Long & Foster Real Estate has acquired Alliance, a real estate franchise with 14 offices and nearly 800 agents in the Philadelphia area.
Alliance, a Century 21 franchise, which was ranked as one of the nation’s top real estate brokerages in the 2014 Real Trends 500, will operate under the Long & Foster name. Long & Foster ranks third in Real Trends, while Alliance comes in at No. 163.
Over the past few years, Long & Foster has focused on expanding its presence in the Delaware Valley and along the coasts of Delaware and New Jersey.
Long & Foster is based in northern Virginia and operates in an area extending from North Carolina to New Jersey,.
The company announced earlier this year it ranks second in closed transactions in Delaware, and also reported growth in New Jersey.
With the acquisition of Alliance, Long & Foster reports it will move into the No. 2 position in the Philadelphia market, with BerkshireHathaway HomeServices Fox and Roach believed to be the largest. In Delaware, the top slot is held by Patterson-Schwartz.
“Long & Foster is known for its unparalleled customer service and exceptional real estate professionals, and the entire Alliance team is excited to join a firm that’s known for helping home buyers and sellers to accomplish their dreams,” said Ron Clarke, chief executive officer of Alliance. “We’re ready to take advantage of all that Long & Foster has to offer, including its exclusive affiliation with Christie’s International Real Estate in our market, and we’re certain our agents and their clients will benefit tremendously from the training, marketing and technology support we’ll gain through Long & Foster.”
Clarke, who has more than 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, will remain with Long & Foster. He will work in partnership with Bob Albanese, Long & Foster’s senior vice president and regional manager, in leading the company’s expanded Philadelphia region.
Founded more than 15 years ago, Alliance provides a full range of services for buyers, sellers, builders and investors, including residential and commercial sales and rentals. The team also specializes in short sales and foreclosures, as well as investment properties, and they have provided relocation assistance to many individuals and corporations moving into and out of the southeastern Pennsylvania area.
“Alliance is well known and well respected in our community, and I know that Ron and his team will make a great addition to our Long & Foster family in the greater Philadelphia region,” said Gary Scott, president of Long & Foster Real Estate. “Similarly, Long & Foster’s agent-focused approach will help ensure the Alliance team has all the marketing, technology and training support they need to reach not only their own career goals, but also their clients’ real estate objectives.”
Scott, who grew up in Delaware, has a goal of making Long & Foster the largest residential broker in the state. He is the son of B. Gary Scott and held executive positons in his late father’s firm and at Patterson-Schwartz.
