I'm looking for input from other brokers on my proposed business model.
I've been real estate broker for about 25 years, very active for the 1st 5 years in general real estate and for the past 20 or so we've focused on custom homebuilding and the real estate side consisted mostly of land sales and development. I want to start developing myself as a broker, utilizing my network of contacts through homes that I've built and combine into one what has been 2 separate companies. Why? Because at this point it's just myself and I want to focus on marketing homes that I either spec build or rehab and select listings. Kind of a specialty real estate office I suppose. To keep it as two separate entities requires more phone lines, different signage, separate websites, etc. Sorry to be so lengthy but the real question is what do you see as the advantages or disadvantages to this type of a company? I could operate as Dugan Real Estate and still do as I described but I'm thinking that Dugan Homes & Real Estate really describes who and what I do. Wow! Hope that makes sense folks.

If your only concern is keeping costs down, then perhaps you do want to merge the 2 companies. However, if your reason is to seperate assets for liability limitation / protection, then you'd have more reasons to keep the 2 businesses seperate.

Hi ElkGrove
Costs are certainly a consideration but simplification comes into play. The liability and asset issue is what's kept me from the consolidation so far because I've been given that advice before.
I guess I can't see the advantage of multiple websites signs etc. I think the new construction and real estate dwell well together but that's why I'm looking for others input.

what are these "builders" you speak of? I thought they went near extinct or into hibernation until the newer reos and new construction foreclosures burned off which may take 2 more yrs.