After thirty 32 years with a “big box” franchise, I felt we needed to find a new way to target our unique market for real estate in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.  As anyone knows who has been involved with a real estate franchise, there are royalty fees which are paid on every transaction.  More and more, I felt our money was being used to support the infrastructure of a large and vast corporation.  Unlike  many national real estate franchise markets, second home markets are a niche market which require highly targeted marketing that differs greatly from the needs of the more typical primary markets most franchises serve.

Over the years, we’ve paid large sums in royalty fees.   While there are benefits to being associated with a franchise, the thought kept returning: If we were to take what we were paying in franchise fees and use the funds to target our specific markets through broadened internet and other media exposure,  our clients, customers and our company would be better served.   And so Lakes Region Realty Group took on its own independent name in June of 2012.   I’ve enjoyed the relationship I had with the franchise.  I’ve met some great people along the way and learned a great deal about our industry.  I think our relationship over the years was mutually beneficial.

 So far, so good. It’s far more effort than I had ever imagined in transforming the company to “independent” status. But, I am enjoying it and a new vigor for the business has been born. I’ve been involved in the sale of Lake Winnipesaukee area properties since 1977 and I am at a point where many of the homes we sell, we’ve sold before.  Not to date myself, but the first waterfront lot I sold on Lake Winnipesaukee was in Krainewood.  Price:  $18,000.00. I sold it to a gentleman I met at the Boston Home Show.

We’ll use our blog to keep you informed of interesting sales and trends in our market. Local politics may come into the mix on occasion. At the end of the day it’s our hope to have some stimulating exchange with our peers, customers, clients and friends.

Jim Mardis

Broker/Owner

Lakes Region Realty Group