Elite International Real Estate celebrates its 20-year anniversary.

Today, 16 May 2026, Elite International Real Estate celebrates its 20-year anniversary.

Twenty years in property is no small achievement. It represents resilience, experience, changing markets, loyal clients, trusted relationships, hard decisions, difficult transactions and a team that has continued to adapt while keeping service at the centre of everything it does.

I wanted to take time to write this tribute not only to mark Elite’s 20 years in business, but also to recognise the people behind the company, our founder, our consultants, our clients and the values that have kept Elite standing for two decades.

Coming from a surveying background, I have always looked at property with a practical eye. I do not just see a house, flat, investment property, HMO or development opportunity as a listing. I look at the condition, the risks, the potential, the buyer profile, the likely objections and the best way to position that property in the market.

Twenty Years in Property Is Earned

Any business that reaches 20 years has had to survive change. Elite has traded through shifting property markets, financial uncertainty, buyer booms, buyer slowdowns, lending changes, landlord regulation, auction growth, international buyer demand and huge changes in the way people now buy, sell and research property.

That kind of experience cannot be created overnight. It is earned through real clients, real transactions, real problems and real solutions.

Over the years, Elite has built relationships with homeowners, landlords, investors, developers, overseas buyers, high-net-worth clients, relocation clients, service providers, solicitors, brokers and property professionals. Many of those relationships have lasted for years because Elite values people, not just transactions.

From Mayfair to Mill Hill: A Decision Built Around Clients

Elite International Real Estate was based at Berkeley Square House in Mayfair from 2006, placing the company in one of London’s most prestigious property districts from the very beginning.

But during the pandemic, our founder made a deliberate decision to move the business from Mayfair to Mill Hill. That was not a step backwards. It was a responsible business decision.

At a time when uncertainty was affecting everyone and business costs were rising, she refused to simply pass increased costs on to clients. Instead, she chose to reduce unnecessary overheads, tighten the company’s own belt and keep Elite’s service accessible, flexible and value-driven.

Elite’s Reach Truly Spans Globally

Many estate agents talk about “global reach”. With Elite, it is not just a marketing phrase. Elite’s reach truly does span globally.

We are not limited to one office, one local database, one postcode or one type of buyer. Elite works with homeowners, landlords, investors, developers, overseas buyers, high-net-worth individuals, relocation clients and serious property buyers from the UK and abroad.

The right buyer for a property may not live around the corner. They may be an overseas investor, a landlord looking for income, a developer searching for their next opportunity, a cash buyer ready to move quickly through auction, or a high-net-worth buyer looking quietly and discreetly.

That is why selling property properly is not just about advertising. It is about positioning.

More Than Salespeople

One of the things I respect most about Elite is the variety within the team. Our consultants come from different backgrounds, including construction, banking, finance, lettings, property management, investment, sales and client service.

Each person brings a different perspective and a unique skill. That matters because property is rarely simple.

There may be refurbishment potential, structural concerns, tenant issues, probate matters, planning questions, development angles, finance complications, auction opportunities or investor value that a standard agent may miss.

Elite is not just a team of salespeople. It is a property-minded team that looks at the wider picture.

Service and Value Are at the Heart of Elite

Elite offers far more than standard selling and letting. The company assists with residential sales, lettings, auctions, probate sales, HMO investments, investor opportunities, development potential, property management, off-market transactions and strategic property advice.

Much of what Elite does is also bespoke. Over the years, Elite has helped clients with much more than simply buying, selling or letting. We have managed extensions, loft extensions and property conversions for clients, helping them improve, adapt and add value to their properties.

Our firm is also a FIBA member, which means we are connected within the specialist finance sector. Where appropriate, we can help clients explore bridging finance, exit finance and development finance through suitable finance routes and professional contacts.

This matters because property is not always straightforward. Sometimes a client does not just need an estate agent. They may need help understanding how to fund a project, complete a refurbishment, exit a bridging loan, unlock development potential, or prepare a property properly before taking it to market.

For first-time buyers, support may mean hand-holding them through the process, explaining what to expect, breaking down survey reports, helping them understand solicitor enquiries and guiding them through the practical side of moving.

For probate clients, the support can be even more personal. Elite has helped clients deal with properties after the loss of a loved one, including assisting with clearing out homes where families simply could not face doing it alone.

Honesty Over Easy Instructions

One of the strict instructions within Elite is simple: we do not overvalue a property just to win the instruction.

Some agents may tell homeowners the figure they want to hear because it helps win the listing. But an inflated valuation can damage the seller. It can lead to wasted months, weak viewings, price reductions, stale portal history and frustration.

That is not how Elite works. Selling is a collaboration between the homeowner and the agent. Clients may not always like what we advise, but the advice is always backed by evidence.

We look at comparable sales, market conditions, buyer demand, property condition, presentation, legal or planning issues, investor appetite and the likely buyer profile.

One of our founder’s rules has always stayed with me: you never lie to sell. If you do not know the answer, find out. That is how trust is built.

When Things Get Complicated, Elite Does Not Disappear

Many agents are comfortable when a sale is simple. But what happens when things get complicated?

• What happens when a landlord is facing repossession?
• What happens when a local authority enforcement notice lands?
• What happens when a planning concern affects buyer confidence?
• What happens when a boundary issue is holding everything up?

That is where Elite shows its real value. Over the years, I have seen our founder step into difficult situations where clients needed more than a standard estate agent.

She has assisted landlords facing repossession, helped clients deal with local authority enforcement issues, and moved difficult property matters forward, including a boundary issue involving National Grid where one direct phone call helped unlock progress.

That is not luck. That is experience, contacts and knowing who to speak to, what to say and how to cut through confusion when a client is under pressure.

One example that stands out is a client who had already been through three estate agents before coming to Elite. There were planning-related concerns affecting buyer confidence. Many agents would have simply relaunched the property, changed the photos, reduced the price and hoped for the best.

Elite looked deeper. Our founder addressed the planning issue with the local authority and arranged for a structural survey to be carried out, giving buyers greater clarity and confidence. The property has since attracted multiple offers.

That is the difference between ignoring a problem and solving one.

A Word About Our Founder

I know our founder will not appreciate this insertion, but until she sees it, it is here to stay.

She is genuinely one of a kind. She holds a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development, is qualified in PRINCE2 project management, and has professional memberships and connections including NAEA Propertymark, ARLA Propertymark and FIBA.

But qualifications only tell part of the story. What I truly admire is the depth of her knowledge. Her understanding of property is so vast that, at times, she really does feel like a walking encyclopaedia.

Whether the conversation is about sales, lettings, HMOs, development, finance, auctions, probate, enforcement, investors, refurbishment or planning issues, she usually has a view, a solution, a contact or a route forward.

Coming from a consultancy background, where even reading a report could be chargeable, I noticed very quickly that Elite works differently. I have seen her read reports, break them down and explain them clearly to first-time buyers who were nervous and overwhelmed — not because there was an immediate fee attached, but because it was the right thing to do.

A True Passion for Property

Our founder truly has a passion for property. It is not just her profession. It is something she genuinely lives and breathes.

Even after 20 years of running Elite International Real Estate, she continues to look for new opportunities, partnerships and ways to create value for clients and investors.

She is currently in discussions with a group of investors regarding a potential development opportunity, which is something the whole team is excited about.

She is also in the process of publishing a practical HMO book, which will be available on the Elite International Real Estate website shortly. In addition to this, she has another two property books currently in development, reflecting her commitment to sharing knowledge and helping landlords, investors and property owners make better decisions.

That is another example of what Elite stands for: not just selling, but educating, guiding, supporting and creating value.

Thank You to Our Clients

A 20-year anniversary is not just about the company. It is about the clients who trusted Elite.

The landlords who stayed with us. The sellers who instructed us. The buyers who came back. The investors who continued to work with us. The families who allowed us to support them during difficult moments.

It is also about the service providers, solicitors, brokers, contractors and professionals who have worked alongside us over the years.

Elite has held onto long-standing relationships because the company values loyalty, honesty and service. People may first come to Elite for a property matter, but many stay because they realise they have found a company that genuinely cares about the outcome.

A Message to London Sellers

If your property has been sitting on the market with no real strategy, do not assume the property is the problem.

It may be the positioning. It may be the buyer audience. It may be the way an issue has been explained. It may be the lack of preparation before marketing. It may be that the right buyer has not seen it yet.

Before you reduce your price again, ask whether your agent has truly looked at the whole picture.

At Elite, we look wider. We look deeper. We look at the property as an asset, not just an address.

Here’s to the Next Chapter

Today, Elite International Real Estate celebrates 20 years. That is something worth recognising. But this is not only a look back. It is also a look forward.

To new clients. New opportunities. New partnerships. New investors. New developments. New books. New ways to serve.

Elite has never been just another estate agency. It is a property business built on service, knowledge, relationships, honesty and a genuine desire to help people make better property decisions.

So here’s to 20 years of Elite International Real Estate. And here’s to the next chapter.

Richard Greene
Elite International Real Estate