A RE/MAX agent with a knack for online technology has quietly built up a national lead-generating network of Web sites for a growing group of RE/MAX agents. The group has marketed itself online as the "RE/MAX Internet Team," though the network's founder, Damon Pace, is pursuing a name change for the online enterprise. Pace, a Realtor for RE/MAX Excalibur Realty in Scottsdale, Ariz., launched an experimental Web site three years ago in an effort to capture new business using the Internet.

"I came to the conclusion that this is something very valuable," he said. "Within the last six months I started developing it in other markets and it's starting to generate more business for other RE/MAX agents throughout the country." He said his goal has been to create a system for agents to grow their business "without costing them an arm and a leg. I really am trying to make this work and make everyone successful who wants to get into it. (The Internet) is a valuable place to expand your business."

The platform that Pace developed asks consumers to enter their contact information and property details in order to conduct a search of available properties that meet their criteria. This information is passed along to a RE/MAX Realtor who pays for the lead. "All of our leads are exclusive," he said. Pace said that while some companies place a low limit on the number of paid leads per agent, he said that he strives to supply a much higher number of leads. "Typically I'd like to get up to 100 a month. I'm trying to generate a large number of leads for our agents so they can be more successful sooner. A lot of companies will keep you at 10-20 (leads) a month," he said.

Also, Pace said his business model has a cap on price rather than a cap on the number of leads, meaning that agents only pay for leads up to a certain number, and leads beyond that amount are free. There are about 25 RE/MAX agents now affiliated with Pace's business model, he said, and there are about 150 Web sites that target real estate markets across the country. The first Web site focused on the Phoenix, Ariz., market. Other Web sites focus on the Chicago, Orlando, Seattle, and Austin markets, among others. "And then we have sub-markets. We try to capture a bigger umbrella and then filter down to a smaller umbrella." Among the Web sites: http://www.movingtoaz.com/, http://www.realestate-scottsdale.com/, http://www.baltimorerealestatehomes.com/, http://www.clevelandhomesearch.com/, and http://www.chicagohomefinder.com/. The Web sites have a similar design and interface.

"Ideally we'll hit about 200 (Web sites) by the time we're done," Pace said. He has worked to ensure that the family of Web sites he created rank high in the list of links that appear at search engines when consumers enter search terms relating to real estate in various markets. In some cases, he said, the sites receive a high ranking in unpaid links,