Independent Real Estate Brands Continue to Lead with $372 Billion in Home Sales

– Global real estate network has led the industry in sales for over 10 consecutive years. –

 

CHICAGO – (4/25/18) – The independent firms that comprise Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) continue to lead the industry, with $372 billion in U.S. home sales in 2017, $55 billion ahead of its closest competitor.

Among the top 500 U.S. real estate firms, LeadingRE was responsible for more sales units than any other group, with 24.5% of the total units, totaling 1.1 million transactions.

Figures for the top 500 firms are verified and published by REAL Trends each April. Figures for total sales of all networks are estimated by using average sales units per agent for each network’s firms in the REAL Trends 500, multiplied across each network’s entire agent population.

“Independent brands continue to resonate with consumers, who are drawn to the authenticity and local expertise of firms that are deeply rooted in the community,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Paul Boomsma. “When these firms are further strengthened by the connections and resources of a global network like ours, they offer home buyers and sellers the best of both worlds – locally and globally.”

With 565 member firms in over 70 countries, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® invites only the highest quality independent companies for membership and supports them with its award-winning professional development programs and events, innovative technology and marketing resources, industry-leading referral network, Luxury Portfolio International® marketing program, and connections to people and opportunities worldwide. To learn more about LeadingRE, visit LeadingRE.com.

To view the complete REAL Trends 500 report, visit realtrends.com/rankings/rt500.

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LeadingRE Bar Chart

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Names Morrice to Board of Directors

– Company’s past President/CEO Pam O’Connor also assumes board seat. –
 


LeadingRE BOD Member and Global Advisory Board Chairman Frank Morrice, Servmor Realty, Panama City, Panama

 

CHICAGO, IL – (04/05/18) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has named Frank Morrice of Servmor Realty in Panama City, Panama, to its 13-person board of directors, which provides guidance for the global community of market-leading real estate firms in 70 countries. Also joining the board is Pam O’Connor, who recently retired as LeadingRE president/CEO.

Morrice serves as general manager of Servmor Realty (formerly Semusa Realty), a position he has held since 2001. He is a promoter and active contributor of ACOBIR, Panama’s Multiple Listing Service, and was recognized by ACOBIR in 2011 as a featured member for his efforts in developing the MLS. Among other industry positions, he is a member of the International Entrepreneur Organization, serving on its board in 2016 and 2017. Morrice also serves as chairman of LeadingRE’s Global Advisory Board.

“Frank is an excellent addition to our board of directors and ideal for his role as chairman of our Global Advisory Board. He is an enthusiastic advocate for all our programs, ranging from cross-border referrals to online learning through Institute, supporting our mission of providing relevant, impactful services for our members around the world,” said Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® President/CEO Paul Boomsma. “Of course, we are also fortunate to benefit from Pam’s continued involvement and know that she will complement the talented brokers who provide leadership for our network.”

Joining Morrice and O’Connor on the board are Chairman Joe Horning, Shorewest Realtors, Wis.; Immediate Past Chairman Pat Riley Allen Tate Company, Charlotte, N.C.; Vice Chairman Diane M. Ramirez, Halstead Real Estate, New York, N.Y.; Secretary Howard W. (Hoby) Hanna IV, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Cleveland, Ohio; Treasurer Rob Sibcy, Sibcy Cline, Realtors, Cincinnati, Ohio; Carol Bulman, Jack Conway & Company, Norwell, Mass.; Harold Crye, Crye-Leike Inc-Nashville, Memphis, Tenn.; Mike Pappas, The Keyes Company, Miami, Fla.; Ron Peltier, HomeServices of America, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.; Patrick M. Shea, Lyon Real Estate, Sacramento, Calif.; and William Watson, Jr., Watson Realty Corporation, Jacksonville, Fla.

Morrice succeeds Ron Stader, president and co-owner of CIR Realty in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who previously served on the board and as chairman of the Global Advisory Board.

With a global membership that spans seven continents, LeadingRE connects more than 565 firms and 130,000 sales associates who produce over 1.1 million real estate transactions each year. LeadingRE provides its affiliates with an extensive range of brokerage services, which include lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, professional development and unique events.

To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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Paul Boomsma Becomes LeadingRE President and CEO

– LeadingRE implements succession plan that also includes Stephanie Anton’s promotion to Luxury Portfolio president. –


LeadingRE President/CEO Paul Boomsma and
Luxury Portfolio International President Stephanie Anton

CHICAGO – (April 2, 2018) – Paul Boomsma assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) today. Boomsma, who has served as the company’s chief operating officer and president of its Luxury Portfolio International® division, succeeds long-time CEO Pam O’Connor, who announced her retirement from LeadingRE in January.

“We are very pleased to have Paul’s leadership as we continue the progress achieved over the past 20-plus years,” said LeadingRE Chairman of the board Joe Horning of Wisconsin’s Shorewest Realtors. “I have had the pleasure of working with Paul for the past 13 years and have always been inspired by his passion, insight and dedication to the success of LeadingRE and our members around the world. His grasp of both marketing and technology are ideally-suited to this phase of our business, and his history with the organization makes this a very seamless transition.”

Boomsma brings more than 20 years of real estate experience to his new position. He began his career marketing luxury office towers, later heading marketing for a top Chicago residential firm before becoming national marketing director for a major franchise. Boomsma is responsible for creating Luxury Portfolio International®, the highly successful high-end marketing division of LeadingRE and subsequently was tasked with also heading operations and strategic marketing for LeadingRE as COO.

He is a frequent industry speaker on topics that include consumer trends, technology innovation, global business practices and working with affluent buyers and sellers. Among his many distinctions, he was named to the 2018 Swanepoel Power 200, ranked on Inman’s Most Influential and received the Unique Homes’ Award for Excellence in Luxury Home Marketing.

Robust Executive Team

Stephanie Anton, who has served as executive vice president of Luxury Portfolio International®, was also promoted as part of the LeadingRE succession plan and is now president of Luxury Portfolio. A graduate of Boston University with a Masters in Integrated Marketing from Northwestern, she has over 15 years of experience in real estate and luxury marketing for brokerages and networks and has been instrumental in building Luxury Portfolio for the past 12 years.

Other members of the company’s current senior management team include long-time Chief Financial Officer Alan Cazzato; Bob Portale, chief executive officer of the company’s sister relocation management company, RELO Direct®, Inc.; Executive Vice President, Member Services Elizabeth Nunan; Executive Vice President, Operations Jessica Edgerton; and Executive Vice President, Global Operations Chris Dietz.

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