Inman

Nation’s fourth-largest brokerage expanding in Ohio’s largest city

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is expanding its presence in the Columbus, Ohio, real estate market with the growth of Columbus-area franchisee Realcom Realty.

Since affiliating with Howard Hanna in January, Howard Hanna Realcom Realty, now 65 agents large, has added 50 agents and grown into several small towns around Columbus.

"We sort of felt in talking with Columbus real estate agents that this market was looking for a company with our marketing and business development concepts as well as our focus," said Howard Hanna, president of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, in a statement.

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, which represented buyers, sellers or both on 30,797 transactions in 2011 — the fourth-highest volume of any U.S. brokerage in 2011 — is looking to expand further in the area.

"Columbus is a big metropolitan marketplace, so we’re constantly looking for other entrepreneurs who might affiliate with us," Hanna said.

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, which this year signed a seven-figure advertising deal with Zillow and Realtor.com, has more than 4,700 employees in 134 offices in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia. The family-owned company specializes in residential and commercial brokerage service, mortgages, closing and title insurance, land development, appraisal services, insurance services, corporate relocation and property management.