Compass started 2025 with a big splash.
Just days after ringing in the new year, Compass brought on celebrity agent Tracy Tutor and her team, poaching the “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” star and her group’s nearly $550 million in active California and Texas listings from rival Douglas Elliman.
That wasn’t the end for Compass and its Southern California offices.
The brokerage has since brought on Galina Tucker and Phyllis Cyphers to bolster its Palm Desert office. The team, which closed on more than $40 million in sales last year, was most recently with Desert Sotheby’s and specializes in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta.
In Newport Beach, Compass added Grace Gui, most recently with Re/Max. Gui closed $30 million in sales last year, heading up the Re/Max 888 Diamond Team in Walnut between 2019 and 2023.
Elsewhere in Compass’ Newport Beach office it added former Coldwell Banker Realty agent Cindi Karamzadeh, who teamed with Lauren Shortt, part of Netflix’s “Selling the OC” cast featuring agents from The Oppenheim Group. The Cindi + Lauren Team have combined sales in excess of $300 million.
In the South Bay, Compass added Jenna Christensen, formerly of Engel & Völkers, to its Torrance office. Christensen closed $22 million in sales last year.
Meanwhile, Southern California’s luxury residential brokerages have seen plenty of other movement:
➤ Joanna Pallante decamped from Douglas Elliman’s Altman Brothers Team to join The Beverly Hills Estates. The long-time Elliman agent had been with the brokerage since 2017. Pallante, who is married to upscale home developer Roman James, will focus on Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills and Orange County among other submarkets.
➤ Greg Holcomb brought his team, with over $500 million in career sales, to Carolwood Estates. The Greg Holcomb Real Estate Group includes Quinn Taylor and Lauren Kerns. Holcomb, a specialist in celebrity, architectural and designer homes, has had his own home featured in Architectural Digest.
➤ Carolwood Estates brought on Kate Newton, whose business is focused on Hidden Hills, Calabasas, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Beverly Hills and the Sunset Strip. Newton represented Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young in buying a $20 million Calabasas mansion in 2022.
➤ Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California bolstered its sports and entertainment group with Myles Lewis. Lewis leads the division and counts tech founders, celebrities and artists in his client roster. Lewis is licensed in California and Texas.
➤ Tina Tan joined Christie’s International Real Estate SoCal to focus on the Orange County luxury market. Tan has closed over $60 million in sales over the past two years.
➤ The Lisa Kirshner Properties team is now at Christie’s International Real Estate SoCal, based out of Los Angeles. Founder Lisa Kirshner and Director Dylan Elkin comprise the team, which is focused on West L.A., Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks and Beverly Hills among other markets.
➤ Kim Cohen has jumped to Douglas Elliman’s Newport Beach office. Her team Kim Cohen & Associates, which was previously with eXp Realty, consists of Annette Harper, Daniel Finder, Julie Mansfield and Jimmy Sanchez.
Cohen and her husband, Brad, are the founders of independent escrow company Granite Escrow & Settlement Services, which they started in 2009. The couple scaled the business to seven locations and ultimately sold Granite to First American Financial in 2021.
➤ Nourmand & Associates brought on Rachael Reiser, previously serving as partner agent at L34 Group. Reiser brings to the brokerage expertise in East L.A.
