BrokerageNews

Movers & Shakers: RESO, BHGRE, RE/MAX, Pacaso, LGBTQ+, zavvie, Broker Public Portal

RESO Elects 2021 Officers and Directors

The Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) has announced its 2021 Executive Board along with the results of its Board of Directors election for five open seats and other board appointments.

2021 RESO Executive Board:

• Chair: Rebecca Jensen, President and CEO, Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC (MRED) – re-elected
• Vice-Chair: Michael Wurzer, President and CEO, FBS, Creators of Flexmls – re-elected
• Secretary: Katie Smithson, Director of Enterprise Services, W+R Studios, a Lone Wolf Company – elected
• Treasurer: Richard Renton, CEO, Triad MLS – re-elected

Representing Technology Companies, Developers, Partners & Consultants with Revenue Over $25 Million:

• Scott Woodard, CEO, ShowingTime – elected
– Lucie Fortier, Executive Leader, Product Management, CoreLogic – appointed
– Turan Tekin, Director, MLS and Industry Development, Zillow Group – appointed

Representing Multiple Listing Services and REALTOR® Associations with Less Than 50,000 Subscribers:

• John Breault, Vice President of MLS and Member Services, Rhode Island Association of REALTORS® & State-Wide MLS, Inc. – elected
• Chris Carrillo, CEO, Metro MLS (Incumbent) – elected

Representing Class D, Real Estate Brokerages, Brokers, Agents & Appraisers:

• Bill Fowler, Senior Director of Industry Relations, Compass – elected
• Dan Troup, Director of Data Strategy & Operations, RE/MAX & Seventy3, LLC (Incumbent) – elected

RESO Board Advisors:

• Bob Evans – VP Industry Relations, Move.com
• Liz Tewksbury – Director of MLS Operations, Homesnap

Other 2021 RESO Board Members: 

Todd Carpenter, Director, Strategic Investments, National Association of REALTORS® (NAR); Jason Normandin, Project Manager, National Association of REALTORS® (NAR); Chip McAvoy, VP Emerging Products and Technology, Black Knight Financial Services; Mark Lesswing, Owner, Lesswing, LLC; Art Carter, CEO, California Regional MLS (CRMLS); Brian Donnellan, President & CEO, Bright MLS; Shayne Fairley, Chief Operations Officer, Stellar MLS; and Jeff Young, COO/GM, Realtors Property Resource, LLC (RPR).

“RESO welcomes our new officers and board members, and we are thankful for the time and effort put forth by the directors whose terms are coming to an end,” said Sam DeBord, CEO at RESO.

In noting departing board members Steve Byrd, CTO, Canopy MLS; Amy Gorce, Principal, Business Development, CoreLogic; Melissa King, VP of MLS Services, Stellar MLS; and Scott Petronis, Lakes Homes Realty, DeBord added, “Their outstanding volunteerism and tireless advocacy for RESO has set a high bar for everyone.”

About the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO)

RESO provides the foundation for streamlined real estate technology through the creation and certification of standards. Our member organizations include MLSs, brokerages, REALTOR® associations and technology partners serving more than one million real estate professionals. | reso.org


BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCES AFFILIATION OF Star Properties of the Florida Keys

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced today that Star Properties of the Florida Keys based in Key Largo, Fla., has affiliated with the BHGRE® brand. The company will now be known as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Destinations.
Founded and led by Jaclyn Kelley, a boutique brokerage in Key Largo serves the Upper Florida Keys, focusing on the islands of Key Largo, Tavernier and Islamorada. With one office and 15 affiliated agents, the firm is on track to account for nearly $25 million in sales volume in 2020. The majority of agents are originally from the area, providing an unparalleled, in-depth knowledge of the market that sets the company apart from competitors.
According to Kelley, COVID-19 has heightened interest in the area as consumers seek second homes in less populated areas. The ability to work from home has also increased activity in the Florida Keys market. As a result, people are spending more time in their vacation properties.
The Florida Keys are a unique chain of islands connected by bridges stretching for 100 miles that appeals to year-round residents and vacation homeowners alike. The region’s tropical climate, beautiful ocean vistas and marine life create a stunning backdrop for water-based activities such as swimming, paddle boarding, boating, fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving.

RE/MAX Sells 500+ Franchises and Renews 600+ Brokerages Amid Pandemic

RE/MAX, LLC announced today that in the period between the beginning of shutdown measures to stem the coronavirus in March through the end of the third quarter 2020, the global real estate franchisor sold 509 franchises, renewed 621 franchises worldwide and welcomed North Macedonia into the RE/MAX family.

“The benefits of aligning with the #1 name in real estate in the U.S.[1] are even more crucial to successful entrepreneurs in a year as unpredictable as 2020,” said Peter Luft, RE/MAX Vice President of Franchise Sales. “Beyond brand awareness, we saw the power of association with top producers in the industry on full display during 2020. With franchisees exchanging ideas and taking advantage of exclusive new tools, training and technology, this year demonstrated that the RE/MAX network doesn’t back down when times get tough. We roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

With support from the global franchisor, including best-in-class resources and a vast referral network, RE/MAX Broker/Owners are in business for themselves but not by themselves. In fact, RE/MAX has been doubling down on support to its network during the crisis.

“We joined RE/MAX simply because it was the best thing to do for our agents and their businesses,” said Chris Parker, Co-Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Incompass in West Chester, OH. “The tools and branding are unmatched. We’ve been with RE/MAX a little over 60 days and it’s everything I thought it would be. Knowing what we know now, I wish we had made the jump to RE/MAX sooner.”

“We have so much more on the horizon,” said Josh Bolgren, Senior Vice President, Region Development. “The sales and renewals we’ve seen even in a year as unpredictable as 2020 validates everything we’ve done up to this point. We focus on ensuring that RE/MAX franchisees have what they need to attract and develop the most skilled agents in the business. We work closely with our new offices to help them grow their business and serve their local buyers and sellers.”

Of the 509 new RE/MAX franchises sold between March and September, 9 offices were awarded conversions of existing companies, whether independent or franchised. One of those conversions was Katy and John Martinelli of RE/MAX 1st Choice in Coral Springs, FL who left Real Living for RE/MAX in August.

“RE/MAX wants us to succeed, and we want our agents to have the tools and brand power they need to grow their businesses,” Martinelli said. “The time was right to join RE/MAX, and we look forward to continued success – for our agents and the homebuyers and sellers we serve.”

A group of 2020 renewals included RE/MAX Gold, a multi-brokerage operation that includes RE/MAX One and RE/MAX Realty Affiliates. It is the #1 RE/MAX franchise in the world based on number of agents. “When Gold Nation agents compete for listings, they’re bringing a powerful global brand and all the tools and professionalism that come with it,” Broker/Owner and Chief Executive Officer James O’Bryon said. “Who else can say that? Nobody.”

zavvie and Samson Properties unlock iBuyer and bridge access for more local homeowners with new seller platform

Homeowners in the Washington, D.C., metro area are about to gain access to a wealth of knowledge about their biggest financial asset — their house — and better understand all of their options when the time comes to sell. For decades, homeowners wanting to sell their home either worked with a real estate agent or attempted to list and sell a property on their own. Today more than ever, homeowners crave the help of a real estate professional — and they’ll need it, as there are more options when selling a home than ever before.

 

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zavvie, the first end-to-end real estate brokerage platform offering the full spectrum of selling solutions, is helping Samson Properties bring iBuyer and bridge “buy before you sell” options to more homeowners across Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. to see every selling choice.

Samson Properties is one of the nation’s largest independently owned real estate brokerages and home to more than 3,700 Realtors working out of its 30 offices. Known for its family-driven company values and an empowering and supportive atmosphere, Samson Properties is headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, and ranked as the third-largest real estate brokerage in the Washington, D.C., metro area by Washington Business Journal; it’s the 52nd-largest brokerage in the nation per REAL Trends.

PACASO IS THE LATEST TO JOIN THE LGBTQ+ REAL ESTATE ALLIANCE AS A CORPORATE MEMBER AND PARTNER

Pacaso is the latest company to become a corporate member and partner of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, demonstrating Pacaso’s commitment to elevating and empowering the LGBTQ+ real estate community. Pacaso will also work with the Alliance to highlight professional and second home ownership opportunities for its members.

Pacaso, which launched in October, was co-founded by former Zillow executives Spencer Rascoff and Austin Allison to modernize the generation-old practice of real estate co-ownership by creating a marketplace that makes it simple to buy and sell shares of a second home.

We’re thrilled to partner with Pacaso and introduce Alliance agents to the best of the best second home co-ownership listings,” said Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the LBGTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. “This is innovation at its finest and a bona fide opportunity for our members to showcase new opportunities in second home ownership that can allow a client’s dream to become reality.”

Pacaso, which currently operates in 25 markets across 10 states, partners with real estate agents to help buyers co-own real estate. All Pacaso homes are set up in a professionally managed LLC uniquely designed for co-ownership. The buyer will purchase their desired share — for example, one eighth or one fourth of the home, which will guarantee them access to the home for that portion of the year. After closing, Pacaso will manage the property, and owners will use Pacaso’s mobile app for scheduling, bill pay and more. Buyers will pay a 10 percent fee at the time of purchase, and then will pay an annual LLC management fee equal to 1 percent of the purchase price. Pacaso offers full buyer and seller commission.

The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance was founded in June 2020 as an all-inclusive organization and currently has more than 50 chapters in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Broker Public Portal expands footprint with the addition of Greater Southern MLS

 Greater Southern MLS and the Broker Public Portal (BPP) jointly announced today that real estate agent members of Greater Southern MLS, representing nearly one-third of all Louisiana Realtors, now have access to Homesnap, the public-facing brand of the BPP. The addition of Greater Southern MLS and its 700+ members expands the BPP with Homesnap footprint, covering more than 90% of all property listings nationwide.