Real Estate
La Belle et la belle: An intimate conversation with Lidia Bersani
Monte Carlo’s homegrown designer Lidia Bersani discusses her love for extravagant interiors and the feminine touch Acclaimed designer Lidia Bersani made headlines this year when she announced her design concept for a super yacht exclusively for ladies. As a long-time designer of luxury goods, Lidia often finds herself drawing inspiration from the beauty of the female persona. A familiar face of Europe’s elite society, the Italian-born designer spends a lot of her time these days in her studio in Monaco – home to some of the world’s super-rich and most powerful citizens – to work on a variety of concepts that celebrate the taste of glamorous women with an ultra-fashionable and global lifestyle. “It is true that I mostly focus on designs about and for women,” she ponders. “In my projects you can often feel the woman’s essence as delicate, sensitive and obviously feminine as compared to strong masculine types.” While she admits to her gender bias in design, she also says that either men or women can appreciate her lavish ideas or her over-indulgent imagination, but it’s the client’s desires that are ultimately served. “Luxury living has to be made-to-measure for the owners of the home. It has to correspond with their lifestyle, age, daily activities and habits.” Bersani recently spoke with Property Report about her female-centric projects, favourite activities outside work, and where she might own a house someday. Tell us about this super yacht for female millionaires that has everyone talking. When I was conceptualising this project, I did not want La Belle to look like an ultra futuristic boat in minimalistic style. On the contrary, La Belle is opulently decorated, different from many other luxury yachts of today, and very recognisable from afar. It simply exudes feminine style. State-of-the-art features are also present in all of the yacht’s systems to ensure that the yacht owner and her guests would be provided with the highest quality of security and comfort. La Belle, the world’s first super yacht designed exclusively for women millionaires For such an ambitious project, it must also carry a very hefty price tag. You could say that! The price for one La Belle super yacht is around USD250 million, and the whole package will include one gold helicopter, a small submarine, plus other gadgets, toys, equipment and furnishings in absolutely top quality. At present we are considering three Europeans shipyards to build the first yacht, but it has not yet been decided definitively. At this time we are also in negotiations with a few prospective buyers, but no woman – or man – has finalised a deal as we speak, so we will build only one La Belle for now, and it will be unique. La Belle’s lavish interiors are adorned with Lidia Bersani’s favourite motifs and colours Aside from super-rich females, what’s the target market? The mega-wealthy men, of course! La Belle is the perfect present for any loved one. It could, for example, be an amazing alternative to the engagement ring. In fact, I believe that someday soon the concept of an alternative engagement ring will become very fashionable in the world of the wealthy. What makes La Belle so special? La Belle is honestly a beautiful super boat. It offers extreme luxury in each corner: full of gold, precious stones, pearls, crystals, and everything that girls dream about. The interiors are very warm, cosy and romantic. It is like a boudoir for women – an oasis of privacy and peace. La Belle also focuses on the entertainment, tastes and activities that are geared toward women. The colours are only off-white, ivory, cream and gold – some of my personal favourites. Everything in it makes each woman feel like she’s in paradise. Inside super yacht La Belle The style is very characteristic for La Belle, so it is not customisable. When my team starts customising the yacht, it risks looking like any other boat. La Belle is for somebody who will really fall in love with this style. But we can build it slightly larger, at around 10 to 15 percent, but not more. You also design interiors of luxury villas and apartments. Do you have a favourite project? It is difficult to say. I like all of my projects and each is unique, as my clients are different. For me, design is like an adventure; it takes me to new places, where I learn about interesting countries, people, cultures and cuisine. My clients and I keep in touch, and sometimes we meet up after we’ve finished a project and discuss new properties to design, which is a really nice feeling. Lidia Bersani dresses a home interior like a woman’s haute couture In terms of designs, is it difficult to adapt to different environments, such as a high-rise penthouse in the city, a waterfront villa, or a yacht? You should first try to understand what you want to design in a specific environment. Then you start to think, imagine, and focus only on this one project. You forget about other things – as if the world stops spinning – and then everything comes very easily. So for me it is not a problem to design different kind of properties; I just need to direct my thoughts on a certain project. And, of course, all of it would not be possible without any knowledge, training, experience, a huge imagination, good taste and intuition. We’ve noticed that your projects feature one-of-a-kind pieces that must have come from your own home fashion line. Tell us more about it. Home fashion is one of my biggest passions in life. Decoration, after all, is the last level of furnishing your interiors. An interior may be amazing but in my eyes the design process is not over until all the furnishings are in place. I try to dress an interior like a beautiful woman would wear a dress and accessories. In fact, I like to think I create home fashion just like jewellery, which is why my curtains or carpets are often accentuated with fur, Swarovski crystals, pearls or some precious stones. I use only top quality fabrics like silk, jacquard and cashmere, mostly of them are designed by myself and handmade in very limited edition for unique clients. This is really haute couture home fashion and I use only my own collections for projects. Lidia exclusively uses her own home fashion collection for her designs Can we expect to see any more of your creations hitting the high seas in the future? Yes. I’m currently working on a new luxury project for women: a younger, smaller and much affordable sister of La Belle, but it is not a boat… Unfortunately I cannot tell more details until it’s finished! Yachting is clearly one of your favourite pastimes, but what else do you get up to in your spare time? I work… a lot. But I love to design, so even in my leisure time I find myself coming up with new ideas, whether it’s for my home fashion collections or other fashion lines for women and girls. Sure, it’s a lot of work and but I enjoy that it’s always with me. Outside of that, I always take part in the rich social life in Monaco, especially when sailing is included. I also have many friends and design clients in different places around the world, so I travel because of them. But when I really want solitude, my time is spent at home in the north of Italy near Monaco, far from all the noise of modern life. Right there I feel recharged. And when I travel for pleasure, I mostly choose new places that I’ve never been to, or warm locales next to the sea and far from the big city. I have still a few places on my list where I would love to visit. The feminine touch in interior design is Lidia’s specialty Speaking of warm locales… would you consider buying a second-home in Asia? Sure, why not? I like places where the weather is nice and has lots of sunshine – they energise me and make me happy. Maybe a luxury penthouse in Singapore or Hong Kong would suit me. A residence in a quiet, exotic place next to the sea, such as Phuket, would be also nice. Maybe one day I will decide to buy one of each!
Monte Carlo’s homegrown designer Lidia Bersani discusses her love for extravagant interiors and the feminine touch
Acclaimed designer Lidia Bersani made headlines this year when she announced her design concept for a super yacht exclusively for ladies. As a long-time designer of luxury goods, Lidia often finds herself drawing inspiration from the beauty of the female persona.
A familiar face of Europe’s elite society, the Italian-born designer spends a lot of her time these days in her studio in Monaco – home to some of the world’s super-rich and most powerful citizens – to work on a variety of concepts that celebrate the taste of glamorous women with an ultra-fashionable and global lifestyle.
“It is true that I mostly focus on designs about and for women,” she ponders. “In my projects you can often feel the woman’s essence as delicate, sensitive and obviously feminine as compared to strong masculine types.”
While she admits to her gender bias in design, she also says that either men or women can appreciate her lavish ideas or her over-indulgent imagination, but it’s the client’s desires that are ultimately served. “Luxury living has to be made-to-measure for the owners of the home. It has to correspond with their lifestyle, age, daily activities and habits.”
Bersani recently spoke with Property Report about her female-centric projects, favourite activities outside work, and where she might own a house someday.
Tell us about this super yacht for female millionaires that has everyone talking.
When I was conceptualising this project, I did not want La Belle to look like an ultra futuristic boat in minimalistic style. On the contrary, La Belle is opulently decorated, different from many other luxury yachts of today, and very recognisable from afar. It simply exudes feminine style. State-of-the-art features are also present in all of the yacht’s systems to ensure that the yacht owner and her guests would be provided with the highest quality of security and comfort.
For such an ambitious project, it must also carry a very hefty price tag.
You could say that! The price for one La Belle super yacht is around USD250 million, and the whole package will include one gold helicopter, a small submarine, plus other gadgets, toys, equipment and furnishings in absolutely top quality. At present we are considering three Europeans shipyards to build the first yacht, but it has not yet been decided definitively. At this time we are also in negotiations with a few prospective buyers, but no woman – or man – has finalised a deal as we speak, so we will build only one La Belle for now, and it will be unique.
Aside from super-rich females, what’s the target market?
The mega-wealthy men, of course! La Belle is the perfect present for any loved one. It could, for example, be an amazing alternative to the engagement ring. In fact, I believe that someday soon the concept of an alternative engagement ring will become very fashionable in the world of the wealthy.
What makes La Belle so special?
La Belle is honestly a beautiful super boat. It offers extreme luxury in each corner: full of gold, precious stones, pearls, crystals, and everything that girls dream about. The interiors are very warm, cosy and romantic. It is like a boudoir for women – an oasis of privacy and peace. La Belle also focuses on the entertainment, tastes and activities that are geared toward women. The colours are only off-white, ivory, cream and gold – some of my personal favourites. Everything in it makes each woman feel like she’s in paradise.
The style is very characteristic for La Belle, so it is not customisable. When my team starts customising the yacht, it risks looking like any other boat. La Belle is for somebody who will really fall in love with this style. But we can build it slightly larger, at around 10 to 15 percent, but not more.
You also design interiors of luxury villas and apartments. Do you have a favourite project?
It is difficult to say. I like all of my projects and each is unique, as my clients are different. For me, design is like an adventure; it takes me to new places, where I learn about interesting countries, people, cultures and cuisine. My clients and I keep in touch, and sometimes we meet up after we’ve finished a project and discuss new properties to design, which is a really nice feeling.
In terms of designs, is it difficult to adapt to different environments, such as a high-rise penthouse in the city, a waterfront villa, or a yacht?
You should first try to understand what you want to design in a specific environment. Then you start to think, imagine, and focus only on this one project. You forget about other things – as if the world stops spinning – and then everything comes very easily. So for me it is not a problem to design different kind of properties; I just need to direct my thoughts on a certain project. And, of course, all of it would not be possible without any knowledge, training, experience, a huge imagination, good taste and intuition.
We’ve noticed that your projects feature one-of-a-kind pieces that must have come from your own home fashion line. Tell us more about it.
Home fashion is one of my biggest passions in life. Decoration, after all, is the last level of furnishing your interiors. An interior may be amazing but in my eyes the design process is not over until all the furnishings are in place. I try to dress an interior like a beautiful woman would wear a dress and accessories. In fact, I like to think I create home fashion just like jewellery, which is why my curtains or carpets are often accentuated with fur, Swarovski crystals, pearls or some precious stones. I use only top quality fabrics like silk, jacquard and cashmere, mostly of them are designed by myself and handmade in very limited edition for unique clients. This is really haute couture home fashion and I use only my own collections for projects.
Can we expect to see any more of your creations hitting the high seas in the future?
Yes. I’m currently working on a new luxury project for women: a younger, smaller and much affordable sister of La Belle, but it is not a boat… Unfortunately I cannot tell more details until it’s finished!
Yachting is clearly one of your favourite pastimes, but what else do you get up to in your spare time?
I work… a lot. But I love to design, so even in my leisure time I find myself coming up with new ideas, whether it’s for my home fashion collections or other fashion lines for women and girls. Sure, it’s a lot of work and but I enjoy that it’s always with me. Outside of that, I always take part in the rich social life in Monaco, especially when sailing is included. I also have many friends and design clients in different places around the world, so I travel because of them. But when I really want solitude, my time is spent at home in the north of Italy near Monaco, far from all the noise of modern life. Right there I feel recharged. And when I travel for pleasure, I mostly choose new places that I’ve never been to, or warm locales next to the sea and far from the big city. I have still a few places on my list where I would love to visit.
Speaking of warm locales… would you consider buying a second-home in Asia?
Sure, why not? I like places where the weather is nice and has lots of sunshine – they energise me and make me happy. Maybe a luxury penthouse in Singapore or Hong Kong would suit me. A residence in a quiet, exotic place next to the sea, such as Phuket, would be also nice. Maybe one day I will decide to buy one of each!
Continued here:
La Belle et la belle: An intimate conversation with Lidia Bersani
Real Estate
Miami – A Great Place to Buy Real Estate
Miami has evolved into a cosmopolitan wonder city under the sun. Famous for its great beaches, this city has also earned a reputation of being a sexy, marvelous and trendy place to live. From amazing golf courses like the one at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne to the Miami Metro Zoo, this beautiful city has something to offer to everyone. Owning a piece of paradise is a dream within reach of locals and foreigners as well. People from all parts of the world have already taken advantage of the great opportunities available today in the marketplace.
Miami has some of the most amazing real estate developments like the astonishing Santa Maria located in Brickell, or the unbelievable towers of Icon Brickell. Some other exclusive and impressive Miami condos include, the Jade at Brickell, the 900 Biscayne in downtown Miami, the fabulous Trump Palace in Sunny Isles Beach and the astonishing Icon South Beach just to name a few. These modern Miami luxury condos have all the comforts and amenities only found in five star hotels.
The city of Miami has it all, great golf, amazing beaches, a turquoise beautiful ocean, a warm weather, excellent shopping, an electrifying night life, lots concerts, entertainment and sports events at the famous America Airlines Arena in downtown Miami.
Miami real estate buyers are as diverse as the city culture and population itself. Buyers come from all over the globe, Europeans, Latin Americans, and Asians and of course buyers from all around the United States. Some have chosen this beautiful city to have a second home and some have fallen in love so much that they now call Miami their home making it an exciting melting pot to live in.
Real Estate
Real Estate Investor's Secret Weapon
Real Estate Investors have a unique tool in their arsenal that other types of investors do not. One of the oldest tax code sections is 1031. This secret weapon is called a 1031 exchange. It is one of the few areas of the tax code where the US Government allows taxpayers to sell an asset and not immediately pay the taxes. Even State taxes are deferred. The way a 1031 Exchange works is simple. If you sell piece (s) of investment property, and you are want to buy of another piece (s) of investment real estate of equal value, you can defer indefinitely all taxes (capital gains (15%), recapture tax (25% ) and state income tax). This is the benefit: by not having to pay those taxes, you can keep your money (instead of giving it to Uncle Sam) and smartly reinvest it for yourself to grow your real estate portfolio. 1031 is a free financial tool that let you keep 15-30% of taxes you would have had to pay. In the world of increasing taxes, 1031 is a viable alternative.
There are some guidelines that need to be followed, and I will break them down. First, what is investment real estate? Investment real estate is defined as property used in a trade or business. It could be used to run your office or it could be rental property. One of the nice flexible features of 1031 is that all real estate is exchangeable. This means that a home can be exchanged for a condo or a piece of land can be exchanged for a commercial property. I use the rule of thumb that any property with a deed can be exchanged for another property with a deed. The other nice feature is that you can sell one property and purchase more than one replacement property or vice versa.
There are three main rules that investors need to know about 1031 exchanges. First of all, you must use a Qualified Intermediary (an Independent Middleman) to help facilitate your 1031 exchange. The QI, as they are called will do many things including prepare the Exchange Agreement, Escrow your 1031 proceeds, and most importantly make the exchange go smoothly. The QI must be hired prior to the closing of the relinquished property. Secondly, the Exchangor (the person doing the exchange) has 45 days from the closing date of the relinquished property to identify the replacement property. Identification means to list (not go under contract) up to 3 properties of any value and send them to the QI. Finally, the Exchangor has 180 days (from the date closing on the relinquished property), to close on one of those three identified replacement properties.
I don't want to over simplify 1031. Please consult your tax advisor in addition to your Qualified Intermediary to analyze your exchange and to be sure you are making the best tax decision. I do believe the rule of thumb should be if you want to keep your money invested in real estate, then 1031 is a tool you must consider.
1031 can be a potent weapon for the smart real estate investor. There is nothing worse than having a client not consider 1031 or not have their real estate professional tell them about it and the relinquished real estate closes and the client changes their mind. After the relinquished property closes, it is too late to do an exchange. 1031 is an efficient tool for an investor to build their portfolio. Plan your transactions and watch your real estate fortune grow.
Dave Owens, CPA, CES is the managing Member of Entrust 1031 Exchange. Dave and his staff have successfully performed over 10,000 exchanges since 1997. Entrust has an arsenal of tax free strategies. Feel free to contact Dave for more information or questions at 239-333-1031 or owens66@entrustfreedom.com .
Source by Dave Owens
Real Estate
How to Become a Successful Real Estate Developer
Real estate investment and development has never been a more popular pastime or career changing challenge; if you would like to learn seven secrets for consistently successful real estate investing through development or you would like to know how you can continue to profit from property even if the market takes a downward turn just read on …
1) Do Your Location Homework – did you know that through successful and sustained location research professional property investors actually continue to profit during a market down turn? It's true – whatever the market conditions you can apply their location research approach to your real estate investments and also make consistent profits from property.
Take the necessary time to learn all about a town or city you're considering for your next property development purchase and discover where the up and coming areas of that town are likely to be. If there are inner-city redevelopment projects planned examine the real estate market in the immediate vicinity, if there are areas that are booming right now examine the immediate neighboring areas for their potential for future prices arises for example.
Do not follow the crowd – have the confidence to buck the trend and get ahead of the curve by positioning yourself in a market that is about to boom rather than one in that has already blossomed.
2) Know What You Can Afford – While it can pay to sometimes speculate never be tempted to jeopardize your own home. Work out your finances and be ruthlessly strict about what you can and can not afford as a down payment, for mortgage costs and for the renovation and redevelopment of your next real estate investment. Only proceed within the confines of your tightly allocated budget and do not be tempted to over extend yourself specifically if competition in the property market is tough and the market is slow or stagnant.
3) Identify Your Target Market – Having identified your next location for property investment identify the types of people who buy into renovated assets in that location. Know who your target market are going to be and what they are likely to look for in a property in that location. If for example you're examining inner-city spaces you might identify that your buyers will be young single professionals and that the ideal property type for these people will be luxury low maintenance apartments – seek out suitable properties with the potential for redevelopment into luxury low maintenance apartments and you will fulfill your target market's brief … seek out large homes with substantive gardens in the area and you will have totally missed the market and potentially created a property that will not sell!
4) Renovation Not Rebuild – Know your budget limits and your personal skill restrictions. Do not consider taking on a property that is in need of a complete structural overhaul when your budget is tight or you do not personally have the time, skills or inclining to do the structural work yourself. Be realistic about what you and your budget can achieve and seek properties that fulfil that brief. Pay to have an independent and complete survey done on any property you are seriously considering buying before making a down payment to ensure that there are no hidden surprises waiting for you benefit the floorboards to eat up your budget in its entity.
5) Manage Your Budget – With your survey in hand you can approach builders for statements and seek out prices for fixtures, fittings, finishes and furnishings. Take the prices quoted and sourced and build your budget. Factor in overwriting mortgage and service costs and labor costs as well as your findings and structure and allocate your money accordingly. Watch every single spend and be ruthlessly strict with yourself and your builder. If at all possible have your builder commit to a contract with fixed finish dates and fees and stay on top of every single penny or cent every single day. At the end of each week tally up your outgoings and expenditure and ensure you're not exceeding your budget. If you're overspending rein it in or you will have to shave it off other areas of the development. Remember never to scrimp and save on finishing touches and always give yourself a realistic fall back fund in case of emergencies.
6) Appeal To The Widest Market – Forget putting your personal stamp on any property you develop – you are not going to be living in the property! You should already have identified your target market which will give you a good idea of the level and quality of finish expected, now meet those expectations without adding your own personal taste into the equation. By appealing to the widest market or the lowest common denominator your property will be attractive to the majority of buyers making it faster and easier to sell on and profit from.
7) Make Friends With A Real Estate Agent – Your greatest ally when developing property will be your real estate agent. Make friends with these guys and you will build a beautiful and successful symbiotic relationship in which you both profit to the maximum! Real estate agents are a fountain of untapped knowledge about the local market, who is looking for what property in which area, which additional features cost little to add but which push up the asking price and what a buyer expects from your particular property type. Get the facts from your real estate agent and then apply their advice. You will create a property they can market for top dollar and to the widest market – you will make more profit and they will make a larger commission including a beautiful and lasting friendship!
Finally, remember that when you've bought, renovated and sold on you'll be looking for that next property opportunity and any real estate agent who you've worked with well will be on the hunt for suitable real estate for your next investment making any identical purchases that much easier to source.
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