$1B team joins Sotheby’s; C21, CB add affiliates 

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.

$140M+ team joins Equity Union

California's Equity Union Real Estate has gained a new office with the addition of Team Sweasey, a San Luis Obispo-based team that closed over $141 million in sales in 2024, according to a news release.

Led by Hal Sweasey, Team Sweasey brings Equity Union's total number of branch locations to 13 and marks the brokerage's first move into the state's Central Coast. The office will serve as a starting point for the firm in the region as it eyes future expansion opportunities.

Sweasey, who is bringing nine team members with him, said the move gives the group "even more tools, technology, and resources to continue serving our clients at the highest level." He applauded Equity Union for being both "forward-thinking and supportive."

"I've never been this excited to align with such an amazing group of people," he added.

Equity Union CEO Harma Hartouni meanwhile praised the Sweasey Team's "integrity, leadership, knowledge and expertise," adding that the group "sets the standard for excellence" and aligns with his company's vision.

Nashville indie picks up the Coldwell Banker banner

Historic & Distinctive Homes LLC, a 22-agent firm led by 40-year veteran broker Karen Hoff, is now affiliated with Coldwell Banker Southern Realty in Nashville, Tennessee.

The addition nearly doubles Coldwell Banker Southern Realty's agent count, bringing the total up to 50 — as well as its annual sales volume, which is now expected to approach $100 million, according to a news release.

The formerly independent firm's "deep local market history" was an appeal for Coldwell Banker Southern Realty, according to Executive Sales Manager Jason Nagy, who said that the addition "brings a complete alignment of values, culture, and a shared commitment to serving real estate professionals and the community as a whole."

Owner and CEO Rich Cosner specifically highlighted Hoff's "intimate knowledge of the local market and her outstanding professional reputation," which he said will "be a tremendous asset to all of our agents."

Luxury team set on expansion joins Sotheby's

The Walters | Plaxen Group, a modern luxury real estate team with footholds in California and Florida, has joined Sotheby's International Realty. The team will be based out of Sotheby's offices in Beverly Hills and Miami.

The move follows a few high-profile transactions for this year, including the sales of actor Anthony Hopkins' lots in the Pacific Palisades following the devastating fires in the area in January and a $53 million sale in Brentwood, according to a news release.

Together, the eight-member Walters | Plaxen Group, led by Co-founders Shauna Walters and Nicole Plaxen, boasts over 20 years of real estate experience and more than $1 billion in career sales.

Looking to the year ahead, the team's clients "expect scale, discretion, and global fluency," Plaxen said.

With access to Sotheby's marketing platforms, global network and brand presence, the group's next chapter will be about "unlocking new markets, connecting high-net-worth buyers and sellers across cities, and raising the bar for what modern luxury real estate service looks like," Plaxen added.

C21 picks up 30-year industry vet with latest affiliation

Century 21 is welcoming Gateway Real Estate into the fold in Twin Falls, Idaho. The firm, which will now do business as Century 21 Gateway, is led by broker/owner Nathan Lyda, who first got into real estate by joining his family's business in the mid-1990s before taking over operations 15 years ago.

Aligning with C21 provides Lyda's agents with the international brand's technology, marketing and lead generation tools, as well as the agent education and coaching opportunities it provides, according to a news release.

Despite the global brand's scale, "everyone in the network understands that when buying or selling a home, detail is key," Lyda said. "This affiliation can help us streamline our processes and provide our agents with more bandwidth to further personalize their service without letting anything fall through the cracks."

C21 President and CEO Mike Miedler expressed excitement at the addition of "a homegrown firm," praising the "incredible reputation" Lyda has built in the area "through decades of committed, genuine service."

With Lyda's leadership, his agents' local expertise and their access to new resources, Century 21 Gateway will be able "to become a premier provider in South Idaho," Miedler added.

More brokerage news

The Real Brokerage continues to make gains in Canada with the addition of the Found Spaces Realty Group, a 12-agent team averaging $100 in annual sales volume. The Hamilton, Ontario-based group is led by Sandy MacKay, a veteran agent and real estate investor who also brings an extended network of 50 agents to the brokerage. Real CEO Tamir Poleg praised MacKay's investment expertise and "commitment to coaching, productivity and culture," adding, "Sandy represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking leaders who excel at Real."

Christie's International Real Estate has launched in Uruguay, where Managing Partners Sven Jurgan and Brian Jones — who bring a $600 million portfolio of listings — will focus on sales of estates, luxury developments and estancias (large working ranches and farms). "With Uruguay now firmly in the sights of luxury homebuyers around the world, people are looking for a real estate brand they know and trust, and there is no real estate brand more associated with luxury and service than Christie's International Real Estate," Jones said in a news release. 

The Freeman Group, a team based on Long Beach Island in New Jersey, is starting a new company in partnership with Side. The boutique firm, which will do business as Freeman & Company, has also welcomed the four-agent Guarino Team as part of its launch, according to a news release. Freeman Group Owner and Managing Partner Edward Freeman said forming the company is a "natural next chapter" for his business, adding that the move "allows us to realize our dream of elevating the client experience."

@properties Christie's International Real Estate has promoted Paul Blackburn, formerly the VP of brokerage services for the firm's Goose Island and North Center offices, to be the new EVP of agent development and culture in the Chicago area. Blackburn will now oversee agent coaching and training programs — including those focused on new technology — and will guide agent business development strategies, according to a news release. Rachel Scheid will take over the management responsibilities that Blackburn previously handled at the Goose Island office, and Rick Sobin will do the same at the company's North Center location.