Bismarck-based brokerage Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Alliance Group has merged with Watne, Realtors based in Minot, North Dakota, to expand the firm’s growth in the northern region of the state.
Watne, Realtors, which had a sales volume of $30 million in 2021, will be rebranded as Better Homes and Garden Real Estate Watne Group, according to a statement.
Watne, Realtors is co-owned by Blake Krasbeth, Carrie Montoya and Matt Watne, son of the firm’s founder Clair Watne. Krasbeth will continue to be the managing broker for the office in Minot and co-owner Carrie Montoya will focus on real estate sales.
“We are excited about the many synergies created by this merger that will help maximize growth opportunities for our affiliated agents in Minot thanks to the significant brand resources at our disposal,” Krabseth said in a prepared statement.
The BHGRE Alliance Group became a part of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network in February 2022, which marked the entrance of BHGRE into North Dakota. The firm is led by Jan Hoge and Kamie Ensz, with nearly 50 agents in two offices and approximately $120 million in sales volume in 2021.
“As we looked to increase our market share in Minot, partnering with the Watne Group made sense based on our shared values,” said Hoge in the statement. “We bring together two legacy brands whose respective national and local brand cache resonate deeply with the people of Minot.”
In other BHGRE brokerage news, it announced an affiliation with BHGRE Historic in Thomasville, Georgia, this week. In November, the brokerage looked to expand the firm’s footprint in Connecticut by appointing Bryan Atherton as the strategic growth partner of the brokerage Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gaetano Marra Homes, which serves the Greater New Haven market.
BHGRE has been in the news a lot lately as Ryan Gorman stepped down as the CEO of Coldwell Banker. Sue Yannaccone, president and CEO of Anywhere Brands, who leads Anywhere subsidiaries like Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, CENTURY 21, Corcoran, ERA, and Sotheby’s International Realty, had her her role expanded to also oversee the Coldwell Banker brand.
