Archive for December, 2010

Windermere Celebrates With The Palm Springs Air Museum

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Windermere Holiday Event at Palm Springs Air Museum

Windermere representatives receive a plaque as a Top Gun Sponsor of the Palm Springs Air Museum. From left to right: Bryan Arnold, Managing Broker of Windermere Palm Springs South; Jerry Rip, PS Air Museum Business Development; David Cantwell, Managing Broker of Windermere Palm Springs Main

 

Windermere agents are known for giving back to their communities, and they welcomed the holiday season with a premier event at the Palm Springs Air Museum at 745 N. Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs. Home to one of the largest collections of flying World War II vintage airplanes, a rotating display of classic vehicles from the Robert Pond collection, and massive murals by nationally acclaimed local artist Stan Stokes, the famed Palm Springs Air Museum enters its fifteenth year as a world class attraction inspiring respect, memories and awe in visitors of every age.   

Windermere Real Estate is a Corporate Sponsor of the Palm Springs Air Museum. Saturday night’s celebration was a thank you from Windermere management to its agents and administrative support across the Coachella Valley. The event offered the opportunity to enjoy the historic aircraft and other WWII-era museum attractions, while having the chance to greet the holidays with other members of the Windermere family. Guests enjoyed light snacks and danced to live music, some wearing outfits and accessories inspired by World War II-era fashion.   

“Windermere people are the finest, hardest working folks anywhere,” said Bob Deville, co-owner of Windermere Real Estate Coachella Valley. “Not only do they work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure the finest real estate experience for our clients; they contribute huge amounts of time, effort and money to a broad spectrum of community services. This event gave us a perfect opportunity to show our appreciation for their dedication while at the same time supporting the Palm Springs Air Museum.”    

Adding to the evening’s pitch-perfect atmosphere was the classic Palm Springs weather; the Museum’s giant hangar doors were left open and guests strolled in and out amidst the classic planes as music from the live band drifted through the celebration.  “It would be hard to imagine a more ideal setting anywhere in the country for a museum of this caliber,” said Bob Bennion, co-owner of Windermere Real Estate Coachella Valley. “The generation of Americans who built and flew these planes deserves our complete respect and gratitude. Windermere is proud to be a sponsor of the Palm Springs Air Museum, and we all appreciated the opportunity to celebrate the holidays together in such a historic environment.”  Dick Clark, President of the Palm Springs Air Museum noted, “Our corporate sponsors are invaluable in helping the Museum fulfill its mission.”  To learn more about the Palm Springs Air Museum, visit palmspringsairmuseum.org.

Windermere Takes Pride In Welcoming A Diversity Of New Agents

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
Windermere Real Estate would like to introduce three of its newly-signed agents:
Bryan Burns of Windermere Palm Springs South

Bryan Burns of Windermere Palm Springs South

 

Bryan Burns began his real estate career in 1989 in the east San Gabriel Valley. By 1991 he was the top selling agent in the Covina office. In 1993, he attained two of the highest possible designations within his company: the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award and Platinum Club membership, and for ten years, he was the top-selling agent in his office. Bryan obtained his broker’s license and made the Coachella Valley his home in 2004; shortly after, he began working with a number of banks in liquidating their foreclosure holdings, and in 2009/2010 season he closed on nearly 100 properties. Of his experience in working with the banks, he says “It was a great fast-track way to learn valley real estate. It enables me to comfortably represent buyers and sellers valley-wide.”  Bryan looks forward to his partnership with Windermere and plans to specialize in mid-range and luxury homes. He is located at the Windermere Palm Springs South office at 2465 E. Palm Canyon Drive #605. 

Rod Callahan

Rod Callahan of Windermere Palm Springs Mid-Town

 

Rod Callahan, a long-time visitor and seven-year resident of Palm Springs, brought his skills and experiences to real estate from two prior career paths: healthcare executive in Reno, Nevada, and boutique hotel owner here in Palm Springs. From those positions he has continued to build upon his outstanding level of customer service. “I know the importance of providing outstanding service to my clients,” says Rod. “I give them what they need for a successful real estate transaction, and I am proud to provide references from both sellers and buyers.” Rod is a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Palm Springs Board of Realtors, as well as the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at the Windermere Palm Springs Midtown office at 1255 E. Ramon Road. 

Caitlin Young Windermere Indian Wells Main Office

Caitlin Young Windermere Indian Wells Main Office

 

Caitlin Young, a Coachella Valley Realtor® for five years, came to real estate after 15 years with the Humane Society of Santa Clara, where she managed their pet adoption program. Caitlin brings fresh insight to our real estate market, honed by 12 years of desert living. She applies her passion to a broad range of Valley residential areas stretching from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea, with extensive interest and experience in the REO and foreclosures market. Caitlin and her two sons reside in North La Quinta with their two dogs, two cats and a myriad of other critters. Speaking of her passion for animals, she notes: “Pets need homes too. Adopt from your local shelter.” Talk with Caitlin about YOUR home needs at Windermere’s Indian Wells Main office at 74-850 Highway 111. 

Windermere Agents Recognize Great Kids

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

  

Windermere Agents Recognize Great Kids

Windermere Agents Recognize Great Kids

 

Windermere agents donate a percentage of every Windermere real estate transaction to the, from which grants are awarded to various charities and services in the agents’ own communities.  

The Windermere Foundation recently played a part in a very magical event. Diane Williams of Windermere’s Palm Desert San Pablo office has been helping to spread a wondrous kind of joy for some very deserving kids. Williams contributes her time and effort to Variety, the Children’s Charity of the Desert where, on December 5, shiny new bicycles were presented to each of 300 fourth graders recognized by their teachers as kids leading by example.  A $3000 contribution from Windermere Foundation paid for 15 of the bikes. Many more were financed by private and corporate donations throughout the Desert. “We’re all helping to give back to these deserving children who have no idea that anyone recognizes their accomplishments,” says Williams. “Each $200 donation pays for the bike, field trips and summer camps for the children, and helps to purchase the vans used for transportation.”  

Other Windermere agents eagerly contributed to the special event, including Jennie Robinson of Windermere’s La Quinta office. She said “One of the most touching things was the wonderful, proud smiles on the faces of the boys and girls as they were presented with their bikes while their families looked on, beaming with pride.”  Camille Pfeifer of Windermere’s Indian Wells Main office was also proud to participate. “As I arrived and saw the long line of children and parents waiting to be recognized, I was touched by the true meaning of this event. These are the children who do what is right because that is the right thing to do.”  

This year, there were almost 1000 nominations for these inspiring kids who are working to make it in tomorrow’s world. Donations enabled Variety to present about a third of them with bicycles; at next year’s event, they hope to do even more. And it’s not just about the bikes. “The parents of these children also deserve recognition for providing the guidance to their children which enables them to strive and focus on the positive and reject the negative,” says Pfeifer. “This is about a community that recognizes those who set a good example. It’s about seeing children succeed.”

Windermere Agents Support The Children Of Olive Crest

Monday, December 13th, 2010
Windermere Supports the Children

Windermere Agents Support The Children Of Olive Crest

 

Windermere Real Estate is exceptionally proud of its agents and the many community service projects and services across the Valley that they support throughout the year. A large proportion of their efforts revolve around providing assistance to the homeless with a focus upon the children, a segment of the homeless population growing at a disproportionate rate. 

Windermere agents Diane Marx and Jenell Fontes, of Windermere’s flagship office located at 71691 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, contribute time and effort to Olive Crest, an organization offering safe homes and support for these children.  Its stated mission: “Olive Crest is dedicated to preventing child abuse, to treating and educating at-risk children, and to preserving the family…one life at a time.” The organization does this by providing safe homes and support for children having few other options.  Jenell has worked with Olive Crest for four years, currently serving on the 12-member Board of Trustees.  Diane Marx, co-chair, refers to her earlier career as a teacher. “There are 10,000 child abuse cases per year in the Coachella Valley alone. These children truly are our future, and we need to protect them. Olive Crest gives them a voice.” 

Olive Crest has built four houses in the Coachella Valley, with each house providing individual bedrooms and safe residential surroundings for six children. Each safe house is adopted by a live-in family providing parent figures for the children, with an environment more like loving foster care rather than institutional facility. The overall goal of the safe home program is to reunite families.  Diane notes, “Families with temporarily insurmountable problems can voluntarily place their children with Olive Crest, and later become reunited. With Child Protective Services, for example, that’s not so easily done.”  Since 1995, Olive Crest has provided these services to the Coachella Valley desert communities. “Prior to Olive Crest constructing these homes, displaced children were relocated to Riverside County facilities,” says Jenell. “The children are so much better off being able to stay here in the Coachella Valley; for these families, this is home.”  

Windermere encourages readers to visit OliveCrest.org to learn more.

Windermere Welcomes John Reagan To The Palm Springs Midtown Office

Thursday, December 9th, 2010
John Reagan - Real Estate Agent with Windermere Real Estate

John Reagan - Real Estate Agent with Windermere Real Estate

 

Windermere proudly welcomes John Reagan to its Windermere Palm Springs Midtown office, located at 1255 E. Ramon Road in Palm Springs. 

John of Eugene, Oregon, began his career in the retail automotive industry, first selling cars, and then managing his own sales team. Progressing into finance, he spent ten years learning that side of the business, earning top sales awards and eventually finishing in the top 2% of the American market. After mastering the automotive and financing markets, he discovered real estate, and only then does he say he found his true passion: the ‘it’ he’d been looking for. 

At Windermere, John continues to apply his natural ability to lead and inspire. He has not only made his own way in real estate; he shares his knowledge and experience with others each Sunday morning at 7:30, when he can be heard live on KPSI NewsTalk Radio 920 AM hosting his own show, “The REAL in Real Estate.”  Listeners tune in to hear John and his guests discussing specifics of the Coachella Valley real estate market, subjects of special interest such as land leases and other local industry topics.  “Here I am, literally living the dream,” says John. “I meet nice people; I live in Palm Springs, the most beautiful city in the world. Now I’m helping my Windermere clients live their dreams too…it just doesn’t get any better than that. “ 

                                           

Windermere Expands With Two New Offices in Brea and Chino Hills

Monday, December 6th, 2010
 
Brea Office

Brea Office

     

 

Chino Hills Office

Chino Hills Office

Windermere Real Estate is broadening its already substantial Southern California presence with the opening of two new Windermere offices beyond the Coachella Valley. For those who have only known Windermere Real Estate by its extensive desert area presence, it may come as some surprise that Windermere offers its full range of services and fully-licensed professionals throughout a large part of Southern California, serving a diverse clientele from our southernmost part of the state all the way north into Canada.  

Windermere Preferred Living, located at 135 S. State College Boulevard, is now serving Brea and the surrounding areas of this thriving and popular Orange County city. Brea, at the very northern end of Orange County, is noteworthy for much, including its early petroleum industry history, its citrus production, and its extensive program of citywide public-sponsored art. Sunset magazine named Brea one of the five best residential suburbs in the western United States, and Windermere is proud to now be a part of this exceptional Southern California city. Windermere offers Brea real estate buyers and sellers the exceptional quality and experience for which its agents are already known for at 16 Coachella Valley locations and more than a dozen other offices throughout Southern California.  

Also celebrating its grand opening this weekend is the new Windermere Real Estate/King Realty Group office at 2130 Grand Avenue, Chino Hills, located at the southwest corner of San Bernardino County. Money Magazine called national attention to this city when it named Chino Hills one of America’s hottest towns, ranking it number 8 on its list of ‘best places in the West with population under 100,000.’ Windermere brings its legendary reputation for service and client satisfaction to this beautiful rural community and looks forward to settling into its position as one of the foremost California real estate firms in this part of the state.  

With the two new Brea and Chino Hills offices, Windermere Real Estate has 33 offices throughout Southern California, with additional locations underway. 

  

    

   

Windermere Welcomes David Carter, Manager Of New Palm Springs Midtown Office

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
Windermere Welcomes David Carter To The Team!

Windermere Welcomes David Carter To The Team!

 

Windermere Real Estate proudly welcomes David Carter as manager of its newest Coachella Valley office, Palm Springs Midtown, located at 1255 E. Ramon Road. 

David comes to Windermere with 26 years of exceptional real estate experience, the last ten years of which have been here in the Coachella Valley. David brings to Windermere a special kind of caring and experience gained from his early background in nursing oncology. He appreciates the satisfaction he gets from providing the same high level of exceptional support and service to his Windermere real estate agents as when he served in the medical community. In addition to his personal integrity, his agents are especially impressed with his knowledge of the Coachella Valley real estate market. He offers the following tips to buyers:  “Select an experienced agent you trust, and stick with them.” And for sellers?  “List your home with a proven leader in your local market.” 

David shares his training and experience by chairing the Professional Standards Committee for the Palm Springs Board of Realtors, and teaching classes to new members on the Realtor ‘Code of Ethics’. He has also presented sessions on Contracts and Disclosures.  David is a Certified Real Estate Specialist (CRS) and director for the California Desert Association of Realtors (CDAR). 

David believes in giving back to his community, and is active with his Palm Springs church. He also supports The Desert AIDS Project, Well in the Desert, and other community organizations. 

For more information, visit us online at www.WindermereSoCal.com.