RE/MAX Continues International Growth; Initiates Operations In Albania, Macedonia

Albania and Macedonia recently were added to the roster of nations in which RE/MAX offers real estate brokerage services. The two countries are neighbors in the Balkan area of southeastern Europe. RE/MAX Albania and RE/MAX Macedonia have a common ownership and management and bring the number of nations served by RE/MAX to 71.

“We're delighted to welcome Albania and the Republic of Macedonia to the RE/MAX network,” said William Soteroff, vice president of international development for RE/MAX International. “This is the right time in history for these two countries with rich heritages to emerge on the international scene. We're confident that they'll be successful and take their rightful place in the market.”

RE/MAX operations in both countries are now owned by Samir Mane, while Shpetin Spahija is the regional director responsible for the day-to-day business operations. Eventually, they plan to open 150 offices in the two nations and recruit 500 to 600 agents. Albania has a population of 3.6 million, while the population of the Republic of Macedonia is 2 million.
The headquarters of the RE/MAX operations in both countries will be in Albania's capital city of Tirana - the nation's economic and real estate hub.

A major goal for RE/MAX in Albania and Macedonia will be the expansion of professional real estate training, education and standards. Currently, real estate agents in the two countries are not required to be licensed to sell homes. Even though it's not required, all broker/owners or sales associates who join RE/MAX Albania and RE/MAX Macedonia will be required to have professional training.

The Republic of Macedonia is a landlocked, mountainous country bordered by Greece to the south, Bulgaria to the east, Serbia and Kosovo to the north and Albania to the west. The coastline of Albania along the Adriatic Sea is virtually untouched by the development and tourism enjoyed by its neighbors such as Greece and Montenegro, but that's quickly changing.

“We are pleased to see RE/MAX continue its expansion in the Balkans,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX Illinois real estate network. “A substantial number of people in northern Illinois, especially in the Chicago area, have strong ties to that region and want to purchase or sell property there. Now, our agents can assist those clients more effectively, and agents in those two countries will have better connections to the Chicago real estate market.”