Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC celebrates its 105th birthday
COLDWELL BANKER REAL ESTATE CELEBRATES 105th BIRTHDAY
Oldest National Real Estate Brand Honors Heritage and Celebrates the Ongoing Dream of Homeownership
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (August 26, 2011) – Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC celebrates its 105th birthday, reflecting on the history of the brand and the changes to the real estate industry since the founding of the company on August 27, 1906 in San Francisco.
“As a bold, Coldwell Banker has navigated the real estate industry during two World Wars, the Great Depression and countless recessions,” said Jim Gillespie, chief executive officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “While the world and our industry are in a different place now than 105 years ago, the dream of homeownership is still alive and vital.”
Coldwell Banker was founded by Colbert Coldwell, and later Arthur Banker, in San Francisco, California to bring ethics and integrity to a real estate industry that had lost its way after the 1906 earthquake. Out of the ashes of a severe earthquake, Colbert Coldwell and Arthur Banker built the company from the ground up and began a legacy of excellent service for people buying or selling homes. Coldwell Banker Real Estate employees at the company’s headquarters in Parsippany, N.J., celebrated the occasion with a festive cake designed to reflect the company’s commitment to innovation and the development of new technology.
“We believe Coldwell Banker agents are the best in the real estate business and they exemplify that strong heritage of ethics and integrity established by Colbert Coldwell and Arthur Banker,” said Budge Huskey, president and chief operating officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Coldwell Banker continues to advance the brand, and the industry, through innovation and technology that helps people find information about homes anytime and anywhere.”
As an innovative leader in real estate, Coldwell Banker has launched various new tools and apps over the past year that bring consumers fun and informative ways to engage in the home buying and selling process. Some of these include a new Real Estate App for iPad, On Location videos that provide a look into different neighborhoods from the comfort of home, as well as new tools for homebuyers in the properties section of coldwellbanker.com.
COLDWELLBANKER.COM REVAMPS PROPERTIES SECTION IN RESPONSE TO GROWING NUMBER OF VISITORS CONDUCTING NON-TRADITIONAL SEARCHES
Parsippany, N.J. (July 28, 2011) – Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC today announced a relaunch of the Properties Real Estate Search section of coldwellbanker.com to respond to the growing percentage (38%) of visitors using non-traditional search options on the site. Non-traditional searches include mobile phone sites and apps, as well as unique search functions such as keyword, lifestyle, affordability and BlueScape®.
This newly enhanced section of the website combines various real estate search options and tools available on coldwellbanker.com into one location to help consumers explore and acquire information for their home search.
From local community amenities to an affordability radar, informational videos to direct access to agents, this unique search section now provides consumers with more than a dozen ways to search, gather information and find the right home and community for their lifestyle. Visitors will also gain access to download mobile tools including apps for the iPhone, Android and iPad for searching on-the-go.
“With nearly 40% percent of all searches on our website now being conducted in non-traditional ways, we continue to provide visitors with search alternatives and resources to access during the home buying process,” said Michael Fischer, chief marketing officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate. “The days of only offering bed/bath search functionality are over.
The following search options and tools are available on the new Properties Real Estate Search section:
- Lifestyle Search*: From public transportation to wide open spaces, restaurants to trendy neighborhoods, those who are focused on location, location, location can rate which lifestyle characteristics are important to them.
- Affordability Radar*: For the budget conscious, this tool enables users to identify upfront if a home on coldwellbanker.com fits within their budget based on their household income, monthly debts, available funds and loan terms.
- BlueScape®: Built for dreamers and designed for home buyers, BlueScape allows consumers to experience the home searching process in an entirely non-traditional way, by rating abstract images with thumbs up or thumbs down. The BlueScape technology serves up listings that match each individual’s inherent preferences.
- Coldwell Banker On Location®: Honing in on video as the future of real estate, Coldwell Banker’s branded YouTube channel provides thousands of videos, including community videos, virtual tours and agent videos.
- Home Listing Report: The Coldwell Banker Home Listing Report allows site visitors to compare the average home price listing for a four-bedroom, two-full-bathroom home in more than 2,300 markets so they can see how each area stacks up in affordability.
- Mobile Apps and Mobile Sites: Users can download the mobile app that fits their needs to search for a home anywhere, anytime from their iPhone, Android, iPad or other handheld device.
- Luxury Properties: Those in search of the most extraordinary properties in the world can begin their search here.
- International Property Search: Global home buyers can find a property overseas by searching coldwellbanker.com listings in 50 countries.
- Vacation and Second Homes: Home buyers who want to hit the slopes, lounge on the beach or chill in a villa can identify the perfect home-away-from-home.
- New Homes: If finding a new construction home is a priority, home buyers can narrow down their search with the New Homes area.
- Agent and Office Search: Coldwell Banker has an expansive network of agents and brokers who can help home buyers and sellers make smarter real estate decisions. This feature allows site visitors to begin their search by choosing a trusted agent or office first, who will help guide them through the process.
Don’t Overlook a Home’s Potential
Home shopping for first-time homebuyers it’s an exciting, albeit nerve-wracking, experience. If you’re like others in the market for their first home, you probably have in mind exactly how your soon-to-be home will look.
- Walls. While these are among the easiest to remedy, they also make a huge first impression. If the walls need to be painted, are covered in wallpaper or are painted a color you find distasteful, picture them crisp and clean in the color of your choice—that’s how they could look after you paint them.
- Floors. Like walls, carpet or floor surfaces that are old or outdated can be easily replaced. You could even ask for a carpet allowance in your bid, especially if you’re in a buyer’s market.
- View. Things like old, ugly—even dirty—windows and window treatments can make a view appear less desirable. Those things can be improved, so unless the only view you have is of your neighbor’s clunker on the side of the house, don’t get hung up on what is surely a fixable view.
- Landscaping. Your best bet is a moderately landscaped yard because you can always improve landscaping without spending too much. Worst case, even if you’re looking at dirt, landscaping is one of the easier projects to tackle. Plus you get to design it however you’d like if you’re starting from scratch.
- Closets and garages. You can never have too much storage space, which is why so many newer homes have three-car garages. But if you encounter a converted garage that is now a bedroom or storage room, don’t give up. Converted garages can almost always go back to their original purpose without much cost or labor.
- Kitchen. The most popular room in the house, many homeowners want their kitchen to be large and have modern appliances. Don’t let outdated color schemes deter you because there’s nothing like a fresh coat (or two) of paint to make a kitchen your own. Plus, if you like the rest of the house enough to make an offer, you can give the kitchen a minor spruce-up with some new appliances or a major overhaul complete with new countertops, cabinets, and flooring.
- The exterior. If the home doesn’t have good curb appeal, try to picture it with a fresh coat of paint and revitalized landscaping.
- Pools. If you want a pool, buy a home with a pool already built in. Pools are expensive and you will not get a full return on the cost when you go to sell. Let someone else lose the return. The cost of repairing a pool is less than putting one in, so if you’re looking at a home with an old pool that looks like it’s in bad shape, it’s still a better bet than putting one in later.
Housing and Economic Forecast Points to Rising Activity
Home sales are expected to stay on an uptrend through 2012, although the performance will be uneven with mortgage constraints weighing on the market, according to experts at a residential real estate forum today at the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo here.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said existing-home sales have been underperforming by historical standards and will rise gradually but unevenly. “If we just hold at the first-quarter sales pace of 5.1 million, sales this year would rise 4 percent, but the remainder of the year looks better,” Yun said. “We expect 5.3 million existing-home sales this year, up from 4.9 million in 2010, with additional gains in 2012 to about 5.6 million – that’s a sustainable level given the size of our population.”
Mortgage interest rates should rise gradually to 5.5 percent by the end of the year and average 6.0 percent in 2012 – still relatively affordable by historic standards.
“A huge volume of cash sales, supported by the recovery in the stock market, show that smart money is chasing real estate. This implies that there could be a sizeable pent-up demand if mortgages become more readily accessible for qualified buyers,” Yun said. “The problem isn’t with interest rates, but with the continuation of unnecessarily tight credit standards that are keeping many creditworthy buyers from getting a loan despite extraordinarily low default rates over the past two years.”
Yun said that if credit requirements returned to normal, safe standards, home sales would be 15 to 20 percent higher. He added that some parents are buying homes with cash for their children, and offering them loans which provide better returns than bank accounts or CDs.
Yun projects the Gross Domestic Product to grow 2.5 percent this year and 2.7 percent in 2012, adding 1.5 million to 2 million jobs yearly over the next two years. The unemployment rate should decline to 8.8 percent by the end of 2011 and average 8.6 percent next year, returning to a normal level of 6 percent around 2015.
Housing starts are forecast to rise but remain below long-term trends, reaching 603,000 in 2011, up from 595,000 last year, and continue growing to 908,000 in 2012. New-home sales are seen at a record low 320,000 this year, rising to 487,000 in 2012. “A recovery in new homes will be slow because of the extra price discount in the existing home market,” Yun noted. In March, the typical new single-family home cost $53,300 more than an existing home.
Inflation appears to be relatively modest for now, with the Consumer Price Index rising 2.9 percent this year. “We’ll be closely watching the impact of fuel costs on consumer spending and inflation – that would slow economic growth, job creation and home sales,” Yun said.
Apartment rents are trending up, and are likely to rise at faster rates as vacancies decline. Following the correction in home prices, it has now become more affordable to buy in most of the country. “Twice as many renters had enough income to buy a home in 2010 in comparison with 2005, so we have a much larger pool of financially qualified renters,” Yun said. “Rising rents and excellent housing affordability conditions will encourage potential buyers who’ve been on the sidelines.”
Yun expects the median existing-home price to remain near $170,000 over the next two years, which would mark four consecutive years of essentially no meaningful price change.
Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac, holds similar views on the outlook. “Economic activity will accelerate this year – there will be no double dip in the economy,” he said. Nothaft is more optimistic on job growth, expecting 2.0 million to 2.5 million jobs created in 2011 with unemployment dropping to 8.4 percent by the end of the year.
Nothaft expects the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to trend up to 5.25 percent by the end of the year, and for home sales to rise 5 percent. “National home price indices are close to a bottom and prices are likely to bottom sometime this year,” he said.
Refinancing activity in 2011 will be only half of what it was last year. “As a result, banks may become more willing to lend to home buyers,” Nothaft said.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
How to Keep a Garden Healthy in Summer Heat
During summer months, the typical American uses twice as much water than any other time of the year. And by some estimates, outdoor watering accounts for 50 to 70 percent of average household use!
It might seem like the only way to get a beautiful yard during warmer months is frequent watering. But, you can create an eye-catching and healthy garden while also being water-conscious.
By combining conservation practices with efficient landscape design, you can lower your water bill, lessen the amount of required maintenance and create a healthy, vibrant wildlife habitat.
Here are a few helpful tips from David Mizejewski of the National Wildlife Fund:
•Garden design: Group plants with similar moisture requirements close together, matching them with appropriate yard conditions—sunny, shady, damp, dry. Then target watering only on the vegetation that needs it.
•Plant selection: Focus on plants that are native to your area. They survive with natural rainfall, are resistant to local plant diseases and pests, and provide the best food sources for wildlife.
•Efficient irrigation: Water infrequently, deeply and thoroughly. This prevents runoff and encourages deeper root growth. Plants with deep roots develop greater resistance to dry spells.
•Maintenance: Apply mulch, such as bark or leaves, to planting beds. This helps soil retain moisture, discourages thirsty weeds and provides plants with essential nutrients.
Follow these few simple tips this summer to help save water AND money.
This article can be located at: http://bit.ly/pbBkRS
Highest known residential real estate brokerage sale in the entire history of Los Angeles!
Coldwell Banker Previews International sales professional Sally Forster Jones from the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Beverly Hills, who co-brokered the sales transaction for the Spelling Manor – which is now the highest known residential real estate brokerage sale in the entire history of Los Angeles!
The Manor was built by entertainment royalty Candy and Aaron Spelling and is widely recognized as one of the most famous mansions in U.S. history. Click HERE to read about the transaction in Forbes online magazine.
Sally has achieved more than $1 billion in real estate sales over the past decade and has averaged over $120 million per year in sales during that time.
Rather than sitting on the fence…why not own it?
Coldwell Banker has joined with our parent company, Realogy, along with its other brands, in placing an advertisement in today’s edition of USA TODAY in strong support of why now is a great time to buy a home.
The ad asks USA TODAY’s 3.2 million daily readers the question, “Rather than sitting on the fence … why not own it?” and provides five supporting reasons why now is a compelling time for qualified buyers to purchase a home.
We hope that our simple message will encourage consumers to consider the facts and talk with one of our local real estate professionals if a home purchase is in their future plans. Likewise, we continue to make our voices heard in Washington, D.C., in support of homeownership and its importance to our economy and society. You won’t find us sitting on any fences, and we are proud to count on our affiliates for your leadership as well.
As real estate professionals, we understand that this is a remarkable time for qualified home buyers to be in the market.
Five reasons why it’s a great time to purchase?
- Homes are more affordable
- Rates are low
- Timing is everything
- Homeownership is still the American Dream
COLDWELL BANKER PENN ONE REAL ESTATE AWARDED IN TOP “20”
OFFICES FOR MAY 2011.
(LEWISBURG, PA, 17837) – The Lewisburg Office of Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate has distinguished itself by being ranked 14 out of 20 in offices by office size category of 11 to 20 or more sales associates among all Coldwell Banker®affiliate offices in North America.
About Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate
Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate is located at331 Market Street, Lewisburg and can be reached by calling 570-524-7500 or by visiting http://www.coldwellbankerpennone.com. Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate has been servicing theCentralSusquehannaValleyfor 25 years.
Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC prides itself as being a leader within the real estate industry, by combining a strong sense of tradition with innovative advances in technology and communication. This could not be achieved without the fortitude and hard work of companies such as Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate, working hand-in-hand with the Coldwell Banker Systems and tools.
About Coldwell Banker®
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2006, Franchise Times magazine’s prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system number one in real estate for the seventh straight year and number eight among all franchisors. The Coldwell Banker System has more than 3,800 residential real estate offices and 123,700 Sales Associates in 32 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge® Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Mortgage is one of the largest telephone/web based lenders in the country. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Each office is independently owned and operated.
Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate has been included in the COLDWELL BANKER Top 20 Offices Nationally for Total Units and Top 20 Offices by Adjusted Gross Commission in offices with 11 – 20 Sales Associates for March 2011.
Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate is located at 331 Market Street, Lewisburg, and can be reached by calling (570) 524-7500 or visiting http://www.coldwellbankerpennone.com. Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate has been an affiliate of the Coldwell Banker system for 25 years.
Guest speakers educate about 30
Over 30 people ventured to the Best Western Country Cupboard last Tuesday evening for Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate’s free real estate seminar.
The seminar featured eight guest speakers covering a variety of real estate topics.
Deborah Monus of PNC Mortgage discussed different types of financing and the credit scores required to obtain them. Eric Rode of Camelot Inspections discussed why having a home inspection is important while Attorney Paul Brann discussed the importance of title insurance.
Coldwell Banker Penn One Sasles Associates Susan Warner-Mills and Ruth Anderson gave a run down on environmentally friendly building. They also discussed options for building upgrades and new appliances to save energy.
Ann Hilliard, Associate Broker, gave a rundown on the proper approach and the proper steps to buying a property while Sales Associate Steve Overdorf shared tips for property sellers. Marketing Coordinator Katie Goodling discussed the importance of internet marketing.
The night concluded with a few prize giveaways. Chi Walthery of Lewisburg walked away with a $100 Downtown Lewisburg gift certificate.
Coldwell Banker Penn One Real Estate 