2026 GameChanger: Agent recruitment pushed REMAX Premier to 171% growth

For Travis Baron, it was a strong commitment to his agents and pursuing organic growth that led to his firm, REMAX Premier Realty, closing 1,813 transaction sides and $530.57 million in sales volume, according to RealTrends Verified data. Between 2021 and 2025, Baron’s firm recorded 171% transaction-side growth, earning it the No. 3 rank in the 2026 RealTrends Verified GameChanger rankings. 

“M&A is not really my thing, so we just had a very strong recruiting program,” said Baron, who sold his firm in August of 2025 to Mike Safiedine and REMAX Connections. “It was myself and a manager and our number one mission was outreach and making sure our firm was involved in the industry.” 

Baron said this involved a lot of cold calling and fostering and maintaining relationships.

“That first contact rarely leads to a recruit,” Baron said, “It is usually the second, third or fourth call that really pays off.” 

Additionally, Baron said he focused on “being their broker before [he was] their broker.” 

“Invite them to events, share things that are going on with your brokerage or brand with them and just be seen,” Baron said. “Open houses were great opportunities for us to get time with some agents and be able to present our value, present who we are and make that strong connection.” 

Creating a smooth transition to new ownership

As a broker-owner, Baron said he was very hands-on with his agents, making sure he was always available to help if needed, which he felt helped the firm retain agents. However, this meant that when he decided it was time to sell the firm last summer, he didn’t want to sell REMAX Premier to the wrong person.

“When I was selling my company it was all about the agents. I didn’t want them to feel like they were losing a leader and that they were just going to be forgotten about in their new firm,” Baron said. “I wanted a smooth transition and something that was going to be better for them in the long run.” 

While Baron and Safiedine acknowledged that they do have different leadership styles, they feel like the acquisition has been a success, especially when it comes to agent retention due to other alignments.

“When I started talking with Travis about what this might look like, I knew immediately that it was a perfect fit because he had the same values, the same morals, the same positivity and the same view on transparency, how we see the business and how we expect ourselves and our agents to act,” Safiedine said. 

Although their exact styles of leadership may differ, Baron and Safiedine feel that their job as brokers is to support their agents and that the business is not about themselves, but about the overall team. 

Safiedine said he feels a great sense of responsibility in carrying on the success of Baron’s firm.

“Travis sold his baby to me and I don’t take that lightly,” Safiedine said. “Everyday I wake up to this sense of responsibility that I need to continue on this path, not only for Travis, but for his agents, his family and the legacy and reputation he built along the way.” 

Looking ahead

Looking ahead to the future, Safiedine said he is considering all growth opportunities from more M&A to continuing to focus on Baron’s existing organic growth and retention systems and strategies. His primary focus, however, is to understand where the industry is headed, so he can better prepare for himself and his agents for what is to come. 

“There is a lot that is not under our control at the moment, so part of the strategy is just sitting tight and figuring out what is going to take place with all of the major acquisitions in the industry and all of the different changes right now,” Safiedine said. “There is just a lot taking place and sometimes when you jump too fast in a direction without really understanding the market conditions, I think it makes you more vulnerable. So, at the end of the day, I am focused on understanding the market and supporting my agents through any challenges.” 

For Baron, who led REMAX Premier through the vast majority of the past five years, consistency was key to his success.

“You have to ignore the distractions and stick to your plan — know what you are doing, why you are doing it and be consistent with it despite any lack of immediate return,” Baron said. “Know that what you are doing now, even though you’re not seeing immediate return, it’s going to come down the road. The people who follow that lead, they find success.”

It is this mindset that Safiedine is now taking on as looks to continue Baron’s legacy of growth. 

“It is about taking out the distractions and concentrating on what you can control and then figuring out who you are going to take along on this journey and how you can be of service to your agents and your clients,” he said.