Michaël Zingraf Real Estate : a success story
In 2010 alone, this group comprised of ten agencies sold 81 properties - prestigious villas and top-notch apartments - totalling over 150 million euros. Flashback to an eventful past and perfectly mastered development…
Michaël Zingraf opened his first estate agency in 1977 on the Croisette. By immediately opting for a well-known address, it was clear he had no intention of doing things by half-measures. The target was upscale positioning and growth. Inaugurations in Mougins, the countri-fied outpost of Cannes, and Saint-Paul, the village so dear to artists, soon followed. The group now has six branches in the Alpes-Maritimes, one in the Var, one in the Alp-illes and two in the Luberon, as well as 50 employees and 30 partners in the main towns. The company’s advance beyond French borders has already begun. Mayerling Zingraf, Michaël’s daughter, manages MZ International proposing properties all over the world (Gstaad, Saint-Moritz, Verbier, Mykonos, Mallorca, Saint-Barth), of interest to buyers on the Côte d’Azur. This department’s creation is a first step before setting up offices. 85 % of clients are foreigners, mostly Russians, affluent and demanding. “Sometimes even original,” notes Michaël’s son, Heathcliff. “One of them acquired the house next to his own for 3 million euros, which he then razed to the ground to give his dogs a free run of the grounds, far from his own garden. Another selects a holiday home every five years based on photos. The last investment, without a single visit, was over 3 million euros.” No further details, for reasons of confidentiality and discretion. MZ Yachting, specializing in the sale and rental of yachts, has also been created to meet growing demand. Projects abound, starting with a conciergerie service like those laid on by palatial hotels. Meanwhile, Michaël Zingraf Real Estate proposes its long experience in sales, seasonal rentals and property management, with a portfolio containing 2,000 references.
By Laetitia Rossi
