Howard Hanna is the largest privately owned real estate brokerage company in the United States, with dominant market share across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, New York, and several other Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states.
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services was founded in 1957 by Howard W. Hanna Jr. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company has been family-owned and operated for nearly seven decades, making it one of the longest-running independent brokerages in the country and a direct counterpoint to the franchise and private-equity-owned models that dominate the national landscape.
The company is particularly strong in markets where national franchises have historically struggled to displace locally established operators: western Pennsylvania, greater Cleveland, the Albany metro area, and western Virginia. In these markets, Howard Hanna commands name recognition and agent loyalty that national brands with comparable resources have been unable to overcome.
Howard Hanna's integrated services model — which includes mortgage, title, insurance, and relocation services under one umbrella — is a key differentiator. The company's 100 Money Back Guarantee, which allows buyers to sell their home back to Howard Hanna within 18 months if dissatisfied, is one of the most widely recognized consumer guarantees in the residential industry.
The company acquired several regional brokerages in the 2010s, including Rand Realty in New York and Allen Tate Realtors in the Carolinas (now merged), expanding its geographic footprint while maintaining the Howard Hanna brand identity in its core markets.
Market Focus
Broad residential — Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast; one-stop real estate services