Prominent real estate group joins Douglas Elliman in Sarasota

The Schemmel Soda Group, a real estate firm with locations in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch that had been under Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, has become part of Douglas Elliman’s Sarasota office.

Douglas Elliman Realty is a national real estate brokerage headquartered in New York City that has operations in Florida, New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Earlier this summer, Douglas Elliman named a managing broker and added three agents to its office at 1350 Main St. in downtown Sarasota in an effort to grow its presence there. Adding the Schemmel Soda Group, a team specializing in luxury real estate, to the firm is another step toward expansion, according to a statement.

The Schemmel Soda Group was co-founded by Joel Schemmel and Donna Soda, who will join Douglas Elliman along with agents Sharon Chiodi and Patti Tebo as well as Marketing Director Katie Kurbiel and Client Service Coordinator Preston Lane, according to the statement.

"Joel and Donna's unmatched expertise and leadership in Sarasota and the surrounding luxury markets make them an ideal addition to Douglas Elliman," Jay Phillip Parker, an executive with Douglas Elliman Florida, says in a statement. "They have built a strong, trusted brand, and this represents a strategic win for our Sarasota operations and the clients we serve.”

Schemmel, an attorney and former CPA, has led a real estate team since 2008. Among his recent sales are a Casey Key compound that sold for $16.5 million in 2021 and an $11.5 million beachfront home on Longboat Key in 2022. 

Soda brings decades of real estate experience to the firm in addition to expertise around Lakewood Ranch, the release adds. One of her recent closings was the $6.9 million sale this month of an estate in the Concession. 

Douglas Elliman Realty also has offices in the region in Naples and St. Petersburg.