Today’s real estate professionals are navigating an increasingly complex environment shaped by fluctuating markets and economic uncertainty. While the real estate market isn’t currently where everyone wants it to be, opportunities and success can still be found everywhere — if you have the vision to seek them out.
A legacy of looking ahead
Jim Weichert founded Weichert, Realtors® over 50 years ago, and since then, the company has steadily grown into one of the largest in the country independent providers of real estate-related services — now known as the Weichert Family of Companies. This extraordinary journey is the product of his vision and constant pursuit of opportunity.
In his first days as an agent with no clients, Jim handed out business cards every day at the train station. He pioneered the modern open house concept, recognizing what others in the industry had overlooked — the opportunity to turn open houses into “pop-up stores” and engage with more customers.
He was one of the first to integrate mortgage, title, insurance and home warranty under one roof to simplify the transaction for clients and make Weichert a one-stop shop. His commitment to growing talent led him to establish his own real estate school, helping attract and develop new agents.
Never content to stand still, Jim went on to build one of the world’s top relocation companies to serve clients moving their workforce, and later, launched a franchising company after realizing that many independent brokerages sought guidance and support to run their businesses. This type of vision has become central to the Weichert story, inspiring a culture of thinking big and always looking for the next opportunity as the company continuously seeks to evolve itself.
New time, new opportunity
Enter the latest frontier for Weichert — international expansion. With a strong brand presence established in the United States, the company was confident its systems and strategies would translate successfully to international markets and began exploring new opportunities for growth.
One such opportunity emerged across the water from a top brokerage based in Lisbon, Portugal, named HomeLovers. While international brokerages had reached out before, this time was different. It was the right opportunity, at the right time, with the right people in owner Miguel Tilli and his talented team.
Tilli had a clear vision of what he wanted in a partner: an organization that operates with a people-first philosophy, has a family-like culture, a proven track record of success and an appetite for growth. In the sea of sameness, Tilli saw something different in Weichert. He saw a perfect fit, centered around its strong core values and the opportunity to introduce a fresh brand that wasn’t already established in the Portuguese market.
The resulting partnership marked the first Weichert international licensing agreement and has sparked inquiries from brokerage owners in other countries, leading Weichert to look at further growth in Europe and throughout the world.
The future is bright
When you’ve been in business as long as Weichert, you’ve seen your share of market ups and downs, and this current cycle is no different. The key to resilience isn’t simply staying the course; it’s having the courage to change course when necessary and the vision to seek out the next opportunity.
Whether it’s expanding service offerings, investing in professional development, leveraging productive technology or exploring new partnerships and markets — growth and success come to those with a clear vision who actively pursue new opportunities. The Weichert story proves this.
Looking forward is in our DNA, and the future looks bright and yellow.
Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. is a top real estate franchisor established in 2001 by Jim Weichert. The company offers a proven business model for operating, managing and marketing a real estate brokerage. Its franchise network includes over 350 offices, serving markets in over 40 states. Each Weichert franchised office is independently owned and operated.
As featured by Inman – https://www.inman.com/2025/06/02/weichert-finds-opportunity-in-international-expansion/
