He is intrigued by expanding his network to include a luxury marketplace with water. Along with co-owner Randy Lyn Ketive, they currently employ 520 sales people who did 1.225 billion dollars worth of business last year with a projection of 1.3 billion dollars for this year. According to the RealTrends 500 report, the firm was ranked 11th in the country and 1st in New Jersey for the highest average sales price.

Mr. Oppler sees his move to the historic Yonder Hill building on 9W as being the logical next step. His regard for historic properties will be evidenced in his keeping his new location as original as possible from the floorboards to the ceiling beams. “Only desks will be added” he said. He has already started to repair and repaint the exterior of the building in keeping with its original look and color. Even his sign will bear just the Prominent Properties name, further advancing his feeling that properties come first and not his people. Not that his people aren’t important; they are, and he will be taking many of them from his nearby offices in Alpine and Hillsdale since they are licensed in New York as well.

Mr. Oppler feels that Palisades should have its own real estate office in a building that is reminiscent of the town and that the professionalism of having a famous auction house name behind him gives him a firm foundation. He confirmed that the lease has been signed and is currently waiting for the approved use from the township of Orangetown. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, his goal is to be open before the end of the year.

Since Mr. Oppler has vast experience in selling historic homes that have a story behind them in high end markets, he anticipates that this story will have a happy ending for all.