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MCLife Houston Strikes New Partnership in Baytown, Texas: Residential Apartment Brand of MC Companies Expanding Outreach

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 29, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — MCLife Houston has formed a new partnership with the City of Baytown as the year-round Social Media Sponsor of the Baytown Town Square Farmers Markets, and community events held at Baytown Town Square.  The Baytown Town Square Farmers Markets run the third Saturday of every month September – May.

The city of Baytown Parks and Recreation Department is committed to offering a Farmers Market located at the Baytown Town Square to support local consumers, farmers, artists and entrepreneurs. Organized by Sonja Payne from City of Baytown, the Farmers Market features everything you would expect from a top-notch market including food trucks, cottage food, fresh produce and art.

“The City of Baytown Parks and Recreations Department has done an amazing job revitalizing and upgrading Baytown Town Square and it has become the perfect venue for community events,” says Joshua Selph, Manager of Events and Partnerships. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the City of Baytown and continue the MCLife philosophy of celebrating everything hyper-local in our surrounding communities.”

Baytown Town Square is a gorgeous town center in the heart of Baytown. In addition to the monthly Farmers Markets, Baytown Town Square also features an ice skating rink December-January, and tons of fun community events throughout the year.  A full list of Town Square events can be found on the Visit Baytown website.

MCLife Houston is committed to finding local partners in the Greater Houston area, and our sub-markets, that further build community connections and engagement. You can learn more about the brand and partnership opportunities at: http:/mclifehouston.com/ Keep Reading

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Downtown Phoenix transforms into fan hub for NCAA Men’s Final Four

NCAA/SPORTS/Travel by
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Come ready to play in Phoenix: free concerts, fan fest, and much more

PHOENIX, March 29, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — Final Four weekend is a four-day celebration of student-athletes, basketball and the spirit of collegiate athletics. The Final Four is a culmination of March Madness, where four teams advance to compete for a national title at the University of Phoenix Stadium April 1 and April 3. The Valley of the Sun will transform like it never has before. Families, music and sport lovers alike will all find special ways to enjoy Final Four weekend. From low-to-no cost fan events to the big games at the stadium, there is something for everyone. www.phoenixfinalfour.com

These four teams are heading to Phoenix: South Carolina Gamecocks, North Carolina Tar Heels, Gonzaga Bulldogs and Oregon Ducks. While North Carolina and Oregon are no strangers to the Final Four, the others on this year’s roster will be navigating uncharted territory. The big game will be played in Glendale; the majority of fan-centric activities will take place downtown Phoenix.

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  • Get outside: If you were at home you’d probably need to head to your indoor gym for exercise, but not in Phoenix. Here, you can leave the treadmill behind and hit a number of mountain trails all just a short drive from downtown (South Mountain, Piestawa Peak, Camelback and Phoenix Mountains). If hiking is not your thing, then hit the tamer trails and paths at Desert Botanical garden: no hiking boots required. Or try biking. Downtown Phoenix offers bike rentals through Grid Bike Share. Explore our quirky arts district, historic neighborhoods or explore the canals on wheels instead of foot.
  • Discover Native Ways: American Indians and the Southwest: Home to 22 federally-recognized tribes, Arizona’s American Indian influence and culture is vibrant today and a true testament to our history. Take the light rail to the Heard Museum featuring Native American art and history; or to Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park located on Hohokam ruins dating back 1,500 years. You can also hop on a trolley tour for a cultural and history tour of downtown Phoenix.
  • Hone in on your artsy vibe. Phoenix is a burgeoning hot bed of creative artists featuring murals and sculptures from artists such as Thomas “Breeze” Marcus.  Stroll along Roosevelt Row or the blossoming Grand Avenue Arts District to find some idyllic back-drops for that perfect selfie.
  • Get soiled. Yes, you may think rolling tumbleweeds and the desert – But did you know, that the Sonoran Desert is actually the wettest desert in the world averaging seven inches of rainfall annually making it one of the most fertile desert landscapes for crop production. Check out these farms within a short trek of downtown Phoenix featuring local farmers, eateries and artisans. The Farm at South Mountain, The Orchard and downtown’s Open Air Market (every Saturday).These thriving desert farms supply various restaurants crafting exquisite culinary creations from gourmet foodhalls to local neighborhood gems.
  • Cocktail hour in Phoenix. Quench your thirst with some tasty cocktails crafted in Phoenix from acclaimed mixologists like Ross Simon who is putting Phoenix on the map with his cocktail parlour Bitter & Twisted – gaining national attention after being nominated for the ‘Oscars’ of bartending Tales of  the Cocktail Awards. Get hoppy with local craft brew finds incorporating local ingredients such as ancient wheat grains or downtown breweries bringing national attention to our beer scene such as Mother Bunch Brewing.
  • Check out our latest Food Talkies series (Phoenix Food Videos) and Soul of Phoenix videos featuring local Phoenix stories.

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California existing home sales and median price accelerate from a year ago, C.A.R. reports

BREAKING NEWS/Business and Finance/Press Release/real estate/Travel by
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– Existing, single-family home sales totaled 400,500 in February on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 4.7 percent from January and up 4.9 percent from February 2016.

– February’s statewide median home price was $478,790, down 2.2 percent from January and up 7.6 percent from February 2016.

– At the regional level, the Inland Empire and the Los Angeles metro area experienced healthy annual sales gains of 7.1 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively, while affordability and inventory pressures continue to stifle the San Francisco Bay Area market, which declined 2.7 percent from a year ago.

LOS ANGELES, March 15, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — After starting the year on a positive note in January, California home sales and median price backpedaled on a monthly basis in February, but still showed strong gains on a yearly basis, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today.

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California remained above the 400,000 benchmark for the 11th consecutive month and totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 400,500 units in February, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2017 if sales maintained the February pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

The February figure was down 4.7 percent from the 420,100 level in January and up 4.9 percent compared with home sales in February 2016 of a revised 381,770, which was the weakest sales level in 2016.

“While it’s encouraging to kick off the year with back-to-back yearly sales increases, moving forward, California’s housing market could lose steam in the long term as the Fed begins to adjust the federal funds rate,” said C.A.R. President Geoff McIntosh. “In the short term, however, the specter of higher interest rates may push buyers off the fence to purchase a home before mortgage rates move even higher.”

The median price of an existing, single-family detached California home fell below the $500,000 mark for the second straight month, but home prices remain seasonably strong. The median price was down 2.2 percent from $489,680 in January to hit $478,790 in February. The median sales price is the point at which half of homes sold for more and half sold for less; it is influenced by the types of homes selling, as well as a general change in values.

Despite the back-to-back monthly price decline, February’s median price still registered a 7.6 percent increase from the revised $444,780 recorded a year ago. The annual gain was the largest year-over-year increase since January 2016 and was higher than the three-month average of 4.5 percent prior to February 2016.

“Despite a strong sales start for the year, the housing supply shortage in California continues to cast doubt on whether the sales momentum can be carried forward into the spring homebuying season,” said C.A.R. Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “The number of active listings has been on a downward trend for the past 20 months and has shown no signs of improvement. As we move into the spring homebuying season, we should see a marginal increase in listings, which will be offset by a pickup in sales. The inventory level is not likely to get better in the upcoming months.”

Other key points from C.A.R.’s February 2017 resale housing report include: Keep Reading

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Alaska Airlines’ California growth continues, adding six new nonstop routes from San Diego

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Alaska is the fastest-growing airline in San Diego with 40 daily departures to 28 destinations

Update: Previous version of news release issued contained an incorrect start date for San Diego-Omaha route.

SAN DIEGO, March 15, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — Alaska Airlines today announced increased investment in Southern California by adding service to six new destinations from San Diego International Airport. New nonstop service includes daily flights to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Omaha, Nebraska; and St. Louis. By late August, Alaska will fly 40 daily departures to 28 destinations from San Diego, including the most nonstop flights to Mexico and Hawaii.

Alaska is quickly establishing itself as the go-to airline for people on the West Coast. Today’s news comes on the heels of Alaska’s announcement last week adding 13 nonstop routes from the Bay Area – the single largest announcement in company history.

“Alaska Airlines has grown more than any other carrier in San Diego over the last five years, with the addition of 18 nonstop destinations and nearly twice as many departing seats,” said John Kirby, vice president of capacity planning at Alaska Airlines. “We want to thank Airport Authority President and CEO Thella Bowens and her terrific team for their partnership. Without Thella’s strong leadership and support over the years, our growth wouldn’t have been possible.”

The new flights build on previously announced routes, which include daily nonstop flights between San Diego and Baltimore starting today, three-times-daily service between San Diego and Sacramento starting tomorrow, and daily service between San Diego and Mexico City. Flight schedules for Mexico City will be announced in the coming months, pending government approval.

From San Diego, guests can make convenient connections to Tokyo and London, served by partner carriers Japan Airlines and British Airways, while enjoying the benefits of Alaska’s award-winning customer service and loyalty program. Keep Reading

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All-New Zero-Emissions-Capable London Taxi Tested to Extremes in Arctic Circle

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COVENTRY, England, March 6, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — New pictures from London Taxi Company (LTC) demonstrate part of the extreme testing programme the all-new electric black cab is undergoing.

Under way now in the lower reaches of the Arctic Circle, the regime to check the vehicle performance in even the harshest conditions will only get more stringent over the coming weeks, with the taxi set to be cooled down in giant fridges to -49°C.

These checks seek to guarantee that the vehicle will always start, perform and enjoy class-leading electric battery powered range in the harshest of temperatures. The new range extended electric taxi will also undergo similar endurance testing in extreme heat environments before it is deemed ready for sale.

Quality Director Wolfram Liedtke explains: “Our new taxi is being developed with two key engineering principles – quality and endurance, to meet the needs of the demanding taxi duty cycle.  We soon commit the product to series production at our all-new manufacturing facility in Ansty, near Coventry.  It will be, without doubt, the highest quality and resilient product in London Taxi’s 98 year history.”

The testing programme also serves to check the quality of driver and passenger experience in extreme conditions. This means checking that cab heating and ventilation continue to perform to the highest standards – no matter how bitter or oppressive the temperature outside.

Driving experience is also checked – with the impact of grip, drivability and visibility tested to extremes.  LTC engineers can then make adjustments to ensure that passengers and drivers have the best and most comfortable experience, regardless of the conditions outside.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary at the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, says: “This new clean, modern, 21st century vehicle will ensure that the world’s best cab drivers now have the best tool for the job.”

London Taxi Company CEO, Chris Gubbey, says: “Given these extremes of testing – we are demonstrating that our vehicle will be a taxi for London and the world over, capable and at home in any city.”

LTC is due to open its new facility on the 22nd March 2017 thanks to a £300 million-pound investment from parent company Geely.

http://london-taxis.co.uk

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/all-new-zero-emissions-capable-london-taxi-tested-to-extremes-in-arctic-circle-300418590.html

SOURCE London Taxi Company

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Montage International And The Robert Green Company Reach Agreement For Hospitality Offerings At La Quinta’s SilverRock Development Project

BREAKING NEWS/Business and Finance/finance/global/international/Lifestyle/Partnership/Press Release/realestate/Travel by
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The two companies agree to develop SilverRock Resort, to include both a Montage and Pendry Hotel

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., March 2, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — Montage International and The Robert Green Company have reached an agreement today for the development of the SilverRock Resort in La Quinta, California. Breaking ground in summer 2017 and opening in late 2019, the development will include Montage La Quinta with branded Montage Residences, Pendry La Quinta with branded Pendry Residences, Spa Montage, an expansive catering and conference facility, state-of-the-art recreation center, multiple food and beverage outlets, a mixed-use village, and the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course.

This project represents the first joint development venture for Montage International incorporating its two hotel and resort brands, Montage Hotels & Resorts and Pendry Hotels. Architecture and design firm, Gensler, will work with Montage International and The Robert Green Company to develop the two properties which will feature a mid-century modern design aesthetic in keeping with their Coachella Valley location. Montage La Quinta will include approximately 140 guestrooms with a signature Spa Montage and fitness center along with three food and beverage outlets, multi-generational recreation center, resort pool, retail boutiques and the brand’s signature Paintbox children’s program. There will be 29 four and five bedroom Montage Residences with access to all of the resort’s services and amenities. Pendry La Quinta will include approximately 200 guestrooms with three food and beverage outlets, fitness center with access to Spa Montage, resort pool and retail boutiques. There will also be 66 two and three bedroom Pendry Residences with access to all Pendry services and amenities. At the center of the community is the breathtaking 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course which will be realigned and enhanced as part of the overall development.

“Having worked in the Coachella Valley early in my career, it is especially exciting to return with a dynamic development that is ideally suited for our Montage and Pendry brands,” said Alan J. Fuerstman, founder, chairman and CEO, Montage International. “With The Robert Green Company, we will be bringing to the City of La Quinta an amazing resort unlike anything else in the desert.  The architecture, design, amenities and most importantly, the extraordinary service that is the hallmark of Montage International, should be a perfect fit for the community.”

“We are thrilled to have reached an agreement with Montage International to bring both Montage and Pendry to SilverRock Resort. There has never been a resort of this caliber in the desert and nothing of this scale developed in the desert in decades.  We look forward to bringing a new level of luxury to this destination and to the City of La Quinta,” said Robert S. Green, Jr., president and CEO, The Robert Green Company.

La Quinta is a natural extension for Montage International, with its current portfolio offering access to city, sea, ski, and Lowcountry escapes, and now the California desert. Keep Reading

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Global Exhibition Industry (By Value, By Rented Space, By Country): Grew at a CAGR of 3.5% in the Period 2011-2015 – Research and Markets

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DUBLIN, Mar 02, 2017 /360WiseNews/ —

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Global Exhibition Industry (By Value, By Rented Space, By Country): Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021)” report to their offering.

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The global exhibition industry grew at a CAGR of 3.5% in the period 2011-2015. The report suggests that the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.07% by 2021.

A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report presents the analysis of the global Exhibition Industry market on the basis of value and by rented space for the regions (USA, Europe, APAC, ROW) and for Countries (USA, UK, Germany, France, China, India, Hong Kong, Brazil).

The exhibition market is driven by surging expansion in the developing economies. The market is gaining momentum with the increased government initiatives to boost the domestic industries. Moreover the developed regions with a high percentage of participants have been the primary drivers for exhibitions; this will present the market with huge growth opportunity and potential in near future.

In terms of region, APAC has the fastest growth rate of Exhibition Market and holds more growth opportunities accompanied with growth potential in Hong Kong, China and Indian Market. Keep Reading

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DreamMaker launches Flight of the Falcons: $14,789,000 Private Jet Trip Circumnavigating the Globe

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The luxury travel boutique offers 21 cities in 21 days for Gulf Market

HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 28, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — Experiential travel boutique DreamMaker has designed a trip around the globe aboard a privately outfitted Boeing 767 for its ultra-high net worth clientele.  Flight of the Falcons is a special trip for the Gulf market, styled as a milestone celebration for the billionaire client and up to 49 friends and family flying in tandem on a second Boeing Business Jet.  Offered at $14,789,000, the unprecedented DreamMaker experience is slated for August 2017, covering 21 cities in 21 days.

Flight of the Falcons is the first of its kind to completely circumnavigate the globe and cover 50,000 kilometers in the air.  The trip includes an astonishing time ratio of 88% on the ground and 12% in the air.  “Having set benchmarks since 1988, we wanted to offer an experience that that billionaires lack the creativity and time to design – to create a story would take hours to tell,” says founder and experience designer℠ Gregory Patrick. ” In 2017, we will be the first to introduce Experiential Aviation℠ as the pinnacle of private aviation.”

Highlights in the air include French and Italian fashion shows, tea sommeliers, a master perfumer, an acclaimed artist performing a fusion of “air ballet” and contemporary circus, and a carousel of personalities and celebrities hopping on and off the jets.

Thinking far beyond flat beds, chef-inspired cuisine, and amenity kits, DreamMaker has appointed holistic health guru April Norris to develop a program that integrates cutting-edge wearable sleep technology with alternative wellness techniques such as Reiki healing, Ayurvedic medicine, and the attention of a Doctor of Acupuncture. “It is irrelevant how big and beautiful your private jet is if you are unable to relax comfortably or get the required amount of sleep on the plane,” says Patrick.  To ensure the utmost comfort for its guests, Flight of the Falcons will boast a one-to-one ratio of guest to staff, with a cast of 50 hand-picked international professionals, each expert in their respective fields.

Partner World of Diamonds Group was commissioned to create the trip’s most luxurious amenity; a set of 18-karat gold swizzle sticks set with white and blue diamonds worth a total of one million dollars.  Crafted into a spinning globe atop the 50 swizzle sticks is one rare fancy blue diamond evoking the blue skies traversed, flanked by 20 white sparklers, each representing every city landing of Flight of the Falcons.

In line with the 50 signature DreamMaker experiences offered on the journey, London’s Hotel 41 will be the first in the world to completely rebrand its identity to “Hotel 50” and accommodate the unique story with its famously personalized service.  Every monogram on terrycloth bathrobes, towels, bed linens, slippers, and stationary will be newly commissioned for the trip. Even the marble tile and its iconic flag outside will reflect the branding of Passport to 50.  Other ground highlights include a period dinner with a member of the British Royal family, racing supercars against a Hollywood star on a private track in Las Vegas, and a private fashion show in Cannes. Other experiences entail personal styling services in Florence and traveling with two chefs who will replicate the client’s favorite of three past award winning “London’s Best Afternoon Tea” while in the air and in many of the cities they touch down in.

The Flight of the Falcons experience directly benefits children through experiential giving, such as the distribution of 2,500 bicycles to enable rural children to attend school, the provision of clean drinking water for 50,000 at-risk children in the region, as well as building “fun centers” for 50,000 children battling life-threatening illnesses in the United Kingdom.  “Through this trip, we have a way to act as a conduit to positively impact children’s lives,” says Patrick.   “It makes no sense to work so hard to please the most discerning of clientele without making the same effort to balance the decadence with an element of kindness that delivers higher levels of fulfilment.”  Charity partners include Water.org, Starlight Children’s Foundation U.K., and Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Flight of the Falcons begins in Bali, and continues onto Komodo , Koh Samui, Kathmandu, Agra, Florence, Siena, Cannes, Moulinet, London, Barcelona, Ibiza, Marbella, Marrakech, Havana, Las Vegas, Kona, El Nido, and a Secret Island, before concluding in Manila.  The trip is currently being offered at $14,789,000 for a party of up to 50 people in August of 2017.

For more photos, go to WardrobeTrendsFashion.

About DreamMaker

Rooted in multiple layers of creative design for 28 years, DreamMaker is an experiential travel and event boutique that designs truly exceptional vacations for the ultra-affluent client who desires more than the requisite luxury.

CONTACT

For more details, please visit www.PassportTo50.com.  For press queries, please call +1.713.529.7117 or [email protected]

For more information on DreamMaker, please visit www.HouseofDreamMaker.com.

To qualify for a brochure on the Flight of the Falcons experience, please visit “Inquiries” on PassportTo50.com  

Media Contact: Janthina Fong Fong, DreamMaker, +1.281.783.8952, [email protected]

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE DreamMaker

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Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® and VNARP Embark on Real Estate Trade Mission to Vietnam

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 28, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — Looking to tap into the growing international real estate market, members of the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAOR) will join the Vietnamese National Association of Real Estate Professionals (VNARP) on a ten-day trade mission to Vietnam starting on March 1st. Delegates representing both groups are aiming to foster mutual investment opportunities between real estate stakeholders in both Vietnam and the United States.

“Vietnam is forecasted to be one of the top growing economies in the next few decades,” said Evan Huynh, President of VNARP. “This trade mission will give our delegates the opportunity to exchange trade experience and learn about the best practices for investment opportunities in both countries.”

Delegates from the groups will attend real estate conferences and meet with Vietnamese companies and government agencies in Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, and Danang ─ three cities currently experiencing a boom in real estate development. Several delegates from the United States will be giving special presentations at these events, including: Lieu Nguyen, the President’s Liaison to Vietnam for the National Association of REALTORS®, Ron Gonzales, former Mayor City of San Jose and President of Presencia, LLC, and Hilda Ramirez, the Director of Public Relations, Events, and Education for SCCAOR. Keep Reading

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Fla.’s Housing Market: More Sales, Rising Prices in Jan. 2017

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ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 22, 2017 /360WiseNews/ — Florida’s housing market reported more closed sales, higher median prices, increased pending sales and more new listings in January, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 16,779 last month, up 5.2 percent from January 2016.

“Florida’s housing market continues to show positive momentum,” said 2017 Florida Realtors President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart. “While existing inventory remains tight, Realtors® across the state are reporting interest from both buyers and sellers – and with interest rates expected to rise over the next few months, now is certainly a good time to take action. On the buyer front, new pending sales for existing single family homes in January increased 3.8 percent year-over-year; pending sales for townhouse-condo units increased 6.5 percent. On the sellers’ side, new listings for single-family homes rose 7.6 percent year-over-year, while new townhouse-condo listings ticked up 0.9 percent.

“When market conditions are tight, consumers can get ahead by working with a Realtor who’s an expert in the local area,” Wells said. “A Realtor will have the knowledge needed to help both buyers and sellers through the complex homebuying process.” Keep Reading

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