RE/MAX International Announces Success & Innovations

RE/MAX Meets the Demands of 2010 Market with Unique Educational Platform

Orlando, FL - March 2, 2010 - Speaking before an enthusiastic gathering of three thousand RE/MAX Affiliates from 43 countries around the world, Dave Liniger, Chairman and Co-Founder, encouraged the audience to be prepared for another challenging year in 2010. His recommendation to real estate professionals is to pursue educational opportunities and be specifically trained to help families who are facing difficult economic situations.

“It looks like we’re through the worst of this downturn, and 2010 should produce better results than 2009,” said Liniger. “But it’s not over yet, so real estate professionals need to keep doing what they’ve been doing; seek out the best education, use up-to-date technology and don’t forget good old-fashioned customer service.”

Linger stated that 2010 will likely see continued high numbers of distressed properties and to respond to the need for professional training, he announced a striking new initiative. RE/MAX University will become a broadcast quality streaming network with HD capabilities, available around the world both on the Internet, individual TV sets, and mobile devices.

“This educational advancement will revolutionize the way organizations train their employees,” said Liniger. “It’s a one-of-a-kind technology that provides a cost effective, high quality medium that facilitates ‘live’ interactive broadcasts and on-demand training to participants anywhere in the world.”

RE/MAX revolutionized training in the real estate industry 15 years ago with the launch of the RE/MAX Satellite Network. Now, it’s leading the way again with an innovative online media platform, designed by Mediafly and utilizing the broadband television delivery of a Roku digital video player.

The newly designed RE/MAX University provides the capability to create customized channels for different regions and offices, while providing easy on-demand access to the more than 1,200 educational titles in the RE/MAX University library.

RE/MAX University delivers programming for professional designations, certifications and other relevant education. It has won over 150 international film, video and training awards and in 2009 achieved the impressive milestone of registering 10,000 agents for a variety of courses.

Liniger was also pleased to remind the RE/MAX audience of the company’s many successes in 2009. * The highest number of transaction sides of any real estate organization * Agent productivity twice that of agents at other national franchises * RE/MAX was named the top real estate franchise in “The 2009 Franchise Times Top 200” * RE/MAX was also named a Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly Employer, a Top 50 Military Friendly Employer and Military Friendly Franchise * Worldwide sales of new franchises topped 630 * The addition of 7 countries, continuing an international presence greater than any competitor

Other significant announcements at the 2010 RE/MAX International Convention included the launch of a RE/MAX Brand Channel on YouTube, featuring a geo-targeting “Smart Map,” and the achievement of $100 million in donations to the Children’s Miracle Network.

“We have enjoyed an association with Children’s Miracle Network for over 15 years and we are thrilled to see the lives that this great organization has impacted,” said Vinnie Tracey, President of RE/MAX International. “We’re especially proud to see Garrett Terracciano, a Miracle Child from a RE/MAX family who is now studying to be a pediatric cardiologist.””

The RE/MAX audience was entertained with a humorous dialogue presented by political odd-couple James Carville and Mary Matalin, who provided their unique observations on contemporary politics and their secrets for a bi-partisan marriage.

Through the use of social media, tens of thousands of international “virtual attendees” participated in the convention, which included live video feeds from Argentina, Austria, Germany and Italy.

Buying your piece of Paradise Bahamas

There are 700 islands and cays (pronounced keys) making up The Bahamas creating a vast selection to choose from when it comes to buying your own piece of paradise in The Bahamas.

From remote out island homes or beachfront properties where you can listen to the sound of the waves and just relax, to the city life of Nassau where just about everything is at your fingertips, The Bahamas has something to offer every potential purchaser.

With so many choices available, speaking with a qualified real estate agent can help in locating a property that meets your personal investment objectives. Some people that have visited The Bahamas before may know exactly what they are looking for, and for others the decision may not be so clear. As a real estate agent, our goal is to uncover what type of property will meet your specific needs and assist you in buying that little spot to call paradise.

The first thing a potential purchaser should do after selecting the right agent will be to discuss what you are looking for regarding your potential purchase. By asking you questions and listening to what your specific needs are, getting to know you and your lifestyle, dreams and goals, along with gathering other important information, your real estate agent will then be able to guide you to properties that meet many or all of your criteria making the process much easier and therefore giving you the right options to choose from.

If you are looking to purchase your idyllic spot in The Bahamas, let a qualified RE/MAX real estate agent assist you in making the right decision to achieve your real estate goals.

RE/MAX University Exceeds 10,000 Registrants in 2009

Denver, CO - February 22, 2010 - With RE/MAX International, Inc. leading the industry in professional designations, it is no surprise that RE/MAX University surpassed 10,000 registrants for its award-winning training and educational courses in 2009. No other real estate franchise compares to the wide scope of designations and certification programs that RE/MAX offers to its membership.

“This major milestone for RE/MAX University is not only a reflection of the great training we offer, but it’s a sign that RE/MAX agents know how to adapt to changing markets,” said Tom Kramig, Vice President of Multi-Media and Education. “They are earning certifications and designations in everything from Short Sales and foreclosures to green issues and best practices.”

RE/MAX University distributes award winning educational video programming to its Associates through classroom training, online streaming video, download documents and via RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN), the company’s proprietary satellite TV network.

Thanks to the recent partnerships with the Five Star Institute, Buffini & Company, Distressed Property Institute, the CE Shop, and REALTOR(r) University, the number of annual registrants topped 10,000 for the first time ever, up 40% from 2008.

With the dramatic increase in foreclosures and Short Sales, RE/MAX Associates have accepted the challenge of adapting to the current market and established a benchmark in helping buyers and sellers navigate the issues surrounding distressed properties. As a result, RE/MAX Associates, through the offerings of RE/MAX University, have earned more professional designations than agents from any other national real estate network, including more than 58% of all Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) in the United States.

RE/MAX University and the Five Star Institute will be joining together for a full day of distressed property education in a special “REO/Short Sale Summit” the day before the 2010 RE/MAX International Convention, Sunday, Feb. 28 in Orlando, FL. By attending, real estate agents will be able to earn two of the five credits required for the Five Star Professional (FSP) designation. The remaining FSP courses are being offered through RE/MAX University.

RE/MAX University remains committed to adding new courses to its education platforms in order to keep RE/MAX Associates among the best-informed in the real estate industry.

Priced to Sell; Choosing the right Bahamas Real Estate Agent for You

You have been thinking and rethinking whether you should put your house on the market and you have now decided that it is the right time for you to sell your Bahamas real estate.

The first thing you should do is contact a local real estate agent to assist you. “Who do I call?” you may ask. Well you need to find an estate agent that you will get along with. Pick an agent that is going to look out for your best interests and not just an agent who wants another listing under their belt.

Opening the telephone directory and randomly choosing a real estate agent is literally the ‘blind’ approach. You need to select an estate agent that will gel with you, an agent that you feel comfortable with and one that you can trust.

The first place you should look for a real estate agent is in your group of contacts; your family, your friends, your business partners, your co-workers, your friends friends etc. If you do not know an estate agent personally, ask your group of contacts; they probably have had dealings with an agent and can point you in the right direction whilst also informing you of agents or company’s not to have any dealings with.

After you have done some research on the agents and their respective companies, and narrowed the list down to about three or four agents, it is time to interview them. Arrange interviews with each agent so that you can find out who the best agent and company is to potentially market your property. As the agents are asking you questions on your home you can ask them questions on their experience, their respective real estate company, and what homes are selling for in your neighbourhood. If the agent is prepared they will be able to give you some information on themselves and their realty company. After each of the agents have left your property you will have a better feel on who they are and who they represent.

The estate agents at RE/MAX Paradise Realty are fully trained and prepared to list your home for sale. We offer information and statistics to help you in choosing us to represent you and your property, but we are not interested in getting a listing just to have it in our database. We are dedicated on listing your home at the right market price.

Listing your home with the right market price will benefit you. Rather than listing your home at an inflated rate and having it sit on the market for months or even years, reduce your asking price to the right market level. This will ensure your home is in front of more eyes which in turn will result in a quicker and more successful transaction.

The Bahamas Real Estate Market: Why we have survived!

I am often approached by buyers, foreign and local alike, asking if the real estate market has suffered like that of our neighbours to the north. The answer is a resounding "Not even close!" Typically there is an uncomfortable silence on the other end of the line and then I begin to explain.

The Bahamas real estate market is a very unique creature indeed! We are geographically close to the US and our government and currency are stable. We enjoy a year around climate that is sunny and warm and our islands and our people are equally as beautiful. Our banking industry has very prudent lending practices which enables them to minimize their risks while maximizing their returns. We did not experience a "credit crisis". Another interesting contrast with the US real estate market is that we do not have an over abundance of inventory. We do not have neighbourhoods that are 50% or more in foreclosure. We have not seen a huge sell off of foreign or locally owned properties. We have enjoyed a relatively balanced supply and demand situation.

While I would be remiss in not mentioning a correction in pricing, all markets across the globe will, from time to time, experience some correction. This is healthy for the market and healthy for the economy as it allows the more prudent investors the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of home ownership in a slower market.

If you are interested in learning more about our market and it's dynamics I would be happy to discuss it with you. There is much to learn but one thing is for sure: There is no better time to get into the Bahamas real estate market!

Bahamas signs two more tax treaties

THE Bahamas has signed its ninth and tenth Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs), with France and Belgium respectively, leaving it only two short of the minimum 12 such deals demanded by the G-20/Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).

The deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Brent Symonette, is pictured (top left) signing the Bahamas' agreement with Belgium at the Hôtel des Finances in Brussels.

Didier Reynders, deputy prime minister and minister of finance of Belgium, signs on behalf of that country.

10 Ways to Spruce up your Property

Are you in the market to sell or rent your Bahamas real estate? Do you want to get the most out of your sale or rental? If you are in the market to sell or rent your property it is in your best interest to spruce it up by removing any signs of age and injecting a warm inviting appeal to your open space.

Below are ten ways to spruce up your property to get your place rented or sold:

1) Un-clutter your Space
When someone rents a space and especially when they purchase, they want this space (whether it’s a condo, apartment, home or other) to reflect them and not the previous owner or the landlord. In order to achieve this, personal affects from the owner/landlord need to be removed so that there is space for the tenant or the new owner to display their personal affects.

Take a look at your space with different eyes. If you are renting your space with a lot of your personal items remaining on the premises, you must purge these items for the tenant’s sake. Do you have family portraits or framed photos of you and your family in the space? Do you have any sort of collection of ornaments on display like ceramic ducks, dolls, plates, silver spoons, medieval characters, sports memorabilia etcetera?

If you do, you must remove these items. Nobody wants to rent a space with personal objects there; they want a space for themselves. Remove your personal items and remove items in storage so they have the opportunity to store their items.

2) Fresh Paint Job
A fresh coat of paint goes a long way! That’s right. Did you know that this is the best way one can see a whole new space? A fresh coat of paint looks bright and clean, and smells new giving your space an immediate update. It is often a very good investment and really spruces up the appearance, adding dollars to offers.

When choosing your paint colours, rather stick with the neutral spectrum. Bright and dark colours change the feel of the size of any given room, and these colours are not the easiest on the eyes. Neutral paint colours will satisfy more people than bright and dark ones.

Painting the exterior? If the paint still looks good on the walls just repaint the roof boxing. The boxing should be painted an offset colour to the rest of the building.

3) Crown and Floor Molding – Install and Paint
Do you have crown moldings or floor moldings in your space? If you do, do they need to be painted? If your walls do not need a paint job, then consider just painting your crown and floor moldings to improve the space.

Crown moldings create a great first impression if installed in your entry and living / family rooms.

4) New Electrical and Light Switch Plates
This is such a minor, yet overlooked improvement. A lot of landlords leave the old faded and chipped electrical and/or light switch plates in their space. Most of the time if a painter is hired he/she will usually paint over these plates, which doesn’t make it look any better. This is the cheapest improvement in this list. Be sure to replace your plates.

5) Front Door
The first thing that is seen when entering a building whether it’s a home, condo, townhouse or the like, is the front door. It is the first impression into the space you want to rent or sell and so it must be in great condition. If the door shouts “Help me! I’m falling apart. I have termites. Please paint me. Look at my mold” or the like, your door is not leaving a very good impression on the rest of the space.

Assess the damage to the door and replace it if it’s necessary. Sand and paint the current door and leave open to dry properly, otherwise the paint will stick to the door frame.

If the door handle has a copper finish, polish it. Perhaps you may also want to change the handle if it looks old.

6) Update the Kitchen
The kitchen is usually one of the first major renovations / updates a house would have. Updating the entire kitchen will cost anywhere up from $30,000. One of the cheapest and easiest steps in updating your kitchen would be to update the faucets. If your cupboards look old and worn, try a coat of paint to breathe some life into them. Replacing the knobs on the cupboards is an inexpensive update that will transform the look of the entire kitchen. If you would like to spend some more money to make a dramatic difference, add a beautiful tile backsplash. The backsplash adds colour and dimension to your kitchen changing the whole feel of the space.

7) Update the Bathrooms
Replace your old stained shower curtains and continue the new theme with a rug and a few highlighted pieces like the soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, and tissue cover. The new theme that you pick for the bathroom should not be childlike. Pick a bathroom theme that is either a solid colour like burgundy, a relaxing theme like a sailing boat, or pick one that is of random colourful shapes.

To really make this space a cut above, update your faucets and towel racks. You can even replace the mirror or update it by adding a wooden frame.

8) Clean the Tile Grout
After long periods of time dirt and debris settle between your tiles in the tile grout which turns the finish dark and nasty. Removing this embedded dirt is going to take a little bit of hard work with a lot of elbow grease. There are many ways you can try to clean the tile grout; most will take a long time and not yield great results. The best method is to hire a professional who will use some version of acid. Do not do this by yourself if you do not know what you are doing. You can burn your skin and eyes very easily and further to that you can damage your floor if you are not careful. You can contact me (Brett Pinder) at RE/MAX Paradise Realty for a quote on your space.

9) Clean the Carpets
Carpets retain a lot of dirt and debris, especially in ‘high traffic’ areas, which can cause your carpet to look older than it actually is. The dirt and debris also aids to create a funk in the air over time.

To ensure that your space is ready for a tenant or new owner clean your carpet. There are two types of methods, the dry method and the wet method. Use either Carpet Powder with your vacuum cleaner or use Carpet Shampoo with a Carpet Shampooer.

10) Go Green and Add Plants
Plants can brighten any room. A room void of plant life is a plain room. A room full with plants is a room full of life. Plants calm our heat rate, lower our blood pressure, add oxygen to the air, help us relax and focus, and so much more.

Add plants to the inside and the outside of your property. The plants on the inside will make the space more appealing and should relax potential tenants or purchasers. The outdoor plants will do the same and also add curb appeal.