Coldwell Banker Paradise Joins Schmidt Family of Companies to Create One of Nation's Largest Firms

VERO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 9, 2019 -- Coldwell Banker Paradise announced it has merged with the Schmidt Family of Companies to create one of the world's largest independently-owned Coldwell Banker franchises and one of the nation's largest real estate firms with 80 offices and approximately 1,700 agents in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Schmidt Family of Companies, led by Ken and Mike Schmidt, is a full-service brokerage that was founded in 1927. The company already has a Florida presence centered in Punta Gorda. The firm had a combined 18,259 transactions and $3.3 billion in sales volume in 2018.

Coldwell Banker Paradise will retain its name and continue to be led locally by Linda Schlitt Gonzalez and Steven Schlitt, who have been with the company since 1972 and 1998, respectively. The firm was founded by their parents Ed and Marguerite Schlitt in 1953 and now has 11 offices and 280 agents serving 135 miles of eastern Florida coastline including Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Jupiter Island and Melbourne.

"We were one of Coldwell Banker's earliest franchisees in 1983 and that helped fuel our growth," Steven Schlitt said. "Joining the Schmidt Family of Companies is another exciting moment that maintains our family leadership and exposes our agents, clients and the Treasure and Space Coasts to greater resources and audiences."

Schlitt expects area homes in the $200,000-$400,000 range will see a 2019 price increase of 2-3% with job-centric Brevard County growing at a 6-8% pace.

"Our luxury market has exploded and we are seeing that 45% of those buying these homes are moving here to forego the hustle of South Florida. The Schmidt Family of Companies has a dominance in waterfront, resort and luxury markets."

"We are very excited about this new phase in our company's development," Ken Schmidt said. "We are clearly in a growth mode. Today's announcement is another positive sign and shows how bullish we are on the region's future."

"I have worked with Ken and Mike for many years and have always been impressed," said Charlie Young, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. "The Schmidt Family of Companies now has the most U.S. offices in the Coldwell Banker network with the merger of Coldwell Banker Paradise."

ABOUT COLDWELL BANKER PARADISE

Coldwell Banker Paradise was founded in 1953 and has 11 offices and approximately 280 agents serving Florida's Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, South Hutchinson Island, North Hutchinson Island, Vero Beach, Sebastian and Melbourne.

ABOUT THE SCHMIDT FAMILY OF COMPANIES

The Schmidt Family of Companies has over 80 Coldwell Banker offices and 1,700 agents and brokers across Florida, Michigan, Ohio and the U.S. Virgin Islands along with Century 21 Schmidt Real Estate in Venice, Florida. The company had a combined 18,259 transactions and $3.3 billion in sales volume in 2018.