Coldwell Banker Real Estate Launches ‘Heroes’ Charitable Program

Designation and Annual Award Will Honor Franchise Members’ Extraordinary Charitable Efforts

Parsippany, N.J. (March 8, 2012) –Coldwell Banker Real Estate launched a new charitable program that recognizes the full scope of those within the Coldwell Banker system who assist those in need.  The “Coldwell Banker Heroes” program debuted last week at the Generation Blue Experience in New Orleans.   The newly created program will highlight the financial giving, time, goods and services donated to charitable organizations by members of the Coldwell Banker global network.

“I’m humbled each day as I read and hear about the inspiring acts that our offices and agents do to help the communities and people around them, and the Heroes program gives us a way to spotlight these altruistic efforts, and encourage even more people to give back,” said Budge Huskey, president and chief operating officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.   “Our Coldwell Banker Heroes program recognizes the critical role that the real estate professionals in our network play in their communities.”

Huskey pointed out that a new Coldwell Banker Heroes portal has been unveiled on the brand’s intranet site, Coldwell Banker Works, which allows for all system members to report their charitable efforts on a company, office and individual level.  From those who document their charitable donations, an annual Coldwell Banker Hero of the Year will be announced beginning in early 2013.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Welcomes Albina Williamson to the Brunswick Office

Albina Williamson has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as a Sales Associate at the Brunswick Office located at located at 901 Glynn Isles where she concentrates on residential, commercial and investment properties.

Before becoming a GA REALTOR® Albina worked on the development of a nationally recognized hotel franchise in Brunswick where she also became the owner-operator of the hotel.   She graduated from Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia from Accounting and from the American School of Real Estate Express of St Louis Missouri as a Real Estate Salesperson.  Albina Williamson may be reached at 912.222.8439.

National Recruiting Event - June 19th!!

Whether you are an experienced real estate professional or considering a career in real estate, Coldwell Banker® Real Estate is pleased to offer an opportunity to gain a unique perspective on the environment of today's real estate industry. No travel is necessary and you can participate from the privacy of your home, via the Internet. Program highlights include: - Budge Huskey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC: Insight into the national real estate market and the many opportunities available in today's improving economy. - Michael Fischer, Chief Marketing Officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC: How Coldwell Banker Real Estate is redefining the housing conversation with a focus far beyond the financial lens. - Zan Monroe, Ninja Selling: An entertaining and informative look at a lifelong commitment to sales excellence and the path to a successful and prosperous real estate career.

CLICK HERE on June 19, 2012 at 4:00 pm Eastern Time and spend an hour with us in the Coldwell Banker Real Estate virtual event room. Upon entering the meeting room, attendees will be asked to register by name. To maintain confidentiality, your name will not be visible to others attending the event.

Melissa Evans Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team

Melissa Evans has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as a Realtor for the Company’s Boundary office, located at 1211 Boundary Street. Melissa chose Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners because, “I believe there is a sense of teamwork in the office and the agents that I know here are very professional.” Melissa, who has had her South Carolina real estate license since 2007, will be specializing in residential properties in Beaufort and Bluffton. She looks forward, “to helping my clients find their dream home while also sharing my knowledge of the Lowcountry with them.” As a 28-year resident of Beaufort, Melissa really is a local expert, “I know the neighborhoods and waterfronts throughout the area. I enjoy welcoming people to our area.” She graduated with her BA from the University of SC and is an active member of the community supporting CAPA, HELP, United Way and other local charities. Melissa Evans may be reached at 843.597.4191.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Welcomes Joseph Gaska to the Brunswick Office

Joseph Gaska has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as a Sales Associate at the Brunswick Office located at located at 901 Glynn Isles where he concentrates on helping relocate residential buyers. He aims to, “…maintain a professional attitude, strive for above customer satisfaction and provide my clients with a pleasant real estate experience.” Joseph has been a GA REALTOR® for 8 years and is a member of the Brunswick Exchange Club, Coastal Georgia Historic Society, Friends of Jekyll Historic Society and 1000 Islands Land Trust. He has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners because of the positive recognition that the Coldwell Banker brand stands for. Joseph Gaska may be reached at 912.242.2277 or via email at joseph.gaska@coldwellbanker.com.

We were inspired by new strategies and networking at the Cartus Broker Network International Conference

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Relocation Team attended the 2012 Cartus Broker Network International Conference held April 25-28 in Florida at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. The annual event, this year themed “Rising to the Challenge,” brought together nearly 600 Cartus Broker Network members from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for an intensive event that included an awards celebration as well as an agenda of interactive workshops, roundtable discussions, and executive presentations. The Conference’s hands-on sessions were designed to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices among the brokers who compose the Cartus Broker Network. Connie Farmer Ray, President & CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners was involved in interaction and discussion on a wide variety of relocation issues, while networking with other leading brokers and the Cartus Broker Network leadership team. Corporate speakers at the conference included Richard A. Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Cartus’ parent company Realogy, and Kevin J. Kelleher, Cartus president and CEO. Keynote speaker was Patrick Grandinetti, Real Estate Industry Director at Google, Inc. “The last few years have been interesting ones for those of us in real estate,” said Gerald Pearce, Cartus’ executive vice president, Broker Services and Affinity Services. “But despite the economic challenges they’ve faced, the members of the Cartus Broker Network have continued to provide the highest quality service to their customers. This event has given me the opportunity to congratulate and thank them for all that they’ve done and for their ongoing professionalism.” Christy Woiwode, VP of Relocation for Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners spoke of the value gained at the conference. “I appreciate the depth and breadth of information that was made available during the event,” Woiwode said. “This conference provided me with an opportunity to learn and grow as well as hear from our industry leaders.” Representing 835 of the top-performing brokers across the country, the Cartus Broker Network provides real estate services to clients and customers of Cartus’ affinity, corporate, and government clients. In 2011, Cartus and the Cartus Broker Network closed sales of 71,996 properties, with an approximate value of more than $19.25 billion, on behalf of Cartus clients and Network members. About Cartus and the Cartus Broker Network Cartus Broker Network is the nation’s leading network of more than 835 market-leading real estate firms representing more than 3,000 offices and more than 97,000 agents. Cartus provides trusted guidance to organizations of all types and sizes that require global relocation solutions. Serving over 70% of the Fortune 50 and providing service to more than 160 countries, we apply our more than half century of experience to help our clients with their mobility, outsourcing, consulting, and language and intercultural training needs. Cartus is part of Realogy Corporation—a global provider of real estate and relocation services. To find out how our greater experience, reach, and hands-on guidance can help your company, visit www.cartus.com and www.pitchengine.com/cartus; read our blog at www.cartusblog.com; or click www.realogy.comfor more information. About Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, new homes, a real estate school, mortgage lending and a publishing/media division. The company’s corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com.

8 Ways to Save Money on Airfare

By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist If summer travel is in your plans, there are a few tips to consider that may help you save a bundle on airfare, according to Joe Brancatelli, publisher of the website, Joesentme.com.

“On a single flight, there can be more than a dozen pricing categories,” Brancatelli says. He offers these tips to help you snag the best deals in the air: • Book six weeks in advance – Data collected over four years shows that while some of the best deals may be found at other times, booking 42 days in advance of your flight will generally save you money. • Check for morning deals – Although some airlines offer discounted tickets all day, the early morning is the best time to find discounted fares. • Check on Tuesday afternoons – According to farecompare.com, many discount deals are offered online on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. Eastern time. • Fly on Wednesdays – Flying on a Wednesday can net you airfare discounts, with Tuesdays and Saturdays not far behind. Those are the days when the most empty seats often require discounting to fill the plane. • Fly early – While it may mean getting up well before sunrise, you will find the first flights of any morning are always the cheapest, studies show. • Check low-cost airlines individually - Comparison sites like kayak.com don't necessarily do all the work. Some low-cost airlines, like Southwest in the United States and Ryanair in Europe, don't allow their tickets to be quoted on popular comparison websites. So check them separately. • Sign up for free alerts - Almost every major online booking site offers airfare alerts that ping you when fare prices fall. AirfareWatchdog.com stands out from the pack. • Build a relationship - Elite members of an airline's frequent-flyer program, or those who have a credit card tied to the airline, automatically have a leg-up on being offered lower fares. Also, credit cards tied to the airlines offer perks that were once standard, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and seat selection, so they may be worth signing up for if you fly frequently on one airline.