Brokerage Beat: News from The Agency, ERA, Side, Christie's, LeadingRE and E&V 

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 opens new office in Canada

Real estate brokerage The Agency recently announced that it has opened its first office in Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada.

It's the firm's 15th office in Canada, bringing The Agency's global count to 78 offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.

Managing partners Paige and Corey Cyr are leading the new Fort McMurray office. Paige Cyr began her real estate career with Coldwell Banker in 2017. Prior to joining The Agency, she and her team were named the No. 1 team in Canada with Coldwell Banker for small teams of 1-3 agents, and she was consistently ranked in the top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. 

Paige Cyr and her co-managing partner, Corey Cyr, are also home renovators and were winners on HGTV's "Battle on the Beach" beachfront home renovation competition. 

"The Agency is making its mark across prominent destinations in Canada, and our office in Fort McMurray will further differentiate the brand from other renowned brokerages in the region," said Corey Cyr. "As a long-time resident of Fort McMurray, I am thrilled to be leading a team in one of the most special markets in the country."

ERA Real Estate adds office in Aspen area

Rimkus Real Estate recently became affiliated with ERA Real Estate.

Now known as Rimkus Real Estate ERA Powered, the brokerage serves an area in Colorado that includes Aspen and the resort city Glenwood Springs. Established in 2011, the company specializes in high-end luxury sales and rentals, according to a news release. It is led by Tobias Rimkus and Dyna Mei Sanchez Rimkus.

Dyna, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, obtained her broker license in 2011 and serves as broker/owner. She is also licensed in Florida and Texas and previously served as director of the Aspen Board of Realtors. She works in the local Spanish-speaking community teaching homebuying seminars and hosts a Spanish-language radio show.

Tobias and Dyna intend to increase market share by opening another office in the area and are also looking to open a satellite office in Houston.

"The next step for our brokerage is expansion. Building on our established foothold here in the valley, we will look to thoughtful growth that aligns with our strengths and market opportunities," said Tobias.

Side adds two new brokerage partnerships

Two boutique brokerages recently partnered with the real estate brokerage platform Side.

Home and Slate Real Estate in the Lake Tahoe community of Truckee, California joined Side from Corcoran. Founded by Christy Morrison, Home and Slate has four other agents that had a combined $59 million in production last year. Morrison has more than 24 years of experience and more than $800 million in career sales.

According to the company's website, Morrison founded Home and Slate because she wanted the freedom to  use the software, methods and systems that were best for her clients and her team. 

Morrison spent a portion of her early career with Keller Williams, and was most recently with Corcoran Global Living. Global Living's franchise agreement with The Corcoran Group was terminated in December 2022. 

Also partnering with Side is Park46 Real Estate based in the East Bay suburb of Pleasanton, California. The firm is operated by Susan Schall and Stephany Jenkins, who were both previously at Venture Sotheby's International Realty. 

Together, Schall and Jenkins have nearly four decades of real estate experience and are top producers in Alameda County, with combined career real estate sales topping $1 billion. 

The company serves the Tri-Valley area, which includes Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon and Danville. Park46 also has an agent in Santa Cruz County.

The firm's name is a nod to the city of Pleasanton, which is home to 46 parks — more parks per capita than anywhere in the country, according to Jenkins.

Christie's team closes record-breaking sale

A home sale in one of the country's richest neighborhoods has set a record for the year so far.

A furnished single-family home in the Port Royal neighborhood of Naples, Florida recently sold for $46.8 million. 

Bill Earls and Larry Lappin of The Earls | Lappin Team of John R. Wood Christie's International Real Estate represented both the buyer and the seller of the property. According to a news release, the sale was the most expensive so far this year in Collier County and the fifth-highest ever for the area.

With a median price of over $17 million, the Port Royal neighborhood is one of the most expensive in the U.S. With street names like Rum Row and Galleon Drive, the community has a pirate theme and is filled with Mediterranean-style estate homes.

Engel & Völkers unveils new branding

Engel & Völkers Americas recently unveiled new branding during its annual conference, including a new logo and marketing materials.

Company founder Christian Völkers said the new branding "combines both heritage and modernity. Legacy and innovation. These elements will continue to drive the brand forward, showcasing who we've always been, now at an even higher level."

"The Engel & Völkers brand is more than just a logo," added Katelyn Castellano, senior vice president of marketing, Engel & Völkers Americas. "With this refinement, we've been able to retain our brand identity and celebrate our heritage while further carving out our competitive edge in the market and enabling our network to continue marketing themselves and their listings with the utmost distinction."

LeadingRE Adds New American Funding to its network

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World recently added mortgage lender New American Funding (NAF) to its program of preferred business resources.

LeadingRE's global network includes 550 real estate firms. NAF offers a variety of mortgage loan options, helping brokerages cater to the diverse needs of clients.

"NAF is a company that values diversity and inclusivity, and it shows in their commitment to providing a wide range of loan programs and their dedication to serving underserved communities. With a strong focus on customer service and a management team with decades of experience, NAF is a top choice for anyone seeking a reliable and trustworthy mortgage lender," said Jeff Kennedy, LeadingRE's vice president of sales and partnerships.