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Well, as an independent, we are the #1 firm in the greater Sacramento area based on $$ and volume.
OP, you picked a great place to begin your career.
Nina,
Here in Louisville, the largest single broker office has approximately 450 agents. There are somewhere close to 400 RE/MAX agents in the MLS but separated by amongst 14 brokers. The independent (actually a Berkshire Hathaway firm) claims to have the highest $$ and volume, which it does simply due to its size and single brokerage model, but if combined by brand, the 400 balloon flyers average more than twice as many transactions and volume as the big boy and they are in second place.
My point is not to sell balloons but rather to caution terms such as KW uses when they say "Largest Real Estate Company in the US." www.kw.com/kw/newsroom.html
Now, on the praise side of things. The www.golyon.com is one super-website.
Wow. That's really high from my perspective, but CA is much more litigious than we are here.
I'm on Long Island and cost for E&O insurance varies greatly among brokers. That can be the result of who the carrier is, the maximum coverage per transaction or annual/lifetime limit, as well as the amount of the deductible.
I've paid as much as $500/yr (previous broker) and am currently paying $129/yr .
Oh and yes, we are very litigious here too...
Here in Louisville, the largest single broker office has approximately 450 agents. There are somewhere close to 400 RE/MAX agents in the MLS but separated by amongst 14 brokers. The independent (actually a Berkshire Hathaway firm) claims to have the highest $$ and volume, which it does simply due to its size and single brokerage model, but if combined by brand, the 400 balloon flyers average more than twice as many transactions and volume as the big boy and they are in second place.
My point is not to sell balloons but rather to caution terms such as KW uses when they say "Largest Real Estate Company in the US." www.kw.com/kw/newsroom.html
Now, on the praise side of things. The www.golyon.com is one super-website.
We look at market share based on the brand (all balloons included) and not the individual broker. But I also know how easy it is to lie with statistics!
My point was more around the fact that though independent, we have a large local presence and are not a mom and pop shop missing the infrastructure and training that are so helpful for new agents to thrive. Many newbies are told to look at national brands, but there are large local independents in many markets that can provide the same benefits as the big ones.
We look at market share based on the brand (all balloons included) and not the individual broker. But I also know how easy it is to lie with statistics!
My point was more around the fact that though independent, we have a large local presence and are not a mom and pop shop missing the infrastructure and training that are so helpful for new agents to thrive. Many newbies are told to look at national brands, but there are large local independents in many markets that can provide the same benefits as the big ones.
My point was more around the fact that though independent, we have a large local presence and are not a mom and pop shop missing the infrastructure and training that are so helpful for new agents to thrive. Many newbies are told to look at national brands, but there are large local independents in many markets that can provide the same benefits as the big ones.
I'm with you as far as choosing one of the National Independents. With over 1500 agents in North TX we can provide as much or more as the Franchises.
Some of those fees seem ridiculously high to me, but I'm in the DC Metro area. If you don't like the fees, stay with the brokerage long enough to get some experience under your belt, then leave. No matter where you go as a new agent, you WILL pay more than seasoned agents because you're a bigger risk.
I was a realtor for over 25 years. Those are pretty standard fees when you go into the business. Look at it as if you are investing in your own business...yourself. If you can't invest in yourself, who can? No one goes into business without some type of investment. And a part of your proceeds (commissions) will also be paid to them. I was a 100% realtor, so my monthly fees approximated about $5000....my cost of doing business. Real estate is no different than any other business and should not be...along with it comes the code of ethics, which more businesses should have.
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