2023 Michigan Top Workplaces: Real Estate One named No. 3 among large companies

The Real Estate One Family of Companies, based in Southfield, earned the No. 3 spot among large companies in the 2023 Michigan Top Workplaces Competition. But during an October conference call, Stuart Elsea, who was joined by his brother Dan, wanted to call attention to other numbers.

“Our family has operated the business for over 90 years, and this is our fourth generation as a family-owned business,” stated Stuart Elsea, president of financial services for Real Estate One, whose roots trace back to a former downtown Detroit office opened in 1929. “We believe we treat all of our staff and agents as family. We get to know them, and they get to know us, and we’re working hard together to get through a market that has made rapid change in the past year.” 

Getting to know Real Estate One means getting acquainted with a firm that embraces “excellence, caring, integrity, teamwork and empowerment” as core values. And despite the “cyclical” nature of the company’s industry, the leadership says the commitment to the core values endures regardless of what is going on in the outside world. 

“COVID provided a mini drill for today’s market,” explained Dan Elsea, president of Brokerage Services for Real Estate One. “We’ve been through this before and it helps us look beyond where we are today and instead focus on where we’re going, which we communicate to our team all the time. We’re constantly reaching out across the firm and offering some level of education, information and conversation to help our staff and agents be successful.”

Stuart and Dan Elsea pointed out that Real Estate One’s family approach also comes to life through the firm’s community service, which touches charitable organizations like Special Olympics Michigan, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter.

“We’re not just 9 to 5, we’re a family business 24-7,” Stuart Elsea proclaimed. “The charitable work we do across the metro area is one of the anchors for our organization. It brings us together and it supports our core value of ‘caring.’ ”  

Real Estate One Family of Companies

Industry: Real estate and affiliated services 

Top leadership: Dan Elsea, president, Brokerage Services; Stuart Elsea, president, Financial Services 

Home: Southfield 

Employees: 2,386

Website: www.realestateone.com