C21 adds NYC affiliate; Coldwell Banker, Compass gain teams 

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.

C21 gains ground in NYC with Queens firm

North Star Realty Associates has affiliated with Century 21 and will now operate as Century 21 North Star. The move expands the global brand's presence in the New York City metro area.

Based in Queens, the brokerage was established in 2012 and is led by Broker-Owner Jayne Boehler. Its agents serve clients across New York City's five boroughs and Long Island, with most of their business coming from referrals, according to a news release.

Through the affiliation, Boehler and her agents will have access to Century 21's technology, marketing, lead generation, training and coaching resources. Boehler said she plans to use the tools to improve customer relationship management and expand the firm to more than 100 independent agents.

The move marks "an important next step in the growth of our brokerage," Boehler said. "We have always focused on treating people the way we would want to be treated, and that philosophy will continue to guide us as part of the Century 21 brand. With these resources and referrals now available to us, we look forward to developing new talent and creating new relationships." 

Coldwell Banker adds 5-member Florida team

The Benge Redding team has joined Coldwell Banker Realty from William Raveis Real Estate, establishing its base at the brokerage's Siesta Key office in Sarasota, Florida.

Led by Samantha Benge and Keith Redding, the five-member team focuses on residential and luxury properties in Siesta Key, Sarasota and Longboat Key. Its services also include development and commercial real estate, along with a sports division. The team has completed more than $700 million in transactions and ranks in the top 1% of Realtors in the area, according to a news release.

The move follows Redding's 2021 sale of Key Solutions Real Estate — which grew to over 60 employees and agents after its founding in 2009 — to William Raveis. Now, the Benge Team said it is entering Coldwell Banker Realty with about $25 million in its pipeline.

The team's transition to Coldwell Banker was "an easy decision" to make, Redding said, because it can now gain "extensive global exposure to our listings" from "one of the premier brands in real estate."

Compass increases Minnesota footprint with new office, team

Compass is expanding its Minnesota operations with a new office in Excelsior, the addition of a six-agent team and a new sales leader for the state. Another new sales leader will oversee the brokerage's operations in Wisconsin.

The Excelsior office adds a physical hub for agents serving the Lake Minnetonka area and surrounding communities. Landing Collective, a team that recorded more than $65 million in sales volume over the past 12 months, brings a combined 71 years of industry experience and serves clients in Wayzata, Lake Minnetonka, Excelsior, Edina, Minneapolis and nearby communities, according to a news release.

Moving forward, Chris Muellenbach will serve as sales manager in Minnesota while Jen Gamez will oversee the brokerage's sales efforts in Wisconsin. Both will focus on agent support, business development and local operations, the company said.

"This expansion marks a major milestone in our commitment to supporting agents and deepening our presence across the Midwest," Compass Regional VP Fran Broude said. "Bringing together the unmatched expertise of Landing Collective and our dynamic new sales managers positions us to deliver an even higher level of service."

More brokerage news

The Beverly Hills Estates has welcomed Barron Hilton and Tessa Hilton into the fold. The former Hilton Hilton co-CEOs are leaving Compass after spending the past 13 months aligned with the mega brokerage. The duo have reported over $400 million in career sales, according to a company announcement, and "bring a proven track record, an influential network, and a shared vision for the future of luxury real estate." Having previously worked with Beverly Hills Estates Co-founders Branden Williams and Rayni Williams, their move is more of "a homecoming" than "a career move," the brokerage said.

HomeSmart NEXT has forged a business partnership between its founder, Phil Sexton, and industry veteran Dane Briggs. Briggs brings over 20 years of real estate experience to his leadership role at the team and has worked with Sexton previously. In his new role, Briggs will prioritize the development of agent workflows, including how AI can play a role as the team seeks opportunities for its agents to "be more successful," Sexton said in a news release. Briggs is "a multi-faceted real estate talent" who "has both run a brokerage and launched — then sold — a proptech startup," Sexton said, adding that Briggs is "fully on board with our mission."

Howard Hanna Portside Real Estate Group has added Melissa Winter to its growing agent roster in Massachusetts. Winter brings nearly 15 years of industry experience and is passionate about helping first-time homebuyers, according to a news release. "What drew me to Portside was the energy, the people, and the opportunity for growth," Winter said. "There's so much potential here, and I'm excited to be part of it."

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.