Real estate may be local, but aligning with a brand that’s truly global provides many agents with the opportunity to take business to greater heights. For expansive-minded entrepreneurs, a brand’s global reach, recognizability, reputation, resources and referral opportunities can help make or break a career.
“When you hear about people’s lives being changed because of the brand they’re affiliated with, there’s nothing greater,” says Shawna Gilbert, ®REMAX SVP of Global and Commercial.
Real estate professionals around the world, from Hawaii to Bahrain and beyond, experience the advantages of being affiliated with an international brand. They also realize what they’d be missing without a global edge.
1. International referrals, global recognizability
When Myron Kiriu, Broker/Owner of the newly converted REMAX Hawaii in Honolulu, was deciding which brand to align his brokerage with, he considered where his buyers often came from: Asia, Canada, South America and Europe, among them. He then looked, he says, for a brand known around the world.
“Rebranding to REMAX [helps] our brokerage maintain a strong local presence while gaining global reach,” Kiriu says. “Being in the heart of the Pacific, in addition to servicing clients throughout the United States, our agents bring a rich mix of global backgrounds and languages, making REMAX the perfect fit to expand their services locally and worldwide.”
For Matilde Aguirre, Broker/Owner of REMAX United Realty in Coral Gables, Florida, international referrals play a critical role in her business strategy.
“The brand recognition paired with the access to a global network of agents and professionals makes it so I can refer clients with confidence, even when I have not met them yet in person,” Aguirre says. “Much of my business is even getting referrals from referrals.”
2. A locally cultivated, globally known reputation
According to Gilbert, when a brand is already well-established around the world, agents with an entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for what they want to accomplish can make a big impact on the standard of service delivered to buyers and sellers.
“No matter where you are in the world, you can take a global, widely recognized brand and make it your own, adding local nuances, culture and personality,” she says. “Across our markets, consumers increasingly understand that working with a professional, ethical and transparent representative is both preferable and essential.”
Sarie Abukhalil, who recently opened REMAX Premier in Bahrain, says joining REMAX was both a strategic and passionate decision — because of how the strong, global brand could bring his vision to life.
“Bahrain is a growing market with international appeal,” Abukhalil says. “Being part of a globally recognized brand like REMAX instantly elevates our credibility and reach.”
3. World-class resources
Global presence can also bring new levels of support, resources and education, Gilbert says.
“For new agents entering the industry, that foundation of support is invaluable,” she says. “The ability to establish instant credibility isn’t just beneficial, it’s transformative.”
Gilbert points to resources like MAXReferSM, a comprehensive end-to-end referral platform — supported by AI — that powers REMAX connections on local, national and international levels, as well as MAXEngage SM, a loyalty and rewards program that helps agents maximize their social media presence. Both offerings were launched this year to the brand’s entire network of more than 145,000 agents with a presence in more than 110 countries and territories.
By extending its reach across so many markets, Gilbert says, REMAX elevates the real estate experience for consumers and professionals alike.
Says Kiriu: “Aligning with [a top global] brand offers us valuable tools and resources necessary to deliver the highest quality of service to our clients.”
