A team of 250 real estate agents in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area is joining the Real Brokerage as it maintains a focus on helping agents thrive and give back to their communities.
Landmark Group’s founder, Bernadette Cole, told Homes.com that Real offers a better financial deal for agents than they had at their prior home with Exit Realty. Beyond commissions, agents at Real are paid a share of the brokerage’s revenue gains, she said, and it will provide a partial match when agents buy stock in the company.
“It’s a way for them to build a financial future,” Cole said.
Landmark’s leadership includes Cole’s husband, Alex, and daughter Gina, as well as Randy and Isabel Barrows. The team is keeping its offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and in White Plains and Clinton, Maryland.
Besides the emphasis on agents’ needs, Real is a good fit for Landmark because it supports giving back to the neighborhoods where its agents are active, according to Cole. In a statement last month, Real cited examples of Landmark’s community work, such as partnering with local organizations to ensure that families in need receive holiday support or renting hotel rooms at times to provide shelter for people who are homeless.
Another way Cole enjoys giving back is through her team’s connection to the military. A number of their agents have served in the armed forces, as has her husband for 21 years, she said.
Moreover, the Clinton office is adjacent to Andrews Air Force Base, and Landmark has extensive experience dealing with the distinct buying and selling challenges that face military personnel. Examples include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program and the housing allowance allocated for off-base living. Landmark is joining Real’s military division that Cole said will be an asset for the team.
“There’s [various] benefits, but most of all you’ve got people who understand the services that are available, so it’s a more personalized experience with people who’ve had that same journey,” she said.
Miami-based Real announced last month that it has surpassed 30,000 agents; the company reached the 20,000 level about a year ago.
“Landmark’s community-first culture and track record of excellence are a strong addition to our growing presence in the DMV region,” Real CEO Tamir Poleg said in the statement.