Tag Archive for: Times-Tribune

Our Website: Still A Popular Choice

Recently, our company was awarded the honors of winning Best Real Estate Website for the sixth year in a row. At the conclusion of the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards, Realty Network Group was voted in as being the top real estate option for many homebuyers and sellers in our region.

Real estate search is where it begins, and Realty Network Group has a robust platform suited for driving search results right to the fingertips of our clients, who are in the process of either looking for a home or want to better understand conditions in the market. Our firm has utilized a comprehensive search powered by RealtyNA, providing a wealth of information to consumers on the go. Last year we launched the search by city on our site and also revamped our lakefront homes page. This year we introduced a unique home value estimator tool on our site. This tool is a great way for sellers to get a little more educated about what their property might be worth as well as discovering what buyers are looking for in their neighborhood. While automated valuations aren’t always the most accurate mechanisms around, they do shed light on current valuation of homes in a particular area.

“This is where our professionals come in,” emphasizes Greg Solfanelli, Director of Marketing & Consumer Experience at Realty Network Group. “Our agents do an excellent job of filling in the gaps for our clients, helping them get a grip on changing circumstances and local trends. Homeowners especially want to identify how these changes can and will impact them. We’re lucky we have the real etate pros we do! Their dedication to their clients is hard to match.”

Realty Network Group agents can help prospective home-sellers effectively price their homes through customizing a competitive market analysis, while helping them digest an automated home valuation report. Our firm is a boutique real estate business, connecting buyers and sellers in any market. We continue to reach consumers through a high tech, high touch approach to buying and selling.

Many thanks to everyone for their support of our brand, website and of course, our agents, who do so much for our clients, day in and day out! We appreciate your support and your votes as well.

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Realty Network Group Wins ‘Best Real Estate Website’ for the Fifth Consecutive Year

Recognizing the Best in NEPA Real Estate

For the fifth straight year, Realty Network Group has been honored as Northeastern Pennsylvania’s “Best Real Estate Website.” This recognition was part of the Times-Tribune’s Readers’ Choice Awards, where subscribers and readers voted for their favorite businesses across multiple categories, including Home & Services, Dining & Entertainment, Wellness & Personal Style, Shopping, and Recreation & Entertainment. These awards celebrate the best businesses in the Greater Scranton area. Looking for the best sites for real estate? Look no further than Realty Network Group.

Continuous Website Improvements

Realty Network Group deeply appreciates the community’s support and is especially grateful for this latest recognition as NEPA’s top resource for real estate searches. Over the past year, the company has enhanced its website, making it one of the best sites for real estate searches in the region. Key improvements include:

  • A search by city function for more precise home searches
  • Enhanced content and page organization for easier navigation
  • A dynamic search tool powered by RealtyNA, offering an extensive database of real estate listings
  • Upcoming upgrades to their popular lakefront properties page

These enhancements make Realty Network Group’s platform one of the most efficient and user-friendly for homebuyers and sellers alike.

A Word from Realty Network Group

“We’re incredibly thankful for the support and votes we’ve received,” says Mark DeStefano, CEO and REALTOR® at Realty Network Group. “Our website, a major strength of our firm, continues to evolve to meet the needs of our customers. Their feedback and engagement drive our innovation. Likewise, our network of experienced real estate professionals plays a critical role in our success. Without their dedication and expertise, we wouldn’t excel in this market.”

The Realty Network Group Difference

As a boutique real estate firm, Realty Network Group takes a high-tech, high-touch approach to the market, blending cutting-edge digital tools with personalized service. Their network of experienced sales associates focuses on one goal: Connecting buyers and sellers. Every day. In every way.

For anyone searching for the best sites for real estate, Realty Network Group’s award-winning platform continues to set the standard in NEPA real estate.

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Selling Beyond Home

Alice Manley is the newest agent to join forces with Realty Network Group. She infuses thirty years of sales expertise with an interest and passion for matching up buyers and sellers. Connecting both parties in a real estate transaction is more than a science. There’s an art to marketing homes or leading buyers in pursuit of theirs. Alice’s vast experience in media and hospitality are added advantages for her and her clients.

Alice will be a valuable asset to the firm as she brings a strong work ethic and a motivation to succeed into the field. She has a desire to work hard for her clients understanding that sometimes you don’t get a second chance to sell for the best price, terms and conditions as trends change. She’s also committed to homebuyers as they begin what will be a remarkable journey toward homeownership! She’s driven to succeed, realizing her successes will be victories for her clients too. Another strength for Alice is her problem-solving abilities. She has an uncanny sense for stopping issues in their tracks and moving toward a resolution that’s acceptable to everyone involved, especially her buyers/sellers.

“If it doesn’t feel right, we’ll search until it does,” expresses Alice. Her words to buyers never ring truer than they do now in a seller’s market. “Your ‘forever home’ wraps you in comfort like an old blanket, gives you refuge during difficult days and is always waiting for you after a long journey. Everyone deserves this and I look forward to bringing this experience to others.”

Alice has lived her entire life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She loves all the area has to offer, including its seasons, natural landscapes and close-knit communities. She hopes those moving into the region or growing into it can have these experiences as well. “It’s an exciting time in real estate in NEPA,” underscores Alice. “I chose Realty Network Group because of a working relationship I had with one of its owners. It was knowing this person that attracted me to the company. I was certain of the value, integrity and respect I would find there. Furthermore, they train each new REALTOR®, like myself, which was incredibly important to me.”

Are you seeking the services of a real estate professional who’s extremely motivated and will work hard for your interests? Contact Alice Manley now at 570-954-3701 or via email at amanley@realtynetwork.net.

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Our Award-Winning Website Strikes Again

Looking Back at the Scranton PA Real Estate Market in 2020

It’s hard to imagine the real estate terrain we found ourselves in during 2020, but looking back, it was a pivotal year for the Scranton PA real estate market. Many parts of the Northeast that had struggled before the pandemic began reporting record growth, including the largest increase in home sales since the end of 2006. Unlike many surrounding regions, Northeastern Pennsylvania entered the pandemic with a strong housing market already in place.

When the economy derailed in March, real estate activity entered stealth mode for more than two months. However, the market quickly regained momentum. Home sales increased, and home prices continued to rise. Though homes sold for 11.6% more in August compared to the previous year, year-to-date home prices experienced a more moderate 2.2% increase year over year.*

Challenges and Opportunities in Scranton PA Real Estate

The Scranton PA real estate market faced its share of challenges during 2020. Housing inventory remained low, more homes were going under contract than were being listed, and commercial space availability was beginning to increase. At the same time, lower-priced homes were in short supply, creating additional competition among buyers.

New construction offered some potential relief, but rising lumber costs added obstacles for builders. Many homeowners also chose to stay put in their current homes, further limiting available inventory. Despite these challenges, Northeastern Pennsylvania remained one of the nation’s most affordable housing markets, providing opportunities for first-time buyers.

Buying a Home in a Fast-Moving Market

Strong demand created a competitive (and frustrating) environment for homebuyers throughout the region. Properties often sold quickly, making it difficult for buyers who relied solely on print advertising or delayed their searches. Staying informed about new listings and working closely with a knowledgeable real estate professional became increasingly important.

For buyers navigating the Scranton PA real estate market, access to accurate, up-to-date listing information was often the difference between finding the right property and missing an opportunity.

Scranton PA Real Estate Listings and Local Expertise

Where buyers searched online also mattered. In 2020, Realty Network Group was awarded the Best Real Estate Website in Northeastern Pennsylvania for the third year in a row by local newspaper readers.

Our award-winning website provides access to Scranton PA real estate listings and homes for sale throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, helping buyers explore available properties, research communities, and stay informed about local market trends. Combined with the guidance of our experienced REALTORS®, these tools helped clients make confident real estate decisions during one of the most unique housing markets in recent history.

* Greater Scranton Board of REALTORS® stats

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Readers’ Choice Awards

Looking Back at the Scranton Real Estate Market in 2020

Over the years, we’ve been thankful for the support of our clients and real estate professionals, who have been instrumental to our success. Their trust and confidence helped us navigate the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and one of the most unique periods in recent real estate history.

Looking back, connecting buyers and sellers in the Scranton real estate market required new approaches and a willingness to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

In 2020, the Greater Scranton market shifted from balanced to strongly seller-favored. The absorption rate (the rate at which homes are selling over a specific period of time) dropped from 6.44 from July 2019 to 4.02 in July 2020. Meanwhile, housing inventory continued trending downward.*

What Buyers and Sellers Faced in 2020

Although housing in Northeastern Pennsylvania remained among the most affordable in the nation, affordability was beginning to decline in many markets. As a result, both home buyers and home sellers in the Scranton real estate market faced new challenges and opportunities.

The market conditions of 2020 ultimately helped shape the years that followed, as low inventory, increased competition, and changing buyer preferences became defining trends throughout the region.

Supporting Clients Through Changing Market Conditions

Our network of REALTORS® worked closely with buyers and sellers throughout 2020, helping them navigate uncertainty and make informed real estate decisions despite unprecedented circumstances.

During that time, Realty Network Group was nominated in the Times-Tribune Readers’ Choice Awards for both Best Real Estate Agency and Best Real Estate Website, a reflection of the trust our clients and community have placed in us over the years.

As we look back on this period, we’re thankful for those who supported our team and proud of the relationships we’ve built throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

* Greater Scranton Board of REALTORS® stats
* Readers’ Choice Awards – Times-Tribune

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