GMAC Real Estate

GMAC Real Estate was a United States real-estate franchising and brokerage brand that operated through a network of independent agents and offices. It was established in 1998 after GMAC, the financial-services company now known as Ally Financial, acquired the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand from Meredith Corporation. The business was organized under GMAC Home Services, which provided the parent structure for the real-estate operation. The brand expanded through franchising rather than functioning solely as a company-owned brokerage network. Its activities centered on residential real-estate brokerage, agent and office affiliation, and the provision of a recognizable national identity for local real-estate businesses. By the early 2000s, the company had become a sizable participant in the United States brokerage market. In 2002, it ranked sixth among United States real-estate companies by transaction volume, according to the cited Wikipedia account. Leadership during this period included John Bearden, who was appointed president and chief executive officer of GMAC Home Services in 2001. The franchise network continued to develop in the middle of the decade, including awards of franchises in the St. Louis and Denver areas in 2006. The available reference material does not provide a complete list of franchisees, offices, or later operating markets, but it identifies the United States as the brand's principal market and reports a network of approximately 13,000 agents. GMAC Real Estate subsequently changed ownership and corporate context. In 2008, Brookfield Asset Management acquired GMAC Home Services LLC. In 2009, Brookfield folded the business into its Real Living division, placing the GMAC Real Estate operation within the Real Living brand structure. In 2012, Real Living was acquired by HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. GMAC Real Estate therefore ceased to operate as an independent branded network following the successive integration steps. The available sources do not establish a separate current website, public listing, ticker, or continuing standalone corporate entity for the brand.

GMAC Real Estate originated in 1998 when GMAC acquired the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand from Meredith Corporation. The acquisition placed the real-estate business within GMAC Home Services and created a branded franchise and brokerage platform operating in the United States. The company developed through affiliated local offices and agents. In 2001, John Bearden became president and chief executive officer of GMAC Home Services. By 2002, GMAC Real Estate was reported to rank sixth among United States real-estate companies by transaction volume. The brand continued adding franchise coverage, with franchise awards reported in the St. Louis and Denver areas in 2006. Its network was described as including approximately 13,000 agents. A major ownership transition began in 2008, when Brookfield Asset Management acquired GMAC Home Services LLC. Brookfield subsequently merged the operation into its Real Living division in 2009. In 2012, HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, acquired Real Living. These transactions moved the business through several corporate owners and integrated structures. The available reference material does not document a continuing independent GMAC Real Estate operation after these changes, so the brand is treated as defunct as a standalone entity.

• 2012

  Real Living acquired by HomeServices of America

  [1]GMAC Real Estateen.wikipedia.org

  HomeServices of America acquired Real Living, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate transaction that followed the earlier GMAC-to-Real Living integration.

• 2009

  Integration into Real Living

  [1]GMAC Real Estateen.wikipedia.org

  Brookfield merged GMAC Home Services into its Real Living division.

• 2008

  Brookfield acquisition

  [1]GMAC Real Estateen.wikipedia.org

  Brookfield Asset Management acquired GMAC Home Services LLC.

• 2006

  Franchise expansion in St. Louis and Denver

  [1]GMAC Real Estateen.wikipedia.org

  The company awarded franchises in the St. Louis and Denver areas.

• 2002

  Sixth-place transaction-volume ranking

  [1]GMAC Real Estateen.wikipedia.org

  GMAC Real Estate was reported as sixth among United States real-estate companies by transaction volume.

• 2001

  John Bearden becomes GMAC Home Services chief executive

  [1]GMAC Real Estateen.wikipedia.org

  John Bearden was named president and chief executive officer of the parent company.

• 1998

  GMAC establishes GMAC Real Estate

  [1]GMAC Real Estateen.wikipedia.org

  GMAC acquired the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand from Meredith Corporation, creating the foundation for GMAC Real Estate under GMAC Home Services.

A nationally recognizable, franchise-based residential real-estate brokerage network serving local offices and agents in the United States.

• Real-estate franchising · 1998

  GMAC Real Estate franchise network

  The brand operated as a franchised real-estate network, supplying local offices and affiliated agents with a common identity and organizational platform. Its network reportedly included approximately 13,000 agents. The available source material does not provide detailed information about franchise fees, technology systems, training programs, or territory agreements.

• Real-estate brokerage · 1998

  Residential brokerage services

  GMAC Real Estate's core customer-facing activity was residential property brokerage through local affiliated offices and agents. Services supported property buyers and sellers in the United States. Specific service packages, commission structures, and geographic office listings are not identified in the available reference material.

• 2012

  HomeServices of America acquisition of Real LivingM&A

  Background

  Real Living became part of a later ownership transition after its integration of the former GMAC Home Services operation.

  Action taken

  HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, acquired Real Living.

  Aftermath

  The transaction completed the documented succession of ownership after Brookfield's integration of GMAC Home Services.

  Source

• 2009

  Merger into Real LivingStrategy

  Background

  Following Brookfield's acquisition of GMAC Home Services, the company reorganized its real-estate operations.

  Action taken

  Brookfield merged GMAC Home Services into its Real Living division.

  Aftermath

  GMAC Real Estate no longer operated within the same standalone corporate structure.

  Source

• 2008

  Brookfield acquisition of GMAC Home ServicesM&A

  Background

  GMAC Home Services, the parent structure for GMAC Real Estate, changed ownership during the brand's corporate development.

  Action taken

  Brookfield Asset Management acquired GMAC Home Services LLC.

  Aftermath

  The business was subsequently incorporated into Brookfield's Real Living division in 2009.

  Source

• 1998

  Acquisition of Better Homes and Gardens Real EstateM&A

  Background

  GMAC sought to establish or expand its branded real-estate services business by acquiring the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand from Meredith Corporation.

  Action taken

  GMAC purchased the brand and operated the resulting real-estate business through GMAC Home Services.

  Aftermath

  The transaction created the operating foundation for GMAC Real Estate and its later franchise network.

  Source

1. 1GMAC Real Estateen.wikipedia.org