William Raveis has recently been awarded a prestigious place in the TOP 100 Real Estate Brokers and Developers of the World 2022 by the panel of experts at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards. We spoke to William “Bill” Raveis, founder and CEO of William Raveis, about the company’s background, its services, why it stands out in this highly competitive market, and his plans for the future.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Congratulations on being chosen for such a prestigious rating in the TOP 100 Real Estate Brokers and Developers of the World in 2022. How do you feel about your company being recognized in this way?

WR: We are honored to have been selected by Luxury Lifestyle Awards for luxury service excellence. Our sales associates are extraordinary. They understand that millionaires have different expectations when it comes to buying, selling, renting, and investing in luxury estate properties. Everything agents do must be well thought out and delivered in an exceptionally polished and professional manner. It is their tireless passion and dedication that drive our company’s success year after year. 

LLA: When you established your company 50 years ago, what was your vision for the future? 

WR: At William Raveis, we live by the motto: Our sales associates are our customers. As an entrepreneurial family company, we partner with them to help build their businesses. Together, we deliver clients the most innovative and competitive real estate, mortgage, and insurance services.  

LLA: The company has expanded substantially during these years. How have you managed this process and the challenges it presented?

WR: William Raveis has a business model, unlike any other real estate company. Our team approach is industry-first. As the agent’s operating partner, we provide local and regional marketing support, world-class coaching and training programs, award-winning relocation and luxury property divisions, and specialty mortgage and insurance services. These agent-focused resources are vital to long-term growth. 

LLA: William Raveis is the premier family-owned real estate company in Florida and the Northeast. What makes your company stand out as a leader in the industry?

WR: Sophisticated buyers and sellers compare performance. We are proud of our track record. Our Luxury Specialists represent the most magnificent oceanfront estates, exclusive country club properties, and beautiful equestrian compounds in the world. As a testament to our expertise and success in marketing luxury listings, we have sold the highest-priced homes in top markets like Port Royal at $49.5M and Nantucket at $32.5M, and our company won Overall Winner in HGTV’s Ultimate House Hunt for 2022. 

LLA: What do you believe is the secret behind your success?

WR: What we know and hold in the highest regard is that relationships matter. The way our agents, managers, marketing teams, and staff work together matters. We are nimble and fast to adjust to the marketplace, not hindered by a corporate structure or beholden to Wall Street. At William Raveis, we are truly grateful for our culture and community, built on a foundation of family values, integrity, and trusted relationships for fifty years.

LLA: You have established an extensive, world-class network for the real estate market. How do buyers and sellers benefit from this?

WR: Our company generates thousands of personal client introductions and home sales annually. We have an expansive Raveis agent network, an award-winning Relocation division, and a twenty-year affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® that connects our agents to 140,000 real estate professionals and 550 luxury brokerages in over 70 countries. Additionally, we are marketing partners with Luxury Portfolio International® and Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate to ensure our luxury property listings are seen by the millions, worth billions.

LLA: Your company offers its clients a unique selling experience with the Raveis Purchase program. Can you tell us about the process and what sellers can expect?

WR:  Yes, the program is a win-win for the homeowner in a hurry. Raveis Purchase buys the home for up to 80 percent of its current value and then sells it for the highest price possible. With Raveis Purchase, the seller benefits from the speed of getting out of their home and unlocking equity to make a non-contingent offer on a new home. We can streamline the whole process for them. 

LLA: First impressions are so important when selling a house. You have recently launched the Raveis Refresh program to provide sellers with a facelift for their homes so they can be presented for sale in the best possible light. Can you explain to us how this works?

WR: We invest capital to optimize the homeowner’s transaction with no upfront costs to them. Using Raveis Refresh, our team makes any necessary improvements, repairs, and renovations to maximize the home’s value and to ensure the home sells for the highest price and quickly. We create additional value in the home and then pass the up side on to the homeowner.

LLA: Can you tell us about the real estate market in the Northeast of the U.S. and Florida, the two regions in which you specialize? What has business been like in 2022?

WR: In the Northeast, the market resembles 2019. Especially during the second half of the year, homeowners had to adjust their aspirations. A combination of factors, including mortgage rates which have nearly doubled, low inventory, and economic concerns are contributing to the real estate slowdown in 2022. Our Florida luxury markets are stronger than ever, with potential buyers outpacing the number of available luxury properties right now. 

LLA: Have you seen any market trends emerging in the past year? Is it a buyer or seller’s market?

WR: Mainly, it’s a seller’s market. As inventory starts to slowly build, buyers will have an advantage. Across our marketplace, from Maine to Florida, we have about a one to two-month supply, whereas the national average is six months or more. In fifty years, I’ve never seen the housing inventory this light. 

LLA: What predictions do you have for the industry next year?  

WR: I believe the downturn will carry into the first nine months of 2023, but as the Federal Government loosens up interest rates, demand will begin to pick up. The market will be determined by interest rates which impact the buyer and seller and even those who are planning renovations. To stay on top of market conditions, our sales associates have an exclusive forecast tool that provides real-time insights for any city or town within our marketplace. It helps clients with decision-making and strategy by answering questions like What has sold in my neighborhood and at what price? What’s the average time on the market? How does my city compare with others? Only William Raveis offers local housing data at their fingertips. 

LLA: One of the sectors you can offer assistance in is financing for home buyers. What kind of service can your customers expect if they want a mortgage or loan?

WR: As the only brokerage to deliver luxury customer experiences across real estate, mortgage, and insurance, we do much more for customers than secure mortgage loans. With Raveis Complete, we can buy their current house, help them renovate and refresh a home, or make an all-cash offer through the Raveis CashBid™ program. William Raveis Mortgage offers clients faster closings, reduced paperwork, and personalized services at every step. 

LLA: To make up the complete package for your customers’ real estate needs, you can also provide access to insurance for various requirements. What sort of policies can they organize through your experts?

WR: Our William Raveis Insurance agents have relationships with over forty carriers to combine exceptional personal service and competitive insurance rates for home, auto, art, antiques, boats, collections, jewelry, wine, and more.

LLA: Where do you see your company progressing in the future? Are there plans for future expansion?

WR: We are always growing and innovating at William Raveis. Presently, we have 145 office locations and 5,000 agents in the Northeast and Florida (USA) and are committed to growing twenty percent a year through expansion markets and the hiring of top-producing sales associates. Six years ago, we opened our offices in Florida. Port Royal and Naples are two of the most affluent communities in the United States, and we now have the number one market share and over twenty offices across South and Southwest Florida. As we continue to expand our Florida footprint, we are exploring offices in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, to name a few.