ERA Titletown Headlines

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Posted by Brian Katsetos at 08:38 AM | Permalink

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Posted by Brian Katsetos at 03:26 PM | Permalink

GREEN BAY, WI – ERA Titletown, REALTORS in Green Bay, WI is part of the international global real estate network which was recently named the recipient of the 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Award for "Highest Overall Satisfaction For Repeat Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms."

This marks the third year in a row ERA Real Estate has received an award from this prestigious organization. Last year, the company was the recipient of the 2005 J.D. Power and Associates Award for "Highest Overall Satisfaction For First Time Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms." In 2004, ERA Real Estate received the award for "Highest Overall Satisfaction For First Time Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms."

"Being recognized for customer satisfaction once again by a well-respected organization such as J.D. Power and Associates is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our sales associates and staff," said Susan Hamer, Managing Broker with ERA Titletown. "This award is a reflection of our promise to our customers to be 'Always There For You' throughout the homebuying and selling process."

Locally, ERA Titletown offers a host of products and services dedicated to meeting the needs of both sellers and buyers. To learn more about the programs and services they provide, call 1-877-372-1372 or visit www.ERATitletown.com.

ERA received the highest numerical score among national full service real estate firms for repeat home sellers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Home Buyer/Seller Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on 3,709 total responses measuring real estate firms and measures opinions of homebuyers and sellers. Study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in April through May 2006. Your experiences may vary. Study conducted for Realogy Corporation by J.D. Power and Associates.

ERA Titletown, REALTORS (www.eratitletown.com) is the Green Bay area’s largest full-service real estate company, and the largest single real estate office in Wisconsin. Along with helping clients buy and sell residential and commercial real estate, ERA Titletown also offers mortgage, relocation and title/closing services. ERA Titletown, REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of ERA Franchise Systems, Inc.

About ERA Franchise Systems, Inc. - ERA Franchise Systems, Inc. is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with more than 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. ERA Real Estate was recently named the recipient of the prestigious 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Award for "Highest Overall Satisfaction For Repeat Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms." The ERA® network includes more than 38,700 brokers and sales associates and nearly 3,000 offices throughout the United States and 29 other countries and territories. Each office is independently owned and operated except offices owned and operated by NRT Incorporated. ERA Franchise Systems, Inc. is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation (NYSE: H), the world's largest real estate franchisor. ERA® information is available to consumers at ERA.com.

Posted by Marketing Dept. at 07:58 AM | Permalink

1. Be picky, but don’t be unrealistic. There is no perfect home.

2. Do your homework before you start looking. Decide specifically what features you want in a home and which are most important to you.

3. Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your downpayment and your closing costs.

4. Don’t wait to get a loan. Talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage before you start looking.

5. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion.

6. Decide when you could move. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area?

7. Think long-term. Are you looking for a starter house with the idea of moving up in a few years or do you hope to stay in this home longer? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as type of mortgage terms that suit you best.

8. Don’t let yourself be house poor. If you max yourself out to buy the biggest home you can afford, you’ll have no money left for maintenance or decoration or to save money for other financial goals.

9. Don’t be naïve. Insist on a home inspection and if possible get a warranty from the seller to cover defects within one year.

10. Get help. Consider hiring a REALTOR® as a buyer’s representative. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. And often, buyer’s reps are paid out of the seller’s commission payment.

Posted by Marketing Dept. at 10:16 AM | Permalink

Why pay a Realtor® a commission to sell your home? After all, more than 10% of homeowners attempt to handle the sale of a home themselves, a statistic that has held pretty steady over the years regardless of market conditions. Before making a decision about whether to go it alone, it is important to have a realistic idea of what is involved in the biggest financial transaction most of us are likely to make.

Continue reading "Six Reasons to Use a Realtor" »

Posted by Marketing Dept. at 08:25 AM | Permalink

As important a landmark as buying a home is in people's lives, you'd be surprised at how much of it can turn on snap decisions. If you're selling a house you'll have to put careful thought into customers' first impressions, because many sales will be made or lost before they reach the front door – or as soon as they walk through it.

First consider "curb appeal" – the feeling customers get from the upkeep of the house and grounds, and how comfortable this makes them imagining themselves as a resident. You want to do everything you can to make them see your house as their house, both outside and in.

A new paint job is an investment that will more than pay for itself, and neat landscaping – trimmed shrubs, new flowers – puts your prospective buyers in just the right frame of mind. Inside, kitchens and bathrooms should be in sparkling condition – these rooms are known to be what makes up many home-seekers' minds. Removal of odors like pet smells and smoke will lessen distractions for customers you want focusing on your home's possibilities, and clearing of clutter is crucial.

The fewer belongings you have crowding your rooms and closets, the bigger the home will appear, and the easier it will be for potential buyers to envision placing their own possessions there. Put some things in storage if you need to, or hold a garage sale to help cut down on some of the build-up you were going to clear out for moving anyway (just hold it before buyers can see the piles on your lawn or the cars lined up on an otherwise peaceful street). For buyers picturing themselves in your home, it's also good to present the house in as general taste as possible – personal memorabilia, collectibles, and eccentric wall colors and furnishings should go out with the clutter. Repainting rooms in a neutral white also helps convey the sense of spaciousness.

Clean windows, fresh flowers, and other small details with big impact – they're what you want to remember. From major improvements which guarantee a return on your investment, to subtle touches that tip the scales in your favor, the features of a house that we often take for granted can be the ones that determine your homeselling success. According to the National Association of Realtors®, curb appeal alone accounts for half of all home sales.

A little effort now saves you a lengthy process later. First impressions will expedite the sale, and securing the services of a qualified Realtor® will make it all the surer. An ERA Titletown real estate professional can guide you in all the above matters and more, from supplying a checklist of presentation tips, to recommending affordable painting contractors from his or her industry connections, to helping you rearrange the furniture. Whatever it takes, we can give you confidence that, for some buyer soon, the showing of your home will be love at first sight.

Posted by Marketing Dept. at 03:54 PM | Permalink

If you are contemplating the purchase of your first home, congratulations! As you probably know, buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments you can make. It is also a process filled with emotion, and a touch of anxiety. To help keep you sleeping soundly, here are answers to three big questions that concern many potential first-time homeowners.

Continue reading "First Time Homebuyers - No time like the first time" »

Posted by Marketing Dept. at 04:02 PM | Permalink