Serhant’s Nicole Palermo Jumps to Christie’s Real Estate

Serhant and Christie’s International Real Estate are developing a bit of a cross-state rivalry. 

After Serhant launched in Chicago with 10 agents from @properties Christie’s earlier this month, Christie’s snapped up a Serhant agent in New York. 

Nicole Palermo is leaving Serhant to join the recently relaunched Christie’s International Real Estate New York. Palermo initially joined Ryan Serhant’s mega-team at Nest Seekers in 2019, before making the move over to his eponymous brokerage shortly after it launched in 2020. 

Prior to that, Palermo spent nearly six years at Brown Harris Stevens. 

Serhant declined to comment. 

Palermo has developed a niche in the luxury townhouse market. Recent sales include a $24 million sale of the Greenwich House Music School building at 44-46 Barrow Street in August, and a $13 million sale at 430 Hudson Street to an entity linked to country singer Zach Bryan. 

Palermo also had the listing for a $6 million Tribeca loft sold to Mikal Bridges, just months before he was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the New York Knicks. 

The move marks yet another step in Christie’s efforts to rebuild its footprint in the tri-state area following abruptly severing ties in June with Christie’s International Real Estate Group LLC, the franchise arm that had previously served as the exclusive affiliate of the Christie’s brand across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. 

Christie’s has not commented specifically on the decision, but a spokesperson at the time said it was “not made lightly” and done so “in the best interests of the Christie’s International Real Estate brand.”

Agents later told The Real Deal that payment issues had plagued the franchise in recent years. Christie’s has not commented specifically on those allegations. 

In September, Christie’s relaunched in New York City with roughly 120 agents from Coldwell Banker Warburg and several agents from the former Christie’s franchise. The former Christie’s International Real Estate Group joined The Agency as The Agency One Rock shortly after the termination. 

The brokerage, which is led by former Coldwell Banker Warburg regional vice president Kevelyn Guzman, has been amping up its recruiting efforts. Earlier this month, it brought back 18 people across two luxury teams from The Agency One Rock.

Christie’s Real Estate and Coldwell Banker are among the brands owned by Compass International Holdings, which bought Coldwell Banker as part of its $1.6 billion deal for Anywhere Real Estate in January, and added Christie’s in December 2024 as part of a roughly $450 million deal that also included Chicago-based @properties.

On Tuesday, Christie’s launched an owned brokerage operation covering a number of major markets across New Jersey and a Bergen County-based franchise operation.

Read more

Ex-Christie’s International tri-state affiliate joins The Agency

Ex-Christie’s tri-state affiliate accused of withholding commissions

Christie’s to re-launch in NYC with former Coldwell Banker Warburg agents