Windermere merges with Pacific Sotheby’s
Dave Fidlin | Downtown News
By tapping into the resources of an international company, a group of local realtors are hoping to assist in the reshaping of Downtown San Diego’s real estate market.
Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty – a firm owned by lifelong San Diegans Brian Arrington, Steve Games and Nyda Jones-Church – merged last month with Downtown-based Windermere Signature Properties. Windermere’s office at 560 First Ave., in the Marina District, adopted the Pacific Sotheby’s nameplate April 16 after the merger was completed.
As its name suggests, Pacific Sotheby’s, established in 2001 after a series of acquisitions, is a member of Sotheby’s International. The parent company, a luxury real estate brokerage firm, gained its footing in 1976 in the United Kingdom and New York City and has evolved in the past three-and-a-half decades.
While Pacific Sotheby’s has been present in San Diego County since its founding, Games said the company has made greater strides in representing the city of San Diego in recent years. The move, he said, is in keeping with the company’s growth plans.
“We’ve considered ourselves to be a very coastal company,” Games said. “We didn’t think our plans would be complete without being in the metro area of San Diego.”
Transitioning the Windermere property into a Pacific Sotheby’s office remains a work in progress. Once the process is complete, Games said he envisions working with local organizations, including the Downtown San Diego Partnership, as efforts are forged in planning the future of the Downtown area.
“We want to work with people who are vested and involved in the Downtown area,” Games said. “We’re very excited about coming together and being active participants in this particular market.”
Prior to the merger, Windermere was owned by real estate professionals Francine Finn and Raye Scott. Games had previously worked with Finn and Scott in other real estate endeavors.
In a statement, Finn expressed enthusiasm for the renewed partnership with Games. She and Scott remain with the company.
“Our agents now have access to cutting-edge marketing resources, technology tools and training,” Finn said of Windermere’s transformation into Pacific Sotheby’s. “This strategic alliance will enable us all to better serve our markets by reaching beyond the local level to a global level.”
Although the Sotheby’s name reaches a global scale, Games said he and his partners remain committed to investing in San Diego.
“All three of us are true San Diego natives; we were born and raised here,” Games said of himself, Arrington and Jones-Church.
Windermere was formed in 2010, and Finn and Scott brought together a combined 40 years of professional experience when they laid a stake in the Downtown real estate market three years ago. Jones-Church said Finn and Scott’s track record was one reason she was on board with the merger.
“They have demonstrated a long record of service and commitment to the urban residential market,” Jones-Church said of Finn and Scott. “Their reputation for personal service is consistent with the ideals of this firm, and we are proud to have them represent us in this important San Diego community.”
With the Downtown office now added into the mix, Pacific Sotheby’s operates a dozen offices throughout San Diego County. More than 300 agents work for the company.
According to its website, Sotheby’s International Realty has about 12,800 sales associates working out of 660 offices in 47 countries and territories across the globe. Pacific Sotheby’s and other offices are each independently owned and operated.
For information on Pacific Sotheby’s and its services in the Downtown area, call the local office at 619-481-6300 or visit their website, pacificsothebysrealty.com.
