Our History
Tate & Foss
1870
Walker’s Variety Store
The future home of Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty was built by the Walker family of Rye and aptly named Walker’s Variety Store.
1870
1969
1969
Iona & Irving
Longtime Rye postmistress Iona Walker married Irving Jenness and the location became a grocery store, gas station and post office.
1970
The First Listing
While the company would later market many of the finest and most important properties in Rye, its first listing came on Maple Road in North Hampton, offered at a modest $75,000—still a handsome sum for the 1970s.
1970
1976
1976
Ned Tate
Ned Tate, a lifelong Rye resident who held the coveted Senior Residential Appraiser designation, opened E.H. Tate and Company and Tate & Co. Appraisers. Pat Foss would join the real estate company in 1981 as its only salesperson. The team worked out of their respective homes—authentic ‘kitchen brokers.’ Mr. Tate and Mrs. Foss went into business together in December 1984.
1988
Washington Road
The business was moved to a former upscale women’s clothing store at 566 Washington Road. The handsome restoration in a historic area drew public praise and raised the company’s local profile. Tate and Foss began to steadily grow the sales team, listing and selling premier properties, while becoming leaders in the seacoast community.
1988
1990
1990
Recession & Recovery
The recession of 1990-1993 caused many agents to seek new companies. Tate and Foss had an excellent reputation and attracted several of the area’s best agents, creating a dynamic and prolific sales team. Barb Shea, a sales leader then and now, joined the company and became its sales manager. John Rice, chair of Portsmouth’s Historic District Commission and future president of both the Seacoast Board of Realtors and New Hampshire Association of Realtors, also joined the team.
2000
Continued Growth
With its trademark professionalism, customer service and marketing acumen, the company continued to grow and prosper through the millennium. Its seasoned sales team became well known throughout the seacoast, exceeding the volume of many larger companies.
2000
2010
2010
Sotheby's Affiliation
The company sought to meet the challenges of modern real estate by affiliating with Sotheby’s International Realty. The move strengthened its position by offering access to innovative advertising programs and an entrée into the international real estate market.
2013
Tony Jalbert
Tony Jalbert, a consistent top-producing agent, purchased the company from Ned Tate. With 25 years of successful business experience operating a privately-held family business, Jalbert set out to build upon the solid foundation created by Tate, upgrading agency essentials such as office space, technology and cutting-edge sales and marketing tools.
2013
2014
2014
Lynne Joyce
Central to the rebranding of Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty is new sales manager Lynne Joyce. With an MBA and a solid marketing background, Joyce joined the company in 2005 and established herself as a successful sales agent. She is responsible for leading our team of sales associates, from overall marketing to managing each transaction toward a successful closing.
2021
Key to Success
Today, we are the greater Seacoast area’s preferred boutique agency for the marketing and sale of unique, luxury and waterfront properties. We consistently have the highest average sales price in our market, year after year. The key to our success is a family-oriented culture which emphasizes working together as a team to provide the best possible service to our clients.
