Sotheby's International Realty Brand Welcomes Cape Cod Firm

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today yesterday that New Seabury Real Estate on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is the newest member of its real estate network and will now operate as New Seabury Sotheby’s International Realty.

The firm, which is owned and operated by Christopher Burden Jr. and Amanda Prince, has three offices around the Cape and will service New Seabury, Popponesset and the greater Cape Cod area.  With this addition, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand now has four member companies on Cape Cod including: Atlantic Bay Sotheby’s International Realty, oldCape Sotheby’s International Realty, Sotheby’s International Realty – Falmouth Brokerage and Sotheby’s International Realty – Osterville Brokerage.

“Christopher Burden and his team are seasoned real estate professionals who have extensive market knowledge about the community in which they serve,” said Philip White, president and chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.  “We are proud to welcome New Seabury Sotheby’s International Realty to our network.”

The firm has served the greater Cape Cod area since 1970.  “Affiliating with Sotheby’s International Realtyallows our company to have access to high caliber marketing opportunities and technology, as well as worldwide exposure,” said Burden.  “We are thrilled to be a part of a globally recognized brand.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has more than 17,000 sales associates located in approximately 800 offices in 61 countries and territories worldwide.  New Seabury 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.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

Experi Travel & RSIR Launch Luxury "Fly & Buy" Travel Program for Chinese Homebuyers on the West Coast

Representatives of Experi Travel and Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty announced today that they will be providing luxury, real estate focused, travel programs for Chinese nationals – now the largest and fastest rising overseas consumer group for Washington State tourism. The all-inclusive trips are designed to showcase the amazing quality of life that the West Coast has to offer Chinese homebuyers and a financial safe harbor for investors. Experi will deliver world-class tour operations and affiliates within the Sotheby’s International Realty network will be tapped to offer market intelligence while accessing the finest available real estate offerings in these highly desirable markets.

“We are honored to mark the special occasion of President Xi’s visit to the Pacific Northwest by announcing this unique initiative, combining both a luxury travel experience and the opportunity to explore extraordinary residential real estate opportunities in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles,” said Dean Jones, President & CEO of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. “We know this demand already exists. We are excited to partner with leaders in the private travel industry while delivering the program in Mandarin with the appropriate cultural considerations and conveniences.”

Jones says specialized travel is already established with medical tourism, cosmetic tourism, eco-tourism and university tours. “Why not real estate tourism?” he asks. The luxury travel programs will be eight days long and will debut in November 2015.

In addition to touring pre-selected real estate properties, each guest will enjoy specialized shopping excursions for high-end products (fashion, artwork, automobiles, etc.) through a network of local luxury brand partnerships. Guests will also experience special behind-the-scenes access to events, educational opportunities and fine dining during their stays.

“Experi has always provided our guests with meaningful and exclusive shared travel experiences, and now with Sotheby’s International Realty’s incredible properties, we offer a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many to see what makes living in these top-tier West Coast cities so special,” said Rob Rector, Founder and President of Experi.

Rector says interest in travel to the US, and Seattle in particular, has increased since China’s 2013 box office hit, Beijing Meets Seattle (orFinding Mr. Right), which highlights a fairytale lifestyle in Seattle. “Then Obama’s Administration expanded the multi-entry visas for Chinese Nationals from one year to ten years, which effectively opened the US as a top travel destination and second home marketplace,” he said.

Commercial flights on the trip will be offered by Hainan Airlines internationally and Alaska Airlines domestically, however private aviation charters are also available through Experi. Fairmont Hotels will be providing the five-star accommodations in each city.

Read the Press Release >>

Sotheby's International Realty Brand to Expand Luxury Presence within the Middle East

Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced plans for the brand’s expansion into five additional Gulf countries, complementing its existing presence in the United Arab Emirates. Within the next year, the brand’s affiliate brokerage in the region, Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty, is expected to enter the important new markets of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, greatly increasing the brand’s presence in the Middle East.

“Increasing our brand presence in the Middle East is yet another example of our commitment to providing the Sotheby’s International Realty network’s exclusive real estate services in luxury property destinations around the world,” said Phillip White, president and chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.  “The Middle East continues to be one of the most important sources of cross-regional capital into the global real estate market and we are proud to support Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty as the company expands its footprint and continues to provide robust regional market intelligence to its clients.”

Currently operating in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty is led by Chairman George Azar.  The firm intends to open seven new offices around the region including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia and also in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.

“We are excited to be growing our company and widening our range of services to span the Middle Eastern region,” said Azar.  “Our goal is to achieve the highest sale price for our clients, but achieving this means equipping investors with sound intelligence about the property market and its potential. Our clients are sophisticated high net worth individuals and institutional investors who need to understand the underlying fundamentals of the markets in which they invest. This is why we have consistently surpassed our own sale price targets in 2015, despite the slowdown in the Dubai property market.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 17,000 sales associates located in approximately 800 offices in 61 countries and territories worldwide.  Gulf 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, the firm’s brokers and their clients will 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.

What's Next: Your Monthly Event Calendar

I am thrilled to bring you this month's event calendar! Your comprehensive guide, take a peek at what’s going on! From this weekend’s Cider Summit Festival at South Lake Union and the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival, to a Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, here’s what’s happening around the sound:

Select Links Below to View Full Calendar of Events in Each Community

Bainbridge Island Events >>  ♦  Seattle Events >>  ♦  Eastside Events >>

Credit Building Tips for Millennials

Are you looking to get your credit in order in order to prepare for a future mortgage? Here are a few "do's" and "dont's," courtesy of Ken Chaplin from REwired:

Do's:

1. Have your landlord report your on-time payments.

2. Use a low-interest credit card for minor purchases and fully pay it off each month.

3. Ensure you pay student loans on time each month.

4. Fix late payments as soon as you can.

5. Obtain your free credit report each year to monitor your credit.

6. Have patience -- good credit doesn't happen overnight!

Don'ts:

1. Skip payments for utilities.

2. Buy a car beyond your needs - skip the add-ons and luxury options until you're financially secure.

3. Sign up for credit cards you don't need. 

4. Have a big balance on any of your credit accounts.

5. Close old credit cards.