Christie’s confirms Jamaica plans

Christie’s International Real Estate says it intends to open in Jamaica, but has declined to confirm details on its timeline for opening.

“We cannot comment on matters relating to licensing or application status,” a spokesperson for the luxury brokerage told the Financial Gleaner.

The Real Estate Board, which regulates the sector, doesn’t have Christie’s as a broker or dealer at the moment.

“All we can say at this time is that Christie’s International Real Estate regards Jamaica as a highly desirable and coveted market, and we look forward to establishing a presence for our brand and serving luxury consumers on the island.”

The statement confirms the intent and leaves the central question open. It was given in response to questions asking directly whether a business name registered in Montego Bay in September, and a company incorporated in Kingston in February 2024, were authorised.

The wording is also forward-looking. Christie’s says it looks forward to establishing a presence rather than describing one already in place, two months after a business trading under its name was registered in Saint James.

Companies Office of Jamaica records show Christie’s International Real Estate (Jamaica) 2K6 registered as a business name on 18 September, operates from Montego Freeport Shopping Centre. Its sole proprietor is Luxury Realty Limited, a Jamaican company. Business name filings disclose no directors or shareholders.

The second entry is a company. Christie’s International Real Estate (Jamaica) Limited, number 123181, was incorporated on 20 February 2024 at Parkington Place, Kingston 10, and remains active. Dominique Silvera, of Christ Church, Barbados is its sole director and sole shareholder. Nothing on either file links the two.

Christie’s identified Jamaica among its Caribbean expansion targets in 2022, after a master licence agreement with a St Thomas-based broker created Christie’s International Real Estate Caribbean Affiliates. The network has since added affiliates on more than a dozen islands, among them Barbados, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and St Martin. Its current affiliate listing does not include Jamaica.

Rival Sotheby’s International Realty has operated here since October 2021, when the local firm Reside Realty joined its network and began trading as Jamaica Sotheby’s International Realty under Julian Dixon and Alexander Melville. Both brands expand by licensing their name to established local brokerages rather than opening their own offices.

business@gleanerjm.com