NEW ORLEANS, LA-- February 14, 2011 - ERA Real Estate, a leading global real estate brand, today announced the affiliation of Latter & Blum Residential Real Estate Companies in New Orleans, La. With this announcement the renowned Gulf South firm, consisting of Latter & Blum Inc./REALTORS, CJ Brown REALTORS, and Noles-Frye Realty, becomes the first independently owned and operated real estate company to deploy ERA Real Estate''s new brand offering called ERA Powered(SM).

"ERA Powered is a unique business solution which fills an unmet need in the real estate world by offering prominent firms with leading market share and a strong local brand a model that is really the best of both worlds," stated Charlie Young, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate. "By leveraging its locally respected name recognition, Latter & Blum Residential Real Estate Companies pioneers a new path to build upon its proven success with the backing of our global brand. We believe the ERA Powered model will help fuel growth for our global network by appealing to large, independently owned and operated brokers who have significant presence in their markets."

With 28 offices and nearly 1,200 sales professionals, Latter & Blum Residential Real Estate Companies accounted for more than $1.2 billion in closed sales volume in 2010. The company currently operates in four distinct markets including Greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Alexandria in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi.

Under this innovative and pioneering approach, each of the Latter & Blum Residential Real Estate Companies will operate under the ERA Powered mark and gain the full benefit of all ERA Real Estate''s tool''s and resources, while retaining their local branding.

"After nearly 100 years serving Gulf South communities in Louisiana and Mississippi, it is important that we retain our hard-earned local identity, but equally important to position ourselves for success over the next 100 years," said Robert Merrick, chairman and CEO of Latter & Blum, Inc. "The ERA Powered solution fits perfectly with our vision for the future and we couldn''t be more proud to pioneer this new model."

"As the first ERA Powered firm, we gain access to a robust lead management platform, industry-best training tools and systems as well as an expanded referral network and relocation network," said Richard Haase, president of Latter & Blum, Inc. "Our companies have the opportunity to retain their rich traditions while focusing on new avenues for growth."

Latter & Blum Companies, the largest full-service real estate brokerage in the Gulf South, operates Latter & Blum, Inc./REALTORS , C.J. Brown REALTORS Inc., Noles-Frye Realty, each operating under the ERA Powered mark, Latter & Blum Commercial Real Estate, Latter & Blum Property Management, and Essential Mortgage Corp. Established in 1916, the company has grown to include operations in Greater New Orleans, Greater Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Southern Mississippi and handles all phases of residential, commercial, leasing, property management, appraisals and mortgage services.