Three leading Northeast brokerages have merged, creating one of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate’s largest affiliates — clocking in with more than 1,100 agents representing roughly $1.5 billion in sales volume. The combined brokerage, comprised of BHGRE Maturo, BHGRE Dream Properties and Realty Connect USA, will now do business as BHGRE Realty Connect.
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Ginger Wilcox
“The formation of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Realty Connect strengthens our presence across a key multi-state region,” BHGRE President Ginger Wilcox said in a media statement. “Affiliated agents in these markets gain access to proprietary insights and consumer touchpoints that enhance how they serve clients, with the advantage of a brand built around how people live.”
BHGRE Realty Connect’s footprint extends across 22 offices in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with the former Realty Connect USA and BHGRE Dream Properties based on Long Island and BHGRE Maturo based in South Jersey.
Maturo’s founders, Albert Faiola and Frank Stimiloski, will lead BHGRE Connect’s overall operations, while COO Steve Deans oversees the brokerage’s New Jersey market.
“When Frank and I started the business, our goal was to build a multi-state brokerage, and we have stayed focused on that from the beginning,” Faiola said in a written statement. “Thanks to the unwavering support of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand, we have been able to expand our footprint and serve more people and more communities with the unique lifestyle focus.”
Meanwhile, Dream Properties’ founders, Aret Kayserilioglu and Fred Bollinger, will partner with the Realty Connect USA team — Michael Ardolino, John Fitzgerald, Bart Cafarella and Fern Karhu — to oversee the combined brokerage’s New York presence.
“We are proud of what we have built as a leading independent brokerage on Long Island,” Fitzgerald said in a prepared statement. “As the real estate industry continues to evolve, this move provides our affiliated agents with strong support and positions the company for long-term development.”
Added Cafarella, “Long Island represents a significant portion of New York State’s population, and we see a clear opportunity to grow our market share and further support our affiliated agents’ success. Aligning with the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand strengthens our ability to connect with consumers who are drawn to this region’s unique balance of proximity to Manhattan and more than 400 miles of coastline.”
