Christie's International
Real Estate Group
Trusts & Estates Division
Unparalleled Brokerage Services
to Executors, Trustees, Heirs, & Attorneys
Christie’s Estate Properties
Expert Services for Trusts & Estates Properties
Christie’s International Real Estate Group offers specialized and unparalleled support to estate attorneys, trustees, and heirs through its Trusts & Estates Division. This service was founded by Howard Morrel & Leslie Hirsch, and is overseen by the Morrel Hirsch & Advisors team in New York City.
Our work is closely coordinated with the Christie’s Auction House and our international network of agents in 50+ countries. Christie’s handled over $500 billion in property and goods in the last five years alone.
Challenges & Opportunities
If you are an estate attorney, executor, trustee, or beneficiary, you know how complex and difficult the sale or transfer of luxury property can be when it is estate or trust-owned.
A property may be filled with items of uncertain, but potentially high value. It may require cleaning and repairs. If it’s a condominium or co-op apartment, there will likely be a board to deal with. Multiple family members and beneficiaries are often involved in decisions and distributions of property–and everyone’s concerns and rights must be taken into account. A high-net-worth individual may hold properties in multiple geographies.
Timing is crucial for such sales: Properties may be locked in probate for extended periods as costs mount and markets shift. Estate funds for clean-out and repairs may be tied up. The process is often uncertain; and of course, it’s an emotional time for all involved.
Taking the Burden of Details Off Families & Attorneys
The Trusts & Estates Division of Christie’s International Real Estate Group offers a truly unique set of skills and services tailored to the needs of trustees, families, trusts & estates attorneys, elder law attorneys, and guardians.
Our team, assembled over decades, includes agents, stagers, moving coordinators, contractors, art and collectibles experts–whatever is required. Each partner is a leader in the field and plays an integral role in your project, ensuring a seamless client experience—so you can focus on what’s most important to you.
We maintain our own in-house appraisers, Morrel Hirsch & Advisors Team are New York State court approved and registered real estate professional licensees for guardianships, and we work closely with a family’s financial and tax advisors. Co-founder Howard Morrel is an attorney with deep experience in the issues.
We can handle all the details of trusts and estates property sales, from clean-out to moving, inventory of goods, distribution of the goods, property preparation and much more– substantially reducing the burden on families, attorneys, and financial representatives. We also advance funds, interest-free, for property preparation.
Coordinating with Christie’s Auction House
Christie’s International Real Estate Group was born out of the world-renowned Christie’s Auction House, which has captivated a global audience of luxury collectors and aficionados since 1766. Transcending traditional marketing venues, Christie’s International Real Estate Group showcases listings at auction sales, as well as exclusive events around the world, creating a unique synergy between real estate, art, and luxury goods.
Our team ensures seamless handling of all estate and trust property with the unmatched expertise and global connections only Christie’s International Real Estate can offer.
Compassion and Awareness of Family Dynamics
Always, we work with compassion and awareness of the complex family dynamics and sensitivities that can arise in difficult times–and as trusted advisors to families and their representatives, we often play a crucial intermediary role. We also realize the importance of patience in this work: given extended legal issues and family negotiations, a rapid sale may not be possible. Regardless of the process or the time frame, our team is here to stand by your side.
Our overall goal? Relieve families and their attorneys of the burden of the details. Maximize value to all concerned.
Read about our full menu of trusts & estates services and call us at (212) 956-4823 or fill out an inquiry form to learn more.
Howard, Leslie, & Team
Attract Excellence → Deliver Perfection
Our team has an extensive track record, offering decades of experience working with executors, trusts, estates, elder law specialists, court appointed guardians, receivers, family offices, not-for-profits and institutional clients to provide a full spectrum of real estate services.
Recent Reviews & Testimonials for Our Work
GZ
Giuseppe Z.
Quick response, professionalism, and truly pleasurable to work with.
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Dawn M.
Top-notch team of real estate professionals!
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Remoon D.
Very professional. Takes her job very seriously, also patient and understanding. Leslie got me a very good deal, enjoyed working with her. Looking forward to furthering
CS
Carlos S.
It has been a very pleasant experience working with Morella and Howard, trusting their knowledge of the market, their negotiation skills, their professionalism, their courtesy, and
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Anonymous Buyer
Leslie is a very professional and knowledgeable agent. She was always available to answer our questions or concerns. She guided us throughout the process and had
RC
Roberto C.
Leslie was the consummate professional. She was straightforward, available, creative, patient and collaborative. If only I could do more deals with her.
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Sandy A.
My husband and I happened across Howard and Leslie while looking at another apartment. We just moved to NYC from Australia and didn't have a broker....
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Sean M.
As an attorney I regularly represent estate executors tasked with selling the real property of a deceased loved one. These types of deals often require a
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Steven
Howard is a gem. From the moment I was introduced to him, he stood out and was extremely professional in his approach and knowledge of the
SK
Suzanne K.
My husband and I met Leslie at an open house she was hosting on the Upper East Side where we first started our search to purchase
AP
Adriana P.
Morella Machado was diligent in helping me find my new apartment. She is a pleasure to work with and helped me with all the many closing
AMG
Ana-Maria G.
I asked Morella to find me a New York apartment while I was living over 1,000 miles away. She kept in constant communication, accommodated each of
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Anonymous Seller
Very impressed by Morella's reliability, attention to detail, and follow-through. From the start of the process of selling my condo, through the negotiations, to the finish,
BP
Ben P.
Farbod was very helpful to us as we revamped our apartment listing and showed the unit during the pandemic. He was always courteous and respectful in
SB
Seller & Buyer
Howard was the best real estate agent we could have asked for! He showed us a lot of houses and was very honest about the condition
SB
Seller & Buyer
Leslie is everything you could ask for in a realtor, she is the complete package! Persistence, great negotiating skills, awesome follow-through, communication, and very proactive, she
DK
David K.
Farbod was a pleasure to work with from when I first marketed my apartment with him until closing. He assisted with answering all my questions and
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David S.
Leslie & Howard are an exceptional real estate team. As a trusts and estates attorney, I have a duty to help my clients get the best
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Elsie W.
I have recommended Leslie to several friends with a wide variety of real estate needs and desires. Leslie has navigated the shark-infested waters of NY for
JJ
Jennifer J.
Leslie really listens to what you are looking for, so doesn't waste your time showing unsuitable properties. Her instinct on pricing saved me a great deal
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Nicole
Howard is a consummate real estate professional. He is knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. He was detail-oriented when it came to scheduling appointments and was extremely responsive.
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Nishit
I would recommend Farbod to all my family and friends. I understand there are a lot of factors in the sale price of a home but
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Pooja C.
Extremely grateful to Morella and Leslie for helping me find my perfect home. They are very knowledgeable, courteous, professional, and detail-oriented. They went above and beyond
LD
L. D.
Thank you so much for all you and your team have done in the 10 days since listing our apartment. While we had been approached by
Morrel Hirsch & Advisors Team: Respected in the Marketplace
$3.5B+
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Newsweek
Best Realtors 2023
60+
Years Combined Experience
Wall Street Journal
#11 Real Trends
Avenue Magazine
TOP 40 Power Elite
8+
Spoken Languages
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Work With Us
Morrel Hirsch & Advisors is a tightly knit team of strategically handpicked, multilingual experts, collectively dedicated to the needs of their clients.