E
ditor’s note: The brokerage sector remains fast‑moving, with teams shifting, merging, and hitting new milestones. Here’s a snapshot of recent activity across the country.
KWA 10‑agent team from southern Pennsylvania joins Keller Williams Keystone Realty in York. Flinchbaugh & Associates, headed by Adam Flinchbaugh, closed over $100 million last year and was named Pennsylvania’s top medium‑sized team in 2024. Flinchbaugh, a 30‑year veteran, praised KW’s culture, technology, and support that accelerate growth and client service.
Compass welcomes Barron and Tessa Hilton, former co‑CEOs of Hilton Hilton, to its roster. The duo, known for luxury sales in Beverly Hills, now operates under Compass, expanding into Palm Beach and beyond. They emphasize immersive marketing—art, fashion, live events—to serve high‑net‑worth clients, a strategy Tessa says clients value deeply. Barron notes Compass’s platform will broaden reach while preserving personalized service.
Christie’s International Real Estate acquires First Coast, a Jacksonville brokerage with 130 agents. Founded by Corey Hasting in 2018, First Coast closed nearly $1 billion in 2024. Hasting, once a young NFL hopeful, became the youngest Engel & Völkers partner. Christie’s president Gavin Swartzman highlighted Hasting’s entrepreneurial spirit and the team’s commitment to excellence.
Michael Saunders & Company re‑acquires Lisa Rooks Morris in Sarasota. Rooks Morris, a former executive at Douglas Elliman and Premier Sotheby’s, grew up in the family brokerage founded by her father, Howard Rooks. She describes returning as a homecoming, citing long‑standing relationships and deep local knowledge. Saunders praised her luxury market expertise and community dedication.
eXp Realty expands into South Korea, marking its fifth international launch in 2025. Thomas Kim will lead eXp Korea, offering agents a growth model based on sales, team building, equity, and global referrals, contrasting with Korea’s traditional broker‑centric system.
The Agency opens a fifth Texas office in Rockwall, adding to Austin, Dallas, Frisco, and Tyler. Heather Stevens (Frisco) and Vanessa Griffin (Tyler) will manage the new location, which the franchise division describes as blending natural beauty, suburban comfort, and accessibility.
Douglas Elliman welcomes back Ruben Alvarez and Karla De La Torr, who previously worked at Continuum Club & Residences. They will head sales for the 20‑story 72 Carlyle building in Miami’s North Beach, with Alvarez as sales director. The move underscores Elliman’s strength in South Florida’s luxury development market.
Coldwell Banker’s The Bernardi Group adds Julie Meko, a 25‑year veteran, to its team. Meko will serve the Boulder, Broomfield, Erie, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Superior, and surrounding areas, bringing deep market knowledge and a strong track record in new construction and resale.
