Maison Nouveau Merges with McGuire

Dear Friends and Clients,
Maison Nouveau’s core principle is to provide the highest level of real estate service possible to our clients. When we examined the competitive landscape we admired a like-minded boutique across the Bay, McGuire Real Estate. We are now pleased to announce that a match has been made. As of March 15, we will have merged with the Bay Area’s premier boutique real estate firm, McGuire Real Estate, and will serve as McGuire’s East Bay presence. Maison Nouveau and McGuire share many important values. Both companies are independent, locally-owned and operated, and obsessed with superior client service.

As a young company this merger will provide us with certain advantages we could not possibly achieve on our own. McGuire has been an integral part of the real estate scene in the San Francisco Bay Area, stretching back nearly 90 years. A mid-sized, regional boutique, McGuire specializes in luxury real estate but, like Maison Nouveau, applies the highest standards of service to properties in every price range, and to every client. McGuire employs nearly 200 agents and operates three offices in San Francisco, one in Mill Valley serving Marin County, and one in Burlingame serving the Peninsula.

The merger provides significant opportunities for our clients. The combined resources of the two companies allow for greater emphasis and expansion of our web presence and technology offerings to the substantial benefit of both our agents and our clients. For our sellers, we will now have the ability to directly present our listings to over 200 McGuire agents and their clients throughout the Bay Area, and to 700 boutique firms worldwide through McGuire’s affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.

Over the next few weeks you will notice our new signs on properties as well as the sign change on our office on College Avenue in Rockridge. While we may look slightly different on the outside, rest assured that we are still the same spunky, sophisticated company on the inside. Please stop by to find out how we can be of greater service to you than ever. Our existing team will be the core of the new one, and we are excited to share with you our expanded level of service.

New Homebuyers To Get $8,000 Cash Back

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday. First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.

A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount.

Read Full Article HERE

Gallery Opening 3/12 6-8PM | Feat. Work of Sune Tamm

Our spring gallery opening is rapidly approaching and Maison Nouveau is thrilled to be featuring the work of local photographer and adventurer Sune Tamm. Please join us for this unique glimpse into the frozen wastelands of Antarctica featuring stunning photography and handwritten letters home of his experiences from his 15 month expedition. Click HERE and RSVP for this fantastic event.

Malibu is Now Xanadu; At Least For One Buyer

It took singer Olivia Newton-John almost a year to find a buyer for her Malibu home, but she can now apparently sing "You're the One That I Want."

Newton-John, who withdrew her house from the market last month, just closed escrow at more than $10 million, according to area real estate sources and public records. The house had been most recently listed at nearly $11.5 million.

The buyer is a trust representing Patrick Kevin Morris and his wife, Gaby Morgerman - both entertainment industry heavyweights. Morris is an entertainment lawyer and Morgerman a senior vice president at William Morris Agency. They own another Malibu house that is on the market.

The Newton-John listing, after 354 days, was about to expire when it disappeared in December from the Multiple Listing Service. It is not unusual for celebrities to withdraw their homes from the market once they are in escrow, hoping the sale will escape public notice.

The Mediterranean-style house has four bedrooms and seven bathrooms in 6,482 square feet. The 1.28-acre compound includes a pool, a spa and a two-bedroom guesthouse.

The gated neighborhood is no stranger to celebrity owners. Newton-John bought the property in 2004 for nearly $6 million from the widow of actor Charles Bronson, and Britney Spears used to live next door.

Ways to Make Your Life Greener in 2009

President Obama preaches "Change" in 2009 and we here at MN think it's a wonderful idea. Change always starts with yourself, so we've gathered a small list of greener alternatives to improve your eco-friendly living and to start doing your part.

Bedrock Industries [100% Recycled]
Headquartered in Seattle, this recycled glass tile company makes a profit off every cork you pop. Using donated wine and beer bottles, Bedrock brings new purpose and beauty
to this typically discarded glass. All tiles are custom made for each order and perfect for that swanky kitchen redesign or bathroom update, and shipped in cardboard boxes they find on the street!
Other alternatives: Oceanside Glass [86% Recycled]

EcoSmart Fireplaces
These 100% clean-burning, versatile fireplaces are a great way to think green while staying warm. Much like the need for wood in typical fireplaces, EcoSmart's run off of Denatured Ethanol which is fairly inexpensive and found at any hardware store. And since these are 100% clean burning there is never any clean up and no flue is necessary seeing that the only byproduct of combustion is water, steam and carbon dioxide.