D'Alfonso and DeCarolis Address Global Real Estate and Relocation Conference

Armand D’Alfonso, President & CEO of Nothnagle Realtors® and John DeCarolis, Chief Information Officer, spoke at the 2011 Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) conference March 8-10, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Nevada. Despite the economy, attendance at the annual event outpaced last year’s conference, with 800 top real estate brokers, managers, relocation professionals, sponsors and guests attending from the U.S. and eight countries around the world.

The week-long series of four conferences in one boasted a noteworthy line-up of over 150 speakers from within the real estate industry and beyond, who addressed a broad range of topics relating to real estate management, technology, marketing and business development.

“We applied our 2011 conference theme of ‘Engage. Innovate. Lead’ quite literally to develop a program that inspires our members to compete at a higher level, create better ways to connect with consumers, and generally raise the bar in the real estate industry,” notes Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “Ongoing shifts in the housing market, technology and the way people communicate make it essential for real estate professionals to continuously build their competence. This annual showcase event brings together the best minds in the business to do just that.”

In a presentation titled, “Future Tense: Best Location is Where the Customer is,” D’Alfonso provided information on the increasing use of smart phones by the general public. D’Alfonso encouraged brokers and agents to adopt a mobile strategy to better respond to these trends.

“Managing IT Spending” was the title of the presentation by Nothnagle CIO, John DeCarolis. He discussed ways in which brokers generally spend IT budgets and proposed several cost-saving techniques for computing, telecommunications, and staffing.

DeCarolis began work at Nothnagle Realtors® in 1997, and has been Chief Information Officer for over ten years. Armand D’Alfonso has worked at Nothnagle for over 25 years, and became President and CEO in 2006.

Nothnagle Realtors® is the local representative of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, the largest network of over 600 premier locally-branded firms producing almost $250 billion in annual home sales

Armand D'Alfonso Earns Service Recognition Award at Global Conference

Nothnagle is proud to announce that Armand D’Alfonso is the recipient of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® President’s Service Recognition Award. The Award was presented March 10 at the 2011 Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Conference at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which attracted 800 real estate brokers, managers, relocation professionals, sponsors and guests from across the U.S. and eight countries worldwide.

The service recognition program formally acknowledges the contributions of Armand D’Alfonso, who has been President and CEO of Nothnagle since 2006. His committee and board involvement, presentations at network conferences, and service in various network capacities made him a clear choice for the award.

“We are thankful for the active involvement of our Service Recognition Award nominees within our network and are honored to recognize them for their many contributions,” said Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. “The success of our network is due in large part to the generosity of these members, who are so willing to share their time and expertise with other affiliates.”

Nothnagle Realtors is the local representative of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, the largest network of over 600 premier independently-branded firms producing almost $250 billion in annual home sales.

How Your Neighbor's Agent Could Benefit You

So it's time to sell your house. However, you are faced with a choice: use the same real estate agent who has several houses listen on your street, or find a new agent."

If you're on the fence about it, consider that no two houses are the same," said Sam Morreale, an agent at Nothnagle Realtors. "Even if the homes are similar in style and size, there are still little differences that will set them apart. You have to let the house sell itself."

Morreale says he used to avoid taking listings on the same street for fear of upsetting the client. Gaining more experience helped home realize that buyers' agents will advise their own clients on what best suits their needs. Each home has a different marketing plan. Different styles and paint colors will appeal to different buyers.

If you are considering the same agent who is marketing your neighbor's home, Karen Leonardi, vice president of corporate and consumer affairs at Nothnagle, suggests you ask the following questions:

• How will you market my house differently than my neighbor's?


• How should I price my house to be competitive?


• How will you provide both of us with equal service?

Having the same agent list several houses in your area could actually work to your advantage. The more potential buyers you have coming to your neighborhood, the better your chance of having your house "seen" by those looking to buy.

It's important to make your house stand out over the others in your area. Curb appeal plays a major role. It could be the difference between your home being purchased or being passed by. Make sure little things, such as fallen gutters, dirty windows, or untrimmed hedges are addressed. Also, if there is a major item, such as a roof or old carpeting, that needs attention, consider repairing or replacing them.

UseNothnagle Home Services to get your house into the best possible condition to sell.

Special thanks to the Democrat and Chronicle. Read the article "Meet the real estate competition head-on" here.

Nothnagle Earns Website Quality Certification

Nothnagle Realtors has earned the Website Quality Certification (WQC), presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® to member companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution.

Every aspect of the site, Nothnagle.com, was reviewed to ensure exacting standards were met in six key areas, ranging from design and content to human interactivity to search engine optimization. The WQC was introduced in 2009 to recognize and encourage superior websites among Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s 600 member firms. Nothnagle is one of the 111 applicants to earn the 2010 WQC designation.

“With over 90% of people using the Internet in their home search, it is essential for any successful real estate firm to have an engaging, informative and easy-to-use website,” notes Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. “By earning the Website Quality Certification, Nothnagle Realtors has demonstrated that it provides vital online resources to home buyers and sellers.”

To see all that Nothnagle has to offer, visit our website.

Two Locations Open Under Nothnagle Franchise System

Nothnagle REALTORS® is pleased to announce the official opening of two franchised offices this week, Nothnagle REALTORS® Moss Ansteth Associates and Nothnagle REALTORS® Home Town Choice. The companies are both now operating under the Nothnagle system.

Nothnagle REALTORS® Moss Ansteth Associates is under the ownership and management of industry veterans Aaron Moss and Stephen Ansteth and will operate from their location at 1 West Genesee Street in the heart of Skaneateles. From this location, they and their team of agents will serve all of Central New York. They can be reached at (315) 685-5500.

Nothnagle REALTORS® Home Town Choice is under the ownership and management of industry veterans Carol Bodine, Jim Moon, Mark Moon and Richard Murphy. The office is located at 270 Lake Street in Penn Yan. From this location they and their team will serve Keuka Lake and the surrounding areas. They can be reached at (315) 536-2700.

The Nothnagle system offers a comprehensive package of tools for both the agent and real estate consumer. Both franchised offices will offer services and tools that have not previously been available in one package before in their local market, from the nationally-recognized website, Nothnagle.com, to on-line guided tours, a customizable on-line TV show, mobile access, comprehensive marketing plans and products, YouTube videos and more.

Nothnagle REALTORS® previously operated the “Gallery of Homes” franchise system for over 30 years. The first real estate franchise in the country, at its peak there was a network of 1,100 Gallery of Homes location throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company sold off the franchise in the 1980’s.

SONYMA Helps Out First-Time Homebuyers

NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), which includes all the integrated housing community renewal agencies of New York, recently announced a new State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) program. The Own it, Fix it New York! Home Mortgage, developed by HCR is for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers and is designed to help stabilize neighborhoods and property values by improving the quality of New York's housing stock.

The program is available to qualified homebuyers for the purchase and repairs of homes that have been foreclosed or sold as a "short sale" and have not been renovated and/or maintained due to owner hardship. SONYMA offers very competitive interest rates.

The key features of the Own it, Fix it New York! Home Mortgage:

• Below-market interest rate financing up to 97% of the "after-improved" appraised value of the property -or- the home purchase price plus repairs (whichever is lower)
• Availability of down payment assistance: $3,000 -or- 3% of the home purchase price, not to exceed $10,000 (Whichever is higher)
• Eligible repairs allowed up to 20% of the "after-improved" appraised value -or- $25,000 (whichever is lower)
• Eligible properties are existing one- and two-family homes, Planned Unit Developments and condominiums. Any property in need of repair is eligible.

Here is an example of how the program might work for the average SONYMA borrower with an income of $60,000 who purchases a $215,000 home. If the home needs $20,000 in repairs, the applicant could qualify for financing up to 97% of the lesser of 1) the purchase price of the home plus renovation costs, or 2)the appraised value of the property after the proposed repairs have been made. If the after-renovation appraised value is $235,000, for example, the borrower could finance up to $227,950 (97% of $235,000). In this example, the borrower could qualify for $6,450 in down payment assistance and would need to have $3,200, plus closing costs at the time of the transaction.

Christine Nothnagle, President of Nothnagle Home Securities and member of the SONYMA Advisory Council said, "I commed HCR for recognizing the challenges we face in the current lending arena. The Own it, Fix it New York! Home Mortgage will allow borrowers to purchase a property which has deferred maintenance due to our current economic climate. Many buyers may have the funds necessary to purchase and close on the home, but lack the additional opportunity to take advantage of the low interest rates of today and finance necessary and desired improvements. This will help our overall economy by retuning a neglected property into a pride of ownership home for the entire neighborhood."

Lenders will begin accepting applications on April 1, 2011. Learn more about Own it, Fix it New York! Home Mortgage.

3 Green Home Improvements that Pay Off

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, what would be more appropriate than an article about "green" home improvements?

If, over the last few years, you have made some green home improvements and were hoping for lower energy bills and a quick recovery of your initial investment, you were probably disappointed. Your monthly bottom line has likely been steady—or worse, gone up.

Before you rule out green, change your thinking. Instead of expecting large returns, understand a new bottom line: Smart retrofits help you hold your ground against rising energy costs.

Energy prices as a whole have gone up over the last decade, especially in certain regions of the country. Although natural gas prices have dipped a bit since 2008 and electricity prices have stayed level, the trend line goes up for both from 2011 forward.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates an average annual increase in residential energy costs of 2.3% through 2035. So if energy cost projections hold, and assuming an average annual American energy bill of $2,200, you’ll pay 2.3% more each year (that’s $50 the first year) if you do nothing to reduce your consumption. Your bill could inch closer to $4,000 by the year 2035.

If the only reason you’re making retrofits is to manage energy costs, look for projects with maximum bang for the buck. Try to beat the 2.3% annual average with green home improvements that reduce your energy consumption by 5% or more but have a modest initial investment. And don’t forget to ask whether your utility or state government offers rebates or tax credits for these improvements.

1. Seal and insulate ductwork that runs through unheated spaces—the attic, a crawl space, a garage. It’s not glamorous, but it can improve the efficiency of your heating system by 20%—a 5% bill reduction overall. If you hire an HVAC pro for this job, you’ll invest a few hundred dollars for labor and materials.

2. Buy a programmable thermostat. For just $25 to $250, you can save, on average, around 8% on energy bills simply by programming it properly.

3. Add attic insulation and seal air leaks. One of the best energy-saving improvements out there, because insulating and sealing your home can reduce your energy bills by 10%. Upgrading your attic insulation to the recommended R-value costs anywhere from $.25 to $1 per square foot, including materials and labor; it’s less if you do it yourself.
But you won’t get the maximum savings if you don’t seal air leaks, so plan this as a combo job. Caulking and weather-stripping typically costs from $50 to $350, depending on the size of your house.

Will Good Things Come to Those Who Wait?

Sellers in any real estate market are looking to get the best possible price. If you are looking to sell in the next year, today’s price may well be the best price. Home values stabilized somewhat in 2010. Many hoped that was a sign that values had bottomed out and we would see price appreciation in 2011. Studies released this week have painted a different picture.

If we look at CoreLogic’s January Home Price Index (HPI), we see that prices are again beginning to decline:

National home prices, including distressed sales, declined by 5.7 percent in January 2011 compared to January 2010

Mark Fleming, chief economist with CoreLogic, said, “A number of factors continue to dampen any recovery in the housing market. Negative equity, which limits the mobility of homeowners, weak demand and the overhang of shadow inventory all continue to exert downward pressure on housing prices. We are looking out for renewed demand in the coming months as the spring buying season gets underway to hopefully reduce the downward pressure.”

The hope is not that the spring market will increase or even stabilize prices, they hope it will simply “reduce” the pressure to drive prices lower.

Radar Logic’s RPX Composite Price comes to virtually the same conclusion:

Radar Logic believes the RPX Composite price will continue to exhibit year-on-year declines throughout 2011 due to a growing supply of homes for sale and in the inventories of financial institutions, and weakening demand due to the reduction of government incentives for home buyers. Moreover, banks are facing uncertainty over whether they will be forced by regulators to expand mortgage modifications, and may reduce lending and tighten standards as a result.

“No matter what you call it, a ‘double dip’ or the continuation of a long process of deterioration, the current trend in home prices is evidence that housing markets are continuing to languish,” said Quinn Eddins, Director of Research at Radar Logic. “We expect the negative trend to continue under a severe supply overhang that includes a large and growing ‘shadow inventory’ of homes in default or foreclosure.”

It seems that the bottom line is that prices have again begun to fall nationally. With the overhang of existing and shadow inventory, prices will probably continue to decline throughout most of 2011. If you’re thinking of selling, now might be the best time. Check with a Nothnagle agent to see how this might impact your decision to sell.

It Pays to Support Responsible Homeownership

Doing your part to help other Americans gain a foothold on the homeownership ladder does not just help them. You’ll benefit both your community and your own pocketbook.

When people move from renting to owning a home, they’re more likely to vote, get involved in community groups, and care about their home’s appearance. The children of homeowners do 23% better in school, according to a 2001 study by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. And a steady flow of first-time homebuyers makes it easier to sell your own starter home when you’re ready to move up to a larger property.

Make housing affordable

One way to make more people homeowners is to make housing more affordable. All U.S. homeowners benefit from policies like the mortgage interest tax deduction. Many use government-backed mortgage insurance to lower loan costs. A variety of public and private programs offer low-cost loans and down payment assistance to help Americans become homeowners. There are resources that help prospective homeowners save a down payment like the website EARN, a non-profit that uses donations to match funds saved by low-wage earners.

Reduce foreclosures and preserve home value

Foreclosure matters because it hurts all homeowners. Foreclosures cause property values to decline. Each foreclosure within 1/8th of a mile of your home lowers your property value about 0.744 percent, the Center for Responsible Lending says.

One effective tool against foreclosure is educating homeowners before they buy. The Joint Center found that loan delinquencies fell 13% with homeownership counseling. People who go through pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling and learn about mortgages, family budgeting, and home maintenance are less apt to face foreclosure.

Support groups that help homeowners

One way you can help other homeowners is by donating your time or money to some of the many non-profits that promote responsible homeownership. Habitat for Humanity partners with new homeowners to build affordable housing. Habitat homes are not free. Homeowners work hundreds of hours, get homeownership counseling, and make mortgage payments. The United Way supports many local programs that build affordable housing, help families build financial assets, and teach financial management skills. If you donate to United Way, you can direct your contribution to those causes. There are also various federal, state, and local programs that help create homeowners and expand responsible and affordable homeownership.

How to get involved

You can support responsible homeownership in many ways. Retired construction contractors France and Bill Moriarity travel the country in their RV managing Habitat construction projects. “We like it because it’s a hand up, not a hand out,” France Moriarity says. Habitat volunteers don’t need construction skills and can sign up to work as little as one day at a time. Groups can volunteer together. Organizations like Rebuilding Together and NeighborWorks America sponsor once yearly volunteer events that help lower-income homeowners repair their homes.

5 Tips for Bathroom Remodeling

That old bathroom has been on your to-do list for years now, but such a daunting task seems to always get pushed to the bottom Maybe now is the time. According to Remodeling Magazine's annual Cost vs. Value Report, a bathroom remodel is a solid investment. A remodel of $16,600 (the national average) will recoup about 64% of those costs when it's time to sell your home. If you have decided that this is the year, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Stick to a plan: A bathroom remodel is no place for improvisation. Before starting, think hard about how you will use the space, what materials and fixtures you want, and how much you are willing to spend. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends spending up to six months evaluating and planning before beginning work. Once work has begun (a process that takes 2 to 3 months on average), resist changing your mind. Work stopages and alterations add costs, especially if you are hiring a contractor for the work. If planning is not a strength for you, and if you have the money, consider hiring a professional designer for the job. A pro charges $100 to $200 per hour, and can spend anywhere between 10 and 30 hours on a bathroom project
2. Keep the same layout: Keeping the same footprint, and locating new plumbing fixtures near existing plumbing pipes saves demolition and reconstruction dollars. You will also cut down on the dust and debris that make remodeling so hard to live with. Try to make the most of the space you have. Glass doors on showers and tubs open up the area. A pedestal sink takes up less room than a vanity. A deep medicine cabinet can replace some of the lost storage space.
3. Make lighting a priority: Few items make a bathroom more satisfying than lighting designed for everyday grooming. You can install lighting for a fraction of the cost of pricier amenities. Well-designed bathroom task lighting surrounds vanity mirrors and eliminates shadows on faces.
4. Clear the air: Bathrrom ventilation is essential for removing excess humidity that fogs mirrors, makes floors slippery, and contributes to the growth of mildew and mold. Controlling mold and humidity is especially important for maintaining healthy indoor air quality and protecting the value of your home. A bathroom vent and water closet fan should exhaust air to the outside, not simply to the space between ceiling joists. Better models have whisper quiet exhaust fans and humidity controlled switches that activiate when a sensor detects excess moisture in the air.
5. Do-it-yourself: Shave labor costs by doing some (or all) of the work yourself. Tell your contractor which projects you will handle, so there are no misunderstandings later. Some easy DIY projects:

• Install window and baseboard trim: save $250
• Paint walls and trim, 200 sq. feet: save $200
• Install toilet: save $150
• Install towel bars and shelves: save $20 each

At any stage in your remodel process, Nothnagle Home Services can help. Find the service you need here. Visit Home Services' new Facebook page to view or latest service partners and their special offers.

Don't Forget the Inspection

For the seller, a visit from the home inpsector can be a nerve-wrecking time, especially in a market like this. It is not uncommon for the potential buyer to demand that a long list of problems be addressed before the sale is finalized.

No matter how well you prepare, realize the inspector is always going to find something wrong. Often, the problems are minor and inexpensive enough for the seller to either fix or allow a credit for in the home price. It is the discovery of major deficiencies, or an unwillingness to negotiate, that can kill a deal completely.

Still, it is in the sellers best interest to prepare the home as much as possible before the inspection. The best way to prepare is to do your own inspection before you list the home on the market. A pre-listing inspection will tell you exactly what needs to be fixed before you begin your search for a buyer.

Sellers should also inspect their home with a critical eye. Look at walls from floor to ceiling, under sinks, on the floor near the base of appliances --everywhere-- to check for signs of water damage, for example. Also check faucets, door handles and other details of the home as you are walking through it.

An inspector will be looking for problems with the home's heating and cooling systems, electrical problems, signs of water damage, mold or leaks, termites, and strucural or plumbing problems. They will also take a look at do-it-yourself projects, making sure ceiling fans are installed correctly and backyard decks are safe, for example.

As much as you can, get your house ready by fixing the problems or have a plan for how you will address them when the buyer inquires about the issues. Pay attention to the little things, too. Make sure everything is clean and the gutters are clear, take care of flaking paint and make sure windows open and close. Replace cracked caulking and fix leaky faucets and broken windows. You might also want to have the furnace and air-conditioning systems service by a professional to make sure they're in good shape.

Even after you prep your home for the inspection, expect some problems to surface and for the prospective buyer to present you with a to-do list. Some buyer requests will be reasonable; in other cases, especially when its cosmetic in nature, a seller would be justified in declining a request. But even when negotiations get tough, remember the buyer still wants to buy your home. They kept your home in mind over all the others.

Whether you are looking for a home inspector, someone to clean the gutters, paint a room, or fix a leak, Nothnagle Home Services will be an invaluable resource. Learn more about it here.

8 Reasons People Decide to Buy a Home

Renting can be frustrating. The money you pay every month disappears, leaving you with few benefits other than a place to stay. It is no surprise people want to stop renting and start owning. Here are eight reasons why:

1. They want to build equity Homebuyers build equity as their property increases in value over time. This equity has many benefits, and is a natural benefit of owning a home. Renters never gain equity in their rental space, and at the end of their lease have nothing to show for years of on-time payments.
2. They don't want to throw their money away Without equity, what does paying your rent on time each month gain you? The truth is paying rent guarantees you a place to stay for another month and nothing more. This makes renting a poor investment compared to home buying.
3. They want more space Most renters have to deal with cramped spaces and limited storage. The extra room that comes with most homes make them attractive to those who prefer to stretch their legs.
4. They want to make upgrades Most leases forbid the renter from altering the rental space. Home buyers are not only allowed to make upgrades, but doing so can be a great investment and raise the overall value of your home.
5. They don't want to be so close to noisy neighbors Anyone who has ever lived above or below neighbors in an apartment complex knows just how annoying all that noise can be. Homebuyers can sometimes deal with annoying neighbors as well, but at least they're not in the same building.
6. They don't want to deal with a landlord Dealing with a landlord can be tough. Some landlords are not friendly or flexible, especially when it comes to late payments. Other landlords can be so distant that problems don't get resolved for months or even years. Homeowners have no landlord to deal with and have the freedom and independence of conducting business on their own terms.
7. They don't want to deal with deposits Security deposits never seem to work out in the renter's favor. It seems like every little problem leads to forfeiture of the sometimes huge security deposits renters pay just to sign the lease. Homeowners can say "so long" to security deposits.
8. They want to live the American dream Owning a home is still a big part of the American dream, and most people would say that the independence, autonomy, and sense of accomplishment that owning a home brings is an essential part of the American way of life. Renting an apartment just doesn't seem to do the same.

Nothnagle Realtors Expands to Penn Yan

Nothnagle Realtors is pleased to announce the launch of Nothnagle REALTORS®, Hometown Choice, a franchised office under the ownership and management of industry veterans Carol Bodine, Jim Moon, Mark Moon and Richard Murphy.

The office will be located at 270 Lake Street in Penn Yan. From the Penn Yan location the agents will serve Keuka Lake and the surrounding areas to provide a high level of customer service and experience to the clients they work with.

“We want to give local real estate consumers and agents a world-class experience like no other. Jim, Dick, Carol and I have a strong track record of delivering top-quality service to our clients but now through our partnership with Nothnagle REALTORS®, we will be able to offer tools and systems never before available in the Western Finger Lakes area,” said Mark Moon, Partner.

“What appeals to brokers who join our franchise system is the fact that they can maintain their independence while tapping into our successful infrastructure. When you combine the wealth of knowledge and experience the Hometown Choice group brings to the table, combined with Nothnagle’s award-winning systems, it is a win-win for everyone – the brokers, agents and their customers and clients. We are thrilled to have them on board,” said Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle Realtors.

Nothnagle REALTORS®, Hometown Choice is the newest addition to the Nothnagle franchise system which currently offers locations in Amherst, Buffalo, Hornell and Skaneateles.

A Proven System That Will Work for You!

At Nothnagle, we have developed proven systems for doing the three things that are most important to real estate agents:

•Generating leads
•Marketing homes
•Switching to a better, more helpful real estate company

No real estate company does more than Nothnagle to provide our agents with leads. In the past 12 months, Nothnagle has delivered an average of 96 leads per agent.

How do we do it?

Our web site not only shows all Nothnagle properties, it also shows most properties that are listed with our competitors. Since our web site is the most popular real estate web site in the region, we attract the most inquiries—both for properties listed by Nothnagle and ones listed by someone else.

Those leads go directly to our agents. And with our LeadsNow system, leads can be easily displayed, organized and tracked.

Our 4-SALE LINE® is another source of leads for our agents. When home buyers call, they are transferred directly to a Nothnagle Agent after hearing the property description.

"Nothnagle’s web site is a lead generation vehicle. . . I get leads from my own personal business as well as my competitors’. Just the other day we got a lead on someone else’s property, and it was a $500,000 buyer". -Cathy McWilliams, Nothnagle Canandaigua Agents