Another member of The Realty Alliance is kicking up activity on the acquisition trail. As Real Trends CEO Steve Murray has spotted, large firms are getting larger. HUNT Real Estate, the second largest ERA franchise in the world has expanded from the Upstate New York market into the Boston, MA market by acquiring ERA Key Realty. WAV Group congratulates the Hunt family and the Taylor family for opening another major demographic market area. I would expect that HUNT Mortgage and other affiliated companies in commercial, property management, insurance, and title will get added to the Boston market area.
HUNT will now be integrating their company into MLSPIN, one of the largest and most successful broker owned MLSs in America. HUNT is already an owner in MLSs spanning Upstate New York. This is off topic, but I am more than a little surprised that in this era of consolidation of MLSs, doesn’t anyone see the natural consolidation of the broker owned MLSs in the northeast? MLSPIN (custom system), Upstate New York (Matrix), Pittsburg (Matrix). Between NRT, Howard Hanna, HUNT, BHHS, Northwood, etc.
Here is the full press release:
ERA Key Realty Services merges with HUNT Real Estate ERA
Combination creates family of real estate brokerage companies boasting a strong foothold in Upstate New York and New England
Buffalo, NY and Northbridge, MA (February 7, 2018) – HUNT Real Estate ERA, the second largest brokerage firm in the ERA® network, today announced it has joined forces with ERA Key Realty Services, which also ranks in ERA’s top ten. This merger significantly expands the reach of the combined companies, increasing options for homebuyers and sellers, especially in the Northeast.
HUNT Real Estate ERA brings to the merger its expertise and deep connections in four fast growth real estate markets in Upstate New York – Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester and Albany, as well as Phoenix, Arizona. ERA Key Realty Services brings markets in Massachusetts – north and west of Boston, as well as Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The combined company will have more than 50 offices and nearly 1600 experienced affiliated agents. The offices will continue to do business under their existing trade names and local management will remain in place.
To support the continued growth and achieve the full potential of this merger, this combined organization will continue to leverage the suite of digital tools and best-in-class infrastructure provided by the ERA brand. It will also continue to build on both families’ long history and track record of serving the needs of families looking for homes at pivotal moments of their lives.
“This is an exciting day for the ERA brand network. Two of our oldest and largest brokerages coming together speaks to the strength and longevity of the ERA culture,” said Sue Yannaccone, president and chief executive officer, ERA Real Estate. “We are especially pleased to see the Hunt and Taylor families join forces.”
“We have brought together two powerful real estate companies, with shared values, but with distinct regional footprints. Our family-owned companies share a focus on providing a great culture for agents, and a compelling attention to quality and trust for our customers,” said Peter F. Hunt, chief executive officer, HUNT Real Estate ERA.
“Joining forces with ERA Key Realty Services creates an opportunity to provide homebuyers and sellers access to a wider range of options. With this stellar combination, HUNT and ERA Key are setting the benchmark for how to grow while maintaining the highest standards of service,” said Charles F. Hunt, executive vice president and chief operating officer, HUNT Real Estate ERA.
“HUNT’s outstanding reputation and success in the ERA Real Estate network makes them a perfect match for our clients and helps fulfill our desire to expand our impact,” said Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor, president, ERA Key Realty Services.
“Family is important to us and it’s important to our customers. We are thrilled to be partnering with another major family-owned brokerage, and we are proud to share a long partnership as part of the ERA family,” said Bruce Taylor, founder of ERA Key Realty Services.
About HUNT Real Estate ERA
HUNT Real Estate Corporation is the parent company of HUNT Real Estate ERA and operates over 40 branches throughout western, central, northern and upstate New York, and metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1911, HUNT is the most successful family-owned and operated real estate company in New York State, and is ranked the 41st largest real estate firm in the nation for closed transactions in 2016 by RISMedia. HUNT also operates a commercial brokerage, mortgage banking firm, insurance agency, title agency, an award-winning Relocation division, residential building company, and a fee-for-service brokerage. HUNT’s mission is to build its presence through successful sales associates, to grow profitably, and to provide the highest quality of real estate and homeownership services. For more information about HUNT Real Estate, visit www.huntrealestate.com.
About ERA Key Realty Services
ERA Key Realty Services of Northbridge, Mass., has 14 offices throughout central and eastern Massachusetts and is among the 10 largest residential real estate agencies in Massachusetts based on the number of homes sold. It is also among the top 10 agencies in the ERA Franchise System, which has more than 2,400 agencies worldwide. ERA Key has been named among the top places to work in the state in the large company category for the past three years, based on a survey administered by Energage for The Boston Globe. It also won the Momentum Award as the fastest growing ERA franchise in 2012 and the Gene Francis Memorial Award as the Top All-Around Company in ERA in 2014. For more information about ERA Key, visit www.erakey.com.
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Media Contact: Dan Mirsky
Marketing Director, HUNT Real Estate Corp.
