PRG Group, an independent brokerage in Wheaton, has joined Keller Williams Premiere Properties, bringing 20 agents to the international real estate franchise.
Managing broker Pat Callan founded PRG Group, formerly known as (dba) Realty Executives Premiere, a franchisee of Realty Executives International, 31 years ago. The firm amassed a “nice market share” centralized in Wheaton, a DuPage County suburb, and extending out into eastern Kane County and western Cook County, Callan said.
The group’s 20 agents brought in $130 million in sales across 277 deals last year, according to the firm.
As Callan began succession planning for his business, he pursued opportunities for growth and spoke with six or seven larger firms before deciding on this partnership with Premiere Properties, a Keller Williams-affiliated franchisee based in Glen Ellyn.
Callan said he chose Keller Williams because of the firm’s technology, educational and training opportunities, strong leadership, “agent-centric environment” and compensation structure, which is similar to what he was already offering his team.
The trend of increased consolidation within the real estate industry was not lost on him while making this decision, Callan said, as there has been an uptick in acquisitions and mergers by larger, national and international firms like Keller Williams and Compass in recent years.
“I felt there would be additional consolidation, and staying updated with technology, dealing with the costs, staying current would probably take a larger platform and more critical mass to continue to make it affordable,” he said.
Keller Williams is the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count with 163,000 affiliated agents, according to a news release.
A successful suburban brokerage like Callan’s is a good get for larger firms like Keller Williams as big players look to increase their footprint in hot Chicago suburban markets. Working with teams that have spent years cultivating local knowledge and client lists can give firms a leg up over their competitors.
“We bring some additional strength in market share. And we bring high-quality agents that have a large sphere of influence amongst themselves and in the area, which helps, especially in the Wheaton region,” said Callan, who will stay on as a senior advisor with Keller Williams Premiere Properties.
Callan was named Illinois Realtor of the Year in 2014 and has over five decades of experience in the real estate industry. As he moves into the shoes of a senior advisor and broker, Callan said he is looking forward to traveling more and playing another round of golf each week.
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