For Ben Duman, it was the potential to see long-term growth that got him into the real estate industry. After starting his career in Omaha, Nebraska, where he bought and sold investment properties, he headed west to the Coachella Valley in Southern California with his wife and fellow real estate professional, Maureen.

Now, with more than 10 years of industry experience under his belt, that goal for tapping into significant long-term growth has materialized in the form of HomeSmart+.

Duman has been with HomeSmart for 18 months, a decision that he and Maureen made after being impressed by HomeSmart’s agent-focused business foundation and 100% commission plan. But now, with HomeSmart+, Duman is able to make plans for life after selling homes and see financial maturity in the years to come through the program’s unique income structure.
HomeSmart Palm Desert's Ben Duman

“I personally joined HomeSmart+ because it is an opportunity to grow with an emerging Real Estate entity. [Maureen] and I plan on selling Real Estate in the Coachella Valley for the next 10-20 years and we would like to have a plan for a fruitful life after real estate,” explains Duman. “HomeSmart+ will provide us the opportunity to grow our business without the focus of having to sell a large number of homes each year.”

Built with agents’ business goals in mind, HomeSmart+ offers an opportunity to create additional revenue beyond their own transactions. What’s more, agents can take advantage of potential residual income for life, allowing them to envision a future after real estate.

“Once our network has grown,” Duman says, “we can take a step back and focus on other passions while our business passively works in the background.”


More About Ben
How many years of experience do you have in real estate?
10+

Can you describe your brokerage history?
I flipped and sold investment properties in Omaha, Nebraska, before moving to the Coachella Valley [in California]. Once here, my wife Maureen and I joined Coldwell Banker Palm Springs. After working with them for a year, we joined HomeSmart Palm Desert to take advantage of the agent-focused plan that allows us to better serve our clientele.

When did you join HomeSmart?
About 18 months ago

What makes HomeSmart the best place for agents to grow?
HomeSmart is agent-focused in the sense that our tech, marketing and commission split are set up to help us grow and foster our business.

What makes HomeSmart the best place for agents to grow?
I personally joined HomeSmart + because it is an opportunity to grow with an emerging Real Estate entity. [Maureen] and I plan on selling Real Estate in the Coachella Valley for the next 10-20 years and we would like to have a plan for a fruitful life after real estate. HomeSmart+ will provide us the opportunity to grow our business without the focus of having to sell a large number of homes each year.

Why did you join HomeSmart+?
HomeSmart’s 100% commission is great, and the small fees are what drive HomeSmart's business plan. HomeSmart+ is meant for agents who will be staying with the brokerage for more than five years. This amount of time is long enough to recruit others and reap the benefits of a revenue-sharing program.

What advice would you give an agent choosing between 100% commission and HomeSmart+?
One way that it could help our financial and business futures is that once our network has grown, we can take a step back and focus on other passions while our business passively works in the background.

How is HomeSmart+ helping you plan for your financial and business futures?
Building an expansive network of agents under primary agents is the key to making this work in my opinion. Once there is a larger network established, long-term financial goals can be planned.