CityRealty
City Realty Group is a privately held, founder-owned vertically integrated real estate services firm in Greater Boston providing brokerage, property management, development/renovation, and real estate licensing education to residential and commercial clients across 10+ submarkets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersBrighton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CityRealty does
City Realty Group is a privately held, vertically integrated real estate services company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Allston, Massachusetts. The company operates across four business lines: residential and commercial brokerage (with 100+ in-house licensed agents serving Greater Boston submarkets including Allston, Brighton, Brookline, Jamaica Plain, Quincy, Newton, Somerville, Dorchester, and Boston), full-service property management (3,500+ residential units and 1.2M+ SF of commercial space historically transacted or managed, including a 24/7 maintenance hotline and HOA administration), ground-up development and value-add renovation (active portfolio spanning the 50 Leo condominiums, 76 Ashford St rental tower with 254 units, the Allston Square 350,000 SF mixed-use development, and a 5.3-acre proposed project at 1280-1330 Boylston Street), and a Massachusetts-licensed Real Estate School ($350 for a 40-hour broker or salesperson course, $120 for a 12-hour continuing education program). Underlying technology is conventional: the company runs a Wix-hosted website (cityrealtyboston.com), no APIs or developer tools, with operational technology focused on standard property management platforms rather than custom software.
The business model is multi-stream: (1) transaction-based commissions from brokerage (residential sales, apartment rentals, commercial deals), (2) recurring management fees from a managed portfolio that has grown through serial acquisitions of commercial properties — 164 Canal St (2021, 23K SF), 60 Harvard St (2022, 34K SF), 186 Lincoln St (2023, 73K SF), and the 160,000 SF 313 Washington St in Newton Corner (2025), (3) one-time development profits from ground-up and renovation projects, and (4) tuition from the in-house real estate licensing school. The company maintains a wholly-owned nonprofit affiliate, City Kids Inc., which provides scholarships, financial literacy programming in Boston Public Schools, and community partnerships (YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, The Base, Fisher College), functioning as a brand-building and talent-pipeline asset rather than a revenue center.
City Realty is founder-owned and founder-operated. Co-founders Steve Whalen (Managing Partner, ex-Equis Corp. / Hunneman Commercial) and Fred Starikov (Co-Founder, $1.5B+ in cumulative transactions) maintain operational and strategic control, supported by a full C-suite including CFO Miles Lynch, CTO/Operations Lead Jerry Wycoco, Chief Development Officer Clifford Kensington, and General Counsel Nick Feinstein. The company is privately held with no institutional investment, no public listing, and no disclosed funding rounds — operating as a self-funded, founder-controlled regional real estate platform with demonstrated serial-deal execution and aggressive capital deployment into owned commercial assets.
CityRealty firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CityRealty
- Legal name
- City Realty Group
- Website
- https://cityrealtyboston.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- City Realty Group is a privately held, founder-owned vertically integrated real estate services firm in Greater Boston providing brokerage, property management, development/renovation, and real estate licensing education to residential and commercial clients across 10+ submarkets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CityRealty industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Real Estate Brokerage
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Nonresidential Property Managers (531312), Residential Property Managers (531311)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Real Estate (6500), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes) (BPAJAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Office Brokerage (BPAJABAA), Multifamily Brokerage (BPAJABAD), Residential Investment Property Brokerage (SFR/Small Multifamily) (BPAJAAAE), Commercial Real Estate Brokerage (Leasing & Sales) (FSAEAJAB)
Keywords
Where CityRealty is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brighton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CityRealty business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Real Estate Brokerage: Commission-based residential and commercial real estate sales through in-house agents
- Property Management: Ongoing property management services for residential apartments and commercial buildings
- Real Estate Development: Ground-up development and value-add renovations generating revenue through property sales and rental income
- Real Estate Education: License and continuing education courses for aspiring real estate agents in Massachusetts
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time payment | 40-hour broker course |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time payment | 40-hour salesperson course |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time payment | 12-hour continuing education program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
CityRealty product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CityRealty (City Realty Group) is a full-service real estate services firm operating in Greater Boston since 2004, providing residential and commercial real estate brokerage, full-service property management (with 24/7 maintenance), value-add renovations and ground-up real estate development, and Massachusetts real estate licensing/continuing education courses. The firm owns/manages a portfolio spanning apartments, condominiums, office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality properties, supported by an in-house team of over 100 licensed agents operating across multiple Greater Boston locations.
Product overview
CityRealty operates as a real estate services company serving Greater Boston since 2004, offering a portfolio of integrated services centered on three core pillars: Residential Brokerage & Listings (apartment listings, condo sales, rentals), Commercial Real Estate Services (property acquisition, development, and management of office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality properties), and Property Management (maintenance, leasing, payments). The company also provides Renovations & Development services, a Real Estate School for agent licensing, and operates City Kids, a non-profit youth education initiative. The product portfolio includes residential developments (condominiums and rental units across neighborhoods like Jamaica Plain, Allston, Brighton, Somerville, Brookline, Dorchester, and Newton), commercial properties (office and retail buildings), hospitality projects (boutique hotels), and mixed-use urban development projects. The company's revenue model encompasses brokerage commissions, property management fees, real estate education tuition, and development profits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- City Kids: Youth education non-profit initiative providing scholarships, financial literacy programs, technology initiatives, and support for Boston children through unique experiences and educational resources.
Products and services
- Residential Brokerage & Listings Residential real estate brokerage services including apartment listings, condominium sales, and rental management across Greater Boston neighborhoods, delivered by CityRealty's in-house team of 100+ licensed agents.
- Commercial Real Estate Services Commercial property acquisition, development, leasing, and management including office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality properties for commercial tenants and investors across Greater Boston.
- Renovations & Development Real estate renovation and ground-up development services including historic restorations, new additions, and gut renovations throughout Boston and surrounding communities, with in-house site permitting and construction management.
- Property Management Full-service property management including maintenance (24/7 hotline at 781-309-5000), lease administration, rent collection, and tenant services for residential apartments and commercial buildings, delivered through CityRealty's subsidiary CRM Property Corp.
- Real Estate School License and continuing education courses for Massachusetts real estate exam preparation: 40-hour broker course, 40-hour salesperson course, and 12-hour continuing education program, offered in-person at CityRealty's Allston location at 500 Lincoln St., FL 2.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $1.5 Billion in real estate transactions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CityRealty
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CityRealty technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CityRealty partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The BasecoreBoston-based non-profit that combines baseball training with education and career resources to empower student-athletes. Steve Whalen serves on the advisory board.
- Habitat for Humanity BostonminorNon-profit housing organization providing affordable housing solutions. City Kids partners with them for community impact initiatives.
- YMCA BostonminorYouth development organization. City Kids has partnered for surf camp and other youth programs.
- American Red CrossminorHumanitarian organization. City Kids has participated in community service initiatives.
- Brookline Teen CenterminorTeen center serving Brookline youth. City Kids has collaborated on events and programs.
- Pine Street InnminorBoston homeless shelter and supportive housing provider. City Kids has supported through donations.
- Eastern BankminorCommunity bank supporting local initiatives. Partner for financial education programs.
- Steps To Success BrooklinecoreNon-profit supporting low-income Brookline students with educational programs. City Kids has made donations to support their mission.
- Boston Public SchoolscoreCity Kids has launched a Financial Education Program for Boston public school students to bridge the knowledge gap in financial literacy.
- Boston Bulldogs Running ClubminorCommunity providing support to those dealing with addiction. Steve Whalen is an Ambassador.
- Fisher CollegeminorHigher education institution in Boston. Partner for student support and scholarship programs.
- Boston Public LibraryminorPublic library system serving Boston communities. Partner for educational programs and resources.
- Rosie's PlaceminorWomen's shelter in Boston. City Kids has provided donations and support.
- Y.E.S.minorYouth organization. City Kids partnered for surf camp experiences at Hampton Beach.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of BostonminorYouth development organization. Partner for community programs and activities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CityRealty competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CBRE: Global commercial real estate services firm offering brokerage, property management, and investment sales. Comparable to City Realty's commercial brokerage and property management lines at significantly greater scale.
- Coldwell Banker: One of the largest residential brokerage franchises in the U.S. with deep Greater Boston affiliate operations. Directly comparable to City Realty's residential brokerage and agent recruitment model.
- JLL: Global real estate services and investment management firm with commercial brokerage, property management, and development advisory capabilities across Greater Boston. Overlaps with City Realty's commercial services.
- Marcus & Millichap: Specialized commercial real estate investment sales firm with multifamily and mixed-use brokerage focus. Comparable to City Realty's apartment building brokerage team and investment sales activity.
- Keller Williams Realty: Largest real estate franchise by agent count globally, with significant Boston-area operations. Competes with City Realty for agent recruitment and residential listing share.
- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices: National residential brokerage network with strong Boston-area franchise presence. Competes with City Realty for residential listings, agent talent, and buyer/seller relationships.
- Compass: National technology-driven residential brokerage and real estate platform with a major Boston presence. Competes directly with City Realty's 100+ agent residential brokerage and offers stronger marketing budgets and technology infrastructure.
Regional players
- Samuels & Associates: Boston-based real estate developer specializing in mixed-use, residential, and commercial projects in Greater Boston neighborhoods. Comparable to City Realty's development pipeline and community-focused approach.
- The Collaborative Companies: Boston-based full-service real estate development and investment firm focused on luxury residential and mixed-use projects. Closely comparable to City Realty's ground-up development and value-add renovation model in the same geography.
- Boston Realty Advisors: Boston-focused commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm. Comparable to City Realty's commercial leasing, investment sales, and tenant representation activity in the same regional market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CityRealty social profiles
Digital presenceCityRealty financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CityRealty leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
CityRealty subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CityRealty funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CityRealty M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CityRealty
What does CityRealty do?
CityRealty (City Realty Group) is a full-service real estate services firm operating in Greater Boston since 2004, providing residential and commercial real estate brokerage, full-service property management (with 24/7 maintenance), value-add renovations and ground-up real estate development, and Massachusetts real estate licensing/continuing education courses. The firm owns/manages a portfolio spanning apartments, condominiums, office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality properties, supported by an in-house team of over 100 licensed agents operating across multiple Greater Boston locations.
Is CityRealty a public or private company?
CityRealty is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CityRealty founded?
CityRealty was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CityRealty based?
CityRealty is headquartered in Brighton, United States, in the North America region.
How does CityRealty make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Real Estate Brokerage is the primary driver. The others are property Management, real Estate Development and real Estate Education.
Who are CityRealty's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CBRE, Coldwell Banker, JLL, Marcus & Millichap, Keller Williams Realty, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Compass. Regional players are Samuels & Associates, The Collaborative Companies and Boston Realty Advisors.
Does CityRealty have an API?
No public API is recorded for CityRealty.
What industry is CityRealty in?
CityRealty's product category is Residential Real Estate Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAAAA, Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes), with a secondary code of BPAJABAA, Office Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 53121 and its SIC code is 6531.