West Michigan Real Estate Website Delivers More Accurate Home Data From MLS Than Zillow

HOLLAND, Mich. - Accuracy is everything in real estate search, according to John Faber, who recently launched a home search website that he says boasts accurate listing data directly from the source MLS, unlike big-budget national companies like Zillow, which published studies show contain 15% to 30% inaccurate data on listings.

Faber's site, HollandHomesForSaleMI.com, provides quick and easy home listings sourced from the Denver MLS database for all the major neighborhoods in the Grand Haven and Holland area, including lakefront homes for sale in Michigan.

"The national real estate sites are a big problem for buyers," Faber says. "Home searchers inevitably turn to them because of their big advertising budgets, but the information they provide is received in part from secondary sources, and is not updated throughout the day from the MLS like our site."
According to Faber, that means buyers waste a lot of time searching on those sites, because house listing data changes frequently in the MLS.

"The listing data on our website comes directly from the MLS, so we know it's accurate. When a home gets an offer, it's marked 'pending' and the site reflects that. On the national sites, however, it can stay in the system for days, weeks, or even months, sending countless buyers on bunny trails for a property that isn't on the market," he says.Faber says Encompass Realtors provide a personal level of customer service far beyond the website.

"We have a team of seven Realtors who are experts at taking care of our clients' real estate needs. Whether they're looking for Grand Haven homes, or other Lake Michigan real estate, buyers can't simply call Zillow and ask them about a property, neighborhood, or financing," he says.

But he says that they can call Encompass Realtors for any of those questions.

"We're always happy to deliver not only accurate listing data, but a level of customer service that the big national sites can only dream about."

About Encompass Realtors

Encompass REALTORS® is a West Michigan real estate company that employs only the best real estate agents with superior customer service skills. Headed by John Faber and Thun Champassak, both long time West Michigan residents with strong family ties in the area, they take their clients' needs to heart when helping them buy or sell a home.

The company's approach is heavily focused on customer service and great communication. While other Holland real estate companies focus on size and numbers, Encompass focuses on earning the respect of its clients and community. The strong work ethic of its agents and sound business practices guarantee that all clients will be strongly represented.

The company is proud to include the following agents on its roster: April Kiekintveld, Rhonda Faber, John Faber, Kim Douma, Thun Champassak, Marc Bakker, and Melissa Steenwyk.

Encompass Realtors
John D. Faber, Broker
60 E Lakewood Blvd.
Suite 80
Holland MI, 49424
616-499-4251
john@johndfaber.com
http://www.hollandhomesforsalemi.com/
https://plus.google.com/101721885948405718043/about

MetLife Relocation Brings Jobs To Charlotte North Carolina

MetLife Inc. has been making news recently for relocating many of its employees to the Charlotte area. How many? Estimates are that 1000 employees or more may move to Charlotte and go to work in a new Ballantyne office that was rumored to have been leased by MetLife.

MetLife Inc. is a large Insurance company with about 64,000 employees, according to Yahoo! Finance. Based in New York City, they are in negotiations to move a portion of their operations to South Charlotte, specifically the new 250,000 s.f. Ballantyne Corporate Park office in South Charlotte.

Kam Pardasani is a REALTOR® specializing in executive relocation serives in Charlotte who will be helping many of MetLife's employees with their housing needs. He says Ballantyne's housing market appears to be a direct beneficiary of the MetLife relocation.

"I enjoy taking the stress out of my clients' transition to their new surroundings. The process of finding a new home can be stressful enough, but relocating your family and changing your work environment just adds to that."

"An employee relocation is a really big event in their life that can cause a lot of stress, and my job is to remove the hassles to make it exciting, like it should be."

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Kam Pardasani is a REALTOR® and creator of Charlotte area.com, a resource for Charlotte area home buyers and sellers to learn more about the Charlotte, North Carolina real estate market. A 15 year resident of Charlotte, he has been in the real estate business over 7 years. He is full time and full service, totally committed to meeting his clients' Charlotte real estate needs.

Cities Pardasani serves in the greater Charlotte area include Lake Norman, Ballantyne, Lake Wylie, Waxhaw, Weddington, and Matthews. He holds an MBA from Wheeling University, and has a well-rounded corporate background, including Pharmaceutical Sales Rep with Eli Lilly, Financial Adviser with Charles Schwab, and Sales with Wells Fargo. He has been recognized for outstanding customer service and sales wherever he has worked. His background and friendly personal service have made him a valuable asset for corporate transfers and physician relocation to the Charlotte area.

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More on the MetLife relocation.

Real Estate SEO vs. Social Media: Rethinking The Metrics

There is news out from SEO and Social Media analysts about the efficiency of engaging in Social Media vs SEO for the purpose of generating real estate sales. It turns out that many real estate agents are spending a disproportionate time on marketing efforts that are not producing intended results when the source of sales is taken into account.

For more information on this analysis of Minnesota real estate SEO, start here:

http://agentnews.weebly.com/1/post/2013/03/real-estate-marketing-expert-discu...

Florida REALTOR® Jeff Tricoli Says Economic Factors May Indicate Increased Palm Beach Market Activity

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Florida real estate agent and local short sale expert Jeff Tricoli says economic indicators appear to be showing more activity in the Palm Beach, Florida market.

Tricoli says continued tightening of new and existing home inventory in the area and rising prices compared to last year are bringing more sellers into the Palm Beach real estate market.

"We're seeing steady price increases due to the fact that there are just not enough homes available on the market to meet demand."

He says bank owned inventory also appears to be tightening, unlike last year when homes offered for sale by banks put a greater amount of price pressure on private sellers.

"Banks have certainly been a driving force in the market for the past couple of years, but we're seeing a move away from that trend."

According to Tricoli, short sales are still fairly common, but are not placing significant pricing pressure on the market.

"There is a steady flow of short sales coming on the market as the economy takes its toll and owners try to avoid foreclosure, but short sales are not overwhelming the market as in previous years."

About Jeff Tricoli

Born and raised in Palm Beach county, Jeff obtained his undergraduate and Master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University.  He has been in real estate for over 10 years, and is an expert in short sales, foreclosures, and REO properties.

Jeff regularly handles investment property transactions for both investors and sellers, providing experienced advice for owners selling their home. He brings expert marketing skills as a sellers’ agent, and is a tireless buyers’ agent, listening closely to clients’ needs to find the perfect property for their needs and lifestyle.

Jeff services all of Palm Beach County, Florida, especially West Palm Beach Real Estate, Lake Worth, Lantana, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and Jupiter.

Jeff Tricoli REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Palm Beach Central
2994 Jog Rd.
Lake Worth, FL 33467
561-628-0299
jtricoli@hotmail.com
http://lakeworthhomes.com

Boynton Beach Real Estate Agent Jeff Tricoli Says Waterfront Homes Better At Retaining Values

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Palm Beach REALTOR® Jeff Tricoli, who specializes in marketing Boynton Beach listings, says waterfront homes are often better at retaining value than other types of homes.

He says this is most likely due to the fact that people have always had an attraction to living near the water, and this translates to extra demand for properties that help them do that.

Whatever the reason, Tricoli says a waterfront home often fetches a higher price, sometimes as much as 3 to 5%, than a comparable inland property. It also tends to retain its value better, and spends less time on the market when listed for sale.

"One of the great things about my website is that buyers can easily find waterfront properties in any of the cities and towns near Lake Worth just by clicking a link or checking a box."

He says that waterfront homes and luxury homes listed on the site are updated more than once a day, meaning buyers are seeing current listings and don't have to waste time looking at homes that are no longer available.

For sellers, Tricoli says he would be happy to take on their waterfront home listing and market it effectively to buyers in the community.

"There is a lifestyle benefit to living near the water that is hard to put a price tag on, but I'll do a detailed, free market analysis for sellers to determine the right value to ask for their waterfront home."

Tricoli also says he can help Boynton Beach sellers who may be upside down on their mortgage with a short sale to avoid foreclosure.

"I've worked closely with many banks to shepherd short sales in Boynton Beach and other Lake Worth communities through the short sale process."

About Jeff Tricoli

Born and raised in Palm Beach county, Jeff obtained his undergraduate and Master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. He has been in real estate for over 10 years, and is an expert in short sales, foreclosures, and REO properties.

Jeff regularly handles traditional sales and short sales for both buyer and seller, providing experienced advice. He brings expert marketing skills as a sellers’ agent, and is a tireless buyers’ agent, listening closely to clients’ needs to find the perfect property for their needs and lifestyle.

Jeff services all of Palm Beach County, including Atlantis, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Jupiter Farms, Jupiter Island, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Worth, Lantana, Loxahatchee, Manalapan, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Island, Palm Springs, Royal Palm Beach, Singer Island, Tequesta, Wellington, and West Palm Beach.

Jeff Tricoli REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty

Palm Beach Central
2994 Jog Rd.
Lake Worth, FL 33467
561-628-0299
jtricoli@hotmail.com
http://lakeworthhomes.com
http://shortsalestrategies.com

Physical Assets Like Real Estate Perform Well In Inflationary Economy Says Cupertino Management Firm

CUPERTINO, Calif. - With the Federal Reserve promising continued Quantitative Easing, Washington jargon for printing money, a local real estate investment expert says physical assets may be the best way to navigate the next four years.

Jerry Garrity, President of First Statewide Realty in Cupertino, says there is always a flight to tangible assets when the value of a currency declines.

"Unfortunately, most people don't read the news, and even for those who do read the news, they are not necessarily picking up on reality of what the Fed is doing. They are essentially making the dollar worth less with each round of QE. I don't want to sound alarmist, but if you do that long enough, the dollar will become essentially worthless."

Garrity says that the reason investors often move their capital to tangible assets like real estate and gold is that these items generally retain their value over time.

"While the price of the dollar may fluctuate wildly, the underlying tangible asset tends to have some stability to it."

He's not one to prognosticate on what the future holds for the U.S. economy in the coming year, but his recommendation to be prepared has served him and his clients well through his long career in real estate investing.

"I've managed properties for some of Silicon Valley's most seasoned investors, and there's one thing the best ones have in common. They hedge against rocky economies by growing their portfolio of real estate assets over time.

About First Statewide Realty

Jerry Garrity's First Statewide Realty is a seasoned expert in property management whose expertise has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and other publications. His Silicon Valley property management company specializes in managing single family homes, condominiums, townhouses and other investment property. Services are provided for all of Silicon Valley, including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Campbell, Mountain View, Los Altos, Saratoga, Cupertino, and Los Gatos.

The firm has been in business for over 21 years, and is a member of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, Tri-County Apartment Association and National Association of Residential Property Managers.

Jerry Garrity
First Statewide Realty
20045 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Suite 2-D
Cupertino, CA 95014
Tel: 408-253-1000
Lic#: 01036982
Email: investments@firststatewiderealty.com
Website: http://www.firststatewiderealty.com

Michael P. Arias Joins Partner As Senior Project Manager

TORRANCE, Calif. /LOS ANGELES - Partner Engineering and Science Inc. (Partner), a national environmental and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Torrance, Calif, and one of the country’s fastest-growing companies, has hired Michael P. Michael P. AriasArias as senior project manager in the Torrance office. Arias will bolster Partner’s senior technical staff primarily servicing institutional and equity clients in Southern California.
 
Arias brings over 25 years of experience in the architectural and construction fields to Partner’s Investment Advisory Group. Arias has performed property condition assessments, construction cost and document reviews, construction monitoring and owner’s representation services for institutional and private clients nationwide. He has developed an expertise in engineering cost analysis, enabling him to effectively evaluate construction related activities such as work item prioritization, assessments and construction remediation projects. Arias is also a specialist on the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).
 
”Our equity and institutional clients require a high level of detail and expertise when evaluating their assets, and Michael is exactly this caliber of professional,” said Kevin Schmitt, PE, technical director of Partner’s Investment Advisory Group. “He is a major addition to our Investment Advisory Group.”
 
Throughout his career, Arias has provided comprehensive reviews for all commercial property types and for a variety of major clients, ranging from CBRE to MetLife Insurance. Arias’s extensive past project history includes an acquisition Property Condition Assessment of a one million square foot mall in Valencia, Calif. for an institutional client, a Property Condition Assessment of a 26-floor trophy office building in Los Angeles, Calif. for a real estate firm, Construction Monitoring for an 800-room addition to a five-star hotel in San Diego, Calif. and Owners’ Representation for numerous industrial developments in California’s Inland Empire area.
 
“I am thrilled to join the Partner Investment Advisory Group and look forward to supporting clients with a wider range of services and stronger geographical footprint, not to mention Partner’s considerable depth of expertise,” said Arias. “I find it refreshing that Partner emphasizes being an industry educator and understanding our clients’ needs and perspectives.”
 
Prior to joining Partner, Arias was the assistant vice president at Marx/Okubo Associates, Inc., in Pasadena, Calif., where he completed hundreds of Property Condition Assessments for numerous types of real estate investment entities and performed several large portfolio evaluations for clients such as IDS Real Estate Group, American Realty Advisors and TA Associates Realty.  In addition, Arias was an associate at ATC/Diagnostic Environmental, Inc., and an architectural project manager in the design/build department of Berry Construction, Inc., a general construction company.
 
Arias graduated from California State Polytechnic University, in Pomona, Calif., with a bachelor’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning. He is a California Architectural Candidate as well as a California Certified Access Specialist (CASp) Candidate. He is a member of the International Code Council and an associate member of American Institute of Architects (AIA).

About Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.

One of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, Partner Engineering and Science Inc. (Partner) is a national environmental and engineering consulting firm specializing in evaluating properties in connection with real estate transactions, development or management. This includes: Environmental Due Diligence; Subsurface Investigations and Remediation; Industrial Hygiene; Property Condition Assessments; Seismic Risk Assessments / Probable Maximum Loss; Energy Audits, Engineering and Implementation; Land Surveying; and Construction Risk Management. Based in Torrance, Calif., Partner has over 200 employees in 24 offices nationwide. Meridian Boise Eagle.

REALTOR® Rick Arbutine Forecasting Orlando Real Estate Sales Growth In 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando REALTOR® Rick Arbutine is predicting real estate sales growth in the Orlando market in 2013, including the luxury home segment.

Arbutine says experience and his review of regional economic and market factors leads him to believe that 2013 will see incremental sales and price growth in Orlando real estate in spite of some
headwinds from several segments of the economy.

"While the politicians seek to extract higher income taxes from the rich, the truth is that the wealthy don't usually rely on taxable salaries; they invest and produce capital gains. One of the most consistent investments for centuries has been real estate, and I believe we'll see more of it in this economic environment."

He says he expects real estate sales and investment purchases to improve in the new year as wealthy investors seek to protect their capital and grow it by sheltering their dollars in hard assets like real property.

"I believe 2013 will see a general increase in real estate purchases, simply because there are few other alternatives for safe investing in the current environment.”

He also notes that the Orlando market has always been one of the areas which offer much potential for future growth due to the proximity of Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and other appealing vacation attractions.

"The Orlando market in particular is in a good position to be the recipient of global investment dollars, because tourists visiting from around the world come and see the long term investment potential for purchasing a second home here."

He says that while the luxury home market won't be driven by the same factors driving investment grade home, "A rising tide in one area of the market tends to lift all boats." As a result, he expects 2013 to see considerable growth in the luxury home market, both in terms of total sales and price appreciation.

About Rick Arbutine REALTOR®

Rick Arbutine is a REALTOR® and expert in buying and selling Orlando luxury properties, including Walt Disney World and the surrounding communities of Longwood, Lake Mary, Windermere, and Sanford. A top agent with Charles Rutenberg Realty, Arbutine is known for introducing his clients to Orlando’s most exclusive communities, helping them explore the million dollar listings that define the Orlando's luxury real estate market.

The level of real estate client served by Arbutine expects and gets exemplary service. Arbutine has extensive experience in high-end homes and a deep understanding of the caliber of professional service and personal attention it takes to satisfy his clients. He is an attentive agent who is committed to always being available to answer questions, manage solutions to challenges that may arise during a transaction, and provide guidance. In addition, his team will insure that each transaction is complemented with a comprehensive selection of tools, resources and support staff.

LuxuryHomesOrlandoFla.com
Rick Arbutine, REALTOR®
Charles Rutenberg Realty
1900 Summit Power Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32810
Direct: 407-928-8113
Fax: 407-644-2032
http://luxuryhomesorlandofla.com

Palm Beach Island REALTOR® Jeff Tricoli Receives High Customer Ratings

LAKE WORTH, Fla. - REALTOR® Jeff Tricoli, an agent specializing in Palm Beach Island real estate, has received high marks for customer service on the website RealEstateRatings.net.

The website allows customers to submit real estate agent reviews, testimonials, and ratings for customer service and other criteria after a home purchase or sale.

Tricoli says his real estate business is focused around a strong work ethic and a high level of attention to clients' needs.

"You can't just list a home in the MLS and expect it to sell without some hard work marketing it. I have always gone the extra mile to get my listings top exposure online through my website, listing syndication services, online ads, and print ads."

He says the effort put into marketing each listing has paid off with happy clients and plenty of referral business.

"My clients send their friends and family because they know they can trust me to get the job done when it comes to buying or selling a home on Palm Beach Island or the West Palm Beach area."

"It's very satisfying to get high customer reviews from my clients."

About Jeff Tricoli

Born and raised in Palm Beach County, Jeff obtained his undergraduate and Master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University.  He has been in real estate for over 10 years, and is an expert in short sales, foreclosures, and REO properties.

Jeff regularly handles investment property transactions for both investors and sellers, providing experienced advice for owners selling their home. He brings expert marketing skills as a sellers’ agent, and is a tireless buyers’ agent, listening closely to clients’ needs to find the perfect property for their needs and lifestyle.

Jeff services all of Palm Beach County, Florida, especially West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Lantana, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Palm Beach Island, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and Jupiter.

Jeff Tricoli REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Palm Beach Central
2994 Jog Rd.
Lake Worth, FL 33467
561-628-0299
http://lakeworthhomes.com
https://twitter.com/realtypalmbeach
https://www.facebook.com/RealEstatePalmBeach