Brokerage Beat: News from ERA, E&V, Sotheby's Realty, C21
Large East Coast indies join ERA; Super Bowl champ signs on with Engel & Völkers Austin; Sotheby's Realty expands in Michigan; Century 21 adds Montana firm.
Editor's note: The brokerage business is a busy one, with frequent moves, mergers and milestones. Here we highlight some of the latest activity among brokerages across the U.S. and globally.
Two large East Coast firms join ERA
Family-owned Atlantic Shores Realty in Florida and Rhode Island's Empire Real Estate are now affiliated with ERA to help fortify their existing business models.
Atlantic Shores Realty
Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife duo Renee and Jason Coley, the firm has grown to more than 160 agents in three offices serving Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. In addition to residential brokerage services, Atlantic Shores has an in-house title company and mortgage broker.
With the new affiliation, the Coleys plan to further grow their business, now operating as Atlantic Shores Realty Expertise ERA Powered, through traditional recruiting as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Renee Coley has been a licensed agent for more than 20 years, and her husband obtained his license shortly after. Both owners have a background in real estate investing.
"The Coleys already lead one of the largest, most successful real estate companies along Florida's East Coast, and ERA Real Estate is incredibly honored to partner with them in taking their business to the next level," said Alex Vidal, president of ERA Real Estate.
"We're extremely comfortable with the brand and business model that we've developed over the years, but we recognize that we can be even better — particularly when it comes to maximizing efficiency and minimizing costs," said Jason Coley.
Empire Real Estate
Based in East Providence, Rhode Island, the independent firm is now doing business as Empire Real Estate Group ERA Powered.
Jimmy Ranieri founded the brokerage 13 years ago, and he believes the affiliation will allow him to add agents while retaining a hands-on approach. "We get to maintain who we are, but we can operate on a much larger scale," Ranieri said in a news release.
Ranieri has been in sales since 1999 and became a licensed agent in 2002. Two years later, he also became a residential appraiser.
The firm serves clients in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, providing an array of homebuying services including guidance around contracting, lending and appraising.
"The keys to succeeding in real estate come down to being a go-getter and understanding how to connect with people — two things that Jimmy is already an expert at," said Alex Vidal, president of ERA Real Estate. "It's so exciting to be able to provide Jimmy with a more robust infrastructure that allows him to have the extra bandwidth to take his company to the next level."
Former NFL and Super Bowl champ joins E&V Austin
Jake Gervase, who played for the Los Angeles Rams for four years, including during their Super Bowl LVI-winning season in 2022, recently signed on with Engel & Volkers.
Gervase is reuniting with former Rams teammate Bryce Hager, who joined the firm in 2023, to sell real estate in Austin, Texas.
"It's extremely exciting to team up with Bryce at Engel & Völkers," said Gervase. "Real estate is perfectly suited to former professional athletes. Determination, resilience and a team mentality are all skills that help us succeed both on the field and in business. I look forward to aiding current and future athletes throughout the homebuying and selling process."
Gervase will be a part of Engel & Volkers Professional Athlete Advisory, a group that caters to the needs of professional athletes. Hager is also a part of the group.
Gervase and Hager aren't the only ex-NFL players who've transitioned to real estate. Players from teams across the country have made the move, often specializing in luxury or sports and entertainment real estate.
Sotheby's Realty grows in Michigan
A Lansing-area firm has left BHHS for Sotheby's International Realty. Home Seekers Real Estate Group, now doing business as White Pine Sotheby's International Realty, is the brand's eighth office in Michigan.
Led by 20-year industry veteran Rob Buffington, the brokerage serves the Greater Lansing area including Ingham, Eaton and Clinton Counties.
"Rob has served the area as a top agent of luxury home sales for nearly two decades, so his affiliation with the Sotheby's International Realty brand is a natural step in his illustrious career. We look forward to supporting the White Pine Sotheby's International Realty team as we further expand our presence in the state of Michigan," said Philip White, president and CEO of Sotheby's International Realty.
"We are relationship-focused and pride ourselves on the unparalleled service we provide and the level of communication we offer our clients," said Buffington. "Our affiliation with Sotheby's International Realty enables us to better serve our community while utilizing the brand's best-in-class marketing tools and resources."
Montana entrepreneur joins Century 21 network
Boutique brokerage Peak Property Advisors, based in Missoula, Montana, has announced its affiliation with Century 21.
Founded in 2021 by Julie Anton, the firm — now known as Century 21 Peak Properties — handles both residential and commercial real estate transactions. Anton has been in the industry for 12 years, and prior to her real estate career, owned and ran an independent concierge business focused on athletic event marketing.
She has served as president of the Missoula Businesswomen's Network in addition to sitting on its board of directors, and was named the Missoula Businesswoman of the Year in 2021.
Anton said that joining a national brand will help her grow her agent count to 20-30 in the next two years. "Affiliating with Century 21 Real Estate provides us with the incredible opportunity to expand our physical footprint and customer service capabilities, without sacrificing who we are as an individual company," she added.
"Not only does Julie bring expertise from multiple industries which allowed her to quickly excel as the leader of her company, but she also displays a constant commitment to every client who comes to her for help. We're honored to be the brand that can help remove some of the backend work from Julie's plate, and let her focus more on what really matters — her clients."said Mike Miedler, president and CEO of Century 21.