Greater Sacramento Area Real Estate News: GMAC Real Estate Merges with Real Living

Date: November 11, 2009

To: GMAC Real Estate Sales Associates

From: Graham Badun, Managing Partner & CEO, Brookfield Residential Property Services

Re: GMAC Real Estate to be Re-branded ‘Real Living’

I am very pleased to let you know that Brookfield Residential Property Services has acquired Real Living Network Services, and as a result will now rebrand GMAC Real Estate as Real Living.

Real Living is a national, award winning company known for its innovation, customer service and track record of attracting results-driven brokers and sales professionals, along with a culture of partnership and collaboration. It brings a suite of innovative marketing tools, relevant training and a technology platform that when brought together with key GMAC Real Estate services like Premier Service, will position us for success for many years to come.

I am also excited to let you know that as a result of this acquisition, we are welcoming an additional 2,000 Real Living brokers and sales associates into our North American real estate network of almost 30,000 real estate professionals. By merging GMAC Real Estate and Real Living, under the Real Living brand, we are creating a very solid real estate brand that will become the foundation for future growth opportunities across the U.S. and into new markets internationally.

The Real Living acquisition is the culmination of several months work and satisfies all that we were looking for through the rebranding process. We considered many options including developing a brand from scratch and the Brand and Transition Councils were instrumental in guiding our thinking and reflecting the broad interests of our entire company. As well, our research pointed us toward creating a company that has great services to help you be more successful and a differentiated culture and brand promise that positions us to stand out from, and above, the competition. With this acquisition, we can take the best from what we have in our existing business, such as Premier Service, and combine it with the best that Real Living has to offer; allowing us to take advantage of the opportunity identified in our research and deliver a brand that meets your needs.

I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Real Living’s Harley Rouda, Jr., a long-time real estate industry broker, owner, operator and franchisor, as President of the newly combined operations. We believe that under Harley’s leadership, and with our solid, combined management team, the guidance of our Advisory Board which is chaired by Dick Schlott, and strong, successful brokers and sales professionals on the frontlines delivering exceptional customer service, we have a winning team with a proven track record for success.

We realize that you may have a number of questions about the new brand and transition, and we want to make it easy for you to get the answers you need. Accordingly, we are making available in the News > Transition News section of gmacmembers.com, a number of informational pieces including the Press Release, Sales Associate Q&A, Talking Points, Real Living Fact Sheet and a biography on Harley Rouda. Also included will be materials, such as a new video, and client and vendor letter templates, that will help you to communicate this great news to your clients, prospects and vendors. If this information does not provide answers to all of your questions, please speak to your broker or manager, or alternatively, contact the Real Living Help Desk at 866-208-6050. And, as always, we will continue to communicate with you on a regular basis.

Kindly direct all media enquiries to Hugh Siler, Siler & Company PR at 949-646-6966 or hugh@silerpr.com.

On a final note, it has been my pleasure to serve you as Interim President of GMAC Real Estate over the last few months, and to get to know many of you personally. I will return to my role as CEO of Brookfield Residential Property Services (the parent company to our real estate and relocation operations) and will remain closely involved throughout the transition and integration of Real Living. Thank you all for your commitment to GMAC Real Estate and your untiring service to our industry and clients. I hope you join in my excitement about our future, as we begin this great, new chapter for our company.

Graham Badun,

Managing Partner & CEO

Brookfield Residential Property Services

Articles above have been provided by the listed author immediately following the article. For additional resources and information to the authors, please visit the following sites.

Resource Links:

http://www.gmacrealestate.com

Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net
GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com
GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com
T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com
Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com
GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com
GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens
Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens
Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale
MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens
MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest
Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens
GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com
Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com
Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com