The office is on Beach Boulevard right past Kernan Boulevard in a strip center.
PRESIDENT/BROKER?
Joe Budetti is the president and founder of Universal Realty Network and Universal Mortgage Network. He has a real estate broker’s license and a mortgage broker’s license.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
“Everything. Actually, I recruit, train, sell, list and run the business. I do most everything a traditional broker does.”
WHO ELSE IS IN
THE COMPANY?
Adam Matthews and Max Olguin are network administrators, Adrena Powell is a loan processor, Chris Nall is the webmaster, Dan Wohlgemuth is the regional sales director; Gail Henley, Rosie Sheeder and Terry Higdon are REALTORS® and mortgage brokers, Gale Killmer is the executive administrative assistant, Gina Moore is the accountant, Krista Strand is a mortgage broker and loan processor, Larry Olguin is the vice president and a mortgage broker, Misty Budetti is the marketing representative, Pamela Hodge and Richard Burnett are mortgage brokers, Pete Reist is the chief technology officer and Susan DiGregorio and Tammy Moses are REALTORS.
ONE STOP SHOP
The company has REALTORS®, mortgage brokers and loan processors. “I believe that the real estate and the financing go together so we try to offer our clients one-stop shopping if it is a convenience for them. They are not required to do that.”
HOW DID THE COMPANY GET STARTED?
Universal Companies was formed by Budetti in 1998 and originally was A1A-Lending. Soon after, Budetti got his real estate brokerage license and added A1A Realty. At the end of 2000, the company changed its name to Universal Network Realty to be more easily recognized as a regional company. Later, in February of 2001, the company acquired Dream Home Mortgage.
WHAT MAKES UP
THE COMPANY?
Universal Companies is composed of Universal Realty Network, a real estate brokerage firm; Universal Mortgage Network, a mortgage lending firm; Universal Marketing Network USA, the marketing/recruiting division; and Universal Technologies Network, the technology support division.
WHY NAME THE COMPANY ‘UNIVERSAL?’
“We want to expand throughout Florida and we put a business system together that will allow us to do that. It’s mostly technology-based. It’s like a business in a box and it will allow us to have agents or mortgage brokers anywhere in the state of Florida but yet still be connected to our network.”
NEW TECHNOLOGY?
“We have our own technology building. Basically the way that works is that our entire company’s phone system is Internet-based. My laptop is now my phone. Wherever I take my laptop is, it’s still my phone. If I’m in Miami and you call me, it rings in Miami. If I call you from Miami, it’s like me calling from Jacksonville and there are no toll charges. Wherever I am and I get a call for someone in my office, I can transfer a call to their extension and it will reach them no matter where they are in the world. What makes it a complete communications package is that it allows for the integration of e-mail, voice mail and faxing. Everyone in our company gets their own phone number, e-mail address and fax number. The e-mail is web-based so they can access it anywhere.” When the agents enter the Web site, they have access to everything they need to do business including forms, listings, other agents in company, billing information, a day planner, company store, wholesale investors and more.
MOBILITY IS THE KEY
The agents or mortgage brokers can work from anywhere without having to come into the office. “We are giving them an entire business system which they can operate from anywhere.” The agents can come into the office and use the conference rooms or plug their lap top computer in at a desk if they need to.
SPECIALIZE IN?
Mostly residential, but they do handle some commercial real estate and lending.
HOW DOES YOUR OVERALL SYSTEM WORK?
They allow more experienced agents to recruit and train new agents. “One of our pay plans is a 100 percent commission plan. If they team up with new agents and build their own team, they pay out whoever they recruited through their 100 percent plan.” When the new recruit brings a transaction to their mentor, the mentor helps them complete it and pays them a percentage from the transaction. When the new recruit feels they are ready to take transactions on their own, they upgrade to their own pay plan.
EVOLVING TO A MANAGEMENT COMPANY?
“We are evolving more towards a management company. We provide all the tools and an entire business system for people to conduct their business and we just charge a flat monthly management fee from our agents and mortgage brokers.”
MANAGEMENT FEE?
While you are being mentored, you are not charged, but when you upgrade to your own pay plan, the base fee is $99 a month, which gives you two phone lines and integrated e-mail, voice mail and fax. Other upgrade plans are available. “When the agents feel they are proficient enough to be on the 100 percent plan, the cost is $999 a month.”
TRAINING?
They do offer training to new agents.
HOW DOES EVERYONE GET ALONG?
“Excellent, we have a great group of people.”
HOW MANY OFFICES DO THEY HAVE?
Two, the other is the technology center and it is located on Southampton Road on the Southbank.
EXPANDING?
When the number of agents and mortgage brokers reaches 75, they are planning to move into Orlando market. “We are really going to be turning up the heat on promotions, getting the word out and recruiting. People will see us all over the place.”
WEBSITE
The company’s website is www.universalcos.com.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis