What’s the real driver of value in a brokerage? “Why would I sell if I was making that kind of money,” he asked dismissively. The broker wanted to discuss selling his brokerage and cashing out. He had just voiced his thoughts on its value, and he had a really big number in Read more…
The real estate pendulum swings again Galileo was inside the Pisa cathedral in Tuscany, Italy in the early 17th century when he observed the regular back and forth movement of a lamp hanging from the ceiling. Watching the swinging, he noticed the movement was constant and predictable, ultimately leading to his law Read more…
What’s my brokerage worth? “Gambling is not about how well you play the games; it’s really about how well you handle your money,” says the old gamer’s axiom. Real estate brokers have enjoyed a good run for several years and in the changing climate, many are looking to take some Read more…
Shift Happens For brokers and agents, the past 18-months have seen the hottest market in decades. Even with the pandemic and a struggling economy, most brokers have enjoyed record growth. But ask those same brokers what they see ahead for the rest of 2022, and few think they will match Read more…
But We Have Free Coffee I was sitting in a boutique broker’s beautiful office listening to the owners vent about their frustration with recruiting. Attracting strong agents was a challenge for them, but equally frustrating was that after onboarding recruits, they often lost them to other brokers once they began Read more…
The One Thing Your Agents Need A hotly debated topic among brokers is what do agents really need today to ensure their overall success. The raging issue is important for so many reasons, as agent success directly impacts the health of the brokerage. Will Rogers said, “A difference of opinion is what Read more…
Same Stuff Different Day Welcome to the new year– although to many it’s best described by the acronym “SSDD.” Based on conversations with brokers, it does feel like the movie “Groundhog Day” in which the main character, Bill Murray, finds himself reliving the same day over and over. The real Read more…
I was on a recent real estate M&A’s panel discussing the usual stuff like, how’s the market; what to look for in deals; what are the pricing multiples today, etc., when someone asked a refreshing question: “What are the top deal killers?” Price and terms are usually the first thing out Read more…
There’s a dirty little secret in the world of real estate brokerages that few people talk about. It’s a disturbing trend that we’re seeing more frequently in small and mid-sized firms: Many brokerages today are just not very profitable. In 35+ years, I’ve looked at 1,000’s of financial statements. What Read more…