Brokerage Beat: M&As at C21; The Agency opens Boston office; more 

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.

BHGRE adds new affiliate in the Golden State

A California brokerage led by an industry veteran with over 20 years of real estate experience is moving under the BHGRE umbrella. Based in Tehachapi, a small mountain town near Bakersfield, the firm now known as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Platinum Realty Group specializes in residential and commercial real estate transactions in Kern County.

Broker/Owner Christy Rabe leads the firm, which she founded in 2018. Rabe is a California native who has lived and worked in the Bear Springs Valley area since 2001. Over the years, she climbed the ranks from agent to associate broker to brokerage owner. The next step for Rabe was to partner with a brand that would support her firm's growth without compromising its boutique vibe — something she believes is now possible.

BHGRE "perfectly understands" that Rabe and her team work within a small community "where local values dictate all," Rabe said in a news release. "We're confident that this affiliation will not only enhance our service capabilities, but also our professionalism, our reputation, and our ability to provide better learning and development opportunities to our affiliated agents."

The firm's experience in the area was a bonus for BHGRE, where "the strength of our brand lies in the dedication and local expertise of our affiliated brokerages," said BHGRE President Ginger Wilcox. "Christy and her exceptional affiliated agents embody the values we hold dear: commitment to community, personalized service, and an unwavering drive to help clients achieve their dreams."

RE/MAX adds teams in SoCal, Wisconsin

A 30-agent firm has joined the RE/MAX brand in Southern California.

Led by Founder Jerry Carew, 3 Leaf Realty will now operate as RE/MAX AEGIS with a continued focus on Los Angeles County's South Bay region, including the Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, Gardena, Palos Verdes, Hawthorne and Lawndale neighborhoods.

Carew, who launched his firm in 2008, said he decided to partner with RE/MAX because of the brand's systems and prominence within the industry. At the same time, "we still get to be independently owned and keep our culture. Everything we do can be stronger with REMAX," Carew said in a news release.

Agent support is another factor that drew Carew to the brand. "They'll have all the tools they could possibly need with one login," he said.

In the Midwest, Minnesota-based RE/MAX Results has acquired RE/MAX Affiliates in Chippewa Valley.

The 28-agent Affiliates team will now do business as RE/MAX Results, helping expand the brand's presence in northwestern Wisconsin.

RE/MAX Affiliates Co-owners Kristy Tauger, Bob Ritsch and Krag Blomberg will now serve as sales executives at RE/MAX Results, and Marty Tauger will join as managing broker.

In a news release, RE/MAX Results President Suzanne Bushard expressed excitement at the opportunity for brand growth. "These agents bring valuable expertise and a reputation for exceptional client service to our brokerage," Bushard said.

Century 21 announces expansions across the US

Century 21 is having a growth spurt this June with two M&As and a new affiliate, gaining market share in Central Florida, South Carolina and California.

C21 Integra expands national footprint: Century 21 Integra is now operating in 14 states following its acquisition of Century 21 Diamond, a South Carolina firm with a focus on clients in Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort County. The addition of the Bluffton office will help Century 21 Integra "bring our values, vision, and decades of experience to the LowCountry," Brands by Integra Broker/Owner and CEO Jim D'Amico said in a news release. "This expansion marks an exciting new chapter as we continue to grow our presence while staying true to our mission of making a meaningful difference in every community we serve."

A new affiliate in Northern California: Century 21 snapped up Kobetz Realty, Inc., its new affiliate in Mendocino County. The Ukiah-based brokerage was founded by Broker/Owner Benjamin Kobetz in 2020, three years after he began working in real estate. Now doing business as Century 21 Kobetz Realty, the firm will put Century 21's tech, marketing and agent support tools to work for clients in Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties. As a native Californian, Kobetz's knowledge of the area is "an incredible asset to the CENTURY 21 California-based network," Century 21 President and CEO Mike Miedler said in a news release, adding that the company is "even more confident knowing that behind his knowledge is a genuine passion for the communities he serves."

A merger in Central Florida: Century 21 Myers Realty is gaining expertise in communities that cater to residents 55 and older with the addition of PAL Realty, a firm that has operated in Lake County for nearly two decades. Founded in Leesburg by June Robbins, the brokerage will now do business under the Century 21 Myers Realty name. Besides adding a seventh office, the merger "will greatly expand our firm's knowledge and client base" with active adult communities, Century 21 Myers Realty Broker/Owner Jack Myers said in a news release. "This is a great match thanks to a shared commitment to exceptional service and a deep-rooted dedication to the unique communities we serve."

More brokerage news

NYC brokerage leader moves to Corcoran: Industry veteran Brad Loe is the new senior managing director at Corcoran's Chelsea Flatiron office in Manhattan following a stint as EVP and sales director at BHHS New York Properties. Loe has more than two decades of real estate experience and will be focused on growth and recruitment, according to a news release. "It has always been important to me to be part of a company I believe in," Loe said, adding, "I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working alongside more than 250 incredibly talented agents on 19th Street."

The Agency welcomes top LA producer: Ben Lee, a second-generation Los Angeles native, has jumped to The Agency after closing more than $67 million in sales over the past year while at Coldwell Banker. He brings deep knowledge of LA's Westside market and a background as a real estate attorney, giving his clients an advantage during negotiations, the brokerage noted in a news release. He has joined the team at The Agency Beverly Hills, one of the firm's 11 offices serving the greater LA region.

A new Agency branch in Beantown: The Agency is also growing on the other coast, announcing the launch of The Agency Boston this week. It's the firm's second office in Massachusetts and will be led by Managing Partners Bobby Murphy, Jeremy Stivaletta and Peter Sztankovits. "Our continued expansion throughout the Northeast reflects the growing demand for a new kind of real estate experience — one defined by collaboration, innovation, and elevated service," said franchise EVP James Ramsay, who called Boston "an ideal market for our next chapter."

Onward appoints managing broker in Tennessee: Onward Real Estate, which was launched a year ago by former leaders of Tennessee's Parks Real Estate following Parks' merger with Compass, has named Wesley Harvey as managing broker of its Green Hills location. "Wesley is already proving to be a fantastic addition to our leadership team, helping us build a brokerage deeply rooted in the community," said Onward CEO Jenni Barnett in a press release. The brokerage has grown to more than 400 agents across four offices since splitting with Parks.