If you want to buy a house, an apartment or a plot of land, you will need a real estate agent (also known as broker) to help you manage the transaction. The broker can help you find the desired property, as well as give you counsel about the buying procedures and the fees involved.
Having a good real estate broker can help you avoid many problems, as their expertise will allow you to find the right property at the correct price, and to navigate all the legal hurdles of buying a property. This is especially important for those who want to purchase a property abroad, as dealing in a foreign market requires localized expertise.
The biggest real estate brokers in the world have franchises in many countries that adhere to the quality standards of their parent company. This is why it is advisable to look for a real estate broker affiliated with one of the big brands.
Here are the top five real estate brokers in the world:
1. Remax
REMAX real estate was founded by Dave Liniger and Gail Main (who soon became Gail Liniger) in 1973. Based in Denver, Colorado, the company started to grow as more agents wanted to work for this firm. Eventually, the Linigers franchised and expanded to Kansas City. By 1977, RE/MAX had its first international office in Calgary, Alberta.
2. Coldwell Banker
The Coldwell Banker firm was started in 1906 by Colbert Coldwell and Benjamin Banker in the wake of the Great San Francisco Earthquake. The business was started just two years before the National Association of Realtors was founded. With over 100 years of history to its name, Coldwell Banker is going strong. It boasts more than 3,000 offices in 49 countries across the world.
3. Keller Williams
Keller Williams real estate was founded in 1983 by Gary Keller and Joe Williams. They started their real estate company out of a single office in Austin, Texas, but quickly started to grow. The company headquarters is still in Austin, and its Mega Camp conference is held in that city annually (when it isn’t held online).
4. Sotheby's
Sotheby’s is a truly international real estate firm. This brokerage company is part of the same brand that operates the iconic art and wine auction house. Today, Sotheby’s boasts more than 1,000 offices globally in 70 different countries.
5 Compass
Compared to the other power players on this list, Compass might seem small. It boasts 17,000 agents across a few key regions in the United States. However, this company shows promise. It continues to grow and attract customers through modern technology and a customer-centric business model.
While choosing the right real estate broker in each country requires additional research, knowing about the biggest international brands is a good starting point, as you can search for local brokers that are affiliated with any of the big names.