Why a 17-Office Brokerage Joined REMAX^®

A landmark GTA conversion highlights what today’s brokerage owners are prioritizing — and why the right brand matters more than ever.

At the start of 2026, a respected Toronto real estate family brought its multi-office operation into the global REMAX network, marking the largest conversion in the brand’s history.

On January 15, 2026, Vivian Risi, Michelle Risi and Justin Risi announced the conversion of their 17-office brokerage group in the Greater Toronto Area from Royal LePage to REMAX. Representing more than 1,200 sales associates, the move includes Your Community Realty, now operating as REMAX Your Community Realty, and Connect Realty, now operating as REMAX Connect Realty.

For the Risi leadership team, the decision was grounded in scale, trust and long-term positioning—both for their agents and for the business itself.

“They deserve the best”

“We didn’t make this move for ourselves,” says Vivian Risi. “We did it for our real estate agents — because they deserve the industry’s best services, global reach, support and competitive advantages.”

With 50 years in the industry, Vivian brings a long-range perspective shaped by multiple market cycles. That experience informed the decision to align with REMAX.

“The REMAX tools, leading national market share and brand marketing will help them connect with more potential clients, and win that business,” she explains. “This move will be a huge benefit for them, and that realization really drove our decision.”

Michelle Risi echoes that sentiment, pointing to the importance of staying ahead in an increasingly competitive environment.

“This is about helping our agents stay ahead today and to be positioned to keep winning well into the future,” she says. “REMAX presents a whole different level of advantages for real estate professionals, with everything designed to help them increase their productivity and build their business.”

Growing world-class brokerages

Supporting agents has long been central to the Risi family’s approach to brokerage ownership.

Vivian entered the industry at 18, built an award-winning sales career and purchased her first brokerage in 1994 with just 18 agents. Through acquisitions and organic recruiting, that single office grew into a multi-office operation across the Greater Toronto Area.

Michelle and Justin followed their own leadership paths. Since 2017, they led the expansion of Connect Realty into a successful five-office brokerage, known for productivity and professionalism.

That growth trajectory, and the responsibility that comes with it, shaped how the leadership team evaluated their next chapter.

The importance of trust

“This decision was made with our agents firmly at the center,” says Justin Risi. “Aligning Your Community Realty and Connect Realty with the REMAX brand positions our brokerage for long-term growth, expanded reach and greater opportunity.”

He points to REMAX as an iconic global brand with the tools, exposure and support needed to scale responsibly.

“As we look confidently toward the future,” Justin adds, “this move gives our brokerage the platform to grow while continuing to serve our agents at a high level.”

Leadership that shows up

The Risi leadership style is hands-on, visible and relationship-driven. Vivian, Michelle and Justin work closely with their management teams to stay directly connected to their agents.

“We lead by example and show up as ourselves,” Vivian says. “Our agents know they can reach us. We’re present, we’re engaged and we’re invested in their success.”

That leadership philosophy paired with strong operational support has been central to the brokerage’s culture and performance.

Complementary leadership, shared direction

Each leader brings distinct strengths: Vivian’s experience and decisive leadership, Michelle’s operational clarity and focus on agent support and Justin’s forward-looking growth strategy.

Together, that complementary approach has allowed the brokerage to adapt through changing markets, scale responsibly and invest in new opportunities — while staying closely connected to the people at the heart of the business.

That same leadership lens guided the move to REMAX, opening new pathways for referrals, luxury and commercial growth and expanded global reach.

“Our strength has always been thinking ahead,” Vivian reflects. “The move to REMAX is about positioning our agents for what’s next, not just what’s now.”

Considering what comes next

For brokerage owners evaluating how to position their business for long-term growth, scale and relevance, this story offers a clear perspective.

Explore what joining REMAX — the #1 name in real estate¹— can look like, and how a global platform can support brokerages, leaders and agents alike.

Learn more about franchise ownership with REMAX