As the real estate industry continues to evolve, building a brand that stands out is more important than ever. Impactful real estate logos are fast becoming one of the main ways real estate agents cut through the noise.
That’s why we put together this list of our favorite real estate logos for 2023. We also look at some of the worst logos in the industry and go over some important tips, tricks, and mistakes to avoid to ensure you get the best return on investment (ROI) on your own logo.
Speaking of ROI, if you need a great logo quickly, check out Tailor Brands. Their easy-to-use logo maker will help you design a professional-looking logo in minutes—without the expense of hiring a designer. Real Tactics Pro readers even get 30% off their order with promo code 30FSB.
1. SERHANT.
If you want inspiration for your logo, why not start with an agent who’s built one of the most successful personal brands in the history of real estate? Sure, you can argue that Ryan started on third base with a hit TV show, but he wasn’t the only agent on that show. Why is Ryan’s name still instantly recognizable more than a decade later? Simple. He worked thoughtfully and strategically to build his personal brand from the very beginning.
Why we love it: In a word, simplicity. His logo is just his name in all caps with a period at the end, but that’s the point (pun very much intended). “Which brokerage should I hire to sell my $10 million brownstone?” SERHANT. Period.
The deep blue color he chose for the logo evokes trustworthiness, stability, and security—key qualities people look for in a brokerage.
The brand mark might work even better than the logo.
Of course, the real test of a great logo is how it works in different settings. Well, in this case, it works printed six-foot tall on the side of a building in SOHO…
…and the brand mark works as an 8-foot-tall sculpture in the SERHANT. offices. In fact, it works so well that it’s probably the most Instagrammed spot in their office:
Which is certainly saying something when their office looks like this:
Sell It Like Serhant Course: How to Build Your Personal Brand (In-depth Review)
2. Coldwell Banker Warburg
Now a part of Coldwell Banker, my vote for best branding in New York City is still 125-year-old luxury brokerage Warburg Realty. We’re thrilled they kept their logo after being acquired by Coldwell Banker.
Why we love it: Stellar typography, a simple yet powerful brand mark, and the icing on the cake, “ESTD 1896,” which reinforces its deep roots in New York City real estate.
Check out how great the brand mark works next to historically well-designed logos like Forbes and even a reworking of Milton Glaser’s famous “I Heart New York” branding.
As you might imagine, the agents and teams that hang their licenses with Warburg also take branding very seriously. Here are a few standout examples:
3. The Agency
When you’re a plucky Beverly Hills startup brokerage with global aspirations, copying the staid and safe branding of your competitors is not an option—not if you want your brokerage to survive, that is. That’s why The Agency went bold to the point of brash with their branding when founding the brokerage in 2011. The Agency is now achieving those global aspirations and the branding still goes down like ice cream.
Why we love it: If you look under the hood, the brand is actually more clever than bold. The Ferrari-red-and-white brand colors, clean, mid-century typeface, and “paperclip” brand mark are actually a nod to the iconic Creative Artists Agency script covers that every Hollywood power player would be intimately familiar with. Smart.
The now iconic brand mark even made its way into the design of the company’s Beverly Hills flagship office.
From the street, the brand colors and logo really pop on signage and scream LA cool.
4. Hilton & Hyland
Founded in 1993 by developer Rick Hilton and broker Jeff Hyland, Beverly Hills’ most prestigious brokerage has long set the tone for luxury real estate in Los Angeles.
As you might imagine, scoring trophy property after trophy property in one of the most cutthroat markets on the planet wasn’t easy. It took a rare combination of skill, great branding, and determination to get to the top.
Why we love it: Simple, spare, elegant, and timeless, Hilton & Hyland’s logo oozes Beverly Hills glamour.
The monogram, in particular, wouldn’t look out of place on the hood of a priceless vintage car or emblazoned on a Cartier cigarette case. Perfect for a real estate brand that competes for well-heeled clients in Beverly Hills.
It works great stacked with their wordmark:
It even stands out among more established luxury real estate brands like Christie’s International Real Estate, of which Hilton & Hyland is a founding affiliate:
Hire the designer: Hilton & Hyland’s logo was designed by Los Angeles-based senior graphic designer and globetrotter Ann Dang. If you’re looking for a supremely talented designer for your next project, check out Ann’s website here.
5. Century 21
OK, I know what you’re thinking.
I just waxed pretentious over Hilton & Hyland’s and SERHANT.’s real estate logos, and now we’re talking about boring old Century 21? You bet we are. Century 21’s rebranding was and still is all kinds of awesome. More to the point, good design doesn’t have to be fancy. It needs to project the right message to the right audience.
Why we love it: For Century 21, that audience is global, and increasingly represents every walk of life you can imagine. Sure, Century 21 agents sell the same eight-figure mansions that Hilton & Hyland does, but they also sell $90,000 starter homes in Iowa. Their new logo and branding tick the boxes for both markets. If you think that’s easy, try it.
It even looks amazing on tote bags:
6. Compass
It’s hard to talk about branding in the real estate industry without mentioning the plucky upstart brokerage that focused on branding more than any other in recent memory. Loaded up with millions in venture capital funding, Compass took branding seriously early on. Instead of hiring a flashy marketing agency like Pentagram, Compass developed their brand identity in house. The results speak for themselves.
Why we love it: The Compass logo is minimal, bold, and manages to combine the look of a luxury real estate brokerage with a tech company. The subtle tracking—the space between each letter—perfectly balances the all-caps font to make it feel spacious and inviting.
Learn more about the design process: If you have a few minutes to spare and want to learn how the company came up with their branding, Compass former chief marketing solutions officer Mark Spangler has an excellent write-up of their 120-day design journey over on Medium.
7. Williams & Williams Estate Group
OK, here we are again back in Beverly Hills. The thing is, luxury brokerages take branding seriously and probably spend close to your gross commission income on branding and videos alone. Their logo is no different.
Why we love it: Using John Lautner’s iconic Goldstein residence is an inspired way to connect a relatively new brand to Los Angeles’ history of luxury and elegance. The gold might not pop very well on this page, but on a twilight shot of one the duo’s eight-figure megamansions (bookmatched marble walls, infinity pools, and Lambos included), it works like a charm.
8. Aaron Kirman Partners
Another LA superstar, Aaron Kirman is ranked consistently in the top 15 agents in the country on the Real Trends 500.
Why we love it: His team’s real estate logo matches that track record of crushing it year after year. A bit bolder and more masculine than Hilton & Hyland, and far more daring than Century 21, Aaron Kirman Partners’ logo remains just as timeless and elegant as both.
9. Your Own Custom Logo Designed With AI
While we may not have flying cars just yet, we are indeed living in the future. Case in point: Instead of hiring an expensive graphic designer or slaving away on Photoshop, you can now use artificial intelligence (AI) to design a killer logo for your business.
Why we love it: For just $3.95 per month, Tailor Brands uses sophisticated AI to generate hundreds of logos based on your preferences and tastes. All you need to do is pick the one you want. Need proof? The logo above was designed for us using Tailor Brands AI in less than 5 minutes.
10. Luxury Portfolio International
Luxury Portfolio International, a global network of independent luxury real estate brokerages under the umbrella of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, is one of the most recognized names in luxury real estate.
It’s also an increasingly dominant online destination for viewing luxury real estate around the world. With more than 50,000 listings with a $2.5 million average property value last year, they are also poised to become the world’s destination for luxury real estate.
Why we love it: To update an elegant but dated brand, Luxury Portfolio worked with 1000watt to transform from a network to a brand. Along with a new slogan, they settled on a timeless, sans serif font and a monogram that wouldn’t look out of place as the logo of a country club.
Like all great real estate logos, Luxury Portfolio’s new one looks great in print, on different color backgrounds, in different sizes, and of course, on their website and social media. The monogram brand mark can also stand on its own, so it can theoretically be used where the regular logo won’t fit. To see what I mean, check out its Twitter page.
11. Red Oak Realty
Women-owned East Bay brokerage Red Oak Realty has grown into a dominant force in Bay Area real estate. As you might imagine, its branding—especially its eye-catching, fire-engine-red logo—is top-shelf.
Why we love it: We love everything about this logo. Instead of using the same boring, all caps, sans serif fonts so many real estate brands are using these days, Red Oak chose a truly unique font that resonates with their progressive East Bay clientele.
If you’re new to your farm area and want to make a statement, try using red! It even looks great on tote bags:
Or on a park bench.
12. Ellen Mazzoni, Compass
San Francisco’s Ellen Mazzoni offers up more proof that strong typography and a great brand mark can make a simple logo stand out from the crowd. Of course, the real test of a logo is how good it looks next to a great logo. As you can see above, Ellen’s holds its own even next to the commanding Compass logo.
13. Halstead Realty
Another example of industry-leading branding by Pentagram, Halstead’s rebranding included a logo refresh that took them into the 21st century. Sadly for us design nerds, like Warburg, Halstead was recently gobbled up by a bigger brokerage and their branding no longer exists. I’m keeping them on the list though, since great branding should be timeless and chances are better than average their rebrand helped the brokerage sell for a better price. Halstead’s logo refresh might no longer help them sell real estate, but it might have helped them sell the brokerage.
Why we love it: The typography and bright, jewel-tone violet brand colors somehow manage to combine the timeless elegance of New York City with the Instagram age.
14. The Corcoran Group
When it comes to elegance and prestige, Manhattan’s Corcoran Group is hard to beat. Founded in the 1980s by real estate royalty Barbara Corcoran, its logo proves the only hard-and-fast rule in graphic design: simple > complicated.
Why we love it: The right font in the right size in the right case will win over pretty much anything else. Text-only real estate logos like the Corcoran Group’s look like they’ve just always existed.
Of course, a great Manhattan luxury real estate brand should use that font. Well, no. Not of course. Branding agency And Partners worked hard to make this logo look so easy.
This is a great lesson for any new agents out there. Think the top producer down the hall was born pitching expired listings? Think again. She probably worked at it every day for years. Hard work beats talent every day of the week in this industry.
15. The Habibi Group
Although strikingly similar to Hilton & Hyland, San Francisco’s The Habibi Group’s logo manages to stand on its own.
Why we love it: Unlike Hilton & Hyland, Habibi’s real estate logo feels modern rather than timeless. More like an elegant software company than an old-money sports club.
That’s not why I love this logo, however. The real reason it’s on this list is that brand mark. Notice how you start to see a three dimensional “H” when you look at it for more than a few seconds? Very cool and very hard to achieve. They obviously hired a typography geek for this one.
16. Smith & Berg Partners
Here’s another example of a killer minimal logo from Los Angeles Luxury team Smith & Berg Partners.
Why we love it: Stacked logos like this work great for Twitter and other places where a long skinny logo won’t work. Versatility is key to a great logo. You can have the coolest logo in the world, but if it doesn’t look right stacked or on different backgrounds, it’s useless in many contexts.
17. Gregg Lynn
San Francisco broker Gregg Lynn’s designer also ticked all of our boxes for a great real estate logo.
Why we love it: It’s spare and elegant, and with a simple, titled monogram it brings to mind a glittering art deco diamond. As if you needed more proof that art deco design elements are inextricably linked to modern luxury real estate.
Like all good logos, Lynn’s looks great either “stacked” with the monogram above the name as above or horizontal as it is on his website. Remember, if it’s not versatile, it’s not going to help your brand very much.
18. Cain Group
We were equally impressed with the spare and elegant logo for Pacific Sotheby’s Cain Group in Orange County.
Why we love it: There’s just something that screams high-tech cool with fonts that have one small quirk to set them apart. In this case, it’s the missing bit of the cross line of the “A” that takes a word written in a nice font and turns it into a logo.
It also works just as well reversed with white text for dark backgrounds. Check it out:
19. Tracy Do (Coldwell Banker)
When it comes to great logos and branding in general, the idea is to convey your idea quickly and easily. Anything that can get in the way of that can and should be eliminated.
Why we love it: This is why we think Tracy’s logo works perfectly for her business in Los Angeles: It’s simple, bold, and looks great next to the Coldwell Banker logo, which is something to consider as they will often be seen together.
Yes, this is just a fancy font, but it’s the right fancy font. Massive corporations like Apple pay hundreds of thousands of dollars and spend a lifetime in meetings just discussing fonts. This one works.
Effective logos are also versatile. If your logo only works in certain contexts, you need to go back to the drawing board. Here’s Tracy’s logo next to her old brokerage’s logo. Notice how it still works:
20. The ONE Street Company
We’re digging the art deco vibes that The ONE Street Company went with for their logo.
Why we love it: It manages to convey the timeless cool that so many deco designs do, while also bringing to mind the roof line of a modern home (and the numeral 1) with the stylized “N.”
Note also how a vertical line separates these two words in the same way that Tracy Do’s logo does and how well it works. It’s a simple trick, but like most design tricks, it just works.
21. Sacha Radford Properties
OK, let’s switch gears a bit and check out a different take on an elegant logo. This example from Sacha Radford works on a few levels.
Why we love it: First, bold sans serif fonts almost always look great for logos and headings. Second, the tracking—the space between the letters—on the word “properties” helps it stand out from her name.
22. Nourmand & Associates
More like an elegant flag than a logo, Nourmand & Associates proves that great real estate logos can come from any era.
Why we love it: Say what you will, but the 1970s brought us design icons like the Ferrari 308 and the Sydney Opera House. Today, Nourmand’s logo reminds us that good design is timeless. It also reminds clients that Nourmand has been thriving in California real estate for more than 40 years.
23. Partners Trust
Even though Partners Trust was acquired, we’re keeping their logo here since it is such a striking example of how even the latest graphic design trends can age gracefully. The cut up serif fonts branding trend started with Pentagram’s work for Saks Fifth Avenue.
Sadly, we won’t see much of this logo anymore since Partners Trust was purchased by Pacific Union, which in turn was purchased by—you guessed it—Compass.
24. North 8
Speaking of Pentagram, their work for Toll Brothers luxury condo development at 49 North 8th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is another example of a killer real estate logo.
Why we love it: The bold blue and repeating text is an ideal fit for a new condo development in a former artists’ loft building enclave in New York City.
25. Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate
Although they’re a trade association and not technically a brokerage, every luxury agency worth their salt is a member. That’s why their brand, including this gorgeous logo and brand mark, is top-shelf.
Why we love it: A lion’s mane door knocker and a unique font immediately conjure up stately mansions and other homes that are priced like fine art instead of real estate.
26. Nicholas Property Group
Nicholas Property Group’s branding is a terrific example of how something as seemingly minor as tracking―the horizontal space between letters—can have a huge impact on what a logo connotes to the public.
Why we love it: In this case, the super-wide tracking and skinny Roman font evoke something written in stone. Like most great logos, less is more. They’re connoting trust, elegance, and longevity using only a great font and negative space. Impressive.
27. Keller Williams Global Property Specialists
Here’s a much more modern take on real estate branding from Keller Williams. Their Global Property Group logo is bold, modern, and luxurious. They recently stopped using this logo, but we’re keeping it on our list since it’s an excellent example of minimalist branding.
Why we love it: I love the subtle change in the font weight between “KW” and “GPS.” It’s a nice way to not only separate the two acronyms but bring in another word that helps their brand: GPS.
This is what happens when a great designer is in tune with their client. In the design world, serendipity is rarely accidental. It comes from hard work, skill, and open lines of communication.
28. Engel & Volkers
For most real estate logos, using an image of a house is the kiss of death. They look tired, dated, and just plain lazy. For example:
We get it. You’re a company that sells houses.
That said, when done right, they can work very well. Case in point: Engel & Volkers.
Why we love it: They used a bold sans serif with a pop of red on the ampersand, and above, a stately European mansion as a brand mark. It evokes the company’s European roots perfectly but is stylish and modern enough to work for any audience.
The only drawback here is that this brand mark is not strong enough to work on its own, which is the entire point of a brand mark―think Apple’s iconic bitten apple or the Nike swoosh. That said, they managed to pull off a difficult maneuver.
29. Saunders
Hampton’s brokerage Saunders wisely went with something even more subtle. A simple, well-tracked, thin, sans-serif font in a lovely shade of blue.
Why we love it: Since the Hamptons is a beach area famous for celebrities and power brokers from every industry, a calming blue was a great choice here. Even without it, the logo is good enough to stand on its own two legs in black and white.
30. The Puck Penthouses
Another incredible brand from Pentagram, we love this script logo for the condos in Manhattan’s iconic Puck Building.
Why we love it: Beautiful on its own merits, it makes even more sense when you look at the historic graphic art that was featured on the turn-of-the-century magazine that gave the building its name:
31. Julian Pilarski
Another logo that manages to combine elegance and a modern sensibility, Julian Pilarski’s logo and brand mark tick all the boxes.
Why we love it: Elegant and simple, the brand mark can stand on its own. What’s not to love?
6 Real Estate Logo Design Tips for Agents, Teams & Brokerages
OK, now that you’ve feasted your eyes on some on-brand real estate logos that look and feel perfect, you’re probably scratching your head. After all, these logos are all from billion dollar-plus GCI luxury brokerages in places like Beverly Hills and New York City. How can you, with your shoestring budget, end up with something even close?
To help you get started on your own logo, here are six tips for making something great.
1. Take Time Choosing Your Fonts
While many people think that a font is a font is a font, in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Typography, the study and practice of type design, is an artistic discipline unto itself. Some of the most talented graphic artists in the world work on nothing but type.
While most graphic designers are experts in fonts, they’ll still take hours just switching between different fonts to see what works. Before they do, you can take the time to see what fonts you like online first. A site like Font Shop will let you see what your logo looks like in hundreds of high-end fonts. Take the time to go through them and send your favorites to your designer.
2. Simple > Complicated
Good design sends your customers a message. Great design sends your customers a message that they get immediately.
In most cases, that means a simple idea is generally better than a complicated idea. This approach will not only make it easier for you to get your message across, but it will also help your logo look good in a variety of sizes.
3. Make Sure Your Logo Works in All Sizes
Speaking of size, just because your logo looks great in Adobe Illustrator doesn’t mean it will look great everywhere else. What does it look like on phones? How about printed on a contract? On a business card? How about next to other real estate logos?
You can test this pretty easily. Have your designer mock up your logo in different sizes and different contexts. The most important one might be on a page with 10 other real estate logos for brokerages that work in your area.
4. See What It Looks Like Compared to Your Competition
Before you settle on a logo, you should know what it looks like next to your competition. That means you need to gather up your competitors’ logos and put your designs alongside them.
If you were a buyer or seller, what would you think about your company based only on your logo? Does it look as good, better, or worse than the competition?
5. Talent Borrows, Genius Steals
This phrase is a cliché for a reason. Taking liberal inspiration from easily recognizable real estate industry logos is a smart business move. Yes, something unique and special might stand out from the crowd, but will it stand out in a good way?
6. Make Sure Your Logo Looks Like a Real Estate Logo
Your prospective clients should be able to glance at your logo and, within a guess or two, figure out that you’re a real estate agent. Some real estate logos look like lawyer logos, and some look like heavy metal logos, sports logos, fashion logos, and more. What does yours look like?
Mistakes to Avoid: 4 Terrible Real Estate Logos
Now that we’ve gone through some of our favorite real estate logos and tips, let’s look at some less-than-stellar examples to see what to avoid.
It’s important to note that these logos may come from excellent brokerages, and they may have good reason to stick with their branding.
Odd-looking font, crowded text, and a less-than-flattering yellow background on an uninspired rectangle. To avoid this, remember to take the time to choose a great font, work with a pro, and think about color and layout.
Relying on 3D effects for your logo looks dated for a reason: It’s just not a good idea. It’s nearly impossible to recreate on fabric and won’t look right in small sizes.
We already mentioned avoiding generic “house” icons for your brand mark, but it can’t be stressed enough. Also, keep in mind that you won’t be able to copyright your logo if you use branded imagery from Canva or other stock image sites.
Some fonts will always remind people of the past. For example, the “R” in the NAR log still looks like it was designed in the 1960s. Even with the updated branding, the R still keeps this logo stuck in the bell-bottom era. Maybe because it relies on 3D effects?
Over to You
What did you think of our choices for the best real estate logos? How about our tips for creating a great logo? Let us know in the comment section.
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