Real Estate Blog

As a staff member of CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty, I've recently had the pleasure of being able to travel to Australia to learn more about their real estate industry, companies and systems, and to try and understand the similarities and differences between our country and theirs.  One of the biggest differences, which I touched on briefly before in "Dispatches from Down Under Part One", is the rarity, and often lack, of buyer agency in Australia.   As I tried to contemplate how to be a buyer Down Under, I couldn't help to start a mental comparison between the two countries, and why oftentimes one of the keys to homebuying success in this country is a buyer's agent.

C'mon everyone, get happy!  It's time to celebrate!  Why are we happy and celebrating? Because CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty had the top growth % of all CENTURY 2100 Club Companies for both gross commissions and sides in 2012.  This makes us the best of the best in the CENTURY 21 system!  The CENTURY 2100 Club recognizes top companies within the CENTURY 21 system.  To qualify for the 2100 Club each year, a company must earn a minimum in adjusted gross commission.  Top Companies are then invited to attend exclusive retreats, including the recent event in Laguna Beach, California, where CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty was recognized.

Are you out looking for a home in the Northern Virginia or Washington DC area? (Have you been using our nifty new home search website?) Have you been falling in love with the house of your dreams, only to watch those dreams get shattered as another offer comes in late or gets rejected?  Do you know there are secret weapons your real estate agent should be using to help you win in this competitive housing market? 

Train.  Derived from a Latin word "traginare"  that means to "draw, drag or haul."  Not something we necessarily associate with real estate companies or real estate agents.  As a verb, however, the word "train" transforms into something meaning "drawing out"...which has translated into "teaching, instructing, etc."   Training is important for real estate brokerages and real estate agents because it encourages and allows for the brokerages and agents to be their best, most knowledgeable selves.  This, in turn, translates to the best service for those brokerages' and agents' clientele.  To be ill-informed, especially in a business with as many rules, steps, contract clauses and business practices as real estate, is dangerous.  Not only for the real estate brokerages and agents, but also for the client!  As Technology and Training Director here at CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty, this is one of my focuses.  What are some of the ways real estate agents are trained here at CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty?

You're getting ready to go to your new job in Washington DC after recently moving to the area (and buying a home using a fabulous CENTURY 21 Redwood agent!).  First of all, welcome to the Washington DC/Northern Virginia area!  You've probably heard horror stories about Washington DC traffic and tales from battle-scarred veterans about back roads and magical places with gasoline, restrooms and beer to stop off at during or to recover from your horrendous first few days of sitting bumper to bumper with a few thousand of your closest neighbors.  What do you do?  What do you use?

CENTURY 21 Redwood AdVenture LLC, which does business as CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty, is excited to announce the inclusion of CENTURY 21 Stackhouse & Associates to the Redwood family.  CENTURY 21 Stackhouse & Associates was opened in March 1998 in Montclair, VA by Cindy Stackhouse along with her husband Hartley and daughter Amy.  Cindy and Hartley have lived in Prince William County for almost 40 years.  Their daughter Amy is married to Rick Kaye, and they have two beautiful boys ages 4 and 1.

A fixture in the local area, Cindy has been a member of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, Chairwoman for the Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross, and a coach and Commissioner for Prince William Soccer, Inc.  Cindy has been and continues to be very active as a member of the Prince William Association of REALTORs, the Virginia Association of REALTORs and the National Association of REALTORs.

We're celebrating in a big way this Memorial weekend. Our CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty agents have big smiles on their faces and the Redwood staff is beaming with pride.  Why?  We recently received news that we were in the top 10 for all CENTURY 21 companies in the United States in terms of gross commissions earned through April.  Commissions are earned through hard work and through excellent support of real estate clients.  It's the hard work and dedication of CENTURY 21 Redwood agents that makes CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty and CENTURY Redwood AdVenture stand out from all the other CENTURY 21 and real estate offices.  Next time you see a Redwood agent, congratulate them!  

Recently in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC area, you may have noticed the proliferation of three types of disparate groups: REALTORs, policemen and cicadas.   However, all three are dedicated to what they do, whether it be to represent their clients to their fullest ability, serve and protect people from the evils of the world or just simply be a cicada.  (I bet you can guess which is which!)

If you visit the Inman Real Estate Connect San Francisco 2013 Speakers page, you may see a familiar face.  That's right!  CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty's own President and CMO, Edward Berenbaum, has been chosen as one of the speakers for the upcoming Inman Real Estate Connect.    Inman Real Estate Connect is an event held twice a year, in New York City and San Francisco, where real estate industry leaders meet to "learn best practices, forge partnerships and make deals that will keep them ahead of the competition."  Source   Eddie is passionate about many things, but nothing more than giving CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty and CENTURY 21 AdVenture Redwood agents the most up-to-date technology and tools needed to succeed in today's competitive real estate market.