Leverage our technology to your advantage - Watson Realty Corp.

Leverage our technology to your advantage.  Ed Forman, President of Watson Realty Corp. discusses the advantages Watson Realty offers through our technology.

Watson Realty Opens New Office in Starke, Florida

Watson Realty Corp., REALTORS® recently merged the office of Hometown First Realty in Starke with its Keystone Heights office. Watson Keystone Heights will maintain a branch office at the former location of Hometown First Realty in downtown Starke at 107 E. Call Street. Watson associates Ann Ryan, Gayle Van Wagenen and Ronald Norman will now work at the Starke location. The merger increases the market share of Watson Realty in Bradford County to 18.66 % by volume, making it the number one listing company in the Bradford county Keystone Heights area. It is now number one in closed business as well, with 20.8% of the closed units through the first seven months of the year.

“This merger represents the positive growth and success of the Keystone Heights office associates and real estate in Bradford County. I am very pleased at this new opportunity and look forward to the continued growth of Watson Realty in our area,” stated Vice President/Managing Broker Dean Weaver.

The Watson Realty Keystone Heights office is located at 7384 State Road 21 North. For more information, readers can call (352) 473-4816 or visit http://www.watsonkeystone.com/.

About Watson Realty Corp., REALTORS®

Watson Realty Corp. (www.WatsonRealtyCorp.com) has been a trusted name in real estate since 1965. Watson Realty is a full-service real estate company with more than 1,200 sales associates and 41 residential sales offices throughout Northeast and Central Florida, as well as St. Marys, Georgia. Services include Watson Mortgage Corp., Watson New Homes Division, Watson Title Services, Watson Title Services of Northeast Florida Inc., Watson Commercial Realty Inc., Watson School of Real Estate, Watson Referral Realty Inc., Watson Property Management, Watson Maintenance Services and Watson Relocation Services. Watson Relocation Services has offices in both Jacksonville and Orlando.

Leverage Our Experience To Your Advantage - Watson Realty Corp.

Founder and Chairman of the Board, William Watson, Jr. of Watson Realty Corp. discussing the advantages of using our full service real estate firm.

New Realtor success school to begin

Real estate agents that are newly licensed or those who find themselves in a business rut should consider signing up with Watson Realty Corp. this month. Our exclusive success school will begin again on October 20th.

The instructors have decades of combined experience and consist of the Central Florida Watson management staff.

Email or call me to receive the school's upcoming agenda. I would love to speak with you about a career with Watson Realty Corp.


Related Florida real estate views:

You don't know what you don't know about selling real estate!

Real estate sales success school starts again

Watson Realty success school is well attended


- Greg Staker - 407-304-0255

Does your agent have enough money to advertise your home?

The lack of sales is taking its toll on real estate agents. With fewer closings, agents are finding it hard to pay their personal bills, much less advertise and market a customer's home.

Agents who are having a hard time financially may not be willing to order a virtual tour for homes they have listed. While listing inventory explodes to record numbers, print advertisement becomes non-existent. Agents have abandon their websites in order to eliminate the monthly hosting fees.

Even direct mail has diminished, with the cost to create and mail a postcard that announces a new listing or new sale is no longer financially possible to many.

All of this may save an agent an extra dollar but does nothing to help sell a home owners property. Sellers need to be concerned when interviewing agents prior to listing their home and ask them if their marketing budget has decreased and to what extent during these challenging times.

Watson Realty continues to maintain a marketing plan to sell homes that has been successful for over 40 years. Agents with Watson Realty can take advantage of several marketing tools provided as a benefit to the agent and geared towards providing our sellers an advantage in the marketplace.


Related Florida real estate view:

Free report on why your home did not sell.

Advertise your home where it will do the most good

Real estate agent costs rise as income dwindles



- Greg Staker, Watson Realty Corp. 407-304-0255

Where will your agent find the buyer for your home?

In 2007 our buying customers said that a friend/acquaintance referred them to us or they saw our sign as the top two ways they contacted us to buy a home.

Finding a buyer for your home will more often than not come down to past customers of your agent and the amount of for sale signs that are in the market place.

Watson Realty has a customer base that has been built on over 40 years as Florida’s number 1 real estate company. Our signs are the most recognizable and prominent in our market areas.

If you really want to sell your home, we can find you a buyer.

Related Florida real estate views:

Does your agent have enough money to advertise your home?

Do I still have to pay a commission if I list my home but then decide not to sell?

You don't know what you don't know about selling real estate!


-Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Watson Realty Corp. Hosts Incentive Trip to Montreal, Canada

Jacksonville, FL – Nearly 150 Watson Realty Corp. associates, guests and management team members recently returned from a 5 day trip to Montreal, Canada! The sales incentive trip was awarded to associates fulfilling specific listing, sales and referral criteria during the last quarter of 2007. Participants enjoyed the sites of Montreal as well as excursions to Quebec City.

Sales incentives are eagerly anticipated at Watson Realty. Previous destinations have included Athens, Greece; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Vancouver, B.C.; London, England, as well as cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Watson Realty Corp. is a full-service real estate company with 43 residential sales offices, 20 property management offices, Watson Commercial, Watson New Homes, Watson Home Improvement, Watson Plumbing, Watson Electric, Watson Mortgage Corp., Watson School of Real Estate, Watson Title Services, and Watson Relocation Services. They are located throughout Northeast and Central Florida as well as St. Marys, Georgia. Watson Relocation Services has offices in both Jacksonville and Orlando.


Related Florida real estate views:

Watson Realty Corp. Earns Achievement Award

Watson Realty wins relocation customer service award

Why you should join Watson Realty, Orlando


- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

William Watson Jr. named Vice Chairman

William Watson Jr. has been named Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leading Real Estate companies of the World®. Mr. Watson has served with Leading RE’s Board of Directors for several years, and will be serving with Leading RE’s new Chairman, Harold Crye, CEO of Memphis-based Crye-Leike, Inc.

Leading RE is our global real estate network comprised of 700 of the best-known local and regional real estate firms in the U.S. and 38 countries producing over $400 billion in annual home sales.

Related Florida real estate views

Watson Realty Corp. meets with International Broker

More Watson Realty relocation awards

The great jar opener giveaway

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Watson Realty nominated for referral award

Watson Realty Corp. is proud to announce it has been named a nominee for the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World™ DIAMOND AWARD. Only 15 real estate firms out of 700 worldwide real estate firms received this honor. The Diamond Award is presented annually to the one member company that has most actively participated in all of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World™’s business offerings and met strict service criteria.

Related Florida real estate views:

Where do real estate customers come from?

Watson Realty Corp. Earns Achievement Award

Why you should join Watson Realty, Orlando


- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Watson Realty has the lion's share of the market.

Here is a new marketing card released by Watson Realty which uniquely shows that Watson Realty continues to have the largest share in the market areas we service.

Sellers, buyers and agents understand that to be successful in this market, you have to be the best.

Related Florida real estate views:

5 things Sellers wish their Realtor® would have told them

Watson Realty, Maitland Florida

No Fear - How top producing Realtors succeed

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Why you should join Watson Realty, Orlando

Now that many agents are finding more month at the end of their money, I would like to invite them to consider a career with Watson Realty. There are many reasons that joining Watson is a smart move. I am including a few that I have posted on my joining Watson Realty career page.

Strong Orlando area market position
Veteran associate leadership
Non-competing manager
Office paid bulk mail
Office paid for sale signs
Office supplied professional pre-printed direct mail marketing pieces
13 Watson Central Florida sister offices for you to use to meet customers
Watson Showcase Magazine
Member of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World relocation/referral network
Floor/opportunity time available
Continuous training provided in and out of office
Internet marketing and seo instruction available
Wireless network available
Unlimited business use of office supplied computers, printers, fax and phones
Meeting room with computer projector for associate use when conducting seminars, etc.
Business conservative friendly office environment
Watson Title with in office representative
Access to Watson Mortgage consultant
Career advancement potential
Administrative personnel available to assist you with entering MLS data and advertisement placements
Office supplied call coordinator
Office open 7 days a week
Direct access for associates to Mr. Watson or any member of Watson Corporate
Company wide discounts from major vendors
Competitive associate commission schedule
Sales and incentive contests through-out the year
CMA Tool Kit program provided
Company owned free standing office building
Semi-private offices and private conference rooms available to associates
Nationally known speakers brought in for regional presentations
Billboard, radio and multi-media campaign brands the Watson Realty name
In house sales bonus
Watson initial training success school
Home warranty program
In-house legal defense fund
Full time IT department
Free long distance
Full service property management
Bridge loan program for your customers
Digital cameras available
No cost office desk space

Related Florida real estate views:

Floyd Wickman is coming to Central Florida

Watson Realty in Kissimmee makes a commitment to out sell the competition

New real estate agents in Orlando should join Watson Realty

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando homes for the holidays!

December has always been about family, friends and that special holiday time. For some Orlando home owners it is also about selling their home.

Here are the latest homes for sale in Orlando that were listed by Watson Realty in December.

Affordable housing in the Orlando area

We have several 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes for sale in and around the Orlando area priced at or below the $235k median price as reported by the Orlando Realtor Association.

Here is a list of affordable homes for sale in the Orlando area.

You are welcome to stop in

This is a photo of our lobby. Notice how light, bright and inviting it is? Feel free to stop in and discuss your Orlando real estate needs. 2035 Howell Branch Road in Maitland. Buyers and sellers welcome.

Related Florida real estate views:

I am now the Broker/Manager of Watson Realty's Kissimmee office

Watson Realty

Watson Realty Corp. opens new office in Central Florida

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Orlando real estate market report

The end of the year continues down the well-worn path we have experienced now for some 24 months. Recent reports indicate 33 homes have closed from December 1st – 5th as compared to 115 homes during the same period last year. This calculates to a 71% drop in sales in Orlando alone. At the current rate of homes coming on and leaving the market, the Orlando area should have nearly 30 months of inventory.

30 months of homes on the market would seem daunting were it not for the fact that the majority of these homes are not really priced to sell. The vast majority of the sellers and Realtors are not being realistic on their pricing. The real work for buyers and their Realtors is to weed through the thousands of homes unrealistically over priced to find those few homes that are priced correctly and truly marketable.

2008 will most likely be more of the same. The correcting market will continue to make news and leave many perplexed to the final outcome. Now is the time for buyers and sellers to view the current conditions as it only relates to them personally. It will always be a perfect real estate market to an individual buyer and an individual seller who meet, negotiate fairly and agree to mutually beneficial terms. Those types of transactions are still happening throughout Florida and will continue regardless of how the overall market performs.

Related Florida real estate views:

Orlando home sellers: giving in, selling or losing their home?

I would not buy a house in Florida.

Real estate agents would be wise to pick short sales over long sales.

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Have you received a post card or mailing from a Realtor?

If it is a Watson Realty Maitland/Orlando agent who sent the card, chances are good it's journey started here.

Direct mail is an important feature of an agents marketing plan. A professionally created card that announces a new listing, or a new sale or provides information about the neighborhood or market conditions is often times the tool that connects our agents to consumers who are thinking of buying or selling their home.

We believe in the benefits of a direct mail campaign and strive to provide our agents with the tools that they need to accomplish their marketing goals. From our office alone, we average over 14,000 pieces of bulk mail monthly. Our agents love this free business tool we provide them and our sellers love the exposure.

Related Florida real estate views:

Does your agent have enough money to advertise your home?

Free report on why your home did not sell.

Positioning ourselves for real estate success in the years ahead

- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

FDIC offers suggestions to obtain the best mortgage terms

A recent press release regarding the fall 2007 FDIC Consumer News came out on November 16th.

The press release can be read in its entirety here.

Highlights of the release include:

‘While it may be tougher to get mortgages because of recent problems in the
housing market, the latest issue of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's
quarterly newsletter for consumers says that "many good loan programs are still
available" and offers tips to help people shop for and negotiate the right
deal.’

‘The main article, entitled "The New Climate for Mortgage Borrowers," features a
variety of suggestions for obtaining a new mortgage or refinancing an existing
one. Among them: Try to raise your credit score in the months before you apply
for a mortgage, such as by paying off much or all of what you owe on credit
cards. Contact several lenders, let them know you are comparison shopping, and
then try to negotiate the best deal. Compare fixed-rate and adjustable-rate
mortgages (ARMs), even if the latter carries a lower initial interest rate,
because a fixed-rate loan may be cheaper in the long run. Be wary of a loan with
payments that can increase substantially, such as mortgages with low monthly
payments in the early years in exchange for the deferred repayment of principal
and/or interest. And, watch out for unfair and deceptive sales practices that
lure people into costly or inappropriate loans.’

Comparing rates and terms is especially important in today's market. Watson Mortgage offers a free loan comparison to anyone who is thinking of buying a home and would like to compare mortgage rates.


Related Florida real estate views:

Buyers are choosing fixed rate mortgages

FDIC – Home ownership declines with income levels

FDIC Chairman, Sheila C. Bair sees no end to housing woes


- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Watson Title of Orlando provides great service.

Having a great title company as part of our family of services is a benefit to the customer as well as to the agent.

However just because we are affiliated with Watson Title Services, does not mean we receive any extra compensation for transactions closed by Watson Title Services.

Other Title Companies are finding out the hard way why they should not attempt to compensate Realtors for business as reported in the Orlando Sentinel.


Related Florida real estate views:

QUIT Claim deed not QUICK Claim

Survival guide to use when purchasing a home.

WATSON REALTY RANKED #12


- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255

Real estate school starts in January

2008 JANUARY CLASS SCHEDULE

Real estate career

Seminole, Osceola, Volusia and Lake Counties

LONGWOOD – 1445 West SR 434 in Longwood
January 14th – February 14th Mon. Tues. & Thurs. 6PM to 10PM
Class Exam: January 19th Tuesday 6PM

KISSIMMEE – 1950 Irlo Bronson Mem. Hwy. in Kissimmee
January 14th – February 14th Mon. Tues. & Thurs. 6PM to 10PM
Class Exam: January 18th Monday 6PM

PORT ORANGE – 808 Dunlawton Ave. in Port Orange
January 21st – February 21st Mon. Tues. & Thurs. 6PM to 10PM
Class Exam: February 25th Monday 6PM

OVIEDO\UNIVERSITY – 2100 Alafaya Trail in Oviedo
January 21st – February 21st Mon. Tues. & Thurs. 6PM to 10PM
Class Exam: February 25th Monday 6PM

CHAMPIONS GATE – 8235 Champions Gate Blvd. in Davenport
January 28th – February 28th Mon. Tues. & Thurs. 6PM to 10PM
Class Exam: March 3rd Monday 6PM

DELAND – 1961 S. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand
January 28th – February 28th Mon. Tues. & Thurs. 6PM to 10PMClass Exam: March 3rd Monday 6PM

These January 2008 classes are available at a
“New Year” SPECIAL PRICE of $99.00 + $40.00 for the new text book


Related Florida real estate views:

Kissimmee real estate school starting in August

Success school revisted by experienced agents

45 hour post license class - real estate


- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp.- 407-304-0255

Is it safe to buy or sell in today's real estate market?

To those who are thinking of making a home purchase or selling their current home are certainly cautious as they read about the current market conditions.

What you need to know about buying and selling in a down market is the subject of my latest article page.


Related Florida real estate views:

University of Florida predicts Florida residents will keep their money in their wallet

Smart home sellers listen to what the market is telling them.

Do you provide a CCMA for your home selling customers?


- Greg Staker - Watson Realty Corp. - 407-304-0255