Mel Foster Co. Supports First Day Project

Mel Foster Co. is supporting the First Day Project by becoming a drop off location and collecting school supplies for local students. Through the end of July, donation boxes are available at Mel Foster Co. metro Quad Cities offices including I-74 and Elmore Avenue in Davenport, Kimberly Road in Davenport, Cumberland Square in Bettendorf, 41st Street Moline and downtown Geneseo.

The First Day Project is a collaborative effort with schools, volunteers, businesses and the community working together to gather and distribute supplies to students whose families lack the financial resources to purchase school supplies.

Lynsey Engels, president real estate brokerage of Mel Foster Co., explains why the First Day Project is essential to our community. “Students need basic supplies like pencils and paper to succeed in school. But the big picture result of giving to ensure all students have an equal chance of succeeding goes beyond providing supplies. Students who are equipped with supplies are more confident and start the school year on par with their peers and ready to tackle a new grade. We can give kids that boost they need by doing something as simple as buying folders and dropping off that donation to a Mel Foster Co. office.”

More than 25,000 students in the Quad Cities schools are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program. Some Quad Cities school districts have as many as 90% of the total student population qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Supplies collected through the First Day Project help meet the needs of thousands of students and their families.

The First Day Project was established in 2006 to help increase school supply collections taking place in different Quad City communities.

For more information about Mel Foster Co., please visit www.melfosterco.com

 

2018 Spring Parade of Homes

See the latest trends in new home construction at the Spring 2018 Quad Cities Parade of Homes. Admission is free! The Parade of Homes schedule is as follows:

Saturday, April 14 & Sunday, April 15 from 1 pm – 5 pm

Wednesday, April 18 from 5 pm – 7pm

Saturday, April 21 & Sunday, April 22 from 1 pm – 5 pm

To see all the homes in the parade and to learn more about the Parade of Homes, visit http://qcbr.org/events/spring-preview-parade-homes/

4617 Cottage Lane Bettendorf, IA

4617 Cottage Lane Bettendorf
4 BR; 3 BA

  • Existing Trees
  • 2 Stocked Ponds
  • Community Pool, coming soon!
6834 Grover Station, Bettendorf, IA

6834 Grover Station, Bettendorf
5 BR; 5 BA

  • Covered Porch
  • 2 Story Great Room
  • Walk-in Pantry
  • Walkout Lower Level
4661 Mason Run, Bettendorf, IA

4661 Mason Run, Bettendorf
4 BR; 4.5 BA

  • Distinctive Architecture
  • Huge 2nd Story Vestibule
  • Daylight Basement Windows
  • 9′ Ceilings All levels
4476 Slate Creek Drive, Bettendorf, IA

4476 Slate Creek Drive, Bettendorf
3 BR; 3.5 BA

  • Townhome
  • Quartz Countertops
  • Wood Flooring
  • 9′ Ceilings
  • Walk-outs Available
7043 St. Ann Drive, Bettendorf, IA

7043 St. Ann Drive, Bettendorf
5 BR; 5 BA

  • Finished Lower Level
  • Large Landscaped Lot
  • Gorgeous Kitchen
  • Large Master Suite
5052 Woody Creek Lane, Bettendorf, IA

5052 Woody Creek Lane, Bettendorf
5 BR; 4.5 BA

  • 14″ Ceilings – Great Room
  • Walk-in Pantry
  • Main Level Master Suite
  • Viking Appliance Package
1006 W. Pinehurst Drive, Eldridge, IA

1006 W. Pinehurst Drive, Eldridge
4 BR; 3.5 BA

  • 3,500 Finished Sq. Ft.
  • Walk-out Lower Level
  • Rustic Fireplace
  • Wet Bar, Rec Room
401 Torrey Pines Drive, Eldridge, IA

401 Torrey Pines Drive, Eldridge
3 BR; 2.5 BA

  • Open Great Room/Kitchen
  • 9′ Ceilings all levels
  • Oversized 3 car garage
  • 2nd Floor Laundry
32 Blackstone Way, LeClaire, IA

32 Blackstone Way, LeClaire
4 BR; 2.5 BA

  • Open concept main floor with Great Room
  • Granite Countertops & White Kitchen
  • Hand Scrapped Hardwood Floors
101 Cobblestone Lane, LeClaire, IA

101 Cobblestone Lane, LeClaire
4 BR; 4.5 BA

  • Finished Lower Level
  • Granite Countertops
  • Cathedral Ceilings in Great Room
  • Hardwood Floors Main Floor

Mel Foster Co. Website Recognized for Excellence

Mel Foster Co.  has been awarded the Website Quality Certification (WQC) from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a global community of more than 565 high quality independent real estate firms in 65 countries. The certification was presented in recognition of excellence in website design, content and functionality.

Mel Foster Co.’s’s website, www.melfosterco.com, received high marks in a variety of critical areas relating to website performance, including usability, design, content, interactivity, customer service and mobile responsiveness. The evaluation was conducted by Virtual Results, LLC, a real estate internet and social marketing firm selected by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® to review the websites of participating members.

The specific measurements for the WQC are updated each year to reflect the most current online marketing strategies, as well as evolving consumer preferences. Companies must be re-certified every two years to maintain the certification.

“The 135 companies that earned the WQC this year offer consumers engaging websites with effective design, deep local content and the most current information on homes, not only in their local markets, but also around the world. We are delighted to recognize them for offering a superior online experience for consumers and supporting them further with exceptional customer support,” said Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® President/CEO Pam O’Connor.

“We know local consumers have a choice when searching for a buying or listing agent.  We want to continue to offer the best tools in the market to be the top resource for buyers and sellers and to help our agents stay competitive.  Mel Foster Co. feels it is essential to invest heavily in digital marketing platforms and we are pleased that our efforts have been recognized with this international award,” said Lynsey Engels, president real estate brokerage of Mel Foster Co.

Mel Foster Co. is the Quad Cities and surrounding area’s representative of LeadingRE (www.LeadingRE.com). With a global membership that spans six continents, LeadingRE connects more than 565 firms and 130,000 sales associates who produce over 1.1 million real estate transactions each year. As a member of LeadingRE, Mel Foster Co. provides a quality real estate experience, global marketing reach and access to top real estate professionals in virtually any market worldwide.

For more information about Mel Foster Co., please visit www.melfosterco.com.

Mel Foster Co.’s Boland Speaks at Global Real Estate Event

Deb Boland, Director of Relocation with Mel Foster Co., was a speaker at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Annual Conference, held January 31-February 2 at Wynn Las Vegas. The conference was part of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) Conference Week, a series of educational and networking events that attracted an elite audience of nearly 3,000 real estate professionals from 24 countries.

The conference was open only to brokers, managers and relocation professionals affiliated with LeadingRE, an invitation-only network of the highest quality independent real estate companies. Attendees explored how to leverage the trends driving the real estate market, including the economic landscape, home technology and design, and consumer preferences.

Boland presented information on Leading RE’s Military on the Move®, sharing insights on how active duty and retired military personnel, wounded warriors, or active career policy and firefighters can earn a rebate when buying or selling a home.  She also provided how Mel Foster Co. Relocation has implemented the program to provide the agents the information needed to be successful with the program.

“To be able to share thoughts and processes with our colleagues who have the same goals is important as it helps us grow and enhance our relocation systems for our clients,” said Boland.  Being with some of the best relocation leaders in the industry helps create an engaging atmosphere.”

Boland was among a notable line-up of speakers, which included keynote speakers such as two-time World Series Champion, former Chicago Cubs player and first runner-up on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars David Ross; award-winning journalist and noted host of On Second Thought for Georgia Public Broadcasting Celeste Headlee; renowned real estate speaker and author Darryl Davis and LeadingRE Chief Economist Dr. Marci Rossell. Additional thought leaders from across the industry were on hand to address a variety of timely topics, with a focus on ways to best meet the needs of today’s home buyers and sellers.

One of the things that sets our conference apart is the generous spirit of collaboration among our members,” said Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of LeadingRE. “The speakers who share their professional strategies and insights to support the success of fellow members help ensure our sessions are timely and impactful, as we respond to market trends and strive to offer the very best service to consumers around the world.”

Mel Foster Co. is a multi-generational, family owned business and specializes in residential and commercial real estate sales and offers a wide range of services including new construction, relocations, farm and land sales, land development, senior services, career development and insurance.

Mel Foster Co. is the Quad Cities and surrounding area representative of LeadingRE (www.LeadingRE.com). With a global membership that spans six continents, LeadingRE connects more than 565 firms and 130,000 sales associates who produce over 1.1 million real estate transactions each year. As a member of LeadingRE, Mel Foster Co. provides a quality real estate experience, global marketing reach and access to top real estate professionals in virtually any market worldwide.

For more information about Mel Foster Co., please visit www.melfosterco.com

Mel Foster Co. Celebrates 2017 Achievements

Mel Foster Co. held its annual awards reception last night at the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, Iowa. Rob Fick, president and CEO, Lynsey Engels, president real estate brokerage and Marc Engels, president of Mel Foster Insurance, honored and recognized 130 award winners within the organization for their 2017 achievements.

Fick congratulated sales associates and staff on a strong year and shared with them, “Our agents and staff are some of the best in the industry and the reason for our success. We’ve just finished a very successful year and indications show 2018 will follow many of the same market trends. The economy is still robust, low interest rates continue to make home buying very affordable by historical standards, and more people are employed and in a financial position to buy a home or business.”

The commercial division, led by Thad DenHartog, continued to dominate the market. Their sales volume continued to reach record-breaking levels with a five percent increase in 2017. Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services was ranked number one in the Quad Cities Commercial MLS with over 42 percent of the market share volume in 2017, up 16 percent from 2016.  The next competitor had 28 percent of the commercial sales volume. Three of the company’s commercial brokers ranked in the top 5 in the Quad Cities Commercial MLS.  “We are thrilled to see our commercial division continue to hold such a strong position in the Quad City market,” said Engels.

Mel Foster Insurance continued to grow its footprint in the region and acquired Frazier & Associates of LeClaire, Iowa in 2017. The insurance division increased both total premiums written and policy count over five percent from 2016 and client base increased by 14%.  Marc Engels, president of Mel Foster Insurance, said, “We are uniquely positioned in the market as a local full-service, independent agency with specialized professionals focused on serving our clients with business risk management, employee benefits, individual/group retirement planning, and personal insurance solutions. We are proud that we added 1,283 policies in 2017 exclusive of our acquisition of Frazier & Associates. We have a 95.4% client retention rate agency-wide, which is a testament to the exceptional service we provide to our personal and business clients. We expect our growth and retention to reach new heights in 2018 in part due to the strengthening economy.”

The residential real estate sales team gave another remarkable performance in 2017 with a nine percent increase company-wide in sales volume and number of transaction sides (either listings or selling) over the previous year. All nine office locations reported an increase in sales volume with the Galesburg office leading the way with a 34 percent increase from last year. Company-wide, residential agents averaged 17 transactions in 2017, an increase of at least one per agent. The average time to get homes sold was successfully lowered from 61 days to 55 days in 2017.  In the metro Quad Cities, sale prices rose five percent in 2017 for an average sales price of $191,349 per the Quad Cities Area Realtor Association.  Eleven residential agents were in the top 10 of their respective MLS compared to nine last year.

Construction of new homes surged in 2017 as Mel Foster Co., who is the largest land developer in the Quad Cities continued to develop neighborhoods on both sides of the river. The company developed more than 165 residential lots in six different subdivisions in both Iowa and Illinois in 2017 with plans to develop over 500 lots in future additions.  Lynsey Engels, president, real estate brokerage said, “The increased demand for new construction lots is a great indicator for a strong market in 2018.  We are pleased to be positioned to meet this higher demand with a wide range of neighborhoods offering lots in multiple price ranges.”

The high numbers across all the division are the result of the tireless efforts of a dedicated team of professionals and a focused strategy to provide the best real estate and insurance experience. “This is an exciting time for everybody within Mel Foster Co. We posted the best year since the housing bubble peaked in 2008. Our success would not be possible without the hard work of every single person within each of our divisions,” Fick concluded.

In addition to another impressive year of sales growth, Mel Foster Co. welcomed 26 new agents and staff into the company in 2017. Mel Foster Co. has residential offices in Bettendorf, Clinton and Davenport, Iowa and Galesburg, Geneseo, Kewanee, Moline and Savanna, Illinois.

MEL FOSTER CO. AGENTS RANKED REAL Trends AMERICA’S BEST

Mel Foster Co. logoRT-AB-Badge-Lockup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mel Foster Co. is pleased to announce that several of their agents have been named as one of America’s most productive agents as a part of REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents, the ranking report produced by REAL Trends and sponsored by The Zillow Group.

REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents ranks over 12,600 residential real estate professionals solely based on their excellence in real estate sales during calendar year 2016. All production numbers are independently verified by a third-party in order to ensure accuracy and report integrity.  “This group of highly successful real estate sales agent represents less than 1 percent of all real estate practitioners in the United States,” says Steve Murray, publisher of REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents and president of REAL Trends.

To qualify for inclusion, an individual agent must have closed at least 50 transaction sides, compared with the industry average of 8.6, or $20 million in closed sales volume in 2016. This ensures that only the best of the best are included on the prestigious list.

The rankings are complied based on survey from virtually every national branded network, many state and local associations of Realtors®, multiple listing services, all applicants from past years’ rankings, and the 1,600 largest brokerage firms in the United States.

The real estate agents are ranked in two categories:

  • Individual agent – Sales volume
  • Individual agent – Transaction sides (in each real estate transaction there are two sides that can be represented by a real estate agent; the buy side and the selling side)

For Individuals by Volume, in Iowa, two Mel Foster Co. agents ranked in the top ten:

  • Brad Boeye, Kimberly Road office, ranked #8
  • Geri Doyle, Davenport I-74 office, ranked #10

For Individuals by Sides, in Iowa, seven Mel Foster agents ranked out of 119:

  • Lucky Lang II, Davenport I-74 office, ranked #17
  • Brad Boeye, Davenport Kimberly Road office, ranked #27
  • Geri Doyle, Davenport Kimberly Road office, ranked #54
  • Mary Leslie Douglas, Clinton office, ranked #66
  • Sara Smith, Davenport I-74 office, ranked #67
  • Dan Schneckloth, Davenport I-74 office, ranked #104
  • Scott Kelling, Davenport I-74 office, ranked #115

For individuals by Sides, in Illinois, seven Mel Foster Co. agents ranked out of 267:

  • Diana Franks, Geneseo office, ranked #52
  • Paula Nabb, Moline office, ranked #155
  • Peggy Tossell, Kewanee office, ranked #170
  • Chuck Ross, Galesburg office, ranked #190
  • Sara Varner, Galesburg office, ranked #203
  • Jennifer Evans, Galesburg office, ranked #227
  • Rhianna Schroeder, Galesburg office, ranked #243

“Having our agents recognized on REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents list, shows Mel Foster Co. agents are dedicated to their industry, their business and their clients.  They are part of an elite group of real estate agents across the country,” said Lynsey Engels, Mel Foster Co.’s President Real Estate Brokerage.

 

About Mel Foster Co. Real Estate

Founded in 1921, Mel Foster Co. is a real estate leader in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serving Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island and the surrounding Quad City area. It is one of Iowa’s largest independently owned real estate companies. Mel Foster Co. Real Estate specializes in residential and commercial sales and offers services for a broader spectrum of property transactions including farm and land, land development and management, relocation and new construction. Visit www.melfosterco.com for more information.

 

About REAL Trends

REAL Trends is a privately-held, Colorado-based publishing, consulting and communications company specializing in the residential brokerage and housing industries. Recognized as the leading source of trends in the industry, REAL Trends, The Trusted Source, also publishes the REAL Trends The Thousand, as advertised in The Wall Street Journal and the REAL Trends 500, which ranks the top brokerage firms in the United States. Visit REAL Trends at www.realtrends.com.

Zillow is a registered trademark of Zillow, Inc. Trulia is a registered trademark of Trulia, LLC. These marks are used with permission.

Mel Foster Insurance and The Selective Insurance Group Foundation Provide Matching Grants

MF INSURANCE LOGOMel Foster Insurance and The Selective Insurance Group Foundation joined forces to support the positive efforts of Jordan’s Joy through a $500 grant. The Selective Insurance Group Foundation is a philanthropic affiliate of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGI).

“Mel Foster Insurance wants to be a positive force in the communities we serve,” said Marc Engels, President, Mel Foster Insurance.  “Through combined efforts with partners like The Selective Insurance Group, we have an opportunity to make a difference in children and their families suffering from life threatening illnesses.”

The grant represents a $500 donation from Mel Foster Insurance, matched by a $500 grant from The Selective Insurance Group Foundation. The grant will help Jordan’s Joy’s efforts to help bring joy and comfort to families battling life threatening and rare diseases.

“At Selective, Response is everything®… and this includes responding to the communities where we live and work to give back and help those in need. Together with Mel Foster Insurance, we are proud to support Jordan’s Joy and its efforts to make a difference in the community,” said Chuck Musilli, Senior Vice President, Distribution Strategies, Selective.

First Time Home Buyers Savings Program

First Time Home Buyers Savings Program in Iowa
First Time Home Buyers Savings Program in Iowa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Iowa Association of REALTORS® 515-453-1064 info@iowarealtors.com, 5/25/17

Hard work pays off. The First Time Home Buyers Savings Program has been signed!

REALTORS® know that homeownership is the American dream. With the First Time Home Buyer Program, Iowans will be able to start saving and moving into a home of their own more quickly than in recent years.

Through a grant from the National Association of REALTORS®, we rallied Iowa REALTORS® and consumers to contact our legislature about the benefits of homeownership and the importance of the program. Ultimately, the First Time Home Buyer Program, Senate File 505, passed in the Senate with a vote of 49-11 and passed in the House with a vote of 87-11. Governor Branstad signed the bill Tuesday, May 9, 2017. It will go into effect January 1, 2018.

The Iowa Association of REALTORS® will be working with the Department of Revenue to implement the new program. A few key features of the program include:

● This bill allows individuals to open an interest-bearing savings account and designate the account as a first-time homebuyer savings account.

● The funds must be used to buy a property in Iowa.

● A first-time homebuyer is identified as an Iowa resident who has not owned a single-family residence for at least three years prior to the home purchase for which the account’s funds are applied.

● An individual may establish more than one account as long as each account has a different beneficiary.

● Parents and grandparents can start an account for a child or grandchild.

● There is no limit as to how much can be retained in each account.

● An account holder is allowed to deduct from the individual income tax the amount of contributions made during the year by the account holder to the account holder’s accounts, not to exceed $2,000 per year or $4,000 for married taxpayers with a joint account.

● The interest earned on the account is not taxable.

● The yearly tax deduction can be taken up to 10 times (a max of 10 years).

● This is a state tax deduction NOT a tax credit.

● It cannot be deducted on federal taxes.

● If the money is not used to buy an Iowa property, it may be subject to penalty.

The Iowa Association of Realtors® is the state’s largest real estate professional organization representing almost 7,000 members and affiliates. Anyone is eligible to become an IAR affiliate. For membership information, visit www.iowarealtors.com.

Mel Foster Co.’s Boland Addresses Global Real Estate Event

Mel Foster Leading RE Logo 2016Deb Boland, Director of Relocation with Mel Foster Co., spoke at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Annual Conference, which took place March 1-3 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The conference was part of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) Conference Week, a series of events that drew an impressive audience of 2,000 real estate professionals from 25 countries.

The prestigious event was open only to brokers, managers and relocation professionals affiliated with LeadingRE, a selective global community of the highest quality independent real estate companies. Attendees examined the dynamic factors impacting today’s real estate market and explored ways to best meet the needs of home buyers and sellers.

Boland presented information on Streamlining Relocation Operations for Optimal Results, sharing insights on creating and managing relocation processes.  “To be able to share thoughts and processes with colleagues who have the same goals is important as it helps us grow and face the new relocation challenges of today,” said Boland.  “We have been very successful creating and managing a relocation services department within Mel Foster Co. It was our privilege to share our best practices at the conference and learn from others who offer relocation services around the world.”

Boland was among a notable line-up of speakers, which included keynote speakers John Foley, former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels; Josh Linkner, New York Times bestselling author, successful five-time entrepreneur, venture capitalist and national columnist; LeadingRE Chief Economist Marci Rossell; and an impressive line-up of industry thought leaders, marketing strategists and technology innovators.

“We are so thankful for our member speakers who share their professional insights and success strategies with their fellow members,” said Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of LeadingRE. “This spirit of collaboration and generosity really sets our global community apart and ensures our event provides such timely and pertinent content for attendees.”

Lynsey Engels, President Real Estate Brokerage, Mel Foster Co. says, “Deb’s expertise is invaluable and we are honored that she has been selected by her peers at Leading RE to provide her knowledge and expertise at the conference.”

Mel Foster Co. is the Quad Cities and surrounding area representative of LeadingRE (www.LeadingRE.com). With a global membership that spans six continents, LeadingRE connects more than 550 firms and 130,000 sales associates who produce over 1.2 million real estate transactions each year. As a member of LeadingRE, Mel Foster Co. provides a quality real estate experience, global marketing reach and access to top real estate professionals in virtually any market worldwide.

For more information about Mel Foster Co. Relocation, please visit www.melfosterco.com.

Mel Foster Insurance Earns Leadership Circle Status

MF INSURANCE LOGOMel Foster Co. Inc. is proud to announce its insurance division, Mel Foster Insurance, has earned a spot in the 2017 Leadership Circle for Integrity Insurance, a property and casualty carrier.  This recognition honors the top-tier of agencies for their work in 2016. To achieve Leadership Circle status, Mel Foster Insurance met specific criteria based on premium, profitability and growth.

Integrity President Jill Wagner Kelly stated, “Mel Foster Insurance is among the best of the best. They are a strong partner who is committed to providing top-notch service and expertise to policyholders. It’s a pleasure to see them thrive and write profitable business with Integrity.”

“This recognition is truly an honor. While the criteria for receiving this leadership status include reaching milestones for premium, profitability, growth and loss ratio, it’s the staff we have at Mel Foster Insurance, that earns and keeps business from local clients, that really helps set us apart,” said Mel Foster Insurance President Marc Engels.

Mel Foster Insurance is located at 3218 E 35th St C, Davenport, IA. For more information on their services, visit melfosterinsurance.com.


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