Triple-I and NAR Release Homebuyers Handbook
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2023 -- To educate prospective homebuyers about their property insurance needs, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) today released a Homebuyers Insurance Handbook. "Now more than ever, given increased climate risk as well as economic and inflationary challenges, homebuyers need tools to help them make informed decisions to better manage what is often their largest individual investment," said Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I. "Having the right type and amount of insurance provides critical safe keeping to homes, and so by Triple-I teaming up with the National Association of REALTORS®, we will empower even more consumers with key insights during a most important transaction." Purchasing a home can be an exciting event that can also come with new responsibilities and questions, especially for first-time buyers. The Handbook's readers will discover information on making sense of these concerns in line with their financial goals. "The Homebuyers Insurance Handbook clearly explains how purchasing a homeowners insurance policy with the right type and amount of coverage protects a homeowner's investment and financial future," stated Kenny Parcell, president, NAR. "This eight-page Handbook includes the essential information a prospective homebuyer needs to prepare for a conversation with their insurance professional." For instance, the amount of coverage for the home itself should be based on what it would cost to rebuild the structure in the event of a total loss, in its current location, with comparable construction materials–at prices that may be affected by disaster-related demand surges or inflation. Protection to rebuild a home's structure is typically listed as dwelling coverage. Once the home's dwelling coverage limit has been established, personal property coverage usually equals 50% to 70% of that number. Also, to be covered for property damage caused by either floods or earthquakes, a homebuyer must purchase separate policies because both perils are excluded in a standard homeowners insurance policy, the Handbook notes. The Handbook says these are the six ways to get the right amount of homeowners insurance: Raise your deductible in exchange for a lower premium Ask about discounts and bundle options Make your home more disaster-resilient Don't confuse the total amount you pay for your house with its rebuilding costs Review your insurance coverage annually after you've purchased the home Keep in mind an insurer's value also includes the services it provides to policyholders The National Association of REALTORS® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Thousands of Texas real estate agents learn how to work with home builders
HomesUSA Alliance helps agents specialize, earn educational credits DALLAS, Jan. 12, 2022 -- An effort to provide new home sales education to Texas real estate agents has already helped more than 4,000 real estate sales professionals statewide learn how to better work with home builders. HomesUSA Alliance, founded by the real estate industry giants Ben Caballero and Bob Hafer, is now empowering hundreds of agents annually to become certified as new home sales specialists while earning educational credits required to maintain an active real estate license in Texas. During the pandemic, the two-day immersive coursework offered by HomesUSA Alliance became available remotely via Zoom. According to co-founder Bob Hafer, its popularity exploded as accessibility increased, with 1,100 agents have now taken either the two-day program or signed up for individual classes. The next 2-day series of classes, available via Zoom, is set for January 19-20, 2022, and open to agents throughout Texas and nationwide. Registration is via the HomesUSAAlliance.com website on its Calendar page. Hafer, who created and teaches the classes, notes the number of agents he can teach has nearly doubled during the pandemic as previously, in-person class attendance was required. In addition, the locations for classes were limited to Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Austin, Texas. Now the program is available to agents nationwide. "Working with builders offers agents a new way to grow their business rapidly. Ben became the No. 1 ranked real estate agent in America by becoming a new home sales specialist," said Hafer, "and I've spent my lifetime in the home building business. We created HomesUSA Alliance knowing from personal experience builders and real estate agents can benefit greatly from a closer working relationship." The Alliance delivers a comprehensive source of new home information for agents that provides better insight into how the building industry works. "Agents often misunderstand why builders do what they do, and the same is true for builders when it comes to knowing why agents do what they do," said Ben Caballero, co-founder of the Alliance, founder and CEO of HomesUSA.com, and a two-time Guinness World Record title holder. "Through a targeted education, we are helping to close this knowledge gap," Caballero explained. Because the classes are approved for continuing education (CE) credits by the Texas Real Estate Commission, agents can earn 11 credits from the six courses during the two-day program. Priced affordably at $200, once agents complete all six (6) CE courses, they also can earn their New Home Sales Certification from HomesUSA Alliance. "The Texas Real Estate Commission requires agents to take 18 hours of approved Continuing Education credit every two years," notes Hafer, "and the Alliance course covers about two-thirds of your two-year requirement in just two days." "But the biggest benefit the courses deliver, based on testimonials of agents who have completed the program, isn't the CE credit, but the fact they get information about how to work with builders and sell new homes that's not available anywhere else," explains Caballero. "Niches create riches in real estate is an old saying but one that may be truer today than ever," Caballero said. "The fact is there are more than 220,000 agents in Texas, and the vast majority never show a buyer a new home. Yet, we know that nationally, more than 80 percent of all real estate sales involve an agent. So, we teach real estate agents to specialize in a great business niche – how to work with builders and sell new homes. Agents who take this training will create a competitive advantage in the marketplace for themselves and will be able to serve their clients better," he added. There are six bi-monthly two-day classes, and they can be taken all at once or individually. Class titles are "Building Your Real Estate Business Through New Home Sales," "Everything You Need to Know About New Home Construction," "How to Negotiate Successfully with a New Home Builder," "Understanding New Home Builder Contracts and Addendums," and "New Home Construction Blueprint Reading for Realtors," and "How to Recognize a Green Built New Home." Registration is available online at HomesUSAAlliance.com. About HomesUSA Alliance The HomesUSA Alliance's mission is to improve builder-agent relationships through better communication. With these classes Agents benefit greatly with better insight into how home builders work. Founded by real estate industry giants Ben Caballero and Bob Hafer, the Alliance is their way of giving back to an industry that has enriched their professional and personal lives. About Ben Caballero and HomesUSA.com® Ben Caballero, founder and CEO of HomesUSA.com, is a two-time Guinness World Record title holder for "Most annual home sale transactions through MLS by an individual sell side real estate agent." Ranked by REAL Trends as America's top real estate agent for home sales since 2013, Ben is the most productive real estate agent in U.S. history. He is the only agent to exceed $1 billion in residential sales transactions in a single year, a feat first achieved in 2015 and repeated each year through 2018 when he achieved more than $2 billion. An award-winning innovator and technology pioneer, Ben works with more than 60 home builders in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. His podcast series is available on iTunes and Google Play. An infographic illustrating Ben's sales production is here. Learn more at HomesUSA.com | Twitter: @bcaballero - @HomesUSA | Facebook: /HomesUSAdotcom.

NAR Launches 'First-Time Buyer' Streaming Video Series on ROKU
Eight-part series will showcase Realtor value, also stream on YouTube and Facebook. CHICAGO (November 20, 2020) -- The National Association of Realtors® this week launched its new digital video series to over 40 million households on Roku, the No. 1 streaming TV platform in the U.S. In contrast with most real estate-themed programs, First-Time Buyer by the National Association of REALTORS® focuses on the relationship between Realtor® and homebuyer to provide viewers with a more genuine portrayal of the home buying process. "First-Time Buyer provides an up-close look at real-life home buyers, telling stories about the critical role Realtors® play in every transaction from beginning to end," said NAR President Charlie Oppler, a Realtor® from Franklin Lakes, N.J., and the CEO of Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty. "I'm proud of the creativity and ingenuity our team showed in the creation of this program, and I'm excited about the tremendous benefits it will deliver to our 1.4 million members." First-Time Buyer's eight episodes were filmed across the Atlanta, Nashville and Phoenix metro areas. NAR partnered with Happy Street Entertainment on production, which began in February and, after delays on account of COVID-19, was completed in October with safety precautions in place. "We're showing the Realtor® value in the homebuying experience," said Alicia Bailey, NAR's director of marketing strategy and head of production, who worked alongside Happy Street Entertainment in the program's development process. "It means something to have an individual who is guided by a code of ethics taking you through one of the most complex and important processes of your life, and that's especially critical to any first-time buyer." In addition to streaming on Roku, each 15-minute episode is also available on YouTube, Facebook, and FirstTimeBuyer.realtor, which offers behind-the-scenes content and added resources about the homebuying process. By focusing on many of the hiccups that occur while buying a home, this series underscores how Realtors® support their clients through any hurdle they may – and will – face throughout the process. "It's never as smooth as it appears on other shows," said Susan Welter, NAR's vice president of creative and content strategy. First-Time Buyer is an extension of NAR's consumer advertising campaign, which has worked to highlight Realtors®' commitment to the association's Code of Ethics and the distinction it draws between Realtors® and other real estate agents. Third-party market research conducted earlier in 2020 showed that roughly 80% of viewers were more likely to use a Realtor® as a result of NAR's "That's Who We R" campaign. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

The Residential Real Estate Council Launches New Education Subscription Option for Residential Real Estate Agents
CHICAGO, Nov. 4, 2020 -- The Residential Real Estate Council announced the launch of a new education subscription program that allows more residential real estate agents to benefit from the Council's premiere education. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way the real estate industry operates. The program is a response to varying needs of agents in receiving education that is easily consumed and readily accessible, while not lacking in value. Education is the key to success and the Council's aim is to empower ethical and efficient real estate agents at all stage so of their career. The education subscription was designed with those agents that are new to the industry in mind. The education subscription is priced at only $19.99/month. Each month residential real estate agents will enjoy: A New Live Webinar on timely topics focused on business growth Unlimited access to our award-winning magazine, The Residential Specialist Magazine, that focuses on real estate trends, best business practices, and insights for the future Access to the Council's Marketing Toolkit with tools and social assets to keep your clients and future customers informed and generate awareness To become a subscriptions member and take advantage of valuable education and resources please visit crs.com/learn/edsub. For information on membership at the Residential Real Estate Council or the CRS Designation please visit crs.com. About RRC and CRS Designation The Residential Real Estate Council is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® comprised of more than 28,000 members. The Council supports its members with advanced education, business and networking support. It also awards the CRS Designation to experienced agents who have completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in residential real estate.

NAR, NAHB Partner to Educate Consumers, Members on Home Performance, Sustainability
CHICAGO (July 14, 2020) -- The National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders launched a new joint initiative, Home Performance Counts, designed to help consumers better understand the rapidly growing high-performance home marketplace – homes that prioritize comfort, durability, wellness and affordability. Demand for such housing has expanded over recent years, with the number of homes certified to the National Green Building Standard increasing by more than 57% since 2017. "With today's homebuyers looking for healthier, more efficient homes, America's 1.4 million Realtors® are proud to join forces with the National Association of Home Builders to build rapport and highlight the benefits of home performance to U.S. consumers," said NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, CA. "Clients come to our members looking for the very best homes they can afford, and with green building practices often leading to homes that are more durable and require less maintenance, NAR is excited to strengthen our partnership with NAHB to help more Americans find the high performing, efficient home of their dreams." Through their joint Home Performance Counts initiative, NAR and NAHB have come together to offer a comprehensive resource that educates consumers on the qualities and benefits of high-performance homes and facilitates communication on home performance between buyers, builders and real estate agents. As these practices continue to evolve, NAR and NAHB will provide regular updates and new resources that examine the most recent market trends and sustainability research. "Home Performance Counts provides a common ground for our two organizations to work together to raise awareness of the benefits of green homes and the key role home builders and real estate agents can play in the home-buying process to ensure buyers get the high performance home of their dreams," said NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke, a custom home builder from Tampa, Fla. "Builders and Realtors® will also benefit from using a common language and having access to the latest trend data and information." Home Performance Counts is an educational initiative developed jointly by NAR and NAHB to position their respective members for success in the expanding marketplace for high performance homes. For more information, visit HomePerformanceCounts.info. The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 140,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. NAHB is affiliated with 700 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB's builder members will construct about 80% of the new housing units projected for this year. The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Elevate to launch free educational series: Monday Morning Mentor
Monday Morning Mentor will feature business, marketing and life tips, tricks and strategies from top agent and coach, Matt O'Neill. December 18, 2019 - Dallas, TX -- This week, Elm Street Technology, the creators of the Elevate productivity platform, announced the launch of a new educational series, Monday Morning Mentor, which will be offered on Elevate's Facebook channel beginning in January 2020. The series will be led by Matt O'Neill, whom the Wall Street Journal recognized as the #1 luxury real estate team leader in South Carolina. Each Monday morning, Matt O'Neill will offer a half hour Facebook live stream with business, marketing and lifestyle tips, tricks and strategies from his popular private coaching program, which focuses on seven key elements for "living your best life." "Many real estate agents lack either access or the funds to participate in a high-level coaching program," said Matt O'Neill. "Aligning with Elevate on the Monday Morning Mentor series will allow me to offer key aspects of my coaching program to a large community of agents, all for free." The Monday Morning Mentor series joins other Elevate educational offerings, which include "Casual Conversations," their popular weekly video interview series featuring professionals from the real estate industry and beyond; "24/seven," the monthly thought leadership series from 3sixtyfive.agency, Elevate's full-service digital and creative advertising agency; and the "Boot Camp" series which travels the US bringing high-energy, interactive educational training to MLSs, brokers and the agents they serve. "At Elevate, we strive to empower our real estate audience with more than just amazing software," said Prem Luthra, President and CEO at Elm Street Technology. "We are focused on building a stronger, better real estate experience for every facet of the process, and for everyone involved. Training and education are key components to helping brokers and agents succeed both personally and professionally, and offerings such as Monday Morning Mentor are designed to help create and support balanced, successful real estate professionals." Monday Morning Mentor launches Monday, January 6, 2020. To participate, interested persons should follow Elevate's Facebook channel - @tryelevatere - where they will receive alerts of the live stream, as well as have access to the recordings each week. About Elm Street Technology Elm Street Technology offers a growing portfolio of real estate technology and marketing services with the goal of providing one vendor and one point of contact, fully fused into one singular platform – Elevate - to capture and nurture more leads into closed business. Elevate allows busy real estate professionals the ability to streamline and automate their marketing and day-to-day business objectives by offering high-end IDX websites, lead generation tools, a powerful CRM, email, social, text and blog marketing automation, recruiting and retention tools, an easy mobile app, and more. For more information, please visit tryelevate.com.

NAR's Commitment to Excellence Program Selected as Learning! 100 Award Winner
CHICAGO (August 12, 2019) - The National Association of Realtors has been selected as a 2019 Learning! 100 Award Winner for its Commitment to Excellence Program, also known as C2EX. Previous winners of this award include Amazon, the U.S. Department of Defense and the American Heart Association, with NAR joining this group in recognition of its superior learning and development programs. Unveiled by NAR less than one year ago, C2EX has aimed to help Realtors® demonstrate their commitment to professionalism and the association's Code of Ethics, ensuring NAR's 1.3 million members continue setting the real estate industry standard in client service and ethical conduct. The 2019 Learning! 100 Award specifically honors organizations for fostering a culture of professional growth, innovation and organizational performance while "investing in a truly immersive learning culture," according to sponsoring organization Elearning! Media Group. "When we launched Commitment to Excellence in November of 2018, we envisioned a program that could help lead us into a future where consumers everywhere recognize that Realtors® are a step above the rest in their knowledge, skills and ability to serve their clients," said NAR CEO Bob Goldberg. "The program gives our members a tangible way to demonstrate their commitment to professionalism." C2EX's self-guided assessment and training course generates customized learning paths in 10 competencies of professionalism (11 for brokers), including the areas of data security, technology, client service, and professional reputation, among others. Program completion leads to an endorsement from NAR that members use to show peers and clients that they conduct their business at the highest professional standard. Participants can get started by logging in to www.C2EX.realtor. "As the real estate industry is always evolving, we know that our members must have access to every resource needed to thrive in a quickly changing market. We remain active in our pursuit of approaches to grow and improve the C2EX program. We thank Elearning! for the added motivation as we work to ensure Realtors® are differentiated from real estate licensees who haven't made professionalism their hallmark," Goldberg concluded. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Realtor.com Publishes "The Essential First-Time Home Buyer's Book" to Simplify the Home-Buying Journey
The step-by-step insider's guide from the editors of realtor.com, gives home seekers confidence to navigate today's marketplace SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 1, 2019 -- Realtor.com the Home of Home Search, today announced the release of its first book, "The Essential First-Time Home Buyer's Book," an extensive guide that gives home shoppers the tips and advice they need throughout every stage of the home-buying process. Written by the seasoned editorial team at realtor.com, "The Essential First-Time Home Buyer's Book" covers everything from the questions to ask to determine whether you are ready to buy a home to how to save for a down payment, the varying architectural styles and the six worst homes for first-time buyers. The book also walks home shoppers through the process of what to expect when they've made a decision to take the home ownership plunge, dispels common myths, and offers a glossary of common terms. "Buying a home is not an impulse purchase, and in fact, is a life-changing decision," said Judy Dutton, realtor.com® editor. "In this book, we don't overwhelm readers with obscure terms or a slew of statistics. Instead, we offer actionable advice and realistic solutions that break down the complex process of first-time home buying to help the homebuyer feel confident, ask the right questions and ultimately choose the right home for them." Geared toward serious home buyers, realtor.com® provides an approachable and eye-catching experience by including pop-up boxes with fun facts, charts, checklists, quizzes and more to provide an education yet entertaining reading experience. In addition, readers will get advice on: 5 things you should never say when buying a home 5 necessary questions to ask a real estate agent What to do if your appraisal came in low Rundown of a home inspection checklist 5 things never to say at the closing table The book draws from articles written by the company's editorial team, sourcing information from a network of experts, which publishes more than a dozen real estate-related articles every day. It is available for pre-sale on Amazon and eBook (Kindle $9.99) on May 1, 2019 and will be released in paperback on June 1, 2019 for $14.99. Here's what the experts are saying about realtor.com®'s "The Essential First-Time Home Buyer's Book": "If you only read one book about buying your first home, realtor.com's 'Essential First-Time Home Buyer's Book' is definitely worth your time. Informative and thorough, the book not only demystifies the entire buying process but helps you avoid the costly mistakes many buyers make simply because they neglect to ask the right questions. After reading this, my only regret is that I didn't write it myself. It's that good." — Dolly Lenz, New York City-based real estate broker at Dolly Lenz Real Estate LLC "Insightful, easy to understand, and filled with practical knowledge, 'The Essential First-Time Home Buyer's Book' should be in the hands of anyone even considering buying a home. It's a straight-talking guide through the entire real estate process, from dreaming about owning a home, to moving your furniture into it. I've been buying and selling properties for nearly 25 years, and found the savvy tips on avoiding pitfalls and navigating through negotiations to be invaluable. It's a comprehensive guide that makes the daunting experience of purchasing real estate completely manageable and attainable; how I wish I had this book when I was buying my first house!" — Jennifer Farrell, television host and real estate expert "This book is a must-read for any home buyer. 'The Essential First-Time Home Buyer's Book' walks readers through the whole home-buying process, explaining the things that pop up along the way. Things like 'contingencies' and 'title insurance', or even what to expect in 'escrow.' They don't teach this stuff in school! That is one of the main points I drive home in my real estate books and when I do a TV appearances. The most important thing a home buyer can do is learn about the process before they start. With this book, an educated home buyer can house hunt with confidence, and will save themselves thousands of dollars in the process." — Michael Corbett, real estate expert, host/producer "Extra!" and "Extra!'s Mansions and Millionaires," author of "Find It, Fix It, Flip It" About realtor.com® Realtor.com®, The Home of Home Search, offers an extensive inventory of for-sale and rental listings, and access to information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. It pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers by making all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com.

Realtors Reassert Role as Leader in Blockchain Technology Education
WASHINGTON (December 14, 2018) – The National Association of Realtors® unveiled a Blockchain Guidance paper on Wednesday afternoon during a webinar designed to keep real estate at the forefront of conversations surrounding the emerging technology. Although blockchain usage is not yet widely prevalent in the industry, NAR has worked to proactively educate state and local Realtor® associations, members and consumers on hurdles that could arise as the technology begins to penetrate the market, ensuring transactions with Realtors® "are accurate, efficient and reliable," as the Guidance paper reads. Blockchain technology can be explained by using online platforms to conduct a transaction between two or more people. Whatever the transaction is, all parties involved receive information in a secure way. When all parties agree to the terms of the transaction, there is a recorded "block" that locks the agreement in place indefinitely. This ensures the data cannot be altered unless all parties agree once again to accept changes, which would record the new block. New blocks always include a reference to the previous block, forming a "chain." "Blockchain technology is quickly evolving from a theoretical concept into a resource that could become ubiquitous in our industry," said NAR President John Smaby. "America's 1.3 million Realtors® will be some of the first professionals to fully adopt this technology, and we want to be sure that our members and local associations are prepared to engage and educate their communities as this change occurs. This week's event helped shine the light on some of the potential challenges we face as blockchain emerges, and NAR's efforts continue to ensure that Realtors® will be involved in discussions on blockchain regulation at every level across the country." While blockchain is predicted to be a major part of all real estate transactions in the near future, its true impact on the real estate industry remains unknown. However, state governments are beginning to anticipate the impending evolution and some legislatures have already moved to ensure laws are in place to protect consumers and businesses. "As local governments continue eyeing potential blockchain regulation, NAR's proactive efforts will ensure policymakers understand how legislative action could impact the real estate industry. And, specifically as blockchain eliminates an intermediary from home sale transactions, our voice is key to ensuring the protection of consumers remains everyone's primary concern," said Smaby, a second generation Realtor® from Edina, Minnesota. "Blockchain technology has yet to affect the market or consumers in any practical way, but NAR's industry-leading actions will ensure that all legislative or regulatory efforts positively impact real estate transactions and the industry as a whole." NAR's Guidance paper on Blockchain Technology and Real Estate, concerns a technology that NAR believes could significantly affect the real estate industry. The Guidance paper is provided by NAR to help Realtors® at the state and local levels understand the implications of blockchain technology for the real estate industry. The paper provides information and analysis on blockchain technology, and proposes guidance to assist Realtors® in analyzing existing state blockchain legislation, and monitoring and commenting on proposed state blockchain legislation. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Residential Real Estate Council Offers Free Membership with Education Program
CHICAGO (September 4, 2018) -- The Residential Real Estate Council (RRC), formerly the Council of Residential Specialists, announced today that it is offering one full year of free membership to REALTORS® interested in earning the CRS Designation or further strengthening their business success and careers when they make a qualifying RRC education purchase during the months of September and October 2018. To obtain the free membership offer, REALTORS® must register for an RRC classroom course, e-learning course, 2018 webinar bundle, or Sell-a-bration 2019 conference before Oct. 31, 2018, and use the promotional code FALLFREE2018. REALTORS® who take advantage of this special offer will enjoy one year of complimentary Council membership that gives them access to a host of valuable benefits including substantial discounts (up to 50%) on the industry's best-in-class education, business building tools and information, access to state and local networking groups, access to one of the most powerful referral networks in the country, and a path to earning the prestigious CRS Designation which is awarded to the nation's top producing REALTORS®. "This special promotion is being offered at a great time of the year," said Gary Williams, 2018 RRC President. "There is no better time than now for agents to plan ahead for the future and focus on advancing their skills as residential real estate professionals and industry leaders." Real estate agents interested in registering for education and receiving one year of free membership may do so by visiting https://crs.com/learn and using the promo code at registration. For more information on RRC membership, please visit https://crs.com or contact RRC Customer Service at 1-800-462-8841. About the Residential Real Estate Council The Residential Real Estate Council, formerly the Council of Residential Specialists, is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®. The Council is comprised of more than 33,000 members and supports them with education, networking events, practitioner developed tools and mentoring. It awards the CRS Designation to experienced REALTORS® who have completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding achievement in residential real estate.

New Virtual Pro Education Package From Residential Real Estate Council
CHICAGO - April 20, 2018 - The Residential Real Estate Council (RRC), formerly the Council of Residential Specialists, today announced the launch of its newest educational program for real estate agents, the Virtual Pro education package, the most convenient, flexible way to earn the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation*, network with other real estate agents and receive the highest-quality education the industry has to offer — all from the comfort of office or home. Students will get the value of RRC's live classroom courses complete with interactive lessons from top instructors in residential real estate, and discussion with fellow course participants. "Virtual Pro provides a direct route to earning the Council's CRS Designation and offers courses conveniently delivered to students online. Virtual Pro is an ideal way to offer real estate agents education in a format that adapts well to their busy schedules," says Lana Vukovljak, CEO, RRC. The Virtual Pro education package includes two 8-credit online courses, broken down into shorter chunks, and spanning a total of nine weeks. Both courses are adapted from face-to-face classroom courses and enhanced to take full advantage of the online platform. "Virtual Pro not only offers the most up-to-date and highest quality education but also provides students valuable networking and referral opportunities, both online during the courses and afterward when they gain access to the CRS Referral Network with their CRS Designation," says Dale Carlton, Virtual Pro instructor. Students can choose to join the Council at a discounted rate. The Virtual Pro education package (with or without membership) includes: Course 1: 7 Things Successful Agents Do Differently 8 credits The first course demonstrates what separates great agents from average ones. Course takeaways include specific strategies and marketing systems to move real estate agents and their businesses to the next stage of success, both professionally and financially. Students also learn to organize their real estate career like a business, leverage market statistics, plan for retirement and implement marketing efforts to make these things happen. Agents of all experience levels will discover how to take their business to a higher level. Course 2: Zero to 60 Home Sales a Year (and Beyond) 8 credits The second Virtual Pro course provides knowledge and tools needed to accelerate sales for both agents who are just starting out and veterans looking to jump-start their businesses. Takeaways include: new methods for marketing and bringing in a continuous flow of business, and creating a plan to turn sales goals into reality. Program Schedule: April 30 to June 26 *CRS Designation requires that candidates meet both transactional and education requirements. This program fulfills the education requirements of the Pro Program. For more information, go to CRS.com/designation. About Residential Real Estate Council Residential Real Estate Council, formerly the Council of Residential Specialists, is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® comprised of more than 33,000 members, supporting them with education, networking events, practitioner developed tools and mentoring. It awards the CRS Designation to experienced REALTORS® who have completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding achievement in residential real estate. For more information about Virtual Pro, go to the course at CRS.com.

Homes.com at NAR 2017: Find All the Presentation Slides Here!
We hope you learned a lot and had a great time at the 2017 REALTOR® Conference & Expo! Although we had fun serving up emoji martinis and drawing the winners for our daily $500 giveaway, our favorite parts were definitely Chris Smith, Sherri Johnson, and Joe Sesso's in-booth sessions on growing your business. If you missed a session or need a quick refresher, don't worry. We have the presentation slide decks below! Chris Smith, USA Today bestselling author of The Conversion Code and co-founder of Curaytor, shared his tips to "Generate 300+ Facebook Leads a Month," "Turn Online Leads into Appointments," and "Scripts to Close Leads on the Phone." Sherri Johnson, leading national speaker and real estate coach, revealed how to "Make $50k at Your Next Open House" as well as "Strategies for Converting More FSBOs and Expired Leads." Joe Sesso, Amazon bestselling author and national speaker for Homes.com, covered the "Best Kept Secrets to Lead Conversion" and "Niche Marketing Secrets to Grow Your Business." Whether you attended the expo or not, download the slide decks from the speaker's presentations to access valuable conversion techniques! For more lessons from top agents and industry leaders, register for the free, monthly Secrets of Top Selling Agents webinar! To view the original post, visit the Homes.com blog.

Realtor.com® Names the Top 10 Affordable Towns with the Best Elementary Schools
Aurora, Ill., Stone Mountain, Ga., Hampton, N.J., top the list SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 27, 2017 -- Realtor.com®, a leading provider of online real estate services operated by News Corp subsidiary Move, Inc., today released its ranking of the 10 most affordable housing markets with top elementary schools. Led by Aurora, Ill. (60503), the list also includes towns from all over the U.S., from Royersford, Pa., to Chandler, Ariz. To create the list, realtor.com® analyzed ZIP codes within the top metropolitan areas in the country which contained at least one public school ranked eight out of 10 or higher by GreatSchools. In order, realtor.com®'s top 10 most affordable towns with great elementary schools include: Aurora, Ill.; Stone Mountain, Ga.; Hampton, N.J.; Royersford, Pa; Kingwood, Texas; Rosemount, Minn.; Bowie, Md.; Huntington Woods, Mich.; Stow, Mass.; and Chandler. "When searching for a new home, finding something affordable in a good school district with family-friendly features, such as large backyards, tops the list of homebuyer priorities," said Javier Vivas, manager of economic research for realtor.com®. "These markets offer strong public schools and affordable homes, making them a great fit for homebuyers with elementary school-age children." The monthly cost of owning a median-priced home near a top elementary school is on average only 23 percent of the median household income in the ZIP, which is on-average 41 percent less costly than their surrounding metro area. In addition to offering affordable prices, these markets are home to strong incomes as well with an average household income of $106,525, compared to the national median of $57,462. Realtor.com® also looked into the top affordable towns for middle schools and high schools, Aurora also topped the list for middle schools while Royersford -- which made the top elementary list -- was ranked No. 1 for high schools. In fact, seven of the top 10 elementary school towns also made it onto the top middle school or high school list, including: Aurora (middle school), Hampton (middle school), Royersford (middle and high schools), Kingswood (middle school), Rosemount (middle and high schools), Stow (middle school) and Chandler (middle and high schools). "Staying in your home for at least five to 10 years is one way you can ensure you receive a high return on your home investment," added Vivas. "With strong middle and high schools many of the markets on the list offer families the opportunity to put down roots while building equity in their home." In a realtor.com® survey of first-time homebuyers conducted earlier this year, younger homebuyers who are more likely to have young children in the house were particularly interested in living in a good school district. In fact, millennial home shoppers, as well as shoppers age 35-44, cited family needs as the primary reason for entering the housing market, and noted better school districts as a primary reason for purchasing a new home. Realtor.com® ranked ZIP codes according to affordability of homes within each area, determined by calculating the monthly mortgage costs and other costs to purchase the median-priced home in the ZIP code and dividing it by the ZIP code's median income. 1. Aurora, Ill. (ZIP code 60503) Schools: Homestead Elementary School (rating 10/10), The Wheatlands Elementary School (rating 8/10), and Wolfs Crossing Elementary School (rating 10/10) Housing in ZIP 60503: The 2017 median household income in Aurora is $114,118 with a 2017 median listing price of $259,900. Aurora is 45 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 47 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. Schools: Oswego Community Unit School District 308 is home to Homestead, Wheatlands, and Wolfs Crossing. As the district's tagline, "world-class schools serving caring communities" suggests, these schools place an emphasis on partnering and engaging with students' families and their surrounding communities. It is also home to the No. 1 middle school on the list Bednarcik Junior High School. 2. Stone Mountain, Ga. (ZIP code 30087) School: Wynbrooke Elementary School (rating 9/10) Housing in ZIP 30087: The 2017 median household income in Stone Mountain is $71,678 with a 2017 median listing price of $218,950. Stone Mountain is 38 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and compared to the U.S. overall. School: Dubbing itself a "theme school," Wynbrooke Elementary seeks to engage students through research-centered assignments and hands-on projects. Its known for its low student-to-teacher ratio, daily homework assignments, and uniform policy. 3. Hampton, N.J. (ZIP code 08827) School: Union Township Elementary School (rating 8/10) Housing in ZIP 08827: The 2017 median household income in Hampton is $118,810 with a 2017 median listing price of $297,000. Hampton is 60 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 37 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. School: The Union Township Board of Education says it aims to build not just academic abilities, but the entire set of skills necessary to become productive members of society by encouraging their students' individual growth. Union Township Elementary students get to enjoy learning in the fresh air thanks to two recently built "outdoor classroom pavilions" that were constructed with the help of community members and the school's PTA. The school is also considering changing its current half-day Kindergarten to a more rigorous all-day program. 4. Royersford, Pa. (ZIP code 19468) Schools: Brooke Elementary School (rating 9/10), Evans Elementary School (rating 8/10), Limerick Elementary School (rating 9/10), Spring-Ford Intrmd School 5th/6th (rating 9/10), and Upper Providence Elementary School (rating 9/10) Housing in ZIP 19468: The 2017 median household income in Royersford is $83,264 with a 2017 median listing price of $246,125. Royersford is 21 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 32 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. Schools: Brooke, Limerick, Spring-Ford and Upper Providence are all located in the Spring-Ford Area School District which places an emphasis on making school fun. It operates under the philosophy that elementary school students "should enjoy coming to school" and that creating an enjoyable environment is the best way to help students reach their full potential. 5. Kingwood, Texas (ZIP code 77345) Schools: Deerwood Elementary School (rating 9/10), Greentree Elementary School (rating 10/10), Hidden Hollow Elementary (9/10), Shadow Forest Elementary School (rating 10/10), and Willow Creek Elementary School (rating 10/10). Housing in ZIP 77345: The 2017 median household income in Kingwood is $123,201 with a 2017 median listing price of $323,750. Kingwood is 46 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 32 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. Schools: The Humble School District, home to Deerwood, Greentree, Hidden Hollow, Shadow Forest, and Willow Creek, is one of Texas' 25 fastest-growing districts. It aims to create students who are "life-long learners, complex thinkers, responsible global citizens and effective communicators." 6. Rosemount, Minn. (ZIP code 55068) School: Shannon Park Elementary School (rating 10/10) Housing in ZIP 55068: The 2017 median household income in Rosemount is $93,743 with a 2017 median listing price of $299,900. Rosemount is 30 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 32 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. School: Known for its academics and extracurriculars, Shannon Park students have a chance to take part in a plethora of activities, including a geography bee, math olympiad, young Authors Conference and family math night. 7. Bowie, Md. (ZIP code 20715) Schools: Whitehall Elementary School (rating 8/10) and Yorktown Elementary School (rating 8/10) Housing in ZIP 20715: The 2017 median household income in Bowie is $107,865 with a 2017 median listing price of $345,350. Bowie is 29 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 27 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. Schools: Located just minutes away from Washington, D.C., Prince George's County Public Schools is one of the nation's 25 largest school districts. Whitehall and Yorktown are known for their academic rigor, which is demonstrated by their mission statements "to educate children beyond expectations" and "a rigorous instructional program for every student, in every classroom every day," respectively. 8. Huntington Woods, Mich. (ZIP code 48070) School: Burton Elementary School (rating 8/10) Housing in ZIP 48070: The 2017 median household income in Huntington Woods is $120,265 with a 2017 median listing price of $400,000. Huntington Woods is 15 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 27 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. School: Burton Elementary school prides itself on its comprehensive and innovative curricula, making parents part of the education process and integrating technology into every subject. The 480 students who attend the K-5 elementary school, also benefit from "differentiated instruction" – programs that help enable the school to cater to all learning types. 9. Stow, Mass. (ZIP code 01775) School: Center School (rating 8/10) Housing in ZIP 01775: The 2017 median household income in Stow is $139,622 with a 2017 median listing price of $504,750. Stow is 45 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 23 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. School: At Center School, educators use high expectations and cutting edge educational practices to drive students toward academic achievement. It's home to a state of the art 100,000-square-foot building equipped with iPads, Chromebooks and smartboards that give a students hands-on technology experience. 10. Chandler, Ariz. (85226) – Kyrene Elementary District and Paragon Education Corporation Schools: Kyrene De La Mirada School (rating 9/10), Kyrene De La Paloma School (rating 8/10), Kyrene De Las Brisas School (rating 9/10), Kyrene del Cielo School (rating 10/10), Kyrene Traditional - Sureno Campus (rating 9/10), and Paragon Science Academy K-12 (rating 9/10). Housing in ZIP 85226: The 2017 median household income in Chandler is $80,130 with a 2017 median listing price of $324,155. Chandler is 30 percent more affordable compared to its surrounding metro area, and 20 percent more affordable compared to the U.S. overall. School: In Arizona, students can attend any school within or outside their own districts. Kyrene and Paragon seek to attract top students with strong academics, small class sizes, lots of activities – such as technology and art – and the opportunity to use laptops every day. For more information, click here. About realtor.com® Realtor.com® is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers, offering the most comprehensive source of for-sale properties, among competing national sites, and the information, tools and professional expertise to help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. It pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today helps make all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS.® For more information, visit realtor.com®.

NAR Tech Edge Events Keep Realtors® Apprised of Latest Tools
  WASHINGTON (February 14, 2017) — Technology is transforming how Realtors® conduct business and communicate with clients. Now more than ever, Realtors® know the importance of staying up-to-date with the new and emerging technologies that are essential to the real estate business. To help Realtors® stay well informed of the latest business technology skills and trends changing the real estate industry, the National Association of Realtors® is continuing its one-day technology conference series, NAR Tech Edge. NAR Tech Edge events will take place in cities across the U.S. starting in early 2017. NAR speakers and local technology experts will present sessions on topics including mobile marketing, online reputation management, content strategy, Google and cloud computing, social media, the importance of photo and video and much more. "NAR Tech Edge introduces Realtors® to the latest technology trends that can help grow their business and better serve their clients," said President William E. Brown, a Realtor® from Alamo, California and founder of Investment Properties. "These one-day, high energy conferences are a wonderful opportunity for Realtors® who are eager to expand their understanding and use of the most current web-based and mobile technologies." According to the 2016 NAR Member Profile, technology remains an essential aspect of how Realtors® manage their business. Nearly nine in 10 members currently use a smartphone with wireless e-mail and Internet capabilities. More than two-thirds of all Realtors® reported having their own website, and 94 percent use email as their primary form of communication with clients. Presenters and emcees for NAR Tech Edge's 2017 tour include Realtor® Bill Lublin, CEO of the Social Media Marketing Institute and Century 21 Advantage Gold, who is a thought leader for his insights into technological tools and their real estate applications; NAR Director of Member Engagement Nobu Hata, an industry expert in technology, marketing and communications trends in the real estate industry; Amy Chorew, vice president of Learning at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate, a technology trend expert, author, social media maven and Realtor®; and Jeff Lobb, founder and CEO of SparkTank Media, an international real estate speaker, innovator and consultant, who will share how to best leverage and utilize today's robust, cloud-based social media and marketing applications. Following is the schedule for the 2017 NAR Tech Edge events: March: Pembroke, Massachusetts April: Billings, Montana and San Jose, California May: Tulsa, Oklahoma June: White Plains, New York July: Tampa, Florida September: Parsippany, New Jersey October: Albuquerque, New Mexico November: Baton Rouge, Louisiana For more information and to register, visit www.nartechedge.com. Media and non-NAR members are welcome to attend. The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Realogy Program Graduates Its Second Class of Future Real Estate Brokerage Leaders
MADISON, N.J. 01-31-2017 — A class of 38 future business leaders took their next step toward success with their graduation on Jan. 26 from Ascend: The Executive Leadership Experience. This intensive 46-week program is offered exclusively to Realogy Holdings Corp. brand-affiliated real estate brokerage owners to prepare the next generation of leadership to guide their businesses in the future. This year's Ascend graduates, affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, CENTURY 21®, Coldwell Banker®, ERA®, and Sotheby's International Realty®, represent diverse market areas and company sizes from the United States. They join the 41 graduates of last year's inaugural program in the Ascend Alumni Network, which offers structured events and continued opportunities to network. "The most important thing that a successful business owner can do is prepare for the next generation of leadership through succession planning. Ascend provides an invaluable learning experience featuring instruction from some of the top experts and successful business leaders in our industry," said Alex Perriello, CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group. "Having the opportunity to evaluate our personal strengths and the strengths of others in our organizations has been very helpful. The Ascend program has empowered me to take more ownership of the direction I'd like to see and help our organization go," said Jeff Taylor, ERA Key Realty Services, Whitinsville, Massachusetts. "Ascend has boosted my confidence beyond where I believe it would have been in 5-10 years from now. The program has helped us set systems and goals that are clear and attainable. It transforms you on a personal and professional level, and the connections you make are invaluable," said Nicole Rideout, Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston. Ascend features intense learning experiences that prepare participants to become successful future brokerage leaders by challenging them to significant growth in three core areas identified in the program's mission statement:  Leading Self. Leading Others. Leading Organizations.® The challenging Ascend curriculum combines onsite classroom sessions at Realogy's headquarters location with online learning modules and culminates with individual case study presentations. The program engages Realogy senior leadership, real estate industry experts and current successful franchisees from all Realogy brands. About Realogy Holdings Corp.Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY) is a global leader in residential real estate franchising and brokerage with many of the best-known industry brands including Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, CENTURY 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, The Corcoran Group®, ERA®, Sotheby's International Realty® and ZipRealty®. Collectively, Realogy's franchise system members operate approximately 13,650 offices with more than 268,000 independent sales associates conducting business in 111 countries and territories around the world. NRT LLC, Realogy's company-owned real estate brokerage, is the largest residential brokerage company in the United States, operates under several of Realogy's brands and also provides related residential real estate services. Realogy also owns Cartus, a prominent worldwide provider of relocation services to corporate and affinity clients, Title Resource Group (TRG), a leading provider of title, settlement and underwriting services and ZapLabsSM, its innovation and technology development subsidiary. Realogy is headquartered in Madison, New Jersey.

RPR Presents 'Quick Start Guides'
  In conjunction with RPR's learning suite of how-to videos, workshops, eBooks and user success stories, now comes the RPR Quick Start guides — one page, downloadable guides to help get you started on RPR, quickly. These helpful how-to's are ideal for giving agents a speedy tutorial on a multitude of topics, ranging from buyer's tours to listing presentations, to how to download the mobile app. Need to prepare for an open house in under five minutes? We've got you covered. Searching for the perfect home with prospective buyers? A guide to the RPR app's nearby listing information is available too. There's even a Quick Start guide for setting up your account on RPR. Low ink and easy to digest, these are the perfect downloadable for your next training session. To view the original post, visit the RPR blog.

Real Estate Game Works Launches Simulation for Continuing Education
SEATTLE--Real Estate Game Works (REGW), a Seattle-area startup, has developed an entertaining online simulation for real estate agents to meet their continuing education requirements. The software employs a concept called "gamification" to convert dry, boring subject matter into a 21st Century learning experience. "Our simulation will revolutionize the way real estate agents renew their licenses," says CEO Jed Etters. "Say farewell to countless hours of sitting in a classroom or taking mind-numbing multiple choice tests." The simulation allows players to hone their skills by replicating a "day in the life" of a real estate agent. Players will find clients, negotiate prices, buy and sell homes, and engage in marketing. As a reward for good work, players can upgrade their office from a shabby basement to a downtown suite. The "clients" that players meet in the simulation, such as the Drill Sergeant and Geeky Professor, will keep them entertained in ways that traditional continuing education cannot. "For the first time, continuing education will be fun. Real estate agents will be eager to play this," Etters states. Sprinkled within the simulation are learning modules on topics of interest to real estate agents. These modules, combined with the simulation, provide the 30 hours of continuing education required by regulators in Washington state. Crucially, the product is endorsed by the Washington Association of Realtors. Players can access the game on desktop computers, laptops, and tablets such as the iPad. To create the simulation, Etters partnered with veteran game designer Brayden Olson, whose company, Recurrence, launched a simulation for business students at the University of Washington and other schools across the country. "We make a great team," Olson says. "We believe that Jed's deep knowledge of real estate and my experience in gamification will make Real Estate Game Works a smashing success." The simulation will launch on September 15 in Washington state at various price points depending on the number of hours purchased. Real estate agents who must renew their licenses soon can join a waiting list. REGW is expanding their offering to additional states in the near future.

More than 700 Agents Have Earned Their Real Estate Digital Marketer (REDM) Certification
  Earlier this year, we launched the Real Estate Digital Marketer (REDM)™ certification course. And since launching the course, more than 700 agents have earned their REDM™ certifications. That's a huge accomplishment, and a powerful step forward for our industry. See, every REDM™ agent has made three essential commitments: REDM™ agents are committed to changing the real estate industry for the better We've all encountered the negative and damaging views some consumers hold of our industry. REDM™ agents are committed to changing the way real estate is seen by banding together and elevating the professionalism of our industry. How?... REDM™ agents are committed to giving sellers a 5-star experience The old days of selling real estate are gone... You know, placing a listing in the MLS, putting a sign in the yard, and praying that it sells. Today, sellers have much higher expectations. They expect us to market their properties across a wide range of channels, including online marketing. REDM™ agents get the skills and expertise needed to meet those expectations, and use them to deliver a 5-star experience. By satisfying our customers, we lift the overall impression of our industry. And happy sellers mean more referrals. REDM™ agents are committed to promoting their brand and growing their businesses Here's what makes REDM™ so powerful: While gaining the skills to better serve clients and change our industry, REDM™ agents also learn how to use only marketing tactics to promote their brands and grow their own businesses. Now, if you're ready to make these commitments and earn your REDM™ certification, we have exciting news... Registration for the REDM™ course opens tomorrow! But the window to sign up is only going to last a couple days... so make sure to keep an eye on your inbox tomorrow! On Wednesday, July 27, you can join REDM™ here: http://thepaperlessagent.com/redm-coaching-club In the meantime, here's some more information on what you can expect from the REDM™ certification course: The Paperless Agent Declares War Showcasing Your Competitive Edge Preview of the REDM Course To view the original post, visit the Paperless Agent blog.

Homebuyers Gain Expanded Access to Education, Down Payment Help During National Homeownership Month
ATLANTA, GA, June 15, 2016 – Atlanta-based Down Payment Resource (DPR) and eHome America today announced an expanded partnership to enhance awareness of both online homebuyer education and the availability of programs for down payment and closing cost help, tax credits and affordable mortgages. Homebuyers now benefit from a redesigned online education platform that allows them to directly explore available homeownership programs. Since 2014, eHome America's nonprofit counseling network have used DPR's search platform to match clients to down payment help. Now, homebuyers can visit a new program search page to learn more about down payment help and get registered for its improved online course. The course also allows consumers to search, find and explore all the details for programs that accept a certificate from eHome America to meet homebuyer education requirements. The joint effort aims to not only increase the awareness of down payment help and educate more buyers, but also onboard more homeownership program providers with eHome's online education platform. As more state and local Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) adopt and accept online education to meet their program requirements, more buyers will learn they can achieve homeownership. DPR tracks nearly 2,500 homeownership programs administered by 1,300 program providers. The average down payment benefit is more than $8,000. Most programs require homebuyer education and, according to DPR's research, more than half of the programs now accept online education. "Homebuyer education is critical to the development of successful homeowners," said Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource. "Today's homebuyers begin online. We're pleased to work with eHome America to integrate down payment program search into homebuyer education so we can reach buyers where they are." eHome America educates nearly 8,000 homebuyers monthly with its convenient online platform and the personal touch of a trusted, local nonprofit advisor. The platform, also available in Spanish, has helped more than 200,000 homebuyers secure education certificates since 2009. "We're seeing increasing adoption of online education by HFAs and other lenders, as well as boarder awareness of down payment assistance. Together with DPR, we are educating more than 250 homebuyers every day," said Milt Sharp, president of the eHome Network. "It's been exciting to see how together we can inform and motivate first-time buyers while at the same time giving them the foundation for long-term success as homeowners." About eHome America eHome America is an interactive, web-based education program for prospective homebuyers that is linked to local nonprofit HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. The program was developed in 2009 by Community Ventures Corporation, a nonprofit agency based in Lexington, KY. Community Ventures Corporation is a HUD-approved counseling agency and a member of the national NeighborWorks Network. About Down Payment Resource Down Payment Resource (DPR) creates opportunity for homebuyers, Realtors and lenders by uncovering programs that get people into homes. The company tracks nearly 2,500 homebuyer programs through its housing finance agency partners. Winner of the 2011 Inman News Innovator "Most Innovative New Technology" award, DPR is licensed to Multiple Listing Services, Realtor Associations, lenders and housing counselors across the country. For more information, please visit www.DownPaymentResource.com.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate Announces First-of-its-Kind Smart Home Education Curriculum Exclusively for the Coldwell Banker Network
Madison, N.J. 05-17-2016 — Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, the original Silicon Valley real estate start-up founded in 1906, announced today the launch of a smart home  education curriculum available exclusively for the Coldwell Banker® brand and its affiliated franchised brokers and agents.. The curriculum, a real estate industry first, was created in partnership with CEDIA, the global trade association for the home technology market, and is available to all members of the Coldwell Banker network.  It will be offered by a CEDIA instructor through Coldwell Banker University. "Smart home technology is becoming a source of convenience, security and comfort in homes across the United States, with almost half of all Americans owning or planning to invest in smart home technology by the end of 2016, according to the Coldwell Banker Smart Home Marketplace Survey," said Budge Huskey, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate, LLC. "We believe it is our responsibility to ensure that our affiliated agents are the foremost experts in every aspect of the home. As ambassadors to the home, it is imperative for our affiliated agents to learn about smart home products and provide exceptional advice for homebuyers interested in smart home integration." Developed by CEDIA, the Coldwell Banker curriculum will provide an extensive look into the evolution of home technology and recent rise of the smart home with a focus on how smart home products are changing the way we live in and interact with our homes. This program will equip attendees with the skills needed to advise buyers looking to invest in a smart home and sellers looking to stage and showcase their smart homes. Upon completion of the optional course, the participants will receive a certificate. "CEDIA is at the forefront of home technology design and installation, so it made sense for us to join forces with the leading smart home real estate company to create this curriculum," said Vin Bruno, CEDIA CEO. "This education will give Coldwell Banker affiliated agents a tremendous advantage, providing them insight into the most up-to-date smart home developments and how technology can benefit their clients to live their best lives at home. Agents who complete this program will have a better ability to market listings more effectively and provide valuable information to the communities they serve." About Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate brokerage services. Coldwell Banker Real Estate is the oldest national real estate brand and franchisor in the United States, and today has a global network of approximately 3,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 47 countries and territories with almost 85,000 affiliated sales professionals. The Coldwell Banker brand is known for creating innovative consumer services as recently seen by taking a leadership role in the smart home space, being the first national real estate brand with an iPad app, the first to augment its website www.coldwellbanker.com for smart phones, the first to create an iPhone application with international listings, the first to develop an iPad application (CBx) to easily bring big data into home listing presentations, and the first to fully harness the power of video in real estate listings, news and information through its Coldwell Banker On LocationSM YouTube channel. Coldwell Banker is a leader in niche markets such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® marketing program delivering exceptional experiences for all consumers served. About CEDIA CEDIA members deliver technology solutions that allow people to have their best moments in life from the comfort of their own home. Life lived best at home. CEDIA is the international trade association and central touch point for 3,700 member companies that represents every facet of the ever-evolving technology market.

National Association of Realtors® Sponsors "Now I Get It" Video Series on Yahoo Finance
  SUNNYVALE, California (February 22, 2016) — Yahoo! Inc. today announced that the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) will sponsor new episodes of “Now I Get It”, a popular video series on Yahoo Finance. NAR’s campaign will connect with future home buyers and renters, especially millennials, through targeted ads and brand integrations within episodes that feature Tom Salomone, President of NAR. “Yahoo Finance is known for its unrivaled access to financial insights and news, and we’re always looking for new ways to work with great brands like the National Association of Realtors to help them share a compelling story with this audience,” said Lisa Utzschneider, Chief Revenue Officer, Yahoo. “Working with NAR, we’re delivering video content that’s not only relevant and informative for our users, but something they can enjoy watching across devices.” As the exclusive sponsor, NAR will engage viewers around six new episodes of “Now I Get It” on Yahoo Finance. This special real estate focused miniseries will answer commonly asked questions about the home buying process to help consumers make educated decisions, while reinforcing the value of an experienced broker. During branded segments at the end of each episode, NAR President Tom Salomone will share perspectives on topics including when to sell, remodeling, buying vs. renting and more. The first episode of the NAR sponsored series debuts today and will focus on the best time to sell a house based on region, time of year, and type of property. NAR will also run targeted pre-roll video, native and display ads on Yahoo to amplify the sponsorship. Yahoo Gemini native ads will enhance the campaign by driving consumers to a custom Mobile Content Module, featuring articles that highlight each episode theme. NAR’s campaign on Yahoo was developed in partnership with the real estate organization's agency of record, Havas Media. “Whether you are a current or aspiring homeowner, we’re excited to partner with Yahoo for this new campaign to share advice and tips on navigating the real estate market with a wide audience of all ages through video, native and display advertising,” said Tom Salomone, NAR President. “With Yahoo’s extensive video advertising solutions and editorial capabilities, we are creating and sharing content that helps break the barriers between Realtors® and consumers.” “Now I Get It” is a popular video series on Yahoo Finance that explains the business concepts and jargon from the biggest financial stories of the day. New episodes of “Now I Get It” will air every other week. Episodes, additional clips and articles are available at https://finance.yahoo.com. About Yahoo Yahoo is a guide focused on informing, connecting, and entertaining our users. By creating highly personalized experiences for our users, we keep people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the world. In turn, we create value for advertisers by connecting them with the audiences that build their businesses. Yahoo is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and has offices located throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions. About the National Association of Realtors® The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

New Acquisition Highlights Education and Training Opportunities for Real Estate Professionals
  Cambridge, ON (January 14, 2016) — In a competitive industry of over 1.1 million real estate professionals across North America*, brokers and agents are seeking opportunities and resources to help them stand out from the competition. Today, Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies Inc. ("Lone Wolf") announces the acquisition of technology and mobile web creation leader Barcode Publicity, providing services under the Barcode Realty brand and its assets, as a step forward in creating education and training opportunities for the real estate industry. The acquisition by Lone Wolf, the North American leader in residential real estate software, represents investment in education offerings for the real estate industry through Barcode's robust speaking, training and education services. In addition, Barcode also brings with it a solid mobile application and IDX website solutions, which will be incorporated into Lone Wolf's Complete Enterprise Solution; a full-service platform supporting a healthy eco-system of technology and tools for brokers and agents. "The opportunity to further expand our platform to provide education and training services supports the growth and development of real estate professionals, as well as our vision for growth in the industry," says Lorne C. Wallace, CEO of Lone Wolf. "We're excited to bring the Barcode Publicity team and its offerings into the Lone Wolf family." The acquisition comes with advantages to both Barcode and Lone Wolf clients alike. The core Barcode team has made the move over to Lone Wolf and will maintain operations of the Barcode software. "Lone Wolf's reputation and loyal customer base are the reason we began the discussions with their team. Barcode couldn't be happier about the opportunity for our product line and our clients. Lone Wolf has some of the most tech-forward thinkers in this industry. This is where Barcode belongs," said Alex Camelio, President of Barcode Publicity. Barcode and Lone Wolf teams will soon begin working together on an extensive review of the Barcode platforms to determine which features will be developed into the eco-system of technology and service offerings under the Lone Wolf umbrella. This will create the opportunity to take the best of both worlds and meld them into a product that will be used by real estate offices across North America. *109,000 active members of the Canadian Real Estate Association and approximately 1 million members of the National Association of REALTORS®. About Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies Inc. is the North American leader in real estate solutions and services with nearly 10,000 offices and over 250,000 agents utilizing their fully integrated product lines. Lone Wolf's experience and unmatched knowledge of the industry has provided a unique opportunity to develop the Complete Enterprise Solution. The Complete Enterprise Solution is a fully integrated product line comprised of back office, front office and web-based software providing a single point of data entry, improved efficiency and additional opportunities to identify revenue for real estate professionals. The Complete Enterprise Solution also integrates with partner solutions to create an eco-system of brokerage operations that enable brokerages and agents to operate more efficiently and increase opportunities for profitability. Lone Wolf has offices in Cambridge, ON, Langley, BC, Mississauga, ON, Las Vegas, NV, Show Low, AZ, Atlanta, GA, and Tallahassee, FL. For more information please visit www.lwolf.com.

Realtor.com® Premieres Exclusive Digital Video Series with Actress Elizabeth Banks Targeting First-Time Home Buyers
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 8, 2015 -- Realtor.com®, a leading provider of online real estate services operated by News Corp subsidiary Move, Inc., today announced the launch of a five-episode digital video series created to provide first-time home buyers with practical and entertainingly delivered advice on the start-to-finish stages of the purchase cycle. The original series is part of a broad marketing campaign realtor.com® launched in May and comes at a time when millennial sentiment about buying a home has seen a significant increase. The webisodes, which feature Emmy-nominated actress, producer and director Elizabeth Banks, and are directed by Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor, producer and director Fred Savage, will be promoted across a range of digital platforms and publishers including AOL, Curbed, Facebook, Google, HGTV, Hulu, Reddit and Yahoo, among others. All of the media will drive consumers back to realtor.com® to consume the entire series. "We want everyone to think of realtor.com® as the best real-time resource to help them make the most informed real estate decisions," said Andrew Strickman, Move's head of brand and chief creative. "Our knowledge that many buyers turn to the Web first for help navigating one of life's most important decisions, and the fact that many first-time buyers prefer to consume entertainment digitally, drove the development of the content. With a partner like Elizabeth to help us, there was no question this humorous, episodic approach to the home-buying process was the way to go." The digital video series, "The Home Buying Process in Plain English with Elizabeth Banks," is the latest component of the biggest and boldest marketing initiative in realtor.com®'s nearly 20-year history. Results of a recent realtor.com® survey released in June found that millennials are now more inclined to take the plunge into home ownership and this demographic is primed to gain market share in the second half of the year. Sixty five percent of millennials responding to the survey intend to buy a home within three months, up from 54 percent in January. By mixing humor with solid advice for any buyer, particularly first-time buyers, Banks walks viewers through the key components of the process in each of the five episodes. In the first episode, called "Knowing When You're Ready," she recommends that potential buyers have a heart-to-heart with themselves about what they can actually afford: "Plan for the house you can afford now, not later. The most important thing for a first-time buyer is to live within your budget. Also, don't be an idiot ... But those are really the same thing." Episodes two through five – "Mortgage Lending 101"; "The Search"; "The Offer" and "Closing the Sale" – provide insight on the benefits of mortgage pre-approval, the do's and don'ts of searching for a home, open house etiquette, what to expect when making an offer and the closing process. Regarding why she thinks it is important to infuse humor into the home-buying process, Banks said: "For nearly everyone, buying a home is the biggest purchase they will ever make so there is that mixture of joy and anxiety. It's important to use humor to get people through the process." Banks' directorial debut, the musical comedy "Pitch Perfect 2," premiered in May, with the best opening by a first-time director in history. She currently appears opposite John Cusack and Paul Dano in the Brian Wilson biopic "Love & Mercy." Later this month, she will be seen in the Netflix Original Series reboot "Wet, Hot American Summer," co-starring Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd. The digital series was created by Pereira & O'Dell New York, the company's advertising agency, and directed by Savage, who is best known for his iconic role as Kevin Arnold in the 80's hit TV series "The Wonder Years." His directorial credits include the hit series "Modern Family," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and the critically acclaimed kids' shows "Phil of the Future," "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "Zeke and Luther." About Move, Inc. and realtor.com® Move, Inc., a subsidiary of News Corp, is a leading provider of online real estate services. Move operates the realtor.com® website and mobile experiences, which connect people to the most important and accurate information they need to find their perfect home and to the REALTORS® whose expertise guides consumers through buying and selling. As the official website of the National Association of REALTORS®, realtor.com® empowers consumers to make smart home-buying, selling and renting decisions by leveraging its direct, real-time connections with more than 800 multiple listing services (MLS) via all types of computers, tablets and smartphones. In addition to the industry's most comprehensive and accurate information, Move's network of websites provides consumers a wealth of innovative tools, including Doorsteps®, Moving.com™, SeniorHousingNet and others. Move supports real estate agents and brokerages by providing many services to grow their businesses, including ListHub™, the nation's leading listing syndicator and centralized intelligence platform for the real estate industry; TigerLead®; Top Producer® Systems; and FiveStreet; as well as many free services. Move is based in the heart of Silicon Valley – in San Jose, Calif.

Homes.com Launches Innovative Social Marketing Suite
  NORFOLK, Va. (February 12, 2014) – With the launch of a new social media platform, Homes.com, leading online real estate destination, continues to provide tools and resources to make it easier for real estate professionals to market their brands. The innovative Homes.com Social marketing package offers solutions that help real estate professionals save time and simplify social media marketing. It provides everything from social media account setup and custom graphics to posting content on their behalf. The added benefits of reputation management and fan base growth make for a comprehensive social media suite. Homes.com Social is a one-of-a-kind marketing tool for agents and brokers, designed to help today's ever-busy real estate professional navigate the digital networking arena. It gives professionals a competitive advantage through a targeted social media program designed to create an exceptional brand experience, enhance audience engagement, boost consumer return traffic and improve search engine ranking. "Now more than ever, social media plays a vital role in business development and lead acquisition for real estate professionals," said Brock MacLean, Homes.com executive vice president. "Homes.com Social is designed to integrate the need for consistent consumer communication with uniform brand messaging across a variety of platforms. The platform assists agents and brokers with managing their social channels and online reputation, and allows for better control of online conversations. With a team of experts at the helm, Homes.com Social will be an invaluable asset for professionals as they navigate the constantly evolving social arena and manage the most important aspect of the real estate profession - time." Homes.com Social is available to real estate professionals nationwide as part of the Homes Connect marketing suite of services. The platform contains three key components, all designed to enhance branding, leverage reputation and drive meaningful conversation. Social Management – Allows professionals to build online visibility with account setup by the Homes.com Social Team on seven different social channels (Facebook, Google+, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and Foursquare), saving time by providing daily posts and enhancing brand consistency with a custom Cover Photo, Profile Icon and Welcome App. Subscribers can utilize custom-built Facebook apps (such as the Facebook Sweepstakes App) to generate traffic and monitor community interaction with reports measuring growth, demographics and content performance. The Sweepstakes App adds excitement and drives "Likes" to your business page, increasing your fanbase across all networks. Homes.com creates, manages and provides the prizes for these monthly contests. Social Listening - Expands brand visibility to ensure connection with potential consumers via online business directories and social networks. Elevates reputation using executive reports, monitors local listings, views and responds to online reviews across multiple platforms, all while saving time and maximizing productivity. Social Education – Easy access to live experts and continuing social education including online training, webinars, newsletters with social media best practices, how-to's and marketing templates. Watch the Homes.com Social video for detailed information regarding useful tools and features of the platform. Visit connect.homes.com or call 888-510-8795 for more detailed information on Homes.com Social.

IMSD 'Real Estate Systems' Training Series Starts January 8
You've put in the effort, created the ads, and wrote countless emails to reach prospects. And it worked--you generated the leads! Now how do you convert those leads into commissions? Why aren't you getting deals right away? There is not one supreme answer how to manage and convert all of those leads you generate, only a combination of hard work and good strategy. On January 8th, the Internet Marketing Specialist Designation kicks off the SYSTEMS class series. This is one of three core areas real estate agents need to master if they want to dominate the world of online marketing. The SYSTEMS series of IMSD is a paid training program of four weeks live training for real estate agents on how to implement strategies in the areas listed below. Mastering Internet Lead Generation is designed to take the overwhelming idea of lead generation and offer a manageable plan. We provide a straight-forward recipe as we teach: The key sources of internet traffic you'll want to drive to your website Essential systems you will need in place for your business Using online lead capture forms and landing pages The four websites that every agent needs Internet Lead Conversion Tactics is designed to teach you how to get your website and blog visitors filling in contact forms. Then learn our scripts to convert online real estate leads as we teach you: The mindset of today's online buyers and sellers Key strategies to converting online leads into commission checks Ten Days of Pain lead conversion program Scripts and dialogs to engage your prospects Working Your Prospect Sphere will focus on the long-term goals. Don't put all that effort into getting online leads without a good long-term follow up plan. We will teach you: How to research your prospects to dig up important information Going beyond email drip marketing with social media, blogging, and video A system for connecting with your prospects as they approach the buying or selling phase Craigslist Classified Services can offer a lot of opportunity to get leads when you know how to do it right. Let us show you: How to write Craigslist real estate ads that stand out and get clicks Developing a consistent Craigslist lead generation system Craigslist posting rules and ghosting Craigslist advertising examples for real estate Learn more about the Search, Social and Systems coursework that are required to earn the Internet Marketing Specialist Designation. If you are interesting in becoming an IMSD member, take advantage of this $200 IMSD discount. Current IMSD Members: You'll find all the registration links for the classes described above at https://www.imsd.net/members/live-webinars. Learn more about the Internet Marketing Specialist Designation.

Free Webinar: Social Media Update for 2011
Free Webinar: Social Media Update for 2011 Celebrate Geek Day on May 25th with your friends at IMSD as we provide a mid-year review on social media and real estate. Join Ben Kinney and Chad Hyams from the Internet Marketing Specialist Designation program and our surprise guest speakers for this valuable interview to learn the next steps to social media success! We encourage you to post your questions in advance to www.Facebook.com/IMSDesignation. ***LIMITED CAPACITY*** Social Media Updates for 2011 Geek Day - Wednesday, May 25th - 1PM PST / 4PM EST About IMSD The Internet Marketing Specialist Designation teaches agents real-world social media and online marketing strategies. When you learn through IMSD, you actually implement the strategies as you take the training. Traffic increases, leads start coming in, and business starts rolling in!

Free Webinar: Choosing a Contact Manager Software
Picking a contact manager is a complicated decision. Gary David Hall and Amy Chorew will discuss the different options and benefits available based on aptitude with technology; current needs and future goals. We will discuss the "must haves" and "can do without" options. Gary David Hall started as a Realtor® in 1987 and has been, reviewing, using, and teaching. Real Estate Contact Management and CRM software databases and programs ever since. Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2011Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT Click here to register for this FREE Webinar. Seating is limited, so sign up now!   The Writings on the Web: Fun with Format Are You Technically Ready to do Business Today? Create a Fancy iPhone Email Signature for Free

The Hip Roof Launches This Week
I am so excited that The Hip Roof officially launched this week! This is a real estate educational community for, by and about real estate agents. Of course we do include industry partners as well. The purpose of this site is to create a place where real estate agents can receive coaching, education, interaction, masterminding and much more from the comfort of their own home, office, or marketplace. A peek inside the forums a few weeks ago I am so excited that The Hip Roof officially launched this week! This is a real estate educational community for, by, and about real estate agents. Of course, we do include industry partners as well. The purpose of this site is to create a place where real estate agents can receive coaching, education, interaction, masterminding, and much more from the comfort of their own home, office, or marketplace. When I travel to events, one thing I notice most often is that it is almost entirely the same group of people who are consistently attending. We refer to ourselves as “The RE.net”, that community is not defined as any specific group but anyone who swims in the circles, and it always welcomes others into its folds. I also notice that there are many others who are not able to attend, who follow along on the Twitter stream on the various hashtags. With a tough economy, and a variety of real estate market conditions across the country, a lot of agents are really going back to the basics of coaching, training, accountability, and more.  The classic tools in our arsenals are becoming more and more essential. The difference between a “mega agent” and an “agent” is how disciplined and studied they are in the techniques of the industry. The Hip Roof makes all of these things affordable and accessible to everyone, no matter where you are geographically or economically. It Takes a Community To bring together some of the top minds in the area, and we always welcome more, to provide the content to compliment the learning systems and upcoming eBooks and eCourses – we rely upon many minds. There is no single way to do anything in the social spaces, there are many ways and the techniques and success may vary from market to market. The availability of the live forums allows people to mastermind, post, and develop concepts collaboratively; sometimes the input of someone else makes all the difference. The ability to share personal experiences and have amazing resources in one place is the whole point. To have many contributors, including the members, makes the knowledge share even more powerful. Some people have strengths in areas that others do not. The Hip Roof brings them all together into one place. Premium not Freemium Some people might disagree with this being a membership based site. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions, we respect that and realize this might not be the right place for everyone. You can not be all things to all people, The Hip Roof will be the best it can be for it’s members; so far the feedback has been very positive. So why premium? The Hip Roof does not have any advertising inside, nor are there any sales inside. The terms of service clearly state the requirements to be a member and the zero tolerance of any sort of platforming. Self-promotion of a business and selling of products are prohibited. The goal is for members to feel comfortable and at home, to be able to kick-off their shoes and share a story with a co-worker. There are things real estate agents can only say to other real estate agent; this is the place for that. The Sandbox is Large There is room enough in the sandbox for a variety of educational and coaching sites. In fact, I encourage agents to belong to more than one. If you only seek knowledge in a single place you might miss out on an opportunity. The Hip Roof gladly acknowledges many of the learning platforms that are already in existence and would be happy to collaborate, isn’t that the point of a community? When I approached my friend Ben Kinney a few months ago and told him what I was doing, knowing he has IMSD.net, I was hesitant to hear his reaction. Ben said “There’s plenty of room for everyone,” and that is the attitude we share. Flexibility The Hip Roof is built upon the vBulletin platform, this incredibly flexible and robust platform gives us nearly unlimited options in what we can do. We have a content management system, we have a blogging platform (currently only offered to “Expert Bloggers”, if you want to learn to blog we will have courses, but Active Rain is still a great place to start), and the forums. We have an amazing calendar of events (actually two calendars), and can create private forums for brands, offices, and more. The Hip Roof is light on its feet, it can be changed, modified, and tweaked easily. We might even add a consumer facing section without access to the real estate member side where consumers can post questions and the “member of the week” can be the forum moderator for the consumers. I am going to try to create a few “tours” of the inside in the coming week so people can get a taste of it. I'm so excited that the site is out there and growing!! I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of Chris Brogan and his company Human Business Works in helping develop and deploy the site. I'm also very thrilled at the caliber of agents who have already stepped up to be “expert contributors” and grow their own presence in the space and in their local market. The beauty for the contributors is that when the site gets contacted to have someone present in a local office, we will turn to our own experts, because The Hip Roof is only virtual, there will be no tours. We always welcome new expert contributors, it isn’t by invitation only. "Expert" is loosely defined as well. So, if you are interested in contributing, or have a great success story to share, feel free to email The Hip Roof and we’ll get back to you. Here’s to happy educational adventures and sharing!

Looking to Close More Business? Join New Webinar
You're invited to join a powerful webinar featuring agent Joe Parker, a real estate superstar from Santa Barbara whose group has over $140 million in closed transactions and are Prudential Real Estate's Chairman's Circle Award winners. When you attend you will receive a $25 American Express® gift card. When: Thursday, February 3 Time: 10:00 AM Pacific/1:00 PM Eastern Cost: NONE Who should attend: New & experienced agents looking to close more business Sign up now to discover how Joe Parker uses innovative marketing strategies that allow him to focus his efforts on active leads and work more efficiently to convert those leads into closed business. If you want to learn Joe's techniques to work smarter, not harder, simply click here and register now. Talk to you soon! The Market Leader Team Please Note: This webinar is for Real Estate Agents only. Agents who have previously attended a product webinar and current Market Leader customers are not eligible to receive the gift card.  

3 Tips to Help You Deal with Your Scalability Problem
Scalability is defined as “a characteristic of a system, model or function that describes its capability to cope and perform under an increased or expanding workload.” Or in more relevant terms ... the ability to expand your coaching business and its revenue AND increase your profit margin (your labor stays constant while revenues grow ... sounds nice doesn't it?). 99.9% of coaches, trainers, consultants, counselors, authors and solopreneurs of every kind have 1 very big common problem: scalability.  It’s a problem because if you’re not in action doing whatever it is you do to make sales, sales stop.  Which means the money stops.  That’s the real problem. Wouldn’t it be great if money came in without you having to exert tremendous amounts of energy to generate every damn penny? On Wednesday, December 15th at 11am EST, Kim Andes, founder of Frame of Mind Coaching, will share the 3 keys to establishing scalability: 1.       Leverage what you know 2.       Provide an extraordinary customer experience over and over 3.       Technology Click here to register! Scalability is as much about leverage as it is about growth.  For a business to grow, evolve, and/or simply stay afloat, it must gradually move from prospecting-based to marketing-based.  A prospecting-based business means revenue is only generated when you are actively seeking sales; a marketing-based business is one with leverage – and therefore scalable – in which sales transpire without you having to exert tremendous amounts of energy. On Wednesday, December 15th at 11am EST, Kim Andes will share with you exactly how they have achieved a sustainable level of scalability in their coaching business, Frame of Mind Coaching (and in what areas theyneed to keep evolving). Scalability is also about working smarter not harder.  If you want to achieve higher sales, while exerting less energy, then don’t miss this event; the content of this call is HUGE for you – especially as we enter into a new year, with new goals! Join us Wednesday, December 15th at 11am EST and finish 2010 with a BANG!  Get serious about making more money, in less time, in 2011. Click here to register! To learn more about Frame of Mind Coaching, please click here.

ReachFactor Adds Four New Features
Earlier this week ReachFactor announced several new product enhancements to their lead generation and online marketing tool. ReachFactor allows real estate agents and brokers to connect with Facebook, share listings on Twitter and instantly post listings to Craigslist. The four updates include: 1. Import Listings from Realtor.com You can now import your listings from Realtor.com. In the “Listings” click on “Import Listings” and select Realtor.com from the dropdown. Then just paste in the address for your listing. Voila! No more entering listings by hand. If you need us to add another site, just send us an email. 2. Get Rated in Your Surveys We added a question to the survey. We want to make sure the survey is short so your clients will fill it out, but the 5 star rating of your service needs to be included. Now you can show off five star ratings in addition to great feedback. 3. Search Engine Optimization We added a bunch of data to your websites that will allow google and other search engines to show a little extra data when your ReachFactor pages come up in search results. If it’s your profile page they’ll be able to add a rating (1-5 stars) and a count of the number of reviews you have. 4. Changing Endorsements to Reviews Endorsements and reviews what’s the big deal? Everyone’s talking about reviews so even though they have very similar meanings its much more useful to you if your clients see review tabs. It’s a name they know and are likely looking for anyway. We went ahead and changed the terminology throughout the entire ReachFactor app, on your public sites and on the Facebook tabs. To learn more about ReachFactor, please click here.

Worried about Recent Suspension of Foreclosures?
No doubt you’ve heard the news recently that a number of major banks have volunteered to temporarily suspend foreclosures in 23 states and Bank of America is temporarily suspending foreclosures nationwide. While this situation is changing daily, I want to tell you what we currently know to answer any questions you may have. In late September and early October some lenders and servicers began voluntarily halting foreclosures in select states while they reviewed their foreclosure processes. So far, only Bank of America has extended its foreclosure moratorium to California, where the vast majority of foreclosures are conducted without a court order. Foreclosures in the other 23 states are processed through the court system. Non-judicial foreclosures in California, however, do have legal requirements that lenders must follow. For example, California law requires that lenders for certain mortgage loans made between Jan. 1, 2003, and Dec. 31, 2007, attempt to make contact with borrowers to discuss options for avoiding foreclosure at least 30 days before filing a notice of default. Lenders also must sign a declaration in the notice of default stating that they tried to contact the borrower, made contact with the borrower, or fall within an exception (such as a bankruptcy filing). The lenders and servicers that have placed their foreclosure moratorium on properties in the 23 states where courts are involved in the foreclosure process include: Goldman Sachs Group Inc’s Litton Loan Servicing, Ally Financial Inc.’s GMAC Mortgage unit, JPMorgan Chase, and PNC Financial. These lenders/servicers have only temporarily halted their foreclosures while they review their foreclosure process. This is in response to findings that questioned whether some lenders/servicers were following the correct procedures to foreclose on a property. This halting of foreclosures is a voluntary action taken on the part of these lenders/servicers and has not been mandated by either the states or the federal government. Some members have begun to report the immediate impact of this moratorium on transactions that involve foreclosed properties. Delays in escrow and the removal of listed foreclosures are temporary results of this moratorium. The immediate impact on the market will be the slowing of home sales, which could put upward pressure on home prices in the short term. The long-term effect on the market is uncertain at this point as it depends how long the moratorium remains in place. Assuming the moratorium is lifted in the next month, the flow of REOs to the market should resume, but the uncertainty created by the moratorium may cause hesitation on the part of buyers. Federal agencies, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Housing Administration, and the conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have asked lenders and servicers to review their foreclosure processes. This review would apply to all states including those like California where the vast majority of foreclosures are non-judicial. The participating lenders and servicers believe their internal review processes should take anywhere from a few weeks to 30 days to complete. NAR has sent a letter to regulators expressing their concerns over the foreclosure issue. Please visit www.realtor.org/foreclosure for the latest developments and additional information. C.A.R. is supportive of lenders taking action to ensure homeowners are not improperly foreclosed on and that they are following state law. We hope they are able to conduct their review expeditiously so as to minimize the impact on California’s housing market. If you have additional questions or are experiencing problems or delays with any foreclosure transactions, please call our Customer Contact Center at (213) 739-8227. Sincerely, Steve Goddard  

Premise or Hosted CRM- Which is Right for You?
With all the recent attention on on-demand, or software-as-a-service (SaaS) CRM solutions, it might seem like this is the future of software. Though many are jumping on the on-demand bandwagon, many are also jumping off. Churn rates for on-demand are as high as 30 percent while renewal rates with on-premise software stand in the 80 percent range. There must be a reason an increasing number of organizations that tried hosted on-demand applications have returned to an on-premise solution. In fact, we can think of 10.   Learn which approach is best for your needs, topics include: Total cost of ownership  Ease of customization  Control of data User-interface Disaster recovery Building the business case Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 11:00AM - 12:00PM Pacific Time * All attendees will receive a complimentary "Premise or Hosted CRM - Which is Right For You?- CRM Success Kit" and discover how you can realize these advantages. This webinar is sponsored by FrontRange Solutions. FrontRange Solutions manufactures GoldMine Software used by more than 130,000 companies and over 1.7 million users worldwide to optimize sales, marketing and customer service performance.

Listing Presentations that Beat Your Competition
Jennifer Cummings, real estate marketing expert and RETechnology.com content contributor, will teach you how to create a listing presentation that will make YOU the obvious choice for homeowners in today's challenging market. In this webinar, you will... Learn 3 proven strategies to get more listings...at the right price! Find out the 3 best ways to DOUBLE your confidence before any presentation  Discover the #1 mistake most agents make in their listing presentations...and how to avoid it And more...  Title: Create a Listing Presentation That Will Blow Your Competition Out of the Water! Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010 (1 Hour) Time: 12:00 p.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. MT / 2:00 p.m. CT / 3:00 p.m. ET    

Niche Marketing for Maximum Lead Generation
Secrets of Top Selling Agents is hosting a new webinar online, free to agents and brokers to register. The topic is Niche Marketing for Maximum Lead Generation. This webinar will take place on May 26, 2010 - 1:00PM EST.  The two speakers are: Allan Domb, Real Estate Broker/Developer for Allan Domb Real Estate, Philadelphia; Michael J. Maher, President of Real Estate, Marketing and Business Development for the Maher Team Residential Real Estate Marketing for the Realty Executives of Kansas City  www.michaeljmaher.com. Real Estate Agent Allan Domb shares how he carved out his niche in the real estate market to become one of the top producing real estate brokers in the United States. Joined by Michael Maher, author, nationally-recognized speaker, and top selling agent in his own right, this duo will show you how they achieved phenomenal success through niche marketing. Register for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to look over the shoulders of these real estate giants and see how their daily routines, time-management plans, and niche-dominating strategies translate into an endless supply of leads. During this Niche Marketing webinar you will learn: Why becoming a Niche Expert is important. How to choose and get started marketing your niche How better to manage your time, as Allan says, "If you don't know how to manage your time, you are dead!" The strategies and tools to absolutely dominate your market niche! How to have leads come to you instead of chasing them down. After our Webinar with Allan and Michael you will: Know what your daily priorities should be to stay focused and increase business. Be ready to try Allan's 10 morning rituals and Michael's 5 weekly rituals. Know who their mentors and teachers were. Have asked Master Agents your burning questions...FOR FREE! About Allan Domb Since 1980, Allan Domb and his highly reputable real estate brokerage firm have been known throughout the United States as key contributors to Center City Philadelphia's luxury condominium market. Since 1999, Mr. Domb has also been engaged in the adaptive reuse of historic buildings into luxury condominiums and the development of new luxury condominiums. Today, Mr. Domb continues to control over 75% of Center City luxury condominium salesin buildings such as Academy House, The Barclay, Center City One, The Dorchester, Hopkinson House, Independence Place, Pier 3, Pier 5, The Philadelphian, Society Hill Towers and Wanamaker House. Nationally, Mr. Domb has beenranked the top producing residential real estate broker for the greater part of the past twenty years. Mr. Domb has beenquoted and featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, Business Week, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Urban Land, Multifamily Executive, and many other publications. He also often appears on Philadelphia's NBC10, 6ABC, CBS3, and FOX29. About Michael J. Maher Michael J. Maher isAmerica's Most Referred Real Estate Professional. Only 10 years ago, Mr. Maher made the transition into the real estate world after a successful teaching career.He averages over 500 referrals per yearandover 200 transactions per yearworking30 to 40 hours per weekin real estate. Mr. Maher is also a nationally-recognized speaker appearing at Realty Executives International, RE/MAX International, RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN Live!), STAR POWER® Annual Conference, several STAR POWER® Universities, and many brokerages around the United States (Realty Executives, Prudential, Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, RE/MAX and independent). He is often interviewed for Fox, CBS, and ABC and is a real estate expert contact for Associated Press (AP).His book, (7L) The Seven Levels of Communication: Go from Relationships to Referrals, includes much of his highly-sought advice and promises to infuse the real estate industry with new communication strategies vital to survival in these changing times. To get more information about the book and read the first chapter of (7L), go towww.7LBook.com.

Free Real Estate Workshop Training Event
REALTORS® are iInvited to a free National Real Estate Workshop Training Event. This upcoming seminar, titled "REALTOR® Survival 2009," focuses on strategies to survive a challenging marketplace. If you are interested in participating in a seminar in your Southern California city, simply sign up online to reserve your ticket. Seats are limited for this sponsored event. Topics for this 3 hour seminar includes: Simple but effective lead generation without ever prospecting again Learn how to refer business to yourself without begging 5 easy-to-implement Systems to double your profits Secrets of Powerful Listing Presentations revealed How to easily attract buyers and sellers by giving them what they really want Distress Sales made easy; everything explained in plain English. The 2010 Half-Day Seminar Schedule includes: Apr 21 - Riverside/ San Bernardino, CA Apr 22 - LA/Glendale, CA Apr 23 - Santa Clarita/Valencia, CA Apr 24 - Costa Mesa/Newport Beach, CA Apr 26 - Oceanside/Carlsbad, CA Apr 27 - Long Beach, CA May 4 - San Diego, CA May 5 - Thousand Oaks/Ventura, CA May 6 - Anaheim, CA    

Free Star Power for Success Series Webinar Coming Up!
Star Power Systems presents the second online webinar of their "STAR POWER for Success Series" this Thursday, April 22, 2010. The STAR POWER Success Series has already received rave reviews from top producing agents.  STAR POWER’s free interactive webcast covers the latest topics in real estate, small business management, lead generation, effective marketing and more. Each online show includes a 20 minute live Q&A session moderated by Alex Charfen, CEO of STAR POWER Systems. Speakers include: Bryan Bomba- STAR POWER Star Bryan Bomba is a consistent multi-million dollar producer respected beyond the industry for his expertise in all things real estate - even acknowledged as an expert by the U.S. District Court due to his valued perspective on housing issues. He has an annual sales volume of $50 million, selling, on average, 1 house every 5 days. Bomba credits much of his marketing talent and intense research skills to his time at Procter & Gamble. Brad Korn- Like his co-star, Brad Korn didn't always sell houses. Brad started out in retail before finding his passion working with homeowners. Now a top earning agent for Keller Williams Realty, Brad Korn can share the systems and methods that have grown his business over the past 18 years. Recently, Brad was invited to HGTV's "My Home is Worth What?" as the real estate expert for Kansas City, MO. During the Success Series episode, Brad will share his creative approach to generating leads including how the media can raise your profile in the industry. Testimonials include: "I make sure to attend at least three seminars a year and one webinar per month. I can't believe I had not participated in STAR POWER before! In one hour I took away at least three important ideas that I will put to use in my business this month. You are my new go-to resource." -Vicki Fazzini, John L Scott Real Estate. "STAR POWER is by far the most stellar training that a Realtor can invest in. If you are aspiring to be on the cutting edge of this industry, this is the greatest training that you can receive. This is the MUST HAVE training for any real estate agent." -Rita Driver, All Stars Realty.    

vFlyer Introduces Facebook Application to Promote Listings
San Francisco, CA, Wednesday, April 7, 2010—vFlyer today introduced a Facebook application for the promotion of listings. Real estate agents, property management firms, and auto dealers have been looking for a simple solution for marketing their listings on Facebook; this application provides such a solution. The new listing application can be utilized on both Profiles and Pages. Having surpassed 400 million members, Facebook has become a destination that online sellers can no longer ignore. Millions of businesses have set up Pages to create stronger ties to their customers and prospects. It is critical to provide up-to-date and relevant content on these pages. The vFlyer Facebook listing application offers two powerful configuration options. Both options display thumbnail images and summary information associated to the active listings in a vFlyer account. One also includes profile information about the business or individual. This new application is available to any vFlyer member with a business subscription Members with vFlyer Personal accounts can easily upgrade to take advantage of this new capability. "Businesses have been asking us for a simple way to promote their active listings on Facebook," says Aaron Sperling, CEO/President of vFlyer Inc. "This solution is a simple and effective way to create more exposure of real estate, auto, and general service listings." For instructions for installing the Facebook application, click here.  

10 Mobile Technologies to Watch in 2010 and 2011
STAMFORD, Conn., March 24, 2010—Gartner, Inc., has identified 10 mobile technologies that will evolve significantly through 2011 in ways that will impact short-term mobile strategies and policies. Investments in mobile applications and technologies will increase through 2011 as organizations emerge from the recession and ramp up both business-to-employee (B2E) and business-to-consumer (B2C) mobile spending. "We are highlighting these 10 mobile technologies that should be on every organization's radar screen," said Nick Jones, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. "These mobile technologies were selected because they will evolve in ways that affect corporate strategies, significant numbers of customers or employees will adopt or expect them, or they will address particular mobile challenges that organizations will face through 2011." The 10 mobile technologies to watch in 2010 and 2011 include: Bluetooth (3 and 4) Two new Bluetooth versions will emerge by 2011: Bluetooth 3 will introduce 802.11 as a bearer for faster data transmission, and Bluetooth 4 will introduce a new low-energy (LE) mode that will enable communication with external peripherals and sensors. Both versions will include other technical improvements to improve battery life and security. Gartner believes that Bluetooth 3 will facilitate corporate and consumer functions demanding large bandwidth (e.g., downloading images and videos from handsets). Bluetooth LE will enable a range of new sensor-based business models in industries such as fitness, healthcare and environmental control and will be used by handset and PC peripherals to enable new functions, such as PCs that autolock when users move away from them. The Mobile Web By 2011, over 85 percent of handsets shipped globally will include some form of browser. In mature markets, such as Western Europe and Japan, approximately 60 percent of handsets shipped will be smartphones with sophisticated browsing capability and the ability to render conventional HTML sites in some manner. The growth in smartphones with relatively large and high-resolution screens will encourage greater numbers of people to access conventional websites on mobile devices, and will make it possible to deliver some B2C applications using conventional Web tools without adaptation. In mature markets, the mobile Web, along with associated Web adaptation tools, will be a leading technology for B2C mobile applications through 2012, and should be part of every organization's B2C technology portfolio. Mobile Widgets Widgets are installable Web applications that use technologies such as JavaScript and HTML. Many handsets support widgets running on their home screens, where they are easily visible and accessible. Despite the lack of standards, widgets provide a convenient way to deliver simple, connected applications, especially those involving real-time data updates (such as weather forecasts, e-mail notifications, marketing, blogs and information feeds). Because widgets exploit well-understood tools and technologies, they have lower entry barriers than complex native applications, and thus can be a good first step to assess the demand for an application on a specific platform before undertaking expensive native development. Platform-Independent Mobile AD Tools Mobile platforms will become more diverse through 2012 although consolidation will not have started, and, in some markets, five or more platforms may have a significant presence. Therefore, tools that can reduce the burden of delivering installable applications to several platforms will be very attractive. Platform-independent application development (AD) tools cannot deliver a "write once, run anywhere" equivalent to native code; however, they can significantly reduce the cost of delivering and supporting multiplatform applications that provide a more sophisticated experience than the mobile Web and operate outside signal coverage. App Stores App stores will be the primary (and, in some cases, the only) way to distribute applications to smartphones and other mobile devices. App stores also provide a range of business support functions, such as payment processing, that assist smaller organizations. Gartner believes that app stores will play many roles in an organization's B2C and B2E strategies. They will be a distribution channel for mobile applications and a commercial channel to sell applications and content (especially in international markets), and they will provide new options for application sourcing. Many applications will exploit ecosystem cloud services. Enhanced Location Awareness By the end of 2011, over 75 percent of devices shipped in mature markets will include a GPS. GPS will be the primary, but not the only, means of establishing handset location. Wi-Fi and cell ID systems will remain important in situations where GPS is unavailable or unreliable. The popularity of location-aware handsets will enable a wide range of B2E and B2C location-aware applications, and will serve as a foundation for more-sophisticated contextual applications in the future. However, organizations must be sensitive to local privacy regulations, ensure that applications that expose location are "opt in," and remain on alert for new risks and concerns that will be raised by location awareness. Cellular Broadband During 2010 and 2011, the availability of multimegabit wireless broadband performance will continue to grow as mobile networks enhance their broadband performance. Continuous improvements in wireless broadband performance will increase the range of applications that no longer require fixed networking, and make cellular broadband a more effective fallback when fixed connections fail. Embedded cellular networking will become a standard feature of many corporate laptops, and will enable new types of network-connected devices and business models, such as e-books and media players. Touchscreens Touchscreens are emerging as the dominant user interface for large-screen handsets, and will be included in over 60 percent of mobile devices shipped in Western Europe and North America in 2011. Touch-enabled devices will also make increasing use of techniques such as haptics to enhance user experience. Organizations developing native handset applications may need to exploit single and multitouch interfaces and haptics to give their applications a compelling and competitive user experience. M2M Many network service providers increased their commitment to machine to machine (M2M) in 2009, so a good range of both national and multinational M2M service options will be available in mature markets during 2010 and 2011. Although the M2M market is very fragmented, it's growing at over 30 percent per year. Low-cost M2M modules will enable a wide range of new networked devices and business models. Key applications include smart grid, meter reading, security/surveillance, automotive systems, vending and point of sale, remote monitoring, and track and trace. Device-Independent Security This isn't strictly a single technology, but refers to a collection of security technologies, application technologies and sourcing options that enable the provisioning of applications that are secure, but less tightly tied to specific devices and platforms, and that, in many cases, do not require security tools to be installed on the client. It includes thin-client architectures, applications as a service, platform-independent forms of network access control (NAC), portable personality, virtualization, and hosted security services, such as "in the cloud" virus scanning. Device-independent tools cannot provide the rigor of fully installed security, but a blend of several of these tools can enable CIOs to deliver applications that can run on a wider range of devices while reducing security risks. Additional information is available in the report "Ten Mobile Technologies to Watch in 2010 and 2011" which is available on the Gartner website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=1311324. About the Gartner Wireless, Networking & Communications Summit Mr. Jones will provide more-detailed analysis on future scenarios for the wireless industry at The Gartner Wireless, Networking & Communications Summit. The Summit offers new concepts and best practices to increase ROI on wireless investment, insights on the future of wireless, and unbiased perspectives on devices, systems, integration and the latest trends. Gartner analysts will provide advice and best practices for successful wireless and networking implementations at the Gartner Wireless, Networking & Communications Summit taking place April 19-21 in San Diego, California. Additional information is available at www.gartner.com/us/wireless. Members of the media can register for the Summit in by contacting Christy Pettey, Gartner Public Relations, at +1 408.468.8312 or at [email protected]. Additional information from the event will be shared on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Gartner_inc and at #GartnerWireless. Contacts: Christy Pettey Gartner +1 408 468 8312 [email protected] Ben Tudor Gartner Tel (Media Hotline): +44 (0)1784 267738 Tel: +44 (0)1784 267298 [email protected] About Gartner: Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is the indispensable partner to 60,000 clients in 10,000 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 4,000 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants in 80 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com. To read the original press release, click here.

C.A.R. Releases
For release Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 C.A.R. releases “2009-2010 Survey of California Home Sellers” report finds 67 percent of California sellers sold their homes due to inability to meet mortgage obligation. LOS ANGELES (Feb. 25)–Changes in family and employment status, as well as adjustments to monthly mortgage obligations, played significant roles in California’s homeowners’ decisions to sell their homes in 2009, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2009-2010 Survey of California Home Sellers.” According to the report, 67 percent of all sellers in California did so as a result of difficulties related to meeting their mortgage obligation. “Tighter underwriting standards and a decline in equity continued to impact the market in 2009,” said C.A.R. President Steve Goddard. “Many homeowners chose to sell last year because their adjustable-rate mortgage reset at the same time home prices were experiencing an unprecedented decline, leaving them with little equity and difficulty in qualifying for a refinance.” “Sellers responded to the challenges of the housing market in 2009 by choosing to work with REALTORS® for guidance and assistance in navigating the complex market,” added Goddard. Recognizing the value of working with a real estate professional, 99 percent of sellers chose to work with a REALTOR®, according to the survey. Of those, 72 percent cited, the ability of an agent to sell the home at a higher price point as the primary reason. Other reasons included better marketing and exposure (38 percent), while 28 percent reported it was too difficult to sell the home independently. On average, homes sold for $20,958 less than the original asking price in 2009. The median difference between the selling and listing price was $32,315; the list-to-sold-price ratio was significantly larger between first-time sellers ($30,000 below list price) and sellers who had previously sold a home ($8,000 below list price). The percentage of first-time sellers grew to nearly half of all sellers (44 percent) in 2009, a 33 percent increase from 2008, and nearly three times the 2007 percentage of 15 percent. Sellers in 2009 cited difficulty meeting the monthly mortgage obligations (30 percent); job loss (18 percent); and “mortgage payment increased” (15 percent) as primary motivation to sell. By comparison, in 2008, one in five sellers cited the ability to meet their mortgage payment obligation; while 11 percent sold due to financial difficulties. Financing challenges also extended to home buyers and impacted sellers’ confidence in buyers’ ability to secure a home loan. Nearly three-fourths of sellers reported this as a concern, an increase from 54 percent in 2008. Financial difficulties also impacted the ability of sales to close on time, with 63 percent of homes falling out of escrow prior to closing. Nearly 70 percent of sellers cited “buyer could not get an acceptable mortgage,” and more than 60 percent said “buyer backed out,” as the primary reasons the home fell out of escrow. Other reasons included: "Buyer’s remorse" (26 percent); “lender withdrew and did not fund” (24 percent); and “home prices continued to decline” (18 percent). Once the home did sell, 50 percent of sellers reported escrow did not close on time in 2009, compared with 36 percent in 2008. C.A.R.’s “2009-2010 Survey of California Home Sellers” is available for purchase for $49.95 in electronic format by clicking here. The survey no longer is available in hard-copy format. Journalists who would like a complimentary copy of the report should email [email protected] or call (213) 739-8363. Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 100 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with nearly 175,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles. To view the original press release, please click here.  

CyberCity 3D, Inc., Partners with HomeGain®
HomeGain® is partnering with CyberCity 3D to provide HomeGain's agent members the ability to display CyberCity's 3D Virtual Viewing marketing products directly on www.HomeGain.com. 3D Virtual Viewing, an innovative Internet marketing tool for real estate agents, promotes homes for sale through the Google Earth™ API virtual globe. This unique marketing tool provides an interactive, 3D model of the home designed to increase web advertising exposure and attract consumers searching for their next home. El Segundo, CA (PRWEB) November 9, 2009 — HomeGain® is partnering with CyberCity 3D to provide HomeGain's agent members the ability to display CyberCity's 3D Virtual Viewing marketing products directly on www.HomeGain.com. 3D Virtual Viewing, an innovative Internet marketing tool for real estate agents, promotes homes for sale through the Google Earth™ API virtual globe. This unique marketing tool provides an interactive, 3D model of the home designed to increase web advertising exposure and attract consumers searching for their next home.   "This innovative and engaging rich media solution enhances and completes the consumer's search for a home. Virtual Viewing provides the right amount of content consumers now demand; it's visually engaging, supplying realistic perspectives of the home and surroundings; and most importantly, it connects the consumer to our real estate agents," states Louis Cammarosano, General Manager of HomeGain.com. Viewing properties in eye-catching 3D on the most popular virtual globe, Google Earth™ API plug-in, is quickly becoming the hottest online, 3D search experience. CyberCity's 3D Virtual Viewing product supplies pertinent information buyers request before making a purchasing decision: the proximity of the home is to work, freeways, restaurants, shopping malls, schools, churches, and more. 3D Virtual Viewing visually represents all of this on one platform while showcasing a property's unique location. "Online Real Estate search trends are changing. Consumers want accurate information, relevant content, website innovation, and a great consumer experience," observes Jackie Murphy, Director of Product Management for CyberCity 3D. "Our goal is to expand our 3D product road map to include additional innovative marketing tools and ground-breaking technologies that will continue to enhance the consumer experience, drive additional traffic, and increase engagement on our clients' real estate internet listing sites and agent/broker websites necessary to keep up with the ever-evolving internet search trends." HomeGain® agent members can now link their CyberCity 3D models to their property listings directly from their AgentView product. Agents simply enter the 3D model URL in their HomeGain® account for that listing and a "View in 3D" button will automatically appear on HomeGain®'s Search Results and Listing Detail pages linking the Google Earth™ API 3D model to the listing. Using 3D Virtual Viewing marketing products, real estate companies now have the opportunity to leverage new media tools — and gain a key competitive advantage. About HomeGain® HomeGain® (www.homegain.com) is a leading provider of online marketing solutions that connect real estate agents and brokers with home buyers and sellers. HomeGain® offers free services to find and compare real estate agents, research home values, and view homes for sale. Real estate agents and brokers use HomeGain®'s real estate marketing solutions and real estate lead generation tools to connect to consumers, promote their services, and grow their business. About CyberCity 3D, Inc. CyberCity 3D (www.cybercity3d.com) is a state-of-the-art, 3D geospatial modeling company specializing in emerging GeoWeb advertising and marketing solutions for residential and commercial real estate, travel destinations, government agencies, the environment, and geographic information systems (GIS). The company is one of the first to offer realistic, three-dimensional, building and city models through the Google Earth™ API plug-in. Please contact: Jackie Murphy Director of Product Management CyberCity 3D (310) 760-2563 jmurphy (at) cybercity3d (dot) com www.cybercity3d.com