In the 1920s, Mrs. Celia Tobin Clark, an heiress to the Hibernia Bank fortune, commissioned architect David Adler to create a Cotswold Tudor Mansion on a secluded hilltop of some 400 acres just south of San Francisco. Full-grown trees were transplanted from as far away as the Monterey Peninsula, rose terraces and formal courtyards were laid out amid the oak groves and lawns, and multiple-trunk olive trees were pruned to dip low over matching reflecting pools set in a stone terrace. Completely by hand, an architectural treasure was built.

Upon completion in 1931, the home was filled with interior decor by Syrie Maugham (wife of Somerset), paintings by Van Dyke and Sir Joshua Reynolds, Queen Anne paneling, eighteenth century Chinese wall coverings, a rare Dubois writing table and over two hundred other items sent from England and the Continent.  With a prized view overlooking San Francisco’s Lower Bay and the rolling landscape far to the west, ‘House-on-Hill’ now rests on a more manageable six acres, without the original Adler-designed sixteen-stall stables, ten-car garage and “laundry group”.  Little else, though, has been sacrificed, and the house remains quietly tucked away behind the espaliered magnolias and majestic pines of a cherished Hillsborough setting.

In the gallery, the floor is marble, laid without mortar, point to point, to create a deep pattern of optical illusion. The walls are dowel-joined Jacobean paneling, purchased through Stair and Andrew in London. Eighteenth-Century English oak surrounds the gentleman’s cloak room, where special shallow cupboards were fashioned to hold shaving mugs. For the master sitting room, the owner and architect chose oak paneling, circa 1724, from Royal House Cononley; and the chandelier, constructed a few years later, is Waterford, purchased from a descendant of the actor Edmund Kean. Pine carving attributed to Grinling Gibbons, woodcarver to St. Paul’s Cathedral under Sir Christopher Wren, and matching eighteenth-century pine bookcases grace the library, featured in Helen Comstock’s one 100 Most Beautiful Rooms in America.

The Tobin Clark Estate is now available for sale offered at $29 million.  For a private tour of the estate CONTACT US today – only fully qualified Buyers.  Until next time…Jim Walberg

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1. The Tobin Clark Estate: David Adler – Architect’s Crown Jewel of San Francisco Estates
2. The Tobin Clark Estate: A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity For $29 Million
3. The Tobin Clark Estate: Interior Designer, Syrie Maugham’s Finest Work!

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Expert Internet Marketing Professional, Jim Walberg, Shares Lead-Generation Tips at FIABIC-USA Conference

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINA – (March 27, 2010) – Jim Walberg, owner of The Bay Area Team, and a 40-year business owner and REALTOR®, who is well-known for his very successful real estate companies in the Caribbean and San Francisco real estate markets, openly shared his global marketing strategies at the FIABIC-USA 2010 Spring Conference in Alexandria, Virginia.

Five years ago, Walberg said he had a vision of expanding his real estate practice from San Francisco to include the Caribbean Islands. At that time he launched the websites Bay Area and Caribbean websites that allows Buyers from all over the world to purchase real estate in two of the most desirable locations in the world.

“I have spent almost 40 years in the San Francisco Bay area and the Caribbean as a business owner,  REALTOR®, and a sailor, so I know these regions of the world very well,” said Walberg, the 62-year-old co-owner of  The Bay Area Team, and one of the most successful real estate teams in the country at Keller Williams Realty in Danville, California. “I never expected that my dream would create such results so quickly.   But, people from all over the world to participate in real estate sales and purchases, is now a reality.”

Walberg’s international lead generation experiment has produced amazing results for his real estate companies. “One hundred percent of our San Francisco Bay Area and Caribbean real estate results are coming from inquiries from our blog sites and past clients,” he said. “We are receiving inquires each day from a total of 16 countries!   This has been a significant addition to our real estate business revenue – beyond any of our expectations!”

Unlike some professionals who guard their successful “marketing secrets”,  Walberg says that the professionals in the world of international real estate are remarkably open about their strategies for success. “Successful Realtors are the most open and sharing community I have ever found.” he said. “They want every member of the global real estate community to win!” Because of Walberg’s success in lead generation from the internet, he was awarded the 2009 Best Global Networking Award from Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate.  More than 60 delegates from Europe and the Americas attended this important conference.

About Jim Walberg Jim Walberg has been a member of the East Bay business community since 1970. He and his wife Ann Marie Nugnet are the owners of The Bay Area Team at Keller Williams Realty in Danville, California. He is one of Keller Williams University’s Regional Trainers. He is also a founding member of the International Luxury Real Estate Society, he has been inducted into the REALTORS® Hall of Fame for the East Bay, and he is in the very top Escalon of Realtors nationally. He loves sailing in the Caribbean traveling the world, collecting fine wines, reading,  trout fishing, and skiing. However, the most important part of his life is his personal faith, his loving wife and business partner, and their three children,  two of whom are finishing university, and the oldest is a consultant with Accenture Consulting.

About FIABCI FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, is local, national, and worldwide. Established over 60 years ago, the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) is the only truly international organization of its kind in the world. Comprised of professionals in all areas of the industry, FIABCI’s long-standing and highly respected presence in the international community gives it’s members instant accessibility, credibility, and dependability.  Through our individual and association members in 65 countries, FIABCI membership gives professionals access to contacts around the world – over 2,000,000. FIABCI-USA (the US Chapter) is the only international real estate organization representing the entire spectrum of the real estate industry in the US.  FIABCI’s mission is to open the international community to it’s members on a local, national, and international level, so that they may develop a broad base of real estate contacts that will translate into increased business opportunities and ultimately financial success. People connecting people to create one global marketplace is the result of membership in FIABCI.  For more information log on to:  http://www.fiabci-usa.com/

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The East Bay equestrian market is typical of any niche micro-market in the country.  They are centered on a specific hobby that takes money to enjoy and those enthusiasts are willing to spend their money to continue their passion no matter what the economy is doing.  What this requires is a consumer that is winding their way through bad economic times way above all the economic mess.  These are typically owners and leaders of corporations both in the Bay Area and nationally.

Internet marketing is the key for this niche real estate product.  All but one of the Buyers for our equestrian properties came from our global internet marketing strategies.  Inquires for this niche have come from as far away as Europe and we even had a couple fly in from Texas for just 36 hours to preview one specific property they wanted to explore.  We subscribe to eleven different international equestrian websites for our listings because that is where these niche Buyers start – on the internet.  Response time back to them is also critical.  These are Buyers whose expectations of service are at an extreme level.  When they find a professional who is willing to provide that level of service they are very willing to work side by side with them until the transaction is completed.

The equestrian property niche is full of people who participate in all aspects of sports connected to horses;  hunter/jumpers, polo, dressage, and Western saddle competitions.  This group of horse enthusiasts has the cash and when they find the perfect equestrian property that meets the needs of their specific interest they spend it.  Of the last seven equestrian properties that have sold in the East Bay this year we have represented five of them.  All five of these Buyers were presidents and/or owners of local and national companies.  Each of these Buyers put more than 50% down on their purchases and one even paid cash.  They are not concerned with whether the property’s value appraises either. They are very savvy regarding the true value of these properties.  The average purchase price of the properties we represented this year was $2.26 million!  This certainly defies the conventional thinking related to residential real estate the past two years of consumers holding on to their cash.

One of the first things you notice when you are previewing equestrian properties is the Buyers start at the barn, not the house.  They want to know if the horse facilities will be acceptable to the needs of their prized animals.  The top dollar sale of the five equestrian properties we represented this year went to the place that had the most luxurious barn and arena we have seen in many years.  The house at this property was actually an after-thought.  The people that purchased this property had five hunter/jumper horses with an average value of $150,000!  They wanted to make sure their horses’ every need was taken care of within the stables and arena.

Also, the equestrian property Buyers want their purchases to be quiet and discrete.  They are not buying these properties to show off, and they do not want any publicity.  They are some of the most fun people we work with – down to earth and humble people who have worked hard for their success.  They understand that the equestrian lifestyle is what they prefer for themselves and their children.  This continues to be one of the few micro-markets this is thriving in the East Bay in spite of these uncertain economic times. For more information about our international marketing strategies for your real estate, CLICK HERE and I will get back to you quickly.  Until next time…your East Bay lifestyle detective remains on duty.

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The Ritz Carlton in Denver, Colorado

FIABCI contacted me before their conference to see if I would be a presenter on the topic of Blogging: A Real Estate Lead Generation Machine.  I was honored by their invitation and readily accepted.  At the Denver conference there were real estate professionals from around the world sharing their best practices.  For example, one of the breakout sessions was focused on Federal rules which allow foreign investors to purchase real estate in the U.S. 

Another section of the FIABCI conference was dedicated to sharing marketing plans for properties to a global marketplace.  The Bay Area Team was asked to present their internet marketing strategies using one of their luxury listings as an example – a $4.48 million equestrian estate  in San Francisco’s East Bay.  Each of the marketing presentations were judged by a panel of our peers and The Bay Area Team’s presentation won the FIABCI – USA’s top award – the James Wray, Jr. Memorial Marketing Award.

FIABCI’s mission is to open the international community to it’s members on a local, national, and international level, so that they can develop a broad base of real estate contacts that will translate into increased business opportunities and ultimately financial success – people connecting people to create one global marketplace. Membership in FIABCI allows it’s professionals to embrace cultural diversity with one common goal: to erase the borders in international real estate and provide the world with a team of experts ready to meet their property needs.

Our membership in FIABCI has now opened a vast number of doors for us to find international Buyers for our properties, and to identify Sellers who want to contract our services that will allow their properties to be seen by Buyers throughout the world instead of just locally.  Just in three short months of our membership we have seen dramatic results with our connections to this organization’s worldwide members.  Click here to find out more about our global real estate marketing strategies.  Until next time…your East Bay lifestyle detective remains on duty.

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1. FIABCI-USA: Jim Walberg Presents At The 2010 Spring Conference
2. East Bay Real Estate: Jim Walberg & Ann Marie Nugent Sharpen Their Tools
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