Brokerage Beat: News from Real, The Agency, Side 

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 Real Brokerage expands in Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Southeast Philadelphia

The Artisan Group, with more than 20 agents on its Southeast Philadelphia-based team, has joined The Real Brokerage.

The team is led by Justin Heath, Matt Marino and Michael Saulino, who brought their team to Real from Compass.

"Real truly focuses on growing organic partnerships and allowing the agent to choose their own path to success," Heath said. "The opportunity to provide our agents with avenues to passive income was unbeatable."

"Most agents do not go to the lengths that we do in marketing our clients' homes, and embracing the community like we do," added Marino. "We embrace technology, and our expertise in social media marketing gives us an unparalleled advantage." 

The Artisan Group has been bringing in close to $100 million in revenue annually, the company said.

West Virginia

In addition to entering the Southeast Philadelphia market, Real is launching its first office in West Virginia.

With this latest expansion, The Real Brokerage is now operating in 48 states and the District of Columbia, and in four Canadian provinces.

Ryan Zook and Janet Brinck are opening the new office, which will be led by principal broker Bernard Pudimott. Zook and Brinck co-founded Dwellus Group in 2012 and joined Real in August 2022. Dwellus Group currently serves Northern Virginia and the D.C. area.

"This expansion opens up the door for independent brokerages throughout West Virginia to plug into a model like Real," said Brinck. "In addition to the Real agents who are already licensed in West Virginia, we are expecting a significant number of agents to come on board," Brinck added.

"As we continue to grow The Real Brokerage footprint in the United States, West Virginia is a natural bridge for our current agents serving clients throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia," Real Chairman and CEO Tamir Poleg said.

The Agency: A new broker, new office and new team

Fabbri joins The Agency New York

Veteran broker Mike Fabbri has joined The Agency's New York City office after more than four years at Nest Seekers.

With a roster of clients that includes celebrities and top execs, Fabbri fits with The Agency's brand as a real estate company to the stars. Fabbri himself has spent some time in the limelight, appearing in shows including Real Housewives of New York City and Million Dollar Listing New York.

"We believe in partnering with the very best professionals in the business, and with Mike's impressive experience and respect in the industry, he will bring tremendous value to our team," said Mauricio Umansky, CEO and founder of The Agency. 

"Being a founding member of a well-established brand that is renowned for its strong leadership and solid reputation now making its mark in NYC aligns perfectly with my entrepreneurial spirit and desire to always grow bigger and better," said Fabbri.

The Agency moves into Kentucky

The Agency's first franchise office in Kentucky has opened in Louisville, the Bluegrass State's largest city.

The Agency Louisville will be led by managing partner Jason Farabee, who brings 26 years of industry experience and deep ties to the Louisville market. 

Farabee was ranked as one of Kentucky's top five agents for individual sales volume in 2022 and has worked with more than 1,900 families, builders and investors, according to The Agency.

"Louisville is a prime market for us to enter next as we expand our presence in the Midwest," said Jim Ramsay, executive vice president of franchise sales at The Agency.

"I am honored to be a part of The Agency's expansion and introduce this innovative brand to Louisville and the surrounding area, including Southern Indiana," said Farabee.

New team joins The Agency Boise

The Agency Boise has added the team of Kerri O'Hara and Jessica Doss to its roster. Combined, the duo boast a total career sales volume of more than $279 million.

O'Hara, originally from Boston, uses her own experiences to help clients relocating to Boise. She created a YouTube channel that covers all aspects of relocation, including neighborhood info and answers to common questions from buyers considering a move to the Idaho capital.

"After moving around the country for a decade, you become keenly aware of how daunting and challenging it can be to be new to an area," she said. "My goal with every relocation client is to smooth out that process and ease their fears." O'Hara's background as a television sports reporter and anchor have informed much of her real estate marketing.

Doss, meanwhile, is a Boise native who says her hometown is "the best kept secret in the West." 

Doss developed an interest in real estate while building her own home. "I absolutely loved every step of the process — from interior design to adding unconventional features. I felt I was able to create a unique and creative home that was the perfect fit for me."

Side names managing broker for Texas

Katie Kossev has joined boutique brokerage platform Side as managing broker of Texas. 

In her new role, Kossev will support Side partners throughout the Lone Star State.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the Side community and get to work with so many extraordinary real estate professionals throughout Texas," said Kossev. "Helping agents navigate the route to independence is a passion of mine, so being part of Side — a company that has systematically removed so many barriers that keep agents from venturing out on their own — is incredibly exciting to me."

With more than 23 years of experience in residential real estate, including 15 years focused on brokerage management, Kossev is also co-owner of The Kossev Group along with her husband Veso Kossev.

Side is a brokerage platform designed to help real estate agents go independent without having to operate their own brokerage.