Ultimate Phone for the Luxury Bath

by Roberta Murphy I used to joke about needing a cell phone implant that I could answer with the twitch of a nose. That way I wouldnt have to play hide and seek with my phone and jump out of the shower when I hear it ringing. (Its really not that bad these days. I am a recovered celloholic who only occasionally relapses). Fujitsu Genies, after three long years of…

February 2, 2007
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Switchable Mirror Glass Windows

windows view of palm tree
January 30, 2007

by Roberta Murphy Though I live in palmy, balmy coastal San Diego County, my south-facing office windows at the Carlsbad Forum occasionally melt candles and ignite otherwise cool tempers. These floor-to-ceiling shaded and plant-screened windows were just tinted in a last-ditch effort to avoid black-out draperies and one very grumpy Realtor and writer. That may explain an unusual and abiding interest in windows technology. And there must be a Murphys…

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Priciest Home Sale in 2006?

by Roberta Murphy Realtors and public alike are fascinated by record-setting news, and most of us are curious to know about the most expensive home sold in the last year. In San Diego County, the winner of record would be a stunning 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath Del Mar oceanfront beauty sold by Jennifer Moores to Marsha Naify for $18 million. The ultra-luxury real estate market in San Diego is a…

January 23, 2007
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Gold In Gossip

by Roberta Murphy Real estate gossip can be golden. This isnt a reference to catty back-biting that might center on flings, blings or lifts. Rather, it is the very specific, professional and constructive whispering that goes on between real estate agents who trust one another. It is information savvy buyers crave. And this phenomena is not peculiar to the San Diego real estate market. This unpublished information shared between professionals…

January 20, 2007
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FAO Schwarz Moving into Real Estate?

We shake our heads in wonder with the news that legendary Toy Store FAO Schwarz has moved into the custom homebuilding business. With prices starting at $10,000, we scratched our heads and wondered what responses might come from the likes of Toll Brothers, Hovnanian and Centex. What fun might this ultimate toy store have up its sleeve? A little more research reveals that FAO has cleverly moved into the “mini-me”…

December 8, 2006
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