Beau Hulse Realty Group Merges With New York-Based Coldwell Banker Franchise

On paper, Coldwell Banker Beau Hulse Realty Group is officially no more.

Effective February 1, the East End-based, family-owned boutique firm merged with Coldwell Banker Reliable Real Estate Group, which operates in New York City, and adopted its name. Together, under the same banner, the combined company now has about 175 agents — 125 from New York and 50 from the Hamptons across four offices — bringing it within the top 13 percent of Coldwell Banker’s brokerages in terms of volume and business, Hulse reported.

“We thought that would be a great connection between us and New York City — for the agents, for referral business,” he said of the merger. “I think it adds certain dynamics that are needed. So I’m excited about it.”

The idea to expand into New York wasn’t a new one, said Hulse — who has worked in real estate since 1986 — noting that the earliest iteration of this plan with a different company dates back to the late 2000s. But the 2008 financial crisis put it on hold, and he turned his attention back to the East End, where he and his wife, Patricia, opened offices in Southampton, Westhampton, Bridgehampton and Hampton Bays.

“We rekindled this idea about two years ago,” Hulse said, “and then, of course, it slowed itself down, dialogue-wise, with COVID. So everything became challenging.”

Joseph T. Hamdan, principal and managing broker of Coldwell Banker Reliable Real Estate Group, did not respond to a request for comment, and Hulse declined to discuss the financial details of the deal. He will serve as principal managing broker of record for the Hamptons, and Patricia Hulse as vice president.

Their daughters, Rachael Hulse and Elizabeth Gallo, will continue to work in the company as director of sales and director of operations and agent services of Coldwell Banker Reliable Real Estate Group Hamptons, respectively.

“Joe’s a very smart businessman, he’s built a great company and my kids like and respect him — and I do, too,” Hulse said. “So that trust factor was a lot of why we thought this could work, outside of the locations. It’s about the people, at the end of the day.”

Letting go of the family name, and perception that came with it, after nearly four decades was “a big change,” Hulse said, but he ultimately decided it was best for the business. “There’s no ego here,” he said.

He also said he is looking for opportunities to expand the company’s offices to Montauk and the North Fork, too.

“I know it’s the right move. There was some trepidation, but I was thinking about the long-term plan, the growth of the company,” Hulse said of the name change, adding, “I think the company’s gonna have a lot of growth from it, I do. I think that this connection between the city and the Hamptons makes a lot of sense, the two of us.”