HomeServices of America

{{list|section|date=January 2025}}

The company traces its roots to AmerUs Home Services Inc.

In 1998, AmerUs Home Services was acquired by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/07/business/midamerican-to-buy-real-estate-group.html | title=MidAmerican to Buy Real Estate Group | first=AGIS | last=SALPUKAS | work=The New York Times | date=April 7, 1998}}{{subscription required}}{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/05/24/what-americas-homes-need-is-a-conglomerate/ | title=What America's Homes Need Is A Conglomerate | first=Steve | last=Kerch | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=May 24, 1998}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/1998/04/06/daily1.html | title=Edina Realty sold to energy company | publisher=American City Business Journals | date=April 6, 1998}}

In 1999, MidAmerican renamed its brokerage business HomeServices and acquired Semonin Realtors, operating in Louisville, and Long Realty, operating in Arizona.{{Cite web| last = Dooley| first = Tom| title = Industry Watch: HomeServices.com Moves into the Spotlight| work = Realtor Magazine| access-date = 2019-07-10| date = 2011-04-28| url = https://magazine.realtor/news-and-commentary/feature/article/1999/08/industry-watch-homeservicescom-moves-spotlight}}{{Cite web| title = Long Realty acquired| work = Phoenix Business Journal| access-date = 2019-07-10| url = https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/1999/08/30/daily4.html}}

In 1999, Berkshire Hathaway acquired MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB940805892134236925 | title=Investors Led by Buffett to Buy Iowa's MidAmerican Energy | first1=Steven | last1=Lipin | first2=James P. | last2=Miller | publisher=The Wall Street Journal | date=October 25, 1999}}{{subscription required}}{{cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/10/25/deals/berkshire/ | title=Buffett gets energetic | publisher=CNN Money | date=October 25, 1999}}

In 2006, the company acquired Atlanta-based real estate brokerage Harry Norman Realtors.{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=Warren Buffett buying Harry Norman Realtors |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/05/22/daily4.html |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}{{Cite web |title=HomeServices buys Atlanta real estate company |url=https://www.inman.com/2006/05/24/homeservices-buys-atlanta-real-estate-company/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Inman |language=en-US}}

In 2012, the company acquired real estate brokerage firms from Prudential and Real Living and rebranded Prudential Real Estate to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/10/30/buffett-firm-buys-prudential-real-estate/1668649/ | title=Warren Buffett buys Prudential real estate unit | agency=Associated Press | publisher=USA Today | date=October 30, 2012}}{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-lew-20130922-story.html | title=Berkshire Hathaway to shake up real estate franchise landscape | first=Lew | last=Sichelman | work=Los Angeles Times | date=September 20, 2013}}

In August 2013, the company acquired Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors®/Trident Group.{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130814006012/en/HomeServices-America-Announces-Acquisition-Prudential-Fox-Roach | title=HomeServices of America, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors®/Trident Group | publisher=Business Wire | date=August 14, 2013}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/real-estate/2013/11/fox-roach-finally-gets-its-new-name.html | title=Fox & Roach finally gets its new name | first=Natalie | last=Kostelni | publisher=American City Business Journals | date=November 12, 2013}}{{cite news | url=https://www.law360.com/articles/465134 | title=Berkshire Hathaway Unit Buys RE Broker Prudential Fox | first=Jake | last=Simpson | publisher=Law360 | date=August 15, 2013}}

In November 2013, the company acquired Prudential Rubloff Properties, operating in the Chicago area.{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131112007083/en/HomeServices-America-Announces-Acquisition-Prudential-Rubloff-Properties | title=HomeServices of America, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Prudential Rubloff Properties | publisher=Business Wire | date=November 12, 2013}}

In May 2014, the company acquired Intero Real Estate Services, operating in Silicon Valley.{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140513006284/en/HomeServices-America-Announces-Acquisition-Silicon-Valley%E2%80%93based-Intero | title=HomeServices of America, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Silicon Valley–based Intero Real Estate Services | publisher=Business Wire | date=May 13, 2014}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2014/05/13/done-deal-buffetts-berkshire-finalizes-acquisition.html | title=Done deal: Buffett's Berkshire finalizes acquisition of Intero to cash in on Silicon Valley | first=Nathan | last=Donato-Weinstein | publisher=American City Business Journals | date=May 13, 2014}}{{cite news | url=http://www.startribune.com/homeservices-buys-silicon-valley-real-estate-brokerage/259138621/ | title=HomeServices buys Silicon Valley real estate brokerage | first=Jim | last=Buchta | publisher=Star Tribune | date=May 13, 2014}}

In July 2015, the company acquired Prudential Centennial Realty, operating in Westchester County,{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150701006365/en/Berkshire-Hathaway-HomeServices-New-England-Properties-Acquires | title=Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties Acquires Westchester County Brokerage Leader | publisher=Business Wire | date=July 1, 2015}} and First Weber, the largest residential brokerage in Wisconsin.{{cite news | url=http://www.startribune.com/homeservices-of-america-buys-first-weber-biggest-brokerage-in-wisconsin/319052361/ | title=HomeServices of America buys First Weber, biggest brokerage in Wisconsin | first=Jim | last=Buchta | publisher=Star Tribune | date=July 28, 2015}}{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/betsyschiffman/2015/11/17/warren-buffett-cant-buy-real-estate-agents-fast-enough/ | title=Warren Buffett Can't Buy Real Estate Agencies Fast Enough | first=Betsy | last=Schiffman | work=Forbes | date=November 17, 2015}}

In January 2017, the company acquired Houlihan Lawrence, the largest residential brokerage in Westchester County.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-houlihan-lawrence-m-a-berkshire-hatha/berkshire-hathaway-unit-buys-big-nyc-area-real-estate-firm-idUSKBN15135Cl | title=Berkshire Hathaway unit buys big NYC-area real estate firm | first=Jonathan | last=Stempel | publisher=Reuters | date=January 17, 2017}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news | url=https://therealdeal.com/2017/01/19/inside-berkshire-hathaways-big-bet-on-new-york/ | title=Berkshire Hathaway is betting big on New York — will it work? | first=Miriam | last=Hall | publisher=The Real Deal | date=January 19, 2017}}

In April 2017, the company acquired Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate, a residential brokerage in New Jersey.{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170404005939/en/HomeServices-America%C2%AE-Announces-Acquisition-Gloria-Nilson-Real | title=HomeServices of America® Announces the Acquisition of Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate | publisher=Business Wire | date=April 4, 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/04/05/homeservices-latest-deal-takes-it-to-jersey-shore.html | title=HomeServices' latest deal takes it to Jersey Shore | first=Mark | last=Reilly | publisher=American City Business Journals | date=April 5, 2017}} The company also formed a strategic alliance with Juwai.com, China's largest overseas property portal, offering access to high-net-worth individual Chinese buyers looking to purchase homes.{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170907006469/en/HomeServices-America%C2%AE-Acquires-Long-Foster-Companies | title=Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Signs Marketing Agreement with Juwai.com, China's Largest International Property Portal | publisher=Business Wire | date=April 17, 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-berkshire-hatha-juwai-com/buffetts-berkshire-chinese-property-website-juwai-com-team-up-idUSKBN17J15P | title=Buffett's Berkshire, Chinese property website Juwai.com team up | first=Jonathan | last=Stempel | publisher=Reuters | date=April 17, 2017}}{{cite web | url=https://list.juwai.com/zh/where-chinese-are-looking-globally | title=中国人最爱哪儿 | trans-title=Where do Chinese love the most? | language=zh | publisher=在中国的国际房地产门户网站 (list.Juwai.com) (居外) | date=February 18, 2025 | access-date=February 18, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123193433/https://list.juwai.com/zh/where-chinese-are-looking-globally | archive-date=January 23, 2025}}

In June 2017, Robert Moline, president of the company, retired.{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170621005994/en/HomeServices-America%C2%AE-Announces-Executive-Retirement | title=HomeServices of America® Announces Executive Retirement | publisher=Business Wire | date=June 21, 2017}}

In September 2017, the company acquired Long & Foster.{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170907006469/en/HomeServices-America%C2%AE-Acquires-Long-Foster-Companies | title=HomeServices of America® Acquires The Long & Foster Companies | publisher=Business Wire | date=September 7, 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/09/07/long-foster-acquired-by-homeservices-of-america.html | title=Long & Foster acquired by Buffett affiliate HomeServices of America | first=Sara | last=Gilgore | publisher=American City Business Journals | date=September 7, 2017}}

In 2018, the company acquired North Texas real estate firm Ebby Halliday.{{cite web|title=It's Official, Warren Buffett Buys Ebby Halliday Companies|date=4 June 2018 |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Its-Official-Warren-Buffett-Buys-Ebby-Halliday-Companies-484504901.html|access-date=9 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825004907/https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Its-Official-Warren-Buffett-Buys-Ebby-Halliday-Companies-484504901.html|archive-date=25 August 2019|url-status=live}}

In 2020, they originated 43,683 mortgages with a value of $13.8 billion.{{cite web|url=https://originationdata.com/institution/5493005PKOSG7MYX0B34|title=Prosperity Home Mortgage|access-date=December 7, 2021}}

In 2022, through its Edina Realty{{Cite web|title=Edina Realty Fact Sheet|url=https://www.edinarealty.com/news/fact-sheet/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Edina Realty|language=en}} subsidiary, it acquired Sioux Falls, South Dakota–based Hegg Realtors.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-11|title=Minnesota firm acquires Hegg Realtors|url=https://www.siouxfalls.business/minnesota-firm-acquires-hegg-realtors/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=SiouxFalls.Business|language=en}}

On November 1, 2023, a federal jury in Kansas City, Missouri, found Berkshire Hathaway and the National Association of Realtors liable to pay $1.78 billion in damages.{{Cite news |last1=Scarcella |first1=Mike |last2=Stempel |first2=Jonathan |date=2023-10-31 |title=US jury finds realtors liable for inflating commissions, awards $1.78 bln damages |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/missouri-jury-hits-nar-real-estate-companies-with-18-bln-damages-2023-10-31/ |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Cite web |last=Medium |first=Seattle |date=2023-11-02 |title=Jury Awards $1.78 Billion In Damages In Realtors' Commission Inflation Case |url=https://seattlemedium.com/jury-awards-1-78-billion-in-damages-in-realtors-commission-inflation-case/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=The Seattle Medium |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mack |first=Emily |date=2023-10-31 |title=NAR, Keller Williams, HomeServices of America found guilty of conspiring to inflate commissions - Chicago Agent Magazine National News |url=https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2023/10/31/nar-keller-williams-homeservices-of-america-lawsuit-guilty/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Chicago Agent Magazine |language=en-US}} The verdict came as the Warren Buffett–led brand, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, along with the National Association of Realtors, were found guilty of manipulating and artificially inflating the commissions on numerous home sales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2023/10/31/nar-lawsuit-brokers-fees-verdict-sitzer-burnett|title=Realtors found liable for $1.8 billion in real estate commissions case}}{{Cite web |title=Realtors, brokerages ordered to pay $1.8B in damages in commission collusion ruling |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2023/10/31/realtors-huge-brokerages-ordered-to-pay-damages.html |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}

According to the jury in Kansas City, the manipulation resulting in inflated commissions caused an artificial rise in mortgage rates and property prices in the housing market.{{Cite web |last=Kleimann |first=Brooklee Han, Sarah Wheeler, James |title=Missouri jury finds Realtors, brokerages guilty of conspiring to inflate commissions |url=https://www.housingwire.com/articles/missouri-jury-finds-nar-brokerages-guilty-of-conspiring-to-inflate-commissions/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=HousingWire |language=en-US}}

The number of plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit included sellers of over 260,000 homes in Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas.{{Cite news |last=Mark |first=Julian |date=31 October 2023 |title=Jury awards $1.8B in realty case that could shake up brokerage commissions |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/10/31/realtors-home-sales-verdict/}} They raised concerns about the high commissions they were obligated to pay to the home buyers' brokers between 2015 and 2022. The trial lasted two weeks, after which the jury awarded the plaintiffs $1.78 billion in damages. The defendants in the lawsuit included Berkshire-owned HomeServices of America and its two subsidiaries, along with Keller Williams Realty.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |title=Realtors found liable in conspiracy to keep commissions for home sales artificially high |url=https://abc7chicago.com/national-association-of-realtors-lawsuit-home-sales-commission/13997878/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=ABC7 Chicago |language=en}}

The lead lawyer for the plaintiffs in this lawsuit was Michael Ketchmark. According to media sources, the awarded damages could be tripled to more than $5.3 billion under United States antitrust law.

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Category:Real estate services companies of the United States

Category:Companies based in Minneapolis

Category:Financial services companies established in 1998

Category:Real estate companies established in 1998

Category:Berkshire Hathaway

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