Professional Documents
Culture Documents
10275 North De Anza Boulevard, Cupertino, CA, 95014, United States of America
The Question:
How do you gain exposure to overseas real estate investment opportunities?
The Answer:
S
o the answer is Intero…but why? In the following
pages you will discover how Intero differentiates
itself as a global leader with experience, innovation, and
compassion. Intero has solidified its presence in the Asia-
Pacific region providing investors with the knowledge
and access to international real estate markets. Investors
will benefit from access to our top professionals who
represent the Intero culture, speak a foreign language,
who specialize in working with international buyers and
who will assist you in the purchase of real estate.
:
Principal Translatio ns:
intero (intero): whole
intero (intero): ent ire
Additional T ranslations:
(intero, di un so lo pezzo): on e-piece wholesome
(complessivo): overall
(pieno): full
Solution
Intero Real Estate Services is an innovative company in Silicon Valley and has extended its
brokerage headquartered in Silicon Valley led reach across the country and around the globe.
by real estate industry veterans Gino Blefari and
In 2011, Intero announced the signing of its first
Robert (Bob) Moles. Named in 2005 by REALTOR®
international master franchise
Magazine as one of the
agreement with GPEA,
fastest growing real estate The Intero Advantage Ltd the largest network
companies in the U.S., the
• We’re here to make your Real of real estate offices in
INTERO® brand has grown
Estate investment experience a simple the UK, the signing of its
from one office to more than
process first franchise office in
50 corporately owned and
Asia located in Shanghai,
franchise offices, and 2,000 • Our rapid growth provides investors
China and the launch of a
agents. Intero was ranked with international connections and
opportunities company owned office in
#17, based on sales volume,
Hong Kong.
on the prestigious REAL • We offer a variety of services,
Trends 500 list of America’s including a staff of experienced Intero is an Italian word
leading real estate companies real estate professionals and area that means “entire” or
in 2010. specialists “whole”. It reflects Intero’s
belief that a real estate
Founded in 2002, Intero Real
company’s vision should
Estate Services, Inc. has quickly become one of
extend beyond the bottom line to embrace the
the premier real estate brands in the U.S. In 2004,
people it serves and the community in which it
Intero Franchise Services Inc. began franchising
resides. Our unique Intero offering is providing
and currently is operating in many of the western
international investors definitive access to
states. In 2009, Intero International Franchise
professional property agents who are multilingual
Services, LLC embarked on developing territories
and specialize in working with international
in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
investors.
the Americas. Today, Intero is the #1 real estate
Our continued expansion represents the Intero commitment to a global brand presence, a
necessary element to thrive and innovate in a real estate business.
How do you ensure the best personal attention
with the finest access to quality real estate?
Solution.
Intero International Client Services Department
International Referrals
Intero International Client Services is here to make
your Real Estate experience a simple one. Coast to
coast and everywhere in between, Intero has got it
covered. Throughout the U.S., Intero has a real estate Kevin Garty, VP of Relocation and Corporate
professional ready to help investors find the ideal Services explains, “As an international
property. Whether it’s an urban oasis or a country investor you will be placed with a specialized
retreat, they’ll find the perfect property when they agent who speaks a preferred language and
work with us. will provide you with sufficient service to
guarantee a smooth real estate transaction.”
Presently our network is comprised of the very best
local and regional real estate professionals in the
United States, the U.K., Shanghai and Hong Kong.
We offer a variety of services, including a staff of
skilled agents and area specialists with experience
and knowledge with international investments.
With a strong focus and an international view,
we will ensure the best personal attention. Intero
International Client Services brings you the best of
both worlds: the finest access to quality real estate
brokerages around the world and international
connections with local market knowledge.
What is Intero’s process on inquiries regarding
real estate investment opportunities in the U.S.?
Solution.
Connect with an Intero international investment representative.
The Process
Our Intero international investment representatives
located globally will connect you with our
International Client Services Department located at
Intero Headquarters in Cupertino, California.
Initial franchise locations are planned in the Katy and Woodlands markets. “We are honored to
align with the Intero family of companies, a premier brand with an amazing story that is rapidly
expanding domestically and internationally,” said Avanti CEO and President of Intero Houston,
Daniel Ciscomani. “We are excited to introduce a fresh approach into the Houston market with
innovative systems, training, technologies, and unmatched executive leadership.”
The Intero office in West Ave will be led by local broker, Katie Maxwell, and will feature the Intero
Andare design, a smaller technology-rich and more eco-friendly space designed for today’s mo-
bile REALTOR.
“The economics of a real estate brokerage today are different than a few years ago,” said Tom
Tognoli Intero COO. “Ciscomani’s progressive business philosophy coupled with the Intero An-
dare office model will revolutionize the way real estate is done in Houston.”
Intero President and CEO Gino Blefari added, “Continuing to build on our global presence, this
agreement presents an incredible opportunity to further align Intero with internationally recog-
nized U.S. markets.”
The launch of Intero Houston follows the recent announcements of Intero UK, Intero Shanghai
and Intero Hong Kong locations.
What They’re Saying
February 16, 2011
Silicon Valley, CA –-Intero International Franchise Services, LLC, has signed a master franchise
agreement to extend the Intero brand into new markets with GPEA, LTD.
GPEA, LTD is the owner of two of the largest real estate networks in the UK, the Guild of Profes-
sional Estate Agents and Fine & Country. Together their more than 700 offices service the UK.
Mike Bidwell, Former COO of Fine & Country and today’s CEO of Intero UK
explains, “My intention for bringing the Intero® brand to the UK is to revolu-
tionize real estate. The Intero presence in the UK as a leading brand will pro-
vide quality services and solidify exceptional relationships.”
Intero Chairman Robert Moles adds, “We are thrilled with this agreement be-
cause it allows us to walk right through Europe’s front door to expand the In-
tero brand, and our spirit of innovation, to a market hungry for a new approach
to the traditional real estate brokerage.”
“Our continued expansion represents the Intero commitment to a global brand presence, a neces-
sary element to thrive and innovate in a real estate business,” concludes Intero CEO Gino Blefari.
What They’re Saying
February 7, 2011
Intero U.S. Realtor Kenny Lo will head the new office, located at the One In-
ternational Finance Centre at 1 Harbour View Street, Central, in Hong Kong.
Lo has served Intero real estate clients since 2009 with dedication and integrity,
attracting investors from Hong Kong and across the Pacific region to U.S. resi-
dential and commercial properties.
Robert Moles, chairman of Intero, said, “A number of Hong Kong investors are already waiting to
take advantage of opportunities in U.S. and Bay Area real estate markets in particular. The Asia-
Pacific region’s economic growth, high real estate prices and rising currencies relative to the U.S.
dollar have created a lot of interest in U.S. properties.”
“Expanding the Intero brand in the Asia-Pacific region is important to the brand’s reputation as a
global leader,” said Intero CEO Gino Blefari. “Kenny Lo is a perfect representative – a stellar Intero
agent, working directly from Hong Kong, bridging the Pacific divide. Hong Kong investors will
now have knowledge and access to real estate markets throughout the Bay Area.”
Lo said, “We have several active real estate deals already in progress with Hong Kong investors and
U.S. properties. I’m proud to be a pioneer for Intero Hong Kong.”
The opening of Intero Hong Kong follows the recent launch of the Intero Shanghai license with
Global Gate Property Corp (“GGP”). GGP is an international real estate group, who works with
investors seeking to gain exposure to real estate investment opportunities.
What They’re Saying
January 31, 2011
GGP is an international real estate group, who works with investors seeking to gain exposure
to real estate investment opportunities. A highly experienced management team leads GGP.
The team has been operating in Asia for over three decades, and has built up an extensive net-
work of connections across Asia.
GGP CEO Gary Ohlbaum said the deal with Intero® creates a great opportunity to link with a
company with a strong Western US presence that is the market leader in Silicon Valley, Califor-
nia. “Being part of this global community allows us to offer our partners and clients investment
opportunities from within the group rather than referring out the business to other broker-
ages,” said Ohlbaum.
David Cheung, who heads GGP’s Shanghai operations, said: “The continued growth of Asia’s
economies, high asset prices, particularly in real estate, and rising currencies relative to the US
dollar, have made Asians significant buyers of US real estate. The Intero brand’s strength in the
US, particularly in California, where many Asians choose to buy given its geographical prox-
imity to Asia, established Chinese community, favorable climate, and economic, educational
and work opportunities, make it the ideal partner to provide quality real estate investment op-
portunities to our client base.”
The first Intero franchise in China follows the company’s plan to expand internationally
throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Intero International offers master franchise opportunities
in select markets throughout the world.
Intero Chairman Bob Moles pointed to China’s huge growth in home ownership and with 1.3
billion people it presents a great business opportunity. “With the Intero strong value proposi-
tion, we know that our company will quickly rise above the competition,” he said.
Intero CEO Gino Blefari noted that the first Shanghai franchise represents the company’s com-
mitment to solidifying the brand’s global presence, a necessary element to thrive and innovate
in today’s real estate business.
“We’ve always thought about expansion in terms of the individuals involved. We go where we
find people who are the right fit for the Intero brand because they have the same values and
believe in the culture we’ve created. The GGP executives are those people. With them on board,
we simply couldn’t pass on the opportunity to expand,” Blefari said.
What They’re Saying
October 26, 2010
As part of the deal, Intero® syndicates all of its active listings to iProperty.com’s network of
sites, which includes iProperty.com.sg (Singapore), iProperty.com.my (Malaysia), and Go-
Home.co.hk (Hong Kong). The company now displays more listings on the network than
any other U.S. brokerage.
According to the National Association of REALTORS, over $40 billion in U.S. real estate was
sold to foreign buyers last year. “You need to be where the buyers are to succeed in real es-
tate,” said Al Mendoza, Managing Director of Intero Asia-Pacific. “And right now, the num-
ber of buyers in this region looking for property online is exploding. We saw the opportunity
here early and plan to expand our leadership position into the future.”
“The same innovative spirit that propelled Intero from Silicon Valley to national prominence
here in the U.S. is driving our expansion into new markets across the globe,” said Intero
President and CEO Gino Blefari. “Being the first to do something is something we’re com-
fortable with and will benefit our customers and partners looking for opportunities in the
Asia-Pacific region.”
The Intero Asia-Pacific regional operations offer entrepreneurs in the region the opportunity
to affiliate with one of the world’s most innovative real estate brands. The Intero brands
focus on technology, training and superior systems led it to become the fastest organically
grown real estate brokerage in U.S. history as recognized in Realtor Magazine July 2005.
What They’re Saying
September 13, 2010
The language option is very simple to use. Just visit InteroRealEstate.com and choose among the lan-
guages listed at the bottom of the property search box. Once chosen, all the search parameters, listing
results and property details will then appear in the user’s language of choice. Languages available
include English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese Traditional, Chinese
Simplified, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Polish and Korean.
“At Intero we have realized that our consumer reach goes beyond the U.S.,” said Gino Blefari, Presi-
dent and CEO of Intero. “Recognizing our global audience, it was important for us to make the real
estate Internet experience easy and understandable – and to invest in the technologies needed to
make that possible.”
“Intero now offers franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs around the globe serving incredibly di-
verse markets,” Bob Moles, Chairman of Intero added. “Offering a compelling online real estate ex-
perience in any language is critically important to their success.”
Concludes Blefari, “Innovation is our commitment and in this case that means delivering a better so-
lution for non English-speaking buyers than our competitors. I believe we have made that happen.”
What They’re Saying
July 26, 2010
CUPERTINO, SILICON VALLEY, USA - Intero Real Estate Services, a leading U.S. real estate
brokerage that has recently expanded its brand globally, as a franchisor, through Intero Franchise
Services, Inc. and Intero International Franchise Services, LLC, announced its continued expan-
sion with the conversion of a former Alain Pinel brokerage affiliate in Discovery Bay and Brent-
wood, CA to the Intero Real Estate brand, and the addition of new franchises in San Diego, CA,
and Minden, NV.
More than forty agents will join Intero Discovery Bay and Intero Downtown Brentwood fran-
chise. This office will complement an existing Intero franchise in Brentwood.
“We are pleased to welcome our new franchisees and agents today at a time when our competi-
tors are retrenching,” said Intero Real Estate Services COO Tom Tognoli. “This expansion speaks
to our commitment to innovate and thrive in an ever-changing business.”
LeeAnn Hogge, co-owner and manager of what will become the new Intero Dis-
covery Bay and Downtown Brentwood offices, said: “We’re thrilled to become
part of the Intero® family, and feel good knowing that we’ll have the technology
and expertise needed to win in today’s market.”
Bryan Hogge, co-owner and manager of the future Intero Discovery Bay and In-
tero Downtown Brentwood offices, added: “We’ve worked hard to build our reputations in this
market and the Intero® brand will help us grow and innovate upon that foundation.”
CUPERTINO, SILICON VALLEY, USA - Intero Real Estate Services, a leading U.S. real
estate brokerage that has recently expanded its brand globally, as a franchisor, through
Intero Franchise Services, Inc. and Intero International Franchise Services, LLC, an-
nounced that its Chairman, Robert Moles, and CEO, Gino Blefari, recently made key-
note presentations at two prestigious global real estate seminars in Singapore and Hong
Kong to share insights learned from leading the exponential growth of a global broker-
age company in the distressed property market.
“Not all markets are distressed markets, but all markets have dis-
tressed property opportunities. California has been at the epicenter of the global hous-
ing crisis, yet Intero has grown to lead in market share in Santa Clara County, the largest
market in Silicon Valley, in spite of this challenge. We did so by leveraging technology
and honing a deep understanding of current market dynamics and letting those in-
sights guide our actions,” Blefari said.
Intero is also the youngest company within the list’s top twenty firms - a fact that under-
scores the rapid growth and success of the Intero brand. Intero was founded in 2002 and
broke into the REAL Trends top 25 in its second full year of operation – a first for any real
estate company.
The REAL Trends 500 list is published by REAL Trends, Inc., a publishing company consid-
ered to be a leading source of real estate analysis and information.
“We are honored to make the REAL Trends 500 again – it represents a who’s who of Ameri-
can real estate companies, said Gino Blefari, Intero President and CEO. “The fact that Intero
is one of the youngest firms on the list is particularly meaningful to all of us at Intero who
believe real estate is ready for our brand of innovation.”
Intero’s growth is driven by re-thinking the real estate brokerage. The company was among
the first to syndicate listings on the Internet, has been recognized for its outstanding Website
and has reinvented the real estate office. Intero is now expanding its brand nationally and
internationally through master and single-unit franchising.
“The REAL Trends 500 has always been a marker of success in this business”, said Bob Moles,
Intero Chairman and former President and CEO of the Real Estate Franchise Group of Cen-
dant Corporation, the largest franchiser of residential and commercial real estate brokerage
offices in the world. “The fact that the Intero® brand has made it so far so fast is a validation
of our commitment to sustained innovation.”
What They’re Saying
May 4, 2010
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc. makes new, more efficient
real estate office model available to franchisees worldwide
The ‘AndareSM’ Office, launched in Silicon Valley, enables real estate brokers to sustain
profitability while delivering a compelling customer experience
The award comes on the heels of a recent redesign of interorealestate.com to reflect the latest design
standards, highlight the company’s expanding international presence and create a visual experience
that reflects the spirit of innovation that drives the Intero brand.
“It is not a coincidence that our global headquarters sits next to the Apple® Computer campus,”
said Gino Blefari, Intero® President and CEO. “We recognize the importance of design in everything
we do – especially online, which is where most property buyers and sellers first encounter real estate
brands today.”
Bob Moles, the Intero Chairman, added, “Real estate operators around the world have known for
years that the Web is a critically important brand touchpoint, but most have failed to take action and
make the investments needed to deliver usable, compelling online experiences. We believe this inac-
tion is no longer sustainable and have made the investments needed to ensure our growing network
of franchisees excel in this area.”
The Intero® approach to designing online experiences is based on a set of principles any company,
in any country, would do well to follow:
User focused design: Design should be driven by the needs of end users, not the brand. This requires
taking the time to understand what property buyers and sellers want when they go online, then
delivering it to them in the clearest way possible. Though simple, this idea has been largely ignored
by real estate companies intent on designing with their needs in mind.
Restraint: Website design in real estate has long been plagued by unnecessary complexity. Designs
laden with marginally useful features, self-promotional copy and heavy graphics are the norm. This
gets in the way of users seeking what they truly want, which ultimately harms the brand.
Quality: Real estate companies that spend millions on palatial offices and expensive print collateral
often balk at spending thousands on quality Web design. This is exactly backwards. Insisting on –
and investing in – good Web design is imperative.
Concludes Blefari, “This award is an important validation for us, and one we are particularly hon-
ored to receive given the strength and breadth of the organizations in the Leading Real Estate Com-
panies of the World® network.”
What They’re Saying
January 14, 2010
Intero Asia Pacific is a real estate brokerage in the region that is an independent partner of Intero
Real Estate Services, one of the United State’s most exciting real estate brand which was most re-
cently voted as ‘The Best Real Estate Company in Silicon Valley’ by readers of San Jose Mercury
News. iProperty.com catches up with Al Mendoza, managing director, Asia Pacific region of Intero
Real Estate Services to see what’s the buzz all about.
Mendoza: I will start at the beginning with what Intero Real Estate Services, Inc. is, followed by its
drive to expand globally.
Established in October 2002, Intero Real Estate Services Inc., has quickly become one of the United
State’s premier real estate brands. Intero Real Estate Services, Inc. has grown from one office to
more than 40, and has more than 1,800 agents. The Intero mission is to change the face of real estate;
it is a different kind of company. Technology is at the core of what makes Intero such a forward
thinking and innovative company. With our headquarters in Silicon Valley, California, the Intero
strategy remains focused on striving to be at the forefront of how realtors, home buyers and sellers
are using technology to complete their transactions.
The brokerage has been honored with numerous awards including being named the fastest growing
real estate company in the United States, out of 80,000 brokerages in REALTOR Magazine (2005).
Gino Blefari Intero’s president and chief executive officer, and chairman Bob Moles were also given
the ‘RISMedia National Home Ownership Award’ at the 2007 NAR Conference & Expo for ‘out-
standing achievements among residential real estate’s most influential and charismatic leaders.’
The Intero goal is to expand their franchise model, and to build market share and a strong brand
footprint around the globe. Intero Real Estate Services, Inc., through its affiliate Intero International
Franchise Services, LLC is expanding in Asia through the sale of master franchises. Master franchise
agreements will, grant exclusive rights within a territory, allow master franchisees to build real
estate franchise networks and operate company owned offices. We seek to affiliate with the most
qualified and well-capitalised entrepreneurial individuals and entities with franchising licensing
and/or real estate experience. Intero International Franchise Services, LLC is led by its president,
Javier Parraga, who has over 20 years in real estate franchising and in just over 13 years is credited
with successfully negotiating and signing more than 100 master franchise agreements covering
over 150 countries and territories.
I have the honour to implement the Intero expansion effort in the Asia Pacific region as managing
director of Intero Asia Pacific. Over the course of a 10-year career involving franchise development,
I have been honoured as an accomplished deal maker with expertise in mergers/acquisitions, fi-
nancial analysis, new business development and sales strategies. As a former vice president of
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What They’re Saying
Continued from previous page
International Development for real estate conglomerate Realogy Corporation, I was responsible
for the development of Century 21, Coldwell Banker, ERA, and Better Homes and Gardens real
estate brands throughout Asia Pacific. I have been recognised for the success of numerous merg-
ers/acquisitions and completed over 40 U.S. and international franchise agreements. Intero Asia
Pacific is an independent partner of Intero International Franchise Services, LLC in the Asia-
Pacific region.
iProperty: How do you, as the managing director of Intero Asia Pacific, view the current real
estate market climate in the region?
Mendoza: Overall, the Asia Pacific market climate is very positive. There are nearly three billion
people and several million home sales annually in the region.
Specifically in Hong Kong, the housing price index rose over 13% this year and sales numbers
have steadily increased. The country has benefitted from an influx in buyers and investors from
mainland China, a series of stimulus packages from the government and relatively low interest
rates which all have contributed to the rise in prices. The housing market in Hong Kong took a
hit during the global financial crisis, but after falling 17% from June-December 2008, the residen-
tial price index rebounded and rose by 20% from the previous year’s bottom, according to the
Ratings and Valuation Department (RVD).
Singapore, also a central gateway for the region, ranks as the number two investment in 2009
and has experienced a complete turnaround from reports and prospects earlier this year. New
developments are selling as fast as they hit the market and property prices have continued on an
upward trend, expected to close 2009 on a strong note. According to PropertyWire, private sector
developers launched 2,878 new flats in July 2009, an all time high, and 2,767 of them were sold
out within a month. Further, sales of new luxury developments in Singapore’s reclaimed areas
on the offshore island of Sentosa, where prices average SGD2,000-SGD3,500 per square foot, are
reported to be steady.
For Malaysia, investors and expatriates have been flocking there due to a low cost of living and
mild weather. Federal incentives designed to draw foreigners have been beneficial for investors
in recent months, and while other countries in the region have experienced price declines as a
result of the financial crisis, Malaysia’s properties have remained steady. Malaysia’s advantage
is that current interest rates are at a 25 year low and developers of new buildings have been more
flexible and willing to throw in incentives at no additional cost. iProperty: Where would the key
real estate growth areas? How about for Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong?
Mendoza: Hong Kong’s growth areas would be in the luxury markets, where foreign investors,
particularly from mainland China buy with cash, and across rental properties, which have en-
joyed a good margin with rental income for investors. So, for Hong Kong I feel there would be a
strong showing across residential and commercial properties.
Singapore continues to experience record sell-outs of new properties and units are sold before
the ink has dried on their listings. I predict that foreign investors in commercial properties, as
well as a new, young generation purchasing residential units and homes will keep the market
steady, if not drive it up. Singapore is facing another record year of sales volume, and this goes
across residential, commercial and industrial.
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What They’re Saying
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iProperty: What is the Intero experience like? How does customers benefit from dealing with
the company?
Mendoza: The Intero experience is like none other. It is a revolutionary approach to real estate
that starts at the core: with its franchisees.
The Intero advantage exists within its franchising support. Three regions worldwide each have,
or will soon have, their own managing director/executive director who will not only respon-
sible for finding qualified master franchise candidates but will be accountable for acting in a
consultative manner to assist master franchisees grow their business. The consultative approach
helps them grow their business by adapting the platform to accommodate local laws, customs
and business as well as support through quarterly on-site consulting visits targeted at helping
to grow their businesses and make the most of the technology platform. The Intero platform
offered to franchisees is fully integrated and covers marketing, technology, and comprehensive
training.
Response, thus far, has been positive. There is interest in breaking through the clutter and ex-
panding a different kind of franchise network. Intero looks to work with the best, and we select
well-capitalized entrepreneurial entities with franchising, licensing, and/or real estate experi-
ence. They need to have a long term horizon (10 years) and a commitment to build the business.
Once established, the Intero experience extends to agents and salespeople who work in the sys-
tem. The Intero culture has helped to attract market leaders, top agents and managers who drive
the success of the offices and extend the Intero culture onto home buyers and sellers, and prop-
erty investors. Intero is an Italian word that translates to ‘entire’, and it is meant to represent the
company’s philosophy of empowering people – clients, agents and employees – to achieve what
they want in all aspects of their lives.
iProperty: What are the good habits that real estate buyers must have and why? Mendoza:
Real estate buyers need to be savvier than ever, and use all of the tools at their disposal. With
increased globalisation, buying
Gone are the days where buyers had to fly somewhere and spend days searching through pa-
per listings and following real estate agents around to countless properties. The Internet has
enabled everything from direct access to Multiple Listing Services (MLS) to virtual home tours
and detailed photos. Working virtually with a broker is becoming accepted practice, and things
like digital signatures have made the paperwork process more seamless.
The Intero strategy syndicates listings to search engines like Trulia, Zillow, Google Maps Real
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What They’re Saying
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Estate, and Yahoo Real Estate, and has pulled out of all print advertising and featured listings.
Since syndication, Intero has created an online footprint that draws more traffic than any news-
paper/print advertisement while experiencing no dip in traffic. This marks a fundamental shift
in the way real estate services are delivered, and it puts our franchisees ahead of the curve.
At the heart of the Intero marketing plan is social media. Intero hosts two blogs: http://in-
teroreblog.com, information on marketing and real estate trends for consumers, and http://
interomojo.com, inspiration, better business practices and Cool Apps (free tech tools and tips)
for brokers/agents. Intero also has weekly email blasts and integrated usage of Facebook, Twit-
ter, and LinkedIn. So, it is critical that today’s buyers understand what the Internet can afford
them – and that they engage with the online entities that can help them get the most out of their
buying experience.
Finally, it is important for buyers to educate themselves on the purchasing process, and to align
themselves with strong agents and reputable real estate brokerages. Intero Real Estate Services,
Inc. and Intero Asia Pacific are committed to offering the latest in training, technology and tools
to their franchisees, so that buyers and investors can have the peace of mind that they are being
represented by the best in the industry.
What They’re Saying
November 13, 2009
“This represents a major milestone in our expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, giving us access
to a huge audience of buyers throughout the area,” said Al Mendoza, Managing Director of Intero
Asia-Pacific, Intero International Franchise Services, LLC.’s independent partner in the Asia-Pacific
Region. “Intero was one of the first real estate companies to embrace online distribution of listings in
the United States and we intend to once again lead the pack in seizing the online opportunity in Asia.”
“Interest in American property in the Asia-Pacific region has increased dramatically in the past year
as Asian buyers take advantage of the weak U.S. Dollar and declining housing prices. Furthermore,
affluent Chinese see international property investment as a ‘wealth diversification’ play and effec-
tive channel to expatriate their large cash reserves.” said George Varvitsiotis, CEO of Asia Interactive
Corp, “We are excited at the opportunity to partner with a large and growing U.S. based company
who understands and recognizes the opportunity in Asia. Intero will set the trend as more U.S. based
Real Estate agencies will realize the advantages of having exposure to affluent China and Asia based
property investors.
Intero will soon distribute all of its property listings to PropGO.com as well, which has no pricing
threshold on listings displayed.
“This deal is important to us on two fronts: It cements our position as a new brand in the Asia Pa-
cific region and it provides our American sellers with access to an active and growing pool of buyers
throughout Southeast Asia and mainland China,” said Intero President and CEO Gino Blefari. “Real
estate is now a global enterprise and our reach cannot be limited by borders.”
Intero Asia-Pacific offers entrepreneurs in the region the opportunity to affiliate with one of the
world’s most innovative real estate brands. The Intero® focus on technology, training and superior
systems led it to become the fastest organically grown real estate brokerage in U.S. history.
What They’re Saying
July 30, 2009
CUPERTINO, CA – Intero International Franchise Services, LLC (“Intero International”), a company affiliated
with Intero Real Estate Services, Inc. (“Intero,”) recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative
brokerages in the industry, announced today that it has reached an agreement that permits Intero International
to expand the INTERO® brand throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim. The new Intero Asia Pacific will offer mas-
ter franchise opportunities to select regions beginning in Singapore in August and Hong Kong in September.
Intero will partner with real estate entrepreneurs, agency owners and top agents capable of building a profitable
operation and eager to break from the old brokerage paradigm.
Intero International is led by President Javier Parraga, a former top executive with Realogy Corporation. During
his tenure with HFS (which became Cendant and is now Realogy) Parraga successfully negotiated and signed
over 100 master franchise agreements covering over 150 countries and territories. As a result, more than 6,500
offices outside the U.S. are now affiliated with Realogy’s brands. Intero Asia Pacific is led by Albert V. Mendoza
also a former international sales executive with Realogy.
“Parraga and Mendoza’s reputation precedes them globally,” said Intero Chairman Bob Moles. “They are known
internationally as accomplished strategists and sales professionals. Their vision and international expertise on
franchise development within the real estate sector has driven notable growth and network expansion through-
out the world.”
“Intero was born in Silicon Valley, which is a crossroads of innovation for the entire Pacific Rim,” said Intero
President and CEO Gino Blefari. “This is a natural move for us and one we are uniquely equipped to execute
successfully.”
The INTERO® organization is led by a team of real estate innovators Gino Blefari, President and CEO, Bob
Moles, Chairman, Tom Tognoli, Chief Operating Officer, and John Thompson, Vice President and Managing Of-
ficer. Under their direction Intero has grown at an unprecedented pace, going from one office to more than 40
company owned and franchise offices and more than 1,800 agents in less than seven years. “Intero has become
known for its unique culture and innovations that have influenced the industry as a whole,” elaborates Thomp-
son.
“Intero is an Italian word for ‘whole’ and ‘complete,’ and reflects our vision for a new kind of real estate bro-
kerage,” said Tognoli. “We offer everything, from cutting edge technology to proven training and recruiting
programs. We will work with each market to appropriately adopt our best practices for the Asia Pacific market-
place.”
Master Franchisees who affiliate with Intero International will have exclusive territory rights. They will manage
the growth of their organization, distribution of new offices, development of preferred alliances and strategies
for recruiting top agents and managers.
Says Mendoza, the Managing Director of Intero Asia Pacific, “With more than 1,500 U.S. companies and an
English-speaking population, Singapore is a natural founding member territory for Intero. I look forward to
helping entrepreneurs and top agents seize the opportunity to build a brand that will compete with the region’s
dominant real estate service providers.”
“I am honored to work with Intero International in its efforts to expand in Asia Pacific,” Mendoza said
in a statement today. “I am pleased to be part of a team with relevant global business experience, a
thorough understanding of successful international franchising, and a true connection with the cur-
rent challenges facing real estate brokerage operations.”
“We are thrilled to have reached agreement with Al to be our partner in the Asia Pacific region,” Par-
raga said. “Al is a seasoned international franchising veteran with extensive experience in the Asia
Pacific markets and it is great that he agreed to assist us in growing Intero internationally. His extraor-
dinary expertise in these areas along with his high level of professionalism will lead us to having the
Intero brand become a household name in the Asia Pacific region.” Bob Moles, Chairman of Intero
stated “I have always known Al as having a dynamic track record in this business and am excited that
he has joined the Intero family, further strengthening the Intero management team and International’s
commitment to grow the Intero brand world wide.”
Recently Intero Real Estate Services surpassed the Coldwell Banker brand to become the top real
estate company by market share in Silicon Valley. The success of the Intero brand has been further
recognized by being voted as the #1 residential real estate company in Silicon Valley by The San Jose
Mercury News. Gino Blefari, President and CEO of Intero added “The Asia Pacific region is eco-
nomically the most robust and dynamic region of the world. I am confident the INTERO® brand will
achieve the same success in Asia as it has achieved in Silicon Valley.”
What They’re Saying
July 16, 2009
“I’m thrilled to now be a part of the Intero team,” Parraga said in a statement today. “And I’m excited
about the opportunity to bring this successful and innovative brand into the Asia Pacific, Europe, Mid-
dle East and Central and South America regions.”
Parraga’s connection with Intero stems from his relationship with Bob Moles. Moles and Parraga were
instrumental in the formation and development of Cendant’s (now Realogy) Global Services depart-
ment. When he was Chairman of Cendant’s Real Estate Franchise Group, Moles originally assigned
Parraga responsibility for the development of Cendant’s real estate brands throughout the world. “Ja-
vier is the finest International Franchise sales executive I have ever met in the world. It was a privilege
to work with him for seven years at Cendant,” said Moles. “Now, we are honored to have Javier’s
leadership as Intero International Franchise Services embarks on growing the Intero® brand around
the world.”
Under the leadership of Blefari and Moles, the Intero brand has grown from one office to more than
50 company- owned and franchised offices in less than 7 years, encompassing more than 2,000 agents.
Today, the Intero system has offices in California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Mexico. “I could not be
more excited for Intero and the opportunity that lies ahead for us internationally under the leadership
of Javier,” said Blefari.
Born in Ecuador as the youngest of seven siblings, Parraga immigrated with his family to the United
States at the age of 3. He was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C.
What They’re Saying
March 23, 2009
Intero Real Estate Services claims title of Silicon Valley’s
#1 real estate company
Technology, innovation and an unusual commitment to client service propel company past
competitors just six years after opening its doors
CUPERTINO, CA –- Intero Real Estate Services, a real estate brokerage firm that has leveraged
technology to grow from its Silicon Valley roots to national prominence, is now the dominant real
estate company in Santa Clara County according to market share statistics from RE Infolink, the re-
gion’s Multiple Listing Service. Intero has achieved the leading market share position just six years
since opening its corporate office next to the Apple campus in Cupertino. Intero eclipsed Coldwell
Banker Northern California to become the market leader for the first time in January of this year.
According to the RE Infolink data, Intero now has a 17% share of county single family home and
condominium sales. Coldwell Banker Northern California accounts for 12% of the market. Alain
Pinel Realtors stands at 8%.
Intero’s ascent has followed a steady upward trajectory since its founding in 2002. The company
was recognized by REALTOR® Magazine as the fastest growing real estate firm in the nation in
2005. Intero surpassed Alain Pinel for second place in Santa Clara County in 2007.
“This is more than just one brand versus another – it reflects a fundamental shift in the way real
estate services are delivered,” said Gino Blefari, Intero’s CEO. “It shows that our investments in
technology, our commitment to innovation and vision for a new kind of real estate company have
resonated with agents and consumers looking for a different – and better -- experience.”
• Launched an award-winning website platform that empowers users to draw their own real estate
search areas on a map, check local market conditions, and calculate their home’s value and equity
• Developed an iPhone-optimized real estate search application
• Implemented online chat for connecting home buyers, sellers and agents
• Created the “Andare” (“To go” in Italian) office model, which transforms the real estate office
into an inviting, hi-tech workspace for on-the-go consumers and agents
• Released a “One-to-one” online marketing program that creates customized websites for con
sumers through which they can track their home’s value and monitor recent neighborhood sales
“While other companies have been forced to pull back in this market -- cutting services and slash-
ing marketing budgets – we continue to innovate and embrace change,” Continued Blefari. “I ex-
pect we will emerge from 2009 with an even greater share of the market as more consumers and
agents gravitate to our company’s unique offerings.”
What They’re Saying
November 5, 2008
“Our mission at Intero® is to continually stay innovative in the marketing place. We constantly seek to pro-
vide agents and customers with the best tools the industry has to offer,” confirmed Gino Blefari, president,
of Intero. With the company’s roots in Silicon Valley, innovation and entrepreneurship have been within
Intero’s core values since their inception and drives their technology savvy business model.
Within the details of the report, reviewers stated “the Intero home page looks and feels unique, and evi-
dences exceptional design quality,” as well as declaring the site as a “technological wonder.” They were
impressed with Intero’s one of a kind map feature noting, “search results are displayed in a list and a
map, side by side - the most sensible application of map views we have seen.” According to the company,
reviewers were equally pleased by Intero’s integration of market and local information saying, “Intero’s
integration of market and local amenity data is another stand out. Users can overlay amenities on a map
displaying a property, and demographic and market data are all available, and tightly integrated, with one
click.” Overall 1000watt Consulting and RealTrends felt the new InteroRealEstate.com powered by Terab-
itz was a great resource for home buyers and sellers saying, “Intero has done a great job offering a website
that rivals any search site on the Web.”
“As we embark on a national expansion of our franchise system, we believe it is critical to offer our master
franchisees the most innovative tools, systems, and technologies.” says Robert Moles, Intero’s Chairman.
“We are competing with other national organizations, therefore, we have created a solid, technologically
driven value proposition for our company owned offices as well as our current and future franchisees.”
What They’re Saying
August 28, 2008
Intero Real Estate Services Inc. Unveils the Real Estate Office of
the Future: The Intero AndareSM Office
CUPERTINO, CA — Intero Real Estate Services Inc. The Intero Andare design footprint is suitable for
announced today the company will now offer the spaces that range in size from 1,000 to 3,000 sq. ft.
Intero AndareSM office, its most innovative con- That’s compared to the size of Intero’s traditional of-
cept for real estate office design, to Intero franchi- fices: approximately 7,000 sq. ft. for medium spaces
sees nationwide. and 11,000 sq. ft. for
large. Because the Intero
Andare is an Italian word Andare office is a small-
that means “to go or to er design footprint, it’s
work.” The concept for more cost efficient to
the Intero Andare office construct overall—ap-
came about in 2007 when proximately 70 percent
Intero’s executive team less expensive to build–
decided to create a small- out than Intero’s larger
er, technology–rich and offices.
more eco–friendly real es-
tate office that better met Joel Valencia, an Intero
the needs of today’s mo- Franchisee and owner
bile REALTOR®. of an Intero Andare
office, had this to say
“The nature of our business Intero’s Andare office in Santana Row, San Jose, CA about the concept, “We
has changed. Agents aren’t spending as much time launched our Intero franchise in the middle of the
at their desks as they were 10 years ago,” said Gino housing slump and so needed to keep our startup
Blefari, president and CEO of Intero, “Most REAL- costs as low as possible. This design allowed us to
TORS® have a wireless–enabled laptop and PDA, do that, and we were able to reach profitability very
and they’re on the go. They don’t need cubicles. quickly—in less than eight months.”
They need an attractive space with a few secluded
areas where they can go to meet with clients and The Intero Andare office is also the company’s green-
work—where they have access to technology and est design. Its small footprint means fewer construc-
can get their work done as efficiently as possible.” tion materials and waste, resulting in less impact on
the environment. It also means less energy consumed
Intero opened its flagship Intero Andare office in a in maintaining the office on an ongoing basis. Intero
popular, high-end retail/residential development has been a leader in encouraging more environmen-
in Silicon Valley known as Santana Row in early tally–friendly business practices through its alliance
2007. Since then, they have successfully opened ad- with EcoBroker® International for years. In fact, Ble-
ditional Intero Andare offices, including company fari was awarded the EcoBroker Community Service
and franchise–owned offices, in Carmel, down- Award in 2006, given by EcoBroker International and
town San Jose, Menlo Park, Santa Cruz and Truck- the Association of Energy and Environmental Real
ee, California. They now have more than 135 agents Estate Professionals.
working in these offices.
Continued on next page...
What They’re Saying
Continued from previous page
What distinguishes the Intero Andare office from Here, Intero features resort properties and high-
others is its use of cutting–edge technology, in- end homes. They can also showcase full graphic or
cluding tablet PCs, keyless entry, Voice Over IP model displays. For developers who want to take a
(VoIP), flat screen plasma TVs, and a high speed foothold in a particular market, the Intero Andare
Wi–Fi network. The office also uses Web– based office serves as a localized space to which they can
transaction management software that gives easily direct clients and create awareness.
agents the ability to manage entire client files on-
line and eliminate the need for paper and storage. The design blueprint and business concept for the
Clients can sign directly to a PDF and those sig- Intero Andare office will be exclusively available to
natures are as secure and official as a contract on Intero’s master franchisees and Intero franchisees.
paper. Intero then stores the files securely online For more information and details or for information
where they remain available to access down the on master franchising opportunities, contact Jose
road from any location. Perez at (404) 272- 4646, jperez@pcmsconsulting.
com or masterfranchising@ interorealestate.com.
The design of the Intero Andare office is minimal-
ist and modern in style. Intero ditched cubicles
for an open–floor plan that’s divided into three
small communal areas, each featuring rich leather
sofas and chairs, café tables and a large central
work console/bar that’s equipped with a power
and data conduit from the ceiling. There are also
two small private offices. Polished concrete floors,
vaulted ceilings and floor–to–ceiling glass walls
in the conference room give the impression of
something more akin to a high–end gallery than
a real estate office (complete with an espresso bar,
wine and beer).
Bay Area real estate Moles spent seven years at Cendant - two years longer
veteran Robert Moles, than he originally intended to be on the East Coast, he
a former top execu- said Wednesday. He took charge of the real estate fran-
tive with New Jersey- chise group in 2000, but he never hid his desire to return
based Cendant, has to the Bay Area.
been named chairman
of Intero Real Estate Iʼm not coming back here not to work. I really enjoy work,
Services, a fast-grow- I enjoy the valley, and I will be intricately involvedʼʼ in
ing val- ley brokerage the companyʼs future, said Moles, 49.
formed two years ago
by several of Molesʼ Blefari has known Robert Moles and his brother Kevin,
old friends and his an Intero vice president, since their grade-school days in
brother. Sunnyvale. In the 1980s and 1990s, the three were among
the owners of the former Contempo Realty, which was
Earlier this month, Moles left his post as president and eventually sold to Cendant subsidiary NRT and folded
chief executive of Cendantʼs real estate franchise divi- into Coldwell Banker.
sion, where he oversaw about 13,000 offices of some
of the coun- tryʼs largest real estate brands, including For me this is an outstanding story of homecoming and
Coldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA and Sothebyʼs Inter- an ability to work with Gino and with my brother, but if
national. In- tero wasnʼt just an unbelievable success story in real
estate I wouldnʼt be doing it,ʼʼ Robert Moles said.
He started his job at Intero in Cupertino this week and
said he will help guide the companyʼs growth and build Gaining a chairman of Molesʼ experience and reputa-
its reloca- tion services and marketing efforts, among tion will raise Interoʼs profile and boost the confidence
other things. of its agents, Blefari said.
Since its inception in 2002, Intero has grown to more Attracting Bob Moles to Intero says so much for the
than 800 agents in 15 offices stretching from Hollister In- tero agents,ʼʼ he said. It tells them that the skyʼs the
to San Carlos to the East Bay. It has given some compe- limit, that Intero is a very, very legitimate player in the
tition to giant Coldwell Banker, which has more than real estate arena.ʼʼ
1,100 agents in the valley, and about 4,000 in Northern The company is on pace to assist in about $5 billion
California. worth of real estate transactions in 2004, Blefari said.
Intero President and Chief Executive Gino Blefari said Moles, a graduate of Santa Clara University, is married
he hopes to expand beyond California eventually. with five sons, and lives in Santa Cruz.
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Alice cherishes her time with family and friends. She takes
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Lynne Tran has recently become a short sale and REO special-
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eral active listings.
Prior to joining Intero, Mr. Moles was the President and CEO of the
Real Estate Franchise Group of Cendant Corporation, the largest
franchiser of residential and commercial real estate brokerage offices
in the world. As CEO of the group, Moles oversaw the Century 21®, Robert Moles
Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, ERA® and So- Chairman
theby’s International Realty® real estate companies, which combined
have more than 13,000 franchised offices and more than 262,800 bro- Intero Real Estate Services
kers and agents worldwide. 10275 N. De Anza Boulevard
Cupertino, CA 95014
In 1997, Mr. Moles was named President and CEO of Century 21 Real
Estate Corporation, the world’s largest residential real estate sales Direct
organization. During his tenure as President and CEO, he is credited 408.342.8607
with re-establishing and enhancing the brand’s leadership position
with the introduction of its “Vision 2100” strategic plan. Under Vi- Email
sion 2100, the company initiated and completed the following pro- rmoles@InteroRealEstate.com
grams: an award-winning advertising and promotions campaign,
a state-of-the-art technology-based training platform, a redesigned
and enhanced Web site, a new Internet-based transaction reporting
system, and an improved franchise support system. Prior to Century
21, Mr. Moles was President/CEO of Contempo Realty, Inc., in Santa
Clara, CA. Under his leadership, Contempo’s annual transaction vol-
ume grew from $85 million to more than $2.4 billion.
Founded in late 2002 by Mr. Blefari, Intero Real Estate Services Inc. has recently expanded
its brand globally, as a franchisor, through Intero Franchise Services, Inc. and Intero Inter-
national Franchise Services, LLC. Intero was ranked #17, based on sales volume, on the
prestigious REAL Trends 500 list of America’s leading real estate companies in 2010. At
the 2007 NAR Conference & Expo Blefari was given the prestigious RISMedia National
Home Ownership Award for “outstanding achievements among residential real estate’s
most influential and charismatic leaders.” In July of 2005 Intero Real Estate Services was
recognized by REALTOR® Magazine, the official magazine of the National Association of
REALTORS®, as the fastest growing real estate company in the nation and ranked #1 out
of the approximately 80,000 brokerages nationwide in growth of sales and transaction sides
Gino Blefari with 167.6% and 128.3% increases respectively.
Founder, President & CEO
Currently, Intero Real Estate Services has more than 40 offices serving four states; California,
Colorado, Nevada and Texas and over 1,800 agents. Intero also plans to venture into the in-
Intero Real Estate Services ternational market with offices scheduled to open in Malaysia, Shanghai, Beijing, Vietnam,
Philippines and London in 2011.
10275 N. De Anza Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014 Mr. Blefari began selling real estate in 1984 and for the next 14 years was a top-producing
real estate agent selling an excess of 50 homes per year. During this time, he excelled at
three different positions: as a real estate agent, a manager and a chief operating officer.
Direct As a manager at Contempo Realty in 1988, he quickly set out transforming the Cupertino
408.342.3007 office from the lowest producing branch into the company’s number one office. In 1992,
his branch was the #1 branch in the entire Bay Area. Soon after, Mr. Blefari was promoted
to CEO and co-owner of Contempo Realty where he oversaw the daily operations of 18
Email Contempo offices and their respective branch managers. In 1997, Contempo Realty was
purchased by NRT (also known as Realogy), a nationwide real estate brokerage company,
gblefari@InteroRealEstate.com and soon after, Mr. Blefari was named president of the new Century 21 Seville Contempo
Company, operating in the Northern California region. As president, he was credited with
increasing the company’s profits by 280% in his first year on the job. By 2000, he not only
had the top five offices in the region, he had seven of the top eleven offices within Century
21’s 6,300 worldwide offices. With this success as chief operating officer Mr. Blefari, already
an award-winning REALTOR, now had proven his exceptional abilities. And in 2001, he
was subsequently promoted to senior vice president of NRT, where he began working on a
national level. In addition to his on-the-job mentoring, Mr. Blefari is a faculty member at De
Anza College where he teaches real estate courses and is a former director of the National
Association of REALTORS®.
Mr. Blefari has been involved in the communities where he works and lives for years. He
was recognized for this involvement when he received the 2007 Achievement Award in the
Business and Professional category by the Italian American Heritage Foundation. Also, in
recognition of Mr. Blefari’s green business practices and support, EcoBroker International
awarded him the 2006 EcoBroker Community Service Award out of more than one million
brokers and agents nationally.
Mr. Blefari graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Business Administration. In his spare time, Mr. Blefari, an avid reader, enjoys skiing, golf
and weight lifting. In addition, he is a passionate gardener, raising redwood tree seedlings
and donating them in order to benefit the community at large.
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Solution.
Contact us to set up a meeting.