Global luxury real estate company Engel & Völkers announced its expansion in North Carolina last week, with three new locations in the Carolina foothills, two in Morganton and one in Nebo.
The new locations will be led by Steve Leadbetter and Polly Leadbetter, who will also serve as the managing brokers. The Leadbetters started their brokerage, Lake James Real Estate, in 2003, and will now conduct business as Engel & Völkers Foothills.
Lake James Real Estate has served communities across the Carolina foothills for almost 20 years and specializes in luxury homes, second homes and lakefront properties.
Anthony Hitt, the president and CEO of Engel & Völkers Americas, says the expansion is a response to the current market conditions. The company currently has locations in North Carolina, including Asheville, Banner Elk, Cashiers, Charlotte and Raleigh.
“Home prices are up significantly across the state compared to last year. As a result, home buyers are seeking out destinations like the Carolina foothills that can provide a slower pace of life with convenient access to larger cities like Charlotte and Asheville,” Hitt added in a statement.
The Leadbetters and their team says they will leverage Engel & Völkers’ reach and resources to expand their business in the Morganton, Marion, Nebo, Lake James, Old Fort, Hickory, Valdese and Connelly Springs markets.
The Lake James team is comprised of the Leadbetters, along with real estate advisors Denice Rechtiene, Dianne Reihl, Lisa Griffin, James Hall, Laura Faria, Victoria Abernathy, Cory Coady and Monica Wakefield.
“Engel & Völkers is known for its global network of real estate advisors possessing rich local expertise in markets around the world,” said Polly Leadbetter.
The Morganton and Nebo markets boast a ”small-town feel” with scenic landscapes, cultural hubs, views of Lake James and outdoor activities.
According to Pollu Leadbetter, the region brings with it friendly residents and “Southern charm.”
“With homes in the Carolina foothills hitting multi-million dollar price points, joining forces with Engel & Völkers will help us gain the national and global exposure we’ve always wanted to bring to this area and our luxury properties,” she said.
Last November, Taso Tsakos, Keri O’Reilly, Karen Roy, Cat Spender and Skylar Santa Barbara left rival brokerage The Agency and joined Engel & Völkers as real estate advisors. The real estate professionals ranked among the top 1.49% by sales volume on RealTrends. Top real estate agent Tracy McLaughlin left The Agency one month prior to join Engel & Völkers.
Engel & Völkers, founded in Germany in 1977, currently operates in more than 275 shop locations with approximately 6,200 real estate advisors in the U.S. and 16,400 real estate professionals in 34 countries.
