The corporate is opening its first franchise within the Central American nation amid an ongoing push to broaden in new international areas.
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The world is outwardly Keller Williams’ oyster, with the corporate asserting Thursday that it’s increasing into Guatemala.
In a press release, the corporate introduced that Rodrigo Garcia will function the regional working principal over a brand new franchise within the Central American nation. Operations for the franchise are at present “initializing,” the assertion notes, with a market middle (KW’s time period for an workplace) anticipated to open someday within the fourth quarter of this yr.
“Our vision for KW in Guatemala is to become the choice brand for investors, real estate entrepreneurs and agents who want to level up,” Garcia mentioned within the assertion. He added, “We chose KW as our alliance partner in Guatemala because they have proven systems, models and technology that accelerate results within our real estate industry.”
Previous to his new function, Garcia was with RE/MAX, the place he served as a industrial actual property director and dealer.
The assertion goes on to notice that Guatemala represents Keller Williams’ sixth “master franchise in Central America.” Different nations within the area with a KW presence embrace Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras. The corporate has 576 brokers understanding of seven market facilities in Central America.
Globally, the franchisor operates 292 market facilities outdoors the U.S. and Canada. These market facilities serve 17,569 brokers, the assertion notes — including that the variety of worldwide brokers has risen “0.7 percent since the end of August 2024.”
Worldwide growth has turn into an vital frontier for Keller Williams, with current years seeing bulletins about new market facilities in unique locales comparable to Sint Maarten, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, and elsewhere. The strain to develop globally has turn into significantly pronounced within the post-COVID period, when excessive charges and gradual residence gross sales have left the U.S. housing market with a case of intense malaise. These situations have diminished American firms’ potential to develop on their residence turf, pushing them to — amongst different issues — search alternatives elsewhere.
The corporate’s assertion Thursday famous that it’s additionally at present exploring future growth in “Africa, Central and South America, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia.”
Relating to the growth in Guatemala, Keller Williams Worldwide President William E. Soteroff expressed pleasure in Thursday’s assertion.
“We are excited to welcome KW Guatemala to our global family under the leadership of Rodrigo and his talented core team,” Soteroff mentioned. “Rodrigo’s passion for innovation and entrepreneurial spirit will drive rapid growth and elevate the real estate experience in Guatemala.”