Washington, DC, March 01, 2011 (Realtor.org) Throughout this month, consumers across the country can engage Realtors®, local officials, and their neighbors on an issue that literally hits close to home – home ownership – as the National Association of Realtors® kicks off a month-long Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour in cities across the nation.

Ron Phipps

The first stop on the tour is in Chicago on March 5, where the bus will visit the Chicago Flower & Garden show at the Navy Pier outside Festival Hall B from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. CST. NAR President-elect Moe Veissi will join invited local officials to speak with Chicagoans, who can also learn about how issues like tax reform and mortgage availability could affect their ability to buy, sell and own a home. Attendees can also register to win prizes worth up to $2,500.

Other major stops on the tour include Denver on March 19 and Portland, Ore., on March 26, with additional stops in cities along the way. Ongoing news and information for the tour will be posted on HouseLogic at www.houselogic.com/bus. HouseLogic is a free source of information from NAR that helps home owners maintain and enhance the value of their homes and engage in issues that affect their local communities.

“Issues like the mortgage interest deduction, foreclosures and short sales, affordable financing and available credit don’t just affect people who own a home – home ownership shapes communities and strengthens the nation’s economy, as well,” said Phipps. “Behind every home purchase, sale and foreclosure is a human face, and we hope this bus tour will give a voice to those personal experiences.”

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

For more information, contact:

Stephanie Singer
(202) 383-1050
ssinger@realtors.org

Washington, DC, February 28, 2011 (Realtor.org) Pending home sales eased moderately in January for the second straight month, but remain 20.6 percent above the cyclical low last June, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator, declined 2.8 percent to 88.9 based on contracts signed in January from a downwardly revised 91.5 in December. The index is 1.5 percent below the 90.3 level in January 2010 when a tax credit stimulus was in place. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, points to the broader trend. “The housing market is healing with sales fluctuating at times, depending on the flow of distressed properties coming on the market,” he said.

“While home buyers over the past two years have been exceptionally successful with historically low default rates, there is still an elevated level of shadow inventory of distressed homes from past lending mistakes that need to go through the system,” Yun said. “We should not expect the recovery to be in a straight upward path – it will zig-zag at times.”

The pace of January existing-home sales, 5.36 million, is slightly higher than NAR’s annual forecast for 2011. If contract activity stays on its present course, there should be an 8 percent increase in total existing-home sales this year.

“The broad fundamentals for a housing recovery are developing,” Yun said. “Job growth, high housing affordability and rising apartment rent are conducive to bringing more buyers into the market. Some buyers may be looking to real estate as a hedge against potential future inflation.”

The PHSI in the Northeast declined 2.4 percent to 73.5 in January and is 3.0 percent below January 2010. In the Midwest the index fell 7.3 percent in January to 78.0 and is 3.2 percent below a year ago. Pending home sales in the South rose 1.4 percent to an index of 97.7 but are 0.4 percent below January 2010. In the West the index fell 5.2 percent to 98.7 and is 0.9 percent below a year ago.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

# # #

* The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months.

An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales; it coincides with a level that is historically healthy.

Each February, NAR Research conducts a normal review of PHSI seasonal adjustment factors and fine-tunes monthly data for the past three years; revisions are posted in the Research area of Realtor.org.

NOTE: Existing-home sales for February will be reported March 21 and the next Pending Home Sales Index will be released March 28. The 2010 Vacation and Investment home report will be published March 30; release times are 10:00 a.m. EDT.

REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. All REALTORS® are members of NAR.

Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section. Statistical data, tables and surveys also may be found by clicking on Research.

Washington, DC, February 25, 2011 (Realtor.org) The National Association of Realtors® is currently accepting applications for the 12th annual REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards. The awards recognize Realtors® for their dedication to volunteer service.

Five winners will be announced in the November issue of REALTOR® Magazine. Each winner will be recognized at the 2011 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Anaheim, Calif., and receive a $10,000 grant for his or her charity. Winners will also receive travel expenses to the conference and national and local media exposure for their community cause. In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions will each receive a $2,500 grant.

Ron Phipps

Last year’s winners contributed a combined total of nearly 8,000 hours to their causes and drew a standing ovation from more than 6,000 Realtors® and guests during the conference’s general session in New Orleans. The 2010 winners were Keri Kidd Cannon and Pam Kidd, Fridrich & Clark Realty, LLC, Nashville, Tenn., for Children of Zimbabwe Fund-Village Hope; Cathie McGregor Critchlow, The Franklin Group Morgan, LLC, Morgan, Utah, for The Women’s Retreat House; James T. Elcock, Elcock Properties, St. Charles, Mo., for Kids Against Hunger; Dave Philp, Coldwell Banker Burnet, Chaska, Minn., for Ridgeview Foundation/Ridgeview Medical Center; and Wendy and John Rocca, Century 21 Commonwealth, Watertown, Mass., for Operation American Soldier.

“REALTOR® Magazine always looks forward to recognizing Realtors® who volunteer in their communities,” said REALTOR® Magazine Editor in Chief Stacey Moncrieff. “The Good Neighbor Awards allow us to celebrate those members, as well as inspire others to help those in need.”

Previous Good Neighbor Award winners say their charities have benefited from the grant money and the increased public exposure. “Winning the Good Neighbor Award benefitted our work in Zimbabwe in so many ways,” said 2010 Good Neighbor Award winner Keri Kidd Cannon. “The grant provided tremendous relief in a time when raising money can be a bit of a challenge. More importantly, we also received an outpouring of support from the Realtor® community.”

Good Neighbor Awards entries must be received by Friday, May 20, 2011. For more details and a nomination form, call (800) 874-6500, visit www.REALTOR.org/gna, or see the March issue of REALTOR® Magazine.

REALTOR® Magazine’s Good Neighbor Awards is sponsored by Lowe’s and HouseLogic. In addition to the grant money, each winner will receive a $2,000 Lowe’s gift card and each honorable mention will receive a $1,000 Lowe’s gift card.

Lowe’s (www.lowes.com) has worked with customers to maintain and improve their homes since 1946. Lowe’s is proud to support the Good Neighbor Awards. Lowe’s is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity International, American Red Cross, SkillsUSA/SkillsCanada, and The Nature Conservancy, in addition to numerous nonprofit organizations and programs that help communities in North America. In 2009, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support community and education projects in North America. Lowe’s also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe’s Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer initiative. Lowe’s, a Realtor Benefits® Partner, brings Realtors® exclusive benefits to help build relationships with their customers, generate referrals and expand their client base. The benefits program is featured on www.LowesRealtorBenefits.com.

HouseLogic (www.houselogic.com) is a free source of information and tools from the National Association of Realtors® that can help home owners make smart and timely decisions about their home. With content covering home improvement, maintenance, taxes, finance, insurance, and even ways to get involved in and enrich their community, HouseLogic can help home owners increase and protect the value of their home by helping them make confident decisions.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

HomeGain inducts 15 new real estate agent members into its elite commissions based award clubs for closing home sales; Club membership grows to 983

Emeryville, CA – March 1, 2011 – HomeGain, a leading website that connects REALTORS® with home buyers and sellers, today announced that its commissions based award clubs for its AgentEvaluator® product has grown to include 983 HomeGain members.

Louis Cammarosano

Since December 2010, HomeGain has inducted the following real estate club members:

• Five new HomeGain Platinum Club members (totaling 382 members who have earned $125,000 or more)
• Three new HomeGain Gold Club members (totaling 307 members who have earned $75,000 or more)
• Seven new HomeGain Silver Club members (totaling 273 members who have earned $50,000 or more)

There are currently 26 members in the HomeGain Diamond Club (agents who have earned $500,000 or more in gross commissions) and two members in the HomeGain Million Dollar Club.

AgentEvaluator® is an online marketing program for real estate agents who are looking to connect with home buyers and sellers.

About HomeGain

HomeGain is a leading provider of online marketing solutions that connect real estate agents and brokers with home buyers and sellers. HomeGain offers free services to find and compare real estate agents, research home values, and view homes for sale. Since 1999 REALTORS® have used HomeGain’s real estate marketing programs to connect with consumers, promote their services and grow their business. HomeGain.com has been a top visited real estate website since 1999. HomeGain is your real estate connection.

Contact:

Louis Cammarosano
(510) 594-4121 Office
louis@homegain.com

Washington, DC, February 25, 2011 (Realtor.org) A stabilization trend is taking place in commercial real estate sectors, but in most markets rent will remain soft except for multifamily rentals, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Lawrence Yun

From the first quarter of this year to the first quarter of 2012, NAR expects vacancy rates to decline 0.5 percentage point in the office sector, 1.3 points in industrial real estate, 0.1 point in the retail sector and 0.9 percentage point in the multifamily rental market.

“Even with declining vacancy rates, rents are not likely to turn positive in most markets until next year, outside of multifamily rental properties,” Yun said. For example, office rents are forecast to fall 1.8 percent this year before turning higher by 4.0 percent in 2012.

“Apartment rent increases are expected to accelerate from job creation leading to new household formation, particularly among the young adult population who will seek their own housing arrangements – many will be leaving their parents’ homes, or choose to live with fewer roommates,” Yun said.

Average apartment rent is projected to grow 3.4 percent this year and another 4.2 percent in 2012.

“Rising apartment rent in combination with rising oil prices could push the overall inflation rate beyond a comfort level, which could then force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates later this year or early in 2012,” Yun added.

The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors®, in its SIOR Commercial Real Estate Index, an attitudinal survey of more than 360 local market experts (1), shows a notable improvement in market fundamentals.

The SIOR index, measuring the impact of 10 variables, rose 8.1 percentage points to 50.7 in the fourth quarter, the largest quarterly gain in five years, and is at the highest level since the fall of 2008. However, the index is well below a level of 100 that represents a balanced marketplace. This is the fifth consecutive quarterly improvement following nearly three years of decline, but the last time the index was at the 100 level was in the third quarter of 2007.

Seventy-eight percent of SIOR participants expect improvements in the office and industrial sectors for the first quarter of this year.

There has been an increase of liquidity in Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities, which is helping to open the commercial market to more property transactions; commercial real estate sales had been stalled over the past few years with excessively tight credit conditions. In terms of development acquisitions, it remains a buyer’s market for those with cash or who can obtain credit financing.

NAR’s latest COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK (2) offers projections for four major commercial sectors and analyzes quarterly data in the office, industrial, retail and multifamily markets. Historic data were provided by CBRE Econometric Advisors.

Office Markets

Vacancy rates in the office sector are forecast to decline from 16.5 percent in the first quarter of this year to 16.0 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

The markets with the lowest office vacancy rates currently are New York City and Honolulu, with vacancies in the 8 to 9 percent range.

In 57 markets tracked, net absorption of office space, which includes the leasing of new space coming on the market as well as space in existing properties, should be 14.5 million square feet in 2011.

Industrial Markets

Industrial vacancy rates are projected to decline from 14.2 percent in the current quarter to 12.9 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

At present, the areas with the lowest industrial vacancy rates are Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, with vacancies of 7.5 percent.

Annual industrial rent is likely to decline 2.5 percent in 2011, before rising 3.0 percent next year. Net absorption of industrial space in 58 markets tracked should be 127.5 million square feet in 2011.

Retail Markets

Retail vacancy rates are expected to slip from 13.0 percent in the first quarter of this year to 12.9 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

Markets with the lowest retail vacancy rates currently include San Francisco; Miami; Honolulu; and Long Island, N.Y., all with vacancies in the 7 to 8 percent range.

Average retail rent is seen to decline 0.9 percent in 2011, then rising 0.7 percent next year. Net absorption of retail space in 53 tracked markets is projected to be 4.8 million in 2011.

Multifamily Markets

The apartment rental market – multifamily housing – is tightening as the economy improves. Multifamily vacancy rates are forecast to decline from 5.8 percent in the current quarter to 4.9 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

Areas with the lowest multifamily vacancy rates presently are San Jose, Calif.; Pittsburgh; and Newark, N.J, with vacancies in a range around 3 percent.

Multifamily net absorption should be 207,000 units in 59 tracked metro areas in 2011.

The COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK is published by the NAR Research Division for the commercial community. NAR’s Commercial Division, formed in 1990, provides targeted products and services to meet the needs of the commercial market and constituency within NAR.

The NAR commercial components include commercial members; commercial committees, subcommittees and forums; commercial real estate boards and structures; and the NAR commercial affiliate organizations – CCIM Institute, Institute of Real Estate Management, Realtors® Land Institute, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors®, and Counselors of Real Estate.

Approximately 79,000 NAR and institute affiliate members specialize in commercial brokerage services, and an additional 263,000 members offer commercial real estate as a secondary business.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

# # #

1. The SIOR Commercial Real Estate Index, conducted by SIOR and analyzed by NAR Research, is a diffusion index based on market conditions as viewed by local SIOR experts. For more information contact Richard Hollander, SIOR, at 202/449-8200.

2. Additional analyses will be posted under Economists’ Commentary in the Research area of Realtor.org in coming days.

The next commercial real estate forecast and quarterly market report will be released on May 24.

Washington, DC, February 23, 2011 (Realtor.org) The uptrend in existing-home sales continues, with January sales rising for the third consecutive month with a pace that is now above year-ago levels, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Existing-home sales (1), which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 2.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.36 million in January from a downwardly revised 5.22 million in December, and are 5.3 percent above the 5.09 million level in January 2010. This is the first time in seven months that sales activity was higher than a year earlier.

Lawrence Yun

A parallel NAR practitioner survey (2) shows first-time buyers purchased 29 percent of homes in January, down from 33 percent in December and 40 percent in January 2010 when an extended tax credit was in place.

Investors accounted for 23 percent of purchases in January, up from 20 percent in December and 17 percent in January 2010; the balance of sales were to repeat buyers. All-cash sales rose to 32 percent in January from 29 percent in December and 26 percent in January 2010.

“Increases in all-cash transactions, the investor market share and distressed home sales all go hand-in-hand. With tight credit standards, it’s not surprising to see so much activity where cash is king and investors are taking advantage of conditions to purchase undervalued homes,” Yun said.

All-cash purchases are at the highest level since NAR started measuring these purchases monthly in October 2008, when they accounted for 15 percent of the market. The average of all-cash deals was 20 percent in 2009, rising to 28 percent last year.

The national median existing-home price (3) for all housing types was $158,800 in January, down 3.7 percent from January 2010. Distressed homes edged up to a 37 percent market share in January from 36 percent in December; it was 38 percent in January 2010.

Ron Phipps

Total housing inventory at the end of January fell 5.1 percent to 3.38 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 7.6-month supply (4) at the current sales pace, down from an 8.2-month supply in December. The inventory supply is at the lowest level since December 2009 when there was a 7.3-month supply.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.76 percent in January from 4.71 percent in December; the rate was 5.03 percent in January 2010.

Single-family home sales rose 2.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.69 million in January from 4.58 million in December, and are 4.9 percent higher than the 4.47 million level in January 2010. The median existing single-family home price was $159,400 in January, down 2.7 percent from a year ago.

Existing condominium and co-op sales increased 4.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 670,000 in January from 640,000 in December, and are 7.9 percent above the 621,000-unit pace one year ago. The median existing condo price (5) was $154,900 in January, which is 10.2 percent below January 2010.

Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast fell 4.6 percent to an annual pace of 830,000 in January from a spike in December and are 1.2 percent below January 2010. The median price in the Northeast was $236,500, which is 4.0 percent below a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 1.8 percent in January to a level of 1.14 million and are 3.6 percent above a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $126,300, which is 3.2 percent below January 2010.

In the South, existing-home sales increased 3.6 percent to an annual pace of 2.02 million in January and are 8.0 percent higher than January 2010. The median price in the South was $136,600, down 2.1 percent from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the West rose 7.9 percent to an annual level of 1.37 million in January and are 7.0 percent above January 2010. The median price in the West was $193,200, down 5.7 percent from a year ago.

The National Association of REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

# # #

NOTE: NAR also tracks monthly comparisons of existing single-family home sales and median prices for select metropolitan statistical areas, which is posted with other tables at: www.realtor.org/research/research/ehsdata. For information on areas not included in the report, please contact the local association of REALTORS®.

1. Existing-home sales, which include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, are based on transaction closings. This differs from the U.S. Census Bureau’s series on new single-family home sales, which are based on contracts or the acceptance of a deposit. Because of these differences, it is not uncommon for each series to move in different directions in the same month. In addition, existing-home sales, which generally account for 85 to 90 percent of total home sales, are based on a much larger sample – more than 40 percent of multiple listing service data each month – and typically are not subject to large prior-month revisions.

The annual rate for a particular month represents what the total number of actual sales for a year would be if the relative pace for that month were maintained for 12 consecutive months. Seasonally adjusted annual rates are used in reporting monthly data to factor out seasonal variations in resale activity. For example, home sales volume is normally higher in the summer than in the winter, primarily because of differences in the weather and family buying patterns. However, seasonal factors cannot compensate for abnormal weather patterns.

Single-family data collection began monthly in 1968, while condo data collection began quarterly in 1981; the series were combined in 1999 when monthly collection of condo data began. Prior to this period, single-family homes accounted for more than nine out of 10 purchases. Historic comparisons for total home sales prior to 1999 are based on monthly single-family sales, combined with the corresponding quarterly sales rate for condos.

Also released today are historic data revisions. Each February, NAR Research incorporates a normal review of seasonal activity factors and fine-tunes historic data for the past three years based on the most recent findings. Revisions have been made to monthly seasonally adjusted annual sales rates for 2008 through 2010, as well as the inventory month’s supply data; most revisions are minor with little or no impact on previous characterizations of the overall market. There are no revisions to monthly home prices or raw inventory data (beyond normal prior-month revisions).

Note on Benchmark Revisions: All major statistical data series go through periodic reviews and revisions to ensure that sampling and methodology keep up with changes in the market, such as population changes in sampled areas, to ensure accuracy; we have been examining the existing-home sales data for any issues since late 2010. NAR began its normal process for benchmarking sales earlier this year; there will be no change to median prices. In the past we’ve benchmarked to the decennial Census, most recently to the 2000 Census, because it included home sales data. However, the data are no longer included in the Census, so we’re looking at more frequent benchmarking using a new approach with independent sources to improve our process and modeling. As always, we are consulting with various outside housing economists, government agencies and academic experts for a consensus on the methodology; NAR is committed to providing accurate, reliable data. Publication of the revisions is expected this summer.

2. Distressed sales, first-time buyers, investors, all-cash transactions and data for contract cancellations, etc., are from a survey for the REALTORS® Confidence Index, scheduled to be posted March 14.

3. The only valid comparisons for median prices are with the same period a year earlier due to the seasonality in buying patterns. Month-to-month comparisons do not compensate for seasonal changes, especially for the timing of family buying patterns. Changes in the composition of sales can distort median price data. Year-ago median and mean prices sometimes are revised in an automated process if more data is received than was originally reported.

4. Total inventory and month’s supply data are available back through 1999, while single-family inventory and month’s supply are available back to 1982 (prior to 1999, condos were measured quarterly while single-family sales accounted for more than 90 percent of transactions).

5. Because there is a concentration of condos in high-cost metro areas, the national median condo price generally is higher than the median single-family price. In a given market area, condos typically cost less than single-family homes.

Existing-home sales for February will be released March 21, the Pending Home Sales Index for February is scheduled for March 28, and the 2010 Vacation and Investment Home study will be published March 30; release times are 10:00 a.m. EDT.

HomeGain’s For Sale By Owner (FSBO) vs. REALTOR® survey reveals home sellers’ success rates and satisfaction; Home sellers have greater success and higher satisfaction with the home sale process using a REALTOR® than going FSBO

Emeryville, CA (February 24, 2011) HomeGain.com, a leading online real estate resource that connects home buyers and sellers with real estate professionals, today announced the results of its For Sale By Owner (FSBO) vs. REALTOR® survey.

HomeGain surveyed over 1,000 homeowners asking whether they used a REALTOR® to sell their home or whether they attempted to sell it themselves. Eighty-three percent said they used a REALTOR® to sell their home and 17 percent said they tried to sell their home on their own.

Fifty-nine percent of homeowners that used a REALTOR® to sell their home were successful vs. 39 percent of FSBO’s, reflecting a 50 percent higher closing rate for those home sellers using a REALTOR®.

Eighty-one percent of homeowners that used a REALTOR® to try and sell their homes said they would use a REALTOR® again for their real estate needs.

Eighty-eight percent of home owners who sold their homes using a REALTOR® said they would use a REALTOR® again.

Seventy-one percent of FSBOs who managed to sell their homes on their own said they would try and sell their home on their own again.

Louis Cammarosano

Twenty-four percent of FSBOs eventually enlisted the aid of a REALTOR® to help sell their homes.

To see the complete survey results, visit the HomeGain Real Estate Blog.

The survey was conducted from February 7-15, 2011.

About HomeGain

HomeGain is a leading provider of online marketing solutions that connect real estate agents and brokers with home buyers and sellers. HomeGain offers free services to find and compare real estate agents, research home values, and view homes for sale. Since 1999 REALTORS® have used HomeGain’s real estate marketing programs to connect with consumers, promote their services and grow their business. HomeGain.com has been a top visited real estate website since 1999. HomeGain is your real estate connection.

Contact:
Louis Cammarosano
510-594-4121 Office
louis@homegain.com

January Sales Up or Even in Over Half of Counties Statewide

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 23, 2011 (PRNewswire-USNewswire) Buyer market conditions remain in most Illinois housing markets as low mortgage interest rates helped spur some early buying in January despite typical slower sales for the winter month. More than half of Illinois counties reported year-over-year increases or no change in home sales for January. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (which include single family and condominiums) in January 2011 totaled 5,489 homes sold, down 1.8 percent from January 2010 sales of 5,588 homes. The median price in January 2011 was $136,000, down 6.2 percent from $145,000 in January 2010. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

Sheryl Grider Whitehurst

Adds Whitehurst: “Nearly half of Illinois counties reporting posted median price increases or no change for the month; single family homes both statewide and in the nine-county Chicago region saw year-over-year median price increases in January. However, sales of distressed properties continue to exert significant downward pressure on prices, especially for condos in the Chicago and suburban markets.”

In the Chicagoland Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), total home sales (single family and condominiums) in January 2011 were down 2.0 percent, totaling 3,844 homes sold compared to January 2010 sales of 3,921 homes. The median price in January 2011 was $158,000, down 9.7 percent from $175,000 in January 2010.

The monthly average commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the North Central region was 4.80 percent in January 2011, up from 4.72 percent during the previous month, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Last year in January it averaged 5.06 percent.

Dr. Hewings

Adds Hewings: “The rental market is heating up. Further dramatic increases in rents could push consumers back to the housing market and become homeowners. Although the nation and the state economies are still facing many challenges in their efforts to recover from the recession, the long-term trends continue to show that both are moving forward and adding jobs.”

In the city of Chicago, January total home sales (single family and condominiums) were down 14.0 percent to 1,034 sales compared to 1,202 homes sold in January 2010. The city of Chicago median price in January 2011 was $170,000 down 12.8 percent compared to $195,000 a year ago in January 2010.

“The city of Chicago in January saw slow movement of inventory, with 14 percent fewer homes sold in January 2011 over the first month of 2010. This differential was expected given the federal tax credit that incentivized the market last year, and will likely show the same through the early spring,” said Mabel Guzman, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and a REALTOR® with Envision Real Estate LLC, Chicago. “A decrease in the median price of condos purchased in Chicago by 14.6 percent to $239,000 in January 2011 is indicative of the downward pressure distressed properties continue to have on our market, and the challenges buyers face in securing condo financing.”

More than half of Illinois counties reporting (53 of 92 counties) showed year-over-year home sales increases or no change for the month of January. Forty-four counties reported median prices increases or no change compared to January 2010 including Boone, up 6.5 percent to $122,500; Champaign, up 7.0 percent to $153,000; Madison, up 21.8 percent to $131,500; Rock Island, up 11.6 percent to $92,900; Saint Clair, up 46.2 percent to $119,900; Sangamon, up 2.9 percent to $119,900; and, Vermilion up 6.4 percent to $62,250.

Sales and price information is generated from a survey of Multiple Listing Service sales reported by 35 participating Illinois REALTOR® local boards and associations including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC for the period Jan. 1 through Jan. 31, 2011. The Chicagoland PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is a voluntary trade association whose 46,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the Illinois Association of REALTORS® works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the interest of real property ownership.

Find Illinois market stats data at www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

In the following Illinois Association of REALTORS® video Dr. Hewings provides more information:

Continued Growth During Real Estate Downturn. Company Launches eEdge Industry’s First Lead-To-Close Business Solution Today.

AUSTIN, Texas (BUSINESS WIRE) Keller Williams Realty reported today at its national convention that it ended 2010 with 79,315 associates, 701 market centers (offices), and associate profit share up 7.2 percent, with its agents receiving $34.6 million dollars back. Since the inception of the profit sharing program, the company has given back over $304 million in earnings to its agents. Additionally, CEO Mark Willis shared in his annual State of the Company address to more than 8,000 convention attendees that, since the real estate market’s sharp downturn in 2005, the company has grown 30 percent in agents, 40 percent in market centers, 21 percent in closed units and 11 percent in closed GCI.

“Keller Williams agents have outpaced the market in every way, through productivity and profit share. As a company, we are better off now than we were before the shift – and we have our associates to thank for that,” said Willis.

The growth of the company can be attributed to the growth of its agents. Agent productivity continued to rise with units closed up 6 percent from December 2009 to 2010, while comparably, the NAR membership as a whole went down in closed units 4.8 percent. Overall the company’s associates saw productivity year on year percentage increases across the board in listings taken (up 13 percent), contracts closed volume (up 9 percent) and contracts closed units (6 percent).

“These numbers are the most important to us because they are proof that our agents are succeeding, making more money and growing their businesses. They are truly breaking through,” Willis added.

Willis also did the honors of “turning on” the industry’s first complete lead-to-close business solution, eEdge, during his address. This unique tool is now available to every Keller Williams associate at a fraction of the cost they would normally pay with functionality to build their leads, database and sales. Additionally, with the company-wide paperless transaction system, consumers can expect a faster, more seamless closing process.

“We want to thank our associates and their unwavering commitment to the growth of their businesses and leading the way in the industry in technology,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “Keller Williams Realty wouldn’t be forging ahead with such an important product like eEdge without the support of our agents and their vote!”

In addition to reporting positive growth and technological advancement, the company received many accolades in 2010 including:

• Entrepreneur magazine, No. 1 ranked real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list
• J.D. Power and Associates, highest in overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the third year in a row
• Inman News, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board Gary Keller named one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate
• Training Magazine, highest ranking real estate franchise on the annual Training Top 125, #47 Overall

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 690 offices and almost 80,000 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. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties. For more information, or to search for homes for sale visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com).

Contacts:

Keller Williams Realty
Amber Presley
(512) 327-3070
amber.presley@kw.com

SAN FRANCISCO (BUSINESS WIRE) Home sales activity in San Francisco is returning to a healthy pace, according to the latest Market Focus report issued jointly by the Rosen Consulting Group and the San Francisco Association of REALTORS®. Driven partially by all-cash buyers and improved affordability, the robust increase in pending sales activity seen in recent months indicates that an increase in property sales is on the horizon.

By some estimates, all-cash buyers represent 20-30 percent of homebuyers in the San Francisco market, resulting from more stringent mortgage lending practices, as well as a growing demand for investment opportunities as yields for many common investments remain unattractive.

Single-Family Sales Rise by 20.7 Percent Year-Over-Year in January 2011

Completed single-family home sales in San Francisco rebounded during the month of January by 20.7 percent. Year-over-year single-family home sales rose at a noticeably accelerated pace in Districts 2 (Inner Sunset, Central Sunset, Outer Sunset, Parkside, Inner Parkside, Outer Parkside, and Golden Gate Heights)—72.2 percent and District 10 (Potrero Hill, Central Waterfront, Dogpatch, Bayview-Hunters Point, Bayview Heights, India Basin, Silver Terrace, Candlestick Point, Visitacion Valley, Little Hollywood, Sunnydale, McLaren Park, and part of Portola)—46.7 percent where the median sales prices in January 2011 were $619,000 and $414,250, respectively. Pending single-family home sales also increased by an impressive 37.5 percent year-over-year in January 2010, leading the Rosen Consulting Group to believe that the upward trend observed in property sales should continue at least through the early part of 2011.

At the current pending sales rate, this equates to a 2.9 months of supply inventory. By price segment, the months of supply inventory for homes priced less than $700,000 remains narrow at 2.3 months, while homes within the $700,000 to $1.2 million price range had 3.6 months and the supply of homes priced greater than $1.2 million edged upwards slightly from January 2010 to 4.6 months.

Pending Condominium Sales Increased by 25 Percent Year-Over-Year

The number of condominium sales in January 2011 remained unchanged in comparison to January 2010, with 119 sales completed during the month. In large part, a result of the increase in the number of condominium sales in the higher-priced segments of the market, the median sales price increased by 7.3 percent year-over-year to $665,000 in January 2011. As for-sale inventory levels dropped by 1.3 percent to 753 units for sale, and as pending sales activity jumped by 24.8 percent to 186 units, the months of supply inventory contracted to 4.0 from 5.1 months in January 2010. While the months of supply inventory for condominiums priced greater than $900,000 increased to 6.6 months, the inventory for more moderately-priced condominiums units tightened to 2.9 months in the $500,000 to $900,000 segments and 2.5 months for condominiums priced less than $500,000.

Despite the continued volatility in housing market statistics, the elevated housing affordability rate makes today an excellent time to buy for a qualified, long-term homebuyer. As job growth accelerates and credit availability increases through 2011, demand will respond and drive a continued tightening in market conditions, which should result in a more robust recovery during the coming year.

Real estate data in Market Focus is provided by Terradatum. Market Focus is written by the Rosen Consulting Group. For additional information on the real estate market or Market Focus, please contact:

San Francisco Association of REALTORS®
301 Grove Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 431-8500 x 132
www.sfrealtors.com

Rosen Consulting Group
1995 University Avenue, Suite 550
Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 549-4510
www.rosenconsulting.com

Contacts

San Francisco Association of REALTORS®
Jim Fabris
(415) 431-8500 ext. 132
www.sfrealtors.com

Chicago, January 24, 2011 (Realtor.org) Realtors® who work with buyers now have a new resource available through the ABR® App for the iPhone. Available now through the iTunes store, this new benefit will help Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designees grow their business while also connecting with home buyers.

The ABR® iPhone App is the latest resource from the National Association of Realtors®’ Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council. This powerful and practical app was developed by Jacobs & Clevenger, a multichannel marketing communications firm, working in close partnership with the NAR.

Ron Phipps

The ABR® App for the iPhone is designed to help buyers’ agents access useful member benefits while on the go. Users have access to resources for home buyers, finance calculators, marketing tips and articles from Today’s Buyer’s Rep, REBAC’s monthly membership newsletter. Realtors® can also use the app to share useful articles with potential buyers via e-mail.

“Today’s agents are increasingly using smart phones in their day-to-day business,” said Marc Gould, executive director of REBAC. “This application not only allows NAR members access to the many tools and resources available through REBAC membership, but also it provides them with the ability to share these resources with today’s buyers.”

Agents interested in learning more about the ABR® App for iPhone or the ABR® Designation can contact REBAC at 800-648-6224 or visit www.rebac.net.

Jacobs & Clevenger is an independent, multichannel marketing communications agency that provides direct, digital, database and brand marketing solutions. The agency helps clients grow their brands and their businesses through apps, webinars, viral games, search engine marketing, e-mail campaigns and the mobile optimization of websites. To learn more, visit www.jacobsclevenger.com.

A wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of Realtors®, the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council is the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing the real estate buyer. With more than 40,000 active members, REBAC awards the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation to Realtors® who work directly with buyer-clients. To learn more visit REBAC.net.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

For more information, contact:

Leanne Jernigan
(202) 383-1290
ljernigan@realtors.org

HomeGain recognizes 46 Realtors with top honors based on nationwide, regional and state performance and achievements in 2010

Emeryville, CA (January 25, 2011) HomeGain, a leading online real estate resource that connects home buyers and sellers with real estate professionals, today announced its 2010 Top Performing AgentEvaluator Real Estate Agents.

For the past decade HomeGain has annually recognized its most successful and productive real estate agents and brokers who are members of its AgentEvaluator® product in each of six regions across the United States, as well as the overall top performing agents in all 50 states.

Overall, in 2010 HomeGain’s top five real estate professionals earned an average of $103,122 in gross closed commissions from their HomeGain AgentEvaluator® business and an average of 13 closed transactions.

Louis Cammarosano

HomeGain’s 2010 Nationwide Top Performer in total number of home sales for the fifth consecutive year is Barbara Tidwell with Keller Williams Realty in Texas, closing 18 home transactions from AgentEvaluator® business. The 2010 Nationwide Top Performer by total commissions earned for the sixth consecutive year is Eric Pakulla with RE/MAX Advantage Realty in Maryland, earning $148,300 from AgentEvaluator®. Barbara and Eric are also the Top Performers in their regions and states.

Eric Pakulla

Regional HomeGain 2010 AgentEvaluator® Top Performer award recipients include:

Mid-West Region by Highest Dollar Volume: Karen Breen Elia, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties in Illinois
Southeast Region by Highest Dollar Volume: Andrea K. Dugan, RE/MAX Premier in Virginia
Southeast Region Highest Volume of Home Sales: Ron Maruca, Charles Rutenberg Realty LLC in Florida
South Region Highest Dollar Volume: Scott Myers, Century 21 Scott Myers Realtors in Texas
West Region by Highest Dollar Volume and Volume of Home Sales: Sara and Steve Gerhart, RE/MAX Masters in California

For a complete list of AgentEvaluator® Top Performing real estate agents, including honorable mentions, Top Performers listed by state and HomeGain end of year highlights, visit the HomeGain Real Estate Blog.

AgentEvaluator® is a marketing program for real estate agents who are looking to connect with online home buyers and sellers. To learn about the program, visit www.homegain.com/agentevaluator.

About HomeGain

HomeGain is a leading provider of online marketing solutions that connect real estate agents and brokers with home buyers and sellers. HomeGain offers free services to louis@homegain.com

Washington, DC, January 20, 2011 (Realtor.org) Existing-home sales rose sharply in December, when sales increased for the fifth time in the past six months, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Existing-home sales(1), which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 12.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.28 million in December from an upwardly revised 4.70 million in November, but remain 2.9 percent below the 5.44 million pace in December 2009.

Lawrence Yun

The national median existing-home price(2) for all housing types was $168,800 in December, which is 1.0 percent below December 2009. Distressed homes(3) rose to a 36 percent market share in December from 33 percent in November, and 32 percent in December 2009.

“The modest rise in distressed sales, which typically are discounted 10 to 15 percent relative to traditional homes, dampened the median price in December, but the flat price trend continues,” Yun explained.

Total housing inventory at the end of December fell 4.2 percent to 3.56 million existing homes available for sale, which represents an 8.1 month supply(4) at the current sales pace, down from a 9.5-month supply in November.

Ron Phipps

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.71 percent in December from 4.30 percent in November; the rate was 4.93 percent in December 2009.

A parallel NAR practitioner survey shows first-time buyers purchased 33 percent of homes in December, up from 32 percent in November, but are below a 43 percent share in December 2009.

Investors accounted for 20 percent of transactions in December, up from 19 percent in November and 15 percent in December 2009; the balance of sales were to repeat buyers. All-cash sales were at 29 percent in December, compared with 31 percent in November, but up from 22 percent a year ago. “All-cash sales have been consistently high at about 30 percent of the market over the past six months,” Yun said.

Single-family home sales jumped 11.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.64 million in December from 4.15 million in November, but are 2.5 percent below the 4.76 million level in December 2009. The median existing single-family home price was $169,300 in December, down 0.2 percent from a year ago.

Existing condominium and co-op sales surged 16.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 640,000 in December from 550,000 in November, but remain 5.2 percent below the 675,000-unit pace one year ago. The median existing condo price(5) was $165,000 in December, which is 7.4 percent below December 2009.

Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast jumped 13.0 percent to an annual pace of 870,000 in December but are 5.4 percent below December 2009. The median price in the Northeast was $237,300, which is 1.4 percent below a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 11.0 percent in December to a level of 1.11 million but are 4.3 percent below a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $139,700, up 3.3 percent from December 2009.

In the South, existing-home sales increased 10.1 percent to an annual pace of 1.97 million in December but are 2.5 percent below December 2009. The median price in the South was $148,400, unchanged from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the West surged 16.7 percent to an annual level of 1.33 million in December but remain 1.5 percent below December 2009. The median price in the West was $204,000, down 5.6 percent from a year ago.

The National Association of REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

# # #

NOTE: NAR also tracks monthly comparisons of existing single-family home sales and median prices for select metropolitan statistical areas, which is posted with other tables at: www.realtor.org/research/research/ehsdata. For information on areas not included in the report, please contact the local association of REALTORS®.

1. Existing-home sales, which include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, are based on transaction closings. This differs from the U.S. Census Bureau’s series on new single-family home sales, which are based on contracts or the acceptance of a deposit. Because of these differences, it is not uncommon for each series to move in different directions in the same month. In addition, existing-home sales, which generally account for 85 to 90 percent of total home sales, are based on a much larger sample – more than 40 percent of multiple listing service data each month – and typically are not subject to large prior-month revisions.

The annual rate for a particular month represents what the total number of actual sales for a year would be if the relative pace for that month were maintained for 12 consecutive months. Seasonally adjusted annual rates are used in reporting monthly data to factor out seasonal variations in resale activity. For example, home sales volume is normally higher in the summer than in the winter, primarily because of differences in the weather and family buying patterns. However, seasonal factors cannot compensate for abnormal weather patterns.

Single-family data collection began monthly in 1968, while condo data collection began quarterly in 1981; the series were combined in 1999 when monthly collection of condo data began. Prior to this period, single-family homes accounted for more than nine out of 10 purchases. Historic comparisons for total home sales prior to 1999 are based on monthly single-family sales, combined with the corresponding quarterly sales rate for condos.

2. The only valid comparisons for median prices are with the same period a year earlier due to the seasonality in buying patterns. Month-to-month comparisons do not compensate for seasonal changes, especially for the timing of family buying patterns. Changes in the composition of sales can distort median price data. Year-ago median and mean prices sometimes are revised in an automated process if more data is received than was originally reported.

3. Distressed sales, first-time buyers, investors, all-cash transactions and data for contract cancellations, etc., are from a survey for the REALTORS® Confidence Index, scheduled to be posted February 7.

4. Total inventory and month’s supply data are available back through 1999, while single-family inventory and month’s supply are available back to 1982 (prior to 1999, condos were measured quarterly while single-family sales accounted for more than 90 percent of transactions).

5. Because there is a concentration of condos in high-cost metro areas, the national median condo price generally is higher than the median single-family price. In a given market area, condos typically cost less than single-family homes.

Existing-home sales for January will be released February 23, and the next Pending Home Sales Index is scheduled for January 27; release times are 10:00 a.m. EST.

For more information, contact:

Walter Molony
(202) 383-1177
wmolony@realtors.org

Washington, January 19, 2011 (Realtor.org) A substantial majority of both home owners and current renters agree that owning a home is a smart decision over the long term. That’s according to the results of a National Association of Realtors® survey of 3,793 adults conducted online by Harris Interactive.

The American Attitudes About Homeownership survey found that in today’s challenging economy, 95 percent of owners and 72 percent of renters believe that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own a home. In addition, an overwhelming majority of home owners are happy with their decision to own a home – 93 percent of owners surveyed would buy again.

Ronald Phipps

The survey uncovered some differences between home owners and renters, as well. While more than half of owners are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with the overall quality of their family life, only one-third of renters report the same levels of satisfaction. Similarly, 43 percent of home owners are very/extremely satisfied with their community life, compared with 30 percent of renters.

A majority of renters – 63 percent – said that it was at least somewhat likely that they would purchase a home at some point in the future. Among this group, young adults (18-29 years old) have the strongest aspirations for home ownership; only 8 percent of young adults said that it was “not at all likely” that they would purchase a home at some point in the future.

In today’s market, many aspiring home owners are faced with worries about job security and creditworthiness. Among renters who are very or extremely likely to buy a home in the future, three out of five consider confidence in job security and creditworthiness to be an obstacle.

One point of agreement between renters and home owners was support of the mortgage interest deduction (MID). Seventy-four percent of owners and 62 percent of renters say it’s “extremely” or “very” important that the MID remain in place.

“At a time when the middle class is under increasing economic pressures, both home owners and renters agree that the mortgage interest deduction should not be targeted for change,” said Phipps. “Given strong public support of and aspirations toward owning a home, we need to keep policies in place that support and encourage responsible, sustainable home ownership for our future.”

This survey was conducted online within the U.S. and fielded October 6-20, 2010. A total of 3,793 adults, 18 and older were surveyed, including 1,880 home owners, 1,115 renters, and 798 young adults. All samples came from the Harris Poll online database and were weighted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income to be representative of the U.S. general population of adults 18 and older. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online. Results are available online at www.realtor.org/statsanddata/homeownership/attitudes_homeown.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Agreements with Sporting News, Everyday Health and Move Inc. Advance AOL’s Strategy to Create the Premier Content Network on the Web

NEW YORK (BUSINESS WIRE) AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) today announced new content partnerships with Sporting News, Everyday Health and Move Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), advancing its strategy to build the premier content network on the Web. These partnerships represent another step in the aggressive turnaround of AOL and are an excellent outcome for our consumers, advertising partners and shareholders. Today’s announcements are a continuation of AOL’s strategy to create unique original content, acquire brands, audience, technology and talent, and to partner with leading content brands and influencers.

“AOL will be doubling down on our strategy in 2011,” said Tim Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AOL Inc. “As part of that effort, we will be partnering with companies in areas that add strength to the consumer experience and drive profitability for AOL. The three deals we are announcing today universally improve AOL and allow us to build for the future.”

In 2010, AOL closed deals with more than 20 premium content partners and digital studios to deliver a mix of high quality programming to AOL’s audiences. The company re-launched AOL.com in a cleaner, more user-friendly and video rich environment; launched the video series “You’ve Got…” on AOL.com; re-launched AOL Video and combined video assets with 5min Media; realized a surge in video traffic; acquired TechCrunch to further strengthen AOL’s tech footprint on the Web; vastly improved the user experience with the beta launch of AOL Mail under Project Phoenix; re-imagined the Web for users and advertisers with the new Project Devil display ad format; and built Patch into a world-class local experience with more than 750 communities in the U.S.

Details of today’s announcement are as follows:

AOL is partnering with Sporting News, the online source for real-time breaking sports news and information, as its new sports content provider for day-to-day coverage of a comprehensive range of sports. Through this partnership Sporting News Feed will become the flagship sports destination for AOL in the United States covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, college football, college basketball, and soccer. Sporting News is a longstanding brand name in sports journalism providing comprehensive, relevant sports coverage. AOL users will have access to great sports coverage with a link from the AOL Homepage to a soon to be re-launched Sporting News web site, where FanHouse followers will also be able to access and read their favorite writers and contributors.

AOL is partnering with Everyday Health, the operator of the largest health property on the Internet. In December 2010, Everyday Health was once again the leader in the health category with 26.8MM unique visitors. This partnership will provide our audience with quality health content and tools to meet their ever-growing demand for trusted health and wellness information. Everyday Health will become the health destination for AOL’s users. The AOL homepage and other AOL Network sites will link to Everydayhealth.com where users can access best in class health-related information, expert advice, and robust community features.

AOL is partnering with Move Inc., the industry leader in online real estate listings which is affiliated with the National Association of Realtors, to provide users with a best-in-class listings experience when searching for homes online. The partnership allows AOL Real Estate to focus on enhancing the user experience with original, high-quality content, prominent industry expert advice and industry-leading how-to video guides. The AOL Real Estate and Move partnership will also provide real estate professionals broader access and more visibility to AOL Real Estate’s millions of users. The Move partnership brings experts in data management to AOL Real Estate providing consumers with access not only to the most accurate and comprehensive data about homes for sale, but also property records, school and neighborhood information.

The partnerships allow AOL to retain and develop the FanHouse and AOL Real Estate brands as well as health content through local, video and select areas that are core to the company’s strategy. Other terms were not disclosed.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding business strategies, market potential, future financial and operational performance and other matters. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the transaction and other statements identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “expect” or similar expressions. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances, including, but not limited to, changes in our plans, strategies and intentions; the competitiveness and quality of our products and services; our ability to retain, hire and develop key employees; and the intensity of competition. Any forward- looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein, due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic and/or regulatory factors, as well as factors affecting AOL’s operations and businesses. More detailed information about these factors as they relate to AOL may be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in AOL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AOL is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About AOL

AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) is a leading global Web services company with an extensive suite of brands and offerings and a substantial worldwide audience. AOL’s business spans online content, products and services that the company offers to consumers, publishers and advertisers. AOL is focused on attracting and engaging consumers and providing valuable online advertising services on both AOL’s owned and operated properties and third-party websites. In addition, AOL operates one of the largest Internet subscription access services in the United States, which serves as a valuable distribution channel for AOL’s consumer offerings.

About Move, Inc.

Move, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOVE) is the leader in online real estate with 11.6 million monthly visitors to its online network of web sites. Move, Inc. operates: Move.com, a leading destination for information on new homes and rental listings, moving, home and garden and home finance; Realtor.com(R), the official web site of the National Association of Realtors(R); Moving.com; SeniorHousingNet; Top Producer Systems, and ListHub. Move, Inc. is based in Campbell, California.

About Sporting News

Founded in 1886, Sporting News is a multi-media company catering to real sports fans. Launched in August 2010, Sporting News Feed is a differentiated approach to the coverage of sports in the US, delivering aggressive, to-the-source reporting and curated related recommendations around breaking news and trending sports stories. With an independent voice, now greatly enhanced with the addition of FanHouse and its nationally acclaimed columnists, strong emphasis on multimedia content delivery and a commitment to making sports conversations more informed and social among friends, Sporting News Feed delivers a “go-to” experience for real fans and the advertisers looking to engage them.

Sporting News content is also available in Sporting News Magazine, Sporting News Today, Sporting News Fantasy and Rowdy.com. Sporting News serves as the national sales representative for CineSport, a leading video programming and reach vehicle in the sports category. Sporting News is a division of American City Business Journals, Inc., publisher of 40 city business journals, SportsBusiness Journal, SportsBusiness Daily, NASCAR Illustrated and Inside Lacrosse.

About Everyday Health, Inc.

Everyday Health is a leading provider of health solutions. The company provides consumers, healthcare professionals, and brands with content and advertising-based services across a broad portfolio of over 25 websites that span the health spectrum – from in-depth medical content for condition prevention and management to lifestyle offerings in pregnancy, diet and fitness. With over 27 million unique users each month (source: comScore), Everyday Health offers users the tools, community, and expert advice they need to live healthier, every day.

The Everyday Health portfolio includes well-recognized and trusted health brands, including www.EverydayHealth.com; www.Carepages.com; PDRHealth.com; www.WhatToExpect.com, from the world-renowned pregnancy and parenting brand, What to Expect; and www.JillianMichaels.com, from Jillian Michaels, star of the hit NBC television show, “The Biggest Loser.” The portfolio now includes www.medpagetoday.com, a news organization serving healthcare professionals. Everyday Health was founded in 2002 by CEO, Ben Wolin, and President, Mike Keriakos and investors include Foundation Capital, NeoCarta Ventures, Revolution, Rho Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures and Village Ventures.

Contacts:

AOL Inc.
Lauren Hurvitz
212-206-5020
lauren.hurvitz@teamaol.com

or

Graham James
212-205-5012
graham.james@teamaol.com

HomeGain reveals new survey findings of top 10 do-it-yourself home improvements for home sellers; cleaning and de-cluttering ranks as highest return on investment, followed by lightening and brightening

Emeryville, CA (January 19, 2011) HomeGain.com, the first website to offer web-based free instant home values, today announced that it has released the results of its nationwide home improvement and home staging Home Sale Maximizer™ survey.

HomeGain surveyed nearly 600 real estate professionals nationwide and configured a list of the top 10 do-it-yourself home improvements that cost under $5,000 and benefit sellers most when they sell their homes.

According to the HomeGain survey, the top five home improvements that real estate professionals recommend to home sellers based on average cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are:

Cleaning and de-cluttering ($290 cost/$1,990 price increase/586% ROI)
Lightening and brightening ($375 cost/$1,550 price increase/313% ROI)
Home staging ($550 cost/$2,194 price increase/299% ROI)
Landscaping ($540 cost/$1,932 price increase/258% ROI)
Repairing electrical or plumbing ($535 cost/$1,505 price increase/181% ROI)

Cleaning and de-cluttering continues to rank as the top suggested home improvement (since the survey was originally conducted in 2000), recommended by 99 percent of real estate professionals, costing less than $300 and returning a value of nearly $2,000 to the home’s sale price, or a 586 percent return on investment.

Louis Cammarosano

Rounding out the top 10 low cost, do-it-yourself home improvements includes: updating electrical systems and/or plumbing, updating the kitchen and bathrooms, replacing or shampooing carpets, painting interior walls, repairing damaged floors, and painting the outside of the home.

The home improvement projects with the highest price increases to a home’s resale value are updating the kitchen ($1,265 cost / $3,435 price increase), followed by painting the outside of the home ($1,467 cost / $2,222 price increase) and home staging ($550 cost / $2,194 price increase).

To see the complete survey results, visit the HomeGain Real Estate Blog.

HomeGain’s Home Sale Maximizer online home improvement tool, based on the results of our home improvement surveys of real estate professionals, is designed to provide home sellers with the most cost-effective improvements to best increase the saleability of one’s home.

About HomeGain

HomeGain is a leading provider of online marketing solutions that connect real estate agents and brokers with home buyers and sellers. HomeGain offers free services to find and compare real estate agents, research home values, and view homes for sale. Since 1999 REALTORS® have used HomeGain’s real estate marketing programs to connect with consumers, promote their services and grow their business. HomeGain.com has been a top visited real estate website since 1999. HomeGain is your real estate connection.

Contact:

Louis Cammarosano
(510) 594-4121
louis@homegain.com

Investors Poised to Reap the Rewards of Market Conditions

NATICK, Mass. (BUSINESS WIRE) The federal tax credit extension, coupled with an uptick in seasonal buying, helped keep the real estate market on its tracks in the first two quarters of 2010, according to the RE/MAX of New England 2011 Housing Market Outlook and Forecast*. Single-family home sales across New England showed the affects of the tax credit extension, as first-time buyers inked deals to beat the spring deadline.

Jay Hummer

In an effort to stimulate the economy, the Federal Reserve recently announced a second purchase of $600 billion in long-term Treasury bonds; an attempt to speed up economic growth by further lowering long-term interest rates. “With rates continuing on a steady trajectory, it’s really an investor’s market,” said Hummer. “There is no other industry right now in which you can expect 80% return on your investment. Consumers who are able to put 20% down, rent a property and in 20-30 years time own it, will realize that return.”

Despite recent data by the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices that shows broad-based declines in the values of home prices in the third quarter of 2010, some New England states are bucking the national trend.

Rhode Island, which has the highest unemployment rate, at 11.6%, in New England and the fifth highest in the nation, showed average price increases in homes across the board. Single family homes were up 11.2% from $243,968 in 2009, to $271,244 in 2010. Condominium prices increased 10.1% from $214,116 in 2009 to $235,735 in 2010. Multifamily home prices showed the highest gain from $114,131 in 2009 to $137,451 in 2010; a 20.4% increase, clearly showing the affects of investor-related buying.

In Massachusetts, where the unemployment rate of 8.2% sits below the national average, home prices showed marked increases, as well. Single-family home prices were up 7.2% from $351,788 in 2009 to $376,970 in 2010. Condominium prices increased 9.3% from $305,937 in 2009 to $334,343 in 2010. Multifamily home prices showed gains of 14.0% over 2009, with average prices increasing from $226,535 to $258,322.

In Connecticut’s affluent Fairfield County, single family and condominium prices also increased in 2010. Single-family home prices were up 13.8% from $547,259 to $622,547 in 2010. Condo prices rose from an average of $277,821 to $288,924, a 4% increase over 2009 prices. Multifamily homes largely stayed the same, posting a small drop of -0.4%.

As anticipated, overall home sales in 2010 were down versus 2009. Across New England, single family home sales dropped an average of –5.0%; condominium sales showed an average decrease of -2.8% and multifamily homes showed the highest decrease in sales at -9.7% on average.

With more Americans underwater on their mortgages, foreclosure activity signs point to marked increases in 2011. Third-quarter foreclosures in 2010 jumped by more than 30% with bank regulators stating that many lenders have simply exhausted options for keeping delinquent mortgagees in their homes through government programs including loan modifications. In fact, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision’s quarterly mortgage report, more than 380,000 new foreclosures were initiated nationwide in the third quarter of 2010. That makes the number of in-process foreclosures close to 1.2 million, nationally, a 10% increase over 2009.

“More foreclosures in the market will absolutely affect the timeline to an industry recovery,” said Hummer. “Purchasing a foreclosed property also takes anywhere from six to 12 months and even with conservative estimates, we won’t see a turnaround until at least 2013. That’s why it is so critical that investors ramp up activity now.”

Another area that bears watching, according to Hummer, is adjustable rate mortgage resets. For the estimated hundreds of thousands of Americans who chose this option their rates will soon jump up into the double-digits, creating payments that they simply cannot afford.

Jay Hummer, Executive Vice President and Regional Director for RE/MAX of New England has more than 25 years of experience in the real estate franchise industry, beginning his career in New York City in 1984. In his role, Hummer oversees 234 offices and nearly 3,000 sales associates throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. In the past 12 months, RE/MAX has added 29 new Franchises throughout New England. RE/MAX is the most recognized name in real estate.

*To access the full report, as well read more information on the housing industry on the blog, please go to www.remax-newengland.com. Follow us on Twitter at @REMAXNE.

Contacts:

Regan Communications
Lisa Doucet
(401) 351-8855
ldoucet@regancomm.com

Mortgage Marvel study shows California mortgage applicants have an average credit score that is 20 points above the national average

MEQUON, Wis., Jan. 13, 2011 (PRNewswire) According to the results of a recent state-by-state study conducted by Mortgage Marvel (www.MortgageMarvel.com), California mortgage seekers have the highest average credit scores in the nation at 755, a full twenty points above the national average of 735. At the other end of the spectrum are Mississippi mortgage applicants, which have the lowest average credit score of 695.

“These are interesting results,” said Rick Allen, Mortgage Marvel’s Product Manager. “With all of California’s well-publicized issues with decreasing property values and foreclosures, I would have expected it to be well down the list. Many Californians have clearly figured out how to weather the financial storms.”

Western and Northeast Regions Score High

Joining California in the top five states were two other states from the western region – Hawaii, with a 752 average score, and Oregon, with a 751 average score. Otherwise, the top ten states were controlled by five New England states – Connecticut (751), Rhode Island (745), Massachusetts (744), New Hampshire (744), and Vermont (744). The Midwest was the only other region represented in the top ten, with Wisconsin and Minnesota both scoring well.

With their domination of the top ten spots, it follows that the western and northeastern regions reflected the strongest average credit scores at 747 and 738 respectively. What causes the variances between the regions? Income appears to be a factor. Based on 2008 data by the U.S. Census Bureau, the northeastern and western markets also have the highest per capita income of the five regions.

Southeast and Southwest Regions Fall below Average

The southeast region occupied five of the ten lowest credit score positions, including Mississippi which had an average credit score of 695, the nation’s lowest. While the Southwest only occupied two of the bottom ten positions (Oklahoma and Texas), it registered the lowest, overall, regional average credit score of 719. This is explained by the fact that the Southwest did not have any states score above the national average; its highest ranked state was Arizona at position thirty-one with an average credit score of 730.

“When I first looked at the results, I was a bit surprised that the results did not more closely follow the most troubled real estate markets,” observed Allen. “After we looked closer, however, we found that per capita income levels for 2008 as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau show a similar landscape with the West and Northeast at the top of the list and the Southwest and Southeast at the bottom. This led us to conclude that there is a closer correlation between the strength of the credit score and the per capita income of the region.”

The study was conducted by analyzing over 340,000 first mortgage applications received by Mortgagebot’s clients in 2010.

About Mortgage Marvel and Mortgagebot

Mortgage Marvel (www.MortgageMarvel.com) is the only nationwide, online mortgage-shopping service that instantly delivers accurate, real-time quotes from multiple lenders in complete privacy. The award-winning Mortgage Marvel enables consumers to quickly get mortgage quotes from trusted lenders by entering as few as three pieces of non-sensitive information. In seconds, Mortgage Marvel presents free, accurate, up-to-date mortgage quotes from multiple lenders in an easy-to-understand display that is fully compliant with all government regulations. But unlike other online mortgage-shopping services, Mortgage Marvel enables borrowers to link directly to their preferred lender—where they can complete a mortgage application and get approved with full disclosures, all in about 20 minutes or less.

Mortgage Marvel is operated by Mortgagebot LLC (www.Mortgagebot.com), the industry-leading, Inc. 5000 company that provides the unique, award-winning PowerSite family of integrated point-of-sale (IPOS) solutions for taking mortgage applications from every business channel: Internet, branch, call center, or loan officer. Mortgagebot blends deep mortgage experience with innovative “cloud-computing” technology to create scalable and affordable Web sites for nearly 1,000 banks and credit unions nationwide. Lenders large and small view PowerSite as a “must-have” solution because it helps them grow their businesses, reduce costs, and compete more effectively. In addition, PowerSite is flexible, easy to use, and features a rapid and proven implementation process.

Contact:

Rick Allen
Rick.allen@mortgagebot.com
(262) 292-2706

century21.com Provides Enhanced Consumer Search Experience for over 3 Million Property Listings

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (January 10, 2011) Century 21 Real Estate LLC, the franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, today announced that it is the first national real estate franchisor to implement a new search functionality in compliance with the new National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) policy governing the indexing and display of Internet Data Exchange (IDX) information by real estate franchise organizations. Consumers may now benefit from an expanded search capability that enables one-click access to more than three million Multiple Listing Service (MLS) listings directly through the national century21.com website.

The MLS listings that appear on CENTURY 21® franchise offices IDX websites are now indexed to present the search results on century21.com. The outcome is an enhanced search capability that provides consumers with a comprehensive property search experience that displays information on every home listed for sale in the local MLS in accordance with the newly updated IDX listings display policy. This policy was approved by the NAR Board of Directors in November 2010.

Bev Thorne

“We applaud CENTURY 21 for being so quick to implement NAR’s new IDX indexing and display functionality on its website,” said Alex Perriello, president and CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group, LLC the parent company of Century 21 Real Estate LLC. “This rapid application speaks volumes to CENTURY 21’s commitment to serving real estate consumers as well as the business needs of its brokers and agents.”

About Century 21 Real Estate LLC:

Century 21 Real Estate LLC (century21.com) is the franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, providing comprehensive training, management, administrative and marketing support for the CENTURY 21 System. The System is comprised of more than 8,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 73 countries and territories worldwide. Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services.

©2010 Century 21 Real Estate LLC, A Realogy Company. CENTURY 21® Is A Registered Trademark Owned By Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each CENTURY 21 Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Contact:

Matt Gentile
Century 21 Real Estate LLC
Phone: (973) 407-6102
Mobile: (973) 647-9042
matt.gentile@century21.com

Consumers Can Now Search and Find Local Agents Based on Client Feedback

SEATTLE, Jan. 13, 2011 (PRNewswire) Real estate website Zillow.com® today launched the ability for home buyers and sellers to search for and find local real estate agents based on ratings and reviews from former clients. Thousands of consumers have rated and reviewed their agents since Zillow launched the ability to review agents in December. Now, Zillow has made these reviews discoverable, enabling consumers to search for local agents in the Zillow Directory, and compare ratings and reviews to find an agent that’s best for them.

Over 13 million people(1) visit Zillow each month, and many have not yet found a real estate agent to help them buy or sell their home. Knowing others’ experiences with a particular agent is valuable information for potential home buyers and sellers to have before selecting a real estate agent.

Spencer Rascoff

When visitors use the Zillow Directory to search for a real estate agent in their area, results are sorted by local agents with the highest overall ratings and greatest number of reviews. Overall ratings are based on a consumer’s likelihood to recommend, running on scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being “very likely” and 1 “very unlikely”. Consumers can compare agents’ overall ratings, as well as ratings across several categories of service including: process expertise, local knowledge, responsiveness and negotiation skills. Along with ratings, qualitative reviews further help consumers understand a former client’s experience with that agent.

Consumers can access ratings and reviews everywhere they interact with agents on Zillow.com – such as for-sale listings, or when agents answer questions in Zillow Advice, since reviews are connected to an agent’s Zillow profile.

Current and former clients can also rate and review their agents who have profiles on Zillow by searching for the agent in the Zillow Directory.

About Zillow.com®

Zillow.com is an online real estate marketplace where homeowners, buyers, sellers, renters, real estate agents and mortgage professionals find and share vital information about homes and mortgages. Launched in early 2006 with Zestimate® home values and data on millions of U.S. homes, Zillow has since added homes for sale and homes for rent, a directory of real estate and lending professionals, Zillow Advice, Zillow Mobile apps and Zillow Mortgage Marketplace. One of the most-visited U.S. real estate websites, with more than 13 million unique visitors per month, Zillow’s goal is to help people become smarter about homes and real estate in every stage of their lives — home buying, selling, renting, remodeling and financing.

Zillow.com, Zillow and Zestimate are registered trademarks of Zillow, Inc.

(1) Unique users to Zillow are measured by Omniture, December 2010.