Real estate powerhouses Vija Williams and Paul Hurme launch new partnership, Vija Real Estate powered by PLACE
Kirkland, WA, March 2022 — PLACE, the real estate industry’s only all-inclusive platform that combines technology, business services, and growth and profitability tools for top producers, announced today that real estate powerhouses and siblings Vija Williams and Paul Hurme have launched a new partnership, Vija Real Estate, powered by PLACE.
Williams, owner of The Vija Group, is consistently ranked in the top one percent of sales volume nationally, and Hurme, owner of TeamBuilder, one of the top 50 real estate teams in the country, have partnered with PLACE as they build a business together to better serve their clients, their agents, and their community.
In 2021, combined, The Vija Group and TeamBuilder closed over $475 million in volume. And, in her corporate brokerage leadership role, Williams managed 11 real estate offices and over 1,700 agents who closed 11,322 sides and 6.7B in volume. TeamBuilder, a business that was started by Bill Hurme, who is Williams and Hurme’s father, 40 years ago, is the premier residential new construction sales and marketing firm in the Seattle area.
“We couldn’t do this without PLACE.”
“Through the years I have always hoped there would be a place where Vija, my dad, and I could work together,” explained Hurme. “To this point, the only commonality between our businesses was that we both possessed real estate licenses.” Williams saw the partnership as the natural result of the culmination of multiple variables. “The market is heated and competitive, TeamBuilder holds a dominant market position, I am bringing my experience coaching, training, and developing agents and teams, and PLACE emerged as the perfect backend to all that we’re doing,” she added. “We couldn’t do this without PLACE.”
As discussions about partnering became more serious, the two became excited about the value proposition that PLACE brought to their plans.
“PLACE takes care of the backend business with amazing speed and efficiency”
Hurme believes that every company should be distinguished by “one thing.” For TeamBuilder that one thing is new home sales and marketing. “That train is rolling,” he said, of the business that will continue in its niche. “The ‘one thing’ that PLACE provides to our partnership and launch of Vija Real Estate is speed. It eliminates all the things that brokers get hung up on including branding, listing presentations, onboarding of new agents, technology platforms.”
“I believe we are going to be the largest residential general real estate team in the state,” said Williams. “TeamBuilder brings an extensive book of business and the experience of having sold over 10,000 homes in their history. I feel like I bring a hands-on, high-touch approach. Together, we are going to be hyper-focused on delivering a world-class customer experience.”
For their team, Williams sees PLACE providing support in every single aspect. “Financial, legal, HR, marketing, design, agent recruiting, agent productivity, technology,” she said. “All of it. I have never felt so supported.” And for their clients, a comprehensive package of value will help create an even more compelling and cohesive experience. “To have mortgage, title, escrow, and a full tech platform ready to go – it’s incredible. We are also excited to have a modern 2022 look with a rebrand through the PLACE design team.”
“Vija and Paul bring different skills to the table but their visions are in alignment which will help them build a great team,” said Chris Suarez, Co-Founder of PLACE. “Building on family and helping others’ dreams become reality is also in alignment with the values of PLACE and I am excited to welcome Vija Real Estate to PLACE!”
“Vija and Paul are some of the best real estate professionals and humans out there,” said PLACE Co-Founder Ben Kinney. “Having worked so closely with Vija for many years, I can say with confidence that her leadership, integrity, and drive are unmatched. And, that must run in the family! We are so thrilled that these two legends have partnered together and with PLACE to make it all happen.”
“We wanted to impact our lives over the next decade,” said Hurme in explaining the value that PLACE brings to the partnership. “If we do that then we impact our families, our children, our brokers, and this new iteration of ourselves. It is not daunting at all but a reason to get up, put our heads down, and go to work.”
“It’s important for me to be plugged into things that are bigger than myself,” he concluded with emotion behind his voice. “And to do that with my sister, it’s pretty cool.”