On Monday, February 27^th, Alain Pinel Realtors (APR) brought together leaders of the real estate industry and over 1,200 of their agents in a collaborative learning environment for their 2012 IGNITE Conference at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

This one-day, company-sponsored event brought together the industry’s most innovative thinkers and highly successful players to address the current state and latest trends in the real estate industry and in the Bay Area.  Keynote speakers included real estate legend Brain Buffini, and Steve Harney, author of “Keeping Current Matters.™”

APR also unveiled a number of new marketing initiatives and tools at the event, including the launch of their fully redesigned and enhanced brokerage website, apr.com; the release of their new mobile platform for the iPhone, Android, and iPad; the introduction of the APR Academy, a brand new online learning platform; as well as a sneak peak at the firm’s newest ad campaign that includes the use of augmented reality.

The main conference was complemented by a segment of breakout sessions featuring some of the most popular speakers and topics in the real estate industry including, Being Mobile & Social in 2012, Understanding the Luxury Market, Generational Marketing, and The Distressed Property Market. This intimate learning environment was designed for promoting conversation and collaboration, with established speakers, including luxury consumer expert and President of Luxury Portfolio, Paul Boomsma; Head of Training for Trulia and Co-Founder of the Social Media Marketing Institute, Ginger Wilcox; and Co-Founder and CEO of Distressed Property Institute, Alex Charfen.

“IGNITE was the perfect theme for our company-wide conference. With 32 offices and nearly 1400 agents around the Bay Area, it is amazing to witness the energy and sparks that fly when all of your amazingly talented agents get together under one roof. The conference was designed to ignite the creativity and imagination of our agents by emphasizing the importance of education and innovation, and the need to keep current in an ever changing market,” said Rainy Hake, Alain Pinel Realtors Executive Vice President.

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.

Today Inman News published their Inman 100 list, and we’re excited to announce that our President & CEO Paul Hulme was among the influential leaders recognized!

This annual list distinguishes those who embody leadership, innovation, ingenuity, power and persistence. The list highlights the luminaries whose words and actions have the power to shake up the industry and propel it in new directions. Congratulations Paul!

Foreclosure can be a devastating financial challenge, but one that may often be avoided. If you or someone you know is among the millions of people affected by the prospect of foreclosure, understand that there are other options.

The information provided in the link above includes general descriptions about foreclosure and alternative options, but should not be considered legal or tax advice. Before making any decision, please consult with an attorney and a tax advisor. If you determine that a short sale is the right option for you, an APR Distressed Property Certified Agent, who is educated in the nuances of distressed property transactions, can help you navigate the dense terrain of today’s real estate market.

To be put in touch with an APR Distressed Property Certified Agent, contact us at 866.468.0111 or email us at clientservices@apr.com.

Pricing for Single Family Homes in the SF Bay area appears to be moving upwards during the last 90 days (shown at the right side of this chart).  Some professionals have speculated that this is due to the fact that the glut of distressed properties due to sub-prime mortgage failure is nearly sold-off in certain markets.

As the Bay Area moves further in to the territory of economic recovery, this apparent rise in local real estate valuation may lead to increased market activity.