RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
  • Agents
  • Brokers
  • Teams
  • Marketing
  • Coaching
  • Technology
  • More
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • Consumer
    • National
    • Our Editors
Join Premier
Sign In
RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
RISMedia
No Result
View All Result

Great Spaces: Preserving Architectural Heritage

Home Best Practices
By Joey Macari
December 10, 2022
Reading Time: 4 mins read
Great Spaces: Preserving Architectural Heritage

Above: Photo credit: Adrian Gaut

Property Highlights:
Location: Nyack, New York
Listing Price: $1.5 million
Features: 2.5-acre mid-century home with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.
Added Appeal: Asymmetrical, L-shaped floor plan with high ceilings and rows of glass windows for extra light and openness.

Located in a Hudson Valley hamlet of Blauvelt, the Socrates Zaferiou House is a custom-built, Usonian-style Frank Lloyd Wright prefab design that was built in 1961. Wright, widely considered the greatest American architect of all time, was best known for his philosophical-yet-functional design aesthetic that highlighted the more domesticated values of the 20th century.

RISMedia spoke with Richard Ellis of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty, who co-listed the home with partner Brandon Wagner, about the importance of preservation, some of the home’s standout features and what went into marketing this unique space.

Joey Macari: What makes this a Great Space?
Richard Ellis: The Socrates Zaferiou House, a customized version of the Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian-style home, is a great space because it’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian style “on steroids.” With larger rooms and taller ceilings, it also features a full-size basement. In addition, it is pure Frank Lloyd Wright. In fact, nothing has changed since it was built in 1961 by the same project architect who worked on the Guggenheim Museum. While the home was completed shortly after Wright’s death, it can also be considered a great space due to its location on 2.5 private acres within a 532-acre state park. Set on a hill, the structure fits into the site beautifully—and as the tall trees reach to the sky, the rooflines reach for the trees so that the structure is truly one with nature, which is the premise of Wright’s designs.

What also makes the space really great are the owners. Socrates Zaferiou, the original owner and a hard-working Greek immigrant who commuted to the Plaza Hotel in New York City almost every day for 40-plus years, never gave up trying to get Wright to approve a larger version of the Usonian style, with a fourth bedroom and a full basement. Finally, after almost two years, Wright agreed. The second owner, Sarah Anderson-Magness, proved to be the perfect caretaker—as she has been as passionate about the home as Socrates.

Photo credit: Robert Socha Photography

JM: How does the home’s historic significance factor into its marketability?
RE: The home’s connection to Frank Lloyd Wright makes it a star, especially in today’s real estate market where branding is very important. When we listed and sold the home the first time, not only did we have a very small number of showings compared to now, but also, nearly 20% of potential buyers either didn’t like the inherent style of Frank Lloyd Wright and/or wanted to renovate the kitchen and/or baths.

We had an extraordinary amount of press this time, as the home was featured in Bloomberg, NY Post, Architectural Digest, etc. This resulted in about 150 leads in two weeks and approximately 60 showings. Potential buyers flew in from Greece and California, and we even had FaceTime and WhatsApp video calls to Qatar, London, Bologna, Florida, California and more. Pretty much every single person who saw the house truly appreciated it for what it is today. Why? Because it’s a Frank Lloyd Wright house in prime condition and in an extraordinary setting.

JM: What are you looking for in a potential buyer or caretaker?
RE: We are marketing the property, which has been listed with a low asking price, with the intention of creating multiple bids to try to achieve the highest and best price. In addition to looking for a buyer to pay a record price, I’m looking for a caretaker who will preserve and protect this home for future generations to enjoy, learn from and spread the legacy of one of America’s greatest architects.

JM: What elements of the home stand out most to you?
RE: I love the sleek mid-century exterior design, and particularly how the carport integrates with the house. I love the fact that the living room is sunken, three steps off the entry foyer, and the large fireplace that’s almost six feet tall. I love how Wright designed multiple areas of the house where the walls “step in” or recess, creating much drama as one walks through and the space suddenly opens up with volume.

JM: How is preserving the historic integrity of this property crucial to its eventual sale?
RE: It’s everything. The original owner was looking for a steward who took great care of the home, as is the current owner.

JM: What should real estate agents specializing in historic houses be cognizant of?
RE: Provenance. The story behind the house. They should tell the story of the property to the world. It’s also important to contact the press, as they may be interested in doing a story about it, which will help sell the home if the seller permits. The key is to make the history relevant to lifestyle marketing that living in the home may create.

For more information, please visit https://www.ellissothebysrealty.com.

Tags: FeatureGreat SpacesReal Estate Magazine
ShareTweetShare

Joey Macari

Joey Macari is an RISMedia contributing editor.

Related Posts

Compass to Share Its Private Exclusives With Rivals, on Two Conditions
Agents

Compass to Share Its Private Exclusives With Rivals, on Two Conditions

July 11, 2025
Compass
Agents

Compass Expands in Colorado with Affiliation of PorchLight Real Estate Group

July 11, 2025
NAHB Awards Program Now Accepting Applications
Industry News

NAHB Awards Program Now Accepting Applications

July 11, 2025
PAVE
Industry News

HUD, OMB Eliminate Core Policies From Biden-Era Home Appraisal Task Force

July 11, 2025
media
Agents

Rich Media Isn’t a Luxury. It’s Your New Standard.

July 11, 2025
Affordability
Industry News

Housing Affordability Melts as Market Heats Up for Summer

July 11, 2025
Please login to join discussion
Tip of the Day

More Face Time: 3 Ways to Boost Engagement With Selfie-Style Content

In the age of TikTok, hyper-polished, overly-produced videos are a thing of the past. Today's most effective social media content is simple, scrappy and all you need is your phone. Read more.

Business Tip of the Day provided by

Recent Posts

  • Compass to Share Its Private Exclusives With Rivals, on Two Conditions
  • Compass Expands in Colorado with Affiliation of PorchLight Real Estate Group
  • NAHB Awards Program Now Accepting Applications

Categories

  • Spotlights
  • Best Practices
  • Advice
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Social Media

The Most Important Real Estate News & Events

Click below to receive the latest real estate news and events directly to your inbox.

Sign Up
By signing up, you agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

About Blog Our Products Our Team Contact Advertise/Sponsor Media Kit Email Whitelist Terms & Policies ACE Marketing Technologies LLC

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • News
    • Agents
    • Brokers
    • Teams
    • Consumer
    • Marketing
    • Coaching
    • Technology
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • National
    • Our Editors
  • Publications
    • Real Estate Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Custom Covers
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Podcasts
    • Event Coverage
  • Education
    • Get Licensed
    • REALTOR® Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Luxury Designation
    • Real Estate Tools
  • Newsmakers
    • 2025 Newsmakers
    • 2024 Newsmakers
    • 2023 Newsmakers
    • 2022 Newsmakers
    • 2021 Newsmakers
    • 2020 Newsmakers
    • 2019 Newsmakers
  • Power Broker
    • 2025 Power Broker
    • 2024 Power Broker
    • 2023 Power Broker
    • 2022 Power Broker
    • 2021 Power Broker
    • 2020 Power Broker
    • 2019 Power Broker
  • Join Premier
  • Sign In

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

X