Bellevue, Washington - the new epicenter of luxury shopping? Recent data seems to say yes! An article in the Puget Sound Business Journal this week highlighted why Neiman Marcus chose to open a new flagship store at the Bravern in the heart of downtown Bellevue. According to the article, there are more affluent consumers in the 10-mile radius around where the new Neiman Marcus store will be than there are in Beverly Hills. Here is a link to view the entire article.

Even though affluent consumers in the Northwest seem to prefer more a more understated luxury lifestyle, they still respect the quality that comes from top luxury brands.

We are so excited to see how many luxury retailers have chosen Bellevue (and the Bravern ) as their newest area to open - including Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo and Tory Burch. So now, in addition to being the luxury real estate destination of the Northwest, now Bellevue is fast becoming the luxury shopping destination as well.

Posted by:Tere Foster

Every year we see new trends in the Seattle area luxury real estate. However, this year, as we see the whole world change as we once knew it buyers are asking themselves “What really matters in life?” And the answer is time with our family and friends. As the economy continues to change around us, affluent buyers in the Seattle area are re-prioritizing what they really want in a luxury home. A floor plan that works for them.. and that means focusing on spaces for casual entertaining and family time. The kitchen is the new “center of attention,” as we have been calling.

It is now more than ever the focal point of the home…homework with the kids, wine tasting with friends, Sunday brunch with family. A fabulous, open kitchen tops buyers’ lists over and over again. Buyers are also wanting a smaller footprint – less square footage to maintain and fill up. They are willing to trade space for more quality finishes and a better floor plan. They want to live the luxury lifestyle in a more understated and manageable way. It’s all about doing more with less.

By: Tere Foster, a luxury real estate expert serving the Seattle, WA region

1. Exceptional Waterfront Living - From Puget Sound to Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish, everyone can enjoy the waterfront lifestyle.
2. Endless Outdoor Recreation activities - As home to REI, the Greater Seattle area offers some of the best activities for outdoor enthusiasts. From hiking, to kayaking to mountain biking to watersports to skiing, the options are endless for year round fun.
3. Thriving Arts Community - Whether it’s the theater, symphony or visual arts that draw you, Seattle has one of the strongest arts communities in the country.
4. Exciting Restaurants & Dining – From world renowned seasoned chefs like Tom Douglas to new chefs gaining international acclaim like Jason Wilson, the Seattle area boasts quite the reputation for culinary hotspots. From coastal inspired fare to Asian fusion, there is always something new and exciting to try.
5. Wine Country - Quickly becoming a destination for wine enthusiasts, the Eastern side of the state has long been home to many wineries. Now closer to home, the Woodinville area is host to many wineries as well. Whether it’s an evening of wine tasting, or a short drive for a weekend away, there are endless options for your palette.

By: Tere Foster, a luxury real estate expert serving the Seattle, WA region

Dallas is known as the “city that works,” in other words people move to Dallas because of its business-friendly environment and its international access due to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Dallas attracts many people because of its low tax base, available land and large work force.

Unique characteristics of Dallas:

1. Corporate headquarters - the Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to more than 10,000 corporate headquarters. A few of the Fortune 500 companies based here include Exxon-Mobil (which earned more than $40 billion in 2007, making it the most profitable company in the United States), Texas Instruments (which invented the handheld calculator and the integrated circuit), American Airlines, Electronic Data Systems, J.C. Penney, Kimberley Clark, Southwest Airlines and Neiman Marcus.
2. Temperate climate - Dallas residents enjoy year-round outdoor living. While much of the U.S. is experiencing cold weather in the winter months, affluent Dallas residents enjoy entertaining poolside in their outdoor cabanas with kitchens.
3. Fashion sense - outside of New York and L.A., no other U.S. city is more fashion-conscious. Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus is based in Dallas. Its president, Stanley Marcus, was responsible for many innovations in the fashion industry. In 1939, he established the annual Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalogue, which became famous for extravagant “his and hers” gifts, such as airplanes.
4. Dining - While many cities claim this recognition, studies have shown that Dallas has more restaurants per capita than any city in the United States. Dallasites enjoy eating out often. The city is home to several of the nation’s top chefs, including Dean Fearing (whose Fearings restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton-Dallas was named No. 1 in the U.S. in hotel dining by Zagat), Stephan Pyles (the founding father of Southwestern cuisine) and Kent Rathbun, who has created some of the most talked about restaurant concepts in the nation.
5. Shopping - Dallas is not only the home of Neiman Marcus, it is the home of Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource with more than $8 billion in annual transactions. Shopping is the favorite past time of many Dallasites. The city is home to scores of upscale stores such as Barneys New York, Tiffany & Co. and Nordstrom.
6. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport - in terms of passenger traffic, it is the seventh-busiest airport in the world. It is operated like a small city. It has its own ZIP code, post office and public services. It serves 128 domestic destinations and 36 international destinations, offering Dallasites and visitors to Dallas an ease of access that is rare among American cities.

By: Dave Perry-Miller, a luxury real estate expert serving Dallas, TX