Christie’s International Real Estate, which has one of many offices in East Hampton and an affiliate in Palm Beach, is continuing to build out its presence throughout the country. The luxury real estate network has added one of Northeast Florida’s highest-performing brokerages, First Coast Realty.
Last year, First Coast achieved nearly $1 billion in sales volume and was ranked No. 314 by RealTrends out of over 88,000 real estate brokerages around the country.
The brokerage, just seven years old, has grown exponentially under founder Corey Hastings. “Corey’s passion for his work, his entrepreneurial spirit, and the extraordinary team he’s built in just seven years are what truly set First Coast apart,” Gavin Swartzman, president of Christie’s International Real Estate, said in a press release. “He has not only created a regional powerhouse, but one that reflects our shared commitment to excellence and elevated client service.”
Hastings, a former college football standout who settled in Jacksonville to pursue a career in the NFL. He ended up getting his real estate license instead, and, by the age of 27, became the youngest licensed partner in Engel & Völkers’ history when he purchased his first territory.
Now rebranded as Christie’s International Real Estate First Coast, the firm has six offices throughout Jacksonville metro, including Amelia Island, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns, San Marco and Neptune Beach. There are also plans to open an office in St. Augustine. Jacksonville is experiencing a transformative $2.5 billion investment in the city’s downtown thanks to a project from Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who is bringing luxury residences into downtown Jacksonville, anchored by a waterfront Four Seasons Hotel and Residences.
The Jacksonville Business Journal recognized the company as one of the Fastest 50 Growing Companies in Northeast Florida for four of the last five years, the only real estate brokerage in the region to achieve such a milestone. It was also named the No. 1 fastest-growing company in all of Northeast Florida in 2023.
First Coast’s agents now have access to referral opportunities across nearly 50 countries and territories as part of the Christie’s International Real Estate network. They will also be able to avail themselves of the brand’s proprietary pl@tform™ technology, global marketing and media partnerships. The affiliation also includes exclusive marketing partnerships with Christie’s, the world-leading art and luxury business, according to a statement from the company.
“Backed by the unmatched legacy of Christie’s, we are honored to bring a brand synonymous with artistry, excellence, and sophistication to the First Coast,” the newly branded company said on social media. “With this launch, we embrace a future where luxury is reimagined and service is elevated to the highest standard.”
In Florida, Christie’s International Real Estate affiliates are located in Miami, Southwest Florida, the Florida Keys and the Emerald Coast. In Palm Beach — part of Behind The Hedges‘ coverage area — power broker Margit Brandt is opening a new office on the iconic Banker’s Row, in continued partnership with Premier Estate Properties, the exclusive Palm Beach Island affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.
In East Hampton, Christie’s International Real Estate Group opened its first office in the Hamptons, on Park Place in East Hampton, in August of 2023. The company’s inaugural Manhattan location opened in 2022.
The global network includes more than 150 affiliate companies with 31,000 real estate professionals in 48 countries, which sees an annual sales volume of more than US $100 billion, according to the statement. New market affiliates announced over the past year have been located in Beverly Hills, Miami, Naples, Florida, London, Munich, and Sydney, as well as the Swiss, French and Italian Alps and several Caribbean islands.
