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Sotheby’s International Realty Sees 32% Sales Growth and Achieves Record $150 Billion in Global Sales Volume as 2020 Changes Definition of Home Luxury Real Estate Brand’s

Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to announce that its affiliated brokers and independent sales professionals achieved a record US$150 billion in 2020 global sales volume, a nearly 32% increase in sales growth year over year, as the definition of home changed for consumers around the world. Due to a longstanding commitment to innovation, Sotheby’s International Realty® agents were able to seamlessly help clients navigate the changing market dynamics brought on by the global pandemic with existing technology offerings which propelled business momentum. 

“Agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty quickly pivoted to address the impact of the global pandemic,” said Philip White, president and CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty. “Thanks to innovations we pioneered nearly a decade ago, our affiliated companies and agents made the impossible possible. Their adaptability to serve clients safely further extended our position as a leader in luxury real estate.” 

Long-Standing Commitment to Virtual Technology Paved Way for Success 

Sotheby’s International Realty continued to lead the industry and was well-positioned to meet the needs of consumers as the buying and selling process became increasingly virtual. Sotheby’s International Realty agents accelerated the use of the brand’s existing video, virtual reality, and live-streaming technology to produce new forms of content that engaged buyers and set a new standard for marketing luxury properties. Currently, buyers can safely tour more than 6,000 properties via virtual reality or video on sothebysrealty.com. Property videos also proved engaging on social media where the brand’s YouTube channel delivered 43 million views, or the equivalent of more than one million hours watched. 

“As a leader in the luxury real estate industry, Sotheby’s International Realty is able to anticipate trends,” said Chief Marketing Officer, Bradley Nelson. “Our priority remains to present listings in the best possible manner and to provide a superb end-user experience however buyers prefer to search for their new home. Virtual technology has been at the forefront of our marketing strategy for several years and comes as naturally to us as our commitment to high quality service.” 

The brand also unveiled a new website, sothebysrealty.com, available in 14 languages and nearly 60 currency conversions, to continue serving its growing international clientele and fuel referrals worldwide. The website achieved a notable amount of traffic for the brand with 37 million visits in 2020. Property videos on the site produced by Sotheby’s International Realty agents were especially popular and played nearly 13 million times in 2020, totaling more than 90,000 hours watched. 

A Year of Strategic Growth and Record Achievements 

Despite travel restrictions, Sotheby’s International Realty remained committed to expanding its global footprint and achieving strategic growth. In 2020, the brand opened more than 50 new offices across the world, bringing the brand’s total presence to nearly 1,000 offices in 75 countries and territories with approximately 24,000 independent sales associates worldwide. 

The brand’s existing affiliated companies around the world continued to grow in 2020. Sotheby’s International Realty increased its total domestic presence to 45 states around the country. Sotheby’s International Realty facilitated affiliate expansions through 12 domestic M&A transactions, including California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, and Washington. 

The brand also continued to expand internationally in key markets and opened offices in seven new territories. In Europe, the brand expanded to Ukraine, Romania, Montenegro, and in Germany. In the Asia-Pacific region, the brand opened its first office in South Korea and expanded in the Caribbean and Latin American region with two new offices in Paraguay and Antigua & Barbuda. 

“Our international footprint is one of our greatest competitive advantages,” said Tammy Fahmi, vice president, global operations and international servicing. “Our brand’s locations are in the most desirable places around the globe, so our clients know they can rely on our local market expertise wherever they are looking to buy or sell.” 

As affluent individuals looked to acquire secondary homes in markets around the world, Sotheby’s International Realty agents acted as true global real estate advisors and referral volume surged by 42% to US$2.9 billion in closed sales volume. 

“Our 2020 results prove what is possible when you focus on quality above all else. We remain proud to be the real estate brand of choice for so many luxury real estate experts and affluent clients. We will continue to work tirelessly to prove their trust has been well placed,” concluded White.

February 25, 2021 by
Architecture, Art, Business, Community, Real Estate

Luxury Headlines | January 2021

Historic 1930s federal building in downtown Flagstaff goes up for sale KTAR, AZ Family

Cheryl D’Anna of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty Represents Buyer of a $5.1 Million Scottsdale Estate luxuryrealestate.com

Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty announces highest year ever on record Rose Law Group Reporter, News Break

Realogy Once Again Leads the Industry in 2021 Swanepoel Power 200 PR Newswire

Jerome home with rooftop deck, dance studio, travel trailer on market for $675K AZ Family

Concierge Auctions Processes Over $3.4B in Global Bids in 2020, Among Other Record-Setting Accomplishments EIN

Laura Briggs of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty Represents Buyer of a $4.1 Million Paradise Valley Home luxuryrealestate.com, News Break

The Luckys Represent the Seller and Buyer of a $3.2 Million Scottsdale Home luxuryrealestate.com

Hot Sauce Entrepreneur Pours Himself into Real Estate Flagstaff Business News

Preparing for an Active New Year in Real Estate Flagstaff Business News

Area’s Priciest Homes PressReader

Scottsdale homes, mostly in Desert Mountain, top luxury home sales list AZ Central

The Best Desert Dream Homes You Can Buy Today Bolly Inside, DuPont Registry Daily

Ken Hoffman reveals his ‘really weird night’ with TV legend Larry King Culture Map Houston

February 8, 2021 by
Architecture, Art, Augmented Reality, Business, Community, COVID-19, Education, Entertainment, Life, Multi Purpose, Real Estate

February Newsletter

The Sotheby’s International Realty® 2021 Luxury Outlook is a deep-dive into high-end residential markets across the globe, reflecting on an unprecedented year for real estate and global wealth. The report looks at what’s in store for some of the world’s primary and secondary markets as well as the wealth trends that will drive discretionary investment in the coming months. Read more
Sotheby’s Masters Week Auctions in New York achieved $95.4 million across an exciting week of four live auctions and a successful online auction. Nearly half of all sold lots exceeded their high estimates and 15 lots exceeded $1 million. The Master Paintings Evening Sale realized $61.1 million making it the highest total for a Master Paintings Sale at Sotheby’s New York since 2012 and setting 7 new auction records.  Read more
It’s been a long year, so we have good reason to rejoice when thinking of the interior design trends coming up in 2021. From the growing importance of sustainable materials to elegant elements and a celebration of individuality and uniqueness, our 2021 trend edit will provide you with a curated look that will bring your home into the New Year with sensational style. Read more
Amazon dropped big announcements this week. In the span of 24 hours, its CEO, Jeff Bezos, revealed he’ll be stepping down from his role later this year. Then the corporate giant unveiled its plan for its second headquarters to be built in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC. The 2.8 million-square-foot HQ2, PenPlace, will transform Arlington’s skyline. Designed by global architecture firm NBBJ, who led the design of Amazon’s Seattle headquarters, PenPlace is the next step of Amazon’s expansion. Read more
Although some countries have reopened their borders, many travellers are still unable to venture out during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. This has forced tourism industries to rethink how they can promote tourist attractions online. One way of getting tourists to travel abroad from the comfort of their own homes is through virtual reality (VR) technology and 360-degree videography. We round up the best virtual travel tours and online travel experiences that can be enjoyed online right now. Read more
It’s been a long time since most of us have used our dining rooms for one of their intended purposes—hosting a good old-fashioned dinner party. At some point later this year, we hope, gatherings like this will be possible, but until they are, we know that you could use a little inspiration in the meantime. (And you can always “host” your own intimate gathering without inviting guests, right?) Here, we’ve gathered 15 of our absolute favorite dining rooms from the pages of ELLE Decor over the past year—each and every one is memorable in its own way and will leave you wanting more. So grab your best china and silver and get ready to set the table—we hope these 15 stunning displays of style and flair will help bring you some cheer until we’re all back together in the dining room. Read more
We often create these “grazing boards” for family dinners, but of course, they’re absolutely perfect for parties and occasions. Even my daughter helps add her favorite foods to the boards for snacks. 
Speaking of occasions, Courtney Whitmore of PIZZAZZERIE created a Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board to share! I’m absolutely tickled pink with how it turned out, and I’ve decided it will be a Valentine’s Day tradition. Read more
February 7, 2021 by
Agency, Architecture, Business, Community, COVID-19, Entertainment, Inspiration, Real Estate

Russ Lyon SIR 2020 Recap

2020 may have been a year like no other and that certainly rings true when it comes to breaking and setting new residential real estate records.  Arizona’s leader in luxury real estate, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to announce it closed the year with a record-breaking $5.32 billion in total sales. That is the highest yearly number ever recorded in the company’s history for total sales volume. 

Among the impressive 2020 sales, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty represented both the buyer and seller for the highest residential sale in Arizona’s history at $24,100,000 during the fall of this year and represented the seller of the notable David and Gladys Wright House.

In 2020, the luxury brokerage closed a total of 7,247 transactions state-wide with the average sales price at $734,008. 

View the Top 20 Sales of 2020 for Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty here:

The brokerage has been in business since 1947.  73 years later there are now 950 agents and 13 offices state-wide.  In 2020, agents and the various offices were recognized more than 100 times for a variety of industry awards. 

But most importantly, during 2020 when many charities were struggling, the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation was honored and named one of Arizona’s Largest Philanthropists with more than 3,750 volunteer hours, as well as donating more $108,492 to charity.

There is no doubt, 2020 has been a year to remember. It has been a year of great hardships, great triumphs and the greatest year of giving by our agents, staff and managers. We are incredibly proud of our family of agents and these tremendous numbers and record breaking sales shows Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty continues to be the dominant leader in Arizona’s luxury real estate market.

Jim Lyon, Chairman of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s INternational Realty

Additional noteworthy achievements for Russ Lyon SIR in 2020:

  • CEO and co-owner Todd Gillenwater was named an AZ Business Leader
  • President and Designated Broker, Deems Dickinson, was named to the 2020 Swanepoel Power 200 List
  • The Russ Lyon SIR Relocation department received Cartus Platinum Status for their 2019 efforts
  • The brokerage was involved in 520 headlines
  • The brokerage received 1,642 earned media placements
  • The in-house marketing department created over 13,502 pieces for their Real Estate Advisors
  • 21 issues of their signature publication, Properties of Arizona, have been published
  • The in-house IT department developed a new communications platform, Lyon Text
  • The brokerage implemented a proprietary online platform, Lyon Connect, for marketing, production stats, listing data, tech tools and more.
January 20, 2021 by
Agency, Architecture, Business, Community, Entertainment, Real Estate

Todd Gillenwater Named Among AZ Business Leaders

 Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty (Russ Lyon SIR) is proud to announce Todd Gillenwater has been named an AZ Business Leader.

Released annually by AZ Big Media, leaders are selected from a pool of more than 5,000 of the most innovative entrepreneurs and the best and brightest Arizona business leaders in healthcare, real estate, construction, education, baking, financial services, manufacturing, technology and law. Over the course of more than two dozen meetings, that list of 5,000 leaders under consideration was paired down to about 500 names, which the selection panel considered to be the most influential leaders in their industries. 

Prior to his role current role as CEO and co-owner of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Gillenwater worked as a sales associate, associate broker and managing broker expanding his experience and knowledge in the real estate industry. He founded the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3), in 2014 and is a part of its Board of Directors overseeing the philanthropic efforts put forth on behalf of the Arizona community.  

Todd has been the cornerstone of the RL Foundation. His foresight and commitment to community service encouraged him to establish our Foundation in 2014 as a vehicle to give all of our associates and employees the opportunity to come together for the benefit of each of the communities we serve.

Deems Dickinson, President and Designated Broker

To see the full list of the AZ Business Leaders, click here.

January 15, 2021 by
Community, Inspiration

Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty Recognized by Phoenix Business Journal For Significant 2019 Arizona Charitable Contributions

The Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation, a subsidiary of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, is proud to be recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal for its notable monetary contributions and impressive volunteer programs from 2019.

For more than 70 years the agents and employees of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty have been involved in community service work and charitable organizations throughout Arizona. Inspired by the generosity and service work of numerous agents, the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation was formed in 2014 and operates through every office within the company and across Arizona. The Foundation’s Board of Directors includes nine members with an Advisory Council comprised of representatives from each Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty office. 

The Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation was ranked #13 for the Largest Phoenix-Area Corporate Volunteer Programs with over 3,750 volunteer hours in 2019, which included the volunteer hours by sales associates and employees during various charitable activities.   

One of the primary goals of the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation is to provide valuable and meaningful service work within Arizona communities, as well as charitable investments. Within each Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty office there is a team of Volunteer Corps also known as V-Corps. V-Corps are comprised of agents, employees and management that volunteer their time together to provide help for those in need. Over the past six years, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty agents have volunteered hundreds of hours to communities across Arizona.

The Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation was also ranked #21 for the Largest Phoenix-Area Corporate Philanthropists, contributing over $108,000 to Arizona charities in 2019.

Since the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation began more than $500,000 in donations have gone to dozens of 501c3 Arizona-based charitable organizations through direct donations, service work, sponsorships, matching funds and fundraisers. 100 percent of Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation’s donations and charitable investments are directed to charitable organizations. 

The Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation strives to improve lives and communities of those in need while spreading compassion and kindness within our state. We are very grateful to be in a position to give back and have the ability to assist organizations that provide essential resources to communities and individuals in dire need.

Todd Gillenwater, CEO of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty and Founder of the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation. 
January 7, 2021 by
Art, Business, Community, COVID-19, Entertainment, Inspiration, Real Estate

Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation Partners with Arizona Association of REALTORS to Sell T-Shirts and Raise Funds to Benefit Arizona Housing Fund

The Love Your Neighbor T-Shirt Sales Start Monday, May 4th

The Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation, a subsidiary of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, is partnering with the Arizona Association of REALTORS to raise money for the Arizona Housing Fund. The sales start Monday, May 4th, and only runs through Monday, May 18th, 2020. 

The Love Your Neighbor t-shirts are being produced by local Tempe business Anton Sport and just $20.

They are available online at https://russlyon.antonsport.com/russlyon/shop/home. 

All the proceeds benefit the AZ Housing Fund. The Arizona Housing (AZHF) is a dedicated and sustainable revenue source that grants funding to the nonprofit agencies that build and operate Permanent Supportive, Low-Income and Working Poor Housing. Its equity grants will enable more housing units to be constructed, meeting the growing needs of our communities in Arizona with the goal of reducing homelessness.

For every shirt or onesie ordered the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation will donate $10 to the Arizona Housing Fund. 

There has never been a more important time for everyone to come together and support the Arizona Housing Fund. This foundation gives families a fighting chance to stay in their homes and helps others find housing.

Betsy Dickinson, president of the russ lyon charitable foundation
May 4, 2020 by
Business, Community, Entertainment

Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation Sits Down with David Johnson

The Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation had the opportunity to sit down for a Q and A with Arizona Cardinals star Running Back, David Johnson, about his upcoming Mission 31: POSSIBLE event hosted by the David Johnson Mission Foundation.

We understand you started the Mission 31 foundation this year, what inspired you to start it?

The Foundation came from wanting to have a positive impact on children’s lives. Growing up my coaches, teachers, and older mentors played a huge role in my life. That is why I went to college to become a Physical Education/Health teacher with a minor in coaching. My intentions were to better children’s lives mentally, physically, and emotionally. Just like my role models did for me. My wife, Meghan, and I would volunteer at children’s hospital and Ronald McDonald House. We loved the experience we had with the children, seeing them smile and get excited was an amazing feeling. Meghan has always wanted to work on an oncology unit for children. She went to nursing school and her dream job was to work at St. Jude’s children’s hospital in Tennessee. She has a huge passion to help children as well. This Foundation combines our passions in to one amazing cause.

 

How did you come up the name Mission 31? 

We wanted to incorporate my jersey number in the title. Then, we wanted a short but powerful word/phrase that would speak to others. One definition of the word “Mission” is the calling of a religious organization, especially a Christian one, to go out into the world and spread its faith. Meghan and I felt that the meaning fits our morals and what we want to do with the platform God has given us.

Why is this cause so near and dear to your heart?

When our son, DJ, was born he spent 5 days in the nursery/NICU. We were hopeful he would be okay, but as first-time parents we were still very scared. When you see your baby in pain like that you never want to go through something like that ever again. We constantly think about all the other families who have it worse than we did, and whose children have diseases and cancer and their hospital stays are much longer. We want to be able to bring some kind of relief to families when they are dealing with such a stressful time.

 

Tell us about your December Mission 31 Possible event that’s coming up.

The event on December 4th will be at the newly remodeled Mountain Shadows resort. Guests will have the chance to mix and mingle with me and my Cardinals teammates. Beginning at 6:30 supporters and fans will enjoy a cocktail reception full of silent auction items followed by the main event where they will enjoy world class cuisine, fine wine, and exciting live auctions all to benefit my David Johnson Mission 31 Foundation whose mission is to provide opportunities, support, and resources to seriously ill children and their families by offering daily support and life changing experiences. If you can’t attend the event, you can also donate on the website at davidjohnson31.org.

 

How will the money raised the Mission 31: Possible event be used? 

The money will be focused towards launching DJ’s Locker. These Lockers will provide patients and their family members access to electronics during hospital stays. They serve as a source of entertainment, a portal for communication and a diversion during treatment and recovery.

November 30, 2017 by