community on the Indian River in Titusville, Florida and is working on projects in Pennsylvania and Arizona as well as Nevada and Florida.

The Condo Group is headquartered in SkyRise's corporate offices at 19495 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 501, Aventura, FL 33180. The new division is actively seeking additional properties for development, utilizing the parent company's broad capabilities for owning, building, managing and financing.

For more information on The Condo Group, visit our website at http://www.thecondogroupinc.com or call 305-931-7470.

Posted by Joe at 9:50 AM | Permalink

The new cruise line that pioneered affordable luxury cruise ship condominiums is already working on its next two medium-sized ships. Erin LeCel Jones, Executive Vice President of the company, says, "We sold almost 80 percent of the available condos on our first ship in about twenty weeks - more than enough to go ahead and start the re-design and renovation process.

"The ship will be drydocked in Singapore and the renovations should be complete by early December," she added.

The as-yet-unnamed ship will then be delivered in mid-January to its homeport in San Francisco where it will begin the first of its two-year-long worldwide voyages.

The young cruise line gained notoriety last January when it announced it was taking semi-retired cruise ships and converting about two-thirds of the staterooms into multi-room luxury condo suites.

Condo Cruise Lines has four more ships targeted for conversion to condos, and the next two are already being re-configured by its world-class maritime partners. To do the renovations the company has enlisted the talents of one of the most renowned maritime interior designers in the world. Tillberg Designs, the marine interior designers that created the luxurious interiors of the Queen Mary II and many more of the newest mega-ships, will develop the condo suites.

The first ship's condo prices started out at $349,000 and went as high as $529,000 last January, but after two price increases, the condos that are left range from $562,000 to $1,280,000, according to Thomas Blackburn, the company's Senior Vice President and director of finance. "We didn't sell a single $349,000 suite as most people were looking for the higher rental income from the larger suites," he said. "So we eliminated the small, single suites and converted them to larger three-room penthouses and sold out."

Many real estate investors are opting for this variation to the pre- construction condo purchase because the rental income is about five times higher than a beachfront condo on the Gulf of Mexico.

Plus the ships move out of the way of hurricanes!

More information on the company can be seen at its website: http://www.condocruiselines.com.

Posted by Joe at 10:07 AM | Permalink

Responding to the dizzying string of new condominium hotel projects, a newly formed nonprofit organization launched a Web site Monday aimed at giving buyers detailed information about the projects and their markets.

The National Association of Condo Hotel Owners, formed in February, says it will offer a rating system for evaluating condo hotel projects. The site evaluates market conditions and provides association members with an earnings calculator that considers fees, property taxes, insurance coverage and a hotel's rental program.

Developers are increasingly using the ownership method to assemble financing for new hotels. They work much like condominium apartment projects, where buyers make deposits on not-yet-built units and developers use the contracts to secure construction financing.

"Sales are structured as transactions of a piece of real estate from one individual to another," said Dante Alexander, the association's chief executive. "But 85 percent of the people who buy these units are interested in their rental potential."

The Scottsdale, Ariz., organization's Web site seeks to fill an information vacuum. Since condo hotels are sold as real-estate investments, developers are prohibited from providing cash-flow projections.

"We can't provide exact numbers, but we can say whether a unit will cover expenses or not," Alexander said.

Alexander said a $50 annual membership gives prospective investors access to the database, which he said is expanding. Orlando, the nation's third-largest condo hotel market, will be added to the database this summer, Alexander said.

The association's Web site is nacho.us.

"We look at everything on the unit level," Alexander said. "We evaluate the ongoing operations of the hotel and ask if it is commercially viable. And we look at its long-term potential based on what is being built around it."

Posted by Joe at 9:43 AM | Permalink

On May 1st, 2004, the European Union was drastically revitalized with the arrival of Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Baltic countries, Malta and Cyprus.

The population of the Union reached 450 million inhabitants, and the real estate markets are becoming more and more active: approx. 6 million homes have been sold, in 2003, by 150,000 real estate brokers and agents, compared to 6.1 million homes sold in the US, in the same period, by….almost one million REALTORS®!

The rate of ownership reached 63%, especially with the arrival of new European countries, where more than 80% own their home (in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia), while it is only 43% in Germany and 55% in France. With second home sales, New European brokers have a very profitable market ahead!

More than 20 % of dwellings are condo managed by thousands of companies. The consolidation of this industry is very quick and some companies manage hundreds of thousands of units!

Two examples of European dynamism and opportunities

1) France, the European leader in HOA management

France, a country of 60 million inhabitants (roughly 20% of the US population) has 55% homeownership and 8 million condos!

In less than twenty years, several French entrepreneurs have completely transformed the industry of property management in Europe. With a very successful use of technologies and a touch of “French spirit”, France gave birth to several giants:

- A, 1st European property management, became a public company in 2001. The value of its shares has doubled since the introduction and the company, who has 230 branches in France and manages 600,000 units in HOA, is expanding in several countries.

- B, the 2nd player, which manages around 550,000 units, is a subsidiary of one of the most important financial group in Europe. The HOA management division has subsidiaries in several European countries including Poland.

- C, the third giant has just sold its commercial division to one of the most important European banks. But this firm is still the owner of the first French real estate franchise!

They are looking for international partnerships or opportunities! And they would be interested in a joint-venture in the U.S. in order to create a nationwide company, and they already have several targets.

Contact: (562) 331-4063

Posted by Joe at 12:10 PM | Permalink