Gabriela Czerwinska in Baltimore: A Century 21 Agent Focused on Federal Hill and Canton

Gabriela Czerwinska is a real estate agent with Century 21, a national franchise that operates through independent brokerages in Baltimore and serves buyers and sellers across the city's neighborhoods. She works within the residential market, handling both purchase and sale transactions, and specializes in Baltimore's denser, walkable neighborhoods, particularly Federal Hill and Canton. Like all agents in the Baltimore market, she earns commission on completed sales rather than an hourly fee, and her role differs depending on whether she represents a buyer or a listing seller.

How Real Estate Agents Get Paid in Baltimore

Agents in Baltimore, including those at Century 21, earn commission split between the buyer's agent and the listing agent. The total commission is negotiated between the home seller and the listing broker at the time of listing; it typically ranges from 5 to 6 percent of the final sale price, though this is not fixed and varies by transaction. That total is then split roughly 50/50 between the listing side and the buyer's side, meaning each agent's take is usually 2.5 to 3 percent of the sale price. On a $400,000 home sale, a typical buyer's or listing agent would earn roughly $10,000 to $12,000 before their brokerage takes its cut.

The buyer's agent and listing agent have different roles. A listing agent markets the property, coordinates showings, handles negotiations on behalf of the seller, and manages the closing timeline. A buyer's agent shows properties to clients, helps evaluate neighborhoods and comparable sales, assists with offer strategy, and negotiates inspection and appraisal contingencies on the buyer's side. An agent can represent either party in a single transaction but not both simultaneously in most circumstances. If you contact Czerwinska directly as a buyer, she would represent your interests; if you list a home and she is the listing agent, she would represent the seller's interests.

Evaluating an Agent: What to Look For

Because agents earn commission on completed sales, incentives favor quick closings over maximizing your outcome. This is structural to the profession, not unique to Czerwinska or Century 21, but worth understanding before hiring. When choosing an agent, look for someone with closed sales in the neighborhoods you're interested in, not just listings posted. You can verify closed transactions through Maryland's Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS) database or ask the agent directly for recent sales history. An agent with 10 closed sales in Federal Hill in the past 18 months has neighborhood-specific knowledge; an agent with 2 closed sales across all of Baltimore does not.

Ask about their pricing strategy if you're selling. Some agents recommend pricing high to attract more showings and negotiate down; others recommend pricing close to market value to generate multiple offers quickly. The logic differs, and which approach fits your timeline and risk tolerance matters. If you're buying, ask how the agent structures offer strategy: Do they advise multiple offers in a competitive market? Do they wait for a clear win? How do they handle appraisal gaps?

Century 21 is a franchise system, meaning each office operates under that brand but is independently owned and run. The broker who owns the Century 21 office where Czerwinska works sets the brokerage's policies, commission split with agents, and oversight standards. Century 21's national brand offers some consistency, but the quality of your experience depends heavily on the individual agent and the specific brokerage owner.

Comparing Agent Selection in Baltimore

You are not required to use an agent to buy a home in Baltimore, though the vast majority of transactions involve at least a buyer's agent. Some sellers attempt to sell without an agent (FSBO, or "for sale by owner"), but this is uncommon in Baltimore's competitive market and requires the seller to handle marketing, showings, negotiations, and closing logistics independently. If you buy from a FSBO seller without your own agent, you typically cannot claim a buyer's agent commission, meaning the seller keeps the full price.

Choosing between agents comes down to three factors: neighborhood expertise, availability, and communication style. A Century 21 agent like Czerwinska works within a national system with franchise training and standards. A smaller independent brokerage or a large local firm like Coldwell Banker or Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices offers different organizational structures but the same commission-based model. The brand matters less than the individual agent's track record in your specific neighborhood. If Czerwinska has closed 15 sales in Federal Hill in the past two years and you're buying in Federal Hill, that's a meaningful signal. If you're buying in Hampden and she has no sales there, that's a reason to consider someone else.

Hours, Contact, and Next Steps

Century 21 offices typically operate during standard business hours, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited Saturday availability. Contact Czerwinska directly through the local Century 21 office to discuss your specific transaction and verify current availability. Initial consultations are generally free and involve discussing your timeline, budget, and neighborhood preferences.

Gabriela Czerwinska and agents like her are common fixtures in Baltimore's residential real estate market, particularly in neighborhoods with younger buyer demographics and active turnover. The value of working with any agent rests on whether they understand your neighborhood and transaction type, not on the franchise name.