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No Monopoly in Real Estate Sales
For those that might think there's a monopoly by a few brokerages or agents in the real estate market, take a look at the top 10 Greater Seattle residential sales for 2009 listed on the NWMLS.  (Top sales of single family Seattle homes here - one condo added for this list).I count 18 different brokerages involved in these top 10 transactions.  If there is a monopoly, it's certainly not at the top of the luxury home market.  Not only are the offices spread widely, but there are many independent/non-national brands represented across the spectrum.

What's the take-away from all of this information?  A pretty yard sign does not sell a home, no matter which company logo is pasted on it.  Even the highest-end of luxury home buyers aren't worried about the company you're listed with. 
While the general consensus is that a few big brokerages control a huge percentage of the marketplace, there's really a lot of space for new and independent companies to grow in the industry.  The image of a national brand is a great marketing tool, but every brokerage is working as a separate entity.  There's no glass ceiling for a new real estate company to break through, besides getting past the perception ... more

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