KW, Compass gain teams; CIRE wins over $1B Florida firm 

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.

Three-decade real estate vet brings team to KW

A 10-agent team serving southern Pennsylvania has joined Keller Williams Keystone Realty based in York. 

Flinchbaugh & Associates, led by Adam Flinchbaugh, also includes three staff members and closed more than $100 million in sales volume last year, ranking as the No. 1 medium-sized team in Pennsylvania in 2024, according to a news release.  

Flinchbaugh is no stranger to Keller Williams: "My mom managed KW offices for more than a decade, so I understood the culture and commitment behind the brand," he said. 

Having been in the industry for nearly 30 years himself, Flinchbaugh said he's seen a lot of changes and understands the importance of "technology that helps us move faster and smarter."

Keller Williams, he said, "delivers exactly that," as well as "the structure, security, and robust support to improve how we serve clients while also developing our agents to their fullest potential."

'Industry tastemakers' choose Compass

Barron and Tessa Hilton are bringing their network, name and Southern California luxury expertise to Compass.

The duo, formerly co-CEOs at Hilton Hilton — the family brokerage they co-founded with Barron Hilton's father — will now do business under the Compass banner. Currently serving the upscale Beverly Hills area, the Hiltons are expanding into Palm Beach and have their sights on further growth.

Known for closing multimillion-dollar sales, the Hiltons have represented numerous high-net-worth clients as well as influencers and "global tastemakers," according to a news release. They specialize in creating "immersive experiences" to market their listings, ranging from art and fashion showcases to live performances and culinary experiences, the announcement said.

That approach, said Tessa Hilton, is something "our clients deeply value."

"We're excited to embark on this next chapter with a renewed focus solely on our clients," said Barron Hilton. "Compass enables us to grow and expand our reach while maintaining the personalized service we've meticulously cultivated over the years. With a family legacy rooted in innovation and vision, I've learned that true luxury is defined by uncompromising quality and a commitment to excellence, and Compass reflects that same philosophy."

Christie's nabs $1 billion Florida firm

First Coast, a brokerage with more than 130 agents based in Jacksonville, Florida, has joined Christie's International Real Estate. 

Founded and led by Corey Hasting, the firm, now branded as Christie's International Real Estate First Coast, has grown rapidly since its establishment in 2018. Hasting originally started selling real estate as a side gig at age 24 while trying to make his way into the NFL. By age 27, however, he was a full-time agent at Engel & Völkers and had purchased his first territory, making him the youngest licensed partner in the brokerage's history, according to a press release.

His firm now has six offices serving the greater Jacksonville area and closed nearly $1 billion in sales in 2024. Hasting said he felt "incredibly fortunate" to partner with Christie's as the firm looks toward expansion.

"Corey's passion for his work, his entrepreneurial spirit, and the extraordinary team he's built in just seven years are what truly set First Coast apart," said Gavin Swartzman, president of CIRE. "He has not only created a regional powerhouse, but one that reflects our shared commitment to excellence and elevated client service."

Florida indie celebrates agent's 'homecoming'

Michael Saunders & Company has welcomed Lisa Rooks Morris back into the fold in Sarasota. Rooks Morris started her career at the Florida brokerage before spending a few years at Premier Sotheby's International Realty and later becoming the executive director of luxury sales at Douglas Elliman, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Real estate is a family business for Rooks Morris, whose late father Howard Rooks founded what was once the country's fourth-largest privately owned brokerage, according to a press release. The family's tradition of vacationing in Sarasota also served to help Rooks Morris develop a deeper understanding of the area.  

Returning now to Michael Saunders & Company "has really felt like a homecoming," she said in a press release. "I have so many relationships there with colleagues that span decades, since I first moved here full-time and hung my shingle there 25 years ago."

The brokerage's president, Drayton Saunders, praised Rooks Morris' "deep expertise in the luxury sector" and "strong commitment to the community," both of which he said make her "an incredible asset to our team."

"Her exceptional knowledge of the luxury market, combined with her proven professionalism and dedication to client service, reflects the values and vision of our company," Founder and CEO Michael Saunders added.

More brokerage news

eXp Realty is officially entering the South Korean market as it celebrates its fifth international launch of 2025. Through this expansion, eXp aspires to provide Korean real estate professionals with an alternative to the country's "old model" that is "built for the boss, not the agent," according to a news release. Thomas Kim, who will lead eXp Korea, said the brokerage "gives Korean agents what I never had: a real chance to grow through sales, team building, stock ownership, and even global referrals."

The Agency is opening a new office in Rockwall, Texas — its fifth in the Lone Star state following previous expansions into Austin, Dallas, Frisco and Tyler. Heather Stevens, who leads the Frisco office, and Vanessa Griffin, who oversees the Tyler office, will serve as The Agency Rockwall's managing partners. Rockwall provides an "unmatched mix of natural beauty, suburban comfort, and accessibility," James Ramsay, EVP of The Agency's Franchise Division, said in a press release. "It represents the ideal balance between everyday convenience and elevated living."

Douglas Elliman is celebrating the return of agents Ruben Alvarez and Karla De La Torr following their brief stints at Continuum Club & Residences. Alvarez and De La Torr will lead sales efforts at the new 20-story 72 Carlyle building in Miami's North Beach neighborhood, with Alvarez taking on a sales director role. Their return as part of The Eklund | Gomes Team is "a testament to our continued strength in South Florida, particularly in the luxury new development market," Douglas Elliman President and CEO Michael Liebowitz said in a press release.  

Coldwell Banker Realty's The Bernardi Group has welcomed Julie Meko, an agent with over 25 years of experience who brings "deep market knowledge, strategic marketing, and commitment to her clients," according to a press release. Meko will focus her work in Boulder, Broomfield, Erie, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Superior and the surrounding areas. Her "reputation and extensive experience in both new construction and resale properties make her an ideal fit for our team," The Bernardi Group Founder Karen Bernardi said.