"I started doing real estate in 1974 from my college dorm room but I wasn't thinking about the luxury market back then," Cotton said. "I was more interested in just selling real estate. When I became interested in real estate on the Cape, I didn't have the experience that was necessary so I took some appraisals classes and now 37 years later, I am in the luxury real estate business."
Cotton founded Cotton Real Estate, now Sotheby's International Realty, and has overseen thousands of purchases and sales of Cape Cod properties. Today, he lives in Osterville with his wife and family, but has been involved with the luxury real estate market all over the world-including Cape Cod, Boston, Providence and Newport, Rhode Island, Miami, San Diego, New York, Greenwich, Connecticut, Italy, France, London, England, all Caribbean locations and all of Europe.
"The luxury market on the Cape is taking a breather," he said. "I think, and it's not just here, that for a while, it wasn't cool to buy luxury items but we are seeing that turn around now but people are also now looking for extraordinary value. Real estate is the other gold."
Cotton recently released his third book, 12 Secrets Luxury Home Sellers Know That You Can Use Today as a follow up to his previously released book entitled 12 Secrets Luxury Home Buyers Know That You Can Use Today.
In the book, he covers the entire selling process from asking the right questions and finding the right agent, to understanding how to market a home and final negotiations. While Cotton's clients are often selling million dollar-plus homes, Cotton says the tactics they employ are universal and just as applicable to someone selling a home in any price range.
"This book presents tried and true strategies that have stood the test of time," he said. "Many of the secrets are just good old fashioned common sense, but the book presents them in a practical reference for anyone who wants to sell their home."
What are some tips when considering purchasing a luxury home? "People in the high end value expertise so they should really deal with an expert, someone who knows the market and what might be coming onto the market," he said. "It's important to establish a network of information so be sure to talk to everyone."
Cotton's clients include some mid-Cape properties as well as one on Nantucket Sound listed for $6 million and another on a gated island on Cape Cod for $8 million.
For more information, visit www.JackCotton.com.
