Imagine my surprise this morning when we   were notified that Luxury Home Digest had   been named a top travel blog in the world– albeit #87 on the list!

 Though we’ve written plenty about luxury homes, luxury destinations and favored hotels, more recently we’ve warned about travel to Mexico and Egypt because of political issues and potential dangers to travelers in these locations. And advising our readers to consider travel closer to home–at least until things calm down. 

We hope to travel to both Mexico, Egypt and other distant locations soon, and will do so as soon as we deem it safe to do so. In the meantime, there is Thailand, Singapore, Europe and other destinations calling for a visit–sooner rather than later.

Regardless, what are some of your favorite travel blogs–and ones that would surely rate above #87?

The post Luxury Home Digest a Top Travel Blog? appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Deepest apologies to those of you who were unable to access Luxury Home Digest this past week.

It seems we were the victim of a malevolent hacking attack last Sunday night, whereby all of our content was deleted–on not only Luxury Home Digest, but San Diego Previews as well. Thanks to the tireless work of blogging gurus at the Real Estate Tomato, we have been able to restore most of our material.

And thanks to those who brought this site and our San Diego real estate blogsite down, I am now musing about the consequences for such actions.

Is attacking a website and deleting its content a crime? And if more than one attacker, a conspiracy?

Could such activity constitute a “restraint of trade” as defined by the Federal Trade Commission? Google definitions, as usual, provide some clues:

1. Descriptive of unreasonable acts or contracts which prevent a person from carrying on, or engaging in, their profession.
www.aapa.org/manual/judicial/glossary.html

2. Combinations, contracts, or other oral or written arrangements designed to establish a monopoly position, impede competition, fix prices, or prevent entry by potential rivals. …
www.itcdonline.com/introduction/glossary2_q-z.html

3. Monopolies, combinations, and contracts that impede free competition.
www.crfonline.org/orc/glossary/r.html

4. Any act that tends to prevent free competition in business
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

5. Restraint of trade is a restriction on a person’s freedom to conduct business in a specified or unspecified location for a specified or unspecified length of time. Such restrictions are normally enacted by contracts. …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restraint of trade

Yes, our San Diego real estate business was impeded, and we were prevented from carrying on in our profession in a normal manner. Clients were unable to search for San Diego properties on our sites and we were blocked from our online business for several days. Searchers for luxury home news were certainly forced to go elsewhere when we were offline.

And if restraint of trade is “any act that tends to prevent free competition in business,” or places “a restriction on a person’s freedom to conduct business in a specified or unspecified location for a specified or unspecified length of time,” then restraint of trade is what I will politely and publicly call last Sunday night’s massacre.

Under my breath, though, other expletives words and descriptions are uttered.…

The post Is Hacking a Restraint of Trade–or a Vicious Crime? appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Many of the ealy elationships, though, have not only survived–but thrived.

by Roberta Murphy

Its fun to peer into the crystal ball and try to divine what fortunes lie ahead. It also helps when you have a visionary providing some tips and guidance.

Pat Kitano and Kevin Boer are two visionaries worth following, and they are convinced that 2008 will be the Year of the (Authoritative) Blog Network. Kitanos article is a great read that provides good information and understanding of what blogging networks are and how they can benefit both the consumer and the blogger.

An authoritative real estate blog is what the California Chapter of the Womens Council of Realtors plans to launch at the end of January. They are tapping their membership seeking capable and knowledgeable real estate bloggers whose personal real estate blogs will feed into the California WCR Blog Network.

All of the members contributed blogs will be indexed and offered as an encyclopedic resource for home buyers and sellers. As with most blogs, consumers will be able to enter into casual and anonymous, if they choose conversation with the blogging authors. Consumers and agents will be able to ask questions ranging from open houses, to market insights, to home selling strategies. The goal, says Kitano, is to promote the free exchange of real estate knowledge without any sales pitch.

Kitano and Boer, with Domus Consulting Group, are working feverishly to have the California WCR Blogs online by the end of this month. The site will feature mapping tools so viewers can check not only houses for sale, but can also find participating and local WCR bloggers to learn more about neighborhoods, market trends, home features and other real estate related topics.

The WCR Blog Network is revolutionary, says Kitano and will provide solid benefits for both the real estate consumer and the blog authors. œThe WCR Blog Network home page in effect acts as the ˜main newspaper to aggregate and distribute the published content of their agent œeditors. As a content repository, the blog network is positioned as a search engine magnet, and the resulting traffic flows through directly to the participating agents blogs. Each blog, he says, is a separate website that reflects the personality and special expertise of its author.

The WCR Blog will be non-denominational, in that the blog authors will represent many different real estate companies, and their blogs may come from any number of frameworks including WordPress, TypePad or other available sources.

As a member of the Womens Council of Realtors, I am tickled to share that I will be a representative blogger for North County San Diego when the WCR Blog debuts. For additional information, email roberta@sandiegopreviews.com

The post WCR to Unveil California Blog Network appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Last nights annual New Years Eve bash at the Murphy home was lots of fun for all, and almost everyone was ready to drop kick 2007 out the door and welcome the promise of 2008 with open arms.

I thought 2007 had been put to rest (save for income tax drudgery); but when I opened todays email I discovered not one, but two 2007 accolades for Luxury Home Digest.

The first was an alert regarding RealEstateUndressed choice of the Luxury Home Digest article, Real Estate Fraud: Cash Back and Consequences as one of the real estate blogospheres top 7 articles for December 2007.

Very cool, I thought, and quickly went over to Larry Craguns site to express my thanks.

The next surprise email came from Zola Marquis at EliteChoice.

Zola (and crew?) had combed through the entire blogosphere to find the best 125 blogs for 2007 in diverse categories such as fashion, travel, wine and food, design, entertainment, advertising, best of the best, gadgets, automobile, social networking technology, sheer luxury, blogging forums and of course, real estate. Luxury Home Digest was chosen as one of the top six real estate blogs, sharing the stage with five outstanding real estate blogs (the comments are all Zolas):

Bawld Guy
Real Estate Investing through Purposeful Planning

Luxury Housing Trends
Home improvement ideas

Luxury Home Digest
Luxury resides here

Overseas Property Mall
Guide to international real estate investment

Realestalker

This blog talks about who lives where, whos buying and selling and for how much

Luxury Portfolio
Luxury Homes, Luxury Real Estate, and Luxury Homes for Sale From Luxury Portfolio

I am presenting Zola Marquis and Elite Choices entire list of winners, if only for my own future reference. These are all blogs I intend to visit:

BEST-OF-THE-BEST BLOGS

Buzz Machine
Anything & Everything

Brookly N Vegan
Music, Photos & News from a Vegan in Brooklun

Improve Everywhere
Improve everywhere causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places

Taking Illustrations

This online space makes fun of some things and sense of others through illustrations.

Strange Maps
When maps say it all

Tree Hugger
Space Dedicated to drive sustainability mainstream

Book Of Joe
Things that you need to know

GADGETS

Engagdet

News that drive your tech soul

Gizmodo
The gadget guide

Crunch Gear
Because crunchy reviews are invited

Blog Wired
Gadget Lab: Hardware that rocks your world

Uber Gizmo
Gadget Guide

Oh Gizmo
When gizmo presence makes you say Ohhhh.

Geek Sugar
Geek is Chic

Everything USB
Everything USB: We mean everything!

Shiny Shiny
A girls guide to gadgets

Red Ferret

The Red Ferret Journal – tantalisingly tasteful, tacky and taut tech trivia

Coolest Gadgets
Your source for the coolest gadgets available

Life At Most
Daily Gadget News

Gadget Venue
A blessed venue for elite gadgets

Mobile Whack
A wacky abode for gadgets

Uncrate
A web magazine for guys who love stuff

Akhibara News
Read, watch & participate

TECHNOLOGY

PC Mag
The independent guide to technology

Whats New Now

A coolest, craziest, cutting-edge technology Platform

Crave
Blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crush worthy stuff

Teche Blog
Latest tech and gadgets News

Tech Fresh
A space dedicated to cool gadgets, gizmos, and cutting-edge technology

Micro Persuasion
Exploring technology and its impact on marketing communications

Scifi Blog
A place that keeps you jacked amongst latest gadgets

Slash Gear
Technology at its best

Hip Tech Blog
Discuss latest gadgets and technology here

Gadget Tell
Tech news, reviews and interesting things

AUTOMOBILES

Jalopink
Obsessed with the cult of cars

Auto Blog
Obession about the auto industry

Autoblog.it
When cars become obsession

Motor Passion
It is passion that drives wheels

E Mercedes Benz

The all new Mercedes Benz-CLS

Automotive Blogs
Where your car search begins

The Truth About Cars
Car Reviews, Auto News, Editorials and Podcasts

Cars Cars Cars
A Car Blog. Only Angrier.

FASHION

B Glam

Up to the minute fashion inspiration and celebrity news created for shopaholics everywhere

Coutorture
Fashion fad

Fashion Tribes
Where Fashion*Lifestyle*Beauty Rules

A Suitable Wardrobe
Wills thoughts on classic mens clothing

The Bag Lady
The bag lady

Go Fug Yourself
Fugly is the new pretty

The Sartorialist
Where fashion, design and style collapse

Style Talk
S Factor: Stylish, Simple but Striking

Style
The online home of vogue

Whats Haute

Terrific Totes: Words fall short as their presence makes you say OOOuch!

LUXURY

Luxist
Luxurious vibes, invites filthy-rich.

Janus Thinking
Luxurious thoughts reside here!

Born Rich
For geeks affordability can never be a question!

Luxury Luanches

Luxury breathes here!

Deluxe Blog
Because luxury speaks

Blavish
An abode for gamut of elite blogs

Lussorian
Luxury homes and accessories

Eslux

Luxury talks

FOOD AND WINE

WineCampBlog
A points-free zone

Eater
Bath in wine & food
Vinography
Wine and food adventures in San Francisco and around the world

Zagat
Eat, drink, stay, play

Dr Vino
Wine talk that goes down easy

Serious Seats
Crusty, saucy, cheesy

Slash Food
Place that makes your tongue smile

The Food Section

All the news thats fit to eat

Mighty Foods
The who, what, how and why of natural foods

Food Beam
Sweetness beams

Too Many Chefs
Territory of chefs

ODDS AND ENDS

Boing Boing

A directory of wonderful things

Inventor Spot
Serious fun for the inventor in all of us

I4U
All eyes are on you, for you and from you

Aving
Global news network

Josh Reads
The Comics Curmudgeon

The Sneeze
Half Zine. Half blog. Half not good with fractions

Trend Hunter
Trend Spotting, Cool Hunting and Innovation Trends

Crunk Tastical
In fresh we trust

Pink Tentacle
Exclusive stuff

Dethroner

Where every man is king

Evil Mad Scientist
Making the World a Better Place, One Evil Mad Scientist at a Time

Spluch
Unique newsy stuff, cant afford to miss

ENTERTAINMENT

D listed
Be very afraid

Ironic Scans

It seemed like a good idea on paper

Kottke
Home of fine hypertext products

Stereo Gum
The Gum drop

YouAintNoPicasso
You aint no Picasso describes it well

Gawker
Reporting live from the center of the universe

DESIGN

Designs Sponge
Dipped in design

Fake Steve
The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs

We make money not art
Money V/S Art

David Report
Design, culture and business life collides here with a creative and humanistic approach

Yanko Design
Form beyond function

Core 77
Core77 Design Blog
SOCIAL NETWORKS

Cool Hunter
Roaming the US and the globe

Mashable
Social Networking News

TRAVEL

Directory of Blogs
A stylish way to travel

Hotels of Rich and Famous
The latest hotel news and features

Happy Hotelier
The Happier the Hotelier, the Happier the Guest!

Luxury Travel Blog
Dr. Paul Johnsons Baby: Not an ordinary travel blog

Travel Blog
Unforgettable tours and experiences! Unbeatable deals.

Gadling
Go There

Real Travel
Real people, real advice, real experiences

World Hum
Travel dispatches from a shrinking planet

Juanted

The pop culture travel guide

English Cut
Thomas mahon, bespoke savile row tailor, london

ADVERTISING

Duncans
TV Commercials found and reviewed by Duncan Macleod

Neatorama
Exploring Creativity

Adgoodness

The best and sometimes the worst around the globe

Advertolog
Welcome to the biggest Advertising Archive in the world

Adarena
SEX SELLS

Adhunt
A view on todays best advertising

Adrants
An abode for evolving ads

Adpulp
Advertising arena

FORUMS

Blog Burst
A way to place blogs on top-tier online destinations

Globe of Blogs
Bloggers territory

Blog Hub
Blogging your way

Blogarama
The blog directory

Mac Rumors Forum
Mac community discussion forums

Blog Explosion
Battle of the blogs

Thank you Zola Marquis for an exhaustive and much-appreciated effort!

The post Luxury Home Digest a Winner (and in good company!) appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

It came as a total surprise when I received an email from International Listings that Luxury Home Digest had been tapped as one of the top 8 Home Buying blogs in the country–and one of the top 100 Real Estate Blogs.

WOW!

I join the other winners in this category in thanking the judges at International Listings for this special real estate honor:
Barbara Corcoran Ink: Barbara Corcoran, real estate entrepreneur, addresses real estate interests, concerns and questions. Her advice is mainly focused on home buyers and home owners.

For Sale By Locals (A New Real Estate Approach): A blog that is an offshoot of the œFor Sale by Locals Web site. Entries include business information, tips, and advice on how to work with online real estate services.

Home Buying and Selling Blog: About.coms Elizabeth Weintraub brings her home selling (and buying) experience to her blog. Wientraub is a real estate agent, but shes also lived all over the country from Maine to California and once even built a home in Mexico. She operates on the principle that œevery American deserves to own a home.

Hotpads: If youre in transition between homes, check out this site for information about available apartments, rental houses, sublets, and roommate opportunities. If youve got a place, theres someone out there who wants to rent it. This blog provides news, guides, tools, and promos for the site.

Luxury Home Digest: Roberta Murphy, editor for The Luxury Home Digest, is a real estate broker in the coastal San Diego market. However, her blog covers a wide range of topics related to fine living and real estate, including trends, markets, furnishings, tastes (including fine wines) and relevant gossip.

Real Estate Journal: This Wall Street Journal guide to real estate helps homebuyers arm themselves with the information they need to get the most for their money. Readers can browse entries on everything from mortgage rates and residential market trends to relocation and economic issues, home improvement ideas and advice on buying, selling and enjoying a home.

Trulia Blog: A Trulia employee blog where company happenings, real estate industry news, and other items are posted. The truly useful part in this site is the Trulia residential real estate search engine that helps consumers search for homes for sale, trends, neighborhood insights and other real estate information directly from hundreds of thousands of real estate broker Web sites.

Zillow Blog: Zillow helps consumers make smarter real estate decisions by providing them with access to the same information and tools agents use to value homes. Additionally, homeowners can take advantage of the Zestimate„¢ home valuation as a starting point for anyone to see – for free – for most homes in the U.S., discussions, and post homes for sale for free.

Most of all, though, I thank our readers and clients for all we learn from them!

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