Press Releases Archives - Beacon Sotheby's International Realty

Sotheby’s International Realty® Brand Exceeds Record $112 Billion in Global Sales Volume for 2018

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today reported that in 2018 its affiliated brokers and sales professionals achieved more than $112 billion USD in global sales volume, the highest annual sales volume performance in the history of the brand. Additionally, 27 affiliated companies surpassed $1 billion USD in sales volume in 2018.

“Experts predicted that 2018 would be a slow year for the global real estate market,” said Philip White, president and chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “Despite the forecast, our talented affiliated companies and their sales associates continued to perform at the top of their game to drive a year-over-year sales volume increase that is truly remarkable. We are going to keep the momentum going in 2019 and we will continue to empower the Sotheby’s International Realty network by offering innovative products, tools, and research to provide best-in-class service.”

Global Growth

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand also reported growth across its global network. At year-end, the network totaled more than 990 offices in 72 countries and territories and more than 22,500 affiliated sales associates worldwide.

In the United States, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand achieved more than $100 billion USD in sales volume in 2018. This year witnessed continued significant growth by the brand’s existing affiliate companies through talent attraction as well as mergers and acquisitions. Most notably, the brand increased its market presence in Essex and the Acton-Boxborough area of Massachusetts; Greater Portland, Oregon; and Nashville, Tennessee. The brand also entered several key new markets last year, namely, Bandon, Oregon; Huntsville, Alabama; the Sandhills Region of North Carolina; Mendocino, Fort Bragg, and Ventura, California.

Outside the United States, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand achieved more than $12 billion USD in sales volume in 2018 while continuing to expand into key markets. In Europe, the brand grew its presence in Menorca and Madrid, Spain; Sylt and Bern, Germany; Kitzbühel, Austria; Zurich, Switzerland; and Slovakia. The brand also sold the rights to the island country of Cyprus. In Asia, new offices were opened in Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Bangkok, Thailand, and agreements were signed to expand into Jakarta and Bali in Indonesia, and Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam and the Maldives. The brand also saw growth in Mexico City, Mexico; the Metropolitan area of Puebla; Valle de Bravo and Malinalco in Estado de Mexico; and Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán in Morelos.

Marketing Innovation

2018 was an impactful year for the brand with the roll-out of new tools and offerings. Sotheby’s International Realty became the first real estate brand to launch and implement a virtual staging augmented reality app, transforming the home buying and selling experience for sales associates and consumers with the launch of Curate by Sotheby’s International Realty℠. Design Vault, a cloud-based ad-builder tool was also unveiled, allowing companies and agents to create advertising, marketing and social assets with ease. The brand entered a custom-publishing relationship with The Wall Street Journal / Barron’s Group to present RESIDE®, a bespoke luxury lifestyle magazine providing affiliate companies around the world a turnkey solution to creating a customized, branded magazine. The publication’s inception also birthed the brand’s new podcast series. In partnership with Inman, an exclusive channel called Leading in Luxury was launched, featuring experts from the Sotheby’s International Realty brand discussing trends, best practices and innovations in luxury real estate.

“As much as it was revolutionary, 2018 was also an affirmative year for the brand,” said Kevin Thompson, chief marketing officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “The Sotheby’s International Realty brand has always stood at the forefront of innovation in the industry, but we recognize that in order to maintain this standard, we need to continue to press forward. With the launch of new technology and tools, we continued that tradition, always aiming to provide industry-leading levels of service that sales associates affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty around the world are known for.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand website, sothebysrealty.com, saw another record year with more than 30 million visits, a 13 percent increase year-over-year, with 13 percent of traffic generated from new users. Top searches on sothebysrealty.com in the United States included New York, New York; Malibu, California; and Los Angeles, California. Outside of the United States, the top locations searched were London, United Kingdom; Paris, France; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Lake Como, Italy; and Sydney, Australia.

Additional Achievements

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s affiliated companies and sales associates raised nearly $1 million USD to date for New Story, the brand’s charitable partner and a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The funds raised have gone directly to the construction of new homes in Morelos, Mexico for families who lost their homes in the 2017 earthquakes.

“It was awe-inspiring to visit the families in Mexico whose lives will be forever changed by the generosity of our network,” said White following a recent trip to visit two recently constructed communities in Mexico. “Partnering with New Story as a charitable partner allowed us to extend the services we provide daily: to help people discover homes that allow them to live their best life.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty® brand claimed 40 of the top 250 sales associates in the Individual Sales Volume category of the 2018 REAL Trends/The Wall Street Journal “The Thousand.” In addition, 12 teams affiliated with the Sotheby’s International Realty brand were recognized as being among the top 250 teams in the nation by sales volume. The annual report ranks America’s top 1,000 residential real estate agents and teams based on 2017 annual sales volume and transaction sides.

Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty Welcomes Andrea Crossman

Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to announce that Andrea Crossman has joined the premier West Michigan brokerage. Representing discerning clientele along Lake Michigan and around the world, Ms. Crossman is regarded as a leading luxury real estate professional and has earned local and global renown.

“Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty is a market leader with a dedicated leadership team which allows them to continue to attract the best talent in the business,” noted Philip White, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.

With decades of experience in the real estate industry, Andrea Crossman has become a leading force and household name, servicing clients from the sugar sand beaches of Harbor Country to the crystal blue waters of Manistee. Andrea Crossman annual team sales production has exceeded $60M.

Andrea Crossman’s remarkable past accomplishments include 15+ year Top Producer, 2002- 2018 Top Selling REALTOR®, 2013-2018 International President Premier Team (including the accomplishment of top overall volume performer), #1 Producer in the State of Michigan, and #5 in North America. Having been recognized by the Wall Street Journal in the top one percent in sales volume nationally, Andrea Crossman continues to lead the way in market expertise.

Andrea’s desire to provide discerning, extraordinary service to her clients has led her home to Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty.

“I am thrilled to join Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty and its top affiliates around the world who represent Sotheby’s International Realty®,” said Andrea. “I look forward to offering my clients many exclusive marketing opportunities and international listing exposure. I have found and appreciate the truly hands-on ownership at Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty that will afford my clients the exposure that they could only get from the #1 Luxury Real Estate Brand in the world, Sotheby’s International Realty.”

Specializing in waterfront and luxury real estate along the captivating 456 miles of the West Michigan lakeshore, Andrea Crossman is an expert in evaluating and marketing properties throughout West Michigan and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Andrea is a respected businesswoman, avid reader, critical listener and acutely aware of what defines a quality life. Her upbeat, laid back, friendly persona and keen ability to create unique opportunities that put people and places together have elevated her to the top of the real estate profession.

Sotheby’s International Realty Brand Expands Presence in Mexico

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates announced it’s expanding presence in Mexico with the formation of Mexico Sotheby’s International Realty.

Mexico Sotheby’s International Realty is located in the country’s capital of Mexico City and will serve the luxury residential real estate markets in the greater metropolis as well as the surrounding areas including the Metropolitan area of Puebla; Valle de Bravo and Malinalco in Estado de Mexico; and Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán in Morelos. The firm is owned and operated by Carlos Gonzalez.

“The luxury residential real estate market in Mexico City is experiencing tremendous growth,” said Philip White, president and chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “The area has attracted many new developments, mainly luxury high-rise projects with top-of-the-line amenities, and has also seen an increase in overall inventory. We are proud to welcome Mexico Sotheby’s International Realty to our global network.”

“There are so many extraordinary communities and exciting areas in the Greater Mexico City area; it is our goal to be the ultimate guide for our clients, leading them to the Mexico City home of their dreams,” said Gonzalez. “Affiliating with the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand allows us to connect to the brand’s prestigious real estate companies around the world and reach an international clientele.”

With this addition, the Sotheby’s International Realty network now has nine independently owned and operated offices throughout Mexico; also operating in the country are Agave Sotheby’s International Realty, Guadalajara Sotheby’s International Realty, Los Cabos Sotheby’s International Realty, Monterrey Sotheby’s International Realty, Queretaro Sotheby’s International Realty, and Riviera Maya Sotheby’s International Realty.

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has more than 22,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in 950 offices in 70 countries and territories worldwide. In 2017, the brand achieved a record global sales volume of $108 billion USD. Mexico Sotheby’s International Realty listings will be marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website. In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firm’s brokers and clients will benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.

The Global Real Estate Advisors at Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty can help with your next local, domestic, or international real estate transaction. Experience the luxury service we provide at every price point. Give us a call today to experience the Sotheby’s International Realty difference – 269.673.7133.

The First Permitted 3D-Printed Home Unveiled

Last month the first ever permitted 3D printed home in America was unveiled at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. The project was the inception of the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand’s charitable partner New Story and their construction technology partner, ICON.

The 3D printer is expected to accomplish the following goals:

Significantly decrease the cost of building a home in the developing world. Currently, it costs $6,500 for New Story to build a home. The printer will significantly cut the cost to $4,000 a home with potential for it to continue to become more affordable.
Make home construction faster. Homes can be built in 12-24 hours with the printer.
Improve the quality of the final home.

A defining factor of this new technology is that it will be used first in the developing world, in El Salvador, for people who are currently living without shelter, a basic human need. The printer can fit on a truck so it’s easily transportable, it’s durable and it uses a mortar that can be found anywhere.

“We made the decision to partner with New Story in 2017 because we agree that the home is the epicenter of your life. New Story’s desire for continued innovation to drive change is remarkable,” says Lindsey Scharf, Director PR & Communications Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.“The launch of the 3D printer will make a huge impact in their mission to provide homes for families in the developing world and we are proud to be aligned with them in this venture.”

“We are incredibly proud to help advance New Story’s mission to transform people’s lives by providing the foundation of life, a home,” says John Passerini, Global VP Interactive Marketing, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “Their innovative approach to not only building homes but entire communities has already made an incredible difference for so many people and with their introduction of a 3D printer, they will be able to streamline the process like nobody has ever done before.”

The 3D printer received significant media coverage including Architectural Digest, Fast Company, Wired, The Verge, PBS and BuzzFeed to name a few.

Take a closer look at the 3D printer in action

Learn more about New Story

Sotheby’s International Realty® Achieves $108 Billion in Global Sales Volume for 2017

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand reported growth across its global network. At year-end, the network totaled nearly 950 offices and approximately 22,000 sales associates worldwide.

In the United States, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand achieved over $96 billion USD in sales volume in 2017 and added six independently owned and operated residential real estate firms to its network and 58 new offices. This past year witnessed continued significant growth by the brand’s existing affiliate companies through talent attraction as well as mergers and acquisitions, most notably increasing the brand’s market presence in the San Francisco Bay Area; Castle Rock, Colorado; and in Southern Florida and Key West. The brand also entered several key new markets last year, namely: Roseville, California; Avalon and Stone Harbor, New Jersey; the Central and Western Adirondacks regions of New York; Greater Greenville, South Carolina; and southeast Wisconsin.

Outside the United States, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand achieved over $12 billion USD in sales volume in 2017 while continuing to expand into key markets. In Europe, the brand grew its presence in Spain into the coastal cities of Valencia and San Sebastián, and in Belgium to Antwerp and Waterloo, as well as expanding to the Greek island of Rhodes. The brand also sold the rights to the Asian countries of Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to establish a future presence, and grew within India to include the key markets of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Goa and Kolkata

Reaching the Consumer

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand website, sothebysrealty.com, saw another record year with nearly 27 million visits, a 25% increase year-over-year, with 60% of visitors coming from outside the United States and 17.5% of traffic being from new users.

An exclusive alliance with the Nikkei, the most influential news publication in Japan, was launched in 2017. The alliance enables the brand to generate Japanese buyer interest through the Nikkei’s digital platform which reaches over 29 million monthly readers. The Sotheby’s International Realty brand is the first real estate brand to present property listings outside of Japan to readers of the Nikkei, giving Japanese consumers access to residential real estate offerings in nearly 70 countries and territories.

“In 2017, the brand launched a dedicated effort to establish meaningful connections with the emerging affluent consumer,” said Kevin Thompson, chief marketing officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “Data from sothebysrealty.com indicates that we are already well-positioned among this demographic, showing that nearly half of the traffic coming to the site was from the 25-to-44-year-old age group. As personalization has begun its reign over the luxury mindset, the consumer journey has also experienced a shift; it is our mission, as a preeminent luxury residential real estate brand, to continue to identify and execute new and authentic ways to connect with discerning clients.”

Additional Achievements

In 2017, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand added to its senior leadership team. Thompson was appointed as the brand’s Chief Marketing Officer to oversee the marketing, advertising, and public relations initiatives worldwide. With an extensive background working with globally recognized luxury brands, Thompson set forth early in the year to create exceptional consumer experiences through the strategic use of marketing and branding. Later in the year, Julie Leonhardt-LaTorre, a proven global real estate and management leader, was appointed Chief Operating Officer to spearhead strategic growth plans for the brand.

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s affiliated companies and sales associates raised more than $500,000 USD for New Story, the brand’s charitable partner and a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, by the end of 2017. The funds raised will go directly to the construction of new homes in Mexico. The highlight of the partnership came at the brand’s Global Networking Event, where affiliates of the Sotheby’s International Realty brand pledged funds for over 150 homes in just 32 hours.

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand was the No. 1 real estate brand represented in two of the six categories that comprise the 2017 REAL Trends/The Wall Street Journal “The Thousand” for the second year in a row. The brand claimed 46 of the top 250 sales associates in the REAL Trends Individual Sales Volume category, more than any other real estate brand, and had the highest combined individual sales volume from sales associates in the same category. In addition, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand had the most individuals represented in the Individual Average Sales Price category.

Sotheby’s International Realty listings are marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website. In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, each brokerage firm and its clients benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.

Sotheby’s International Realty® Hosts Exclusive Golf Tournament with Rafa Nadal Sports Center

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC recently hosted the Rafa Nadal Golf Challenge in association with Rafa Nadal Sports Center in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. The event was held as an exclusive networking opportunity for select members of the Sotheby’s International Realty® global network.

The exclusive, first of its kind event featured teams comprising Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates from around the world, including a team lead by Philip White, president and chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC, and another lead by Rafa Nadal. The event enjoyed strong participation from Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States who each leveraged this global event to network and establish new relationships with the Sotheby’s International Realty brand and guests.

Rafa Nadal takes to the course on day one of the tournament

The three-day event took place at Mallorca’s top golf courses, beginning at Pula Golf, continuing onto Golf Son Servera, and ending at Golf Son Gual. Team Rafa Nadal took first place in the tournament, Philip White and team took second place, and third place went to team Czech Republic Sotheby’s International Realty and Marketplace Sotheby’s International Realty.

Philip White, chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC with Rafa Nadal

The Rafa Nada Sports Center, located in Manacor, hometown of Rafa Nadal, is a facility that is part of the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. Founded by Rafa Nadal and his family, the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar aims to train young tennis players through high-quality training and by providing them with the tools they need to develop professionally.

Highlights from the Event

The Rafa Nadal Sports Center offers programs for adults to practice their favorite sports in addition to tennis and provides comfortable accommodations for families to stay. The Rafa Nadal Sports Center is also home to the Rafa Nadal Museum, which features a collection of trophies, souvenirs, and several interactive sports simulators.

All participants were especially thankful for Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty support of the event and warm welcome to their office in the lively, beautiful city of Palma.

Downtown Holland’s First Ever Charity Shopping Event

On Saturday, February 3rd, Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty had the pleasure of sponsoring Downtown Holland’s first ever charity shopping event, The Big Give. Over $16,500 was raised for the 15 non-profit organizations that were selected to participate in the event, an impressive number for the very first year!

With a total of 40 participating Downtown Holland stores and restaurants, 15% of all sales was donated to charity. During The Big Give, customers were invited to select which charity they wished a percentage of their purchase be donated to.

In our office, located in Downtown Holland on Eighth Street, we handed out freshly roasted almonds to passing shoppers. Not only was the warm treat well received, we also enjoyed meeting members of the Holland community. Everyone was in good spirits and couldn’t stop complimenting the event’s success!

Thank you to the Downtown Holland office for putting on The Big Give and allowing us to participate. The event was a true testament to the gracious nature of our beloved Holland community!

Downtown Holland's the big give

The 15 non-profit organizations that were selected by the Principal Shopping District Board of Directors to benefit from The Big Give included:

70×7 Life Recovery
Benjamin’s Hope
Center for Women in Transition
Community Action House
Grant Me Hope
Hand2Hand
Harbor Humane
Holland Free Health Clinic
Holland Rescue Mission
Hope Pkgs
Kids’ Food Basket
Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates
My House Ministry
Ottagan Addictions Recovery
Park Theatre

Downtown Holland Businesses That Participated in The Big Give:

Apothecary Gift Shop Big E’s Sports Grill
Blu Veranda
Borrs Shoes
Canterbury Cottage
Cherry Republic
Cotton Bay Boutique
Frances Jaye
Fris Downtown
Fustini’s of Holland
GarenHuis Yarn Studio, LLC
Glik’s Boutique
Glik’s Men’s Shop
GLOBE Design & Vision
Harbor Wear
Home and Company
Hops at 84 East
jb and me
Karla’s Place
Kilwins Chocolates
Lemonjello’s Coffee
Michigan Pantry
Moynihan Gallery
New Holland Brewing Company
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Peachwave Frozen Yogurt and Gelato
Reader’s World
Salon Cheveux
Sandcastle
Seedlings
Spring Sweet
Studio K Clothing Co. Teerman’s
The Bridge
The City Delicatessen
The Seasoned Home
Threads on 8th
TIKAL
Tip Toes
Velo City Cycles

Former Island Home of J.P. Morgan Heir Lists for $125 Million

According to a recent story in Bloomberg, the sprawling 85-acre island estate once belonging to Junius Spencer Morgan (grandson to J.P. Morgan – founder of the American financial institution) was listed by Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty for $125 million.

Located on the North Shore of Long Island, New York, the land was originally granted to Peter Caverly in 1721 by King George I.

Now known as Salutation, this island near Glen Cove is part of Long Island’s “Gold Coast” and offers a multitude of amenities – six unique residences, 28-acre pond, access to oyster beds, 250-foot dock with accommodations for yachts and seaplanes, and a helicopter landing pad.

The Manor House comprises 12 bedrooms and 12 baths; it spans nearly 27,000 square-feet of living space and epitomizes the grandeur and craftsmanship of Gold Coast living.

Following the Morgan family’s departure, the main house was used in the 1995 film Sabrina, starring Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond.

See more extraordinary listings here!

Celebrating Our Anniversary!

On this day one year ago, we affiliated with the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand. Since developing into Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty, your luxury real estate specialists servicing the Lake Michigan and West Michigan markets, we have had a whirlwind year.

From the expansion of our Downtown Holland office to adding new members to our team of experienced agents and participating in global events with Sotheby’s International Realty®, we recognize the remarkable difference in representing a distinctive brand, magnifying our exposure.

In the next year, we are eager to continue to be the leaders in the West Michigan and Lake Michigan real estate markets. In our belief, everyone deserves the extraordinary, because luxury is not about price point; it’s an experience. And when it comes to real estate, experience matters.

Thank you for partnering with us this past year. To many more!

Global Networking Event 2017 Recap

We recently participated in the 2017 Sotheby’s International Realty^® Global Networking Event. The event, which took place from September 25^th to September 27^th in Las Vegas, Nevada, brought together approximately 2,400 members of the Sotheby’s International Realty network, with more than 155 of the brand’s companies represented from 34 countries and territories worldwide.

Held at the Wynn Las Vegas, the GNE was a dynamic three-day immersion into the brand, offering two general sessions and a selection of 25 breakout sessions. More than 85 Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate members volunteered to play an

integral part in the sessions, which ranged in topic from sales and negotiation tactics to marketing and more, serving as breakout hosts, guest speakers and expert panelists to share advice, best practices and personal experiences with their peers.

Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty’s Chad Van Horn, led the Lake Living Sphere, focusing on markets similar to that of Lake Michigan. He was able to provide insight into these specialized lifestyle markets, as well as share some of Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty’s best practices.

Chad was also fortunate enough to win a trip to Hawaii, courtesy of the Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates from Hawaii!

Martha Stewart was the headlining keynote speaker, discussing the journey of creating a global lifestyle brand, which includes a focus on authenticity, constant evolution, and a keen understanding of the consumer. In addition, Jeff Hargett, senior corporate director of culture transformation at The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, gave an engaging and dynamic speech about the power of excellence in customer service and creating unique client experiences. The crowd was also addressed by:

John Peyton, chief executive officer of Realogy Franchise Group
Maarten ten Holder, executive vice president and global managing director of Sotheby’s Luxury & Lifestyle Division
Brett Hagler, chief executive officer and co-founder of New Story, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s charitable partner
The Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC senior leadership team including:
- Philip White, president and chief executive officer
- Julie Leonhardt LaTorre, chief operating officer
- Kevin Thompson, chief marketing officer
- Francis X. Santangelo, senior vice president of global operations

In addition to learning and networking opportunities, this year, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s charitable partner, New Story attended the event. New Story, which builds communities of homes for those in need for $6,000 USD per home, challenged attendees to pledge 100 homes for a new community in Mexico. At the end of the event, attendees surpassed the goal by pledging over 150 New Story homes.

Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty was recognized in the General Assembly session by Senior VP of Global Operations, Francis X. Santangelo. Fran spoke on our success since affiliating just 10 months ago, noting our experience utilizing the global referral program for real estate transaction, as well as our exceptional leadership team and marketing practices.

Our office offers exclusive Sotheby’s International Realty marketing, advertising, and referral services that are designed to attract well-qualified buyers to the firm’s property listings. Property listings are also marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website, in addition to beaconsir.com.

As a Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate, we benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house, allowing our sales associates the opportunity for real estate referrals with auction house clientele as well as the unique ability to refer real estate clientele for appraisal services for jewelry, art, antique furniture and collectibles.

It was a successful conference at this year’s GNE and we’re already looking forward to the next!