U
nited Real Estate has expanded its presence in South Florida through a merger with Charles Rutenberg Realty Fort Lauderdale and Real Estate Authority. The deal brings 50 new agents to United's roster, increasing their total number of agents in the region to 1,500.

    Michael Brownwell, founder of Real Estate Authority, will join United as a talent attraction specialist, focusing on recruiting top agents. The merged company will operate out of Charles Rutenberg Realty Fort Lauderdale's office at 2201 Prospect Road.

    The merger is part of a larger trend of consolidation in the brokerage industry, driven by thinning margins and increased competition. Other notable deals in South Florida include eXp Realty's acquisition of OnePath Realty and Broker's LLC, as well as The Keyes Family of Companies' expansion through the acquisition of McCurdy & Co. Realty.

    United Real Estate now has a presence in 34 states and over 22,000 agents nationwide, with a combined dollar volume of $26.3 billion last year.