Better Homes and Gardens Affiliates Merge in Three States

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Maturo, BHGRE Dream Properties and Realty Connect USA are merging into one brokerage. The combined firm will operate as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Realty Connect, with more than 1,100 agents across 22 offices from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Westhampton, New York. Albert Faiola and Frank Stimiloski of Maturo will lead it, while the other founders stay on in local roles.

Consolidation Inside a Brand

This is affiliate-level consolidation, where independent franchisees of the same brand combine rather than a franchisor buying a competitor. The deal stacks scale under one banner without forcing anyone to rebrand, which lowers integration friction. For franchisors, these mergers concentrate volume in fewer, stronger operators who can absorb technology and compliance costs more easily.

Why Scale Wins Right Now

Real estate brokerages face thin margins and rising spending on technology, lead generation and legal compliance after recent commission rule changes. Pooling 1,100 agents spreads those fixed costs across a far larger revenue base. The merged firm also gains stronger negotiating power with vendors and a deeper bench of leadership, both hard to build one office at a time.

The Signal for Multi-Office Operators

Owners running several locations should read this as the direction of travel: brand affiliates are getting bigger by combining, not by opening one office at a time. That raises the competitive floor in shared markets and pressures smaller operators to find partners. Expect more same-brand mergers as franchisors quietly encourage their strongest affiliates to roll up nearby peers.