New teams at HomeSmart, Compass; BHGRE expands in Hawaii 

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.

HomeSmart launches 'new style of real estate team'

Real estate consultant, speaker and team-builder Phil Sexton has joined HomeSmart and launched NEXT, a new team model designed to support agents' personal brands across the Scottsdale and greater Phoenix markets, the company said.

Sexton, a second-generation real estate professional, brings more than a decade of leadership experience working with high-producing agents in Arizona. He has previously trained and coached thousands of agents through workshops, keynote presentations and brokerage classes, according to a news release.

NEXT team is positioned as an alternative to traditional team structures, with leadership handling marketing, lead follow-up and operational systems so agents can focus on clients and "be the star of their own business," HomeSmart said. 

"We are thrilled to have Phil and the NEXT team partner with us to provide agents across Arizona with the support and brand recognition they deserve," said HomeSmart President Stacey Onnen. "Phil's expertise is a testament to his commitment to uplifting agents, and we believe that HomeSmart's culture and community will only serve to strengthen that foundation."

BHGRE adds Oahu brokerage

Refined Real Estate LLC has affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, rebranding as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Refined as it looks to expand its footprint and agent count on Oahu, Hawaii, according to a news release.

The 5-year-old brokerage is led by broker/owners Eric Yamamoto and Dennis Noah-Casison, longtime local real estate professionals with backgrounds in business management. The firm serves clients across the island, including residential, new construction and luxury segments, and employs several military specialists who cater to veteran buyers and sellers. 

The move gives BHGRE Refined access to national marketing, centralized technology and broader recruiting support as it works to grow productivity and selectively add agents, the company said, noting that the brokerage plans to double in size and open a Honolulu office in the coming year. The brand "had everything we were looking for when we felt it was time to pursue an affiliation," Yamamoto said.

For BHGRE, the addition expands the brand's footprint in Hawaii and "strengthens our ability to serve clients in one of the most sought-after markets in the country," BHGRE President Ginger Wilcox said.

Chicagoland agents form new Compass team

Industry veterans Charlie Cohen and Alex Morsch have joined Compass to launch a five-agent team in Chicago, bringing more than $57.5 million in annual sales, the company said. It's Compass' latest expansion in the Chicago area following the recent opening of its first South Side office.  

Together, Cohen and Morsch have closed hundreds of transactions across Chicagoland and bring experience spanning apartment leases, luxury homes and development work. The team, operating as Cohen Morsch, will be based out of Compass' Lincoln Park office and plans to specialize in vintage, architecturally significant, multifamily and investment properties. 

Cohen, who most recently served as director of sales at Cross Street, said he had "a great run" at his former brokerage and looks forward to leveraging Compass' "platform, tools, and support to elevate how we serve clients and to apply everything we've learned along the way."

"This is a team with both a stellar reputation and a genuine appetite to do more for their clients and for the industry," VP of Compass Illinois Fran Broude said in a news release. "We're excited to welcome Charlie, Alex, and their team, and to support them with the technology and infrastructure that allows them to spend more time advising clients while Compass handles the rest."

The Agency expands in Texas, gains $5B agent in SoCal 

Global luxury firm The Agency has launched its first Houston-area branch in Sugar Land, Texas, growing its footprint to eight offices in the Lone Star State. The Agency Houston-Sugar Land will be led by managing partners Chris Sansone and Lizz Sansone. 

"With its thriving economy, cultural depth, and exceptional quality of life, the Houston area stands as one of the most compelling and diverse metros in the country," The Agency CEO and Founder Mauricio Umansky said in a news release. 

Sugar Land, in particular, is unique in "the way it blends suburban ease with the energy and opportunities of the greater Houston metro," Chris Sansone added.

Meanwhile, a top producer has joined The Agency in Orange County. John Stanaland, a fourth-generation real estate professional, has achieved billions in career sales and is recognized "as one of the most knowledgeable and trusted voices in coastal Orange County real estate," according to a news release.

"For almost three decades and with nearly $5B in sales without a mega team (by design), I have run a highly client-focused business, with the interest of those I represent consistently a top priority," Stanaland said. "Honesty, integrity, and a never-yielding tenacity have always made up the core of my business. The Agency embodies these principles, which is why I have aligned with this innovative company."

Editor's note: AI was used in the initial drafting of this content, which was then thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked and revised by a Real Estate News editor.