Douglas Elliman Takes NYC Agents on Bus Tour

Four busloads of Prudential Douglas Elliman real estate agents came from Manhattan and Long Island to Northern Westchester Thursday to look at local homes on the market and meet some new colleagues. 

“Lots of our buyers come from Manhattan, so it’s important for the agents down there to see the properties up here for referrals,” said Don Mituzas of the Elliman Katonah office.

The group of 100 visiting and 50 local realtors saw houses in Bedford, Katonah, Pound Ridge, North Salem and Pawling. Asking prices ranged from about $1,500,000 to over $13,000,000.

“I was struck by how much more you get for your money in Northern Westchester than Manhattan,” said Yael Shapiro of Elliman’s Manhattan office. “For four million in Manhattan you get three or four bedrooms in a 2,500 square foot apartment. Here you get five acres and ten bedrooms.”

Westchester’s 40-year-old family-run agency, Prudential Holmes & Kennedy, merged with the New York City firm of Prudential Douglas Elliman.

“The vast majority of our buyers originate from the New York metro market,” said founder-CEO William B. Holmes in a press release.

He said the merger “will create a direct pipeline from Manhattan northward. Elliman brings size, sophistication and energy to the table.”

Shapiro said it’s good for agents from different offices to know one another so they can recommend a realtor to clients who are moving to other areas.

 “We’re hoping to cross-pollenate. We’re trying to develop a mutual referral system. Working on referrals is a great way to do business,” she said. “And we often get people from Westchester who are moving back to the city so referrals work both ways.”

Elliman’s JoLinda Cogen said she enjoyed her trip to the suburbs.

“The trip was fabulous. We got to see the brokers not only showing houses, but how involved they are in the community,” she said. “I understand the synergy and why we need to network. This is more than a bedroom community. You actually get the feeling it’s a neighborhood.”

The group enjoyed a lunch catered by Pawling’s McKinney & Doyle at their final stop of the day -- the elegant 85-acre, ten bedroom, ten bathroom equestrian facility known as Cogi Farm. It is listed at $13,500,000.

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