Accomplished real estate veteran, investor, and entrepreneur Edward Longley has found his latest flagship project: spearheading the growth of New Jersey Elite Group, a collective of top real estate professionals and investors finding investment opportunities for clients throughout the United States. Longley joined NJ Elite Group as its COO after a long and storied career with The Hollingsworth Group, a New York-based real estate investment firm known for working with C-level executives, real estate developers, celebrities, investors, and businesses.
As he steps into his new role at NJ Elite Group, he plans to develop strategic partnerships while leveraging the organization’s resources and influence to champion civic improvement initiatives. Committed to sustainable construction, he aims to help clients identify eco-friendly investment opportunities nationwide. A long-time supporter of multiple charities, he has also expressed plans to collaborate with local nonprofits to support neighborhoods and communities in New Jersey.
Throughout his time at The Hollingsworth Group, which he founded in 2011, Longley observed the importance of keeping the quality of a company’s services consistent despite the ebbs and flows of the real estate industry. During the course of running a business in Manhattan, New York, Longley experienced some rather extreme downturns in the real estate market following unexpected catastrophes such as the 9/11 attacks, the Northeast Blackout of 2003, Hurricane Sandy, the 2007-2008 financial crisis, and the Covid-19 Pandemic. Despite this, Longley recognized the value of going above and beyond when it came to customer service, and his persistence eventually paid off as THG weathered these storms. “I had to work twice as hard, with a focus on innovation during certain years, as we seemed to have a major crisis every 3 or 4 years,” Longley explained.
At The Hollingsworth Group, Longley also displayed his long-term interest in the creative use of technology to solve real estate problems and stated: “We utilized a blend of cutting-edge tech-based solutions for both residential and commercial real estate to produce unprecedented results.” While there, Longley developed: the company’s proprietary real estate concierge and relocation program, which provides everything from limousine service to unique financing options, to aiding in the installation of telephone lines; its “Giving Back” charitable initiatives; its quantum technology platform, which helped the firm buy low and sell above market value; and Edge Marketing, a multi-channel marketing approach, which aids the entire real estate process and enabled the firm to produce record-breaking numbers. Longley’s interest in technology has also positively affected his other endeavors, including AI marketing and operations pioneer Alpha Trend, where he participates as a silent partner and at the esteemed auction house and international real estate firm Sotheby’s, where he acted as Team President and Global Real Estate Director.
The openness to new ideas and entrepreneurial spirit that drove Longley to get involved with NJ Elite Group began long before his time at THG, as his journey in business began in his 20s, when he worked as a National Sales Manager in the gift industry, working to facilitate deals with major retailers such as Frank’s Nursery & Crafts, Party City, and Michael’s. Longley eventually developed an interest in real estate and received an MBA in Management and Leadership and a Master’s degree in Education. He went on to serve in leadership positions at companies such as MassMutual, Sotheby’s, and Alpha Trend.
Today, Longley is diligently working on the expansion of NJ Elite Group with ethical considerations in mind. “We have wonderfully talented people and a profitable business here, but they are also good human beings. I want integrity to be a core component of the way we do business going forward”, he opines. NJ Elite Group is looking to potentially offer internships and a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) at some point in the future. Longley continues to use his expertise in real estate, wealth management, technology, and people building to find new avenues for NJ Elite Group to achieve its goals. Longley expressed confidence in his ability to boost the company’s presence within its niche, stating, “We have a state of the art, proprietary business model, and amazing leadership at NJ Elite Group. Now it’s time to show the world what we can do.”
Written in partnership with Tom White
