Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is entering Northern New England for the first time, announcing a partnership to acquire Portside Real Estate Group, a firm Howard Hanna describes as Maine’s top independent brokerage. The deal gives the Pittsburgh-based company an immediate foothold in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts and extends its national geographic expansion strategy into a region it had not previously served.
Howard Hanna ranks among the largest privately held real estate brokerages in the country, with roughly 15,000 sales associates operating across more than 500 offices. The Portside deal, announced July 23, pushes the company’s footprint to 18 states.
Portside was founded in 2012 by Dava Davin, who built the company from a single Portland, Maine, office into a 12-office network spanning the three-state region. The firm reported $1.5 billion in sales in 2025 and, according to Howard Hanna’s announcement, claimed the top spot for residential sales volume in Maine in June 2026. Howard Hanna also describes Portside as Maine’s No. 1 independent firm and a woman-owned brokerage β characterizations that reflect the companies’ own framing of the deal rather than independently verified market rankings.
More than 225 agents across Portside’s 12 offices will join the Howard Hanna family of companies. Davin will continue to lead Portside’s day-to-day operations, and the brokerage will keep operating under its existing name and local leadership, gaining access to Howard Hanna’s technology, marketing resources and national referral network.
“We are committed to thoughtful, disciplined growth by partnering with market leaders who share our entrepreneurial, relationship-driven approach,” Howard Hanna CEO Hoby Hanna said in the companies’ joint announcement. Davin said Portside is “getting stronger,” crediting the culture and relationships the firm has built since its founding.
What it means
Verified facts: Howard Hanna has added a 225-agent, 12-office brokerage and gained its first offices in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, bringing its footprint to 18 states. The move fits a pattern industry watchers have flagged of large national and regional brokerages acquiring established independents rather than building out new markets from scratch β a dynamic RealtyWire has tracked across several recent brokerage expansion announcements.
Attributed interpretation: Howard Hanna and Portside frame the deal as a growth opportunity for Portside agents and clients, citing expanded resources and referral access. Claims about Portside’s market-leading position in Maine come from the companies themselves and have not been independently verified by RealtyWire.
What to watch
Whether Portside’s branding and local leadership structure persist long-term, how quickly Howard Hanna integrates the firm’s technology and marketing operations, and whether the deal signals further Howard Hanna expansion into other New England states. Readers can follow ongoing brokerage M&A coverage at RealtyWire.
