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Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate expands SoCal presence

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is expanding its Southern California presence with a merger and a new affiliation, giving it 13 California-affiliated brokerages and more than 1,500 agents in the state.

Vogler Feigen Realty, a Riverside brokerage that closed $95 million in sales volume in 2018 announced last week it would affiliating with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and would henceforth be known as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Vogler Feigen.

Founded by Loni Vogler and Sonya Feigen in late 2010, the brokerage has since grown to 55 agents with two offices serving the Hemet, San Jacinto, Sun City and Menifee areas.

“The decision to partner with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate gives us unique and innovative resources that will facilitate our central mission: to connect our clients with knowledgeable and talented agents who have relevant real estate industry tools interwoven into their brokerage,” Vogler said in a statement.

Also last week, the company announced that Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Champions, based in Riverside, has merged with Elite Realty Group, based in nearby Redlands, California. The combined company boasts more than 100 agents and will continue to operate under the Better Homes and Gardens Champions brand.

John Shulte, will continue to run the franchise as broker-owner, while Elite Realty Group’s previous leaders, Dennis Miller and Lavonne Webb, will work in leadership roles at the combined brokerage focused on business and future development.

Last year, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Champions closed more than $110 million in sales volume and Elite Realty Group closed more than $70 million in sales.

“We wanted to expand, but only if it made sense from a strategic growth and culture standpoint,” Schulte said in a statement. “We found that [Miller and Webb] had built a similar company culture to ours with a tight-knit, family feeling.”

“We are really excited about our growth opportunity in Redlands and nearby Yucaipa, Loma Linda and Highland, where the lifestyle focus of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate will really resonate,” Schulte added. “Our existing affiliated agents are excited to take advantage of our now stronger regional presence and our new affiliated agents are thrilled with the opportunity to grow their businesses and take advantage of the marketing systems we currently have in place, which should help open doors to more listings.”

Email Patrick Kearns