A 15-year friendship with Realtor Toni Schrager convinced Vivian Dimond the pair could make their newly formed Avatar Real Estate Services a success by adding a twist to its mission. The twist: offering its 25 associates a stake in the company's ownership. So far, 45% of Avatar is agent-owned. Thirty percent of all profits will be distributed among producing agents.
The longtime friends decided to open the new business because "we believe there is a tremendous need for a higher level of personal service that is currently available in the local residential real estate market," says Schrager, a 20-year professional who has worked at Stadler Realtors, the Green Cos., Southern Hill Real Estate and Wimbish Riteway Realtors.
The new company also wants to give working professionals a better compensation deal than is generally offered in the industry. "We want to become the top choice for real estate agents seeking a share of the success that they will be building individually and together as part of the Avatar team," says Dimond.
She started her real estate career in 1987. In the early 1990s, Dimond built the Fountains of South Miami townhomes; and in 1995, formed Dimond Development, catering to the ultra-luxury Miami residential market.
The partners say they have 20 new associates interested in joining Avatar in the coming months. Their offices are in the Pro Source building, 1500 San Remo Ave., in Coral Gables. They plan to open satellite offices in Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest and Aventura.
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