NEW YORK—Barbara Anderson Terry is one of Sotheby’s International Realty’s highest grossing agents. She works out of the East Side Manhattan Brokerage and specializes in Manhattan’s luxury market.
Until recently, she spent most of her time showing her clients prewar co-operatives.
But as the luxury market has transitioned toward pricy new condominium developments, Anderson Terry has also been adapting her strategy. She is looking to tap into the torrent of international buyers that are investing in Manhattan’s luxury real estate.
Roughly 39 percent of Sotheby’s luxury segment sales in Manhattan are foreign buyers. About one in four are foreign buyers from Asia.
“All through my adult professional life, I’ve been fortunate enough to always have referrals,” Anderson Terry said. “But now that the world has become so global, so much more of the luxury market is not from your immediate circle, it’s more of the foreign market.”
Anderson Terry has seen the success of her colleague Nikki Field, who also works out of Sotheby’s East Side Manhattan Brokerage. Field has been reaping commissions from the Chinese market for five years. Since 2013, around three-quarters of the sales closed by Field’s team have been foreign buyers.
Getting the Real Estate Bug
Anderson Terry grew up on the hills of Westbury on Long Island, the oldest of eight children in a devout Catholic family.
