RE/MAX Ranked As Top Real Estate Franchise In Annual National Survey For 9th Time In 10 Years

RE/MAX International, Inc., ranked as the nation’s number one real estate franchise – an honor the company has held for nine of the last ten years – according to Entrepreneur Magazine’s 30th Annual “Franchise 500 Survey.” RE/MAX also was the top real estate franchise in two other survey categories, Best Low-Cost Franchise and Top Global Franchise.

RE/MAX ranked 44th in the Franchise 500, 10th among low-cost franchises and 38th among the top 200 global franchises. The only other real estate franchise in the top 100 of the Franchise 500 ranking was Keller Williams, which ranked 71st.

The 30th annual “Franchise 500 Survey” appears in the January edition of Entrepreneur Magazine. All companies in the rankings are evaluated by financial strength and stability, size, growth rate, startup costs and financing options. These and other factors are entered into the Franchise 500 formula, with each eligible company receiving a cumulative score.

“We have so much to offer our franchise owners, from a fundamentally sound business model with excellent education resources, to global brand recognition. So, we’re honored but not surprised to find ourselves on the top of this list each year,” said Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX International. “We’ve enjoyed decades of growth and success, and this ranking is recognition of the viability of the RE/MAX Network.”

RE/MAX sold over 700 franchises worldwide in 2008 and now has nearly 7,000 offices in more than 70 countries and territories, an international presence greater than any of its competitors.

"The success of RE/MAX as a franchise concept is based on its ability to deliver real value to the owners of our franchised offices, the agents who affiliate with those offices and the clients they serve in the Illinois real estate and Chicago real estate markets ,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX network in northern Illinois. “More than ever before, the professional skills of Illinois real estate and Chicago real estate agents are being tested in the current market environment, making the educational and technical resources that RE/MAX can provide especially valuable.”

Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Franchise 500 Survey” is the most comprehensive franchise ranking in the world. The initial survey was conducted in 1980, and it was the first ever franchise ranking. Over the years, the ranking procedure has been refined to provide the most accurate formula for identifying today’s top franchises.

RE/MAX Move Into Ecuador And Uruguay To Benefit Chicago Real Estate And Illinois Real Estate Markets

RE/MAX International has established operations in the South American nations of Ecuador and Uruguay, and now has nearly 7,000 offices in more than 70 countries and territories, an international presence greater than any of its competitors. The expansion is expected to also benefit Illinois real estate and Chicago real estate markets.

The two new regions extend the RE/MAX presence in South America. RE/MAX already has franchises operating in Argentina, Chile and Venezuela.

Ecuador and Uruguay are on opposite sides of South America. Ecuador is on the Pacific coast bordering Columbia and Peru. It has a population of 13 million. Uruguay is on the Atlantic coast bordering Brazil and Argentina. It is home to 3.46 million people, almost half residing in the capital, Montevideo.

“We look forward to a strong RE/MAX presence in both Ecuador and Uruguay and know that the training, education and brand name recognition we provide will attract both professional agents and clients,” said William Soteroff, senior vice president of international development at RE/MAX International.

According to Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX network in northern Illinois, the opening of RE/MAX operations in Ecuador and Uruguay is another positive step toward the realization of a global real estate market.

“There are strong ties between the United States and Latin America, and that is especially true for the Chicago real estate market with our growing Latino population. We embraced the expansion of RE/MAX in South America because transnational real estate activity continues to be a critical and growing factor in the Illinois real estate market,” said Merrion.

Brothers Esteban and Antonio Serrano purchased the rights for RE/MAX Ecuador, which will be headquartered in Quito, the capital of the Republic of Ecuador.

“We’re excited for the opportunity we have to bring RE/MAX to Ecuador and to make a positive contribution to the development of the real estate industry here,” said Antonio Serrano, whose family has been involved in real estate for nearly 30 years. “RE/MAX is a perfect fit for the region and the power of the RE/MAX brand will help others who share our vision to sell real estate.”
Ricardo Sarniguet and Juan Carlos da Silva purchased the rights for RE/MAX Uruguay, which will be headquartered in Montevideo.

“When you own a RE/MAX franchise office, the world automatically knows you and the brand starts working for you on day one. We strongly believe that RE/MAX will be a great asset to the professionalism of the real estate market in our country,” said Sarniguet.