News, Photos & Up-Comming Events of the CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes Sales & Marketing Team

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Get to Know CENTURY 21 : The LeadRouter System

Do you know about some of the tools CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes agents have and enjoy?The CENTURY 21® System is focused on delivering world-class technology to our sales associates, enabling you to exceed the needs of your homebuyers and sellers.

The CENTURY 21® LeadRouter System gives you a competitive advantage over competing real estate companies in your market by responding to customer inquiries promptly.So how does it work? LeadRouter is a comprehensive leads management application that captures and distributes offline and online leads from multiple sources. It’s incumbent upon the agent to accept the lead and manage to closure.

Why is LeadRouter critical to an Agents business?

According to the National Association of Realtors® 2009 Buyers and Sellers Survey, a customer will work with the first agent to call them back between 70 – 80% of the time. Additional research shows that average response time by an agent is approximately 24 hours and only 50% of leads ever receive contact. This is a huge opportunity for the CENTURY 21 System!

To learn more about LeadRouter and our other state-of-the-art technologies, contact us today at 626.358.1858 or 626.963.7621.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

New Survey Provides Insight into First-Time Home Buyers

According to a survey of first-time home buyers and sellers released by Century 21 Real Estate LLC last month, over 80% of those polled feel the current housing market is more affordable today than this time last year, despite the fact that 40% are more worried about the economy.

While market conditions are currently attractive and favor buyers, first-time buyers anticipate that housing prices will soon begin to rise and in fact, expect an increase by this time next year, re-establishing the balance between buyers and sellers in the market.

That’s one more reason this is a great time to purchase a home.

“This is a generational opportunity for a first-time home buyer looking to take advantage of this market,” said Rick Davidson, president and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. “If you are considering buying real estate, now is the time to consult with a real estate professional.”

The results of the CENTURY 21 survey are in line with a survey released April 6 by Fannie Mae, finding that two-thirds of Americans (65%) are still bullish on homeownership, preferring to own a home despite the challenging economy.

Due to the complexity of today’s real estate market, 85% of those polled in the CENTURY 21 survey said real estate professionals serve an important role in the home buying and selling process, and about 70% either used or expect to use one.

“Buying a home is the largest, single financial decision most people will make in their lifetime,” said Davidson. “This is where a real estate professional can help.”

If you’re interested in buying a home, give our CENTURY 21 office a call today, and we’ll put you in touch with an agent who will help you locate and purchase the home of your dreams.

To learn more about the CENTURY 21® First-Time Home Buyer and Seller Survey, Click Here

Friday, April 30, 2010

Buyers’ Negotiating Power On the Upswing!

Great news if you’re looking to purchase a home: For the second month in a row, real estate Web site Zillow.com is reporting that in early 2010, homebuyers across much of the U.S. negotiated larger discounts off the listing price of homes than they did the prior month.

Buyers in the United States paid 2.8 percent less than the last listing price in January—more than the 2.7 percent discount in December and 2.6 percent in November. December was the first month in which buyers actually regained negotiating power; during most of 2009, buyer discounts shrank.

A year ago, in January 2009, buyers were able to negotiate a median 4.5 percent off the last listing price of homes for sale.

According to Zillow, the biggest discounts are in Florida—Vero Beach and Punta Gorda yielded discounts of 8.6 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively—while Toledo, Ohio and Flagstaff, Ariz. ranked high as well. But discounts can be had all over the nation. New York, N.Y. buyers got 5 percent off the last listing price in January, Chicago, Ill. buyers got 5.1 percent and Cleveland, Ohio buyers got 5.8 percent.

Sellers did well in some markets, however. Most buyers in places like El Centro and Stockton, Calif., for example, actually paid more than the last listing price of homes sold in January.

To speak with one of our REALTORS about current real estate opportunities today, contac us at 626.358.1858 or 626.963.7621.

Are Your Ready to Connect 2 the 1?

Quite simply, Connect 2 the 1 means connecting current buyers and sellers to the one agent, one home, one neighborhood, one school that's right for them.

With April kicking off the busiest home-buying season of the year, CENTURY 21 offices like CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes will focus on the home seller with a powerful tool to help them in their transition to a new abode. While the government is giving consumers up to $8,000 tax credit for buying a home until April, 340, 2010, our brand is giving home sellers a chance to earn $8,000 in cash for listing their home with a CENTURY 21agent through June 30, 2010!

We at CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes are excited to locally bring this opportunity to sellers in the San Gabriel Valley. At our offices, open houses and on-line you'll able to reach out to one of our skilled-professionals and learn why its time to list your home for sale with our office.

In the months to come our team invites you to Connect 2 the 1 CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes agent who will be able to help you achieve your goals. There is no better time to understand our emerging market and we have the tools and incentives to make the most out of your home. Learn more today by contacting our agents at 626.358.1858 or 626.963.7621.

Monday, April 12, 2010

There’s Still Time to Claim Up to an $8,000 Tax Credit on a Home Purchase

The federal homebuyer tax credit is set to expire at the end of April, but there’s still time for first-time homebuyers, and even existing homeowners, to take advantage of this substantial incentive to purchase a home.

First-time buyers may qualify for as much as an $8,000 credit, and buyers who already own a home can claim up to $6,500, providing they sign a binding purchase contract on or before April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010.

Remember--these are tax credits, not simply tax deductions, so they reduce the amount of federal income tax owed dollar-for-dollar.

Special rules apply for U.S. military personnel, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community, who have an additional year to buy and close if they are on a period of official extended duty.

The credits apply to the purchase of a principal residence. Buyers may qualify as long as their income doesn’t exceed $125,000 for single buyers or $225,000 for married couples. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price, up to $8,000 for first-time buyers, or up to $6,500 for move-up or downsize buyers.

It’s important to remember that “first-time buyer” does not necessarily mean someone who has never owned a home. Under the law, a buyer is eligible if he has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to purchase.

The tax credit, combined with historically low interest rates and an appealing inventory of available homes, has created a unique opportunity for buyers who have been waiting for the right time to jump into the market. But that opportunity will expire on April 30.

For more information about the tax credits, or to learn about available properties in your area, call our CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes today at 626.358.1858 or 626.963.7621.

*This is not meant to be tax or legal advice. Consult a tax professional for details.

About CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes

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Monrovia, California, United States