Well, not really the end but this blog has moved.  Please visit ToddLongBIC.com.  Thanks for reading.  Please leave a comment so I know what you like, dislike and would like to know.

Todd Long, BIC

COLDWELL BANKER ‘ON LOCATION’ YOUTUBE CHANNEL
DRAWS A CROWD

Immersive YouTube Channel Now Most Viewed in Real Estate Industry;
Attracts more than 200,000 Visitors in First Month and Features 1,700 Localized Videos

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (June 23, 2009) – In just one month since its launch, Coldwell Banker “On Location,” an innovative branded YouTube™ channel focused on real estate search and insights, has reached the milestone of more than 200,000 visitors to the site.  Designed to offer consumers a new way to search for and interact with real estate information, listings and local insights via video, the channel currently features more than 1,700 videos (1,300 of which are new since the site launched), that highlight behind-the-scenes looks at towns and neighborhoods, smart tips and timely news on real estate topics, and video listings of homes for sale. 

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC launched On Location in May 2009 becoming the first brand to fully tap into the power of video.  Since its launch, On Location has been among the top ten most-viewed brand channels on YouTube and is the leading real estate brand page on the site. 

“The response we have seen since the launch of On Location has been tremendous and it is a confirmation that video truly is the way of the future for real estate,” said Michael Fischer, senior vice president, marketing, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.  “The Coldwell Banker sales force has already uploaded more than 1300 original videos with many, many more on the way.  We are proud to lead the industry with an online resource that provides consumers with information to help them through the home buying and selling process.”

Two areas of strategic focus set Coldwell Banker On Location apart from other real estate Web sites.  First, it showcases the power of video to bring real estate more vividly to life – offering behind-the-scenes looks at towns and neighborhoods, smart tips and timely news on real estate topics, and video listings of homes for sale.  Second, content posted to On Location has a strong emphasis on local information and insights, so consumers can dig deeper into the areas of the country that interest them most.

Fischer noted that the channel is continuing to grow with content being added every day.  “As more and more videos are uploaded, On Location will become an even greater asset to consumers. It has the potential to be the Web’s richest array of real estate video content, and the results we have seen thus far prove that we are well on our way,” he said.

To create On Location, Coldwell Banker Real Estate closely collaborated with both YouTube, a Google subsidiary, and Google to develop a customized framework and user experience. In addition, On Location is the first branded YouTube channel to use dynamic IP lookup to search for videos, which automatically serves up local results when visitors first hit the site.

Development of the On Location site was a collaborative effort by Coldwell Banker interactive agency partners, FD Kinesis and Bootstrap Software, Inc.

To see a video about Coldwell Banker On Location please visit:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1AKZDhUrLY

 

YouTube is a subsidiary of Google Inc.

About Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2008, Franchise Times magazine’s prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the ninth straight year and 12th among franchisors in all industries. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,500 residential real estate offices and more than 101,000 sales associates in 47 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge® Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Jim Gillespie, President and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, appeared on Bloomberg TV this morning as one stop on his Washington, D.C. tour.  Jim took this opportunity to while in the Rayburn House Office Building and the Hart Office Building to talk about the number of first time home buyers taking advantage of the $8,000 tax credit and buying the foreclosure and short sales, helping to alleviate our nations over supply of home inventory.  He also took this time to speak to:

• Congressman Charley Rangel’s top aide
• Congressman George Radanovich and his aides
• Senator Richard Shelby’s top aides on the US Senate Banking Committee
• Senator Charles Schumer’s top aides

about the many other reasons we are seeing a positive impact from the $8K first time home buyers tax credit and why the nation’s economy would benefit from expanding that credit to all buyers of primary residences for a year and increasing it to $15K.   He was meet with cautiously optimistic support of this plan.  He also made stops on CNBC and Bloomburg News.

A push to our government leaders from all of us, from Presidents of large Real Estate organizations  right down to the agents on the streets, would be a great help to get this market back on track.  I believe our market has corrected a health amount but this is enough.   Lioke Jim I feel we need to get the move up buyer back in the market not just the first time home buyer.  We need the buyers back in this market now.  Reach out to your Senators and House representatives.

Representative Karen B. Ray (lower Iredell, Co.)

NC House of Representatives 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1025 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5741 or 704-660-5961 Email: Karenr@ncleg.net

Representative Ric Killian (Mecklenburg, Co.)

NC House of Representatives 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1010 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5886 Email: Rick@ncleg.net

Representative Thom Tillis (Mecklenburg, Co.)

NC House of Representatives 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1002 Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5828 or 704-248-2980 Email: Thomt@ncleg.net or www.thomtillis.com

Senator Kay Hagan

Thank you to all who attended rebarcamp Charlotte a few weeks ago.  We had a turn out of about 160 people and just a great sharing of idea for Real Estate Pro’s.   A special thanks to ALL of our sponsors and my fellow organizers Chad Huck, Michael Gibbons, Lori Bee, Debe Maxwell, Sandy Aichner.  What a team!  If you were not able to attend this year please keep an eye on the website as we plan an even bigger and better event for  next year.

———————-

Subject: Government Affairs Update 05/29/09 

Tax Credit Bridge Loans Get Okay
The government has given the green light to the financing of bridge loans of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers who qualify for tax credits under the Obama administration’s economic stimulus plan. The new mortgagee letter stipulates that government agencies, nonprofits and FHA-approved lenders can give advances on the tax credits.

It’s anticipated that the money (if granted) would finance some of the closing costs for first-time homebuyers. The bridge loan will actually be recorded as a second lien. Also, consumers cannot receive cash back from the loan. The government notes, “The tax credit advance second mortgage must not provide for a balloon payment before 10 years.”

The federal tax credit is for $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price of the home – whichever is smaller. It expires later this year.

The mortgagee letter notes, “A phase-out of the credit begins when the taxpayer’s modified adjusted income exceeds $75,000 or $150,000 if married filing jointly, and is eliminated at $95,000 or $170,000 if married filing jointly.”

David Knox created a video to help you explain the $8,000 tax credit to the consumer visiting your website.  https://www.davidknox.com/shop/web_video/  You can use this video for $100 or create something of your own but be creative, be memorable and provide something of value to web consumers if you want them to remember you.

Three Golden Rules for Cultivating Referrals

To win referrals, you have to follow three important rules. Follow just two of the three rules and growth of your referral-based business will be stunted. Follow all three, and you’ll open the floodgates to success.

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20090508_threegolden.htm <http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/ct/Y7Snnb61yYT8/>

If you are a Duke Power customer you could be paid to host solar panels on the roof of your home. http://bit.ly/duke-solar

Enter the Coldwell Banker®
$15,000 Makeover Money Sweepstakes
It could be a sauna in the backyard, a movie theater in the basement, or that kitchen
with the new appliances you’ve always wanted. Whatever it is, it’s your dream project,
and here’s your chance to get it going with $15,000 from the Coldwell Banker Network!

David Knox has a short new video on Seller Motivation. https://www.davidknox.com/knox_sales_…

Do you want some interesting Face Book Information? http://www.cyberhomesblog.com/media/c…

Remember Friday May 15th is ReBarCamp Charlotte. Come out for some free Real Estate Technology training! The event is shaping up to be an action packed day of information you can use at the NC Music Factory. http://www.rebarcamp.com/charlotte

If you are not famliar with David Knox,k you should be.  He’s a very good educator in Real Estate Agency.  I have several of his DVD’s.   Here is a free video.

This is a really cool idea.  Real Estate related video search based on your location.

http://www.youtube.com/coldwellbankerNEWS RELEASE                            

CONTACT INFORMATION:

David Siroty                                             Heather Roberts                                     Kathleen Reynolds
Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC        Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC         CooperKatz & Co. 
973.407.7199                                            973.407.5590                                            917.595.3031              
David.Siroty@coldwellbanker.com        Heather.Roberts@coldwellbanker.com  kreynolds@cooperkatz.com

 

NEW COLDWELL BANKER ‘ON LOCATION’ YOUTUBE CHANNEL FIRST IN INDUSTRY TO FULLY TAP POWER OF VIDEO FOR REAL ESTATE SEARCH AND INSIGHTS

First Branded YouTube Channel to Use Dynamic IP Lookup to Generate Specific Local Results and Help Consumers Learn About Real Estate Issues That Matter to Them

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (May 4, 2009) – Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC today launched an innovative branded YouTube™ channel designed to offer consumers a new way to search for and interact with real estate information and listings.  Named Coldwell Banker On Location (www.youtube.com/coldwellbanker), the channel was created to more fully tap into the power of video for real estate search and discovery, and to drill deeper into the local insights that consumers want.

To create On Location, Coldwell Banker Real Estate closely collaborated with both YouTube, a Google subsidiary, and Google to develop a customized framework and user experience – offering what is arguably one of the most comprehensive and immersive brand channels on the YouTube platform.  On Location is the first branded YouTube channel to use dynamic IP lookup to search for videos, which automatically serves up local results when visitors first hit the site.

An Emphasis on Video and Local Content

Two areas of strategic focus set Coldwell Banker On Location apart from other real estate Web sites.  First, it showcases the power of video to bring real estate more vividly to life – offering behind-the-scenes looks at towns and neighborhoods, smart tips and timely news on real estate topics, and video listings of homes for sale.  Second, content posted to On Location has a strong emphasis on local information and insights, so consumers can dig deeper into the areas of the country that interest them most.

Supporting this highly localized perspective is one of the more unique aspects of Coldwell Banker On Location – the ability to search for videos through a special map feature that has been developed specifically for the site.  The map ‘widget’ is a prominent feature at the top of the On Location site and the main starting point for consumers searching for a home, a specific area of the country or more information on a real estate topic.

At launch, Coldwell Banker On Location will be the first YouTube brand channel to use dynamic IP look-up, so visitors to the site will automatically be shown video search results from their own area / zip code.  Then by clicking the link “Browse By Map,” consumers can enter the city / state or zip code of their choosing – which will immediately pull up all videos posted to On Location associated with that area.  These video results are displayed as icons on the map.

Each search will return a wide range of video results, including video listings, spotlights on that local community and Coldwell Banker sales associate/representative profiles.  Consumers can click through to view specific videos – as well as connect back to the main Coldwell Banker Web site to learn more about a specific property for sale.

“Video is a critical part of how today’s consumers want to explore real estate, and we intend to use it to an extent never before seen in our industry,” said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.  “On Location provides an exciting new platform for our vast network of thousands of sales associates to directly share the kind of local insights and knowledge that is invaluable to consumers hoping to learn about a new area.”

Gillespie noted that the site will appeal to a broad range of consumers.  “You might be a first time homebuyer deciding between a few different towns in your area, someone about to relocate across the country, a Boomer thinking ahead to where to retire, or simply a person who’s dreaming about your ideal home.  No matter what stage you’re at in your life or the real estate process, On Location has the insights you need served up in an exciting new format,” he said.

“Coldwell Banker On Location is about building the Web’s richest array of real estate video content that is also the richest in local insights,” said Michael Fischer, senior vice president of marketing, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.  “It’s the combination of these two missing pieces of the puzzle that make this site so exciting.  In addition, Coldwell Banker Real Estate is the first in the industry to put the full power of its brand and network behind a tool that represents the future of real estate – the video listing.”

“Every month, millions of people search on YouTube for real estate content,” said Sam Sebastian, Classified and Local Advertising Director at Google. “Consumers are hungry for real estate-related videos. I’m thrilled that Coldwell Banker is developing such a substantial innovation for real estate video. I look forward to seeing Coldwell Banker build On Location into one of the most active destinations for real estate search, discussion and engagement.”

1. Some of the video and written content for On Location will be supplied by a select group of content providers, including the Associated Press, CNN, Reel Productions TV, This Old House and TurnHere.  Coldwell Banker On Location will complement the company’s main Web site at www.coldwellbanker.com – including the ‘Learn’ section which features educational content as well as news articles and updates on the real estate sector. It extends the company’s already robust social media strategy, which includes Facebook pages for the brand and its two founders, Colbert Coldwell and Arthur Banker, a Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/coldwellbnkr) and profiles on Flickr and FriendFeed.

 

In addition to using YouTube as a platform, Coldwell Banker Real Estate is using the Google family of ad networks and channels for promotion of On Location.  This includes both Google and YouTube search ads, YouTube banner promotions and Google TV.

Development of the On Location site was a collaborative effort by Coldwell Banker interactive agency partners, FD Kinesis and Bootstrap Software, Inc.

 

To see a video about Coldwell Banker On Location please visit:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1AKZDhUrLY

 

YouTube is a subsidiary of Google Inc.

About Coldwell Banker®
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2008, Franchise Times magazine’s prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the ninth straight year and 12th among franchisors in all industries. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,500 residential real estate offices and 105,300 sales associates in 46 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge® Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.

###

Davidson will once again host a town festival with a kids train, games food and arts.  A fun run of one mile will begin at 8:00am followed by a 5k at 8:30 and opening ceremonies at 10:00am for the festival.  Davidson streets will be closed from 7:00am-4:00pm on May 2nd.  For more information contact the Davidson Park and Recreational Department at 704-892-3349.

Friday was a long day of manual labor for a lot of Charlotte area Realtors. Our group of about 40 Realtors repaired 4 houses on Potts St. in Davidson. Actually we worked on 5 houses. One of the neighbors needed a little work that we could take care of as well and she let us borrow her ladder. She along with all of the individuals we helped that day were very appreciative. Stan Suther did a great job as our Team Captain.
This was the first year of Realtors giving back to the community in this way. There were a few mistakes but certainly was a success and improvements will be made for next year. I think everyone had a good time helping others.

And, we had some lunch break dancers!

If you know anyone that has moved to the area in recent years invite them out the Explore the McGuire Nuclear Station on April 30th.  It is a very interesting facility.

I recently had a call from a reporter with the Statesville Record and Landmark developing material for a story of the state of the Iredell County housing market.  I provided her with a lot of details and Bethany did a pretty good job translating the information for the public.  Check it out.

I was contacted a few days ago by Baron haga who is one of the leader of the South Iredell Youth Ministry Network.  He and his team are building support for a teen center in Mooresville.   They are looking to purchase the old REDS gym facility.  On April 27th Chick-Fil-A, across the street from my office, at exit 36 on I-77 will be donating a portion of their sales for the day to the effort.  Baron contacted me for use of our parking lot for they day for over flow parking.  I’ve gladly obliged.   I don’t have teens myself but I think this is a great idea for the area.  Please come out on the 27th and “eat more chicken“.

“The sharks are out”………as one of my top agents told me Thursday of this week.  Within 8 minutes of the announcement to our agents at Century 21 Hecht Realty that we were merging with Coldwell Banker United Realtors the first post hit Twitter and Face Book!  You’ve got to love the power of social networking.  If you want a press release out fast don’t send it to the newspaper; just empower a group of tech savvy real estate agents. 

By the time our meeting ended around 11:30 I was already getting reports from my agents of the bombardment of calls, text, emails and social network messages coming in to my agents offering them the moon for their skills.  I hope they were flattered.  They should be.  It is obvious other real estate agencies around Lake Norman, the University area, Salisbury, Rock Hill and many more see what I see, and what Coldwell Banker United sees, in these agents.  I’ve said it before, and make no mistake, these are the best agents on the lake.  The sheer number of emails and offers they have received is proof.  I don’t blame other agencies for trying to recruit them but it’s hard to break up a family.  This isn’t just a place we work.  We help each other move, we help each other with school projects for our kids, we help each other work on pine wood derby cars, we loan each other money and on and on.

I’m happy to say that after we sat down for lunch together on Thursday and the agents asked me a lot of questions about our future, we felt comfortable moving forward as a group on this new adventure.  This opportunity gives us some incredible leverage with a huge market share advantage over many many real estate firms around Lake Norman.  When other firms are just closing the doors we just got a caffeine burst!

I have been very excited as I learn more and more from the inside of Coldwell Banker United Realtors.  The commitment to clients, agents, and the future of real estate has impressed me.  I look forward to sharing more with you down the road.  If you have any questions concerning this merger please let me know.

Todd Long

Broker In Charge

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors, Mooresville