Barbara Fox

Founder, Fox Residential Group — Now The Fox Residential Team at Brown Harris Stevens

In 1989, Barbara Fox founded Fox Residential Group, a boutique real estate firm specializing in the sale of luxury properties on Manhattan’s Upper East and West Sides. Prior to launching her firm, Barbara had already established herself as one of New York City’s leading residential brokers and managers. At Cross & Brown Company, she created and led a residential division of more than 60 brokers within the firm’s large commercial platform.

What began as a five-broker office grew into a respected team of over 30 professionals. Under Barbara’s leadership, Fox Residential became synonymous with integrity, expertise, and personalized service—guiding clients through the purchase, sale, and rental of cooperatives, condominiums, and townhouses across Manhattan and Brooklyn.

In 1988, Barbara helped found the Residential Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and has since played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s residential brokerage community. Over the years, she has chaired and served on numerous REBNY committees, spearheaded key industry initiatives, and sat on the Residential Board of Directors for more than three decades. She has also served on REBNY’s Board of Governors and Residential Ethics Committee.

From the committee’s inception 37 years ago, Barbara has co-chaired the team responsible for REBNY’s premier annual fundraising event—the Residential Deal of the Year / Member in Need Charity and Awards Celebration. The event’s proceeds have supported organizations aiding New York City’s homeless population and, more recently, the REBNY Member in Need Fund, which assists industry members facing personal hardship.

Barbara’s outstanding contributions have been widely recognized. She received the Henry Forster Memorial Award in 1997 for lifetime achievement in residential real estate, and the Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award in 2015 for her exceptional service to the community.

In November 2025, Barbara and her entire brokerage team joined Brown Harris Stevens, continuing their legacy as The Fox Residential Team.

Beyond real estate, Barbara’s compassion extends to her work in animal welfare. She is the founder and director of WOOF Dog Rescue, a nonprofit that saves dogs and cats from New York City shelters, places them in foster care for rehabilitation, and finds them permanent loving homes.

 A native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Barbara attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a graduate of Boston University. She resides on Manhattan’s Upper East Side with her husband, James Freund, retired senior partner at Skadden Arps, and their six beloved rescue dogs.