Press Release

Weichert, Realtors Grows in Florida and the Carolinas

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.— Weichert Real Estate Affiliates Inc., Weichert, Realtors®’ franchise organization, today announced the addition of seven new franchise offices in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina through its Weichert Real Estate Affiliates organization. Weichert launched its first franchise in January 2002 and now has 156 open offices in 16 states.

Martin J. Rueter, president of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, welcomed the new offices saying, “Weichert is proud to welcome these fine companies to our team. We look forward to helping them serve their customers the Weichert Way.”

Entrepreneur magazine listed Weichert Real Estate Affiliates as #10 in its 2005 list of the 50 top new franchises started up within the past five years. The company also placed high as one of the fastest growing franchises.

The newest open Weichert affiliate offices include:

• Weichert, Realtors® - Castellano & Associates, Vero Beach, Fla. -- Broker/Owner Dottie Castellano and partner Michael Armstrong opened the new office located at 1054 20th Place. The owners decided to franchise with Weichert for the company’s training, marketing and leading tools.

• Weichert, Realtors® - Duckett & Associates, Ocala and Summerfield, Fla. -- The three-year-old real estate agency with more than 40 agents recently opened two offices. The first office was opened in Ocala, and a second office was opened one month later in Summerfield. The company joined Weichert for the advanced programs and sales tools. The Ocala office is located at 1610 S.E. 36th Avenue and the Summerfield Office is located at15437 South Highway 441.

• Weichert, Realtors® - On the Key, Siesta Key, Fla. -- Adam Robinson is owner of the two-year-old real estate agency. Elizabeth Kipta will be broker in charge at the new company, located at 5039 Ocean Boulevard. The team of 12 agents joined Weichert to capitalize on all the company has to offer—from brand identification and support, to strength in the relocation arena.

• Weichert, Realtors® – Westshore Real Estate, Lutz, Fla. -- This is the second office for the company which opened their first Weichert® office in Tarpon Springs in 2003. David and Sally Ryder are owners of the franchise, with David serving as broker-in-charge. The new office is located at 1930 Land O Lakes Blvd.

• Weichert, Realtors® -- Amity Partners, Statesville, N.C. -- Owners Harry Tsumas and John McCalla joined the franchise organization for Weichert’s support to owners and agents alike. Located at 300 E. Broad Street, the company first started as a residential and commercial development company nine years ago.

• Weichert, Realtors® - Coastal Properties, Blufton, S.C. – Owners Karen and Joe Ryan, have announced a second location for the company at 22 Plantation Park Drive in Plantation Park, specifically opened to serve the fast-growing Bluffton area. The Ryans joined Weichert one year ago with an office in Hilton Head. The new Weichert office, managed by Pat Griffith, has 22 full time real estate professionals on staff. Griffith has 25 years experience, 15 of them with Weichert.

Weichert has more than 16,500 sales associates in 355 company-owned and franchised sales offices in key markets throughout the U.S. A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate, and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance. For more information, call Weichert's customer service center at 1-800-USA SOLD or visit Weichert's Web site, www.weichert.com. Each Weichert franchised office is independently owned and operated.