Residential Sales Volume Climbs Above ’07 Levels;
New Christie’s-Focused Team Joins as PUI Expands Bay Area Presence
For more information, contact:
Jenny Randall
Jenny@RevvGroup.com
415-279-9893
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (May 24, 2011) – Pacific Union International (PUI) announced today a top-30 U.S. brokerage firm ranking by the WSJ and Real Trends and robust Q1 2011 performance—including an increase in sales volume (+39%), average sales price (ASP +18.5%) and number of units sold (+17%) over 2007 – 2010 quarterly performance. Reflecting the residential real estate firm’s market momentum, PUI also announced that one of Sotheby’s International Realty’s top-performing Bay Area teams has joined its ranks.
“Our 2010 investments in branding, marketing, technology, new offices and, most importantly, in cultivating an extraordinary culture, are delivering on all fronts,” said Mark McLaughlin, CEO of Pacific Union International. “We’re proving that brand strength and depth of talent matter to clients—and that our strategy to invest in both is delivering a tremendous return on investment.”
The strength of the PUI brand and its exclusive relationship with Christie’s International Real Estate, the property division of the legendary Christie’s auction house proved to be the draw for the successful Payton & Binnings real estate team and its decision to join PUI.
Joining the PUI team from Sotheby’s are Payton Stiewe, Arrian Binnings and Sejal Binnings. The team’s focus on client experience—on building and ensuring a positive brand experience for high net worth clientele—is a match with Christie’s International Realty and PUI.
Payton brings a diverse background to the Christie’s International Real Estate team, including work with such lauded and recognized brands as Evite and GoToMyPC. Raised in Berlin, Payton’s international perspective is a core strength. With experience in product development and business development, he brings valuable perspectives to the residential sales process—one that clients and other agents have applauded. Payton entered the Real Estate Business by joining Sotheby’s in 2002 and in April 2nd joined the Christie’s International Real Estate–PUI team.
Arrian Binnings brings the advantage of an appraiser mindset to each client interaction. Prior to becoming an agent, Binnings owned a successful real estate appraisal business for four years. Because of this background, he is in high demand by buyers. He shares his expert knowledge of values and in-depth understanding of San Francisco and Marin’s micro-markets with the team’s clients. Binnings also has a proven ability to create tailored marketing plans for sellers. Coupled with Christie’s powerful brand and his expertise in values, Binnings helps ensure that the team can maintain its amazing track record in listing and selling homes.
Sejal Binnings, the third member of the team, brings exceptional deal processes to the team. A Bay Area native, she began her career in real estate with Arrian Binnings, together operating the real estate appraisal venture. She earned her undergraduate degree at University of Southern California and Masters in Political Management at George Washington University.
“With foreign or non U.S.-based buyers accounting for over $40 billion in U.S. property sales last year, having an international market reach is critical,” said Patrick Barber, President – San Francisco Region at Pacific Union International Christie’s International Real Estate. “The Payton & Binnings team’s focus on exclusive properties and an international market aligns perfectly with the PUI/Christie’s platform.”
The PUI/Christie’s relationship includes residential home sales in the six Northern California counties where PUI has offices, including San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Contra Costa and Alameda). Unlike other international realty groups, Christie’s forges exclusive relationships with brokerage firms that meet strict standards of service excellence and demonstrate a proven record of success in handling distinctive properties. With this approach, Christie’s ensures all selling agents adhere to the same high brand and service standards and, in turn, the regional firm and its agents benefit from the international reach and marketing power the Christie’s brand and its market reach in 40 countries worldwide.
About Pacific Union International
Pacific Union International (PUI) is the San Francisco Bay Area’s premier international luxury real estate brand operating in six counties including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco and Sonoma for 35 years. Locally owned, PUI leadership operates with an entrepreneurial mindset and unwavering commitment to invest in the right people, processes and tools to ensure deep, long-standing client and agent relationships. In 2009, its team of over 400 brokers achieved #1 ranking in average sales price and #1 ranking for professional productivity in all six counties. Through its exclusive relationship with Christie’s International Real Estate in the San Francisco Bay Area, Pacific Union delivers international reach in its property marketing programs and provides clients with access to international investors.