Real estate firm bolsters its ranks with new agents

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HAMILTON — Realty First is expanding its reach by adding to its staff.

The Hamilton-based real estate agency welcomed 11 agents from Prudential Paramount into the fold last week.

The move came two weeks after Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services was acquired for $110 million by Canadian-based franchisor Brookfield Residential Property Services, which provides services in the United States under the Real Living brand.

“We sent out an email a few weeks ago just stating that we were looking for new agents,” said Realty First co-owner and broker Brian Marischen, who has 17 years of real estate experience. “At that point they (Prudential Paramount) contacted us and told us that they were looking to consolidate and move forward as far as doing away with the Prudential brand,” “They wanted to stick with a more a local company.”

The staffing acquisition means Realty First, which opened in 2010, now has 27 agents and, with the gain of 163 listings from Prudential, nearly 300 listed properties.

“With getting this additional expertise, it will help us to broaden our horizons,” said Realty First co-owner John Holbrock, who has been in the real estate business for 16 years.

One of the agents coming from Prudential to Realty First is Leon Johnson, who specializes in development and new construction.

“He is the premier agent in the area for builders, so we’re going to have most of the new construction in Butler County listed,” Marischen said.

The company plans to absorb Prudential Paramount’s relocation division, which helps large companies relocate their employees.

Realty First also plans to use the additional staffing to start up its own property management division, Marischen said.

Realty First is located at 25 N. D St. in Hamilton and 6581 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in Liberty Twp. For more information, call (513) 737-6600 or visit www.realtyfirstohio.com.

Prudential Paramount co-owners Bob Sirk, Regina Saurber and Jamie Campbell plan to shutter its Hamilton and Mason offices by the end of this year, Marischen said.