Keller Williams Realty, Inc., one of the largest real estate franchises in the United States, has announced that despite the continued downturn in the real estate market, the company continued to move forward in productivity, profitability and profit share in 2011.
At the company’s annual convention, Family Reunion, CEO Mark Willis delivered his annual “State of the Company” speech in which he shared several key success indicators. More than 9,000 KW associates are in attendance for the event, currently being held in Orlando, Fla.
According to Willis, Keller Williams Realty’s per agent productivity (in units closed) increased year over year, by 19 percent. The average gross commissions earned per agent also increased by more than 16 percent.
Willis shared that since the shift in the real estate market in 2005, Keller Williams Realty has grown by more than 23 percent in agent count to more than 75,000 and that the company gave back more than $38 million to its associates in profit share over the last year.
“If you break that down, we gave back $100,000 per day, every day last year to our associates,” says Willis. “It’s truly our honor to share these unprecedented profits with our associates.”
Chris Heller, president of KW Worldwide, the company’s global division, was on hand to announce the signing of the company’s first overseas master franchise—in Vietnam.
“As we began looking for opportunities to expand outside the U.S. and Canada, our primary goal was always to find the right leadership first. We know that Paul Mason along with the other leaders we are exploring opportunities with, share our belief system and our commitment to grow the Keller Williams culture,” says Heller.
Heller also announced that the company was in conversations with potential franchisees in several other countries, including: South Africa, New Zealand, Indonesia, Egypt and several Middle Eastern countries.
KW will offer its overseas franchisees and associates award-winning tools including coaching and training via MAPS Coaching and Keller Williams University, as well as a worldwide version of the company’s proprietary technology tool eEdge, for lead management, contact management and development of custom marketing materials.
Additionally, the company will expand its unique wealth building platform through a new growth share model, which financially rewards associates who help grow the company.
For more information, visit www.kw.com or www.kwworldwide.com.