Howard Hanna enters Alabama; C21 adds 100-agent affiliate 

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 expands into 19th state

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is expanding into Alabama through a partnership with ARC Realty and Capstone Realty, adding 875 agents working in 12 offices in Birmingham, Montgomery and Huntsville.

ARC Realty and Capstone Realty joined forces in 2022, with ARC focused on central Alabama and Capstone focused in the north. This new deal brings the two brands — which together recorded $2.8 billion in sales volume across approximately 6,000 transactions in 2025 — into Howard Hanna's national network. Both will retain their local leadership and team structures, according to a news release.

ARC is led by Beau Bevis, who said the Howard Hanna "partnership is about elevating what we've built." Darrin Hasley, who leads Capstone, added that it "allows us to put greater resources directly into our agents' hands while preserving the local commitment and agile mindset that got us here"

Agents will gain access to Howard Hanna's proprietary technology, digital tools, marketing capabilities and national referral network, along with the firm's integrated mortgage, title and insurance services. The partnership also introduces the brokerage's Money Back Guarantee and other consumer programs to Alabama.

"ARC and Capstone have built exceptional businesses with strong leadership, deep local relationships and a track record of success," Howard Hanna CEO Howard "Hoby" Hanna IV said. "Together, we can build on what they've accomplished, bringing the strength of our national network and resources to create even greater opportunities for their agents, clients, and communities."

Century 21 adds Palm Coast brokerage to Florida network

Century 21 has expanded its presence along Florida's Atlantic coast with the addition of its new affiliate Realty Exchange LLC, a Palm Coast brokerage with nearly 100 agents.

Now operating as Century 21 Realty Exchange, the firm was founded 20 years ago by Julie Sabine, who will continue leading the firm with Co-owner Dave Petkovsek. The brokerage serves Flagler, Volusia, St. Johns and Putnam counties and holds the global brand's Fine Homes & Estates designation for luxury properties, according to a news release.

Through its new affiliation, the brokerage's agents will gain access to Century 21's technology, marketing, lead generation, training and coaching resources, along with specialized marketing support for luxury listings. Sabine and Petkovsek said they plan to prioritize agent development and recruiting, with expansion possible moving forward.

"We're not chasing scale for its own sake. We're looking for agents and markets that fit our culture: putting relationships over transactions, doing the right thing, and finding the win-win for all parties involved," Petkovsek said.

Aligning with the Century 21 brand "gives us the national platform and tools to compete for top talent in new markets, while maintaining the local, family-based leadership that's always set us apart," Petkovsek added.

ERA firm expands in North Carolina

ERA Live Moore, a 600-plus-agent firm that operates primarily in the Carolinas, has acquired Blue Door Group Real Estate, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina, brokerage that will retain its local identity while gaining access to the larger firm's resources, the companies announced.

Founded in 2020 by Jodi Tate, Blue Door Group's leadership team also includes Henry Beeson, Elizabeth Nance, Julie Campbell and Billy Bjorklund. Tate previously launched ERA Live Moore's Winston-Salem office in 2016 before establishing Blue Door Group.

Under the agreement, the firm will operate as Blue Door Group Real Estate, an ERA Live Moore Company. Its agents will gain access to ERA Live Moore's professional support, coaching, technology and business development resources, according to a news release.

"The beauty of this renewed partnership is that we will continue to cultivate top tier talent with the unwavering support of a highly respected leadership team, complemented by an industry- leading product suite and technology stack," Tate said, adding that she is "thrilled" to reunite with the ERA Live Moore leadership team.

ERA Live Moore is led by Broker/Owner Tania Moore, who said Tate "will play a critical role" in the firm's expansion, "and I couldn't be more excited to welcome her back home."

Coldwell Banker Apex acquires $160M indie

Coldwell Banker Apex, Realtors has announced its acquisition of Leslie Cain Realty, an independent firm based in eastern Texas with operations focused on clients in Tyler and Lindale.

Broker-Owner Leslie Cain founded Leslie Cain Realty in 2014 and has in the years since closed over $1.2 billion in sales, according to a post on her Facebook page. Cain said she will remain with the firm as a broker associate.

In her post, Cain recalled that she initially aspired to have "five or six agents working alongside me" with a shared vision and a goal of building "a recognizable brand."

"We surpassed that dream in our very first year," she noted. The firm now has about 50 agents and closes about $160 million in annual sales volume, according to a news release.

"Most exciting" about her firm's move to Coldwell Banker Apex is "WHO we're joining," Cain wrote. The firm "is an incredible woman-owned brokerage led by Lori Arnold, a broker whose heart for her agents and clients reminds me so much of my own," she added. Arnold "has the heart of a boutique brokerage owner with the resources of a much larger company. And that combination is exactly what made this decision feel right."

More brokerage news

Christie's International Real Estate First Coast has appointed Erin Spalding to serve as managing broker and vice president of growth. Spalding most recently served as managing broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty's Ponte Vedra Beach and Nocatee office. In her new role at First Coast, she will collaborate with President and CEO Corey Hasting and Managing Broker and VP of Agent Development Jimmy Lewis to help the firm grow across northeastern Florida, the firm said in a news release.

Portside Real Estate Group has announced the addition of four agents to its New Hampshire team: Teresa Hassay, Shari Melville, Jennifer Worden and Diane Blanton. Each brings "valuable experience and a unique perspective," said Christina Frost, Portside's agent relations manager for the state. Blanton, who brings 27 years of industry experience, said in a news release that the firm "immediately stood out to me for its professional marketing, strong leadership, and the fact that it's a woman-owned company," adding that the firm's recent partnership with Howard Hanna makes for "an exciting combination, and one I wanted to be part of."

Thrive Realty Co. announced this week that it recently opened a new office in northeastern Ohio. The location, which will be led by Broker Natasia Metz, will serve clients in Summit County and the greater Akron and Cleveland areas. In a news release, Thrive Founder and Owner Jessica Woodbeck said her firm is "bringing the same training, the same standards and the same support we built" in Michigan, where the company is based, and is "here to be part" of the local community. "At Thrive Ohio, we're committed to offering outside-the-box training for agents who are tired of hearing the same stories in the same sessions," Metz said, adding, "We do things differently, giving our agents the support, resources and leverage they need to succeed."

The Agency has announced the addition of a new office in Spokane, expanding the firm's presence in Washington state beyond its existing locations in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Camano Island, Port Townsend and Vancouver. Managing Partners Greg Link Jr. and Bobby Carmody, who lead The Agency's Coeur d'Alene office, will also oversee operations in Spokane. The city "has everything people are searching for right now: space, affordability, four true seasons and a community that really shows up for each other," Founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky said. "It's a market with a strong foundation and room to grow, offering an exciting opportunity for a brand like The Agency to make a meaningful impact."

Douglas Elliman has welcomed Janet Moore, an agent with over 21 years of industry experience, to its office in St. Petersburg, Florida. Moore has closed nearly 400 transactions over the course of her career and recorded over $200 million in sales in the past 11 years alone, according to a news release. She joins Douglas Elliman from Premier Sotheby's International Real Estate, where she spent the past eight years. Moore said she was drawn to the firm "because of the strength of the luxury brand and its global reach," adding, "I saw an opportunity to grow my business while offering my clients access to a broader network."

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.