As a fellow consumer, I like to pass along good tips and referrals when I come across them. If you're in the market looking for a good real estate broker, go with one that has a strong and reliable reputation. Entrepreneur Magazine says RE/MAX ranks among the top in its industry.

The trade magazine's 29th annual 'Franchise 500 Survey,' which appears in the January issue, named RE/MAX International as the nation's No. 1 real estate franchise, and the number 10 franchise overall. RE/MAX has held the survey's top slot for eight of the past 10 years.

The survey also ranks RE/MAX among the top 10 in four different franchise categories. In addition to being the 10th best of all franchises, the Denver-based company was ranked No. 1 in the low-cost franchise category, No. 7 among global franchises, and No. 10 in the fastest-growing franchise category. All companies in the rankings are evaluated by the same criteria, including financial strength and stability, size, growth rate, startup costs and financing options. These and other factors are entered into the magazine's Franchise 500 formula, with each eligible company receiving a cumulative score.

In 2007, RE/MAX International was also named a Top 25 Franchise Opportunity by Hispanic Enterprise magazine, and was ranked third among the Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly Employers by Military Spouse magazine.

RE/MAX officials have credited their strong Internet presence for the company's ongoing success. Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX International, recently told RISMEDIA, 'Due to our extensive online-search capabilities, Remax.com is the most visited Web site among all real estate brands. That gives our franchisees more referrals and a clear edge in an increasingly competitive real estate market.'
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Have you bought or sold property through a RE/MAX broker? Do you have other good real estate referrals?