(New York, NY) — Christie’s International Real Estate, composed of only the best real estate specialists in the luxury residential sector, has announced that it plans to open its own residential real estate brokerage office in New York City. According to its press release, CIRE will move to 20 Rockefeller Plaza, which is the home of Christie’s US flagship high-end reputable auction house.
To coincide with the opening of the new brokerage firm, CIRE plans to connect with a new team of luxury and leading real estate specialists from around the world. The move to Rockefeller Plaza is projected to be finished in the second half of this year.
CUTTING TIES TO BROWN HARRIS STEVENS
This new Christie’s firm abruptly ends CIRE’s 20-year affiliation with Brown Harris Stevens, another influential and prestigious residential brokerage house. BHS president Hall Willkie and vice president and managing director of sales Bess Freedman were forthright about their thoughts of breaking off its ties with CIRE, suggesting that it should not overshadow BHS’s influence on the company. As they pointed out,
“Since 1995, Brown Harris Stevens has been the number one global affiliate and exclusive brokerage arm of Christie’s in New York City, the Hamptons and Palm Beach. This affiliation has been the basis upon which Christie’s International Real Estate has established its reputation.”
To assuage the sudden broken ties and any misgivings, Dan Conn, CEO of CIRE, said:
“This decision to open an office in New York City was made after lengthy deliberation and was not an easy one to make. We have strong relationships with the whole team at BHS in New York City and we are grateful for their contribution in serving the market on behalf of our clients for more than two decades.”
CIRE’S AUCTION HOUSE
CIRE’s art auction house in Rockefeller Center is the leading and largest seller of marquee art and luxury goods in the United States. There are around 350 auctions each year in over 80 categories, and they are known worldwide for auctioning off jewelry and art with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern and Old Masters.
THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE FOREMOST LEADER IN REAL ESTATE AND LUXURY GOODS
The combination of a real estate division in the same home of the gallery auction division will undoubtedly become a powerhouse in the industry, and one of the first. As such, CIRE will be able to offer its clients custom tailored and personalized service under one house, whether that’s auctioning off Chippendale furniture or buying a multi-million estate.
CIRE real estate arm, which has an air of international glamour not found in many of the best brokerage houses here in New York, is known for taking care of its clients with unparalleled service and expertise for the last twenty years. But now CIRE’s new brokerage firm will be even more incomparable in the high-stakes New York City real estate market as well as in the global marketplace as it builds their client list and hires only the most elite brokers.
Supported by Christie’s art auction house, the company has offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, Moscow, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, and approximately 140 global Affiliates in 46 countries.
