REALTORS® Win Fight for Local Businesses

SARASOTA, Fla. (April 12, 2018) – Leaders of the REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM) attended a City of Holmes Beach, FL commission meeting in March to voice concerns against restrictions on formula businesses. Upon hearing RASM’s case, the commission approved an amendment on April 10 to exclude real estate offices from the proposed restriction. The City of Holmes Beach proposed to limit “formula businesses,” a chain or franchise, in their downtown commercial district. This included national real estate franchises like Keller Williams or Re/Max, which are locally owned firms.

Greg Owens, 2018 RASM President, along with Amy Worth, Xena Vallone, Christina Pitchford, Joanne Owens and representatives from an existing franchise on Holmes Beach, Mark and Jennifer Bowman, attended the March commission meeting to plead their case. “National franchises like Keller Williams appear to be a formula business,” said Greg Owens. “But, what makes us unique is that our product is distinct to the area it serves. These offices encourage the importance of a local economy and what it truly means to ‘live local’.” Additionally, the restriction would limit the consumer’s choice for real estate services that cater to permanent, seasonal and prospective residents of Holmes Beach. At the April 10 meeting, the Holmes Beach City Commission unanimously approved their amendment to exclude real estate offices from the original proposal, Ordinance 18-05. As the advocate for the real estate brokerage industry, RASM is the Voice for Real Estate® in Sarasota and Manatee.

For updates and information about real estate policy issues, please contact Government Affairs Director, Max Brandow at max@myrasm.com or (941) 952-3410.