United Real Estate, the nation’s eighth-largest brokerage, has announced a merger between its local subsidiary United Real Estate | Partners and Covington-based Real Estate Resource Group, strengthening United’s presence in the Greater New Orleans area real estate market. Real Estate Resource Group has more than 60 real estate agents. This is United Real Estate’s second merger this year with a GNO area real estate firm as Team Geaux Properties merged with United in February 2024. The combined operations include three offices in New Orleans, Metairie, and Mandeville, with nearly 200 agents now under the United banner. Nationally, United Real Estate operates in 32 states, 159 offices, and has more than 21,000 agents. The company produced $27.8 billion in sales volume in 2023. “We saw how many agents were moving to United, which piqued our interest and enticed us to explore what they were offering,” said Ken Rayer, Managing Partner of Real Estate Resource Group. “Many companies have approached us over the years, but United was the best fit. They have a flat-fee agent compensation model similar to ours and will provide our agents with the level of support and resources only a large national partner can offer.” As part of the United-RERG partnership, RERG affiliates will access property marketing and branding platforms, an agent training and professional development system, healthcare plans, wealth planning services, and United’s suite of software programs and technology. “It was important to ensure our agents were comfortable with the move,” said Rayer. “We didn’t want to join a commission-split model brokerage, which would increase their cost of doing business. Instead, we are actually giving them a raise and adding a suite of new tools, new office locations and a larger support team at no cost to them.” The President of United Real Estate, Rick Haase, said “the accelerating growth in the GNO market is gratifying and will continue in the months ahead.” “Our mission is to improve the financial trajectories of brokerages and agents by delivering uncharacteristically high levels of support and services,” said Haase. “This enables organic agent growth and mergers and acquisitions alike. I am very excited about the many synergies between United Partners and Real Estate Resource Group; both companies will be stronger than ever before because of the merger.” United | Partners CEO Tom Bookhardt added that the merger supports organizational growth and enhanced support and services for agents and clients. “By combining our resources and expertise with RERG, we’re building a stronger, more resilient brokerage that is well-positioned for the dynamic future of our industry,” said Bookhardt. “Through this collaboration, we will expand our reach, share best practices and provide our agents with even greater opportunities for growth. We’re confident this union will enable us to meet and exceed the market demands with innovative solutions and unmatched dedication to our clients’ success.” The United-RERG merger is one of several M&As within the New Orleans real estate industry in 2024. In May, McEnery Residential acquired Delery Comarda Realtors, and in April, Latter & Blum sold all its residential and commercial operations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, to New York-based real estate brokerage firm, Compass.