(Submitted by Becky Stiles, Broker In Charge, Seven Falls Golf and River Club, NC)
Maybe we are a nation of whiners, but you can be sure you won’t be hearing any doom or gloom about the economy or slow sales at Seven Falls Golf and River Club. Since our Grand Opening last year we have welcomed over 120 families from 14 states to this beautiful new Arnold Palmer Premier Golf Course community. And, just last month over 500 guests, including Mr. Palmer and musician and outstanding golfer, Kenny G, attended our grand opening of the Seven Falls Arnold Palmer Practice Campus and the groundbreaking ceremony for our new Villas at Palmer Place. The day resulted in over $20 million in real estate sales. My customers are tired of putting their lives on hold and want to fulfill their dreams of having that breathtaking home in the mountains in a first class community where they can get away, refresh, relax and reconnect with family and friends. It’s just the basics, listen to their needs and fulfill them—it is not brain surgery. Sell from your heart; don’t let them put their lives on hold. Remember, they are coming to you for your professional guidance and direction. I was told years ago at a boot camp by the Master (that would be Terry) himself, “If you don’t sell them, someone better than you will”. My best advice is get on the phone and stay on the phone and use your personal touch to get to know your customers, find what is important to them, make that appointment, arrange their visit like you are their personal concierge, become their best friend so when they arrive they already know you and trust you; then it is simple, just find that perfect home site or home that they have already told you they have been dreaming about. I recently had a couple from Savannah, GA who had been searching for months for that second home where they could escape the summer heat. After about ten conversations prior to their arrival which included reviewing floor plans and interior selections, we stood on the site of our Townhomes at Seven Falls and all they could say was, ‘this is it’. They were honestly sold before they arrived.
(Submittted by Jay Garrity, Garrity Marketing Group)
The Garrity Marketing Group has been marketing a community by the name of Long Branch lakes in Spencer TN. up in the Cumberland Plateau. It is a 4500 acre equestrian community loaded with high quality amenities and great values. I have attached an email from one of their staff, Scott Jones. It is good news worthy of repeating. Tennessee and LBL is a shining star in a not so bright market. We have worked closely with LBL for the past year and it is paying off greatly. --------- Jay Garrity
As most of you know we had a wonderful June Mini-Event writing $895,000 in volume and bringing our June total to $1,128,000.
This is by far our most successful month to date and what I believe is the beginning of a beautiful situation for all of LBL!
I would like to congratulate Buddy Frazier for writing 3 lake lot contracts for $750,000 in volume and to Buddy Ray for writing a contract on lot 131 on Camp Lake for $145,000. Great work guys and let's keep up the good work!
July looks like it could be another fantastic month with 13 couples currently scheduled for the July 26th & 27th event.
Scott Jones,
Long Branch Lakes, Spencer, TN
(Submitted by Royce King, President, The Litchfield Company)
A 41% May home sales increase in the Northeastern U.S. affirms what the experts say….the housing market bottomed at the end of April” The National Association of Realtor (NAR) pending home sales index increased 5.2 percent in April. It is the highest pending home sales index since October 2007. The U.S. Census Bureau reported an 8.2 percent increase in overall housing starts for April.
Warren Buffet, respondents in the American Express Wealth in America survey and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) all said, now is the time to buy. Sharp home price reductions and reasonable mortgage rates have resulted in bargain hunters entering the market en masse, especially in areas that had double-digit price declines, said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. The WSJ said because the inventory of available house is falling and should be around five months in the first quarter of ’09, prices and sales should rise.
Taken from RPI Media Sales and Marketing News Summer 2008 Newsletter.
