After seven years at Compass — and a lot of conversations about where this industry is actually heading — Tyler Brown & Associates is joining SERHANT. as part of the launch team establishing the brokerage’s footprint in California. Our base stays exactly where it’s always been: Newport Beach.
This wasn’t a reactive move. It was the result of watching a firm operate differently in a market that tends to reward inertia.
What SERHANT. Has Built
SERHANT. launched in 2020 and has grown to over 2,000 agents across 16 states, closing $7.1 billion in sales volume in 2025 — more than 100% year-over-year growth. This week, the firm entered California, opening simultaneously across five markets: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, and Tahoe. It’s the company’s largest market debut to date, with a founding roster of agents who collectively closed more than $2 billion over the past 12 months.
For a brokerage that built its national footprint market by market, California was the logical next move — and Orange County is central to that story.
$7.1B
2025 Volume
2,000+
Agents
16
States
The Newport Beach Context
The luxury residential market in Southern California has been recalibrating. The latter half of 2025 brought pricing adjustments at the high end and a gradual shift in negotiating leverage toward buyers. That’s exactly the environment where platform, tools, and positioning separate the results.
Newport Beach sits at the center of one of the most durable luxury corridors in the country — and the data is clear. As of early 2026, three Newport Beach ZIP codes rank among the ten most expensive in the United States, per Realtor.com, with Newport Coast leading the national list at a median list price of $12.5 million. No other city in America has that kind of concentration at the top of the rankings.
Waterfront inventory remains constrained. Coastal and out-of-state buyer demand continues. The development pipeline is drawing serious capital. The fundamentals here don’t require a pitch — and pairing them with a brokerage built for scale, media reach, and sophisticated technology gives our clients a real advantage.
Why SERHANT., And Why Now
A few things made the decision straightforward.
Technology that actually works.
SERHANT. operates on S.MPLE — its proprietary AI platform — built to reduce friction across marketing, transaction management, and client communication. In a market where speed and precision determine outcomes, this is infrastructure, not a feature.
Media reach that translates to exposure.
SERHANT. has built one of the most recognized real estate brands in the world — through volume and through content. That reach converts directly to property exposure, and at the luxury level, distribution matters.
Leadership with real California roots.
Ezra Leyton, formerly COO at Marquis Commercial Properties, leads SERHANT. California as managing director and principal broker — and will be based in Newport Beach. Ben Belack joins as Executive Vice President of California, bringing over $1 billion in career sales and his full team from The Agency. The signal is clear: this is a long-term commitment, not a flag plant.
We’re on the ground from day one.
Tyler Brown & Associates is part of the founding team establishing SERHANT.’s footprint in Orange County — committed to building this market alongside the brokerage for the long haul.
What This Means for Our Clients
The work doesn’t change. Same team. Same market expertise. Same focus on the Newport Beach waterfront that has defined this business. What changes is the platform behind us.
We now operate with a national network of over 2,000 agents, a technology stack built for modern transactions, and the marketing reach of one of the most visible brands in real estate.
Let’s Start the Conversation
If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Newport Beach — or anywhere along the Orange County coast — let’s talk.
Schedule a Consultation
