WE DID IT! Keller Williams moves to Second Largest

AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 8, 2011) - Keller Williams® Realty Inc., announced today that it is now the second-largest real estate franchise in the United States based on the total number of sales professionals, surpassing Century 21, according to research conducted by REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information in the residential real estate industry. The company claimed the number two spot with 77,672 U.S. –based associates at the end of 2010, just two years after claiming the number three spot from RE/MAX® International.
“Once again, this milestone achievement is a direct result of the dedication of our associates and the stability and profitability of the Keller Williams business models,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams

Realty, Inc. “It’s incredible to see the momentum that our associates and our offices have right now.” This news comes one week after the announcement of positive growth by the company at their annual convention in Anaheim. Including its presence in Canada, Keller Williams closed the year with 79,315 associates and 701 market centers (offices). At the convention, Willis also shared that Keller Williams associate profit share was up 7.2 percent, with its agents receiving $34.6 million dollars back in 2010. Despite industry contraction, Keller Williams associates across North America also showed significant percentage gains in listings taken (+13%), contracts closed volume (+9%) and contracts closed units (+6%).
The company also formed Keller Williams Worldwide with Chris Heller as president, citing plans for global expansion, with plans to grow the division by an additional 75,000 associates in 10 years. “Our goals are to expand the Keller Williams Realty model—with the focus on training and our sound business models.” said Chris Heller, president of KW Worldwide. “And, when looking for the right country and business partners in planning for expansion, we will not sacrifice the perfect fit with our mission, vision and the KW culture, those are absolutely necessary.”
Despite the sharp downturn in the real estate market, since 2005 Keller Williams Realty has grown 30 percent in agents, 40 percent in market centers, 21 percent in closed units and 11 percent in closed GCI.

Keller Williams Realty received many accolades in 2010 including:

• Entrepreneur magazine, No. 1 ranked real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list.

• J.D. Power and Associates, highest in overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the third year in a row

• Inman News, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board Gary Keller named one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate.

• Training Magazine, highest ranking real estate franchise on the annual Training Top 25 125, #47 overall.
“It is such an honor to be a part of a company with such dedicated and driven people,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “Our associates are setting the pace in the industry. It is truly an exciting time to be in real estate and to be a part of the Keller Williams family.”

Exciting News at ESCONDIDO

Bob Dudley, from Escondido, guest posting. 

While the economic downturn has slowed many markets in the Hill Country, here on-site, sales of individual lots and available residences have continued and Escondido has reached a welcome point of community maturity, as well as a very stable position based on Member growth and with new Equity participation.

Here are some of the exciting events, new offerings and announced happenings that will soon be taking place in the Escondido community:





New Dining Room



1. Our Clubhouse facility is near completion and with the final addition of furnishings and enhancing the Spa, Fitness and Dining amenities, it should be fully operational, by July 4th. The stunning structure will be getting a further $4.6m of additions and improvements between now and its opening.

2. The new Equity Partnership has announced plans to be investing a further $10m to $12m of capital in Escondido to complete the full compliment of promised amenities, add new ones and fulfill Escondido’s Founding Vision – to be the Best 2nd Residence and Getaway Community in Texas. Members approved this by a send-in Vote of 343 to 1. Closing on the Equity Partnership transaction is set for March 18, 2011.

3. A Residence Center offering is in the planning, with elegantly furnished and appointed one, two and four bedroom unit shares to be sold. These will provide for the combination of superb on-property accommodations with full membership privileges, while in residence. Share owners, their families and guests will be able to partake of Escondido’s recreational and lifestyle option.


4. Escondido’s Fazio Course enjoys a reputation as one of the Southwest’s better courses and amongst the finest of member clubs. Our Lake Club on a cove off Lake LBJ is known to be one of the premier pool and cabana sites in the country. Come learn about the plans to enhance these amenities and construct new ones, with a focus on new choices for families and children.


5. Southern Living Magazine selected the Escondido community and its architect, Michael Imber, to design, build and then host their very popular annual presentation of an Idea Home, for 2011. Ten to fifteen thousand visitors are expected to visit the Escondido community during the sixty day preview period, during the coming summer. We have properties starting at $195,000 in our Village area, fabulous, Estate lots by the golf course from $235,000 as well as prime well-treed golf fairway sites starting at under $400,000., large 4 bedroom residences starting at $1.25m and waterside lots with boat dock rights starting in the $700’s.

6. March 1st, some additional assets will be transferred to the non-profit Club Corporation, owned by Escondido’s Members. The value of an Escondido membership, one comes with each property purchase, will then rise to a new defined value level of $120,000. The maturity and stability of the Escondido Club and community are manifested in these escalating figures of the defined Escondido Membership value, since 2004. Some will act to become Member’s before values rise again, with the scheduled transfer of the Clubhouse assets, later in 2011.

7. There are several residences currently under construction, with several additional construction starts scheduled over the next ninety days. The infrastructure is nearly complete for our Lago Escondido community, one residence with stunning multiple water views is nearing completion on the Lago site with three more new homes in various stages of construction on this lovely Big Water sited community. Investments in the erection of second and primary homes in Escondido are but further evidence of the stable position that Escondido has reached. We have a wonderful variety of property for sale with a variety of fairway, creek-side, big-water or a lower maintenance smaller Villa or Casita sites available for purchase, some at economical price points.

Bob was kind enough to share photos.  Check out my web site or Facebook page for more.