Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States, today announced the appointment of John Peyton to the newly created role of president and chief operating officer (COO) for its subsidiary, Realogy Franchise Group (RFG). Peyton, formerly the senior vice president of brands and shared services for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., will begin at RFG on Oct. 13. Alex Perriello, CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group, will now focus primarily on strategic growth while Peyton will be responsible for the operational management of Realogy's franchise brands.
Peyton is a recognized global branding leader in a multi-brand environment. He is adept at leading large, complex global structures to maximize the benefits of scale while enabling innovation and flexibility. During his 17-year tenure with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, he combined his expertise in global operations and brand building to drive innovation and ensure the market positioning of the company's leading hotel brands, which include: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Westin,Le Meridien, Sheraton, Tribute Portfolio, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft, Element and Design Hotels.
Previously at Starwood, Peyton led the company's Global Initiatives team from 2012 to 2014, where he directed the implementation of key strategic company priorities around the world, including supply chain and revenue management initiatives. He has held a number of senior operations and marketing positions for Starwood, including chief marketing officer. In 2005 he was responsible for implementing a significant brand repositioning strategy for the company. In 2001, Peyton led Starwood in the launch of implementing Six Sigma practices in the business and became the first company in the hospitality industry to adopt this methodology as a way of improving business processes and driving innovative change. Prior to joining Starwood, he had a 10-year career with Pricewaterhouse Coopers, serving in both its accounting and management consulting practices.
Peyton holds an MBA in accounting and marketing from New York University and a bachelor's degree in English from theUniversity of Pennsylvania. Peyton is active in the community with several organizations supporting the health and welfare of children. He is a member of the board of directors for Child Advocates of Southern Connecticut and Full Court Peace, and also serves as a senior adviser to the A.J. Cina Foundation.
NRT LLC, the nation's largest residential real estate brokerage company and a subsidiary of global real estate leader Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), today announced two newly created executive roles to enhance its growth strategy while optimizing the efficiency of NRT's operations. Ryan Gorman has been promoted to Chief Strategy & Operating Officer, a broad new role to help ensure all aspects of NRT are primed for growth in a strategic manner and with a focus on enhancing efficiencies in the operational support of NRT's business. Peter Sobeck has been appointed to the role of Chief Recruiting Officer focused on NRT's organic growth.
"These appointments, both filled from within our organization, speak to the strength of our leadership bench at NRT," said Bruce Zipf, president and chief executive officer, NRT LLC. "We are taking significant action steps to enhance our performance in areas that are important to our service delivery, overall growth and success."
Ryan Gorman, who most recently held the role of Senior Vice President, Strategic Operations, will be responsible for bringing a heightened focus on service delivery, defining a comprehensive integrated growth strategy and leveraging the resources of NRT and Realogy to drive a superior experience for affiliated agents, employees and customers. Since joining NRT, Gorman has worked with Zipf and his leadership team to craft and refine new strategic and operating plans throughout the company, in addition to launching NRT's new property management business. During his Realogy career, Gorman led the company's strategic acquisition of ZipRealty, Title Resource Group's acquisition of the title insurance agency and title insurance underwriting operations of Texas American Title Company and Cartus' acquisition of Primacy Relocation.
A major focus of NRT's growth strategy is to expand its independent sales associate base as well as increase the productivity of its existing sales associates. In Peter Sobeck's new role as Chief Recruiting Officer, he will work with field leadership to accelerate the recruitment of top-producing independent sales associates and refine NRT's existing retention programs. Sobeck has a well-rounded real estate background rooted in agent attraction and retention as demonstrated by his successful sales career and prior roles with NRT as a President's Council Manager, Senior Vice President of Business Development and in his most recent role as Chief Operating Officer for Citi Habitats, an NRT subsidiary in New York City.
2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Home Listing Report Finds Top 10 Most Expensive Housing Markets are in California
Tech is hot, and Silicon Valley is hotter. For the third time in five years, the technology capital of the world ranked as the most expensive place to live in the United States in the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Home Listing Report (HLR). According to the report, which is the most extensive home price comparison tool in the U.S., the average four-bedroom, two-bathroom home costs $2,453,718 in this year’s most expensive market, Saratoga, California. Six of the top 10 most expensive markets are in Silicon Valley, and all 10 are in California.
In contrast, the 2016 HLR found that you don’t have to move to the middle of nowhere to find an affordable home. Many of the most affordable markets are located in -or within an hour’s drive to- metropolitan areas that offer access to jobs, culture, entertainment or top universities. This year, Detroit, an iconic city which has seen a major revitalization, ranked as the most affordable market in the country where an average four-bedroom, two-bathroom home costs $64,110.
Top 10 Most Affordable Markets
Detroit*, Mich., $64,110
Cleveland*, Ohio, $73,073
Park Forest*, Ill., $78,392
Jamestown*, N.Y., $88,891
Utica*, N.Y., $92,891
Wilkes-Barre*, Pa., $94,436
Scranton*, Pa., $104,842
Huntington*, Ind., $105,614
Augusta*, Ga., $106,567
Palatka*, Fla., $110,655*
*Indicates a market in or within commuting distance to metropolitan areas
Coldwell Banker Real Estate, LLC, the original Silicon Valley real estate start-up, today announced that it has signed a supplier agreement with Worthington Group, Ltd., to directly supply the industry's first Smart Home Staging Kit directly to sellers who list their homes with Coldwell Banker®.
The Smart Home Staging Kit, available on Worthington Group's smart home staging website, allows participating sellers to enhance their homes and meet the guidelines of the newly released Smart Home Definition that was jointly developed by Coldwell Banker and CNET, the leading online technology reviewer. Coldwell Banker agents can then market qualified properties as a Smart Home bearing a Smart Home icon on the listing and inclusion on the brand's smart home resource site,coldwellbanker.com/smarthome.
Products can be purchased as a complete kit directly from Worthington or separately as individual items. Worthington is offering clients of the Coldwell Banker brand's affiliated sales associates a promotional rate of $999 for the complete kit. On SmartHomeStaging.com, consumers can also opt-in for installation by Pro.com service providers or elect other service providers of their choice.
A recent survey conducted by Coldwell Banker found that roughly half of Millennials and 42 percent of U.S. broadband households surveyed would "smart stage" their home to attract buyers. The survey also found that more than one-third of Americans (35 percent) now associate smart home technology with a move-in ready home — something that 71 percent of Americans would want if buying a house today.
"Smart Home technology is a consumer driven movement," said Sean Blankenship, chief marketing officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. "Our research confirms this technology has a positive influence in the appeal of a home -– and agents agree. Our homes, like cars, are providing convenience and a sense of security like never before. We want to bring the two together for our customers."
The Smart Home Staging Kit is also available for buyers and homeowners who wish to upgrade their homes.
Methodology
This survey was conducted online by Parks Associates on behalf of the Coldwell Banker brand within the United States betweenJune 6-9, 2016 through a third party via its omnibus product. The survey was conducted among 1,250 adults (ages 18 and over) among whom 801 own at least one smart home product. For the purposes of the survey, "smart home technology/products" were defined as products or tools that aid in controlling a home's functions such as lighting, temperature, security, safety, and entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or with a separate automatic system within the home itself. Survey sample was demographically targeted to be representative of the U.S. general population.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, the words "margin of error" are avoided as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in surveys for Research Now.
Out with the old and in with the high-tech. A new survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC and Parks Associates found that Americans are thinking differently about "move-in ready" homes; they now want it to be "smart ready" too.
According to the survey of 1,250 U.S. adults who have broadband Internet access at home, 71 percent of Americans want a move-in ready home. But the poll uncovered an interesting twist. Of the respondents who opted for a move-in ready home, 44 percent said that smart home technology should already be installed. Another 57 percent would consider an older home updated if it had smart home technology.
Additional Findings:
Of the 71% Who Want "Move-In" Ready: 44 percent agree that a move-in ready home has smart home technology installed 45 percent agree that a move-in ready home is new construction 74 percent agree that a move-in ready home has new appliances 83 percent agree that a move-in ready home has updated kitchen and bathrooms 85 percent agree that a move-in ready home has updated heating/cooling
So Who Wants to Buy a Smart Home?
Below is the demographic breakdown of Americans who would want a smart home: 61 percent of Millennials 52 percent of Gen Xers 50 percent of Boomers 59 percent of parents
This survey was conducted by Parks Associates on behalf of the Coldwell Banker brand within the United States between June 6-9, 2016 through a third party via an online omnibus product. The survey was conducted among 1,250 adults (ages 18 and over) among whom 801 own at least one smart home product. For the purposes of the survey, "smart home technology/products" were defined as products or tools that aid in controlling a home's functions such as lighting, temperature, security, safety, and entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or with a separate automatic system within the home itself. Survey sample was demographically targeted to be representative of the U.S. general population.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, the words "margin of error" are avoided as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in surveys for Research Now.
Charlie Young appointed President & CEO effective September 1; Budge Huskey announces retirement
Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, the original Silicon Valley real estate startup founded in 1906, today announced the appointment of Charlie Young as the brand's president and CEO, which will take effectSeptember 1, 2016. Young is a well-respected leader in the residential real estate and franchising industries, and this marks his return to Coldwell Banker after serving with distinction as president and CEO of ERA Franchise Systems LLC since 2009. Prior to that, Young spent five years in senior executive leadership roles with Coldwell Banker Real Estate, most recently as its chief operating officer.
"Charlie Young has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, solid strategic thinking and a passion for innovation during his 12 years with Realogy," said Alex Perriello, president and CEO of the Re "It will be a privilege and an honor for me to lead the Coldwell Banker Real Estate franchise system," said Young. "I have a wealth of respect for the brand's 100-plus year heritage and the tradition of innovation that has been the hallmark of Coldwell Banker for many years. I also look forward to reconnecting with the members of its distinguished network as we work together on growing the brand's considerable market presence, both domestically and internationally."
Young succeeds Budge Huskey, who elected to retire from the position after spending the past 18 years with the Coldwell Banker system in both franchising and brokerage executive roles. Huskey led the Coldwell Banker brand for the past six years, first as president and chief operating officer in June 2010 before becoming president and CEO in January 2013. During his tenure, Huskey was recognized for his industry leadership, which included being named among the top 10 most influential real estate leaders in the annual Swanepoel Power 200 ranking for 2016. Huskey plans to return to his home state of Florida where he eventually intends to return to the real estate brokerage business.
"I am incredibly grateful to Realogy for the amazing opportunities afforded to me over these many years, none more rewarding than the privilege of leading the iconic Coldwell Banker franchise network," said Huskey.
"I would like to thank Budge Huskey for his hard work, dedication and service to Coldwell Banker at both the brand and brokerage operations level," added Perriello. "He is a consummate professional, and we wish him well in the future."
About Charlie Young:Charlie Young was appointed as president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, which will take effect September 1, 2016. He is a well-respected leader in the residential real estate and franchising industries, and this marks his return to the Coldwell Banker brand after serving with distinction as president and CEO of ERA Franchise Systems LLC since 2009. Prior to that, Young spent five years in senior executive leadership roles with Coldwell Banker Real Estate. Both franchise brands are subsidiaries of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), and Young is a 12-year veteran of Realogy.
Young has more than 20 years of experience in business management, field operations, marketing and real estate operations. He was promoted to president and CEO of ERA Real Estate in April 2009, a role he held for seven and a half years after joining the ERA executive team in February 2009 as chief operating officer. During his tenure, Young was primarily responsible for repositioning the ERA brand with a number of key initiatives, including a major rebranding effort and most recently becoming the first real estate franchise system to connect its entire network on the innovative Zap® technology platform, which was developed by another Realogy subsidiary, ZapLabs. Young also has served in leadership roles on a number of Realogy Franchise Group projects through the years.
Between 2004 and 2009, Young served at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, as senior vice president of marketing and later as chief operating officer. During his initial term with Coldwell Banker, Young spearheaded several innovative programs that served as industry firsts while establishing him as a recognized leader in the industry.
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. alogy Franchise Group, the parent company of both Coldwell Banker and ERA. "He is well prepared to return to his roots and lead Coldwell Banker into the future. The leadership succession plan we have executed speaks to the management talent we have assembled within the Realogy Franchise Group."
Popular Video Series Returns Today with Big Names Showing their Home Base to Viewers of Home Field Advantage
Every baseball fanatic wonders how their favorite players live. For the third consecutive year, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, the original Silicon Valley real estate startup founded in 1906, and MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, have teamed up to give baseball fans an exclusive look inside the homes of baseball's biggest stars in the Home Field Advantage video series. Since the launch of the series in 2014, Coldwell Banker and MLB.com have brought audiences inside the homes of more than 25 of baseball's brightest stars.
"Everyone, including elite professional baseball players, has an emotional connection to their home. The Home Field Advantage series is a way to connect fans with their favorite players on a more personal level by seeing and hearing what home means to them," said Sean Blankenship, chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. "The partnership with MLB.com three years ago for the inaugural Home Field Advantage series was the first in a long line of partnerships that have allowed our brand to engage with new audiences. Each has fostered high engagement through unique content, especially with people visiting our website for the first time."
Home Field Advantage - Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers
The 11-week series, launching today on the Coldwell Banker®Blue Matter blog, will offer behind-the-scenes videos of 11 baseball star personalities. Each video will feature an exclusive look at the player's home — or their "home away from home," the player's home clubhouse and stadium — along with interviews sharing their home's most awesome amenities and moments. The 2016 video series launches with a look inside the home of Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star outfielder Joc Pederson.
A new player video will debut on the Coldwell Banker Real EstateBlue Matter blog every week through August 30. The series will also be featured on MLB.com and the official website of each player's team at different points throughout the baseball season. Coldwell Banker also has homepage advertising exclusively running on MLB.com today.
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 education curriculum," said Vin Bruno, CEDIA CEO. "This curriculum 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. Follow @CEDIA on Twitter, find us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/CEDIA.Region2, or join the CEDIA group on LinkedIn.
New definition creates a clear, standardized designation for real estate agents, home buyers and home sellers
Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, the original Silicon Valley real estate start-up founded in 1906, in collaboration with CNET, the world's largest and most trusted online source of consumer technology news and reviews, announced today a joint definition of the term "smart home." The definition is the first of its kind in the real estate industry and will help sales associates, as well as home buyers and sellers, accurately identify smart homes. The definition will provide a clear and unified designation to keep up with rapidly evolving technology in the home. Property listings that meet the definition will be identified with a smart home icon on coldwellbanker.com.
The full smart home definition is below:
Smart Home: A home that is equipped with network-connected products (i.e., "smart products," connected via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or similar protocols) for controlling, automating and optimizing functions such as temperature, lighting, security, safety or entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or a separate system within the home itself.
In order to be categorized as a smart home, the property must have a smart security feature that either controls access or monitors the property or a smart temperature feature, in addition to a reliable Internet connection. It must also include at leasttwo additional features from this list:
Appliances (smart refrigerators and smart washer / dryers)
Entertainment (smart TVs and TV streaming services)
Heating / Cooling (smart HVAC system, smart fans or vents)
Lighting (smart light bulbs and lighting systems)
Outdoors (smart plant sensors and watering systems)
Safety (smart fire / carbon monoxide detectors and nightlights)
Security (smart locks, smart alarm systems or cameras)
Temperature (smart thermostats)
Must Have an Internet Connection such as Cable, satellite or DSL
Must Have At Least Three *One of the categories must be security or temperature
Category
Examples
Appliances
Smart refrigerators, smart washer / dryers
Entertainment
Smart TVs, TV streaming service
Heating / Cooling
Smart HVAC system, smart fans or vents
Lighting
Smart light bulbs, lighting systems
Outdoors
Smart plant sensors, smart watering systems
Safety
Smart fire / carbon monoxide detectors, nightlights
Security*
Smart locks, networked security cameras
Temperature*
Smart thermostats
"With close to five million homes bought and sold in the U.S. each year, it is imperative that there are standardized guidelines for identifying smart homes on the market," said Sean Blankenship, chief marketing officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. "The new smart home definition will allow our network of independent sales associates to educate their home buyers and sellers regarding what defines a smart home and how the technology is making our lives more comfortable and convenient. We worked with CNET and tapped into the findings of their smart home testing facility in order to create a definition that is easy to understand and representative of the best smart home technology."
As demand for smart homes steadily increases, a consistent and clear definition is crucial. The technology experts from CNET and the real estate professionals from Coldwell Banker Real Estate worked together to create a definition that captures the complexities of the rapidly evolving technology landscape and provides clarity for a mass audience. This definition is part of the Coldwell Banker Real Estate initiative to embrace smart home technology through an agent education program, a dedicated online search tool to help home buyers find smart homes, research with CNET and sponsorship of the Smart Home Marketplace at CES.
"Eighty-seven (87) percent of Americans acknowledge the value of smart home technology, but only one in four has this technology in their homes," said Lindsey Turrentine, editor-in-chief of CNET.com. "The term 'smart home' can be intimidating and overwhelming. We want to make it easy for everyone to better understand what a smart home is, in order to simplify the process in helping them choose the right devices for their homes. Smart home technology today is fragmented, much like the PC industry 15 years ago. An official smart home definition for consumers and real estate agents will provide clarity and credibility to the term."
Consumers Have a Chance to Be Part of the Campaign by Using #HomeIsAwesomeness
Awesomeness. It's a feeling, an emotion. An unsolicited response to the truly amazing. It's the micro-moments people share in their homes that define who they are and who they will become. That's whyColdwell Banker Real Estate LLC, the original Silicon Valley real estate startup founded in 1906, is shining a spotlight on the short but life-changing experiences happening every day in homes around the world by featuring them in a new national advertising campaign titled "Awesomeness."
The new campaign flips the camera onto real people to shine a light on the real moments that make up the true value of our homes through a number of user-generated videos. A couple finding out their daughter is pregnant. A baby's contagious fit of giggles. A bulldog who can't get his giant bone through the doggy door no matter how hard he tries.
"Every day, 2.6 billion people are walking around with built-in video cameras in their pockets," said Sean Blankenship, chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. "We take out our phones to capture videos of our dogs and hilarious conversations with our children. When we look at how to express true awesomeness in the home, it's nearly impossible to do without showing the real moments themselves. Home is the center of our lives, and people are capturing amazing micro-moments daily, which allows us to create a campaign that expresses the true awesomeness of home."
As a supplement to the campaign, consumers are encouraged to submit videos and photos of the awesome moments in their homes using the hashtag #HomeIsAwesomeness for a chance to be featured in the national advertising campaign. The hashtag will also serve as a home for the thousands of poignant, funny and awesome moments people share throughout the campaign.
The campaign's four user-generated ad spots highlight various aspects of what make home awesome: Pregnancy announcement
In advance of Mother's Day, this spot celebrates the joy of a new mother and grandmother to be. Laughing Baby
The infectious laughter of this baby took the Internet by storm in 2011. Sleeping Baby
Struggling to keep your eyes open after a long day? From the perspective of an adorable baby, this ad highlights a moment we can all relate to. Bulldog
This spot highlights the mighty struggle of fitting a bone through a door for one English bulldog.
In addition to these 15- and 30-second spots, Coldwell Banker Real Estate is releasing a 60-second compilation spot with three soundtrack options (Welcome Home, No Place I'd Rather Be, The House We Call Home), asking consumers to vote for their favorite on the campaign's landing page. Coldwell Banker also used the Awesomeness theme in releasing a new X-Men spot in partnership with 20th Century Fox for the upcoming summer movie event, "X-Men: Apocalypse." The ads will run on NBC and various digital channels like Hulu and YouTube.
The Awesomeness ad spots were conceived by Siltanen & Partners, the national advertising agency for Coldwell Banker Real Estate, under the direction of Executive Creative Director Rob Siltanen. All of the ad spots are available atwww.coldwellbanker.com/brand-experience.
After a long day of saving the world, even the X-Men need a place to call home. That is why Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, the original Silicon Valley real estate startup founded in 1906, has joined forces with 20th Century Fox as the exclusive real estate partner of the upcoming summer movie event, "X-Men: Apocalypse," in theaters everywhere May 27.
Marketing campaign includes listing the fictional property, interviews about the home with the film's stars, director and production designer, and content written exclusively for Coldwell Banker®
The mock X-Mansion listing allows film and X-Men enthusiasts to browse photos and view a video home tour shot on the set of Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the infamous home of the X-Men. The listing includes a description of the 24+ bedroom estate, complete with an automated, state-of-the-art training facility and fully retractable basketball court. Taking advantage of the "Seller Story" feature unique to Coldwell Banker listings, the X-Mansion listing also includes a history and memory of the home written by one of the film's screenwriters.
"Over the last several years, one of our core marketing strategies has been to develop meaningful relationships with new audiences that allow us to showcase the emotional and lifestyle benefits of home and extend our reach beyond traditional real estate advertising," said Sean Blankenship, chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. "Through this exciting partnership, we are able to tell another awesome story about the meaning of home and transform the way real estate brands are reaching consumers today."
Taking the standard marketing partnership to the next level, Coldwell Banker and 20th Century Fox will develop content promoting the concept of "home," for humans and mutants. In addition to the listing and two Coldwell Banker video ad spots, the brands will also release a behind-the-scenes video filmed on the set of the X-Mansion, teasing the role the home will play in the upcoming film and the rooms that will be featured. This will include interviews with the film's stars, director, Bryan Singer, as well as the film's production designer and supervising art director, all detailing what it takes to bring the mansion to life on the silver screen.
"The X-Mansion is an iconic landmark in comic and film history. Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters has always represented a home filled with excitement and learning for the X-Men," said Zachary Eller, senior vice president, marketing partnerships, 20th Century Fox. "We're thrilled to work with Coldwell Banker to have some fun with the X-Mansion and give fans a never before seen sneak peek inside the mansion."
Report on Top 20 Luxury Real Estate Markets Shows Florida, Atlanta, Seattle & Austin Surge while Bay Area Tech Communities Leveled Off Due to Lack of Inventory
ales of $1 million-plus homes in 2015 surged 32 percent year-over-year in Austin, which is experiencing a boom in tech and entertainment as the home of the Festival; 31 percent in Fort Lauderdale, which benefits directly from its proximity to the perennial luxury hub of Miami; and 30 percent in Seattle, which has achieved gold status as a tech mecca. These increases — some of the largest of any cities in the nation — earn them standout status as entry-level luxury real estate markets as revealed by the new Luxury Market Report released today by the Coldwell Banker Previews International® marketing program.
$5 Million+ Category In the $5 million-plus category of home sales, California cities dominated the Top 10 list, earning five of the top spots, withSouthern California leading with six of the top 10 spots and four of the top five. The exclusive Southern California beachside destination of La Jolla was a clear frontrunner, doubling its sales in this range from 2014 to 2015. Meanwhile, Florida claimed five of the top spots.
$10 Million+ Category Newport Coast, one of the newest California coastal communities to join the $10 million-plus top 20, experienced a massive 175 percent increase in luxury sales more than $10 million. Florida added two newcomers to the list, Wellington and Lake Worth. Outside of New York, Beverly Hills continues to hold the top position for sales more than$10 million. Combining all cities that made the list in Los Angeles County, there were 96 unit sales more than $10 million, an increase of 17 percent in 2015. A stand out for luxury home sellers was the star-studded Pacific Palisades, Calif., commanding a 95 percent ratio of list to sales price.
Overall Luxury Market Summary for 2015 Across all price categories, Florida elevated its coveted position as a top destination for the real estate elite, recording double-digit growth in Miami, Naples and Palm Beach and adding newcomers Lake Worth and Wellington, which placed in the Top 20 list for $10 million sales for the first time.
Tech epicenters in the Bay area posted only modest gains in the number of closed sales as demand outstripped supply in 2015. San Francisco closed 57 percent more units than the previous year at $10 million-plus (11 units in 2015 vs. seven units in 2014) but declined 13 percent in sales of units priced $1 to $5 million, posting a mere 3 percent gain in sales of $5 to $10 million. "Some cities in the Bay area have a 42-day supply of inventory that has left many affluent buyers empty-handed and pushed down potential sales gains," says Mike James, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, San Francisco Peninsula and North Bay areas.
The ski markets presented a mixed picture: Aspen made the top six list of luxury home sales both in the $5 million-plus and $10 million-plus categories. Vail recorded a strong showing, but another perennially popular ski destination, Park City, ranked fifth in the nation in both active listings more than $1 million and more than $5 million, yet it did not make the top 20 in either sales category.
Overall, more than 50 percent of the Top 20 cities for luxury home sales across all price categories experienced an increase in activity and more than 40 percent met or exceeded the 90 percent mark of list to sales price. All Top 20 cities with the largest increases in sales of homes more than $1 Million revealed list-to-sales-price ratios of 90 percent or higher, demonstrating robust demand and that sellers are commanding close to asking price in key luxury markets nationwide.
The full Coldwell Banker Previews International list of the Top 20 Best Performing U.S. Cities in Luxury Real Estate by price points of $1 million-plus, $5 million-plus and $10 million-plus, and the high-net-worth consumer survey results can be viewed here: http://www.previewsinsideout.com/2016/04/luxury-market-report-spring-2016
Determining the right time to put a home on the market often tops the list of concerns for sellers – as it should, since timing can influence the final sale price of each home significantly, according to new data from Zillow®.
Zillow has found that, nationally, homes sold in late spring (May 1 through May 15), sell around 18.5 days faster and for 1 percent more than the average listingi. The optimal listing window has shifted since Zillow's first analysis, featured in Zillow Talk: Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate, likely because of low inventory in housing markets across the country. When Zillow conducted this analysis previously, there were nine percent more homesii on the market, and homes listed between mid-March and mid-April sold fastest and for the highest price.
"The housing market today is heavily influenced by low inventory," said Zillow chief economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. "Faced with increasingly competitive markets, many buyers are forced to consider several homes and make multiple offers, elongating the home shopping experience. By listing homes further into the shopping season, sellers may attract buyers who are increasingly eager to purchase and may be more willing to pay a premium for the home."
Local market variations and weather patterns make the buying season more volatile in some parts of the country. The markets with the largest sale differences between the best months and worst months to list are regions with distinct climate changesiii, such asSeattle, Minneapolis and Washington D.C., making it more important for sellers in these regions to carefully consider the timeframe of their home sale. Sellers in Texas and California will find themselves with more flexibility in list timeframe, as these markets show little variation in sale price based on listing month.
Applying this analysis to individual homes, today, Zillow launches Best Time to List, a new tool that helps homeowners identify the optimal time to list their own home for sale. The tool estimatesiv how much the timing of a listing will influence the final sale price.
Sellers can use this information to have a more informed conversation with their local real estate agent to determine the best time to put their home on the market.
