While most young men consider following their father’s footsteps in terms of a career, Jeff Brode and Ed Brooks not only followed in their fathers’ footsteps, but expanded their business in one of the most well-known names in real estate in the Upper Perkiomen Valley.

                Jeff and Ed learned firsthand the business of real estate from their fathers’ firms, J.R. Brode Inc., based in Sumneytown, and E.J. Brooks Inc., based in Lansdale, which started in 1945.

                With their fathers as mentors, Jeff and Ed were able to learn the business from the inside out and carry on their good names in the real estate market.

                After meeting each other various times and conducting business deals together, Jeff and Ed decided to merge the two family firms together in 1987 to become Brode and Brooks Inc., a full service company offering expertise in the sale of residential, new construction, land, investment, commercial and industrial properties with auction services.

                In 1992 they moved to their current locations of 404 and 418 Main Street in Pennsburg.

                After 65 years [since their fathers’ businesses both began in 1945] Jeff and Ed realized they must be doing something right.

                As Ed explained, “The secret to any business is continuity.”

                According to Jeff, Brode and Brooks currently has 14 full-time agents who go above and beyond in their work. Their agents, on an average, have been with their company for 17 years, with some agents who have been there since the company’s inception in the 1980s. They also have an excellent support staff, some of whom have been working there just as long.

                “An average agent at our firm closes 18 transactions a year, which is almost three times the number of transactions reported as an ‘average agent’ by the National Association of Realtors,” Jeff explained.

                As a second generation of realtors, Jeff and Ed understand the fluctuation that the real estate market has undergone in recent months, yet remain optimistic.

                While other states such as Florida, California and Arizona have reportedly dropped price values as much as 50 percent, the areas of Montgomery, Berks and Bucks counties have dropped by only 12 percent.

                “This truly is a great area to live in,” Jeff explained.

Brode and Brooks Inc. is proud to be involved with their community, too, partaking in events such as hosting their own “Santa Day” and an egg hunt for Easter.

                For more information on Brode and Brooks Inc., visit their web site at www.brodeandbrooks.com or call 215-679-4200.