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Press Room
Welcome to the Press Room here at Brandon Green.
Here you will find the latest news, stories and tips from our staff. For reporters, we've included contact information for both Brandon and his media relations contact, Chris Martin. No matter what real estate related story you are working on, Brandon and Chris are committed to responding to you on deadline!
News Releases
Click on any of the links below to access the latest news about Brandon Green.
› Life's Experiences Forge Winning Personality for DC Area Realtor Brandon Green
› Life's Experiences Forge Winning Personality for DC Area Realtor Brandon Green
› Washington, DC Realtor to be Featured on HGTV
Tip Sheets
Brandon Green regularly brainstorms on the latest trends and developments in real estate and publishes them here in the Tip Sheet section. Visit regularly for fresh story ideas on breaking news culled from the real estate field.
› Are foreclosed properties worth bidding on?
› Greed Not Good for Buyers or Sellers
Brandon Green in the News
You're not alone. Other reporters have interviewed Brandon Green for their
stories on real estate topics. Click on any of the links below to see
stories about Brandon Green.
›Brandon Green quoted in USA Today article about Mortgage Rates
›Brandon Green featured in an article on cyberhomes.com
›Brandon Green featured in Express, a Publication of The Washington Post (see pages 49-51)
›Brandon Green quoted in DC Modern Luxury (see page 58)
›Colleague Veronica Seva quoted in article on www.myfoxdc.com
›Brandon Green featured in WashingtonPost.com article, "The Bank of Mom & Dad"
›Brandon Green featured in an article on dc.urbanturf.com
›ExpressNightOut.com consults with Brandon Green for another article
›Mold a Problem in Foreclosed Homes, Brandon Green featured on Fox News
›Tough Choices in a Tough Market, Washington Post
›Brandon Green on the local Fox News concerning the DC Area bidding wars
›First-time home owners racing against deadline, Brandon Green commenting for CreditCard.com
›Let's make a deal: Brandon Green comments on buyer incentives
Contact
On deadline? Need one more source for your real estate story and need to reach a contact who understands your business? Contact:
Brandon Green
202.318.1623x1 202.277.3304 cell
brandon@brandongreen.com
or
Chris Martin
630.670.2745
cmartin331@comcast.net
We have a 24/7 commitment to our business, and yours!
News Releases
Life's Experiences Forge Winning Personality for DC Area Realtor Brandon Green
Brandon Green's entrepreneurial spirit was formed as a 13 year-old boy
in Ames, Iowa, where he started his own lawn mowing business at the
trailer park where his family lived. Of the 300 trailers, Brandon and
his small team of neighborhood boys cut grass for 100 of the
trailers - not a bad market share in any business!
This entrepreneurial spirit, combined with his love of music and
entertaining, fueled his interest in another lifelong passion: music
and performing. And when the international show "Up with People" came
to Iowa during his junior year in high school, he jumped at the chance
to try out. His interview landed him a position with the show, but he
still had to come up with $15,000 to confirm his spot. Using his local
connections and grassroots support, Green developed an innovative
fundraising technique.
"I promised everyone who donated money to me a unique gift or
communication from the various locations the show traveled to," he
said. This might take the form of a postcard, a memento, or a personal
phone call to repay his supporters' faith in him. He raised the money
in time to catch on with the Up With People tour that started the
summer after his high school graduation.
In addition to rehearsals and performing, Green and the cast members
participated in all phases of the tour's schedule - marketing, logistics,
sponsorship, finance and ticket sales. It gave the 18-year-old kid
from Iowa a crash course in business, as well as international and
human relations.
"Our tour traveled all over the world and included stops in Norway,
Finland, and Sweden," he said. During one of the shows in Finland, he
discovered a rather unique and awkward Finnish custom-the family sauna.
'Many Finnish families have saunas in their homes and it's a regular
part of their day," he said. However, Green and his cast members were
rather surprised when their host family disrobed after dinner and
headed toward the steam room, beckoning their American guests in
Finnish.
"When in Rome," Green explained as he and his friend joined their
hosts. "As if it were not awkward enough being naked in front of a
strange family, including their teenage daughter, after the sauna, the
entire family jumped into the snow!"
Green's "Up With People" experiences weren't all as bizarre as his
Finnish stay, and he received an excellent schooling about how to run
parts of a complex business while also being on his own for the first
time in 18 years. He liked the experience so much that a year after
his one-year stint was over, he asked to work as an employee a year
after it was over. He served as an advance man for the touring
company, finding host families, selling tickets, attracting sponsors
and whatever else it took to put on an "Up With People" show.
When the show's yearlong tour was up, Green traveled back to Iowa to
plot his next move. Unsure of his exact career goal or if college was
the right path for him, he decided to move to Baltimore where a friend
had relocated. Once settled in Baltimore, he began to scrounge for a
job, landing at the first of two technology recruiting and staffing
companies that required him to commute to Washington, DC. That lasted
only a few months before he found a house to rent in Washington with a
former "Up With People" friend.
It was in that first home in Washington that Green had his real estate epiphany.
Green sheepishly admits that he got his start in real estate from an infomercial he saw on late night television while in DC.
"The guy's name was Carleton Sheets and he was pitching these tapes and
manuals to learn about real estate and how his system made him a
millionaire," Green said. Nonetheless, Green devoured the manuals
and tapes and he was off and running.
"I thought: this can't be this easy," he said. So, he sought out some
real estate professionals for advice and ended up buying his first
house for $1000 down with an FHA loan. The house needed a lot of
repair, so Green rehabbed the house for six months and sold it for a
$50,000 profit. A real estate star was born!
Green's transition to professional real estate was well timed, given
that in the late 90s and early 00s, the tech industry was tanking and
the real estate industry was taking off.
"My IT sales experience--making dozens of cold calls and really
focusing on selling- helped my transition to real estate," he said,
adding that excellent mentors at his first job at Prudential were
invaluable.
In his first year, he cleared $150,000, earning him rookie-of-the-year
honors from a local real estate association and in three more short
years, he had booked a total of $44 million in business.
"By then, around 2004, I felt like I really had this business down and
was looking for my next challenge, when I was approached by a group of
local realtors who were considering buying into a Keller Williams
franchise," he said. Keller Williams is the fourth largest real estate
firm in North America. The real estate brokerage firm was looking to
set up shop in DC, and was seeking a top agent to lead its local
effort. In 2006, Green took the plunge and expanded from just Brandon,
to Brandon Green & Associates. Soon he was busy enough to add
staff, hire administrative help, and begin marketing.
While ascending the real estate ladder, Green and some associates
continued their interest in real estate investment, purchasing Stoney
Creek Farm in rural Maryland. He rehabbed the property and turned it
into a bed and breakfast that attracts newlyweds and Washingtonians
looking to escape the madness of the beltway for a weekend. He also
maintains his home in DC's Columbia Heights neighborhood.
As his business is getting more sophisticated, his grasp of technology
and commitment to community increases as well. His latest efforts
include a blog on his website that updates visitors on current real
estate trends and issues. Green has also supported local charities,
including the Washington AIDS Foundation--he is clearly a man who
remembers his roots, helps those who are less fortunate, and realizes
that being a real estate professional is more than hosting open houses
and closing deals.
"I recall growing up in Iowa and visiting nursing homes with my dad,
who was very involved in the church at the time," he recalled. "I
remember how much the people in those nursing homes appreciated the
visits and the time we spent with them and I try to bring some of that
Iowa community service to my everyday life here in DC."
This commitment to community and a laser-like focus on his business
make Green a real estate professional to watch today, and in the future.
Life's Experiences Forge Winning Personality for DC Area Realtor Brandon Green
Brandon Green's entrepreneurial spirit was formed as a 13 year-old boy
in Ames, Iowa, where he started his own lawn mowing business at the
trailer park where his family lived. Of the 300 trailers, Brandon and
his small team of neighborhood boys cut grass for 100 of the
trailers - not a bad market share in any business!
This entrepreneurial spirit, combined with his love of music and
entertaining, fueled his interest in another lifelong passion: music
and performing. And when the international show "Up with People" came
to Iowa during his junior year in high school, he jumped at the chance
to try out. His interview landed him a position with the show, but he
still had to come up with $15,000 to confirm his spot. Using his local
connections and grassroots support, Green developed an innovative
fundraising technique.
"I promised everyone who donated money to me a unique gift or
communication from the various locations the show traveled to," he
said. This might take the form of a postcard, a memento, or a personal
phone call to repay his supporters' faith in him. He raised the money
in time to catch on with the Up With People tour that started the
summer after his high school graduation.
In addition to rehearsals and performing, Green and the cast members
participated in all phases of the tour's schedule - marketing, logistics,
sponsorship, finance and ticket sales. It gave the 18-year-old kid
from Iowa a crash course in business, as well as international and
human relations.
"Our tour traveled all over the world and included stops in Norway,
Finland, and Sweden," he said. During one of the shows in Finland, he
discovered a rather unique and awkward Finnish custom-the family sauna.
'Many Finnish families have saunas in their homes and it's a regular
part of their day," he said. However, Green and his cast members were
rather surprised when their host family disrobed after dinner and
headed toward the steam room, beckoning their American guests in
Finnish.
"When in Rome," Green explained as he and his friend joined their
hosts. "As if it were not awkward enough being naked in front of a
strange family, including their teenage daughter, after the sauna, the
entire family jumped into the snow!"
Green's "Up With People" experiences weren't all as bizarre as his
Finnish stay, and he received an excellent schooling about how to run
parts of a complex business while also being on his own for the first
time in 18 years. He liked the experience so much that a year after
his one-year stint was over, he asked to work as an employee a year
after it was over. He served as an advance man for the touring
company, finding host families, selling tickets, attracting sponsors
and whatever else it took to put on an "Up With People" show.
When the show's yearlong tour was up, Green traveled back to Iowa to
plot his next move. Unsure of his exact career goal or if college was
the right path for him, he decided to move to Baltimore where a friend
had relocated. Once settled in Baltimore, he began to scrounge for a
job, landing at the first of two technology recruiting and staffing
companies that required him to commute to Washington, DC. That lasted
only a few months before he found a house to rent in Washington with a
former "Up With People" friend.
It was in that first home in Washington that Green had his real estate epiphany.
Green sheepishly admits that he got his start in real estate from an infomercial he saw on late night television while in DC.
"The guy's name was Carleton Sheets and he was pitching these tapes and
manuals to learn about real estate and how his system made him a
millionaire," Green said. Nonetheless, Green devoured the manuals
and tapes and he was off and running.
"I thought: this can't be this easy," he said. So, he sought out some
real estate professionals for advice and ended up buying his first
house for $1000 down with an FHA loan. The house needed a lot of
repair, so Green rehabbed the house for six months and sold it for a
$50,000 profit. A real estate star was born!
Green's transition to professional real estate was well timed, given
that in the late 90s and early 00s, the tech industry was tanking and
the real estate industry was taking off.
"My IT sales experience--making dozens of cold calls and really
focusing on selling- helped my transition to real estate," he said,
adding that excellent mentors at his first job at Prudential were
invaluable.
In his first year, he cleared $150,000, earning him rookie-of-the-year
honors from a local real estate association and in three more short
years, he had booked a total of $44 million in business.
"By then, around 2004, I felt like I really had this business down and
was looking for my next challenge, when I was approached by a group of
local realtors who were considering buying into a Keller Williams
franchise," he said. Keller Williams is the fourth largest real estate
firm in North America. The real estate brokerage firm was looking to
set up shop in DC, and was seeking a top agent to lead its local
effort. In 2006, Green took the plunge and expanded from just Brandon,
to Brandon Green & Associates. Soon he was busy enough to add
staff, hire administrative help, and begin marketing.
While ascending the real estate ladder, Green and some associates
continued their interest in real estate investment, purchasing Stoney
Creek Farm in rural Maryland. He rehabbed the property and turned it
into a bed and breakfast that attracts newlyweds and Washingtonians
looking to escape the madness of the beltway for a weekend. He also
maintains his home in DC's Columbia Heights neighborhood.
As his business is getting more sophisticated, his grasp of technology
and commitment to community increases as well. His latest efforts
include a blog on his website that updates visitors on current real
estate trends and issues. Green has also supported local charities,
including the Washington AIDS Foundation--he is clearly a man who
remembers his roots, helps those who are less fortunate, and realizes
that being a real estate professional is more than hosting open houses
and closing deals.
"I recall growing up in Iowa and visiting nursing homes with my dad,
who was very involved in the church at the time," he recalled. "I
remember how much the people in those nursing homes appreciated the
visits and the time we spent with them and I try to bring some of that
Iowa community service to my everyday life here in DC."
This commitment to community and a laser-like focus on his business
make Green a real estate professional to watch today, and in the future.
Washington, DC Realtor to be Featured on HGTV
October 13, 2008--Washington, DC-based real estate broker Brandon Green is taping a segment on HGTV's Get It Sold, a national cable program that focuses on properties that need some sprucing up or overhauling to make them more attractive to potential sellers.
This is Green's second encounter with HGTV, he was interviewed earlier this year for an appearance on HGTV's Get It Sold.
The taping takes place November 3rd, 11th and 14th and the segment is schedule to air in the Spring of 2009, just in time for the height of the buying and selling phase in the local market.
The tapings involve discussions about how to price a home and host an effective open house.
According to HGTV's website, Get It Sold helps people who haven't been able to sell their house in a softening real estate market. Top realtors explain why buyers aren't biting, and staging expert Sabrina Soto suggests simple fixes (no carpenter required) to get the home ready for the open house. A listing agent provides a close look at the competition through tours of other comparable homes in the area. Once the staging makeover is complete, it's time for the open house to get the house sold.The program airs on Wednesdays 8:30 EST and Sundays 11:30am EST.
Brandon Green is a residential and commercial real estate firm working in Washington, DC, northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.For more information about Brandon Green, visit www.brandongreenandassociates.com
Tip Sheets
Are foreclosed properties worth bidding on?
A national report released this week indicates the foreclosure rate
jumped 50 percent over the same period last year. With the this
significant number of properties on the market, new home shoppers and
beginner real estate investors are asking the question: is a
foreclosed home a good option for me?
According to DC-area realtor Brandon Green, it might be, with some provisions.
First, Green recommends that when talking with a realtor, new home shoppers ask for foreclosed properties too.
"Typically, a lender will try to auction off a property to reclaim the
cost of the loan, but if that doesn't work, the lender will often drop
the price and the property will enter the multiple listing service
(MLS) so all agents and buyers have access to," Green said.
If you are going to take the foreclosure plunge, realize that many
foreclosed properties are in far worse shape than typical homes on the
market, Green said.
"Pest inspection is a must as many foreclosures have bug infestations
such as carpet beetles, roaches, termites, rats and mice," he said.
Additionally, buyers should ensure the property is secured from contract to close so that further deterioration doesn't occur.
"Most bank contracts state the bank will not address anything that
occurs during the contract to close period which puts the buyer in a
bind if something does happen during this time period," Green said.
If your bid is accepted on a foreclosed home, this provision in your contract is a must, he insisted.
Greed Not Good for Buyers or Sellers
In the 1980s Gordon Gecko made the phrase "Greed is Good" a capitalist's mantra.
Today, home sellers, and buyers, have taken that rallying cry too far, according
to Brandon Green, a DC-area full service real estate broker.
Green urges prospective buyers to look for deals but cautions that greed can
cause delay and missed opportunities.
"Many buyers think they can leverage a down market and extract things
they normally wouldn't ask for," he said. For instance, some buyers
insist on the seller fixing everything on a home inspection list rather
than negotiating more carefully based on more expensive, common sense
repairs.
Green has also noticed that increasingly buyers are low-balling sellers as if
they were taking joy in bringing sellers to their knees.
"You simply can't pick up a row house in Dupont Circle for $50,000," he said,
citing one egregious example of low-balling.
While greed is normally associated with sellers over pricing their homes in an
up market, Green cautions that buyers can also take the "Greed is Good" motto
too far.
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