Press Release

Weichert, Realtors® Announces Franchise Expansions in Tennessee and the Carolinas

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. – Weichert Real Estate Affiliates Inc., the rapidly growing franchise arm of Weichert, Realtors®, continues its forward momentum with the unveiling of a new franchise office in Aiken, S.C., and the expansions of current affiliates in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., and Chattanooga, Tenn.   In addition, three Weichert® franchisees serving the greater Knoxville, Tenn. market have joined forces.

Martin J. Rueter, president of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, welcomed the new franchise offices, saying, “This increasing consolidation of our presence in the South is very gratifying and attests to the fact that brokers who join us get far more than a brand.  Weichert’s clearly defined operating systems address every area that impacts business growth, from recruitment and retention, to marketing and managing.”  

The new or recently expanded Weichert® affiliates are:

• WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Coastal Choice, Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.  The company’s third office extends its coastal penetration southward from existing locations in Wilmington and Southport.   Company President/CEO Michael Patterson is the broker of record. 

•  WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Southern Traditions, Aiken, S.C.   Broker Mike Brazeal and his wife, Karen Brazeal, are the co-owners of Weichert’s 25th office in the Palmetto State.  The office serves the Central Savannah River Area, which includes Aiken/North Augusta, S.C., and Augusta, Ga.

• WEICHERT, REALTORS® - 1ST Choice, Chattanooga, Tenn.  Owners Melissa Harrison and Jay Neal crossed state lines to open their Chattanooga office, which is under Broker Marion Curtis.  The company’s other offices are in the Georgia communities of Rossville and LaFayette.  

• Also, in a major consolidation in Knoxville, Tenn., WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Advantage, Inc., and WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Meese Agency joined WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Dean-Kelby, which is owned by President/CEO Bryan Crabtree.  The union makes WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Dean-Kelby the fourth largest real estate firm in the Knoxville area, with offices in North and West Knoxville and Clinton.  Crabtree’s company also has four offices serving the Charlestown, S.C., area.  

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates launched its first independently owned and operated franchise office in January 2002 and now serves more than 330 markets in 32 states. 

Weichert has nearly 18,500 sales associates in over 500 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, Weichert's customer service center can be reached at 1-800-USA-SOLD or at Weichert's Web site, www.weichert.com.  Each Weichert franchised office is independently owned and operated.

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