Coldwell Banker United

If you'd like Coldwell and Banker on your phone, just follow the instructions below to download exclusive ringtones.

For Smartphone users:

1. Copy and paste any of the following links into an email

* New Smartphone - http://www.limelinx.com/files/0b6629d78a88cf8c691cdcdaaae5f4b1
* Get the Telephone - http://www.limelinx.com/files/3ea0ecd554e500e03577344df0ba4511

2. Send the email to an email account that is synched to your Smartphone
3. Open the email and click on the link. Then click on the word "Download"
4. The next prompt will be "Download File". Click on this to start downloading the ringtone. This may take a few moments.
5. Once the download is complete and the file has been saved to your phone, you can select it as your default ringtone.

For standard cell phone:

1. Most standard phones will need the file converted to a .MID extension. This can be done by downloading the ringtone file to your computer and then resaving it with the .MID extension.
2. Once you have saved the file, email the file to your cell phone number.
3. You will be able to save the file on your phone and set it as your ringtone.

History of Niceville/ValparaisoEvidence shows that perhaps up to 10,000 years ago Native Americans were living in the area now occupied by the City of Niceville. A number of projectile points have been found and burial mounds dot the area offering mute proof of times long past. Conflict arose between these native populations and the European explorers who began arriving in the area around 1500-1700. This was a time of proud Native Americans, conquering Spanish conquistadors, and thieving pirates. By the early 1800s the new American government had settled in, and established its own systems of politics, religion, and trade, much the same way the Native Americans had done centuries earlier. During these times the fishing industry thrived on mullet caught in the sandy-bottomed bays of the area. One such bay was called Boggy Bayou, named for a great deposit of peat discovered at the mouth of Juniper Creek. It wasn't long before a tiny fishing village was established along the shores of the bay. The village, named Boggy after the bayou itself, was the starting point for what would later become Niceville. In 1842 a cattleman from Louisiana named Jessie Rogers drove his herds to the head of Boggy Bayou and settled in the area. Permanent settlement began as the Civil War ended, and the war's victims left their devastated homes behind to find a new life. Boggy provided them with abundant sunshine, waterway transportation and inexpensive tracts of land. It was around this same time that a legislative act established two counties in the area, Santa Rosa, and Walton. It was from these two counties that the county of Okaloosa, in which modern day Niceville is located, would be created in 1915. The settlement continued to grow when a gristmill was established by John Nathey and his father, to serve the increasing number of farms in the area. Part of that mill still stands on what is now the Eglin AFB golf course. A general store and a sawmill further improved upon the primitive conditions the homesteaders endured, and a number of turpentine distilleries began operating in the area. As trade began to expand beyond the local community, the need for a postal service was realized. Dr. James C. White was named the first postmaster, and on August 17, 1893 the U.S. Postal Service officially recognized the city of Boggy. A few years later the residents decided that 'Boggy' was an unflattering name to represent a respected and growing community, so on November 5, 1910 the city was renamed 'Niceville.' Some residents still were not happy with the name, and on May 24, 1919 the city was again renamed, this time to 'Valparaiso' which is Spanish for 'Vale of Paradise.' One mile from the town, another community was developing, and it was dubbed 'New Valparaiso.' This created confusion among the residents of the two towns, and all but halted the mail delivery. After much discussion the town's name was changed back to Niceville on November 1, 1925 and it has held the name ever since. Over the next decade Niceville continued to develop their small, thriving community. Some type of local government was needed to represent the interests of its citizens. On July 7, 1938 a mass meeting of the qualified voters was held to organize a municipal government and to elect officers. They decided to incorporate the city using its official name of Niceville. The bounds of the territory limits were decided on, and a circular disk with the inscription 'City of Niceville, Florida' was selected as the seal. Two petitions were drawn up, one opposing the proposed incorporation, and the other in agreement with the proposal. Of the 329 registered voters who took part, only four opposed the incorporation. The chairman declared the name duly selected, the seal duly adopted, and the territory limits definitely designated by metes and bounds. J. M. Reynolds was elected the first mayor of the City of Niceville on July 15, 1938 and J. W. Windham was elected the first clerk. C. G. Meigs, Wallace Spence, Herman Anderson, Thomas Powell, and G. B. Anchors were the first five councilmen. Hughey Holmes was elected Marshall of the city. The first recorded school in Niceville was constructed in 1922. Two other schools, established in the 1920's close to the site of the present Edge Elementary, were demolished, the first by fire and then in 1936 its replacement by a hurricane. Classes were conducted in various locations such as the present-day Valparaiso Community Center and a dance hall on Howell Hill until 1938, when the school was again rebuilt. This school, constructed by the Works Progress Administration, consisted of only the front section of the present Edge Elementary School building. The auditorium and additional wings were erected later. In the spring of 1963, a high school was established in the City of Niceville. Prior to this time, high school age Niceville students attended Choctawhatchee High School with other students in the area. The first class of seniors graduated in the spring of 1966. One year later, the new Niceville Senior High School was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Over the next few years the school was expanded to include a gymnasium, an auditorium, a band room, a wing of classrooms and an industrial arts building. Another wing has been constructed that will house science labs, a home economics suite, general purpose classrooms and administrative offices. Today the municipality of Niceville remains a small, close-knit community of just under 20,000 with ever increasing public services. The population is served by one high school, a middle school, two elementary schools, a private center of education and a community college.

The Bulls Were Off and Running!

IBC - DAY 1 RECAP

The 2009 Coldwell Banker International Business Conference opened Sunday night with a Welcome Reception to honor the 2008 Coldwell Banker Award Winners.

The mood was upbeat as many sales professionals started their three days of networking opportunity by sharing stories about market conditions and how they are working to get sellers to price correctly and get buyers "off the fence."

Yesterday began with a General Session where Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, kicked off the meeting with his traditional, rousing "Hellooooooo Coldwell Banker!" welcome.

In his address, Gillespie challenged attendees to do what they could to improve consumer confidence. He told the audience that it is not enough to say that now is a smart time to buy, we have to show why by knowing the facts and explaining them in concise and simple to understand ways.

He said, "While outsiders have been trying to re-cast homeownership as the American Nightmare, we must remind Americans that this is not true. Homeownership is, and will always be, the American Dream!"

Gillespie, while explaining the $8000 tax credit and efforts to help those mired in financial distress is a good start, he also challenged the United States government to do more to stimulate home sales. He said, "It is a shame that our representatives all talk about the need to fix housing but then missed out on the opportunity to help housing which would help our economy by creating jobs - housing does account for approximately 20% of the Gross Domestic Product in our country."

He ended his 20-minute remarks by again challenging attendees. "It is a smart time to buy; we just have to convince them!"

Gillespie then introduced Rick Davidson, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Commercial, who now also serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate. Davidson reminded the audience that it is essential for them to become their client's most trusted advisor.

Michael Fischer, senior vice president, marketing for Coldwell Banker Real Estate, then presented a robust 2009 marketing plan that included two new commercials to be used on television and the Web, receiving a strong ovation for both.

Fischer revealed that last year's Founder's campaign worked on many levels, including the signature line, "Coldwell...Yes, Banker," clearly separated the brand from the competition. He also admitted that research showed the spots did not fare as well in explaining why Coldwell Banker is the most innovative brand in real estate. He vowed to correct that and debuted the commercials to a welcoming crowd.

The first recognizes that the American Dream of Homeownership is still alive and that a home "is part of who we are." The optimistic commercial concludes, "For 103 years, our agents have helped people find the houses they'll call home. And now, more than ever, it's important that we never stop moving."

The second commercial employs Coldwell and Banker to showcase the brand's "listings anytime, anywhere" mantra by focusing on the brand's innovate use of home listings on Smartphones.

One of the day's highlights was the Sales Associate/Representative panel - "Running with the Bulls" - moderated by Ashleigh Banfield. Karen Bernardi with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Boulder, Colorado, Chris Shupe with Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty in Athens, Georgia, Sandi Pressley with Coldwell Banker Legacy in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Andrew Hilt, with Coldwell Banker Excel Realty in Casa Grande, Arizona, discussed the habits, skills and activities that have principally contributed to their success. The audience found the session both insightful and entertaining.

The General Session was shortened this year to allow for an extra education period and attendees choose from a wide variety of courses including hot topics like understanding the Stimulus package, foreclosures and short sales. The overwhelming majority of attendees took advantage of all four sessions.

The MarketPlace was busy. Attendees lined up at the Coldwell Banker booth to shoot their first YouTube video as they explained why consumers should consider living in their market. They also experienced the latest Coldwell Banker innovation - the use of MicroSoft Surface technology. All attendees received a bar scan that, when placed on the interactive screen, automatically called up their profile page and listings. Surface was a huge hit as many remarked, "It is just like how CNN used their map to cover the elections."

On deck for today, Day 2, another shortened General Session featuring sales professional and broker panels along with an event at Sunset Station.

Welcome to the Day 2 Recap of the Coldwell Banker® International Business Conference One of the most important discussions of yesterday's General Session came when Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate, moderated a panel with Richard A. Smith, president and chief executive officer of Realogy, Alex Perriello, chief executive officer of the Realogy Franchise Group, and our special guest, Marc Becker, a partner with Apollo Management. So much has been written and said recently about the future of the Coldwell Banker brand, Realogy and Apollo. It was time to set the record straight and Gillespie represented the agent, manager and broker/owner population in asking questions. Smith said that while competitors are hoping for Realogy's demise, Realogy is not going anywhere. In fact, Realogy remains the largest provider of real estate and relocations services and participates in one of every four real estate transactions by volume. He discussed the financial state of the company and Realogy's ongoing commitment to the Coldwell Banker brand. Perriello discussed how Realogy is using its leadership position to impress upon Congress, the Treasury and the White House on the importance of housing. Becker explained how Apollo Management, which owns Realogy, fully values its investment in Realogy and is committed to it for the long-term. Apollo remains supportive to the success of Realogy, and fully understands that Realogy and all in the industry are navigating through an extremely difficult cycle in housing and in our economy. Meanwhile, Ashleigh Banfield, who continued to do a great job as host of IBC, moderated a panel consisting of rookies who "didn't know they couldn't." Amy MacDonald from Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate in Waterville, Maine, Brett Lueken from Coldwell Banker Shook in Lafayette, Indiana and Kim Shacklock of Coldwell Banker Barnes in Brentwood, Tennessee, came into the real estate industry during one of the most challenging years in history. They clearly had a different take on what it took to succeed and generated a lot of discussion, even amongst the most experienced sales professional. Later, Banfield moderated another panel. This one showcased the differences in the individual vs. team models. Jodi Kerby from Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors in Dallas, Texas, and David Young from Coldwell Banker United in Houston,Texas, had plenty to say about molding a good team. Amber Morrow from Coldwell Banker Elite in DeRidder, Louisiana, and Carol Foltz with Coldwell Banker Developac in DuBoise, Pennsylvania, gave their perspective on benefits of working alone. Two of the major Coldwell Banker awards were presented today and both drew tremendous applause. Steve Barnes, a senior vice president for Coldwell Banker United in Houston, Texas, won the Chandler Barton Spirit Award given annual to a member of the Coldwell Banker system who exhibits a "can do attitude." It was five months ago when Hurricane Ike battered Galveston, Houston and much of Texas. It was Barnes who became a one-man crusader against the storm. He made certain his sales associates, staff and customers were well taken care of throughout the ordeal and amazingly had 14 of Coldwell Banker United's 20 area offices back online within 5 days. But he wasn't finished. Barnes set up a fund that guaranteed financial support went to the neediest in his Coldwell Banker family. Robin and Scott Gwaltney, from At Your Service Real Estate in Rochester, Minnesota, won the Preserving Trust Award for their exemplary efforts in their community. Not content to simply raise funds for the Rochester Better Chance organization, the couple has "raised" 46 young people over the past 15 years, along with two kids of their own. They received a standing ovation after it was also revealed that they were one of five national winners of the National Association of Realtors Good Neighbor Awards. Another highlight today came when Banfield announced that Kisti Skaar from Coldwell Banker Holtan, Albert Lea, Minnesota, won the 5-night trip to Pamplona, Spain for the "Running of the Bulls." Have a great time Kisti! And, as was the case yesterday, the four educational sessions were well attended. While San Antonio clearly offers a variety of activities, the overwhelming majority of attendees took advantage of the 36 courses offered today. Four members of the Coldwell Banker Professional Development Series faculty - Dirk Zeller, Dennis Walsh, Matthew Ferrara and Martha Webb - drew big crowds. What was so impressive throughout the IBC was the networking that went on. Everywhere you looked, in the trade show, at every break and during meals, there were groups sharing ideas, success stories, developing referral relationships and forging friendships. Then we were off to Sunset Station for the Final Night Celebration. It is one of the coolest places in San Antonio, built in 1902 as the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot.

COLDWELL BANKER AGAIN LEADS REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY NOW WITH INNOVATIVE USE OF MICROSOFT SURFACE TO ENHANCE THE HOME SEARCH EXPERIENCE

Dynamic, Interactive Interface Allows for ‘Hands-On' Engagement in All Aspects of Home Search Process

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, - March 3, 2009 - Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC today announced the launch of their customized real estate application developed for Microsoft Surface^TM, unveiled at the Coldwell Banker^® International Business Conference being held this week in San Antonio, Texas. It's new Microsoft Surface home search application allows users to interact with home listings, mapping and other www.coldwellbanker.com features in a way that is familiar, by using simple hand gestures. Similar to the intuitive technology featured in the futuristic film, "Minority Report," this exploration on the use of Microsoft Surface represents yet another way in which Coldwell Banker is working to harness innovative technologies to benefit home buyers and sellers.

The first commercially available surface computing platform from Microsoft, Microsoft Surface turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. Its 30-inch diagonal, table-like display provides effortless access to digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects placed on the display.

Coldwell Banker leveraged the unique interface and capabilities of Microsoft Surface to develop a home search application that will provide a new interactive and intuitive way to explore real estate listings and neighborhoods. Over the course of the roll-out, the following features are scheduled to be released:

• Explore. Home listings can be viewed via area maps, specific search criteria such as city, state and price, and by standard number of bedrooms and bathrooms. With a simple touch of the screen, users expand or contract the search area and locate listings, Coldwell Banker offices and area amenities including restaurants, hospitals, schools - gauging the distance between them.

• Learn. Details of a particular property listing are displayed and arranged by screen touches. Images of the home are easily accessed, enlarged and moved by hand movements.

• Interact. File listings by "grabbing" content with their hands from the display and "dropping" it into the appropriate folder, thus creating an itinerary that they can email to a sales associate.

Coldwell Banker unveiled its home search application by conducting demonstrations of Microsoft Surface during this week's International Business Conference. More than 1,700 attendees were provided with specially tagged badges that, when placed on the Microsoft Surface, unveiled that individual's profile and contact information.

Coldwell Banker plans to continue rollout of this technology at brand events and at offices across the country this year.

"As a leader in the real estate industry with a strong heritage of innovation, we recognized that the Microsoft Surface technology has some very interesting potential to change the future of the real estate search," said Michael Fischer, senior vice president of marketing for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. "Microsoft Surface allows us to showcase listings in a very unique way that offers users a different experience with the entire real estate search process literally at their fingertips. We believe the technology can increase consumer engagement to an entirely new level."

Last year Coldwell Banker became the first national real estate brand to put its listings on in-car GPS devices through an exclusive feed to Dash Navigation launch and launch a customized online platform for iPhone^TM and BlackBerry users.

About Coldwell Banker^®

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