One of the largest privately held real estate brokerages in Martin and St. Lucie Counties, Fla., joins the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Network.

PARSIPPANY, N.J AND PALM CITY, FLA. (Nov. 12, 2008) — Today, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced the affiliation of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Laviano & Associates as the newest member of its network. The firm is one of the largest privately held real estate brokerages in Martin and St. Lucie Counties, Fla. The new affiliation is expected to add significant brand value and substantial resources to the firm, which was established in 1993 as a full-service real estate and property management company. 

One of the largest privately held real estate brokerages in Martin and St. Lucie Counties, Fla., joins the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Network.

PARSIPPANY, N.J AND PALM CITY, FLA. (Nov. 12, 2008) — Today, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced the affiliation of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Laviano & Associates as the newest member of its network. The firm is one of the largest privately held real estate brokerages in Martin and St. Lucie Counties, Fla. The new affiliation is expected to add significant brand value and substantial resources to the firm, which was established in 1993 as a full-service real estate and property management company. 

“In connecting with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, we are identifying ourselves with a brand that is progressive and synonymous with delivering exceptional consumer experiences,” said Vincent J. Laviano, principal broker and president, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Laviano & Associates. “This affiliation will strengthen connections with our clients and provide us added marketing power that will position us favorably for future growth.” 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Laviano & Associates is one of the largest, multi-office real estate companies on the Treasure Coast, with a team of more than 70 sales associates working out of office locations in Stuart, Palm City, and Port St. Lucie, Fla. Effective today, the firm’s property listings will be accessible through www.bhgrealestate.com, a world-class Web site packed with features designed to educate, inform, and inspire consumers. Sales associates will benefit from access to the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agent extranet, which provides innovative tools, services and training that will enable sales associates to deliver even higher levels of customer service. 

“Serving as president of the REALTOR® Association of Martin County, and having won multiple ‘Realtor of the Year’ awards, Vince is exactly the kind of leader that embodies the passion we feel about this industry,” said Sherry A. Chris, president and CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “The whole team at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Laviano & Associates shares Vince’s passion to deliver an exceptional consumer experience and have established for themselves a notable reputation that aligns well with our brand.” 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Laviano & Associates clientele will benefit from award-winning branding to help market their properties. Through the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network, Laviano & Associates will also be able to leverage the power of one of the leading lifestyle brands in the U.S. on behalf of its clientele. 

This is the fourth franchise agreement announced by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC since its launch this summer. The growing network includes Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates with offices in Pennsylvania, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group with offices in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gloor Realty Company, serving over 13 Chicago-area communities. 

The main office of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Laviano & Associates is located at 3174 SW Martin Downs Blvd., Palm City, FL 34990. For more information call 1.772.781.1700.

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. For more information, please visit www.bhgrealestate.com.

^{Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.
Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Office is Independently Owned and Operated.}

48 percent of homeowners would spend $2,500 or more on greening up a home for resale according to the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate "Living Green" Consumer Survey

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Nov. 6, 2008) – A survey conducted at home shows in 15 cities across the country gauging consumer environmental practices suggests that many Americans are going green when it comes to their homes. Despite "cost" being singled out by 36 percent of respondents as the greatest impediment to going green, half of those surveyed have paid more money for an energy efficient product in the past 12 months and one in three homeowners (30%) claim they would be willing to spend $5,000 or more on green improvements to increase a home’s appeal to potential buyers. The findings are the result of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Living Green Consumer Survey, which looked at responses from over 2,300 consumers and is considered accurate to within +/- 2.2%.

48 percent of homeowners would spend $2,500 or more on greening up a home for resale according to the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate "Living Green" Consumer Survey

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Nov. 6, 2008) – A survey conducted at home shows in 15 cities across the country gauging consumer environmental practices suggests that many Americans are going green when it comes to their homes. Despite "cost" being singled out by 36 percent of respondents as the greatest impediment to going green, half of those surveyed have paid more money for an energy efficient product in the past 12 months and one in three homeowners (30%) claim they would be willing to spend $5,000 or more on green improvements to increase a home’s appeal to potential buyers. The findings are the result of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Living Green Consumer Survey, which looked at responses from over 2,300 consumers and is considered accurate to within +/- 2.2%.

These and other national survey results are being announced as a part of the Better Homes and Gardens and Green Works Living Green^{TM Tour} finale - the culmination of an eight-month, 15-city tour promoting healthy and environmentally friendly living. Launched in February 2008 by Better Homes and Gardens magazine and Green Works Natural Cleaners, the tour featured a 2,500 square foot Living Green Home, which showcased how small changes can impact the energy efficiency of everyday homes.

"As their environmental awareness grows, American homeowners are beginning to take action on green issues and are willing to spend their money accordingly," explained Sherry Chris, president and CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. "These survey results confirm homeowners are identifying greater value in green and when the time comes to sell their homes, they will look to convert high consumer awareness levels on the green issue into a market differentiator."

Additional survey findings revealed that 82 percent of respondents believe they are informed when it comes to issues pertaining to the environment. When preparing to buy or sell a home, more than half of those surveyed (51%) believe in the importance of working with a green certified real estate agent ― professionals who can assist in the identification and marketing of homes with high green quotient. This would include knowledge in regards to housing materials and construction, energy efficient appliances and systems, as well as the impact of landscaping on a home’s environmental footprint. In the cities of Hartford, Conn., Greenville, S.C., and San Francisco, two out of three respondents indicated that working with a green agent would be important.

"This tour provided us with an outstanding opportunity to extend our green coverage beyond our magazine pages and Web site," said Gayle Butler, editor in chief, Better Homes and Gardens magazine. "The exhibit offered consumers a hands-on opportunity to learn realistic steps to save money and energy while minimizing their impact on the environment. The added benefits of the survey conducted by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate gives us qualitative insights into the mindset of consumers regarding the green issue."

Some of the other factors keeping survey respondents from being greener included convenience (22%), lack of knowledge on how to (18%) and lack of time (17%). However, many consumers reported engaging in "eco-friendly" or "green" acts in the past six months, including recycling (73%), replacing incandescent lights with CFLs (69%), conserving water (57%), adjusting the thermostat (51%) and purchasing energy efficient appliances (30%).

The Living Green Tour and Exhibit included stops in Hartford, Conn.; Greenville, S.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Miami, Nashville, Tenn., Boston, Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Fla., Atlanta, and New York. More details on the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Living Green Consumer Survey, including an executive summary and presentation, are available upon request.

Methodology

LeadDog Marketing was commissioned to conduct intercept surveys at a series of home shows on behalf of Better Homes and Gardens Living Green Tour. A survey of approximately 16 questions was programmed onto handheld PDA devices. The staff interviewed 2,312 people and each intercept survey took approximately 3 minutes to complete. Data collection was conducted at 15 Living Green Tour stops between 02/29/08 and 10/31/08. The overall sample size is reliable within +/- 2.2% at the 95% confidence level.

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. Better Homes and Garden Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. For more information, please visit www.bhgrealestate.com.

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©2008 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Better Homes and Gardens ® Real Estate Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Third generation Chicago-area brokerage signs long-term franchise agreement to operate under the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand

PARSIPPANY, N.J./CHICAGO, Ill. (Oct. 29, 2008) – Today, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced that Gloor Realty – an independent, family-owned company with firmly established roots in the Oak Park, River Forest and Chicagoland area – has signed a long-term franchise agreement to operate as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gloor Realty Company. This affiliation adds significant brand value and substantial resources to Gloor, a brokerage established in 1946 with a current market presence encompassing 13 Chicago-area communities.

Third generation Chicago-area brokerage signs long-term franchise agreement to operate under the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand

PARSIPPANY, N.J./CHICAGO, Ill. (Oct. 29, 2008) – Today, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced that Gloor Realty – an independent, family-owned company with firmly established roots in the Oak Park, River Forest and Chicagoland area – has signed a long-term franchise agreement to operate as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gloor Realty Company. This affiliation adds significant brand value and substantial resources to Gloor, a brokerage established in 1946 with a current market presence encompassing 13 Chicago-area communities.

“Throughout the past 60 years, Gloor has established itself as one the leading brokerages in the area,” said A. Richard Gloor, broker/owner, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gloor Realty Company. “This agreement gives us additional marketing might and a systematic approach towards future growth – something that will help us nurture our well-established connection with the surrounding communities.”

In 2007, the brokerage’s total approximate sales volume reached over $100 million while its network of 35 sales associates continually demonstrates an exemplary rate of professional real estate designations.

“Gloor Realty has prospered in the Chicago-area for decades and, as a progressive organization, has achieved a high standard of excellence,” said Sherry A. Chris, president and CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “With the Gloor team, we have found a brokerage that shares our passion for this business and our vision for making connections with consumers that go beyond any single transaction.” 

Three generations of Gloor family members have owned and operated Gloor Realty.  At one time or another, a member of each generation of company leadership has served as president of the Oak Park Area Association of Realtors. Over the years, the brokerage has created a reputation based on the delivery of customer service excellence, particularly in the high-end market segment.

“We’ve had many offers to join franchise systems in our history,” said Richard C. Gloor, broker/owner, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gloor Realty. “Yet, none of those offers presented the same advantages offered by Better Home and Gardens Real Estate – an organization that brings greater strength to our marketing, technology and financial modelling capabilities to help our business attain its long-term goals.”

As part of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate franchise system, sales associates with Gloor Realty will now have access to innovative tools, services and training that will enable them to deliver even higher customer service levels. The company’s property listings will be marketed through BHGrealestate.com, an online real estate destination designed to both inform and inspire consumers through rich content and market intelligence. The site’s management and design leverages online marketing muscle to give greater exposure to client property listings, building on Gloor’s key value proposition of unparalleled client service.  

This is the third franchise agreement announced by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate since its launch this summer. The growing network includes Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates with offices in Pennsylvania, and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group with offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. Better Homes and Garden Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. For more information, please visit www.bhgrealestate.com.

©2008 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.  Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.  Equal Opportunity Company.  Equal Housing Opportunity.  Each Better Homes and Gardens ® Real Estate Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced today that Camilla Sullivan has joined its senior leadership team as senior vice president of marketing. Sullivan was most recently a principal at Mansfield Communications, serving as the marketing lead for the Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate brand’s redesign and rollout for its July 2008 launch.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced today that Camilla Sullivan has joined its senior leadership team as senior vice president of marketing. Sullivan was most recently a principal at Mansfield Communications, serving as the marketing lead for the Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate brand’s redesign and rollout for its July 2008 launch.

Sullivan will lead the strategic marketing and communications teams and focus on growing market share for Realogy’s newest real estate brand both domestically and abroad. She will report directly to Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

“Camilla’s 15 years of global marketing and communications experience working with Fortune 500 companies will be instrumental as we enter into the next phase of our growth and development,” said Chris. “Her database marketing depth will benefit our franchise network as we tap the power of Meredith Corporation’s 85-million member consumer database, while her tech sector experience aligns with our strategy to improve the consumer experience through the employment of the latest Web technologies.”

“The opportunity to work with Sherry and her team to create the industry’s first true lifestyle brand is a once in a lifetime chance to integrate all of my past experience in an exciting sector,” said Sullivan. “This is all about redefining a category and this is the team to do it with.”  

Prior to joining Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC, Sullivan also served as the director of global marketing at BearingPoint, and held marketing leadership roles with EDS, both in the U.S. and Australia, as well as senior roles at Toshiba and Compaq.

Sullivan earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Newcastle in Newcastle, Australia, and her master’s degree in commerce from the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

To view a short video clip featuring commentary by Sherry Chris and Camilla Sullivan regarding the appointment, visit the Media Center.

Media Contact:

Kevin Doell

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Kevin.Doell@BHGRealEstate.com

1.973.407.6653

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. Better Homes and Garden Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. For more information, please visit www.bhgrealestate.com.

Top 100 residential real estate brokerage firm signs strategic, 15-year franchise agreement to operate its 30 offices and 600 sales associates under the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate brand in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts

PARSIPPANY, N.J. / KEENE, N.H. (Oct. 20, 2008) – Today, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced that The Masiello Group – one of the top 100 real estate and home services companies in the United States – has signed a strategic, 15-year franchise agreement to operate as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group. The comprehensive agreement adds significant brand value and substantial resources to The Masiello Group, whose existing market presence encompasses 30 offices and 600 sales associates in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. Headquartered in Keene, N.H, the brokerage will begin to do business under the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand name in mid-November.

“This was an opportunity that we simply could not let pass by,” said Christopher J. Masiello, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group. “It’s a strategic and comprehensive relationship with an iconic brand that will help us really connect with consumers. The agreement with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate affords us a range of new media relationships that will enhance our profile and will also serve as a catalyst for our company’s future growth and expansion throughout New England.”

For over three decades, The Masiello Group has delivered real estate services such as buyer and seller representation, relocation, insurance, financing and title searches to consumers across four New England states. A winner of numerous, best-in-class accolades, The Masiello Group was ranked among the top 100 brokerages in the United States by closed sales volume according to REAL Trends with over $1.2 billion in home sales in both 2006 and 2007. 

“As an organization committed to forward thinking, growth and long-term success, The Masiello Group embodies the spirit of our brand as we build toward the future,” said Sherry A. Chris, president and CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “Our brand’s ability to tap into the resources of our parent company Realogy, and the publisher of Better Homes and Gardens, Meredith Corporation, enables us to deliver an unparalleled value proposition to leading brokerage organizations like The Masiello Group. We are proud to have them join us.”

As part of the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate franchise system, sales associates with The Masiello Group will soon gain access to innovative tools, services and training that will enable them to deliver even higher customer service levels. The company’s property listings will be marketed through BHGrealestate.com, an online real estate destination designed to both inform and inspire consumers through rich content and market intelligence. The site’s management and design leverages online marketing muscle to give greater exposure to client property listings, building on The Masiello Group’s key value proposition of unparalleled client service. 

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (www.bhgrealestate.com) is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and homebuyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a national lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. For more information, please visit http://www.bhgrealestate.com.

©2008 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.  Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.  Equal Opportunity Company.  Equal Housing Opportunity.  Each Better Homes and Gardens ® Real Estate Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Nicolai Kolding and Wendy Forsythe Selected to Appear on
Expert Panels at Leading Industry Event

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Aug. 26, 2008) — Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced today that two members of its senior leadership team have been selected to speak at RISMedia’s 19th Annual Leadership Conference, taking place Sept. 3-4, 2008, at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

Nicolai Kolding and Wendy Forsythe Selected to Appear on
Expert Panels at Leading Industry Event

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Aug. 26, 2008) — Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced today that two members of its senior leadership team have been selected to speak at RISMedia’s 19th Annual Leadership Conference, taking place Sept. 3-4, 2008, at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

Nicolai Kolding, chief operating officer, and Wendy Forsythe, vice president, broker services and product development, will each participate in a panel discussion at the conference, which is an industry-leading networking and educational event held annually for real estate and relocation leaders across the country.

Kolding will offer his expertise on the panel, “5 Areas Where You Can Cut Costs—and Profit.”  Utilizing his extensive experience from his previous role as head of the mergers and acquisitions team at Realogy Corporation, the parent company of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC, and at NRT, Realogy’s company-owned brokerage operation, Kolding will discuss how broker owners can better analyze their operations to strategically position their companies for long-term success.

Forsythe will present as part of the panel, “Weeding Out Bad Recruits: 5 Ways to Recruit More Efficiently.”  Forsythe brings more than 15 years of industry experience to the discussion, including running her own brokerage franchise.  A recognized expert in recruiting and training real estate professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada, Forsythe will address proven best practices to attract and retain talent. The panel will discuss the newest technology tools and what it takes to establish a company culture that consistently draws the best industry talent.

Panel details follow:

Panel: 5 Areas Where You Can Cut Costs — and Profit

Participant: Nicolai Kolding, Chief Operating Officer, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

When: September 4, 2008, 10:45 a.m. EST

Where: Terrace Room, Lobby Level, The Roosevelt Hotel, New York City

Panel: Weeding Out Bad Recruits: 5 Ways to Recruit More Efficiently

Participant: Wendy Forsythe, Vice President, Broker Services & Product Development, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

When: September 4, 2008, 9 a.m. EST

Where: Vanderbilt Suite, Second Floor, The Roosevelt Hotel, New York City

For complete biographies on Nicolai Kolding, Wendy Forsythe, and the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate management team, please visit http://tinyurl.com/5o3t7z.

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a national lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. For more information, please visit www.bhgrealestate.com.

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bhgrealestate.com Features Home Listings and Consumer-Friendly Web 2.0 Tools that Make the Process of Buying and Selling Homes More Rewarding

Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate–an international real estate brand inspired by America’s largest home enthusiast magazine brand–officially launches today with the unveiling of its online consumer destination at www.bhgrealestate.com and a press conference being held by company president and CEO, Sherry A. Chris.

bhgrealestate.com Features Home Listings and Consumer-Friendly Web 2.0 Tools that Make the Process of Buying and Selling Homes More Rewarding

Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate–an international real estate brand inspired by America’s largest home enthusiast magazine brand–officially launches today with the unveiling of its online consumer destination at www.bhgrealestate.com and a press conference being held by company president and CEO, Sherry A. Chris.

“The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Web site was designed to help make the online real estate experience a more rewarding one for homebuyers and sellers,” said Chris.  “Beginning with our brand name and our unique relationship with the Better Homes and Gardens magazine brand and its array of consumer marketing resources, we are committed to the delivery of exceptional residential real estate services to our customers.”

The new Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate consumer Web site will launch with more than 300,000 property listings initially and expand rapidly to support parent company Realogy Corporation’s online listings distribution strategy.  Site visitors can access vital information on neighborhoods, housing trends, local market conditions, sales activity and recent sale prices – in short, everything to help in the buying and selling of real estate. Additionally, the site will be integrated with www.bhg.com, the interactive companion to Better Homes and Gardens magazine, to increase exposure to consumers already interested in homes and home buying.

“This is the natural progression for one of the world’s preeminent names in home enthusiast brands,” said Gayle Butler, senior vice president and editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. “Like us, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is deeply committed to the concept of owning and improving the home – much the same way we approach designing and creating content for Better Homes and Gardens magazine.”

On www.bhgrealestate.com, visitors will also have access to a regularly updated blog, videos, and articles on topics ranging from living green and kitchen remodeling to mortgages, negotiating advice, and home buying checklists, all created to provide inspirational ideas for the home. Visitors will be able to look at specific information on different schools, including enrollment and staffing, as well as comparative neighborhood information such as characteristics and demographics. 

Operating under a direct franchise business model, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is also announcing today the opening of its first brokerage in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates. To find out more, visit

http://www.bhgrealestate.com/Views/MediaCenter/Default.aspx.  Internationally, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC will expand by building a network of quality master franchisors through the efforts of a special, international membership development team.

The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate press conference will take place today at 8:30 a.m. PDT / 11:30 a.m. EDT at The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, and online at http://tinyurl.com/65lo82. Chris, along with Butler, will discuss the launch of the new residential real estate brand, which, under Realogy Corporation, will help deliver a new level of innovation to the way consumers buy and sell their homes.  

In October 2007, Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, announced it had entered into a long-term agreement to license the brand from Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), the publisher of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. The licensing agreement between Realogy and Meredith is for a 50-year term, with a renewal option for another 50 years.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is the diamond-level sponsor of Real Estate Connect San Francisco 2008, taking place July 23-25, 2008, at The Palace Hotel,
San Francisco.  Visit the company at booth #102 or follow ‘BHGrealestate’ on Twitter.com.

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a national lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. For more information, please visit www.bhgrealestate.com.

Leading Magazine Title Provides Powerful Branding to Nation’s Newest Residential Real Estate Franchise System; First Affiliated Brokerage Offices Open Today

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC officially launches today with the opening of its first franchised brokerage in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the unveiling of www.bhgrealestate.com – an innovative online real estate destination that, along with the Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate brand’s exhaustive resource network, will help provide a more rewarding real estate experience for sales associates, brokers and consumers alike.

Leading Magazine Title Provides Powerful Branding to Nation’s Newest Residential Real Estate Franchise System; First Affiliated Brokerage Offices Open Today

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC officially launches today with the opening of its first franchised brokerage in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the unveiling of www.bhgrealestate.com – an innovative online real estate destination that, along with the Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate brand’s exhaustive resource network, will help provide a more rewarding real estate experience for sales associates, brokers and consumers alike.

Sherry A. Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC, will formally announce the launch of the new brand today at 8:30 a.m. PDT / 11:30 a.m. EDT at
The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, and with a live webcast at http://tinyurl.com/65lo82.

“The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand will enable brokers and sales associates to deliver a caliber of service to their customers expected under the Better Homes and Gardens name,” explained Chris.  “The franchise launch in Pennsylvania is the first of many new full-service residential real estate brokerages that will use the resources of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate to meet the needs of home buyers and sellers of all generations, particularly as we continue to grow and expand in the U.S. and beyond.”

This morning’s press and web conference will also include: Gayle Butler, senior vice president and editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens magazine; Alex Perriello, president and CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group, parent company of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC; and Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc., the first franchised brokerage firm to operate offices under the new brand, which will now do business as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates.

“Franchising under the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand will enable our already successful company to become synonymous with the attributes of the magazine: namely, quality of service, caliber of lifestyle, and trust,” said Wilkins. “With the prestige of the Better Homes and Gardens name and the added resource network now at our disposal, our firm is now solidly positioned to build upon our fundamentals for long-term success.”

Prior to its affiliation with the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand, Wilkins & Associates Real Estate was the largest independent real estate company in the famous Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, serving Monroe and Pike Counties, and the historic Milford and Lehigh Valley areas.  Incorporated in 1988, the company is a family-run business offering residential real estate and home buying services through a team of more than 100 full-time sales associates across seven offices. The company started with three people 20 years ago.

Blending a passion for the home and a practical, business-driven approach, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC will operate under a direct franchise business model with a focus on enabling its franchisees to create a more rewarding residential real estate experience for home buyers and sellers. 

“Brokers will recognize that franchising with us is an investment in their future,” said Chris. “Similarly, consumers will have an immediate connection with a brand they already know and trust. Better Homes and Gardens magazine has had a relationship with Americans for more than 80 years.”

Brokers and sales associates benefit from innovative technology, proven business systems, and advanced tools to help support the growth and operation of their brokerages, including: business planning and strategic services; sales associate talent attraction and retention; training and career development programs; the latest web tools and resources; breakthrough branding; and the global resources of Realogy Corporation.

“Realogy officially welcomes Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate into our family of world-class real estate brands,” said Alex Perriello, president and CEO of the Realogy Franchise Group.  “There is tremendous opportunity within residential real estate markets at this time, and the launch of this new brand represents our confidence in the long-term strength of our industry for many years to come.”

In October 2007, Realogy Corporation announced it had entered into a long-term agreement to license the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand from Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), the nation’s leading media and marketing company serving American women, and publisher of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. The licensing agreement between Realogy and Meredith is for a 50-year term, with a renewal option for another 50 years. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is Realogy’s fifth residential real estate franchise brand. Realogy Corporation is the world’s largest real estate franchisor.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is the diamond-level sponsor of Real Estate Connect San Francisco 2008, taking place at The Palace Hotel, San Francisco. Visit the company at booth #102 or follow ‘BHGrealestate’ on Twitter.com.

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC

Better Homes and Gardens^® Real Estate is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a national lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. For more information, please visit www.bhgrealestate.com.