Douglas Elliman opens yet another Florida office | Crain's New York Business
6/11/12 1:58 PM
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Article can be found at http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120522/REAL_ESTATE/120529974
Douglas Elliman opens yet another Florida office The big residential brokerage is in a major expansion mode in and outside of New York City. In Florida, the firm will soon boast eight offices and over 180 agents. By Amanda Fung @amandafung Published: May 22, 2012 - 12:56 pm Prudential Douglas Elliman is expanding its already sizeable operation in the Sunshine State as it seeks to cater to New York clients eager to permanently relocate to, or simply to buy pied à terres in Southern Florida. To do this, Douglas Elliman, one of the city's largest residential brokerages, will open an office in Boca Raton on May 31, the firm announced Tuesday. The new office comes less than a month after the firm acquired Martha A. Gottfried Inc., a 35-year-old Palm Beach residential brokerage. Vanessa Grout, who is head of Douglas Elliman's Florida operations, will oversee the newest office. "We strategically pick markets," said Dottie Herman, CEO of Douglas Elliman. "We go where our clients live or go. We want to be able to service the needs of our clients whether they are buying second homes or retiring in Florida." In a statement, Ms. Grout pointed out to something else New York and Florida have in common these days. She noted that both are "magnets for foreign buyers because of their ultra-luxury appeal." Douglas Elliman entered Florida two years ago with the opening of its Miami Beach office and today boasts eight offices and 180 agents in South Florida. This past year, the brokerage has been in a major expansion mode in and outside of New York City. Earlier this year, Douglas Elliman said it would be opening a larger storefront on Court Street in Brooklyn and a new shopfront in Long Island City, Queens. Last year, Douglas Elliman bought Chappaqua, N.Y.-based boutique brokerage Siderow Realty Group and Prudential Holmes & Kennedy, a 40-year-old brokerage targeting Westchester and Putnam counties. To promote the brokerage's growth in South Florida to its agents, Douglas Elliman will be flying its 75 top-producing brokers to Palm Beach for a weekend stay at the historic oceanfront resort Breakers Hotel, the second week of June, according to Ms. Herman. Entire contents Š2012 Crain Communications Inc.
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