The Coldwell Banker Tradition
The history of Coldwell Banker is a story of leadership and success. From its beginnings in the wake of a major earthquake that devastated San Francisco in 1906, Coldwell Banker has grown to become the premier residential real estate organization in North America. Coldwell Banker was founded on a commitment to professionalism and superior customer service that continues to be the core of our business philosophy today. Coldwell Banker provides our sales associates with the strongest support in the real estate industry so they, in turn, can deliver the support their buyers and sellers need. That’s the Coldwell Banker tradition.
The Coldwell Banker Heritage
After the devastating earthquake and fire in San Francisco in 1906, young real estate agent Colbert Coldwell saw the need for honest, knowledgeable and professional real estate services to help the city rebuild. Coldwell disapproved of the common practice of that day whereby real estate agents acquired properties for themselves, often from uninformed sellers at unfairly low prices, and then resold them for huge profits.
With two partners, he formed the real estate company of Tucker, Lynch and Coldwell, dedicated to the principle that they would work only for their customers and not trade for their own benefit - the beginning of a tradition of integrity and customer support that continues to this day.
In 1913, Benjamin Arthur Banker joined the firm as a salesman, and he and Colbert Coldwell quickly discovered they held similar views and ethics. Banker became a partner in 1914, and the two remained active in the company throughout their lives.
The Company Grows
The early years of the growing, successful 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 1920s with the opening of offices in Southern California, followed by Phoenix in the early 1950s and Seattle in 1969. In the 1970s, Coldwell Banker acquired prestigious residential real estate firms in Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, DC.
By 1990, Coldwell Banker had locations in all fifty states, and had begun international expansion with offices in Canada and Puerto Rico. In 1996, Coldwell Banker once again obtained the rights to sell commercial real estate. The Coldwell Banker Commercial program allows affiliates to produce a wide array of services, including market research, acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, asset and property management, investment property sales, corporate consulting and advisory services.
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate is the leading residential real estate brokerage company in Florida, serving the communities of Broward, Central Florida, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Sarasota Bay, Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay. Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate (FloridaMoves.com) is part of NRT, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices.