Parsippany, N.J. (March 16, 2011) – As home buyers move into the spring buying season, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC has launched a new marketing campaign emphasizing the importance of a skilled real estate agent who can help buyers and sellers through the process of homeownership. This integrated effort includes 30 and 15 second spots that underscore how the right agent and the right tools combine to ensure smart real estate decisions.

“Our consumer research shows us that home buyers want protection against making a wrong decision, whether it be financial or in choosing the right home,” said Michael Fischer, chief marketing officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate. “We understand that for most, a home represents the biggest investment of their lives. Our campaign illustrates how people can empower themselves with information online. And no matter how daunting the process may seem, a trustworthy real estate agent can give them the confidence and guidance to make the right move.”

One of the spots, “Wrong Decisions,” follows a couple starting the home search on their own. They soon realize many homes come with a catch: one home is sinking into the ground, another has hazardous levels of radiation and the last is dangerously close to an airport runway. After consulting with a Coldwell Banker agent and using the brand’s platform of online tools, the couple finally finds their dream home. The light-hearted commercial emphasizes that buyers need assistance from a trusted agent because “the wrong home” may not be that obvious.

Fischer continued, “It comes down to a simple equation; trusted agents, plus the right tools, equals smarter decisions.”

The Coldwell Banker commercials are currently airing on CNN, HGTV, ESPN and USA Network among other networks, with an online media schedule tied to the campaign as well. The television spots were conceived by Coldwell Banker Real Estate strategic and creative agency of record, McKinney of Durham, N.C., who worked in conjunction with MediaCom to place the new spots in appropriate media outlets.

To view the new Coldwell Banker Real Estate commercials, please visit the Coldwell Banker YouTube channel On Location.

If you are a USAA member, chances are you may not know all of the benefits there are for using the MoversAdvantage program throughout your move. As a USAA member, you get:

    * Up to $3,100 when buying and selling a home
    * A MoversAdvantage Specialist
    * Acess to preferred real estate brokers and specially-selective agents trained to assist USAA members on the move.

You will have an individual MoversAdvantage Specialist who is a dedicated professional and will help you with your individual needs. They will monitor the performance of your agent and will answer any other questions that may come up. With Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, you will get an experienced agent who is trained to service your needs and is a top agent in their area of expertise.

You also may be eligable for up to $1,550 cash bonus when buying or selling your home though Movers Advantage.

Click here for more information about the program and to speak to an agent who can help you out!

Coldwell Banker Select Professionals (CBSP) was honored for its outstanding performance during the past year at the 2011 Cartus Broker Network International Conference held February 27-March 1 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

CBSP was named to the Gold Club. The Gold Award is one of three Excellence Awards presented to principal brokers. Only 13 percent of the Network’s 425 principal brokers received Excellence Awards for 2010.

“Coldwell Banker Select Professionals put forth a tremendous effort in achieving this distinction,” said Gerald Pearce, Cartus, Executive Vice President of Broker and Affinity Services. “Network members have met a specific set of criteria to earn a place in the Gold Club, and I congratulate CBSP for taking a spot amongst a group of high-quality performers. We are proud to be affiliated with such a talented organization.” 

“It is great to be named a member of the Gold Club,” said Ryan Hess, CEO, Coldwell Banker Select Professionals. “The trophy we received for achieving Gold Club status is important to us because our agents and staff take pride in delivering value to our customers and the Cartus Broker Network.”

In addition to the awards ceremony, the three-day event included interactive workshops, roundtable and panel discussions, and executive presentations. Cartus Broker Network participants networked with other industry professionals and exchanged information and ideas regarding team-building, revenue generation, retention, new business strategies, and increasing customer service—all essential elements for continued success. 

Extended Homebuyer Tax Credit Program Questions/Answers

Helpful real estate advice brought to you as a public service by Coldwell Banker Select Professionals and the Lancaster County Association of Realtors®.

We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the Extended Homebuyer Tax Credit program which ends on April 30, 2010. In addition to first-time homebuyers, the extended credit program is also available to current homeowners who meet the criteria. Read on and if you have other questions please call us at 717-569-0608 to speak with a REALTOR®.

What is the program?
The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers AND also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers.

Who qualifies for the extended credit?
First-time home buyers who purchase a home by April 30, 2010 are eligible. To qualify as a “first-time home buyer,” you or your spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

Current home owners purchasing a home by April 30, 2010 who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight are also eligible.

What kinds of properties are eligible?
The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops, purchased for $800,000 or less.

How is the amount of the tax credit determined? 
The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000/$6,500.

What is the income limit?
According to the IRS, the full credit is available to single buyers with modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGI) up to $125,000, or $225,000 for joint filers. Those with MAGI between $125,000 and $145,000, or $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit. Those with higher incomes do not qualify. See IRS Form 5405 for more details.

Can you still qualify if you close after April 30, 2010?
As long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.

When can the credit be claimed?
For all qualifying purchases in 2010, home buyers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 tax returns.

Will the tax credit need to be repaid?
No. You don’t need to repay the tax credit if you live in the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during this three-year period, the full amount of the credit will be recouped on the sale.

Coldwell Banker’s relocation company, Cartus, has acquired Primacy Relocation to put them at a 40% market share of the relocation market in the US.
 
Realogy, the parent company of Coldwell Banker, has announced that Cartus, its relocation services subsidiary, has acquired Primacy Relocation. Based in Memphis, Tenn., Primacy is a prominent relocation and global assignment management company with 700 employees and 25 offices worldwide. Effectively, two of the leading relocation companies in the world are joining forces under the Realogy umbrella.

Ron Felpel, Home National Mortgage

Purchase Real Estate with your IRA/401k. Coldwell Banker Select Professionals presents FREE seminar on self-directed IRAs.

Coldwell Banker Select Professionals is hosting a free seminar on how you purchase real estate with your IRA.  The seminar will feature Carl Fischer from Entrust Cama and will take place on December 16 from 6-8 PM at the Coldwell Banker Select Professionals Lancaster office located at 1000 N Prince Street, Lancaster PA 17603.

At the seminar you will learn how you can use your IRA/401k funds to purchase all types of real estate including land, apartment buildings, commercial property, condos, and more! You can use your retirement funds for Limited Partnerships, Precious Metals, LLCs, and many other types of investments.  It is a common misconception among Americans that the only investments allowed in a retirement account are stocks, CDs, and mutual funds. The truth is that broader investment options have been available to the public since 1975, the year contributions could first be made to IRAs.

Come to the seminar to find out how you could enhance your retirement portfolio with the addition of real estate. Call 717-569-0608 or email IRA@cbselectpros.com to RSVP for this event.

Home Buying 101: Coldwell Banker Real Estate Annual Listing Finds College Towns Are Undiscovered, Affordable and Stable Markets For Home Buyers
 

Coldwell Banker College Home Price Comparison Index: Average Four-Bedroom Home Costs Less Than $250,000 in 62 Percent of College Markets Surveyed

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Nov. 5, 2009) – Every fall, college football fans feel nostalgic for the tradition, lifestyle and spirit of their college towns as they cheer on their favorite teams. This year’s Coldwell Banker® College Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI) reveals that these school-centric areas also sport very affordable homes, in addition to the culture and economic stability associated with higher education institutions – making them great areas to purchase real estate.
The annual College HPCI released by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC provides an apples-to-apples comparison of similarly sized 2,200 square foot, four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom homes in college markets home to the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools. This year, Akron, Ohio (University of Akron) is ranked as the most affordable college town, where a typical four-bedroom home costs $121,885. Muncie, Ind. (Ball State University) took the No. 2 spot at $144,996. Ann Arbor, Mich. (a quintessential college town home to the University of Michigan) came in as the No. 3 most affordable college market, where the sample size home only costs $148,000.

Overall, the 2009 College HPCI revealed that real estate buyers can find a typical four-bedroom home for less than $250,000 in 62 percent of the college markets surveyed (72 total), including iconic American college towns such as:

- Syracuse, N.Y (Syracuse University): $171,711

- South Bend, Ind. (University of Notre Dame) $183,938

- Athens, Ga. (University of Georgia): $205,862

- Oxford, Miss. (University of Mississippi): $212,000

- Knoxville, Tenn. (University of Tennessee): $223,850

Further research indicates that the charm and affordability of college towns is appealing to more than just students.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 American Community Survey; Austin, Texas (University of Texas), Provo, Utah (Brigham Young University), and Raleigh, N.C. (North Carolina State University) were among the metropolitan cities with the greatest population growth in 2008. In all three rising cities, home buyers can find a four-bedroom home for very a reasonable price; only $226,642 in Austin; $231,000 in Provo; and $241,462 in Raleigh.

“College markets have long-been one of the real estate industry best-kept secrets,” said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.  “Real estate professionals have been investing in college towns for years, often purchasing homes for their children who are attending school. However, these vibrant cities are not only for students; many empty nesters and families are attracted to the health care systems, culture and overall quality of life that college towns offer.”

While real estate in college markets may be an undiscovered gem, pride for teams and alma maters are definitely not under-wraps, regardless of how pricey the school or city. For an added perspective, Coldwell Banker asked fans to share “what’s best” about living in their college towns for its new Coldwell Banker On Location video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0S7eKOih7k.

More expensive college towns are also worth the investment for many people. For example, students have been competing for years to get accepted into prestigious schools like Stanford University, despite its high tuition and cost of living. Located in the most expensive college market in the nation (Palo Alto, Calif.), an average 2,200 square foot home costs a whopping $1.49 million.

The Coldwell Banker College HPCI specifically examines the home markets in 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools.  Additional information about this year’s College HPCI and the original Coldwell Banker HPCI study, which ranked 315 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in affordability for the same 2,200 square-foot subject home, is available at http://hpci.coldwellbanker.com.

2009 Coldwell Banker College HPCI – Highlights & Interesting Real Estate Related Facts:

- This year, there is a $1,367,841 price difference between the sample size four-bedroom home in the most affordable college town (Akron, Ohio) and most expensive college market (Palo Alto, Calif.).

- Five schools with football-teams-to-watch this year currently ranked in the BCS top 25 standings are also front-runners for home buyers:

    - Fort Worth, Texas (Texas Christian University), $153,450
    - Houston, Texas (University of Houston), $159,847
    - Cincinnati, Ohio (University of Cincinnati), $189,750
    - Boise, Idaho (Boise State University), $215,432
    - Iowa City, Iowa (University of Iowa), $217,500

- The Mid American Conference is the most affordable conference overall, where a typical four-bedroom home costs an average of $182,322.

The top 10 most affordable college markets for home prices in 2009 are:

#1 - University of Akron
Akron, Ohio
$121,885 Average Home Price

#2 - Ball State University
Muncie, Ind.
$144,996 Average Home Price

#3 - University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Mich.
$148,000 Average Home Price

#4 - Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Mich.
$151,500 Average Home Price

#5 - Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
$153,450 Average Home Price

#6 - University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Okla.
$154,800 Average Home Price

#7 - University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
$154,900 Average Home Price

#8 - Rice University &
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
$159,847 Average Home Price

#9 - Indiana University
Bloomington, Ind.
$164,433 Average Home Price

#10 - Kent State University
Kent, Ohio
$165,700 Average Home Price

According to the York Dispatch, the number of homes fell between August and September, but the drop matches the trend of last year.  See the full article here.

"I always think that the last three to four weeks before kids start school, there's always that funky little time," RAYAC president Patricia Carey said. "Showings drop off. People might just be getting ready for school to start. There are last-minute vacations."

The York PA real estate market is off about 6% for the year, according to the stats reported in the newspaper. 

J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES RANKS COLDWELL BANKER HIGHEST IN HOME SELLER SATISFACTION

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Sept. 17, 2009 – Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC ranked highest among real estate companies in satisfying home sellers according to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM.

“This recognition is a testament to the brand’s legacy as an industry leader, our commitment to innovation and, above all, our powerful network,” said Jim Gillespie, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “With unsurpassed local knowledge, expertise and work ethic, we at Coldwell Banker have always felt that our network of professionals is the greatest in the industry, and we’re pleased J.D. Power and Associates recognized it.”

The independently administered study measured customer satisfaction of homebuyers and sellers among the largest national real estate firms.  The study incorporates more than 3,100 evaluations from 2,801 respondents who bought or sold a home between April 2008 and June 2009. The survey was fielded between April and June 2009.

J.D. Power and Associates examined four factors in the home-selling experience including:   agent; marketing; office; and package of additional services. Among home sellers, Coldwell Banker Real Estate ranked highest with a score of 815 and performed particularly well in all four factors.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate also ranked particularly high in the home-buyer segment. The brand ranked second with a score of 801 on a 1,000-point scale, performing particularly well in the office factor.

Complete results for the study can be found here