Boston Realty Advisors, a boutique real estate firm with offices in downtown Boston and Weston, has tapped a top Back Bay broker to head its residential division.
The firm recently hired Rob Cohen as president and managing director of its residential brokerage division.
Cohen had worked as an executive vice president and associate broker for Century 21 Cityside in Boston for six years. In that time, he consistently has ranked as a top producer in Boston’s Back Bay, South End and Beacon Hill neighborhoods, according to Boston Realty Advisors.
“We sought Rob out aggressively Â… our firm has been looking for a long time for an associate to assist in the growth of our organization in [the residential arena],” said Jason Weissman, a principal of Boston Realty Advisors.
Cohen’s appointment comes after two other agents left Century 21 Cityside to join Boston Realty Advisors. Erich Schultz and Kathleen Alexander were hired by the company just before Cohen joined, according to Cohen. Schultz used to be a vice president at Century 21 Cityside. Alexander, who has won awards for her client service, ranked in the top 100 producers in the Northeast region out of approximately 3,750 Century 21 agents, according to the Century 21 Cityside Web site.
Cohen brings 14 property listings with him to his new position. He is marketing 20 Beacon, a premier four-unit property on the corner of Beacon and Parker streets on Beacon Hill. The penthouse unit is under agreement for $4 million, according to Weissman, and the fifth-floor unit is listed for more than $2.1 million.
Cohen said he joined Boston Realty Advisors because the firm’s client-focused philosophy and way of doing business match his own. “I wanted to work in a client-focused advisory and consultative real estate firm,” he noted.
Cohen also said he is very impressed with Weissman and principal William H. Catlin.
“I’ve always admired their enthusiasm,” he said. “The main thing that attracted me is that principals are out there selling real estate.”
Prior to Cohen’s arrival, Weissman and Catlin headed both the residential and commercial divisions of the company. The company’s commercial division primarily handles mid-market properties priced between $1 million and $10 million. Now Weissman and Kaplan will focus their efforts on running the commercial end of the business.
“We want to continue with our strong presence in the mid-market but we want to Â… really push to be one of the eminent players in the Boston commercial real estate market,” Weissman said.
John Ranco, sales director of Gibson Sotheby’s International in Boston, said Cohen would bring “vitality” to the firm.
“It’s an interesting move,” Ranco said.
