Christie’s International Real Estate making coastal moves. Following recent expansion to Newport, R.I., the brand is coming to Naples.

Christie’s is joining forces with a new South Florida affiliate, John R. Wood Properties, and that Naples-based firm will be rebranded as John R. Wood Properties/Christie’s International Real Estate.

An announcement from Christie’s and its Chicago-based parent company @properties confirmed the news. According to their press release, John R. Wood is the is the oldest active real estate brokerage in Southwest Florida and was founded by the Woods in 1958. The Wood family is set to retain full ownership over John R. Wood Properties/Christie’s International Real Estate.

Currently, the brokerage employs 700 agents across 21 offices and, in addition to Naples, serves Bonita Springs, Estero, Marco Island and the greater Fort Myers area. During 2021, John R. Wood boasted a written sales volume of $5.8 billion.

The latest moves by Christie’s signal an increased focus on affluent lifestyle markets. In the press release, Christie’s President Chris Lim identified Southwest Florida as a particularly important market for the growing company. “So, it was essential to find an affiliate here who shares our vision and culture,” Lim said, adding that, “John R. Wood embodies the Christie’s International Real Estate brand as a thriving, independent brokerage with unrivaled local expertise.”

Since the acquisition of Christie’s by @properties last year, the firm has added U.S. locations in Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco — plus Newport and Naples. Internationally, the brand has also expanded in Japan, Malta and Italy.