Company History

RealtyUSA is proud of its strong roots in the community. Merle L. Whitehead, President/CEO of RealtyUSA, had a vision early in his career as a real estate agent. He wanted to grow a company that would be the real estate resource for consumers in New York State. He has achieved this and more.

RealtyUSA is the largest, independent real estate company in New York State with over 60 offices, including Naples, Florida and 2,300 agents and employees.

Company History

  • 1958 Stovroff & Herman REALTORS founded.
  • 1962 H. Potter REALTORS Inc. founded by Howard Potter and begins serving the residential real estate needs of Western New York.
  • 1972 Thomas J. Doran, General Manager of the firm, purchased the company. The company expanded from one office and 16 sales associates to four offices and 125 sales associates.
    • 1985 Merle L. Whitehead purchased one-half of Potter Realtors and became a partner with Thomas J. Doran. The team of Doran & Whitehead further expanded the company to 11 offices and over 400 associates.
  • 1985 The company purchased Hodgson, Becker & Olds Real Estate of Hamburg.
  • 1986 The firm acquired the R. J. Koch Company of Kenmore.
  • 1987 The company purchased Century 21 Vacanti of Amherst.
  • 1988 The company purchased B.W. Morris and Son with offices in West Seneca & Orchard Park; and Empire Gallery of Homes with offices in Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, and Amherst & Williamsville.
  • 1959 Stovroff & Herman & Glass, Inc. formed by Joan Stovroff, Morton Stovroff & F. Donald Herman.
  • 1959 - Firm expanded to 4 offices and added a commercial real estate division.
  • 1971 - Name changed to Stovroff & Herman, Inc.
  • 1983 Further expansion and the firm was sold to Joan Stovroff, Louise Arnone, Judy Benjamin & David Eckel, bringing the offices to 5 locations.
  • 1989 Expanded presence in WNY by adding an office in Buffalo; acquiring Century 21/Tomino in Lockport; Beard Real Estate in Clarence; ERA Knights in Wilson, Medina & Middleport; Johnson & Salisbury of Niagara Falls; ERA Ferrusi, Century 21/Preferred Properties and ERAWoodbridge in West Seneca; Realty World; and opened offices in Youngstown & Lewiston; along with forming Ashford Funding.
  • 1996 Stovroff & Potter Real Estate Inc. was formed. The company was the result of a merger between two fine, respected real estate companies, Stovroff and Herman Realtors, Inc. and H. Potter Realtors Inc., creating the largest independent real estate company in New York State. Both companies had grown individually over the years, then merging to become the dominant real estate company that it is today. New ownership team at Stovroff & Potter Real Estate is Tom Doran, Merle L. Whitehead, Judy Benjamin and Louise Arnone.
  • 1998 Stovroff & Potter acquires Century 21 McCarthy of Grand Island.
  • 1999 Stovroff & Potter strengthens brand name by converting to“Stovroff.com”-- uniquely positioning the firm ahead of the curve in terms of web use and real estate – an explosive trend in consumer habits.
  • 2000 Merle L. Whitehead becomes sole owner of Stovroff.com.
  •      Stovroff.com acquires Wolfer Realty of Arcade. The firm now has 18 offices in Buffalo/Niagara Region.
  •      Later that year, Merle L. Whitehead purchases substantial interest in RealtyUSA of Albany, with 7 offices in the Capital Region.
  • 2001RealtyUSA becomes RealtyUSA.com in the Albany/Capital region, embracing the successful strategy of its sister firm. Stovroff.com begins transition by servicing WNY as Stovroff/RealtyUSA.
  •      Rick Leasure Realtors of the Pittsford/Rochester Region joins forces with Stovroff/RealtyUSA, becoming RealtyUSA Rick Leasure Division.
  • 2002 Blackman & DeStafano Real Estate merges with RealtyUSA creating a new marketplace leader.
  • 2002 Stovroff Realty becomes RealtyUSA.com with 25 offices and 1,100 sales associates in Upstate New York – the largest independent real estate company in New York State and #30 in the U.S. in terms of transactions. Merle L. Whitehead now President/CEO of RealtyUSA.
  • 2003 Farrell REALTORS of Binghamton joins RealtyUSA family and becomes Farrell RealtyUSA with 3 offices in the Binghamton area.
  •      DeMulder Realty of Sidney joins RealtyUSA creating the Southern Tier Region with 4 offices.
  • 2004 Century 21 The Realty Group joins RealtyUSA creating a RealtyUSA Jamestown Office. Solidifies RealtyUSA presence in Chautauqua County and expands reach all the way to the Pennsylvania border.
  •      Hudson River Realty joins RealtyUSA in the Capital Region.
  •      RealtyUSA acquires Parklane Properties of Naples, Florida – the first office outside of New York State. New office name is RealtyUSA Parklane Properties.
  •      RealtyUSA acquires Century 21 T.L. Wright Realty of Cobleskill, New York.
  • 2005 RealtyUSA opens 2 new offices in Elmira and Horseheads.
  •      Audrey Edelman & Associates Real Estate, the #1 firm in Ithaca and Tompkins County, NY joins RealtyUSA as Audrey Edelman & Associates RealtyUSA.
  •      RealtyUSA opens new office in Norwich, NY part of the Binghamton/Southern Tier Region.
  •      RealtyUSA acquires Christensen Realty of Clayton, NY becoming Christensen RealtyUSA covering The Thousand Islands.
  •      Gallinger GMAC Realty of Syracuse, NY merges with RealtyUSA – adding 14 offices in Central New York with the new name of Gallinger RealtyUSA.
  • 2006 RealtyUSA opens offices in Oneonta and Cooperstown, NY.
  •      Lucy Knapp Real Estate of Hammondsport, NY joins RealtyUSA, adding Keuka Lake to its menu.
  •      American Country Realty of Sidney and Norwich, NY joins RealtyUSA.
  •      Linda Roche Real Estate, the top firm in Skaneateles for high-end listings, joins RealtyUSA and becomes Linda Roche RealtyUSA.
  •      Prudential Twelve Oaks Real Estate in Rochester becomes RealtyUSA, bringing a strong RealtyUSA presence to the west side of Rochester.