Chicago-based Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has released its 2014 sales statistics, demonstrating continued dominance in the residential real estate market. Network affiliates produced over one million transactions valued at $321 billion in home sales in 2014, over $81 billion more than its closest network competitor.

Among the top 500 firms in the United States, LeadingRE affiliates outsold all other networks in home sales units by over 40%, according to REAL Trends 500, which ranks the largest U.S. companies by transaction sides and sales volume. LeadingRE has outsold all national networks and franchises for more than a decade.

Among this prestigious group, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® members represented 14 of the top 25 firms in the U.S. in sales volume and 26% of the total sales production of the top 500 U.S. companies.

“The recently-released 2014 sales data illustrates a steady improvement in the sales performance of LeadingRE, continuing a trend we’ve seen since we began collecting this data 15 years ago,” said Pam O’Connor, LeadingRE president/CEO. “These impressive results demonstrate the local market dominance of our member firms and the collective power of our global real estate network.”

Figures for the top 500 firms are verified and published by REAL Trends. 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. 

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® encompasses over 500 firms with 3,500 offices and 120,000 associates in over 50 countries worldwide. The organization provides its affiliates with a robust menu of products and services spanning the areas of lead generation; outcome-based learning for leaders, associates and staff; web technology and systems; and branding and marketing support, including its Luxury Portfolio International® division. To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has selected Open Home Pro™ as preferred provider through its Solutions Group program, a collection of select business tools presented to its international network of more than 500 real estate firms.

Open Home Pro™ is the top-ranked open house management tablet app for real estate agents, helping agents collect and convert more leads from open houses. Additionally, the company offers a product specifically for brokers, allowing brokers to create premium accounts for agents so they can gain access to valuable lead conversion metrics and performance analytics.

“Open Home Pro™ brings agents a highly effective and professional tool for capturing leads at open houses with enhanced features and customized branding,” said Robin LaSure, vice president of corporate marketing for LeadingRE. “At the same time, with Open Home Pro™ for Brokers, company leaders get useful insights and analytics on agent activity and performance.”

According to Doug Breaker, Open Home Pro™ CEO, the partnership is an ideal way to expand adoption of the tool among top companies.

“We’ve been a long-time supporter of LeadingRE and count many of the brokers in the network as clients. We’re excited to offer all members access to our new Open Home Pro™ broker product,” Breaker said. “We recognize that in a very competitive real estate market any tool that can help brokers differentiate themselves, gather more leads and brand themselves as technology-forward will be an advantage to their agents and their firms.”

To learn more about Open Home Pro™, visit http://promo.openhomepro.com/leadingre/.  To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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Diane M. Ramirez, chief executive officer of Halstead Property, has been elected to the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® Board of Directors. Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE) is a global network of 500+ market-leading real estate firms producing over one million annual home sale transactions.

Mrs. Ramirez is a 35-year industry veteran who is well-known for her passion and devotion to residential real estate. Together with Clark Halstead, she founded Halstead Property in the fall of 1984 and has since grown the company to incorporate nearly thirty offices with more than 1,000 agents throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Riverdale, the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, Hoboken, New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut.

“LeadingRE is an organization with a true spirit of collaboration, so I am honored by the opportunity to serve alongside some of the best brokers in the industry, as we work on behalf of our premier member brokerages worldwide,” Ramirez said.

“Diane has done an incredible job building her company, balancing innovation and elegance,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “We are privileged to have her serve in this capacity, and know that her marketing expertise and business acumen will make her a valued addition to our accomplished board.”

Ramirez joins a distinguished group of brokers on the LeadingRE board, including Chairman Pat Riley (Allen Tate Company, Charlotte, N.C.); Immediate Past Chairman Robert Sibcy (Sibcy Cline REALTORS^®, Cincinnati, Ohio); Vice Chairman Joe Horning (Shorewest REALTORS^®, Brookfield, Wis.); Secretary Dan Elsea (Real Estate One, Southfield, Mich.); and Treasurer Harold Crye (CRYE-LEIKE, REALTORS®, Memphis, Tenn.); Jeffrey S. Detwiler (Long & Foster Real Estate, Chantilly, Va.); Howard W. (Hoby) Hanna IV (Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Cleveland, Ohio); Chris Meyers (Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, Armonk, N.Y.); Ron Peltier (HomeServices of America, Minneapolis, Minn.); Michael T. Robinson (Weichert, REALTORS®, Morris Plains, N.J.); Michael Saunders (Michael Saunders & Company, Sarasota, Fla.); and William Watson, Jr. (Watson Realty Corp., Jacksonville, Fla.).

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® is the largest network of over 500 premier locally-branded firms responsible for more home sales than any other real estate network. LeadingRE provides its affiliates with an extensive range of brokerage services, including lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, and industry-leading professional development.

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

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has announced new officers and members of its Advisory Council. This leadership group is comprised of top business development and relocation professionals from firms affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE), an international network of more than 500 market-leading real estate companies.

The group’s new chairperson is Denise Talboy, vice president, Relocation & Corporate Services for The Keyes Company in Weston, FL. In this role, she will provide guidance to the Council, which works closely with the LeadingRE management team on strategic network initiatives. Dawn Stevens, relocation and corporate services director for Jack Conway & Co. Inc., in Norwell, MA, has been elected vice chairperson.

New Council members include Ryan Carrell, Carpenter Realtors, Indianapolis, IN; Rachael Joyner, Joyner Fine Properties, Richmond, VA; Diana McGrogan, Intero Real Estate Services, Cupertino, CA; and Carole Souza, NP Dodge Real Estate, Omaha, NE.

This group joins existing members Elizabeth Fowler, WestMark, Realtors, Lubbock, TX; Jane Gowarty, Smith & Associates Real Estate, Tampa, FL; Nancy Harmann, GARDNER, REALTORS, Metairie, LA; Diane Howard, Real Estate One, Inc., Southfield, MI; Pamela Metzger, Colorado Landmark, Realtors, Boulder, CO; and Liz Nunan, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, Rye Brook, NY.

In addition to helping develop key initiatives designed to foster referral activity within the network, Council members also mentor other members and serve as ambassadors for the organization’s extensive programs. Members are elected by fellow council members to serve a three-year term and are chosen based on professional experience and reputation, willingness to share their expertise for the betterment of the network and dedication to LeadingRE.

“We are privileged to have such an accomplished and respected group of relocation professionals serving on the Advisory Council,” said LeadingRE Director of Network Services Brent Williams, CRP, who serves as the staff liaison to the group. “Their willingness to share their expertise helps us ensure we offer the most responsive and effective programs to our members worldwide.”

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® is the largest network of over 500 premier locally-branded firms responsible for more home sales than any other real estate network. LeadingRE provides its affiliates with an extensive range of brokerage services, including lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, and industry-leading professional development.

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

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) has been ranked 64^th among the Top 125 learning and development programs across all industries throughout the world by Training Magazine, the premier learning industry publication. This is the first year LeadingRE received the award in recognition of its robust in-person and online training programs for its affiliate real estate firms and their 120,000 associates in over 52 countries, including its professional development platform, LeadingRE Institute.

Recipients of the Top 125 award represent all industries and have demonstrated commitment to employee training and development that resulted in the achievement of key corporate strategic goals. The Top 125 ranking is determined by assessing a range of factors, including financial investment in professional development, the scope of development programs and how closely such development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives.

Hundreds of companies apply annually to be recognized in the Top 125. To qualify, companies complete a detailed application, which is scored both quantitatively by an outside research and statistical data company and qualitatively by Training magazine editors and Top 10 Hall of Fame representatives.

“We are thrilled to be one of only 27 organizations – and the only real estate network – to be recognized in this prestigious ranking for the first time,” said Cecelia Chott, executive director of Institute content services. “As we continue to build resources that include nearly 300 proprietary online courses, webinars, state-of-the-art conferences, seminars and peer review groups, we strive to create the most timely, relevant, 24/7 content in the real estate industry, with the goal of significantly elevating performance in our business.”

Introduced just five years ago, LeadingRE’s rising-star Institute program ranked higher than many large, global corporations and was fourth among the seven real estate organizations achieving Top 125 status, with other programs having been in place for decades. One of LeadingRE’s unique offerings is the option for member real estate firms to offer sales associates a customized learning portal branded to the brokerage, allowing agents and staff to access not only all of LeadingRE’s original content, but also the unique, market-specific courses and resources of the network’s affiliate brokerages.

“As the real estate consumer becomes increasingly sophisticated, the need for real estate professionals to serve as trusted advisors with unsurpassed competence and advocacy is more critical than ever. Our constantly-evolving learning programs equip our member brokers, agents and staff with the information they need to be responsive to shifts in demographics, technology and the economy,” comments LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor.

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

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Pat Riley, president and chief operating officer of Charlotte, NC-based Allen Tate Company, has been elected to a two-year term as Chairman of the Board of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®. Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE) is a global network of 500+ market-leading real estate firms producing over one million annual home sale transactions.

Mr. Riley is a real estate industry veteran, whose real estate experience dates back to 1972. He has been with the Allen Tate Company since 1992 and now provides strategic direction for all aspects of the 57-year-old firm. Under his guidance, the company consistently ranks #1 in the Carolinas and among the Top 10 independent brokerages nationwide.

“It is a true privilege to serve LeadingRE and partner with the finest brokers in this business, as we work together to create opportunities that benefit all of our premier independent brokerage members worldwide,” Riley said. “I am committed to building on the progress already made in supporting our affiliates with the industry’s best programs for business development, education, relocation, technology and marketing.”

“Pat Riley has been instrumental to our organization’s growth since our founding in 1997,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor, “Having most recently served as vice chairman of our board, Pat is an innovative and progressive businessman, whose insights have helped our network become the global real estate powerhouse it is today.”

Other officers include Chairman Pat Riley (Allen Tate Company, Charlotte, NC); Immediate Past Chairman Robert Sibcy (Sibcy Cline REALTORS^®, Cincinnati, OH); Vice Chairman Joe Horning (Shorewest REALTORS^®, Brookfield, WI); Secretary Dan Elsea (Real Estate One, Southfield, MI); and Treasurer Harold Crye (CRYE-LEIKE, REALTORS®, Memphis, TN). Also serving on the distinguished board are Jeffrey S. Detwiler (Long & Foster Real Estate, Chantilly, VA); Howard W. (Hoby) Hanna IV (Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Cleveland, OH); Chris Meyers (Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, Armonk, NY); Ron Peltier (HomeServices of America, Minneapolis, MN); Michael T. Robinson (Weichert, REALTORS®, Morris Plains, NJ); Michael Saunders (Michael Saunders & Company, Sarasota, FL); and William Watson, Jr. (Watson Realty Corp., Jacksonville, FL).

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® is the largest network of over 500 premier locally-branded firms responsible for more home sales than any other real estate network. LeadingRE provides its affiliates with an extensive range of brokerage services, including lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, and industry-leading professional development.

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

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has begun the year by building on the significant growth of 2014 with a total of 60 new member firms over the past year, 10 of those in January.  These additions represent coverage in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, South America and the Caribbean and expand the network’s footprint to 52 countries, 23 of which will be in attendance at its annual conference February 9-13 in Las Vegas.

The newest firms in the U.S. include Dibeck Real Estate (Los Angeles); Otis & Ahearn Real Estate (Boston, MA); Park Co. Realtors (Fargo, ND); Realty Austin (Austin, TX); Greenwood King (Houston, TX); Dorsey Alston (Atlanta, GA); The Real Estate Group (Springfield, IL); Hodnett Cooper (St. Simons Island, GA); Gattermeir Davidson (Lake Ozark, MO); Lake Havasu City Properties (Lake Havasu City, AZ); and Fisher Provence Realtors (Stillwater, OK).

Markets covered through international expansion in recent months include Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Turks & Caicos; Belize; Aruba; Bogota, Colombia; Punta del Este, Uruguay; Sydney and Hobart, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Dubai, UAE; Doha, Qatar; Johannesburg in South Africa; Lusaka, Zambia; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Porto, Portugal; Stresa, Venice and Arcore in Italy; Madrid, Mallorca, Ibiza, Spain; Stockholm, Sweden, Petrovac, Montenegro and over 100 new locations in Germany through a large national firm and several local agencies.

“We have seen incredible interest from market-leading firms around the world that are interested in affiliating with our network,” said Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® President and CEO Pam O’Connor. “They recognize the unique value we offer, which allows them to align with other premier firms, expand their global capabilities and tap into the many resources we provide while still remaining independent.”

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® is the largest network of over 500 premier locally-branded firms producing over one million annual home sale transactions annually. LeadingRE provides its affiliates with an extensive range of brokerage services, including lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, and industry-leading professional development.

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

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® and Luxury Portfolio International^® are hosting their annual International Symposium in Dubrovnik, Croatia from October 16-18. The event has attracted top real estate professionals from 13 countries worldwide:  Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mauritius, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States.

Symposium participants will address global real estate issues and explore how real estate has become an increasingly international business. Speakers include Adrian Hayes, a professional adventurer and business coach who set a Guinness World record for reaching the Earth’s three “Poles” – walking all the way to the North Pole and South Pole and summiting Mount Everest. Also in the lineup is esteemed Spanish political economist Ramón Tamames, who will address the impact of environmental changes on real estate assets.

A panel of real estate technology leaders, including Lorne C. Wallace of Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies, David Friedman of Boston Logic Technology Partners, and Eric Bryn and Jeff Corbett of BoomTown, will explore “Universal Solutions Using Technology.” Also featured are member real estate professionals who will share insights on real estate practices and trends in their local markets.

“The International Symposium has become increasingly important to our membership as we continue to expand our coverage worldwide,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “By giving our brokerages the opportunity to come together in an incredible destination to discuss cross-border business opportunities and pervasive market trends, we strengthen our position as a global real estate leader.”

In addition to past International Symposium conferences held in Venice, Lisbon, Madrid, Rome, Valencia and Dublin, the network recently held its first Asian Immersion Conference in Shanghai, China. Network affiliates will convene again February 9-13, 2015 in Las Vegas for the LeadingRE Conference Week.

To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.  For more information on Luxury Portfolio International^®, visit www.LuxuryPortfolio.com.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has selected AdWerx as a preferred provider through its Solutions Group program, which offers select business tools to its global network of more than 500 real estate firms.

AdWerx provides professional online advertising to real estate companies and sales associates. The company’s platform allows real estate professionals to easily create custom ads in minutes. The technology automatically targets local prospects in the market for real estate as they surf the web. In addition to ads that promote specific listings, the program is ideal for company branding and agent marketing. AdWerx is also launching a system for agent recruiting.

“We are pleased to partner with AdWerx to bring its innovative online advertising program to our members,” said Robin LaSure, vice president of corporate marketing for LeadingRE. “The company is quickly becoming the online advertising platform of choice with real estate companies and sales associates, providing an easy-to-use interface and an effective way to reach the right customers almost instantly.”

AdWerx seeks to support real estate professionals who want the promotional capabilities of a marketing or advertising agency without the usual time and expense.

“Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is one of the premier organizations in the real estate industry. They understand the power and importance of online marketing,” said AdWerx CEO Jed Carlson.  “We are very excited to be working with LeadingRE member companies, providing their sales associates with a platform to market across the web.”

To learn more about AdWerx, visit www.Adwerx.com.

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

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has expanded its global membership with the addition of 34 firms with 85 offices and over 2,000 sales associates year-to-date in 2014. The invitation-only network is comprised of more than 500 of the best-known local and regional real estate firms, with 3,500 offices and 120,000 sales associates in the U.S. and nearly 50 other countries.

The network’s newest North American members include Greenwood King Properties (Houston, TX); Castelli Real Estate Services (Ft. Lauderdale, FL); Circa Properties (St. Louis, MO); Weichert Lake Realty (Gold Canyon, AZ); Campbell Realty (Marysville, CA); and Bowes & Cocks (Peterborough, ON, Canada). Internationally, the most recent additions are Ayikcan Real Estate (Istanbul, Turkey); INOWAI Residential (Luxembourg, Luxembourg); Kampmeyer Immobilien GMBH (Koln, Germany); Akivnta Real Estate Broking & Advisory Services Private Limited (Mumbai, India); Fonnegra Gerlein (Bogota, Columbia); Estela Exclusive Homes (Ibiza, Spain); and Today’s Realty (Dededo, Guam).

“We have had a tremendous recruiting year thus far, growing our network with an impressive group of firms from around the world,” said Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. “These companies find value in our unique business model, which allows them to remain independent and continue to build on their strong local brands, while benefiting from our extensive global connections and resources.”

Other prestigious U.S. firms joining the network this year include: Amelia Island Plantation Real Estate (Amelia Island, FL), Bosshardt Realty Services (Gainesville, FL), Candice M. Skinner Real Estate (Leesville, LA), Dowden-Hinn Realtors (Spirit Lake, IA), J. Barrett & Company, LLC (Beverly, MA), Kentucky Select Properties (Louisville, KY), Meybohm Realtors (Augusta, GA), MKB, REALTORS (Roanoke, VA), Scott Tobias Real Estate (Bakersfield, CA), Silver Creek Real Estate Group (Cashiers, NC), Stovall Realtors (Abilene, TX), The Dillard Group (Norman, OK), and Vista Encantada, (Albuquerque, NM). In Canada, new firms are Bosley Real Estate (Toronto, ON) and Tradewinds Realty (Chester, NS).

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the network has added Aruba Palms Realtors (Palm Beach, Aruba), Properties in Costa Rica        (Uvita de Osa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica) and VISTA Real Estate (Belize City, Belize). European firms include Avantgarde Properties (Vienna, Austria), Husaskjol Kópavogur (Kópavogur, Iceland) and Peikert Immobilien AG (Zug, Switzerland).

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is the largest network of residential real estate firms, and network affiliates are widely recognized as the premier providers of quality residential real estate and relocation services. Collectively, these firms produced $314 billion in sales in 2013, with over one million transactions, which is over $47 billion more than the closest network competitor. Affiliates benefit from an extensive range of brokerage services, which include lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, and industry-leading professional development.

To learn more, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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