From the January issue: Just when it seemed like New York City had gotten past the string of brokerage closures that occurred early in the downturn, an abrupt shift in market conditions has led to a second round of shutdowns.But this time those closures are being offset with openings of new firms amid a general realignment of the city’s brokerage world.The most recent repositioning closely mirrors the new market landscape. In early 2009, the sales market was largely frozen, especially on the luxury end. In response, both large and small firms closed their offices. Several agencies shuttered entirely, including some with reputations for higher-end sales, like Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy and JC DeNiro. But as the market began its slow recovery, the closures stopped, and brokerages began renting new office space again. [more]

From left: Tamir Shemesh, Pamela Liebman, Howard Lorber and Dottie Herman

Another top team is leaving Prudential Douglas Elliman, the city’s largest residential brokerage.

Longtime Elliman broker Tamir Shemesh today announced that he is moving to the Corcoran Group — Elliman’s primary competitor — with his team of seven people. The move is the second high-profile departure for Elliman since the New Year. In January, super-broker Ilan Bracha — head of the top-ranked team at Elliman — left to launch the first Manhattan franchise of Keller Williams.

“I was ready for a change,” said Shemesh, who was a managing director at Elliman. “I found an opportunity at Corcoran, so we did it.” [more]

From left: Marc Lewis, Denise Salizzoni, Tiffany Stilwell, Marc Windheuser and the former Century 21 NY Metro office at 228 East 45th Street

With Century 21 NY Metro now closed, boutique brokerage A.C. Lawrence has taken over the firm’s 45th Street office space and hired several of its top managers, including former CEO Marc Lewis as chairman.
Former Century 21 NY Metro managers Denise Salizzoni and Tiffany Stilwell are also joining A.C. Lawrence’s management. Salizzoni will serve as rental director and Stilwell as listings manager. Former Century 21 NY Metro Sales Director Marc Windheuser has returned to Prudential Douglas Elliman.
Other former Century 21 agents are “free to decide” whether they want to join A.C. Lawrence or not, said A.C. Lawrence spokesperson Charlotte Kullen, formerly the spokesperson for Century 21 NY Metro. A.C. Lawrence, which has around 35 agents, said it is launching an “aggressive recruitment campaign,” however. [more]

From left: A.C. Lawrence co-founders Anthony DeGrotta and Larry Friedman and Century 21 NY Metro CEO Marc Lewis

Struggling brokerage Century 21 NY Metro is merging with A.C. Lawrence, industry sources said today.

The Real Deal reported yesterday that Century 21 NY Metro — a Manhattan-based, independently owned franchise of the Century 21 brand — has experienced cash flow problems in recent weeks and has been looking for new investors to inject fresh capital into the firm.

It appears they may have found it.

Agents were told today that Century 21 NY Metro would be absorbed into the boutique sales and rental firm A.C. Lawrence. It’s unclear what the new entity would be called. [more]

From left: Marc Lewis, Paul Bologna (top), Jorden Tepper and 228 East 45th Street (building photo credit: PropertyShark)

The management of brokerage Century 21 NY Metro is looking for new investors in a bid to save the company, industry sources said. The residential and commercial real estate company has been having cash flow problems and recently failed to make payroll, according to several agents who said they are owed commissions. With rumors flying that the company is on the verge of shutting its doors, a large number of agents have left the firm. Agents were told several weeks ago that the owners were exploring a partnership with the long-established real estate management firms Mautner-Glick Corp. and Wallack Management to inject new capital into the company. [more]

From left: Marc Lewis, Marc Windheuser and Jorden Tepper

Former Prudential Douglas Elliman associate broker Marc Windheuser has been tapped to manage sales at Century 21 NY Metro, the firm anno [more]

Louis Caceres

Manhattan Apartments veteran Louis Cace [more]

Century 21 NY Metro’s Marc Lewis

Century 21 NY Metro has launched its own Virtual Office Website — or
“VOW” — the company announced today. The VOW will give homebuyers
access to all residential listings from member [more]

Marc Lewis, president and CEO of Century 21 NY Metro and his company’s new office at 228 East 45th Street (building photo source: PropertyShark)

Century 21 NY Metro is relocating to a 13,000-square-foot office at 228 East 45th Street, the company announced today.
The sales and rental company, which has around 150 agents and staff, will vacate its current space at 575 Madison Avenue June 1, according to President and CEO Marc Lewis. The new office is some 40 percent larger and can house up to 200 people, Lewis said. The asking rent for the new space is listed on CoStar as $29.50 per foot. Lewis would not comment on the taking rent, but said it was comparable to what the company is paying now. Since the recession hit, a number of real estate companies have switched locations to take advantage of lower rents for office space. Aside from offering more space for a comparable price, Century 21’s new office — on 45th Street between Second and Third avenues — is “in a much better location,” Lewis said. [more]

Century 21 NY Metro is the latest New York City brokerage firm to ramp
up its social media efforts. The firm launched Live Agent Chat last
week, a feature on its Web site which allows potential buyers to chat
online with agents while perusing listings. The system connects potential clients with agents who are logged in at
that time and cycles the next client to the next agent, moving through
those logged in. “With more buyers and renters finding that even e-mail is too slow in
this era of texting and tweeting, an immediate chat response is often
preferred,” said Marc Lewis, president of Century 21 NY Metro. The agents are reporting success with the new feature. “I’ve come close to closing a deal and many of my colleagues have been
successful the first day the chat feature was up and running,” Century
21 NY Metro agent Deborah Abraham told The Real Deal during an online
chat. [more]