BHGRE announces tri-state merger; Chicago indie rejoins REMAX 

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.

3 firms with over 1K combined agents merge under BHGRE banner 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate has announced the merger of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Maturo, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Dream Properties and Realty Connect USA. Together, the combined firms will operate as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Realty Connect.

The move brings together more than 1,100 affiliated agents across 22 offices spanning New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with the firm's footprint now stretching from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Westhampton, New York, according to a news release.

Albert Faiola and Frank Stimiloski, co-owners of BHGRE Maturo, will lead the combined company, while the leadership teams from Realty Connect USA and BHGRE Dream Properties will continue in local executive roles.

"This combination brings together experienced leadership across three states and creates a stronger platform for our affiliated agents and clients," Stimiloski said. "With more than 150 years of combined experience, we are well positioned to compete across our markets."

Affiliated agents will continue to have access to the BHGRE brand's training, marketing and luxury real estate resources, the company said.

E&V license partner expands to Palm Beach

Donald Brennan, an Engel & Völkers license partner and brokerage owner, has acquired Engel & Völkers Palm Beach, adding the South Florida firm to a portfolio that already includes operations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey and Long Island's North Fork.

Located in West Palm Beach, the new shop is home to 16 advisors and represents 23 active listings across South Florida. According to the company, the acquisition creates a network intended to serve clients who own homes and investment properties in both the Northeast and South Florida.

"Palm Beach has become an increasingly important extension of the markets we already serve," Brennan said in a news release. "Expanding into Palm Beach allows us to meet clients where they are and provide a seamless experience across the markets that shape their lives."

The Palm Beach shop is undergoing a renovation and is expected to reopen later this summer. The company said the expanded network will focus on cross-market collaboration, advisor development and referral opportunities as migration and investment activity continue to connect South Florida with Northeastern markets.

The Agency opens first office in Belize

The Agency has expanded its presence in Central America with the opening of its first office in Belize. The new location, which will operate as The Agency Belize, will be led by Managing Partners Dean Astren and Kim Astren.

Dean Astren brings more than 27 years of experience in engineering, construction and development, while Kim Astren has worked across Caribbean and Central American real estate markets, the company said in a news release.

The Agency, which now has more than 180 offices across 17 countries, painted the move as part of its broader international growth strategy. Belize has attracted growing interest from international buyers seeking lifestyle and investment opportunities in Central America, the company noted, with Founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky declaring that the timing of his firm's entrance into the country "couldn't be better."

"What draws buyers here is something you can't manufacture; pristine coastline, incredible biodiversity, a favorable investment climate, and a quality of life that is genuinely hard to find anywhere else in the region, let alone the world," Umansky said. "As international buyers continue to look beyond traditional luxury destinations for opportunity and lifestyle, Belize keeps rising to the top of that conversation."

ERA adds Idaho affiliate with growth ambitions

ERA Real Estate has added Idaho-based Hunter of Homes, LLC to its franchise network. The brokerage, founded in 2010 by Josh Austin, will now operate as Hunter of Homes ERA Powered.

The firm serves markets across southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon, with two offices in Idaho — in Star and New Plymouth — and one in Ontario, Oregon. Hunter of Homes specializes in residential real estate, new construction, acreage properties, investment transactions and agricultural properties, according to a news release.

Austin said the affiliation will allow the brokerage to maintain its local identity while gaining access to ERA's technology, marketing and professional development resources. The company plans to more than double its agent count over the next 18 months through recruiting and acquisition opportunities along the Interstate 84 corridor, including in markets near Boise, Twin Falls and in Logan, Utah.

"In our work, we like to view ourselves as neighbors helping neighbors, which is a sentiment that is also shared by the ERA brand," Austin said. "In my interactions with other ERA Real Estate professionals, I could feel they also knew that working in this industry is a privilege, and that's what made us choose ERA as our new family."

20-agent Chicago firm rejoins REMAX

Villager Realty, a Chicago-area brokerage founded in 1991, is bringing its full roster of 20 agents back into the REMAX network by joining REMAX Premier.

The move was led by Broker/Owner Dan Crouch, whose firm previously operated under the REMAX banner before becoming independent. During his time leading Villager as an indie brokerage, "there were limits to what I could provide," Crouch said in a news release. "I felt responsible for my agents and their success, and I knew we needed the right tools, education and brand support to move forward."

He credited his existing professional relationship with REMAX Premier Broker/Owner Janice Corley with helping facilitate the move and cited the value of brand recognition and expanded agent resources — including REMAX's technology, education programs and referral network — as factors behind the decision.

"The software suite, the education, the office meetings … these things matter," Crouch said. "Our agents now have the ability to grow deeper, learn from other offices and support each other in real time."

More brokerage news

Compass has welcomed luxury real estate advisor Jorge Salazar into the fold in the firm's South Miami office. The Miami native, who was formerly aligned with Douglas Elliman, brings over a decade of experience serving buyers, sellers, investors and developers across South Florida. He boasts a career sales volume of over $250 million, according to a news release, with over $60 million in closed sales in 2025. Salazar praised Compass' "combination of stronger marketing, smarter technology, and a network that elevates both my business and my clients," explaining that the decision to join Compass was "about growth" and felt like "a natural next step."

Douglas Elliman has announced that Aspen luxury agent Maureen Stapleton has joined the firm's Colorado operations and will be based out of Elliman's Aspen office. Stapleton brings over three decades of real estate experience with a focus on clients in Aspen, Snowmass, Snowmass Village, Aspen Highlands and the greater Roaring Fork Valley. Stapleton, who closed $99.25 million in sales in 2025, praised the firm's "luxury platform, global reach and commitment to excellence" in a news release, adding that these factors make the company "the ideal place for the next chapter of my business."

John R. Wood Christie's International Real Estate has appointed Jeffrey Piipponen to serve as broker of the Florida company's Marco Island office. Piipponen brings more than 20 years of brokerage leadership experience in Southwest Florida and the Florida Keys, working most recently as a sales manager for multiple offices at Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Cos., where he oversaw recruiting, retention and training initiatives. His experience "will be an asset" to the Marco Island office, President Corey McCloskey said, adding that Piipponen's background "aligns well with the needs of both our agents and customers."

Portside Real Estate Group has introduced its second mentorship cohort of 2026, expanding a program designed to support newly licensed agents through one-on-one coaching and professional development. The newest cohort includes Mikala Brown, Phoebe Carlson, Shelby Casey, Chris Faulhaber, Brianna Heffernan, Kim Huard and Katelyn Sevigney. Each agent has been paired with an experienced mentor from within the company. Portside said the program's growth reflects its ongoing focus on agent development across Maine and New Hampshire.

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.