In 1978, Meredith Corporation, one of the nation’s leading media and marketing companies and publisher of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, launched the former Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Service. Meredith Corporation owned and operated the company for 20 years and grew the business into a highly respected name in the real estate industry. Meredith Corporation sold its real estate business in 1998, but retained long-term ownership of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand name. Then, in October 2007, Realogy announced a new, long-term agreement to license the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand from Meredith Corporation. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate officially launched its new franchise system on July 23, 2008.