Sarasota and Manatee Realtor groups ponder merger

The boards that oversee real estate agent organizations in Sarasota and Manatee counties voted to merge into one group — a decision that now goes to members.

Members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors and the Manatee Association of Realtors are scheduled to vote on the proposed merger Sept. 16, according to a release. If approved, the merger will be effective Jan. 1. Both groups will retain their respective facilities, the release adds, and the new association will be called the Suncoast Realtor Association, pending approval from the National Association of Realtors. A combined group would have more than 5,000 members, which officials say would give it more clout in the region and state.

“The reality today is that the perceived barrier between Sarasota and Manatee counties has eroded and we are now one regional marketplace,” Manatee Association of Realtors President Sherry Grooms says in the release. “Merging the two associations allows us to eliminate duplication and operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.”