South Florida real estate firms Elite International Realty and Only Best Properties International Realty will join forces in selling Bellini Williams Island.

By Carlo Calma

South Florida residential development Bellini Williams Island has announced the partnership of real estate firms Elite International Realty and Only Best Properties (OBP) International Realty as their lead sales and marketing teams in an issued press release.

The two firms will work side-by-side in promoting developer Martin Z. Margulies’ Bellini Williams Islands, which has 70 residences, to both local and international buyers.

Leo Ickowicz, co-founder and partner of Elite International Realty, will work alongside his son Daniel Ickowicz, director of sales for Elite International, in selling Bellini Williams Island to international buyers. Spearheading the development’s on-site sales, marketing and day-to-day operations will be President of OBP International Realty Ivan Ramirez.

Daniel explained that Elite International Realty was chosen for this project because of how their brand has become synonymous in Aventura real estate, and his overall past performance with selling Margulies’ other development, Bellini Bal Harbor. He and his father chose to bring Ramirez’s firm on board because of their work history together, and how quickly they sold out Peninsula II.

Ramirez commented on this saying, “Elite has brought me clients in the past to many communities I have represented, some under the same brokerage I own now, and some with my previous employers,” said Ramirez. “We have a very long-standing relationship. I’ve worked with [the Ickowicz’s] for 14 years.”

In his role as director of sales at Bellini Williams Island, Ramirez will lead the team of German Rojas, Cristina Doldan and Natali Grad, who will also act as inside sales associates for Bellini Williams Island when Elite travels internationally for prospective clients. Ramirez explained that his focus is creating exposure for Bellini Williams Island to the local, south Florida broker community to further extend their reach towards prospective clients in the local market.

On the international selling side, Daniel said that he and his team will promote Bellini Williams Island to Elite International Realty’s network in Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Colombia.

“We’re creating specific events in each country that explains the selling process,” he said, further saying that the events will work as a workshop to educate both agents and clients alike about Bellini Williams Island.

Though Daniel explained that 75 percent of their international selling efforts focuses on countries in South America, he explained that he would eventually like to venture out to other countries in Europe. Currently, Daniel is already working with one French client and three Brazilian clients.

Despite the differing brokerages, Ramirez explained that there’s no sense of competition between Elite International Realty and OBP, and that cohesion is what both teams are after.

“No matter who provides a sale, the whole point is we’re joining efforts to provide a better service to the developer,” said Ramirez.

Daniel shares the same sentiment. Although he acknowledged that two different brokerages working on the same project is rare in the industry, he explained that both parties will rely on each other to bring in clients from both local and international communities.

“Sometimes you have to realize you can’t do it alone,” said Daniel. “From day one, on the first meeting we had […] I really made it feel like a parternship.”

Margulies explained that that partnership was the “right fit” for the development.

“With Elite International Realty spearheading our international efforts, and OBP Realty handling our on-the-ground logistics, we feel secure that our development will sell out quickly,” said Margulies.

Construction is already in progress for the 13th floor of Bellini Williams Island, according to Ramirez, and that units sold are already above 30 percent.

“We are on pace to start delivering in May or June of next year,” said Ramirez.