Sotheby’s International Realty Reports Gains in Key Performance Metrics for 2013

NAPLES, Fla. - April 10, 2014 - PRLog -- MADISON, N.J. (April 10, 2014) –  Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC today said its U.S.-affiliated brokers and sales professionals handled 24 percent more transaction sides in 2013 than 2012 – nearly three times better than the 9.2 percent gain in home sales sides reported for the overall market by the National Association of Realtors.

The Sotheby’s International Realty^® brand’s sales volume grew by 29 percent in 2013, compared to 19 percent for the overall market, according to the National Association of Realtors.

“We are very excited about this news for our brand and also enjoyed a highly successful 2013 season,” said Judy Green, President and CEO of Premier Sotheby's International Realty, with 22 offices from Marco Island to St. Petersburg and in Charlotte, North Carolina. "Our firm had more than $2.8 billion in sales through the end of 2013—a 22 percent increase from the same period in 2012. As more buyers realize the advantages of living along the coast, we are uniquely positioned at the forefront of our market’s finest real estate offerings, backed by the resources of the legendary Sotheby's brand.”

The company closed more than 3,670 transactions during 2013. Of those, 15 percent or 534 of the total transactions were for properties priced greater than $1 million. Six percent, or 214 of the total transactions, were for properties greater than $2 million.

In the Sarasota region, the firm and its associates closed the fourth highest sale of 2013 in Sarasota County, the property at 1456 Point Crisp on Siesta Key, at $5,675,000.

In the Naples region, the firm and its associates closed several notable sales in 2013, including Collier County’s highest residential sale for the year, a $30 million homesite at 2658 Gordon Drive. Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Gary Jaarda represented the buyer in the transaction, which closed on June 24. Other significant closed transactions include properties at 3600 Nelsons Walk and 3101 Gin Lane, for $14,000,000 and $12,000,000, respectively.

Global Growth

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand also reported growth in its global network, which encompasses 52 countries and territories worldwide. At year-end, the network totaled 700 offices, a gain of 6 percent, and more than 14,500 sales associates, up 13 percent.  Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates worldwide reported 31 percent same store growth in sales volume.

“The luxury sector truly led the resurgence in the overall market in 2013,” said Philip White, president and chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC, citing a combination of strong interest among international buyers, low interest rates, less inventory and increased consumer confidence in the economy.

Outside the United States, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand expanded its network in 2013 to provide its real estate services in: Cabarete, Dominican Republic; Swatar, Malta; Manila, Philippines; Melbourne and Gold Coast, Australia; Lugano, Switzerland; Dubai; United Arab Emirates; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Panama City, Panama.  The Sotheby’s International Realty brand also added six new residential real estate firms to its network across the United States in the following markets: Claremont and Palo Alto, Calif.; Westborough, Mass.; Charlestown, R.I.; Concord, Mass.; and Durango, Colo.

In 2013, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand also won Franchise Business Review (http://www.franchisebusinessreview.com/)’s Best in Category for Real Estate Franchisee Satisfaction award for the sixth year in a row and ranked second overall among the Top 50 Systems across all categories with 250 or more locations.

Marketing

From a marketing perspective, the brand’s 2013 campaign delivered more than 700 million impressions. At the core of the Sotheby’s International Realty 2013 strategy was its relationships with pre-eminent media powerhouses including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Telegraph Media Group in both the print and online arenas, developed to showcase unique properties from the brand’s worldwide network.

The most innovative aspect of the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s 2013 marketing efforts was the launch of a custom iPad application that enabled its complete marketing program to be made available digitally for network members to present to consumers on listing presentations via a unique, interactive format created using the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite.

Last year also saw the expansion of the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s series of branded websites for specialty markets with the launch of Golf and Historic.  Finally, the brand was featured on the ABC Supersign located in New York City’s Times Square at 44^th and Broadway for the month of December in collaboration with the New York Stock Exchange.  The 15-second video highlighted its lifestyle focus and drove viewers to sothebysrealty.com (http://www.sothebysrealty.com/) for more information.

White said the Sotheby’s International Realty brand will continue looking for ways to utilize the latest technologies to enhance the real estate buying experience for consumers and further solidify its position as a leading luxury real estate organization.

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has more than 14,500 sales associates located in approximately 700 offices in 52 countries and territories worldwide.  Sotheby’s International Realty listings are marketed on the sothebysrealty.com (http://www.sothebysrealty.com/en/home.aspx) global website.  In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the network’s brokers and clients benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

###

About Premier Sotheby’s International Realty

Premier Sotheby's International Realty (http://www.sothebysrealty.com/) is the leading luxury real estate brokerage in the markets it serves, providing exceptional service, in-depth knowledge and value to its customers. Led by real estate veteran Judy Green and headquartered in Naples, the firm has more than 700 employees and 22 offices strategically located in Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, Captiva, Clearwater, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Longboat Key, Venice, South Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is a division of The Lutgert Companies, which has operated in Southwest Florida since 1964 and also owns Lutgert Title, Lutgert Insurance and Premier Commercial, as well as Linville Ridge, a private residential community owned and developed by the company near Blowing Rock, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.premiersothebysrealty.com.