Unique Collaboration Between Two Network Affiliates brings Christie's International Real Estate to Art Colony of Asheville, North Carolina

NEW YORK, NY – Asheville, North Carolina, has been cited in too many national rankings to list them all but a sampling includes: Most Beautiful Places in America; Top Small Cities for Art; Hippest City in the South and Healthiest Places to Live. The once a sleepy mountain town set in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains now boasts a dizzying array of microbreweries (the town is widely regarded as one of the craft beer capitals in the nation ), a foodie destination with an eclectic music scene. The town’s River Arts District houses 185 artists in 25 buildings while the downtown’s rich Art Deco architecture, housing indie cafes and yoga studios, serves as the perfect backdrop for the town’s rich vibe.

Ivester Jackson, an Affiliate for six years and headquartered in Charlotte, teamed up with Greenville, South Carolina–based BlackStream, an Affiliate since November, to represent the Christie’s brand in this vibrant market under the name Ivester Jackson BlackStream. Asheville is located roughly an hour from both companies. A new office is opening with staff and brokers currently being hired.

“This is the first time two network Affiliates have come together to open an office in a new market. I suspect it won’t be the last because it makes too much sense. This new company will hit the ground running, already expert at leveraging the Christie’s brand to best serve the area’s luxury buyers and sellers," said Rick Moeser, Executive Director, Christie’s International Real Estate.

The town is also imbued with an embarrassment of natural splendor which attracts rafters, hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers and fishermen from far and wide. The adventure lifestyle begins literally 15 minutes from downtown. The area’s raw beauty served as the competition theatre for “The Hunger Games,” starring Jennifer Lawrence.

And in 2009, the Obama family spent their spring vacation here, even visiting another of the town’s main attractions, The Biltmore Castle. This 250-room French Renaissance chateau, built in the late 1800’s by George Washington Vanderbilt, is still the nation’s largest house and now serves as a resort destination. Visitors enjoy the art collection which includes works by Renoir, John Singer Sargent, James McNeill Whistler, Pellegrini and Boldini; the gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted; a winery; fine dining and guest lodging.

"We have built an exceptional partnership with BlackStream. Their culture, like ours, is focused on innovation, people, and bringing world class service to their client base. Ivester Jackson Blackstream not only combines the followings of two of North and South Carolina's most dynamic real estate firms, it brings with it the 250 year old reach and credibility of one of the world's most recognizable and trusted brands, Christie's International Real Estate," said Reed Jackson, Managing Partner, Ivester Jackson Distinctive Properties.

“We are so excited to partner with Ivester Jackson, an established network leader in order to best serve the three highest growth areas in the Carolinas – Charlotte, the Highlands and Upstate - under the Christie’s brand. Our companies, we discovered immediately, are so well aligned philosophically in terms of the highest level of client service, integrity, and the other Christie’s brand values. This collaboration is a win-win for our companies, our clients and Christie’s International Real Estate," added Ford Elliott, CEO, BlackStream.

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About Christie’s International Real Estate
Christie’s International Real Estate is an invitation-only affiliate network composed of the world’s most proven and qualified real estate specialists in the luxury residential sector. The company has offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, Moscow, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, and approximately 135 global affiliates with 31,000 real estate professionals in 45 countries. For more information, visit www.christiesrealestate.com.