COLDWELL BANKER REAL ESTATE WINS COMMUNICATOR CREATIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF VISUAL ARTS

Brand’s ‘On Location’ YouTube Channel Honored in Real Estate Website Category

PARSIPPANY, N.J., (July 7, 2010) – The International Academy of the Visual Arts has named Coldwell Banker On Location, the brand’s YouTube channel, a recipient of this year’s Communicator Awards for Creative Excellence in the real estate website category. The category honors the best site for the sale or rental of residential or commercial property.

“We were the first national real estate brand to add streaming video to our website. Today, our agents across the globe have posted more than 15,000 videos to our On Location channel,” said Mike Fischer, chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “The most exciting part of On Location is that we have only just begun – there’s a lot more to come.”

On Location has been rated among the top 10 most-viewed brand channels on YouTube. In April, just 11 months after launching On Location, Coldwell Banker announced it had received over 1 million views. The site was launched in May 2009 and was produced in collaboration with FD Kinesis.

“Home buyers would much rather see a home than only read about it,” Fischer said. “Our On Location videos empower them to get a feel for a home, a community or a real estate professional that they could not get from photos or a text description alone. Equally important are the home sellers who are now expecting video to be a part of marketing their property.”

With thousands of entries received from across the United States and around the world, the Communicator Awards is one of the largest and most competitive awards program honoring the creative excellence for communications professionals. The Communicator Awards are judged and overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, advertising and marketing firms.

About Coldwell Banker®
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate.   Coldwell Banker is the oldest national real estate brand in the United States and today has a network of more than 98,000 agents working in more than 3,600 offices in 50 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker brand is known for creating innovative consumer services as recently seen by being the first national real estate brand to augment its web site www.coldwellbanker.com for smart phones, the first to create a iPhone application 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.  The Coldwell Banker system is a leader in specialty markets such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® marketing program.

Sterling Society Award Winners

KITTY HAWK, NC (May 26, 2010) – The Dobney Garcia Team, the Willey Lilley Team, Dave Hines, Michelle Huffman and Heather Sakers, all sales associates with Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty, have been honored as members of the company’s International Sterling Society.  This distinguished membership was awarded to the TOP 8 percent of the approximately 96,600 sales associates / representatives worldwide in the Coldwell Banker^® system.

The recipients exemplify everything that the International Sterling Society represents,” said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Their extensive understanding of the real estate market on the Outer Banks and dedication to their customers truly embodies the ideals of Coldwell Banker.”     

While this was a challenging year for the real estate industry, millions of people continue to buy and sell homes based on their lifestyles and needs. “This was undoubtedly a difficult year in our industry, but people need to remember that real estate is cyclical, and positive signs over recent months signal a tipping point for the residential real estate market,” notes Gillespie.

About Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty

Founded in Kitty Hawk, NC in 1990, Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty has office locations in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, NC. More than 50 licensed agents provide both residential and commercial buying/selling assistance in Northeastern North Carolina.  

About Coldwell Banker^®

Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker^® organization has been a premier provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate.   Coldwell Banker is the oldest national real estate brand in the United States and today has a network of nearly 97,000 agents working in more than 3,300 offices in 49 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker brand is known for creating innovative consumer services as recently seen by being the first national real estate brand to augment its web site www.coldwellbanker.com for smart phones, the first to create an iPhone application featuring international listings and the first to fully harness the power of video in real estate listings, news and information through its Coldwell Banker On Location^SM YouTube channel.  The Coldwell Banker system is a leader in specialty markets such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International^® marketing program.

Coldwell Banker CEO Jim Gillespie appeared on CNBC yesterday to discuss the current state of the housing market.  The topics of discussion included the amount of foreclosures in the nation and the inventory levels of different markets.

Here’s a link to the segment:  http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1493082948

Thousands of Sellers to Offer Credit Up to $8,000 from May 1 Until July 31, 2010

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (April 26, 2010) — Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC today announced the launch of its Buyer Bonus Sales Event, a national promotion intended to build on the momentum of the soon-to-expire federal homebuyer tax credit.

In a recent survey of Coldwell Banker Real Estate professionals, nearly half indicated that they had worked with home buyers who would have missed out on the home buyer tax credit in November of last year had it not been extended.  In addition, while 34 percent cite the current tax credit extension (expiring April 30) as the primary reason their customers are currently for searching for a home, 28 percent said that they feel the limitations of this credit will prohibit some buyers from taking advantage of the credit.

That is why on May 1, 2010, immediately following the expiration of this government initiative, home sellers participating in the Coldwell Banker Buyer Bonus Sales Event will offer a credit of 3 percent (up to $8,000), when part of an accepted offer,  of their home’s purchase price to buyers who sign a contract before July 31, 2010.  There is no deadline for a closing date.

“The federal government did its part to encourage millions of Americans to achieve their dream of home ownership with the help of the home buyer tax credit,” said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.  “As the credit expires, Coldwell Banker Real Estate is encouraging buyers who haven’t found a home yet to continue looking, while bringing a new audience of home buyers who were unable to qualify for the tax credit into the market. We are confident that this private sector solution will represent a significant step toward continued recovery of the housing market.”

“The Buyer Bonus Sales Event will allow participating Coldwell Banker home sellers to essentially extend the benefits of the credit,” said Gillespie.  “Without restrictions such as household income caps, the Coldwell Banker Buyer Bonus Sales Event allows for greater participation for all homebuyers.  And our sellers have a unique opportunity to allow their home to stand out from the competition in their marketplace.”

Participating homes will typically be identified by Buyer Bonus Sales Event yard sign riders and tagged as a Buyer Bonus home online at www.coldwellbanker.com.  While searching for a home online, home buyers can simply check the box labeled “Buyer Bonus Sales Event” to find participating properties nearby.

All home sellers who take part in the Buyer Bonus Sales Event will receive broad marketing support from Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, including:

• National television commercials beginning May 1, 2010; extensive online advertising
• Promotion on http://www.coldwellbanker.com
• Updates on the event to be shared on Coldwell Banker Facebook and Twitter pages and the Coldwell Banker blog, Blue Matter;
• A video posting to the Coldwell Banker On Location channel highlighting the practical value of $8,000.

About Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC®
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization (www.coldwellbanker.com) has been a premier full-service real estate provider. The Coldwell Banker system has more than 3,300 residential real estate offices and nearly 97,000 sales associates in 49 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker system is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® division.  Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Coldwell Banker “On Location” Hits the 1 Million Views Mark!

Since the May 2009 launch of our YouTube™ channel Coldwell Banker On Location, the site now hosts 11,000 videos – more than any other real estate brand in the industry. Today we are thrilled to announce we have reached another major milestone: the channel has logged an incredible ONE MILLION views in less than one year’s time!

We did it! Coldwell Banker has once again revolutionized the industry by ushering in the new video era in real estate and redefining the way consumers shop for homes and properties. It’s all thanks to you. Each day you continue to post a unique assortment of profile, listing and community videos to promote your business and the Coldwell Banker brand.

No other brand can compete with this historic triumph. But remember, we still need more video submissions! We ask everyone in the Coldwell Banker system to make sure you are constantly adding videos to the site so that the Coldwell Banker On Location channel remains the premiere destination for video in real estate.

Coldwell Banker On Location

February 5, 2009

 

It is with great pride that I share the news that Coldwell Banker Real Estate has gained a major honor.  Through the amazing efforts of our Learning Department, we have been included in Training Magazine’s Top 125 organizations list for 2010.

 

Training Magazine is the learning industry’s top publication and annually selects top companies who excel in the training of their sales professionals.  Coldwell Banker is on the list, which includes such noted brands as Bank Of America, Microsoft, Continental Airlines, and McDonalds.

 

In 2009 the Coldwell Banker Learning Group had approximately  10,000 registrations for programs with over a 95% satisfaction rating; this speaks to the depth and quality of our programs.

 

The group has put together an aggressive list of programs for 2010 including eFastStart and BOO$T for new and experienced sales associates, as well ACT Now! for brokers and owners.

 

Obviously, an award of this stature is worthy of sharing with your sales associates and clearly benefits in your recruiting and retention efforts.

 

Thanks and continued good luck.

 

Regards,

The CEO of Coldwell Banker LLC appeared on Fox News yesterday to talk Real Estate.  Jim Gillespie appreared on the show Countdown To the Final Bell, with Liz Claman. To no surprise the topic of discussion was the current state of the housing market.  Click here to see the video…

Angel Tree Donation

When it comes to helping those in need, Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty are committed to making a difference each and every day.

KITTY HAWK, NC (January 8, 2010) — Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty, leading vacation rental and real estate firms located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, are committed to improving the community each and every day. Their “Vacation with a Purpose” program encourages employees, homeowners and guests to join their mission and support local non-profit organizations.

They make a difference by building homes for low-income families, providing assistance to those in need and raising funds for charitable organizations. They support organizations such as the Albemarle Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, Outer Banks Relief Foundation, Interfaith Community Outreach, Homes4NC, Dare Education Foundation, The Beach Food Pantry, The Baltimore Station (a charity supporting men, most of whom are veterans, who are transitioning from the cycle of poverty, substance abuse and homelessness to self-sufficiency) and more.

In addition to their year-long efforts, this holiday season they also sponsored The Angel Tree – a non-profit organization that provides much-needed clothing, wished-for toys and other items to the area’s neediest children. This year, Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty chose to support a needy family in Hyde County.

“I am very pleased at the willingness and excitement to support The Angel Tree program.  After we matched the contributions from our employees and vendors, we were able to provide what will surely be a wonderful Christmas for a local family, “says Gordon Jones, President of Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty.

Seaside Vacations and Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty would also like to thank the local businesses who help make our donations possible.  Special thanks to Travel Guard and VBL Technologies as well as High Cotton – who graciously hosted their holiday donation celebration.

For more information on Seaside Vacations and their wide selection of Outer Banks vacation rentals, visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com – where you can search a wide variety of homes, book online with real-time availability, view up-to-the-minute Outer Banks specials and check out local Outer Banks events.  Guests can also follow Seaside Vacations on the Seaside Vacations Blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace.

About Seaside Vacations:
Founded in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1990, Seaside Vacations is a full-service vacation rental management company representing homes from Corolla to Nags Head.

Seaside Vacations offers a complete selection of Outer Banks vacation rentals. Guests can choose from 1 – 14-bedroom private vacation rental homes, condominiums, townhomes and villas.  Explore our homes in Duck and Corolla as well as numerous vacation rentals in Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.

For more information on Seaside Vacations and their wide selection of vacation rentals, visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com or call one a Vacation Specialist at 866.936.4659.

The House of Representatives voted last Thursday to extend the first time homebuyer tax credit.  The bill was approved with an overwhelming 403-12 margin in Congress.  On Friday it was passed to the White House and enacted as law by president Obama.

Jim Gillespie, CEO of Coldwell Banker LLC, played a key role in the extension of this bill.  Gillespie and many other leaders in the real estate industry have been activists for this cause.  They have fought for almost a year now to have the bill extended, and in a email he sent out to Coldwell Banker associates he states,

“This is an historic moment for our industry as well as the culmination of more than a year’s worth of hard work and meetings with elected officials and policy makers. I want to personally thank all of you who participated in Coldwell Banker’s Legislative Week, which was the springboard for my meetings on Capitol Hill, as well as the numerous other legislative calls for action — I am both proud and appreciative of how so many of you made office visits, phone calls and e-mailed your elected officials. Combined with Realogy’s instrumental efforts on Capitol Hill, I know that our grass roots outreach to Congress and the Administration truly helped make a difference on this issue.”

The Senate was also commended by the National Association of Realtors for the extension.  NAR estimates that the current tax credit aided about $22 billion in home sales.

Bill Details:

·         Extends the present $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers through April 30, 2010.  

·         Current homeowners are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit through April 30, provided they have lived in the home they are selling, or have sold, as principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight years.

·         If potential home buyers have a binding contract on or before that date, they will have until July 1 to close the transaction.  

·         Income limits for eligible home buyers are expanded to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples.

·         The purchase price of the home cannot exceed $800,000. 

·         To help guard against fraud, buyers are required to attach documentation of purchase to their tax return.

Ad Age, the go-to magazine for the advertising industry, featured the Coldwell Banker YouTube channel “On Location” in an article touting untraditional ways of reaching the consumer!

The article reads:

“Big name marketers such as Procter & Gamble, Best Buy, MasterCard and Coldwell Banker are among those who have taken matters into their own hands by creating content and bringing it straight to the consumer.”

Obviously, Coldwell Banker is keeping great company!  The full article can be read at http://adage.com/article?article_id=139864. Your sales associates will find the recognition called out on the homepage of coldwellbankerworks.com.