Chicago, IL, May 13, 2013 – HomeFinder.com, a leader in digital marketing solutions for real estate agents and online real estate, today announced its second annual, HomeFinder.com Agent Makeover Sweepstakes. Five randomly chosen real estate agents will receive a two-night, comprehensive business and style makeover in Chicago, from September 18-20, 2013. All licensed real estate agents are eligible to enter the sweepstakes, which will run from May 13, 2013 through August 16, 2013.

As the real estate industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, HomeFinder.com wants to help the five winners and thousands of entrants understand the changing landscape and provide the tools to keep up, and most importantly, stay ahead. Compared to one year ago, The National Association of Realtors® reports rising home prices resulting from low inventory, and also anticipates that mortgage interest rates will remain steady. This evolving real estate environment means real estate agents need to change their tactics; the winners and participants will gain the tools needed to navigate this market.

“The current real estate market is heating up fast. Homes are no longer sitting on the market for months. Now, they are selling in days or even hours,” said Doug Breaker, president and CEO, HomeFinder.com. “The 2013 HomeFinder.com Agent Makeover Sweepstakes will focus on this rapidly changing marketplace to help the five winners and all participants adapt to the new normal.”

The five winners of the 2013 HomeFinder.com Agent Makeover Sweepstakes will be flown to Chicago, where they will have the opportunity to network with industry leaders, receive real estate specific digital marketing training, work with a professional business coach, and gain insight on how changes in their personal life can benefit their business. Additional training will include: why Google is a crucial part of online marketing success; how to become experts in their local markets; the importance of making a commitment to technology; how to become the agent with whom they would like to work

Kalen Raynor, owner of Ponquogue Point Properties Inc. and a 2012 HomeFinder.com Agent Makeover Sweepstakes winner, recapped her experience, “After meeting with the industry experts and taking in all the presentations, I felt I had a ‘rebirth’ in this business. I have a new found excitement for real estate.”

A style makeover will complement the business makeover. Each winner will receive a personal styling session, head-to-toe outfit, new hairstyle, makeup consultation and a professional photo shoot.

By entering the 2013 HomeFinder.com Agent Makeover Sweepstakes, real estate agents will not only have the chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago, but will receive valuable information on how to stay one step ahead in the changing real estate environment. Contestants may enter the sweepstakes twice: once by visiting www.homefinder.com/agentmakeover and once through www.Facebook.com/homefinderdotcom. Winners will be chosen around August 16, 2013 and contacted directly.

Chicago, IL, April 2, 2013 – HomeFinder.com, a leader in digital marketing solutions for real estate agents and online real estate, today launched its “Let’s Find Everyone a Home” campaign. HomeFinder.com, where buyers go to find a new house, believes everyone deserves a place to call home. During the month of April, HomeFinder.com invites all real estate agents to join them on Facebook to help give someone a home. Every new “Like” on HomeFinder.com’s Facebook page will result in a $1 donation to Windy City Habitat for Humanity, serving Chicago, IL.

As a Chicago-based business, HomeFinder.com supports Windy City Habitat for Humanity’s dedication to building affordable and safe houses, and advocates Windy City Habitat for Humanity’s goal of expanding home ownership in the Chicago Metropolitan area. “At HomeFinder.com, we believe in the importance of having a place to call home and the long-standing American Dream of home ownership, said Doug Breaker, president and CEO, HomeFInder.com. “Windy City Habitat for Humanity supports both of those values right here in our hometown.”

HomeFinder.com connects homebuyers with their potential future home, and Windy City Habitat for Humanity connects people in need of affordable housing with the resources to make this happen. However, both organizations are focused on once central goal: help people find homes.

“Windy City Habitat for Humanity believes everyone deserves a decent place to live, and we help our families achieve this through 0% interest financing, homeowner education, and the remarkable contributions of volunteers and community organizations,” said Elizabeth Walker, development coordinator, Windy City Habitat for Humanity. “HomeFinder.com understands the value of homeownership and this partnership helps achieve our vision of stable families and healthy neighborhoods in Chicago.”

Real estate agents who join HomeFinder.com on Facebook will also receive exclusive access to open house advice, spring buying and selling tips and the latest real estate and tech industry news and trends. Visit HomeFinder.com on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/homefinderdotcom.

Chicago, IL, March 4, 2013 – HomeFinder.com, a leading online real estate marketplace and provider of digital marketing solutions for real estate agents, today announces the release of its HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search iPhone app. HomeFinder.com’s new iPhone app joins its previously released HomeFinder.com Real Estate Android® app, to give consumers increased access to millions of available home listings.

Released in time for the 2013 spring real estate season, the HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search iPhone app lets users have a glimpse inside a home for sale right in front of them…without entering. Homebuyers can stand in front of a home for sale and open the app for a peek inside the home; the property details instantly appear when the app is opened. Users also benefit from:

• Abundant search filters help the most discerning user refine his or her search criteria.
• GPS enabled map search lets homebuyers narrowly hone in on their exact location to browse properties in immediate vicinity, or refine the search to anywhere in the United States.
• Automatic syncing between the app to desktop allows users to easily revisit home searches and houses viewed or saved, eliminating confusion and the need to conduct the same search twice.

“The HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search iPhone app feeds a consumer’s natural need to learn as much as they can with a minimal time investment,” said Doug Breaker, president and CEO, HomeFinder.com. “Our new iPhone app lets homebuyers see inside the houses that catch their interest, without ever setting foot inside.” Its clean layout and intuitive design provide property details on command, so each user has his or her own customized home search experience.

The HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search iPhone app also lets users:

• View full screen interior photos and property details.
• Access agent or broker contact information on every listing.
• Share favorite homes via text or email.
• Search for homes on a map or in a list; both views show photos.

“When we designed the new HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search iPhone app, our number one focus was to give consumers the simplest app to use, while designing a feature-rich tool,” said Greg Johnson, vice president of product development, HomeFinder.com. “We built the app largely based on consumer feedback, so this app is not simply what we think consumers need, it is what consumers told us was missing in the market.”

Homebuyers can download the free HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search iPhone app from the App Store. HomeFinder.com’s iPhone app is the third free app in the HomeFinder.com suite of mobile offerings. The HomeFinder.com Real Estate Android® App is available in Google Play and the previously released Open House iPhone app is available in the App Store. Users who download the new HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search iPhone app are also eligible to win a new phone. More information is available at www.homefinder.com/apps.

HomeFinder.com, a leading real estate search site and provider of digital marketing solutions for real estate agents, announces its acceptance into the RE/MAX, LLC Approved Supplier Program. RE/MAX agents will be given preferred access to HomeFinder.com’s suite of digital marketing products.

Nearly 90,000 RE/MAX agents and brokers will benefit from HomeFinder.com’s suite of customized digital marketing solutions, including its patent-pending, Single Property Websites and its enhanced listings products. RE/MAX agents’ implementation of these customized products will further the reach of their sellers’ homes, due to HomeFinder.com’s local and national exposure.

“At HomeFinder.com, we pride ourselves on being the site that ‘gets’ agents,” said Doug Breaker, president and CEO, HomeFinder.com. “Through our participation in the RE/MAX Approved Supplier program, RE/MAX agents and brokers will be able to further distribute valuable listing content and engage with our active home buying and selling consumer audience.”

“Nearly 90% of buyers start their search for a new home on the Internet,” said Mike Reagan, RE/MAX Senior Vice President, Business Alliances. “For our agents and offices, having an increased web presence is vital to their business and customer service.”

HomeFinder.com continues to grow its network of real estate agents and provide new digital marketing solutions, to help agents build their business and to provide available listing data to homebuyers. RE/MAX agents and brokers now benefit from the reach of HomeFinder.com’s affiliate network of 375 online newspaper partners and its 3.4 million monthly home buying, selling and renting site visitors.

For more information on HomeFinder.com’s acceptance into the RE/MAX Approved Supplier program, please visit: http://go.homefinder.com/remax.html.

Chicago, IL, January 24, 2013 - HomeFinder.com, Chicago-based digital real estate search site, announces that Greg Johnson has joined the management team as the Vice President of Product Development. Johnson brings more than 15 years experience in guiding technology and marketing teams in the design and development of industry leading products and services worldwide.

As the Vice President of Product Development, Johnson oversees HomeFinder.com’s product vision and delivery, including all B2B, B2C and mobile product offerings. He will lead the product development team in conceptualizing new initiatives and improving upon HomeFinder.com’s existing home search mobile platform for consumers. In addition, Johnson will focus on growing the current suite of digital marketing solutions for real estate agents.

“As a seasoned leader in digital product development, technology and marketing, we are excited for Greg to bring his strategic product vision to HomeFinder.com,” said Doug Breaker, president and CEO. “Greg’s technology industry experience will play a significant role as we continue to grow our mobile and desktop offerings. His local, national and international development experience is an excellent addition to our established management team.”

Johnson comes to HomeFinder.com most recently from HighGround Enterprise Solutions, Inc., where he was Vice President of Product. In that role, he led the development and vision of the company’s next generation employee rewards and recognition platform. Previously, Greg was Vice President of Technology and Marketing at Lightbank-backed startup, Fooda Inc., where he led the product and marketing. Prior to his latest efforts with Chicago-based early stage ventures, he was Vice President, Digital Ventures with Playboy Enterprises, Inc., where he launched a number of high profile social and mobile products and services around the world.

“As the real estate industry becomes increasingly digital and mobile, my goal is to give home buyers and agents the tools and strategies that offer the best home buying and selling experience,” said Johnson upon joining HomeFinder.com. “Real estate agents no longer need simple software programs to sell homes online, they need a full digital marketing plan. I’m excited to help HomeFinder.com expand our affordable and easy to use digital home buying and selling tools.”

Johnson attended DePaul University in Chicago, IL prior to joining his first technology venture during dot-com 1.0.

Chicago, IL, January 15, 2013 – HomeFinder.com, Chicago-based digital real estate search site, recently partnered with a local food truck to offer free lunch to the area’s most in-demand developers, marketers and sales professionals, in exchange for checking out opportunities at a self-proclaimed  “grown-up startup.” The event kicked off HomeFinder.com’s 2013 recruitment efforts and provided lunch recipients a glimpse into the company’s creative thinking and fun culture.

“Tech recruitment in Chicago is tough and many companies are fighting for the same great talent, so it’s important to differentiate from the competition. Partnering with a food truck is something new to our market and our goal was to stand out to Chicago’s tech-focused job seekers as a company that is creative, innovative and stable,” said Doug Breaker, president and CEO. “We hope job seekers see us a company that is willing to invest in finding the right talent in a non-traditional way.”

Duck N Roll food truck, stationed at 600 West Chicago during lunch time on January 8, 2013, displayed a flag that said, “Hungry for a New Job?” Hungry job seekers had the opportunity to meet with Breaker and Senior Management team members and received a lunch bag packed with their free lunch and a menu of open positions.

“In a tough job market, it’s so refreshing to see a company like HomeFinder.com think outside the box to promote their open job positions,” said Amy Le, owner of Duck N Roll. “Partnering with food trucks is a creative way for companies to showcase their personality and allows them to go straight to the perspective candidates instead of waiting for them to come to you. And who doesn’t love free food?”

HomeFinder.com spun out from Classified Ventures, LLC in 2009, moved out of Classified Ventures’ Loop offices in December 2012 and is now re-establishing itself in a new 17,785-square-foot space in Chicago’s historic Civic Opera Building (20 N. Wacker Drive). As the company continues to make its mark on both Chicago’s tech community and the digital real estate space, its new corporate headquarters will offer the opportunity to further expand its business within the real estate community and hire more Chicagoans.

“As we steadily grow and improve our digital product offerings, HomeFinder.com’s goal is to build our current talent pool and continue to attract the best of Chicago’s Internet community,” said Breaker. “Our new headquarters will provide us with the vessel to continue to grow.”

HomeFinder.com invests in its employees, by offering a 401K match that is 100% vested the day employees start contributing – different from the stock options many startup employee are offered. While startup employees rarely see payout from stock options, HomeFinder.com’s vested 401K program gives its employees real cash.

“Many of our employees are “startup refugees” and were attracted to HomeFinder.com for the opportunities, a stable business model, fair pay, great bonuses and work/life balance,” said Breaker.

HomeFinder.com embodies the best of what an Internet company can offer its employees: a startup feel with solid funding, strong management and a clear roadmap. The digital real estate search site has survived more than a decade of real estate cycles and Internet bubbles, and is now thriving in Chicago’s tech community. To view HomeFinder.com’s career opportunities, visit HomeFinder.com/careers.

See article here: Preparing for the Next Wave in Real Estate

Chicago, IL, November 1, 2012 – HomeFinder.com, a leading provider of digital marketing solutions for real estate agents, today launched its 30 Days of Gratitude Contest. This holiday season, HomeFinder.com wants to know what real estate agents are grateful for about their business. Agents can enter to win $500 ($250 debit card and $250 donation to charity of choice) by: choosing to “Like” HomeFinder.com at Facebook.com/homefinderdotcom and explaining in 100 words or less what they are grateful for about their real estate business. Existing Facebook fans of HomeFinder.com are also eligible to enter; the contest runs from November 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012.

2012 has given real estate agents much to be grateful for: According to NAR, existing home sales continued to improve in 2012 and in August 2012, the national median price rose year over year for the sixth straight month; Freddie Mac reports 30-year fixed mortgage rates remain near all time record lows; and homebuyers have more access to home listings thanks to the mobile app home search evolution.

HomeFinder.com is grateful for all agents do to better their communities. Real estate agents do more than just sell homes; they are a fundamental part of their neighborhoods. They are the heart of the local market, have a pulse on the school districts, and work hard to support local causes. “As the 2012 holiday season kicks off, HomeFinder.com wants to offer a token of appreciation to real estate agents who tirelessly work to create homes for their clients and who have established themselves as pillars of their communities,” said Doug Breaker, President and CEO, HomeFinder.com.

To show its gratitude towards real estate agents’ industry and community dedication, HomeFinder.com wants to hear what agents are grateful for about their business and award the winning entrant $500. The prize will be divided into: a $250 debit card and in the spirit of giving, a $250 donation to the winner’s charity of choice. To further show its gratitude to real estate agents, HomeFinder.com will help promote the winner’s real estate business through its social media channels and Opening Doors blog.

During the month of November, real estate agents are invited to join the 30 Days of Gratitude conversation by posting what they are grateful for about the real estate industry on HomeFinder.com’s Facebook wall (will not count as an official entry) or by tweeting @HomeFinder1 using the hashtag, #HomeFinderGratitude.

Real estate agents may enter the contest and view the official rules by visiting Facebook.com/homefinderdotdom. Winners will be chosen on or around December 5, 2012 and contacted directly.

Read article here: HomeFinder Launches Real Estate Agent Makeover Program

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