Area brokerages staff up for opportunities

June 15th, 2009

South Florida’s real estate ranks, thinned by the market collapse, are starting to increase again as brokerages anticipate an upturn.

Some struggling part-timers left the business as the boom times faded, and others near retirement exited gracefully.

Those who hung on are sharpening their swords in preparation for renewed opportunities. Home sales are once again on the rise, but different strengths are needed for a market characterized by lower prices, fewer buyers, and rising foreclosures.

Companies like Flagler Development are taking advantage of the down economy to recruit talented brokers and train them to leverage market opportunities. In the last six months, the firm has hired four people, taking advantage of cutbacks at rivals such as CB Richard Ellis.

“We’re a small brokerage compared to the national powerhouses, so we have to be aggressive in going after deals,” said Eric Swanson, executive vice president of Flagler Development. “Downturns create opportunities for us to attract brokers that were involved on the national scene.”

Click here to read the rest of my story on The Real Deal.

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