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Corcoran Group aims to compete in Texas

Stephanie Anton promoted to president of Corcoran Affiliate Network

Luxury brokerage the Corcoran Group announced its entry into Texas on Thursday, as it welcomed its newest affiliate, Beth Ferester & Company, based out of The Woodlands. The new affiliate will be officially open on January 6, 2022 and will be rebranded as Corcoran Ferester Realty.

Ferester was founded and is now co-owned by Beth and Bob Ferester.

“For us, the decision to become Corcoran Ferester Realty was a no-brainer and I am very much looking forward to continuing to provide our clients with local expertise through a global network – and of course, giving our agents the very best as they continue to build and strengthen their careers through this new endeavor,” Beth Ferester said in a statement.

The Woodlands, a city just north of Houston, was ranked as the best place to live in America in 2021 by Niche, a platform that helps college students and young families make moving decisions. The city is a 28,000-acre master planned community and it is home to some of the state’s best forests, hiking, golf, boating and running and bike trails.

“Entering a new state is always such an exciting milestone,” Pamela Liebman the president and CEO of The Corcoran Group said in a statement. “The more we grow, the more opportunities we’re able to bring to our entire network of affiliated agents, and that is of the utmost importance.”

Corcoran faces quite a bit of competition in the Houston area. Coldwell Banker United/Sotheby’s International Realty/RBG had the highest number of closed transaction sides in 2020 at 10,690 at $4.26 billion in sales volume, according to RealTrends’ Market Leaders report. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene was second at 8,986 closed sides and $3 billion in sales volume. And Compass, which launched there in 2018, notched $2.61 billion in closed sales volume across nearly 4,000 transaction sides.

Douglas Elliman, another New York-based luxury brokerage, entered the Houston market in 2019 with the acquisition of John Daugherty Realtors.

Since launching in early 2020, the Corcoran Affiliate Network has added dozens of affiliates across the U.S. and the Caribbean. The brand now has more than 5,500 agents across more than 30 markets.

The brokerage also announced Thursday that Stephanie Anton, who joined the firm in July 2020 as senior vice president of affiliate marketing and growth, has been promoted to the role of president of the Corcoran Affiliate Network as of January 1, 2022.