When did Bill Pankonin acquire the Exit subfranchise rights to Wisconsin?
Exit Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Bill Pankonin has over 40 years' experience in real estate, operating his family run independent brokerage called Pankonin Realty, in Lakeville, MN which included offering auction and appraisal services. From 2000 to 2004, he was the President of Real Estate Funding Group, a commercial and residential loan brokerage in Lakeville, MN. In 2006, Bill purchased the EXIT subfranchise rights to the state of Iowa and Nebraska under the entities of Realty Iowa, LLC and Realty Nebraska, LLC. In addition, he held a position of Regional Director for EXIT in Minnesota and North Dakota overseeing growth and development in those states. In July 2011, he transferred the EXIT subfranchise rights for Iowa and Nebraska for EXIT and became Regional President – Upper Midwest for EXIT Realty Corp. International. In July of 2013, he acquired the EXIT subfranchise rights to South Dakota and Minnesota and reacquired the rights for Iowa. On April 29th, 2016, he purchased the subfranchise rights to Wisconsin. Bill is the sole owner of Upper Midwest Realty Acquisitions, LLC and on January 2nd, 2018 he acquired the rights to sell franchises in the state of Illinois from Legacy Success Group, LLC. On December 15th, 2020, he became Regional Director for EXIT in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. On March 1st, 2021 he acquired the EXIT subfranchise rights to Michigan.
Source: Item 2 — BUSINESS EXPERIENCE (FDD pages 8–11)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Exit's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bill Pankonin purchased the subfranchise rights to Wisconsin on April 29th, 2016. Bill Pankonin, operating through Upper Midwest Realty, Inc., has a long history with Exit, acquiring subfranchise rights to several states over the years.
Prior to acquiring the Wisconsin subfranchise rights, Pankonin purchased the Exit subfranchise rights to the state of Iowa and Nebraska in 2006. In July 2011, he transferred the Exit subfranchise rights for Iowa and Nebraska and became Regional President – Upper Midwest for Exit Realty Corp. International. In July of 2013, he acquired the Exit subfranchise rights to South Dakota and Minnesota and reacquired the rights for Iowa.
In addition to Wisconsin, Pankonin acquired the rights to sell franchises in Illinois on January 2nd, 2018, and the Exit subfranchise rights to Michigan on March 1st, 2021. He also became Regional Director for Exit in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska on December 15th, 2020. This demonstrates a significant and sustained investment in the Exit franchise system across multiple states.