REMAX, C21, Corcoran gain affiliates; KW team launches TX indie 

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.

Florida indie, Detroit team join REMAX network

REMAX announced two new affiliations this week with the additions of boutique brokerage Florida Welcome Home and a former Detroit-area eXp team now operating as REMAX Masterpiece Realty. 

In Northeast Florida, formerly independent brokerage Florida Welcome Home, which serves clients in St. Johns and the greater Jacksonville area, joined REMAX to expand its access to technology, marketing tools and brand resources, according to a REMAX news release.

Now doing business as REMAX Welcome Home, the 25-agent brokerage specializes in residential, luxury and waterfront properties. Founder and broker/owner Laura Ranneklev launched the firm in 2020 after nearly two decades in real estate, including serving as vice president at a larger brokerage company. 

Ranneklev said the move was driven in part by the challenges independent firms face as technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. 

"As an independent brokerage, it's hard to keep up with all the new technology on your own," Ranneklev said. By joining an established national brand, she said the firm gains access to "systems and tools that make a real difference for our agents and clients" — a benefit that "brings new energy and efficiency to our brokerage."

In Southeast Michigan, former eXp team leader Marc Blair and broker Renay Brown have moved their team under the REMAX banner, forming REMAX Masterpiece Realty in Mount Clemens.

The affiliation adds 18 agents to the REMAX of Southeastern Michigan network and serves clients across the metro Detroit region. Blair and Brown — now the firm's managing broker — said the move reflected a desire to join a nationally recognized brand that provides local support and collaboration.

"This conversion speaks to what we continue to see across the region," said Jeanette Schneider, president of REMAX of Southeastern Michigan. "Top producers want local ownership, accountability and in-market support, without sacrificing brand power." 

REMAX Masterpiece offers residential, luxury, investment, relocation and commercial services and plans to host a grand opening event later this year.

Longtime family firm joins C21 in Connecticut

Century 21 Real Estate has expanded its presence in western Connecticut with the affiliation of Joseph Bette Realtors in Southbury, rebranding the 53-year-old family firm as Century 21 Bette Real Estate.

Led by third-generation broker Justin Bette, the brokerage serves buyers and sellers across Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties, with a focus on first-time buyers, 55-plus communities, luxury homes, historic properties and land deals, according to a news release. 

The affiliation will give Bette's agents access to Century 21's technology, marketing, lead generation and agent training platforms as he looks to grow the brokerage and transition into a more traditional broker role. Joining a national brand will also allow the firm to "place more focus on attracting experienced agents and pursuing new office opportunities," Bette said.

Bette Real Estate remains family-owned and locally operated, with deep ties to the Southbury community.

"For more than half a century, the Bette family has solidified itself as a reliable go-to option in western Connecticut," said Mike Miedler, president and CEO of Century 21. The combination of the firm's reputation and C21's resources will help Bette "continue to drive forward his family legacy," Meidler added.

Corcoran adds affiliate in Charlottesville

Corcoran Group has expanded its affiliate network with the addition of the newly rebranded Corcoran Wiley brokerage in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Led by broker/owners and brothers Justin and Peter Wiley, who founded the firm as Wiley Real Estate nearly a decade ago, Corcoran Wiley will continue operating from its existing Charlottesville and Orange County, Virginia, offices. Wiley Real Estate built its business around high-end residential and agricultural properties, focusing on luxury homes, estates, working farms, historic homes and land opportunities throughout Central Virginia, according to a news release.

The new affiliation brings Corcoran's marketing, technology and brand resources to Wiley's operations, supporting its goals of growing agent count and sales volume.

Pamela Liebman, president and CEO of Corcoran Group, lauded the team's "reputation for integrity and exceptional service," with Peter Wiley adding that the firm has always prioritized "deep community ties, and guiding clients through even the most complex transactions with care."

KW's Jorgenson Group forms indie brokerage in Central Texas

The Jorgenson Group, a longtime team based in Round Rock, Texas, has launched Jorgenson Real Estate as an independent brokerage after 16 years operating within Keller Williams Realty, Founder Kasey Jorgenson announced.

The Central Texas team, which closed roughly 190 transactions worth $75 million in sales volume in 2025, ranks as one of the top-producing teams in the greater Austin market, according to a news release. 

It looks to maintain its growth trajectory by recruiting experienced agents and offering flexible operating paths, including optional team-lead and lead-provided models, along with a Founding Members program for early agents.

The team didn't leave KW due to dissatisfaction with the company's leadership or culture, Jorgenson emphasized: "I have tremendous respect for the people there and for what they've built." 

But, he added, "We've essentially been operating like a brokerage for years. Becoming independent allows us to move faster, customize our value proposition, and support agents the way they actually want to work today."

More brokerage news

Compass announced the return of New York City broker Lindsay Barton Barrett, who returns from Douglas Elliman to lead The Lindsay Barton Barrett Team out of the firm's Fifth Avenue office. Barrett, a 23-year industry veteran with more than $2 billion in career sales, is known for Brooklyn townhouse and new development transactions and will focus on Brooklyn and select Manhattan listings with her team. "I really do feel like I'm going home," Barrett said, adding that Compass is "the ideal platform as I grow my team and expand our footprint in 2026."

Douglas Elliman welcomes Dianna Desboyaux as senior director of luxury sales in the brokerage's Sports & Entertainment division. She will be based in Orlando and serve Central Florida. Desboyaux, who previously worked at Southern Realty Group, will be joined by team members Karina Martin and Adriana Morris and is known for record-setting luxury sales in the region, with an average sales price of $3.1 million. "I've built a strong and successful business independently, and now is the right moment to elevate it further with the support of a global luxury brokerage like Douglas Elliman," Desboyaux said.

In other Elliman news, the company announced this week that the mortgage platform it launched in July, Elliman Capital, has expanded to New York via an alliance with Associated Mortgage Bankers. The firm will serve New York City and surrounding communities. 

eXp Realty has appointed Andrea Marchesi as country leader for eXp Italy, tasking him with expanding the brokerage's presence and agent network across the Italian market. Marchesi's background spans international real estate, agency leadership and entrepreneurship; prior to joining eXp, he led the independent brokerage he founded in Milan in 2018. "After carefully analysing the business, I chose to invest all my energy into the development of eXp Italy," Marchesi said, citing the company's global scale and agent-first, cloud-based platform as key factors in his decision.

Christie's International Real Estate has launched a new affiliate in Argentina's Patagonia region, expanding its South American footprint with CIRE Patagonia, based in Bariloche. The firm is led by luxury broker Andrés Amos, who has worked in the Argentine market since 2007 and will focus on high-end residential properties and ranches across the region. "With the backing of Christie's International Real Estate, we now have the reach, tools and global credibility to connect buyers around the world to the investment opportunities they're searching for," Amos said, pointing to rising international interest in Patagonia luxury real estate.

Coldwell Banker's Dawn McKenna Group has expanded its footprint in Florida with a new presence in Destin and the 30A corridor, citing growing demand for luxury vacation and second-home properties. The nationally recognized team has added local agents Bonnie Hall and Maria McKenna to serve buyers and sellers along the Emerald Coast. "Our clients have been increasingly asking for our expertise here," Founder Dawn McKenna said, calling 30A "among the most desirable coastal destinations in the country."

"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.