Sotheby’s nabs $265M team; BHGRE M&A pushes agent count to 1,200
The Kogevinas Group moves to Sotheby’s Montecito. Plus, Exceed Realty joins BHGRE Realty Connect; Compass adds Osborne Group; REMAX grows in Texas; 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.
North Carolina firm eyes 'enhancement' with Compass deal
Osborne Real Estate Group has partnered with Compass, rebranding as Osborne Real Estate Group | Compass while maintaining its local leadership and operations in North Carolina's Catawba Valley.
The move, the brokerage said in a press release, combines its nearly 30-year presence in the area with Compass' tech stack, marketing platform, agent resources and national reach. Owner and Broker-in-Charge Garrett Osborne will continue leading the firm, noting that the partnership is intended to strengthen support for clients while creating additional opportunities for agent recruitment and business growth.
The firm will continue serving buyers, sellers, builders and developers throughout the Catawba Valley — and emphasized that its move to Compass is "not a replacement of Osborne Real Estate Group, but an enhancement of it."
"This partnership is about strengthening who we already are," Osborne said. "We are still locally led, locally connected, and deeply committed to this community. What changes is the level of tools, technology, marketing, and network strength we now have behind us."
BHGRE merger expands brand's presence in Pennsylvania
On the heels of its tri-state merger last month — a move that brought together three firms with roughly 1,100 agents — Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Realty Connect has announced an additional merger with Exceed Realty.
This latest M&A further extends the firm's footprint in Pennsylvania and brings its affiliated agent total to nearly 1,200.
Founded in 2019 by Robert Sulecki, Exceed Realty will now operate under the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Realty Connect banner. Sulecki, who has 20 years of real estate experience, will serve as the company's head of growth and operations in Pennsylvania, according to a news release.
"Agents are excited about gaining more resources, support, tools, learning opportunities, marketing, and brand support without losing the local culture and relationships they value," Sulecki said.
"The rare combination of local leadership, regional scale and national brand power gives them a stronger platform to grow their business and better serve their clients."
REMAX network grows in Texas
REMAX announced an expansion in the Lone Star State with the opening of REMAX Pointe in West Columbia. Broker/Owner Bridget Hensley will lead the new office, which will serve clients in the greater Houston area with an eye toward future growth.
The brokerage launched with nine agents who bring experience with first-time buyers, rural properties, investment opportunities and coastal homes.
Hensley joined REMAX in 2018, just a year into her real estate career, and later launched The Premier Group. Staying with the brand for this next chapter "was important" to her, Hensley said in a news release.
"The brand, tools and network support independent agents in building productive, scalable businesses, and I want to bring that to REMAX Pointe," Hensley said. "The name reflects our commitment to providing guidance, direction and purpose, whether we're helping clients through a major life transition or supporting agents as they build successful careers."
Sotheby's welcomes $265M team in California
The Kogevinas Group has joined Sotheby's International Realty in Montecito. The seven-member luxury team has a longstanding presence in California's Central Coast market and expands the firm's presence in the greater Santa Barbara area.
Led by Nancy Kogevinas, the team serves buyers and sellers across Montecito, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ojai and Santa Ynez. They closed $265.5 million in sales in 2025 and have surpassed $161 million in closed sales so far in 2026, according to a news release.
The team "has built an exceptional reputation through decades of market knowledge, trusted client relationships, and consistent results," Sotheby's Realty President and CEO Philip White said. "Their expertise strengthens our presence on California's Central Coast and further expands the depth of experience available across our global network."
As part of Sotheby's International Realty, The Kogevinas Group will have access to the brand's global referral network, marketing platform and technology resources, including the Compass International Holdings Home Platform. The team will continue operating from Sotheby's office in Montecito.
More brokerage news
eXp Realty has announced that Carmen Mercado, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals' former national president and former director of affordable lending at Freddie Mac, has joined the brokerage. Mercado, who began working in real estate in 2002, brings over two decades of industry experience. By aligning with eXp as an agent, the firm is "gaining an experienced leader" and "someone who's spent her whole career making other people better at this business," CEO Leo Pareja said.
The Agency has announced the opening of a new office in Montana. The Whitefish location adds to the boutique brokerage's existing presence in the state, with earlier offices established in Bozeman, Big Sky and Missoula. Managing Partner Joy Vance, who leads The Agency's Bozeman and Big Sky offices, will also oversee the Whitefish office, according to a news release. "What makes Whitefish different is that it's never felt like a resort town pretending to be something else," Vance said. "There's a different energy here, and it's resonating with a different kind of buyer."
HomeSmart has announced a new partnership with Rockstar Connect, a move the brokerage framed as an effort to support agent growth. The initiative will launch with HomeSmart North Carolina, where recently appointed Broker-in-Charge Aaron Peeler will collaborate with the networking event platform's founder and chief visionary officer, Steven David Elliot, on agent outreach and development before the program expands to additional markets. HomeSmart said the partnership is intended to help agents build local business relationships through in-person networking events while creating opportunities to connect with prospective agents, service providers and community organizations.
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.