Keller Williams Realty, Inc. Ranked in America’s Top 10 Workplaces

AUSTIN, TEXAS (May 16, 2012) – Keller Williams Realty, Inc. announced today it has been recognized as one of America’s Top 10 Workplaces, according to the first annual National Top Workplaces list compiled by Workplace Dynamics.

“Our culture is our strongest asset and the reason that so many people want to be with us,” Mary Tennant, COO of Keller Williams Realty shares. “Imagine what it would be like to work in a culture every day with people that you feel love, kindness, caring and humor with. Imagine working in an environment where there is a passion for every single person to succeed at the highest level.”

“If this award proves anything, it’s that we only succeed when our associates do,” added Mark Willis, CEO. “We are proud to be in business with the best who are lifting us up each day and proud to be fulfilling our mission of building careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.”

The list of National Top Workplaces is based solely on employee feedback surveyed from 805 companies of more than 1,000 employees, which included over half a million survey responses. According to survey results, Keller Williams’ ranking was based on its overall culture and high levels of organizational health including training, benefits, compensation, and work-life balance. “Put simply, the most successful companies appear to be the ones that employees believe in,” said Doug Claffey, CEO at WorkplaceDynamics.

For more information and the full list of the Workplace Dynamics Nation’s Top Workplaces, please visit http://topworkplaces.com/stories/americas-top10-workplaces.php

Press Release Courtesy of Keller Williams Realty, Inc.: http://www.kw.com/kw/pressrelease.html?pressReleaseId=341

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The number of industrial workers in the state of Washington has increase by 1% in the past year, according to the 2012 Washington Manufacturers Directory®, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. Northwest Washington alone accounts for most of industrial employment in the state with 195,861 jobs.

“The recovery is gaining momentum in Washington and across the U.S.,” says Tom Dubin, President of Manufacturers’ News, which has been surveying industry since 1912. “Overseas demand, particularly for aerospace components, has boosted exports, and the state’s access to capital and investments in innovative technologies has been a draw for a variety of enterprises.”

And this industrial worker gain could be good business for the real estate market as long as the job gains are stable. Considering our current job market which has seen substantial losses, the industrial sector looks strong even with only 1 percent gain.  Many of those new and established employees may begin to view purchasing a home if they perceive their jobs as secure and think they are in a growing industry.  While the most recent hires may wait on purchasing a home, employees who already have a few years under their belt may view a company’s expansion as a sign that purchasing a home now might be a good move.

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AUSTIN, TEXAS (May 14, 2012) — Keller Williams Realty’s brokerages have, once again, dominated the newly released REAL Trends 500, an annual industry ranking published by REAL Trends, Inc., a leading source of analysis and information on the residential brokerage and housing industry. [...Just like Real Estate Solutions Group of Marysville, WA taking over Washington state.]

On the REAL Trends 500 report, Keller Williams brokerages represented 23 percent (116 offices) of the top 500 brokerages ranked by closed transactions and 24 percent (119 offices) of the top 500 brokerages ranked by closed volume. The number of KW brokers ranked on the list far surpassed all other major franchise players.

Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc., stated: “These results are proof that our people and their businesses are thriving. We’ve provided a strong platform and economic model that supports their productivity and profitability and they are winning in their local markets. We are so proud and honored to be in business with every agent and offices that contributed to this success.”

In addition to the overall rankings, Keller Williams offices made up more than 50 percent of the following lists: Top Firms Ranked by Closed Transactions per Office (more than 165 percent more transactions per office than its closest competitors), Top Firms Ranked by Closed Sales Volume per Office, Top Movers with Largest Percentage Increase in Volume, Top Movers with Largest Percentage Increase in Number of Transactions.

The rankings reflect a year of strong growth and forward momentum for the company in several key areas. Keller Williams Realty’s per agent productivity (in units closed) increased year over year, by 19 percent. The average gross commissions earned per agent also increased by more than 16 percent. And the company gave back more than $38 million to its associates in profit share in 2011, an 11 percent increase over the previous year.

Willis stated: “Our goal is to always be moving forward in every single key metric and we are — in agent count, agent productivity, office profitability and profit share. Just last month, our company grew by almost 1,000 associates. We’re not sure that any other company can say that in today’s market. Once again, our agents and offices are once again leading us to the top of the industry.”

“Our agents drive the success,” added Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc. “None of this would be possible without their dedication and tenacity in today’s market.”

Last year, Keller Williams Realty surpassed Century 21 to become the 2^nd largest real estate company in the United States and also recently announced its first overseas franchise in Vietnam and plans to add 50,000 global associates over the next 10 years.

For more details, the full reports are available on the REAL Trends Website: http://www.realtrends.com.

Press Release Courtesy of: http://www.kw.com/kw/pressrelease.html?pressReleaseId=322

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Beautiful turn of the century style home with lots of charm. HUD home that was in the process of being remodeled and needs just a few finishing touches. Home very open and bright with lots of tasteful touches. Wood work on the walls high ceilings open kitchen and remodeled bathroom upstairs. Minutes walk to dining and shopping. HUD home, Sold AS IS  PERIOD, no repairs, electronic bid with an approved HUD agent. Verify availability of home on the HUDHomestore site  not the MLS.

Wow check out this amazing Echo lake home! HUD home sold as is but this home nearly new and is sure to please. Over 3000 sqft of living space huge garage and large lot. Home has coffered ceilings fully tiled master bathroom balconys off the two main bedrooms.  Home is very bright and open with skylights everywhere. HUD home, Sold AS IS PERIOD, no repairs, electronic bid with an approved HUD agent. Verify availability of home on the HUDHomestore site not the MLS.

With more than 11 million underwater homes at risk of falling into foreclosure, some analysts say that government intervention has failed to do its job. Currently, government foreclosure programs mostly focus on keeping homeowners in their homes and out of foreclosure. But according to some analysts, most of these foreclosure prevention programs fail to effectively tackle the negative equity issue and in some cases worsen the foreclosure crisis.

Critics claim that the biggest issue is laws that bar a subsidiary of a foreclosing bank from handling a notice of default. In Nevada, this type of law forced some banks to restructure their practices. In some cases the bank’s restructuring slowed down the entire foreclosure process. Any bottleneck in the foreclosure process could have a trickledown effect on REOs.

So far, 550 housing related state laws have been introduced since the foreclosure crisis began in 2009. Alfred M. Pollard, general counsel for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), agrees that some of laws are causing more harm than good to the housing market. Laws requiring mediation programs before foreclosure, laws that add priority liens to mortgages and vacant property ordinances that cost banks money may all delay but not prevent the foreclosure process. And once the foreclosure process slows, it’s inevitable that REO inventory will thin especially if the slowdown is systematic and widespread.

But according to some analysts, hardline legislative changes are not the only challenges facing the housing industry. Softer government intervention, such as mortgage modifications and even principal reductions may only delay a homeowner’s foreclosure problems especially when factoring in wider economic issues. High unemployment and a general decline in housing prices may conspire to leave some homeowners financially vulnerable to negative equity.

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SEATTLE — Three of Washington‘s public high schools have made a list of the nation’s top 100, including one school in the top 10.

 
 
 
 
 
 

U.S. News & World Report says Bellevue’s International School is the ninth best high school in the nation in the magazine’s annual list of top schools. The small magnet school was ranked No. 10 on last year’s list.

Another Bellevue school — Newport High School — is ranked No. 100. Bellevue High School is ranked 113th..

The International Community School in Kirkland is ranked 34 on the list that came out Monday.

The magazine ranks high schools according to standardized test scores, how the schools’ least advantaged kids are doing, and a look at college preparation from Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test results.

Article Courtesy of: The Republic Newspaper, Associated Press

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Great Building Lot in Tukwila WA. Utilities in the street, buyer to verify. Don’t pass up the opportunity to own a nicely priced chunk of land to build on!!!

NOT a Short Sale!! Beautiful lake front property with 82 feet of Waterfront on Flowing Lake. Fish from your own private dock! AMAZING view!  Master has walk-in cedar closet with french doors opening to patio. 2 decks, great for entertaining. Finished basement with large family room and home office with access to lake.  Large garage, plenty of storage.

Beach cabin tucked in the evergreens.  Charming home with spectacular views right next to Double Bluff beach.  Over an acre, private, and serene.  The northwest style architecture is warm and inviting.  This home is ready for you to invite over a few friends, enjoy a warm quiet evening on the deck , after a day playing at the beach.  200 feet of waterfront watch the eagles soar from your beach getaway.