Brokerage Beat: Expansions at RE/MAX, Christie’s; New England indies merge 

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.

Women-owned New England indies merge

Portside Real Estate Group, a leading independent brokerage in northern New England, has joined forces with a 50-year-old indie based in Mount Desert Island and Hancock County, Maine. The partnership with Swan Agency Real Estate unites two woman-owned companies that share commitments to community impact.

Under Kim Swan's leadership since 1994, Swan Agency has specialized in luxury oceanfront homes, commercial real estate and hospitality properties. Both brokerages have been involved with philanthropy and charity, which their leaders saw as a key point of cultural alignment, according to Portside Founder and CEO Dava Davin. 

"We both believe in using our success to give back, and with that shared purpose, we're focused on leaving a lasting legacy that impacts Maine in a meaningful way," Davin said in a press release. "The future is local, and we're just getting started."

The merger also ushers in the launch of Portside's new Hospitality Division, expanding its services in the inn and bed-and-breakfast market. This move follows Portside's $1.2 billion in sales over the past year and its acquisition of Lakepoint Real Estate. Looking ahead, Portside plans to open a new flagship office in Portsmouth this summer.

@properties CIRE affiliate in Michigan adds office, gains indie

@properties REMI Christie's International Real Estate has opened its 10th Michigan office in Traverse City, continuing its rapid expansion across the state, the company announced.

The new Traverse City office will be led by Molly Buttleman, who moved to the brand from Coldwell Banker.

Buttleman, a $60 million annual producer and one of the area's leading agents for 15 years, is joined by seven other agents. The office will be overseen by veteran broker Ken Kleinrichert, who brings 35 years of industry experience.

The move positions the brokerage to capitalize on growing demand for luxury properties in Northern Michigan — a region which has received attention from national media in the last couple of years. The Traverse City office is expected to reach $200 million in sales by the end of 2025, the company said.

Nearby in Clarkston, Morgan Milzow & Ford, Realtors is also joining the brand and will now do business under the @properties REMI banner.

Mother-and-daughter team Pam Ford Morgan and Emily Ford, who co-founded the boutique firm more than two decades ago with a former business partner, will stay on as agents, adding power to the team of five joining with them. The team closed almost $85 million in sales last year — a milestone @properties REMI Co-Founder Eric Walstrom believes they can now triple.

"Pam and Emily are two of the most visible and respected agents in the Clarkston market, with a legacy and reputation that aligns perfectly with our core values and vision," Walstrom said in a press release. "With their deep local relationships, and our systems, support and network, we see tremendous opportunity in Clarkston."

Founded in 2021, @properties REMI has quickly become Michigan's fastest-growing real estate firm, doubling sales volume to $1.4 billion in two years.

Corcoran affiliates merge in Texas

Two Corcoran affiliates in the Lone Star State are joining forces in the Houston area. Corcoran Ferester Realty, an affiliate since 2021 led by Beth Ferester, is teaming up with Corcoran Genesis, which affiliated with Corcoran last year. Both groups will now do business as Corcoran Genesis.

Corcoran Genesis Co-founder Nicole Freer, who will lead the combined team with fellow Co-founder Doug Freer, said in a press release that she is "excited to not only expand, but also succeed across The Woodlands market." The new team will include over 65 agents, with nearly 30 of Ferester's agents slated to work out of an office in The Woodlands.

Corcoran Affiliates President Stephanie Anton praised the acquisition, calling it a "powerful alignment of talent, leadership, and market expertise."

"Beth has built an incredible legacy in The Woodlands, and I'm thrilled to see that legacy continue, as well as expand even further under both Nicole and Doug's dynamic leadership," Anton said.

RE/MAX expands in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest

RE/MAX Regional Services (RSI) is growing its footprint in the Midwest with the addition of RE/MAX Central Region, a firm with operations in Iowa and Nebraska. RSI, which Dennis Curtin founded in 1975, now has over 4,500 agents and nearly 300 offices in nine Midwestern and Southern states, according to a press release.

RSI also announced that Jeff Berlin, who brings nearly three decades of industry experience, will serve as the company's new operations manager.

"I appreciate the trust and confidence Dennis has in me and our shared vision will be very positive for the 4500 agents we serve," Berlin said.

In the Pacific Northwest, a Washington state indie formerly known as Citibrokers is also stepping beneath the RE/MAX umbrella. The nearly 20-agent Spokane-based team will now do business as RE/MAX Citibrokers.

Joining the brand was "a necessary step for us to scale our business," broker/owner Logan Moeller said in a press release. "The technology platform, marketing resources and breadth of the network are exceptional but, honestly, we think the brand name alone will really help propel us in our market."

NorCal Christie's powerhouse adds billion-dollar agents in Silicon Valley

Christie's International Real Estate Sereno celebrated the addition of Karen Nelsen, Stephanie Nelsen-Alanis, Patty Filice, Christina McDermott and Judy Guardino to the brand's Morgan Hill office. Together, the five agents have a combined lifetime sales volume over $2.5 billion.

Joining Christie's is "about continuing to grow with purpose and passion with a company that aligns with my goals, and the level of service that I strive to provide to each and every one of my clients," Nelsen said in a press release.

CIRE Sereno Co-founder and CEO Chris Trapani agreed, describing their union as "a transformative moment" for the brand in South Santa Clara County. The group's reputation and experience "reinforces our long-term commitment to this vibrant and growing community," Trapani added.

The firm, founded in 2006, bought back its independence earlier this year following the Compass acquisition of @properties CIRE. It now has nearly 20 offices and more than 600 agents across Northern California.

More brokerage news

BHGRE Haven Properties has opened a new office in Monterey, California, its sixth along the northern California coast and its fourth major expansion since joining the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network in 2016. The addition of Monterey's 15 agents brings the firm's total agent count to 135. Founder Gavin Payne attributes the company's momentum to the strength of his team: "As a non-competing broker, I am able to focus 100% of my attention on building true partnerships with my agents," he said. "Today, my entire business model, from daily tasks to long-term goals, is defined by one thing — agent success."

The Brian Sperry Real Estate Group has rejoined Compass after a stint with Coldwell Banker.  Brian Sperry and his two team members serve California's coastal Orange County market, achieving $73 million in sales volume last year. Sperry said it was a "strategic, long-term move" to partner with a brokerage that shares his commitment to "client success and making smart, results-driven decisions."

The Rolling Team has also come back to Compass after a year-long stint at a boutique Brooklyn firm. Led by Claudette Rolling, the team of New York natives — which includes Brianna Torkel and Verna Defoe — has achieved over $75 million in sales volume in Brooklyn and Manhattan. "Rejoining Compass will amplify the momentum we've built," Rolling said. "With our strong people skills and my strategic approach, we're returning to a platform that aligns with our vision and empowers us to deliver even greater value to our clients." 

Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties, which operates in Idaho, Colorado, Kansas and Montana, has hired Wayne Gray as managing director of its Kansas City and Overland Park markets. Gray was most recently Real's designated broker and regional manager for Kansas, and previously led Redfin's Kansas City and St. Louis offices. He also led an independent firm as broker/owner for nearly six years. A CB representative praised Gray as "a proven leader with experience in growing former real estate offices/companies."

Side, a brokerage platform for agents and teams, has appointed two veteran brokers to drive growth and partner success in Florida. Caroline Carrara most recently served as sales manager and broker associate at an independent luxury firm in South Florida and will be focused on supporting and enhancing the partner experience. Aaron Drucker, a brokerage leader with a background in proptech, will support recruitment efforts by pitching top Florida agents on the benefits of working with Side. "There is enormous opportunity in Florida for this model to continue to expand," Drucker said.

Realty Executives Associates, a leading Tennessee brokerage with over 1,000 agents across 19 offices, has expanded with the addition of Realty Executives Knox Valley in East Tennessee. Led by 25-year real estate veteran Patricia Shepherd, the new affiliate adds 16 agents to REA's network. "We are so excited to have Patricia and the agents at Knox Valley joining our brokerage," said REA CEO Justin Bailey, who praised Shepherd's "long-established reputation for ethics and training."

Christie's International Real Estate has expanded its Caribbean footprint with the launch of a new office serving Antigua and Barbuda. The firm will be led by Dominique Silvera, a 25-year local real estate veteran who has achieved lifetime sales of more than $350 million. Silvera is also the founder and chair of CIRE Barbados and CIRE Anguilla. "There is immense opportunity in the islands' real estate market right now," Silvera said. "With the global reach and prestige of Christie's International Real Estate, we are well-positioned to meet the moment."