At a time when the state's real estate market is in the doldrums, one firm with aggressive expansion plans recently landed its first presence in the Helena market.

As of the first of the month, 14-year-old Bill Bahny & Associates ERA of Helena merged with Lambros ERA of Missoula, becoming the ninth and easternmost office for the growing real estate company from the Garden City.

Lambros chief executive officer Bruno Friia said bringing more offices into the company makes everything more efficient -- from buying stationery and advertising to centralizing back office operations.

"The whole purpose is that the more offices we put together, the more economies we can create within the region, and now's the time to do it," Friia said. "They say that if you have cash, you're king, and it's no different in the real estate market."

Charlotte Robertson, managing broker of the local Lambros office, said the deal came together quickly after the parties met at an ERA training meeting hosted by Lambros in Missoula last summer.

"Both sides were very anxious to make it happen and both sides thought it would be a very good match for everyone," she said. "This gives us a larger pool of agents across the state for referrals to help clients moving to other markets."

Friia said the firm also merged with a Kalispell office within the past year. He added that the company would consider growing in Helena or other markets by bringing other firms into the fold -- and said negotiations are under way with two real estate offices in one market, though he declined to name the market.

Bob Denherder, current president of the Helena Multiple Listing Service, said it's no surprise that a Missoula firm would show interest in the local market.

"The stability in Helena is attractive to every part of the state right now," he said. "We don't have major private industry, but we have state government, and that's very stable."

One of the largest real estate firms in western Montana, Lambros was founded in Missoula in 1961. The company has around 145 agents in its nine offices, including around 80 in Missoula.

Friia said all the back-office functions, from processing paperwork and disclosures to Internet advertising and marketing for the firm's offices, will be handled in Missoula.

John Harrington 447-4080 or john.harrington@

helenair.com.