Agent gains at Real, RE/MAX; Aperture enters a new state 

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.

Real picks up Golden State indie

Showcase Real Estate, a Northern California independent brokerage based in Yuba City, has joined The Real Brokerage as part of its Private Label program. The alignment adds another 45 agents to Real's growing tally.

Founder Donna Phelan started the indie firm with a focus on resale, new construction and land development. Showcase now works with customers in a region spanning seven counties. The brokerage sold over 2,170 homes valued at $826 million since 2018 and closed $115 million in sales volume in the past year, according to a company press release.

It was Real's "belief in putting agents first and empowering them to grow" that inspired Showcase's move, Phelan explained.

"We've spent years building something truly special with Showcase, and Real gives us the tools, support and flexibility to make that vision even bigger," she added. 

Phelan, whom Real Chairman and CEO Tamir Poleg described as "entrepreneurial and deeply committed to her agents and her community," is meanwhile "exactly the kind of leader we love to partner with at Real" he said.

Engel & Völkers expands Arizona footprint

Engel & Völkers has announced the addition of Arizona-based Platinum Living Realty, a move that brings over 60 real estate professionals and staff members to the brand while broadening its service through Scottsdale and Phoenix.

Platinum Living Realty was founded in 2010 by Jay and Michelle Macklin, who will continue supporting sales and agent mentorship through the transition as Michael Bianchi handles daily team management.

Paul Benson, who operates Engel & Völkers Scottsdale and serves as license partner of dozens of the brand's shops, celebrated the way Platinum "has always prioritized quality, collaboration, and agent support" in a company press release. Engel & Völkers "offers the kind of elevated platform that allows advisors to deliver highly personalized service while accessing world-class marketing and referral opportunities," which Benson noted was "a strong draw" for the Macklins.

Jay Macklin echoed Benson's comments in declaring that his team will gain "access to tools, technology, and a global network that will take their business to the next level."

"This alignment allows us to preserve the culture and values that have defined our brokerage while expanding what we can offer both clients and advisors," he added.

2 powerhouse teams unite with Coldwell Banker Warburg

The Asset Advisory Team and the Waterview Advisory Group have both left Elegran Real Estate to join Coldwell Banker Warburg in New York City. The teams' alignment with the luxury-focused brokerage "is a testament to the culture we've built, the standards we uphold, and the future we're creating together," Coldwell Banker Warburg Regional Vice President Kevelyn Guzman said in a press release.

Led by Co-founders Ashley Reidy Quinn and Nick Montalbano, the Asset Advisory Team boasts over a quarter of a billion dollars in lifetime sales. Their team focuses on properties in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Hamptons.

"The level of support and professionalism we've already encountered has been exceptional," Quinn and Montalbano said in a joint statement. "We're confident this move represents the best path forward — not only for our clients, but also for the continued growth and success of our team."

Led by Founder Jules Garcia, the Waterview Advisory Group operates in New York and around the world with a quarter of a billion dollars in lifetime sales. Garcia, who has 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, said that joining Coldwell Banker Warburg gives his team "the ability to maintain a specialized boutique approach, while accessing a behemoth of a global network of real estate resources."

Aperture Global ventures into Big Sky Country

Aperture Global Real Estate, the luxury-focused brand that LPT Realty launched earlier this year, is now operating in Montana. The effort will be led by Martha Johnson, an experienced local real estate professional who closed over $346 million in sales last year, according to a company press release.

Fellow local market leaders Matt Zaremba and Allen Potts of the Zaremba Potts Group will also join Aperture Global in Montana, as will Scott Altman and Suzanne and Mazie Schreiner.

The brand's move into the state represents more than an opportunity for growth, according to Johnson. "People come to Montana for the space, the stillness, and the strength of the community," she said, adding that this is something both LPT Realty Founder and CEO Robert Palmer and the Aperture team understand.

Aperture Global President and LPT International CEO Michael Valdes echoed Johnson's comments. "This expansion is about celebrating the people who live here, work here, and raise their children here," he said. "We're proud to grow with the Big Sky community."

Husband-and-wife duo rejoins Coldwell Banker

Mark and Sheryl VanDuren have returned to Coldwell Banker Realty in Florida after a brief departure. The VanDurens, who operate as the VanDuren Group, moved to Michael Saunders & Company for nine months but ultimately decided to return to Coldwell Banker's Longboat Key office.

The VanDurens focus on residential and luxury real estate in the Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota and Longboat Key areas. They rank among the top 1% of agents working in the Sarasota and Manatee counties, according to a company press release.

It was "the personalized service from Coldwell Banker as well as its multi-faceted Listing Concierge platform to help them market their properties" that inspired the VanDurens' return, the press release noted. Managing Broker Ellen O'Day said she is "thrilled to have Sheryl and Mark VanDuren back in the Coldwell Banker family" and praised Barbara Ackerman, a local Coldwell Banker agent, for being "instrumental in bringing back this team."

Ackerman described the VanDurens as "professional, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with" and said she was "disappointed to lose a trusted referral partner" when they left the team.

"Leaving gave them a deeper appreciation of the value Coldwell Banker Realty offers, and we were glad to encourage their return," Ackerman added.

RE/MAX adds over 50 agents in New Jersey, Ontario

RE/MAX has picked up two new teams in New Jersey and Ontario, Canada, in a move that brings 51 agents beneath the brand's umbrella.

In northern New Jersey, Simply Real Estate is now doing business as REMAX Simply. Led by Andy Hong, who founded the brokerage in 2011, the firm serves customers in Fort Lee, Leonia, Palisades Park and Englewood Cliffs. Sixteen agents will be joining RE/MAX as part of this rebranding, though a company press release noted that the firm aspires to expand further.

"We've always focused on integrity, professionalism, and work ethic. But in today's competitive market, our agents need more — more tools, more exposure, more support," Hong said. "The REMAX brand brings confidence, credibility and new recruiting opportunities that will benefit us all."

In Ontario, RE/MAX Realtron has acquired the Alan Newton-led Alan Newton Real Estate Ltd., a move that brings 35 agents into the fold as the brand focuses on strengthening operations in the Toronto area.

RE/MAX Realtron Vice President of Agent Experience Jeremy Pilarski praised Newton and his team for their "expertise and commitment to excellence align seamlessly with our mission to empower top producers" in a press release that noted the team will now have access to RE/MAX's brand power and resources.

"This acquisition represents the strength of the REMAX network in bringing together top-tier talent and respected independent brokerages," RE/MAX Canada President Don Kottick said.