We continued to raise the bar during the second quarter of 2016, achieving the monumental milestone of $1 billion in historic sales. Plus, we expanded our international footprint between April and June, with successful auctions across 12 U.S. states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Wyoming) and six countries (Bahamas, Canada, France, Jamaica, Mexico and Spain) — including our first two auctions in Europe.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have exceeded $1 billion in historic sales, nearly a quarter of which has been achieved in the past year alone,” said Laura Brady, our president and founder. “Our consistent growth and success is proof of the industry’s need and acceptance of our process for the efficient purchase and sale of high-end real estate. In this rare air of ultra-luxury real estate, the buyer pool is limited, and properties simply aren’t very liquid, even in healthy market conditions. Our platform is ideal for selling one-of-a-kind, incomparable properties and is a win-win-win solution for buyers, sellers and agents.”
Our first European auction achieved great success with the May sale of Villa La Ponche, a Mediterranean villa located along the French Riviera in the picturesque coastal town of Saint Tropez, France. Former Olympic skier-turned-entrepreneur Rob Hourmont, who owned the property with his family for a decade before selling it at auction, was impressed by how much attention our platform commanded.
“The auction process put a spotlight on Villa La Ponche and the Saint Tropez market, resulting in five bidders from around the world vying to own our home,” Hourmont stated. “The Concierge Auctions team went above and beyond my expectations to market the property. I would highly recommend Concierge Auctions to any other luxury property owners who want the advantage of control, predictability, and ultimately, an effective and efficient sale. Now the new owners can enjoy the property as much as my family and I did the 10 years we spent there.”
Our June sale of Finca Sa Vinya in Mallorca, Spain was our first auction in the country and second in Europe, showcasing our multipronged approach to gaining global exposure for unique properties. A completely restored 200-year-old Spanish villa with state-of-the-art technology and designer amenities, Finca Sa Vinya received so much attention surrounding the auction that the property sold a day in advance of its scheduled auction date.
“We were delighted to be the first property in Mallorca to be sold by Concierge,” stated the seller, James Dunn. “Throughout the auction process, the team was extremely professional, and we were very impressed by the thrust of the marketing campaign, which produced considerable traffic through the property and worldwide interest. The fact that Concierge works with the local brokers is an added benefit.”
Having experienced the limitations of traditional efforts alone first-hand, it has been rewarding to continue to deepen our relationships within the real estate community. One of our key tenants when we founded Concierge was giving control back to agents and their clients. That is why to date, we have never auctioned a property without a broker partner, and we protect commissions on both sides of the transaction. The results are simply better through our collaboration with the brokerage community.
Michael Cunnington, seller representative of Finca Sa Vinya, experienced the power of our partnership first-hand.
“The whole process with Concierge Auctions was enjoyable and exciting,” complimented Cunnington. “Their award-winning production team made an in-depth documentary-style film, including aerial drone photography. The advertising to the global press was extensive, and their digital outreach was superb. The pace heated up in the final weeks, and we sold the mansion the day before the auction for a good price. The whole process was expertly managed by Concierge, and I look forward to partnering with them for additional clients on future sales.”
We also continued to build our presence within the U.S., including our first auction in the state of Louisiana. The Rosale Plantation — 360 acres of timberland, rolling pastures, and live oaks in the historic city of St. Francisville — sold to the highest bidder in April. And in June, we closed on an elegant Upper East Side apartment in Manhattan, our first property auction in New York City.
We achieved record prices in several states, including Nevada, where an elegant custom cottage sold in Reno in June, marking the highest sale price in the area in the past 10 years. In Colorado Springs, Colorado, we achieved our 4th consecutive successful sale in May with the auction of 19 Elm Avenue, a 20-room manor built by the Maytag family. The home achieved the highest sale price in the Colorado Springs market, also in many years.
“We were delighted with the representation that Concierge provided not just our family, but the purchasing family. It was really meant to be,” stated the seller, Scott Monroe. “The Concierge team was honest and straightforward with information about the market and the auction process, making themselves available at any time. This was a great closure to the family’s estate for some 19 years. All were satisfied and delighted.”
In South Carolina’s southernmost island, Daufuskie Island, our May auction of 12 Front Light Walk achieved a record-breaking price in the greater Hilton Head market — the highest sale price in the area in the past eight years. A newly-constructed beachfront home, this was our third successful auction in the area.
“The Concierge Auctions team did a fabulous job,” said agent Robbie Bunting of Hilton Head Properties Realty and Rentals. “They achieved the highest-priced sale in the area since 2008 for our seller. We look forward to their return.”
Currently active in 32 U.S. states and 14 countries, our Q3 2016 pipeline already includes outstanding properties from around the world, including a romantic Italian castle in the northern region of Italy, a gated oasis in the exclusive Rancho Santa Fe community outside of San Diego, and a 39-acre Hawaii ranch with oceanfront views near the best surfing in the world.