Brokerage Beat: Lyon rebrands to Windermere, Amerivest joins Real
The Sacramento firm will operate under the Windermere name; Amerivest, serving four states, brings 400 agents to Real; Corcoran franchise expands in Bahamas.
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.
Legacy California firm adopts Windermere name
Three years after being acquired by Windermere Real Estate, a major California firm is embracing the Northwest brokerage leader's brand.
Lyon Real Estate, which became part of the Windermere network in 2021, will now do business as Windermere Signature Properties. Founded in 1946, Lyon Real Estate was the largest independent real estate company in Sacramento with more than $2 billion in sales volume at the time of the acquisition.
"Since joining the Windermere family in 2021, we're thrilled to officially embrace the Windermere name," said Pat Shea, President & CEO of Lyon Real Estate. "This rebrand represents an exciting new chapter in our commitment to enhancing our resources and capabilities while staying true to the trusted relationships and exceptional service our clients and communities have come to rely on," Shea added, calling it "a pivotal moment for our employees, agents, and everyone who has been part of this journey."
"We are incredibly proud to officially welcome Lyon Real Estate into the Windermere brand," said, Windermere CEO Geoff Wood applauded Lyon's "commitment to professionalism, excellence, and community," noting that it "aligns closely with that of Windermere."
"We look forward to their serving the region under the Windermere brand while remaining deeply committed to the community that Lyon has been a part of for 78 years," Wood said.
Lyon's 700 agents and 14 Northern California locations now represent the Windermere brand, a Pacific Northwest powerhouse and the largest regional real estate company in the western U.S. Windermere was ranked as the No. 7 real estate enterprise in the 2023 Real Estate Almanac with sales volume of nearly $44 billion. It is one of the only remaining large brokerage companies yet to settle in the commissions cases. Lyon Real Estate was also among the 90-plus brokerages left out of the NAR settlement.
Established 4-state brokerage joins Real
An independent firm serving Florida, Colorado, Minnesota and Wisconsin has moved its 400 agents to The Real Brokerage.
Amerivest Realty, led by CEO Joe Ballarino, has closed nearly 5,000 transactions worth roughly $2.5 billion since 2016. In 2023 alone, the firm achieved more than $500 million in sales volume.
Ballarino is a 30-year industry veteran who started his real estate career in 1994 at Winfield & Associates, which later became Amerivest. He took full ownership of the firm eight years ago, leaning into technology and growing it into a multi-state company with expansions into Minnesota and Wisconsin last year.
Beyond his brokerage leadership, Ballerino has been a past president of the Naples Area Board of Realtors and was COO of Real Estate IS, a technology subsidiary of Florida Realtors.
"Joe's commitment to technology and education equips agents with the tools to elevate client service," said Real President Sharran Srivatsaa, which "aligns seamlessly with Real's mission of innovation and excellence," he added.
"Amerivest was built on the foundation of empowering agents with the tools and technology to succeed," Ballarino said. "Joining Real allows us to take our platform even further, providing agents with unparalleled resources while tapping into Real's collaborative culture."
Corcoran franchise expands in the Bahamas
Corcoran is continuing to strengthen its presence in the Caribbean with the addition of a location on Harbour Island in the Bahamas.
It's the newest office to be opened by Corcoran CA Christie Bahamas, a family-owned firm established in 1973 by Charles A. Christie. The brokerage, which has about 20 agents across the islands, joined the Corcoran network in 2021 and is currently led by Gavin Christie and Cheslie Christie.
"Opening an office on Harbour Island marks an exciting milestone for our brokerage," said Gavin Christie. "Through establishing a physical presence on Harbour Island, we are not only able to better serve our discerning clients and support our team of agents, but also provide an even more localized expertise for this high-demand market."
The island — which offers upscale amentities and privacy — is a destination for high-profile international buyers and guests, including Greek royals, pop diva Taylor Swift, and sports stars Peyton and Eli Manning.