DOES REALTOR RIVAL HAVE CORCORAN IN CROSSHAIRS?
Is the still-hot real estate market in Palm Beach primed for a winter war? A former Corcoran bigwig is setting up shop in a prime space left vacant by the local branch of his old company — and he has lured away as many as seven Corcoran agents, his entire staff. David Fite is the NYC-based real estate giant’s former chief financial officer. He engineered the 2004 takeovers of several small but well-known Palm Beach firms, instantly making Corcoran a major player. Now, it seems he wants to eat off Corcoran’s plate. Since he opened Fite & Associates a month ago, the high-profile names who have jumped ship include Joan Wenzel, who “owns” the market on The Island’s south side, Scott Gordon and Mimi Vail. Asked if he was pursuing Corcoran agents, Fite said: “We simply try to hire the best. Our business model is different from theirs in that we are locally managed and provide the highest level of services.” To add salt to the wounds, Fite today takes over Corcoran’s old high-visibility offic
