In our region, a sale in excess of $10 million is truly exceptional and so far this year the highest sale is just under $10M. However, in the global arena, we are seeing record sales prices. Clearly, the worldwide recession has not impacted everyone.

Buyers for top-tier properties can come from anywhere in the world. One of the ways we attract the attention of the international consumer has been our exclusive area partnership with Christie's , the 200 year-old fine art auction house and its Christie's Great Estates Network,  the premier network of luxury brokerages in the world.

Here are a few of the special properties sold this year through the Christie's network.

Recently, the estate of legendary film director Ingmar Bergman in Faro, Sweden was sold. Read more about this exceptional property or other noteworthy offerings handled by Christie's affiliates at www.christiesgreatestates.com.

Another spectacular property, the Gouverneur Bay estate on St. Bart's in the Carribean, also just sold for approximately $89 Million US, believed to be the highest price for a private residence worldwide.

This past summer, a Christie's Great Estates affiliate handled the sale of an Aspen, Colorado estate, which sold for $43 Million, the highest price achieved for a home in the U.S. so far this year.