- 8 August, 2006 -

The Property Association is well known in South Africa as an organization that promotes the real estate industry positively through its media arm providing and independent voice for those in real estate and consumers alike. Each year the body of trustees of the Property Association, drawn from government, corporate and industrial sectors, acknowledges industry members that have shown excellence in their field and whose conduct has advanced the professional image of the real estate industry. Among the 2006 award winners was Peter Gilmour, former regional director of RE/MAX Southern Africa and now senior vice president, franchise sales and brokerage for RE/MAX International. He received the Pinnacle of Achievement Award "...for ground breaking achievement by an industry leader and inspiration for the well being of the real estate industry." Gilmour joined the RE/MAX network in 1994 as regional director and co-owner of RE/MAX of Southern Africa together with his wife, Val. Both natives of Southern Africa, they joined the Denver-area headquarters operation in March 2003 as director of franchise sales and manager of franchise sales services, respectively. In Gilmour's first year at RE/MAX International, franchise sales eclipsed all previous records in the network's 30-year history. He was named vice president of franchise sales in December 2003 and was named senior vice president of International franchise sales and brokerage in July 2004. Under Gilmour's leadership RE/MAX of Southern Africa became one of the most successful regions outside the United States and Canada. In addition to being named RE/MAX Regional Director of the Year in 1997, Gilmour and his staff were honored as the 2001 RE/MAX Region of the Year, and then selected as Top Real Estate Franchise in South Africa by a 2001 survey for Finansies en Tegniek/Finance Week. In both 2002 and 2003, RE/MAX was recognized by the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) as one of the top five franchises in South Africa and in 2003 was named Franchisor of the Year in the "All Industries" category. It was the first time the honor had gone to a real estate organization. Gilmour took RE/MAX to the other side of the world where it was unknown. No national advertising or standards existed, but he made it a dominating force in the real estate market there. He first became involved in the real estate industry in 1975, as a principal in partnership with his father, Robert Lewis Gilmour. That agency grew to seven offices and more than 100 associates by 1994. Gilmour, earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Cape Town in 1971, and achieved a diploma in property valuation and an appointment as valuer and appraiser in South Africa in 1988. He also holds the CRS and ABR designations from the National Association of Realtors?. His wife, Val is director of regional development at RE/MAX International and their daughter, Vicky, is personal assistant to the regional director at RE/MAX of Southern Africa. They also have three grown sons, Robert David and Michael John, who live in South Africa and Malcolm who lives on the Gold Coast in Australia with his wife and family.

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