Realogy grows upstart franchise brand

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate on Monday announced a franchise agreement with The Masiello Group, which has 30 offices and 600 sales associates in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.

The Masiello Group signed a 15-year franchise agreement to operate as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group, according to the announcement. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is a franchise brand of Realogy Corp., which also has company owned and franchise operations under the Coldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA and Sotheby's International Realty brands, among others.

The Masiello Group was ranked among the top 100 brokerages in the U.S. by closed sales volume in 2006 and 2007, according to an annual report by real estate research and publishing company Real Trends.

Realogy launched its Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate franchise operations in July (see Inman News) -- GMAC Home Services had earlier licensed the Better Homes and Gardens name through publishing company Meredith Corp., though that arrangement expired this year.

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