HUNT Real Estate ERA Named to REALTOR^® Magazine’s Top 15 List

Buffalo, NY -- HUNT Real Estate ERA was recognized by REALTOR® Magazine in its July issue on 2009 Top 100 Companies: A Time for Sprinting Uphill.  HUNT ERA ranked 15th in closed transaction sides and 41st in sales volume among the nation’s largest real estate brokers (as reported in sales figures for 2008).  The company was also recognized by REALTOR® as the fastest growing real estate brokerage in the United States. 

HUNT ERA took a big stride in the latest annual rankings of top brokerage companies with total transactions rising an impressive 29.8 percent in 2008—a year when, according to REALTOR® Magazine, sides for the Top 100 real estate companies fell an average of 14.7 percent.  Peter Hunt, Chairman and CEO of HUNT Real Estate Corp., attributed his company growth to aggressively pursuing acquisition opportunities that were prime during the unprecedented economic downturn of previous year.  HUNT acquired two companies in 2008, adding 11 offices and 380 agents to its fold and dramatically increasing its market share in certain regions.

While existing home sales fell 13.1 percent in 2008 compared with the year earlier, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and median prices dropped 9.5 percent as foreclosures and short sales began to dominate many markets, HUNT ERA focused its strategic objectives on improving productivity of existing sales force and staff, enhancing the quality of existing inventory, and recruiting.  

“Given last year’s poor economic conditions, we identified 3 growth strategies: continue to investment spend with hopes for market turn-around, which would yield returns on investment; hunker down by reducing waste and honing our skills; and opportunistically grow by acquiring brokerages that didn’t make it through the downturn,” said Peter Hunt.  “Our strategies seem to have paid off.”

In addition to acquiring companies, HUNT is investing in technology and specialized training for sales associates and managers.  "We’re going to continue to spend in the areas that bring us the greatest returns," Peter Hunt said.

A complete report of Top 100 Companies by REALTOR ® Magazine in sales volume, transaction sides, and related business activities is available from www.realtor.org.