Compass nabs $1.2B team; Elliman continues global expansion
Plus, ERA Blanchard & Rosetto grows in Connecticut with the acquisition of Wallace & Tetreault Realty; Engel & Völkers opens a new shop in Akron, Ohio.
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.
$1.2B North Carolina team joins Compass
The Gentry Team, a firm that has operated in Pinehurst for over 30 years, has joined Compass in the Tar Heel State. Led by Mark Gentry and Ginger Gentry, the team brings over 75 years of combined real estate experience and more than $1.2 billion in total sales volume — $500 million of which they closed in the past five years, Compass said in a news release.
The team specializes in luxury properties and buyers looking for a second home. By aligning with Compass, the team intends to continue to grow and remain a top competitor in their market, according to Mark Gentry.
"As a whole, we felt Compass' streamlined technology and support would help to elevate our operations and enable us to better serve our clients," he said. "We align strongly with Compass' innovative and lead-from-the-front mentality and want to capitalize on Compass' nationwide referral network, expand our footprint and strengthen our presence."
Compass Regional Vice President Jeff Polashuk praised the team's "longstanding leadership" in the area and "consistent sales production." Those qualities "make them exactly the kind of team that will strengthen Compass' presence in the region," Polashuk added.
Elliman sets sights on the French Alps
Douglas Elliman is continuing its international push with an expansion into the French Alps. The Elliman brand will now have a presence in the Chamonix and Morzine luxury ski markets.
Philippe Curutchet, Fredrik Lilloe and Edward de Mallet Morgan are leading the brand's efforts in the region. They are now joined by Matt Edelsten and Andy Symington — local industry experts with over 20 years of experience — in Mont Blanc.
Lilloe praised his teammates' local expertise in a news release, adding that their "commitment to service make them trusted authorities for any real estate project or acquisition."
Douglas Elliman President and CEO Michael S. Liebowitz expressed pride in the company's expansion, noting that the brand is looking forward "to bringing our own expertise in luxury mountain real estate to this truly legendary destination."
Elliman's move into the French Alps comes six months after the launch of its global brand, Elliman International. The brokerage began expanding into France and Monaco this fall.
More brokerage news
ERA Blanchard & Rosetto has acquired Wallace & Tetreault Realty, a fellow Connecticut firm that has operated since 1988. Together, the united companies boast two offices and nearly 50 agents with a reach that spans most of the state. Wallace & Tetreault Realty's current leaders, Ben Wallace and Julie Tetreault, "have a long history of working collaboratively" with ERA agents, Wallace said in a news release, adding that they found in ERA a "like-minded company to partner with to further elevate our agents and support them in growing their business." Wallace and Tetreault will stay on and help guide their firm through the transition.
Engel & Völkers has expanded in Ohio with the opening of a new office in Akron. The firm is led by License Partner Gary Muravin — who specializes in technology and operations — and Managing Broker Inna Muravin, a two-decade industry veteran. The duo previously opened a Cleveland office in 2023, and the new venture "represents the next step in our mission to deliver an exceptional, people-first real estate experience," Inna Muravin said in a news release. The pair's "continued success in Northeast Ohio reflects the brand's commitment to delivering a refined real estate experience," added E&V Americas President and CEO Stuart Siegel.