United® Real Estate is expanding its footprint in South Florida through a strategic merger that brings Real Estate Authority under the umbrella of Charles Rutenberg Realty Fort Lauderdale (CRR). CRR, part of the United network, currently supports more than 1,200 agents across the region.
Real Estate Authority founder Michael Brownell shared the strategic vision behind the merger:
“This union creates a unique opportunity to enhance the services and support offered to my 60 agents by tapping into the vast resources of CRR’s parent company, United Real Estate. My top priority is to ensure that my agents have access to world-class education, coaching, technology and brokerage support so they can excel in their field. CRR is one of the largest and most respected brokerages in South Florida and best-equipped to ensure they thrive.”
CRR Managing Broker Michelle Sessor highlighted how the union benefits all parties:
“I’ve known Michael Brownell for years, and his dedication and professionalism are reflected in the top-tier agents he attracts to his company. We are thrilled to welcome his talented team to CRR, and we look forward to leveraging Michael’s 18 years of experience as both a licensed agent and brokerage leader. His leadership and expertise will be invaluable assets as we continue to grow and strengthen our market position.”
As part of the merger, Brownell will assume the role of Talent Attraction Specialist for CRR. In this position, he will utilize his extensive recruiting experience, market knowledge, and broad sphere of influence to attract top talent to CRR—further solidifying the company’s presence in the competitive South Florida real estate market.
Rick Hasse, President of United Real Estate, commented on the move:
“We are very pleased to welcome Michael and his team to CRR in South Florida. We have been growing very well in the region, even in the face of a persistent, challenging market. Michael and his agents add more growth fuel to the operation. Most importantly though, we will be able to deploy all our tools, services and supports to all of his agents to help them grow and prosper.”
This merger represents a significant step in CRR’s ongoing expansion and its commitment to providing agents with the best tools and support in the industry.
About Charles Rutenberg Realty Fort Lauderdale
Charles Rutenberg Realty Fort Lauderdale (CRR) is part of the largest fully integrated network of real estate and auction professionals in the nation. The company has been an innovator in real estate marketing since 1925. Its management team understands the needs of agents in urban and metropolitan markets, addressing those needs with powerful marketing programs and technology-based services that are unique to the industry.
About United Real Estate
United Real Estate (United), a division of United Real Estate Group, was founded to provide solutions to real estate brokers and agents in the rapidly evolving real estate brokerage industry. United offers the latest training, marketing, and technology tools to agents and brokers under a flat-fee, transaction-based commission model. By leveraging the proprietary cloud-based Bullseye™ Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, United delivers more profitable outcomes for agents and brokers. United Real Estate operates in 34 states with 170 offices and more than 22,000 agents. In 2024, the company produced over 73,000 transactions and $26.3 billion in sales volume.
About United Real Estate Group
United Real Estate Group (UREG) operates United Real Estate and United Country Real Estate, addressing the unique market needs of suburban, major metropolitan urban, and rural markets. Utilizing the cloud-based Bullseye™ Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, UREG offers state-of-the-art training, marketing, and technology tools that deliver a significant competitive advantage. The platform represents more than a decade of investment in virtual agent and brokerage technology services and is powered by a 2.6 million listing data warehouse, generating over 3 million monthly visitors and 30,000+ leads per year. Together, United Real Estate Group supports more than 600 offices and 25,000 real estate and auction professionals across four continents. In 2024, the company produced 90,000 transactions and $30.7 billion in sales volume. Through its in-house advertising agency, UREG offers specialized marketing support and access to a database of more than 800,000 opt-in buyers.
To learn more about United Real Estate, brokerage succession planning, brokerage valuation and sale, or franchising opportunities, visit GrowWithUnited.com. Agents interested in career opportunities can visit JoinUnitedRealEstate.com.
