Top Real Estate Company or Top Agent (Orlando: short sales, insurance)

[TonyOC]

Hi Everyone,

I am a Real Estate Broker in Southern California. I'm moving to Orlando by the end of the year to be with my family again. I'm looking for the best RE company i can find to join with. I also mentioned "Top Agent" in the title because usually, a top agent is associated with a good company that provides them with the resources they need to do their business.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you very much for your time and recommendations.

- Tony

(a top company or agent would be, in my opinion, most productive and/or one that has signs that you see all the time)

[annerk]

Check out Orlando magazine, they do a section on top Realtors every month or two.

[TonyOC]

Thanks, I'll give that a shot.

[GregTraub]

Top 15 for the month of June direct from the Orlando Regional Realtor Associations Website. (apologies for the formatting)

Rank Office ID Office Name Count Volume Count Volume Count Volume
1 50096 CHARLES RUTENBERG RLTY 75 10,866,550.00 72 10,291,613.00 147 21,158,163.00
2 771343 CHARLES RUTENBERG REALTY,INC. 46 7,329,755.00 70 12,310,880.00 116 19,640,635.00
3 281518938 RE/MAX ALLIANCE GROUP 62 11,163,030.00 34 8,468,900.00 96 19,631,930.00
4 55055 NON-MFRMLS OFFICE 1 180,000.00 105 18,104,165.00 106 18,284,165.00
5 639500 COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL 38 10,397,562.00 36 7,873,401.00 74 18,270,963.00
6 616100 SMITH & ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE 25 12,741,550.00 17 5,229,730.00 42 17,971,280.00
7 51957H COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL RE 51 9,756,086.00 33 5,865,224.00 84 15,621,310.00
8 51957J COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL RE 51 7,633,400.00 38 7,825,752.00 89 15,459,152.00
9 266510204 MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY 14 6,935,000.00 18 7,959,450.00 32 14,894,450.00
10 281504998 MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY 17 7,486,400.00 21 7,304,750.00 38 14,791,150.00
11 59638 KELLER WILLIAMS ADVANTAGE 2 72 9,373,801.00 37 5,337,500.00 109 14,711,301.00
12 673900 SIGNATURE REALTY ASSOCIATES 29 7,154,350.00 29 7,185,350.00 58 14,339,700.00
13 272504178 FLORIDA REALTY RESULTS LLC 121 13,009,742.00 19 1,294,765.00 140 14,304,507.00
14 52403 RE/MAX 200 REALTY 47 6,769,335.00 39 7,256,750.00 86 14,026,085.00
15 615700 COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL RE 49 8,339,240.00 32 4,790,503.00 81 13,129,743.00

Please note while the office I work under is #1 and #2 the office does not provide much support...which is actually why most of the higher producing agents go there, because we don't need the training and have our own support team. Several of the offices here also have significant portions of their sales from REO listings...done exclusively by a single agent and their own close knit team, some the brokers themselves; KWII, CB, FLRR for example. But in any event many of these agencies offer quite a bit newer agent support you may or may not need being as you are relocating from another state. If I where you I wouldn't so much look for the most top producing offices/agents, interview with several and see which is the right "fit" for you. Experience level, Broker availability, support team needed, training, splits, etc will all lead you to different offices. In my experience, being associated with a top producing office or one with a top producing agent does zilch to help your own business (In terms of finding clients at least).

[TonyOC]

Thank you Greg!

[AONE]

I would suggest you ask each what their administrative fees are. Here in Fl agencies tend to charge buyers and sellers "administrative" fees which are nothing more than junk fees to raise revenue. Some of those agencies charge some pretty large sums. to the agents. One I know on that list is upwards of 36% plus $300 admin fees. A few of them have some healthy desk fees. There are so many means to make a good living in RE. Some companies are focused on the short sales as listing agents and go for volume, not quality, other companies go for the quality not volume. There are a few companies that are near the 100%, where they simply charge a fee per transaction and normally a fee for E&O insurance.

the 100% companies tend to not be places to learn the game but work great for those of us that know what we are doing. Like you I am a broker/owner and had enough of the games most of the agencies played and opted to go with the no junk fees approach.

Orlando is a great place and has many areas that will appeal to you. Learning whats where is the biggests challenge followed by some of the quirks to FL laws.

Best of luck.
Ken