Shirley Somers Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team in Savannah

Shirley Somers joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as a Sales Associate for the Company's office located at 6349 Abercorn Street.  Shirley specializes in residential properties in Vidalia and surrounding counties, and also is a relocation specialist.  She joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners because, “…Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners is a national company which is respected in the real estate business.”

 

Shirley, who is a member of Altamaha Basin Board of Realtors, has the ultimate goal, “…to be as professional and efficient for my clients and go beyond in my responsibilities to them.  I aim to be the most friendly and pleasant person to work with.”

As a nearly lifetime resident of Toombs County, Shirley is a graduate of Vidalia High School; she is a master cosmetologist and holds a Business Management Degree.  She was a salon owner in Vidalia for over 25 years.  She Volunteers at the Paul Anderson Youth Home.

Shirley Somers may be reached at 912-403-9592 or emailed at Shirley.Somers@coldwellbanker.com.

Can Certain Colors Make Kids Smarter?

Can Certain Colors Make Kids Smarter?

Yes, it's true - certain paint colors can enhance learning. While parents may not have much control over the colors in their kids' classrooms, they can certainly make sure the study area in the home is conducive to learning. Dunn-Edwards, a supplier of low and Zero VOC paints, provides paint for thousands of schools and universities throughout the Southwest, often consulting on color.

"The best palette is a range of colors using lighter hues with deeper accents to provide a stimulating environment," explained Dunn-Edwards color expert Sara McLean. "For example, a softened, sage green paired with a pop of orange catches the eye without being overwhelming. Creating a monotone color scheme tends to not work for children, as the lack of color doesn't engage the senses." She points out that nature-based greens create an atmosphere of calm and restfulness, therefore, easier places to study and learn.

Productivity or creativity? Choose your paint color. Softened yellows are cheery and warm, and if not too bright, yellow can assist in productivity. Blues tend to be spa-like and restful, and reminders of oceans and tranquility; studies have shown that blue rooms assist in more creativity. Violets and softened lavenders also are shown to engage children in increasing their creative senses.

Young children tend to be attracted to warm, bright colors. "Parents and teachers can see that just by looking down the toy aisles and looking at the brighter toys for young age groups. As children age, they grow to an interest towards pastels in elementary school to brighter medium-cool colors in middle school," McLean points out. "In high school, darker colors are preferred and there is less preference for primary colors."

If parents have any input on colors in school rooms, opt for blues, greens, violet and turquoise.

"Classrooms should incorporate a variety of colors to reduce the monotony and increase mental acuity. Warm colors tend to make large spaces feel more intimate, while cool colors make smaller rooms appear larger. By moderating the use between warm and cool, a classroom environment can make a child feel engaged without feeling overly stimulated," she added.

Source: Dunn-Edwards

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

OwnAmerica Identifies Top 25 U.S. Housing Investment Markets

OwnAmerica Identifies Top 25 U.S. Housing Investment Markets

OwnAmerica CEO Gregory Rand has identified the top 25 residential real estate investment markets using the firm's proprietary methodology, based on time-tested metrics and local expertise on the ground in each community. Selection of winning investment markets is driven by a dynamic algorithm based on four distinct informational categories.

Housing demand fundamentals:
Population growth, migration patterns, employment strength, cost of living, quality of life, future rental demand and responsible governance. Markets emerge as winners in this category based on evidence that people are drawn to the market for reasons that are demonstrable and sustainable for the long term. Population growth = housing demand, which supports strength in both rents and values.

Home price performance:
Markets are chosen not for their near-term appreciation or perceived discount, but for their predictability based on how they performed over the past fifteen years or longer. This longer-term time table was chosen to include three key periods of time:

1. Late 1990s: uneventful period where a trend line can be established under calm conditions;
2. 2000s: volatile "stress test" period the housing bubble and correction;
3. The early stages of the recovery that have taken place since 2010.

Markets with stable and unshakeable appreciation rank higher. Markets that have demonstrated the greatest volatility, and therefore, unpredictability, fall lower on the list.

Locally verified net yield:
Certified field operatives conduct due diligence on single family assets in a variety of geographic segments for each market analyzed. An underwriting standard is applied to all markets uniformly to establish a baseline yield that each market provides as “face value” (good condition at market value and rent). It is our assertion that any yield data that is not locally verified as to condition, price and rent potential is not of institutional quality.

Economic Development:
Major economic development trends are tracked to find those cities that have captured opportunities, effected turnarounds, and/or have some other wild card benefit that compels OwnAmerica to elevate its rank.

While this is a ranking of winning cities, it also represents an ideal mix of markets that are best aggregated together. Geographic mix offers diversity or opportunity and risk. This list of winners represents a balanced portfolio of American cities that OwnAmerica believes will provide the highest long-term returns with the lowest risk.

Rank, MSA, Index

1. Charleston, 26.70
2. Houston, 26.42
3. San Antonio, 26.32
4. Corpus Christi, 25.74
5. Austin, 25.44
6. Raleigh, 25.25
7. Cincinnati, 24.82
8. Dallas, 24.33
9. Knoxville, 23.45
10. Charlotte, 23.42
11. Denver, 23.25
12. Nashville, 22.50
13. Wilmington, N.C., 21.53
14. Gainesville, Fla., 21.20
15. Jacksonville, Fla., 20.88
16. Winston-Salem, N.C., 20.59
17. Pittsburgh, 20.50
18. Orlando, 20.16
19. Indianapolis, 19.25
20. Baltimore, 19.05
21.Memphis, 17.97
22. Dayton, 17.89
23. Atlanta. 17.68
24. Chicago, 15.95
25.Cleveland, 15.83

For more information, visit www.OwnAmerica.com.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

Mortgage Applications Increase Over 11 Percent

Mortgage Applications Increase Over 11 Percent

Mortgage applications increased 11.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 13, 2013. The previous week’s results included an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 11.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 23 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 18 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 3 percent from one week earlier and is close to the same level as two weeks ago, before the holiday. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 12 percent compared with the previous week and was 1 percent higher than the same week one year ago.

The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 61 percent of total applications from 57 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 7 percent of total applications. The HARP share of refinance applications increased to 40 percent, from 38 percent the week before, and is the highest since MBA started tracking this measure in early 2012.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) decreased to 4.75 percent from 4.80 percent, with points decreasing to 0.39 from 0.46 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,000) decreased to 4.83 percent from 4.84 percent, with points decreasing to 0.33 from 0.41 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA decreased to 4.50 percent from 4.56 percent, with points increasing to 0.41 from 0.28 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 3.81 percent from 3.83 percent, with points decreasing to 0.34 from 0.42 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 3.54 percent from 3.59 percent, with points remaining unchanged at 0.43 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

For more information, visit www.mba.org.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

The Mobile Consumer & the Right Response to Responsive Design Part III

By Seth Kaplan

Part III: The Land of Opportunity – Mobile Consumer Engagement

The world, in particular, the mobile world, has changed dramatically since June 29, 2007; the day the first generation iPhone was released. No one could have predicted the massive change this device would usher in, or how drastically the landscape would change over the next six years. Six years ago, the Blackberry was the dominant device and operating system and today they’re fighting to stay alive. Six years ago, Android wasn’t on a single consumer’s mobile device, today it’s the most popular operating system in the world. There is, however, one thing that has remained constant, and often overlooked during the past six years: text messaging was and is the world’s most popular form of communication. Furthermore, utilizing text messaging within your marketing presents the biggest and potentially most profitable opportunity for business today to engage the Mobile Consumer.

First, let’s quickly examine the viability of text messaging as a marketing medium. Since 2007, the volume of text messages sent annually within the U.S. has increased from 362.5 billion to 2.19 trillion. Commercially, text messaging has become a massively large industry valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars. In addition to being the most popular form of communication here in the US, it’s estimated that globally, over 80 percent of all mobile subscribers use this application on their devices. Text messaging, unlike third-party native applications, is standard across device types and carriers. Text messaging is relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of traditional marketing; at an estimated average price only $0.11 per message globally. And finally, it has a direct and quantifiable ROI associated with it, because each time a consumer “texts-in” to a campaign, marketers are able to capture information about that consumer immediately, which includes their phone number, what they texted in about, the time and date of their text and potentially even their location.

Sounds like a marketer’s dream medium if you ask me, but I am certainly a bit biased. The Real Estate Book, a premier industry publication, began using text message marketing within their magazines in 2011. I recently caught up with Adam Brown, senior vice president of The Real Estate Book, who summarized their use of text messaging by saying, "the incorporation of text message lead generation within our magazines has added substantial validity to the argument that not only is print alive, but better than ever. Our advertisers, on average, are receiving five times as many Leads from text message inquiries as they are from online. The sheer volume, combined with the fact that these leads are inherently more valuable since they provide the opportunity to represent both sides of the transaction, goes a long way towards reaffirming to our advertisers the ROI of our printed pages.” In addition, the volume of total leads The Real Estate Book’sadvertisers have received has grown steadily by over 200 percent year over year.

This powerful medium, especially within the real estate industry, has often been overlooked in the past six years, but cannot be denied. Marketers have turned to Apps, QR Codes, and Mobile Websites, due to their cutting edge technological appeal; however none of those mediums can match the practicality nor the ROI of text messaging. Text message marketing can be incorporated in all forms of traditional advertisement such as print, mail, and signage to increase the tangible ROI of those mediums. Consumers flock to it, firms such as The Real Estate Book and Patterson Schwartz Real Estate are generating 3-5 times as many leads via text message as they are online. These leads are always valid as they have a consumer’s mobile phone number associated with them each time, but they’re also valuable as they allow a real estate agent the opportunity to represent both sides of the transaction when a consumer texts-in for information on their listing.

In today’s market and the way in which consumers are using their mobile devices to access information, text messaging provides the perfect consumer engagement tool. Firms, especially within the real estate industry who are not taking advantage of this medium are missing out on what is by far, the biggest and most profitable opportunity within the mobile space today.

Join us again next week as we conclude our Four Part Series: The Mobile Consumer and the Right Response to Responsive Design.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

Heads Up: Research before Retail Renting-to-Own

Heads Up: Research before Retail Renting-to-Own
By John Voket

I know the temptation of wanting something now, even if the cost for that item does not equate with the amount of disposable cash on hand. With so many individuals opting to sign up for 'rent-to-own' programs, this advice from the Better Business Bureau is particularly valuable.
The BBB says rent-to-own stores are popular alternatives to using a credit card, for consumers with a poor credit history or people who don’t want to put down a deposit on merchandise. Today, there are 47 states with legislation that spells out consumers’ rights when engaging in a rent-to-own contract.
Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) receive complaints about rent-to-own stores that do not adequately explain their contracts, delivery of used or damaged goods, and illegal collection practices.
These include having reps show up at consumers’ front doors if a payment is late, placing harassing telephone calls and threatening to call the renter’s employer to report a late or missed payment.
Better Business Bureau recommends consumers take the following precautions before entering into a rent-to-own lease:

• Take the contract home – Read all terms and conditions carefully before signing. Determine what fees may be associated with the transaction, who is responsible for repairs or maintenance and what happens after a late or missed payment.
• Research the company – Visit www.bbb.org to see what other consumers’ experience has been like, the volume of complaints and how they were resolved.
• Check the law – The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations website, www.rtohq.org, provides links to state laws governing rent-to-own provisions.
• Consider alternatives – See if you qualify for a short-term loan, retailer financing or a layaway plan. Look for deals on display models and consider buying the item at a garage sale, through a classified ad or at a second-hand store, though this option gives no warranty or maintenance agreement.
• Keep in mind that the longer the lease, the more you will pay for the item, and like any other purchase, shop around first to compare prices.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

Busy Schedule? Tips for Staying Healthy When Things Get Hectic

Busy Schedule? Tips for Staying Healthy When Things Get Hectic

(Family Features)--Life can sometimes feel a little too jam-packed with work, errands, carpools, cooking dinner and more. When that happens, healthy habits often fall by the wayside in favor of convenience. Fast food can replace home-cooked meals and exercise makes way for the television.

Registered dietitians and authors Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames, who are also known as "The Nutrition Twins," have advice for feeling good and staying healthy despite a busy schedule.

Drink up: People often mistake thirst for hunger, prompting them to overeat. Keep seltzer, iced green tea or water with lime in the fridge. The next time you want a nosh between meals, drink a glass first and see what happens.

Sneak in exercise: If it feels like too much of a task to get to the gym each day, sneak in exercise wherever you can. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work or push your kids on the swings for an arm workout. Even if you walk around the neighborhood for 15 minutes, it counts. Just get moving!

Bite into some energy: You might think a sugary candy bar from the office vending machine will perk you up, but a healthy, balanced snack will keep you on your toes longer. Make sure your snack has a quality, high-fiber carbohydrate, like fresh fruit, oatmeal or whole-grain crispbread, for long-lasting energy and a lean protein, such as a hardboiled egg or Greek yogurt, to help you feel satisfied. The two will work together to keep your energy up and your desire to visit the snack machine down.

Sleep tight: Sleep deprivation slows your metabolism down and negatively affects your immune system. When you're busy, that's the last thing you need. Set yourself a bedtime that's eight hours before you have to wake up and start getting ready for bed 30 minutes prior to that. The last step is tough, but don't bring your phone or computer to bed with you.

Source: www.Vitamints.com.

Jon R Bayer Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team in Pooler

Jon R Bayer joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as a Sales Associate for the Company's Pooler office located at 130 Canal St. Suite 504.  Jon specializes in residential properties in the Pooler, Port Wentworth, Rincon and Savannah areas.  He joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners because, “…the Company offers a very complete package for me as a new agent and Coldwell Banker has a known and trusted name in real estate.”

 

Jon has the ultimate goal, “…to help my clients enjoy a stress-free process whether buying their dream home or selling a property.”  Jon earned his AA from South University.  He previously worked for the City of Garden City as a Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester in the Water Department and is a member of the GA Association of Water Professionals.   

Jon Bayer may be reached at (912) 224.8919 or emailed at Jon.Bayer@coldwellbanker.com.