With decades of combined experience at the top of Jamaica’s property market, a team of real estate veterans has joined forces to launch the local arm of international brokerage Realty ONE Group.

They’re aiming to change how real estate is done in Jamaica, starting with the way agents are trained and supported.

Operating under the name Realty ONE Group Titans, the franchise is led by Andrew Duncan, a two-time top-performing agent locally, alongside former president of the Realtors Association of Jamaica and broker Newton Johnson, Canadian real estate executive Nancy Sears, and attorney-at-law and broker Kamika Fullerton-DeLisa. All four previously worked under the RE/MAX brand, but are now betting on a different model; one that focuses on mentorship, agent empowerment, and eventually, shared ownership.

“The real gap in the real estate industry is that brokerages take on agents, but they don’t train or mentor them properly. So most agents are left on their own—and many just don’t make it,” Duncan told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview. “We’re flipping that. Our brokerage is built on agents, and we’re investing heavily in their growth.”

The company has already opened its first office in Kingston and expects to expand to Montego Bay within 18 months, with St Ann likely to follow. Longer term, the plan is to establish between three and five locations islandwide and potentially allow agents to buy into the business.

“We have a very attractive commission structure, but beyond that, we’re working on allowing our agents to eventually become part-owners in the venture,” Duncan said, describing it as a shift from just earning commissions to building equity.

Realty ONE Group, headquartered in the United States, is an international brokerage brand that Duncan says was created by ex-RE/MAX professionals. The franchise’s entry into Jamaica has already attracted a team of about 20 agents, backed by leadership with strong ties across the real estate, legal, and international investment communities. Fullerton-DeLisa, for instance, is both a broker and a practising attorney with over 30 years of experience in conveyancing and property law.

Still, Realty ONE Group Titans enters a market where new brokerages continue to pop up, raising the question of whether there’s enough business to go around. But Duncan is unfazed.

“People keep saying the market is saturated, but that’s only if you’re looking at numbers. It’s not about quantity—it’s about quality,” he told the Business Observer. “There are thousands of licensed agents in Jamaica, but only a handful are actually doing business at a high level. I manage over 300 listings consistently, year after year. So yes, there’s more than enough room—for those who are serious.”

According to Duncan, the bulk of transactions is happening in the mid-range segment, between $30 million and $80 million, both in Kingston and along the north coast. While the firm’s brand carries luxury appeal, Realty ONE Group Titans is targeting the full spectrum of the market—from affordable homes to commercial and agricultural real estate, and even property management.

Though the group has no immediate plans to take on real estate development themselves, Duncan said they’re exploring partnerships with developers and remain open to entering that space in the future.

Duncan also points to the diaspora as a continued force behind market activity, with overseas Jamaicans viewing local property as a relatively affordable and emotionally rewarding investment. “Jamaica remains attractive when compared to places like the Cayman Islands or Turks and Caicos,” he said. “In many ways, we offer more value.”

Still, he believes there’s more the Government could do to close the gap between the needs of working-class Jamaicans and the interests of high-end investors.

“We need to challenge the Government to do more. The disparity between the rich and poor in real estate is growing, and policy needs to reflect that,” he said, pointing to the need for better infrastructure, streamlined National Housing Trust partnerships, and greater support for low- and mid-income buyers.

As for technology, Duncan says Realty ONE Group Titans is already fully immersed in digital tools such as e-listings and virtual tours—tools that gained traction during COVID-19 and are now considered essential. But he remains firm that people still crave human connection in the decision-making process.

“You can’t replace trust with a screen,” he said. “Yes, we use the tech, but we believe in the power of agents who are trained, informed, and genuinely invested in helping clients make the right choice.”