Real estate brokerages are actively expanding their networks, with Coldwell Banker Realty adding a high-volume mother-son team to its Siesta Key, Florida, office and Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno opening a new location in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The Thompson Group, led by Jennifer Thompson and her son Taylor Thompson, joined Coldwell Banker after previously affiliating with William Raveis Real Estate. The team brings nearly 20 years of combined experience to the brokerage and has closed $301 million in career sales, including $27 million during the first seven months of 2026. Jennifer Thompson brings 13 years of experience to the firm, while Taylor Thompson has been in the industry since 2020, and the team specializes in residential and luxury properties.
Ellen C. O’Day, managing broker for Coldwell Banker Realty’s St. Armands Circle, Longboat Key and Siesta Key offices, said she is looking forward to the growth potential for Siesta Key with the addition of the Thompsons. The move was driven by Coldwell Banker’s luxury brand, global reach, technology, and buyer network, according to Jennifer Thompson. “We look forward to providing our clients with even greater resources, marketing power, and exceptional service,” she added. Meanwhile, Engel & Völkers Gestalt Group has welcomed Dawn Thomas to its California team. Thomas, who previously aligned with Compass, has spent over 22 years serving clients in Silicon Valley and has closed more than $675 million in sales volume.
Thomas described her move as “deliberate, not reactive.” She found a global network built to support the practice she wants to keep building, rather than just the one she already had. In New York, Douglas Elliman agent McKenzie Ryan is expanding her business to London after securing representation for several new development projects in the English capital. Ryan noted the rise in American buyers in London, stating that the city is emerging as a clear focus for real estate investors. “I’m now able to advise my clients across both markets ensuring every acquisition is executed with the same level of intention and oversight I’ve always brought to New York,” Ryan said.
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Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno has opened its 20th office in Carmel-by-the-Sea to serve buyers and sellers in the area. The Northern California brokerage, founded by CEO Chris Trapani and Chief Experience Officer Ryan Iwanaga, has grown to more than 650 agents over the past two decades. The company reported $6.5 billion in sales volume in 2025 and is on track to hit $7.4 billion in 2026, making it the largest Christie’s affiliate by volume globally. The new office will be led by Simona Martin and is part of a broader expansion of the brokerage’s presence on the Central Coast.
Christie’s International Real Estate has also announced the opening of a new office in Phuket, Thailand’s largest island. The move comes nearly two years after the luxury brand launched in Bangkok. The new Phuket office is in Bang Tao, a high-end district near Bang Tao Beach. Chinnatatt Sirichanachai, who oversaw the company’s initial push into Thailand, said buyers around the world recognize Phuket as one of the most compelling luxury resort-home markets in Asia. The goal is to create a central hub for luxury real estate in Phuket. Agents find secret to success.