“We are so proud of our sales associates for earning such an impressive distinction, especially considering how difficult today’s market is,” says Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX International. “The fact is, only the best trained and most experienced agents will find ways to succeed and be able to provide valuable assistance to so many American families facing financial difficulties.”

RE/MAX Alliance Group was also top on the list with over 100 million in Single Office Volume.  This prestigious award sets RE/MAX Alliance Agents apart from the rest and acknowledges their hard work and dedication.  Each year RE/MAX recognizes the accomplishments of the regional offices with this outstanding accomplishment.

RE/MAX sales associates had the highest agent productivity of all the national real estate brands. In the RISMedia’s 2010 Power Broker Report & Survey, sales associates affiliated with RE/MAX brokerages averaged an impressive 15.1 transaction sides per agent, an 18% increase over their winning position in last year’s survey, and a performance that placed them 26% higher than the next closest competitor.

Kelly believes a significant factor in the success of RE/MAX sales associates is the comprehensive educational resources available through RE/MAX University. “Our associates lead the industry in sales experience and professional designations. Within the past year, over 15,000 agents earned a distressed property designation from RE/MAX University, our on-demand, multi-media educational institution, and we have significant initiatives that will increase those efforts in the coming year.”

The National Association of Realtors® has said that nearly 40% of the current market consists of distressed properties, including foreclosures and short sales. However, because the short sale process has been difficult for distressed homeowners and Realtors to navigate, RE/MAX has led a lobbying effort in Washington, DC to revise the process. As a result, the Treasury Department announced that as of April 5, all lending institutions participating in HAMP must follow new, uniform short sale procedures.

“We worked long and hard for this reform, and are very pleased that Treasury has now put these short sale measures in place,” says Dave Liniger, Chairman and Co-Founder of RE/MAX International. “With Treasury, we produced a special satellite broadcast to train our agents on the new short sale process. We hope the result is that fewer families will go through the traumatic foreclosure process, and we can reduce the number of foreclosed properties on the market.”

The 22nd annual Power Broker Report is produced by RISMedia and the complete report can be found online at www.rismedia.com. The final REAL Trends 500 survey will be released on May 1, but a preliminary summary is now available online at

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in October, increased 3.7 percent to 114.1 from 110.0 in September, and is 31.8 percent above October 2008 when it was 86.6. The rise from a year ago is the biggest annual increase ever recorded for the index, which is at the highest level since March 2006 when it was 115.2.

“Home sales are experiencing a pendulum swing.” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist “Keep in mind that housing had been underperforming over most of the past year. Based on the demographics of our growing population, existing-home sales should be in the range of 5.5 million to 6.0 million annually, but we were well below the 5-million mark before the home buyer tax credit stimulus,” he said. “This means the tax credit is helping unleash a pent-up demand from a large pool of financially qualified renters, much more than borrowing sales from the future.

“Still, as inventories continue to decline and balance is gradually restored between buyers and sellers, we should reach self-sustaining housing conditions and firming home prices in most areas around the middle of 2010. That would mean broad wealth stabilization for the vast number of middle-class families,” Lawrence Yun said.

1. Increase in home values – The LDS Community holds the Temples to be their most sacred of structures, and many want to live near them.  The last temple to be built was in Idaho, and when the church announced its building plans, house values across the street doubled overnight.  The values of homes Surrounding the immediate area are raised significantly as well.
2. Create Gilbert’s Tallest Structure – The proposed Temple including the Steeple will be 18 stories high.  Not only will that be the highest structure in Gilbert, its so tall that it violates city law and special provisions will have to be passed by the town council to allow for the temple to be built.
3. Increase Tourism Revenues – The Temples are sacred to the Mormon community.  They are used for sealing ceremonies, baptisms and Endowment.  Theses ceremonies create a strong demand for members of the church to travel to areas surrounding the Temple.  The first Hotel was just built in Gilbert and it was built near the Temple grounds.
4. Increase the Population – The Town of Gilbert can expect an increase in population once the Temple is built.   Arizona has been seeing a rise in the Mormon population rate over the last several years.  Right now there is only one Temple in the Phoenix metro area.  The addition of a Temple in Gilbert will give even more reason for many LDS members to relocate.
5. Anchor The Areas Long Term Prosperity - LDS members have a history of being considered good neighbors.   Areas will high Mormon populations hold their value very well over time.  Members of the LDS church tend to keep to themselves and yet be very active in community events.
6. Economic Growth – While this one may be obvious, its easy to underestimate the economic growth created by the building of the LDS Temple.  When you combine the revenue from Tourism, population and development all spurred from the Temple the numbers add up quickly.
7. Cosmetic Appeal – The Churches are very aesthetically beautiful.  Gilbert is considered by many to be one of the more beautiful and well kept cities in the PHX area, this will help add to the allure.
8. Festivities – The LDS church puts on many events throughout the year at their Temples.  Especially during the holiday season these events draw very large crowds.  These events help promote the Temple and Gilbert as a whole.
9. Recognition – There are currently only 130 LDS Temples in the world.  The addition of the Temple will set Gilbert apart from many other large cities.
10. Controversy –  While there will be a lot of good that comes from the addition of the LDS Temple many will be unhappy with the Cities decision.  Some already feel that the church is getting special treatment by being allowed to build a structure taller than is legally allowed by city statues.

The Temple has been announced and is currently in the planning stages.  Construction on the Temple is set to begin within the next year, and should be completed within the next few years.