Real estate chain Century 21 Australia is experiencing the fastest pace of network growth in the company’s history, with on average, almost one new office joining the real estate group each week since the start of 2012.

Despite market conditions the size of the network has grown by over 12 percent in Australia this year. That’s in addition to the 44 offices that joined the group with the recent acquisition of Century 21 New Zealand.

Charles Tarbey, chairman and owner of Century 21 Australasia, said “With the Australian real estate industry as competitive as ever, three years ago Century 21 Australia began investing record sums into new technologies, marketing campaigns, search engine optimisation and training to ensure that the brand remained front of mind for Australians looking to buy or sell real estate.

“I believe that this investment, coupled with the strength of the global Century 21 brand, has led to this record growth period. It is pleasing to see that much of this growth is being driven by experienced industry operators with almost all new offices joining from other real estate groups or rebranding from independents.”

The company has introduced a number of consumer-friendly tools including a real estate App, online magazines and an online property game – Property Mogul – as a means to engage customers with the Century 21 brand.

A national tv campaign ‘Smarter, Bolder, Faster’ was launched this year, and a new website unveiled.

“Century 21 has focused on achieving ‘quality growth’ not growth for growth’s sake. However, we do have a target in mind that is below the projected size of most well known franchise groups and that we believe is the ideal size for a franchise group in Australia – a size that delivers us a strong national presence without over-saturation. We are now very close to this targeted size,” said Tarbey.

“With the marketplace being increasingly driven by technology, ingenuity and efficiency, real estate networks must constantly be delivering on these points in order to stand out from the crowd,” said Charles Tarbey.

• In December 2011, Charles Tarbey purchased the underlying assets of Wentworth Holdings (ASX: WWM), one of Australia’s largest property management groups, and integrated the assets – some 8,000 property managements and associated property managers – with Century 21 Australia.

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