Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty Welcomes Agents from Homes Across Long Island

Homes Across Long Island’s, a mother-daughter agency, has joined forces with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty after being recruited by regional manager Anthony DeGrotta. Pictured here with DeGrotta (l-r): Monica Balsan, Patricia Shaffer and Agnes Bush. All three women are successful veteran agents firmly established with clients and customers from Smithtown east to the North Fork and the Hamptons.

Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the nation’s leading realtors, recently gained three agents from Homes Across Long Island to its Stony Brook office. Patricia J. Petersen, President and CEO of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, made the announcement.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome such an accomplished team to Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty,” said Ms. Petersen. “Our organization, like Homes Across Long Island, started as a family agency. We share the same commitment to personal service, community involvement and the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.”

Homes Across Long Island was a mother-daughter three agent operation, founded in 1976 by Agnes Bush and later joined by daughters Monica Balsan and Patricia Shaffer. All three are successful veteran agents firmly established with clients and customers from Smithtown east to the North Fork and the Hamptons. “We were looking to expand our business, and particularly to be able to provide our sellers with marketing services that just weren’t available to us as a small company,” explained Monica Balsan, a 20-year licensed real estate salesperson with a background in small business, personal and mortgage banking. “We wanted to stand behind our customers with a strong local brand and international exposure, and by joining forces with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty we can now offer world class marketing.”

Agnes Bush launched the family business, opening her first real estate agency in 1976 in Queens. Patricia Shaffer, in addition to being a licensed real estate salesperson, served as president of the Women’s Council of Realtors, Long Island Chapter in 2015 and 2016 and was also a director of LIBOR and the New York State Association of Realtors.

The Homes Across Long Island team was recruited by Anthony DeGrotta, regional manager at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s Stony Brook office. DeGrotta often ran into the agents at area open houses. “Great agents learn the inventory,” said Mr. DeGrotta. “Recognizing their work ethic and professionalism, I offered them the opportunity to join us and grow their business on an international level. The advances in marketing technology have made it increasingly difficult for even the best agents to work as a small agency. We agreed it would be mutually beneficial for them to join our team. I’m excited to have them with us.”

Founded in 1922, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty consistently leads the nation in achieving one of the highest average sales prices in the country. Daniel Gale Sotheby’s is a $3 billion dollar organization with 850 sales associates in 27 offices spanning Long Island and Queens. Services include a Relocation Division, an award-winning Marketing & Technology Department, a Development Marketing Group, Commercial and Rental Divisions; and Ambassador Abstract Title company. The Sotheby’s International Realty® affiliate for Long Island and Queens since 1976, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s has gained national and international recognition, including top honors worldwide. In addition to its place on the Regents Board of "Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate," Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty is on The Broker Council and Compass Group of Real Trends, The Asian Real Estate Association and The Realty Alliance (comprising some of the real estate industry's most influential companies with participation "by invitation only"). For more information, visit www.danielgale.com.