by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
As you enter Ponte Vedra Beach Realty in Ponte Vedra Beach, the first thing you notice is the streaming fountain and mural on the wall giving the office a European feel.
“The mural and fountain depicts the European feel as you walk in since we have an International Real Estate Division,” said Kim Davis, broker/owner of Ponte Vedra Beach Realty. “A local, professional painter/artist painted it for me and did a fabulous job.
“The fountain is from England. Because the office and office park is in a Mediterranean style, I wanted to carry that style throughout my office. The fountain brings the outdoors inside and is quite soothing. A lot of upscale venues have fountains now. Water is such an important element of our lives and it has such a calming effect on most people.
“Also, if you’ve ever traveled to Europe, especially Italy, fountains are everywhere, inside and out. I wanted to bring that flavor into my office and take you back or to that special place.”
It’s a very fitting appendage to complement and encompass what the office is all about.
Ponte Vedra Beach Realty, Inc. has been affiliated with Mayfair International Realty for about two years and with that Davis has the international real estate market at her fingertips, literally.
“We are a full-service real estate company but we are not your typical real estate company next door,” said Davis. “When you have an international division, a true international arm, it just opens up globally. When we list a property, it’s not just going to be advertised in Ponte Vedra Beach. It’s much broader. All I have to do is send the marketing team an email and a flier with the information about a property I just listed and say, ‘Lets broadcast it out to all the European offices’ and it just goes. They take care of all it instead of me having to physically advertise it.”
She also has access to all of Mayfair International Realty’s listings and they refer customers to her as well.
“It has just opened up so many doors that most offices just don’t,” said Davis. “You have to be proactive and stay ahead of the game.”
Mayfair International Realty is very similar to Sotheby’s International Realty and Christie’s Great Estates, which also have affiliate offices in Jacksonville.
“Mayfair was established back in the 1600’s,” said Davis. “We are an affiliate of Mayfair International Realty and actually have an office in London representing Ponte Vedra Beach Realty.”
Davis said that bridging the Atlantic and accessing the European market is regarded as a vital part of marketing luxury real estate.
“With over five percent of buyers in Florida coming from the United Kingdom alone, and many more from countries like Germany, Italy, France and Spain, this is such a significant market, it is impossible and irresponsible to ignore,” said Davis.
Davis earned her Certified International Property Specialist designation in 2000 and was already well-established in selling international real estate before Mayfair ever contacted her.
“I was doing international real estate and had traveled extensively,” said Davis. “Mayfair International Realty called me and said my company had been recommended to them. They wanted to open an affiliation in Northeast Florida and they wanted to speak to me about it. I was so excited.”
Davis called a South Florida company that was affiliated with them who told her it was a great opportunity and she should pursue it.
The principles of the Mayfair International Realty are James F. Hanrahan, Nicholas Churton and Annette Reeve.
“Over the past year we have been busy building a Realtor network throughout Florida,” said Reeve. “But we haven’t chosen just any Realtors, we have selected only those whose reputation in their community was second to none.
“We have sought out those Realtors who welcome international business and understand the challenges and opportunities that the international market represents. An important piece in the Florida jigsaw was the Northeast. The choice was simple. Kim Davis was a natural selection. Kim heads a wonderful brokerage. From our point of view, more UK buyers are heading for the U.S. than ever before and most of them target Florida. It is important for a Florida Realtor to demonstrate a strong connection in the UK.”
They traveled to Ponte Vedra Beach to meet with Davis to discuss the affiliation.
“We met at the Sawgrass Marriott for a couple of hours and talked,” said Davis. “They had their CIPS also, which kind of bridged the similarity and continuity. I knew who they were talking about and they knew who I was talking about and there were just a lot of similarities between us.”
Ponte Vedra Beach Realty is the only office north of Orlando affiliated with Mayfair International Realty. Davis, who has been licensed 1989, opened Ponte Vedra Beach Realty in 1991.
“It just adds that extra bit of credibility and just takes you to the next level,” she said.
According to Davis, the London personnel at the main office are specialists in real estate public relations, advertising and marketing.
“They also have unsurpassed contacts with 125 top UK real estate brokers and an increasing network of associated brokers in mainland Europe and in cities such as Madrid, Florence, Rome and Paris,” said Davis.
Davis said Northeast Florida has become increasingly popular for investors overseas.
“The Northeast Florida market is very diverse,” she said. “The euro has done so well that they Europeans are taking that money, bringing it to the United States and investing in property. They are very smart and savvy because they know they can come here and buy a lot more product, if you will, instead of investing it there.”