A subsidiary of the Al Fara’a Construction, Industrial and Property Group, Al Fara’a Properties, yesterday announced that it has completely sold out the first phase of their “Image Residences” luxury residential project, just a few days after the launch.

The project attracted a high level of interest from both local and global investors. According to a recent press release, Al Fara’a seeks to “leverage the project’s outstanding sales performance to further strengthen its expansion plans.” Read - borrow more money and build another one as quickly as possible. If this sounds reminiscent of the Spanish property developers’ attitudes of just a few years ago, you can enjoy watching this one unfold. Al Fara’a also claimed an extremely successful participation in Cityscape Abu Dhabi held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, where it showcased its latest project and complete portfolio.

The developer has attributed the project’s tremendous success to its high quality and wide array of offerings, which include a selection of sophisticatedly-designed spacious studio, one, two- and three-bedroom apartments and plush townhouses. Comprising of a 17-storey and 11-storey tower, the development will boast smart home technology, in addition to a host of other amenities such as a landscaped leisure deck on the podium level with a swimming pool and children’s pool, a fully-equipped gym, outdoor seating and BBQ area. Retail outlets at the ground floor are also planned.

Natasha Gangaramani, one of the Directors said, “We are extremely pleased with the remarkable turn-out for “Image Residences.” The success of our developments continues to be a credible representation of the brand equity we are building for Al Fara’a that is mainly fuelled by our aspiration to let more customers acquire our offerings through our flexible payment terms. The response we have gathered at Cityscape Abu Dhabi was overwhelming, with our investors showing great confidence in us as a result of our rich history of 28 years in the construction and development industry and our strong commitment to the timely delivery of our projects.”

Downtown Jebel Ali is a two-million-square-meter mixed-use urban community along an 7-mile stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road that is comprised of three individual districts - the Urban Centre, the Trellis District and the Medina District. Small courtyards, plazas, cafes and local shops are planned in an effort to create a “family-friendly environment,” which will apparently include cobblestone streets and walkways to “entice residents and visitors to walk around and experience the tranquility of the new residential hub.”

Nitesh Gangaramani, another Director, said, “Downtown Jebel Ali complements our vision for “Image Residences” - one of luxurious living that is in stride with the pace of the fast-evolving modern Dubai. We believe that the wide range of amenities, which perfectly complement the lifestyle of residents seeking to establish themselves within a dynamic environment such as Downtown Jebel Ali, have also driven the success of the project. As a leading developer, our aim is to constantly provide projects, which perfectly address customers’ requirements in terms of quality, location and investment returns.”

Al Fara’a Properties

Many real estate professionals are looking at blogging as a way to generate leads and create brand awareness for both themselves and their real estate business as well as generate some authority as an expert in their chosen field.

They are also coming to the realization that creating, promoting and maintaining a blog is extremely time consuming - often to the detriment of the real estate practice.

So, if you are a professional luxury real estate agent looking for a way to blog without going to the trouble of having your own blog.  - We have a solution.

The Luxury Property Blog is looking for professional real estate agents in the worldwide luxury markets to act as guest bloggers on our new blog.

We will look at each market as an individual entity and, once we accept you, that market would be yours to write on. So, for instance, if you are a luxury real estate agent in Singapore or Hong Kong, or San Diego etc – you will be the only one blogging on that market.

What do you get out of this?

We will be aggressively promoting and marketing the blog, both to end consumers and real estate professionals. We will soon be THE place to look for international luxury real estate news, advice, trends and videos.

Please take a look at our website

Luxury Property Blog

Therefore – we will be offering a well-targeted audience interested in news from luxury markets around the world.

What do we get out if it?

We will be putting together a selection of the best industry experts and helping to create a community based around the luxury property market.

How would it work?

 You would make commitment to make regular blog posts on your particular market. The length and content would be up to you. But we are not looking for a straight out sales pitch. We are looking for market insights, trends and interesting news about properties for sale or new developments.

You would be permitted two links per 400 word post back to your own website or a particular property development you were interested in promoting, but a 600 word sales pitch is not what we are after.

We will commit to generating a great deal of buzz and provide you with an extremely well-motivated audience, looking for luxury property information. And take care of all the technical aspects of running and promoting the blog. If you can use Microsoft word and email, that will be the limit of your technical involvement.    

If you think you would be a good fit, have an expert opinion to offer on a particular market and would like a “voice,” on what will soon be the ultimate platform, please contact

Mark Knowles

We might even have some fun too:

 John Edwards - Chapel Hill, N.C. - $6 million - 102-acre estate with recreation area, swimming pool, basketball and squash courts.

John McCain Phoenix, AZ - $4.6 million - 7,000-square-foot apartment with a zero-edge rooftop pool, an in-house spa and 24-hour concierge.

Mitt Romney Blemont, MA - $1.8 million - Six-bedroom colonial* Rural New Hampshire - $10 million - Views of Lake Winnipesaukee and stable turned guest house Park City, UT - ? - Ski lodge

Barack Obama Chicago, IL - $1.65 million - Georgian-revival home surrounded by a wrought-iron fence in Kenwood*

Hilary Clinton Chappaqua, NY - $1.7 million - Five-bedroom, four-bathroom circa 1889 in a woodsy Westchester suburb.* Washington D.C. - $2.85 million - it’s nice, trust me

Rudy Giuliani (not pictured) Manhattan, NY - $5.25 million - Nine-room prewar co-op Hamptons, NY - $3 million - In the Hamptons…

Ron Paul Lake Jackson, TX - $18 million (campaign fund-raising!) - Although sources could not determine land holdings for the Texas Congressman, his campaign has added an enormous blimp (not actually his) to its arsenal! For those of you that have read my earlier post, LuxuryProperty for Non-Conf ormists, you know I appreciate a nice piece of non-traditional property. Revolution.

Source/Picture: Newsweek All opinions represent the author, Isis Shapiro, and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of LuxuryProperty.com

Horowitz Associates just released its Broadband Content and Services 2007 report. As suspected, video is on a tear with adult users. It’s not just for the kiddies anymore. According to the report, a full six out of ten (61%) high speed internet users watch/download content once a week. On a monthly basis the number spikes to 86%. Other reports indicate much of the same.

The comScore Video Metrix report shows viewers watched an average of three hours of video in September with US viewers watching more than 9 billion videos. Yes, that is billion. The report also stated the average video length was 2.7 minutes, also known as the perfect amount of time for a property video. If you have a luxury property, a video is a must have for your marketing package. As video becomes utterly pervasive and mainstream affluent buyers won’t simply be delighted you have a luxury property video, they will demand it. Expect trends like this to see even more acceleration in 2008. 

(Click here for easier viewing)

Via: Horowitz Associates, Emarketer

1) Luxury Property Record - $175 Million - San Luis Valley, Colorado 

* LuxuryProperty.com Property of the Year*

Louis Moore Bacon recently purchased the 171,400-acre Trinchera Ranch from the Forbes Family. The Trinchera Ranch is the largest privately owned ranch in Colorado. The property has five homes and a Western-style lodge with 16 bedrooms.

2) Residential Record - $103 Million - East Hampton, New York

Ron Baron shattered the U.S. residential real estate record by paying $103 million for a 40-acre tear-down property earlier this year.

3) Apartment Record - $60 Million - Manhattan, New York

Developer Harry Macklowe’s purchased an entire Plaza Hotel floor (minus one apartment) setting a new price-per-square-foot record. - $6,287 per interior square foot .

4) Better Luck Next Time - $135 Million -Aspen, Colorado Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to the United States just took his 90-acre Hala Ranch off the market. With the new record firmly entrenched, it looks like some remodeling and building are in order before the next record breaking attempt.

Via: Forbes, Luxury Insights, New York Post, MSNBC

LuxuryProperty.com unveils its beta website to international luxury professionals in conjunction with the 100^th anniversary of NAR at its 2007 conference in Las Vegas, NV. The website is the luxury market’s first premier free listing service. LuxuryProperty.com features all types of luxury properties and the professionals who sell them. It emphasizes high-end video and other multimedia to assist its members gain worldwide exposure for their luxury listings.

“The site will revolutionize the way luxury property is marketed on the internet” says Robert Murphy, Chairman of LuxuryProperty.com. The beta launch will showcase the Luxury Property Media Console™, LUX Video™, and Luxury Property Blog. Michael D Murphy, CEO, explains “LuxuryProperty.com is not just another online luxury listing service, it is a true luxury experience. Our focus on engaging multimedia will help our members connect with more buyers." The website is still in beta testing and much of its search and property listing functionality will come online over the next several months.

LuxuryProperty.com features all types of global luxury properties, the professionals who sell them, and the destinations sophisticated buyers and sellers enjoy. Emphasizing international real estate and luxury videos, LuxuryProperty.com seeks to provide the most robust and comprehensive tool to search for and experience upper-tier listings, and ultimately, to connect interested parties and facilitate closed transactions.

 LuxuryProperty.com has offices in Denver, CO and Chicago, IL. The site is brought to you by LUX™, a luxurio.us™ brand.

Sotheby’s International Realty announced Singapore will be home to its newest franchise. The new office, Singapore Sotheby’s International Realty, joins a Sotheby’s network of 8,000 sales associates in 400 offices worldwide. This event marks the continuation of a slew of new openings for Sotheby’s International Realty. Fledgling offices in Tokyo and Moscow have also joined their global nest of franchises.

The sizzling Singaporean luxury real estate industry is worth a look. In fact, real estate isn’t the only thing thriving in Singapore; it’s everything business. Just weeks ago the World Bank released its annual “Ease of Doing Business” report. Singapore, yes Singapore, topped the charts. New Zealand and the United States had to take a back seat. With a thriving business environment Singapore will continue its rapid accent into the luxury market.

Source: Realogy

Picture: Asianpassages