What began 30 years ago as a door-to-door labor of love for John Brian Losh has turned into a thriving, worldwide network of 131,000 luxury real estate professionals and a website that features approximately 55,000 luxury properties from around the world. Through a unique philosophy that welcomes agents, brokers, independents and brands alike, and a keen eye toward technology and marketing, Losh and team have kept Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate ahead of the curve and a vital force for its members.
In the following interview, Losh, chairman and founder, and Luxury Real Estate President Meghan Barry, share the story of how Luxury Real Estate evolved, and why it remains a leading gateway for the upper-end real estate market.
Maria Patterson: Looking back on your 30-year anniversary, please tell us what first led to the idea of forming a network for luxury real estate professionals.
John Brian Losh: I’m a real estate broker who entered the luxury real estate business in 1971. I bought my first firm in 1976 and realized from the onset that I needed to broaden my marketplace. I realized there were other firms like mine that needed to connect and refer, and expose their business to a maximum audience. I started contacting people I had met around the world, and before we knew it, we had a network that quickly grew to around 100 firms. I founded the network in 1986 and started publishing Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate (a compendium of luxury firms from around the world).
MP: The company has evolved impressively over the years. In your opinion, what are some of the most significant milestones in your history?
Meghan Barry: Obviously, the initiation of the network in 1986, but going online in 1995 was groundbreaking. When we first went online, lots of people thought the internet was a passing phase that people would tire of after a while. Being on the internet in 1995 was a big deal. At first, we only had member profiles and a web version of the directory online. We allowed members to feature five properties with their profiles. Eventually, this evolved into showcasing every property on the site, long before anyone was having conversations about big data and how to most effectively list properties on the internet.
JBL: When we went online, we went from being a small network of people and a book to an international network. Prior to that, people would ask, ‘What’s your exposure? Who sees this book?’ Once we went online, we were able to say, ‘The whole world sees the book.’
MB: There were also important milestones that weren’t tech-related, like hosting our first Luxury Real Estate Conference in 1995, starting Luxury Real Estate magazine in 2001, and forming our Board of Regents in 2004. These are just some of the key factors that have created the total package we have now.
MP: How many properties do you currently feature on LuxuryRealEstate.com?
MB: We have around 50,000 – 55,000 properties on the site. We only feature properties over a certain …read more
From:: Real Estate News