Is merging top teams the next big trend in real estate?
For eXp leaders Greg Steiniger and Jeffrey Borham, the answer is already yes.
The two recently joined forces to expand Team Borham, now home to more than 100 agents operating across markets from Florida to Phoenix. The move connects Greg’s national network of leads and referrals with Jeffrey’s results-driven operations and sales model.
Greg Steiniger, who built the iHomes Network into one of eXp’s top-performing teams, and Jeff Borham, founder of Team Borham at eXp Realty, bring decades of experience and proven results to their new partnership. Greg’s team earned national recognition as the #50-ranked team in the U.S. by RealTrends in 2023, while Jeff’s team has closed more than $450 million in transactions over the past four years and built a 50-plus property rental portfolio generating over $1 million in annual cash flow.
Their focus goes beyond doubling production within two years. It’s also about creating new paths for agents and clients to grow together.
Turning Renters into Future Homeowners
Before the merger, Greg had worked extensively with programs designed to help renters transition into homeownership, partnering with groups like Home Partners of America. Those programs connected renters with homes for sale, using a fund to purchase the property and rent it back with an option to buy later.
When Home Partners of America was sold at the end of 2022, that model disappeared from the market. But for Greg, the concept of bridging the gap between renting and owning was too powerful to let go.
Now, through the new venture iRental Homes, he and Jeffrey are bringing that idea back within eXp.
Here’s how it works: A fund purchases a home on behalf of a renter, leases it back, and locks in a future purchase price. The renter lives in the home while building the financial readiness to buy it. It’s not a traditional rent-to-own deal, but rather rent with an option to purchase.
Greg will lead iRental Homes while also developing RICA, the Real Estate Investor Certified Agent program inside eXp. Agents who go through the certification can receive rental leads and represent clients in their local markets as part of the rent-with-option process.
“The agent can bring the renter, or we can generate the lead and hand it to the agent,” Greg explained. “It gives them a way to serve clients who aren’t quite ready to buy but want to take that next step.”
Jeffrey added, “It’s a system that matches a renter, a property, and an investor. It creates new opportunities for clients and for agents.”
Why Merge Now
For both leaders, the merger was about combining complementary strengths.
“Most real estate team leads aren’t business people,” Jeffrey said. “They’re high-producing salespeople. When you combine that with someone who understands systems and scalability, you can build something stronger.”
Greg agreed. “We’re very different types of leaders, but that’s what makes it work. Jeff leads the traditional real estate side, and I’m focused on the expansion and the iRental Homes project. Together, it’s a complete ecosystem.”
The merger gives agents access to shared systems, lead support, and national-level collaboration. Many are already seeing the benefits of centralized lead curation and the chance to participate in a model that brings renters closer to homeownership.
Is This What the Future Looks Like?
When asked whether this kind of partnership could signal where the industry is heading, both leaders agreed: absolutely.
“You’re going to see more of this,” Jeffrey said. “There are different types of team leads out there—the high producer, the operator, and the tech-driven network builder. When those different skill sets combine, growth accelerates. That’s the future of real estate.”
Greg added, “It’s not about merging for size. It’s about merging strengths. That’s how you create stability and long-term opportunity.”
For agents watching from the outside, the message is simple. The next phase of growth in real estate may not come from building alone, but from building together.
Building Something Bigger Than a Team
With more than 100 agents, national reach, and a new rent-with-option platform that bridges opportunity and access, Team Borham represents something larger than a single merger.
It’s about growth that serves both sides of the business: helping agents expand their reach while helping more clients find a path to ownership.
Disclaimer: iRental Homes is an independently owned and operated business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a part of eXp Realty, LLC or its affiliates. eXp Realty makes no representations or warranties regarding iRental Homes’ services or programs.
