Bohemia Realty Group, a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in the sale and leasing of residential and commercial properties in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx as well as the greater New York City area, grew more than 25 percent in the first quarter of 2019, announces Jon Goodell, Co-founding Principal. With two offices in Upper Manhattan, comprising a Harlem office at 2101 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (113th/114th Streets) and 3880 Broadway (161st/162nd Streets) in Washington Heights, the boutique real estate firm currently has 133 licensed sales agents, up from 106 agents in December 2018. In addition, Bohemia now has the largest number of exclusive listings in Upper Manhattan, by market share.
“Sarah [Saltzberg] and I started Bohemia in 2012 with just a few agents and a dream of becoming a part of the amazing communities that make Upper Manhattan so dynamic,” points out Mr. Goodell. “We created an environment that would be especially welcoming to entrepreneurs who wanted additional income without compromising artistic pursuits. And it’s worked!”
In 2016, the Washington Heights office opened and by 2018, there were 100 full-time, licensed agents in both offices. In addition to a marked increase in licensed agents this year, Bohemia Realty Group has been experiencing record growth in sales and leasing.
Also incentivizing growth are many of the firm’s originally-conceived broker incentives. They include comprehensive training programs and one-on-one mentorships; regularly scheduled team-building activities spearheaded by annually-appointed “Ambassadors of Fun;” and free morning work-outs with professional trainers.
The company’s unique culture has been integral to the Bohemia brand since the beginning. For instance, several of its agents have developed a popular cabaret act, “Bohemia Unplugged,” which performs at such venues as the Laurie Beechman Theatre in Times Square, The Duplex in the West Village and the Mess Hall in Harlem, among others. Because Bohemia supports dual careers, especially in the arts, many of its agents maintain acting careers, performing on Broadway, film and television, including Sarah Saltzberg who has had two plays on Broadway since co-founding the firm.
Adds Ms. Saltzberg, “Our growth has been very targeted, geared to adding value for everyone. Last year, we launched a development division, BRGDM, to provide additional marketing services for new condo and rental projects. Later this year, we expect to open an office in the Bronx to better serve customers in the borough’s emerging areas, including South Bronx, Mott Haven and Hunts Points.”
In addition to Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, Bohemia recently began accepting projects and listings in Queens and Brooklyn. The company offers extensive training and mentoring programs and continues to encourage dual careers in real estate and the arts.
