Brokerage 2017 A Change Of Pace For The Good

Our annual report on the brokerage industry shows shifting market trends—many in favor of American buyers.

- Kim Kavin

The presidential election of 2016 had all the world’s eyes on America, but for spring 2017, a good number of Americans may be turning their gaze to Europe.

That is, if they’re interested in ferreting out some serious brokerage deals.

Three brokerage market trends appear positioned to intersect for spring 2017: the U.S. economy’s recovery, the weakening euro and the bullish attitude being stoked by the promise of business-tax cuts under President Trump. Taken together, these trends mean Americans might be poised for a spending spree on solid-quality brokerage yachts.

“America recovered first and did stimulus first, and then, America is America—the most powerful economy in the world,” says broker Matt Albert at the Monaco office of Yachting Partners International. “All through that same time, the Euro was really expensive. It was only people sitting on stupid amounts of money who could afford to buy a Lürssen or a Feadship or an Oceanco brand-new. Now, those order books, probably half of them are Americans. The opportunity is huge: You can get more for your dollar now. It will, for sure, affect brokerage as well. You’re going to see the Americans going to Europe now the way we were seeing the Europeans and Australians going to America the past few years.”

Rob Newton, a broker with Superyacht Sales & Charter who closed in 2016 on 205-foot (62.4-meter) Icon Party Girl, sees the Americans-in-Europe trend hitting the 130- to 160-foot range in particular. That market segment is packed with production and semicustom designs that have similar features on both sides of the pond, making dollar-for-euro comparisons easier.