What’s in a name? Perhaps in the era of Shakespeare, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. But in 2019, it better have good branding and an available domain. If you’re struggling with this, we hope our guide on real estate names helps!
Disclaimer: REthority is supported by ads and participation in affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you click our links. The information included in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal or financial advice.
Jump to:
- Creating Your Real Estate Name
- Buy a Web Domain
- Make a Tagline
- Avoiding Missteps
- Sample Real Estate Names
Creating a Memorable Real Estate Name
Thankfully, small businesses don’t need to hire a swanky marketing firm to create a good business name. With a little creativity and a some thought, you can create a real estate company name that will stand the test of time.
Follow these foolproof steps and browse through our business name ideas for inspiration. Consumers will know your real estate business by name in no time.
1. Write It all Down
Take a blank sheet of paper and write down individual words that pertain to your business. This can include your name, descriptors about your region, and adjectives that describe positive attributes about you as a Realtor. For example, Josh Brown, a Manhattan real estate agent, might write:
- Metropolitan
- Apartment
- Brown
- Trust
- Connected
Once you have 20 to 30 terms written down, start stringing them together in different arrangements. You want your name to symbolize your company ethos. Pick words that evoke the reaction you want: a name that makes potential buyers trust in your expertise, honesty, network, and so on.
In this case, some examples would be:
- Metro Apartment Connection
- Brown Metro Apartments
- Trusted Apartments
Your business name could also highlight some aspect of your real estate services. If you emphasize a relaxed and neighborly approach to working with clients, for instance, “Downhome Realtors” could get the message across.
Whatever name you choose, make sure it connects somehow to your brand and marketing message. The most common way to name a real estate company is by incorporating the name of the founder and owner.
Many well-known businesses in the real estate industry are named this way, including Keller Williams and Coldwell Banker.
2. Mind Local Connotations and Acronyms
After you’ve created a list of names, narrow them down to 5 to 10 that speak to you. Invite friends over and read them the list. Ask them about their gut reaction to your names. Are they any connotations you haven’t thought of?
For example, will people in New York City think Brown Metro Apartments refers only to brownstones? Then, double check those initials. South Harlem Investment Trust is probably not a good brand name.
3. Get Creative
In the real estate industry, any name followed by real estate, brokers, or Realtors is taken. It’s also tired. Creative names can be industry relevant without being staid.
Think of alternative descriptors like property, home, house, invest, and so on. Catchy names can be more descriptive of your real estate services and are more captivating to potential home buyers.
Generate name suggestions by searching related terms into song lyric and movie websites. Maybe there is a fun term you can play off of! You can also try an online business name generator. Consider alliteration and other mnemonic devices to leave an impression.
One way to get some business name ideas is to gather your team. Ask them to brainstorm and write down their own ideas. You may find one among these suits your purposes.
Also look at other area real estate companies. Examining their names could suggest names to avoid. It could also highly opportunities to use a name to claim a neglected but desirable market sector.
4. Consider Web Searches and Domain Names
It can be difficult today to create a business name that isn’t already taken on the web. But it can be done! Type in your domain to see if it’s available. If possible, the .com domain is best.
For example, metroapartmentconnection.com and brownmetroapartments.com are both up for grabs. Trustedapartments.com leads to Trusted Apartment Management in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cross that off the list!
It’s also wise to choose a business name that contains relevant Google search terms. This will boost your SEO and make it more likely your website will come up when potential clients are searching for related searches.
For example, “Harlem Apartments” is probably a more likely search than “metropolitan apartments.” Harlem Apartment Connection, in this case, is the better real estate name. Give your name a search on Google and other search engines before moving forward.
5. Is Your Name Scalable?
Don’t pigeonhole yourself to a small demographic. If you’re looking to grow your real estate business (who isn’t), you may want to choose a name that can grow with you.
For example, Harlem Apartment Connection can be limiting to one region. Metro Apartment Connection is more scalable. Weigh the pros and cons between relevant search terms and long-term scalability.
Perhaps New York Apartment Connection is the best name. You have a great name that contains search terms like “New York Apartment” that isn’t limiting to one neighborhood.
6. Secure Website Domains and Social Media Handles
As soon as you’ve decided on a name, register the website domain and Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter handles. You don’t want to decide on the perfect name only to find @newyorkapartmentconnection is already taken.
If you’ve come up with a unique name, there’s a good chance it will be up for grabs on social media. Make accounts on all of the platforms you plan on using right away. You can populate them later.
Many hosting services, domain name brokers and other organizations have online name search tools. GoDaddy.com, for example, is one. Just enter your chosen domain name and see if it’s available.
If someone else has already registered your preferred domain name, that doesn’t mean you have to go back to square one. You may be able to purchase the name for a reasonable price from the owner.
For a few extra dollars, it is also wise to secure domains for common misspellings of your real estate business name. Then, redirect those domains to your website. For example, you might buy newyorkapartmentconnection.com and newyorkapartmentconection.com.
7. Create a Tagline
The best real estate company names lend themselves to a killer tagline. Once you’ve settled on your name, you’ll want to create a tagline that offers a little information about your business. Go back to your original list and consider some of the verbiage you weren’t able to use.
For New York Apartment Connection, a potential tagline could be: Trusted Metropolitan residences to make your own.
Your company name, tagline, and logo will become a package for your business’s overall branding. You’ll print it on business cards, display it at the top of your website, and include it in your email signature.
If none of these approaches produce a useable name, you consider turning the job over to a professional marketer. A naming company employing branding experts can provide – for a fee – a name or list of names that in their judgment fit your needs.
Many of the most memorable corporate names – Exxon is a famous example – have been created by naming shops. However, this approach can be expensive so should probably be a last resort.
Business Name Missteps
It’s hard to un-do naming a company. You’ll have stationery, business cards, logo design, signage, a website and other costly investments in whatever name you choose. So make sure you don’t make these mistakes:
Acronyms have tripped up many a naming effort. Be sure that the initial letters of your business name don’t spell out anything obscene, profane or otherwise offensive.
Generally, avoid misspellings of common words. This has worked for the likes of blogging platform Tumblr and photo platform Flickr. But it’s generally better to stick with names using words that are either from the dictionary or are completely new.
Also take care when using numbers in a name. “First Realty” has a ring to it, admittedly. But people who hear the name can’t be sure it’s not “1st Realty.”
Some states restrict what you can name your real estate organization. For instance, in Florida real estate team or group names cannot include the following words:
- Agency
- Associates
- Brokerage
- Brokers
- Company
- Corporation
- Corp.
- Inc.
- LLC
- LP
- LLP or Partnership
- Properties
- Property
- Real Estate
- Realty
Sample Real Estate Names
To get your creative juices flowing, we’ve listed a handful of sample names to inspire you.
- Dwell Seattle
- Harrisonburg Home Consultants
- Nashville Posh Pads
- Stevens Sells Strausberg
- West Coast Residences
- Turner’s Team
- St. Louis Home Advisors
- Greater Atlanta Real Estate Group
- Rapid Home Sales
- Umbrella Realty
- Foundation Partners LLC
- Leland Local
- Al Paca Abodes
- Red Roof Realty
- Digs For Denver
- East Coast Casas
- Connecticut Cribs
- Burton Buys NJ
- Homestead California
- Location Realty Montana
Create Your Perfect Real Estate Name
Whether you’re in commercial or residential real estate, real estate investment, or property management, your name needs to communicate your company’s trust and expertise. It can be a tough balance. You want something that is catchy without being corny.
You want a unique name that isn’t hard to spell or remember. Write down ideas, sit with them for a period of time, and consult others before deciding on a name. Then hurry and register that domain! Clients will be Googling you in no time.
You Might Also Like:
- Real Estate Logos: Your complete guide on making a killer logo.
- Business Card Guide: Business cards are a marketing staple. Get in the know by reading our how-to guide.
- Real Estate Websites: Learn how to make an industry-leading website for your firm
