History Always Repeats Itself

Washington, DC, Apr 24, 2008

Land acquisition deals mimicked the madness of the Gold Rush as builders and developers sought to keep up with the demand for new homes gobbling up and competing for land throughout the early 2000's. Unfortunately, with a real estate market that appeared to soften overnight, many builders are now left holding new homes and buildable lots with little hope of saturation over the next several years.

Mitchell & Best Builders, a Maryland based, award winning 2nd generation builder, was ecstatic to have acquired a 849 acre farm in western Loudoun County, VA at a time when new homes were selling much faster than they could be built. Unfortunately, the rezoning and subdivision process outlasted the market and they are now left with over 100 single family lots with buyers few and far between. Mitchell & Best has scheduled an auction event to generate interest and produce sales quickly. Just days into the auction campaign buyers are submitting contracts with the hope of buying their lot long before the auction event. A testimony to the power of aggressive marketing campaigns in a sluggish market and a sign that there really are ready, willing and able buyers out there.

"Many people are under the impression that auctions are a "give away" strategy. What they don't realize is that the market determines the price regardless of the sales method used to get there", said Gloria LYNN Gardner, Corporate Auctioneer for HomeLand Auctions, the firm hired to conduct the sale for Mitchell & Best. "We speed up the sale process and create a competitive environment so that sellers have the opportunity to see the market speak for itself. At the end of the day the decision is up to the seller as to whether they accept what the market has to say or not. We don't determine the market, we just bring it to them and make it speak", said Gardner.

"Auction is all about the marketing. We do for real estate what a 4th of July sale does for a retailer. We set the date and time, we set the terms, we tease the consumer away from the competition, we advertise it like crazy and we sell to the masses. The auction puts a different spin on the transaction allowing the buyers to feel much more in control of the process. It's a win/win for all and precisely what the doctor ordered for this market", said Gardner.

Gardner is considered to be one of the leading auction experts in the broker/builder world Prior to launching HomeLand Auctions to accommodate national auction needs, Gardner co-founded the Auction Department for Long & Foster Real Estate, a mega broker with over 200 offices and 20,000 agents. Long & Foster was recognized as leader in the real estate auction world just a few short years after rolling out this innovative service throughout their region in 1994. Though there was little interest in auction throughout the real estate boom, Gardner is working with Long & Foster again to assist in the re-introduction of auction to their agents, clients and customers and Gardner has a long list of brokers ready to follow suit.

The Auction Department for Long & Foster was strategically positioned within their New Homes Sales Division in order for them to offer builders accelerated marketing campaigns to assist in moving inventory throughout the last slow real estate market. Together the team has conducted very successful auction events for Ryland Homes, Equity Homes, Morrison Homes, Washington Homes, M/I Homes and many more. Builders are just now re-considering the auction method as a viable tool in the aftermath of a heated market. "History always repeats itself&it was just a matter of time", added Gardner.

SOURCE:
HomeLand Auctions
4/24/2008 20:35 AA ET
www.HomeLandAuctions.us

CONTACT:
HomeLand Auctions Gloria LYNN Gardner/Corporate Auctioneer 877 668 6131 auctioneer@homelandauctions.us

Agents Flock To Auction Training

Agents Flock to Auction Training

Web cast training now offered to keep up with agent demand

In an effort to accommodate the high demand for auction training, The Institute for Auction Learning is launching the first live webcast designation program. Participants will receive their Certified Auction Specialist designation.

Real estate agents nationwide are flocking to become Certified Auction Specialist so that they are better equipped to assist clients and customers in this ever changing market. In order to accommodate the nationwide demand for this Certification program in the most efficient manner, it is now being offered via web cast. "This market is waiting for no one. Agents understand that they need to be equipped to assist clients and customers quickly and they're willing to take the steps necessary to get there as soon as possible" said Gloria Lynn Gardner, founder of The Institute for Auction Learning.

The Certified Auction Specialist (CAS) designation program, the first pro-broker program of its kind, is available exclusively through The Institute For Auction Learning, and is taught by Ms. Gloria LYNN Gardner, Chair of the Auction Forum for NAR and Corporate Auctioneer for Long & Foster. Gardner co- founded the Auction Department for Long & Foster in 1994 and continues to assist the company with auction services. "As a result of a market that seemed to turn overnight and grows more challenging each day, sellers are very concerned about the time it may take to get a property sold and the equity that may be lost as a result. The auction method creates a sense of urgency on every sale everywhere and can bring a seller to closing in as little as 30 days. In most states the lender will use this same method to bring a property to foreclosure. Agents with auction tools in their arsenal will be prepared to show the bank the market value of the property BEFORE they take it back which can subsequently assist in working through short sales more efficiently", said Gardner.

This designation program was introduced in October of 2005 and has already conducted training to thousands of agents across the country. "We have trained some of the top agents with leading brokerage firms; Long & Foster, ReMax, Keller Williams, Weichert and more. Our services are being expanded to keep up with the demand brought upon by current market conditions" said Gardner. This web cast program is the ideal venue to bring auction education into offices almost immediately. It's never been easier to become a Certified Auction Specialist. About Institute For Auction Learning The Institute For Auction Learning was created to address the demand throughout the brokerage community for auction education. "Out of the multitude of educational programs offered through the National Association of Auctioneers and the National Association of Realtors, none of them specifically address real estate agents adding auction services as part of their core business. We have become the premier auction educational resource for real estate agents nationwide," said Gardner.

The CAS designation program will prepare the real estate agent to identify an auction candidate, have a clear understanding of the various types of auction options available, auction law as it pertains to real property being sold through this method, a detailed understanding of the marketing approach to auctions, what compensation programs are available to them and how to identify the qualified auction firm to assist in bringing forth the auction results for their clients. The Institute For Auction Learning is based in Washington, DC but conducts seminars nationwide in training facilities provided by sponsoring brokers. "At the conclusion of this course the agent will not be trained to conduct auctions as an auctioneer. Instead, the agent will have broadened their horizons and branded their business to include every viable method of selling real estate," said Gardner.
SOURCE:
The Institute for Auction Learning
4/16/2008 11:34 AA ET
http://www.auctionlearning.net/
http://info@auctionlearning.net/
CONTACT:
For more information contact The Institute For Auction Learning @ 877-668-6131.