Century 21 Real Estate

175 Madison Ave, Madison, New Jersey 07940, US

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About Century 21 Real Estate

Summary

Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a prominent American real estate franchise founded in 1971 by Art Bartlett and Marsh Fisher in Orange County, California. The company is headquartered in Madison, New Jersey, and operates through over 14,000 independently owned franchise offices across 86 countries and territories. With a workforce of over 147,000 sales professionals, Century 21 is one of the largest and most recognisable real estate brands globally.

The company was acquired by Trans World Corporation in 1979, and later by MetLife in 1985. In 1995, it was sold to Hospitality Franchise Systems, which later became Cendant. Following Cendant’s restructuring in 2006, Century 21 became part of Realogy, now known as Anywhere Real Estate.

Century 21’s iconic logo, updated in 2018, represents the brand’s modern identity. The company’s mission is to offer extraordinary real estate experiences, focusing on community and human connection. In 2024, it launched the “The Joy of Home” global marketing campaign, aimed at redefining real estate services with a more personal and human touch.

Despite its success, Century 21 has faced legal challenges, including class-action lawsuits in 2019 accusing its parent company, Realogy, of inflating commissions. In 2023, Realogy agreed to pay $83.5 million to settle two lawsuits.

History

Century 21 Real Estate LLC was founded in 1971 by two real estate agents, Art Bartlett and Marsh Fisher, in Orange County, California. The company was established with the vision of offering a more professional and innovative approach to real estate services. The idea for the name “Century 21” came about during a brainstorming session between Bartlett and his vice president. They aimed for a name that sounded longstanding and significant, eventually settling on “Century 21” after some initial hesitation, as Bartlett feared it might sound too futuristic. However, the name resonated with both founders and was incorporated shortly thereafter.

In 1979, Century 21 was acquired by Trans World Corporation, a conglomerate that decided to focus on hospitality and housing. This marked the beginning of a series of ownership changes. In 1985, MetLife acquired Century 21 from Trans World Corporation, as MetLife sought to expand its business portfolio in the housing sector. However, when MetLife later chose to exit the housing market, Century 21 was sold to Hospitality Franchise Systems in 1995. This company was later renamed Cendant, which expanded its reach by acquiring several real estate brands.

In 2006, Cendant split into several smaller entities, with Century 21 becoming part of Realogy Corporation, which was later rebranded as Anywhere Real Estate. Realogy continued to grow the Century 21 brand, leveraging its wide network of independently owned franchise offices.

In 2018, Century 21 underwent a significant rebranding effort, unveiling a new logo and a modernised brand identity. This transformation aimed to reinforce the company’s commitment to innovation and staying relevant in an evolving real estate market while maintaining its iconic gold and black colour scheme.

In 2024, Century 21 launched “The Joy of Home,” a global marketing campaign designed to shift the focus of its messaging towards community, connection, and more humanised interactions in the real estate space. The campaign capitalised on the growing trend of consumers valuing emotional connections and local communities in their home-buying decisions.

Throughout its history, Century 21 has become one of the largest real estate franchises globally, operating in 86 countries and territories with over 14,000 independently owned franchise offices. It has also grown its workforce to include more than 147,000 sales professionals. Despite facing challenges, such as legal disputes regarding commission structures, Century 21 continues to remain a dominant force in the real estate industry.

Century 21’s legal troubles included participation in class-action lawsuits related to inflated commission fees. In 2019, the company’s parent company, Realogy, was named as a co-conspirator in these lawsuits, which claimed that home sellers were charged artificially high commissions. In September 2023, Realogy agreed to a settlement of $83.5 million to resolve two of the lawsuits. One of these cases, Burnett v. National Association of Realtors, went to trial, where a federal jury found that Realogy had indeed participated in the commission conspiracy. As a result of the settlement, Century 21 agents were no longer required to be members of the National Association of Realtors.

Portfolio

Century 21 Real Estate LLC offers a wide range of services catering to both residential and commercial real estate needs. The company operates through a network of over 14,000 independently owned and operated franchise offices across 86 countries and territories, supported by more than 147,000 sales professionals worldwide.

In terms of residential real estate services, Century 21 provides assistance in buying and selling homes. The company offers property listings, agent referrals, and comprehensive guidance to ensure a smooth process for both buyers and sellers. They also specialise in luxury homes, with tailored marketing strategies and expert guidance for high-end property transactions. Furthermore, Century 21 offers relocation services, helping individuals and families moving to new areas with local market knowledge and assistance in settling into new communities. Additionally, the company provides property management services, which include tenant placement, rent collection, and maintenance coordination for rental properties. They also offer mortgage assistance by providing tools and resources to help buyers understand their financing options, including mortgage calculators and connections to lending partners.

For commercial real estate, Century 21 offers valuation and advisory services to help clients determine the best use and value of commercial properties. They also provide comprehensive property management services for commercial properties, ensuring efficient operation and maintenance. Market research is another key service, with Century 21 delivering valuable insights and data on local commercial markets to assist clients in making informed investment and business decisions. The company also supports businesses relocating operations by offering site selection and logistics assistance. Moreover, Century 21 provides investment property analysis to evaluate the profitability and risks associated with potential commercial properties.

Leadership Team

Michael Miedler | President and Chief Executive Officer
Greg Sexton | Chief Operating Officer
Mark Westphale | Senior Vice President, Franchise Sales
Christy Torian | National Vice President Field Services

References

Residential Real Estate Listings – Homes for Sale by Real | Century 21 Real Estate
Century 21 Real Estate | Wikipedia
CENTURY 21® Company Overview, Contact Details | LeadIQ
Century 21 Builders and Promoters Pvt Ltd | MagicBricks
Century 21 Real Estate LLC – Company Profile and News | Bloomberg
Century 21 Real Estate 2025 Company Profile | PicthBook

175 Madison Ave, Madison, New Jersey 07940, US

Website https://www.century21.com/

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