ERA Key Realty Services’ Flannery and Zide Awarded Leader’s Circle

ERA Key Realty Services of Whitinsville is proud to announce that Nelson Zide of the firm’s Framingham Office and Donna Flannery of the firm’s Spencer Office are award recipients for Leader’s Circle. The company recently attended the Boston Council of ERA Brokers’ annual awards banquet at the Sheraton Hotel in Milford, MA, where Zide and Flannery accepted their awards. In order to qualify for Leader’s Circle, agents are required to have sold 75+ Units or $225,000+ AGC (Adjusted Gross Commission).
Flannery and Zide are full time real estate professionals with ERA Key Realty Services and bring years of experience to the firm and their individual offices.
Bruce Taylor, President of ERA Key Realty Services, commented: “Leader’s Circle is the elite level of sales production. These agents are among the top 5% of all agents in the country. Nelson and Donna also qualified to attend the Beyond Excellence Conference at the Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas later this year.”
ERA Key Realty Services has offices in Framingham, Franklin, Milford, Oxford, Spencer, Westboro, Whitinsville and Worcester. With sales of $400 million and over 1,350 transactions in 2007, it is among the top 10 residential real estate brokerage firms in Massachusetts and among the top 10 of all ERA Companies Nationwide, as well as being the top ERA Company in Massachusetts.

ERA Real Estate to Post All Property Listings on Zillow.com®

Local Affiliate Will Increase Web Exposure Through New Agreement

Whitinsville, MA (Oct. 25, 2007) — ERA Franchise Systems LLC and leading real estate Web site Zillow.com established a marketing agreement to feed approximately 80,000 ERA® property listings to the Zillow.com Web site on a daily basis. This inaugural agreement for Zillow’s Listings Feed program allows home sellers listing with ERA agents to automatically gain marketing exposure on one of the most-visited U.S. real estate sites, and further extends ERA Real Estate’s online listings distribution strategy.

“This is an important initiative for our offices and sales associates as 80 percent of all buyers are now starting their home search online,” said Bruce Taylor of ERA Key Realty Services. “This listing distribution announcement adds to an impressive list of existing affiliations and gives us additional access to millions of visitors each month. Being a part of the ERA Network allows our organization to syndicate our property listings with highly trafficked companies such as Zillow and gives us unique competitive advantage for our consumers.”

ERA Key Realty Services property listings that currently reside on the ERA.com brand Web site will be dynamically uploaded to Zillow, providing sellers with additional marketing exposure for their properties while enhancing the search experience for buyers. Through the ERA listings hosted on Zillow, consumers will be linked back to ERA.com where they can locate an ERA Key Realty Services sales associate to guide them through the home buying and selling experience. The property listings are expected to be seen on Zillow later this year.

For more information on Zillow Listings Feeds, visit www.zillowfeeds.com.

About ERA Key Realty Services
ERA Key Realty Services is a locally owned franchisee of ERA. With 9 offices in Central Massachusetts and Metro West and 290 licensed agents it is among the top 10 companies in ERA nationwide and one of the top 10 real estate companies in Massachusetts.

About ERA Franchise Systems LLC

ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with more than 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. Since 1977, ERA Real Estate has teamed up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in its fight against neuromuscular diseases, raising more than $30 million. The ERA network includes more than 38,000 brokers and sales associates and approximately 3,000 offices throughout the United States and 44 other countries and territories. Each office is independently owned and operated except offices owned and operated by NRT Incorporated. ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. ERA Franchise Systems LLC information is available at ERA.com.

About Zillow.com®
Zillow.com is an online real estate community where homeowners, buyers, sellers, and real estate agents and professionals find and share vital information about homes, for free. Launched in early 2006 with Zestimate™ values and data on millions of U.S. homes, Zillow has since opened the site to community input, data and dialogue, including “Home Q&A.” Zillow’s goal is to help people become smarter about real estate — what homes are worth, what’s for sale, and what local experts have to say about real estate and individual homes. One of the most-visited real estate Web sites, Zillow was the only online company named by Advertising Age magazine to its 2006 “Marketing 50″ list of the most powerful consumer brands. Zillow is headquartered in Seattle and has raised $87 million in funding.
Zillow.com, Zillow, and Zestimate are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Zillow, Inc.

ERA Key Realty Services of Oxford Moves to New Location

ERA Key Realty Services, Oxford Branch recently moved to a new facility at 351 Main St. in Oxford from the previous location at 25 Sutton St., Oxford. “Our move decision was to provide higher quality, professional space for our agents and for our clients and customers”, said President, Bruce Taylor.

The new space provides additional square footage, recently renovated space and room to grow and service the public better. “Our primary goal is to provide unparallel service to the communities of Oxford, Webster, Dudley, Sutton, Charlton and Auburn and Northern Connecticut” said Office Manager, Les Lackey. ERA Key Realty Services, Oxford Branch has grown from 7 agents in 2001 to our current staff of over 30 agents. It is an integral part of the 7th largest Real estate company in Massachusetts and one of the top 15 companies for ERA Nationally.

“Team Oxford’s” highly focused, committed and well trained real estate agents give consumers a choice that reflects ERA’s motto “Always There for You”. Our growth is a reflection of ERA Key Realty Services and its agent’s commitment and dedication to our clients. Our agent’s believe in hard work, integrity, and the desire to identify and provide solutions to ensure consumers find their new home, protect their financial assets and trust that their agent is working with their best interest in mind.

ERA Key Realty Services is a locally owned franchisee of ERA. With 9 offices in Central Massachusetts and Metro West and 290 licensed agents it is among the top 10 companies in ERA nationwide and one of the top 10 real estate companies in Massachusetts.

Banker & Tradesman Article- Some Agents Shunning Stubborn Sellers

The Warren Group: Banker and Tradesman

Bay State real estate brokers have learned to say “no, thanks.” With a larger supply of for-sale homes and the buyer pool shrinking because of stricter lending standards, some local Realtors are refusing to work with sellers who won’t take their advice on pricing or other matters.

“Smart agents know that in any market there are times to pass on a listing, but these days it is being put into practice more and more,” said Inez Steele, executive director of The Realty Guild, an association of independent real estate offices in New England.

Some brokers say they are turning away homeowners who push for asking prices that don’t reflect market conditions. In many cases, the homeowner will search for another agent who will list the property at their desired asking price.

Agents sometimes agree to list the property at a high price with the condition that the homeowner lowers the price after three or four weeks if it doesn’t draw offers.

“While that sounds like a good compromise, it really doesn’t do the seller a service. It’s much more advantageous to list a property at the right price to begin with,” explained Bruce A. Taylor, president of ERA Key Realty Services, a Whitinsville-based firm with eight offices in Central Massachusetts.

Three or four years ago, when the inventory of for-sale homes was much smaller and properties were selling within weeks and sometimes days, agents were more willing to list residences at $10,000 to $20,000 higher than they recommended. Taylor said agents and sellers often were surprised when the homes sold at the higher price.

“That’s changed,” Taylor said. “We’re not surprised with homes selling at higher prices anymore.”

Instead, he noted, overpriced properties won’t sell, forcing homeowners to slash their prices.

Accurate pricing has become even more of a concern for sellers in recent months as buyers are having a tougher time securing financing. Lenders are tightening practices - requiring borrowers to have higher down payments, for example - and some lenders are cutting back on the types of loan products they offer. A number of mortgage companies, particularly firms offering riskier subprime loans, have shut down this summer.

In the meantime, prices statewide have been declining. The median price for single-family homes sold through July of this year was $317,000, down 4.7 percent from a year earlier, according to statistics from The Warren Group, Banker & Tradesman’s publisher.

“It’s important for sellers and their Realtors to recognize the existing market and price things appropriately so buyers are willing to step up to the table,” said Doug Azarian, president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

Azarian, who owns a real estate firm in Falmouth, said successful agents are realizing that they have to turn down listings when the sellers insist on a price that doesn’t reflect the market. Azarian did just that when the owner of a waterfront property in Falmouth wanted to list the property for $100,000 more than Azarian recommended.

The home initially had been listed for $1.4 million with another agent. When the home didn’t sell after about four months, the seller sought Azarian’s help. Azarian suggested a price range of $1 million to $1.1 million, but the seller hired another broker who listed it for $1.2 million. The home hasn’t sold yet.

Taylor, of ERA Key Realty, said he’s hearing similar stories from agents in his offices that have walked away from overpriced listings.

“It’s a waste of our time and it’s a waste of the sellers’ time,” said Taylor. “People get disappointed with us if we don’t sell their property when they list with us. We would rather have the reputation of being a successful marketer than an unsuccessful marketer.”

Read the entire article here

ERA REAL ESTATE PRESENTS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION WITH A $2 MILLION DONATION

ERA® Commemorates Its 30-Year Relationship With The Muscular Dystrophy Association At The 2007 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon

PARSIPPANY, N.J., (Sept. 7, 2007) — ERA Franchise Systems LLC proudly celebrated the 30th anniversary of its partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). As MDA’s only corporate sponsor from the real estate industry, ERA Real Estate presented MDA with a check for $2 million at the 2007 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon on Labor Day.

P.J. Martin Smith, Senior Vice President of Marketing, ERA Franchise Systems LLC and MDA Vice President, says, “Nothing gives the people at ERA Real Estate greater satisfaction than helping MDA in its important work. This year’s donation is clear example our commitment to these wonderful children and families.”

The 30-year relationship has been so rewarding because the ERA® network of brokers and sales professionals feels a deep and genuine investment in the work of MDA. Through a variety of programs, individual offices can both sponsor their own fundraisers and participate in ERA nationwide programs such as “Home Grown Hero,” which allows them to invite individuals on their e-mail lists to contribute to the cause. The impact of these efforts has been felt in the communities across the country where ERA Real Estate has a presence.

From sponsoring MDA summer camps for children to raising funds for researching a cure, ERA Real Estate has helped in the fight against neuromuscular disease for over 30 years and the company and its franchise affiliates have raised over $30 million dollars in total for this great cause.

“Knowing that we have been able to make a difference in these families’ lives motivates us to continue enhancing our partnership in every way possible,” says Martin Smith.

Scarlett Ford-Marchman, Director of Program Development, Muscular Dystrophy Association, agreed, stating, “The relationship between ERA Real Estate and MDA has been extremely important in moving us closer to reaching our goals and helping the children and their families.” Ford-Marchman cites the MDA summer camp program as an example of how ERA Real Estate touches the lives of the children directly, saying, “The children who attend the MDA summer camps enjoy it so much–it’s a time when they can feel more like other children and form special friendships with each other.”

In the end, ERA Real Estate is only able to demonstrate as much support for MDA as its associates are willing to provide. A perfect representative of the company’s spirit of giving and community outreach is the ERA Real Estate 2007 Ed Bilinkas Memorial Award winner, Bruce Taylor, broker of ERA Key Realty, Milford, Mass. The Ed Bilinkas Memorial Award is given each year to an ERA company that through charitable efforts best captures the ERA Real Estate philosophy of giving back to the community. Taylor received the award on behalf of his team in recognition of their outstanding success in using a variety of innovative techniques to raise contributions for MDA and other causes.

Mike Seaver and Nelson Zide represented ERA Key Realty at the 2007 MDA telethon, but as much as Taylor’s team enjoyed participating in that event, they are not motivated by the honors they have earned. Rather, as Taylor says, “When you can see the appreciation in the faces of our programs’ local beneficiaries and the children, it just reminds you how much you get by giving.” He adds, “Charitable work has to come from the heart.”

Other ERA attendees of the telethon include the ERA International Open House winner, Jose S. Castelo of ERA Jose S. Castelo Real Estate in New Bedford, Mass., and the 2007 ERA MDA Day in May Award winner Bill Hurt of ERA Shields in Colorado Springs, Colo. These extraordinary goals could not have been achieved without their commitment and the support of ERA Real Estate’s other 38,000 team members.

ERA Real Estate is proud to have these individuals represent it during the telethon but even prouder that its programs have collectively been able to help MDA in communities across America. Ford-Marchman sums it up best, saying, “If it weren’t for the folks at ERA we simply couldn’t do what we do. The help they provide with fund-raising, public awareness, and direct involvement with our children is invaluable.”

About ERA Franchise Systems LLC
ERA Franchise Systems LCC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with more than 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. Since 1977, ERA Real Estate has teamed up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in its fight against neuromuscular diseases, raising more than $30 million. The ERA network includes more than 38,000 brokers and sales associates and approximately 3,000 offices throughout the United States and 44 other countries and territories. Each office is independently owned and operated except offices owned and operated by NRT Incorporated. ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, the world’s largest real estate franchisor. ERA Franchise Systems LLC information is available at ERA.com.

ERA Key Realty Services Announces Merger with Eager Realty Service

Whitinsville, MA July 30, 2007, 2007 – ERA Key Realty Services is pleased to announce that it has merged with Eager Realty Services of Leicester MA. President Bruce A. Taylor said, “ We are very excited about the merger of our two firms. Eager Realty Services has been the leading real estate brokerage in Leicester for a number of years and will assist us in expanding our services to that town and reinforce our position in the area.”
According to Darlene Eager, Broker for Eager Realty Services, “This move allows us to bring the technology and support of one of the major firms in our market to all of our clients and customers. In this electronic age, the advantages of scale are even more important than ever to bring all of the resources of the internet to the consumer public. Having all of the tools will ensure that we can not only provide the best marketing to our clients but also enhances our ability to deal with the complex nature of transactions in our marketplace.”
“Eager Realty Services has some of the best people in the marketplace and our business is really all about people. Technology is extremely important to our clients but only after the right people with the right training provide the full service demanded by consumers,” said Taylor. “When we combine our technology, training, staff support, and our resources with over 290 active agents with the team of agents from Eager Realty Services, I think we create the most dynamic mix of people and services that is available in the market today.”
ERA Key Realty Services is a locally owned franchisee of ERA. With 9 offices in Central Massachusetts and Metro West and 290 licensed agents it is among the top 10 companies in ERA nationwide and one of the top 10 real estate companies in Massachusetts.