Merger makes new force in real estate By CHRISTINA OCCHIPINTI
Looking to provide ultimate service in
residential real estate, Prudential Centennial Realty
of Scarsdale and Nestfinders Real Estate of Mamaroneck
have merged.
The merger, which became effective during
the first quarter of this year, was just announced
by Mark Nadler, principal of Prudential Centennial
Realty and Maggie VanderWoude, formerly of Nestfinders
and associate broker and a member of the Prudential
Centennial management team with responsibility for
Mamaroneck-area business.
Having served the same market with their
respective real estate companies for some time,
Nadler and VanderWoude grew to know each other.
The idea to merge came to Nadler after he realized
he shared “a similar approach the business” as VanderWoude.
“There are some things that Maggie has
(at Nestfinders) that we don’t, and some things
we have that she doesn’t,” Nadler said. “She has
a strong knowledge of her market in Mamaroneck.
We have a grasp of national presence and a stronger
local network. It seemed to make a lot of sense.
She has some top agents in her firm and we thought
that by putting them together with our Prudential
tools they can do even better.”
VanderWoude, who opened Nestfinders in
2000, echoed Nadler’s thoughts on their joint venture.
“It’s the right time and right place for
me, lifewise,” VanderWoude said. “(Nadler’s) philosophy
and ethics and mine are very similar. I do realize
that the public believes that bigger is better.
When he made the offer (to merge), I felt that our
two parts could be put together to make something
stronger.”
Nestfinders’ agents will continue the day-to-day
operations for Prudential Centennial at the former
Nestfinders office located at 619 East Boston Post
Road in Mamaroneck. Headquartered in Scarsdale,
Prudential Centennial will also be opening two additional
offices in Larchmont and Bronxville this spring.
The agents who have made the transition
to Prudential Centennial are Rose Toth, Samia Do
Carmo, Helen Propersi, Ileen Sutton, Brian Summers,
Jerry Millman and Maria Diaz, possessing more than
63 years of regional experience between them.
With the completion of merger, the approximately
25 agents on Prudential Centennial’s staff will
have a greater specialization in the Sound Shore
real estate market a Nestfinder strong suit
while simultaneously growing on a national scale
in a highly technical office Prudential’s advantage.
In a time when employee defections have
the county’s residential real estate market up in
arms, Nadler said the new Prudential Centennial
will be able to provide a “real sense of stability
to people.”
“I’ve been doing this for 24 years, and
Maggie has been in the business for years. We’re
not jumping ship, and we’re not leaving,” Nadler
said. “People can work for us and they know who
they’re working for. For other companies right now,
it’s musical chairs. We always do what’s in our
clients’ best interest over our own.”
