Real estate firms expand in Brooklyn

Last month, Brooklyn firm Ideal Properties Group announced that it was opening its third office in the borough in Cobble Hill. Erik Serras, the company’s CEO, said the decision to open in Cobble Hill at 232 Court Street was driven by increased buyer demand. The office will contain 20 brokers and salespeople.? But Serras’ company isn’t the only firm expanding in Brooklyn this summer.

Prudential Douglas Elliman announced in late June that it was moving to a larger Williamsburg office — from a 1,500-square-foot office to a 2,300-square-foot office — in response to its rapidly growing agent roster in the neighborhood. In the past year, the brokerage doubled its Williamsburg agent staff, moving from 18 agents to 36, Sarah Burke, the office director, told The Real Deal in June. ? “The market has picked up significantly here,” Burke said.

Meanwhile, in Dumbo, luxury home builder Toll Brothers has opened its own sales and construction office, the company announced last month. The new 3,200-square-foot facility at 215 Water Street is slated to be the primary sales department for the builder’s 10-story condo development at 205 Water Street.? Like other parts of the city, Brooklyn’s real estate market appears to be rebounding, according to Elliman’s second-quarter report. The median sales price in the borough was up 5 percent to $463,000, compared to the prior-year quarter.