They are registered brokers with a website- just like Windermere. They took this path vs being just a website like Zillow.
zillow is much more than a website if you're an agent
They have physical brokers in each region (I think the unit is more granular than each state, iirc?)
Yeah I think it's by metro area. I live in DC and the same office handles DC and the Maryland and Virginia DC suburbs, and I think many of the agents are cross-licensed.