01907 Summer 2018

OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Sagan and Harborside Sotheby’s
form real estate powerhouse
BY STACEY MARCUS
It was an interesting spring for the
real estate market this year. Along
with higher mortgage rates, tax
changes and a supply-demand disparity,
the spring brought the news
that two real estate firms, Sagan Realtors
and Harborside Sotheby’s ’s International
Realty, were merging to form Sagan
Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty.
We sat down with President Phyllis Sagan
and Partner Michael Cannuscio to hear
about the firms’ histories, merger and their
thoughts about 01907 and 01945.
When and how did the firms begin?
PS: Thirty five years ago I left my job as a
teacher and decided to go into real estate.
Our team of five worked in my basement
using a typewriter and carbon paper. I have
been blessed through the years with fabulous
agents, great customers and amazing
clients.
MC: I grew up in New York on Long
Island where my father was a developer,
appraiser and broker. I came to Boston
after graduating to work and go to law
school but knew I would end up in real estate.
After working as a corporate attorney
for several years I finally made the move.
I opened a small brokerage in Marblehead
in early 2002 and later founded Harborside
Realty with Dick McKinley and
Matt Dolan. We affiliated with Sotheby’s
International Realty in 2014 and merged
with Sagan Realty this spring.
Why did the merger make sense?
PS: We wanted a more global opportunity
to equip our agents with elevated marketing
tools to get more exposure to a broader
market.
MC: We wanted to combine our leadership,
experience and resources to create a
dynamic infrastructure for our agents to be
even more competitive and dominate our
the Swampscott and Marblehead markets.
What do the towns of Marblehead and
Swampscott mean to you?
PS and MC:
The towns of Swampscott and Marblehead
Realtors Phyllis Sagan and Michael Cannuscio.
are meaningful to us because (it’s where)
many of our Sagan Harborside colleagues
and clients live and love and where all of
our partners at Sagan Harborside reside.
PS: Marblehead is where I raised my
family and Swampscott is where I now
live and has been home to my business.
They are idyllic towns to live and where my
heart resides.
MC: Marblehead is where I have lived
most of my adult life since the mid 1990s
and it is where my children are growing up.
I moved to Marblehead because it reminded
me of where I grew up on the East End
of Long Island.
PHOTO BY SPENSER HASAK
What is your favorite landmark?
PS and MC: Beach Bluff Park in Swampscott
is a shared favorite landmark because
it is an entryway to both Swampscott and
Marblehead and illuminates the beauty of
living in these seaside communities.
What is something people don’t know
about you?
PS: Wednesday mornings are my favorite.
After so many property tours I still feel
excited about seeing all the new houses on
the market.
MC: I am an identical twin and my brother
Aubrey is also in real estate. I wish we
were the first twins to start a show on
HGTV. Maybe radio is the right medium
for us.
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