We are very proud to announce that our Presdient and CEO, Paul Hulme, has been named to the  Inman News Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders List for 2011. Published Friday, this is Paul’s second consecutive year being honored on the Inman 100. Congratulations Paul!

The Inman 100 report recognizes those who “who embody leadership, ingenuity, strength, conviction, power, persistence, perseverance and progress.”  It identifies and honors those whose words and actions can shape and move the real estate industry toward change.

Inman News accepted and reviewed hundreds of reader nominations via an open, online nominations process that concluded in early November. An Inman News in-house review and selection process, led by the Inman News editorial department, considered reader-selected nominees and also suggested additional individuals worthy of consideration.

For more information about the Inman 100 list, visit http://www.inman.com/inman100.

88 Culloden Park Road in San Rafael, a spectacular 1907 California Craftsman, has been listed by Stephanie Lamarre of the Alain Pinel Realtors Ross office. A stunning example of the Arts & Crafts movement, this architecturally significant home has been delightfully renovated and retrofitted, while still retaining the original redwood paneling, wainscoting, cabinetry, and abundant bookshelves.

Illuminated by over 100 windows, nearly all the rooms enjoy spectacular Mt. Tam and garden views. Highlights of this six bedroom, four bath shingle-style residence include a gorgeous great room with stone fireplace, formal dining room with abundant built-ins, stately library, dappled sunroom, and spacious master suite with adjacent study. With a three-car garage and separate guest quarters, this resort-like atmosphere is perfect for entertaining.  Set on a knoll, this private, gated estate is located in the Forbes historic district, a coveted enclave of architecturally prominent homes, set apart from the bustle, yet close enough to downtown for easy access to all of San Rafael’s amenities - including the Marin Academy, downtown restaurants and shops, and the acclaimed Rafael Film Center.

The home’s current owners, Put and Pari Livermore, are members of one of the Bay Area’s most prominent families. Put Livermore, one of the first environmental attorneys, founded the Trust for Public Land. He was also involved in politics and personally knew five U.S. presidents. Pari Livermore is a well-known matchmaker and philanthropist, and thanks to her, the home’s stone patios and abundant gardens have been the site of many a wedding and special event. Put Livermore’s mother, Caroline Livermore, was a pioneer conservationist who founded the Marin Art & Garden Center, saved Angel Island, and is credited with preserving much of West Marin as park land. The home’s earlier owners were Sherwood and Constance Coffin, who owned the home for many years, beginning shortly after they married in 1917. Sherwood Coffin was a partner in San Francisco’s Coffin-Redington wholesale drug firm.

Listed at $2,250,000, more information on the property (including stunning pictures of the interior) can be found at www.88CullodenPark.com.

The Wall Street Journal and REAL Trends, Inc. have released  their 2011 Top 1,000 Report which ranks the top real estate agents and teams, and Alain Pinel Realtors (APR) is proud to announce that 7 of our agents and 3 of our teams were ranked as top sales professionals among over one million REALTOR®’s in the country. This includes Mary Gullixson of Alain Pinel Realtors Menlo Park office who was ranked the number two agent by sales with a volume over $226 million in 2010.

Included in the list for Top 250 Agents by Sales Volume:

•  #2 – Mary Gullixson (Menlo Park)
• #47 – Kathy Bridgman  (Los Altos)
• #96 – Nicki Naylor (Sonoma)
• #122 – Judy Bogard-Tanigami (Los Altos)
• #158 – George Montanari (Los Gatos)
• #208 – Debbie Sharp (Burlingame)
• #221 – Sherry Bucolo (Palo Alto)

Included on the list of Top 250 Teams by Sales Volume:

•  #172 – Pat Cox, The Cox Team (Danville /Blackhawk)
• #185 – Caitlin and Gloria Darke (Menlo Park)
• #250 – Steve TenBroeck and Jeff Stricker (Los Altos)

Alain Pinel Realtors congratulates all of these agents on their remarkable achievement.  We pride ourselves on the exceptional quality of services we provide to our clients and are proud to have these agents represent us. Through their hard work and dedication, these agents have not only distinguished themselves as some of the best in the entire nation, but they have also helped APR remain among the highest ranked residential real estate firms in the nation.

The REAL Trends 1,000 (formerly 400) is an annual report featuring the top 250 residential sale agents and agent teams in four categories:  Individuals by Sales Volume, Individuals by Transaction Sides, Teams by Sales Volume, and Teams by Transaction Sides.

Congratulations to Janise Taylor of the Alain Pinel Realtors Menlo Park office! She just sold the stunning 242 Oak Grove in Atherton.

Built in 2003, this magnificent home is situated on approximately 1.3 acres with a resort-like backyard including an oversized pool and spa. Featuring rich hardwood flooring, soaring box-beamed ceilings and French doors, this home is pure luxury. In addition to the master suite (with a bathroom featuring limestone flooring and a jacuzzi tub that overlooks the beautiful yard), this home has three additional guest rooms with en suite baths. With a chef’s kitchen, butler’s pantry, and wine bar, the living space is perfectly suited for entertaining. There are plenty of other perks for everyday living including a magnificent study, spacious walk-in closets, a balcony, and a three-car detached garage. Congratulations again to Janise and the lucky buyers!

Wish you owned this property? To search current listings, check out www.apr.com

Congratulations to Jackie Hopkins of Alain Pinel Realtors Los Gatos office on the sale of the majestic 15380 Suview Drive in Los Gatos.

This exclusive residence was inspired by the owner’s many trips to Italy. The home is approximately 6,650 square feet and located on 1.28 acres in the Los Gatos Hills. It features 5 bedrooms, 7 baths and 2 powder rooms. A private gated road serves four properties and this residence. The home has an additional private gated entry. The furniture quality cabinetry throughout the home was hand crafted in Italy. Italian hand-forged artesian iron work and gates welcome you. Irrigated, fully landscaped grounds feature an abundant citrus orchard. The exquisite outdoor sanctuary has a salt water pool with a hydraulic pool cover adjacent to a cabana bath and shower. For informal “al fresco” dining there is an open air Ramada with a fully equipped kitchen adjacent to a hillside picnic area.

For current listings, search www.apr.com.

Congratulations to Shary and Scott Symon, of Alain Pinel Realtors Palo Alto office, who just represented the buyer in the purchase of 460 Walsh Road in Atherton.

This beautiful Tuscan-inspired estate, built in 2007, is the epitome of luxury.  After crossing a stream on a private bridge, this property features a 5bd/4.5ba main residence that is framed by California oaks.  The main residence spans three levels and features countless amenities, including a theater, wine cellar, and a spacious central gathering area perfect for entertaining as well as everyday living. This stunning property also features an equally impressive 1bd/1ba guest house with a full kitchen, a 3-car detached garage, a large pool and spa. With a level lawn, redwood trees, and flagstone terraces – this is a picturesque California estate.

A stunning Tiburon home, reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa, has been listed for sale by notable Tiburon residents. Located at 3 Owlswood Road in Tiburon, this home is listed for $3.8 million with Valerie Castellana, of Alain Pinel Realtors Tiburon/Belvedere Office.

Boasting nearly 6,000+/- square feet of living space, this unique home offers a feeling of luxury, impressive architecture, quality finishes and exceptional details throughout. Situated on over a half acre, this home features breathtaking water views of Sausalito, Richardson Bay, and Mt. Tamalpais.

With features such as a wainscoted office, 14-seat home theater, grand-scale chef’s kitchen, expansive formal living room and dining area, spacious terraces,  large patio with pool, elevated spa, and cabana, this home is perfect for both indoor and outdoor entertaining. Environmentally friendly, this green home includes solar systems in place for heating the saltwater pool, as well as providing electricity to the home.

For more information visit 3owlswood.com or contact Valerie Castellana at 415.533.9211.

Worldwide ERC®, the association for workforce mobility, has presented Michi Olson, APR Vice President of Relocation and Business Development, with the 2011 Meritorious Service Award. This award is in recognition of Michi’s dedicated service and significant professional contributions to Worldwide ERC®, and the workforce mobility business community.

Congratulations Michi!

For only the second time in over 90 years, the Pebble Beach property known as Pinewood Edge is for sale. This recently listed $30 million property is truly a one of a kind opportunity.

The property is the only double lot on the Pebble Beach Golf Links, and consists of approximately 2.5 acres, with over 375 feet of golf course frontage on the 12th hole. The site commands white water views and an ideal location near Carmel Beach and Carmel Gate, providing easy and quick access to the village. The land can be purchased as one, or separately, with each lot listed at $16 million and $14 million. Both lots have water rights and legal parcel maps.

For more information please contact the exclusive listing agents: Karen McDermott 408.314.2673 and Mary Gullixson 650.888.0860.

A May update from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®(CAR) shows that as the economy continued to improve slowly and mortgage rates remained at historically low levels, first quarter home sales activity in California was on par with the first quarter of last year when tax credits prompted housing demand to increase. Sales of existing single-family homes totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 519,870 in the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 6.7% from the fourth quarter of last year, and virtually unchanged from the first quarter of 2010 after declining consecutively for four quarters on a year-to-year basis. The statewide median price of $278,430 in the first quarter of 2011 was the lowest since the second quarter of 2009, as deeply-discounted distressed sales continued to make up more than half of all sales throughout the state. The median price declined for the third straight quarter, but remained 12.4% higher than the cyclical low of $247,630 reached in the first quarter of 2009.

Sales growth in the Bay Area was slightly stronger than that of the state. Sales of existing detached homes in the Bay Area increased 1.7% year-to-year in the first quarter of 2011, slightly higher than the growth rate of the state.

Lower-priced counties in the Bay Area experienced a larger boost in sales from the tax credits in the first quarter of last year compared to the state as a whole. Moreover, economic conditions have stabilized throughout the state, but recovery in these county economies has lagged with somewhat weaker sales in the first quarter of this year. As a result, the year-to-year declines in the first quarter of 2011 were somewhat larger in these counties than for the state as a whole. By contrast, most Bay Area counties received a smaller boost to sales from the tax credits last year, and were farther along the road to recovery in the first quarter of this year, so the year-to-year comparisons were somewhat better.

While state, regional, and county home sales are generally lower than one or two years ago, they remain on track to hit the levels seen in the pre-peak years of the late 1990s and early 2000s that are equivalent to the sustainable sales in the California housing market over the next few years. As for home prices, most counties will avoid a double-dip to the lows that were experienced in early 2009, but will experience softness over the coming months until improving economic conditions create more jobs and brighten consumer sentiment.

For more information or a copy of the full report, please contact an Alain Pinel Realtors sales professional.