Archive for Relocation


Houlihan Lawrence Honored With Global Awards

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I recently returned from the Luxury Portfolio International and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Annual Conferences in Las Vegas with Chris Meyers and several other members of our management team. More than 2,000 brokers, agents, relocation, marketing and technology personnel from all over the world were in attendance. Across the board, we heard that most markets considered themselves to be “nearly recovered,” with home prices rising and markets improving overall.

LRE2013 300x199 Houlihan Lawrence Honored With Global Awards

The conference had outstanding educational sessions, and we learned from some of the best: Matthew Ferrara, Steve Harney and Mike Staver, to name a few. But the highlight was Houlihan Lawrence being honored with the following awards:

• Most Outgoing Closings Award for the Million Dollar Club

• 2012 Award of Excellence for Outgoing Sales Production

• WQC – Website Quality Certification

Congratulations to all of our sales associates for helping us achieve these milestones and the global recognition it brings to Houlihan Lawrence. Our agents are simply, THE BEST!

Talent Mobility

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I recently returned from the Global Workforce Symposium held by the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council in Washington DC. The conference was attended by relocation service providers and corporate HR representatives from 51 countries around the world and boasted the highest number of attendees in seven years.

Varying Policy to Meet Business Needs Session 300x225 Talent Mobility

Michael Washbourn of Pfizer Inc and Kay Kolakowski of Northrop Grumman Corp talk about varying policy to meet business needs.

With talent mobility being the future of our global workforce, the sessions focused on trends in international assignments and leading approaches to leveraging talent mobility investments. In my role at Houlihan Lawrence, a real estate service provider in this arena, it’s important to keep up with the ever-changing industry and stay on top of new initiatives and tax laws. The conference also provided an opportunity to network with representatives from the many corporations, relocation management companies and brokers that entrust Houlihan Lawrence with their transferees and clients.

The vibe was very positive and examined the pace of corporate relocation picking up around the globe. For corporations moving employees into and out of the New York Metropolitan area, we stand ready to assist.

Fal-Lin Love with White Plains

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A quiet sensation has been brewing within the walls of Madison Square Garden these past couple of weeks. With Amar’e Stoudemire taking a one-week leave of absence and Carmelo Anthony sidelined with a groin injury, a Harvard grad donning the number 17 has slowly commandeered the court, dishing out a few assists here, putting up a couple points there.

Okay… that may be a bit of an under-exaggeration.

There’s no doubt the New York Knicks’ seven-game Lin streak has been absolutely Lincredible, with much of the team’s Linstant success going to their even-tempered, quick-footed point guard Jeremy Lin. Achieving career-high statistics and hitting the game-Linning 3 pointer on VaLINtine’s Day, the once no-name player has received notice from President Obama, gave New York City’s bar scene a boost, and attributed to a 10-percent spike in MSG stock that’s been on the rise since Feb. 3.

Lin, however, has received a ton of love from Westchester County as rumors have swirled around his search to relocate from the confines of his brother’s cushy couch to a posh dwelling suitable for any New York sports star. The White Plains Examiner has reported that Lin is denying reports of moving into the 20th floor of White Plains’ Trump Tower. The couch lives to house Lin and his talents another day.

So where should this young, eligible bachelor consider as a place to establish his roots? We at Houlihan Lawrence believe that Lin was on the right track when he allegedly eyed-up White Plains, as the city’s nightlife, proximity to Greenburgh and New York City, and status as one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities is perfect for anyone looking for a little bit of thrill in his or her life.

Two of our listings at the Ritz-Carlton Residences instantly came to mind. Our first, located at 1 Renaissance Square in White Plains, is a 2,532-square-foot condo with two bedrooms and two full/one half baths. Walking-distance from the White Plains Metro-North station, Lin could easily travel to and from the Garden while enjoying the 44-floor tower’s health club with steam and sauna, resident lounge, expansive media room, outdoor terrace, and 24-hour concierge service.

Our second, also listed at 1 Renaissance Square, offers up incredible views of Manhattan and the Long Island Sound with 5,030 square feet of spacious room. Also with two bedrooms and two full/one half baths, this high-rise residence could give Lin an opportunity to unwind from long road trips while exposing him to a unique culture of local dining, entertainment, shopping and more. Both residences offer walls of windows, top-of-the-line kitchens, spa-inspired baths and elegant space enriched by natural light and inspiring views.

Whether Lin decides he should settle down in Westchester or not, we ask anyone to take a trip into White Plains to explore what this small metropolis has to offer—you may just fall Lin love.

115 3114383 1 300x218 Fal Lin Love with White Plains

Houlihan Lawrence Receives Global Recognition

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Though I returned from our annual Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Conference over three weeks ago, the excitement has yet to wear off. Over 800 real estate brokers from around the world were in attendance at the brand new Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas for nearly a week of outstanding educational sessions and fun networking opportunities. The event culminated with an awards dinner and I’m proud to say Houlihan Lawrence was recognized for numerous achievements.

Here are the highlights:

Our COO, Chris Meyers, was appointed to LeadingRE’s Board of Directors, joining an illustrious group of market leaders who oversee LeadingRE, Luxury Portfolio, and the many programs and services that help independent brokers like Houlihan Lawrence, deliver truly global marketing solutions to their clients.

Karen Benvin Ransom, of our Katonah Brokerage, won the Top Blogger Award for her significant contributions to our agent blogs which include: GuideMeHome2Westchester and GuideMeHome2HudsonValleyNY.

LeadingREAward 150x150 Houlihan Lawrence Receives Global RecognitionIn the luxury market, Houlihan Lawrence was awarded the Most Outgoing Closings Award for the Million Dollar Club, which is presented to the one member with the most outgoing closed referrals with a sales price of $1 million or greater.

Our website, HoulihanLawrence.com, earned the Website Quality Certification (WQC), presented to LeadingRE companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution.

And finally, yours truly received the LeadingRE Hall of Fame Award for my contributions to the network throughout the years. It was a delightful surprise!

Not a company to rest on our laurels, we are busy working toward even greater achievements in 2011.

Around the World in a Day

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LeadingRE Vertical BW Around the World in a DayWherever our clients have real estate needs, Houlihan Lawrence can help. Our affiliations with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Christie’s International Real Estate, Luxury Portfolio International and Mayfair International offer us experienced and capable partners all around the World.

Just today we’ve:

  • helped a client get one step closer to his dream of owning a vacation home in Puerto Rico.
  • received word of a closing on a client’s property in the Bay Area of California.
  • arranged for rental assistance in Singapore for a client’s daughter.

These types of referrals happen every day in real estate and being so connected means that our clients will work with the best agents in any given area. So if you need real estate assistance outside of the Westchester, Putnam or Dutchess County areas of New York and you don’t know who to call, call Houlihan Lawrence. Let us put you in touch with the perfect agent…anywhere in the World.

For assistance, please call or email our Global Referral manager, Julie Prete, at 914-273-2800 or jprete@houlihanlawrence.com.

Houlihan Lawrence’s Nunan and Lafreniere Present at Global Real Estate Conference

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Elizabeth Nunan, Vice President of Global Business Development at Houlihan Lawrence and Andrew Lafreniere, Director of Information Technology, were both presenters at last week’s 2011 Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE) conference March 8-10, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Nevada. The conference was attended by over 800 top real estate brokers, managers and relocation professionals from around the World.

Lafreniere  Nunan1 150x150 Houlihan Lawrences Nunan and Lafreniere Present at Global Real Estate Conference

Andrew Lafreniere and Liz Nunan

Nunan presented in two educational sessions: It’s About Marketing – Getting Agents to Use Technology and Social Networking 201 – The Newest Recruiting and Business Development Strategy.

Lafreniere presented on Houlihan Lawrence’s community video series in a session titled How We Did That: Practical Applications of Technology.

“We applied our 2011 conference theme of ‘Engage. Innovate. Lead’ quite literally to develop a program that inspires our members to compete at a higher level, create better ways to connect with consumers, and generally raise the bar in the real estate industry,” notes LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “Ongoing shifts in the housing market, technology and the way people communicate make it essential for real estate professionals to continuously build their competence. This annual showcase event brings together the best minds in the business to do just that.”

The Oscars…for Real Estate

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This is the time of year when everyone is buzzing about awards…did their favorite movies get nominated and who will win the Oscar?

clip image001 The Oscars...for Real EstateWell, the awards that we’re buzzing about are the Annual Awards presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Leading RE is a global network of 600 premier real estate firms with 5,000 offices and 150,000 sales associates in more than 30 countries around the world. I’m proud to say that Houlihan Lawrence has been nominated for the following Awards:

  • 2010 Award of Excellence – Sales Production
  • 2010 Award of Excellence – Referral Production
  • 2010 Performance Awards – Peak Producers Pinnacle Award (Recognizes the top member sending the highest quantity of outgoing revenue-generating closings)
  • 2010 Million Dollar Award (Presented to the member with the most outgoing closed referrals with a sales price of $1 million or greater)

Congratulations to our Global Business Development Team and all of our Houlihan Lawrence agents for another outstanding year within the Network! The awards will be presented in March at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Annual Conference.

Preparing for an International Relocation

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world globe 3d ellipsoid pic 150x150 Preparing for an International RelocationYou’re about to join a world-wide community of roughly 6 million Americans who live and work in a foreign country. An international assignment is one of the most exciting life experiences that an employee and his/her family can have. The challenges and frustrations are many, but the rewards and personal growth are limited only by the preparation of the entire family and the enthusiasm you bring to the experience.

Preparation is key. Even if you consider yourself a veteran of domestic corporate relocations, you will find an overseas transfer to be very different from any other move you have made. One of the first things you will need is an overview of the specific country you’ll be calling home. It’s important to read up ahead of time so you’ll have an understanding about business etiquette, cultural manners and other protocol.

While you may think a real estate brokerage can only assist you with the housing aspect of an international move, be sure to inquire as to their other services and/or tools that could prove helpful. For example, at Houlihan Lawrence, our global relocation division can supply you with timely tips in preparing for your international move. It lists things you’ll need to do six months, three months and one month prior to the move. Additionally, we offer a reference guide that highlights conversions in everything from clothing sizes to measuring distances and weights.

Expect the experience to be rewarding, anticipate the opportunity of a lifetime and enjoy the fulfillment of personal and family growth. And look to a real estate brokerage that can help you find appropriate housing as well as be your go-to source for information and assistance.

Have you ever moved overseas for a job assignment? What did you find to be your biggest challenge?

You’re Being Relocated, Now What?

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Excited for the new opportunity? Nervous about how your family will adjust? Overwhelmed with the thought of starting over in a new community?

These emotions are completely natural, and likely heightened if you aren’t receiving relocation assistance through your employer. If you’re relocating on your own, or your employer doesn’t have a formalized program, you should search for a real estate brokerage in the new area that offers relocation assistance. You need to partner with someone that will hold your hand throughout the entire process. You need a relocation counselor.

Your goal is to become well educated on the new area so you can make a smart buying decision for you and your family. Look for a company that offers free services such as:

  • Pre-arrival consultation with a relocation counselor to assess your family’s needs
  • Area information package tailored to your family’s requirements
  • Home search tour with an agent that is certified as a relocation specialist
  • Cost of living reports
  • School reports and comparisons
  • Research personal needs such as daycare, summer camp, etc.
  • Mortgage counseling
  • Assistance in finding temporary housing

At Houlihan Lawrence, we work with numerous corporate clients to provide services like these to relocating employees. We also provide these services to families and individuals that aren’t offered a formal package through their employer. Let’s face it, relocating can be exciting but at the same time really stressful. Be sure you’re working with a real estate company that will help make the experience a positive one for you and your family.

If you need relocation assistance, feel free to call me at 888-454-7356. Our experienced Relocation Team will be happy to facilitate a seamless relocation for you and your family.

Have you relocated for an employer without a formalized relocation program? What was your experience?

Listing Your Home For Sale During the Holidays

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List now or wait

I’ve been asked a few times recently whether I thought it was worth it for someone to list their home now as opposed to waiting until after the New Year. I’m reminded of my own experience when I relocated to New York nearly 15 years ago.  I was hired by Houlihan Lawrence and my start date was January 2nd. I listed my home for sale in Annapolis, Maryland three weeks before Christmas. I didn’t think there would be any activity until after the New Year. In fact, I almost waited until after the first of the year to put my home on the market. Good thing I didn’t.  calendar 150x150 Listing Your Home For Sale During the Holidays

Serious buyers in December

There were showings almost immediately. That’s when I realized that anyone looking at homes in the last few weeks of the year, is likely a serious buyer. I was in the middle of negotiations when I started on the 2nd and I closed on February 28th. Of course it was a different market – a different time and place. But I’ve often wondered, had I gone with my initial plan of not listing my home until after the New Year, those buyers may never have seen my house. They may have decided on something else based on their timeframe before my house was ever for sale.

Fear not

So, If you’re one of the many sellers who’ve just put their home on the market and you’re second guessing your decision, fear not. There are buyers that need to buy now. Everyone’s circumstances are different. Just don’t go too crazy with the Holiday decorating.

Have you had an experience, good or bad, in selling or buying during the Holidays? Feel free to share with us in the comments section.