Christie's International Real Estate has launched a new company-owned brokerage in New York City, its largest luxury housing market. The firm opens with approximately 120 agents from Warburg and aims to integrate real estate advisory with Christie's auction house services for art and luxury collectibles.
The launch signifies Christie's International Real Estate's strategic push to integrate its luxury property services with its renowned auction house operations, aiming to capture a larger share of the ultra-high-net-worth client market by offering a unified advisory experience.
Christie's International Real Estate has established a new company-owned brokerage in New York City, marking its direct entry into the nation's largest luxury housing market. The firm, named Christie's International Real Estate New York, officially opened its doors with approximately 120 agents recruited from the boutique brokerage Warburg, alongside several agents from Christie's previous New York affiliate.
Kevelyn Guzman, who managed Warburg for over 18 years, will lead the new operation as regional vice president. Guzman expressed enthusiasm for combining the boutique experience with Christie's global reach and brand heritage, emphasizing a strong foundation and talented professionals.
Gavin Swartzman, president of Christie's International Real Estate, stated that the move aims to closely align residential brokerage operations with Christie's established art and luxury business. He highlighted the importance of relationships, expertise, and trust in the New York market, principles central to both real estate and the auction house.
The new brokerage will be situated at 60th Street and Madison Avenue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, placing it strategically within key luxury residential and retail areas. A significant aspect of the brokerage's strategy involves leveraging its partnership with Christie's auction house to offer clients comprehensive services for fine art and luxury collectibles, including marketing, sales, acquisition, and financing support across a wide range of categories.
This integrated approach, positioning real estate advisory alongside art and alternative investment advisory, is becoming increasingly common among ultra-high-net-worth clients seeking coordinated advice. By closely linking the New York residential brokerage with the auction business, Christie's aims to capture these clients earlier and retain more of their transactions within its ecosystem.