CLEVELAND — Howard Hanna Real Estate Services announced this week its purchase of Realty One, a move that will result in Howard Hanna controlling about 37 percent of the real estate market in Northeastern Ohio, according to company officials.

Realty One is a Cleveland-based real estate firm founded in 1953 in Lyndhurst. It was part of the Real Living firm, of Columbus.

The acquisition was announced Nov. 3.

The purchase will double to 79 the number of office locations for Howard Hanna in Ohio, the company reports, with 2,804 sales associates in 21 counties.

According to Howard “Hoby” Hanna IV, president and chief operating officer of Howard Hanna Ohio, the company plans to maintain the Realty One West Akron office and the Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer Fairlawn office. The two offices are on West Market Street, nearly a mile apart from one another. The same goes for in Green, where there are separate offices for Realty One and Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer on Massillon Road, just a few blocks apart from one another.

“We have lease obligations in both areas,” Hanna said. “Ideally, we’d like to get to a point where we could consolidate, but right now there’s not enough space in the buildings to accommodate all the agents.”

Eventually the company will look into moving the separate offices into one building, he said.

Hanna added that sign covers will go over the existing Realty One office signs until the company works with its sign vendor and local municipalities to get new Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer signs installed.

As for homeowners and buyers working with Realty One, they will receive letters in the mail in the next few days informing them of the purchase. Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer “for sale” yard signs will replace the Realty One signs this week as well, Hanna said.

Company officials said the purchase of Realty One will benefit its customers.

“Buyers and sellers are going to benefit from an expanded market presence that combines the finest in professionalism and marketing expertise,” said Barbara Reynolds, president of marketing for Howard Hanna. “Our cultures are similar and our agents work closely together.”

Hanna said the acquisition has been in the works since July, when Real Living officials approached Howard Hanna with the offer to purchase Realty One. He said the company discussed the idea through July and August and signed an agreement with Realty One in mid-October. The company closed on the purchase Oct. 31.

Howard Hanna entered the Northeast Ohio market in 2003 when it merged with Smythe Cramer. According to the company, it then began acquiring other real estate brokerages and to date has purchased eight. The growth also has resulted in the opening of four new offices and the refurbishing and expanding of several others. The company also has added to its services and businesses to include Barristers Title, Howard Hanna Mortgage, Howard Hanna Insurance and Great Lakes Survey. The company also has added 350 sales associates and staff in the last five years.

The company’s latest purchase will result in the creation of new jobs, according to Helen Hanna Casey, president of sales.

“We intend to retain all existing staff as well as add approximately 50 professionals at Howard Hanna Mortgage Services, Barristers Title and Howard Hanna Insurance,” she said. She added the company will add to its support staff as well.