The most anticipated event of the year on the Monterey Peninsula has begun! The U.S. Open Golf Tournament played on the Pebble Beach Golf Links begins its Championship rounds Thursday and runs through Sunday (June 16th – June 20th ) after several days of practice rounds. It is expected that 37,000+ people will be coming to Pebble Beach every day to watch the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, and Tom Watson. For the golfers, winning the Open means prestige and a large cash prize. For the gallery, it means lots of fun and enjoying seeing their favorite golfers play against a backdrop of sunlit courses and crashing waves.
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As Realtors we view these huge events that bring thousands of visitors to our area as an opportunity to showcase our properties for sale to prospective buyers. Many of our real estate sales on the Monterey Peninsula are to second-home buyers who live in other areas, but like to spend time here. We start planning our marketing months in advance by creating unique advertising for the print media and other innovative promotional efforts. Our Alain Pinel Carmel office came up with a unique idea to promote our sellers’ properties during the Open. Since many of the affluent golf enthusiasts arrive in private jets at Del Monte Aviation in Monterey, why not be there to greet them when they get off the plane with a gift bag full of goodies and promotional materials? For those who come into the terminal, we would provide an espresso bar and frozen yogurt bar so they could have a snack after their long flight.
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For the last two days I’ve taken part in this promotional event and what great fun it has been! When a plane landed, we raced out to greet the passengers with our gift bags and invited them to enjoy our snacks. As our visitors sipped on a café latte we chatted with them about where they are from and what’s going on in real estate. Will some of our visitors be lured to find the coveted prize – a home on the Monterey Peninsula? Time will tell – in any case, they will remember Alain Pinel Realtors.
Posted by: 
Susan Clark
The “Crosby Clambake”, a small tournament for Bing and his friends, has transformed into an incredible event that never fails to bring thousands of visitors to the Monterey Peninsula in early February. The Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the organization that puts on the tournament, expects 150,000 – 200,000 attendees and hopes to raise $7 million for local charities. Practice rounds began in the beginning of the week, and on Wednesday the “Birdies for Charity Shoot-out” took place. Thursday is the first day of play and the final round takes place on Sunday. What draws such a large gallery? Golf enthusiasts not only like to watch great golf, but also like to ogle the celebrities that participate from the worlds of sports, music, and the big screen. The likes of Michael Bolton, Tom Brady, Kenny G, Andy Garcia, Chris Berman, Tony Romo, Don Cheadle, Chris O’Donnell, and Vince Gill will be on the course and ready to sign autographs. Also playing, comedians George Lopez and Bill Murray will keep the gallery in stitches with their antics. I remember one year, Bill Murray was horsing around with a spectator and the poor woman fell into a sand trap!
While I was holding my listing open on San Marcos Road, a neighbor stopped in and whispered to me “Carmel Woods is our hidden secret.” After many showings and numerous Open Houses at this property, I have to agree. Removed from the tourist frenzy of Carmel-by-the-Sea, but just a few blocks from town, this peaceful neighborhood is a treasure. Residents meander through their winding wooded streets taking their daily constitutional waving to their neighbors as they go by. Homeowners “in the Woods” enjoy a rare intimacy with their fellow residents unknown in some of the other areas. 
Carmel Woods is located just north of the village of Carmel and includes many lovely homes situated on forested lots – some having ocean views. Good values are to be had by the savvy buyer, since these homes normally sell for less than they would if they were located right in town. For instance, my listing at 24447 San Marcos recently sold for $755,000 and was a lovely 2BR/2BA home on an over-sized corner lot. If you are looking for a Carmel home, consider Carmel Woods as a great alternative to some of the more expensive neighborhoods. I think you’ll be delighted! 
There are many wonderful neighborhoods in Carmel Valley and the “Brookdale area” close to the world renowned Quail Lodge and Golf Course is one of the most-desired. It’s just five minutes from Hwy One but far enough from the Coast to have warm sunshine in the summertime instead of the coastal fog. The weather is ideal for outdoor living so whatever your passion may be … golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, or walking on the beach – it’s close by. 
Just across Carmel Valley Road is September Ranch where you can board your horse and ride on beautiful valley trails for miles. Garland Park is a treasure also with miles of trails for hikers, equestrians, and even bird watchers! The white sands of Carmel Beach are a few minutes away and if you travel south a few miles you’ll experience the phenomenal Point Lobos. 
River School in Carmel, then to Carmel Middle School and High School. There are also very fine private schools not far from this neighborhood such as All Saints and Junipero Serra School. All of these attributes are great, but when you talk to the residents who live here the number one thing they find so desirable is that it is a “real neighborhood” with caring neighbors who look out for each other. Not always easy to find these days. If you’d like to consider living in this fabulous area, give me a call (831-320-6801); I have just the home for you! 
Why do so many people want to live in Carmel Valley? Come see for yourself this Saturday when Alain Pinel Realtors will have ten Carmel Valley listings priced from $799,000 – $3,800,000 open from 1:00-4:00pm. I currently have several listings in Carmel Valley and am often speaking to prospective buyers who are looking in the area. Everyone has their specific reasons for wanting to be there and nowhere else on the Monterey Peninsula. After digesting their thoughts and having a few of my own, this is what I think Carmel Valley has to offer. I will elaborate on each point in future articles. If there are other great reasons to live in Carmel Valley I haven’t mentioned, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Come see the fabulous properties we have open. Call me for more information 831-320-6801 or see our ad in the Monterey Herald Friday Real Estate section. Pictured are two of the properties being held open on Saturday. In the much-desired Brookdale area just five minutes from Carmel is 6435 Brookdale Dr. listed at $1,195,000; 
Every year car enthusiasts gather on the Monterey Peninsula from all corners of our nation and beyond to attend a week of events, road rallies, parades, parties, fashion shows, racing, and car auctions. The week culminates on Sunday with the prestigious 57th Annual Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach. “Car people” look forward to this week with its events and parties all year. For the locals it is just great fun to partake of some of the events and enjoy the “Car Eye Candy” on the streets of Carmel and Pebble Beach! Antique cars polished to perfection, Ferraris, Corvettes, Porsches, Bentleys – 
you name it and its here! 
those famous “blue boxes.” The exciting presentation is free to spectators and benefits the Carmel Foundation that provides a wide variety of services to local seniors. To add to the fun the merchants up and down Ocean Avenue have decorated their show windows with displays that depict the car industry. Be sure to check out our Alain Pinel Realtors window display at the NW corner of Ocean and Dolores. It’s awesome! Grab your mate and your camera and come enjoy the day! For a complete listing of all events go to 
Visualize living atop a high mountain knoll overlooking breathtaking, magnificent mountain and valley views and feeling like you are on top of the world. A dream? Not so, it exists at 310 Country Club Heights in Carmel Valley. Come see for yourself!
For those who love the Monterey Peninsula but prefer to reside in warmer weather, Carmel Valley is a great choice. The Carmel River has created a lush valley between the majestic Santa Lucia Mountains just east of Carmel. Once the home of horse ranches, farms and rolling countryside, Carmel Valley now also boasts championship golf courses, world-class resorts, tennis clubs, wineries, superb restaurants, and million dollar homes.
twelve-mile stretch between Highway One and Carmel Valley Village. From this area you’re just a fifteen or twenty minute drive to the coast, yet you can still enjoy the warm sunshine, experience the dramatic mountain views, and take advantage of the Carmel Valley lifestyle. Golf is a popular avocation in Carmel Valley as well as in the coastal communities. For those that like golf course living there are a number of established communities where you can purchase a home or condominium on the golf course such as 
Carmel Valley Ranch and The Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club. Two newer luxury developments complete with extravagant clubhouse facilities and private golf course (“Tehama,” Clint Eastwood’s vision of a golf community, and “The Preserve”) have parcels available for purchase for those who desire to build the home of their dreams. Carmel Valley is also horse country. As you drive east on Carmel Valley Road you will pass numerous horse ranches and stables. Garland Regional Park, a 4500-acre preserve, is filled with avid horseback riders taking advantage of miles of trails. This incredible park is also filled with hikers, photographers, wildflower enthusiasts, and artists capturing and enjoying nature. Carmel Valley is an outdoor paradise for everyone.
The Monterey Peninsula has captured the hearts of visitors and residents alike since the late 1800s. Located on the Central Coast at the southern tip of Monterey Bay, the Peninsula is not only a great historical site, it has become a desired destination for thousands wishing to experience the natural beauty of the area. Our real estate here spans the gamut from charming Carmel cottages, horse ranches in Carmel Valley, estates in Pebble Beach, 
Victorians in Pacific Grove, to beautiful Spanish Mediterranean homes in Monterey. Each community has its own unique character and history. Numerous special events throughout the year attract thousands of visitors to the Peninsula. Whether you love golf, antique car shows, Bach, art galleries, Food & Wine, the beach, hiking Point Lobos & Garland Park, race cars or celebrating the “Good Old Days” in Pacific Grove, there is something for everyone. Come visit or better than that, come live in the most beautiful place on earth. 
