FirstTeam Real Estate opens Monterey office on California Central Coast

FirstTeam Real Estate has expanded to California’s Central Coast with a new community office in Monterey led by broker-owner Amber Russell of Over the Moon Realty, Inc., the company announced on Monday.

Russell and her team of experienced agents will serve clients across Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Pebble Beach and Marina, the firm announced. The move extends FirstTeam’s model beyond its Southern California footprint and adds a Central Coast hub for the company.

Russell said she chose to partner with FirstTeam to align with a brokerage that would prioritize client experience and support the independent brand identity she has built with Over the Moon Realty.

“From my first conversation with FirstTeam’s leadership, I felt a level of authenticity and genuine partnership that’s rare in our industry. I was drawn to the future-focused, female leadership team that understands my vision and values what makes Over the Moon Realty unique, including our name and the identity we’ve built within our community,” Russell said in a statement. “FirstTeam’s boutique, agent-first approach gives me the support, resources and network to grow my business while preserving the independence and community-focused philosophy that has always set us apart.”

FirstTeam said that adding a Central Coast office gives it a new feeder market for both primary and second-home demand.

“When opening a new community office, we focus on more than just expanding our footprint,” Michele Harrington, CEO of FirstTeam, said in the announcement. “We want to work with people who know their markets better than anyone and offer best-in-class service to their clients. Amber is a trusted leader, educator, community member, and mentor, and has built a culture that attracts high-caliber professionals and resonates with clients.”

Russell brings more than 32 years of experience in education as a teacher and counselor, along with a background as a military spouse and the daughter of a military family. In addition to running Over the Moon Realty and leading the new FirstTeam Monterey community office, Russell is serving as the 2026 president of the Monterey County Association of Realtors. 

Russell focuses on luxury properties, probate and trust sales, military relocation and other complex transactions. She is one of only three professionals in Monterey County with the National Association of Realtors’ Green designation, and also holds a Probate Certification, Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification, At Home With Diversity (AHWD) certification and a Certified Full-Service Professional designation.

This article was generated using HousingWire Automation and reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.