The RE/MAX network was founded on January 30, 1973 – and the five decades since have been a wild ride.
How did RE/MAX go from a concept championed by two Colorado-based entrepreneurs – Dave and Gail Liniger – to a global phenomenon and the No. 1 name in real estate*? It’s simple (in theory, though not in practice!). By attracting productive agents and helping them become even better.
January 30, 1973, was the day RE/MAX was founded, changing the real estate industry forever. The concept was revolutionary in that it empowered productive real estate agents to build their business with no limits on what they could achieve. In the 50 years since, that idea has grown into a global network of more than 140,000 agents in over 110 countries and territories.
Today, nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, as measured by residential transaction sides.
From raising industry standards to supporting homeownership to changing lives on a local level, professionals aligned with the RE/MAX brand have helped shaped the past, present, and future of real estate.
The 50-year ride has continued amid economic ups and downs of every kind. In many respects, RE/MAX has become an unstoppable force around the world.
“Because of the quality of RE/MAX agents, the brand has thrived through shifting markets, historical events, and an ever-changing society,” says Nick Bailey, RE/MAX President and CEO. “What began with two people in Denver has grown into the premier worldwide brand in real estate.”
The impact of affiliation
Every RE/MAX affiliate has their own reasons for joining the network.
For instance, Kelly Randin has been with RE/MAX All Keys Real Estate in Key Largo, Florida, for more than six years. But her fondness for the brand began long before that.
The iconic RE/MAX balloon – the brand’s symbol since 1978 – floated its way through some of Randin’s warmest childhood memories. She recalls her mother – also a RE/MAX agent – arranging for the local RE/MAX balloon to visit her elementary school on multiple occasions.
When Randin launched her own career, one thing was clear to her: top-producing agents align with RE/MAX. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Randin joined a RE/MAX brokerage as a second-generation RE/MAX agent – and has since built a business helping more clients than she thought possible.
“I work in an area full of vacation homes, which means my clients are moving from all over. No matter where they are coming from, they recognize – and want to work with – RE/MAX over any other local company,” Randin says. “The brand name gives me a huge advantage.”
A legacy of community
Like Randin, other agents agree that joining RE/MAX isn’t just aligning with a brand – it’s making a strategic decision to build a personal business atop a solid, time-tested foundation. Being part of the network opens doors to technology tools, marketing resources, and referral opportunities.
“I joined RE/MAX in 2007 because of the brand, but I’ve stayed over 15 years because of the commitment to excellence,” says Lisa Harris, an agent with RE/MAX Center in Braselton, Georgia. “A culture of productivity has been engrained throughout the organization since day one.
“I’m also extremely proud of the 30-year legacy we’ve built with Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals,” she shares.
The Linigers knew a community-based profession needed a community-based way to give back. Since 1992, RE/MAX has been a proud partner of CMN Hospitals, with RE/MAX agents supporting more than 170 CMN affiliate hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. During the 30-year partnership, RE/MAX agents have donated over $185 million to CMN Hospitals.
An ongoing celebration
The 50-year milestone is being marked in several big ways.
In Denver, Colorado, where the Linigers started it all, the Mayor has proclaimed January 30, 2023 as “RE/MAX, LLC 50th Anniversary Day.”
Within the network, where January 30 is known as “Founders Day,” the 2023 RE/MAX R4 convention will celebrate the first 50 years – and everything that’s to come. The gathering – at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from February 27-March 1 – is expected to attract nearly 10,000 attendees from more than 60 countries – making it one of the largest RE/MAX conventions ever.
With its global footprint, high-quality agents, brand recognition, resources for business growth, and culture of success, there’s no stopping the RE/MAX network.
*Source: MMR Strategy Group study of unaided awareness.
SOURCE OF ARTICLE: https://news.remax.com/50-years-of-changing-real-estate-and-changing-lives
