Australian Real Estate Leader Begins Expansion Into India

Charles Tarbey, Chairman and Owner of CENTURY 21 Australasia, has completed his first multi-city visit to India and the United Arab Emirates, following his acquisition of the CENTURY 21 master franchise rights for both regions in late 2024.

India, the world’s most populous nation and largest democracy, recorded unprecedented property sales volumes in 2024, with over half of all properties selling for more than INR 10 million for the first time (approximately AUD $180,000).

Mr. Tarbey visited Chennai, Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, describing the trip as a key step to better understanding the market and its opportunities while validating the decision to invest in India’s booming real estate sector.

“India is experiencing extraordinary change and growth. The property market is maturing and becoming more sophisticated, with rising demand for premium real estate,” Mr. Tarbey said.

“Professional, hardworking, and well-trained agents will play a critical role in supporting the growing property market. CENTURY 21 brings an internationally recognised brand and proven systems to support that evolution.

Our immediate focus is selecting high-quality partners to lead key regions across India.”

Under the expansion, CENTURY 21 India will introduce new sub-franchise agreements across 29 major regions, each potentially supporting thousands of real estate offices.

A comprehensive marketing strategy is being finalised to accelerate growth and provide tailored support for franchise owners at both the regional and local levels.

Mr. Tarbey also emphasised the importance of cross-border collaboration, particularly with Australia.

“Australia remains a highly desirable destination for Indian investors and migrants, and we’ve seen increasing buyer interest from India across our network,” he said.

“There are around one million Australians with Indian ancestry, and we see real opportunity in building a powerful bridge between our markets.

As an example, we plan to list all appropriate Australian properties through our Indian network and launch new platforms for agents from both countries to collaborate, build relationships and share expertise.”

Indian franchise expressions of interest are now being reviewed from both India and Australia, with Mr. Tarbey expressing strong confidence in the Indian opportunity.

“I’m incredibly bullish about the future of CENTURY 21 India.

The acquisition will also be a major advantage for our franchise owners across Australasia, offering global referral opportunities and a deeper connection with one of the world’s fastest-growing real estate markets.”

CENTURY 21 recently launched one of its largest global brand campaigns, Moments of the Century, with prominent billboards in New York’s Times Square and across major Australian media channels including TV, out-of-home, and digital.

CENTURY 21 is a global real estate leader with nearly 130,000 independent sales professionals operating in 79 countries. It is also the largest residential real estate network in the Asia-Pacific region.