By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Correspondent

After days of speculation it is now official. Coldwell Banker Northern California and Seville/ Contempo are merging. Both organizations are part of the NRT (National Realty Trust Co.) families of companies that are owned by Cendant Corporation.

In addition to Coldwell Banker, Cendant Corporation’s growth in the real estate franchise world also includes ERA and Century 21.

“Nobody, that I am aware of, has been upset by the reorganization and the consensus of the managers I spoke to feel this should have happened when Seville was first acquired,” said George Monaco, manager of the Coldwell Banker Gateway on First Avenue.

Coldwell Banker Northern California, the region’s largest residential real estate brokerage, also announced it is creating a new regional division that will operate as Coldwell Banker Capitol/Tahoe to capitalize on the area’s phenomenal growth and the company’s success in that local market.

The move creates a separate Coldwell Banker operation in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Nevada counties, apart from the rest of the company’s Northern California region. Coldwell Banker Northern California will now focus on the greater Bay Area.

“I have from the best sources there is no plan to shut down any offices in Los Altos,” Monaco said. “There isn’t one facility with enough room to house all the agents working for Coldwell Banker. It would be anti-productive to merge the Coldwell Banker offices and accept the loss of agents.”

Evram Goldman, president of Coldwell Banker Northern California residential brokerage, said that while any merger brings about some level of change, “I don’t anticipate as much in this case.”

Officials said all companies will eventually use the Coldwell Banker name.