ABOUT US

The early years of the growing, successful Coldwell Banker company were devoted primarily to commercial real estate brokerage. The firm's first residential real estate office opened in San Francisco in 1925 , and a full fledged residential real estate department was formed in 1937 . The company's geographic expansion began in the 1920’s with the opening of offices in Southern California, followed by Phoenix in the early 1950’s and Seattle in 1969 . In the 1970’s, Coldwell Banker acquired prestigious residential real estate firms in Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington, DC.  By 1980 , Coldwell Banker had also acquired a national referral service (now Coldwell Banker Referral Network), and Previews Inc., an international luxury real estate marketing organization (which has evolved into the present-day Coldwell Banker Previews Program).  In 1981 , Coldwell Banker was acquired by Sears, Roebuck and Co., joining Dean Witter Financial Services Group and Allstate Insurance group as a member of the Sears Financial Network. Sears provided the resources and impetus for even more rapid expansion, development of products, and integration of services. Another landmark in 1981 was the launch of Coldwell Banker Residential Affiliates, Inc. for the franchising of the highest quality residential brokerage companies. Through the acquisition of companies in major metropolitan areas across the United States, as well as the dramatic expansion of Residential Affiliates, the growth of Coldwell Banker during the 1980's was phenomenal. The company's share of the residential real estate market grew from 1.3 in 1981 to over 10% by the end of the decade.