Residential Properties offices collected at four different locations this year – Providence, at the Stop and Shop on Branch Avenue and the Eastside Marketplace on Pitman, the Stop and Shop on Mendon Road in Cumberland, and inside the Warwick Mall.

Our team has entered into several charitable endeavors this holiday season, as we have in the past years. We are proud that our agents are actively involved in so many diverse organizations, such as the ‘adopt a family’ drives and this small but important role manning the pots. It seems we always recognize the giving during the end of the year, but the tireless commitments made every day by all of our associates is indicative of their resolve to be part of each community.

In 1981, Sally and her friend, Liz Chace, had an idea to develop a real estate company that would re-define how business was conducted in Rhode Island. Over the past 30 years, Residential Properties’ commitment to building a top-notch, service oriented business has grown because of our real estate professionals, a full-time relocation department and continual investment in technology.

During the evening, we also premiered the following short video which tells our story – We hope you enjoy it!

GoLocalProv.com, the online newspaper for Rhode Island,  posted their second annual ranking of public high schools around the state.  During their research on the article, we were asked to give our opinion on that decision process from a first hand experience.  Specifically, they wanted to report on how our clients evaluated the schools information.

According to the article the top five high schools in Rhode Island were East Greenwich, Narragansett, Exeter-West Greenwich, South Kingstown, and Barrington.  To see where your school ranked and the rest of the extensive research visit the golocalprov’s site.

We get more and more submissions to the Photo Contest each season. In fact, we received a record number of submissions for this Spring’s contest. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, at Residential Properties we have some of the most creative and talented sales associates in the business!

I am excited to announce that CC Wall has submitted this season’s winning photograph. CC captured a stunning view of the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI. CC’s photo captures a natural vanishing point of the grand Victorian hotel deck leading to the ocean off in the distance.

An honorable mention goes to Liz Bodell, sales associate in our Providence office and super talented photographer. Liz submitted a fantastic shot of Richmond Square in Providence.

With so many quality photos submitted this Spring, it was certainly difficult choosing photos to be added to the home page slide show. We have included 5 photographs this season. Thank you to all the participants!

Winning Photo: CC Wall – The Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI

Runner-up: Liz Bodell – Richmond Square in Providence

Holly Applegate – Historic Homes on Benefit Street – The East Side of Providence

Holly Applegate – Roger Williams National Park – Providence, RI

Phil Retamoza – Old Stone Bank Building – Providence, RI

We’ve uploaded some great photo sets including several spectacular shots of Block Island photographed by our own Chris Whirlow. We also have some beautiful photography of our Capital City and the East Side of Providence. The photos of Providence showcase all four seasons and show many popular landmarks including, Historic College Hill.

Our YouTube channel is now streamlined to our page and visitors can watch property tours and other video content directly on our page.

As stated on our site, “There’s nothing better than the feeling of a great neighborhood” so we’ve added community information to our Facebook page. Utilizing the community drop-down menu, users can choose the different counties in Rhode Island to learn more about our wonderful little State. Want to learn more about the East Bay and Bristol County? Give it a try!

Best of all, we’ve added our Home Search! Visitors can now access our property search right from Facebook. Just select the “Home Search” tab and click “Search Properties” to get started. As an added bonus, we’ve included our weekly featured properties.

If you’re a mobile power user and love using Facebook on your device, be sure to check out our mobile site. Just launch your browser and enter ResidentialProperties.com!

This season’s episodes were filmed in Rhode Island, and features numerous shots of familiar local scenery.  The only trick is that the show’s storyline takes place in Philadelphia.  Makers of the series digitally manipulate the scenery to show a volume of buildings blending into the skyline of Philly.  Aside from the now being debated tax advantages, Rhode Island’s boutique-like selection of locations makes it ideal for just about any film crew; you can find many different environments located closely together.

Our own Corporate Trainer Rich Epstein, and Marketing Videographer Phil Retamoza appear on the show in an extra/background capacity.  So take a look, and see if you can spot them!  Episodes can also be watched for free online at ABC’s website or on hulu.com.

Last Fall, I had the opportunity to join Mary Ann Lisi, from our Narragansett office,  at the construction project for a new South County Habitat for Humanity home in Charlestown, RI. This home features handicap accessibility since the new owners’ son is in a wheelchair.  Mary Ann worked with the “Thursday, All Women Crew” on the project and did so throughout the past year.   According to Mary Ann, “This was a great group of very talented women ranging in age from 22 to 70 something.  There was a lot of fun on this project and the experience was very rewarding. We did everything from framing to sheetrock, to trim work and floor installation.”

The home was completed last month and a moving in ceremony was conducted with Rev. Lynn Baker-Dooley blessing each room at the Saturday, 26th of February, morning event.  Lynn is the wife of URI President, David Dooley, and is an American Baptist minister.  She was heavily involved in Habitat and other homeless matters when she was a minister in Helena, Montana. The construction supervisor, Ted Seymour, led the morning in Habitat fashion with an opening prayer, and opened the party to a packed Klondike Road residence.  The Northup family is the proud owner of this LEED certified home which South County Habitat for Humanity has dubbed their “Official 20th Anniversary Home.”

Besides working on the home, the Women’s Crew also won the Gingerbread House competition, which raised $1400 for the organization.  Habitat will hold another fund raiser with check-in starting at noon on April 2, 2011 for a two mile walk around URI campus.  It officially starts at 1:00 pm. They are trying to raise $80,000 through this effort called “Pound the pavement. Pound a nail.”  The University of Rhode Island has set the goal to build one house near the URI campus and two houses in Haiti and Chile. They are half-way to reaching it, but still need your help!

In 2009, Deborah Davis published a book titled “Gilded – How Newport Became America’s Richest Resort” which highlighted the history of this fabled town’s past from the 1900 century to the present day. In it she recalls a story told to her from our Narragansett Realtor, Judy Chace, about the beginning of the invasion by the “modern day buccanneer[s] who [are] as high-rolling and freewheeling as any of the Gilded Age tycoons.”

Recently, the Red Carpet Gala added some sparkle to the city once again. Held by the Friends of Jane Pickens Theater, many of Newport’s residents watched the 2011 Oscar’s, while wining and dining at the Theater and Event Center on Sunday the 27th of February. The event included two comedians who guided the people through the evening and an auction for additional fund raising.  According to Board member Marisa Ferris, also a Narragansett Agent, the fundraising evening was a fantastic way to view the pageantry of the Oscar ceremonies, with Hollywood’s Stars decked out to the nines and parading down the real “Red Carpet.” The “Friends” is a 501(c)(3) non-profit created to help preserve the 178 year old building and allow the center to function. Besides movies or live screenings, like that of the Bolshoi Ballet and the upcoming royal wedding in England, the venue can be booked for special events.

Recently, the Jewish Voice and Herald talked with me about the matchmaking I have done over the past 30 plus years.  Selling real estate is my career, but I’ve had this sideline all these years.  Sharing the story with everyone came to mind, and with this being Valentine’s Day, why not publish a video.

Here is how I described it to my marketing manager:

We were fortunate enough to have with us this weekend the listing agent for a marvelous home in Barrington in the Lighthouse Point area. Caroline Butterfield is one of our great agents in our Barrington office. She knows the market well and has a beautiful comtemporary listing on Spinnaker Drive.

Here is what Caroline discussed.

“The property on Spinnaker Drive is a fantastic waterfront property with wonderful views of Narragansett Bay. Lighthouse Point is a wonderful area and this property is a pre-eminent spot.  Looking out at sunsets will be inspirational.

This uniquely built home includes an indoor pool, gym area, and sauna, enhancing the six bedrooms and six full bathrooms. It has a truly ambitious feel for any homeowner with the desired privacy expected in this price range.  However, it has an open floor plan with expansive windows looking out to the bay.

This part of Barrington is what everyone desires when they think of the area. The views of the water, the proximity to Providence, and the closeness to the amentities of the local community are what continually bring people to the town and persuade people to stay for the long term.

This property is priced very competitively for the area.”

Barrington has a great school system and is a wonderful year round community in close proximity to Providence and Newport. There are a good number of its residents who commute to Boston. It is a premier spot in Rhode Island.

Caroline Butterfield has been a top producing Realtor for Residential Properties and has worked with buyers and sellers throughout Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts since 1979. Real estate is her profession, but more than that, it is her passion.  As she puts if: “I love the product, the people and the happy ending when buyers and sellers goals are achieved.”