The longtime managing partner of Royal Palm Properties in Boca Raton, Kelly Brooks, has joined Douglas Elliman’s Exclusive Group as a partner. The move was confirmed in a news release and marks a significant change for both firms.
Brooks, who has been a licensed real estate agent since 2006, officially transferred her license to Douglas Elliman on January 9. She spent 15 years at Royal Palm Properties working closely with David Roberts, the firm’s leader and the top-ranked real estate agent in Palm Beach County according to The Real Deal’s 2025 ranking of agents based on on-market sales.
During her tenure at Royal Palm Properties, Brooks focused on the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club community. This gated golf neighborhood is known as Boca Raton’s most expensive area, spanning 450 acres with fewer than 700 homes. It features a private club that includes a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and marina.
According to the release, Royal Palm Properties brokered more than 420 sales totaling over $3.3 billion between 2021 and 2025. David Roberts stated: “Brooks’ contributions were instrumental to our success, and I have no doubt she will continue to thrive at the highest levels of the industry.”
At Douglas Elliman’s Exclusive Group—led by Nick Malinosky and Devin Kay—Brooks will focus on markets including Delray Beach and Boca Raton. The group is recognized as Elliman’s top medium-sized team in Florida.
Malinosky and Kay established the Exclusive Group in 2023 alongside former Elliman agent Gary Pohrer, who later joined Ryan Serhant’s expansion into Palm Beach but continues collaborating with them on deals. In addition to Brooks’ arrival, last year Michael Merrill joined the group to expand its reach into Vero Beach’s luxury market.
This recent hire aligns with The Exclusive Group’s strategy to broaden its roster of expert advisors across South Florida’s luxury real estate markets.
