Brokerage Beat: News from Sotheby's, KW, ERA, 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.

Multibillion-dollar team joins Sotheby's

HRLS Partners is leaving Compass to join TTR Sotheby's International Realty.

The four-person team, which has a lifetime sales volume of $2.42 billion and 70 years of combined experience, focuses on luxury properties in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Prior to joining TTR Sotheby's, the team members — Robert Hryniewicki, Adam Rackliffe, Christopher Leary and Micah Smith — were longtime agents at Washington Fine Properties, a D.C.-area brokerage that was acquired by Compass in February.

"Our business is built to help clients achieve their luxury real estate goals, so it was only natural for us to align with the brand synonymous with luxury," Hryniewicki said in a news release. 

"Our core business principles have always centered on working with exceptional people and being of service to our communities. We were drawn to TTR Sotheby's International Realty because it is locally owned with a community-driven, service-first mindset that perfectly complements our values," Hryniewicki added. 

The transition will involve HRLS establishing a new office in Cleveland Park, which the team will help lead while expanding its footprint in D.C.'s luxury neighborhoods. With HRLS onboard, TTR Sotheby's International Realty now operates 13 offices in the area.

KW expands in the Caribbean, nabs Arkansas indie

Keller Williams will soon be launching its first office in the Cayman Islands while gaining market share in the South Central U.S.

Led by Regional Operating Principal Adam Sax, the new Cayman Islands market center is expected to open in the second quarter of 2025. Sax began his real estate career in Toronto 20 years ago, and in addition to his background as a brokerage owner, he has worked as an international real estate developer and investor with experience in the Caribbean market. 

In this new venture, Sax said he's "excited to level up the real estate experience for clients and create a thriving, collaborative community for agents."

"Our vision is to establish Keller Williams as the premier brokerage in the Cayman Islands while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and growth," he said in a news release.

KW Cayman Islands is the 11th KW master franchise in the Caribbean, and the company's global division, Keller Williams Worldwide, now has more than 275 offices in more than 55 regions outside the U.S. and Canada.

Stateside, KW also announced the affiliation of Arkansas-based True North Realty Group, which has joined Keller Williams Market Pro Realty.

True North, a previously independent firm with 27 agents and operations in five states, is co-owned by Jeff Clifton, Daniel Short and Chris Hinkle. The brokerage facilitates residential, commercial and farm sales, and aims to scale up "to $250 million and beyond," Clifton said.

"Keller Williams provides the infrastructure, innovation, and agent-centric culture we need to expand on our vision without sacrificing the personalized, values-driven service we're known for," Clifton added.

Mike Duley, operating partner at KW Market Pro Realty and founder of The Duley Group, said the addition of True North "strengthens Keller Williams Market Pro Realty's position as the premier real estate brokerage in Northwest Arkansas" and "reinforces its commitment to empowering agents, supporting clients, and driving unmatched results."

ERA seeks home run with MLB campaign

ERA Real Estate is preparing to throw its first pitch in a new season-long national media campaign aimed at fans of major and minor league baseball. 

Along with running ads during televised games, ERA plans to launch a social media series featuring Boston Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler and promote its brand at in-stadium events centered around a "Day at the Park" theme.

David Marine, chief marketing officer for ERA parent company Anywhere Brands, said the campaign "will power a new level of visibility for ERA on a national level," but noted that the marketing strategy's "true power lies in our local activations, which benefit our franchisees at the community level." 

"Minor league baseball serves as a central piece of local communities across the country and attracts over 32 million people each year," Marine said in a news release. "We are proud to be part of that classic piece of Americana."

Women-owned Georgia firm joins ERA

In other ERA news, CMC Realty, a family brokerage based in the Atlanta area, has affiliated with the national brand and is now operating as CMC Realty ERA Powered.

Carmela Moreno, who established CMC in 2017 with her daughters, Carmen and Miluska Barreda, said her "decision to join the real estate industry was driven by a deep sense of justice" and a belief that "everyone is entitled to own property that they can call home."

"I've witnessed many homebuyers shy away from the prospect of buying a home, simply because they didn't have the necessary resources available to them," Moreno said in a news release. "With the support of ERA Real Estate, we can help educate and advocate for more people than ever before," Moreno added.

In addition to working as a broker/owner, Carmen is the acting president of the Atlanta chapter of the Hispanic real estate organization NAHREP and an industry speaker. Miluska has a background in finance and handles the firm's back office.

"Carmela, Carmen, and Miluska are providing an incredible service to the many diverse homebuyers in the Atlanta real estate market," said ERA President Alex Vidal. "Many of these first-time homebuyers have unique, historically documented challenges, and having professionals like Carmela, Carmen, and Miluska in their corner is extremely valuable." 

Engel & Völkers opens new Bay Area shop

Engel & Völkers is expanding its presence in Northern California with the addition of an office in Burlingame, located just south of San Francisco.

The new Bay Area location will serve homebuyers and sellers in the Atherton, Burlingame, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Palo Alto, Redwood City and San Mateo areas. It will be led by license partners Alan Canas and Paul Benson, who owns 52 Engel & Völkers offices across North America.

"Close proximity to major tech hubs like Silicon Valley and San Francisco make San Mateo County an attractive place to settle for industry professionals," Engel & Völkers Americas President and CEO Stuart Siegel said in a news release. "Alan is recognized across the Bay Area for his real estate prowess and professionalism, and is ideally positioned to lead our growth in such a fast-paced and nuanced market."

BHGRE gains ground in New Mexico with merger 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Steinborn & Associates has merged with TRU South Real Estate to expand its reach in Southern New Mexico.

Founded in 1968, Steinborn & Associates serves the Las Cruces and Santa Teresa markets. With the merger, the brokerage now supports two additional offices in Ruidoso — a luxury and second-home destination — and Alamogordo, home to Holloman Air Force Base and military relocation hub.

The combined firm, led by Amy and John Hummer and Zane and Kayla Fikany, now has 125 agents and will retain the BHGRE Steinborn & Associates brand. TRU South Founder Bob Moroney will serve in a sales capacity.

"This expansion is a natural step in our long-term vision to grow our presence in Southern New Mexico while staying true to the values that define us: excellence, service and a commitment to our communities," said Amy Hummer, Steinborn's broker/co-owner and president.

Moroney said the decision to merge with Steinborn was driven by an appreciation for those values, and the move also gives him and his agents access to technology and marketing tools that will help them "better serve our customers and accelerate business growth."