New Englander Real Estate opens in Boston; ERA adds Denver affiliate; Christie’s and Portside make moves

The useful part

The brokerage business is a busy one, with frequent moves, mergers and milestones. Here we highlight some of the latest activity among brokerages across the U.S. Husband-and-wife duo open New England indie New Englander Real Estate, an independent residential real estate sales and property management brokerage, launched this week in the Greater Boston area.

How it works

• Portside Real Estate Group has announced that Lily LaCasse, an early-career agent born in the Pine Tree State, is joining its team in Southern Maine, where she will work with both homebuyers and sellers.
• Through the affiliation, Success Realty Experts' agents will gain access to ERA's training, marketing and technology resources, including MoxiWorks, Team ERA University, TextERA and Canva Enterprise...
• Co-owned by husband-and-wife team Kate Ziegler Romano and Jack Romano, the brokerage will provide buyer and seller representation and property management services across eastern Massachusetts.
• Jack Romano is a licensed Massachusetts broker with experience in residential and multifamily transactions, property management, renovations and rental properties.
• The brokerage will focus on the ongoing ownership and management of homes, offering clients support beyond a purchase or sale.

What to take from it

New Englander plans to expand throughout the region, with the Romanos saying they expect to add agents gradually based on experience and fit with the brokerage's approach to local knowledge and long-term client relationships. The women-led brokerage will now operate as Success Realty Experts ERA POWERED while retaining its local brand identity. More brokerage news Christie's International Real Estate is expanding in the United Arab Emirates with the opening of a location in Abu Dhabi.

Example or evidence

• The company serves buyers, sellers and investors across Denver and surrounding communities, including Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Castle Rock, Centennial and Golden.
• Looking ahead, Briseno and her leadership team plan to pursue growth through organic recruiting, strategic mergers and acquisitions, and a new physical office location within the next year.
• "As we looked toward our next phase of growth, it was important to align with a brand that could provide us with industry-leading resources while also sharing our values," Briseno said.
• The new venture, which will operate as Christie's International Real Estate Abu Dhabi, will be led by Owners Jackie Johns and Dinesh Chhatwan, who also lead Christie's in Dubai.

Details worth keeping

Real Estate News Staff August 22, 2026 4 mins Editor's note: Jack Romano and Kate Ziegler Romano, Co-Owners | New Englander Real Estate The Romanos have a combined track record of more than $150 million in career sales, according to a news release, with Kate Ziegler Romano bringing more than a decade of experience representing buyers and sellers. In a news release, the firm pointed to the "record-setting pace" of the city's real estate market growth, noting that there are lots of opportunities to close high-dollar deals as more financial and multinational companies are drawn to the area.

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