King Realty Group joins Weichert affiliation

King Realty Group, the Fort Smith agency that became the no. 1 company in the market on its third anniversary, is now a member of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates (WREA), according to a Weichert statement.

Broker/Owner Kevin King and Co-Owner Elizabeth King have announced the company’s step up to the franchise arena as newly-named Weichert Realtors – King Realty Group.

“(W)e are still independently owned and operated,” Kevin King said, “important for people to know that the only way we’ve changed is to get better.”

The new sign will be up shortly after the official January 1, 2011 opening at 3920 Rogers Ave. The Kings purchased the building with room to grow its now 30-agent population.

“An ambitious recruiting campaign will be announced soon,” noted the statement.

The first WREA franchised office was launched in January 2002 and by 2005 was identified by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the fastest growing franchises in the nation. To date, affiliates have opened in nearly 300 markets in 35 states. Together with company-owned offices, some 18,000 agents are with Weichert.

“We are impressed with the way this company (King Realty Group) has soared to its place in the market with young, forward-thinking leadership and a client-centric philosophy that is in sync with our own, and are pleased to welcome them into the Weichert family,” Weichert Affiliates President Martin Rueter noted in the statement.