Brokerage Beat: News from Real, Corcoran, C21, BHGRE, Sotheby's 

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.

Top Illinois team jumps to Real

The Qamar Group, which serves the Chicago area as well as Michigan and Wisconsin, has joined The Real Brokerage.

Formerly affiliated with Compass, the team of 36 agents is led by CEO Rafay Qamar and COO Jana Pierce. The Qamar Group is ranked among the top 1% of teams in Illinois.

"We are thrilled to partner with Rafay, Jana and the rest of the Qamar Group," Real President Sharran Srivatsaa said. "At Real, our mission is to support our agents so they can better support their clients and grow their businesses. Rafay, Jana and the rest of the Qamar Group align with that vision, which makes them the perfect team from which to grow Real's presence in Chicago and throughout the Midwest."

Qamar said he believes Real will help with the team's growth plans. "Our team is so excited to be joining Real. No other brokerage offers the combination of compensation opportunities, tools and technology and culture that Real does," he said. "Our vision is to expand exponentially throughout the Midwest, and Real offers the platform that will allow us to achieve our goals."

Trio forms The Rabbitt Group at Corcoran Reverie

Named in honor of the late country music singer and songwriter Eddie Rabbitt — who was also the father of one of its members — The Rabbitt Group has launched as part of Corcoran Reverie.

Rabbitt's daughter, Demelza Lisowski, along with Lee Owen and Lehanna Amos, comprise the team, which is focused on luxury residential and investment properties along Florida's beachfront highway 30A and Nashville, Tennessee.

"As individual agents, we have found success through working hard, crafting our own personal business techniques, and learning as much as we could from the greater Corcoran team," said Lisowski.

"During our individual agent journeys, Lee, Lehanna and I relied on each other for support, continually sought professional advice, and shared unique strategies. Therefore, it was a very natural and organic process for us to decide on combining forces and working together."

She said naming the group for her father was to honor his work ethic and values that she wants to carry forward. "My dad was someone who strived for excellence and he expected excellence in return, in the best way, from those around him," she said. 

Independent Baltimore firm joins Century 21

Harris Hawkins & Co., a Black-owned, female-led brokerage, is now a Century 21 affiliate.

The company, founded in 2020 by Tiffany Harris and Brandi Hawkins, is now owned and operated by Harris.

"As soon as we met with the team at Century 21 Real Estate, we felt an immediate connection," she said. "They perfectly understood our needs, while also respecting our local identity. "

Harris said the affiliation will give the company access to tools and brand recognition "while still allowing us to maintain our own autonomy as we continue to employ the practices that we know work best in Baltimore."

As a Baltimore native, Harris said she has a deep understanding of the city she serves. "Baltimore is a tight-knit community with its own unique charm that can only be fully appreciated by someone with Baltimore roots. At our heart, we're a Baltimore business that values the people and the stories behind every transaction, not the dollars and the statistics."

Mike Miedler, president and CEO of Century 21 Real Estate, said the company's appreciation for its affiliates' hometown expertise is a hallmark.

"The Century 21 brand relies on the local roots of every affiliated broker and agent within its network to keep moving forward," he said.

Oklahoma's Platinum Collective moves to BHGRE

The Platinum Collective In Newcastle, Oklahoma, is now a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate affiliate.

The company is led by Owner Jennifer Gilchrest and Managing Broker Anthony Brown. Gilchrest's daughters, Lauren Brown and Autumn Davis, are also part of the leadership team.

"Jennifer has masterfully launched her company in one of Oklahoma's most densely populated markets. Meanwhile, Anthony's contributions have been instrumental in propelling their firm forward," said Ginger Wilcox, president of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

"While I'm incredibly proud of our company's reputation as a successful, trustworthy provider in the region, I'm always looking ahead," Gilchrest said. "I've put great thought into how we can best achieve long-term relevancy without sacrificing our current values, and when I was introduced to the professionals at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, I knew I had found the answer."  

Brown said he was excited by the BHGRE technology and access to a centralized platform "so that we can spend less time juggling logistics and more time focusing on the clients and allowing our agents to grow their business."

Sotheby's launches in Poland

Poland Sotheby's International Realty has opened as the brand's 194th office in Europe and its first in Poland.

The office is headquartered in Warsaw's City Centre and will service the districts of Śródmieście, Mokotów, Wilanów and beyond.

Paulius Gebrauskas will lead the office. He is also an owner of Baltic Sotheby's International Realty in Lithuania.

"Warsaw's luxury residential real estate market offers a compelling blend of sophistication, culture, and investment potential, attracting both domestic and international buyers seeking premium living experiences in the heart of Poland's vibrant capital," said Gebrauskas. "We are dedicated to showcasing the finest properties, connecting buyers with their dream homes and assisting sellers in achieving their real estate goals with integrity and unwavering dedication."

Philip White, president and CEO of Sotheby's International Realty, said Warsaw's location attracts a broad range of buyers. "The luxury residential real estate market in Poland has witnessed significant growth and robust demand in recent years," he said  "We greatly look forward to supporting Paulius and the Poland Sotheby's International Realty team."