If there’s one word that doesn’t always come to mind when pondering the high-stakes world of real estate, it’s teamwork. Just browse this or any other magazine on the East End: what you see is page after page of brokers and agents, showcasing “exclusive” listings of some of the most beautiful homes on Earth. The upside is that there is never a shortage of impressive inventory to choose from. The downside, of course, is the unenviable task of choosing that one agent who will listen, always act in your best interest, and, more than anything else, bring an unmatched expertise to the A-Z process of buying or selling. In keeping with the impossibly high standards of Brown Harris Stevens, an Exclusive Affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, Mark Baron and Jane Babcook offer a different approach.
“The type of concierge service our customers demand and deserve is above and beyond the conventional agent/client relationship that clients have too often become used to,” says Mark Baron, a local real estate legend with more than a decade under his belt and who achieved the designation of Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist in both 2015 and 2016 — an exclusive club reserved for only the most accomplished. “We find that the more knowledge you bring to the experience, the more successful the transaction will be,” says Baron. Babcook, who has earned top agent awards in her nearly two decades in Hamptons real estate, couldn’t agree more.
“The trick for me was finding the right partner,” says Babcook. “And, while Mark and I benefit from complementary proficiencies and diverse experiences, we have different approaches. Mark is very excited about the synergy being created with our partnership. I am a member of the Architectural Review Board in North Haven, the Sag Harbor Yacht Club, the Breakwater Yacht Club and am integrally involved in those communities. My proven track record in new construction, combined with Mark’s extensive business experience South of the Highway, proves on either end of the spectrum, the real winners are our clients.”
It’s a philosophy that is aligned with Brown Harris Stevens, the quintessential luxury residential real estate firm, with a history of leadership and a culture of professionalism and discretion dating back to 1873. “I guess you could say we take the culture espoused by Brown Harris Stevens, and ramp it up a notch with our unique approach to serving clients,” says Baron, who is firmly guided by the principle that the welfare of clients outweighs any advantage that might be gained from the relationship. That said, the synergistic relationship between him and Babcook is a force of nature. Take Babcook’s pedigree. A “Multi-million Dollar Club” member at the Corcoran Group until joining Brown Harris Stevens in 2015, she is now one of the top producers in the very competitive Brown Harris Stevens Bridgehampton office. Her gumption is a prime example of the apple not falling far from the tree. Jane’s father taught her that strength, independence, and hard work are the key elements to success. She put those principles to work at an early age with a passion for horses. She first worked under Olympic and World Cup riders, managing on-the-road duties for sometimes up to 25 horses, both nationally and internationally.
“I believe that the attention to detail, and the calm, yet hard work ethic that is so characteristic of the horse industry was great training for the demands of a successful real estate career,” says Babcook. After becoming a mom in the ’90s, she migrated from the world of equestrianism (where she remains active today more on the philanthropic side) to a career in real estate. “The Hampton Classic Horse Show is an opportunity in June each year for me, and Brown Harris Stevens, to give back to special guests and the dedicated volunteers at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian Therapeutic Riding Center, whom we invite for a day under the tent to watch the finest in show jumping,” says Babcook. Also an avid chef and boater, her love of the water is the perfect downtime to explore the scenic beauty of the area, whether it’s fishing, sailing, digging for clams, or paddle boarding. “I have a philosophy in life to treat customers like I would my friends: do what you can to make it a successful, enriching experience,” says Babcook. “The rest should take care of itself.” That just might be the lynchpin that makes Babcook and Baron so dynamic together. Baron, too, has a love of the aquatic, claiming that the Caribbean is second only to the Hamptons: his favorite pastime in the off-season is cruising throughout the Caribbean, where he derives inspiration from some of his favorite luxury getaways like St. Barths and St. John. Nonetheless, his heart stays close to home.
“The Hamptons offers the best of everything I love most. The unspoiled landscapes and vistas are incomparable, and my wife, Susan, and I enjoy sailing out of Sag Harbor to Mashomack Nature Preserve and hiking the Walking Dunes in Amagansett,” says Baron. “The farm fields and vineyards are also a huge part of the geography and aesthetic that appeal to me.” It’s hard to believe that Baron has any free time at all. “I generally don’t take days off in the Hamptons. I’m just too busy,” he says. “I make up for it when I’m on my boat in St. John. But when time allows, my recreation on the East End is spent sailing, doing yoga, hiking, and eating great food!” And, of course, cultivating his clients with his new partner in the business of getting people into the home of their dreams. Being intricately involved in over $1 billion in residential sales and rentals, Baron’s keen negotiating skills, vast experience, and complete discretion have allowed him to represent some of the Hamptons most renowned properties and high net-worth clientele, and to provide them with the invaluable service of bringing together the right home and the right buyer or tenant and then expertly guiding them through the complexities of Hamptons real estate transactions. And, for Baron, that is now all done better together.
Mark J. Baron
Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
mbaron@bhshamptons.com
631.537.4333 c/ 631.800.1125
Jane Babcook
Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
jbabcook@bhshamptons.com
631.537.4346 c/ 631.680.1001