Exceeding Excellence

Engel & Völkers Leads the Way

By Abigail Ryan | Photography courtesy of Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches

Engel & Völkers is one of the world’s leading service companies specializing in brokering premium residential property, commercial real estate, yachts, and aircraft. With over eight hundred locations operating in thirty countries on four continents, Engel & Völkers agents have comprehensive expertise and market knowledge in each region, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of real estate services. Having built a global network, the brand’s leaders are well equipped to recognize emerging real estate trends and markets that will experience a boom in growth; this led them to the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida in the summer of 2018.

Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches opened its doors in Seagrove Beach under the ownership of broker Beau Blankenship, bringing the firm’s global reach to complement his team’s local expertise in the popular Gulf Coast communities along Scenic Highway 30-A. “Very few brands, if any, have the global presence that Engel & Völkers has,” says Blankenship. “I wanted a brand here that could serve the clientele in any market, and Engel & Völkers allows us to do that. We ultimately chose to partner with this brand to give sellers the exposure they deserve; again, very few, if any, can match the exposure our advisors offer. It is pretty powerful to match a buyer from Spain, for example, to a seller here on the Emerald Coast. Engel & Völkers is extremely well known in our feeder markets, so we have been able to build and maintain strong relationships with our affiliates in Atlanta, Nashville, Texas, Alabama, the Midwest, and more. That network allows us to connect our buyers and sellers no matter where they live.”

With over forty active advisors, the Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches team works with all types of buyers—primary home, second home, investors, developers, and much more. The robust local team, which comprises seasoned real estate agents and other professionals with intimate market knowledge and years of experience in the area, has worked hard to generate sales volume that has remained strong since the 30-A offices opened. In 2019 alone, Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches generated $242 million in sales, with an average sales price just shy of $1.4 million. This is not only thanks to hard work and dedication but also to the team’s commitment to provide the high quality of service that buyers around the world have come to expect from the Engel & Völkers name.

“I wanted a brand here that could serve the clientele in any market, and Engel & Völkers allows us to do that.”

“We take a long-term view of our business, strengthening the Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches brand while ensuring that customers worldwide enjoy the same brand experience,” says Blankenship. “We build a global network on behalf of our customers while cultivating our core values. Because of that, we have a worldwide reach that no other brokerage can offer to their clients. It is a unique, first-class experience for our clients. We also provide training and support to our advisors to ensure they further their careers and become leading innovators in our field. They have access to a virtual real estate world and an IT platform that is rated the best in the industry.”

Last winter, Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches made a strategic decision to merge with existing local real estate firm Homes on 30A, which served buyers and sellers throughout the luxury market in Northwest Florida’s beach communities for years, specializing in homes in the communities of WaterColor, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, WaterSound, and more. Homes on 30A broker/owners Karen Holder and Marianne Grant have over sixty years of combined real estate experience in Northwest Florida, from Pensacola to 30-A and beyond. “Our goal was to increase our presence and portfolio in the area, and Homes On 30A benefited from our marketing and exposure,” says Blankenship. “Karen and Marianne bring an impressive real estate expertise to our community. We were absolutely thrilled they wanted to be a part of our Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches family, and all felt it would be a great fit.” Homes on 30A joined Blankenship and his team under the Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches umbrella, and the brand continues to expand its reach and array of high-end and multimillion-dollar listings.

“We build a global network on behalf of our customers while cultivating our core values. Because of that, we have a worldwide reach that no other brokerage can offer to their clients.”

Even through the troubling times the nation has faced during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches continued to strive for success. “We had several deals fall through; however, the high-end market is still performing,” says Blankenship. In line with the impressive numbers and sentiments that many top real estate professionals in the area have expressed, he adds, “This year had an extremely strong start. The overall market in the first quarter has seen an increase in total volume and sales price. Before the COVID-19 outbreak swept through much of the world, data from our markets showed the average sales price was up 19.6 percent, and sold volume had an increase of 17.8 percent when comparing the first quarter of 2019 to 2020. The current state of the market has created unique opportunities for buyers. The market has proven resilient in the past, and we are anticipating a strong upswing in the months ahead.”

As the company grows, the level of brand quality Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches’ customers receives remains the top priority. “I see us expanding and growing our footprint throughout the Florida Panhandle,” says Blankenship. “As a company, we have a long-term vision of strategic growth. Our goal is to continue supporting new dedicated advisors, strengthening the Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches brand, and increasing our involvement in community outreach.”

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To learn more about Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches or for help buying or selling your piece of paradise, visit 30ABeaches.EVRealEstate.com or call (850) 213-2800.