News from movers & shakers around the real estate industry concerning executive appointments, franchise initiatives and more.
Movers & Shakers: legislators to keynote first LGBTQ+ Housing Symposium
The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance will hold its first LGBTQ+ Housing Symposium on April 28 and 29. The virtual event will feature U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) as two of nearly 40 speakers who will tackle critical LBGTQ+ and real estate industry topics such as fair housing, the Equality Act, LGBTQ+ homeownership rates, the housing needs of the aging LBGTQ+ community and the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) movement.
Brown, who’s the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, has been an ally of the LGBTQ+ community throughout his career. Representative Craig is a co-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, and the first lesbian mother elected to Congress.
Attendees will learn about President Biden’s LGBTQ+ policy from Reginald Greer, a White House senior adviser on LGBTQ+ issues. Georgia State Senator Kim Jackson and Missouri State Senator Greg Razer — both of whom were part of a 2020 “rainbow wave” of newly elected LGBTQ+ political leaders — are also slated to speak at the symposium.
The Equality Act, a landmark bill that would make it a federal crime to discriminate against members of the LGBTQ+ community in such critical areas as housing and credit, will be a major topic of interest. David Stacy, the Human Rights Campaign’s government affairs director, will provide a look at where the Equality Act stands today, and what the public can do to lend support.
Movers & Shakers: Lone Wolf launches Cloud CMA
Lone Wolf recently launched the new Cloud CMA for brokers, as well as an upgraded Cloud Agent Suite, allowing agents and brokers to use two-way integration between the Cloud CMA assessment tool and Lone Wolf Transactions (zipForm Edition and TransactionDesk Edition). The new integration is only available through Cloud CMA for brokers, or the full Cloud Agent Suite for agents.
The new integration between Cloud CMA and Transactions allows agents to connect accounts to save time in the transaction management process on tasks like preparing listing presentations, completing digital forms, uploading listing information, making offers, obtaining signatures, etc.
Lone Wolf acquired Cloud CMA last December to expand its cloud of digital solutions for agents and brokers in North America. The upgraded broker edition of Cloud CMA Live gives agents the ability to interactively present a CMA over Zoom, and also offers access to Homebeat.
Movers & Shakers: BHGRE announces several partnerships
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC (BHGRE) recently announced three new brokerages in California, Connecticut and Texas will affiliate with the BHGRE brand.
Los Angeles County brokerage Porches & Places has affiliated with the brand to become Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Porches & Places. The company is owned by John Morrison and Michael Campbell, and has been headquartered in La Verne, Calif., since its founding in 2014. The brokerage serves communities throughout Los Angeles County, with a focus on La Verne, San Dimas, Montclair and Pomona.
Kinard Realty Group, which is based in Stamford, Conn., has affiliated with the BHGRE brand to become Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Shore & Country Properties. The firm, which was founded in 2006 by Jason Kinard and has 125 affiliated agents, has offices in Stamford, Old Greenwich and South Norwalk. Last year, the company was responsible for $123 million in sales volume.
Leo Saenz Real Estate Group, based in Laredo, Texas, has also affiliated with the brand, and will now be known as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Saenz & Associates. Owner Leo Saenz founded the company in 2017 after a successful career as an agent inspired him to pursue his broker’s license. Saenz has since expanded his firm’s reach to the Corpus Christi area, where he aims to grow and develop another office.
The growing BHGRE network includes more than 12,500 independent sales associates, and approximately 390 offices across the United States, Canada, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Australia and New Zealand.
Movers & Shakers: fourth-largest CENTURY 21 franchise renews contract
Century 21 Real Estate LLC, a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp., announced that southern California-based CENTURY 21 Award — the brand’s fourth largest franchise nationwide and the largest C21® Company in California — has renewed its franchise agreement for a 15-year term.
CENTURY 21 Award has more than 850 affiliated sales professionals throughout southern California. Brothers David and Philip Romero founded the company 20 years ago in Anaheim, Calif., and currently has offices in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.
