Wilmington-based residential real estate firm Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage is expanding with a merger that will extend its reach in Eastern North Carolina to Havelock, Cedar Point and the surrounding areas, according to an announcement this week. 

The merger is with Coldwell Banker First Realty, which has a market area that includes Carteret and Craven counties and parts of Onslow, Pamlico and Jones counties.

“Coldwell Banker First Realty and Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage have a long history of working together in the interest of their clients," said Leontine Zambrano of Coldwell Banker First in a news release Tuesday.  

Ric Fountain, also of Coldwell Banker First, said in the release that the merger means access to "a vast referral network, advanced technology to streamline transactions and revitalized social media campaigns."

The Coldwell Banker Advantage family of companies will now include Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, serving Southeastern North Carolina from Havelock down to Calabash; Coldwell Banker Advantage, serving Raleigh, Fayetteville and Southern Pines; Coldwell Banker Willis-Smith serving the New Bern area; and Coldwell Banker Chicora Advantage serving the Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, South Carolina areas. 

Of the merger with Coldwell Banker First, Tim Milam, president of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, stated in the release, “With our network of 43 offices and over 1,300 agents, we can provide a local insight and a rapid, effective response for clients across Eastern North Carolina and Northeastern South Carolina. We could not be more excited for this, as Coldwell Banker First is a great company with a proven track record and phenomenal leadership.”

With the merger, Zambrano and Fountain will remain in their current roles. Owners of the firm will be Milam; Gary Rabon, president of Coldwell Banker Advantage in Raleigh; and Ralph Huff, president of Coldwell Banker Advantage in Fayetteville.

“All of our regional offices are led by a local owner with deep community ties and extensive area knowledge, gained from many years of working in their respective markets,” Milam stated in the release.

Founded in 1988, Sea Coast joined Coldwell Banker in 1993 and had a 2018 closed sales volume of more than $1.7 billion.