Global Real Estate Brokerage Brands

Global real estate brokerage companies play a pivotal role in connecting investors with opportunities across borders. From bustling commercial hubs to luxury residential markets, these firms provide expertise in office towers, shopping centers, multifamily complexes, and high-end homes. By leveraging vast networks of professionals and market data, the top brands facilitate billions in property transactions annually, thereby shaping trends in the investment market. Below we highlight some of the most prominent global brokerage brands (commercial and residential), their specialties, and their worldwide reach.

Leading Global Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Brands

CBRE Group

CBRE is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with a presence in 100+ countries. Its 140,000 professionals specialize in all sectors of commercial property – from office and industrial to retail and multifamily – offering brokerage, consulting, and property management services globally. Headquartered in the U.S., CBRE’s extensive network and market intelligence help institutional investors and businesses navigate real estate decisions worldwide.

JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)

JLL is a Fortune 500 real estate firm operating in 80+ countries with over 100,000 employees. Founded in the UK (and now headquartered in the U.S.), JLL provides commercial brokerage, investment advisory, and property management across office, retail, industrial, hotel and other sectors. Its global reach and research-driven approach make JLL a leader in facilitating cross-border property investments and corporate real estate solutions.

Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield is a top-tier commercial brokerage and advisory firm with approximately 50,000 employees in **60 countries**. With roots dating back over a century, Cushman & Wakefield assists clients in how people work, shop, and live – offering brokerage, leasing, and investment services for office buildings, shopping centers, logistics facilities, and more. The firm’s global footprint (around 400 offices worldwide) and market insight help drive major investment deals in commercial real estate.

Colliers International

Colliers is a leading diversified professional real estate and investment management company headquartered in Canada. Active in 60+ countries, Colliers has about 18,000 professionals providing brokerage, tenant representation, property management, and consulting services. They specialize in commercial sectors like office, industrial, and retail, and also offer investment management for property portfolios. Colliers’ enterprising culture and global collaboration help investors and businesses optimize their real estate strategies worldwide.

Savills

Savills is a London-based global real estate consultancy with a strong presence in both commercial and prime residential markets. With over 700 offices across 70+ countries and 40,000 employees, Savills offers services in investment sales, leasing, property management, and valuation. The firm is especially renowned for its insight into European and Asian markets. Savills often handles high-profile office transactions, retail developments, as well as luxury homes in global capital cities, reflecting its broad expertise.

Knight Frank

Knight Frank is one of the world’s largest independent real estate consultancies, headquartered in London. Operating from **488 offices in 57 countries**, Knight Frank’s 20,000+ professionals advise on both commercial and residential real estate. The firm is particularly known for its luxury residential brokerage (think mansions, villas, prime city apartments) and high-end commercial advisory. Through partnerships (e.g., with Newmark in North America), Knight Frank connects ultra-high-net-worth buyers to exclusive properties and guides global investors in major real estate deals.

Leading Global Residential Real Estate Brokerage Brands

Coldwell Banker

Coldwell Banker is a venerable residential real estate brand founded in 1906, now with a global network of 100,000+ agents in 40 countries. Through its franchise offices on almost every continent, Coldwell Banker specializes in helping clients buy and sell homes and estates. It also caters to the luxury segment through Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, and has a commercial division (Coldwell Banker Commercial) for investment properties. This broad expertise makes the brand a one-stop shop for residential real estate needs worldwide.

Century 21

Century 21 is another globally recognized residential brokerage franchise, with around 13,000 offices in 80 countries and 135,000 sales professionals. Known for its iconic gold jacket branding, Century 21 agents focus on local neighborhood expertise in home sales and purchases, while being backed by an expansive international referral network. This combination of local service and global reach has made Century 21 a familiar name in real estate markets from North America to Europe and Asia.

Sotheby’s International Realty

Sotheby’s International Realty is the premier luxury homes brokerage brand, offering bespoke service to high-end clientele. With a global network of about 1,000 offices in 75+ countries and 25,000 agents, Sotheby’s Realty markets some of the world’s most exclusive properties – from waterfront villas and historic châteaux to upscale urban penthouses. Backed by the Sotheby’s auction house heritage, this brokerage provides international exposure for luxury listings and attracts affluent buyers across the globe.

RE/MAX (short for “Real Estate Maximums”) is a powerhouse residential brokerage franchise originating in the U.S. but now present worldwide. RE/MAX boasts 140,000+ agents in over 110 countries, making it one of the most geographically extensive real estate networks. The brand is known for its balloon logo and a focus on agent productivity – RE/MAX agents often rank among the most experienced in their markets. Through its vast referral system and 9,000 offices globally, RE/MAX connects home buyers and sellers and also handles commercial real estate in many regions.

Keller Williams Realty

Keller Williams is the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count, with over 190,000 agents in 50+ countries. While rooted in residential brokerage, Keller Williams has expanded rapidly through its training models and technology platform. It operates on a franchise model with a culture of agent leadership and profit-sharing. In addition to helping clients buy and sell homes globally, KW has divisions for luxury homes (KW Luxury) and commercial transactions (KW Commercial). Its emphasis on networking means a property listed with Keller Williams can gain exposure to a worldwide pool of potential buyers.

Largest Publicly Traded Real Estate Brokerage Companies

Many of the leading brokerage firms are publicly traded, reflecting their scale and impact on the global real estate industry. Being stock-listed companies provides them with capital to expand and innovate, while giving investors a chance to participate in real estate services growth. Below is a selection of some of the largest public brokerage companies, their stock tickers, and links to more information:

Brevitas: Connecting Brokers, Buyers and Investors Worldwide

All of the above brokerage brands (and many others) can be found on Brevitas, leveraging its platform for global deal exposure. Brevitas is unique in the market as a real estate marketplace that does not take any commission on sales and charges no mandatory fees. Instead, Brevitas exists purely to connect professionals – brokers, agents, buyers, and sellers – and provide them with modern tools to streamline their transactions. Here’s what makes Brevitas different:

  • Commission-Free Platform: Brevitas allows brokers and sellers to market listings without paying any sales commission or hidden fees to the platform, preserving more profit for the professionals involved.
  • Advanced Deal Tools: The platform offers integrated features like in-app chat messaging for quick communication, secure deal rooms for document sharing and offer management, and even MLS syncing to import listings. These tools facilitate smoother transactions from listing to closing.
  • Global Network & Exposure: With thousands of active members worldwide, Brevitas gives properties international visibility. A listing posted on Brevitas can attract interest from global investors and brokers (including those at the top brands mentioned above), expanding the reach far beyond a local market.

By focusing on networking and technology rather than commissions, Brevitas complements traditional brokerages. Major brokerage firms often use Brevitas to tap into a wider buyer pool and close deals faster, all while maintaining their full brokerage fee structure for themselves.

Explore Listings on Brevitas   Join Brevitas – It’s Free

References

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