Howard Hanna Real Estate is a well-established and well-regarded real estate brokerage. The family-owned company has grown into a major brand, with offices in 13 states and a strong presence in the Pittsburgh area.
Agent reviews are generally positive, and you’re likely to find a realtor with local expertise. In addition to traditional real estate services, Howard Hanna offers unique services like a buy-before-you-sell program and a 100% refund policy for buyers.
However, you’ll likely pay the standard commission rate of 2.5–3%. On a $500,000 home sale, you'd owe your agent $15,000 at a 3% rate. Other companies can connect you with realtors who offer the same services for half that cost.
If you want to save money when you sell, Clever Real Estate can help. Clever's top local agents come from established brokerages and provide the same full-service support you’d expect from traditional realtors. The difference is that with a listing fee of just 1.5%, sellers save an average of $7,000. Find top-rated agents who can sell your home for half the traditional commission rate.
Howard Hanna Real Estate overview
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How it works: Agents provide traditional full service to home buyers and sellers
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Commission rate: Standard 2.5–3% of the home sale price per agent
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Customer rating: 4.1/5 across 2,120 reviews
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Locations: CT, IN, KY, MD, MI, NJ, NY, NC, PA, OH, SC, VA, and WV
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Benefits: Established brand, exclusive programs for buyers and sellers
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Downsides: No discount on commission rates, complaints about customer service
Howard Hanna Real Estate services
| Listing agent services | Full service |
| Buyer's agent services | Full service |
Howard Hanna Real Estate agents are full-service realtors who provide traditional support throughout the transaction.
If you’re selling, your listing agent will:
- Conduct a comparative market analysis (CMA) to set a price for your home
- Suggest repairs that can boost the resale value
- Stage and photograph your house to prepare the listing
- List your home on the multiple listing service (MLS)
- Market the property to potential buyers
- Host open houses and walk-throughs
- Compile offers and review them with you
- Negotiate the sale price and terms
A buyer’s agent will:
- Help you find homes within your needs and budget
- Draft and submit offers on your behalf
- Negotiate the purchase price and terms
- Compile and complete the necessary paperwork
- Coordinate the closing process
Howard Hanna Real Estate also offers some unique services. For instance, if you’re interested in buying or selling an upscale property, Howard Hanna has agents experienced in selling luxury homes. Extra efforts, like custom video tours and exposure in Hanna Luxury magazine, are used to market the house. The company offers mortgage, insurance, title, and escrow services, too.
Other exclusive services include:
- Buy Before You Sell: Access equity from your current home to buy a new one.
- Sunday Showcase of Homes: Spotlight your home on TV and YouTube for free, boosting your visibility. It’s also a convenient way for buyers to find new properties.
- Find It First: Get alerts for Howard Hanna’s new homes before they hit the market.
- 100% Money-Back Guarantee: If you buy a home listed by Howard Hanna and aren’t satisfied, the company will buy it back for the full purchase price (if certain conditions are met).
Commission rate
| Listing agent fee | 2.5–3% |
| Buyer's agent fee | 2.5–3% |
At a traditional brokerage like Howard Hanna, agents typically charge the standard commission rate of 2.5–3% of the final sale price. Nationally, the average listing fee is 2.82%. The average buyer’s agent fee is 2.75%.
Sellers previously set the commission rate for buyer’s agents, advertised it in their MLS listings, and covered the fee at closing. But following a settlement with the National Association of Realtors (NAR), buyers now negotiate the commission directly with their agent and include it in their contract. Sellers are still covering the buyer’s agent commission, only now it's offered via a concession instead of upfront.
When working with a traditional agent, you’re technically always free to negotiate the realtor commission. However, in practice, getting a significant discount is challenging. Agents from traditional brokerages often have little leeway or incentive to lower their rates.
If you want to pay less while still getting full service, consider an alternative like Clever Real Estate. With Clever, you’ll still work with a top-rated local agent, but with a pre-negotiated listing fee of 1.5% instead of 3%. You’ll get the same comprehensive support, and keep thousands more in your pocket.
Howard Hanna Real Estate agents
| Quality indicators |
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| # of agents | Nearly 12,000 |
| Locations | 402 offices across 13 states: CT, IN, KY, MD, MI, NJ, NY, NC, PA, OH, SC, VA, and WV |
Howard Hanna Real Estate boasts a vast network of agents. In 2024, it reported 11,994 active agents across 402 offices.[1] With so many realtors, you can likely find an agent with the local expertise and experience you need.
The firm supports its agents with free training, regional seminars, and continuing education opportunities. This includes Hanna University, a learning management system for both new and experienced realtors.[2]
To find a real estate agent, you can search by agent or office on Howard Hanna’s website.
Before you sign with one of its realtors, interview a couple of others to ensure you find the right fit. Look beyond the firm’s reputation and consider agents’ local expertise and relevant experience. Also, check customer reviews to get a better idea of what it’s like to work with each realtor.
Howard Hanna Real Estate reviews from customers
| Yelp | 2.5/5 (171 reviews) |
| 4.2/5 (1,949 reviews) | |
| Weighted average | 4.1/5 (2,120 reviews) |
Howard Hanna Real Estate reviews are mostly positive, earning the firm a 4.1 out of 5 rating. However, ratings vary by location, so we recommend looking up reviews for your local branch or agents.
Positive reviews highlight Howard Hanna’s professional and dedicated team. Customers say agents’ local knowledge and support made buying and selling a home easy and stress-free.
However, some negative Howard Hanna Real Estate reviews express the opposite experience — unprofessional agents and a lack of communication. Branch leaders do a good job of responding to both positive and negative online comments.
Here are some of the most common themes among Howard Hanna Real Estate reviews.
✅ Professional and dedicated team
Reviewers described their agents as patient, generous, professional, personable, and dedicated. Several customers said realtors went above and beyond to help them buy or sell a home.
This was our first homebuying experience, and the patience, generosity, and dedication that Howard Hanna had for us was amazing. At no point were we left in the dark about anything, they made our homebuying experience more comfortable and much less stressful. We wouldn’t be in our house if it weren’t for your guys’ dedication and guidance in our homebuying experience.
Devin Laureano was our Howard Hanna realtor, and he was FANTASTIC! Very professional yet very personable. Devin went over and beyond what was required to make sure we had everything we needed during our buying experience. He even took time from his family to answer questions and help with other issues, which was WAY beyond what others would have done!
Howard Hanna is great! They helped me every step of the way, generously answering the many questions I had throughout the process.
✅ Knowledge of the local area
Multiple customers highlighted their agents’ knowledge, noting that they knew the local market and surrounding areas well.
Jody Canupp is an amazing realtor. She is very knowledgeable about the market. She is so helpful through the whole process. She’s quick to respond and help with anything you may need. She helped us nail down the very first house we put an offer in on in a really difficult area to get a home in. We couldn’t have done it without her!
Best customer service at The Oceanfront. A true team of professionals who know Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake inside and out!
I highly recommend the Howard Hanna West Suburban Team to anyone looking for top-notch service and expertise in the Moon Township area and surrounding communities. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, looking to sell, or searching for your dream home, they will guide you through every step of the journey with professionalism, care, and dedication.
✅ Excellent support for a stress-free experience
Reviewers also stated that agents understood their needs and offered support that made the buying and selling experiences easy.
Purchasing or selling a home can be stressful, but Jill handheld me the entire way and anticipated my needs. Jill had a good understanding of what I was looking for and found me the perfect home.
Kelly and Allison were absolutely AMAZING!!!! These girls work hard and advocate for you. They’re dedicated, compassionate, and intelligent. They made the homebuying process seamless and stress-free! I highly recommend Kelly, Allison, and Howard Hanna for all your homebuying needs!
Jay and Geoffrey were absolutely incredible, the entire process was so smooth and stress-free because of them. I will only buy or sell with Howard Hanna in the future because of them!
⚠️ Unprofessional agent behavior
Not all customers were pleased with their agents. For some branches, we found reviews indicating unprofessional behavior among their realtors.
David Barnes’ handling of our offer on Lake Front property was utterly unprofessional and unethical. Our offer was accepted, and we placed a $30,000 deposit at Howard Hanna Brighton, congratulating us on the purchase in their office. A week later, we were shocked to learn through our attorney — not David — that the seller took a cash offer instead. David ignored our calls and texts, never giving us a chance to counteroffer. This lack of communication and apparent greed is unacceptable for a high-value transaction.
My agent at Howard Hanna prioritized their own interests over mine, steering me toward a specific lender and appraiser in what appeared to be a coordinated effort to push the sale through. I was misled about the property’s condition, pressured into waiving critical inspections, and assured that major issues had been addressed when they had not. After closing, when the extent of the home’s defects became clear, the agent refused to take any responsibility or assist in resolving the situation. Their actions have caused significant financial and personal hardship — buyers, be cautious and do your due diligence before trusting this brokerage.
⚠️ Lack of communication
Some reviewers also complained about poor communication from their agent, leading to disappointment and regret.
I truly regret choosing Greg Pinzone to list my house with. Mistakes were made drawing up the contract, and misinformation was given to me that cost me thousands. Throughout the entire process, Greg was extremely unreliable. He took hours and sometimes days to return a phone call, text, or email, even when it was an urgent matter that required a response right away. Compared to other realtors I’ve worked with, Greg fell far short in performance.
I’m so very disappointed with staff. Selling my house has been a nightmare. All summer, no updated pictures, still had snow in the yard after I asked multiple times for new pictures. No return calls from the broker or the office. Mind you, I’ve called several times. A friend has been looking at it for her daughter, and no return call. On the website, it says pending. I don’t know why.
Credibility: Is Howard Hanna Real Estate legit?
| Founding | 1957 by Howard and Anne Freyvogel Hanna |
| Track record |
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| News |
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Howard Hanna Real Estate is a legitimate, well-established brokerage.
It was founded in Pittsburgh in 1957 and has seen record growth in 2025, most recently expanding into the New York City metro area.[5] In 2024, it boasted $33.74 billion in sales and closed 92,154 transactions.[6] This growth, in addition to its recent awards and recognitions, makes Howard Hanna a trusted real estate brand.
However, in 2025, Howard Hanna was among several brokerages that settled a lawsuit regarding real estate commissions. The precise amount and terms haven’t been disclosed.[7]
Bottom line: Is Howard Hanna Real Estate right for you?
Howard Hanna Real Estate has a solid reputation in the industry, with the sales to back it up. You’ll likely find a good full-service agent from this brokerage.
Just be sure to interview agents before signing a contract, as service and performance can vary by location. If you want to get full service and save on realtor fees, consider interviewing agents from a low-commission brokerage, too.
Companies like Clever Real Estate work with top agents who deliver the traditional services for less — a 1.5% listing fee instead of the standard 3%. Sellers save an average of $7,000 without compromising on quality or expertise.
- Answer 5 simple questions about your sale
- Get matched with 2–3 top local agents in minutes
- Compare options, choose the best fit, save up to 50% on fees
FAQ
Who owns Howard Hanna Real Estate?
Howard Hanna Real Estate is a privately owned company. It was founded by Howard and Anne Freyvogel Hanna and is owned by their family.
Is Howard Hanna a good real estate company?
Howard Hanna is a well-respected and established real estate brokerage. Its agents generally get positive reviews, although individual performance can vary by office. We recommend researching individual agents before signing a contract.
