Brokerage Beat: News from Corcoran, C21, The Agency 

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. and globally.

Hottinger Team returns to Corcoran

After a year at Douglas Elliman, Richard Hottinger and his namesake team have clicked their heels and returned home to the Corcoran Group.

"Corcoran is where I grew my career to what it is now and where I know I need to be to continue pushing the boundaries of what my team can do," he said. "They say there's no place like home, and to my team, Corcoran is home. We are thrilled to be back."

Before jumping to Douglas Elliman just over a year ago, Hottinger had been with Corcoran for seven years. The team is now working out of Corcoran's East Side office and Miami office.

The Hottinger Team includes agents Sari Ingerman, Frank Lulgjuraj, Adam Hernandez, Gabriella Abdelnour, Sofia Rovirosa and Melissa Au-Yeung. The team has closed more than $300 million in sales over the past three years, Corcoran noted in a news release.

"I am so pleased to have Richard and his team back with us at Corcoran," said Pamela Liebman, the company's president and CEO. "His incredible success is well known throughout the industry, and Corcoran is the perfect place for him and his team to capitalize on their outstanding reputation."

Century 21 expands in Salt Lake City area

Wasatch Life Realty in Draper, Utah, is now a Century 21 affiliate.

Brian Summers opened the brokerage, located about 20 minutes outside of Salt Lake City, in 2019. It serves parts of Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Summit and Wasatch counties.

Summers first got his real estate license 15 years ago to work his way through school at the University of Utah. Upon graduating, he went into real estate full time and has served as the Salt Lake Realtors vice chair and chair of both the Young Professionals Network and Grievance Committees in Draper.

As principal broker of Wasatch Life, he now leads a team of more than 20 real estate professionals.

"Brian has done an excellent job at getting his company off the ground and into some of the most desirable markets in all of Utah," said Mike Miedler, president and CEO of Century 21 Real Estate. 

"I'm in love with where I live and one of my greatest joys is helping others find a home where they can feel the same," said Summers. "We have an extremely talented team of professionals with plenty of local expertise, but more importantly, we have an even better team of individuals who truly care about the people they help."

The Agency bets on Reno

The Agency has launched its third office in Nevada, this time in Reno.

Managing Partner Zar Zanganeh and Managing Director A.J. Palomar will lead The Agency Reno, which serves the greater Reno area as well as Incline Village and the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe's North Shore.

No stranger to the Silver State, Zanganeh opened The Agency Las Vegas in 2021 and The Agency Henderson in 2023.

"The Agency Las Vegas and The Agency Henderson have been extremely successful, and I am thrilled to continue our fruitful partnership as we establish The Agency in Reno," Zanganeh said.

Palomar is a longtime Reno resident and the current president of the Silver State Fair Housing Council. He was also the founding president of the Northern Nevada Chapter of the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP). 

"We are thrilled to launch our new office in Reno as we continue to expand The Agency's presence throughout greater Nevada," said Mauricio Umansky, CEO and founder of The Agency.