Disrupting the Status Quo: How Platinum Realty Became Kansas City's #1 Office and a Midwest Power Brokerage
By doing things differently, Platinum Realty created an innovative brokerage and agent-first environment where agents and their clients win
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Platinum Realty was born by a bold vision, but its unwavering commitment to its agents has defined its success as Kansas City's largest residential real estate office by transaction count.
As it celebrates its 20th anniversary milestone, Platinum Realty stands as undeniable proof that the flat-fee agent compensation model not only works — it thrives. Once dismissed by naysayers, this disruptive model has shattered outdated notions by bucking the status quo.
In 2005, Platinum Realty pioneered the flat-fee agent compensation model, enabling agents to keep what they earn and meet clients' needs more efficiently than their competitors. It quickly gained a secure foothold in the Midwest. Fast-forward to today: the firm boasts 2,400 agents, 13 offices, operates in five states and seven markets and is a ten-time Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company.
United Real Estate President Rick Haase explains how full-service support is possible within the firm's business model.
'Platinum Realty was built on three pillars of success: scale, excellence and efficiency. These powerful drivers have made it a standout performer, laser-focused on equipping agents to win in today's ever-evolving real estate market. Early on, critics claimed the 100% agent compensation model couldn't generate enough scale to sustain operations. We've proven them wrong. By leveraging scale, smart technology development and purchases and by slashing inefficiencies, we've built a model that delivers unmatched value and real results for agents and clients.'
Growth continues. A year-over-year transaction growth of 10% and a 13% jump in sales volume reflect the ongoing achievements of its agents, despite the most sluggish real estate market in decades.
The Platinum Realty team keeps a laser focus on its comprehensive support system, introducing industry-leading innovations that benefit agents and clients. It has become the firm's hallmark and source of an ever-growing agent base. Platinum's support platform is robust, flexible and designed to give agents everything they need without paying for tools they don't want. From hands-on staff support and cutting-edge marketing to sleek office spaces and a tech-forward approach, it's a turnkey system that fuels success.
Platinum Realty Director of Growth and Market Development, Rob Hill, explains how their agent-first approach drives loyalty.
'We do things differently because agents have decided they no longer wish to be treated as employees. That's evident in our growth and retention. They come to Platinum Realty to run a real estate business and enjoy industry-leading technology, systems, tools, training and support without the profit-depleting commission splits and unnecessary fees. Our approach to supporting agents is simple, personal, practical and empowering. Agents come here to build something real — and they stay because they know they are supported and backed every step of the way.'
And there's more good news. The National Association of REALTORS® predicts Kansas City to be a top 10 real estate market in 2025. Thanks to its strong affordability and opportunity, Platinum agents are perfectly positioned to seize the moment and surge ahead.
About Platinum Realty
Founded in 2005, Platinum Realty was conceived as a brokerage unlike any other – the name 'Platinum' was chosen to reflect its quality and rarity. Designed by an agent for agents, Platinum Realty is a ten-time Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private U.S. company and is a member of United Real Estate's national network. It is a market share leader and one of the largest independent residential brokerages in the Midwest with over 2,400 agents in thirteen offices serving five states and seven major markets. Learn more about careers at Platinum Realty.
About United Real Estate
United Real Estate (United) – a division of United Real Estate Group – was founded with the purpose of offering solutions to real estate brokers and agents in the rapidly changing real estate brokerage industry. United provides the latest training, marketing and technology tools to agents and brokers under a flat-fee, transaction-based agent commission model. By leveraging the company's proprietary cloud-based Bullseye™ Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, United delivers a more profitable outcome for agents and brokers. United Real Estate operates in 35 states with 170 offices and more than 22,000 agents. The company produced over 73,000 transactions and $26.3 billion in sales volume in 2024.
Media Contact:
April Gonzalez
Media & Investor Relations
[email protected]
504-237-3500
View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/disrupting-the-status-quo-how-platinum-realty-became-kansas-citys-1-office-and-a-midwest-power-brokerage-302460987.html
SOURCE United Real Estate
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
13 minutes ago
- Forbes
4 Timing Secrets That Fueled Billion-Dollar Venture Growth
Time to Takeoff: Get It Right! getty Most unicorn founders weren't first — they just mastered timing. These timing secrets fueled unicorn growth by helping entrepreneurs spot the right emerging trends early, act before takeoff, and use that narrow window to build the right strategy and skills to lead the industry. That's how Sam Walton beat Kmart, Jeff Bezos won over Borders, and Mark Zuckerberg overtook MySpace — without needing early venture capital and often beating those who had more capital. Here are 4 key timing secrets of Founder-CEOs who achieved rapid growth and market dominance. Just like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Mistral, unicorns are best launched when the industry is just emerging. The key to building a unicorn is entering the right emerging trend — for you — at the right time. This is after the industry starts and before it takes off and this time period has ranged from about 3 to 11 years ( • After the start because major trends are started by external factors – not by an entrepreneur. These factors can include disruptive technologies, new laws, and economic changes. • Before takeoff because it is difficult even for existing giants to catch up, as is demonstrated by Sears, Wards and the countless other giants crushed by upstart billion-dollar entrepreneurs. Nearly every billion-dollar entrepreneur took advantage of an emerging trend, including: • Big-box stores: Sam Walton (Walmart) and Dick Schulze (Best Buy). • Personal computers: Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Michael Dell (Dell) • Linking PCs: Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner (Cisco) • Internet 1.0: Jeff Bezos ( and Page and Brin (Google) • Internet 2.0: Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook/ Meta) • Internet 3.0: Travis Kalanick (Uber) and Brian Chesky (Airbnb). What can you do? Emerging trends often take 3 to 11 years to take off – but your window to enter is at the beginning, not after takeoff. The earlier you start, the more time you'll have to refine your strategy and build dominance. When you enter the trend is important. The winners are rarely first movers. They're usually first dominators. One of the key reasons why only about 11% of first movers led their industry ( is that first-to-market or even a product-market fit is often not enough. The winners are those who dominate, not those who rush. The ultimate winners are usually smart followers. In artificial intelligence, IBM was the first, but many other companies, including ChatGPT, seem to be leading. Examples of smart followers included Sam Walton in the big-box trend, Bill Gates in the personal computer trend, Steve Jobs in the iPod and iPhone trends, and Brian Chesky in the online trend ( Alex Karp noted that some in Europe are waiting for the right moment to get in on AI, and that they will rue their delay. His point – get in now or miss a major emerging trend. What can you do? If you are the first mover, keep pivoting to find the right strategy (see #3). If you are the smart mover, find the neglected segment that can be targeted by the emerging trend. Finding the right strategy is key because each emerging trend is different. Product-market fit gets you started. But domination requires the right combination of product, market, strategic group, sales driver, and unicorn-launch skills: • Walmart: Found his niche in rural locations by pivoting from small stores. • Gates: Found his edge with a strategic alliance with IBM by pivoting from writing programs. • Dell: Dominated by selling direct-to-consumer. • Bezos: Launched with books to dominate. • Chesky: Focused on helping landlords find guests and pivoted from guests. What can you do? Most unicorns didn't guess their way into dominance — they learned, pivoted, and refined until they found the dominant strategy. You may have to do so also. So be flexible to pivot and test to find the right strategy – this takes time. Unicorn-entrepreneurs rely on skills to grow from idea to unicorn. They do not rely on VCs or their hired CEOs. They learn both technical skills (or partner with someone who has them) and unicorn-launch skills. Gaston Taratuta didn't jump in blindly – he learned the skills to enter the emerging Internet trend by joining Universo Online in Brazil and then scaled Aleph into a billion-dollar company ( What can you do? Identify the unicorn-launch skills you lack. Then learn, test, and practice them before the trend takes off. ( MY TAKE: Timing isn't about being first. It's about being ready — with the right skills, strategy, and edge — before the trend takes off. Jump in when the trend begins, then use the runway to master your skills, evaluate your strategy, and position yourself to dominate when the trend takes off. Or better yet – be the leader who makes the trend take off. Learn how the top 125 billion-dollar entrepreneurs did it — often without VC. Read my other blogs on Forbes.
Bloomberg
14 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
'Diversity Drives Meritocracy' Says Helena Morrissey
US President Donald Trump has sought to abolish diversity, equity and inclusion policies, with America's influence being felt in corporate environments worldwide. A new piece of research from the UK's Diversity Project makes the case for cognitive diversity to boost the performance of investment teams -- if they are well managed. Chair of Diversity Project and former CEO of Newton investment management Helena Morrissey spoke to Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Jack Sidders about if diversity actually does deliver better returns. (Source: Bloomberg)
CNN
16 minutes ago
- CNN
Whole Foods' primary distributor forced to shut down its systems after a major cyberattack
United Natural Foods, Inc., one America's largest publicly traded health food wholesalers and the primary food distributor for Whole Foods, has taken some of its systems offline after a massive cyberattack. 'We have identified unauthorized activity in our systems and have proactively taken some systems offline while we investigate,' the company said in a statement to CNN. UNFI has also contacted law enforcement for assistance and it's 'assessing the unauthorized activity' and is working to its restore systems following the cyberattack. In a regulatory filing Monday, UNFI said it became aware of an incident in its information technology systems on June 5, which is causing 'temporary disruptions to the company's business operations.' The company makes private label, fresh and its own branded products and ships them to more than 30,000 grocery stores, including Whole Foods. The Amazon-owned company didn't immediately respond to comment about how it's being affected. On social media, some Whole Foods customers reported they saw empty shelves. A post on Reddit shows an empty refrigerator with a sign reading the store is 'experiencing a temporary out of stock issue for some products.' Another post shows smaller-than-usual deliveries to stores. UNFI signed a new distribution agreement with Whole Foods last year, extending the partnership through 2032. UNFI (UNFI) said that it's 'working closely' with its suppliers and clients to to 'minimize disruption as much as possible.' Shares fell more than 6% in early trading.
