Description
The Engel & Völkers story
Engel & Völkers was founded in 1977. We began as a specialty boutique agency providing high-end real estate services to wealthy European investors in search of assistance from experts who were highly professional and discreet. We proved our competence and passion early on and quickly earned a reputation for our unparalleled level of service, highly valued network and strong leadership in the market.
Our successes lead to greater demand for what we offered. With a brand gaining in recognition and reputation, we established a system that allowed us to expand without sacrificing our higher standards of quality.
In 1988, we launched our own lifestyle, design and architecture magazine, GG. Through this publication we define our brand and showcase the premier properties we represent. In the same year, we also established the Engel & Völkers Academy to maintain our standard of quality among the growing numbers of expert real estate advisors choosing to represent our brand.
In 1990, we opened our first international shop in Mallorca, Spain. It marked the beginning of our worldwide expansion throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and America. We now have offices in the major international real estate markets including Dubai, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, London and New York City. The morewe grew the better we defined and perfect our white glove style of service.
Not only did we invest in maintaining the same look and feel of our original, successful shops in Germany, we also developed systems, tools and technology to ensure the same level of high-end quality and expertise in our service throughout the world. We’ve successfully built an international network that originated in Europe and expanded throughout Africa and Asia and which we now have extended to North America.
Engel & Völkers entered the North America market beginning in the United States, in 2006. The Hamburg-based company decided it was important to have a U.S. based team lead the effort in expanding the footprint of the brand in new North American markets and to ensure a consistent quality in the premium level service that was experienced worldwide.
Because of his highly successful real estate experience and leadership in one of the most competitive markets in the U.S., Anthony Hitt was selected to lead this effort. To help create Engel & Völkers’ North American presence, Anthony assembled some of the best and brightest leaders the industry has seen.
With this leadership team and talented staff of experts in market development, technology, marketing, communications and brokerage services in place, Engel & Völkers has rapidly built upon its existing North American network.
Currently, there is an Engel & Völkers shop in more than 55 North American markets. Worldwide, there are more than 5,800 real estate advisors in 39 countries spanning six continents.
Though the Engel & Völkers firm has grown beyond a small boutique agency its core values of competence, exclusivity and passion for real estate and fine living remain our keys to success.