Going From Team Leaders to Brokerage Owners Is ‘Natural Next Step’ for Growth-Minded Duo

In 2018, Becky Dwaileebe and Melody Contreras were two members of a RE/MAX team who shared a passion for the profession and had likeminded long-term goals for business growth. They departed the team to start a new one together, aligning with a competitor brand in their Tucson, Arizona, market.

Now, after developing their team, Eclipse Real Estate Group of Realty Executives, into a local top-producing entity over six years, the dynamic leadership duo is ready for big change once again: Owning and operating a brokerage. And they’re returning to RE/MAX to do just that.

“We wanted something different, and RE/MAX checks all the boxes,” Dwaileebe said. “It gives us the freedom to do things our way while benefiting from the brand’s powerful presence.”

RE/MAX Horizon is open for business and encompasses the 20-member Eclipse Real Estate Group. For some entrepreneurs, like Dwaileebe and Contreras, running a team is a steppingstone to brokerage ownership.

Many paths can lead to owning a real estate brokerage. For Dwaileebe and Contreras, their years of overseeing a team helped them evolve as leaders capable of supporting and guiding agents. Now, as brokerage leaders, the duo feels ready to ramp up production and scale growth.

They’ve been careful to retain their creative freedom in the process.

“We wanted the independence to run our business the way we felt it should be run. We originally were thinking of starting our own brokerage under our team name, as an independent brokerage, but after learning about everything that RE/MAX offers, we realized it would be the best of both worlds,” Contreras says.

When aligned with RE/MAX, Broker/Owners can tap into resources that help streamline business operations. For example, functionality within the robust MAX/Tech powered by BoldTrail technology platform is expanding to encompass the first fully integrated, end-to-end user experience for brokerage leaders.

Plus, joining RE/MAX means Broker/Owners can equip their agents with top-tier resources that save time and money. These include agent-specific technology tools, customizable marketing materials, ongoing education opportunities, networking events and more. A global network is a big benefit for agents looking to expand their referral pipelines, too – after all, RE/MAX has a presence in more than 110 countries and territories.

“We have the strength of the international RE/MAX brand and still have all the independence we were looking for. That’s when we decided, ‘Why are we waiting? Let’s do this,’” Contreras adds.

“This is the next natural step for us, and it’s just the beginning of what’s to come.”

Leading a team and brokerage, Dwaileebe and Contreras are adamant on maintaining their carefully curated agent-centric culture across the board – one comprising hard work, camaraderie and success.

“No matter how much we grow, it’s important to us to maintain a positive culture where we have a lot of fun, engage in friendly competition and look out for one another. That enjoyable yet productive environment is something you don’t find a lot of other places,” Contreras says.

“Our team has always struck a balance that appeals to all different types of agents. We understand that some agents want to be left alone to do their thing, whereas others appreciate support along the way. We’re able to cater to both mindsets, and everything in between – and this will hold true as agents join our team or choose to be individual agents in our office.”

This culture value proposition should thrive under leadership.

“We bring two very different personalities, strengths and skillsets to the table. Having the background of being on a team made us aware of how we wanted to build a great culture with our team,” Dwaileebe says. “And now, having a background of running a phenomenal team has shaped what the culture of our brokerage looks like.”

She adds, “We look forward to leading our team, growing our brokerage, and continuing to help real estate professionals reach their goals and thrive in any market.”

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