Sotheby’s International Realty Network Reports Significant Gains for 2015
MADISON, N.J. (Feb. 25, 2016) – Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today reported that in
2015 its affiliated brokers and sales professionals achieved approximately $80 billion in U.S. home sales
volume (transaction sides multiplied by average sale price). Driven largely by a brand record of over
100,000 total transaction sides, this is the highest annual sales volume performance in the history of the
brand and marks a 13% increase from the prior year.
Global Growth
The Sotheby’s International Realty brand also reported growth in its global network, which now
encompasses 63 countries and territories worldwide. At year-end, the network totaled 835 offices, a gain
of nearly 10%, and more than 18,800 sales associates, up 14%.
“2015 was a record year for domestic franchise sales for the Sotheby’s International Realty brand,” said
Philip White, president and chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “This
year alone, we have also added 12 international, independently owned and operated affiliate brokerage
locations to our global network, which will drive accessibility to the increasing level of international
buyers in key luxury markets.”
Outside the United States, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand continued to expand into key markets
in 2015. The entire Gulf Region is poised for significant growth as the brand’s affiliate brokerage in the
region, Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty, acquired the rights to deliver real estate services in Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The brand saw continued growth entering the countries of Chile,
Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Nicaragua, while expanding its presence in Italy, Queensland,
Australia and in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Sotheby’s International Realty brand also added five independently owned and operated residential
real estate firms and 73 new offices to its network across the United States. This past year witnessed
continued growth by existing affiliate companies through mergers, acquisitions and recruiting. Notable
transactions included the coming together of three companies in Vermont and New Hampshire that
resulted in one of the largest operators in those states under the Four Seasons Sotheby’s International
Realty banner, and the acquisition of South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach by Vista Sotheby’s
International Realty. Several key open markets were also filled, namely: Baltimore, Md.; Block Island,
R.I.; Charlottesville, Va. and Portland, Ore.
Last year The Wall Street Journal/REAL Trends “Top Thousand” ranked agents based on average sales
price, recognizing the success of agents that specialize in the luxury real estate segment. The Sotheby’s
International Realty brand had 75 of the top 250 (30%) individuals by average sales price. This
achievement is reflective of the success of our efforts to further establish the brand as the voice of luxury.
Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC
175 Park Avenue
Madison, NJ 07940
In 2016 and for the ninth year in a row, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand won Franchise Business
Review’s Best in Category for Real Estate Franchisee Satisfaction award. In addition to its real estate
ranking, the brand also came in fourth in the overall top 50, and second among the Top 50 “Systems with
250 or more units,” which is a ranking of all franchise systems across all categories with more than 250
locations.
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The Sotheby’s International Realty brand hosted several international networking events throughout the
year exemplifying its truly global reach. An event in Rome brought together 27 affiliated companies from
19 countries within the European, Middle Eastern and African region while another event in Rancho
Palos Verdes, California had representation from over 113 affiliated companies worldwide. “Our
international footprint is the cornerstone of our global esteem and our events around the world serve as a
platform for our network to work together while developing relationships to increase referrals and share
best practices on the exclusive line of Sotheby’s International Realty products to better serve their clients’
needs and meet their business goals,” said White.
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Marketing
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From a marketing perspective, the brand’s 2015 campaign delivered more than 1.2 billion impressions.
At the core of the Sotheby’s International Realty 2015 strategy was its relationships with pre-eminent
media powerhouses in both print and online arenas to showcase unique properties from the brand’s
worldwide network including: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest,
Bloomberg, Financial Times and as the exclusive real estate partner for Dwell.com.
To mark the 40th year of Sotheby’s International Realty in the luxury residential real estate brokerage
business, Philip White and Wendy Purvey, chief marketing officer, were joined by honorary guests of the
Sotheby’s International Realty brand to ring the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on
December 29, 2015. Additionally, the brand was featured with prime placement on the New York Stock
Exchange video banner in Times Square. Running the entire month of December, the video was shown 15
times per day, reaching over 1.6 million daily visitors to Times Square and highlighted the brand’s
lifestyle focus and drove viewers to sothebysrealty.com for more information.
Finally, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s website, sothebysrealty.com, was re-launched in 2015
to provide a fully immersive, responsive, video-based experience with unique content. With a focus on
creating the best possible user experience, the new sothebysrealty.com continues the brand’s tradition of
revolutionizing luxury real estate in the digital space. Last year the site saw the most traffic in its history
with 14 million visits, a 30% increase year over year. The new Sotheby’s International Realty, website
was recognized by the Web Marketing Association with the “2015 Outstanding Website WebAward” and
by W3 with the “2015 W3 Gold Award.”
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. Each office is independently owned and operated.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the
Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most
prestigious clientele in the world. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp.
(NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation and settlement
services. In February 2004, Realogy entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house.
The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise
system. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s
International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and
business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house,
established in 1744. For more information, visit www.sircaymanislands.com.
