Newport Beach & Corona del Mar, CA Real Estate Blog

Offered for sale by Renee West of Prudential California Realty, this home features a spacious main floor living room with a large wet bar, media center and a wall of sliding glass doors that open to the patio.  Designed to provide an unrivaled atmosphere for hosting casual events, the patio offers a stone fire pit, built-in BBQ and an elevated limestone terrace that overlooks the beach.

A stylish and practical workspace, the gourmet kitchen features stainless appliances, marble countertops, limestone floors and a skylight.  Conveniently located nearby the upstairs living room, the kitchen also includes a large central island and rich dark wood cabinetry.

With cathedral ceilings and a massive granite fireplace, the second floor living room is a relaxing focal point of this exceptional property.  Floor-to-ceiling windows frame spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, there is a built-in flat screen TV, and the roof top deck is only steps away.

Peaceful and secluded, the master suite features vaulted ceilings with skylights, decorative insets and a Juliet balcony.  There is an adjacent private office, and the master bathroom includes dual vanities, granite countertops and oil-rubbed bronze hardware.

To schedule a private tour, please contact Renee West at 714-914-9060, via email at Renee@prucdm.com, or on the web at www.ReneeWest.com.

Prudential California Realty is one of the top five brokerages in the nation, with over 3,400 sales associates in 58 offices across Southern California and the Central Coast.  The largest company in the Prudential Real Estate international network, Prudential California Realty is proud to be a member of HomeServices of America Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. For more information, visit www.prudentialcal.com

The Orange County Register | October 2, 2011  | prudential.ocregister.com

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Renee West Helps Buyer of Waterfront Estate in Linda Isle

Renee West, of Prudential California Realty’s Corona Del Mar office, recently assisted one of her clients with the purchase of 1 Linda Isle, a lavish estate with a private dock large enough to accommodate a 60’ yacht. West is an 18-year industry veteran and an expert in coastal real estate, who had previously represented the buyers of the property with the sale of several homes in the area.

Originally listed for sale at $4.995 million, 1 Linda Isle provides the ultimate in European style and luxury, with six bedrooms, an upstairs guest casita with wet bar and a detached servant’s quarters. Nestled in a guard gated community, the estate offers four fireplaces, panoramic views of the bay, and approximately 5,700 square feet of living space.

“As a bay front homeowner for many years, I love sharing my knowledge and passion for the coastal lifestyle,” says West, a native Californian and a broker associate. She can often be seen cruising around the bay, providing her clients with tours of the area from her 21’ electric boat.

West is a well-connected agent who enjoys collaborating with her network of professional alliances to find excellent value for her buyers and deliver optimal results for her sellers. “I feel so fortunate to call this area my home,” added West. “It is truly a joy to introduce people to the area and help them transition into their new surroundings.”

A former schoolteacher, West graduated from the University of California Irvine with an MBA. Having consistently earned awards based on sales production, her comprehensive understanding of the local housing market and talent for negotiating have earned her referrals and repeat business from an expansive base of clientele.

“Renee’s positive outlook and sense of responsibility to her clients has positioned her at the forefront of the real estate market for many years,” noted Scott MacDonald, manager of Prudential’s Corona Del Mar office.

To find a home with similar qualities, or for comprehensive real estate assistance, please contact Renee West at (714) 914-9060, via email at Renee@prucdm.com, or on the web at www.ReneeWest.com.

The Orange County Register | September 18, 2011  | prudential.ocregister.com

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Regal Italian Villa is a Yachtsman’s Dream

With luxurious interior details and a rare lengthy boat dock that can accommodate a yacht of 110’-plus in length, this furnished two bedroom, three and a half bath, home is an elegant primary residence or an impressive vacation home.  Offered for sale by Renee West of Prudential California Realty, for $7,950,000, this coastal retreat features a private home theater, hand-painted frescoes and a roof-top deck with panoramic views.

Unassuming from the curb, yet lavish and sophisticated on the interior, this property is a showpiece for the homeowner.  Every room includes original artwork, Venetian plaster walls, honed limestone and rustic plank wood flooring, chandeliers, decorative leaded glass windows and arched French doors.

A relaxing Venetian mural covers the walls of the entranceway and sets the stage for this home’s dramatic foyer, which is open to a domed ceiling on the third floor.  The adjacent home office features built-in dark wood bookcases; an ornate winding staircase provides access to a roof-top patio that includes a Jacuzzi, a table with a gas fire inset, and a 180-degree view of Newport Harbor.

Open to the kitchen, the family room offers sit-down views of the harbor and a gas fireplace.  Replete with high-end stainless appliances, and tastefully appointed with limestone counters and custom dark wood cabinetry, the gourmet kitchen is convenient and attractive.

Additional highlights of this exceptional property include a dining room with Corinthian pilasters, an advanced security and entertainment system, an attached two car garage, and a master suite that is complete with a see-through fireplace, motorized shades and a Roman tub that overlooks Newport Bay.

To schedule a private tour, or for more information, please contact Renee West at 714-914-9060, via email at Renee@prucdm.com, or on the web at www.3336ViaLido.com.

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Prudential California Realty Marketing

Daily Pilot | August 27, 2011 | DailyPilot.com

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Remodeled Castle-Like Home in Corona del Mar

Remodeled castle boasts rich quality of life. With an outdoor living space that has been customized for entertaining, and a lavishly updated interior, Castle Corona del Mar is an exceptional value. The home blends the classic beauty of the Old World with all of the sophisticated upgrades that enhance modern life.

Located only minutes away from local beaches, parks and community centers, this three bedroom three and one-half bath home offers a convenient lifestyle. Created to provide a relaxing venue for hosting gatherings of friends, the slate garden patio features a built-in gas firepit and sound system, a barbecue station with a refrigerator and a bar, a fountain and a custom lighting system.

Airy and refined, the living room features vaulted ceilings and an attractive granite-lined fireplace flanked by a double set of French doors. There are beautiful hardwood floors throughout the living and dining rooms, as well as the kitchen, which is complete with granite countertops, stainless appliances and custom wood cabinetry.

A luxurious and peaceful retreat, the master suite includes two walk-in closets with built-in shelving, coffered ceilings and a slate fireplace. The master bathroom features a separate tub, a double shower with a glass enclosure and dual sinks.

With a main floor bedroom and bathroom, an attached two-car garage and numerous additional features, Castle Corona del Mar is an opportunity that should not be missed.

This home is offered at $1,150,000.

For more information, call Renee West of Prudential California Realty at 714.914.9060, email her at Renee@prucdm.com, or visit www.LuxuryCdMHome.com.

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Prudential California Realty Marketing

Daily Pilot | June 25, 2011 | DailyPilot.com

*Price Reduction as of 9/20/2011: Offered at $929,000

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Legendary Sales Achievements the Norm for Renee West

Scott MacDonald, manager of Prudential California Realty’s Corona del Mar office, is pleased to announce that Renee West has been honored with the prestigious Legend Award by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services.  The award recognizes market-leading agents who have won the Chairman’s Circle award on 10 occasions during their career.

“The level of energy and enthusiasm that Renee applies to her clients’ transactions exemplifies Prudential’s high ethical standards,” says MacDonald.  “She is truly a people person who is always willing to go beyond the expectations of her clients.”

A broker associate with more than 18 years of real estate experience, West has frequently ranked among the top two percent or higher, out of more than 50,000 Prudential agents nationwide.  She attributes her consistent track record of success to her attention to detail, extensive community knowledge and focus on managing the multiple aspects of each transaction.

West is a native Californian and a specialist in the luxurious waterfront properties that line the coastal areas of Newport Beach and Corona del Mar.  Well-connected and thorough, she draws from her complex understanding of local service providers, neighborhood amenities and entertainment options to match her clients with the perfect lifestyle and home to fit their needs.

“My career in real estate has been very fulfilling,” says West, who has been a bay front homeowner since 1981.  “From holding open houses and giving tours of available properties, to attending networking events, working in real estate provides numerous opportunities to make new friends, get out into the community and connect with people.”

Renee West can be reached at (714) 914-9060, via email at Renee@prucdm.com, or on the web at www.ReneeWest.com.

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Prudential California Realty Marketing

April 21, 2011

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Home Shopping by Boat

Renee West, an agent for the Corona del Mar office of Prudential California Realty, has a fun way of showing around her waterfront homebuyers.

West takes them out on her 21-foot electric Duffy boat, which she has docked at her Newport Beach home.

As they cruise the bay, she learns what kind of home might suit them.

She points out distinct homes owned (or formerly owned) by celebrities and Orange County’s business moguls.  She tells them the history of the homes and describes the neighborhoods.

“It’s very educational and fun,” she said.  “People enjoy the tours.”

Some of the waterfront neighborhoods she highlights include Promontory Bay, Bayshores, Lido Isle and Linda Isle.

Linda Isle has 107 homes and is ultra private with an around-the-clock guarded gate.  All of the homes are custom built and have boat docks.

There only is one way to get on Lido Isle, which is by bridge.  It was developed in the 1920s and has about 850 homes.

Lido Isle is made up of Via Lido Nord, which faces Pacific Coast Highway, and Via Lido Soud, which faces the ocean.

“It’s a matter of personal preference as to which side people like,” she said.

Bayshores, at Dover Drive and Pacific Coast Highway, has about 250 homes, including 25 on the water.  Not all of them have docks.

Promontory Bay, developed by Irvine Co. in the 1970s, has 16 homes on Bayside Drive.  Promontory Bay’s Harbor Island Drive has 42 custom homes with boat docks.

Gated Harbor Island is where some of the country’s wealthiest live.

West recently represented a Chinese businessman in the sale of a $6.2 million home on Linda Isle.  The seller’s agent was Jacqueline Thompson for Surterre.

The buyer, who was looking for a waterfront home for his wife and children, was a referral from a past buyer, a couple from Hong Kong.

West represented the Hong Kong couple last year in their buy of a Bayside Drive home in Newport Beach.

West sells homes around the county but said her expertise lies in waterfront homes in Newport.

“I have a keen interest in homes on Newport Harbor,” she said.

Sherri Cruz | Orange County Business Journal | April 18, 2011

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Prudential’s Stars Honored for Spirit of Teamwork, Client Service

Prudential California Realty has announced the recipients of the Orange County Star award for the month of March 2011. The award, which was created by Prudential’s Regional Vice President of Orange County Patti Brotherton, is presented to agents and employees that epitomize the company’s goal to provide a superior level of representation and service to the community.

Each month, managers throughout Prudential’s extensive network of Orange County locations select a different award winner. For Laguna Beach, Suzanne Taylor was recognized for her caring attitude towards her fellow agents, in addition to the effort she displayed in representing the office at the Laguna Association of Realtors. Todd Muradian of Prudential Irvine was awarded for donating his time to participate in a panel for all Orange County agents, as well as for the generosity he showed in sharing his knowledge, skills and insights about real estate with other agents.

In Mission Viejo, Andrea Vargas and Matt Babayan were commended for recently earning the coveted President’s Circle award, and for always making themselves available to help other agents. The Newport Beach office selected Realtors Dick Dickson and Sally Shipley for the Orange County Star award to highlight the veteran leadership they have exhibited over their many years serving clients in the Newport real estate market.

Renee West was recognized by the Corona del Mar office for her contributions supporting other agents in the office, and for sharing her more than 20 years of experience specializing in waterfront properties in the Newport area. The Rancho Santa Margarita office chose Christina Ford to recognize her weekly volunteer work at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. In Laguna Niguel, John VanHogen earned the award as a result of his enthusiasm for helping other people—a trait that makes him a valuable and important asset to the office.

For Monarch Beach, Prudential employee Carole Stavert was chosen as the award winner for her positive attitude and the personal attention she devotes to ensure that the office runs smoothly. “Our agents and employees are constantly driven to enhance the client experience,” said Brotherton. “The Orange County Star award allows us to commend them for their sense of teamwork and willingness to collaborate on behalf of not just their personal clients, but for all of the buyers and sellers who choose Prudential.”

The entire Ladera Ranch office was recognized with the March Orange County Star award for being an extremely cohesive unit of professionals, all working together to help their clients in every way possible. In San Clemente, Craig Cornwell was designated as the award winner for his commitment to make himself available to his colleagues when the manager is away at meetings, to address their concerns and find answers to their questions.

For more information about Prudential California Realty, Patti Brotherton or the company’s team of professionals, please visit www.PrudentialCal.com.

The Orange County Register | March 28, 2011  | prudential.ocregister.com

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Advertiser Welcome: Renee West

Walking down the street, cruising around the harbor in her red-striped Duffy boat, heading into The Bungalow to meet friends — wherever Renee West goes, she’s likely to hear it.

“Renee West does it again!” people say, pointing to her, quoting her signature slogan as they cross paths.

“People say it all the time,” West says. And she loves it — loves being recognized as a real estate agent who knows all there is to know about the local market and as an agent who gets things done.

West is one of Prudential’s leading agents, continually honored as one of the top sellers, particularly in the Newport Beach and Corona del Mar markets. (Check out her website here and her new blog here.)

Throughout her life, West has thrown herself into her work. A lifelong Southern California resident, West attended college at Cal State-Los Angeles, where she studied Spanish and education. She worked as a schoolteacher for years, focusing on elementary education and eventually moving to Newport Beach in 1978.

In the 1980s, West made a huge career change, becoming a partner in a high-end car dealership.

“It was a fun, fun, fun, fun time,” she says. “I was the Ferrari driver. The crazy ’80s. If you could be in the car business, you wanted to be there. We’d travel to Italy — it was truly life in the fast lane.”

By the 1990s, however, life again changed with the car dealership and her marriage dissolving. She returned to UC-Irvine and studied business, getting her MBA.

“I had been in the limelight, and it was time to regroup,” she says. “I loved school. When I graduated, I thought, ‘Maybe I should study sociology and stay here…’ But I told myself, ‘I’ve got to go to work.’”

West became a real estate agent in 1993, a time when the local economy was in disarray and Orange County was in bankruptcy.

“I sold a house within the first six weeks,” she says. “I sold another a few weeks later. I thought, ‘This is easy.’”

Easy — with a dash of hard work and a knack for seeing what others miss.

Take Channel Reef, for example. The building on Ocean Boulevard was built in the 1960s, and today many locals consider it too big — something that should never have been permitted to be built on a coastal bluff.

“It’s very misunderstood,” says West, who has made herself the go-to agent for listings in the building. “I know that building inside and out, and there are mini palaces in there — and it’s all views, all waterfront.”

West lives on the water herself and is considered a waterfront property expert. “That’s my deal,” she says. “I love waterfront property. Ask me anything.”

Living on the water means lots of rides on her Duffy, called “Ain’t Life Grand,” where she can give a great tour. “What’s for sale, what it’s listed at, what’s sold. People love to go out with me.”

Waterfront living also means lots of kayaking — when she’s not working, West thrives on exercise. “Yoga, spin class, you name it,” she says. She also reads voraciously and is a book club member, and she supports charities including the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County. She’s an avid gardener, clipping roses for her office on Marguerite Avenue, or for her office at home.

“We work seven days a week,” she says. Her associate, Claire Namdar, agrees, adding that West has always been on the cutting edge of technology when it comes to marketing. Years ago before the popularity of the Internet, West used CD-ROMs to show clients homes. Today, the two women have created an interactive website and blog with free MLS mapping features for visitors, and they send regular market reports in postcard form to clients, always with the signature line “Renee West does it again!”

“I’m very entrenched in the business and the community,” she says. “I think my success is from hard work, and having the right attitude.”

Photo courtesy of Renee West.

Advertiser Welcome is a feature that introduces businesses that help bring you news by supporting Corona del Mar Today. All businesses that place ads on this site will get a story, letting our readers know a bit more about them.

Corona del Mar Today | May 2, 2010  | CoronadelMarToday.com

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Sophisticated Waterfront Living, Panoramic Views