Exclusive: Geoff Lewis, Former RE/MAX President, Joins JP & Associates

Disruption is hitting the real estate industry more than other industries, and at a faster rate, or so it seems to those of us who watch the daily, sometimes hourly, changes from our North Texas perches. Speaking of Perch, there are iBuyers looming on the horizon — even mainstream media is starting to pay attention. That big, hairy-scary class-action “bombshell” lawsuit,  the one that could upend the U.S. real estate industry by forcing changes in how buyer’s agents are compensated (negotiate commission between buyer and agent individually, not dictate the commission to be paid by the home seller) has been amended: more plaintiffs and defendants have been brought in, and the suit is now emphasizing the role commissions and MLS groups play in “steering buyers”, potentially raising costs for sellers. 

Executives and agents are migrating, leaving traditional brokerages, heading towards perceived greener pastures with brokers married to technology, but not necessarily married to an office. 100% commission split brokerages are thriving and rising, with Frisco-based JP and Associates Realtors® (JPAR) taking the charge. 

JP and Associates is excited to announce that Geoff Lewis is joining JPAR as President of Vesuvius Holdings, LLC. Vesuvius is the parent company of JP and Associates Realtors and JPAR Franchising.

Geoff Lewis was most recently President of RE/MAX Holdings, LLC. where he worked for thirteen years. Lewis retired from RE/MAX in early 2018. RE/MAX, with those familiar red signs, is considered the largest real estate brokerage in the world. It was founded in 1973 by David and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. Over 115,000 agents provide RE/MAX a global reach of over 100 countries and territories. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX as measured by total residential transaction sides, which led the company to a post-recession record high in U.S., Canadian and worldwide agent count (100,000+ agents in 100+ countries) and franchise sales. Geoff served on several several industry boards and is widely respected within the industry.

Geoff Lewis was instrumental as a member of the RE/MAX senior team in guiding the organization through a tumultuous 12 years.  He was a part of the team that repurchased almost a dozen regional privately owned master franchises, was a member of the team that guided the firm to its public offering and was important to the organization in so many other, less visible ways.  REAL Trends always found Geoff to be bright, engaging and thoughtful in our dealings with him.  Along with the RE/MAX family we wish Geoff only the very best in his future endeavors: Steve Murray, President, REAL Trends Inc.

Mr. Lewis was ranked in the top fifteen in the Swanepoel Power 200 list of industry leaders.

In citing his reasons for joining JPAR, Mr. Lewis stated: “our industry is ripe for disruption.”

“Since I Ieft RE/MAX Holdings, RE/MAX and the other traditional companies have been losing agents. I wanted to associate with and help grow a real estate company whose business model is relevant and attractive to brokers and agents competing in today’s highly competitive market,” says Lewis.  “JP Piccinini is the most dynamic and innovative visionary in real estate today. JP has leveraged his company’s strong position in the Texas market to begin franchising his unique concept. JPAR has already sold 40 franchises in seven states in the last six months. In addition, JPAR recently won the INMAN Innovator award for its iBuyer instant offer program. I look forward to helping grow the JPAR brand across all fifty states, Canada and internationally.”

JP Piccinini, CEO of Vesuvius Holdings, told me last night he couldn’t be happier.

“I am thrilled to have Geoff Lewis on board the JPAR team,” he said. With Geoff’s past industry and franchising success, our already experienced, dynamic management team expects to accelerate our phenomenal growth. Our transaction fee-based model (100% commission) combined with our proprietary B.O.S.S.S. (Broker One Stop Shopping System) technology suite, world-class training, 24/7 broker compliance support, retirement bonus plan and innovative agent health care are unique in the industry. For the broker, agent and consumer alike, JPAR is focused on Exceeding Expectations.”

Mr. Lewis will begin his position as President and Board member on July 1, 2019.

JP And Associates REALTORS® (JPAR) is one of the top 50 real estate brokerages in the US now with almost 3,000 agents. A full-service transaction fee-based real estate brokerage, it has been recognized as one of the fastest growing brokerages in the country by REAL TRENDS. JPAR has ben honored by Inman Real Estate News, Inman Connect, and is a back-to-back INC5000 nominee.

JPAR operates multiple offices across Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida, is expanding nationwide, and offers franchising opportunities for entrepreneurial real estate professionals.