Magical Malibu tour

Malibu is a city on the Southeastern coast of Los Angeles, California. The Chumash Indians, the city’s earliest settlers gave the city its nomenclature. Originally, “humaliwo,” translated to “the surf sounds loudly.” For most, Malibu conjures images of the über-wealthy and über-luxury real estate—rightly so—but, it’s also a place of divine beauty and natural beauty. It is home to the stars because of this beauty as well as its proximity to Los Angeles. This, along with many other things (read on…), makes the town home to some of the most sought after beachfront property in the world.

Location, location location. Isn’t that what has always been said about real estate? Not as much for luxury real estate, but Malibu Beach is a one of the Earth’s most extraordinary locations. It’s only about a half an hour from Hollywood and just another 5 minutes down the road to the heart of Los Angeles. So the commute to work is pretty close. Isn’t that much the same as living in the suburbs of…say… Omaha, right?

Andrea Bullo's Moonshadows

Malibu has to be created divinely. The landscape is literally mind-blowing. The cliffs, the surf, the blue Pacific, the sand, the bungalows, the mansions… All make up part of Malibu’s charm and eclecticism. There really is no other place on earth like it, except maybe Santorini. But, then again, you can’t very well hop in your Lamborghini, or have the limo take you to LAX for a flight to LaGuardia for a scene to shoot in Jamaica, Queens for the next blockbuster film.

Malibu is a beach paradise. Much as the French Riviera or the idyllic Greek Isles. Most alluring is its location and its natural beauty.

Ephemeral Malibu moments

Not to be forgotten are these fascinating celebrity movie and popular music tidbits.

Interesting to note, Cat Stevens almost drowned in the ocean off the coast of Malibu thus leading to his name change and beliefs…

…But in 1975 while swimming off the coast of Malibu, Calif., another brush with death revealed his true destiny.

“I decided to go for a swim. Of course nobody told me that that wasn’t a good time to go swimming,” Islam said. “So there I was, you know, out there, and I’m thinking, ‘Ah, great, hmm, OK, let’s go back now.’ And then I … tried to swim back to shore. And suddenly I felt ‘I can’t do this’ — the tide was going the other way. I wasn’t getting any closer.

“Suddenly I was petrified. I thought: ‘This might be it.’ I said: ‘God, if you save me, I’ll work for you.’ It was without hesitation that I knew that, instinctively, there was a power that could help me. And then a little wave, you know, came behind me — a little wave, it wasn’t very big. But it was that miraculous moment when suddenly the tide was going in my favor. I had my energy, I could swim back. I was on land. I was alive. Wow, what next?”

He wouldn’t touch a guitar again for more than 20 years. [sic]-By Judy Faber

Charlton Heston filmed the famed scene of the end of the cult classic, Planet of the Apes, on the beach there… the prop of the Statue of Liberty sat on the beach for months as they were filming it…

Charlton Heston | Planet of the Apes

from IMDB, (The Internet Movie Database):

The filming location of the classic final scene has been erroneously thought to be Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, but is in fact Malibu, California. For die-hard fans who want to visit the true location, it is a secluded cove on the far eastern end of Westward Beach, between Zuma Beach and Point Dume. Ignore the wide curving beach by the car park and clamber over the rocks to the east until you get to the quiet, often deserted, little beach surrounded by cliffs. (The Statue of Liberty was an optical effect skillfully achieved with a matte painting blended into a still existing rock structure.)

Funny the way it is… the beginning of that epic film starts with George (or Taylor as he’s known throughout the movie… never George… don’t think even once…):

“…And that completes my final report until we reach touchdown. We’re now on full automatic, in the hands of the computers…”

I guess that has virtually nothing to do with luxury real estate… (hmm… pun intended, I guess…) … or does it? How many memorable moments are in the IMDB about Omaha?

Westlake Village, California | Certainly a village… though its beauty might surprise you…

The City of Westlake Village, set between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains in Western Los Angeles County, combines the beauty of the Southern California countryside with choice luxury real estate. This master planned ‘City in the Country’ enjoys the distinction of being home to thriving businesses, well executed residential and commercial development, and high quality schools, making it a fantastic place to live, work and raise a family.

malibu canyon

Acclaimed as one of the nation’s most successful suburbs and some the most beautiful luxury real estate Westlake Village (91361) has a population of 8,858, occupying 5.4 square miles in Conejo Valley. Only nine miles from the Pacific, at an elevation of 900 feet above sea level, Westlake Village is only 38 miles from Los Angeles.

Westlake Village is the hub of Ventura Freeway’s (US 101) Technology Corridor, and because of the City’s business friendly environment, it has become a center of growth for technology, research and development in Southern California. Future plans for restaurant, office and commercial development along the corridor, and a high quality work force make Westlake Village the ideal spot to start or expand your business.

The City has many Youth and Senior programs available through Parks & Recreation, as well as five city parks and over 100 miles of hiking trails to explore and enjoy. Restaurants, convenient shopping and a public library are also a vital part of the Westlake Village community.

In addition to its commitment to business development and controlled growth, Westlake Village is also committed to preservation and protection of natural settings and resources.

The City of Westlake Village is working to help keep the natural environment of Southern California pristine for future generations to enjoy for years to come.

Read it…..unless you are afraid of truths….then just don’t read it.

By : Karen Crystal

linchpin

I Just finished reading Seth Godin‘s latest book Linchpin, and one engrained thought keeps popping forward from my past.

KISS (not the band), but the acronym : “keep it simple stupid”.

My USC Business School education was filled with acronyms.  I still remember some of them, and I admit KISS has proven useful at times and still seems to work.

The MOST memorable acromyn though was Radio Station WIIFM.  You know, the station that we were all told to tune it to…What’s In It For Me?

Well, if you haven’t changed the station yet, don’t bother.

WIIFM already altered it’s local programming to include a global satellite feed, and is now airing as WIIFM…What’s In It FROM me?

So here’s my thought for you on Linchpin.

Read it.  Unless you are afraid of truths….then just don’t read it.

One truth is that Linchpins are obvious.  They stand out from the crowd.  In fact a Linchpin gave me this book to read, Alex Beattie from duPont Registry.  Alex is a linchpin.  He is connecting luxury marketers and luxury consumers with the duPont brand on a human level through his “gifts”……and it’s working.

I now utilize duPont as a luxury property marketing vehicle, and my luxury clients are clicking on duPont for the latest and greatest in all things luxury.

Why?  The human connector….the linchpin.