Hunt Real Estate Corp. is making its first move into the Albany market, following the lead of cross-town rival RealtyUSA.

The Buffalo-based real estate brokerage said Monday it has acquired Empire Home Realty of Saratoga Springs, with two offices and more than 30 agents. The new partnership will operate as HUNT Real Estate ERA, the primary subsidiary of Hunt.

Former Empire founder and president Eric Eckardt is now a partner at Hunt and general manager of the firm’s Greater Capital District Region.

“Through the acquisition of Empire Home Realty, we can efficiently expand our operations in the Greater Capital Region, which is very important to us,” Peter F. Hunt, the firm’s chairman and CEO, said in a news release.

Hunt’s larger rival, Amherstbased RealtyUSA, has been operating in Albany for years.