REAL ESTATE POWERHOUSES JOIN FORCES ON FLORIDA’S EAST COAST
Vero Beach, FL (
JANUARY 2019) – Schmidt Family of Companies announces its merger with Coldwell Banker Paradise, (
www.FLColdwellBanker.com), on Florida’s East Coast. Coldwell Banker Paradise has a sales force of over 280 agents and brokers with 11 offices spanning 135 miles of coastline in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, South Hutchinson Island, North Hutchinson Island, Vero Beach, Sebastian and Melbourne, Florida offering real estate services including Luxury, Residential and Commercial sales, Relocation, Property Management, Concierge Services and Community Association Management.
“Focusing on their core values of family, trust and a deep commitment to community, the Schlitt’s legacy goes beyond their decades of service and good family name. We are enthusiastic about building on both our companies’ long-lasting traditions while we continue to deliver on our common goals of exceptional service to our clients,” said Ken Schmidt, CEO, Schmidt Family of Companies. The legacy of the Schmidt and Schlitt families represent 157 years in the real estate industry.
Ed and Marguerite Schlitt opened Ed Schlitt Real Estate in 1953. They were joined by their daughter, Linda Schlitt Gonzalez in 1972 and by their son, Steven Schlitt, in 1998. Their sister Barb Schlitt Ford and Linda’s two children, Andrew and Melanie Gonzalez, also joined Linda and Steven in the family business. Following the traditions of their parents, Steven and Linda will continue to lead Coldwell Banker Paradise as one of the Schmidt Family of Companies. “In many ways, Coldwell Banker Paradise is a family that holds true to the values instilled by our parents that hard work and humble service is the highest calling. We are incredibly proud to be joining forces with a company that has, at its core, that same value to deliver the highest level of service to our clients and our communities,” said Linda Schlitt Gonzalez. Added Steven Schlitt, “We are at our heart innovators. It is what my father was and it is what puts us at the top of the marketplaces we serve. This merger follows that plan of action, putting our agents, brokers and our clients first. It’s a bold and exciting new time for us.”
Schmidt Family of Companies is a fifth-generation full-service real estate brokerage firm founded in 1927 with Coldwell Banker offices in Florida, Michigan, northeast Ohio and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mike Schmidt, President of Schmidt Family of Companies shared, “We are very excited about this new phase in our company’s development. We are clearly in a growth mode and today’s announcement is another positive sign for the viability of this region’s economic future. We are committed to ensuring that all home buyers and sellers receive the best imaginable service and that our agents and brokers are afforded every opportunity to maximize their business potential.”
“The never-ending goal of the Schmidt family is to maximize synergies from Florida to Michigan, Ohio and the U.S. Virgin Islands and this has been greatly enhanced by the addition of Coldwell Banker Paradise. This on-going expansion across Florida, pairing the West and East Coasts of the state, continues the vision of developing partnerships that not only increase our footprint but continue to enhance the quality and professionalism we strive to provide to our clients everywhere we serve,” said Steve Carr, President of Florida Operations.
Charlie Young, President and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, “I have worked with Ken and Mike Schmidt for many years and have always been impressed. The Schmidt team has done an amazing job of increasing their company’s footprint over the years yet never wavered on their dedication to ensuring the needs of their agents, brokers and clients are met. The Schmidt Family of Companies, who now has the most U.S. offices in the Coldwell Banker network with the merger of Coldwell Banker Paradise, understands the value of joining forces and has aggressively sought to do that and then seamlessly integrates the newly joined family.”
Schmidt Family of Companies has over 80 Coldwell Banker offices and 1,700 agents and brokers across Florida, Michigan, northeast Ohio and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Century 21 Schmidt Real Estate in Venice, Florida. Annual sales volume in 2018 is $3.5 Billion with 18,259 transactions on the buy and sell side.