Those smart, sophisticated navy blue signs that you see popping

up all over town give testament to the fact that Cannon Beach has

taken a step up in the real estate world. 

Those smart, sophisticated navy blue signs that you see popping up all over town give testament to the fact that Cannon Beach has taken a step up in the real estate world.  Farzahn Kamali is now an affiliate of Sothebys International Realty.  Yes, the same Sothebys that has the world-famous London auction house also has prime real estate listings all over the world.  You have seen their ads in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and in all first-rate magazines.  These are the homes that are eye-popping in their magnificence, and now Cannon Beach, Gearhart and Manzanita will be represented among the chosen.  

Kamali opened his real estate office in Cannon Beach four years ago, recently opened an office in Manzanita and will have another location in Gearhart this summer.  Everything that Farzahn Kamali does reflects his sense of style: his office, logo and printed material.  That distinctive K was a noticeable graphic element right from the beginning, signaling that there was a new game in town.  He is a licenced real estate broker in Oregon and California, as well as being a licensed Architect in the State of Oregon. He is the principal broker and owner of the firm, Director of Marketing and responsible for strategic planning.  

Farzahn first came to Cannon Beach in 1980, when his parents opened The Brass Lantern Restaurant in mid-town. Farzahn graduated from the University of Oregon School of Architecture, so he also has planning and design expertise. He has been involved in design projects all over the West, including the Oregon Coast Aquarium, the University of Oregon, Washington State University and others.  From 2001 to 2006 he had an independent Real Estate brokerage in the San Francisco Bay Area, with an office in Mill Valley. He now lives at the north end of Cannon Beach with his wife and children.

Now, with this new affiliation, Kamali and his associates will have access to Sothebys network, allowing his real estate listings to be represented worldwide.  There is an enormous marketing advantage in affiliating with Sothebys.  Not everyone is eligible.  A careful vetting process takes place, allowing Sothebys to confirm that its a good fit.  Some of the criteria are: properties with an above average selling price, an office that is a market leader in the area, successful without the affiliation, and one that has an aesthetic and leadership that are congruent with the Sotheby brand.  They also look carefully at the properties listed. Are they up to Sothebys standards?  Then, all the preparations for showcasing properties must be in order: professional photography, expert print and online presentations.  For an example of the high standards required, stop in at Kamalis office and see the eGallery, a stunning set of stills shown in a continuous loop on a very high resolution screen.  There is a video presentation done of every listing, and you can hear the voice over in fifteen different languages.

Aside from the many obvious reasons for affiliating with Sothebys, Kamali says:It was important to me to retain ownership of the firm, while participating in the strength of the network.  The caliber of all they do, their target market and the fact that they are as motivated as we are all contributed to our decision to affiliate.  That said, we are still flexible; we can work at any price point.  I have six associates and our work ethic is collaborative. We take a team approach to selling real estate.  This new connection will only make us better at what we do.  The referral network, both inboud and outbound, increases our exposure.  Our properties will appear in print and in mailings that are regional, domestic and worldwide.

In a discussion with Philip White, President and COO of Sothebys International Realty Affiliates, he said: First, the market needs to qualify.  We work from a list of priority markets.  Regionally, we currently have affiliate offices in Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler, B.C.; Seattle, Bainbridge Island and Friday Harbor, Washington and in Bend, Oregon.  Then, we look at the brokers.  We want to work with an office that will protect the brand and preserve the heritage that the Sotheby name represents.  We found that in Farzahn Kamali and his associates.

The Kamali-Sotheby connection is one of those serendipitous situations that occur now and then.  It is a perfect fit and Cannon Beach will enjoy the benefits of the affiliation as well as pride in participating. 

As striking as that well-known Tiffany blue box, Kamali’s new signs, indicating his new affiliation, are a sign of quality and prestige.