Sotheby’s International Realty

What Sotheby’s International Realty does

Sotheby's International Realty is a privately-held luxury real estate franchise network founded in 1975 and headquartered in the United States, operating as Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC. The company serves ultra-high-net-worth buyers, sellers, and investors through a global network of independently owned and operated affiliated brokerages and agents. Its core offering is luxury residential brokerage services, supplemented by a property search platform (MLS and exclusive listings), digital property marketing, global referral networks, and an AR-powered luxury listings capability that has been credited with a 40% increase in client engagement and a 25% reduction in sales time.

The business model is commission-based, with affiliated agents earning transaction fees on luxury property sales. Sotheby's International Realty monetizes primarily through franchise fees, referral fee participation, brand licensing, and marketing/technology services provided to affiliates. The franchise spans markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, including owned or partnered regional entities in the U.S. (New York, Beverly Hills, Miami, Islamorada, Las Vegas), Portugal, the Philippines, the UK, India, New Zealand, the UAE, and Qatar. In 2025, global affiliated sales volume reached $182.4 billion (the second strongest year on record), U.S. sales volume grew 9.3%, and the brand ranked No. 6 in RealTrends Verified with $140.316 billion in 2025 volume and the highest median EBITDA margin (5.77%) among 11 national real estate brokerage brands.

In April 2026, Compass Inc. (NYSE:COMP) acquired a 51% equity stake in the parent company of certain Sotheby's International Realty franchisees via a multi-party transaction with a 30-month installment payment structure, with TPG (Angelo, Gordon & Co.) holding a put right on the senior preferred equity. This transaction consolidates strategic ownership of a major portion of the franchise network under a public brokerage operator while the Sotheby's brand remains a distinct luxury real estate entity.

Name

Sotheby’s International Realty

Legal name

Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC

Website

https://fishingforhomes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sotheby's International Realty is a privately-held global luxury real estate franchise network, founded in 1975, that connects ultra-high-net-worth buyers and sellers through affiliated agents, brokerages, and referral networks across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Real Estate Brokerage

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (531210)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Real Estate (6500)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury & High-End Residential Brokerage (BPAJAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes) (BPAJAAAA)

Keywords

• Luxury real estate brokerage
• Residential property sales
• Global referral network
• Franchise brokerage services
• Luxury home marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Islamorada

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Commission: The company operates on a commission basis for property sales, with affiliated agents and brokerages operating under the Sotheby's International Realty brand. Global sales reached $182.4 billion in 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sotheby's International Realty is a privately-held global luxury real estate franchise network that provides residential property sales, purchases, and rentals through affiliated brokerages and agents operating under the Sotheby's International Realty brand. The network focuses on ultra-high-net-worth clients and high-value properties, leveraging the Sotheby's auction house heritage, AR-powered property listings, and cross-market referral networks connecting buyers and sellers across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Product overview

Sotheby's International Realty operates as a luxury real estate brokerage offering residential property sales, purchases, and rentals through a global network of affiliated agents and offices. The company provides a property search platform (seen through affiliated websites like fishingforhomes.com) that enables property searches across MLS and exclusive listings. The brand leverages its association with the Sotheby's auction house to market high-value properties to ultra-high-net-worth clientele worldwide, with additional technology features including AR-powered property visualization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sotheby's International Realty Luxury Real Estate Brokerage Core luxury real estate brokerage brand offering residential property sales, purchases, and rentals through a global network of affiliated agents and offices, focused on ultra-high-net-worth clients and high-value properties.
• Luxury Real Estate Brokerage Services Full-service residential real estate brokerage specializing in luxury properties, featuring global referral networks and exclusive client services for high-net-worth buyers and sellers.
• Property Search Platform Digital listing platform enabling property searches across MLS and exclusive listings, featuring neighborhood guides, property details, and agent contact functionality for buyers and renters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% increase in client engagement using AR-powered luxury listings
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and strategic.

• AssurantminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Assurant launched a new home warranty product for real estate transactions through partnership with six brands affiliated with Compass International Holdings, including Sotheby's International Realty. The product extends to approximately 300,000 agents across participating Compass brands.
• HomeLoverscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2025Sotheby's International Realty partnered with Portuguese firm HomeLovers to enter the Portugal market through Portugal Sotheby's International Realty, expanding its global footprint.
• Philippines Expansion PartnerstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 March 2025Sotheby's International Realty expanded into the Philippines with a new Makati office, establishing presence in the Southeast Asian luxury real estate market.
• YH Luxury Real Estate / Yelena HortonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 March 2025YH Luxury Real Estate, operated by Global Real Estate Advisor Yelena Horton, conducts residential brokerage through Las Vegas Sotheby's International Realty, offering strategic development and investment advisory opportunities targeting high-net-worth individuals.
• Sotheby's Concierge AuctionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSotheby's Concierge Auctions is a related entity conducting luxury real estate auctions, with partnerships such as ModaMiami with RM Sotheby's featuring live auctions of high-end real estate alongside rare automobiles.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Premier Estate Properties: Premier Estate Properties is a Florida-focused luxury brokerage concentrated in South Florida's ultra-high-end markets. It competes directly with Sotheby's International Realty affiliates in the same Florida luxury geographies.
• Illustrated Properties (Christie's International Real Estate affiliate): Illustrated Properties is a long-standing Florida Keys and South Florida brokerage affiliated with Christie's International Real Estate. It is a direct Florida Keys competitor to the Ocean Sotheby's International Realty franchise operating as Fishing for Homes.

Broad incumbents

• Compass Inc. Compass is a national technology-enabled real estate brokerage that acquired a 51% stake in certain Sotheby's International Realty franchisees in 2026. It competes across the luxury segment and is the closest strategic/operating peer given the ownership overlap.
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a large U.S. real estate franchise network with a luxury segment that overlaps with Sotheby's International Realty, competing for high-end listings and affluent agent talent.

Direct peers

• Engel & Völkers: Engel & Völkers is a global luxury real estate franchise with strong European roots and a similar premium UHNW positioning, competing directly with Sotheby's International Realty for cross-border luxury mandates.
• Knight Frank: Knight Frank is an international luxury and prime property advisor with residential sales, advisory, and referral capabilities directly comparable to Sotheby's International Realty's global network.
• Brown Harris Stevens: Brown Harris Stevens is a New York-based luxury real estate brokerage serving UHNW clients in Manhattan, Florida, and the Hamptons, competing for the same luxury agents and high-net-worth buyer pool as Sotheby's International Realty.
• The Agency: The Agency is a luxury-focused real estate brokerage operating in major U.S. and international markets with a similar UHNW client base, agent-driven model, and brand-led positioning as Sotheby's International Realty.
• Christie's International Real Estate: Christie's International Real Estate is the direct auction-house-affiliated competitor to Sotheby's International Realty, offering a luxury global franchise network serving ultra-high-net-worth buyers and sellers worldwide.
• Coldwell Banker Global Luxury: Coldwell Banker Global Luxury is the luxury arm of one of the largest U.S. franchise networks, competing with Sotheby's International Realty in the high-end residential segment through affiliated agents and brokerages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sotheby’s International Realty