It was 1929, at the start of the Great Depression, when Staunton Elsea, then 30 years old, established a new real estate company, Elsea Realty and Investment. At a time when businesses were collapsing daily, he put together a sales force and set up offices on Fort Street in Detroit. It was from this humble beginning that Staunton Elsea developed what would become the largest real estate company in Michigan, Real Estate One, Inc.
Staunton’s son, Richard, took over the helm of the company and continued the tradition of expansion and innovation. In 1970 Elsea Realty announced its merger with three other privately owned real estate companies which Elsea later bought. The company, which now has more than 85 offices throughout Michigan, is still family owned. Richard’s sons, Stuart and Dan, are co-presidents of one of the largest real estate companies in the country with sales exceeding $4 billion.
From the beginning, the Elsea name and Real Estate One have been synonymous with integrity and innovation in real estate. Among those innovations were the first computerized multiple list system, suburban branch offices, photo guides of homes, direct mail marketing, and television and radio advertising. The company, always on the leading edge, is one of the largest users of virtual tours in the country. They have also launched an Info Line system that allows homebuyers to access extensive information about specific properties with a toll free number and a property code. Real Estate One Academy is widely recognized for providing one of the best educational programs available to sales associates. Johnstone & Johnstone, Max Broock Realtors, Realty Executives Midwest, and Berridge & Morrison are all part of the Real Estate One Family of Companies, each providing a unique level of service to their respective markets. Real Estate One also provides the utmost in real estate customer service through their affiliated companies that meet the complete needs of customers and clients in a real estate transaction. These companies include John Adams Mortgage Company, Insurance One and Capital Title Insurance Agency.
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