While the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) saw a seven percent decrease in its membership in 2009, Keller Williams Realty grew its associate base by three percent, ending the year with more than 76,879 associates across North America.

“We are incredibly proud of the milestones we’ve achieved and the accolades we received; and it is all thanks to our incredibly resilient agents and market centers,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Keller Williams Realty. “Our growth this year was driven by more than 90 mergers and roll-ins that our office owners completed and we’re proud to say that we’ve done it all without one cent of operating debt. That’s why as we’re looking into the future, we envision becoming the No. 1 real estate franchise in North America and even further expansion globally in the coming years.”

In addition to being named the third-largest real estate franchise in the United States by REAL Trends, the company received accolades throughout the year including:

•    Entrepreneur magazine, No. 1 ranked real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list
•    J.D. Power and Associates, highest in overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the second year in a row
•    Inman News, President and COO Mary Tennant named one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate
•    Swanepoel TRENDS Report survey, No. 1 Industry Trendsetter of 2009 and 2009 Most Recognizable Real Estate Franchise Brand
•    REAL Trends 500, Keller Williams offices comprised more than a quarter of the entire list, and of the major brands represented in the report, was the only company to boast growth in both number of agents added to its ranks and in total transactions closed.
•    RISMedia’s Power Broker Report, KW again had the largest majority of offices on the list – accounting for 35 percent of all the brokerages listed and was No.1 in number of agents and total closed transactions.
•    Stevie Awards, Sales Training and Coaching Program of the Year for MAPS Coaching

"Momentum is the most powerful competitive tool that you can possess,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “And our agents have it. We’ve seen them tackle the tough market and embrace new trends that make them stronger every day. The groundwork has been paved for an extraordinary 2010, and even more productive and profitable years to come."

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About Keller Williams Realty, Inc.:
Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 668 offices and more than 76,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties.