Brokerage Beat: C21 gains 3 offices; news from Real, Compass and more 

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.

Century 21 adds firms from coast to coast

Century 21 announced a triple play this week with three new affiliations: Bay Realty, which is returning to the brand; Herman & Co. Real Estate, based in Staten Island; and Blue Chip Realty in Washington state.

Bay Area

Bay Realty is back with Century 21, a brand it previously joined in 2004. The San Francisco-area brokerage is led by Ray Sharma, who established the firm in 2003 and has worked in real estate for 25 years.

Now doing business as Century 21 Bay Realty, the company has two offices and more than 20 agents.  

About the decision to re-affiliate, Sharma said "the Century 21 brand offers unparalleled recognition and that's an incredibly powerful tool to have at our disposal, especially here in the Bay Area." 

Mike Miedler, the CEO of Century 21, said that with Sharma's local expertise along with the presence of the brand, "we fully believe in Ray's ability to become one of the most well-known names in real estate in the Bay Area."

Staten Island

Herman & Co. Real Estate, founded in 2004 by current owner and former U.S. Marine Herman Herrera, has also signed on with Century 21.

Herrera, who has been an agent for more than 30 years, leads the company, now known as Century 21 Standard Real Estate, in partnership with Anthony Adipietro. The firm's service area includes Staten Island, Brooklyn and three New Jersey counties.

In choosing Century 21, Adipietro cited the brand's digital marketing technology as an important asset: "I won't hesitate to be an early adopter in social media or other marketing tactics," he said. "With the Century 21 brand and technological tools at our disposal, we can tap into even larger audiences with less leg work on our end."

Miedler noted that the firm's longevity spoke volumes about its leadership: "As an extension of one of the most lucrative real estate markets in the country, only the best of the best real estate professionals can succeed in Staten Island."

Tacoma

Blue Chip Realty, founded four years ago by owner Greg Pubols, also announced its affiliation with Century 21 this week. 

The small firm includes Pubols and six agents, and serves the South Puget Sound region in the greater Seattle-Tacoma metro.

Another industry veteran, Pubols has been in real estate for 30 years following a career as a certified public accountant. In addition to his work as a brokerage leader, he is the vice president of a local food bank, and he said he wanted an opportunity to expand while maintaining a close connection to his home city and its people.

"Our small firm was only known in our immediate community, but now we have a portal to the rest of the real estate world. I love our name, our people and our culture, and now the Century 21 Brand will allow us to enhance all of these things without changing who we are," Pubols said.

He noted that he intends to double his firm's agent count within the next year and will be on the lookout for local acquisition opportunities. 

Brother-sister Kaim Team brings Cleveland-area roots to Real

The Kaim Team, led by the brother-sister duo of Michael Kaim and Tina Hivnor, is bringing its 25-agent team and deep roots to The Real Brokerage, where it will become the largest team to represent Real in Ohio.

The siblings launched their Cleveland-area team in 2002, following in the footsteps of their parents, who were top-ranked brokers in the area. Since its founding, the Kaim Team has told more than 7,000 homes valued at more than $1.2 billion.  

"We're thrilled to welcome Michael, Tina and their team to Real," Real President Sharran Srivatsaa said. "They bring a shared commitment to service excellence and innovation, and we look forward to learning from them and seeing how they leverage Real's industry-leading platform to further their success."

Real will give the team's agents "access to cutting-edge technology, world-class training and the financial upside that comes with access to health benefits resources and ownership in a fast-growing company," Kaim said.

Prominent Colorado indie sets up shop in Steamboat Springs

Silfer Smith & Frampton Associates, a Colorado brokerage company and one of the founding members of Forbes Global Properties, is expanding into Steamboat Springs in partnership with Doug Labor, a local broker with 40 years of experience in resort real estate.

The firm was established more than 60 years ago, serving the state's popular mountain resort areas and Front Range region.

The move into Steamboat Springs follows a previous SSF project in the city. In collaboration with sister company East West Partners, SSF was involved in the development of an all-electric 42-residence community in Steamboat called The Amble. The new office will be their first foray into general residential brokerage services in the area.

SSF CEO Jason Cole called the expansion "a natural step in the continued evolution of Slifer Smith & Frampton" and said Steamboat Springs and the surrounding Yampa Valley was an area with "incredible potential."

Labor will lead the office and noted his admiration for the well-established firm. "The in-depth knowledge that they have on Colorado mountain communities and how they embrace the communities that they become a part of is second to none," he said.

Labor brings three local brokers to the firm, and four other team members from SSF and The Amble will be joining the office.

SSF is one of the leading independent firms in Colorado, with 29 offices, more than 320 agents and another 100+ support staff.

Engel & Völkers expands in NOLA

An established brokerage in New Orleans has signed on with the Engel & Volkers brand. 

License partners Scott Logan and Francesca Brennan lead the new shop, bringing their team from Entablature Realty, which the duo established in 2018.

In addition to working as an agent, Logan founded a residential historic renovation company and serves as on the board of several nonprofit organizations in the area, including his family's own charitable foundation.

Brennan has a background in new home sales and historic investment properties and has been recognized as a leading agent by multiple local business publications.

"Joining the Engel & Völkers brand allows us to enhance the level of service and resources we provide to both our local and global clients," said Logan. 

Brennan also pointed to E&V's reach and resources, including "unmatched marketing tools," as considerations when joining the brand. "We look forward to bringing the distinct advantages of Engel & Völkers to New Orleans with new strength and continuing to serve our community with the highest standards of professionalism," Brennan said. 

Atlanta agent launches boutique firm on Side platform

Angel Crayton, a member of the board of directors at the Atlanta Realtors Association, has started a new brokerage, 14th & Luxe, serving the greater Atlanta area. 

Crayton, who has been in real estate since 2007 and was the broker/owner of another area firm, launched her new venture on the Side platform, which she says will connect her with other agents and simplify management of her business. 

Her team of 14 agents, previously known as Luxe Living Atlanta, managed sales volume of $80 million in 2023. Crayton is looking to grow her team significantly, and she believes the tools and resources offered by Side will allow her to streamline her business and improve agent retention.

As an association leader, she has also been involved in advocacy efforts and has lobbied in Washington, D.C., on behalf of property owners. 

New York team moves to Compass

Cassandra Frank and her nine-member team are joining Compass from Highline Residential, an independent firm in New York City. 

Frank has been in the industry for more than a decade and previously owned her own brokerage for six years. While at Highline, she has racked up $127 million in sales volume. She cited Compass' technology platform as a factor in moving her team to the brand and believes it will help them grow. 

"Knowing this team's eagerness to integrate Compass tools into their already successful business, we're excited to support them by turning potential challenges into opportunities wherever they see fit," said Gordon Golub, Tri-State Regional VP for Compass. 

The team specialized in condos, co-ops and multifamily properties and plans to expand into commercial sales.

"If we were going to become part of a team, it had to be the best, and for us, that meant Compass," Frank said. "The initial atmosphere was exceptionally welcoming, and we could sense a minimal barrier between divisions, fostering a truly communal workplace."