Brokerages in South Florida are increasing their agent numbers and making key hires as the real estate market remains active.
Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate has acquired Castelli Real Estate Services, an 80-agent firm based in Broward County. With this acquisition, Better Homes & Gardens now has a total of 250 agents in the area, according to information on Castelli’s website. The company, led by CEO Gene Whiddon III, plans to expand its Broward offices further with a goal of reaching more than 500 agents. This move follows Better Homes & Gardens’ inclusion among brokerages set to be acquired by Compass as part of Compass’s $1.6 billion purchase of Anywhere Real Estate.
One Sotheby’s International Realty has promoted Jennifer Leong to manager of development sales in Broward. Leong joined One Sotheby’s in 2021 and leads the Opulent Group. In her new position, she will focus on growing the brokerage’s new development business within Broward County.
Brown Harris Stevens is also expanding its presence in Miami-Dade County. The firm added Adriana Cifuentes, Christina Cagol, Jazmine Yancey, Juanita Gallego, Kia Kesser, and Yina Uriza to its South Miami office. Christine Patruna and Ruslan Moncada have joined the Miami Beach office.
In architecture news, RSP hired Nicolas Pinzon as associate principal for its Miami office. Pinzon specializes in mixed-use projects and large-scale developments and previously spent 27 years at L35 Architects as senior partner.
The Palm House hotel in Palm Beach appointed Grant Friedman as general manager. According to the 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, owned by Ian and Richard Livingstone, purchased the Palm House hotel for $39.6 million in 2019.
