Weichert, Realtors® Grows Its Franchise Network in Alabama, Florida, Illinois and New York State

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. – Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., the franchise arm of Weichert, Realtors®, continues its rapid nationwide growth with the openings of franchise offices in Madison, Ala., in Evanston, Ill., and in Brooklyn, N.Y., as well as an affiliate expansion on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The new Weichert® affiliates are:

§ WEICHERT, REALTORS® – The Executive Group, Madison, Ala. Serving the greater Huntsville Alabama real estate market, this is the second location for the Weichert affiliate, which also has a Huntsville office. Broker Brenda Elliott is co-owner with Jim Crumrine, Jim Layne, and Larry Perry.

§ WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Lakeshore Partners, Evanston, Ill. Sandra Brown and John Adamson are the owners of the first Weichert franchise on Chicago’s North Shore. Adamson is broker of record for the firm, formed in 1991.

§ WEICHERT, REALTORS® – The Franzese Group, Brooklyn, N.Y. Owned by Broker Anthony Franzese, a native Brooklynite, this new affiliate is the third Weichert affiliate in Brooklyn. Wife Kimberly Franzese is office manager.

In Florida, WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Westshore Real Estate with offices in Tarpon Springs and Lutz is expanding through the purchase of the business of WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Baytowne in Clearwater. Dave and Sally Ryder are the broker/owners. Bob Delle Donne will continue as managing broker of the Clearwater office, which will operate under its existing name.

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., opened the organization’s first franchise office in January 2002 in Jupiter, Fla., and now has 78 independently owned and operated offices in the Sunshine State, among a roster of more than 300 signed affiliates in 29 states.

Martin J. Rueter, president of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, welcomed the new franchisees, saying, “We look forward to the greater energy and higher service levels this mutual sharing of strengths will surely bring about.”

Weichert has more than 18,300 sales associates in nearly 490 company-owned and franchised sales offices in key markets throughout the U.S. A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate, and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance. For more information, call Weichert's customer service center at 1-800-USA-SOLD or visit Weichert's Web site, www.weichert.com. Each Weichert franchised office is independently owned and operated