A ‘growth move’ at Howard Hanna; ERA nabs over 90 agents; 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 picks up indie led by mother-daughter duo

Neuhaus Real Estate, Inc., a family-owned brokerage in northern Colorado, has joined forces with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

The firm, now doing business as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Neuhaus, is led by Managing Broker/Owner April Neuhaus and COO Aubrie Neuhaus-Larsen. April Neuhaus, who began working in real estate in 2007, started the brokerage in 2011 and was later joined by her daughter, who specializes in custom homes.

"Colorado's Front Range is a busy, competitive market, and it helps to work with people who know the area well and care about the people they serve," BHGRE President Ginger Wilcox said in a press release. "April, Aubrie, and their affiliated agents bring that kind of local understanding and commitment."

April Neuhaus is "fiercely protective of our collaborative company culture" and said she found in BHGRE a brand that shares her firm's ideals. Affiliating with BHGRE gives the Neuhaus team access to new agent development and marketing tools, which they intend to use to recruit new talent and support the agents already on their team.

Real taps 28-year industry pro to lead new team

The Real Brokerage is launching a new team that will be shepherded by Pam O'Bryant, a key industry player with nearly 30 years of experience. The team will serve customers in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland.

O'Bryant began her real estate career in 1997 at Keller Williams. She went on to support the brand's international expansion efforts and joined its International Master Faculty. O'Bryant, who described herself in a press release as being "all about systems and execution," is also the founder of Real Estate on Purpose, which provides agent coaching, transaction management tools and marketing support.

O'Bryant "embodies what it means to be a purpose-driven leader," Real Chairman and CEO Tamir Poleg said. "Her approach to building businesses through systems, service and coaching perfectly aligns with Real's mission to empower agents to thrive."

Joining Real "was the clear choice," O'Bryant said, as it offers a brokerage model that is "strategic, efficient and designed for scalable growth" — something that "aligns perfectly with my goal of building a team where agents can do what they love and serve at a higher level."

ERA adds 90+ agents in Silicon Valley

ERA Real Estate is expanding its reach in California with the addition of Real Estate Experts, a brokerage that focuses on high-value properties in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The firm, which is now doing business as Real Estate Experts ERA Powered, was founded in 2014 by investor Brett Jennings and boasts over 90 agents.

ERA's broad network will boost the Jennings team's recruiting efforts while the brand's tech and marketing programs will support agent development, a company press release noted. In addition to growing his team and bolstering their market share, Jenning intends to pursue M&A opportunities with an eye toward the Central Coast, Southern California and the Lake Tahoe area.

The market Jennings and his team currently work in "attracts international buyers, investors and talent who demand elite service and deep local expertise," he said. "Not only will we be able to build on our success to date" through this affiliation, he added, but "we will also benefit from the unique fusion of national-scale credibility and local-market mastery and be able to provide our white-glove concierge service to even more people."

Howard Hanna makes major 'growth move'

Seven years after aligning with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, and less than one year after expanding in South Carolina with its acquisition of The Alliance Realty Group, Allen Tate Realtors is poised to strengthen its allegiance with the Pittsburgh-based independent brokerage.

Starting on Sept. 12, the firm that serves clients in the Carolinas will begin doing business as Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate, a move that signals the national brand's first major step into the two states.

Through this rebranding, the team founded by Allen Tate will gain access to Howard Hanna's marketing, mortgage and insurance tools while keeping the team's current leadership in place, according to a company press release.

Beyond the renaming, the shift is "a growth move," according to Howard Hanna Real Estate CEO Howard W. "Hoby" Hanna IV. These markets in particular "have always been a cornerstone of our long-term vision," he said, adding that this change "allows us to unlock new potential, helping more agents grow their businesses and more families sell their home with confidence across our 13-state footprint."

More brokerage news

The Miranda Sisters Group joins Douglas Elliman: Jasmine Dorev and Jessica Miranda-Lantigua, twin sisters and business partners, have moved to Elliman after seven years at The Island, a boutique brokerage serving South Florida. Dorev specializes in luxury residential sales, while Miranda-Lantigua manages commercial real estate deals, offering "clients a comprehensive, dual-perspective approach to real estate," according to a news release.

Compass nabs leading Connecticut agent: Stephanie O'Grady, an agent with $25 million in sales since the beginning of the year, is joining Compass' Darian, Connecticut, office. O'Grady started her real estate career in New York City with a focus on new developments. "Here in Darien and Fairfield County, my career goal is to do what's best for each client and to help them find the right house for them for the right reasons," she said in a news release. David Haffenreffer, Compass' managing director in Connecticut, lauded O'Grady's communication skills and commitment to her clients, noting, "Her reputation for going above and beyond has earned her lasting trust from clients across all price points."

NAHREP Top 250 agent moves to eXp: Vivian Lesny, an industry veteran who closed more than $70 million in sales last year, has landed at eXp to "create a legacy," she said in a news release. In addition to serving the Southern California market as a residential agent, Lesny has a successful home-flipping business and a strong commitment to helping Hispanic, immigrant and underserved communities achieve homeownership, according to eXp. "I've done the hard work. I've put in the years. Now, I want to build something more — something with meaning," Lesny said of the move.

Brands by Integra enters the Sooner State: With its acquisition of central Oklahoma's Century 21 Golden Key Realty, Brands by Integra now has a presence in 15 states. Golden Key Realty has served the Shawnee region and surrounding areas for more than 30 years, and its roster includes several multimillion-dollar producers, according to a news release. "We have a great footprint in the Texas real estate market and we are excited to provide more expert service in the Southwest with this amazing team of individuals that have joined our Integra family," said Jim D'Amico, Brands by Integra owner.

Brown Harris Stevens appoints managing director: Ben Willig has joined BHS as managing director of agent growth and strategy for the New York City firm's downtown offices. Willig has previously worked as a real estate exec and leadership coach via his firm The Willig Collaborative, according to a news release, and in his new role he will be focused on supporting professional development as well as business and cultural initiatives. "This new chapter with BHS allows me to do more of what I love, helping leaders and agents unlock their potential while building something great together," Willig said. "I'm excited to collaborate with a firm with a rich history of success that shares my belief in integrity, excellence, and long-term vision."

BHGRE launches 'Trendmaker' program: Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is offering agents and brokers insights into design trends, consumer behaviors, smart home tech, outdoor living and more via a new Trendmaker Accreditation program, the company announced this week. "Not only do BHGRE affiliated agents help people find a house, they play a critical role in helping them turn it into their home," said Ginger Wilcox, BHGRE president and one of the program's leaders. "By connecting the dots between the trusted Better Homes & Gardens brand and highly engaged BHGRE network of affiliated real estate professionals, we're delivering unmatched value to today's lifestyle-driven consumer."

Real unveils virtual coaching course: Real Brokerage is launching Agent BreakThru, a free, 8-week program focused on productivity and client retention — and making it available to agents from any brokerage, the company announced. "This isn't about fluff or feel-good motivation," said Tamir Poleg, Real's CEO and chairman. "The market is challenging — even for the most experienced agents," he noted, adding: "Agent BreakThru is designed to provide real tools, real coaching and real execution when they're needed most. We're making it available to the entire industry because we believe that when more agents succeed, it benefits everyone." The program will begin on Sept. 30 and include live coaching, marketing strategies and tactical workshops.