Homebuyers begin their search online

Call Classified 214-745-8123. It Works! The Dallas Morning News Friday, August 8, 2008 1W
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Homebuyers begin
their search online
David and Mara Light
, like many other homebuyers, were
searching for a new North Dallas home on the Internet. The Lights were
conducting research from their home in Santa Monica, Calif., and they
did not have six months to a year to search for a house.
“We sent some photos online
so Mara could see what he was
buying,” says Dawn Carmichael of
Carmichael Consulting, who
helped Hawkins-Welwood design
and market its site.
But Hawkins-Welwood’s Web
site is just one of many sites for
North Texas homebuilders and
Realtors that might have attracted
the eager-to-buy Light family.
The key to drawing buyers to
a Web site, according to Ms.
Carmichael, is having an innovative marketing strategy on
the Internet.
According to a
study by the National Association
of Realtors, more
than 80 percent of
prospective buyers
start their home search
on the Internet.
Even if they are
working with a Realtor,
most homebuyers will
do some
research
on the
Web. And many Realtors and
homebuilders say most buyers
today are more informed because
their Internet searches help them
determine their interests and find
homes that are available.
The Internet is a big world,
and to draw traffic to specific sites
takes some creativity, Ms. Carmichael says. That is where her
firm and other Internet marketing
companies come in.
One strategy Hawkins-Welwood uses is to buy
key words from a
search engine like
Google or Yahoo.
Words such as
Dallas homebuilders, custom
homes Dallas
and luxury
homes Dallas
are in such high
demand that
search engines bid
them out. They
can range from 15 cents
per click to $20 per click.
In June, Hawkins-Welwood’s
to.c
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om
They started their online
search, using key words like Dallas
homebuilders, luxury homes
Dallas and custom homes.
After a few clicks, the Lights
found themselves looking at the
Web site of Hawkins-Welwood
Homes, a Dallas luxury homebuilder.
The Lights knew what they
wanted — a two-bedroom,
21⁄2-bath home with a large gameroom that could serve as Ms.
Light’s studio, a kitchen with
state-of-the-art appliances and
granite countertops, hardwood
flooring and a pool.
When the Lights saw a townhome online at Windsor Place in
North Dallas, they knew it was
the perfect home.
The next day, Mr. Light flew
to Dallas to look at homes with
his Realtor, including the townhome at Windsor Place.
“I recognized the townhouses
we’d seen on the Web the night
before,” Mr. Light says. “I knew as
soon as I got into the development that it was right for us.”
Photo by Aeneas Ford
Dawn Carmichael of Carmichael Consulting is assisting Greg Alford of Alford Homes with his Internet marketing. The
luxury custom homebuilder has adopted a strategy of buying several Web sites that attract potential buyers who are
looking for homes in Collin County.
Web site had 1,200 additional
visitors — most likely as a result of
its key word strategy.
Alford Homes, which builds
homes in Prosper, Plano and
Fairview, has adopted a strategy of
buying several Web sites that
attract potential buyers who are
looking for homes in Collin
County. These sites are primarily
splash pages that provide information on local schools, taxes
and recreational amenities, but
they also link to the builder’s site.
Other innovative strategies,
Ms. Carmichael suggests, include
building Facebook and MySpace
profiles and adding blogs to sites
to increase traffic.
She also suggests linking to
other Web sites and seeking out
networking sites such as
www.merchantcircle.com to
increase traffic.
And maybe the most important suggestion: Don’t forget to
buy your own name as a Web site.
Stewart Lytle
stewart@stewartlytle.com
GRAND TREVISO
EBBY HALLIDAY REALTORS
Luxury Las Colinas
condominiums offer
free cruise for two
Geri Cook-Lenahan lists Frisco home
Now is a great time for homebuyers who are interested in purchasing a luxury condominium in Las
Colinas. Grand Treviso Condominiums is offering a
free cruise for two for buyers who contract to purchase a
home and close before Sept. 15. Inventory is limited,
with prices ranging from $169,900 to $1.04 million.
Grand Treviso is ideally located in the urban
center of Las Colinas, minutes from downtown Dallas
and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The
development offers easy access to major freeways,
including State Highway 114, Interstate 635 and the
George Bush Turnpike. It also will be located along the
new DART light rail line from Dallas to D/FW Airport, which will open in 2011. In addition, Grand
Treviso is in close proximity to four golf courses, three
private country clubs, a four-star resort, luxury and
business-class hotels, shopping and dining.
The Grand Treviso offers amenities that include
spacious floor plans with custom closet systems, electronic solar shades, hardwood flooring, granite count-
Inventory at Grand Treviso Condominiums is limited, with
prices ranging from $169,900 to $1.04 million.
ertops, stainless-steel appliances, vaulted ceilings and
views of Lake Carolyn and the Mandalay Canal.
Parisian artwork by Andre Queffurus adorns the
common areas. Other amenities include 24-hour cardio
facilities, a Havana Cigar/Poker Lounge, a private
driving range, 24-hour doorman, concierge services,
guest parking and a rooftop pool.
Grand Treviso is located at 330 E. Las Colinas Blvd.
See GRAND TREVISO on Page 2W.
VIRGINIA COOK REALTORS
COLDWELL BANKER APEX
Firm serves
consumers with
cutting-edge
technology
Homeownership has been a fundamental American value since the Declaration of Independence
was signed in 1776.
“Homeownership is how many households begin
to accumulate wealth — and a record high of 67
percent of Americans now own their home,” says
Virginia Cook, chief executive officer of Virginia
Cook Realtors. “But as the desire to own property is
timeless, the process for acquiring real estate has
changed dramatically.”
According to the National Association of Realtors, real estate transactions are one of the biggest
investments people make. And these transactions
involve more than 20 steps that require financial,
marketing, legal and legislative expertise.
“Our industry is in a constant state of innovation
INSIDE
The home at 3124 Hampshire
Court at Stonebriar in Frisco offers
numerous amenities and decorator
colors. The home is in the community
of Stonebriar, which has an 18-hole golf
course.
Offered for $407,000, the home has
been listed by Geri Cook-Lenahan of
Ebby Halliday Realtors’ Willow Bend
office. It will be open for viewing from 2
to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The home at 3124 Hampshire Court has been listed by Geri Cook-Lenahan
The home has formal living and
of Ebby Halliday Realtors’ Willow Bend office. It will be open for viewing
dining rooms with handscraped hardfrom 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
wood flooring, plantation shutters and
extensive crown molding, including accents around
chandelier, a recessed ceiling with crown molding,
the fireplace.
speakers and a sitting area.
The family room opens off the kitchen and breakThe master bath features a hydro tub, a separate
fast area and includes a fireplace, a television cabinet
shower, molding, two sinks and a walk-in closet with a
with glass display shelf, speakers and molding.
built-in dresser.
The kitchen features an island preparation center
This home has a versatile floor plan with a two- or
with granite, a gas cooktop, a Bosh dishwasher, granite three-bedroom design. The third bedroom has handcountertops, tile flooring and stainless-steel appliances, scraped hardwood flooring plantation shutters and a
including a convection oven. Both the kitchen and the walk-in closet. This room could also serve as a study.
large breakfast areas are light and bright with a wall of
For more information on this property or to schedwindows that offers views of the backyard, which
ule a showing, call Ms. Cook-Lenahan at 214-682-9108
features an arbor-covered patio and a rock waterfall.
or the Ebby Halliday Willow Bend office at 972-608The master suite has a double-door entry, a custom 0300.
Offices earn honors for closed sales
Pictured are, from left, Virginia Cook Realtors’ executive
vice president Sheila Rice, vice president of technology
Chad Hayes and CEO Virginia Cook.
so that consumers can have access to the most comprehensive expertise,” says Ms. Cook, who is serving
the NAR as vice president for Region X and has
been a director for 18 years.
With a focus on 21st-century strategies, Virginia
Cook Realtors offers its associates the resources to
meet this challenge. Company support includes an
intensive two-week training program that addresses
See COOK on Page 5W.
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp. has
recognized three Coldwell Banker Apex
offices as top offices in closed sales for the
southern region for 2008.
Coldwell Banker Apex continues to
grow and earn recognition as one of the top
Coldwell Banker firms in the nation, according to Tom Lainson, business consultant for Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp.
Coldwell Banker Apex was recognized
as the fifth largest Coldwell Banker affiliate
in the United States for the first quarter of
2008 based on closed sales for the period.
Pictured, from left, are Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors’ Bill Tucker,
Richardson branch manager; Julie Gezella, Rockwall branch manager;
“We want to congratulate each of our
hardworking sales associates for the dedica- and Sarah Lee Rose, Rowlett/Forney branch manager.
tion it takes to achieve this level of production,” says
ardson office was ranked No. 10 and the Rockwall
Lori Arnold, president of the firm.
office was ranked No. 6 in a larger office category.
Recognized for exceptional production were the
“The award represents hard work on the part of
Rowlett, Richardson and Rockwall offices.
each of our associates, managers and staff members, as
Each ranked as a top office regionally in their size well as total dedication to the clients we represent,”
Ms. Arnold says.
category for total closed sales in the first quarter of
2008.
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker organization has
The Rowlett office was ranked No. 3, the RichSee CB APEX on Page 7W.
Acreage sites
available
Shadow Lakes is a new,
1,400-acre neighborhood
developed by Southerland
Communities.
See SOUTHERLAND on Page 7W.
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Luxury homes
featured
7
Chapel Creek provides Old
World-style living in Frisco
with custom homes by
area builders.
See LANDPLAN on Page 6W.
W1 _ 08-08-2008 Set: 11:55:52
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