According to HousingWire, Coldwell Banker Apex has made a move to strengthen its footprint in central Texas by acquiring Longhorn Realty, a firm that focuses on land, farms, ranches, and rural properties. The acquired company will now operate as the Longhorn Farm & Ranch Division under the Coldwell Banker Apex banner. Longhorn Realty, which was established back in 2010, brought in roughly $40 million in sales volume last year, and the entire ownership and team of agents have transitioned over to Apex.
The owner of Coldwell Banker Apex, Lori Arnold, explained that this acquisition made sense given the company's expanding presence in central Texas. She noted that Longhorn Realty offered the expertise in land and ranch properties that Apex was looking to add to its offerings, while also sharing similar business values and culture.
Coldwell Banker Apex operates from 26 locations across Texas and Louisiana with more than 1,250 agents on staff. The company is a family-owned business now in its third generation under the ownership of John and Lori Arnold. Last year, the firm closed nearly $4.7 billion in total sales volume across residential and commercial properties, which positioned them as the number 46 ranked firm nationally by sales volume.
The acquisition adds to an already impressive portfolio for Apex. The firm has become the largest Coldwell Banker affiliate operating in Texas and Louisiana, holds the distinction of being the largest woman-owned Coldwell Banker affiliate, and ranks as the second-largest Coldwell Banker affiliate in the entire country.
What I am seeing locally here in the Bay Area is that major brokerages continue to consolidate and expand their specialty divisions to compete nationally. While this particular deal is happening in Texas, it reflects a broader trend of established firms acquiring niche players who have deep expertise in specific property types. For our East Bay and Fremont market, this reminds us that as local real estate becomes increasingly competitive, having specialized knowledge in particular segments whether that's multi-unit, commercial, or yes, even rural properties, becomes even more valuable to clients looking for agents with genuine expertise.
