Media Release

 

MEDIA RELEASE 

 

 Leading World Authority in Real Estate Identifies Harcourts in Top Five Brands in the World

   

 Harcourts International has been identified by a leading world authority in real estate, Stefan Swanepoel, as one of the top five international real estate brands in the world. 

 

According to Managing Director of Harcourts International, Mike Green, the 2009 Swanepoel Trends Report showcased Harcourts International as an organisation that is leading the change in expanding successfully into other countries and continents.

 

The report describes Harcourts’ success as among other things, being based on a “people oriented culture” that has resulted in a turnover rate that is significantly lower than the industry average.

 

‘A youthful Gen X culture has energized the company’s drive, creativity and passion. That cultural mindset is further defined by a clear purpose and a business philosophy that flows down through the organization in the form of four very simple but specific values that are constantly communicated: People first; Doing the right thing; Being courageous; and Fun and laughter,’ the report stipulates.

 

Mr Green said that to be recognised in the 2009 Swanepoel Trends Report as an organisation that was influential on a global scale spoke enormously of how far the group has come since he brought Harcourts to Australia in 1997. 

 

“This is truly exciting for the Harcourts team and demonstrates that we are now becoming recognised internationally for the quality of our organisation in all aspects.  Continuing our strong international growth and constantly striving for our goal of being one of the world’s leading real estate franchise groups will provide even greater marketing opportunities for our clients and our people through greater brand awareness and profile on a global stage.”

 

Today the group has over 600 offices, 4,000 full-time sales consultants, 1,500 support staff and a sales

volume in excess of $19.5 billion (fiscal 2008).

 

Stefan Swanepoel is widely recognized as the leading visionary on trends and change in the real estate industry. He has penned 14 books, whitepapers and reports including the 1998 Amazon.com bestseller, Real Estate confronts Reality (1997), the sequel Real Estate confronts the Future (2004) and the Swanepoel TRENDS Report (2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009).

 

Before making California his home, Mr Swanepoel lived on three continents and developed a broad international business background. He has served as CEO, President or senior executive of various businesses including a; bank, construction company, international franchise, software company, real estate brokerage, and a publishing company. Today Mr Swanepoel serves as Chairman and CEO of RealtyU® Group, Inc. the largest career development company serving the real estate industry as well as CEO of RealSure, Inc,. a leading management consulting company providing consulting services to real estate and non real estate companies.

 

Already the fastest growing real estate group in Australia and the largest in New Zealand, Harcourts is now operating in nine countries: New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Singapore, Zambia, China, South Africa and Botswana.

 

 

Have a Fantastic Day,

Brad.

(I am proud to be a part of the Harcourts family)