The Keyes Company, Florida’s largest independent real estate firm, established a significant presence in the Sarasota market with the arrival of Signature Premier Properties Sarasota and Florida SunCoast Real Estate. Following these additions, Keyes will operate its first Sarasota office at 1433 Main St. – a prime location within the city.
“We are thrilled to welcome these two best-in-class real estate firms to the Keyes family,” Keyes President Christina Pappas said. “Signature Premier Properties Sarasota and Florida SunCoast Real Estate enable us to make an impactful debut in a pivotal market that continues to experience incredible growth and demand. Both firms share our commitment to personal, hands-on service and the belief that connection and community is at the heart of real estate.”
Signature Premier Properties Sarasota is an affiliate of New York-based Signature Premier Properties, a Long Island market leader co-owned by Peter Morris and Kathleen Viard. The Sarasota firm has 60 agents, including a strong contingent of New York transplants who leverage their relationships in both markets for the benefit of their buyers and sellers. Signature’s Kathy Curd will serve as Sales Manager of the new Keyes Sarasota office.
“Keyes is the perfect partner to allow us to build upon our momentum since launching the Sarasota brokerage a few years ago,” Viard said. “The Sarasota market continues to see the New York relocation activity that started during the pandemic. Our New York roots and relationships help our agents produce optimal results for their clients.”
Founded in 2016 in Bradenton, Florida SunCoast Real Estate prides itself on professionalism, flexibility and providing a holistic customer experience. It is co-owned by Barry and Sherry Grooms, who have a combined 50 years of industry experience.
Barry Grooms is a past President of Florida Realtors and consistently reaches the top 2% of his market area as a residential and commercial real estate agent. Sherry Grooms has held numerous industry leadership positions, including as President of the Manatee Association of Realtors and Network President of the Women’s Council of Realtors. The couple is also deeply involved in community and civic organizations.
In conjunction with Florida SunCoast’s arrival, Barry Grooms will become the Southwest Florida Regional Manager of Keyes. He will help Keyes leadership identify additional firm merger opportunities and recruit top associates in the region.
“Like Keyes, we are a family-owned brokerage that puts people first,” Grooms said. “We were attracted to Keyes due to its unmatched reputation earned over nearly a century of service, market-leading technology and support for agents, and community impact.”
Keyes is in active negotiations with other brokerages in Southwest Florida and other target Florida markets.
“Our track record of successful partnerships is creating exciting new opportunities across Florida,” Keyes Senior Vice President Steven Reibel said. “We are actively engaging with broker/owners who recognize the advantages of collaboration, as the evolving industry landscape creates new opportunities for boutique brokerages to thrive by joining forces.
Christina Pappas, left and Mike Pappas, right with the SunCoast team.
