Century 21 gains 2 affiliates; eXp lands in Japan 

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.

C21 picks up new affiliates in Kansas, Maryland

Century 21 is expanding its footprint in the Midwest and East through affiliations with Monument Real Estate and Advance Realty.

In Kansas, Emporia-based Monument Real Estate brings both residential and commercial expertise to the C21 network. Led by broker/owner Christian Keisler, the firm is now doing business as Century 21 Monument Real Estate.

Keisler, a former marketing and sales professional, joined the industry in 2016. Almost a decade later, he has built a team that ranks 11th in sales volume in its local MLS, according to a press release. Through this affiliation, Keisler aims to recruit new agents and expand into unexplored markets by leveraging C21's technology, marketing platforms and brand visibility.

"I believe that when a company is family-oriented and enjoys coming to the office every day, it's much easier to put in 110% and make sure that no stone goes unturned," Keisler said. "Every transaction should be an experience to remember, and we never want to be the firm that offers a boring, cookie-cutter real estate experience."

In Maryland, the Bel Air-based Advance Realty has also affiliated with C21. The brokerage currently serves consumers in Baltimore, Cecil, Harford, Howard and Montgomery counties — as well as the city of Baltimore — and views its alignment with C21 as a way to enhance agent recruiting and M&A efforts.

Broker/owner Patrick Campbell joined the firm, now operating as Advance Realty Century 21, in 2009 before taking ownership in 2020. The brokerage launched in 2001 in Timonium, according to its website.

In a press release, Campbell said affiliating with C21 provides "an opportunity that we knew we couldn't pass up," adding that he is "confident that our affiliated agents and clients alike will benefit tremendously from the new tools and name recognition" that come with the partnership.

Collaboration has been key to the team's success thus far, he noted. "We all have each other's backs and are eager to lend a helping hand in our unique areas of expertise whenever we can," he said. With their C21 affiliation, "our emphasis on collaboration will be even more prominent."

eXp announces fourth international launch of 2025

eXp Realty is now operating in Japan, the company said this week. This expansion into a new global market follows the brokerage's launches in Turkey, Peru and Ecuador earlier this year.

Through this move, eXp is working toward its goal of acquiring 50,000 agents outside the U.S. by 2030, according to a company press release. The brokerage will officially commemorate its presence in a new market at a launch event in Tokyo on Oct. 2.

eXp Realty Japan will be led by Ken Tanaka, a real estate professional with decades of experience working in the Japanese market. The industry "has long been slow to break away from outdated legacy models" in Japan, Tanaka said, but eXp represents "a complete reset — a platform built for freedom, innovation, and growth."

Felix Bravo, eXp Realty's managing director of international, also noted that agents "have operated for years in a system that leaves little room for upside" in Japan.

"It's not about working harder, they already do. The problem is structural," Bravo said. "We're bringing a platform that flips that equation. Better economics, real ownership, worldwide leverage. That's what eXp is about."

Douglas Elliman launches mortgage platform

New York-based Douglas Elliman has launched Elliman Capital, its new in-house mortgage platform aimed at simplifying the financing process for homebuyers and investors.

The platform is debuting in Florida but will eventually expand to all states where the brokerage operates, the company said in a press release. With the launch, Elliman joins full-service brokerages like Real, Howard Hanna and others that offer a mortgage product. 

Developed in collaboration with Associated Mortgage Bankers, Elliman Capital is designed to support a broad spectrum of borrowers — including self-employed individuals and foreign nationals — by providing access to a wide array of loan products. 

The new platform leverages advanced technology to provide real-time loan tracking and agent support tools, while offering competitive rates through its lender network, the company said.

Its launch "marks a transformative moment" for Douglas Elliman and its clients, President and CEO Michael S. Liebowitz said. "By bringing mortgage services in-house, we're creating an unprecedented level of convenience and oversight to the entire real estate transaction process."

Coldwell Banker celebrates new office opening

Coldwell Banker Realty's new Dallas office is officially up and running. The Lakewood location is led by Angie Sisk and Melissa Tyson.

The brokerage commemorated its Lakewood launch with a celebration on July 21 that over 60 people — including at least 40 agents — attended, according to a company news release. The event served as "a testament to our team's strength and the importance of this market," according to Ayoub Rabah, the regional president for Coldwell Banker in the Midwest and Texas.