Cody

Yesterday marked the official arrival of the spring season and everyone seems to be enjoying this great weather. Not only that, but the spring real estate market seems to have come a bit early this year and Ebby Associates are busier than ever, which is always a good sign.

We thought it would be fun to take a look back to late January when we shot the cover for the Spring 2011 issue of Grand Vie. This was about one week before the snowpocalypse hit the Metroplex and the grounds of the incredible French mansion at 4236 Armstrong in Highland Park looked anything but spring-like. So how do you overcome such a conundrum? Just call Dr. Delphinium.

As usual, the Dr. D crew showed up with a truck full of spring flowers and spent the next few hours covering bare spaces in the flower beds with cut greenery, “planting” faux tulips, and strategically arranging potted flowers to make them appear planted.  You might be interested to know (and much to the dismay of the many passersby) that there was much rearranging in the beds and in the final photo, only one side of the house was decorated.  The other side was cloned later. 

You can see the final result on the cover of the current Spring 2011 issue of Grand Vie Magazine.  You can also see some of the behind the scenes action that went into the making of the cover at the video below or the photo gallery at the Ebby Halliday Facebook Page. 

Happy Spring!

Cody

The Spring 2011 issue of Grand Vie: Luxury in Living magazine is out and is currently being direct mailed to almost 30,000 luxury homes across the DFW Metroplex.  As usual, it’s filled with some of the most luxurious homes currently on the market – from the spectacular cover home on Highland Park’s famed Armstrong Parkway that will transport you to France without ever leaving your parlor, to the contemporary 1.2 acre Bud Oglesby masterpiece on Park Lane to a residence atop The Plaza which includes amenities at the renowned Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.  With everything from stately traditional to ultra-contemporary, this edition also features luxury homes in Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney and Vaquero.

We’re also proud to continue our use of Tag technology.  The Ebby Halliday Companies continuously strive to provide our clients with the very best in home marketing, utilizing the most current communication tools.  That’s why almost every page features a graphic Tag, that when scanned with a Smartphone Tag Reader, immediately delivers a full photo gallery, property details including room dimensions, current price and school information and direct access to the listing Associate via phone or e-mail.  Some even feature property videos.  This immediate connection to the online world makes it easier than ever for Grand Vie readers to find instant information on their property of interest.

Curious to see how the Tag technology works?  Try it out by following these steps:

1.  Download the free Tag Reader to your Smartphone at http://gettag.mobi, then follow the    instructions for your phone type.

2.  Open the Tag Reader and scan or photograph a Tag on any page in Grand Vie (or the Tag above).

3.  Property details, more pictures and agent information will load as a web page where you can explore the property more thoroughly (see examples below).

Another highlight of this issue is the spotlight on North Texas philanthropy, and this time our featured charities are the beneficiaries of two of the biggest events in honor of Ebby’s 100th Birthday.  The Foundation Fighting Blindness will honor her with a Roast & Toast Gala on February 23rd at the Hilton Anatole and proceeds will help drive critical research to save and restore vision in more than 10 million people affected by blinding diseases.  The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans will honor Ebby with its Ebby 100 Gala on March 9 at the Meyerson Symphony Center and monies raised will provide scholarships to Texas high school students through the Ebby Halliday Scholarship Fund.  Using a milestone birthday to support charitable causes – it doesn’t get much more Ebby than that.

We hope you enjoy the newest issue of Grand Vie: Luxury in Living.  If you’d like to see a copy now, you can view the full online edition at grandviemagazine.com.

Cody

The Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Grand Vie: Luxury in Living magazine made its debut this week, direct mailing to almost 30,000 luxury homes across the DFW Metroplex.  As usual, it’s filled with some of the most luxurious homes currently on the market – from the spectacular University Park estate cover home designed by Wilson McClure and situated on 1.47 park-like acres, to the perfect “home for the holidays” lake front log home in Grand Lake, Colorado, to an Austin Stone estate property in Preston Hollow with a 175-bottle wine room and outdoor living space.  With everything from stately traditional to ultra-contemporary, this edition also features luxury homes in Plano, Frisco, Mansfield, McKinney, Southlake and even Seaside, Florida.

Additionally, this issue introduces an exciting new marketing element, Tag technology.  The Ebby Halliday Companies continuously strive to provide our clients with the very best in home marketing, utilizing the most current communication tools.  That’s why starting in this issue, almost every page features a graphic Tag, that when scanned with a Smartphone Tag Reader, immediately delivers a full photo gallery, property details including room dimensions, current price and school information and direct access to the listing Associate via phone or e-mail.  Some even feature property videos.  This immediate connection to the online world makes it easier than ever for Grand Vie readers to find instant information on their property of interest. 

Curious to see how the Tag technology works?  Try it out by following these steps:

1.  Download the free Tag Reader to your Smartphone at http://gettag.mobi, then follow the    instructions for your phone type.

2.  Open the Tag Reader and scan or photograph a Tag on any page in Grand Vie (or the Tag above).

3.  Property details, more pictures and agent information will load as a web page where you can explore the property more thoroughly (see examples below).

Tag technology has been extremely popular in Asia and is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. – you may have seen similar Tags in recent issues of Architectural Digest, ads from our friends at Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection, and ads from retailers like Pottery Barn and Giorgio Armani.  We’re very excited about the many other potential uses for this technology to help promote the properties we represent.

Another highlight of this issue is the spotlight on North Texas philanthropy, which focuses on the annual Cattle Baron’s Ball.  Themed “The Great State Fair,” the 2010 Ball is scheduled for this Saturday night at the renowned Southfork Ranch.  Guest writer and 2010 ball chair, Kristi Sherrill Hoyl, gives all the details of this year’s event, as well as the history of the Cattle Baron’s Ball, which has become the world’s largest fund-raising event for cancer research.

We hope you enjoy the newest issue of Grand Vie: Luxury in Living.  If you’d like to see a copy now, you can view the full online edition at grandviemagazine.com.

Cody

It’s official, yesterday was the first day of Fall.  Dear Cooler Weather, we’re eagerly anticipating your arrival anytime now!

You may have noticed we’ve been a bit quiet here on the Ebby Blog lately.  That’s because we’ve been gearing up for an incredible next few months, full of lots of fun and excitement for all of you. 

We’ll kick things off in a little over a week with the debut of the Fall/Winter issue of our luxury property magazine, Grand Vie: Luxury in Living.  From the brand-new-to-the-market, almost $12 million cover home in University Park to incredibly luxurious second home options in Seaside, Florida and Grand Lake, Colorado, this issue if filled with some of the best luxury homes currently available.  And best of all, this next issue will literally come to life via your Smartphone.  We’ve included Tag technology on every page so our readers can quickly receive full property details, photos, and even videos for some homes, with the simple swipe of a Smartphone.  Why settle for 4-5 photos and a couple of lines of description when you can find full details quickly and easily? 

We’re also excited to announce the Ebby Halliday Century in the Making Pavilion located in the Hall of State at the 2010 State Fair of Texas, which officially opens tomorrow.   The pavilion will be home to a celebration of the greatest moments in the first hundred years of football in North Texas, courtesy of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee.  While you’re there, make sure to stop by the downstairs area to check out great Ebby historical memorabilia and register to win luxury suite tickets to the November 21 Cowboys game and a 1993 Super Bowl XXVII Dallas Cowboys World Champions football.  Ebby herself will help get the party started tomorrow with the official ribbon cutting. 

We’ll wind down the year and kick off the holiday season by participating in the annual Children’s Medical Center Holiday parade in downtown Dallas.  And there’s no slowing down in 2011 as the excitement continues with the arrival of Super Bowl XLV to North Texas on February 11 and the 100th birthday celebration of our First Lady, Ebby Halliday, on March 9.  It’s sure to be a celebration of epic proportions.

So buckle your seatbelts, take your vitamins and get ready for a lot of fun.  We’re glad to be back here at the Ebby Blog.

Cody

If the recent weather has you longing for a great vacation destination, look no further than the Summer 2010 issue of Grand Vie: Luxury in Living. 

The latest edition began arriving in the mailboxes of luxury homes all across North Texas this week.  And it’s filled with many incredible properties that could make everyday feel like a luxury vacation - from Highland Park, University Park and Preston Hollow to Frisco, Plano, Southlake and beyond.  Looking for a destination a bit more exotic?  You’ll also find a private island in Belize and a Moroccan villa in Marrakech.

This issue also introduces a new feature, “Spotlight On,” highlighting North Texas philanthropy.  This time it’s written by Bill Lively, president and CEO of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, highlighting the lasting legacies Super Bowl XLV will leave on North Texas well beyond February 6, 2011.

To see the full version of Grand Vie online now, visit grandviemagazine.com.

Cody

Spring has sprung in Dallas and apparently luxury real estate is, too.  This afternoon, the Grand Vie magazine Advisory Board, comprised of Sales Associates from Ebby Halliday, Realtors, Ellen Terry, Realtors and Dave Perry-Miller & Associates, met to discuss and plan the Summer issue.  The meeting was held at the incredible Highland Park home at 3825 Gillon, listed by Madeline Jobst, and the conversation quickly turned to (surprise) business.

Those present shared countless stories of genuine calls and leads and even new listings received from featuring their homes in the Spring issue of Grand Vie.  And there is one confirmed contract pending and one very serious possible offer (multiple showings) for two properties priced in the multi-millions which were a direct result of being featured in the magazine.  Needless to say, we’re more than pleased with the results!

In addition, there are also several contracts pending for homes priced in excess of $3 million and some really great new luxury homes coming on the market very soon.  Also great news!

Expect the Summer issue of Grand Vie to arrive at a luxury home near you the first week of June.  In the meantime, you can browse the spring issue online at GrandVieMagazine.com.

Cody

You’ve heard us mention our friends at Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection numerous times.  You’ve seen us use their logo in most of our print ads and on our Web sites.  And you’ve probably seen that same logo, as well as some of their fantastic luxury homes for sale, in some of the most exclusive publications around the world.  But what is Luxury Portfolio and how are the Ebby Halliday Companies connected?

Our three brands, Ebby Halliday, Realtors, Ellen Terry, Realtors and Dave Perry-Miller & Associates are proud to be the exclusive Advisory Board Level members of Luxury Portfolio in North Texas.  Through this affiliation, all Dallas luxury homes and DFW luxury homes we represent receive invaluable exposure, both nationally and internationally, through Luxury Portfolio’s award-winning Web site, LuxuryPortfolio.com, as well as other advertising venues.  To learn a little bit more about the program, watch this video overview by Luxury Portfolio President Paul Boomsma:

In its first year, LuxuryPortfolio.com featured more $1 million-plus homes than any other luxury real estate organization and today it attracts 1.2 million high-net-worth individuals per year.  Those are pretty impressive statistics.  But in addition to the best exposure abroad, the successful marketing of a luxury home in today’s real estate market also requires the best local representation.  Here’s how we rank:

As you can see, the Ebby Halliday Companies sell more homes priced at $1 million-plus than any other company in North Texas (see the full graphs here), so when you work with us, you are working with a team that has an undeniable competitive advantage – both locally and globally. 

And don’t forget the recent debut of our luxury home magazine, Grand Vie: Luxury In Living, which is mailed quarterly to almost 30,000 luxury homes from Highland Park and Preston Hollow to Southlake, Plano and Frisco.

So if you’re looking to buy or sell a luxury home in North Texas, make sure you’re being represented by a well-connected broker.

To see our current inventory of available North Texas luxury homes, visit ebby.com.

Cody

Grand Vie: Luxury In Living, the new luxury home magazine of The Ebby Halliday Companies is here.

Last week, the 100 page book, featuring the most incredible Dallas homes for sale and DFW homes for sale, began arriving in the mailboxes of almost 30,000 luxury homes across North Texas. 

Advertising Associates were treated to a sneak peek of the premiere issue the week before at an exclusive preview party hosted by Cole Haan and Highland Park Village.  In addition to having the first look at the magazine, guests also enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres by Invite Events & Culinary and a special discount from Cole Haan for purchases made that evening. 

The party also served as an impromptu networking event and there were two recurring themes in the evening’s conversation – everyone loved Grand Vie and everyone is busy.  We heard numerous stories of incredible luxury homes that are about to hit the market, as well as current luxury listings that are under contract.  Needless to say, it sounds like it’s going to be a nice spring market.

To see more photos from the Grand Vie premiere party at Cole Haan in Highland Park Village, visit the Ebby Halliday Facebook Fan Page.

And to see the full premiere issue online, visit the Grand Vie website.