Westchester independent brokers form alliance

A dozen independent brokerages in Westchester have formed a group called the Guild of Independent Real Estate Professionals in hopes of gaining transactions through shared networking opportunities and advertising under a common banner. The group charges $300 a year for membership, which is open to any independently-owned firm as well as mortgage bankers, appraisers, lawyers and surveyors. “It’s a matter of striking a balance between belonging to a huge corporation and going it totally on one’s own,” said Michelle Mambrino, who founded the guild last spring with Sue Lapham, another Westchester resident. Both Mambrino and Lapham have marketing backgrounds, but are not brokers.