Comey & Shepherd expands with Re/Max deal

Comey & Shepherd Realtors is growing its brand's reach with a major deal landed Wednesday that will bring upwards of 400 Re/Max Unlimited real estate agents under the company's name.

The Mariemont-based real estate firm has entered a brand licensing agreement with Milford-based Unlimited Real Estate, LLC and ND Real Estate, LLC - both formerly licensed under the international real estate franchise Re/Max Unlimited.

Each entity will remain independently owned and operated, but run under the Comey & Shepherd Realtors brand with a combined total of more than 650 agents.

Collectively, unit sales for the three groups in 2009 would have been in excess of 9,100 and sales volume would have exceeded $1.5 billion. Based on sales volume, the combined Comey & Shepherd would have ranked as the second largest residential real estate firm locally behind Sycamore Township-based Sibcy Cline. On unit sales, the group would have been the largest local brand.

Nationally, the combined entity would have ranked 32nd, according to Castle Rock, Colo.-based Real Trends, Inc.

"I've always been interested in doing brand partnering with other groups who have their own capital and a shared vision," said Scott Nelson, Comey & Shepherd's CEO.

Visible changes of the agreement began to roll out Wednesday when Unlimited yard signs were replaced with Comey & Shepherd signs.

"We've evolved over time in the Greater Cincinnati real estate market and we've been watching Comey & Shepherd - how they do business, how they brand themselves," said Mike Wolfer, owner of Unlimited Real Estate. "Their culture, values and long-term business strategies align with ours, so it just made sense to join forces."

The announcement was made to agents at each of the groups earlier this week and transfers of individual agent licenses remain under way, Nelson said.

via Cincinnati Enquirer