RPLG Regional Editorials

REAL PROPERTY LUXURY GROUP REGIONAL EDITORIALS

REAL PROPERTY LUXURY GROUP w w w. R e a l P r o p e rt y L u x u r y G r o u p. c o m

Members,

We believe in the value of editorial in both print and digital publications that describes interesting facts about both our broker affiliate and the region in which he or she operates. This booklet displays multiple examples of complimentary editorials RPLG staff writers produce and design for each of our affiliate brokers. Information about each affiliated region is obtained from a variety of sources and information about the affiliate is typically obtained from the broker’s website.

These editorials will be published in multiple digital magazines owned and operated by RPLG and importantly, you will find a link at the bottom of both editorial pages that take you to each broker’s entire luxury inventory on multiple RPLG websites. These editorials may be re-published in any of our printed editions for a reasonable fee.

George H. Lane Chairman Real Property Luxury Group, LLC

ASPEN

Written by B. B. Smith

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spen is a name that conjures up images of spectacular snowcovered peaks, luxury wrapped in fur parkas, chalets high up in the mountains, challenging skiing with the sun reflected off pure white slopes, huge fireplaces with roaring red flames . . .

Upscale is definitely the word. The best of everything, exactly what those who can afford world-class luxury will demand. After all, Aspen boasts some of the most expensive real estate in the nation.

For Realtors like Craig Morris of Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty, the secret to success lies in understanding what “world class” truly means to those who want to make their homes, or second homes, in such an enviable locale. The scenery is just one element of many.

Residences and locales must offer all the amenities that make life a pleasure from dawn to dusk and beyond.

Like the stalwart aspens that gave this beautiful community its name, Aspen residents have long weathered the variegates of time, from their boom as a silver mining center to the post-downturn, and back up again as an incomparable winter resort.

Sylvester Stallone, David Spade, Johnny Depp, Steve Forbes, Stephen Stills, Eddie Van Halen, Valerie Bertinelli and Donald Trump. Start your search at J-Bar, picked by Playboy magazine as one of the best taverns in the country.

Was it an omen of the future that the biggest silver nugget found in Colorado weighed 1,840 pounds and was found at an Aspen mine in 1894? Maybe so. Aspen has since plunged wholeheartedly into international fame, a glitzy playground for the wealthy and famous.

(J-Bar is in the Hotel Jerome. Its official drink is called “Aspen Crud,” a bourbon milkshake.)

Few probably are aware that the site has been inhabited for nearly 8,000 years. The presence of silver was ironically well known to Native Americans who referred to “The Shining Mountains.”

Skiing probably draws more visitors and new residents to Aspen than any other single sport. Wouldn’t most of them be surprised to learn that the first ski lift originated in Aspen? Called a “boat tow,” it was made of an old car motor, two mine hoists, and two 10-person sleds. They also need to know that, in Aspen, it’s illegal to fire catapults at buildings. (This goes for snowballs too.)

They might be impressed, however, to learn that Aspen Mountain’s Silver Queen Gondola is the longest single-stage gondola in the world. It whisks passengers from the heart of Aspen up to the 11,200-foot summit of Aspen Mountain (aka Ajax).

Aspen has become a second and third home to many international jet setters and celebrities, including the Kennedy family, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Angelica Huston, Sally Field, Kevin Costner, Robert Wagner and Jill St. John, Don Johnson, and Jack Nicholson. Singer Jimmy Buffett and members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band also hold locals’ status.

The slopes, trendy restaurants and quaint hotels brag about their repeat celebrity visitors, such as Rosie O’Donnell, Christie Brinkley,

For Realtors like Craig Morris, co-owner of Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty, the secret to success lies in understanding what “world class” truly means to those who want to make their homes, or second homes, in such an enviable locale. The scenery is just one element of many. Residences and locales must offer all the amenities that make life a pleasure from dawn to dusk and beyond.

Craig Morris’ 175 associates have spread out across the Roaring Fork Valley, with eight offices and a global presence via Sotheby’s international network that spreads throughout 40 countries. On hand are a team of Expert Advisers — tastemakers and trendsetters in fields such as: architecture, design, wealth management, lifestyle and health, commercial and residential real estate, social media, and the list goes on.

Even so, Craig knows the value of personal contact. He shares his clients’ interests. He golfs, hikes, bikes and knows the importance of the right home in the right neighborhood to ensure the best possible future for one’s children.

To become the powerhouse firm means presenting the highest standards of client service. For Craig Morris, this means sales of over $1.4 billion of property in his 15-year real estate career, repeatedly earning him the highest sales volume in the entire Roaring Fork Valley plus the #1 spot on the Wall Street Journal/Real Trend Inc.’s “Top 100 Agents by Sales Volume” in the nation.

Atlanta Written by B. B. Smith

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tlanta is a city on the move . . . on such a move, in fact, it is the fastest-growing city in the nation. And it boasts more fiber optic cable than any other city in the nation.

All that cable is hidden, of course, under the fabulous “carpet of green visitors” see flying into this historic city — a delightful bonus from the huge oak trees that line so many of the streets.

Bet most folks flying into Atlanta are totally unaware they are also looking at a geological wonder — the geographic center of the American South. The Eastern Continental Divide runs right through downtown Atlanta. Rainwater on the south and east side of this “divide” drains to the Atlantic Ocean. Rainfall to the north and west drains into the Gulf of Mexico.

Atlanta began as the end point of a new railroad line. Stories abound as to the name’s origin. A favorite: It was a version of the middle

name, Atalanta, of then-Georgia Gov. Wilson Lumpkin’s daughter. The mythological Greek athlete goddes Atalanta’s father so wanted a boy, he raised his daughter to participate in primarily male sports, but she somehow maintained an aura of extreme sexuality.

Atlanta’s claim to literary excellence is unparalleled with residents such as Margaret Mitchell (“Gone With the Wind,” the best-selling novelist of all time), Alice Walker (Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Color Purple”), Alfred Uhry (“Driving Miss Daisy”), Joel Chandler Harris (“Brer Fox” and “Uncle Remus”).

A fitting name, to be sure. Atlanta melds an obsession with history with an incredible forward-thinking mentality, according to Atlanta Fine Homes, the city’s leading real estate firm. The nation’s third largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies can be found in Atlanta, including Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola and CNN broadcasting which were started in this city. Other world headquarters here are Turner Broadcasting, Home Depot, and AT&T Mobility. Newell Rubbermaid and UPS.

Other notable residents include (or included) President Jimmy Carter, Senator Sam Nunn, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Julia Roberts, Jane Fonda, Jeff Foxworthy, Holly Hunter, Spike Lee, Ryan Seacrest, Stephen Soderberg, Deborah Norville, Bert Parks and Chris Tucker to name just a few.

This “Alpha-World City” is one of only 10 such cities worldwide so designated as integral to the global economic systems. Atlanta boasts:

Atlanta’s known as a “peach” of a city, with over 32 streets sporting that name in part. But the stone fruit has nothing to do with Atlanta’s “peach-y” lore. Cherokee and Creek Indians inhabited this area for eons including one large settlement named Standing Pitch Tree, after a solitary tree nearby. White settlers corrupted “Pitch Tree” into Peachtree.

• the largest toll-free telephone dialing area in the world.

• the largest suburban office park (Perimeter Center) in the world.

• the world’s largest bas-relief sculpture (Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park) • the world’s busiest airport in terms of the combined passenger traffic plus aircraft operations.

• the largest 10K race in the world - the annual Peachtree Road Race with 45,000 runners.

Atlanta’s musical ties are legendary. She is often called the “Center of Gravity” for hip-hop and is (or was) home to musical artist such as Usher, Ray Charles, Sugarland, Alan Jackson, Jerry Reed, Travis Tritt, Trisha Earwood, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Otis Redding and Brenda Lee, to name just a few of literally hundreds.

With Atlanta’s numerous high-end communities that cater to luxury residences come all the amenities demanded by those who can afford the very best — in education, shopping, cuisine, arts and culture. The High Museum of Art is the South’s leading art museum. The Michael C. Carlos Museum contains the largest collection of ancient art in the Southeast.

Atlanta is one of the nation’s most “livable” cities, but you’d better learn the lingo. Directions often include “ITP” and “OTP” — for “Inside the Perimeter” and “Outside the Perimeter” — meaning Interstate 385, which encircling most of the city.

It might also help to know that the affluent neighborhood, Buckhead, is named after the buck’s head (deer head) mounted on a popular area waystation. Amazingly — considering it was burned to the ground during the Civil War — Atlanta boasts more than 40 historic districts.

An intimate knowledge of the city and its high-end lifestyles is essential when it comes to “Artfully uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives” — as Atlanta Fine Homes’ motto proclaims. Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty agents are guided by their mission statement:

“We are passionate in our interactions with clients, associates and employees, as well as in the delivery of our services. Not only is the real estate experience of our team unparalleled, but the client’s experience in dealing with our company is second to none. Finally, the reputation of members of our team and our affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty® is of paramount importance.”

COLUMBIA / BERKSHIRE County Written by B. B. Smith

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ne of the nation’s “Last Great Places” is the way the Nature Conservancy describes the scenery around Columbia County and Berkshire County, nestled as they are in softly rolling foothills of the Taconic and Berkshire Mountains. Names that conjure up visions of beauty, wealth, luxurious living are within easy reach . . . Catskills, Poconos, Adirondacks. Scenic landscapes, natural beauty and recreation galore are carefully preserved by adjacent states, the national government and many nonprofit organizations Incredible views, “Gilded Age” historic homes, internationally-famous art and culture, not to mention world class cuisine, entertainment and education . . . and all for 460 (English) pounds, three barrels of cider, and 30 quarts of rum? That’s what the original purchasers of The Berkshires, as they are known, paid for this 946-square mile “county” in Western Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, just over the border in New York State, Mohican Indians cheerfully sold what is now Columbia County to those who followed explorer Henry Hudson, settling in this 648-square mile county. They chose Christopher Columbus as their namesake, with a slight variation on the ancient word for dove. Officially organized in 1786, this is the home of President Martin Van Buren.

Both The Berkshires and Columbia County are as famous as retreat sites for the rich and famous as they are for their contributions during the American Revolution and Civil War. The elite in the 1800s flocked to The Berkshires (as they still do today); building beautiful “cottages” now home to many prep schools and among hundreds of National Register of Historic Places sites throughout both counties. Named after England’s oldest county, the oft-called “Royal County of Berkshire” (site of Windsor Castle), the original Berkshire name supposedly comes from bearocc, the Celtic word for “hilly.”

Birthplace of Oliver Wendell Holmes, the Berkshires are the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the place to see Robin Williams, James Taylor, Meryl Streep, Sonny Rollins, Yo Yo Ma, Pete Seeger, James Levine, and numerous other celebrities.

Spotted around Columbia County are Cindy Crawford, Al Roker, Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren, Gianni Versache, Kristin Scott Thomas, Diane Keaton and Meg Ryan — many enjoying the area’s world famous antique shopping.

Pittsfield, The Berkshire’s largest city, was ranked in the nation’s “Top 20 Most Secure Places to Live” by Farmers Insurance and in the “Top 24 Green Cities” east of the Mississippi (in its size category). Pittsfield was originally known as Pontoosuck, a Mohican word for “a haven for winter deer.” Here are the homes of Herman Melville and Edith Wharton and the “National Historic Treasure” Colonial Theatre, acclaimed as one of “the finest acoustical theaters in the world.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s home is now the site of Pittsfield High School.

Filmmakers descended on The Berkshires for settings for “Alice’s Restaurant,” “Pretty Poison,” “Cider House Rules,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” “A Change of Seasons,” “Lethal Innocence,” “Before and After,” “Into My Heart,” “Wilber Falls,” “Dinner and a Movie,” “ and “The Human Stain.”

A law prohibiting baseball from being played within 80 yards of the Pittsfield library is believed to be the earliest known reference to this game in America.

President Martin Van Buren started his law career in Hudson, Columbia’s county seat. To celebrate the city’s sesquicentennial, the U. S. mint issued the rarest coin it has ever minted: the Hudson Half Dollar. Rumor has it this coin was ordered by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to thank the Hudson City Democratic Committee for its endorsement (his very first) for State Senator and Governor.

Something the city fathers probably won’t tell you, Columbia Street used to be Diamond Street, a center of notorious activities. (Google that for details!) So no wonder the city has been the setting for so many movies, including “The Wonder Years,” “Odds Against Tomorrow,” “Ironweed” and “Nobody’s Fool.”

Hudson’s literally-hundreds of listings on state and national Historical Registers have earned the city the “finest dictionary of American Architecture in New York State.” Its Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) Museum of Firefighting is one of the largest in the world.

When it comes to locating just the right property for one’s needs in Columbia County or Berkshire County, an intimate knowledge of the area is paramount. This is the service offered to clients by Gabel Real Estate, along with the most sophisticated technology available to property brokers.

WEST PALM BEACH / JUPITER Written by B. B. Smith

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obe Indians were probably the first to take note of what an exceptional site for peaceful living could be found in the West Palm Beach/Jupiter area. Wouldn’t they be surprised if they could see who agrees with them today?

Jupiter is a quaint coastal town with beautiful, aqua-blue water and gorgeous (dog-friendly) beaches. West Palm Beach may be a little more “hoppin’” but both offer a calm, oasis compared to the hectic hustle and bustle of Miami.

The name West Palm Beach we can easily understand. But Jupiter?

It was a slip of the pen. Spanish explorers named the nearby Sound “Hobe” after their phonetic interpretation of the Indian name. A later mapmaker misunderstood and spelled it “Jobe.” A still-later mapmaker thought (Lord knows why) that this must be the Latin word for the god Jupiter. Long story short, Jupiter became the name, and nearby Juno Beach was named for Jupiter’s wife Juno.

Even more celebrities are in and out of the area, often performing at SunFest, an annual waterfront festival that celebrates art and music, attracting an international audience, many attracted by performers like Carrie Underwood, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Cindi Lauper, Pink Floyd, MGMT and Earth, Wind and Fire.

Is it even necessary to mention the vaulted quality of golf in the West Palm Beach/Jupiter area? Courses almost outnumber all the other amenities combined. Award-winning courses such as the PGA National Golf Club—Squire Course, Trump International Golf Club, Emerald Dunes, Seminole, Old Marsh, The Bear Club, The Loxahachee Club, The Golf Club of Jupiter, Jupiter Hills . . . well, you get the idea!

West Palm Beach was actually first written “Westpalmbeach.” But founders feared that would be too hard for newcomers!

The city was first developed as a site to house servants working in nearby grand hotels. That didn’t last long. The site was originally a pineapple plantation (where Bel Air Historical District is now), and the owner’s unique frame vernacular home still stands at 211 Plymouth Road. (The owner was murdered.) Other old pineapple fields were subdivided into what is now the community of El Cid, noted for its Mediterranean revival and mission-style homes. The owner named it the celebrated Spanish hero, El Cid (Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar). Cid means lord. Both neighborhoods, and others in West Palm Beach, are on the National Register of Historic Places, including Grandview Heights that has some of the city’s best historic homes.

Snowbirds now dot the West Palm Beach/Jupiter area, but they are joined by a widely diverse influx of multi-age groups lured by the beautiful setting, incredible beaches and the luxurious high-end community living that inevitably develops in the wake of such a migration. Schools, shopping, arts, culture, entertainment, and cuisine — all have flourished to meet the demands of those who can afford, and who demand, the very best in all aspects of life.

The out-of-doors constantly beckons and both communities are wonderfully compliant with lots of walking and biking trails. Residents tend to say they live “in Paradise.” Jupiter especially draws St. Louis Cardinals fans. The Cards hold Spring Training in Jupiter. So do the Miami Marlins. The Miami Heat play in nearby Miami-Dade County. West Palm Beach is home to the International Polo Hall of Fame.

Well-versed in the intimate inside of this ever-expanding focus on high living in a comfortable community atmosphere are the Realtor agents of Illustrated Properties, the top area real estate experts.

They know, and cater to, the wealth of celebrities who call (or called) this unique living environment “home,” including Tiger Woods, Yanni, Olivia Newton-John, Hank Aaron, Jimmy Buffett, Glenn Close, Vic Damone, Alan Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Otis Thorpe, Donald Trump, John Havileck, Rod Stewart, Edgar Mitchell, Otis Anderson, Bob Barker, Robert Allenby, Jason Bonham, George Hamilton, Bill Parcells, Tori Adams, Rick Ankiel, Celine Dion, Richie Fowler, Drew Garrett, Bryant Gumble, Michael Jordon, Kurk Pellegrino, Charles Nelson Reilly, Burt Reynolds, Wayne Rosenthal, Mike Schmidt, Rush Limbaugh, Ahmad Rashad and Serena and Venus Williams. Oh, yes, and Larry the Cable Guy, too! And, of course, many more celebrities.

If you’re going to live in the West Palm Beach/Jupiter area, you need to know about “Shoulder Season.” This is considered the best time of year: April-May. Residents find off-the-beach activities during “Margaritaville” (spring break) and October’s Fantasy Fest — or, rather, they pick their outing sites carefully. “Off Season” or “low season” during September is when most residents take their vacations.

“Shoulder Season” is the best time of all. Why “shoulder”? It’s a common term used in the travel industry to indicate periods on either side of highuse periods.

The joy of selling property in such exciting Florida areas back in the 1930s became a way of life for F. F. “Bud” Adams Sr. He taught his son, “Bud” Jr., the importance of relationships and reputation. Bud Jr. founded Illustrated Properties in 1975 with the idea that a real estate company could be something truly extraordinary. It was the right idea at the right time, and has grown to become the largest independent real estate company in Palm Beach, Martin, and Collier counties.

Customers immediately related to excellent career-oriented staff and relationships Bud Jr. encouraged them to develop within their communities. This intimate contact with “what’s going on” added a depth and expertise that customers recognized and appreciated.

While Bud’s original vision of the company has remained steadfast, his son, F. F. “Chappy” Adams has expanded that original vision, by giving the company new focus. Offering a full spectrum of real estate related services and mindful of today’s fast-paced lives and the need for convenience and efficiency, Illustrated Properties today offers almost every conceivable service to complete their customers’ real estate transactions with a minimum of stress.

Toronto Written by B.B. SMITH

the northern end of what is now Lake Simcoe, the Huron planted tree saplings to corral fish.

Toronto’s advantageous site attracted Anglo settlers and the area grew until 1813 when — during the War of 1812 — it was burned to the ground

by American soldiers. In part in retaliation for this fire, British trips later burned Washington, DC. Today all is peaceful, so peaceful, in fact, Toronto is considered one of the safest major cities in North America. One of the world’s major tourist draws, Toronto boasts one of the world’s largest Zoos and the only real, full-sized castle in North America (Casa Loma).

Built as a private residence around 1910, Casa Loma had 59 telephones!

The movies Chicago and parts of X-Men were shot there. The Toronto Zoo, by the way, won “Top Cellphone Recycler” in a competition of North American Wildlife Organizations.

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oronto — voted one of the World’s Most Livable Cities — is a city with plenty of bragging rights.

For example, looking for the longest street in the world? You’re in luck!

Part of it is here in Toronto. Yonge Street starts at Lake Ontario, runs through Toronto as Highway 11, and ends at the Minnesota border, a distance of 1178 miles.

Beautifully sited on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto anchors the exciting, ever-excelling “Golden Horseshoe” region. Its unique location makes it an important entrance/exit point for Canada and the United States.

Voted one of the “World’s Most Diverse Cities,” Toronto’s eclectic population excites an international flavor in everything from education to entertainment, from fine shopping to diverse cuisine and, most importantly, in its wide range of arts and cultural offerings. Over 50 ballet and dance companies, six opera companies, two symphony orchestras and theaters too numerous to count are thriving in Toronto.

The world’s first permanent IMAX movie theater opened in Toronto and a year-round schedule of festivals celebrate an international array of cultures.

No wonder then that Toronto’s luxury residential communities are a worldclass draw for those looking for exceptional residential opportunities, according to Michael Kalles, Toronto’s go-to real estate agent for highend living.

Only New York and London boast bigger (tho perhaps not livelier?) theater districts than Toronto. Greektown boasts one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per kilometre in the world. And the shopping . . . well, it’s world class, too!

Let’s not forget sports. Toronto boasts seven major league sports teams: hockey (Maple Leafs), baseball (Blue Jays), basketball (Raptors), Canadian football, soccer (mens) and two pro women’s soccer leagues. The National Football League’s Buffalo Bills play selected games in Toronto.

Three rivers flow lazily through the city: Humber, Don and Rouge.

Their many creeks create deeply forested ravines ideal for parks and recreation trails. Prominent escarpments, remnants of a glacial age, add to the ambiance with beautiful city overlooks and deeply wooded ravines. Public parks abound. Downs view Park won the coveted “Tree City” design award.

“Eclectic” describes Toronto’s building scene as well, ranging from multiple luxury high rises to the historic Distillery District, North America’s largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian era industrial architecture. This was once the largest alcohol-processing center in North America. It’s now renovated into a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood of arts, culture and entertainment.

Toronto has long ranked as one of the top financial centers in the world, and certainly as Canada’s commercial capital. The Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Group lists Toronto as an “Alpha World City.”

Home to the Toronto Stock Exchange, the world’s seventh largest by many gauges, Toronto’s wide range of leading economic sectors have attracted an affluent international community which has shaped the city into an ideal environment for raising children.

In fact, historically-preserved and treasured neighborhoods exist all over Toronto, according to Michael Kalles of Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. It’s said if you have a multimillion-dollar residence to sell, or want to acquire one, your first call should be to Kalles Real Estate.

Catering to the elite, “carriage-trade,” Kalles is a generational firm, whose reputation and mode of operation helped it not just survive but to actually thrive during economic downturns. Sharp decisions to quickly utilize social media and other advances in sales technology combined with the company’s firm commitment to keep its focus on relationships with clients are key to Kalles’ success in Toronto’s affluent communities.

Things have certainly changed since, for centuries, the area was inhabited by Huron and Iroquois Tribes. “Toronto” likely derives from the Iroquois word “tkaronto” or “place where trees stand in the water.” On

Michael Kalles recently joined the prestigious Haute Living Real Estate Network. This exclusive circle of leading real estate agents is invited to bring opulent estates and luxury properties to Haute Living readers.

Nassau / The Bahamas Written by B. B. Smith

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lessed with natural beauty, tropical climate, crystal clear turquoise waters, miles of deserted talcum-soft deserted beaches, seductive harbors, colorful blends of Old World and Colonial architecture, Nassau is as much a state of mind as it is an incredibly popular destination for those who can afford the very best.

The Bahamas have long been “where it’s at” — including the first New World landing for Christopher Columbus (1492), a stronghold of pirates and a film site of choice James Bond movies. Plenty of history packed into this collection of over 3,000 islands, cays and islets (a BIG rock) with the strange name. Bahamas might translate from the Spanish phrase, baja mar (short sea) or the Lucayan word for ba-ha-ma (“large upper middle land).

The Lucayans were the Indians Columbus actually met in 1942. Ownership of the Bahamas flipped around from England to Spain to France, but pirates — including the infamous Blackbeard and two famous female

pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read — seemed to establish the firmest hold. For a while it was actually called Pirate Republic. The British put an end to that and islands became the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, a sovereign, independent nation with a prime minister (and Queen Elizabeth as head of state).

The Bahamas are actually in the same chain of islands as Cuba, with Bimini the island closest to the United States. But the real center of activity is Nassau — the Bahamas largest and capital city — located on the island of New Providence. During the U.S.’s Civil War, Nassau served as home to blockade runners.

With its numerous tidally-connected lakes and closeness to Miami, Nassau and its sister islands provide an eclectic experience for residents and tourists alike, according to H. G. Christie, the Bahamas’ oldest, largest and premier real estate broker. The tropical to subtropical climate is a major asset, and it’s said there has never been a freeze reported in The Bahamas.

With the influx of those desiring luxury living at its finest have come the high end amenities such as fine cuisine, shopping, education, arts and culture — all without losing the relaxed atmosphere and friendliness always associated with island living. Even the exciting casinos managed to exude an air of luxurious well being without being too overt.

Nassau’s biggest festival, Junkanoo, is an energetic explosion of excitement that begins the day after Christmas and runs through New Year’s Day, filling the streets — almost continuously! — With brightly costumed folks dancing to the constant rhythms of cowbells, drums and whistles. Most islands hold a Junkanoo, but the biggest and most famous happens in Nassau. Several versions Junkanoo’s name origin, including that it’s named its founder, John Kanoo or after “junk enoo” — the Scottish settlers’ name for the parades (i.e., junk enough!).

Junkanoo was featured in numerous filmings including “After the Sunset,” “Jaws The Revenge,” “Thunderball” and an episode of “Top Chiefs: All

Stars.” Actually, “Thunderball” had a “fake” Junkanoo. It was filmed at the wrong time, but Nassau residents were so excited, hundreds volunteered to create elaborate floats and appear in costume. Several Bond films were set in the Bahamas as were “Splash,” “Cocoon I & II,” “Flipper,” “Silence of the Lambs,” “After the Sunset” and “Into the Blue.”

Many celebrities who come to film set up house (or summer house) here.

Among those who are now, or have, owned property in the Bahamas are Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Johnny Depp, Bill Gates, Michael Jordon, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Eddie Murphy, Chuck Norris, Oprah, Shakira and John Travolta. Depp, Murphy and Cage actually own their own islands. Well, Nicholas owns two.

H.G. Christie Ltd., founded in 1922 by the legendary Sir Harold Christie, has an incomparable selection of Bahama property listings, including luxury homes and condos, vacation homes, beachfront properties, real estate for development, and private islands. A pioneering force, Sir Harold, along with his brother Frank Holmes Christie, C.B.E., were instrumental in the creation of many of the most celebrated real estate developments in The Bahamas. In 1978, his nephew, William McP. (Peter) Christie, J.P., a prominent member of the Bahamas Bar became President of the company. Today, HGChristie.com has more than 3,300 listings and is updated daily. The family continues the company’s traditions of innovation and integrity.

Real Property Luxury Group is a consortium of the most respected and reputable luxury real estate brokers, the most effective and creative media mix, and the most innovative luxury property referral system ever devised.

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