SERHANT goes big in the Golden State; C21 Circle enters Michigan
The luxury firm made a grand entrance in California with its launch in five cities. Plus, Lamacchia adds Bay State team; REMAX Premier grows in Chicago; more.
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.
SERHANT enters the Golden State
SERHANT has moved into California with the launch of new brokerage operations in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Orange County and Tahoe. The New York-based company, which began expanding beyond its home state in 2023, now operates in 16 states.
SERHANT Founder and CEO Ryan Serhant said the move is "a natural next step" for his company, which made its debut on this year's Mega 1000 ranking of top brokerages, coming in at No. 26 with more than $7 billion in 2025 sales volume.
"We're not expanding for the sake of it, we're expanding because the market is demanding it," he said. "California is one of the most dynamic real estate markets in the world, and we're excited to bring a model that's built differently."
SERHANT California is led by Ezra Leyton, a 23-year industry veteran who serves as managing director and principal broker for California operations. Leyton will be based out of the firm's Beverly Hills location.
Sixteen agents who collectively closed over $2 billion in sales in the past 12 months are also joining as founding members. Those agents are:
In Los Angeles: Ben Belack (who will also serve as executive vice president for California), Courtney Poulos and Patrick Michael
In Orange County: Annie Clougherty, Todd Davis, Jorge Anzaldi, Greyson Benson and Brooks Bailey
In San Diego: Malena Boetel, Amber Welch, Manuel Sanchez and Robyn Flint
In San Francisco: Lisa Smith, Milana Ostroy and Viviana Cherman
In Tahoe: Amie Quirarte
Century 21 Circle now operating in 4 states
Century 21 Circle has entered the Michigan market with a new office in Sparta. The firm now operates nearly 40 offices with about 1,000 agents in four states, including Illinois, Indiana and Florida and Michigan.
The move extends the brokerage's Midwest footprint following its expansion in Illinois earlier this year and includes the addition of the Kelley Real Estate Group.
The new Michigan location will serve West Michigan, reflecting increased cross-state activity among buyers and agents in markets around Lake Michigan, the company said in a news release. The Kelley team — which includes Felicia Kelley, Kyle Kelley and Rachael Austin — brings local market experience and an established client base.
"This isn't just growth for us — it's momentum," Century 21 Circle CEO Melissa Archer-Wirtz said. "We're very deliberate about where we go and who we partner with, and Michigan has always been part of the bigger picture."
Felicia Kelley said her team "has always been rooted in relationships, community, and doing what's right for our clients" and that joining Century 21 Circle "allows us to expand on that foundation with the support of a globally recognized brand, innovative tools, and a leadership team that truly aligns with our vision for growth."
4-decade industry vet joins REMAX Premier
REMAX Premier has added Chicago-area agent Sharon Rizzo and her team, The Rizzo Group, to its new office in Lake Forest. The addition strengthens the firm's presence in the North Shore luxury market and follows its acquisition of five former Compass offices in the area last fall.
Rizzo brings over four decades of experience across residential, development and investment real estate — a career that "speaks for itself," REMAX Premier Founder and CEO Janice Corley said in a news release. "Her depth of experience and long-standing relationships across the market align seamlessly with our luxury North Shore offices."
The Rizzo Group will focus on luxury homes and investment properties across Chicago and the North Shore as the brokerage continues its expansion push in the region. For the team, joining REMAX Premier "allows us to elevate the level of service and exposure we provide our clients," Rizzo said.
"The strength of the REMAX brand, combined with REMAX Premier's leadership and collaborative culture, creates an exceptional platform for our team and the clients we serve," Rizzo added.
Lamacchia adds new firm and agent education tools
Lamacchia Realty has expanded its presence in Bristol County with the addition of Rosewood Realty in Somerset, Massachusetts. The acquisition follows another recent expansion by the brokerage in Connecticut.
Broker-owner Eric Alberto will join Lamacchia's Fall River office, bringing an established team of 16 agents who have experience across the region.
Since its founding in 2013, Rosewood has focused on community-based service and agent education. As part of the deal, Rosewood Real Estate School will be integrated into Lamacchia's training platform, with Alberto continuing to lead instruction. The move adds pre-licensing and continuing education capabilities as the brokerage continues to invest in agent development.
Alberto expressed excitement about the acquisition in a news release, saying that Lamacchia's tools and tech "are second to none and will put our agents in a position to grow, succeed, and most importantly better serve their clients."
Lamacchia Realty COO Jackie Louh added that it is "also an especially exciting time as we now have a real estate school," with the firm now poised "to invest in agents at every stage of their careers."
More brokerage news
Portside Real Estate Group has welcomed Giselle Caridi into the fold in Maine. Caridi, an agent with over a decade of real estate experience in multiple markets, will be based out of the brokerage's Kennebunk office. Caridi cited Portside's "strong reputation for professionalism, collaboration" and its "client-first approach" as key reasons for her decision to align with the firm, adding that its company culture "aligns with how I believe real estate should be practiced with integrity, intention, and a commitment to delivering a refined client experience."
Brown Harris Stevens announced that Andres Perea-Garzon, an agent with over 14 years of experience and $2 billion in career sales, is joining its New York office on Park Avenue. Perea-Garzon was most recently with The Corcoran Group, where he served as a senior lead member on a top team, according to a news release. "At this stage in my career, I was seeking a brokerage that offers a more tailored, luxury-centric approach, one that operates with the feel of an independent firm while still delivering exceptional local and global reach, supported by best-in-class resources," Perea-Garzon said, adding that Brown Harris Stevens "provides that balance."
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.