After 55 years as EWM Realty International, the Coral Gables brokerage is joining the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network, the company announced on Thursday morning.
The Coral Gables-based firm, with more than 900 agents and employees and 10 offices in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, is rebranding as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty amid increased consolidation in the industry. It’s a lateral move for EWM, which was purchased in 2003 by HomeServices of America Inc., the parent company of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
EWM Realty President and CEO Ron Shuffield expects that the Berkshire Hathaway brand will attract agents to join the firm.
The company decided to join the HomeServices franchise network to increase its exposure globally, network with other offices, and benefit from HomeServices’ technology. By joining the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network, the firm will gain access to its “Forever Cloud” tech suite for lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production and more.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations with folks who feel like they could improve our business,” Shuffield said, later adding that, “our highest producing associates will have an opportunity to earn a greater income, not only for their existing business but for new business [as well].”
EWM’s competitors include Coldwell Banker, One Sotheby’s International Realty, Douglas Elliman and the Keyes Company. Of those, Keyes and One Sotheby’s are the only independent firms, though the latter is a Sotheby’s franchise.
In The Real Deal’s most recent ranking of top brokerages in Miami-Dade County, EWM was No. 1 with $1.49 billion in closed sales volume between September 2017 and September 2018.
The brokerage, with 775 agents, is opening in South Beach at 1691 Michigan Avenue, in about two weeks, Shuffield said. Nelson Gonzalez, Riley Smith and Nancy Batchelor are among the firm’s top brokers.
Earlier this year, the Zeder team, led by Judy Zeder, left EWM to join The Jills of Coldwell Banker, and they are now known as The Jills Zeder Group.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has nearly 50,000 agents and 1,500 offices in countries that include Germany, England, Italy and in Dubai, according to a release.