Press Release
Weichert, Realtors Expands Across the South with Five New Franchises
1/6/2006
MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. – January 6, 2006 – Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., the franchise arm of Weichert, Realtors®, announced that two more real estate companies in Florida, one in Alabama, and two in Texas have affiliated with Weichert. Since launching its first independently owned and operated affiliated office in January 2002, the Weichert franchise company has rapidly expanded to include more than 190 signed offices in 20 states.
Martin J. Rueter, president of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, said, “It’s exciting to see the Weichert service model and systems expand across the southern portion of our country through these like-minded, quality affiliates. We’re proud to have them aboard.”
The new Weichert affiliates include:
§ WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Eastern Shore, Fairhope, AL - Paul Smith Powers, a long-time real estate professional and land consultant, is the broker/owner of this new affiliated office serving growing Baldwin County. The office is located at 24336 Highway 98.
§ WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Ackerman & Associates, Jensen Beach, FL - Located at 4240 NE Ocean Boulevard, this new agency is headed by Broker William Ackerman. Wife Alexis Ackerman joins him as business/recruitment manager. The office serves Martin and St. Lucie Counties, with a focus on Hutchinson Island.
§ WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Burbach & Associates, Lake City, FL - Formerly Burbach Realty Services, a construction-based contracting company, the new affiliate is located at 507 West Duvall Street. James Burbach is the broker/owner.
§ WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Suburban Properties, Frisco, TX - The first Weichert franchise to open in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the company is owned by Kimberly Dawes-Luther, a national recruiter and trainer, and local mortgage bankers Pete Montesino and Kevin Johnson. Suzanne Dortch is broker of record for the new affiliate, located at 2930 Preston Road, Suite 120.
§ WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Better Homes, Colleyville, TX - Buddy Clarke is broker/owner of this new affiliate located at 3809-C Colleyville Boulevard. The two-and-one-half-year-old company with 25 agents serves the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
The two new Florida affiliates add to Weichert’s increasing presence in the Sunshine State, where the number of opened affiliated offices now totals 53.
Weichert Real Estate Affiliates is the only real estate organization ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s 2005 list of the Top Ten New Franchises started within the past five years. It also was among the magazine’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Franchises.
Weichert has more than 17,200 sales associates in over 380 company-owned and franchised sales offices in key markets throughout the U.S. A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate, and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance. For more information, call Weichert's customer service center at 1-800-USA-SOLD or visit Weichert's Web site, www.weichert.com. Each Weichert franchised office is independently owned and operated.