As an industry leader, Coldwell Banker is always doing something new to improve the customer experience. Here in Central PA, Select Professionals seeks to be on the cutting edge of customer service. Here is the latest news release:
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Coldwell Banker Select Professionals Named Principal Broker
Of Cartus Broker Network
Central PA, (Nov. 13, 2008) – Coldwell Banker Select Professionals has been named a principal member of the Cartus Broker Network. Coldwell Banker Select Professionals has over 80 agents in 4 offices throughout Lancaster, Dauphin, Lebanon & York Counties. Network brokers are responsible for, among other things, the effective marketing of real estate on behalf of Cartus’ clients, and the delivery of Top Block1 service to its customers.
According to Deborah Williams, senior vice president of Cartus Supply Chain Management, Coldwell Banker Select Professionals will take on an important role in providing real estate services to Cartus clients. The decision to make the firm a Network Broker in the market was based on their strong performance and a shared commitment to Cartus business and its customer goals.
Ryan Hess, CEO for Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, said the relationship with Cartus brings with it increased responsibility and additional opportunities to the firm. “This move makes a tremendous statement about our company. Cartus is an industry leader in relocation. The fact that we were chosen as a Principal Broker speaks highly to our reputation as a real estate firm in this competitive market.”
“The Susquehanna Valley continues to draw attention as a business destination in Pennsylvania” said Hess, “Those companies who contract with Cartus to help relocate employees demand and deserve outstanding service”. Hess pointed out that the partnership of Cartus, the nation’s leading network of more than 375 Principal and 600 Associate brokers, with the power of the Coldwell Banker brand is a hard combination to beat.
Williams stressed the critical role that the Cartus Network Brokers play in the company’s ability to support clients and their transferring employees. “The real estate brokers that make up our Network must provide the very best in service delivery, meeting and maintaining stringent performance standards. Coldwell Banker Select Professionals meets those standards. We are proud to be associated with them and look forward to a long and effective relationship,” Williams said.
For more information on relocation services in Central PA contact Laura Perry at 717-735-8304 or lperry@cbselectpros.com.
About the Cartus Broker Network
The Cartus Broker Network is the nation’s leading network of more than 375 Principal and 600 Associate brokers — market-dominant real estate companies that serve the clients and customers of Cartus. Cartus Corporation is the premier provider of global mobility management and workforce development solutions serving the corporate, government and affinity markets. Through its industry-leading outsourcing, consulting, intercultural and language training, Cartus helps the mobile workforces of organizations of all sizes achieve success worldwide. With 50 years of experience, Cartus helps clients achieve cost reductions and enhances service performance to accomplish their organizational objectives. Cartus, formerly known as Cendant Mobility is part of Realogy, a publicly traded company. Visit www.cartus.com for more information.
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER EXPECTATIONS FOR ‘MOVE-IN’ CONDITIONS MAY CONFLICT WITH THEIR DESIRE FOR AFFORDABILITY
New Coldwell Banker® Broker Survey Reveals Possible Disconnect
in First-Time Home Buying Process
PARSIPPANY, N.J., (Aug. 21, 2008) – First-time home buyers are primarily concerned with affordability when choosing a new home, but their expectations may be too high relative to their current financial buying power, according to a recent Coldwell Banker® survey conducted among its brokers. While nearly half of the Coldwell Banker broker respondents reported that affordability was the No. 1 concern for this group, 81 percent said today’s first-time home buyers consider move-in conditions to be very important when searching for homes. In contrast, only 7 percent are looking to purchase “fixer-upper” homes that they could buy at a lower price and renovate themselves.
“In the past, first-time home buyers were willing to purchase older, more basic houses in an effort to save money and break into homeownership,” said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, LLC. “Today, this group has greater home expectations because they have grown up more accustomed to their parents’ lifestyles. It is important for first-time homebuyers to remember that by considering a ‘fixer-upper’ for their first home purchase, they can build equity over time and move up and into their second-stage home that better reflects their expectations.”
Survey findings also suggest that first-time home buyers worry more about credit ratings and approval than they did a decade ago, but less about down payments. This may be because they have saved money themselves, or have received additional support from parents to help their first-time home purchase.
According to 29 percent of brokers surveyed, first-time home buyers were more concerned with down payments 10 years ago than anything else, while only 17 percent said this is the biggest concern in today’s market. Meanwhile, survey respondents said that only 4 percent of first-time home buyers were worried about their credit scores in 1998, while 14 percent said it is more of a concern today.
“Owning a home is a great investment that will provide tax breaks, financial gains – as well as considerable joy over the years,” Gillespie said. “First-time home buyers now have higher standards, placing an increased focus on the financial aspects of home ownership and at the same time, want a larger home they can live in right away.”
Additional key findings from the survey include:
· 71 percent of brokers noted that first-time home buyers are looking for larger homes than they were 10 years ago.
· According to 41 percent of the respondents, proximity to job is the No. 1 attribute first-time home buyers are looking for in a home.
· 35 percent of the survey respondents said “investment” is the No. 1 reason first-time home buyers are making their purchase.
· 46 percent of the survey respondents reported that first-time home buyers look at five to 10 homes, on average, before making a purchase.
In addition, the survey explored initial reasons that a first-time home buyer contacts a Realtor in today’s market and how that has shifted from 10 years ago, according to the Coldwell Banker brokers:
Methodology: Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC conducted an online survey about the trends real estate professionals are seeing with first-time home buyers. The survey yielded responses from 150 Coldwell Banker brokers across the United States.
INTEREST IN URBAN HOMEOWNERSHIP “FUELED” BY HIGHER GAS PRICES
Nearly 78 Percent of Surveyed Coldwell Banker® Sales Associates Report Increased Interest in Urban Living is a Result of Energy Costs
Properties with Home Offices Also Appealing
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (June 13, 2008) – Coldwell Banker® sales associates working in urban markets across the United States indicate they are seeing interest in urban living increasing because of the high cost of gasoline. While 96 percent of the 903 sales associates surveyed report that rising gas and oil prices are a concern to their clients, 78 percent report that higher fuel costs are increasing their desire to consider living in an urban setting.
According to the Coldwell Banker survey, the primary reasons for this interest in urban living are related to work commute and energy-efficient modes of transportation:
81 percent cite minimizing a reduced work commute as a reason for the interest in urban living
54 percent agree that access to public transportation is appealing
75 percent agree that the ability to walk to more places is a positive
“Over the past several years we have seen a boom in downtown living all over the country and this is not just reserved to major cities,” said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate. “It is interesting to note that the study showed that 53 percent of our surveyed sales associates have seen an increased interest in urban living compared to five years ago.”
Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, based in Lancaster city at 1000 North Prince Street and the largest realty firm in the municipality, has seen an increase in interest in downtown living in Lancaster.
“The trend of downtown living is alive and well” in Lancaster County, said Jeff R. Geoghan, Vice President of Coldwell Banker Select Professionals. “Several downtown projects have been recently completed or are in the works and interest is great. Locally, while gas prices are increasing interest in downtown homes, we have also seen the growing art culture and the affordability of the urban townhome as being popular reasons for this trend.”
Coldwell Banker surveyed sales associates who also reported they have seen an 84 percent spike in interest for properties with a home office, as compared to five years ago, indicating a trend towards telecommuting.