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Gareth Beale

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Shadows Of Ascension Grand Opening

08-26-08
Gareth Beale

New Subdivision in Prairieville

Shadows of Ascension, Phase 1 of 5 now open. Come and join the fun September 7.

All Homes are going to open to the public, come meet the developers, and the builders. Free food, door prizes, local marching bands, New Country 100.7 Broardcasting live and more.

Click Flyer for more info

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Title Companies Work together Combat Media

08-25-08
Gareth Beale

Just a few weeks ago I attended a Sales Meeting for RE/MAX First agency. There was talk about how to handle the negative media outlook of the market. Linda Fredericks, President of The Greater Baton Rouge Board of REALTORS had attended a program on how to show that the real estate market is local and that it is actually a time to buy a home. We talked after the meeting and came up with a plan.

It was a simple one, use the marketing reps of local title companies to distribute the message that the board wanted to get to Realtors. Where as the board may see their members on a monthly basis, the Title company marketing reps hunt down Realtors daily. Rather than try and recite a 3 hour program it was cut down to Ten points.

  1. Home values are NOT falling like bricks in the Baton Rouge market (the median price is actually higher now than a year ago)
  2. Louisiana is ranked 43rd in Foreclosures (finally Louisiana is at the bottom of the list for a good reason)
  3. As of this conversation the the market had a 6 month inventory (not 12+ month like projected)
  4. The amount of commercial growth in the area
  5. Coca - Cola has a new 800,000 sq ft facility opening 20 min North of Baton Rouge
  6. In the last year we have had a Cabela's and Bass Pro Shop open up in the area
  7. Area Chambers of Commerce have all had large growth in the last year
  8. Dr. Lauren Scott recently projected nearly 15,000 new jobs in the Baton Rouge area over the next two years
  9. Albemarle is moving their headquarters to Baton Rouge
  10. Health Expansions, all of the area Hospitals are in some sort of growth

A meeting was set and the big question was would Title companies come together to put the word out to Industry vendors and Realtors. While Title companies are cordial and may even co-sponsor events, it is rare that we "Join" forces in such a manner to not only share information, but distribute each other's information. But there is a common goal here. If we consider the media's constant barrage of negative spin as the enemy, than any enemy of my enemy is an friend.

The outcome of the meeting is that there are a dozen title companies as well as Mortgage companies and Inspection companies teaming up to research positive points of the market (it is easy it is called the truth) and distribute to REALTORS and Joe public. We can either work together as an industry or sit back and wait for MSNBC to say, "Okay everyone, NOW is a good time to Buy a house in Baton Rouge".

I don't see that happening

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