Agents who understand the tech realm are invaluable to the industry and Alison Graham of Sotheby’s International Realty is formidable within the medium. Having worked for some of the biggest tech firms in the world, including Amazon, IBM, and Salesforce, she has special insight on how to move her properties. To add a twist to her status as a Hamptons real estate wiz, she hails from Oz. As we dug deeper, we wanted to learn more about her.
Alison Graham of Sotheby’s International Realty
Alison, how does an Australian find themselves in luxury real estate in the Hamptons?
Great question! I moved to America in 1997 and didn’t know a ton of people when I arrived. I became friends with an amazing Aussie girl and her husband – they lived in Bridgehampton. I was a frequent visitor and always loved the beaches and towns of the Hamptons. I have lived in some great cities including Manhattan, but always knew I would end up here in the Hamptons. The move to real estate has been in the works for over a decade. I can’t think of a better place to make the dream a reality!
You have such an interesting background and it’s in tech. What did you do for the tech giants that you worked for?
I was a sales VP and a consultant for over 27 years. I worked with some of the largest banks in the world helping them defend against fraud, manage risk, and improve customer relationships with technology. It was an amazing time; I know how lucky I am to have worked with so many inspiring and talented individuals. Tech took me to many countries, allowing me to experience so many cultures. I will always be grateful to the industry.
How did that lead you to real estate sales? Do you think your background lends a unique set of qualifications that are unique to you and your services?
I went to visit a friend at Google recently. We talked about the skills you acquire in tech and how they really equip you to manage so many aspects related to real estate. Contracts, expectation management, customer service, attention to detail and navigating the back end of agency systems are all second nature to me. My great success in real estate investing led to the ultimate decision to make real estate my next career.
You’re also a real estate investor as well all over the east coast. Can you tell us about where you’ve invested and how do you manage all of that?
Yes! My husband and I have built a great business investing in real estate. We current own properties in Miami, Philadelphia, Savannah, Michigan, and New York. Last year we embarked on our first multi-family build and couldn’t be more excited. I must credit my husband with a lot of the work. He has an engineering background and is instrumental in our success related to working remotely with contractors, architects, builders and permits!!
You are very involved in the philanthropic community. Where do you put your time and energy and why?
I started giving back many years ago when working at IBM. My motivation comes from knowing how impactful community can be when it gets behind families and caregivers. Over the years I have mentored everyone from high school students to women returning to the workforce after incarceration. I have helped transform parks, raised money for and cooked thousands of meals for families in need. It is something all of us should aspire to do more of. Right now, I am doing what I can with Heart of the Hamptons; it is an incredible organization.
We’re sure the pandemic was a chaotic time for you. How did it affect your real estate career as well as your investing career? Did you see any trends that are part of your methodology that weren’t before?
It was an insanely busy time for us, as it was for many families. The pandemic allowed us to capitalize on opportunities that we maybe didn’t see before. People wanted to spend more time at home and wanted the infrastructure to be able to work from home. Remote work really drove us to diversify outside of New York and the Hamptons.
What is your opinion of the market with doubled interest rates and talks of a recession. Do these national issues affect the East End?
I tend not to buy into news cycles, but rather support my decisions with data. Houses that are desirable and priced well are selling, here in the Hamptons and in the rest of the country. Interest rates have definitely cooled the frenzy we saw in 2021 and part of 2022. In my opinion, the best value deals are available now for smart buyers. Waiting on rates to be what they were in 2020 is not the way to go about it.
What is it about the Hamptons that you love so much?
Knowing I live not too far from where Jackson Pollock created some of his incredible work gives me such joy. Art, food, the beach, and the people of the Hamptons are what I love so much. Every day I discover something about the Hamptons I didn’t know before.
What do you do in your downtime? Is there downtime?
Whenever there is free time, I love Pilates and walking. I’m a big Audible fan, so I devour many (many) books on my walks. We also love to travel. Coming home to the Hamptons makes all the work worth it!
To learn more about Graham, visit Sotheby’s International Realty.
