The reasons to call the island paradise of Dorado Beach home are endless. It’s natural, tropical surroundings are unrivaled in the Caribbean and every home — including the beachfront Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences at West Beach – comes with Membership in the Dorado Beach Resort and Clue, one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious social clubs. As a member, you enjoy full access to all Club activities and facilities, including four championship golf courses, The Beach Club, the Fitness and Wellness Center and Rockefeller Nature Trail.

Beyond the breathtaking natural beauty, contemporary tropical luxury, world-class dining, and endless amenities and activities, here are 5 of the best reasons to own at Dorado Beach:

1. The ease of a comfortable, exotic escape. 
Equal parts U.S. comfort and Caribbean escape, Dorado Beach offers the perfect blend of the familiar and the exotic. You enjoy the comforts of U.S. laws, U.S. currency, English language and no customs – all wrapped in a tropical seaside paradise. American citizens can come and go without passports. The resort is easily accessible via San Juan International Airport. The project is fully financed and guaranteed by the puerto Rican government.

2. A historic community reinvented for the next half-century.
Dorado Beach has been a celebrated resort and community for the past half-century, establishing new standards for sustainability and tropical luxury well before most of the world was ever introduced to these concepts. Laurance Rockefeller’s legacy lives on at Dorado Beach today, through new contemporary design and a recommitment to an even more modern, thoughtful and sustainable form of luxury. Here, the history and cultural experiences are deeply rooted and authentic. Your family and friends will find new pursuits and passions are available at your fingertips, just around every turn of the Rockefeller Nature Trail.

3. The only Ritz-Carlton Reserve of its kind.
Dorado Beach is home to the second Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the world and the only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. It’s also the first to offer The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences, so you can live the extraordinary Reserve lifestyle every day.

4. Unique experiences from passionate designers.
Dorado Beach attracted some of the world’s best designers and inspired them to do some of their most passionate work. Every building has been designed for sustainability and to respect and embrace the natural environment. from The Watermill and Wind and Waves to the amazing Spa Botánico and the fitness and Wellness Center, every element of Dorado Beach reflects the best work of the world’s best designers, joining as a team to design and build an enriching resort community unlike any other.

5. Residences for every lifestyle.

However you envision your ideal Caribbean hideaway, Dorado Beach has a thoughtfully designed home to call your own. from beachfront residences and golf- and mountain-view villas to stylish condominiums and contemporary estate homes, a variety of price points appeal to families of all sizes and tastes – all sharing in the extraordinary experience of the Dorado Beach Club and the Dorado Beach lifestyle.

Bonus Reason: Favorable Tax Consequences

Puerto Rico recently enacted a new tax law designed to encourage wealthy individuals to live there. The law exempts new residents who have not lived in the unincorporated US territory in the previous 15 years from U.S. taxes on capital gains accrued after they move there, in addition to income derived from Puerto Rican domiciled businesses. A person needs to live 183 days a year on the island to become a legal resident. According to Alberto Baco Bague, Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico, 10 wealthy individuals from the U.S. have already relocated to Puerto Rico to take advantage of the new tax laws, and 40 more are currently talking to the government about moving to the tropical paradise. To learn more on the new tax law, read this NY Times article.

The post 5 Reasons To Call Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico Home appeared first on The Agency.

Location: Beverly Park
Size: 7 Bedrooms / 13 baths; 17,100 square feet
For Sale: $25,000,000
Agent: Mauricio Umansky

This stunning and secluded Italian Villa–designed by renowned architect Robert Sinclair–is located high above Beverly Hills in the prestigious, guard-gated community of Beverly Park, cherished for its large-scale estate properties and for offering its distinguished residents the ultimate in privacy and security with full-time guards patrolling the community’s private avenues and manning three guard-house entrances 24 hours-a-day.

Grand in scale, yet intimate and elegant, this compound estate serves equally to entertain heads of state, host charitable events or just be at home with family. Once within the property’s gates, you are transported to another world; one of serenity far away from the hustle bustle of the city which lies just minutes below.

A circular motor court centered with a tiered water fountain sweeps to the formal entry, and immediately adjacent is an additional large, gated motor court that leads to the estate’s generous 4-bay garage.

A wide tree-lined grove extends via a strolling path to meticulously kept grounds featuring tranquil, romantic touches, such as a fragrant and colorful rose garden.

Superior craftsmanship is apparent in every detail of this 7-bedroom, 13-bath residence, which boasts over 17,000 sq ft of living space and unparalleled California living. Highlights include 30-ft soaring ceilings in the grand entry foyer and gorgeous hand-painted Trompe L’oeil murals and the usage of Venetian plaster throughout.

Past the foyer lies the grand scale living, dining and family rooms, as well as the gourmet kitchen–each prudently designed by Sinclair to welcome guests, family and friends alike for all manner of occasions, whether it be large scale gatherings, stately events or the most intimate of affairs.

A rich, walnut-paneled office, located on the main level and nobly appointed with leather wall upholstery, makes the home a haven for the busy executive seeking a quiet work refuge.

And for play, the home offers limitless ways to captivate and entertain. An exquisitely crafted, 12-seat theater is perfect for hosting private screenings with its state-of-the-art audio/visual systems and custom-automated curtains. The home’s resort-like, full-service Spa–featuring every amenity, from a steam sauna and tanning salon to a hydrotherapy jacuzzi tub and Swedish full-body therapy rooms–caters to your well-being after a long workout in the commercial-quality gym.

The quintessential California lifestyle continues outdoors where a spectacular setting, arranged to accommodate every lifestyle need, awaits your retreat. Nearly 2,000 sq ft of inviting loggias with beautiful custom furniture serve as an outdoor living room to take respite from the fun as well as an idyllic setting for al fresco dining any time of day.

A 2,100 sq ft Sports Court can be used to play a variety of sports, from basketball to paddle tennis, or easily converted for use as an entertaining space. And friends and children alike will revel in the property’s expansive, park-like grassy yard whilst you soak up the sun by the swimming pool or relax in the cabana, which features a fireplace, changing room and bathroom, and two LCD flat screens and a 70” retractable movie screen & projector.

This Robert Sinclair masterpiece is truly a dream come true — resort-living come to life — and is being offered fully furnished at $25,000,000 to pre-qualified buyers only. Please contact Mauricio Umansky for more details.

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The video above, shot and edited by Rob Lambert, captures the unique lifestyle that can be experienced, if even for just one night, at the landmark residence located at 2009 La Mesa Drive, Santa Monica (aka “The House of Rock“).

The 11,000 sq ft home’s state-of-the-art recording studio, designed and curated in collaboration with a multi-Grammy winning producer and several high-end audio partners, brings together individuals and experiences of all kinds. It is, indeed, the heartbeat of the house and property.

“I have been doing this job for almost a decade and a half, and more than two decades if you count my design and development career before agenting, and I have never seen a home studio remotely of this caliber,” shared Billy Rose, president and co-founder of The Agency. “Nor have I seen a house which so acutely and effectively conveyed a rock/fun/youthful/edgy environment.”

Video Credits:
Videographer/Editor: Rob Lambert
Featured Bands: Filligar, Savoir Adore
Music: “We Come Running” by Youngblood Hawke
Location: The House of Rock

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The WSJ’s Stefanos Chen notes the home’s “Tinsel town charms” like its “former film projection room and a suede-upholstered bedroom.” The 5-bedroom, 5-bath home features many of its original details, including peg/groove oak floors, stenciled and beamed ceilings, exquisite tiles, wrought iron, fixtures and hardware.

Built in 1930 by developer/builder Rene Rivierre, 707 N. Walden Drive was purchased by legendary comedian/entertainer Joe E. Brown, who lived in the house until 1938. Mr. Brown made few alterations to the house, including the addition of a screening room in 1934, and some decorative casework in about 1935. The house had two subsequent owners, who made no known alterations, until Maxwell and Marcie Greenberg purchased the house in 1958. The Greenbergs updated the kitchen in 1958.

To learn more about this historical residence, watch the video tour below presented by Richard Greenberg.

For more photos, visit the property’s listing page here or view the slideshow on WSJ.com.

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Claudine Grant of Fox-5 Las Vegas took viewers on a tour of 26 Vintage Court, a 12-bedroom, 16-bath home with more than 24,00 sq.ft of living space located in the gated Spanish Trail neighborhood of Las Vegas. The Agency’s Kofi Natei Nartey, who has the listing, spoke with Claudine about the grand estate, which will be featured on an upcoming episode of Selling L.A.

Commenting on why an LA-centric show is showcasing a Las Vegas home, Kofi notes: “The majority of homes that are sold in Las Vegas are sold to people outside of Nevada. And the majority of that group come from California. So it only makes sense to market to a California buyer base.”

Watch the full tour above to see what makes 26 Vintage Court a truly one-of-a-kind Las Vegas luxury home or watch it here.

View 26 Vintage Court page on The AgencyRe.com here.

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The Agency’s listing at El Pueblo Ribera Court, the historic La Jolla 6-unit complex designed by the legendary Rudolph Schindler, is the Los Angeles Times “Home of the Week.”

Perched above the famous surf spot Windansea Beach, the two-bedroom/two-bath (plus office/bedroom with bath) — listed for $2,200,000 — is a functional piece of art inventively constructed of concrete, redwood and glass in 1923 and has recently been sensitively restored and enhanced. Accented with a 1,500+ sq ft deck and patio with spa and showers, the home offers views of the Pacific Ocean and a relaxed indoor-outdoor 21st Century lifestyle.

The Agency’s Billy Rose, who has the listing, commenting on the home:

It is a place you can retreat and enjoy the hypnotic sounds of the nearby waves, and yet you never feel like you are alone. And, due to the wonderful blurring of interior and the exterior space, retreating to the Court is like arriving on vacation. Schindler’s stripped-down palette of modest, organic and exposed materials (concrete, wood and glass), and the unfussy, unadorned spaces themselves, promote a clarity in thought and a simplicity in life that we all aspire for today.

View more photos of the home in the L.A. Times photo gallery here.

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By Kofi Natei Nartey

Selling luxury real estate isn’t just about selling a home. It’s about selling the lifestyle that goes with living in a world-class property. With this in mind, I recently hosted a special event at my Las Vegas listing at 26 Vintage Court, with the goal of showcasing the lifestyle that comes with living in such a one-of-a-kind home.

Grand in size, with over 24,000 square feet of living space, and exquisitely designed, the home is the ultimate in luxury and quality, and we wanted the event to speak to exactly those elements. We invited several luxury brands to showcase their products and services, and they in turn, invited their top clients. We also featured a live band, premium hand-rolled cigars, drinks, and hors’ doeuvres, and had a $1,000,000 luxury car on display. Through our outreach and contacts, we were able to draw numerous Las Vegas movers and shakers, members of the real estate community, and local media to the event (including the Las Vegas Chinese newspaper). Further, the entire event was also filmed by HGTV’s Selling LA.

I am one of the featured agents on the upcoming season of Selling LA, and the crew made the trip to Las Vegas because the majority of homes sold in Nevada are sold to people outside of the state. In fact, the majority of those people come from California. The concept of bringing in a Los Angeles marketing partner for marketing Las Vegas luxury homes is a no-brainer.

Las Vegas is not the only city where we are being asked to help market luxury homes. With the marketing reach our firm has and because Los Angeles is the starting place for many luxury home searches, this type of partnership is an excellent marketing tool. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of Selling LA and contact me directly for co-listing and co-marketing opportunities.

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The Studio City estate of hit songwriter and former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi is the featured home in the “Private Properties” section of today’s “Mansion” edition of The Wall Street Journal.

[related-properties]

The WSJ takes note of the property’s mountain and city views, gorgeous marble interiors, and stone fireplaces, as well as its 3.5 acres, which “Mansion” reporter Alyssa Abkowitz duly points out is “a lot” for Los Angeles.

The 5-bedroom, 6.5 bathroom home at 11400 Sunshine Terrace was also recently spotlighted on CBS’s The Insider, with Kara giving viewers a tour of the 7,600 square foot retreat. The home is represented by The Agency and is on the market for $6,995,000

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In 1923, legendary architect Rudolph Schindler, one of the pioneers of modern architecture and a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed and constructed El Pueblo Ribera Courts, perched just above Windansea Beach in La Jolla. Expanding upon his famous King’s Road house, Schindler cleverly utilized concrete poured in movable forms to create what is now a 6-unit functional piece of art that offers stellar views of the Pacific Ocean, as well as great privacy. Thought to be Schindler’s only work in San Diego (and now recognized as a historic site), the property represents many of the elements that set Schindler’s work apart and define his legacy as one of California’s greatest architects.

Recently, a two-bedroom/two-bath (plus office/bedroom with bath) home in El Pueble Ribera Court has come to market and is being represented by The Agency. We recently caught up with Billy Rose, who has the listing, to learn more about the home’s architectural pedigree and what makes its location in Windansea a special place.

__________

Schindler once said: “The sense for the perception of architecture is not the eyes—but living. Our life is its image.” What is the life you see being lived and enjoyed here at El Pueblo Ribera Court?

Billy Rose:  Schindler’s El Pueblo Ribera Court creates both community (amongst the owners of its six units) and shelter from the greater outside world. It is a place you can retreat and enjoy the hypnotic sounds of the nearby waves, and yet you never feel like you are alone. And, due to the wonderful blurring of interior and the exterior space, retreating to the Court is like arriving on vacation. Schindler’s stripped-down palette of modest, organic and exposed materials (concrete, wood and glass), and the unfussy, unadorned spaces themselves, promote a clarity in thought and a simplicity in life that we all aspire for today.

You’ve said before that you’re not interested in selling homes as “commerce” or everyday “shelter” but instead you see the homes you sell as functional art. This Schindler certainly qualifies as such doesn’t it? 

BR:  The difference between a Schindler-designed home and the overwhelming preponderance of other examples of shelter is that a “Schindler” is designed with so much more in mind than just being a place to sleep and escape the elements. Schindler understands how the sun passes through the sky and illuminates spaces; he studies the way the wind blows and oppresses or animates our existence; he contemplates the manners in which people will circulate throughout a structure and a property. To me, good architecture influences, guides and enhances our lives. Schindler’s El Pueblo Ribera Court magnificently achieves all of that.

For those unfamiliar with La Jolla and this particular area of La Jolla, what makes it a special place?

BR: La Jolla is one of my favorite places on Earth. It is a laid-back beach town – yet it is sophisticated and full of cultural opportunities; it hasone of the best year ‘round climates; due to its “small-town” feel, it’s a wonderful place to grow up as a kid, and yet generations of adults never leave. It’s a place where you can always feel at home, and yet feel like you are always on vacation.

And Windansea is one of the more special neighborhoods of La Jolla. Its beach is legendary; a place known for big-time surf and world class surfers. The energy and sounds of the ocean are inescapable at Windansea and it energizes and entrances all who are within its proximity

View more photos of El Pueblo Ribera Courts.

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Last night on The Insider (CBS), mega-hit songwriter and former American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi gave correspondent Debbie Matenopoulos an exclusive tour of her 5-bedroom, 6.5 bath Studio City estate, currently listed with The Agency.

Built in 1923 and renovated by Dioguardi over a two-year period, the French Chateau style home measures approximately 7,600-square foot and features sleek and sophisticated interiors accented by carefully selected architectural elements preserved from the original construction. The result is a perfect union between the glamour of the roaring 20’s and today’s modern lifestyle. From floor to ceiling, nearly every accent and finish was custom designed to provide a truly elegant and warm environment.

Dioguardi, who is selling the home as she plans to live full-time on the East Coast, tells The Insider that she managed to maintain the integrity of the home through the renovation process thanks to interior designer Fay Woodward, who works out of the Quillian store on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles.

Watch the full segment from last night’s The Insider above. Read the article about Kara’s home on TheInsider.com

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