Taking the next step to help people turn their dreams of homeownership into realities, Coldwell Banker has launched a new portal on its website specifically for first-time home buyers. The First-Time Home Buyers Resource Center (coldwellbanker.com/real_estate/learn/) includes videos, articles and tools to answer questions and guide new home buyers through the real estate search process.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), first-time home buyers accounted for half of all the real estate market home sales in 2010. A recent survey by Coldwell Banker Real Estate found that 93 percent of first-time home buyers said using online tools to find detailed information about homes was important to them.
“Buying your first home is exciting but it can also be overwhelming, so we created this section for first-time homebuyers to simplify the steps toward home ownership, and make the process easier and enjoyable,” said Jim Gillespie, chief executive officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “I, like most, remember buying my first home and going through a process that was complex, emotional and rewarding all at the same time. Today, first-time homebuyers recognize that if they have the financial wherewithal, now is a smart time to buy a home. The First-Time Home Buyers Resource Center helps give them the confidence to enter the real estate market and gain valuable insight so they can best work with their agent.”
The new web portal, which will be updated regularly with timely content to help first-time home buyers, provides informative features from coldwellbanker.com, including multiple ways to search and recommendations for like properties. It also includes:
· Video tips and advice about selecting a home, moving, renovating, and decorating
· Informative articles on such topics as how to select a real estate agent, identifying wish list items vs. must-have items for a first home and determining how much is affordable
· Mortgage calculator
· Affordability radar – This feature breaks down a home’s listing price into what the monthly payment might be at current mortgage rates
The new First-Time Home Buyers Resource Center is a continuation of Coldwell Banker’s innovative online resources.  “This is another example of Coldwell Banker’s state of the art approach to buying and selling homes”, said Roger Sell, President of Coldwell Banker Sell Real Estate. “We are proud to be a member of the Coldwell Banker family and appreciate how our partnership ultimately helps our customers and clients here in Great Bend and Central Kansas.”