Allan Dalton Named as COO of Real Living Real Estate Brokerage Franchise Network

HSF Affiliates LLC, which operates the real estate brokerage franchise networks Real Living Real Estate, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Prudential Real Estate, announced the appointment of Allan Dalton as chief operating officer at Real Living. Dalton, reporting to network president Bob McAdams, will oversee franchise sales and, with McAdams and the team, is working to reposition Real Living for long-term growth. He will remain as a special consultant to Gino Blefari, president and CEO of HSF Affiliates.

Dalton has served HSF Affiliates in a consulting role for two years. Working with McAdams and the Real Living team, he is re-engineering Real Living to offer maximum branding flexibility for franchisees. This will enable new brokerages to retain more of their local identity when they join the network, such as incorporating their existing logos and brand identity with the familiar Real Living markings and tagline, “A Real Living Network Member.” It will also help the brand to attract more independent brokerages that want brand support and resources without compromising their unique brand identity, and will establish Real Living’s new direction, “The Leader in Customized Real Estate.” The brand transformation will be introduced later in the fall.

“Allan knows the real estate business from so many angles – he’s a true asset,” said Gino Blefari, president and CEO of HSF Affiliates. “His energy and ideas are already shaping our Real Living network and value proposition.”

Dalton brings a wealth of real estate experience to his position. He is the former CEO of realtor.com and past president and co-owner of a 32-office Regional Brokerage – Murphy Realty Better Homes and Gardens. He was also named by the National Association of REALTORS as one of the real estate industry’s 25 most influential thought leaders.

“Real Living has developed many exceptional programs and services and Allan will help us better communicate Real Living’s value within our network and to consumers and prospective franchisees.”

Dalton, a former draft pick of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, brings with him deep branding and franchising experience. While growing Murphy Realty, he was credited with creating the Better Homes and Gardens Pacesetter networking group, and co-created its business-to-consumer marketing systems. As a consultant to Cendant (now Realogy), Dalton co-created national marketing systems for NRT, Coldwell Banker, Century 21 and ERA.

Dalton, author of several books on real estate, is a former SVP for NRT, president of Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty and chief marketing officer of RISMedia. He is also a sought-after public speaker for the real estate industry.

Such experience, leadership and industry-wide respect will help Real Living blossom in the months and years ahead, said Blefari. “Allan possesses a remarkable ability to construct, package and present a real estate value proposition,” he explained. “Real Living has developed many exceptional programs and services and Allan will help us better communicate Real Living’s value within our network and to consumers and prospective franchisees.”

McAdams said Dalton is an ideal fit for the brokerage franchise network. “I worked directly with Allan the past several months to reposition Real Living,” he said. “The experience was terrific and made it clear we needed Allan to help us grow the network as ‘The Leader in Customized Real Estate.’ Of course, Allan’s knowledge of the industry, of consumers and of the web and emerging technologies will help us in our ongoing strategies and planning.”

Dalton said he’s excited to join HSF Affiliates and the Real Living brand. “Real Living has attracted a legion of fiercely loyal brokers and associates who possess a deep connection to the brand and to one another,” he explained. “Their integrity, independence and optimism make it inspiring to work with them and for them.

“Of course, having the full support of Gino Blefari and the broader HSF Affiliates team bodes extremely well for the long-term growth prospects Bob and I see for the Real Living Real Estate network,” Dalton added.


Real Living Southern Realty Joins Network

We’re pleased to announce that McBryar Realty, one of Trenton, GA’s leading real estate firms,has joined the Real Living Real Estate network operating as Real Living Southern Realty.
“We’re very excited to join Real Living Real Estate,” said Vickie McBryar, broker/owner. “We see the brand as a great fit for us and a competitive advantage in our marketplace that will allow us to offer our clients an even higher level of service and support.” McBryar also said that it was important to have a fresh, national name while retaining her brokerage’s local, community-focused approach.
Chase Jolander, office manager, said the franchise affiliation will help the brokerage grow. “We’ve led the Trenton market for a long time and now we’re looking to expand into Chattanooga, Tennessee,” he said. As a member of the Real Living network, we’re looking to recruit new, millennial agents who want to join a tech-savvy team powered by Real Living’s advanced tools and systems.”
Robert McAdams Jr., president of Real Living Real Estate, welcomed Real Living Southern Realty to the network. “Vickie, Chase and their team are well respected in their community for their local-market expertise, community involvement and unbeatable level of service,” he said. “We’re excited they’ve chosen to join us and we value their membership in our brand.”
[Pictured above: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Real Living Southern Realty.]

Real Living McCarthy Real Estate Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Marietta, OH-based Real Living McCarthy Real Estate just celebrated 60 years in business this winter. Located right on the Ohio River bordering West Virginia, the brokerage has seen a lot of change in its local economy over the past six decades. From large factories producing plastics, oil and gas to a huge reservoir and a power plant, despite the changes, the firm has managed to stay consistently strong.
“I believe we’ll have another really good year,” said Steve McCarthy, broker/owner at Real Living McCarthy Real Estate. “We don’t see the highs and lows so much around Marietta.” McCarthy bought the company with his brother and sister in 1989 from their late father, Walter J. McCarthy, who started the company in 1957 during the post-war residential development boom.
“Congratulations to the team at Real Living McCarthy Real Estate,” said Robert McAdams Jr., president of Real Living Real Estate. “We wish them many, many more years of continued success!”