Each Friday, the executives of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty write about luxury, trends, business and more in the advertising pages of the Mansion section of The Wall Street Journal. Below is president Russ Anderson's letter of May 19, 2023.
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S POINT OF VIEW
Don’t you love a good summary?
I do — because time just gets more precious. That’s why I’m into this new video series from the world’s most famous auction house. It’s called This Month at Sotheby’s. In one watch, you’ll learn about the key sales coming up in the world of Sotheby’s, real estate included. (The property featured for May is a former vacation home of John F. Kennedy, a few minutes from Cannes. It is a beauty, represented by our Sotheby’s International Realty colleagues on the Côte d'Azur.) In the first installment, the auction house highlights jewels, art, photographs and even recommends some museum shows dedicated to an artist who loved a starry night.
You’ll want to check in on these videos at sothebys.com/thismonth.
Speaking of auctions and real estate, did you know that Sotheby’s is also selling properties “just like [they’re] Picassos,” in the words of one CNBC reporter? It’s called Concierge Auctions and it’s an exciting new way of selling some of the finest Sotheby’s International Realty offerings in the world — with bidding closing live at Sotheby’s galleries in New York, London and online. That’s right: The same thrill of acquiring art, jewelry, wine and automobiles at Sotheby’s auctions now applies to homes and land, too. The locales of auctioned properties have included the Texas Hill Country, Colorado, Santa Fe, Marfa and more. In fact, we’ve had two Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty listings chosen to be sold this way: a glassy Contemporary home in Westover Hills and some beautiful land in Oklahoma. [Pictured at top of post: Another spectacular Concierge Auctions offering, 306 Longwoods Lane, the modernist Houston estate of Becca Thrash and John Thrash.]
The numbers have been impressive: Sales of properties via Concierge Auctions are averaging $6 million each, with seven bidders per property. In 2022 alone, more than $525 million in properties was sold under the gavel — with all the adrenaline that comes with a good-natured bidding war. There is some social impact, too. Through its partnership with Giveback Homes, Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions is building a home for a family in need for every luxury property it sells.
My summary? That’s a win-win situation. Come see what’s coming up at casothebys.com.
Russ Anderson
President
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
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