Jill Hertzberg, Jill Eber and Judy Zeder

Known as The Jills for decades, residential agents Jill Hertzberg and Jill Eber were at the top of Miami-Dade’s rankings, alongside their longtime firm, Coldwell Banker. They brokered some of the most high-profile deals in Miami Beach and Fisher Island, and brought members of the families into the mix.

But around 2015, a dramatic turn of events ended in a Miami-Dade courtroom after a Miami Beach agent, Kevin Tomlinson, tried to extort the Jills for $800,000. Tomlinson, then licensed with One Sotheby’s International Realty, discovered the Jills team was manipulating listings in the Multiple Listing Service. Tomlinson was charged and found guilty of extortion. The Miami Realtors created new fines surrounding MLS manipulations, but the Jills were off the hook.

Then, in 2019, they made a strategic move that cemented their position as the top residential brokers. They merged with Judy Zeder’s team, giving them a strong foothold on the mainland, particularly in Coral Gables and Pinecrest. Zeder and her team, which includes her son Nathan, left what was then known as EWM Realty International. The Real Deal ranks the Jills Zeder Group No. 1 in Miami-Dade County, with nearly $1.4 billion in on-market sales last year. That means they closed even more deals, as a good chunk of luxury business is off-market.