Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty announced the Sotheby’s International Realty brand welcomed eight new firms worldwide in the first quarter of 2012, and its affiliated companies in the United States experienced a 21 percent year-over-year increase in transactions.
The brand welcomed the following residential real estate brokerage companies to its network in the first quarter of 2012: Milan Sotheby’s International Realty, Taiwan Sotheby’s International Realty, Barcelona Sotheby’s International Realty, Williams Trew Sotheby’s International Realty in Ft. Worth, Texas, Hudson Homes Sotheby’s International Realty in Tarrytown, N.Y., and San Miguel Sotheby’s International Realty in San Miguel, Mexico.
In addition, two of its affiliate companies grew through mergers. Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty in Princeton, N.J., merged with N.T. Callaway Real Estate, LLC to create Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty with its headquarters in Princeton. Likewise, Morris & Fyrwald Sotheby’s International Realty in Aspen and Carbondale, Colo., combined with Chaffin Light Real Estate in Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt, and is now operating as Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty.
“The first quarter of this year has seen significant growth for the Sotheby’s International Realty brand, as we continue to expand our footprint in quality markets around the globe including the Americas, Europe and Asia,” said Michael R. Good, chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “Our affiliates that have furthered their growth through mergers and acquisitions have increased their market share and local presence, positioning themselves as even stronger market leaders who are able to offer their customers an even greater level of service and efficiencies in meeting their real estate needs.”
In the first quarter of 2012 the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand was honored by Franchise Business Review with its Best in Category award for Real Estate Franchisee Satisfaction for the fifth year in a row. In addition to its real estate ranking, the brand also came in second among the Top 50 Large Franchise Systems, which is an overall ranking across all business categories including all systems with more than 200 office locations.
Growth in Asia continues to be a top priority for the brand, which in February announced plans to expand its management team there as part of an initiative to further develop the company’s network of real estate affiliates in the Asia-Pacific region. Those executives will be responsible for accelerating the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s development throughout Asia and for supporting its network of affiliates.
“The first quarter has laid the groundwork for our continued growth and development internationally as we increased our staff both in terms of membership sales and servicing for our existing companies,” said Philip White, president and chief operating officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “Domestically, our total transactions were up 21 percent in the first three months of this year versus the first quarter of last year. These strong results reflect the improvement in the high-end market in the United States. In addition, we are seeing multiple bids and stronger sales prices in a number of markets as a result of lower inventory levels.”
From a marketing perspective, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand launched its iPad® application during March 2012. Available for download from Apple’s App Store, the app’s features include 40 points of interest based on the property location, one-click-contact to a Sotheby’s International Realty broker or agent, the ability for consumers to save home search information for future use, a dynamic map feature displaying all available homes for sale or rent based on a user’s location or interested city/neighborhood and high-quality photography.
“We are very proud to be part of a network that is enjoying quality growth at such a solid pace,” Jenny Pruitt at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, we understand that buyers are as likely found across the globe as they are in the Atlanta market. With the support of this brand we are helping to unite sellers with buyers, no matter where in the world they are located.”