About William Phipps | The Storytelling Realtor®

The Story Of William.

I've lived on the North Shore for two decades. From the moment my wife and I first visited, it was never a question. This was home. Now with two young kids and a dog to complete the picture, we're rooted in Newburyport - a city with maritime history, extraordinary real estate, and the kind of community that shows up for itself. The perfect balance of coast and character.

As it turns out, the connection runs deeper than I knew. Sir William Phips - shipbuilder, treasure hunter and first royal governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay - is a distant ancestor. Some ties to a place are centuries in the making.

For 30 years before real estate, I told the stories of some of America's most recognised brands - from Merrill Lynch to Harley-Davidson - managing marketing investments of over $100 million a year. That experience taught me one thing above everything else. Emotions drive decisions. Data just justifies them afterwards.

That's the insight behind The Storytelling Realtor®. Every listing I write, every offer I craft, every negotiation I lead is shaped by that understanding. Not just presenting a home - inviting a future. Not just making a deal - writing the next chapter.

At Engel & Völkers By The Sea, I bring that same discipline to the North Shore. White glove service at every price point. Market intelligence translated into strategy. And a commitment to doing things the right way - every single time.

Because whether you're buying, selling or simply wondering what's possible, the story starts with a conversation.

About Town.

Living and working on the North Shore isn’t just about selling homes, it’s about being part of the community that makes this place remarkable.

I believe in giving back, whether that’s supporting local causes, championing small businesses, or helping preserve the history and character that make our towns unique. Outside of work, I love exploring the streets of Newburyport and beyond with my children, sharing the stories behind its architecture and landmarks.

Because to me, real estate isn’t just about where you live, it’s about belonging to something bigger.

Newburyport Preservation Trust

Perfect context - here's the rewrite:

Newburyport Preservation Trust

Every May, Preservation Week brings Newburyport's history to life in ways that stop you in your tracks. This year Harrison and Harlow got to meet the musket team at the historic Powder House - a building that has stood since the Revolutionary War, now opened for tours and brought alive with a live firing demonstration in full period costume.

Watching two young kids encounter that moment - the smoke, the sound, the stories - is exactly why this place matters. Newburyport doesn't just preserve its history. It performs it.

Proud to support the Newburyport Preservation Trust in keeping these stories alive for the next generation.
Fun with Artificial Intelligence

Love this - it's very you. Provocative, confident, a little cheeky. Here's the rewrite with more substance:

Fun with Artificial Intelligence

A word on AI. It's everywhere in real estate right now - and you can tell. If you've ever read a listing that opens with "Welcome to this stunning home" or drowns in exclamation marks and emojis, that's an agent letting a algorithm do their thinking for them.

I take a different view. AI is a remarkable tool when used with intention and a point of view behind it. The technology doesn't replace the story - it helps tell it faster. But only if the human using it actually has something worth saying.

So yes, I use AI. Just not lazily.
Talking With Town Leadership

Here's the rewrite:

Talking With Town Leadership

Understanding where a market is heading means understanding the people who shape it. The North Shore Realtors Association brought together planners and town managers from across the region for their annual spring forum - an open conversation about current regulations, zoning developments and what's coming next.

Stephen Cram was among those sharing his perspective on the planning landscape. These are the conversations that don't make the headlines but absolutely shape the market. Knowing what's in the pipeline - before it becomes public knowledge - is part of what it means to give clients a genuine edge.

Data without insight is just noise. This is where the insight comes from.
Annual Mother's Day Flowers

Every Mother's Day, the team at 42 Merrimac does something simple. We put together beautiful bouquets and hand them out to the mothers of Newburyport - no agenda, no pitch, just a thank you to the people who hold this community together.

It's a small gesture. But in a town built on character and connection, small gestures are how you show you actually mean it when you say you're part of the place.