Halstead President Diane Ramirez (right), and Sharon Daley Maasdorp, Halstead’s new executive director of sales for New Canaan

In a massive grab for market share reminiscent of the recent real estate boom, Halstead Property has gained five offices and a whopping 160 new agents by absorbing Connecticut real estate brokerage Country Living Associates. Joining with the 17-year-old Country Living Associates, located in Fairfield County, in addition to the recent takeover of 55-agent Darien’s Wheeler Real Estate, brings Halstead’s total number of agents to more than 900 in three different states, and is part of a strategy of “smart growth” for Halstead, according to Diane Ramirez, the president of the company. Ramirez did not disclose the details of the arrangment. “We just felt that the synergy with New York and Connecticut made a great deal of sense,” she said, noting that Halstead is one of the only major New York-based firms with offices in Fairfield County. “The fact that there were [only a few] other New York firms there was important to us.” [more]