Oh my gosh! We are now Number #1!

December 31, 2009 / Posted by: marilyn

Keller Williams Realty Ranked as Top Real Estate Franchise by Industry Leader and Entrepreneur Magazine AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 21, 2009) — Keller Williams Realty joined the ranks of the top franchises in the world last week, when the company was ranked as the No. 1 real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur magazine. During the same week, the company was also voted the Most Recognizable Brand of Real Estate Franchises for 2009 in an industry-wide survey for the Swanepoel TRENDS Report. “The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is a respected source for the real estate industry and beyond, as is Entrepreneur magazine, and we are excited to see our agents honored in this way for all of their hard work,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Keller Williams Realty. “We certainly wouldn’t have been included on either list without the dedication and resolve of our agents.” According to the ranking in Entrepreneur magazine, the most important criteria to determine the top franchises included financial strength and stability, as well as growth rate and size of the franchise system. The magazine also looked at the number of years the company has been in business and the length of time it’s been franchising, in addition to start-up costs and financial data. Additionally, Keller Williams Realty made an impressive showing on the overall list, placing higher than any other real estate franchise. The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is published by Stefan Swanepoel, a real estate industry speaker and insider. The survey was crafted to determine the Most Recognizable Brand for Real Estate Franchises for his report out in February 2010. The survey included votes cast by 11,000 plus real estate agents, who cast 390,000 votes to select the top 10. Earlier in the year,Keller Williams Realty also received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms from J.D. Power and Associates for the second year in a row. “We are extremely proud that our associates and company are being recognized for our strength and stability during this time in our industry,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO, Keller Williams Realty. “We attribute our success to being in business with phenomenal people and to our core business models, which have allowed our franchises to thrive during any market.” ### About Keller Williams Realty Inc.: Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 679 offices and 73,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. For more information, visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com).

Happy New Year! Welcome 2010

December 30, 2009 / Posted by: marilyn

So, I am sitting back looking at my laptop trying to figure out how to make folks understand that NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY ON MARCO ISLAND AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA!  How do I convince my friends, family and clients that the market is perfect for WHATEVER  you want to do – buy or SELL! 

Okay, I wanted to give you an idea as to what our market is doing.  The Naples area has suffered just as the rest of the country from the past three years of economical duress.  Our prices have re-adjusted approximately 62% of their inflated highs of 2006.  The inflated prices were due to many things as we all know now;  Lending subprime market, over aggressive realtors pricing each home more then the last, investors who were not qualified to afford the purchases they were making… you see the picture. 

 

 

 

I would be happy to put you on an automated email system which will alert you to any new or revised listings of properties which may interest you.  This is a terrific way to keep on top of the market changes.  We are seeing prices leveling at this time.  You want to make sure you know when they start to move up again as when they do —- they will move quickly in some cases.  Our inventory is also reducing which will have an influence on the market values as well.  You want to keep on top of that too.

 

Well, let’s hope for a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year!  Welcome 2010!