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ouglas Elliman Realty, a national real estate brokerage with headquarters in New York City, has expanded its presence in Sarasota by acquiring the Schemmel Soda Group. This luxury real estate team, led by Joel Schemmel and Donna Soda, joins Douglas Elliman's office at 1350 Main St. in downtown Sarasota. The addition is part of the company's efforts to grow its operations in the area.

    Joel Schemmel, an attorney and former CPA with over a decade of experience leading real estate teams, brings expertise in luxury markets to the firm. His notable sales include a Casey Key compound that sold for $16.5 million in 2021 and an $11.5 million beachfront home on Longboat Key in 2022. Donna Soda, with decades of real estate experience, specializes in Lakewood Ranch and recently closed a $6.9 million sale of an estate in The Concession.

    Douglas Elliman Realty has operations in several states, including Florida, where it also has offices in Naples and St. Petersburg. Jay Phillip Parker, an executive with Douglas Elliman Florida, notes that Schemmel and Soda's expertise will be a strategic win for the company's Sarasota operations and its clients.