Major brokerages expand with new offices and top talent. By E-A-A / November 7, 2026 The real estate landscape is shifting rapidly as major brokerages expand their footprints through strategic office openings and high-profile team acquisitions. Across the country, industry leaders are positioning themselves for maximum growth and enhanced market share. From New York City to sunny Florida and the shores of Minnesota, talent migration is reshaping regional operations. Understanding these movements is essential for anyone tracking modern regional architecture and commercial expansion trends. Table of Contents Major brand conversions and high-volume team moves. North Star Realty Associates in Queens has officially affiliated with Century 21 to operate as Century 21 North Star. Led by broker-owner Jayne Boehler, the firm aims to scale beyond 100 independent agents utilizing advanced global marketing and technology tools. Meanwhile, Coldwell Banker Realty welcomed the powerhouse Benge Redding team from William Raveis Real Estate into its Sarasota, Florida office. This elite group brings over $700 million in past transactions and roughly $25 million in its current pipeline to their new home. Expanding footprints in the Midwest. In Minnesota, Compass has broadened its operational footprint by opening a new office in Excelsior near Lake Minnetonka. The brokerage also integrated the six-agent Landing Collective team, which generated over $65 million in sales over the previous 12 months. Compass further strengthened its regional leadership by appointing Chris Muellenbach as sales manager in Minnesota and Jen Gamez in Wisconsin. These strategic leadership additions will undoubtedly influence local home design marketing and competitive positioning throughout the Upper Midwest. Luxury Real Estate shifts and technological advancements. In luxury real estate news, Barron Hilton and Tessa Hilton departed Compass after a brief 13-month stint to join The Beverly Hills Estates. This high-profile move highlights the continuous shuffling of top-tier luxury producers among elite boutique agencies. Technology and workflow optimization remain top priorities for forward-thinking brokerages nationwide. For instance, HomeSmart NEXT recently partnered Phil Sexton with industry veteran Dane Briggs to advance agent workflows and AI integration. Strengthening rosters across new england. Rounding out the nationwide expansion wave, Howard Hanna Portside Real Estate Group grew its Massachusetts roster significantly. The firm successfully added veteran agent Melissa Winter to bolster its local presence and client advisory services. As these structural changes unfold, keeping an eye on broader historical architecture preservation and modern real estate shifts helps professionals stay ahead. Reviewing expert architecture articles can provide deeper context on how market evolution impacts local properties. Ultimately, these brokerage expansions and talent acquisitions signal a robust and highly competitive housing market ahead. Staying informed through reliable informational guides will ensure buyers, sellers, and agents navigate these changes successfully. Additional Reading:

C21 adds NYC affiliate; Coldwell Banker, Compass gain teams. The move to Century 21 marks "an important next step" for the Queens firm. Plus, Compass grows in Minnesota; Beverly Hills Estates, Portside add agents; more. November 7, 2026 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. C21 gains ground in NYC with Queens firm. North Star Realty Associates has affiliated with Century 21 and will now operate as Century 21 North Star. The move expands the global brand's presence in the New York City metro area. Based in Queens, the brokerage was established in 2012 and is led by Broker-Owner Jayne Boehler. Its agents serve clients across New York City's five boroughs and Long Island, with most of their business coming from referrals, according to a news release. Through the affiliation, Boehler and her agents will have access to Century 21's technology, marketing, lead generation, training and coaching resources. Boehler said she plans to use the tools to improve customer relationship management and expand the firm to more than 100 independent agents. The move marks "an important next step in the growth of our brokerage," Boehler said. "We have always focused on treating people the way we would want to be treated, and that philosophy will continue to guide us as part of the Century 21 brand. With these resources and referrals now available to us, we look forward to developing new talent and creating new relationships." Coldwell Banker adds 5-member Florida team. The Benge Redding team has joined Coldwell Banker Realty from William Raveis Real Estate, establishing its base at the brokerage's Siesta Key office in Sarasota, Florida. Led by Samantha Benge and Keith Redding, the five-member team focuses on residential and luxury properties in Siesta Key, Sarasota and Longboat Key. Its services also include development and commercial real estate, along with a sports division. The team has completed more than $700 million in transactions and ranks in the top 1% of Realtors in the area, according to a news release. The move follows Redding's 2021 sale of Key Solutions Real Estate - which grew to over 60 employees and agents after its founding in 2009 - to William Raveis. Now, the Benge Team said it is entering Coldwell Banker Realty with about $25 million in its pipeline. The team's transition to Coldwell Banker was "an easy decision" to make, Redding said, because it can now gain "extensive global exposure to our listings" from "one of the premier brands in real estate." Compass increases Minnesota footprint with new office, team. Compass is expanding its Minnesota operations with a new office in Excelsior, the addition of a six-agent team and a new sales leader for the state. Another new sales leader will oversee the brokerage's operations in Wisconsin. The Excelsior office adds a physical hub for agents serving the Lake Minnetonka area and surrounding communities. Landing Collective, a team that recorded more than $65 million in sales volume over the past 12 months, brings a combined 71 years of industry experience and serves clients in Wayzata, Lake Minnetonka, Excelsior, Edina, Minneapolis and nearby communities, according to a news release. Moving forward, Chris Muellenbach will serve as sales manager in Minnesota while Jen Gamez will oversee the brokerage's sales efforts in Wisconsin. Both will focus on agent support, business development and local operations, the company said. "This expansion marks a major milestone in our commitment to supporting agents and deepening our presence across the Midwest," Compass Regional VP Fran Broude said. "Bringing together the unmatched expertise of Landing Collective and our dynamic new sales managers positions us to deliver an even higher level of service." More brokerage news. The Beverly Hills Estates has welcomed Barron Hilton and Tessa Hilton into the fold. The former Hilton Hilton co-CEOs are leaving Compass after spending the past 13 months aligned with the mega brokerage. The duo have reported over $400 million in career sales, according to a company announcement, and "bring a proven track record, an influential network, and a shared vision for the future of luxury real estate." Having previously worked with Beverly Hills Estates Co-founders Branden Williams and Rayni Williams, their move is more of "a homecoming" than "a career move," the brokerage said. HomeSmart NEXT has forged a business partnership between its founder, Phil Sexton, and industry veteran Dane Briggs. Briggs brings over 20 years of real estate experience to his leadership role at the team and has worked with Sexton previously. In his new role, Briggs will prioritize the development of agent workflows, including how AI can play a role as the team seeks opportunities for its agents to "be more successful," Sexton said in a news release. Briggs is "a multi-faceted real estate talent" who "has both run a brokerage and launched - then sold - a proptech startup," Sexton said, adding that Briggs is "fully on board with our mission." Howard Hanna Portside Real Estate Group has added Melissa Winter to its growing agent roster in Massachusetts. Winter brings nearly 15 years of industry experience and is passionate about helping first-time homebuyers, according to a news release. "What drew me to Portside was the energy, the people, and the opportunity for growth," Winter said. "There's so much potential here, and I'm excited to be part of it." Editor's note: AI was used in the initial drafting of this content, which was then thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked and revised by a Real Estate News editor.

Compass reported record third-quarter 2026 sales of $3.9 billion and net income of $62 million, its first profitable third quarter under GAAP. Net income for the first nine months of 2026 reached $176 million. The real estate broker credited tighter expense control and about $360 million in cost synergies from its merger with Anywhere Real Estate. It also reported record adjusted EBITDA and operating cash flow, and plans to cut more than $3 billion of acquisition-related debt. However, Compass guided next-quarter revenue and EBITDA below market expectations. Its reliance on commission income leaves it exposed if the housing market slows.