If you’re looking to improve your real estate career, consider joining a brokerage that puts emphasis on teamwork and peer relationships. Even though that might not be something that initially comes to mind as a helpful resource in real estate. Green Team Realty is showing the positive effects that it has on its agents’ work.
“Small Groups” was created by Green Team Realty to give its sales associates the opportunity to connect and learn more from their peers. Each group consists of 1 group leader and no more than 10 group members. These meetings occur monthly with the exception of August and December. Every group is then given activities and discussion topics that cover everything from sales skills to health and wellness.
Carol Buchanan was the first sales associate to lead one of these groups. She has been a real estate professional for nearly 29 years, a member of Green Team New York Realty for four years, and achieved the Gold Award for $5-10 Million in Sales Volume for 2021. . Her group meets on the second Friday of every month and the members have grown exceptionally close since its start. Carol works with Morgan Beattie, New York’s Agent Service Manager (ASM), to make sure that her group has everything they need for the meetings including printouts and snacks.
Carol, as well as the other group leaders, are experienced professionals and great people for their group members to learn from.
Green Team Realty hires agents of all experience levels and Small Groups is a great asset to new and experienced agents alike. If this sounds like a team you would enjoy being part of, consider reaching out to us to learn more about what Green Team offers its agents.
“New Jersey Realtors® is proud to have members who are experts in their fields, advocates in their communities and leaders amongst their peers. Throughout the year, New Jersey Realtors® honors the accomplishments of select members through prestigious awards.”
On Wednesday, May 18th, Green Team Realty agents attended the Annual Circle of Excellence Extravaganza Ceremony hosted by SCAR. This event is held to recognize and celebrate Realtors® who have achieved outstanding results.
The 2021 Circle Of Excellence Awards Levels Are as follows:
Platinum: $20 million and 30 units minimum, or 125 units
Gold: $12 million and 25 units minimum, or 90 units
Silver: $6.5 million and 20 units minimum, or 70 units
Bronze: $2.5 million and 15 units minimum, or 30 units”
Most noteworthy, this is the first year Green Team New Jersey Realty has had a sales associate in each of the four categories.
Green Team New Jersey’s NJ Realtors® Circle Of Excellence® Sales Award® Recipients Are:
Keren Gonen is the first to reach the Platinum Level for more than $20 million in sales.
Kristi Anderson achieved Gold Level, with over $12 million in sales.
Green Team’s 2021 Awards Ceremony was held on Friday evening, April 1, at Crystal Springs Resort in Vernon. Celebrating together was especially meaningful, after two years of virtual events. COVID-19 created challenges, however, it also created opportunities. Green Team Sales Associates worked non-stop throughout the pandemic. Furthermore, they had to adhere and adjust to ever-changing COVID regulations while meeting the demands of the market; in so doing, many Green Team Associates achieved their personal best in sales. Thus, new categories of Sales Volume Levels were created. For all categories, Green Team New York/ New Jersey Realty recognizes the dedication, determination, and excellent client service that resulted in these sales volumes. These sales volumes resulted in Green Team New York Realty being #1 In Warwick NY. And Green Team New Jersey Realty #1 in Vernon NJ.
Geoff Green, President, Green Team Realty, with the Top Three Producers of 2021: (From l to r) Jennifer DiCostanzo, Keren Gonen, and Tiffany Megna.
And the Sapphire and GTNJR Yearly Sales Leader Awards go to… Keren Gonen
The Green Team New Jersey Realty 2021 Yearly Sales Leader has been in this category several times before. Not only is Keren Gonen the 2021 Yearly Sales Leader, but with over $22 Million in sales, Keren is the first Sales Associate to reach the Sapphire level. This new level was created to recognize those with a sales volume of $20 to 30 Million. It is no surprise that Keren has earned this recognition.
Keren works hard, and it shows. She has been the sales leader at GTNJR for the past 8 quarters. In fact, Keren was the Yearly Sales Leader when she joined Green Team New Jersey Realty in 2017. Then, in 2020 she joined the MVP Circle with over $10 Million in sales volume. In addition, Keren received the 2021 NJ Realtors® Gold Circle of Excellence Award. Not surprisingly, she is in the top 20 agents in Sussex County.
Keren has been featured in Top Agent Magazine and recognized in a National Honors Program by Broker★Agent Advisor.
And the Diamond, GTNYR Yearly Sales Leader, and Momentum Builder Awards go to… Jennifer DiCostanzo
Jennifer DiCostanzo has been the yearly sales leader every year since joining Green Team New York Realty in 2016. In addition, she became the first Green Team Sales Associate to receive the MVP award for over $10 million in sales. In fact, Jen has achieved MVP status three times to date. She even surpassed these achievements with a sales volume, for the 3rd Quarter of 2021, of over $10 Million; she is now the first to achieve the Diamond level, for a sales volume of $15 to $20 Million.
Jen is among the top 20 selling agents in Orange County for 2021, which puts her in the top 1%. She is a Sales Representative Specialist and Accredited Buyer’s Representative. In addition, she has achieved Pricing Strategy Advisor and Seniors Real Estate Specialist designations. Jen has been featured in Top Agent Magazine. Furthermore, Jen has been named a Real Estate All-Star by Hudson Valley Magazine for the past two years.
In addition, Jen received the Momentum Builder Award, which reads:
” In recognition of her ability to create the most positive and consistent momentum in her professional career while maintaining the same impetus reflected in many aspects of her personal life.”
Platinum Awards for $10 to $15 Million in Sales were presented to:
Tiffany Megna, Green Team New York Realty, was Green Team Realty’s 3rd Top Producer of 2021. Kristi Anderson, Green Team New Jersey Realty, was the 4th Top Producer. And Nancy Sardo, Green Team New York Realty, was Top Producer #5.
Gold Awards for $5 to $10 Million in Sales were presented to:
Team Players, Mentor of the Year, and Citizens of the Year:
Team Players are chosen by their peers, “in recognition of their reliability, positivity, and dependability, while exhibiting dedication and devotion to the agency and team.” The sales associates of Green Team New York Realty selected Britanni Gaucher as their Team Player and Green Team New Jersey Realty sales associates selected Charles Nagy as theirs!
Tammy Scotto earned her award for Mentor of the Year “in recognition of her dedication, dependability, and devotion to Her mentees.”
Finally, Citizens of the Year are selected in recognition of their valuable contributions and outstanding support to our community. This is a very special award, in that each winner will have $500 from Green Team Realty to be donated to the charity of their choice. Green Team New York Realty selected Wayne Patterson as their Citizen of the Year. Kristi Andersonwas selected by Green Team New Jersey Realty as their Citizen of the Year.
Thank you to our sponsors!
We could not have held such a fantastic awards event without our wonderful sponsors!
The Inside Sales Associates play an integral part in providing leads to sales associates. The Green Team ISA Team is Giovanni Lasalandra, Director of Business Development; Kevin Many, Sandra Medina, and Jimmy Cosenza.
In addition, Kevin Many received an award in recognition of great achievement for exchange opportunities for the NuOp platform, with over 500 Ops exchanged in 2021.
And where would we be without our phenomenal support staff…
Behind-the-scenes support is essential to providing our sales associates with the resources, training, tools, and services they need to best conduct their businesses. Geoff Green acknowledged the hardworking Green Team HQ support staff: Broker Managers Lucyann Tinnirello, Carol Buchanan, and Kim Lasalandra; Lora Chandra, Director of Operations; Andy Clough, Digital Marketing Support; Diana Clough, Controller; Nicole McCormick, Director of Marketing. In addition, we have Morgan Beattie and Natalee DiMichele, Agent Service Managers; Linda Vandeweert, Sign Installation Manager; Susan Wynn, Copywriter; Jane Tuomala, Marketing Assistant; and Brittani Gaucher, Agent Service Representative.
Team Up for Hope
Geoff asked the Board of Team Up for Hope, a non-profit organization he co-founded and chairs, to talk about what the organization has accomplished. Team Up for Hope is made up of an all-volunteer group of Green Team sales associates and staff. Locally, the organization addresses the challenges of mental health, drug use, and suicide by raising money for non-profit volunteer organizations at the forefront of addressing these issues. Team Up for Hope also produces webinars that bring in experts and advocates to provide knowledge, resources, and answer questions on these issues.
Globally, as the invasion of Ukraine began, Team Up for Hope began raising money for a relief organization in Poland assisting the refugees and will continue to do so. A webinar is planned with that organization so that we can all see the many needs that exist. Please visit the Team Up for Hope website and Facebook page for updates, to learn more about our organization, how you can help, and how to donate.
After the award presentations, the party got started…
DJ Chris Paul got the party started and kept it going as Green Teamers hit the dance floor. After a year of challenges, hard work, and dedication, it was wonderful to be able to celebrate with friends.
For buyers, expect competition, be ready to move fast, and be prepared to submit your strongest offer. For sellers, know your house will be the center of attention and that it’ll likely sell quickly and get multiple offers.
If you’re ready to move, let’s connect to talk about our local area and how you can take advantage of today’s unprecedented housing market.
As a homebuyer, it’s important to plan and budget for the expenses you’ll encounter when you purchase a home. While most people understand the need to save for a down payment, a recent survey found 41% of homebuyers were surprised by their closing costs. Here’s some information to help you get started so you’re not caught off guard when it’s time to close on your home.
What Are Closing Costs?
One possible reason some people are surprised by closing costs may be because they don’t know what they are or what they cover. According to U.S. News and World Report:
“Closing costs encompass a variety of expenses above your property’s purchase price. They include things like lender fees, title insurance, government processing fees, upfront tax payments and homeowners insurance.”
In other words, your closing costs are a collection of fees and payments made to a variety of individuals and organizations who are involved with your transaction. According to Freddie Mac, while they can vary by location and situation, closing costs typically include:
Government recording costs
Appraisal fees
Credit report fees
Lender origination fees
Title services
Tax service fees
Survey fees
Attorney fees
Underwriting Fees
How Much Will You Need To Budget for Closing Costs?
Understanding what closing costs include is important, but knowing what you’ll need to budget to cover them is critical to achieving your homebuying goals. According to the Freddie Mac article mentioned above, the costs to close are typically between 2% and 5% of the total purchase price of your home. With that in mind, here’s how you can get an idea of what you’ll need to cover your closing costs.
Let’s say you find a home you want to purchase for the median price of $350,300. Based on the 2-5% Freddie Mac estimate, your closing fees could be between roughly $7,000 and $17,500.
Keep in mind, if you’re in the market for a home above or below this price range, your closing costs will be higher or lower.
What’s the Best Way To Make Sure You’re Prepared At Closing Time?
Freddie Mac provides great advice for homebuyers, saying:
“As you start your homebuying journey, take the time to get a sense of all costs involved – from your down payment to closing costs.”
The best way to understand what you’ll need at the closing table is to work with a team of trusted real estate professionals. An agent can help connect you with a lender, and together they can provide you with answers to the questions you might have.
Bottom Line
In today’s real estate market, it’s more important than ever to make sure your budget includes any fees and payments due at closing. Let’s connect so you have the knowledge you need to be confident going into the homebuying process.
For many homebuyers, the thought of saving for a down payment can feel daunting, especially in today’s market. That’s why, when asked what they find most difficult in the homebuying process, some buyers say it’s one of the hardest steps on the path to homeownership. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows:
“For first-time home buyers, 29 percent said saving for a downpayment [sic] was the most difficult step in the process.”
If you’re finding that your down payment is your biggest hurdle, the good news is there are many down payment assistance programs available that can help you achieve your goals. The key is understanding where to look and learning what options are available. Here’s some information that can help.
First-Time and Repeat Buyers Are Often Eligible
According to downpaymentresource.com, there are thousands of financial assistance programs available for homebuyers, like affordable mortgage options for first-time buyers. But, of the many programs that are available, down payment assistance options make up the large majority. They say 73% of the assistance available to homebuyers is there to help you with your down payment.
And it’s not just first-time homebuyers that are eligible for these programs. Downpaymentresource.com notes:
“You don’t have to be a first-time buyer. Over 38% of all programs are for repeat homebuyers who have owned a home in the last 3 years.”
That means no matter where you are in your homeownership journey, there could be an option available for you.
There Are Local Programs and Specialized Programs for Public Servants
There are also multiple down payment assistance resources designed to help those who serve our communities. Teacher Next Door is one of those programs:
“The Teacher Next Door Program was designed to increase home ownership among teachers and other public servants, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination.”
Teacher Next Door is just one program that seeks to help teachers, first responders, health providers, government employees, active-duty military personnel, and veterans reach their down payment goals.
And, most importantly, even if you don’t qualify for these types of specialized programs, there are many federal, state, and local programs available for you to explore. And the best way to do that is to connect with a local real estate professional to learn more about what’s available in your area.
Bottom Line
If saving for a down payment seems daunting, there are programs available that can help. And if you work to serve our community, there may be even more opportunities available to you. To learn more about your options, let’s connect so you can start your homebuying journey today.
The Green Team is proud to announce that Nerette Lewishas decided to join our Vernon, NJ office. We’re excited to have her on our team in both New York and New Jersey and look forward to helping her continue to grow!
Please join us in WelcomingNerette Lewisto The Green Team New Jersey!
Whether you’re buying or selling, there are many perks that come from working with a real estate advisor.
Real estate professionals are experts at navigating all aspects of the buying and selling process, including negotiating on your behalf. We can also explain today’s market and break down what it means for you.
Don’t go at it alone. Let’s connect today so you have advice and an expert to count on each step of the way.
Put an experts eye on your home search! You’ll receive personalized matches of results delivered directly to you. We’ll take into account your goals, criteria, and preferences to find properties that are exactly what you were always dreaming of. Start Here!
Maybe with the leverage you currently have, you can negotiate a deal that will allow you to make the move of your dreams. What’s your home’s value?
Congratulations From Geoffrey Green, President Of Green Team Realty, To Thomas Folinofor reaching the commission cap for Company Dollar Contribution in 2021!
“Coach Tom, as many of us know him, did it again. Two years in a row reaching the cap means that he is here to stay! Everyone in the Warwick area knows how great of a guy Tom is and he simply has carried that through to his Real Estate Career. Tom is a very easy guy to choose as your Realtor because he does a great job, always responds in a timely fashion, and he knows his stuff. Great job Coach. Keep going!”
Tom Folino’s dedication to his clients and hard work has allowed him to reach the cap on his commission with Green Team Realty. This is an outstanding accomplishment and means Tom Folino will now receive a 100% commission split on any deal he closes during 2021.
“I’m very thankful for the trust that my clients have placed in me to be their real estate agent and I take that responsibility very seriously. My #1 priority is to help my clients achieve their goal of selling, buying, or renting .. Without my clients, reaching the cap once again this year wouldn’t have been possible, So a big heartfelt Thank you to all of you who have placed that trust in me!
Reaching the cap is something all agents should be very proud of. In this business, it’s all about getting the job done for your clients while making the process as enjoyable and stress-free as possible for them. When you “cap out” it gives you a sense of accomplishment and is a reward for all of the hard work and commitment you have given to the process and more importantly to your clients.
The commission plan that Geoff Green has implemented for the Green Team Realty gives you the incentive and motivation to work hard and then ultimately rewards all of that hard work.”
Green Team Realty’s commission structure is, no doubt, one of the finest in the industry, but it doesn’t end there. Our lead generation platform, certified sales assistant program, and dynamic training systems are just a few other things worth mentioning.
To learn more about Green Team Realty and why you should join our team click here.
The Green Team is proud to announce that Jeffrey Parmigiani has decided to join our Vernon, NJ office. We’re excited to have him on our team and look forward to helping him grow!
Please join us in WelcomingJeffrey Parmigianito The Green Team New Jersey!
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