The Agency nabs 1,200-agent affiliate; C21 expands in North Texas
The Agency’s tri-state expansion comes with 26 new offices. Plus, Howard Hanna acquires S. Carolina indie; Elliman enters Paris; Coldwell Banker adds $20M team.
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.
The Agency adds major tri-state operation
The Agency has added a large tri-state brokerage operation formerly affiliated with Christie's International Real Estate, bringing approximately 1,200 agents and 26 offices across New York, New Jersey and the Hudson Valley into the luxury boutique firm's network.
The incoming affiliate, led by Ilija Pavlovic, will operate as The Agency One Rock. It includes offices in New York City, Westchester County, the Hudson Valley and New Jersey. According to the company, the affiliation is one of the largest brokerage brand moves in the Northeast in recent years and expands The Agency's footprint in a region where it already maintains its global corporate headquarters and multiple offices.
In a news release, the company described the move as part of its strategy to attract independently operated brokerages seeking a national and global platform while maintaining their local identity and culture.
"While the industry consolidates around transaction volume and scale, we are growing around something more enduring: shared values, genuine culture, and a commitment to our agents' success," The Agency Founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky said, adding that this latest affiliation "is a perfect reflection of that philosophy."
Howard Hanna expands Lowcountry footprint
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services has partnered with Carolina Realty of the Lowcountry, adding the firm's Port Royal, South Carolina-based office and property management division to Howard Hanna's growing network of about 175 agents in the region.
Founded in 2011 by John Aust, Carolina Realty serves Beaufort and Jasper counties in South Carolina as well as coastal Georgia. Aust and 14 agents will join Howard Hanna Allen Tate as part of the transition, with the Port Royal office becoming the firm's sixth in the Lowcountry region.
Carolina Realty closed $430 million in sales in 2025, according to a news release. This acquisition marks Howard Hanna's third in the Lowcountry in less than two years, following its additions of Alliance Group Realty in 2024 and Coastal Properties in 2025.
"The real estate industry today looks very different than it did 20 years ago," Aust observed. "To stay current and give both agents and consumers access to the latest technology and resources, it was time to partner with a company who does just that."
Century 21 picks up North Texas affiliate
Century 21 Real Estate has expanded its presence in North Texas through the affiliation of Crew Real Estate, a Van Alstyne-based brokerage founded in 2022 by Broker/Owner Billy Medlock.
Now operating as Century 21 Crew, the firm serves residential and commercial clients across North Texas and also specializes in farm, ranch and land transactions.
"While growth is obviously a driving factor behind our reason for affiliating, I believe the brand can also significantly enhance what our current agents are capable of," Medlock said in a news release.
"Our company philosophy is rooted in the importance of uplifting our fellow agents and their clients," he added, "and the Century 21 brand provides us with the tools to more effectively achieve that."
Medlock plans to pursue future growth opportunities, including potential mergers and acquisitions. Located about 50 miles north of Dallas, Van Alstyne has experienced residential growth in recent years and has become a destination for buyers seeking access to the Dallas-Fort Worth region while maintaining a small-town setting, the company noted.
More brokerage news
Douglas Elliman has expanded its French alliance with the opening of a Paris office in the city's 7th arrondissement, extending a European growth initiative that began with the firm's global expansion efforts last year. The Paris office joins Elliman's existing presence in Bordeaux, the French Riviera, the French Alps, Monaco and Saint-Barthélemy. The company said its move into Paris will strengthen its position in the international luxury residential market and support clients seeking cross-border real estate opportunities.
Coldwell Banker Realty has welcomed agent Dean Ismajli and his four-member team, the Dean Group, into the fold at the firm's office in Boca Raton, Florida. Ismajli, who was previously an agent at Anacona Real Estate, focuses on luxury real estate, with clients ranging from influencers and celebrities to athletes and entrepreneurs. The team recorded nearly $20 million in sales during the past 12 months, according to a news release, and "is growing faster than I ever imagined," Ismajli said.
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.