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Feeling presidential: Real estate’s biggest new hires and moves

· 5 min read
Feeling presidential: Real estate’s biggest new hires and moves

Fathom Realty, SERHANT. and other industry brands made moves last week, appointing new presidents and leaders to lead their growth efforts.

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Every day, Inman gets a slew of announcements about big teams and industry leaders making moves from one company to another. It’s more than we can cover!

So, here are some of the biggest announcements from recent days:

@properties Christie’s International Real Estate

After Thomas Downing announced his retirement in January, @properties has chosen Jim Barcelona to take over his former role as the firm’s executive vice president of brokerage services. Barcelona has been with @properties since 2018, leading the brokerage’s growth on Chicago’s West Side as VP of brokerage services.

Veteran agent Mike Long will take over Barcelona’s spot. “Their expertise and leadership strengthen an already exceptional team and ensure our agents have the support they need to thrive,” firm co-founder and co-CEO Thad Wong said.

Bay East Association of Realtors

Bay East Association of Realtors has installed its 2026 leadership team, with Bill Espinola leading as president. Espinola has been a Realtor since 2001 and currently holds committee and board roles with Bay East and the California Association of Realtors.

Douglas Elliman

Jonathan Miller, the longtime lead market-report researcher for Douglas Elliman, has stepped away from the role after 32 years. Miller said his firm, Miller Samuel Inc., will continue to serve other clients throughout New York City as he turns his attention toward a new data venture, StreetMatrix, and Housing Notes, his housing Substack.

“This mutual decision was made with Douglas Elliman in light of our long-term relationship,” he said in an emailed statement. “Douglas Elliman tells me they are already working hard on a replacement for the current Elliman Report series to continue their long-term commitment to enable market participants to make informed real estate decisions.”

Fathom Realty

Fathom Realty has tapped former EXIT Realty Corp. International executive Lori Muller as its new president. Muller has an impressive resume reaching back to 2004, including roles at Coldwell Banker and EXIT, as well as several independent coaching and consulting ventures.

At EXIT, Muller served as a regional director, broker-owner and vice president of U.S. operations before becoming president of the division in 2021. “Lori is a proven, people-first leader with deep operational expertise and a strong track record of empowering agents and brokerage leaders,” Fathom CEO Marco Fregenal said.

Long & Foster Real Estate

Minneapolis-based Long & Foster Real Estate has appointed former Compass executive Lacey Conway as its new president. Conway has been in the industry since 2005, serving as principal broker and later Chief Executive Officer at Latter & Blum Companies, which Compass acquired in 2024.

The C-suite executive will work alongside Patrick Bain, CEO of The Long & Foster Companies, to shape the brokerage’s growth strategy. “She has walked in the shoes of agents, managers, and leaders, and she brings a people-first leadership style that aligns with our Core Values,” Bain said. “Both her unique perspective and experience will be a tremendous asset to Long & Foster.”

SERHANT.

SERHANT. has arrived in Boston, with Michael L. Carucci, Antonio Khoury, Jorge Sariego, Kyle Farrell, and Joe Albano serving as the founding agents for the NYC-based firm’s first Beantown office. The agents collectively closed more than $600 million in the past year, setting a solid foundation for SERHANT’s expansion in the city.

“Launching SERHANT. in Boston is a milestone for me personally and a key moment in our national expansion,” founder and CEO Ryan Serhant said. “We’re proud to enter the market with a group of founding agents who represent the very best of Boston real estate.

Email Marian McPherson

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