“Marin-Extrodinary Living”: Lifestyle Magazine with Power

“Lifestyle” magazines are all the rage in the San Francisco Bay Area. These publications promote each targeted area by evangelizing the “lifestyle” that area represents. A rarely recognized but powerful fact is that these magazines are very helpful to Realtors who wish to promote their properties and their careers. One of the best magazines for just this campaign is “Marin-Extraordinary Living.“

The magazine is a veritable “Who’s Who” of Marin Counthy Real Estate. Such long time luminaries as Marilyn Rich ( and daughgter Whitney), Connie Irwin, Susan Bowman, Steve Gregory, Anna Pennington-Boucher, Marian Sichel, Natasha Najafi, Jimmy “Marin” Wanninger, and Tracy McLaughlin grace the pages throughout.

The high quality photography, elegant fonts and style, set up, and interesting lifestyle pieces make this magazine a must read for anyone living, looking to buy or sell, or wishing to advertise in Marin County.

The following are a sample of properties advertised in Marin-Extraordinary Living:

*3245 Paradise Dr., Tiburon

*99 Lyford Dr., Tiburon

*55 Sir Francis Drake, Ross

*335 Willow Ave., Corte Madera

*11 Leona Dr., San Rafael

*1065 Meadowsweet, Corte Madera

*100 Wolfe Canyon, Kentfield

*24 Summit Dr., Corte Madera

*366 Lovell Ave., Mill Valley

*126 Marion Ave., Mill Valley

*23 Leona Dr., San Rafael

*507 Easterby, Sausalito

*33 Rose Ave., Mill Valley

*612 Chaparral Circle, Napa

*16 Sheridan, Mill Valley

The Mountain Home Inn: ” Marin’s Mountain Retreat Wedding Oasis Minutes from Your Doorstep”

Nestled into one of Marin County’s most magnificent mountain top views, the Mountain Home Inn has long been an oasis spot for weddings of the heart. As Marin Visitor’s Guide so eloquently effuses: “Rustic Elegance in a Legendary Mountain Setting.”

The Inn has a long history dating back roughly 100 years ago. At that time tourists rode ferry boats in order to arrive in Marin. The ferry boats, from San Francisco, made as many as 60 trips per day. Since it’s prolific early history, the Mountain Home Inn (Mill Valley, CA) has been recognized as one of the most sought after wedding venues in the world. One of the best recommendations comes from the Trip Advisor written by a couple from San Francisco in November of 2006.

Weddings and receptions may be booked by going to the “Private Events” page on the Mountain Home Inn web site: www.mtnhomeinn.com or by contacting Marisa Affolder, Events Planner, at marisa@mtnhomeinn.com.

If you are looking for an intimate setting, excellent service, Tahoe like views in the Bay Area, mild weather, resort ambiance, and word of mouth cache, the Mountain Home Inn is the perfect choice for your wedding ceremony. Although the Inn is quite expensive, the memories made in the perfect setting will last a lifetime, bring joy to both families, and remain a reminder of an unforgettable experience.

Ed Okun “Promises to Make Good”: Is this a “Check’s In the Mail” Statement?

Mark Heschmeyer of CoStar Group wrote a fine article “UPDATED: Owner of Bankrupt 1031 Exchanges Promises to Make Good” on 1031 Exchange king Ed Okun’s plans to “make good” on $150 million worth of outstanding debt owed to investors caught up in the collapse of his empire.

Since the 1031 Exchange Group’s May Chapter 11 filings, Ed Okun has been”negotiating with both the debtors and the unsecured creditors in the case, according to bankruptcy court filings.”

Okun is working with Stillwater Capital Partners Inc. a New York hedge fund management firm that specializes in, according to Heschmeyer, “alternative investment services.”

The third moving part to this deal is with JPS Capital Partners out of New York. JPS Capital Partners specializes in commercial real estate bridge loans on what is considered tough to fund deals.

According to Heschmeyer’s findings: “Under terms being discussed, a lender (debtor in possession) would fund the debtors, which would in turn pay off the creditors, including possibly paying administrative expenses of the chapter 11 cases and other expenses.

Okun is offering “. . . up to all of their (Okun Holdings Inc. & IPofA) material assets to the potential lender in connection with the loan transaction.”

Details of these transactions were to be “sealed” by the court prompting a firestorm of criticism. Heschmeyer’s investigations found that Okun is fighting to seal the documents because public disclosure of these records “would give competitors to the Okun Entities’ access to confidential and commercial information related to business relationships which are in the process of being negotiated. Such information, if disclosed, would significantly hamper the Okun entities’ ability to conduct business, which directly impacts the recoveries of creditors in these cases.”

US Attorney Adams is fighting to make the records public. Her argument is that the real estate information is of public record already; in addition she states that this information does “not qualify as protected information under the Bankruptcy Code.”

Another red flag was that, according to Heschmeyer, the extent of Okun’s real estate holdings are not known. Is he hiding assets? You make your own judgment on that idea. Heschmeyer asserts that CoStar Group has identified “numerous properties” through public records and CoStar databases. These properties in question are believed to be “either owned, managed or leased in part by affiliates of IPofA or other Okun affiliates. As Heschmeyer states “We list these properties in The Watch List, a weekly column of distressed commercial properties, mortgages and corporate news.”

So the fight is on to uncover all of Ed Okun’s assets in order to hold him accountable for the horrific actions of his 1031 Exchange companies. Stay tuned in as more information is soon to follow. In the meantime anyone with information or new developments to share, please do so by writing deansguide.