Century 21 Lakeside Realty Pursues Growth Path

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio — Century 21 Lakeside Realty has completed the purchase of Gallagher Clark and Carney in Columbiana County, and is eyeing the purchase of another firm to boost its commercial real estate sales, its owner reports.

The real estate firm also is preparing to sign a lease for space to be developed in the Firestone Farms development in Columbiana, and recently hired a director of education and business development.

George Berick, owner/manager, says the firm recently marked the one-year anniversary of its affiliation with Century 21.

Berick, who started Lakeside in 2009, has 26 years in the industry and worked in the Century 21 system when he first entered the field. Several other brands approached him about affiliating but he turned them down, he says. Among the factors was the strong recognition of the Century 21 brand.

Century 21 has approximately 7,400 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 78 countries with more than 111,000 sales professionals, according to its website.

“It was just a good fit for me,” Berick says. “They’re very progressive.”

The acquisition of Gallagher Clark and Carney expanded the agency’s share of the Columbiana County market to 14%, the largest of any real estate company there, according to Berick. It also brings the number of Century 21 Lakeside’s offices to three – the Austintown headquarters, Columbiana and Calcutta – and agents to 110.

About 90% of its business is in the residential market, with 10% commercial, Berick says. “We’re always expanding that. I’m interviewing a commercial company that might come into my business and be our commercial division, which will be really exciting,” he says.

The Firestone Farms office – the firm’s fourth when it opens – will be a “boutique” and not a “bullpen-type” real estate office, he says. The 1,680-square-foot space will be state-of-the-art and “something not seen in this area,” he says.

“We’re going to have art shows there and community events in that office,” he continues. A soft opening is planned in mid-winter and a grand opening celebration planned for spring.

Berick says his agency recently hired Maureen Cline as director of education and business development. Cline is the current president of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors and a teacher at Hondros College of Business.

She “is an outstanding acquisition for my business,” he says.

Pictured at top: George Berick says his agency will open its fourth office at the Firestone development in Columbiana.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.