Jason D. Woodward

Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation regarding Keller Williams models. For anyone familiar with KW, there is a model and/ or system for everything. The red book (MREA), the blue book (MREI), the white book (Shift), etc.. It is an incredibly powerful and dynamic system in which a company of 70,000+ agents are working and bettering themselves around a standard of models and systems which at their core are developed from International in Austin, TX; however, through diverse marketplace collaboration, constant interaction and a commitment to the individual agents the models are continually improved and developed. This is an incredibly powerful and insightful system which is currently unmatched it the industry and really has become the standards from which many great agents operate both in and out of the company. So you are still wondering what is the model? Well there are lots of them, but there seems to be a couple predominant models in the industry.

1) Broker Centric Model; where the goal is growth of the brokers brand and the agents serve the brokers vision on a business level. In exchange the broker typically touts success for agents because of the brand and offers training and various other services.

2) The Discount Model (often a desk fee model) where through economy of scale the agents are able to build a low cost brand while the broker is also able to meet his business needs through renting desks. This model does not offer any support, but on the surfaced would appear to be the least expensive. The comparison in agent lingo might be a flat fee listing vs a full service listing.

3) Agent Centric Model; this is somewhat of a hybrid between the two models and Keller Williams is the only company I know operating in this model. KW is really a training company that sells real estate. A quick review of www.KWConnect.com makes this very clear and this is definitely one of the value propositions to being a KW associate. KW also empowers and encourages agent branding; not company branding. KW agents participate in company growth and expense decisions through a leadership council (short of like a board of directors in the corporate world). Agents are individually incentivize for their efforts to grow the company through a profit sharing system where owner profits are split with the agents - oh, and after 3 years your profit share is vested and becomes a source of passive income. Essentially, this hybrid model has aligned agent motivation with that of the owners in terms of growth while also encouraging and teaching agents how to turn their agent brand into a business that develops into another source of passive income. Real Estate becomes the vehicle to achieve all other goals; much more than a job. The best part is that it's easy if you just follow the models! The last and most important piece of this model is the culture around which the company operates. The only way to truly understand this value is to experience it. I touched on this value proposition in my previous post.

I thought I better write this while I still remember what it's like to be in a broker centric model.

So I am found.. A few years ago as a budding real estate professional I was introduced to the book, "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" by Gary Keller. Since then I have found success in various aspects of the real estate industry from residential sales focused on military buyers to luxury sales in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. However; the vision of wealth through real estate always seemed to be precluded by something that was missing, and until now it has been difficult for me to put a finger on the specifics. As fate would have it, I was recently given an opportunity to revisit the Keller Williams model and what I found was what the others are missing. A support structure and culture that is driven from the top with a true understanding and focus on empowering the individual associate. At the end of the day, Keller Williams Realty is modeled around supporting the dreams of its agents - however they are manifested.

WI4C2TS: Win-Win, Integrity, Customers 1st, Commitment, Communication, Creativity, Teamwork, Trust Success!

Who better to explain than Gary himself...

Located north of Crescent H Ranch, River Meadows is a popular subdivision that offers affordable homes, a convenient location, and amenities such as fishing rights on the Snake River and a tennis court.

The development of River Meadows began in 1973 when Don Albrecht purchased part of the Harold Young Riverview Ranch. In 1981, he completed the first filing of the Ranch consisting of 18 lots averaging in size from one-quarter to one acre. The original sale price for lots at River Meadows ranged between $40,000 and $60,000.

Conveniently located three miles from the town of Jackson, Rafter J is a favorite community for full-time residents and families. With most homes around 2,000 square feet and lots of mature landscaping, Rafter J offers a unique blend of value, small-town atmosphere, and incredible scenery that makes it both one of the most in-demand subdivisions.

The history of Rafter J began in 1978 when Floyd King, Jerry Wilson, and Chuck Luton purchased the 600 acre Arthur and Phyllis Brown Ranch. They subdivided the land into 360 lots of .25 to .5 acres in size. It was the first PUD in the county, and 60 percent of the development was put into open space. The remainder of the development was used for clustered home sites.

The lots were originally going to sell for $12,000. However, by the time the subdivision was approved, the lots went on the market for $17,000 each. They sold some lots in 1979, but most remained unsold for seven years while the market was soft.

It was always the developer's intent to provide housing for working families and envisioned that the lots would never sell for more than $30,000 each. However in 1991, lot prices began escalating and soon reached over $80,000. Prices for homes at that time ranged from $150,000 to $245,000. Since then, homes prices have steadily increased but have remained relatively affordable compared to other nearby neighborhoods.

With stunning, protected views of the Tetons, the 14 lot subdivision of Pine Meadow is comprised of spacious, yet private homes that have access to a variety of excellent fishing streams and ponds.

Pine Meadow was originally part of a USA Patent to James Harmison in 1908. Through the years, the land was passed on to family members until the 1930's when parts of the land were sold to A.E. Ward, Helen and Henry Weston, and Alvin Ostler. Until the early 1950's, the land continued to be bought and sold several times before it was purchased by Albert Schwabacher Sr. and his wife May K. Schwabacher. Schwabacher was a California investor who was also an avid fly fisherman. He originally came to the Jackson Hole area in the 1920's to look for fishing areas and bought what is now Lost Creek Ranch. He subsequently purchased Pine Meadow, Teal Trace, the Buchenoth property, and the Edgecomb property in the 1950s and would frequently bring friends out to fish the superb fish creek channels. He also ran cattle on the property.

Albert's two sons, Albert E., Jr. and John L. Schwabacher also resided in California but spent a great deal of time in Jackson Hole. They were friends with local contemporaries Paul von Gontard and Felix Buchenroth. John helped run his father's ranch properties in the 1940's, and the family holdings extended into the Pinedale area.

In 1958, Albert Sr. transferred the property in south Wilson to his two sons, and in 1975, the two brothers divided the property between them. Albert sold his holdings to the Gros Ventre Cattle Company in a transaction that involved his old friends Gontard and Buchenroth. The Gros Ventre Cattle Company then went on to develop what is now Pine Meadows. Jack Schwabacher sold his part of the property to G. Bland Hoke, Jr. who developed it into what is now the Teal Trace area.