Five Star FORCE

What Five Star FORCE does

Five Star FORCE is the membership division of the Five Star Institute and operates a curated professional network for Real Estate Owned (REO) agents and brokers. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the organization vets individual agents through license verification, E&O insurance checks, background checks, NAID verification, and GLBA verification, and connects them with banks, non-bank financial institutions, and institutional investors that need qualified agents to list and sell REO properties. Members are accepted from all 50 US states plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C.

The product surface centers on the REO RedBook directory (printed and online, distributed to 200+ asset managers), FORCE Connect (live-event networking platform for scheduled meetings between members and asset managers), and the Work Assignment Program (zip-code-based assignment referrals). Supporting services include a member webinar series, certifications and courses sold at member-discounted pricing, MortgagePoint Magazine distribution, and complimentary registration to the annual Five Star Conference. The technology layer is built on Wild Apricot, a standard membership management SaaS that handles applications, directory listings, payments, and member login; there is no proprietary AI, machine learning, or custom technology stack.

Revenue is generated primarily through an annual Premier Membership priced at $1,495 per year (or four quarterly installments of $395), supplemented by certification and course sales at member-discounted rates and by advertising and sponsorship fees across Five Star Institute media and events. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: members apply through an online application, and asset manager relationships are cultivated at industry events — particularly the Five Star Conference — where meeting tables and referral flows are coordinated. The organization operates with a small team (1–10 employees) and is wholly embedded within the Five Star Institute's broader ecosystem of events, publications, and certification programs.

Name

Five Star FORCE

Legal name

Five Star FORCE

Website

https://fivestarforce.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Five Star FORCE is the membership division of the Five Star Institute, running a vetted national network of REO agents and brokers connected to 200+ asset managers through its directory, live events, and work assignment program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Premier Membership Fees: Annual membership subscription providing access to all FORCE benefits including directory listings, event access, educational resources, and Work Assignment Program participation. Priced at $1,495/year or quarterly installments.
2. Certification and Course Sales: Member-only pricing for certifications and courses with savings up to $1,200+ compared to non-member pricing. Includes in-person live classes and on-demand options through Five Star's certification programs.
3. Advertising and Sponsorship: 20% discount on advertising and sponsorships for Five Star Institute media and events. Includes ad space in MortgagePoint Magazine (1/6 page complimentary first year).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Five Star FORCE operates a national, vetted professional membership network of REO (Real Estate Owned) residential and commercial real estate agents and brokers. Its central product is the FORCE Premier Membership, which connects pre-screened members with banks, non-banks, and institutional investors via the REO RedBook directory, FORCE Connect event networking, and the Work Assignment Program. Members gain compliance verification, profile exposure to 200+ asset managers, discounts on certification courses, and access to the Five Star Conference and MortgagePoint Magazine through the parent Five Star Institute.

Product overview

Five Star FORCE is a membership-based professional network operated by the Five Star Institute, offering a unified platform of REO (Real Estate Owned) industry services. The core offering is the FORCE Membership program ($1,495/year), which provides access to the REO RedBook directory, FORCE Connect event networking, the Work Assignment Program, educational webinars, and Five Star Conference events. The REO RedBook serves as the flagship directory product distributed to 200+ Asset Managers, while FORCE Connect enables direct member-to-asset-manager introductions at live events. All services are coordinated through Wild Apricot membership management software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FORCE Premier Membership Annual subscription membership for pre-screened, certified REO real estate agents and brokers, providing compliance verification, REO RedBook directory listing, FORCE Connect event access, Work Assignment Program referrals, certification discounts, MortgagePoint subscription, and Five Star Conference registration.
• REO RedBook Directory Printed and online directory listing vetted resumes of FORCE members, distributed to 200+ Asset Managers nationwide for immediate consideration. Functions as the REO industry's trusted directory of qualified REO agents and brokers.
• FORCE Work Assignment Program Referral platform that posts new REO listing assignments from participating Asset Managers and routes them to FORCE members via website, email, and SMS alerts based on proximity and other matching parameters.
• FORCE Connect Live Event Networking Live event platform during which Asset Managers host meeting tables and accept meeting requests from FORCE members for introductory one-on-one meetings, providing direct face-to-face access to institutional counterparties.
• FORCE Webinar Series and Certification Courses Member-only webinars and certification courses delivered in person, live, and on-demand formats through Five Star Institute certification programs, offered at member-discounted pricing with savings up to $1,200+ compared to non-member rates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to 200+ Asset Managers through REO RedBook directory distribution
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Banks (Identity Withheld)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeveral banks work within the FORCE Work Assignment Program, referring REO listing assignments to FORCE members. These bank partners keep their identity withheld until the date of agreement. They rely on FORCE's extensive vetting process to establish relationships with agents that meet their requirements.
• Non-banks (Identity Withheld)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-bank financial institutions participate in the FORCE Work Assignment Program, referring REO listing assignments to FORCE members. These partners keep their identity withheld until agreement. They rely on FORCE's extensive vetting process to establish relationships with agents that meet their requirements.
• Institutional Investors (Identity Withheld)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional investors work with FORCE in the Work Assignment Program, referring REO listing assignments to FORCE members. Identity withheld until agreement date. They rely on FORCE's extensive vetting process to establish relationships with agents that meet their requirements.
• Five Star InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive Star FORCE is a proud membership division of the Five Star Institute. The parent organization provides infrastructure including the Five Star Conference, MortgagePoint magazine, certification programs, and the Wild Apricot membership platform. FORCE benefits from the Institute's established industry relationships and brand recognition.

Scale indicators2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Realtor.com (Move, Inc.): Realtor.com is a major U.S. real estate listing portal operated by Move, Inc. It provides agent directory listings and exposure at national scale, overlapping with FORCE's REO RedBook distribution function for the agent persona and competing for visibility with asset managers.
• National Association of Realtors (NAR): NAR is the largest U.S. trade association for real estate professionals, providing broad membership, advocacy, education, and credentialing. While not REO-specific, NAR is the umbrella membership organization serving the same agent persona that FORCE targets, and competes for share-of-wallet and mindshare in professional development and designation.
• Zillow Group: Zillow Group operates Zillow and Premier Agent, providing agent directories, marketing tools, and lead generation at national scale. While its REO exposure is limited, it competes for the same agent target persona by offering discovery and lead-flow value that overlaps with FORCE's directory and exposure benefits.
• Homes.com (CoStar Group): Homes.com is a residential real estate portal owned by CoStar Group that connects buyers, sellers, and agents. As a national agent directory and marketing platform, it competes for the same agent target audience and overlaps with FORCE's directory and exposure value proposition.
• Equator (ICE Mortgage Technology): Equator is a major REO and default servicing platform operated by ICE Mortgage Technology (Intercontinental Exchange). It provides asset managers with agent directories, marketing workflows, and vendor management at much greater scale than FORCE, making it a broad incumbent in the same REO intermediation space.
• Auction.com: Auction.com operates one of the largest online marketplaces for bank-owned and distressed properties, connecting asset managers and buyers (including agents and investors). It competes with FORCE's network model by providing asset managers with an alternative, scalable disposition channel that reduces reliance on agent-led REO networks.

Direct peers

• Hubzu: Hubzu is an online residential real estate marketplace specializing in foreclosure, bank-owned, and other distressed properties, listing assets from major U.S. banks and servicers. It is a direct functional alternative for asset managers seeking distribution and a competing channel to FORCE's agent-led network.
• RES.NET: RES.NET is a web-based platform that connects REO agents and brokers with asset managers for property listing and marketing assignments. It is the closest direct functional peer to FORCE's Work Assignment Program and directory model, serving the same demand-side (asset managers) and supply-side (REO agents) in the same workflow.
• HomePath (Fannie Mae): HomePath is Fannie Mae's direct-to-consumer portal for selling Fannie Mae-owned REO properties, including listing-agent routing. It is a direct institutional alternative for distribution of foreclosed properties and competes with FORCE on the asset-manager-to-agent matching workflow.

Others

• Five Star Institute: Five Star Institute is the parent organization of Five Star FORCE and a leading provider of mortgage default servicing education, certifications, and industry events (including the Five Star Conference and MortgagePoint Magazine). It is structurally the parent rather than a competitor, but its ecosystem defines the surface area in which FORCE operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FiveStarFORCE
• Facebookfacebook.com/FiveStarFORCE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/five-star-force

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Five Star FORCE