Luxury CB Bain office opens in former home of Madison House Ltd

International real estate broker Coldwell Banker Bain has opened a luxury office in the former Madison House Ltd. offices at the intersection of East Madison Street, East Howe Street and 43rd Avenue East.

The Coldwell Banker Bain Previews Office opened in May to deal in the most expensive homes on Madison Park’s real estate market. Brokers in the Previews program require special certification from their parent company, including a track record of luxury home sales.

“Our focus here is the top 10 percent of the market in terms of price,” said Michelle Van Tassell, the principal managing broker of the office.

Van Tassell was approached to lead the Previews office at the beginning of 2016. She was previously with Coldwell Banker Bain’s Mercer Island office and, before that, its Edmonds office.

Prior to entering real estate, Van Tassell worked in international marketing for Microsoft. Van Tassell believes her work with Asian markets positions her perfectly  to work with international real estate buyers, she said.

A spokesperson for Coldwell Banker Bain described the first few months as a “soft opening” for the Previews office.

Presently, the office has two brokers. Kitty Hughes is serving as managing broker of the office, while Lisa Turnure — recently named top broker in Coldwell Banker Bain’s state operations — is serving as the Previews international director.

Van Tassell praised Turnure’s prominence in the Madison Park community, where she makes her home.

“She has been instrumental in this area,” Van Tassell said.

The office has space for 15 brokers in all. With herself, an office manager and dedicated graphic designer, Van Tassell said her office will have a highly favorable staff-to-broker ratio, even at office capacity.

But she’s not rushing to fill the office just yet.

“This is a unique process,” Van Tassell said. “We are, as a company, quite particular about who we bring on — even our newest brokers. Not every broker is going to be the right fit.

“I am taking a longer approach to this. I want to make sure we have the right brokers in place. Most important to me is that we have the right cultural fit for us.”

Van Tassell said it is also important to her that the Previews office become an integral part of Madison Park’s larger community.

The office is already an active part of the Madison Park Business Association and Van Tassell loaned out her graphic designer to create a walking map of the neighborhood that points out local businesses.

The office will also sponsor the Aug. 4 concert in the Music in Madison Park series, featuring the blues performer Two Scoops Combo. The office will hand out free Molly Moon’s ice cream that evening and accept donations for the Anna Banana Milk Fund.