Brokerages in South Florida are increasing their agent numbers and making new hires as the real estate market continues to evolve.
Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate has acquired Castelli Real Estate Services, an 80-agent firm based in Broward County. This acquisition brings Better Homes & Gardens’ total number of agents in the area to 250, according to information on Castelli’s website. The company, led by CEO Gene Whiddon III, plans to expand its Broward offices further, aiming for more than 500 agents. Better Homes & Gardens is among the brokerages set to be acquired by Compass as part of a $1.6 billion deal involving Anywhere Real Estate.
One Sotheby’s International Realty has promoted Jennifer Leong to manager of development sales in Broward. According to a press release, Leong joined One Sotheby’s in 2021 and leads the Opulent Group. In her new position, she will focus on expanding the brokerage’s new development business within Broward.
Brown Harris Stevens announced additions to its teams in South Miami and Miami Beach through a press release. New agents joining the South Miami office include Adriana Cifuentes, Christina Cagol, Jazmine Yancey, Juanita Gallego, Kia Kesser, and Yina Uriza. Christine Patruna and Ruslan Moncada have joined the Miami Beach office.
Architecture firm RSP has hired Nicolas Pinzon as an associate principal at its Miami office. According to a press release, Pinzon will focus on mixed-use projects and large-scale developments. He previously spent 27 years at L35 Architects, where he was most recently a senior partner.
The Palm House hotel in Palm Beach has appointed Grant Friedman as its new general manager, according to reporting from Palm Beach Daily News. Friedman was formerly a consultant with GIF Hospitality and served as vice president and general manager for Acqualina Resort and Residences from 2020 to 2023.
L+R Hotels purchased the Palm House hotel for $39.6 million in 2019, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.
