As a Realtor who endeavors to continually learn, update and educate herself on what is new and happening in the real estate world to better aid her clients, I look forward to attending the yearly Real Estate Conference at Christie’s New York each year, and so it was yet again a great experience to have attended yesterday’s event. First, you might ask – if I work for Houlihan Lawrence, why would I be attending the Christie’s Real Estate Conference? … That is because Houlihan Lawrence is an affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates in Westchester, and as a part of that affiliation, it enables our company to have first hand knowledge, and access to the wonderful marketing tools that Christie’s offers, and to also market our high-end luxury properties in the Christie’s Magazine which is on hand at all of their world-wide auction houses, and other locations, on their web site, and to basically access even more exposure – and Houlihan Lawrence already offers a great deal! Our young owners are amazingly tech savvy, and knowledgeable about all aspects of marketing, and it has always been one of their goals to keep Houlihan Lawrence in the forefront of all avenues of marketing, and the tools and statistics we have at our fingertips are amazing.
It is no surprise that Houlihan Lawrence is Number One in Market Share in every price point in Westchester & Putnam Counties.
In fact, the award winning web site and integrated technology supports all aspects of the client’s real estate needs. Not only that, but we have special relationships with the affiliates that helps enable us to refer clients to each other, and just recently Houlihan Lawrence entered into a Tri-State Alliance with three other top Brokerages to better serve our consumers by sharing our listings and data to create an unique on-line experience which better serves our existing and potential clients and customers alike. The other companies are Coach Realtors which serve Nassau and Suffolk Counties in Long Island, Turpin Realtors which serves Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Essex and Union Counties, and Halstead Property serving New York City, the Hamptons, Fairfield County in Connecticut, Hudson and Essex Counties in New Jersey and Columbia County in New York . Houlihan Lawrence, of course, serves Westchester, Dutchess and Putnam Counties. Jointly, this alliance brings together 68 office locations, more than 2900 sales agents (and their clients) and nearly 8000 exclusive listings. That is quite monumental!
But I digress!!!! It was really interesting to learn at yesterday’s conference, that real estate is still the safe haven for global wealth (no surprise there), and that while there were some historic value propositions in 2011, and there is a 2012 global mind set for seller expectations. Properties are still hard to find in London, Paris and Geneva, but with London being the center this year for the Royal Diamond Jubilee as well as the Olympics that comes as no surprise. In fact, the market snapshot of London’s prices are up 40% from 2009, and in 2011 alone, the prices rose 15% with cash rich foreign buyers being in the forefront.
The prices in Toronto, Canada has remained stable, with home prices having doubled since 2002, and there is a shortage of properties…. Oh my!
In New York City, properties $5 Million and above showed the greatest price increases with townhomes increasing 116.3% between 2002 and 2011… Christies- always in the forefront, will be developing their strategic offices in London, Moscow, UAE/Saudi Arabia, and China..
Individually tailored, made to specification, Offering a High Degree of customization and Service… I think that explains my company’s marketing plan quite nicely too!
68 Bespoke Properties were sold last year. It was very informative to hear speakers from across the country speak on their individual markets… Property prices over One Million Dollars are selling quite well in Florida… These were the original $2- 3 Million Properties … there aren’t many lesser price properties available, and once again the foreigners are buying many of the homes for all cash, with some Northerners taking the plunge too.
For me, it not only meant a day to absorb some great statistics, but to also network with fellow agents who traveled there from all across the United States and Canada, to exchange business cards, to offer referrals, and to basically discuss our individual market, our clients’ needs and to make new friends!
Larchmont is GREAT
