NEW ORLEANS – Latter & Blum Inc. announced today that it has merged with Houston-based Realty Associates.
Effective immediately, the merger ushers Latter & Blum Inc. into the Greater Houston real estate market – the second largest metropolitan region in the United States. The Houston portion of the company will now operate as “Realty Associates, ERA Powered” under the same leadership of Broker, Peter Merritt.
This is the twelfth merger or acquisition for Latter & Blum Inc. in the past six years. The move joins Latter & Blum Agents to a network of more than 1,700 Agents in Greater Houston.
“Our expansion into Houston provides our company access to the second largest market in the United States,” Robert Merrick, Chairman and CEO of Latter & Blum Inc., said. “There is a lot of synergy between Houston and our current operations in Louisiana and Mississippi. This move will make Latter & Blum the best-positioned company to serve the real estate needs of the oil and gas industry across the Gulf Coast.”
“Joining with Realty Associates allows us to take advantage of the substantial population movement in and between all of our existing markets and Houston,” Richard Haase, President of Latter & Blum Inc., said. “As we diversify and grow our service area, we also lower our costs. That allows us to deliver more services and tools to our Agents so they can better serve our clients.”
“Our agents will have the support and services typically offered by other major companies in our market,” Peter Merritt, Broker of Realty Associates, said. “Our partnership with Latter & Blum Inc. will now allow us to offer greater services to Agents, home sellers and buyers throughout the Greater Houston market.”
Latter & Blum Inc. is the nation’s 33rd largest Real Estate brokerage and home services company with sales of nearly $3 billion annually. Established in 1916, it is the largest full-service Real Estate brokerage in Louisiana and the Gulf South with 1,400 Agents in more than 30 offices in the markets of Greater New Orleans, Greater Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Alexandria, Houma, Thibodaux, Lake Charles, and Southern Mississippi.
Latter & Blum Inc. operates LATTER & BLUM Inc./ REALTORS, C.J. Brown REALTORS Inc., Van Eaton & Romero REALTORS, ERA Moffett-Latter & Blum Inc. REALTORS, and Noles-Frye Realty (all owned by Latter & Blum Inc.). Latter & Blum Classic Homes & Properties, Latter & Blum Shaw Properties, and Latter & Blum Hometown operate under franchise agreements. All are part of the national and global network of ERA Powered companies. Additionally, LATTER & BLUM Inc. operates NAI Latter & Blum Commercial Real Estate, Latter & Blum Property Management, Latter & Blum Insurance Services, Platinum Title, and Essential Mortgage Company.
