Condo.com 's Blog

C-O-N-D-O...and condo is their name-o!

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:43:30 GMT

Leading online real estate portal, Condo.com has users singing, clapping, and dancing to their new jingle. The jingle video, now on YouTube seen below, demonstrates one way the company likes to have fun while providing users with a one-stop shop for all their Condo needs.

The lyrics tell the site’s story of how Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, sell, rent, and vacation in condos. As the world’s largest condo marketplace, the site has over 800,000 listings for sale and rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. With Condo.com, advertisers can list their condo for sale, rent or as a vacation property to over 15 million qualified buyers and renters. Moreover, the site’s expert agents help all their clients find the condo of their dreams. Condo.com also has a great community area filled with blogs and property reviews to help users make the best decision on their condo purchase or rental. Used as a social networking tool, the community offers free tools including a Q & A forum and the ability to upload videos and photos.

Condo.com’s new jingle summarizes all the above features in a video format, one yet to be seen by any other industry competitor. Click the play button above. This video is sure to make you smile!

What is your prediction on home buyer behavior this holiday season?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:25:55 GMT

Holiday Home Buying...Data to Suggest Driven Buyers this Season

Just in time for the holidays- this year buyers are likely to add an unusually large purchase to their shopping carts- a new home! With the great deals on homes made recently available, home buyers are able to take advantage of listings priced at record low discounts this year.

Approximately 44% of homes listed for sale across 27 major markets reduced prices in October, according to a recent survey by ZipRealty. San Diego and Orange County had the greatest seller price cuts in absolute dollars for October with California averaging $52,500 off of original list prices. Miami and surrounding south Florida cities experienced the highest percentage of homeowner price reductions of $40,000 on average. Leading online real estate portal, Condo.com, highlights such reductions in their Bargains section featuring over 60,000 condos listed at below average prices on a per square foot basis. Florida alone makes up nearly half of the site’s bargain listings.

Recent and expected rises in home sales home sales rising can also be attributed to the first-time home buyer tax credit. Originally set to expire on December 1st, the government extended it to April 30, 2010. The tax credit allows first-time buyers to reduce their federal income taxes by 10 percent of the price of a home, up to a maximum of $8,000. The credit was also expanded to include up to $6,500 for repeat buyers who have lived in their homes for at least five years. The effect of the credit can be seen in the types of homes that have been selling. Properties priced below $300,000 lead the way in home sales according to the Sunshine MLS report for October 2009. Condo sales increased 49 percent with 254 closed sales compared to 170 closed sales for last October.

Bottom line…Buyers still hold the power and will likely be browsing homes and condos this holiday season much more than last. It is clear that certain factors such as low interest rates, the federal tax credit, and price reductions by sellers will be driving this buying activity.

We’d like to hear your feedback. What is your prediction on home buyer behavior this holiday season? Submit your answers right here on our blog.

Why Invest Real Estate in Panama

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:14:02 GMT

No corporate or personal taxes and financial privacy? These words are music to the ears of inventors wanting to purchase real estate in the Panama region. Panama is the ideal destination for investing and its proximity to Latin American markets makes it a perfect location for world business operations.

From a corporate investment perspective, Panama is a country in much better shape financially than its Central American neighbors to the north, or Colombia to the south. Because of its dollar based economy and stable political situation, sustained by the Panama Canal, Free Trade Zone and international banking, many Fortune 500 companies have relocated to the region. The Panama Canal’s operations in 2001, according to the Panama Canal Authority, generated $630.8 million in total revenues.

In addition to its superior location, Panama’s inflation rate is minimal. Its annual inflation rate has averaged 1.4% for the past 30 years, and during the 1990s, it barely exceeded 1% per year.

As an added bonus, Panama’s government offers a number of special programs to foreign investors. They give those who invest in the region attractive incentive packages so they may capitalize and experience a tremendous head start in the business world or corporate growth.

From a residential perspective, Panama is an investment paradise. Foreigners are able to purchase apartments under the same laws as Panamanian citizens, and they benefit from a property tax exoneration period. From its pristine white sand beaches and Hispanic colonial ruins, to its untouched primary rainforest and year-round tropical maritime climate; Panama City, Panama offers an ideal primary residential destination. Within an hour’s drive from Panama’s modern capital city, residents can explore and enjoy the nation’s hidden paradise. From its endless islands and inlets to its world-renowned tourist attractions, residents can benefit from the region’s healthy economy, cultural offerings and nature destinations.

We are Ready to Sell You the Dream

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:20:35 GMT

We apologize that we have not been able to sell you real estate up to this point. But, rest assured, there is a reason. To this point, we have been busy attending to the master plan, permitting process, disclosure regulations and every detail necessary to build top-notch world-renowned resorts from the ground up.

ONLY 19 DAYS UNTIL THE RELEASE OF PHASE 2 at Seaside Mariana!

Right now, there remain 6 ocean view home sites starting as low $49,000 at Seaside Mariana Spa & Golf Resort. More Information. If you are in search for beachfront property, there remains only 1 beachfront home site priced at $51,300 at Isla Mariana Beach & Marina Resort. More Information

Join Us for Our Next Webinar: Alternative Investments In Central America

Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009 Register Here >

Always remember, every purchase through Grupo Mariana Gives Back to the greater good. Your purchase will send 5% of the total sales price to Fundación Grupo Mariana toward achieving our fund-raising goal.

"Nicaraguan Abundance: Live, Invest and Grow," December 3-6 at the Hilton Hotel in Managua, Nicaragua. The deadline for registration is soon approaching, and there are only 5 spaces available so this is a reminder call for all of you who are interested in learning about how to do business, live well and invest in Nicaragua with abundant returns. Calling All Entrepreneur

An Encouraging Sign for a Caribbean Developer Despite a Worldwide Slowdown

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:57:56 GMT

An Encouraging Sign for a Caribbean Developer Despite a Worldwide Slowdown
Juan Dolio area of Dominican Republic, Through the Efforts of its Most Important Developer, Group Metro, Continues on its Path to Becoming a World Class Destination for Second Homes

Nov 04, 2009 – Dominican Republic – While many real estate developers from around the world are postponing or cancelling projects due to lacklustre sales and inadequate funding, Group Metro, one of the leading real estate and transportation companies in the Dominican Republic has bucked this trend. Group Metro today announced that it closed a US$35 million growth capital investment with Portland Private Equity. The funds, earmarked for Las Olas, an oceanfront condominium complex in Juan Dolio, will enable the company to continue its expansion plans for the up-and-coming region of the Dominican Republic. www.metrocountry.com.

“Las Olas construction is scheduled to reach the halfway mark before the holidays, so the timing of this capital injection coincides perfectly with our need to purchase important components such as fixtures and finishing elements,” stated Luis Jose Asilis, CEO of Group Metro. “This will allow us to capitalize on cost saving opportunities through bulk advance purchasing of materials, which will be passed on to our clients in the form of a higher quality end product,” he added.

Located in Juan Dolio, 35K from Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic, and 15 km from the Las Americas International Airport, Las Olas is a sixteen level Art Deco style beachfront condominium that features 227 apartments showcasing open spaces and panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. Residents will also have exclusive memberships to the nearby Metro Country Club, which features an expansive Clubhouse, the Las Marlins 18-hole golf course, mini golf, tennis courts, swimming pools, restaurants, preferential access to the in-resort Embassy Suites Hotel, and much more.

Portland Private Equity, the private equity manager of the AIC Caribbean Fund, stated, “We are pleased to partner with a fast growing and successful company like Group Metro, the market share leader for beach front condominium apartments in the southern coast of the Dominican Republic,” said Managing Partner Kip Thompson. “We are bullish on this development as it offers many advantages compared to the other tourism dependent real estate projects in the region that we look at. The Juan Dolio area is fast becoming a suburb to Santo Domingo and the affordable luxury emphasis of Las Olas opens up the opportunity to local and ex-pat Dominicans to buy a condo as a second home.”

Portland Private Equity will also participate on Metro Country Club’s board of directors and will provide the board with global industry insight and international investment banking experience. “In addition to being a strong financial supporter,” continues Asilis, “Portland Private Equity’s participation on Metro Country Club’s board will play a key role in guiding our expansion strategy.”

About Group Metro
Group Metro has established a formidable international reputation throughout its four decades of experience in transportation, tourism and real estate. From its landmark property, Metro Country Club, to the oceanfront condominium developments of Costa del Sol, Marbella, Costa Blanca and Las Olas, Group Metro has become the definitive company for real estate and tourism in the Dominican Republic. Led by its visionary CEO, Dr. Luis Jose Asilis, the company has played an integral role in putting the Dominican Republic on the map as a top Caribbean destination. Further, Group Metro will be one of the first developers in the Dominican Republic to provide flexible financing to buyers. For more information, visit www.groupmetro.com, www.metrocountry.com or www.costablanca.com.do.

About Portland Private Equity
Based in Barbados, Portland Private Equity is a private equity fund management company currently focused on opportunities in the Caribbean region through its management of the AIC Caribbean Fund (ACF). Building on Portland’s track record of successful investments throughout the Caribbean region, ACF is a $230 million fund focused on medium-sized businesses. Companies in its portfolio do business in over 21 countries throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and Latin America. For more information please contact Douglas Hewson at dhewson@aicgh.com.

Search and Bid for Condos in Live Auctions on Condo.com

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:18:21 GMT

Miami, FL (November 3, 2009) -

The world’s largest condo marketplace, Condo.com, has announced partnerships with two online real estate auction sites, BidontheCity.com and RealtyBid.com. Now, in addition to Condo.com’s extensive inventory of over 800,000 property listings, the Company will showcase thousands of auction properties located around the country for online bidding. The new live auction inventory will be featured alongside other ballroom auctions marketed on the site, all accessed and searchable within the Auctions section found on the Condo.com homepage and located at www.condo.com/auctions.

BidOnTheCity.com, began as Manhattan’s first real-time real estate auction site. They are known as the eBay for apartment and building sales offering low prices, flexible contract terms, and 30-day live bidding events. To view the company’s great deals on New York properties, visit www.newyork.condo.com/Auctions. Condo.com’s other new partner, RealtyBid.com, has sold and is currently marketing thousands of properties online for some of the nation’s largest real estate brokerage firms, financial institutions and corporations.

Online real estate auctions have proven to be a powerful sales channel for sellers to liquidate properties quickly, particularly in a depressed market landscape. The National Auctioneers Association reported an estimated $58.6 billion in real estate sales sold at live auction for 2008, with an increase in 2009. The rise in foreclosures is said to be one of the main contributing factors to rising auction sales. Further research indicates that online residential real estate auctions have increased 46.6 percent since 2003.

Condo.com and its auction partners have likewise experienced significant growth in recent years as online real companies and portals continue to flourish. Agents and buyers are adopting the use of new online tools available on real estate sites, fueling this growth. These recent partnerships for Condo.com are on par with industry trends in real estate where auctions are being embraced by a cost-conscious and tech savvy consumer. CEO of Condo.com, states: “Real estate auctions have been attractive for a while as they offer a degree of certainty to both the buyer and seller to a transaction, which is especially valuable in today’s market. The new collaboration with our partners further supports our goal of becoming the definitive marketplace for condos with the largest inventory in the world of for sale, for rent and vacation condos. Auctions are a subset of for sale inventory and a sales channel that will be around for many years to come.

About Condo.com

Condo.com (http://www.condo.com) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered.

Leading Online Real Estate Portal Expands Executive Team and Internet Sales Strategy

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:29:08 GMT

Miami, FL. (October 28, 2009) - Condo.com, the world’s largest condo marketplace, proudly announces the hiring of Jason Mizrachi as Vice President of Business Development. Mr. Mizrachi will direct the company’s internet lead generation business with leads being generated for real estate and several related verticals.
Condo.com currently operates an affiliate program with partners in over 25 countries. The company is able to leverage the power of its strong domain to affiliates as both an advertiser and a publisher. New business development in the form of lead generation will focus on Condo.com’s initiatives as a publisher. Mr. Mizrachi states: “With Condo.com’s position in the real estate vertical, my plan is to aggressively expand to related sub-categories including mortgage, moving, insurance and home services and to seek partners that want the highest quality and significant amounts of leads. With our growing traffic and lead generation platform, we will ensure a strong, consistent position in the space.”
Online lead generation is considered one of the fastest growing segments of online advertising with an estimated $1.6 billion ad spend last year according to eMarketer.com’s November 2008 report. Condo.com’s strategy is proving to be consistent with such trends in marketing spend. Mr. Mizrachi’s hiring is one step toward their lead generation strategy as he will lead Condo.com’s efforts as a publisher in the Real Estate category along with the other sub-categories. Under his leadership, the company will focus on creating relationships with affiliate networks, agencies, and directly with advertiser clients that are dominant in the space.
Jason Mizrachi brings 12-years of extensive internet and lead generation experience to Condo.com, as well as 15 years in the sales arena. Prior to joining Condo.com, Jason was the Director of Sales for Internet Advertising Group, Inc. where he oversaw several million dollar sales divisions. He has also held management positions at AT&T Advertising, JCDecaux North America, and Citysearch.com where he led successful marketing and sales initiatives. Mr. Mizrachi obtained a BSC in Communications from the University of Miami.
About Condo.com
Condo.com (http://www.condo.com) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com.

Leading Online Real Estate Portal Adds New Talent to Marketing Team

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:43:59 GMT

Miami, FL. (October 9, 2009) – Condo.com has announced the recent hiring of Virginia Mendez, newly appointed Marketing Manager. Ms. Mendez will play a crucial role in supporting and building the company’s global brand with its aggressive marketing programs. Virginia will lead online and offline marketing initiatives to include affiliate marketing, lead generation, and Web 2.0 strategies among others.

Condo.com, the world’s largest condominium marketplace, was recently named a top US real-estate portal by Global Edge and is continuing to grow as the dominant player in its niche market. The company has demonstrated a clear understanding of how to cost-effectively reach an online audience and adapt to the dynamic environment of marketing. With a robust platform of tools and resources, the company effectively caters to its market and continues to embark on new marketing and PR initiatives consistent with its growth strategy. CEO Richard Swerdlow comments on the new hire, stating “We look forward to having Virginia take Condo.com to the next level as much of our past and continued success is highly dependent upon having strategic marketing programs in place.”

Virginia brings her marketing experience and strong educational background to the position. Prior to joining Condo.com, Virginia was a Marketing and PR Specialist with CRE8 Group, a Tampa-based Marketing and PR firm, focused on the telecom industry. She obtained a BS/BA in Marketing from Florida State University and has recently earned an MBA from Florida International University, known for its top ranking in International Business.

About Condo.com

Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $250 billion. The site is a consumer-facing, online real estate portal which receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, sell, rent, live and vacation in condos. Condo.com lists condos for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. The company is also a licensed real estate brokerage business in multiple markets and has a growing nationwide network of licensed real estate agents providing brokerage services. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida

Condo.com Hires Leading Broker as Regional Manager for Washington DC, Maryland and Viriginia

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:05:02 GMT

Condo.com, one of the fastest growing brokerages in the United States, announced today the hiring of Karen Parker as the regional manager for their Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia markets. Karen Parker has more than a decade of sales experience in the Washington, D.C. real estate market and she will be focusing on luxury condominium sales in addition to building a distinguished sales team of agents in the region. Featured as a consultant on HGTV’s “Design to Sell” and News Channel 8 “Get It Sold,” she is a well-qualified and knowledgeable agent. For the past five years, Karen has been recognized as a Top Producer by the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors and Keller Williams Realty.

“The Brokerage Division of Condo.com welcomes Karen Parker and her distinguished sales team with open arms" said John Menezes, Director of Brokerage Operations for Condo.com. "Karen’s exemplary commitment to the highest levels of customer service and satisfaction are a natural extension of the Condo.com brokerage experience.”

Karen specializes in residential real estate in the Washington DC metropolitan area including Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Georgetown and surrounding areas as well as northern Virginia, serving Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church. Her main areas of expertise are working with first-time home buyers as a buyers’ agent and working with relocation clients not familiar with the area. Her team specializes in first time buyers, relocation clients and individuals looking for the maintenance-free lifestyle that condominium living offers. Focusing on the unique, individual needs of her clients, Karen and her team are willing to go above and beyond to meet their expectations.

"Condominium living is the lifestyle choice for many in the Washington DC area. First time buyers and empty nesters will first consider condominiums for affordability and an urban living experience" said Karen Parker. "Metro accessibility and a close-in location to shops and restaurants are two of the most valued home search requirements for Washingtonians. We are excited to be part of the Condo.com team."

In addition to being a top producing agent Karen also holds several real estate certifications. She is a licensed sales agent in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and is a licensed appraiser in Virginia. She is also a graduate of the Real Estate Institue, a certified residential and new homes specialist and an accredited buyer representative. Karen earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and geography from Mary Washington College and her master’s degree in information systems management from American University. She is a longtime Washingtonian and enjoys traveling and the outdoors with her two Labrador Retrievers.

Condo.com utilizes the latest technology that today's market has to offer, and serves the millions of highly motivated consumers that visit our website on a monthly basis. For more information, please contact, John Menezes, Director of Brokerage Operations at j.menezes@condo.com or by calling 305.476.2060.

Condo.com Hires Top Producing Brokers to Manage Prime South Florida Locations

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:22:46 GMT

Condo.com, one of the fastest growing brokerages in the United States, announced today that they have hired two new expert brokers to manage luxury condo sales in Miami and Miami Beach. The two new additions are Asher and Goldie Ouazanan who will be focusing on oceanfront property sales in South Florida. These new agents will also be responsible for adding additional expert agents in the region to service buyers and renters looking for condos.

"Team Ouazanan has an outstanding reputation in South Florida for exceptional service to their clients and we are proud to have them as part of the Condo.com brokerage team" said John Menezes, Director of Brokerage Operations for Condo.com. "We are confident that Asher and Goldie will continue their impeccable service records and help their clients find the condos of their dreams at the best possible prices."

Born in Los Angeles, CA, Asher Ouazanan was raised between Paris and New York. Along the way, he took an innate interest in real estate and studied urban real estate development at Baruch University in New York City. His dedication to the field was exemplified in his position as a property manager for over 500 units in the city and luxury Manhattan skyline. With aspirations of making his mark on the sunshine state, Asher made the move to South Florida, where he became leasing director for Majestic Properties. The value of being licensed in New York and Florida was proven priceless. Next, he joined the renowned Fortune International Development team as leasing director of sales for luxury projects such as Artech, Jade Ocean & Jade Beach.

Goldie Ouazanan is a superstar agent as well. With over 10 years of experience in luxury real estate sales and an excellent knowledge of oceanfront property from the tip of Miami Beach to Aventura. In addition, Goldie has lent her expertise as an agent to many high profile clients and has worked with many celebrities including Jeremy Piven, Steven Baldwin, Woody Harison and Burt Reynolds.

Condo.com utilizes the latest technology that today's market has to offer, and serves the millions of highly motivated consumers that visit our website on a monthly basis. For more information, please contact, John Menezes at j.menezes@condo.com or by calling 305.476.2060.

Condo.com Hires Associate Broker to Run Central Florida Region

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:22:12 GMT

Paul Ditmar has been named Central Florida Regional Manager for Condo.com's Luxury Sales Division. He leads a newly created Central Florida Sales Team that covers two regions, Orlando and Melbourne, FL., where he will spearhead the company's residential new home sales, re-sales and rentals. Paul will be responsible for streamlining a team of experienced and skilled Realtors that will deliver exceptional real estate services in two major market segments.

"Condo.com is quickly becoming the premier brokerage dedicated to the purchasing, leasing and selling of condominiums worldwide and we are happy to add Paul to our team" says John Menezes, Director of Brokerage Operations for Condo.com. "Paul has a superb reputation for helping his clients find and purchase the condo of their dreams in the Orlando area and his addition will give Condo.com users access to his years of expertise in finding the best deals."

Prior to joining Condo.com, Paul enjoyed a fast track career while expanding his Real Estate Business in Central Florida after spending 23 years in the Medical Diagnostic Industry in Senior Level Management positions. Paul graduated from Boston College with a BS/BA in Marketing and Business.

Condo.com utilizes the latest technology that today's market has to offer, and serves the millions of highly motivated consumers that visit our website on a monthly basis. For more information, please contact, John Menezes at j.menezes@condo.com or by calling 305.476.2060.

Condo.com Hires Leading Associate Broker to Run Prime Treasure Coast & Palm Beach Regions

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:02:22 GMT

Condo.com, a national leader in the on-line real estate world, is proud to announce the recent addition of well-known local Realtor® Sonny Solomon as their new Managing Broker for the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County, joining a rapidly growing team of Realtors® throughout the country. Sonny is responsible for all sales efforts in this prime Florida area and will build a strong sales team that will focus on excellence in customer service and satisfaction. Sonny will also be managing the Luxury Sales Division for the area and will be lending his years of expertise and his impeccable service record to clients looking to purchase luxury properties throughout the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County.

"Our vision for Condo.com is to be a global company and brand. From our internet start-up beginnings just a few years ago, we are now the largest condominium marketplace in the world," stated Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. "Condo.com is quickly becoming synonymous with real estate success worldwide for consumers, agents, brokers and developers alike. To ensure we accomplish this strategically, we needed someone like Sonny, with his tremendous breadth of experience, to take this region to a new level. We are fortunate to have him join our team and look forward to his contributions." Sonny couldn't be more excited about his new association. "Condo.com has built an impressive team with tremendous energy and the sort of talent that any Fortune 500 Company would be thrilled to have. Beyond the people and pace however, it's the opportunity and innovation that's taking shape in the online real estate industry that has me most excited to join the Condo.com team and inspired to execute our vision for the Condo.com brand."

Sonny Solomon has spent more than 30 years in the corporate world, traveling the globe and working alongside everyone from Fortune 500 leaders to factory workers. Eventually, Sonny decided to focus his experience, passion and years of business knowledge on becoming a real estate broker. "I didn't go into real estate just to sell houses or condos, though. Anyone can do that," Sonny says. "The fact is, I love working with people and I get a lot of satisfaction from helping someone get into the right home for them, in the right place for them. If I don't think you're happy, if I don't think you're ready to buy, of if I don't think the home is good for you, I'll be upfront and talk about it with you. And I'm proud to say that many of my former clients have become personal friends, simply by showing them the respect they deserve."

Sonny offers his clients a seamless turnkey service: From researching, to negotiating pricing, to arranging financing and managing the closing - it's all about protecting their interests.

"I've heard many people say "buying a house or condo is such a stressful experience. But trust me, buying a house is fun. It really just depends who you have as your agent and I have a lot of clients who can attest to that." That respect for his clients has not only earned Sonny "Top Producer" awards, but it's also made him a mentor to his co-workers and is something he plans to instill in his new team. Whether you're thinking of a starter home, investment opportunities, or an oceanfront estate, let Sonny make your home buying experience something you never thought possible - easy, stress-free and, most importantly fun.

Condo.com is Hiring Agents and Brokers Nationwide

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:22:51 GMT

Are you an agent or broker in the U.S.? Then Condo.com has new career and partnership opportunities for you. We are working to grow our team of real estate brokers, agents and lead referral partners nationwide and have hundreds of available positions.

Our brokers, agents and lead referral partners are referred qualified buyer and rental leads and are provided all the tools they need for success in real estate. In addition to having clients referred to them, agents will also receive the following benefits by working with Condo.com. Full marketing support, a CRM account to manage leads, a power agent profile, featured listings on Condo.com, inclusion in the weekly newsletter, Local and Building Expert advertising in service territories and other great tools.

The program is FREE to join and we are currently offering some of the best commission splits of any real estate brokerage in the country for brokers, agents and lead referral partners who join our team. This also includes a tiered commission structure that allows agents to increase their commission splits based on closed sales and other opportunities to expand their real estate business.

Real estate brokers and agents who are interested in joining the team or who would like more information about working with Condo.com can submit their information by Clicking Here.

Condo.com to Showcase Nationwide Condo Foreclosures

Tue, 26 May 2009 17:13:08 GMT

New partnership with Foreclosure.com enables visitors to easily search for condo foreclosures around the country.

MIAMI, FL., May 26, 2009 – Condo.com, the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace, announced today that it has partnered with Foreclosure.com, the leading website for foreclosure properties, to give users access to millions of default, foreclosure, auction and bank-owned properties.

In 2008 foreclosure filings surpassed 3 million, up 81% from 2007, and set a new national record. With the rise of foreclosure properties across the United States, forecasted to continue throughout 2009, there are tremendous opportunities for real estate buyers. The new relationship between Condo.com and Foreclosure.com will enable buyers to easily find the latest foreclosure and bank owned properties around the country.

Foreclosure properties are easily accessed by visiting the Foreclosures tab on the homepage of Condo.com. “This new relationship allows us to expand our property offerings and to continue to make it easier for homebuyers, investors and real estate agents to find the best condo deals around the world.” stated Richard Swerdlow, founder and CEO of Condo.com.

The thousands of Foreclosure.com listings add to over 800,000 condos already searchable on Condo.com. Other properties available for search on Condo.com include condos for sale and for rent, condo-hotels, luxury condos and distressed condo projects offered at bulk discounts. Condo.com continues to be the most comprehensive resource for buying and renting condos around the world and provides innovative search tools to help buyers and renters find the best condo deals.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com), the world’s largest condominium marketplace, provides buyers and renters the ability to search inventory of over 800,000 listings valued at over $250 billion. Condo.com lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world and cost-effectively delivers exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com.

About Foreclosure.com
With more than 1.8 million foreclosure, pre-foreclosure, bankruptcy, FSBO, tax lien and Sheriff sale listings in one place, Foreclosure.com delivers America's largest and most accurate searchable database of foreclosed homes and investment property information to its customers and business partners. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Foreclosure.com works directly with hundreds of top lending institutions and government agencies to list diverse property types on its Web site, as well as features listings from an extensive network of corporate sellers. As a result, the company has been recognized by high profile media outlets and prestigious non-profit industry groups alike as the number one rated distressed property listing resource available anywhere. Foreclosure.com offers much more than just real estate listings, connecting sellers, buyers and agents in one convenient location as a one-stop real estate marketplace.

Richard Swerdlow to Speak at NAREE's 43rd Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference

Thu, 21 May 2009 16:26:05 GMT

Miami, FL, May 21, 2009 - Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com - the world's largest condominium marketplace, will speak at the National Association of Real Estate Editors 43rd Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference June 18- 21 in Washington, D.C. The theme for this year's Conference is "Dateline: Washington - - Real Estate After the Election" is the theme.

Mr. Swerdlow will be part of the much anticipated panel discussion on: "Investing in Foreclosures: Pitfalls, Profits & Scams".

"Foreclosures have hit the condo market hard. We look forward to Richard Swerdlow's insights on what's next and how government programs could stem the tide," said NAREE Executive Director Mary Doyle-Kimball.

The panel "Investing in Foreclosures: Pitfalls, Profits & Scams" will be held on Saturday, January 20th at 8:00 am at the Hilton Washington Embassy Row.

Other notable speakers at NAREE 2009 include Congressman Barney Frank and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. To attend the panel discussion featuring Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com or for more information on attending the NAREE Spring conference visit www.naree.org.

The Bryant Back Bay Condominiums now featured on Condo.com

Tue, 12 May 2009 22:36:11 GMT

Boston’s newest luxury condo in the exclusive Back Bay neighborhood is now available on Condo.com

Boston, MA. May 12, 2009 – Condo.com announced today that the luxurious Bryant Back Bay condos are now featured on the site. The new luxury project, located at 303 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA is within walking distance of shopping, libraries, theatres and more, and has easy access to the T trains. The Bryant’s residences reflect a thoughtful appreciation of what it means to live in the city. Spacious, private, designed for easy yet gracious living, these are homes that focus on simplicity and quality …without full-service fees. The 50 spacious condos also offer plenty of amenities including a fine art gallery in the lobby, full concierge services, a state of the art fitness center and professional management by Barkan Management.

“The Bryant Back Bay is a very exclusive building that delivers the best of Boston living with exceptional finishes and amenities” said Adam Kujacznski, Director of Marketing for Condo.com. “We are happy to offer this wonderful property to the millions of people visiting Condo.com each month.”

Bryant Back Bay is perfectly positioned at the intersection of classic Back Bay condo style and contemporary South End condo energy. It's elegant designer shops on Newbury Street and one-of-a-kind indie boutiques on Tremont. It's galleries filled with Renaissance paintings and art centers featuring the avant-garde. It's haute cuisine at a five-diamond restaurant and a casual late-night dinner at a bustling brasserie. It’s historic universities and state-of-the-art medical centers. No matter what you want or where you want to go, it's all just steps away - or a quick cab ride or a short walk to the train station around the corner.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (http://www.condo.com) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com.

Exclusive Broker and Agent Open House for New Boston Luxury Condo

Tue, 05 May 2009 16:15:31 GMT

The Bryant Back Bay, a new luxury condo project in Boston’s South End, will open its doors to brokers and agents for a sneak peak at its luxury units next week. Tracy Campion will be hosting a celebration of the best of Boston living at Bryant Back Bay with a cocktail reception and an evening of jazz music, food and wine on Tuesday May 12th from 5:30-7:30pm.

The new luxury project, located at 303 Columbus Avenue, is within walking distance of shopping, libraries, theatres and more, and has easy access to the T trains. The Bryant's residences reflect a thoughtful appreciation of what it means to live in the city. Spacious, private, designed for easy yet gracious living, these are homes that focus on simplicity and quality ...without full-service fees. The 50 spacious condos also offer plenty of amenities including a fine art gallery in the lobby, full concierge services, a state of the art fitness center and professional management by Barkan Management.

If you are a broker, agent or a serious buyer in the Boston area we would like to invite you to enjoy this wonderful evening of the best Boston has to offer with us. Please Click Here to R.S.V.P for one of the 50 remaining invitations to this exclusive event.

Condo.com to Host First Online Condo Auction

Mon, 04 May 2009 23:51:51 GMT

Condo.com and Strategic Partners will Leverage the Power of the Internet and Host an Online Closeout Auction for 40 Atlanta Condos

Atlanta, GA, May 5, 2009 – Condo.com, the world’s largest condominium marketplace, announced today that it has partnered with Elad National Properties, Cornerstone Marketing and Auction Management Solutions to auction 40 condominium units at The Enclave at Briarcliff in Atlanta Georgia. The auction will be held on May 16^th, 2009 and live bids can be placed online or in person with reserves marked 30 percent below the previous asking price.

“We are very excited to be able to offer this amazing opportunity to buyers from around the world” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “We are committed to making the best deals available to everyone who visits Condo.com. Allowing users to bid on these condo units from the comfort of their home, in real-time online, insures that buyers located anywhere with an Internet connection can take advantage of this event.”

The condos are located in the Emory / Briarcliff area of Atlanta and are ready for immediate occupancy. All units feature luxury amenities including a state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis courts, a private movie theatre, a resort style swimming pool and gated access. The Enclave at Briarcliff is an FHA approved building and FHA financing is available with only a 3.5 percent down payment.

This 270 unit project is one of Atlanta’s premier addresses and this event will allow 40 buyers the opportunity to own the last remaining units at a great deal. “As a long time partner with Condo.com, I am sure that this upcoming cooperation will be beneficial to both companies” said Rami Rosen, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Elad National Properties. “I am confident that the long term relationship between us and the new auction partnership will be a stepping stone for the auction market. This is Elad's 2nd auction and we are hoping to duplicate the success we had in Rockville MD.”

Interested buyers can easily register to participate in the auction bidding at Condo.com/auctions and get approved for bidding prior to May 13^th. The auction will be streamed live online and bids can be submitted in real time from the bidder’s home computer. “We are excited to be working with Condo.com, the pioneer and developer of the World's Largest Condo Marketplace” said Nancy Rabenold, President and CEO of Auction Management Solutions, Inc. “By combining Condo.com's world-class online marketplace with AMS' robust and reliable auction system, buyers and sellers of condos, lofts, and town houses will be afforded a transactional platform that is rich with valuable information and reliability.”

The event is one of the first condo auction events to allow interested bidders to actively compete for properties online and in person. Traditionally bidders have to be present or have an agent at the event in order to place a bid on an auction property.

For more information on the Enclave at Briarcliff condo auction please visit http://www.condo.com/auctions

About Condo.com

CONDO.COM TO HOST FIRST ONLINE CONDO AUCTION

Mon, 04 May 2009 22:56:03 GMT

Condo.com and Strategic Partners will Leverage the Power of the Internet and Host an Online Closeout Auction for 40 Atlanta Condos

Atlanta, GA, May 5, 2009 – Condo.com, the world’s largest condominium marketplace, announced today that it has partnered with Elad National Properties, Cornerstone Marketing and Auction Management Solutions to auction 40 condominium units at The Enclave at Briarcliff in Atlanta Georgia. The auction will be held on May 16th, 2009 and live bids can be placed online or in person with reserves marked 30 percent below the previous asking price.

“We are very excited to be able to offer this amazing opportunity to buyers from around the world” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “We are committed to making the best deals available to everyone who visits Condo.com. Allowing users to bid on these condo units from the comfort of their home, in real-time online, insures that buyers located anywhere with an Internet connection can take advantage of this event.”

The condos are located in the Emory / Briarcliff area of Atlanta and are ready for immediate occupancy. All units feature luxury amenities including a state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis courts, a private movie theatre, a resort style swimming pool and gated access. The Enclave at Briarcliff is an FHA approved building and FHA financing is available with only a 3.5 percent down payment.

This 270 unit project is one of Atlanta’s premier addresses and this event will allow 40 buyers the opportunity to own the last remaining units at a great deal. “As a long time partner with Condo.com, I am sure that this upcoming cooperation will be beneficial to both companies” said Rami Rosen, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Elad National Properties. “I am confident that the long term relationship between us and the new auction partnership will be a stepping stone for the auction market. This is Elad's 2nd auction and we are hoping to duplicate the success we had in Rockville MD.”

Interested buyers can easily register to participate in the auction bidding at Condo.com/auctions and get approved for bidding prior to May 13th. The auction will be streamed live online and bids can be submitted in real time from the bidder’s home computer. “We are excited to be working with Condo.com, the pioneer and developer of the World's Largest Condo Marketplace” said Nancy Rabenold, President and CEO of Auction Management Solutions, Inc. “By combining Condo.com's world-class online marketplace with AMS' robust and reliable auction system, buyers and sellers of condos, lofts, and town houses will be afforded a transactional platform that is rich with valuable information and reliability.”

The event is one of the first condo auction events to allow interested bidders to actively compete for properties online and in person. Traditionally bidders have to be present or have an agent at the event in order to place a bid on an auction property.

For more information on the Enclave at Briarcliff condo auction please visit http://www.condo.com/auctions

TOLL BROTHERS ANNOUNCES ITS NATIONAL SPRING SALES EVENT TO BE HELD APRIL 18 – 26

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:36:00 GMT

Luxury Home Buyers Can Take Advantage of Significant Savings and Incentives

Toll Brothers, the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, invites home buyers to attend their National Spring Sales Event, which will be held in all Toll Brothers communities nationwide from April 18 to 26. The event will offer great deals with substantial savings available only through April 26, though packages will vary among communities.

Home buyers should also note that Toll Brothers is now offering a Mortgage Protection Plan for a limited time in select areas. The Plan, which is free to Toll Brothers home buyers who finance their homes through TBI Mortgage® Company, covers up to six months of mortgage payments – up to $2,500 – for a qualified job loss within the first two years after closing.

TBI Mortgage® offers a wide variety of mortgage programs as well, with something for every home buyer – along with historic low mortgage rates. And Toll Brothers boasts several programs designed to help potential buyers sell their current home – including home staging services and extended build times.

Although Toll Brothers is probably best known for its expansive single-family and estate homes, the luxury builder offers an amazingly wide range of home designs including condominiums, carriage homes, and townhomes; and a vast palette of community types – such as urban, active adult, resort, and much more.

Toll Brothers began building its sterling reputation in 1967, setting the standard in integrity, value, timeless design, and exceptionally high quality. For more than forty years, the renowned luxury home builder has been considered one of the smartest and best-managed companies anywhere.

In fact, Toll Brothers was voted #1 among home builders in Quality of Products and Services, Quality of Management, Financial Soundness, Long-term Investment, and Use of Corporate Assets in Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies 2009. “We’re certain that Toll Brothers’ continued appeal despite the current market is due to its unwavering financial strength and its stability,” said Kira McCarron, Chief Marketing Officer. “Buyers are looking for great value in the deals that are out there right now – but they also want to know that their dream home will be completed as promised – on-time and on-budget, and that the builder is here to stay,” she added.

This is a fabulous opportunity for a sensational package of substantial savings and incentives created for this event only. During Toll Brothers’ National Sales Event, home buyers can save more and get the most house for their money!

“This event is offering home buyers astounding savings as well as some very desirable high-end options that would otherwise cost them thousands of dollars,” said McCarron. “And that’s in addition to Toll Brothers’ unparalleled list of included features.” Visit any Toll Brothers community nationwide for this limited-time opportunity – and get the peace of mind that comes with choosing the nation’s most financially sound builder!

Toll Brothers, Inc. is the nation's leading builder of luxury homes. The Company began business in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TOL." The Company serves move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers and operates in 21 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Toll Brothers builds luxury single-family detached and attached home communities; master planned luxury residential, resort-style golf communities; and urban low-, mid-, and high-rise communities, principally on land it develops and improves. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development and land sale, golf course development and management, home security, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also operates its own lumber distribution, and house component assembly and manufacturing operations.

Toll Brothers, a Fortune 500 company, is the only publicly traded national home building company to have won all three of the industry's highest honors: America's Best Builder, the National Housing Quality Award, and National Builder of the Year. For more information, visit TollBrothers.com.

This is not an offering where prohibited by law.

See what Condos are selling and renting for in your neighborhood!

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:27:14 GMT

Condo.com arms the market with sales and rental data for over 3500 buildings.

Miami, FL, March 24, 2009 – Condo.com, the world’s largest condominium marketplace, recently enhanced its market data for key areas in Florida including South Florida (tri-county), Orlando and Tampa to show historical sales and rental data on over 3500 buildings. Now users can easily view data on past sales and rentals in condo buildings while browsing units for sale.

"The vision for Condo.com was to create transparency in the condo marketplace and to provide innovative marketing solutions to the industry. This sales and rental data provides potential buyers and renters with timely information about recent transactions so they can make informed decisions. We are finding that by making this information easily accessible, more deals are getting done," said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com.

“I wanted to take advantage of a “buyer’s condo market” in South Florida but wasn’t sure I was ready to make a move. A colleague of mine referred me to Condo.com to gather information and I was amazed how much data was available on the site. I had always wanted to live in a condo in Miami and through Condo.com I was able to search by building and see what condos had been selling and renting for. Because of all the information I could access, I was confident about making an offer. I am now living in a beautiful condo on Miami’s Biscayne Corridor,” said Max Dalziel, Condo.com user.

Condo.com also recently entered into a partnership with www.condoreports.com to provide users with access to more detailed information on the South Florida market. “We believe information is power and we want to arm our users with the most complete data that enables them to make decisions. Our goal is to move the market and we believe consumers are the solution if they have the right information. Our new sales and rental data coupled with our relationship with www.condoreports.com fully support this goal” said Matthew Pluznick, VP of Strategic Marketing for Condo.com.

Condo.com plans to continue adding additional markets that include sales and rental data in the near future. For more information on Condo.com visit http://www.condo.com.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (http://www.condo.com) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com.

The Trump Ocean Club now featured on Condo.com

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:37:16 GMT

The Trump Ocean Club, gracing the skyline of Punta Pacific, Panama City’s most exclusive residential area. The stunning waterfront property can now be seen on Condo.com

Miami, FL. February 25, 2009 Condo.com is pleased to announce the addition of the most sought after property in Panama, The Trump Ocean Club. This international hotel and towers project is a great addition to Condo.com’s vast global property offerings. This magnificent condo-hotel is situated on a peninsula jutting into the Pacific Ocean from the exclusive Punta Pacific area of Panama, which allows for stunning views of both the ocean and Panama Bay. Property amenities will include a wellness spa, pool deck, designer boutiques and shops, gourmet restaurants, a beach club, a yacht club, and the Trump International Casino.

“The Trump Organization is known for its commitment to quality, innovative thinking, and stunning execution of top quality properties the world over, and The Trump Ocean Club is no exception” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “We are delighted to offer this amazing property to the millions of people who visit Condo.com each month.”

About Condo.com
Condo.com ( http://www.condo.com ) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site alone receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by a total of over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com .

About The Trump Ocean Club, International Hotel and Tower
The Trump Ocean Club, International Hotel and Tower sets a new benchmark for luxury living in Panama. Rising up over Latin America’s most dynamic city, it represents the ultimate expression of architectural originality, incorporating the most advanced technological innovations and design elements.

Located in the Punta Pacifica peninsula, Trump Ocean Club, International Hotel & Tower is a mixed-use project that allows you the opportunity to live, work and play all under one roof. This great tourist, residential and hotel complex of more than 2.6 million sq. ft. will be built in the strategic and most exclusive area of Punta Pacifica in Panama City where it is destined to become a world-class landmark and an icon.

The Trump Ocean Club is what future resorts throughout the world will be measured against. It is the evolution of the Trump signature brand, adding a new level of sophistication, represented by luxurious amenities, consistent adherence to the highest standards of quality construction, and an unrivaled attention to detail.

Condo.com to Feature Tropical Paradise Living in the Dominican Republic

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:52:30 GMT

Beautiful Beaches and Stunning Vistas Just Steps from Your Doorstep at Balcones Del Atlantico

Miami, FL. February 18, 2009 Condo.com is proud to offer their visitors a new tropical destination in the Caribbean, Balcones Del Atlantico. Situated, just steps from the cool turquoise waters of the Atlantic on 700 linear meters of private beach, Balcones Del Atlantico will house 400 units ranging from studios to five bedroom residences. Amenities include two intertwined pools, tennis and volleyball courts, a commercial plaza, and even a heliport. For those looking for comfort and style in an island paradise, Balcones Del Atlantico is the perfect investment.

“Condos aren’t just where you live, they are where you enjoy life,” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “This idea is best realized upon owning or staying at a unique beachfront property like Balcones Del Atlantico,” He added.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (http://www.condo.com) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com.

About Balcones Del Atlantico
Bisono Group, a premier building company in the Dominican Republic, with more than 50 years of experience, is well underway with the construction of Balcones Del Atlantico. A dreamlike beachfront community, it is located in Las Terrenas on the Peninsula of Samana.

Balcones Del Altantico will showcase a superior collection of more than 400 exquisites units along the coastline of some of the Dominican Republic’s most stunning beaches. The project will be built in 5 different phases during estimated timeline of 5 years.

The first stage which is currently under construction and projected to end by April 2009 will include from two bedrooms 176-square meter apartments up to 3 bedrooms penthouses of approximately 369 square meters. The second phase will introduce studios, villas, and townhouses.

This complex has the most highly finished product any client could demand. It will have all the amenities and services necessary to cover any of the needs of its visitors and owners.

CMK Companies Presents Two New Amazing Chicago Properties on Condo.com

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:50:29 GMT

These Stunning High-rise Residences Grace the Chicago Skyline and the Listings of Condo.com

Miami, FL. February 18, 2009 Condo.com announces the addition of the latest in upscale Chicago living, 235 Van Buren and 1720 S Michigan, to their vast online selection of properties. Presented by CMK Companies, these properties offer residents the latest in modern technology, the highest quality European design and two convenient addresses to choose from.

Among its many amenities, 235 Van Buren offers panoramic views in all directions through floor to ceiling windows and is conveniently located at the threshold of Chicago’s financial district. 1720 S. Michigan hosts a retail arcade, pet friendly dog run with common-access garden area, and expansive terraces with glass railings for enjoying the view of nearby Lake Michigan.

“When it comes to beautiful properties, we at Condo.com are proud to offer the best,” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com “Both of these properties are evidence of this in their design, location and execution. We are excited to offer this property to our global customer base.” He added.

About Condo.com

About CMK Companies

Founded in 1995, CMK Companies is a leading Chicago real estate firm that has helped re-define the concept of urban living with its award-winning contemporary buildings. The company is currently responsible for over $1 billion in real estate development. Hailed by Chicago magazine as "a company that has made a habit of developing forward-looking, contemporary-styled condominium buildings," CMK Companies has won awards for its innovative residential developments from the American Institute of Architects and others. "Not since the glory days of Modernism have high design and high-rise housing so often co-existed," said Residential Architect magazine of CMK. CMK Companies pursues a ceaseless quest for quality, value, and intelligent design for contemporary living with each development project, partnering with the industry’s formative architects and employing leading-edge materials and technologies.

Condo.Com Expands Into Asia Through Partnership With Propgo

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:20:59 GMT

Leading condo website to display its listings to millions of potential buyers in Hong Kong, China and Singapore.

Miami, FL. December 29, 2008 - Condo.com, the world's largest condo marketplace, which lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world, announced its newly formed partnership with PropGO, the fastest growing property portal in Asia. This partnership allows Condo.com advertisers to increase their exposure to the large and active Asian marketplace and provides its users with access to over 500,000 property listings in China and Singapore.

“Our real estate developer, broker and agent advertisers will now receive increased global exposure for their property listings. The strength of the Asian currencies vis-à-vis the US dollar makes US real estate a compelling investment opportunity and this partnership is another way to provide enhanced exposure and results for our clients,” says Richard Swerdlow, Founder and CEO, of Condo.com.

"The partnership with PropGo is part of our continued global resource and branding strategy and in our efforts to display every available condo for sale or rent worldwide, expansion into Asia is a natural progression," Swerdlow adds. "We're pleased that PropGo joined us in moving so rapidly and making this happen in time for a strong launch in early 2009." The move adds PropGo to Condo.com’s vast network of international partnerships.

“At PropGO, our mission is to deliver superior, online real estate information to consumers in China while providing high ROI for the developers, agents and real estate advertisers who want to reach those consumers. We are delighted that our strategic partnership with Condo.com advances the success of that mission,” adds George Varvitsiotis, founder and CEO of PropGO.com

About Condo.com

Condo.com ( http://www.condo.com ) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com .

About PropGO

PropGO.com (http://www.PropGO.com) is the FASTEST growing property portal in China & Hong Kong - with over 1M listings and growing by 2,000+ listings per day! PropGO is the only US-based company in the online real estate space in Asia delivering superior products and services to the Chinese marketplace. PropGO offers customers: - CRM software, exclusive lead generation, customizable websites, digital billboards, listing marketing, community features, and member features. PropGO serves a large, rapidly growing and underserved market in China - for every real estate agent in China the US has 20 on a per capita basis.

Additional Facts:

China has the largest number of internet users in the world with less that 17% of its population currently online - Internet penetration CAGR (DEFINE THIS TERM) is projected at 30%+ over the next several years. GDP growth is projected between 8% - 11% per annum over the next 5 years and real estate industry growth is projected at over 8% per year over the next 5 years. Migration of China's population from rural to cities is at historic proportions (over 30,000 million people migrating to cities per year / this number is projected to grow to 50 million per annum) creating a strong and growing demand for consumers to find home and related information online. The migration of advertising spending from traditional and print media to online is only just beginning in China and is expected to follow the same transformation as in the US.

Condo.com Forms Partnership with PropertyIndex.com to Expand Global Scope

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:28:44 GMT

Condo.com adds 50,000 new international properties to its inventory while offering buyers greater choice.

Miami, FL. February 04, 2009 Condo.com, the world’s largest condo marketplace, announced it’s partnership with the UK’s fastest growing property website, PropertyIndex.com. This partnership provides Condo.com user’s access to an additional 50,000+ international properties located across 70 countries.

“In our mission to present every available condo listing, for sale or for rent, in the world, we sometimes find like-minded companies to share our vision” stated Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “PropertyIndex.com is just such a company, and we are excited to have them as our newest international partner.” Swerdlow added.

“Condo.com is a powerhouse in the online marketing of residential real estate and we are excited to display our inventory to their vast network of visitors and affiliates each month,” commented Lee Bramzell, Chief Executive of PropertyIndex.com.

About Condo.com

Condo.com ( http://www.condo.com ) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com .

About PropertyIndex.com

PropertyIndex.com is the UK's fastest growing property website with thousands of UK estate agency branches signing up to advertise on a cost per lead basis every day, as well as numerous agents and developers marketing overseas property for sale and rent from across the globe.

The UK residential sales and lettings search was unveiled on PropertyIndex.com in September 2008 following the site’s overwhelming success in the overseas market since the portal launched in September 207. The website now features a rapidly increasing choice of properties for sale and rent from UK estate agents right across the country, as well as thousands of overseas properties for sale and rent across more than 4,000 destinations worldwide.

Leading Real Estate Forces Team Up To Move Condo Inventory Surplus

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:38:28 GMT

Miami, FL. (February 5, 2009) – Condo.com, the world’s largest condominium marketplace, announced an industry changing partnership with AmeriBid, a leading auction provider with over 60 years of collective auction experience. AmeriBid and Condo.com have partnered to create online auctions for financial institutions, government agencies, REITs, hedge funds, bankruptcy courts and/or Trustees. This partnership combines two major leading forces in the real estate industry: Condo.com, the dominant global real estate portal for condominiums and AmeriBid, a team of leading real estate auctioneers and nationally known real estate executives, including former RTC leader Stanley Tate and established real estate auction veterans Larry Latham and Louis Fisher.

“This partnership is extremely exciting for us as auctions have always been part of our vision since inception in 2005. The timing was not right until now. The market is ready and this partnership creates a huge opportunity to help unclog the vast amounts of inventory that exists in the condo real estate marketplace. Our online marketing expertise and massive consumer web traffic, combined with AmeriBid’s auction expertise and real estate portfolios from leading institutions, creates a powerful formula for online auction success,” stated Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com.

With banks and developers finally recognizing the need to unload inventory at significant discounts, historically low interest rates and a substantial number of buyers on the sidelines, online auctions are the perfect vehicle to attract qualified bidders from around the world. Traditional auctions (i.e. ballroom auctions) have long been used as an effective tool to unload REO properties but don’t offer the efficiency or global reach needed for today’s unprecedented issues. Online auctions combine technology and proven sales methods to transform the way real estate deals are transacted.

“Condo.com has been leading the technology evolution in the online real estate industry since 2005. As a result they have become experts in marketing real estate online as well as an effective lead generator for real estate professionals and a diverse list of sellers. Condo.com has become the consumer face of the condo market which makes them the perfect partner for us to launch online auctions,” stated Stanley Tate, Chairman of the Board for AmeriBid.

“The real estate market has been constipated for the past 36 months and our partnership provides the opportunity to get things moving again. An online auction is the business model needed to overcome the key barriers keeping the industry clogged: They allow vast amounts of properties to be marketed to unlimited buyers and quickly set what prices the market will support,” added Louis B. Fisher, III, President of AmeriBid.

“It’s really simple: There is too much inventory on the market which is a leading indicator of the unhealthy state of the real estate market. What’s going to change that? We’ve got to clear out this inventory. How is that going to happen? Prices need to be reset to what the market will bear. How does that occur? By using online auctions to set the prices and sell off huge amounts of inventory to the widest audience possible. Online auctions have the potential to be the closest thing to a miracle the real estate industry will experience in 2009,” Larry Latham, CEO of AmeriBid remarked.

Condo.com and AmeriBid will begin marketing properties via auctions on the Condo.com website at the end of the first quarter 2009.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (http://www.condo.com ) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com.

About AmeriBid
AmeriBid provides multiple solutions and proven exit strategies to institutional owners of financial and real estate portfolios using our proprietary global platform while creating maximum returns on investment.

AmeriBid services the accelerated asset disposition needs of financial institutions, government agencies, REITs, hedge funds and bankruptcy courts. Through its network of professionals, strategic partners and business contacts, AmeriBid provides a depth and breadth of talent unmatched in the accelerated marketing arena.

AmeriBid has representation throughout the United States in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Boston, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Miami.   Their professionals contribute strong operational and technical abilities with extensive experience with financial institutions and real estate businesses. The group has worked for HUD, Fannie Mae, FDIC, United States Marshal’s Service, SBA, FCC, Freddie Mac, RTC, GSA and hundreds of lenders/federal bankruptcy courts. The management team's combined talents and contacts provide valuable support to a wide range of clients.

The Caracola Beach And Spa Resort, A Duty Free Island Getaway Now Featured On Condo.Com

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:05:54 GMT

Miami, FL. January 28, 2009 Condo.com announces the addition of The Caracola Beach and Spa to its vast real estate showcase. Located on Margarita Island (Isla Margarita) off the coast of Venezuela, The Caracola Beach and Spa offers residents a friendly “Duty Free Zone.” Some of the unique tax benefits include; no property purchase tax, no rental income tax and no property gains tax. This represents a unique opportunity for Condo.com visitors who are looking for an amazing island getaway to purchase - tax free.

“We are thrilled to introduce our Condo.com buyers to an island resort as special as The Caracola Beach and Spa Resort. This particular condo development is ideal for buyers, vacationers and investors alike,” commented Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “We are excited to add such a cool development to our portfolio and invite all potential islanders to view the impressive Caracola Beach and Spa community features and amenities currently showcased on Condo.com,” Swerdlow added.

“When looking for either a vacation destination or an investment property, buyers are seeking a place where they and their guests can enjoy beautiful scenery, fantastic amenities and the knowledge that they have made a solid investment. The Caracola Beach and Spa Resort offers that and more” commented Lillian Capetti, Broker for the developer, Geneva Caribel. “We are excited to offer this opportunity to the millions of unique visitors who visit Condo.com each month”

About Condo.com

Condo.com ( http://www.condo.com ) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site alone receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by a total of over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com .

About Caracola Beach & Spa Resort

Caracola Beach & Spa Resort is located on Margarita Island (Isla Margarita). This duty free Island is located completely below the hurricane belt. This tropical paradise is comprised of 1,244 luxury condominiums and duplexes spread over 15 floors overlooking Caracola Beach. The project has four different floor plan layouts to choose from, with units varying in size up to 1,160 sq ft, nearly all with their own view of the magnificent Caribbean Sea.

Each deluxe condominium will consist of fully furnished units and will be constructed of the highest standards. They will feature a fully-fitted modern kitchen, inviting living room, tranquil balcony, and climate controlled air conditioning system. High quality products will be installed throughout each residence. These spectacular units will be the ultimate in comfort and luxury.

Caracola Beach and Spa Resort offers a 7% annual rental income guarantee for 10 years with no income taxes and no maintenance fees! Caracola Beach and Spa Resort also provides full onsite management, free hold title and a tax efficient purchasing process.

This spectacular leisure resort offers a variety of themed restaurants, a state-of-the-art nightclub, convention hall with capacity for 1,500 people, a mini-market, duty-free high-end retail shopping, a salon, top-of-the-line sport and fitness center, luxury spa, and beachside activities center. This one of a kind Resort also offers 4 infinity pools, complete with water slides, lazy river, and a tropical swim-up bar. Just five minutes from Porlamar, you can experience the rich culture and history of Isla Margarita while relaxing on the tranquil, white beaches at Caracola Beach and Spa Resort.

Own a piece of paradise today!

Caracola Beach and Spa Resort is scheduled to open in 2010. These Luxury units are currently for sale through Geneva Caribel. Visit http://www.CaracolaBeachResort.com or Call (888) 750-4511.

Condo.Com Showcases A Unique Floating Condo Development

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:03:17 GMT

Miami, FL. January 28, 2009 Condo.com announces the addition of River Cities Condos to their vast online real estate inventory. River Cities Condos’ initial offering, the Marquette, is a 600 foot long, 108 foot wide vessel consisting of four river barges connected to form a platform, which will house 185-200 condo units. The Marquette will travel a total of 6,600 miles along the Mississippi, connecting rivers and inter-coastal waterways, annually, while providing residents the journey of a lifetime.

“In our quest to present every condo available in the world, from time to time we attract some extremely unique and innovative properties and property concepts. The Marquette is just such a development,” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “We are pleased to showcase and to offer our customers the only inland waterway condo vessel in the United States and on the Mississippi river,” Swerdlow added.

“The Marquette was designed to offer a unique luxury lifestyle experience. We are confident it will appeal to a vast array prospective condo purchasers looking to enjoy all that this part of the country has to offer,” said David Nelson CEO of River Cities Condos, “Condo.com allows us to bring this amazing concept to their millions of unique visitors monthly,” Nelson added.

About Condo.com

About River Cities Condos

River Cities Condos is the brain-child of developer and 30 year boating enthusiast, David Nelson. Having spent 19 of those years living aboard a houseboat in St. Paul MN, listening to others who desired his lifestyle, Nelson developed the concept for the Marquette. The Marquette is a platform composed of four barges, atop which 185-200 condos will be constructed. It is designed to travel the rivers and inland waterways of the Mississippi along a 6,600 mile annual journey. It will offer residents a chance to live on vacation and pamper them with amenities such as: 24-hour concierge services, a theatre, a library, pools and hot tubs, even an 18 hole 1/2 acre chipping golf course. For more detailed information, visit www.rivercitiescondos.com.

Contact:     Michael V Hefty
                    Condo.com
                    305.231.5000
                    m.hefty@condo.com

Internet Advertising Veteran Joins Condo.com

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:15:11 GMT

Miami, FL. January 20, 2009 Condo.com announces Rob Hendricks as Vice President of Sales and a new member to the company’s senior magnet team. In this key role, Hendricks is directly responsible for Condo.com’s worldwide revenue generation efforts as well as the day-to-day operations of the company’s sales organization. Rob joined Condo.com in 2008, after holding progressively senior roles with Knight Ridder Newspapers; 24/7 RealMedia; AutoTrader.com and NewHomeGuide.com.

“Condo.com’s continued growth is dependant on top-notch sales professionals to present the vast utility of our marketing and ad-space to anyone looking to display real estate and related products on the internet,” stated Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “Rob’s professional experience, along with his motivational attitude, makes him the ideal person to leverage our increasing momentum as we head into 2009.”

“I am very excited to have joined the Condo.com team.” commented Rob Hendricks. “We are currently seeing the opportunity of a lifetime in terms of marketing needs for a global over-supply of real estate. Leading analysts have projected this inventory to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars globally.” Hendricks added: “With up to 1 million unique monthly users coming to the site, Condo.com is the best resource an owner has to sell, rent, or find their next property.”

Rob Hendricks is known for building high-performance teams that win. He brings over 15 years of front line field sales, executive management and internet experience to Condo.com, and has generated revenues in excess of $100 million for a stellar roster of previous employers.

Rob holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Florida International University.

About Condo.com

Condo.com ( http://www.condo.com ) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 800,000 listings valued in excess of $200 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com .

Contact:     Michael V Hefty
                    Condo.com
                    305.231.5000
                    m.hefty@condo.com

Condo.Com Community Launch Attracts Thousands of New Members

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:53:29 GMT

Condo.Com Community Launch Attracts Thousands of New Members

New Resident Review feature on Condo.com
enhances buyer, renter and seller experience

Miami, FL, January 14, 2009 – Condo.com, the world’s largest condominium marketplace, continues to establish its dominance in the online real estate world. Every month its site statistics reveal rapid growth in key categories: monthly visitors, page views, hours spent on site, new registered users, leads generated plus sale and rental searches. This is no doubt due to their well recognized domain name not to mention the huge inventory of condominiums for rent and sale on the Condo.com site. The Condo.com team has created a comprehensive site that is easy to navigate and has innovative features that showcase what is available by city, street, building and other comparable criteria that allow potential buyers or renters to make informative decisions.

Condo.com also has a large and growing community that anyone can tap into that is fast becoming one of the most popular areas on the site. There are several ways people can access and use the Condo.com Community. For instance, anyone with a question about buying, selling, renting or living in a condo can post their question or request in the Community Q&A area of the site and very quickly get answers from a variety of sources.

“The vision for Condo.com is to be the definitive resource for all things related to condominium buying, selling, renting and living. The Condo.com Community is an important component of our vision and provides everyone with important information about Condo living,” commented Matt Pluznick, VP of Strategic Development of Condo.com

Another new, extremely useful feature that was just added to the Condo.com site is called “Resident Reviews” and everybody can access it. Anyone interested in buying or renting in a particular building can find out the “real scoop” about that building by clicking on the “Resident Reviews” feature and reading what other residents have to say about the buildings amenities, location, price, management, community as well as general comments.

“In doing our research we learned that reviews are an extremely important feature for those considering renting or purchasing a condo. Popular sites like Amazon.com, Cars.com, and one of our partners Hotels.com, all incorporate this feature very effectively. Now condo residents can write reviews about their building on features such as the amenities, location, management, price and the community. Imagine how useful it will be for potential residents to learn about neighborhood points of interest such as restaurants or shops in the area, schools, etc. by reading Resident Reviews,“ stated Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com.

Other features accessible to anyone through the Condo.com Community are the community blogs and videos on timely topics from professionals in the industry. Condo.com continues to add important, useful tools for anyone interested in Condo living. As the world’s largest condominium marketplace with over 1 million unique visitors a month, Condo.com is leveraging the power and knowledge of its community and sharing that information so everyone can benefit from it. To learn more about the Condo.com Community visit http://www.condo.com/Community.aspx.

About Condo.com

AMG WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCES ITS FORMAL NEW YORK ADDRESS

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:01:30 GMT

Agency Extends Real Estate and Luxury Expertise to Manhattan Market

NEW YORK (November 3, 2008) – AMG Worldwide, the premiere media and marketing agency for real estate developers, hoteliers and luxury brands around the world, recently opened a new office in Manhattan, New York. Located at 1440 Broadway, this strategic expansion will maximize AMG Worldwide's presence and continued success in the New York market. New York City will also be AMG Worldwide’s hub that will service AMG Worldwide offices in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Home to leading business tycoons, fashion forward trendsetters and thriving real estate developers; New York presents many opportunities for AMG Worldwide growth.
"AMG Worldwide offers the 'total package' with unrivalled services to our clients," says CEO and Founder Edward de Valle II. "The office in New York is an added value to that package as it puts AMG Worldwide at the heart of luxury and strengthens our industry relations," adds De Valle.
As the premiere Media and Public Relations agency for developers, hoteliers, and luxury brands around the world, AMG Worldwide is leading the way as the fastest growing media relations firm in the world. Backed by an already impressive New York City client roster, representing accounts such Trump Soho, William Beaver House, On Prospect Park by Richard Meier, The Visionaire, One York, HL23, and many more AMG Worldwide continues to impress the world's most elite brands as the national and international "go to" agency for full-service communications.
AMG Worldwide has created high-caliber communication campaigns that have generated great success and sales for their clients. Much in part to AMG Worldwide's success lies in the company's core services: media planning and buying, public relations, sales consulting, and interactive marketing. With such a dynamic list of services, AMG Worldwide stays at the forefront of the marketing industry and continues to provide clients with the global tools necessary to promote and sell their products, goods and services.
Edward de Valle II established Americas Media Group Worldwide seven years ago and since then has strategically positioned the company to be among the world's premiere agencies by expanding its global reach and providing a service that is not only desired but essential for luxury brands, developers and hoteliers around the world. With its core services AMG Worldwide executes marketing strategies in all seven continents. It has regional offices in Miami, New York, Washington D.C., San Diego, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, India, Dubai, Qatar, and Lebanon. For more information, visit www.americasmediagroup.com or call (305) 856-1981 ext. 308.

Residents of The Island Club Condominium concerned about $60,000 assessment

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:23:32 GMT

By Nadia Vanderhoof (Contact)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008

JENSEN BEACH — An oceanfront condominium association is asking residents to pay an assessment that’s about a sixth of the listed sales price of a typical unit in order to cover building repairs.

One resident, Ellen McKinley hasn’t decided whether she will pay the $60,000 charge at The Island Club Condominium. She also worries that some residents at the condominium will not be able to afford that amount.

“I hope that nobody will have to pay for this $60,000 assessment,” said McKinley, a retiree who has lived in her unit for 12 years. “It depends on the outcome of the recall and how the board chooses to deal with the problem.”

Residents of the 92-unit building were informed this summer that a forensic engineer has advised the condo board that the building’s concrete needed repairs. Additionally, most of the building’s original windows from 1978 also need replacement.

The condo association estimates the repairs will likely total more than $5 million.

The $60,000 figure is about one-sixth of asking prices of $350,000 to $360,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bath Island Club unit on the Web site Condo.com.

The repairs are a matter of safety and the building’s marketability, condo association president Donna Regenstreif said.

“We have been told that we have no choice,” said Regenstreif, who has owned her unit for five years. “We legally need to do the repairs because the property is deteriorating. If they (replace the association board), they’ll find themselves in the same pickle six months down the road.”

McKinley is leading an effort to recall the condo board, which was elected in March. She said some residents cannot afford the assessment, and she’s worried the association would place liens on units whose owners don’t pay.

Those owners have had ample time to finance the assessment, Regenstreif said. Some owners have been offered grace periods and extended payments.

Disagreements over repairs are common between residents and homeowner associations, said Kenneth Direktor, an attorney with Becker & Poliakoff.

“There’s always a few people that will not agree with you, said Direktor, who represents clients from Vero Beach to Miami.

Under Florida law, condo board members can be recalled, he said.

“All you need is a majority to have any or all of them removed,” Direktor said.

A homeowner association needs to maintain the common property such as outer walls and windows to avoid sudden and costly expenditures like that at The Island, said Brad Hunter, who follows housing trends on the Treasure Coast and South Florida for Metrostudy’s South Florida division.

“Looking for a scapegoat doesn’t do anyone any good,” Hunter said. “They just have to find the money to get this work done now.”

For contact information please visit the following site: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/oct/22/residents-island-club-condominium-concerned-about-/

The Worst U.S. Condo Markets Collapsing Condos

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:09:24 GMT

After years of high demand, condominium prices across the U.S. have plunged, and with financial markets in disarray, sales are likely to keep falling. That portends even lower prices ahead, as vacant units compete with new developments still coming onto the market.

Many of today’s worst markets are the same ones that were doing great during the housing boom from 2003 to 2006. Half of the 12 cities with the steepest price declines are in California, while three of the five worst are in Florida. And both of the nation’s largest cities—New York and Los Angeles—make the Worst 20 list.

"It’s classic microeconomics of supply and demand," says Richard Swerdlow, chief executive and founder of Condo.com in Coconut Grove, Fla. "In a lot of these markets, there was massive over-development."

Read the entire article at: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/10/1022_worst_condo_markets/index.htm

Another Major Developer Teams Up With Condo.com -- Elad National Properties Now Featured on the World's Largest Condo Marketplace

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:36:02 GMT

Condo.com (www.condo.com), the World's Largest Condo Marketplace, will feature seven major condominium developments from Elad National Properties on its website that focuses on showcasing condominiums for sale and for rent. Condo.com attracts over a million visitors monthly that will now be able to view unique residences by Elad in locations throughout Florida, Georgia and Maryland.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) October 22, 2008 -- Condo.com (www.condo.com), the World's Largest Condo Marketplace, will feature seven major condominium developments from Elad National Properties on its website that focuses on showcasing condominiums for sale and for rent. Condo.com attracts over a million visitors monthly that will now be able to view unique residences by Elad in locations throughout Florida, Georgia and Maryland.

"We welcome the opportunity to feature Elad National Properties on Condo.com and support them by providing them access to our community of over 1 million visitors searching our site monthly for condominiums for sale or rent," said Condo.com CEO Richard Swerdlow. "Condo.com is the perfect vehicle to market and sell Elad Properties like Madison Square at Dunwoody, Mizner on the Green, and The Fitz at Rockville Place to name a few of the developments being featured. Visitors can view and compare amenities offered, read what other residents say through our 'Resident Review' function and even speak to a building and/or area expert," Swerdlow added.

"Condo.com is an integral part of our marketing efforts for seven properties we are featuring on this powerful advertising vehicle. As the world's largest condo marketplace, Condo.com offers the tools and features and more importantly the audience for us to reach potential buyers so they can get the information they need to make a decision on buying or renting one of our condominium properties. Condo.com is an excellent partner for Elad and we look forward to a prosperous relationship," stated Rami Rosen, Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Elad National Properties LLC.

Elad National Properties joins thousands of condo projects listed on Condo.com from 70 countries around the world and adds to the over 700,000 condominiums listed for-sale and for-rent on the site. Condo.com is the most comprehensive resource for condos on the web and enables users to search for condominiums based on location, price, developer and type of condo property.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (http://www.condo.com) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with over 700,000 listings valued in excess of $180 billion. The site receives over 1 million visitors monthly and is dedicated to the evolution and prosperity of the condominium real estate market. Condo.com improves and simplifies the way people buy, rent, sell, manage, market and enjoy the condo lifestyle. Condo.com lists condominiums for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. The Company cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is privately held and headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information visit http://www.condo.com.

About Elad National Properties
Established in March 2004 to spearhead the expansion of the El-Ad Group into the Southeastern United States, Elad National Properties (formerly the Elad Group Florida) has expanded rapidly during its short history, particularly in Florida. The Company currently has a substantial presence in 10 states and has amassed a portfolio of assets valued at $1.2 billion. Currently Elad has are 1800 condo units for sale in Florida, Georgia, Maryland and Massachusetts.

Acquired from national REITs and real estate developers, our well-diversified portfolio of properties consists of 9,200 units for rental and sale, one million square feet of office and retail space, and 371 units in condo-hotels. Through a joint venture, Elad National Properties also controls Element National Management, a property management company.

Congratulations Condo.com

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:58:18 GMT

Condo.com received an Award last week as a Finalist in the 2008 South Florida Business Journal's Technology Awards! Well done to the entire team! Attached is a picture from the award presentation.

Seeking Real Estate Referral Agents to Close Client Leads

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:32:48 GMT

Condo.com is looking for real estate agents to close client leads in the markets listed below. Condo.com receives over 10,000 qualified buyer and rental inquiries on condos each month and is seeking referral agents who can close qualified leads.

We are looking for referral agents in the following Markets:

Dade County

- Rentals for SW Miami-Dade (mainly Homestead /Kendall/Pinecrest)
- Rentals for NW Miami-Dade (mainly Hialeah/Opa Locka/North Miami/Miami Lakes/Miami Shores/Miami Gardens)
- Sales for NW Miami-Dade (same as above)

Broward County

- Rentals for the entire county
- Sales for NE Broward (mainly LBTS/Pompano/Lighthouse Point/Oakland Park/Wilton Manors)
- Sales for NW Broward
- Sales for SW Broward

Palm Beach

- Rentals for all of PB County
- Sales for Wellington/Green Acres/Loxahatchee

Q&A with CEO of Condo.com

Thu, 08 May 2008 22:37:02 GMT

Q&A with CEO of Condo.com: "We Foresaw the Market Bust Coming in South Florida"
Published: May 08, 2008

Richard Swerdlow, CEO, founded Condo.com (formerly US Condo Exchange) in 2005 and is responsible for the company's strategic direction and operations. Previously, he founded Everything Wireless, the first consumer cataloger and Internet retailer, which provided national distribution of wireless phones and accessories. The company grew to $100 million in revenues.

Richard has an extensive background in real estate development, has been personally involved in selling over 10,000 condo units and exited his real estate projects prior to the real estate bubble bursting in South Florida.

He talks to Anuradha Kher, online news editor at MHN, about the Florida condo market, the economic downturn and the real estate hotspots to invest in.

MHN: You exited the Florida condo market before the bubble burst? How did you know what was coming?

Swerdlow: It was apparent for many months before we exited the space that the number of units being delivered over the next two to three years could not possibly be absorbed by end-users or investors that had fueled the market through the purchase of units during the pre-sales phase. The swelling of the glossy magazines with condo ads, the billboards up and down the highways and the excessive spending on project launch parties and other marketing schemes were telltale signs. It felt like late 1999 again in the tech bubble and you knew there was a problem coming.

MHN: How do you expect the condo market in Florida to repair itself?

Swerdlow: Florida is very resilient. As the gateway to Latin America and a state of net migration, it always recovers quickly from real estate down cycles. The condo market will repair itself based on a variety of factors. First, there is still flight capital coming out of South and Central America looking for more financially and politically stable regimes. Most of the flight capital ends up in Miami due to the large Spanish-speaking population and proximity. Secondly, the continued strength of foreign currencies, specifically the Euro enable foreign buyers to purchase units at relative discounts to other countries. Next, the aging population of baby boomers is leading to a significant number of empty-nesters migrating south to Florida. In the next decade, it is projected that over 1.2 million 65+ people will relocate to Florida. Lastly, the pricing on units will have to be reset in the next 12-18 months. As developers give projects back to the banks, there will be the ability to wipe out equity and mezzanine debt, allowing for the resetting of prices on many units around the state.

MHN: What are your thoughts on the rate cuts that have taken place in recent months and how they will they affect multifamily financing?

Swerdlow: The current rate cuts have fueled consumer mortgage applications in Q2 2008 amid declining homes prices as consumers seek to take advantage of an abundance of ‘deals’ in what is considered an increasingly buyer-friendly residential real estate market. Lenders however have enacted stricter guidelines for residential lending. The multifamily financing sector will likely bear the brunt of the increasingly stricter residential lending guidelines. Several top lenders have placed several of the MSA’s and states on a restricted lending list and will not loan to consumers in these areas, as the loans cannot be sold in secondary finance markets.

Due to the fact that a substantial majority of multifamily housing is located within these restricted MSA’s, there will be a steep decline in the financing available to consumers looking to finance multifamily homes.

MHN: With the dollar dropping, and the economic downturn, where does real estate in the US stand?

Swerdlow: With the dollar dropping, strong foreign currencies have continued to encourage foreign investment in the domestic real estate market. We believe that real estate in the U.S. remains a strong and stable long-term investment and these foreign direct investments in domestic real estate investments are consistent with this fact.

Prices may fluctuate and in some sectors re-set themselves as the economy weathers the storm in the wake of the sub-prime credit market collapse for the next 12-18 months. However the fundamentals of real estate in the U.S. as an asset class remain strong over the long term.

MHN: What are the hottest places to invest in real estate in the U.S. and why?

The “Green” movement probably represents one of the hottest sectors to invest in today’s market. The focus on decreasing carbon production and the creation of environmentally sustainable technologies represents a win-win situation for consumers as well as investors. Real estate developers are likewise following this trend with the creation of "green" projects that appeal to this consumer-driven environmentally friendly and responsible movement.

The Assisting Living Facility (ALF) sector is also hot. With the aging population of baby boomers, we are seeing high-end ALF’s being developed in major markets around the U.S. Units in these facilities are being rented and sold as condos.

In terms of locations, there is continued migration into Florida and the Carolinas. Both North and South Carolina have been consistently good real estate markets and have not been experiencing the same downturn that we have seen in other markets. Seattle and other markets with job creation continue to be strong as well. In several markets, the creation of “Green Collar” jobs, or jobs associated with renewable energy, organic living and conservation are helping local economies.

Do you think we are headed into a recession?

I think that the residential real estate and finance sectors of the economy are experiencing a correction and have been experiencing the correction since the end of 2005. We may technically be in a recession now, but the U.S. economy as a whole remains strong and there is significant investment dollars inside the U.S. and abroad that are looking for opportunities, which will re-energize the economy.

Condo.com is a Silver Lining in a Dark Real Estate Industry

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:16:08 GMT

Condo.com uses technology and partnerships to uncover opportunities for consumers, realtors and developers

MIAMI, FL., April 24, 2008 – While many companies are struggling in today’s economy, especially in the real estate industry, Condo.com continues to experience rapid growth as the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace. Traffic to the site increased 25% in March, which generated more than 10,000 leads, over 5 million page views and over 60,000 visitor hours on the site.

At the end of 2005, the Miami Herald ran a front-page article announcing the new company, which would revolutionize the way condos are marketed, bought and sold. Condo.com has lived up to this prediction and is now creating a significant impact in a market that sorely needs positive results. When the site launched in January 2006 it had 8,000 property listings on the site. Today Condo.com has over 600,000 listings with inventory valued at $150 billion.

Condo.com anticipated the unprecedented over-supply of condos in major metropolitan areas within the United States and globally, and the resulting challenges this would impose on real estate developers and unit owners. The company creates liquidity for sellers by attracting condo buyers from around the world that are looking for a superset of all available listings. A review of Condo.com, and the opportunities it brings to the real estate market, gets even the worst real estate skeptics excited.

What makes Condo.com so valuable to the real estate industry is its comprehensive database focused solely on multi-family units for sale and for rent on a global basis. This database includes inventory from multiple sources including developers and lending institutions that are traditionally not available to consumer markets. Developer listings, auctions and REO properties are where many of the hot deals are and these remain blind spots for other real estate websites. Condo.com creates partnerships with developers and financial institutions and provides cost-effective marketing and sales support to market and sell their condo inventory. Another distinct benefit is the ability to view entire buildings and associated unit inventory as well as entire streets and neighborhoods of condo buildings to see what is available. This is especially useful for investors looking to buy large blocks of inventory.

Another key value that Condo.com offers to buyers and investors is the ability to find bargains. Everyone is wondering where the bottom is and using the unique search tools on Condo.com, buyers can efficiently do their research, look at comparisons and act quickly. “We know that part of the increase in our traffic is from bargain hunters looking for deals. You can compare price per square foot, amenities, association fees and other pertinent information across buildings, zip codes and markets to narrow down your search in minutes. Condos, unlike single-family homes are boxes in the sky, which often trade sight-unseen, like a commodity. It is the prefect real estate asset-class for a centralized marketplace,” says Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over 600,000 listings valued in excess of $150 billion. Condo.com lists condos for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world and cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of Real Estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com.

Condo.com Provides Developers with Cutting Edge Lead Tracking to Increase Sales

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:05:21 GMT

Condo.com Partners with eRealSoft.com, Leader in Lead Tracking and Prospect Management for Unique End-to-End Solutions for Condo Developers

MIAMI, FL., April 4, 2008 – Condo.com, the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace, announced today that it has partnered with eRealSoft.com, the leading developer of hosted lead tracking software for the Real Estate industry. The partnership will enable Real Estate developers that utilize both programs to track and manage their leads from inquiry to closing.

Although over 85% of Real Estate searches begin online, many Internet leads are not properly tracked and managed after they’ve been delivered. As the #1 condo website in the world, Condo.com delivers over 10,000 qualified buyer leads per month. This new relationship will allow Real Estate developers that use the eRealSoft platform to seamlessly track and mange each and every Condo.com lead, maximizing return on investment and increasing the conversion rate of lead to sale, a key condo marketing metric.

The eRealSoft.com software system, including it's core condominium products, integrates leads from all of a developer's various marketing channels (including walk-ins and telephone leads, search engines, portals, Web traffic and Realtor referrals) and allows for prioritizing these based on who is most likely to buy. In addition, eRealSoft.com provides builders with total inventory control, contract management, report management, tenant reporting for condo conversion, incentives, marketing productivity outcomes and total sell out production information available anytime and anywhere.

eRealSoft.com will offer the Condo.com marketing services as a value-added component to their condo developer clients and Condo.com will develop an interface to deliver their leads into eRealSoft’s client applications. “The synergy between Condo.com and eRealSoft.com is extremely powerful in times where every lead has to be captured, managed and converted into closing cash.” stated Alejandro Fernandez, co-founder and CEO of eRealSoft.

Las Terrazas Resort and Residences in Belize developed by Coral Development is the first client to utilize both Condo.com and the eRealSoft.com platforms. Las Terrazas is an upscale resort community in Belize attracting over 50% of its leads from internet searches. Condo.com is the premier portal for potential buyers of condominium properties around the world. Using both Condo.com to obtain leads and eRealSoft.com to capture leads will allow Las Terrazas, Belize to increase its conversion ratios from leads generated from the internet at costs much lower than traditional media vehicles can provide.

“We are a lead machine for condo developers. The challenge for us is to make sure our clients convert and close on the leads”, said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “The partnership with eRealSoft.com, an industry leader in back-end lead management and tracking, will now give us an integrated solution to offer advertisers, improving close rates and providing an end-to-end solution”.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over 500,000 listings valued in excess of $100 billion. Condo.com lists condos for sale and for rent in the United States and 70+ countries around the world and cost-effectively delivers exposure and qualified leads to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of Real Estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com.

About eRealSoft.com
eRealSoft.com is the leading developer of hosted lead tracking and prospect management software for the Real Estate industry. With offices in South Florida and Mumbai, India, eRealSoft offers web-deployed, prospect management and e-marketing solutions for converting prospective new home and condominium buyers into sales. Today the system is being used by hundreds of companies in the United States and Latin America. These companies have gained a competitive advantage by enthusiastically adopting cutting-edge sales automation technologies like those offered by eRealSoft.

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RELATED GROUP PROJECTS NOW FEATURED ON CONDO.COM

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:45:00 GMT

Nation’s Leading Developer Utilizes Technology and Innovation to Globally Market their Rental Inventory

MIAMI, FL., March 4, 2008 – Condo.com (www.condo.com), the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace, announced today that TRG Management, a Related Group Company, is now featuring rental properties on its industry leading website. Over 500,000 monthly visitors to the site can view a full inventory of available units for rent, along with floor plans and other available media, for three popular Miami developments.

Related Group properties featured on the site are 50 Biscayne, The Loft 2 and The New Harbour House, all recently completed projects. With premium amenities, quality construction and great locations, each of these projects are highly sought after addresses. Related Group and TRG have established a rental business to capitalize on unsold inventory and the increased number of renters during this period of market normalization. Clients interested in renting at these buildings can easily find unit details, images and contact information for the property leasing agents, streamlining the leasing process for the renter and developer.

“We are happy to partner with one of the premier developers in the country to help market their excess condo inventory as rentals” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “Through search engine marketing, our definitive domain name and the largest inventory of condos for sale and for rent in the world, Condo.com has become a destination site for buyers and renters alike. As traffic and leads continue to increase, we look forward to delivering cost-effective leads and leases for Related Group”.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory valued at over $100 billion. The site lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world and cost-effectively delivers exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or call 877.266.3601.

About Related Group and TRG
The Related Group was formed in 1979 and is the nation's leading builder of luxury condominiums and one of the country's premier multi-family real estate development firms. A few years later, they formed The Related Group Management Company, which later became TRG Management Company. This subsidiary was created on the premise that a professionally trained, centrally located property management staff can have a significant impact on the long-term operation and appreciation of apartment rental communities. Most recently, TRG has begun to lease and manage Related Group’s unsold or vacant unit inventory.

Condo.com Makes it Even Easier to Shop for Condos

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:09:19 GMT

Global Web Portal Launches New Building Gallery with Thousands of Highrise, Townhome, Luxury and Rental Buildings

MIAMI, FL., March 17, 2008 – Condo.com (www.condo.com), the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace, announced today that it has launched a new Building Gallery on the site with over 10,000 condo buildings categorized by highrise, townhome, luxury, rental community, condo hotel and more. The new functionality groups individual units into the buildings, making it even easier for buyers and renters to find their new condo.

Traditionally, real estate search sites display individual unit listings in the search results which can make searching for a property difficult and time consuming for the end user. “We’ve taken search a step further by gathering individual unit listings and grouping them into buildings,” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “Condo buyers and renters can now search for available condo properties by building in every major city and find all available properties for sale and rent along with market data for specific buildings”.

The addition of Rental Communities to the new building gallery also expands Condo.com’s business into the apartment sector and significantly broadens the universe of potential advertisers. “We found that the majority of renters do not distinguish between renting a condo or an apartment and it made sense to show both property types to support the growing site traffic”, added Swerdlow.

Matt Pluznick, VP of Strategic Marketing commented, “through search engine marketing, our definitive domain name and the largest inventory of condos for sale and for rent in the world, Condo.com has become a destination site for buyers and renters alike. The abundance of consumer traffic and leads enables us to continue to deliver effective advertising solutions to a broad range of advertisers looking to list their condos for sale and for rent. We will continue to add new functionality, like the Building Gallery, to make Condo.com a consumer-friendly experience.”

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory valued at over $100 billion. The site lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world and cost-effectively delivers exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or call 877.266.3601.

Condo.com Sponsors Distressed Real Estate Conference in Miami March 18-19, 2008

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:53:03 GMT

MIAMI, FL., March 2, 2008 – Condo.com, the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace, will be a sponsor at the upcoming conference on Distressed Residential Real Estate Investing. This prestigious event will take place on March 18-19 at the Trump Sonesta Resort in Miami Beach, FL.

“This is the perfect event for us to sponsor because our site offers a solution to both buyers and sellers of distressed residential real estate. Condo.com has a section dedicated to bulk condo opportunities, which many investors are looking for. Our website provides an easy, effective way to search for deals by multiple criteria including geographic region, specific streets or buildings, and discount percentages to name a few,” says Richard Swerdlow, CEO of Condo.com. “In a period, where news about the real estate market is mostly negative, Condo.com provides buyers and opportunistic investors with the tools to efficiently search the most extensive listing inventory of condos worldwide, while offering liquidity solutions and buyer leads to developers, brokers, and sellers.”

To schedule an appointment with Condo.com, conference attendees should email wendy@athena-marketing.com or contact Wendy Croquet at 954.294.6467.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with over 500,000 listings from the United States and 70+ countries around the world with inventory valued at over $100 billion. The site cost-effectively delivers exposure to developers, brokers, financial institutions and other sellers through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or call 877.266.3601.

New Product Offers Real Estate Professionals Targeted Exposure to Condo Buyers

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:52:43 GMT

Condo.com Launches Local Expert to Help Advertisers in Slowing Market

MIAMI, FL, January 29, 2008 – Condo.com, the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace, announced today that it has launched a new product, “Local Expert” geared towards brokers and agents. The product allows real estate professionals and others to purchase Zip Codes, Cities, Metro-Areas, Neighborhoods and Countries so that their ads are prominently displayed in all search results for the selected area of expertise.

The current climate in the real estate market, coupled with the increased usage of the Internet to search for real estate, has forced brokers and agents to find innovative ways to market their services. The Local Expert product provides real estate professionals with a cost-effective and result-driven solution for marketing themselves to buyers who conduct over 500,000 condo searches each month on Condo.com.

“There is a large audience of real estate professionals that do not have listings and who exclusively serve buyers. We developed the Local Expert product so that buyer’s agents can easily advertise their expertise to our rapidly growing local and global audience” stated Richard Swerdlow, founder and CEO of Condo.com. “Despite the current real estate market, we are seeing a growing number of buyers from around the world looking for bargains and searching for condo properties, even in the troubled markets. Now is the time for agents to promote their expertise and demonstrate a commitment to the market with smart advertising” added Swerdlow.

The Local Expert is the latest addition to a suite of self-service advertising products on the site, including the ability to self-list one or more condos for sale or rent and the Power Seller Program which enables Brokers and Agents to list unlimited condo listings for a low monthly fee.

About Condo.com

Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over 450,000 listings valued in excess of $100 billion. Condo.com lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world and cost-effectively delivers exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Buyers can search the superset of all “for sale” and “for rent” condo listings based on a variety of search criteria, including whether the property is a “bargain” based on the price per square foot compared to other listings within the same building, city, zip code or State. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com.

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TRUMP HOLLYWOOD CONDOS NOW FEATURED ON CONDO.COM

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:31:53 GMT

Development Offers Luxury Oceanfront Condo Units on Hollywood Beach, Florida

MIAMI, FL., January 2, 2008 – Condo.com (www.condo.com), the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace, announced today that the Trump Hollywood condo development is now featured on the industry leading website. Visitors to the site can now view a full inventory of available units and floorplans in the luxurious Trump condo development on pristine Hollywood Beach, Florida.

A bona-fide, five-star luxury condo in Hollywood Beach, Trump Hollywood Beach Condominium is a 40-story contemporary glass tower comprised of 200 oceanview residences perched atop the Hollywood, Florida beachfront. The luxurious condos are available in expansive two, three and five bedroom residences and feature stunning interior finishes. Homeowners will enjoy around-the-clock concierge and valet services, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and opulent resort-style swimming pool with pool deck pavilion and 28 beachfront cabanas. All residences are also wired with the latest smart building technology.

Trump Hollywood joins 1000’s of condo projects listed on Condo.com from 70 countries around the world and adds to the over 450,000 units listed for-sale and for-rent on the site. Condo.com is the most comprehensive resource for condos on the web and enables users to search for condos based on location, price, developer and type of condo property.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory valued at over $100 billion. The site lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world and cost-effectively delivers exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or call 877.266.3601.

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1000’S OF FORECLOSURES NOW AVAILABLE ON CONDO.COM

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:08:43 GMT

Condo.com Partners with RealtyTrac Enabling Users to Search for Condo Foreclosures Nationwide

MIAMI, FL., January 18, 2008 – Condo.com, the World’s Largest Condo Marketplace, announced today that it has partnered with RealtyTrac, the leading website for foreclosure properties, to enable users to access over 1 million default, foreclosure, auction and bank-owned properties.

During a downturn in the real estate market, foreclosures generally increase. Through the second half of 2007, there were over 1,000,000 foreclosure filings across the U.S., representing an increase in foreclosure activity of more than 50 percent compared to the same period in 2006. This new relationship with RealtyTrac will provide buyers visiting Condo.com with the ability to search for the latest foreclosure and bank-owned properties in their local markets and across the country.

All foreclosure listings offered through Condo.com will feature a property heading, description and thumbnail image. The listing will be further integrated into Condo.com’s platform later this year. “This new relationship will make it easier for homebuyers, investors and real estate agents and brokers to search and view foreclosure properties on our site” stated Richard Swerdlow, founder and CEO of Condo.com.

Foreclosure properties are the latest addition to over 450,000 condos already searchable on Condo.com including condos for sale and for rent, condo-hotels and distressed condo projects offered at bulk discounts. Condo.com is the most comprehensive resource for condos in the world and allows people to search for condos by price, location, type or by bargain, based on the prices below the average price per square foot in a building or local market.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over 450,000 listings valued at one hundred billion. Condo.com lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world and cost-effectively delivers exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com.

About RealtyTrac
RealtyTrac Inc. (www.realtyTrac.com) is the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, and one of the fastest-growing real estate sites on the Internet. RealtyTrac offers the largest national database of pre-foreclosure, foreclosure, For Sale By Owner and new home construction properties, with more than 550,000 properties across the country. RealtyTrac hosts 2 million unique monthly visitors, and provides the comprehensive property data, productivity tools and extensive professional resources that home seekers, investors and realtors need to locate, evaluate and buy real estate properties at below market value.

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Trump Ocean Club in Panama: “Talking the Talk” and “Walking the Walk”

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:50:57 GMT

PUNTA PACIFICA, PANAMA – (December 2007) - While many other real estate projects are “biting the dust” in the Republic of Panama, Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower is certainly living up to everything it said it would. As one of the only million dollar high rise developments in Panama whose construction plans began on time and are currently progressing onward, Trump Ocean Club is certainly not just “talking the talk” but they are most definitely “walking the walk”.

Each Trump property is unique in its own way and makes a statement in true TRUMP STYLE but Trump Ocean Club sets itself apart from the rest as the first of its kind in Latin America. The master plan includes condominiums and condo-hotel units, a magnificent wellness spa, an oversized infinity pool & deck, Yacht Club & Pier, and a private beach club on Contadora Island. Other exclusive amenities include the electrifying on-site 45,000 square foot Trump International Casino, upscale boutiques and shops, exclusive office lofts, an elite hotel sky lobby, a state-of-the-art business center, concierge service, valet parking, and bellmen.

The official ground breaking took place in May and is going strong. Trump Ocean Club Construction Manager Ing. Jenaro Echeverri M. of OPCORP INTERNATIONAL reports, “The construction process is moving forward in a smooth and timely manor. Pile work for the concrete caps in the main building is now complete and the excavation process for the concrete caps has begun. We are also excited to report that the drawings and designs for the first phase have been completed and approved!

For more information please visit www.trumpoceanclub.com and for sales inquiries please contact 1-877-89-TRUMP (87867) or jacks@trumpoceanclub.com.

Condo.com Chooses Maponics for Neighborhood Map Data

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:57:49 GMT

MIAMI, FL., November 12, 2007 ? Condo.com, the World?s Largest Condo Marketplace, today announced that they have enhanced their online condo search with neighborhood-level search data and mapping functionality. Users on the site can now search for condos by over 12,000 targeted neighborhoods nationwide, allowing them to more easily find available condos for sale or rent in a specific community.

The added neighborhood data functionality will allow site users to accurately research important factors related to purchasing a condo such as taxes and school zones. After comparing several mapping data sources, Maponics was chosen by Condo.com as a technology provider based on the depth and accuracy of their data.

?Condo.com is the first condo website to allow users to search by neighborhood (i.e. Manhattan, South Beach, Gold Coast) and the website is focused on delivering buyers and renters the best search experience on the web,? says Matt Pluznick, Vice President of Strategic Marketing for Condo.com. ?By incorporating neighborhood area boundaries into our search we have enhanced the buyer and renter experience while significantly increasing the number of leads generated for advertisers on the site.?

?We love working with a market leader like Condo.com, in part because they are clear about the technology choices that impact users,? according to Maponics? Director of Mapping & Data Operations, Steve Zuckerman. ?We?re very pleased to have been chosen as part of their solution.?

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world?s largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over $100 billion. Dubbed the NASDAQ for condos, Condo.com lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. Condo.com cost-effectively delivers unparalleled international exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com also has a social networking platform with extensive user-generated content and the ability to connect in both a B2B and B2C dynamic environment. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or dial 877.266.3601.

About Maponics

America’s largest corporations entrust Maponics® with their mapping and data needs - including 20% of the Fortune 500. Maponics is located in Norwich, Vermont, with customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Learn more at www.maponics.com .

Top Five Reasons to Buy a Condo

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:50:32 GMT

R. Eric Bramlett

November 4, 2007

"A growing number of people in the real estate market are looking to buy a condo rather than to purchase a home or to rent an apartment. But, why are condos so hot in the real estate world? Here are the top five reasons why so many are looking to buy condos rather than other forms of real estate.

Reason #1: Condos Do Not Require Upkeep

One of the biggest reasons that so many people are looking to buy a condo is the fact that they do not require the same type of upkeep as owning a house. For those that hate mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, repainting the house, or doing other chores associated with homeownership, it simply makes more sense to buy a condo. In addition, many people simply do not have the time to maintain a home because of their careers. Therefore, a condo provides a practical solution.

Reason #2: A Condo is an Investment

Of course, those that don’t want the upkeep headaches associated with a house could always rent an apartment. The problem with an apartment is that it often feels like money is being “thrown away” as you pay your rent and effectively help your landlord buy a piece of real estate. With a condo, you can still buy the place in which you live while still enjoying the same conveniences offered by an apartment.

Reason #3: You Can Take Advantage of the Amenities

When you buy a condo, you also buy rights to a number of amenities. Since all of the money put into the condo is shared by those living in the building, it is possible to afford many of lives little luxuries that are difficult to afford on your own. For example, when you buy a condo, you might gain instant access to a pool, an on-grounds gym, and more. Even better, you don’t have to worry about the upkeep for these little perks either.

Reason #4: You Can Get More Space

Often, buying a condo is a good alternative for those looking for a large piece of real estate but that do not have the funds. If you want to buy a 3,000 square foot home, you may not have the funds for it. On the other hand, it might be within your budget to buy a condo that provides 3,000 square feet of space. In fact, there are some pretty good deals going on in the condo aspect of the real estate market right now that some savvy shoppers are happily taking advantage of.

Reason #5: You Want to Socialize

If you do not have a large circle of friends and you are looking to socialize more, a condo can help make this happen. When you buy a condo, you also buy into a community. Therefore, purchasing a condo can easily and quickly provide you with a whole new group of friends that you can get to know and enjoy.

There are many reasons to buy a condo rather than other forms of real estate or rather than renting an apartment. At the same time, a condo is not the right answer for everyone. Therefore, you should weigh the pros and cons of all of your options in order to find the right place for you."

Condo.com Launches CondoTV - Free Video Content for Consumers and Advertisers

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:58:34 GMT

New Site Feature Brings Condos to Life for Maximum Marketing Exposure

MIAMI, FL., October 10, 2007 – Condo.com, the world’s first and largest online condo marketplace – dubbed the NASDAQ for condos – today announced the launch of its highly anticipated CondoTV section on the Condo.com website. Site users now have the capability to upload real estate videos free of charge on Condo.com. The added functionality allows users to display videos of their listings and access Condo.com’s targeted and engaged audience through video, delivering added exposure.

“Online video is becoming an increasingly popular way to communicate with consumers and advertisers,” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO, Condo.com. “The real estate industry is truly the perfect application for online video and with the launch of CondoTV we have added additional features and functionality to our site that engage visitors and help them buy, sell and rent condos.”

The new CondoTV section of the site delivers all of the features associated with online video today. Users have the ability to upload their real estate videos, attach them to property listings, embed videos in blog content and email videos to friends, including videos taken on their cellular phones, offering ease of use and convenience.

According to Condo.com Marketing Director, Adam Kujacznski, adding the CondoTV section was a natural progression for the site. “This free feature enables all users to have multimedia rich listings which allow them to effectively attract more buyers for their properties and help them sell units faster in today’s challenging real estate environment”

Getting Friendly: Web-savvy Marketing

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:02:53 GMT

Web 2.0 brings viral marketing and social networking to multifamily.

Source: MULTIFAMILY EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE
Publication date: August 1, 2007

By Chris Wood

When it comes to marketing, Phoenix-based multifamily owner, developer, and fee manager Mark-Taylor Residential doesn't mess around.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love, the company is giving away iPods and iTunes gift cards during lease-ups as part of a larger branding campaign featuring a '60s-era cartoon mascot, psychedelic soul music on the corporate Web site, and pool parties at Mark-Taylor properties. When marketing director Kim Atkinson was discussing the campaign with Hyper Disk, Mark-Taylor's Internet marketing agency, they had an additional suggestion: Pepper the budget a little bit more and slap banner ads throughout MySpace—the social networking Web site where users create links to friends, family, and interests.

The decision was easy. “[Multifamily marketing] has become a science to try to pin down where the cool thing is and where everybody's eyes are and how you reach them,” says Atkinson, who leapt onto MySpace with the Summer of Love campaign. “We are trying to find out where our customers are, and when we are there, we want to make a big statement. You have a limited time to make an impression, so we try very hard to make the right one.”

Mark-Taylor isn't alone on MySpace. Plenty of multifamily stalwarts—including Equity Residential and the Bozzutto Group—maintain an ad presence on the site, all of them vying for time in front of the 176 million registered users that MySpace says represent 57 percent of all social networking on the Web. In April, MySpace claims to have clocked more than 66.7 million unique visitors and 44 billion page views. That's well over six page views for every person on the planet—in one month alone. Next up for Mark-Taylor is to delve deeper into that traffic by creating its own profile page on the site so users can link up with the company as a “friend” in their social network.

And it's not just MySpace that is commanding the attention of Web-savvy multifamily marketers. With streaming videos, photo galleries, uploads, and downloads—not to mention an undeniable hipness factor—sites like YouTube, Google Real Estate, and craigslist continue to redefine the business of how apartments and condos are marketed and sold. Multifamily specific sites such as Rent.com and Condo.com are also offering users enhanced blogging and video tools for interacting with their target audiences. What's more, some multifamily firms are experimenting with their own interactive, Web-based programs. Many incorporate refer-a-friend type viral marketing, where the audience is compelled to e-mail, link to, blog about, or otherwise share advertising and promotional messages with their family and friends.

View Entire Article Here

Encuentra24.com and Condo.com Announce Plans to Expand Online Real Estate Listings Relationship

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:23:14 GMT

Encuentra24.com announced today plans to expand its relationship with Condo.com to include a marketing agreement for condominiums in Costa Rica. For the past 9 months both companies have worked to provide effective tools for advertising condominiums in Panama and now plan to expand this service to include for-sale and for-rent condominiums in Costa Rica. Through the relationship, Encuentra24.com and Immobiliaria24.com listings can also be published on the Terra.com real estate channel, bienesraices.terra.com, which is powered by Condo.com, providing additional exposure for advertisers from the region

Panama City, Panama (PRWEB) August 22, 2007 -- Swiss Panama Group, Corp., operator of Encuentra24.com and Immobiliaria24.com, announced today plans to expand its relationship with Condo.com to include a marketing agreement for condominiums in Costa Rica. For the past 9 months both companies have worked to provide effective tools for advertising condominiums in Panama and now plan to expand this service to include for-sale and for-rent condominiums in Costa Rica. Through the relationship, Encuentra24.com and Immobiliaria24.com listings can also be published on the Terra.com real estate channel, bienesraices.terra.com, which is powered by Condo.com, providing additional exposure for advertisers from the region.

Encuentra24.com is the leading Panama real estate listing service provider in Panama, featuring the most organized database of information and online images related to for-sale and for-rent properties in Panama. The website platform allows members to easily add property listings in Latin-American countries including Costa Rica and the new relationship will include the ability to display Panamanian and Costa Rican condo listings on Condo.com. Listings published on Encuentra24.com will immediately gain access to Condo.com's global network of approximately 15 million monthly visitors looking to purchase or invest in the condominium real estate market.

The new relationship will begin after to the launch of the very first edition of Encuentra24.com Costa Rica Real Estate magazine, a companion publication promoting the websites Encuentra24.com and Immobiliara24.com. The region know as the Switzerland of Latin America for its cool climate and rich mountainous landscapes, has continuously attracted a healthy number of foreign investors searching for beachfront second homes and retirement properties.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (http://www.condo.com) is the world's largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over $100 billion. Dubbed the NASDAQ for condos, Condo.com lists condos in the United States and 70 countries around the world. Condo.com cost-effectively delivers unparalleled international exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a social networking platform with extensive user-generated content and the ability to connect in both a B2B and B2C dynamic environment. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or dial 877.CONDO01.

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Condo.com CEO, Richard Swerdlow, Interviewed on Fox and Friends

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:38:55 GMT

This past Sunday morning Richard Swerdlow, Condo.com CEO, appeared on Fox & Friends to provide his insight and expertise on the state of the condo market. Richard did a wonderful job talking about some of the issues currently affecting the condo market and some very useful tips to help buyers and sellers of condos make informed decisions in today's market. You can view the interview below and also find it on Condo.com in the news section of CondoTV.

NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND CONDO.COM ANNOUNCE ONLINE PARTNERSHIP

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:32:34 GMT

Top Real Estate Publisher Continues to Expand Online Distribution
for Advertisers with New Alliance with The World’s Largest
Online Condominium Marketplace

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - (July 31, 2007) – Network Communications, Inc. (NCI), the leading publisher of printed and online real estate information in North America, today announces an agreement with Condo.com (www.condo.com) to publish its condo and town home listings from NCI publications on the world’s largest online condominium marketplace. The deal will have NCI feeding its resale and new construction listings to Condo.com to gain additional exposure for their current advertisers.

The agreement will expand Condo.com’s property listings to include the thousands of condos and town homes in NCI’s The Real Estate Book, the #1 real estate publication in the country, New Home Finder, New Home Journal, New Homes & Ideas, and Unique Homes. Listings from these publications will be available for viewing free of charge on Condo.com for viewers around the globe.

“We are continually looking to expand the breadth of our ever-growing network of online distribution partners by joining forces with top Web sites -- and Condo.com is the latest example of just that,” says Glenn Goad, Executive Vice President of Consumer Strategy at Network Communications, Inc. “As the leading online condo site, Condo.com is providing our advertisers with exposure to millions of additional visitors as well as a source of high-quality leads each month. We look forward to a long-lasting partnership.”

Approximately 15 million viewers visit Condo.com monthly which includes video listings, a dynamic social network, detailed neighborhood information, interactive maps and a selection of other helpful tools and resources. Condo.com joins NCI’s network of online distribution partners which delivers more than 50 million unique visitors a month. Partner sites include, AreaGuides.net, Bell South, BobVila.com, Google Base, Home Gain, House Locator, Home Pages, Homescape.com, Live Deal, MSN Sympatico, NYTimes/Real Estate, Oodle.com, RealtyTrac.com, Trulia.com, Unique Global Estates, Wall Street Journal and Yahoo.com.

Richard Swerdlow, CEO, Condo.com adds, “By adding listings from an industry leader like NCI to Condo.com, we continue to expand our listing portfolio for homebuyers and provide them with the largest inventory of condominiums available around the world. Together with NCI, we’ll continue to make the condo-buying experience even easier, by creating.the most comprehensive online resource for condos, townhomes and lofts available to homebuyers everywhere.”

About Network Communications, Inc.
Network Communications, Inc. is the leading publisher of printed and online real estate information in North America. The company was acquired by Citigroup Venture Capital Equity Partners in January of 2005. Its magazines are read by over 12 million readers in over 500 markets and deliver more than one million leads to advertisers each month. Network Communications’ assets, The Real Estate Book?, Apartment Finder / Blue Book?, Mature Living Choices?, Black’s Guide?, New Home Finder?, Enclave?, Unique Homes?, Kansas City Homes & Gardens?, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Atlanta Home Improvement, At Home In Arkansas, Relocating in Las Vegas, Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles, Seattle Homes & Lifestyles, and Mountain Living, include publications that millions of readers around the country turn to when looking for the latest information about the real estate and home design markets. Online magazine content can be accessed at www.livingchoices.com.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over $100 billion. Dubbed the NASDAQ for condos, Condo.com lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. Condo.com cost-effectively delivers unparalleled international exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a social networking platform with extensive user-generated content and the ability to connect in both a B2B and B2C dynamic environment. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or dial 877.CONDO01.

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CONDO.COM ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE WITH CONDOHOTELS.COM - CREATES ONE-STOP SHOP FOR CONDO TRAVEL / PURCHASE / SALES / RENTALS

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:30:09 GMT

MIAMI, FL., July 31, 2007 – Condo.com, the world’s first and largest online condo marketplace – dubbed the NASDAQ for condos – and CondoHotels.com, the online directory of condo hotels, have joined forces to create the world’s most comprehensive and largest condo hotel marketplace where site visitors can buy, sell, rent and book condo hotel units around the world. Condo.com will use its proprietary technology platform to power the domain CondoHotels.com, expanding its position as the dominant and foremost authority in the condominium space.

Condo hotels are a relatively new phenomenon in property ownership, making the timing of this partnership indicative of a growing trend. A condo hotel is the latest trend in vacation home ownership, offering a hassle-free way to own vacation real estate in top vacation destinations. The benefits of owning a condo hotel include having the amenities of a five star hotel and the option to rent the condo through a hotel management company when the condo is unoccupied. Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale lead the destination markets, with other vacation hot spots gaining momentum as seasoned brands and developers such as Four Seasons, Donald Trump, Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, to name a few, recognize the value of these lifestyle investments.

“Partnering with the largest online directory of condo hotels gives us the opportunity to enter the travel arena,” commented Richard Swerdlow, CEO, Condo.com. “Being a one stop shop in this growing market, gives us yet another competitive edge as we turn up the heat in the online condo hotel marketplace by providing the best source of comprehensive information about condo hotel properties in a single location.”

Steven Roszell, Founder and Partner, CondoHotels.com, agrees the partnership couldn’t come at a better time as “condo hotels are becoming increasingly popular among the baby boomer generation who are retiring and inheriting wealth at a staggering rate.” He continues, “Boomers are discovering that a condo hotel purchase does not just buy them a home -- rather it buys them a lifestyle, complete with luxury and convenience. With this joint venture, we are now able to provide our site visitors with a more robust online experience related to their decision to buy, sell, rent or book condo hotel properties.”

CondoHotels.com brings all participants in the condo hotel marketplace together, offering services and information in an open and transparent network. Consumers can research properties of interest, book hotel rooms and locate broker specialists qualified to sell these types of properties. For Developers, the site provides the lowest cost, highest impact distribution channel to sell their project’s inventory. Real Estate Brokers can offer a targeted marketing solution to this unique niche of buyers and sellers. The site has features unmatched by any other website in the space, offering a satisfying, rich user experience and CondoHotels.com is the only site to allow visitors/clients to buy, sell, rent and book a condo hotel.

For more information, visit www.CondoHotels.com.

About Condo.com
Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over $100 billion. Dubbed the NASDAQ for condos, Condo.com lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. Condo.com cost-effectively delivers unparalleled international exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a social networking platform with extensive user-generated content and the ability to connect in both a B2B and B2C dynamic environment. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or dial 877.CONDO01.

About CondoHotels.com

CondoHotels.com, www.condohotels.com, is the central transparent marketplace where visitors can buy, sell, rent and reserve condo hotel units around the world. The Company is focused on the condo hotel niche and providing value added services to developers, owners, buyers and sellers of condo hotel properties.

# # #

CONDO.COM GOES BILINGUAL – DELIVERS FIRST SPANISH LANGUAGE ONLINE CONDO MARKETPLACE

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:30:16 GMT

Partnership with Terra.com Crosses Borders to Facilitate Real Estate Condo Transactions

MIAMI, FL., July 16, 2007 – Condo.com, the world’s first and largest online condo marketplace – dubbed the NASDAQ for condos – today announced it has signed a partnership agreement with Terra Networks, the leading U.S. Hispanic portal and largest web access provider in Spain and Latin America, to launch the first of its kind, bilingual online condo marketplace. The co-branded website, located at bienesraices.terra.com, now delivers the only Spanish language condo marketplace devoted to serving the Hispanic and Latin American real estate communities.

“This strategic partnership will set a precedent for how U.S. and Latin American developers, real estate agents and individual sellers communicate with each other,” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO, Condo.com. “Serving the Hispanic and Latin American communities has become increasingly important to the real estate industry and Condo.com is proud to be leading the way. Our relationship with Terra will transcend the language barrier and impact the real estate community in an extremely positive way, facilitating condo transactions across all borders.”

Fernando Rodriguez, CEO for Terra Networks, agrees the partnership will have a significant impact on the Hispanic and Latin American markets. “Terra leads the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American online market, so it makes sense for us to partner with the leading online condo marketplace. We anticipate our relationship with Condo.com will have a significant impact on the Spanish speaking real estate community and look forward to building an online real estate portal, unrivaled around the world.”

Visitors to Condo.com and the partnership’s co-branded website, bienesraices.terra.com, now have the option to view, search and interact on the sites in both English and Spanish.

About Condo.com

Condo.com (www.condo.com) is the world’s largest condominium marketplace with inventory of over $100 billion. Dubbed the NASDAQ for condos, Condo.com lists condos in the United States and 70+ countries around the world. Condo.com cost-effectively delivers unparalleled international exposure to developers, brokers and for-sale-by-owners through the seamless distribution of its listings to a global network of real estate websites visited by over 15 million viewers per month. Condo.com is a social networking platform with extensive user-generated content and the ability to connect in both a B2B and B2C dynamic environment. Condo.com is a privately held company headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit www.condo.com or dial 877.CONDO01.

About Terra Networks Operations, Inc.

Terra Networks is a global Internet group with a presence in the U.S. and Latin America. The group operates some of the most popular Web sites in the United States, Spain and Latin America, and is the largest access provider in Spain and Latin America. Terra.com (www.terra.com) is the U.S. Hispanic arm of the Terra Networks group providing portal and value-added services to Spanish speaking users in the U.S. Terra is a leader in the U.S. Hispanic online market according to comScore Media Metrix and Nielsen/NetRatings.

# # #

Cross-Country Road Trip Brings Real Estate Blogging Mainstream, Heightens Consumer Awareness

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:23:47 GMT

Condo.com, an online condo marketplace, announces its sponsorship of the Sellsius Blog Tour USA as it travels around the country and makes a stop in Miami, home of Condo.com, from July 8-9, 2007.

The tour lends support from leaders in the real estate industry who are spreading the word to consumers and real estate professionals about the benefits of connecting online through the rapidly-growing real estate blogosphere.

Local expert and Condo.com CEO, Richard Swerdlow, will be on hand for live interviews, blog sessions and Q&A when the 25’ RV rolls into the area – offering insight and advice about what’s going on in the South Florida real estate market.

The tour will arrive at The Mayfair in Coconut Grove, Florida on Sunday, July 8, kicking off two days of education and exploration. The RV will continue its Miami visit Monday with podcasts and virtual tours showcasing several high-end projects and properties currently listed on Condo.com as the RV roams the city – encouraging the community to get involved. Miami is one of many major real estate markets the cross-country road trip will visit before ending at the much anticipated First Annual Blogger Connect conference in San Francisco held by Inman News.

According to Swerdlow, “buyers and users are turning to the blogosphere more frequently for unbiased and honest answers.”

The recently launched Condo.com Community, a social networking platform and listing service, encourages social networking and blogging as a way to share information about all things real estate.

“Whether chatting about new listings, market conditions, trends or how to find a contractor in a specific area, we believe blogging adds tremendous value and benefit to those in need of real estate advice,” continued Swerdlow.

Condo developer to rent, not sell, Raleigh units

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:07:54 GMT

JACK HAGEL
(Raleigh) News & Observer

Crosland, which was planning to sell 179 condominiums near Glenwood South, will rent the units instead -- a decision that illustrates how surging interest rates could dampen downtown's growing condominium market.

"It's a safer opportunity for us to be the only rental when everybody else is condominium," said David Ravin, a senior vice president at Crosland.

When the project -- called 712 Tucker, at Tucker Street and Boylan Avenue -- was approved in April 2006, the Charlotte developer offered some units for rent and some for sale. But demand from potential buyers was so high that it decided early this year to sell all the units.

Since then, however, mortgage rates have spiked. That causes Crosland to worry that, by the time the project is complete, late next year, buyers will have bought elsewhere, or abandoned plans to buy.

Meanwhile, demand for Triangle apartments is the highest in eight years. And in recent years, few market-rate apartments have been built in Raleigh's downtown compared to other parts of the Triangle.

That in part will make it easier to finance the project. Lenders, who usually require developers to have a certain percent of pre-sale contracts to start construction, have become more cautious as condo developers in markets such as Miami and Las Vegas have succumbed to oversupply.

The number of condos in Raleigh's core is expected to double to nearly 1,000 within two years. By 2011, there could be more than 2,000.

"Inevitably, you're going to see a timeout in downtown for-sale product," Ravin said.

The $155,000 starting prices at 712 Tucker were expected to attract first-time homeowners who largely felt priced out of downtown, where the median condo price shot up 23 percent to $315,500 in 2006.

But those buyers are some of the most sensitive to interest-rate increases, Ravin said, and found it hard to commit to a project that was almost two years away from completion -- without knowing how easy it would be to borrow money.

In April, when Crosland began taking reservations, the 30-year fixed home mortgage rate averaged 5.76 percent in North Carolina, according to Bankrate.com. On Thursday, the rate had risen to a five-year high of 6.44 percent.

Crosland's decision is not the first sign of condo conservatism.

Others have abandoned, delayed or shrunk downtown condo plans.

Crosland, which has tentatively changed the name 712 Tucker to The Lofts at Glenwood South, is to begin construction next month.

It hasn't ruled out the possibility of selling the units again.

The company has refunded deposits for about 80 condo reservations, but will allow the prospective buyers to get back in line if the sales campaign is revived.

Meanwhile, renting the units will get the project going. As Ravin points out, "A project that doesn't get built isn't profitable."

CONDO.COM LAUNCHES REAL ESTATE SOCIAL NETWORKING COMMUNITY – EMPOWERS GLOBAL AUDIENCE TO COME TOGETHER

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:06:50 GMT

MIAMI, FL., June, 2007 – Condo.com, the world’s first and largest online condo marketplace – dubbed the NASDAQ for condos – dominates the blogosphere in the real estate industry with the launch of its “Community”. The Community is a social networking platform and listing service with added functionality and content. Designed to bring all participants in the real estate space together on a single platform, the site allows users to discuss recent sales trends, market conditions, new unit listings and other real estate topics and connect with a global audience through user generated content by providing the tools for users to list condos, post videos, blog and network – FREE of charge.

Social networking is a growing trend that has catapulted numerous online companies to success. Although several websites have attempted to grow social networks in the real estate industry, none have been able to achieve the level of success they desire – until now. Condo.com has a crucial, built-in component that others lack – a robust community of users that has already been established around the website – along with a vast amount of user generated content for participants to obtain services and support.

“Real Estate is a very social process,” said Richard Swerdlow, CEO, Condo.com. “By providing a social networking aspect to our site, along with added functionality such as free video postings and blogging to our users, we are encouraging participation in the condominium marketplace to all potential users and putting the power in their very own hands.”

Unlike single family homes, condos are a property type that is often traded, site unseen, by investors around the world. “Condo.com’s social network for this category of real estate will deliver leads and a global audience of buyers in a slowing market,” continued Swerdlow.

Using proprietary technology, individuals and companies alike are able to market themselves, their company, services or property on a global level at no cost – a valuable marketing tool in itself – simply by virtue of being a member of the Condo.com Community. The added functionality allows all participants to communicate uninhibited, whether to buy, sell, obtain services and support – making Condo.com a virtual one-stop shop for all their real estate needs.

Hoboken Condo Builders Get Lifeline From New Buyers

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 22:48:13 GMT

By Terrence Dopp

April 25 (Bloomberg) -- Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando helped make Hoboken, New Jersey, famous. Now designer Michael Graves and builder Robert Toll are making the waterfront town across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan a haven for the rich and famous.

Hoboken, a city with working-class roots, long served as a refuge of junior Wall Street analysts. Its newer residents include Governor Jon Corzine and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, as builders convert apartments into luxury condominiums with fitness clubs, doormen and shuttles to New York City-bound trains and ferries.

Demand for condos in the square-mile city of 40,000 residents is a lifeline for builders such as Toll Brothers Inc. that are weathering a yearlong decline in the U.S. housing market. Horsham, Pennsylvania-based Toll Brothers has three condo projects under way in Hoboken. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. already has sold 33 of the 37 condo units in the W Hoboken, a luxury hotel that it plans to open next year.

``We're killing 'em in Hoboken,'' Chief Executive Officer Robert Toll, 66, said at a March conference in Las Vegas.

Nancy Chin, who was born and raised in New York, said she recently purchased a one-bedroom waterfront condo with an oversized terrace at Toll Brothers' Maxwell Place development in Hoboken. Those units start at $600,000.

``We always loved the city, but we wanted to be on this side,'' said Chin, 57, a real-estate agent and empty nester. ``Over there, you would have a view of a wall." View entire article

Discussion of markets with up-side potential

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 08:04:22 GMT

US Condo Exchange (www.uscondex.com) and Jack McCabe discuss specific markets that may experience relative appreciation against the national average.

View more of our interview with Jack McCabe.

Preliminary notes on Inman Connect NY 2007

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 18:44:22 GMT

Here is what our friends at Condo Domain had to say about Inman Connect NY 2007.

The 3 most important things for healthy real estate market in 2007 is: Interest Rates, Inventory & Buyer Psychology.

Warren Buffet Quote - “Every customer that dies is one less print advertiser ‘reader’ the rest of the world is going online.”

Zillow - coming out with EZAd’s so we can all advertising on Zillow easily.

Mapping is hear to stay and grow.

Active Rain is hear to stay (localism coming to market - watch out)

In October 2006 there were 17,000,000 Internet leads, only 500k were followed up on. (hmm, we need to do a better job with this)

Seth Godin - Become a farmer not a hunter (targeting is OUT!!!)

Start Blogging Yesterday - Not Sales’y but informative, expert knowledge, BEEP (Brand, Engage, Expert, Presentation, thx Sellsius)

Live Chat is to stay

We will have more to say about this conference where US Condo Echange was a platinum sponsor. We highly recommend that you look into the Inman SF conference if you are a broker and looking to figure out how to use technology to maintain and grow your business. There is a significant savings for early registrants.

NAR: PENDING HOME SALES INDEX

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:31:32 GMT

NAR's Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) is released during the first week of each month. It is designed to be a leading indicator of housing activity.

The index measures housing contract activity. It is based on signed real estate contracts for existing single-family homes, condos and co-ops. A signed contract is not counted as a sale until the transaction closes. Modeling for the PHSI looks at the monthly relationship between existing-home sale contracts and transaction closings over the last four years.

NAR's Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) is released during the first week of each month. It is designed to be a leading indicator of housing activity.

The index measures housing contract activity. It is based on signed real estate contracts for existing single-family homes, condos and co-ops. A signed contract is not counted as a sale until the transaction closes. Modeling for the PHSI looks at the monthly relationship between existing-home sale contracts and transaction closings over the last four years.

Monthly index back 12 months for the nation and four regions.

Includes seasonally adjusted, as well as not-seasonally adjusted figures.

PHSI Overview Chart for Printing

PHSI Overview Spreadsheet for Database Work

Details the history of the Pending Home Sales Index and how it is calculated.
Background

The NAR Public Affairs Office issues a news release in the first week of each month on the latest index figures. The release includes analysis and quotes by NAR's Chief Economist David Lereah

View Current News Release

2006 NAR News Release Schedule

Next release:

The November index will be released at 10 am (EDT) January 4th, 2006

For further information on the Pending Home Sales Index and other real estate statistics, reports and products: Contact NAR Research

Meet the US Condo Exchange team!!!

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 07:31:34 GMT

has nothing on us!! Check out our new video and meet the team!
We would appreciate comments as we are going to edit this video for future use.
Thanks!

Need to sell a condo quickly? Try an auction

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 07:02:14 GMT

As the nation's residential real estate market cools down, condo auctions are heating up. A penthouse in Denver's Cheesman Park that had been languishing on the market for two years was recently auctioned off in less than 5 minutes for $1.935 million.

According to the National Auctioneers Association, residential real estate auctions represent the fastest growing sector of the auction industry. The number of residential auctions was up by 8.4 percent in 2005 and another 4.4 percent in the first half of this year.

Across the country, developers and owners are opting to hire professional auction houses to sell residential condominiums rather than wait indefinitely for them to sell by traditional means. There is good reason for condo owners to seek alternatives. While sales of single family homes dipped 1.6 percent in September, condo and cooperative housing sales dropped 3.2 percent, according to figures just released from the National Association of Realtors, signaling that the condo market is lagging other types of housing in a recovery.
Read more...

Hawaii Trump Condo: SOLD OUT!

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:31:03 GMT

Looks like the don is at it again. Celebrities and investors forked over US$700 million in just a few hours to buy up more than 460 suites in Donald Trump's luxury hotel-condominium project in Waikiki. Sales contracts were signed and deposits put down Thursday for 464 hotel suites at the Trump International Hotel and Tower Waikiki Beach Walk, developers said. The sellout forced the cancellation of a planned second day of sales.
Developers said the sales set a record for the amount of residential property, both in dollar value and unit volume, sold in one development on a single day. The previous record was set in December 2005 when Vancouver-based Intrawest Corp. sold 318 suites in the first phase of a Maui resort for US$425 million, according to the Los Angeles-based developer Irongate.

Condo.com 's Blog

C-O-N-D-O...and condo is their name-o!

What is your prediction on home buyer behavior this holiday season?

Why Invest Real Estate in Panama

We are Ready to Sell You the Dream

An Encouraging Sign for a Caribbean Developer Despite a Worldwide Slowdown

Search and Bid for Condos in Live Auctions on Condo.com

Leading Online Real Estate Portal Expands Executive Team and Internet Sales Strategy

Leading Online Real Estate Portal Adds New Talent to Marketing Team

Condo.com Hires Leading Broker as Regional Manager for Washington DC, Maryland and Viriginia

Condo.com Hires Top Producing Brokers to Manage Prime South Florida Locations

Condo.com Hires Associate Broker to Run Central Florida Region

Condo.com Hires Leading Associate Broker to Run Prime Treasure Coast & Palm Beach Regions

Condo.com is Hiring Agents and Brokers Nationwide

Condo.com to Showcase Nationwide Condo Foreclosures

Richard Swerdlow to Speak at NAREE's 43rd Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference

The Bryant Back Bay Condominiums now featured on Condo.com

Exclusive Broker and Agent Open House for New Boston Luxury Condo

Condo.com to Host First Online Condo Auction

CONDO.COM TO HOST FIRST ONLINE CONDO AUCTION

TOLL BROTHERS ANNOUNCES ITS NATIONAL SPRING SALES EVENT TO BE HELD APRIL 18 – 26

See what Condos are selling and renting for in your neighborhood!

The Trump Ocean Club now featured on Condo.com

Condo.com to Feature Tropical Paradise Living in the Dominican Republic

CMK Companies Presents Two New Amazing Chicago Properties on Condo.com

Condo.Com Expands Into Asia Through Partnership With Propgo

Condo.com Forms Partnership with PropertyIndex.com to Expand Global Scope

Leading Real Estate Forces Team Up To Move Condo Inventory Surplus

The Caracola Beach And Spa Resort, A Duty Free Island Getaway Now Featured On Condo.Com

Condo.Com Showcases A Unique Floating Condo Development

Internet Advertising Veteran Joins Condo.com

Condo.Com Community Launch Attracts Thousands of New Members

AMG WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCES ITS FORMAL NEW YORK ADDRESS

Residents of The Island Club Condominium concerned about $60,000 assessment

The Worst U.S. Condo Markets Collapsing Condos

Another Major Developer Teams Up With Condo.com -- Elad National Properties Now Featured on the World's Largest Condo Marketplace

Congratulations Condo.com

Seeking Real Estate Referral Agents to Close Client Leads

Q&A with CEO of Condo.com

Condo.com is a Silver Lining in a Dark Real Estate Industry

Condo.com Provides Developers with Cutting Edge Lead Tracking to Increase Sales

RELATED GROUP PROJECTS NOW FEATURED ON CONDO.COM

Condo.com Makes it Even Easier to Shop for Condos

Condo.com Sponsors Distressed Real Estate Conference in Miami March 18-19, 2008

New Product Offers Real Estate Professionals Targeted Exposure to Condo Buyers

TRUMP HOLLYWOOD CONDOS NOW FEATURED ON CONDO.COM

1000’S OF FORECLOSURES NOW AVAILABLE ON CONDO.COM

Trump Ocean Club in Panama: “Talking the Talk” and “Walking the Walk”

Condo.com Chooses Maponics for Neighborhood Map Data

Top Five Reasons to Buy a Condo

Condo.com Launches CondoTV - Free Video Content for Consumers and Advertisers

Getting Friendly: Web-savvy Marketing

Encuentra24.com and Condo.com Announce Plans to Expand Online Real Estate Listings Relationship

Condo.com CEO, Richard Swerdlow, Interviewed on Fox and Friends

NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND CONDO.COM ANNOUNCE ONLINE PARTNERSHIP

CONDO.COM ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE WITH CONDOHOTELS.COM - CREATES ONE-STOP SHOP FOR CONDO TRAVEL / PURCHASE / SALES / RENTALS

CONDO.COM GOES BILINGUAL – DELIVERS FIRST SPANISH LANGUAGE ONLINE CONDO MARKETPLACE

Cross-Country Road Trip Brings Real Estate Blogging Mainstream, Heightens Consumer Awareness

Condo developer to rent, not sell, Raleigh units

JACK HAGEL(Raleigh) News & Observer

CONDO.COM LAUNCHES REAL ESTATE SOCIAL NETWORKING COMMUNITY – EMPOWERS GLOBAL AUDIENCE TO COME TOGETHER

Hoboken Condo Builders Get Lifeline From New Buyers

Discussion of markets with up-side potential

Preliminary notes on Inman Connect NY 2007

NAR: PENDING HOME SALES INDEX

Meet the US Condo Exchange team!!!

Need to sell a condo quickly? Try an auction

Hawaii Trump Condo: SOLD OUT!

JACK HAGEL
(Raleigh) News & Observer