As new home construction sales in Alabama are up more than 6 percent and existing home values have risen more than 5 percent since 2017 according to reports, Huntsville’s Amanda Howard Real Estate™ has invested deeply in the boom with two significant announcements of their own this summer.

On June 28, Howard announced they are officially the newest member of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, LLC global network and will now operate as Amanda Howard Sotheby’s International Realty.

Founded in 1976, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. In 2017, the brand achieved a record global sales volume of $108 billion, a global leader in state real estate franchising. Amanda Howard Sotheby’s International Realty is the second Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate in Alabama; also operating as Kaiser Sotheby’s International Realty on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

Howard’s agency served 861 families in 2017, placing it as one of America’s top 1,000 real estate teams by REAL Trends. The agency ranked 25th in the nation, up 5 spots from 30th in 2016.

“The Thousand” is a national award ranking sponsored annually by REAL Trends, a Denver-based publishing and communications company. Judged for the honor in four categories, Amanda Howard Sotheby’s has shown the skills to grow their businesses year after year, according to Steve Murray, founder of REAL Trends.

“These kinds of results show that those who commit to being full-time professionals can build meaningful businesses and success beyond expectations. Achieving this level of results is simply incredible,” Murray said.

Howard said in her research before choosing Sotheby’s, she discovered home values went up within an average of nine months in locations where a new Sotheby’s office opened.

“In listening to our clients’ needs, and anticipating the growth of our community, we believe we offer unparalleled service in helping with the purchase of a lifestyle, not just a home,” Howard said. “We realize that as a client-driven boutique brokerage, we have the opportunity to provide more. After extensive vetting — we have found the opportunity that will help set our abilities apart from the rest.

“This was astounding to me. Not only was their brand a benefit to the professional agents and the clients they serve, but the surrounding homes in the marketplace increased with it. I am confident this affiliation will be a benefit to our community in an impactful way.”