Local real estate firm launches national franchise program

CHICAGO - @properties, which was founded in 2000 and quickly grew into one of the largest residential brokerage firm in Chicago and its surrounding areas, said Tuesday it is launching a national franchise program.

The real estate company will offer broker-owners and agents access to the technology, marketing, training and business-development systems that have made @properties one of the Top 10 brokerage firms in the country, said Thad Wong and Mike Golden, co-founders and co-CEOs.

In May, @properties announced an investment in Nest Realty, a Charlottesville, Virginia-based brokerage firm with 15 company- and franchise-owned locations in five Southeast states. Golden said the Nest brand will allow @properties to offer another franchise platform targeting smaller firms.

"There is a huge unmet need in our industry for a brand that not only delivers scalable, well-designed technology and marketing, but also works hand in hand with broker-owners and agents to help grow their businesses sustainably and profitably - a company that is focused on opportunity and relationships," Wong said.

@properties, which grew from four agents to more than 3,000, and last year closed $10.7 billion in transactions.