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Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty And Three Network Affiliates In Amazon’s HQ2 Cities To Collaborate On MyHQHome.com; Collective Offers Relocation And Referral Services

By RSIR Staff |

Expanding Website to Feature Relocation Services, Neighborhood Profiles, Exclusive Listings and Market Reports

Executives of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty (RSIR) and the network affiliates of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty serving Crystal City, Virginia and the Greater Washington D.C. area; Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty serving Long Island City, Queens and neighboring boroughs on Long Island; and Sotheby’s International Realty operated by NRT serving Manhattan in New York State, have collaborated on a new website at www.MyHQHome.com. The website will target current and future employees of Amazon that might be considering a move to either of the recently announced HQ2 locations of Crystal City, Virginia and Long Island City, New York as well as Seattle area residents that may choose to sell or lease their local home. A full web launch is planned for January 2019.

“Our goal is to provide an informational resource and personalized relocation services through our exclusive network for Global Real Estate Advisors whom are resident experts in these target neighborhoods,” said Dean Jones, President and CEO, Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. “Our brand is uniquely positioned with market leading brokerages in each of the Amazon headquarter markets from coast to coast. Our dedicated website will provide a consumer facing platform to share market knowledge and connect clients with the appropriate broker and ultimately, with a preferred property solution.”

Jones says many of his brokers have already worked with existing Amazon employees and new recruits that relocated to the Seattle area over the past several years. Based on this experience, he predicts that most of the relocating employees surrounding HQ2 will initially prefer to rent before committing to a purchase and likewise, some local clients may decide to lease an existing home locally before committing to a more permanent move on the East Coast.

“I think we’ll be just as active with luxury lease referrals as we are with home sales,” adds Jones. “We know some of these leases will evolve into home purchases a few years later. In fact, a primary consumer base for our new construction condominium presales in Seattle have been employees of the local tech titans, including those at Amazon. A focus on purchasing tends to increase with the vesting of Restricted Stock Units.”

Others consumers have bought in advance of the HQ2 announcements. Most notably is Jeff Bezos, who purchased the former Textile Museum, which was converted to a residence in Washington’s Kalorama neighborhood, in 2016. Both the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal noted that broker Michael Rankin, a principal of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, was involved in the transaction.

Above: Washington Post and Wall Street Journal reported Jeff Bezos acquired the former Textile Museum in Washington, DC – at 29,000 square feet, it’s one of the largest residences in the region.

“HQ2 will prove to be a major real estate event that will drive an unprecedented amount of housing inquiries in all of the Amazon HQ cities,” adds Rankin. “Our collaboration with MyHQHome.com will help focus our efforts for the benefit of Amazon employees with the Sotheby’s white glove service that is synonymous with our brand and with prudent real estate advice they can trust.”

For the second year in a row, Sotheby’s International Realty was identified as the leader in the Lifestory Research 2017 America’s Most Trusted® Residential Real Estate Brokerage Study (visit www.LifestoryResearch.com). The study was based on 6,299 new home shoppers in the United States between January and December 2016 (individual experiences may vary).

Among the features of MyHQHome.com, consumers will eventually view side-by-side comparisons of city market fundamentals, schools, transit, housing, market reports, news aggregation and exclusive listings by Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates.

“Like all resource centers, this will be a living website that evolves over time,” said Brad Nelson, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. based in New York City. “Interestingly, I’ve lived in both Washington, DC and Manhattan so I have a relevant perspective as a consumer trying to compare and contrast the markets, the communities and the lifestyles.”

Nelson says navigating real estate in a new city can be an arduous task, especially in dynamic markets like New York City, which doesn’t offer a Multiple Listing Service.

“I think MyHQHome.com will become a valuable tool for our new HQ2 neighbors, whether the individual decision is to make a move or to stay put,” said Nelson. “Working with the right broker can make all the difference in the world.”

For more information on MyHQHome, visit: www.MyHQHome.com. Each affiliate office is independently owned and operated, except for those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.

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