In this market, even a stunning beauty can end up a wallflower. 20 Linda Isle is a lavish European-inspired villa boasting one of the most prestigious addresses on the California Riviera. Surrounded by breathtaking water views, it's filled with a dazzling array of luxury amenities, including a six-slip private dock that can accommodate a 92-foot yacht.

Innovative ideas topped the agenda when members of the exclusive Prudential California Realty Luxury Properties Division gathered for a two-day invitation-only retreat in Palm Desert on February 5 and 6.

"The luxury market has always been a core part of our business, and the real estate industry has consistently looked to us for leadership in that field," said President and CEO Jon L. Cook. "Our new Luxury Properties Division allows us to bring a select group of our best minds together to find effective solutions for high-end clients in this challenging market."

Legendary Texas oilman, American entrepreneur, billionaire and clean energy proponent T. Boone Pickens was the keynote speaker at the event. Pickens, the founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, has most recently made news as a green wildcatter and the Web's first senior blog star. In its first month, www.pickensplan.com cracked the Quantcast Top 1,000 list of most heavily trafficked sites worldwide.

Also among the attendees was Ron Peltier, Chairman & CEO of the firm's parent company, HomeServices of America, Inc., an affiliate of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

Other highlights of the retreat included a facilitated discussion in which attendees shared expert ideas and insights on how to represent clients successfully during this challenging time for real estate. Members also had a number of opportunities to network with their colleagues and exchange information to benefit their current buyers and sellers.

"This event was presented due to overwhelming popular demand," said Cook. "After our successful launch retreat last summer, we were inundated with positive feedback — so much so that we immediately set plans in motion for this two-day event. We're passionately committed to the Luxury Properties Division and its success, and to finding new ways to help members make connections, expand their skills, and enhance their leadership positions in the industry."

About the Luxury Properties Division

Created by a core group of experienced luxury agents from Santa Barbara to San Diego, the Luxury Properties Division is designed to showcase exceptional properties to an elite global audience by leveraging the company's worldwide upper-tier connections and alliances, highly skilled and collaborative agent network, proprietary contact lists and specialized luxury marketing resources.

The elite group of some 220 Luxury Properties Specialists is intensely collaborative, calling on each other's skills, experience and connections to price, market and locate potential buyers for their listings. They also enjoy access to proprietary lists of top luxury brokers and affluent prospects nationwide.

In 2008, the division successfully sold nearly 1,000 luxury properties valued at over $4 billion. For more information, visit luxsocal.com.

About Prudential California Realty

Prudential California Realty is one of the top five brokerages in the nation and the largest company in the Prudential Real Estate International network. The company is proud to be a member of HomeServices of America Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. For more information, visit prudentialcal.com.