Coldwell Banker Premier Expands with Historic Merger

Coldwell Banker Premier, one of the nation’s fastest growing brokerages and one of the Coldwell Banker brand’s top 25 affiliated companies nationwide, has announced a merger with Coldwell Banker NOW and its five offices serving Virginia Beach, Newport News, Williamsburg, Chesapeake and Franklin, Va. The expanded Coldwell Banker Premier, with its combined $600-plus million 2023 sales volume, is the second-fastest growing Coldwell Banker franchise in the nation and second largest Coldwell Banker franchise in the mid-Atlantic region according to RealTrends Verified.

Coldwell Banker Premier, led by Chief Executive Officer Steve DuBrueler, has grown by 400% since Chief Operating Officer Stephen Meadows began his tenure in 2020. The firm now has 21 offices and more than 300 agents in five states. West of the D.C. and Baltimore metros, it serves clients in South-Central, Pa., Western Maryland, West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle and the Shenandoah Valley. Along the Atlantic coast, it serves Southern Delaware and the Hampton Roads region in Virginia.

Coldwell Banker Now, once known as Coldwell Banker Professional Realtors, joined the Coldwell Banker brand in 1989. Its residential and commercial real estate operations, along with property management, will now operate as Coldwell Banker Premier while owners Dorcas Helfant-Browning, the first female President of both the Virginia and National Associations of Realtors, Tim Gifford and Rick West will retain leadership roles.

“Our company was built by finding and merging with the best companies in the area,” Helfant-Browning said. “Tim, Rick, and I recognized that we could provide so much more support and opportunities for our agents and clients by joining forces with Steve and his amazing Coldwell Banker Premier team. Not only can we allow for greater exposure for our listings and provide more homebuyer services, but our agents will benefit from a variety of industry-leading Coldwell Banker Premier resources including access to health and wealth opportunities with subsidized health, dental and vision insurance as well as a 401k plan and deferred compensation plan.”

“Dorcas is a real estate legend and she, Tim, and Rick built an incredible company that has served the Hampton Roads region for so many years,” DuBrueler said. “As we spoke more and more about coming together, it became crystal clear that we share the same agent-first focus. We have a track record of improving agents’ lives, businesses and client offerings, including those who work in the similar Delaware beach areas. We can now do the same for another incredible Atlantic seaboard market.”

DuBrueler entered real estate as a Coldwell Banker agent in 1988 and earned national recognition as a 30 Under 30 recipient from the National Association of Realtors. He eventually opened his own brokerage in 1994 and launched Coldwell Banker Premier in 1995. He is a recent recipient of the Chandler Barton Spirit Award, the highest individual honor in the Coldwell Banker brand for his dedication to his agents and philanthropic efforts.

About Coldwell Banker Premier

Coldwell Banker Premier was established in 1994 by Steve DuBrueler, who affiliated with Coldwell Banker in 1995. DuBrueler’s business model is designed to ensure the success of the company’s agents. This service mentality is reflected in DuBrueler’s recognition as the Chandler Barton Spirit Award winner, the highest individual honor bestowed by the Coldwell Banker brand. With 21 offices and more than 300 agents, it is one of the largest Coldwell Banker franchisees in the nation with more than $600 million in 2023 sales volume. The company serves the Quad-State (Va., W.Va. Md. and Pa.) region, Hampton Roads, Va., Sussex and Kent County, Del., South Central Pa, Western Maryland, and Washington, D.C. It provides residential, relocation, commercial, property management, auction, luxury, REO, mortgage and title services. Learn more: https://www.premiermove.com/about