Willie Marais (53) received his Doctorate in Business Administration in 1997 from the University of Pretoria, after previously completing a B Com and an MBA there. His doctoral thesis was based on: “A Service Quality Strategy for the Estate Agency Business in South Africa”.

He is qualified as a Professional Valuer, holds the CIEA, CRS, TRESS, TRC and CIPS designations, and is a graduate of the Homenet Real Estate Training Academy. He also did 18 career related international study tours since 1991.

His career in the Real Estate Profession began 28 years ago in 1981, first as an Estate Agent for 5 years and then as Marketing Manager and other management positions. This led to his becoming the founding Managing Director of ERA South Africa in 1993 to 1998, and ultimately joining Homenet Real Estate in 1999.

Since 1982, Willie has been actively involved with the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA). In 1987, he was elected on the IEASA North Region Directorate where he served for twelve years, four as Vice-Chairperson and three as Chairperson. In 2005 he was once more made Vice-Chairperson of the Region and subsequently Vice-President of IEASA National, where he previously served for eleven years, four of which as Vice-President.

In September 2006 he was appointed as National President and Chairman of IEASA National, a position he still holds, with his main achievements being the unification of the profession, restructuring of the IEASA in terms of the Labour Act and South African Qualifications Act as a viable and growing professional representative body, and international recognition of the achievements of the South African estate agency profession. Under his leadership the IEASA was organised in “labour” representation through the “IEASA Regional Advisory Council”, as well as “business” representation through the “IEASA Corporate Groups Advisory Council”, with recognition from the Services Seta and other parties as the representative body for the estate agency profession in South Africa. In the same vein IEASA is now recognized internationally as an important role player by ICREA on issues like money laundering, and the International Housing Coalition (IHC) on housing issues.
He is also currently serving with distinction on the following real estate related boards/committees:
National –
IEASA National Board – Chairman
IEASA North Board
IEASA Past Presidents Advisory Council – Chairman
IEASA Corporate Groups Advisory Council
IEASA Regional Advisory Council
Services Seta Main Board
Services Seta Property Chamber Board – Chairman
Services Seta NQF 5 and NQF 7 Committees
Services Seta Community of Expert Practitioners
Services Seta Transformation Committee
Property Charter Council
Property Charter Board;
International –
Executive Committee: International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA)
ICREA Workgroup: Membership Growth – Chairman
ICREA Workgroup: Revision Committee, Multi Lateral Agreement.
Various National Association of Realtors (NAR), IHC, and International Real Property Foundation (IRPF) memberships and activities.

He also served in the past on the boards of the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB), Homenet Real Estate, Multi Listing Services (MLS) National Ltd, MLS Gauteng North and the Franchise Association of South Africa.

He is privileged to bring the expertise of a Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed company, Omnia Holdings Ltd., to our profession, where he has been serving on the Board since 1990.

His community involvement includes serving as past chairman and current committee member of the South West Nokeng Land Owners Association, as well as elder in the local church.

He maintains contact with education and training by remaining moderator and external examiner since 1996 on all levels for the subject “Property Marketing” at the University of South Africa (Unisa).

He is also still actively involved in real estate marketing, heading his own agency, Harcourts Maxima Real Estate, in the northern suburbs of Pretoria, and the south-west of Nokeng Municipality, specializing in residential and smallholding sales, as well as letting of same. He personally achieved the 18th place in total sales in the Homenet Group in 2007, despite all the above activities.

He has received several real estate related awards, including four from IEASA, the EAAB, the NAR, and was recently recognized as a real estate “Mover and Shaker” for 2009 by Nedbank and the Property Association.