FirstTeam pushes US expansion forward; REMAX enters Libya 

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.

Corcoran affiliate grows in Massachusetts

Corcoran Property Advisors has now expanded to Cape Cod with the opening of a new office on Main Street. The Corcoran Group affiliate, which already has offices in Boston and Cohasset, has handled multiple sales on Cape Cod since its launch two years ago.

Broker/Owners Brian Dougherty and Nick Robert will lend "their signature, service-first advisory approach to clients" as leaders of the new office in Osterville, according to a news release.

Dougherty noted that there are already "tremendous synergies" between clients on Cape Cod and those in Boston — and backed by the Corcoran brand, "our portfolio of properties are provided with meaningful and relevant visibility across key high-end residential markets."

Moving into Cape Cod "allows us to deepen our commitment to clients who seek a brokerage that understands both the legacy and the luxury" of the area, Dougherty added.

"Our team has been fortunate to represent some of the Cape and Island's most extraordinary properties, and this new space will serve as a true home base for continued success across the region," he said.

FirstTeam enters fourth state

FirstTeam has announced the opening of its first office in Arizona. The launch comes less than a year after the California-based independent brokerage began putting its national expansion plans in motion, and marks FirstTeam's official entrance in Arizona following openings last year in Idaho and Washington state.

Located in Scottsdale, the new office will be led by Janelle Flaherty, a former Sotheby's Global Real Estate Advisor, in partnership with Designated Broker Dan Peden. In a news release, Flaherty said joining FirstTeam allows her "to truly own and grow my business" while retaining access to "the leadership, infrastructure, and marketing needed to compete at the highest level." 

Flaherty, who began working in real estate in 2006, also said that amid the industry's broader consolidation trend, FirstTeam "offers the rare combination of independent autonomy and enterprise-level support," which is something she "was looking for at this stage of my career."

Peden, whose focus will be on development and both commercial and luxury properties, highlighted the firm's "proven reputation" and "clear point of view."

"Their Behind the Agent philosophy, paired with sophisticated, nimble marketing and direct access to leadership, creates a powerful platform for agents looking to serve high-end clients," Peden said.

The Agency opens sixth office in the Centennial State

The Agency has announced the opening of a new office in Grand Junction, its sixth location in Colorado. The expansion follows the brokerage's launches earlier this year in Texas, Oregon and West Virginia, and 27 total office launches in 2025, according to a news release.

The Agency Grand Junction will be led by Managing Partners Dave Kimbrough and Jan Kimbrough Miller, both regional experts who specialize in residential and commercial real estate, the company said.

The area "has become a magnet for people who refuse to compromise," Dave Kimbrough said in the announcement. "We've built our business around understanding what draws buyers here: it's not just the 300 days of sunshine or proximity to world-class recreation, it's the authentic community and quality of life you simply can't replicate in Colorado's larger metros."

The Agency Founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky noted that the Grand Junction market "is experiencing strong, sustainable demand driven by lifestyle migration, economic diversity, and long-term growth fundamentals," adding that his firm's move into the area represents a "strategic next chapter in our expansion across Colorado."

REMAX announces 2 international 'milestones'

REMAX announced this week that it has awarded a new master franchise in Libya and is also welcoming the addition of REMAX 1st Realty in Baku, Azerbaijan. The expansions are "milestones" for the REMAX brand that underscore its "ongoing global presence in more than 120 countries and territories," the company said in a news release.

In Libya: Region Owners Zyead Ghattour and Alhareth Ghattour will lead the Tripoli-based REMAX Libya while Ali Milad will oversee daily operations as regional director.

The new master franchise will leverage the brand's AI tech, global network and operational systems to shape the industry and enhance its transparency in the region, the company said.

"This is the moment to establish a solid foundation, introduce true global standards and grow alongside the market as it matures," Alhareth Ghattour said, adding that "the timing is exactly right" for REMAX to enter Libya now.

"REMAX represents a chance to introduce global professionalism to a market that's evolving and full of long‑term potential," Alhareth Ghattour said.

In Azerbaijan: REMAX 1st Realty is led by İdris Cengiz, for whom REMAX's reputation of professionalism was a draw.

Cengiz, who has 16 years of construction industry experience and six years of experience in investment consulting work within real estate, said the Azerbaijan market "is undergoing rapid growth with increasing urban development, foreign investment and a young, dynamic workforce" — and it needs "international standards, reliable education and structured systems."

"REMAX offers exactly the type of model that can elevate the expectations of agents and consumers alike," Cengiz added.

More brokerage news

@properties Christie's International Real Estate has announced three executive appointments:

• Jim Barcelona, who joined @properties in 2018 and has worked in residential real estate since 2013, has been promoted to EVP of brokerage services following the recent retirement of Thomas Downing. 

• Mike Long, who has worked in the industry for over 25 years, will take over as VP of brokerage services for Downers Grove and Naperville, the role formerly filled by Barcelona. 

• Kevin Rynes, who has been VP of agent development for the past two years, will now serve as VP of brokerage services for the firm's Lake Forest and Elmhurst offices.

"Their expertise and leadership strengthen an already exceptional team and ensure our agents have the support they need to thrive," @properties Christie's International Real Estate Co-founder and Co-CEO Thad Wong said of the appointments.

Portside Real Estate Group has welcomed two new agents in Maine. Cathy Bame is joining the indie brokerage in York County, while Kelly Walker will focus on the state's Greater Portland region, according to a news release. Bame, who specializes in luxury marketing, worked as a teacher and in physical therapy before beginning her real estate career.

Walker, who brings a background in business finance and real estate appraisal, is "a natural fit for Portside" due in part to her "professionalism, expertise, and dedication to her clients," according to Alyssa Bouthot, Portside's agent relations manager for Greater Portland. Catie Seavey, the firm's agent relations manager for York County, similarly praised Bame's talent as an agent, saying that she "brings both heart and professionalism to everything she does."

Compass International Holdings (CIH) said six of its brands are partnering with Assurant Home Warranty as part of an effort to build and enhance long-term client relationships. All six brands — Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, ERA, Corcoran and Sotheby's International Realty — previously operated under the Anywhere Real Estate umbrella prior to its acquisition by Compass. "Working with Assurant gives agents the tools to provide added value for their clients," CIH CEO of Integrated Services Don Casey said in a news release. "This approach allows agents to confidently stand behind an offering that supports home buyers and helps strengthen relationships beyond the transaction."

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.