« 2012 was a pivotal year and marked a year of strong evidence of early stages of recovery. We will have a very significant year of growth this year. »
About Peltier: He started his career more than 35 years ago as a sales agent for Edina Realty. Today he runs Minneapolis-based HomeServices of America, which owns Edina Realty and is the second largest full-service residential real estate brokerage in the country. An affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway, HomeServices last year acquired five brokerages and two large real estate networks that will enable the company to launch and expand a new national brand called Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
Personal file: Real estate is a family business. Peltier's brother, Bob, is CEO of Edina Realty. His son has also worked in real estate and is now an investment banker. And his daughter, while focused on raising three young kids, is also a licensed agent.
What's big in 2013: Though the market is on the mend and brokerage prices appear to be solidifying, Peltier said he expects to surpass last year's expansion, especially in new markets that will allow the company to increase sales of its affiliated services, including mortgage, title and insurance. He is not a fan of third-party listing sites such as Realtor.com and Zillow, so he will continue to develop digital products to find buyers and sellers.
Final word: "The No. 1 asset ... is the listing. We have a responsibility to make certain that info is accurate and is current."
JIM BUCHTA
