Press Release

Weichert, Realtors' Franchisees Add New Offices in Florida, South Carolina and New Jersey

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. – Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., the franchise arm of Weichert, Realtors®, recently announced that Weichert affiliates in Florida, South Carolina, and New Jersey have opened additional offices.  Weichert, Realtors® is the nation’s largest privately owned provider of real estate and home ownership services.

Martin J. Rueter, president of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, congratulated the affiliates, saying, “Through outstanding companies like these, the Weichert model for responsive real estate service can reach an ever larger customer base.”

Weichert affiliates adding offices include:

§          WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Hallmark Properties, Vero Beach and Ormond Beach, FL – The Central Florida company owned by Steve Pilchick, president and broker of record, added its 13^th and 14 ^th locations in Vero Beach and Ormond Beach.  Pilchick’s company, which affiliated with Weichert in March 2005, also has offices in Clermont, Edgewater, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Longwood, New Smyrna Beach, Oviedo, St. Cloud, and Winter Park, as well as three locations in its headquarters city of Orlando.

§          WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Peggy Wilson & Associates, Inman, SC – This is the firm’s third office serving the greater Greenville/Spartanburg market.  The company is headed by President and Broker Peggy Wilson, one of the Weichert franchise organization’s founding members, and Vice President/General Manager Dennis Nace will manage the new office.  Other locations are in Duncan and Simpsonville. 

§          WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Hoey Group, Avalon, NJ – This Jersey Shore agency’s fourth location is managed by Bill Labrum.  Owners are 43-year real estate veteran Joseph Hoey, daughter Stacey Hoey-Burns, broker of record, and John Long.  Hoey Group also has offices in Sea Isle City, Wildwood, and Villas/Lower Township. 

Since launching its first franchise office in January 2002, Weichert Real Estate Affiliates has grown to include more than 190 opened affiliated offices in 20 states.  It is the only real estate organization ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s 2005 ranking of  “Top 10 New Franchises” started in the U.S. over the last five years.  The Weichert division also made the magazine’s “Top 100 Fastest Growing Franchises.”    

            Weichert has more than 17,200 sales associates in over 380 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.