C21 adds Windy City affiliate; Real, Howard Hanna nab new teams 

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.

Howard Hanna adds $180M team, agent with 'reputation for excellence'

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services has announced the addition of a new team in Pennsylvania and a new agent in New York.

In Pennsylvania: The Jen Mascaro Team has joined Howard Hanna's office in Murrysville, bringing a five-agent group with nearly 850 career transactions and $180 million in total sales volume to the nation's largest independent, privately held brokerage.

The Jen Mascaro Team was founded in 2019 by Jen Mascaro, who serves as team lead. The group, which was previously affiliated with Coldwell Banker, works with clients across the greater Pittsburgh area, including those in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.

Team members Dana Wood, Melanie Firestone, Cassie Carilli and McKenzie Sciarretti are joining Howard Hanna alongside Mascaro, according to a news release.

Mascaro said the move reflects an alignment in values and a preference for local ownership.

"Howard Hanna's technology and tools are among the best in the industry, which allows me to provide an even better experience for my clients," Mascaro said. "Overall, it felt like the right environment to continue growing my business while staying true to my standards of service and integrity."

In New York: This week, Howard Hanna also welcomed Maureen Lagarde to its Garden City office. Lagarde, an agent with over 10 years of experience and $30 million in closed sales in 2025, was previously aligned with Compass.

Lagarde's "reputation for excellence, professionalism and deep market expertise aligns perfectly" with Howard Hanna's "culture and vision," said Whitney LaCosta, broker/owner of Howard Hanna Coach Realtors.

C21 expands in 2 states

This week, the Century 21 brand picked up a new affiliate in Illinois and announced an acquisition in South Carolina.

In Illinois: Century 21 Real Estate has expanded in the Chicago area with the affiliation of Harthside Realtors, Inc., a Midlothian-based brokerage that has operated since 1970.

Now doing business as Century 21 Harthside Realtors, the firm is led by Leonard Feil, a real estate professional since 1992 who became owner of the company in 2000. Feil oversees a team that handles residential and commercial transactions across Southwest Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

The brokerage plans to leverage the Century 21 brand's technology, marketing, lead generation, learning and coaching resources, with an eye toward future growth — including possibly opening an office in Indiana, according to a news release.

"Harthside has been in business since 1970, and the Century 21 brand followed only one year later," Feil noted. "Both share one major theme that has helped us last these past 50 years, and that's treating every client as family, not as a transaction."

It was the brand's "human touch" that caught Feil's attention. In moving forward with this affiliation, "I'm confident that our company will continue to uphold our values and serve families for generations to come," he added.

In South Carolina: Century 21 803 Realty has acquired The Real Estate Brokerage, a boutique firm specializing in residential, commercial and investment properties.

The firm, which was founded in 2008 by Dustin Johns, will now operate as Century 21 803. Moving forward, Johns will focus on sales and commercial division expansion efforts.

"We're excited to bring our team into an environment with cutting-edge technology, expanded support, and a brokerage that thinks as big as we do," Johns said in a news release.

Together, the companies now boast five offices and nearly 100 agents. Century 21 803 Realty Founder Tim Williams, who has known Johns for a long time, said he "knew there was a tremendous opportunity for growth in the region's commercial market, while also creating efficiencies and synergies on the residential front" when Johns first suggested the partnership.

"With the backing of a powerful brand, we're excited to gain more market share in the Midlands," Williams added.

Real adds luxury Texas team

The Real Brokerage has added Haley Garcia and the Garcia Real Estate Group to its expanding footprint in the Greater Houston area.

The luxury-focused team will align with Real Luxury, the brokerage's division supporting agents focused on high-end properties. Garcia Real Estate Group generates about $200 million in annual sales, has a 99% closing ratio and sources most of its business from referrals, according to a news release.

Garcia, a 25-year Houston market veteran, previously founded a boutique brokerage that was acquired in 2011 — two years before she launched Garcia Real Estate Group. She also founded Compass' Woodlands office, co-founded the agent coaching company Impact Elite Coaching and was most recently affiliated with Keller Williams.

Garcia "has built an extraordinary business rooted in excellence, service and community impact," Real Chairman and CEO Tamir Poleg said. "She embodies the caliber of agent we are proud to support through Real Luxury, and we're excited to welcome Haley and her team as they scale their brand on a national platform."

Christie's affiliate snaps up 11-agent firm

John R. Wood Christie's International Real Estate has acquired the Punta Gorda-based Walker Realty Group in a move that expands the Southwest Florida firm's reach into Charlotte County.

Walker Realty Group brings 11 agents — including founder Leanne Walker, who will stay on with the firm. The Punta Gorda office will be led by Roger Morris, a broker based in Charlotte County, according to a news release.

The acquisition "marks an important step" in John R. Wood Christie's efforts to establish a presence in the area, Morris said.

"By building on Walker Realty Group's existing office and local relationships, we're creating a strong foundation to serve buyers and sellers throughout the Punta Gorda market," he added.

President Corey McCloskey also praised Walker Realty Group for establishing "a strong presence" in the area, adding that the addition "strengthens our reach in Charlotte County and supports our continued growth across Southwest Florida."

More brokerage news

Portside Real Estate Group has welcomed Ali Smith into the fold in Portland, Maine. Smith, who worked as a family outreach therapist before beginning her career in real estate, said in a news release that her background helps her "guide clients through life's transitions." She brings "an incredible depth of empathy, professionalism, and heart" to her work, noted Greater Portland Agent Relations Manager Alyssa Bouthot, adding that Smith's "background in social work, combined with her energy, dedication, and strong client advocacy, makes her a wonderful addition" to the Portside team.

Realty ONE Group has announced the opening of a new office in Goodyear, Arizona. The move demonstrates the firm's continued investment in the Phoenix area, which Realty ONE noted in a press announcement is experiencing sustained housing and population growth. The new office will be led by Managing Broker Leah Wolfe-Kraemer.

Ivester Jackson Christie's International Real Estate has opened two new offices in luxury North Carolina markets: one in Boone and another at Bald Head Island. The additions bring the firm's statewide office total to eight, according to a news release. Sarah Lyons Berry will serve as broker-in-charge at the Boone office, a role that Traci Walker Blair will hold at Bald Head Island. Both markets "are highly desirable destinations that attract buyers from across the United States and beyond," said Reed Jackson, the firm's managing partner.

Brent Celek Real Estate, the firm led by former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Brent Celek, has joined Keller Williams Media. The partnership "brings together shared values, long-standing relationships, and a commitment to doing business the right way," according to a company announcement. The move "aligns perfectly" with the formerly independent firm's "goals for long-term growth and serving our clients at the highest level," Celek told VISTA Today.