From the elite enclaves of Santa Barbara County to the exclusive beachfront communities of the southern coast, many of the most breathtaking estates sold in Southern California last year were represented by the Luxury Properties Division of Prudential California Realty. Launched in 2008, the division handled over $6 billion in sales volume in its first two years.

When a couple from Texas decided to find the oceanfront home of their dreams, their agent contacted Santa Barbara beachfront specialist Kathleen Winter to locate the perfect property.  Kathleen recommended her listing of a magnificent Nantucket-style estate on sought-after Padaro Lane beach in Carpinteria.  Listed at $22,500,000, the fully furnished 7,311 square foot home sits on three commanding knolltop parcels with panoramic ocean, island, coastline and mountain views. 

As the clients deliberated, Winter suggested that they consider leasing the property. They followed her advice, quickly falling in love with the home and making it their own. In Beverly Hills, a European couple drove up a long private driveway to the motor court of a magnificent new estate inspired by Hollywood’s Golden Era. Listed at $15.9 million by luxury specialist Judy Cycon, the masterpiece Mediterranean villa by renowned designer Tim Morrison, and architect Tom Proctor, stands on a promontory just north of the famed Beverly Hills Hotel with breathtaking views of nature and city lights.

Three months later, the couple realized they wanted the California villa. They made an all-cash offer, and the eight-figure transaction closed in 36 hours.

In Newport Beach, Robert Pfeif began a year-and-a-half quest for the perfect property for his very particular out-of-state buyers. “They were looking for a unique house,” he says. “They wanted something very expansive, with a feeling of stature and interior volume. It also had to have an ocean view.”

One day, Pfeif took his clients to see a stunning Palladian estate commanding over 400 feet of ocean view frontage. One of the few homes on the Newport Coast built to 35-foot heights, it features 12- and 14-foot ceilings and completely unobstructed views spanning Newport Harbor to Palos Verdes and beyond from every major room. Listed at $24.9 million, the property had been on the market about eight months when Pfeif’s clients flew to California to see it. Their long search had ended.

For Jon Cook, president and CEO of Prudential California Realty, all these stories have one thing in common. “To represent exceptional properties successfully, you need more than skill and experience. Timing, discretion and connections are just as critical,” he says. “Our Luxury Specialists bring all those advantages to their clients — along with the collaboration of their superb colleagues in the Luxury Properties Division.”