We often see real estate brokerages come and go. But, I don't recall any of the bigger franchises ever close up shop, locally. I've watched brokerages consolidate to just 1 office and re-organize, but not close completely.

One national franchise brokerage is apparently closing it's doors locally; all of it's 5-6 offices and letting the agents go. This brokerage had 300-400 agents.

Does everyone have a contingency plan for "if" your broker closes their doors?

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Randy Watson Texas Real Estate Agent
Mission Realty-San Antonio Real Estate
San Antonio Real Estate

I see myself as quite independent. I don't foresee any problems just signing up with a different shop that would let me be. Am I naive? Is this not how other agents view themselves?

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Tempe Foreclosures
Tempe Real Estate
Tempe Short Sales

I have to agree with you. I see agents hopping shops all the time, I don't see how it would be any different if a company were to close its doors. It's not like it's the agents fault that the brokerage closed.

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Coarine Maloy, EBA
Fairway & Isle, LLC

Fairway & Isle | Calabash, NC Real Estate | Sunset Beach, NC Real Estate

But you have to be careful with the listings. Often times the company will sell the listings to one competitor so your listings are gone and any termination agreement you have is gone as well. The new company, since they are buying the listings, will have a lot to say if you try to steal the listing back.

Now for the Million Dollar Question...who was the company that closed up?

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Larry Jensen, Principal Broker
St. Lawrence Properties, llc
Ph. (888) SLP-NYCT (888-757-6928)
www.SLPNYCT.com New York & Connecticut Real Estate & Property Management

I don't know if I should say or not ... there are a few of those "rocks" still around.

We had 2 of the same franchises locally and a small satellite office out of Dallas... only one of them closed. The one that closed had 300-400 agents. The other have 30-40 agents and the satellite office has a dozen agents or so.

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Randy Watson Texas Real Estate Agent
Mission Realty-San Antonio Real Estate
San Antonio Real Estate

One of our national franchised offices recently lost their franchise. They are still in business but with out the franchise.

Also, several smaller franchises recently closed their doors as well.

I foresee more of this happening in the coming months as the current market is highly competitive and some of these franchises are unable or unwilling to match the offers provided by other offices.

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I'm not Jennifer... I'm Jessie : Panama City Beach Real Estate, Panama City Real Estate and Panama City Beach Condos

Contingency plan? What a briliant idea . . . I have no clue why . . . I have yet to conjure one of those up . . . MY GOD!!! I must get to work on that . . . I have calls to make . . . definitely have a few in mind . .

I think I asked this before . . . any one familiar with . . . ZIPREALTY?

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--Richmond VA and the entire surrounding metropolitan area: Chesterfield County - Henrico County - Amelia County - Dinwiddie - Prince George - Charles City County and the cities of Petersburg - Colonial Heights - Hopewell -
. . . Ask Me How to Get a Free Gas Card Now!

YES, I am familar with ZIP. Do you Want To give away 1/2 your commission to buyers or feel you Have To in order to get Buyers?

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Larry Jensen, Principal Broker
St. Lawrence Properties, llc
Ph. (888) SLP-NYCT (888-757-6928)
www.SLPNYCT.com New York & Connecticut Real Estate & Property Management

Funny . . . "want" . . . of course not . . . but that "have to" . . . now that is another thing . . . considering "qualified" buyers are -for me- not as easy to come by . . . I do ok . . . but definitely have more unqualified buyers than qualified . . .

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--Richmond VA and the entire surrounding metropolitan area: Chesterfield County - Henrico County - Amelia County - Dinwiddie - Prince George - Charles City County and the cities of Petersburg - Colonial Heights - Hopewell -
. . . Ask Me How to Get a Free Gas Card Now!

A major "rock" franchise just closed shop here as well and is under another name. I have also seen other companies with lots of offices close down a few or how they say it "merge". I also saw a very well known brokerage merge with another. A lot of things are happening and what I knew would happen is happening. These agencies that get by because "everyone knows their name" because there are so many of them (locally) are suffering because of the other oagencies who's agents are actually good and not mediocre agents working for a agency that has (had) a good/popular name.

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Michael Trinchitella
Associate Real Estate Broker
e-PRO certified Internet Expert
RE/Max Classic Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Putnam & Westchester County NY Real Estate

Mahopac NY Real Estate | Northern Westchester County Condos | Heritage Hills Somers NY