Editor's note: These quotes originally appeared in this month's edition of Real Estate magazine, which you can view here.
Released last week, RISMedia's 2019 Power Broker Report ranked the nation's top real estate firms by 2018 sales volume and total transactions. The Top 1,000 Power Brokers reported a collective sales volume of $1,424,776,652,825, with NRT again capturing the largest share of that figure with $176,431,375,000 in sales volume.
Additionally, the Top 1,000 hit 3,881,412 transactions—and for the first time, HomeServices of America took the No. 1 spot for transactions, closing 346,629 last year.
Here is what some of this year's Power Brokers have on their mind as we move into the always active spring market:
Gino Blefari, CEO of HomeServices of America, is encouraged by a greater sense of balance that's currently permeating the U.S. housing landscape.
"I believe there will be greater balance in U.S. housing in 2019 with home prices leveling off and home sales ticking up," he says. "I believe housing demand will remain firm across the U.S."
Simon Chen, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate, has his sights set on a continued correction in market prices, supported by continued low interest rates.
"As the market shifts from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market, this creates tremendous opportunities for well-qualified buyers," he says. "And the same can be said for brokerages and brands."
SoCal-based First Team Real Estate has grown to 30 offices and more than 2,000 agents. President Michael Mahon says its competitive advantage rests solely with First Team’s associates and staff.
Although being recognized is an amazing achievement, he says, "it's the focus and dedication of the associates and staff of First Team that truly differentiates our organization in the market."
Specializing in the city of New Orleans and Louisiana Gulf Shore homes, Latter & Blum, Inc., employs more than 3,000 agents in 36 offices. Lacey M. Conway, president and principal broker, sees several things impacting the market in 2019.
"On a broad scale, affordable and sustainable flood insurance deeply impacts our markets," she says.
While still dealing with historically low inventory, affordable housing challenges for first-time buyers and a short supply of skilled labor, for Dan Forsman, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, 2019 is full of opportunity.
"The upside is that we continue to see robust trends for people and companies moving to our area," he says.
