Company’s Commercial Real Estate Division to Operate as Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers

ATLANTA (December 7, 2009) – Metro Brokers, a leading real estate brokerage company in metro Atlanta and north Georgia, and one of the largest in the nation, today announced a long-term franchise agreement with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC, doubling the national brand’s size and growing its reach into the state of Georgia. The Atlanta-based company, which operates 28 office locations with nearly 2,300 agents, will now operate under the name Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers. This is one of the largest franchising agreements in recent years within the real estate industry. In addition, Metro Brokers’ commercial real estate division will now operate as part of the Coldwell Banker Commercial franchise network.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers will continue to operate under the direction of its president and CEO, Kevin Levent, who took the position in 1996 after two decades as one of Metro Brokers’ top sales associates.

“We have proven to be the leader in our region and it only makes sense we partner our flagship residential real estate brokerage with one of the fastest growing brands in the industry,” said Levent. “This affiliation will allow us to build on the solid momentum we have gained in the last five years and will propel our company into the next generation, helping us to grow strategically and sustainably.”

He added, “Buying and selling a home is almost always the result of a lifestyle event – a new job, a baby, a marriage and so on. This means today’s consumer is more emotionally invested than financially invested. No brand realizes this more than Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.”

Founded in 1979 with just one office and a handful of sales associates, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers is now one of the nation's largest full service real estate companies offering a wide range of real estate services, including residential sales; pre- and post-license training; corporate relocation; new home sales and marketing; and related services. The company has more than tripled in size during the previous five years with nearly 2,300 licensed real estate professionals, making the company the largest license holder in the state of Georgia, according to active agent count numbers from the Georgia Real Estate Commission.

Led by Levent, Metro Brokers will enter its 31st year of operation known by its consumers for top service, an exciting office space and a visionary use of technology. As part of the new relationship, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers (www.metrobrokers.com) will have access to best-in-class marketing, next-generation technology and web tools to build on their current offerings and continue to expand within the north Georgia and Atlanta communities. In addition, all local MLS listings, including those from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, will now be accessible through www.bhgrealestate.com, which offers homebuyers and sellers comprehensive content and resources.

The growing Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network includes more than 100 offices and more than 4,200 sales associates serving home buyers and sellers in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.

“Metro Brokers truly embodies the ‘next generation brokerage,’ a concept we stress with growing importance as real estate consumers’ needs adjust and the industry shifts along with them,” said Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “With Metro Brokers’ contagious spirit and zest for success, this partnership is a natural one that will help our brand grow dramatically.”

Metro Brokers’ commercial real estate division will now operate as part of the Coldwell Banker Commercial® franchise network. Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers has 150 commercial real estate professionals who specialize in a variety of commercial real estate sectors including office, retail, industrial, multi-family, lodging and land sale. The firm was recently ranked among Atlanta’s Top 25 commercial real estate brokerages by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers will continue to serve the 20-county Atlanta market.

“In searching for a new affiliation for our company’s commercial real estate division, it quickly became apparent that the right fit was Coldwell Banker Commercial,” said Levent, who will also serve as president of Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers. “Our commercial niche is in working with mid-sized clients and investors who rightfully demand outstanding service. We needed to affiliate that part of our business with a brand that has the right personality and size to fit our needs. The Coldwell Banker Commercial network offers us a national presence with a management team devoted to assisting on every level.”

“Today is a momentous day for Metro Brokers,” said Levent. “We are excited to unveil a multi-brand strategy that uniquely fits our residential and commercial real estate businesses. We couldn’t have found better partners than Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and Coldwell Banker Commercial in order to serve our respective residential and commercial real estate market segments.”

Metro Brokers operates its residential real estate brokerage business as part of the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate franchise network. The company does business as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers and has 26 metro Atlanta and north Georgia offices. The company is the largest Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate franchise and has more than tripled in size over the last five years with more than 2,300 licensees, making the company the largest license holder in the state of Georgia. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers is an industry leader in metro Atlanta and north Georgia, offering a wide range of real estate services including residential sales; pre- and post-license training; corporate relocation; new home sales and marketing; and insurance, mortgage and title/closing services.

Metro Brokers’ commercial real estate division operates under the Coldwell Banker Commercial® franchise network. Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers has 150 commercial real estate professionals serving the 20-county metro Atlanta market and specializing in a variety of commercial real estate sectors including office, retail, industrial, multi-family, lodging and land sale. The firm was recently ranked among Atlanta’s Top 25 commercial real estate brokerages by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

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