Hillewaere Group becomes exclusive licensee for Christie's International Real Estate
Together with Hillewaere Group, we will be the exclusive licence partner of Christie's International Real Estate for the next 10 years. This means that, as a long-established player in residential real estate, we will be the only company authorised to offer luxury properties on the Belgian market under the Christie's International Real Estate label. At the same time, we will also gain access to the international network of Christie's International Real Estate. The American company Christie's is also known worldwide as a leading auction house. Following Rothschild & Co's participation in 2021 via Five Arrows Principal Investments (FAPI) and the acquisition of nine insurance agencies, this partnership is the next major step in our ambitious growth story as a specialist in luxury real estate and exclusive insurance.
Hillewaere Group was founded in 2002 by our CEO Roel Druyts, and we have experienced solid growth in recent years in both the real estate and insurance sectors. As a real estate agent focusing on high-end properties, we currently have around 820 properties for sale, including 120 properties valued at €1 million or more. Our recent acquisitions have further expanded and diversified our expertise in various insurance niches to meet a wide range of professional and private needs. We are now the market leader in Belgium in insuring art and exclusive cars.
The new partnership with Christie's International Real Estate in the field of luxury real estate is the next step in our growth strategy. Initial contacts regarding a comprehensive collaboration date back to 2020, but only really gained momentum last year.
“At the time of our initial contacts, our growth focus as a company lay elsewhere, as evidenced by recent acquisitions in our insurance division. However, it was already clear that we spoke the same language when it came to our approach to luxury real estate. That is why we stayed in touch and sat down together again last year. Our niches, expertise and portfolios complement each other perfectly. They have a broad customer base and a unique target audience because they started out as an auction house. We have built up our strong reputation and systematically expanded our existing portfolio in the (luxury) housing market in Belgium in recent years, which means that in terms of expertise, the way we provide services to buyers and sellers, and credibility in the market, we have everything they were looking for." Roel Druyts, CEO Hillewaere Group
Christie's International Real Estate has expanded rapidly over the past 18 months through new partnerships with independent real estate agencies around the world. The brand recently signed leading affiliates in London, Milan, Venice, the Italian, Swiss and French Alps, Malta, Estonia, the Caribbean and Japan. Christie's International Real Estate has also added affiliates in top US markets, including Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Miami and Chicago. The icing on the cake is the addition of our country thanks to this partnership. This means that Christie's International Real Estate is now active in 55 countries.
In concrete terms, this partnership means that Hillewaere Groep is the only Belgian real estate agent that can sell exclusive residential properties under the Christie's International Real Estate label, and that every property in our portfolio valued at over 1 million euros will be sold under that name. In addition, the partnership not only creates international access to the properties for sale in our country, but also to the entire international network of potential buyers spread across all those countries. All these properties will be available for sale in Belgium through us, both online and in our physical offices.
“Our focus on luxury real estate, our customer-oriented approach and the expertise of our employees ensure that people know they have come to the right place to buy or sell their luxury property with confidence. This has enabled us to expand our portfolio year after year. This partnership and the licence confirm that we are on the right track, but will also help us to further strengthen our position in the Belgian luxury property market." Bart Van Delm, Managing Director, Hillewaere Vastgoed
“Roel and Bart have built an exceptional real estate agency focused on relationships, innovation and unparalleled service, all values shared by Christie's International Real Estate. We are delighted to have them on board as our exclusive Belgian partner and look forward to supporting their growth as we continue our expansion in Western Europe.” Helena de Forton, Managing Director, Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) for Christie's International Real Estate
Today, Hillewaere Group is not yet active in Brussels and Knokke, nor even along the entire coast. Thanks to our collaboration with Christie's International Real Estate, this is now set to change. Over the next two years, we aim to establish a physical presence in both Brussels and Knokke under the Christie's International Real Estate label. In Knokke, we will probably enter into a local partnership, while for Brussels we are exploring the possibilities of incorporating the real estate agency into the Brussels auction house together with Christie's.
"Today, the coast and Brussels are still largely unknown territory for us. Historically, our growth in Flanders started in the province of Antwerp, followed by the other Flemish provinces. But with this new partnership, expanding to Brussels and Knokke with our own branches seems more than ever a logical step in Hillewaere's growth story. From Brussels, we can also logically serve the French-speaking market, including Wallonia." Roel Druyts, CEO Hillewaere Group
Although Hillewaere Vastgoed is generally known for more luxurious properties, we have a team of employees, including eight estate agents who specialise in exclusive high-end properties worth €1 million and more. This requires a specific approach and knowledge. We also see the combination of real estate and insurance under one roof as a major advantage. In addition to purchasing their property, our customers can also immediately search for the most suitable insurance for their home and, by extension, their contents, art, etc.
The luxury property market is still performing well. In 2022, there were record sales of properties worth millions in our country. This was 12 per cent more than in 2021 and amounted to a total of 1,927 properties. Inflation is playing a role here, with some properties suddenly reaching the €1 million mark. But we are also seeing a sharp increase in our own figures. In the first five months of 2023, we have already sold half of the total number of million-euro properties sold in 2022.
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