Local Real Estate Firms Gobbled Up
Portland’s homegrown firms of Realty Trust and M Realty have been acquired by larger firms from out of state. Realty Trust is now part of a Seattle-based Windermere with 300 offices, while M Realty has been absorbed by Keller Williams out of Austin, Texas. While there are assumed benefits to being part of a huge national or international organization, each local market has its own pulse and community.
Conglomerates seem to be taking over the world and dictating how business will be conducted, yet it is the local businesses that are on each street corner that still bring an intangible benefit of intimacy and understanding for local trends and the needs of the local community. While the “big boys” claim to bring more exposure for their Realtors and their clients due to their broad reach, the internet and the MLS systems level the playing field for all independent operators. To hire the best Realtor, it is not about being associated with tens of thousands of agents under the same umbrella, but rather the individual agent’s local expertise combined with the platform of a true marketing and consulting company.
There are great agents and offices at every big box company, however, it is not universal. When hiring a broker, learn about the firm – what do they do for you? Do they have experienced Realtors? Do they work independently, or as a company? Does your agent make up your plan as they go, or have you hired an agent and a firm that has a process to maximize your value, provide accurate reporting, and provide exceptional marketing to best position your property? If you are a buyer, does your agent know the neighborhoods, have round-the-clock coverage, and have senior counsel to guide you through the entire home buying process?
At ELEETE Real Estate, we are still 100% Portland. We utilize industry-leading tools that provide our sellers with exposure on websites such as Listing Hub Global, Zillow, Realtor.com, and LuxuryRealEstate.com. We do so with the best prepared properties using the best photographers in the city. On the local front, we drive home to our brokers that they “know” the Portland Market and that they “know” how to conduct business.
Finally, being a local business, we are all about supporting our local community. Our individual agents are presently active in over 20 non-profit organizations. As a company, ELEETE Real Estate is the title sponsor for Milltown Soccer serving 1,700 athletes. We have supported numerous local high school teams and most recently, with the help of our clients and friends, we have collected over 350 items for the Portland Rescue Mission.
We love our town and appreciate all of you who continue to buy local and support local businesses!
