Coco 's LA Condo Lifestyle Blog

I recently did a post called "10 Reasons to Use a Virtual Assistant".  Since then so many people have asked, "What kinds of projects do you give to virtuals?"  With the help of my virtuals I have included an incomplete list below - There are far too many ideas to begin to cover them all.  Here are some of our ideas:

• Research
• Word Processing
• Creating Presentations
• Data Processing
• Database Management
• Desktop Publishing
• Transcription 
• Editing
• Mailing and E-mail
• Telephone or Fax Service
• Internet and Web Design
• Bookkeeping and Accounting 
• Purchasing 
• Writing and Editing 
• Marketing

I would love to hear from some of you on Active Rain - How do you utelize your vitual assistants? 

There are so many things I love about my job.  I love the people I meet, I love the homes that I help to buy and sell, I love that everyday is different.  One of the things that I enjoy the most is solving a challenge.  I love to be in the mindset that I don't have to do it the way everyone else does.  It's great to think outside the box and find a solution that's never been done.

I once had a property that was beyond equisite. I work and live in Los Angeles, we deal in trophy properties on a daily basis, but this was an estate that literally had no comparison.  So how do you set a price when there are no comps?  I decided to host a pricing party. I invited the 100 top agents in the area to an open house/pricing party.  It was fabulous fun.  The estate sold quickly with multiple bids and holds the record for the highest closing price in the area- ever.  Deliciously the price was magnificently over what several other agents had suggested when offering their services to my client.  My client was thrilled and so was I.  Thinking outside the box has its rewards!

Convenience, elegance and style, that's what living on the Westside of Los Angeles is all about.  Today I want to feature a Westwood property that shines in "The Jewel" of Los Angeles: The Westford.  This sumptuous residence was built in 1980 and adds a dignified silhouette to the famous Wilshire Corridor.  The Westford's famous floor-to-ceiling windows provide a breath taking view of the green hillsides of Bel Air, the sun setting of the Pacific Ocean and the twinkling lights of Wilshire Boulevard.

This full service building is chock full of luxurious amenities from its valet parking to their well appointed exercise room, this residence places a premium on comfort, convenience and gracious living.  In a world of "Location, location, location!" the Westford takes top honors.  Within close proximity to the beautiful UCLA campus, Westwood Village, Beverly Hills and the Beverly Center, The Westford takes Metro living to new heights.

For more information about this property of other properties on the Westside of Los Angeles please visit my website  http://www.westsidelifestyles.com/

There are a lot of people talking about positve thinking these days and I have to admit it, I LOVE IT.  Is there anything better than positive thinking?  I'm not talking about sitting around saying, "Everything is Wonderful" 700 times while your world is slowly caving in around you.  I'm talking about positive thinking where you make a decision and leave all doubts behind.  I'm talking about positive thinking where you set a goal and start taking positve action, confident that no matter what you are going to succeed.  The path to success may not be smooth but you have made up your mind, so setbacks aren't going to bother you. 

When an infant begins to walk there is a lot of trial and error before they finally make it to their feet and walk.  Even then there are many falls before they really own the skill.  The point is failure wasn't an option.  Nobody says to a child after 150 stumbles, "I guess you just aren't going to walk." Nobody is in any doubt that eventually the child will walk. That's positive thinking.  Being 100% positive that things are going to work out.  When you are sure of something, completely committed to the outcome, anything is possible.

Have you ever noticed that the areas in your life where you are the most successful are that areas in your life that are completely non-negotiable.  At some point you made a decision to do something or be something and you didn't look back.  When something didn't work out you tried something else, until you found the thing that worked. Giving up was not an option.  Isn't that really what "gets it done", when you get down to the truth of it. 

Here is my challenge to you: What is the one area in your life that you have been struggling with that you would really like to be successful at?  How differnent would your life be if you were successful in this area?  If you were absolutely guaranteed to be successful at it as long as you "worked hard", what wouldn't you be willing to do.  What are you waiting for?  Make the decision - you and you alone are the only one who can guarantee your success.  Make the decision, get 100% positive about the result and go get your dream.  It's waiting for you!

I am a native of Los Angeles, specializing in the luxury condominium market of the Westside.  Our market is unlike any other.  We are fortunate to have some of the most famous addresses in the world.  One of the most exciting aspects of our market is its continuing growth.  From time to time I like to feature some of the new developments on the Westside.  It's like taking a peek into the future of luxury condo living.  Today's featured property is among the most ambitious and exciting projects in the world of luxury condos. Try this on for a new address, 1200 Club View.

In 2004 Chicago based Fifield Corporation acquired the property that will ultimately be 1200 Club View and it promises to be one of the most luxurious addresses on the Wilshire Corridor.

Designer Richard Keating has created a masterpiece of spacious metro living that will redefine luxury living.  With 21 floors and only 35 residences the emphasis is on a quality and space.  Floors 2 through 16 will house only 2 condominiums on each floor with an average of over 4,000 square feet per unit. Floors 17 through 22 will be full floor penthouses with over 8,000 square feet.

The Project was purchased in 2007 for 95.8 million by Dubai-based, Emaar Properties, an acknowledged real estate giant.  With an estimated completion date of summer 2009 the units are expected to range in price from 4 to 18 million.

The amenity rich lifestyle offered by 1200 Club View will include expansive gardens, wine storage, 24 hour valet and concierge, a state of the art library, private screening room, fitness center and swimming pool.  The luxury minded design details include commercial grade appliance and awe inspiring views of the adjacent golf course and city views.

For more information about this or any other Westside luxury condominiums please visit my website http://www.lacondolifestyles.com

It's so easy to get caught up - caught up in someone else's negativity, caught up in feeling of being on a never ending treadmill, caught up in a feeling of not being enough.  Especially this time of year, there's so much to do and it is all power packed with expectations.  Someone wise once told me that expectation is planned resentment.  I don't know about you but I don't want to be a slave to my life, I want to enjoy it.  The method that I have found works for me is simple program of self care and  committment to self growth.

Everyday I make a choice to take care of myself. I exercise, eat right and get good rest.  I am not perfect but I acknowledge that it is a choice I make on a minute by minute basis.  I meditate and am vigilant about avoiding negativity and negative thinking.  I read books and listen to CDs that focus on the power of positve thinking and the laws of attraction.  I make time everyday for self improvement, again a choice that I make. I frequently hear people say "I'd love to work out, I just don't have the time." For me that is the worse type of thinking.  It suggests that we have no choices over how we spend our time, no free will.  Sounds like prison to me.  But I also think its short cited thinking. I know when I take the time to do my work out, I come back to work energized, focused and relaxed.  My work out enables me to get twice as much done in half the time with less than half of the stress.  That's a winning proposition.

     In honor of Thanksgiving, I am taking extra time this week to be grateful for all of the wonderful things that I enjoy in my life.  I have the time to be grateful, because I have Virtual Assistants.  What's a Virtual Assistant you ask? A Virtual Assistant (VA for short) is someone who assists you from another work site, frequently their own home.  They can assist you with everything from research, to proof reading documents, to creating handmade invitations, the possibilities are endless. If you don't already have a VA I'd like to share with you my top ten reasons why you should get one today:

1. You should never waste your valuable time doing tasks that you don't like, especially when you can easily pay someone who does enjoy it to do it for you.

2. You should never waste valuable time worrying about looming deadlines or uncompleted tasks when you can easily have a VA complete the work for you.

3. Good Karma - chances are you'll be hiring someone who needs the work and can use the money.

4. You'll be strengthening the economy by giving someone a job.

5. Having a Virtual Assistant is a great way to stay current with technology and trends. VAs can bring a wealth of knowledge to your business.

6. With the time you save having virtuals do work you don't want to do you can have more time to do the work that you do like.

7. Having a Virtual can increase your work output, allowing your business to grow faster.

8. Clearing your desk of unfinished work will unclog your creative juices and allow you to develop new ideas and business plans.

9. Completing tasks on time will reduce your stress, which is good for your health and your business.

10. Knowing that you have a Virtual to provide with work will help you to be organized and forward thinking about upcoming tasks and goals.

Invest in a virtual today; they can be a great tool to create the success you so richly deserve.

     I love introducing the LA condo lifestyle to new clients.  It doesn't matter if they are first time home buyers or seasoned real estate investors, I love showing off the benefits of condo living. A few years ago I had a client, a gentleman with several palatial homes on different continents, clearly not a new comer to the real estate world.  He came to me looking to purchase a home in Los Angeles.  Business dictated that he be in Los Angeles several times a year and he wanted the convenience of a centrally located home.  A luxury condominium had not ever occurred to him, and at first discussion he was not entirely sure that condo life was for him.  Being a savvy businessman and consumer he was willing to look and I was thrilled to show off all the condo lifestyle has to offer.

     Ultimately the client purchased a 4,000+ square foot condominium with a panoramic view of Los Angeles' twinkling lights and the Pacific Ocean.  The client made the wise choice to purchase a maid's unit and happily uses it when he entertains.  The security of knowing that he can leave for months at a time and return to find 24 valet and concierge staff was too good of an offer to pass up.  He recently told me that out of all his properties his Los Angeles Luxury Condo is the family favorite for visits.  In fact this Holiday season his mother and sisters will be giving the condo an extended visit.  The nearby restaurants and shopping are just too good to be missed.  My client is a true convert to the condo lifestyle.  It suits him well, and I feel gratified to know that I was the one who introduced him to it.

     I had a really interesting encounter the other day. I was at a function that was completely unrelated to real estate, and I was introduced to a lovely woman.  She was a very vibrant 70 year old woman, a native of Los Angeles.  She asked me what I did for a living and I was only too happy to tell her that I work in real estate and that I specialize in luxury condominiums on the Westside.  Her reaction was dramatic.  She grabbed my arm and said "You poor dear, you must be exhausted!" 

     As it turns out, she had been a real estate agent for a brief period in the '70s and she had been shocked to discover there was actual work involved.  Like so many people, she had thought that being a real estate professional meant driving around in a late model car, talking on the phone (and back then you couldn't do both at the same time!) and cashing hefty commission checks.  She confided in me that she had only lasted a few months, about the amount of time it took to realize that there was just too much work involved. 

     I was struck by the honesty of the woman and the irony that almost 40 years later there are still so many people who don't have an understanding of the work that is necessary to be a successful agent.  We have already begun to see an exodus, agents leaving the field during this so called market "adjustment" period.  I feel incredibly fortunate that I work with professionals who, like me, are in this business for the long haul.  I love what I do; I appreciate the work ethic and energy that are necessary to be successful in this market.  I can't imagine not being passionate about knowing the ins and outs of this business and embracing the "work".  I'm so glad that I had an opportunity to meet my 70 year old friend; our encounter reminded me of how lucky I am to be a part of this business.

     I love to talk about the New Developments taking shape in Los Angeles.  It's like talking a good long look into the future of luxury condominiums.  If the plans for The Carlyle on Wilshire are any indication, the future is going to be so bright we'll all have to wear our Louis Vuitton sunglasses.

     In a much talked about summer "flip", Woodbridge Capitol and Wilshire Carlyle Partners completed the sale of their prime property at 10776 Wilshire Blvd to the New York based Elad Group.  At a purchase price of nearly $140 million dollars, the Elad group quickly completed the plans for the 24 story, crescent shaped luxury condominium tower and has already begun construction.  The Art Deco structure will feature 78 premium condominium estates. With only four residences on each floor, every condo will be a corner unit featuring sweeping balconies, angled walls and spacious living.  This exquisite masterpiece is scheduled for completion in the late 2008.  For more information about this and other new developments in Los Angeles visit my website at www.lacondolifestyles.com