Mel Foster real estate – Page 13

Mel Foster Co. Agents Earn Premium Club Status

Posted on March 21, 2015

Lynsey Engels, President, Real Estate Brokerage at Mel Foster Co. Inc. is pleased to announce ten of their agents have received recognition in the 2014 Premier Club by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. The following agents received Premier Club status, based upon closed referrals between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014:

Zina Akre, Geneseo
Jodi Faulkner, Bettendorf
Lucky Lang, Davenport I-74
Don Marple, Davenport Kimberly Road
Norm Marcov, Davenport I-74
Tim Odey, Bettendorf
Judy Schmidt, Moline
Steve Sullivan, Moline
Jackie Turner, Galesburg
Pete Voss, Davenport Kimberly Road

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is a global network of over 500 premier real estate firms. Leading RE is comprised of select independent real estate companies who set the standard of quality service, while generating a highest volume of referral, relocation, and real estate business opportunities for its members.

Mel Foster Co. Relocation division is lead by Deb Boland, and her team assists with moving in or out of the area, providing community tours, finding second homes and senior living. Contact our relocation specialist for more information at www.melfosterco.com

Living Large In A Tiny Home.

Posted on February 25, 2015

The days of the ginormous McMansion are coming to an end. People are starting to downsize, understanding that less is more when owning a home. Have you thought about the option of a micro home? These miniature homes, trailers, and even converted shipping containers are growing in popularity nationwide. With this growing niche in real estate, perhaps it’s time to give micro housing some serious consideration. Ask your agent to search for homes with less square footage or find a small parcel of land to build your own micro home.

Take a look at just a few of the benefits of living in a tiny house.

Reduced Cost

A smaller home can mean lower building costs, insurance, taxes and utilities. If you decide to build, you may be able to afford the construction cost outright, eliminating the need for a home loan. As a homeowner, who wouldn’t want more disposable income!

Reduced Clutter

With a micro home comes the idea of a simpler life. Less space means less room for unnecessary clutter. You may find that all that “stuff” you thought you needed was simply just junk taking up space. In a micro home, a minimalistic lifestyle becomes a necessity. With less square footage, you are more likely to only keep necessities. And think of the time you’ll save cleaning a smaller house!

Green Living

Micro homes use far fewer resources than a traditional home. Micro homes use less land, fewer materials, and make a much smaller dent in natural resources traditionally utilized to keep a traditional home running.

Mel Foster Co. Nominated for Performance Awards

Posted on February 6, 2015

Lynsey Engels, President, Real Estate Brokerage at Mel Foster Co. Inc. is pleased to announce that their Relocation Division, lead by Deb Boland, has been nominated by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® for three Awards for production in 2014. Mel Foster Co. is one of five real estate companies nominated for these awards in their size category. The three Awards of Excellence nominations include:

Sales Production – determined by the number of outgoing closed referrals
Referral Production – determined by the number of outgoing sent referrals
Incoming Conversion Rate – determined by the number of incoming closings with the number of incoming referrals

The awards will be presented during the Annual Performance Awards Dinner and Ceremony in Las Vegas later this month. For the past 20 years, Mel Foster Co.’s Relocation Division has been nominated for an award from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®.

Supporting Our Hunger

Posted on February 2, 2015

Mel Foster Co. is proud to participate again in the Student Hunger Drive Corporate Challenge. The competition kicks off today and runs thru February 27.

Each Mel Foster Co. office is conducting an internal food drive by collecting donations of money and/or canned food items for the Student Hunger Drive. For last year’s corporate challenge, Mel Foster Co. received the Bronze Award for Division B collecting 37.25 pounds per employee and their insurance division won the internal drive.

“Supporting those in need is what being a community partner is all about”, says Lynsey Engels, President of Brokerage Division of Mel Foster Co. She added, “Mel Foster Co. is proud to continue our tradition of supporting the Student Hunger Drive, and our agents and staff look forward to helping create awareness in the fight against hunger in our area.”

MEL FOSTER CO. CELEBRATES SALES GROWTH

Posted on January 30, 2015

Mel Foster Co. held its annual awards reception last night at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. Rob Fick, President & CEO, Lynsey Engels, President Real Estate Brokerage and Marc Engels, President of Mel Foster Insurance, presented awards to 115 agents who were recognized for achieving membership in the company’s different sales club levels including Chairman, Executive, President and Honor. Top honors were awarded to:

Thad DenHartog – Commercial Top Sales

Diana Franks – Residential Illinois Top Sales

Brad Boeye – Residential Iowa Top Sales

Mike Smith – Insurance Top Producer

Dedicated agents and staff are the foundation for success at Mel Foster Co. Inc. Building on the momentum of a strong 2013, Mel Foster Co. Inc. had a solid 2014, including an exceptionally impressive year for Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services. Combining all three divisions of Mel Foster Co. Inc. (Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate and Insurance), the total sales volume increased by over 4 percent from 2013 which is a record year.

Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services set a new company sales record with a 31 percent increase over last year’s record sales volume. Lynsey Engels reported that the brokers of the commercial division closed an average of over 10 million dollars per broker. She praised the commercial division and said, “This past year was phenomenal for our commercial division, the best total sales volume recorded in our history. Based on the year’s closed commercial transaction production, our commercial division ranked number one in the CMLS (Commercial Multiple Listing Service) for 2014 capturing over 43 percent of the total commercial sales volume. Many of these 2014 transactions will have a significant impact on the future growth and development of the Quad Cities and surrounding region and that is something we are very proud of.”

Mel Foster Co. residential real estate ranked number one in the Quad Cities MLS with over one third of the total sales volume for this region. The average 2014 sales price for Mel Foster Co. residential real estate was $152,885, an increase of 3 percent from last year.

New construction continued to be good for the Quad Cities housing industry. Last year, Mel Foster Co. residential real estate predicted new construction sales to be strong in 2014 and that forecast met this expectation. Lynsey Engels said, “We positioned ourselves to meet the new construction demand in our region by launching four new subdivisions in 2013 and we closed 43 new residential lots in those subdivisions.”

Mel Foster Insurance continues to build off of a record setting year. Marc Engels commented. “Any time you reach new levels, the big question is can you keep the momentum going. Our continued success can be attributed to our staff, producers, and the local clientele we work with each day.” In 2014, results continued to trend upward as direct written premiums grew 8 percent, policy count was up over 6 percent, and the agency added 791 new clients. With a range of product offerings from Personal and Commercial Property/Casualty to Employee Benefits, Mel Foster Insurance saw positive contributions from all departments this past year. Marc Engels also stated, “We continue to focus on innovative solutions, while remembering that most importantly, our clients want a customized, personal insurance experience. When you look back on the year, you realize that the accomplishments our division is most proud of don’t show up on the financials, but in our role as a community stewards.”

“In 2014, we welcomed 41 new agents and staff, and 12 individuals are enrolled in our upcoming pre-license classes. With job creation continuing to increase, mortgage rates falling, and healthy increases in home sales prices, the outlook for the housing market in 2015 looks bright,” commented Rob Fick. Optimistic about Mel Foster Co.’s future, Engels also mentioned the hiring of its Director of Business Development to continue the emphasis on recruiting and training new agents with exceptional education programs and tools. Engels added, “The agents are the true lifeblood of our company’s success so it is a key focus to ensure they have great technology and training opportunities to provide the consumers with the best experience.”

Start A New Winter Tradition.

Posted on January 18, 2015

Are you a snowbird? Do you “fly south” for the winter? Why continue to rent, especially if you find yourself returning to the same place year after year. Try using Mel Foster Co.’s free relocation services to help you find and purchase a second home in your favorite winter destination. Our vast network of contacts will help you find an agent wherever you spend your winter.

Here are just a few things that we offer:

Help you find an agent in another state
Provide cost of living comparisons
Help you find a mortgage company

While you’re basking in the sun in your winter get-away town, thoroughly survey your favorite neighborhoods. How’s the traffic when the population is at its winter peak? Are stores or restaurants more crowded at certain times of the day? This information will give you an idea of what to expect during winters to come.

Ask your agent about renting out your winter home in the months that you’re away to generate more disposable income. If you pick the right property, it may pay for itself.

Contact a relocation specialist and start making connections in your winter community.

Mel Foster’s Color the Quads Registration Opens Today.

Posted on January 15, 2015

Color the Quads Registration Now Open

Mel Foster’s Color the Quads 5K and Kids Color Dash will be back in 2015 with a twist or two, and registration is opening early to give participants plenty of time to sign up and opportunities to save with early entry.

The Color the Quads 5k will take place Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 4:00 p.m., Cumberland Square at 2300 Spruce Hills Dr., Bettendorf, Iowa. The early registration fee is $35 until February 20, and changes to $40 for participants after February 20, and $45 for participants the week of the race. Easy group registration and rates are available at www.colorthequads.com. The registration fee includes race entry, t-shirt, XPAC pre-race color explosion, invitation to the Tri-City Electric Co. after-party and swag bag. Registration opens with the early discounted rate on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at www.colorthequads.com.

The American Bank & Trust Kids Color Dash cost for all entrants is $20. This 400-yard dash and one mile fun run is at 11:00 a.m. on May 30, 2015 at the Veteran’s Memorial Park (Band Shell area) in Bettendorf. There will be a kids’ after party with food sponsored by Tyson Fresh Meats and fun for children and their families.

Color the Quads is a unique race that allows runners and walkers to get blasted with bursts of color powder on the course. There are two new color race stations being added in 2015, increasing the colorful fun. At the foam station, participants can run or walk through walls of colored foam. At the new “paint” station, volunteers will have fully loaded squirt guns to color every runner/walker. Runners and walkers will also enjoy more music around the new route.

The 2015 Color the Quads event benefits three local organizations, Bethany Home for Children & Families, Gigi’s Playhouse, and Hand-in-Hand. The event brings colorful happiness to our community AND helps out local charities.

Mel Foster Co. is the presenting sponsor and American Bank & Trust is the kid’s race sponsor. The pre-color explosion is sponsored by XPAC and the after party is sponsored by Tri-City Electric Co. The event’s color explosion sponsors include Active Endeavors, University of Iowa Community Credit Union and Vollertsen, Britt & Gorsline P.C. Color Burst sponsors include Build to Suit, Hawkeye Paving, KWQC-TV 6, Pear Advertising, Prairie Pella Windows & Doors, Quad City Times, Radon Solutions, Terrostar Interactive Media, Victorystore.com, Mickle Communications, Tyson Fresh Meats and TMI Total Maintenance Inc. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available.

For more information, to sign up, to volunteer, or to become a sponsor, visit www.colorthequads.com.

Search Listings From Your Warm Car.

Posted on December 29, 2014

Find homes with the Foster Finder — Mel Foster App

Searching for a home can be a real drag in the winter. It’s cold, snowy and just not fun. If you are looking to buy, you can use Mel Foster Co.’s free app, Foster Finder, to search with your smart phone without leaving your warm car. Your phone’s camera and GPS technology show all homes for sale around you. All you need to do is drive to the neighborhood where you to live. It goes without saying, you shouldn’t be the one driving while you’re using the cool app.

You can download the free app for either iPhone^® or Android^TM devices. Just go to your phone’s app store or find the links by clicking here. Install and launch the app. Click on Foster Finder at the bottom right of your screen and see all homes for sale, from every listing company, right on your screen.

The Foster Finder is a great mobile tool when you have a target neighborhood but aren’t sure what’s for sale. Just drive to your desired location and use the app to show you the listings. It’s cool and saves you a ton of time.

Want to be closer to your kid’s school? Head over there and use Foster Finder to uncover all of the listings. You can do the same from work or your favorite hang out or restaurant.

Using Foster Finder is the smart and easy way to search for homes in every season.

Where Gen Y Buyers Can Find A Diamond In The Rough.

Posted on December 21, 2014

When shopping for a home, check out transitional city neighborhoods that might just be on the verge of revitalization. You might find a great price or a really unique home that’s in the middle of the action. There are several reasons why you should consider all of your options when searching for your new home.

Urban neighborhoods are home to coffee shops and corner stores. Boutiques and other quirky shops can add the character you might be missing in a traditional suburban setting.

Young couples or singles, who aren’t ready to give up a thriving nightlife, are often drawn to downtown lofts, converted warehouse spaces or even upper floors of shops and restaurants. Living downtown may give you more opportunities to make friends who are your age.

Many times, living in an urban area gives you easier access to public transportation that could significantly reduce your annual transportation budget, if you’re fortunate enough to no longer need the use of a car.

Farmer’s markets and food co-ops are also becoming very popular in urban areas. With access to organic and farm fresh food, your health and wallet could be thanking you. Another point of consideration is that living in densely populated areas gives you the potential for exposure to other ethnic groups and cultures. New and interesting food and customs could become just another perk of your new neighborhood.

Downtown homes or lofts are often smaller than homes out in the burbs. This means less to clean, a smaller yard or maybe no yard to mow, and your utility bill may be smaller in a smaller home. You have your whole life to move out to the suburbs. Look around your downtown for the hot spots that fit your budget and style.

Count on a Mel Foster Co. agent to help you identify up and coming neighborhoods and the programs that may make homeownership more affordable to you. Find an agent at your local office.

An Older Home As A Green Alternative.

Posted on November 9, 2014

Call it recycling on a grand scale. Homebuyers who want their purchase to be more environmentally friendly are turning to older homes instead of building new. In fact, architect Carl Elefante coined the phrase, “the greenest building is the one that is already built.” What he meant by that is that environmental resources that would be used to build a building’s replacement are often times spared by restoring or repurposing an existing structure.

Did you know that it can take up to 80 years for a new, energy-efficient building to overcome the energy and climate change impacts caused during the construction process? Building reuse offers significant environmental savings when compared to the energy consumption of demolition and new construction.

Older buildings constructed prior to reliance on mechanical heating, cooling and lighting systems utilize what nature offers as part of their design. This can help reduce your energy use, helping you save on heating and cooling your home.

Go green and consider purchasing an older home that just needs a little TLC. Use the option to search by Year Built by clicking here to find a home you can recycle.