Florida Real Estate Broker Targets New Market

A Florida real estate broker in Lake Mary, near Orlando, is adding a new part of the globe to its worldwide search for investors: Japan.

Stirling Sotheby’s and its downtown Orlando Global Gallery are going to target potential Japanese buyers, a large and relatively untapped group for the Central Florida housing market.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, based in Lake Mary, said his company has entered into a 25-year contract with Urban Corp., one of Japan’s leading luxury real estate brokerages, with a market capitalization of about $4 billion.

Under the agreement, Urban Corp. will begin opening its Sotheby’s International Realty offices throughout Japan next year, promoting Florida mortgages and sales of Central Florida properties.

Buyers and potential buyers from Japan visiting Central Florida will then be able see a panoramic view of Orlando from Stirling Sotheby’s new Global Gallery marketing center.

The exclusive Florida real estate marketing center opened recently on the 16th floor of The Plaza in downtown Orlando.

The $4.5 million gallery is in the north tower of the two-tower, multi-use complex at Orange Avenue between Pine and Church streets.

There, local luxury-home developers will be able to wine and dine potential clients in the style already found in larger cities worldwide.

Stirling Sotheby’s and other Central Florida real estate companies have long targeted European investors and, to some extent, Latin American buyers, whom they see as prime Florida mortgage applicants.

SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel