Despite speculation over the future of the magazine, the German publishing company had refused to comment on its plans for Real.
The fortnightly magazine targets 25- to 40-year-old women. It launched in the UK in 2001 with an emphasis on real-life stories mixed with coverage of fashion, beauty, cookery and homes.
Real's editorial staff will relocate to the Essex-based publishing company but advertising will continue to be controlled by H Bauer's sales house, the Publishing Company, in the short term.
Essential Publishing owns Your Home, Homestyle, Rooms Rooms Rooms, Collect It! and The Party Magazine.
Luke Patten, the managing director at Essential Publishing, said he was confident Real would fit in well with the existing titles.
"We believe Real can continue to flourish within our portfolio and maintain its position as a publication that is relevant to modern women's lives," Patten said.
Real is the third title to be bought by Essential Publishing in the past 18 months. It acquired Your Home from The National Magazine Company 12 months ago and recently bought The Party Magazine from Bury House Publishing.
In the latest set of figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Real's sales were up 13% on the previous period to 204,445 copies. Essential Publishing declined to comment on the cost of the acquisition.
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