Miller-Griffin Realty and Dehildren Realty merged into a new company this month and are working under a new name, Premier Group Realty.

Realtor Rollins Miller will be the sole owner and broker of the combined company, which will be officially open Jan. 1, 2017.

Dehildren Realty owner Mark Harrell was elected Decatur County tax commissioner in November and decided the best way to move forward with his company is to join with Miller-Griffin.

“It started with me asking Mark what he was going to do once he took on tax commissioner,” Miller said. “He had several options, and he thought this would be a way he could totally have his mind on the office at tax commissioner. He has been very easy to work with.”

Premier Group Realty will provide the same agents and service from both companies, just under one roof now.

“It made sense for Dehildren and them, with me heading over to the tax commissioner’s office,” Harrell said. “I could not ask for an easier guy to work with than Rollins.”

Miller said he was optimistic for the future of real estate in Bainbridge. A strong fall season, which is usually a slow time of year for realty, has provided the conglomerated company a solid springboard into 2017.

“It seems like consumer confidence in general is up, and that usually leads people to buy the recreational property, and we are starting to get those transactions, which have been slow,” Miller said.

Phone calls from old residents interested in moving back to Bainbridge are keeping Miller optimistic as well.

A new number will be available soon to get in touch with Premier Group Realty, but for now customers can contact Dehildren at (229) 246-9837 and Miller-Griffin at (229) 246-4750.

The location of Premier Realty Group will be at 1609 E. Shotwell St.