ERA Key News

Eidinger-Taylor Discusses Current Housing Market With WBJ

Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor

ERA Key President and COO Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor discusses the local housing market in the latest issue of the Worcester Business Journal.

LATE SPRING: THE BOTTOM HAS DROPPED OUT OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING MARKET, BUT REAL ESTATE AGENTS SEE THINGS WARMING UP

By Timothy Doyle

The first half of 2023 was a difficult one for home buyers and for real estate agents as single-family home sales cratered and home prices plateaued high above pre-COVID levels. 

In Worcester County, year-to-date single-family home sales fell by nearly 28% through April compared with the same time period in 2022. The median sale price in the first four months of 2023 in Worcester County was $400,000, down slightly from $405,000 in 2022, but up from $290,000 in 2019, according to data from Peabody-based research firm The Warren Group. The early-year decline was a continuation of a trend started in 2022. 

Now, real estate professionals are optimistic for a normalization of the market for the rest of the year. 

“This is a late spring market, later than normal,” said Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor, president and chief operating officer with ERA Key Realty Services in Whitinsville. Eidinger-Taylor added she is seeing the beginnings of an uptick normally seen in April. WBJ Table 1

Tough time for the buyers

Real estate professionals told WBJ the main culprit is a lack of inventory. The dearth of homes for sale is caused by existing homeowners who...

ERA Key Realty Services, HUNT Real Estate ERA Named #34 Brokerage in U.S. for Real Estate Transactions

ERA Key Realty Services, which merged with HUNT Real Estate ERA of Buffalo, N.Y., in 2018, has been named the 34th largest real estate agency in the country, based on transactions, in a survey by REAL Trends.ERA Key Logo

The combined brokerage, which operates as ERA Key in Massachusetts and HUNT ERA in New York, closed 13,997 real estate transactions in 2022 to move its ranking up from #40 to #34. In addition, with $4 billion in sales in 2022, the brokerage moved up 23 spots in the ranking for sales volume to #67.

“The survey results reflect our focus on not only continuing to grow, but to grow at a faster rate than most other brokerages,” said ERA Key President and COO Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor. “I’m proud of the efforts of our agents and staff, who are consistently putting in the hard work that’s necessary for us to achieve our sales goals.”Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor

“This recognition by the prestigious REAL Trends organization is testimony to the focus on growth and productivity evidenced throughout our company in 2022,” said Peter F. Hunt, Chairman and CEO of HUNT Real Estate Corporation. “It was a year with significant challenges, yet our leadership and sales professionals, to whom I am very grateful, rallied for a remarkable collection of achievements.”

The combined brokerage was recently named the number one brokerage for ERA Franchise Systems, based on both units sold and sales volume for 2022. ERA Franchise Systems includes 2,390 brokerages worldwide.

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ERA Key Realty Services, HUNT Real Estate ERA Named #1 Agency in ERA Franchise Systems

ERA Key Realty Services, which merged with HUNT Real Estate ERA of Buffalo, N.Y., in 2018, has been named the number one agency in ERA Franchise Systems.ERA Key Logo

The combined brokerage, which operates under the name ERA Key Realty Services in Massachusetts and HUNT Real Estate ERA in New York, is number one in units sold and sales volume, based on 2022 sales, ERA Real Estate announced.

ERA Key’s sales totaled $947,246,432 in 2022, based on 1907 units.

ERA Key is consistently in the top 10 for sales volume among all brokerages in Massachusetts and has won many awards during the past 30 years, including two of ERA’s most prestigious awards. ERA Key won the Momentum Award as the fastest growing ERA franchise in 2012 and the Gene Francis Memorial Award as the Top All-Around Company in ERA in 2014 and 2018.Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor

ERA Key was also named among the top places to work in the state in the large company category for seven of the past eight years (ERA Key didn’t participate during the pandemic), based on a survey administered by Energage for The Boston Globe.

“In addition to our number #1 ranking, ERA Key is celebrating its 30th year with ERA Franchise Systems,” Eidinger-Taylor said. “ERA has played an important role in our success, helping us to help our agents. We offer them top-notch training, technology that provides a competitive edge and more. ERA has helped us grow. We hope to also help ERA continue to grow by building on our success for many years to come.”

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ERA Key Marks 30 Years With ERA

ERA Key Realty Services was a small agency when we joined the ERA Franchise System 30 years ago. Today, ERA Key is part of the largest agency in the system, which operates 2,390 offices in 33 countries.Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor

ERA Key merged with HUNT Real Estate ERA of Buffalo, N.Y. in 2018, but we’ve both continued to retain our separate names and grow in our local markets. Even without including HUNT Real Estate ERA’s sales, our sales are approaching $1 billion annually.

ERA Key is consistently in the top 10 for sales volume among all agencies in Massachusetts and we have won many awards during the past 30 years, including two of ERA’s most prestigious awards. ERA Key won the Momentum Award as the fastest growing ERA franchise in 2012 and the Gene Francis Memorial Award as the Top All-Around Company in ERA in 2014 and 2018.

ERA Key was also named among the top places to work in the state in the large company category for seven of the past eight years (we didn’t participate during the pandemic), based on a survey administered by Energage for The Boston Globe.

ERA has played an important role in our success, helping us to help our agents. We offer them top-notch training, technology that provides a competitive edge and more. We also give generously to the communities we serve through the ERA Key Realty Services Charitable Trust Foundation, which each year contributes tens of thousands of dollars to charities throughout the region.

ERA has helped us grow. We hope to also help ERA continue to grow by building on our success for many years to come.

Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor

President and COO

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ERA Key Among Top Places to Work in Massachusetts for Seventh Time

ERA Key Realty Services has been named among the top places to work in the state for the seventh time, based on a survey administered by Energage for The Boston GlobeERA Key Logo

ERA Key placed 10th in the large company category. The agency, which has 15 offices throughout central and eastern Massachusetts, did not participate in the survey in 2020, but made the list for five consecutive years from 2015 through 2019 and again in 2021. 

The Top Places to Work survey of more than 80,000 employees at 363 companies asked questions based on factors such as company leadership, compensation and training, and workplace flexibility. Responses were anonymous. 

President and Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor credited the company’s core values for helping to create a workplace where agents and staff consider it to be one of the best places to work in Massachusetts. ERA Key’s core values include teamwork, hard work, giving back to the community, seeking solutions, acting with integrity and having fun. Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor

“It’s an honor for ERA Key to be among the 150 companies in all industries to be included among the Top Places to Work,” Eidinger-Taylor said. “Being a top workplace helps us to attract some of the industry’s top Realtors. We provide our Realtors with the tools to succeed, which is why we have also succeeded.” 

She added that ERA Key provides agents and staff with the training programs and tools they need to achieve the best results for themselves and for their customers. ...

Banker & Tradesman’s “Best of the Best” Survey

ERA Key House

Which real estate agency is the “Best of the Best” in our region? 

If you think ERA Key Realty Services deserves your vote, Banker & Tradesman wants to know. Just click here and vote under “Real Estate Company.” You can also vote in other categories for other favorites in the industry. 

Send the link to your clients and ask that them to vote, too, if you would like to increase the likelihood of ERA Key placing at or near the top. 

Voting closes on October 20, 2021. Thanks for your support!

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Great Spaces ERA Merges With ERA Key Realty Services

Great Spaces ERA of Dorchester has merged with ERA Key Realty Services of Northbridge, increasing ERA Key’s presence in the Boston market.

Great Spaces, which has 12 agents, will retain its name and current office at 5 Savin Hill Ave. The agency, which was founded in 2014 by industry veterans Nadine Fallon and Jamie Iacoi, has been in the top 5% of Boston agencies for transaction volume each year since 2017.Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor

“As ERA agencies, we have shared values, which will make the merger seamless,” said ERA Key President and Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor. “By joining forces, we have an opportunity to establish a major presence in the Boston market.”

ERA Key has 14 offices throughout central and eastern Massachusetts and is among the largest residential real estate agencies in Massachusetts. It entered the Boston market earlier this year when ERA Key merged with Andrew Mitchell.

Great Spaces will benefit from the suite of digital tools and best-in-class infrastructure provided by the ERA brand, according to Fallon. She added that ERA Key’s emphasis on training, seller services and other support will ensure the agency’s continued growth.

“We wanted to maintain our small, family-owned brokerage feel, but with big brokerage services,” Fallon said. “We got to know the people at ERA Key at ERA events. Our personalities clicked, our cultures clicked and here we are.”Nadine Fallon

The technology, the training and the marketing that ERA Key provides its agents, as well as the leverage of a larger company...

ERA Key’s Website Surpasses 1,000,000 Annual Visits

The number of visits to the ERA Key Realty Services website has more than quadrupled since recruiting and hiring Brian Hurley as Internet Sales Director in 2017. Visits exceeded 1,000,000 for the first time in 2020 and the number of sales leads generated by the site has nearly tripled.Brian Hurley

ERA Key launched a new website at KeyRealtyServices.com about six months after Brian joined and the number of site visitors jumped from about 250,000 to about 700,000 that year.

Visitors and online leads have grown annually. ERA Key generated nearly 19,000 sales leads for agents in 2020, up from about 7,000 in 2017.

In launching a completely new company website, Hurley focused specifically on what home buyers and seller were looking for, making the site as user friendly as possible to both mobile and desktop users, with detailed property, development and neighborhood information.

Digital’s Growing Role

“The Internet plays an even bigger role in the real estate industry than it does in almost any other industry,” Brian said. “It enables agents to be more efficient and more productive. They can research properties quickly and easily, and match them up with potential buyers without spending hours driving to multiple locations. The more effective our website is, the more it will help all of our agents.”

ERA Key Website Traffic

He added that he is continuously improving the website and ERA Key’s online presence using social media, search engine optimization (SEO), key words and fresh content to build traffic....

Andrew Mitchell & Company Merges With ERA Key Realty Services

Andrew Mitchell & Company of Marion has merged with ERA Key, providing ERA Key with a Boston presence and additional agents. 

Stephen Thornton, the Boston-based principal broker for Andrew Mitchell, will join ERA Key along with many of his agency’s 22 Realtors. The merger will provide Andrew Mitchell agents with access to advanced technology and tools, as well as opportunities for additional training. Stephen Thornton

ERA Key, which merged with HUNT Real Estate in 2018, is the number one agency out of 2,400 worldwide in the ERA Key Franchise System. It is among the top 10 agencies in Massachusetts, based on sales volume. 

Andrew Mitchell, which was founded in 2011, is a virtual agency that focuses on working with experienced agents and providing them with a structure to “create their own work-life balance,” according to Thornton. Because of its virtual structure, its market covers much of Eastern and Central Massachusetts, so some agents can join ERA Key offices in their community. 

“Our agents have the knowledge and experience to gain the maximum benefit from ERA Key’s online sales tools and other resources,” Thornton said. “These tools have helped ERA Key grow into one of the state’s most successful real estate agencies — and they will also help our agents become even more successful.” 

“Mergers work best when both parties recognize and strive for mutual goals that will benefit everyone involved,” said ERA Key President and COO Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor. “This is very much a mutually beneficial partnership. Andrew Mitchell is known for attracting experienced, successful agents and the merger expands our market reach.” 

Thornton joined Andrew Mitchell in...

ERA Key Website Exceeds 100,000 Visits Per Month

ERA Key Website Traffic

As the chart above shows, traffic on ERA Key’s website has been building steadily and now exceeds 100,000 visits per month. Traffic has grown nearly 20% in the past year and about 35% over the past two years.

“While the personal touch continues to be important in the real estate industry, digital marketing has become an essential part of the home-buying process,” according to ERA Key President Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor. “We have been consistently adding to our online efforts and that is paying off with an increase in website traffic.”

By far, the largest percentage of home buyers begin looking for a home by searching for properties online, according to the National Association of Realtors. The NAR found that 93% of home buyers search websites to look at property and 73% use a mobile device in their search for a home; 86% use real estate agents and 53% attend open houses, according to the 2019 survey.

“While the initial process may start online,” according to the NAR, “home buyers turn to the advice from a trusted real estate agent. The difference is that home buyers are entering the process more educated about the market before they speak to a home seller or an agent.”

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ERA Key Participating in Habitat Walk for Homes

Habiitat for Humanity

Walk for Homes logo

Realtors and staff at ERA Key Realty Services are setting up teams to participate in this year’s Habitat Walk for Homes, which will take place Sept. 9 - 30, 2020. 

Participants in the virtual walk are being challenged to walk 52 miles over the 21 day period. Participants are encouraged to raise at least $300 each. ERA Key Cares

ERA Key is a long-timer supporter of Habitat for Humanity, as our core values include giving back to the community. 

“As a leading real estate agency, ERA Key and its agents understand the importance of home ownership,” said President and Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor. “We take pride in contributing to the community by helping Habitat for Humanity achieve its vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”

You can register or donate here, and a “how to” guide is available here.

The photo above is from a renovation project that ERA Key participated in last year.

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ERA Key Named Among Top Massachusetts Agencies

The Boston Business Journal has named ERA Key Realty Services the #11 real estate agency in Massachusetts, based on 2019 gross residential sales volume from closed transactions. 

“Our high ranking is an amazing accomplishment when you consider that we are competing against agencies in the Boston market and other high-end markets, where homes sell for much more than they do in central Massachusetts,” said ERA Key President and Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor. “In most of our markets, we are the top agency or very close to the top.” Cheryl Taylor

Cheryl attributes ERA Key’s high ranking to the quality of its agents, the training they receive and the tools they have to help them sell real estate. 

ERA Key finished 2019 with $758 million in gross residential sales volume from 2,205 closed transactions. The average selling price of $343,764 for homes sold by ERA Key agents is about half the price of the average selling of homes sold in the Boston market

For Norfolk, Middlesex and Worcester Counties, ERA Key was #1 overall in volume. It was the #2 agency for listings taken, with 1,476, and #3 in closed sides. 

The ranking does not include sales by Hunt Real Estate. Together, the combined agency had 13,243 closings with a volume of $2.79 billion. 

The most expensive home sold in 2019 by an ERA Key agent sold for $1.95 million. 

ERA Key has 332 licensed agents and 372 employees overall in 15 offices.

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ERA Key Among Top Places To Work in Massachusetts for Fifth Year

ERA Key Realty Services has been named among the top places to work in the state for the fifth consecutive year, based on a survey administered by Energage for The Boston Globe

ERA Key placed third in the large company category and was the highest ranking real estate agency in any category. The agency moved up two places from 2018, when it ranked fifth.

 The Top Places to Work survey of more than 65,981 employees at 323 companies asked questions based on 24 factors, including leadership, training and the opportunity for employees to work at their full potential. Responses were anonymous.

 “We believe that happy employees result in happy customers,” said President and Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor. “We provide our agents and staff with the training they need to achieve the best results for themselves and for their customers. Everyone benefits from this approach.” 

In February 2018, ERA Key merged with HUNT Real Estate ERA, the second largest brokerage firm in the ERA® network, but it maintains its separate identity.

 “We merged with ERA Key because of its well-deserved reputation for being one of the top agencies in Massachusetts,” said Charles F. Hunt, executive vice president and chief operating officer, HUNT Real Estate ERA. “ERA Key is a well-run company with dedicated, hard-working agents. We’re proud of what ERA Key has accomplished and continues to achieve.”

 Eidinger-Taylor said ERA Key’s approach has played a key role in the agency’s rapid growth. ERA Key now has more than 330 agents and about $740 million in annual sales.

 ERA Key is among the top 10 agencies in Massachusetts, based on sales volume, and is among the top 10 franchises out of more than 2,400 worldwide in...

Power Brokers: Training to Win

ERA Key President and COO Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor was among the Power Brokers quoted and profiled by RISMedia in its 2019 Power Broker Report.

In real estate, accountability is a prerequisite for success. No one embraces it with more passion than Power Brokers, who empower their leaders and managers with pioneering—and often, proprietary—training.

In fact, according to RISMedia’s 2019 Power Broker Report, one of the top two areas of investment for Power Brokers is training, with coaching, education, goal-setting—even mindset—forging a path for productivity.

It’s inspiring, motivating…and the hallmark of a high-ranker.

Growing Your Own: Power Brokers Sound Off

“We offer Lunchtime Learning Tuesdays and Tech Talk Thursdays. Friday Morning Power Hour is a weekly meeting with guest speakers on timely topics. This, along with our online academy, Institute, powered by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, helps us continually evolve and stay at the forefront. We have weekly WIG (Wildly Important Goal) calls with our entire support team where each person offers something that will enhance the experience for our team and clients.”

– Ken Baris, President, Jordan Baris, Inc., REALTORS®

“We have a program called FIRE (Foundations in Real Estate) that runs one day a week for five weeks, and it’s a full day of covering what you don’t learn in licensing school.”

– Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor, CEO/President, ERA Key Realty Services (HUNT Real Estate Corporation ERA, No. 34 in transactions) ...

Power Brokers: As Competition Heats Up, Dollars Go to Growth

ERA Key President and COO Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor was among the Power Brokers quoted and profiled by RISMedia in its 2019 Power Broker Report.

Faced with overlapping pressures this year, Power Brokers are approaching business with a combination of fortitude, grit and wariness.

According to RISMedia’s 2019 Power Broker Report, 59 percent of Power Brokers have a “cautiously optimistic” outlook—an increase from 52 percent in 2018, and driven by economic uncertainty. As capital flows into the industry and options proliferate, the agent and consumer experience remain priorities, with Power Brokers adapting these areas to compete and, ultimately, win.

With confidence levels shifting, they are leaning into two primary strategies: expansion through mergers and new offices (the No. 5 area of expenditure for Power Brokers); and recruitment (No. 1). Notably, 45 percent of Power Brokers are focused on new offices this year.

A Careful Eye on the Future: Power Brokers Sound Off 

“[Focus on] strategic planning, accountability, being consumer-centric and being completely dedicated to the success of each of your agents and in a way that provides the greatest value to the consumers and clients we serve.”

– Gino Blefari, CEO, HomeServices of America, No. 1 in transactions 

“A ‘healthier’ inventory and days on market will reward those brokers and agents with sound business practices. I...

ERA Key Realty Services Named Top ERA Franchise for 2018

WHITINSVILLE, Mass., March 26, 2019 – ERA Real Estate has named ERA Key Realty Services, along with HUNT Real Estate ERA, its top agency for 2018 out of more than 2,300 agencies worldwide.

HUNT Real Estate ERA of Buffalo, N.Y., the second largest brokerage firm in the ERA network, merged with ERA Key in February 2018. Both agencies kept their names and management intact.

It was the second time that ERA Key has received the Gene Francis Memorial Award, which it also earned in 2014. The annual award, named after ERA Real Estate co-founder Gene Francis, is the highest honor given to an ERA company and reflects the qualities most respected throughout the global ERA system and the real estate industry.

ERA Key also won the Momentum Award as the fastest growing ERA franchise in 2012.

ERA Key closed sales totaling $759 million in 2018, making it one of the largest real estate agencies in Massachusetts. ERA Key finished fourth in Massachusetts among all agencies for listings taken (1,429), up from sixth in 2017, and sixth in closed sides (2,284), up from seventh in 2017.

“Our focus on training and technology has helped our agents continue to succeed, even as rising interest rates caused the housing market to slow somewhat nationally in 2018,” said President Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor. “Overall, inventory improved and ERA Key maintained the high level of sales we achieved in 2017.”

ERA Key has more than 350 agents working in 15 offices throughout central and eastern Massachusetts. The ERA Real Estate Network includes 36,000 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 31 countries and territories.

"There are hundreds of very fine real estate companies in the ERA organization with whom we collaborate,” said Peter F. Hunt, Chairman and CEO of HUNT Real Estate Corporation....

Women in Real Estate: Business-Building Insights From RISMedia’s 2019 Newsmakers

ERA Key President and COO Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor was among seven women in real estate interviewed recently by RISMedia about building their business.

A considerable number of this year’s RISMedia Real Estate Newsmakers are women who are making waves in the industry, advancing their businesses and significantly contributing to their communities. What’s the secret to their success? Strategies range from a focus on mentorship and coaching to relationship marketing and community involvement. Here are their approaches and insights on how fellow women in real estate can advance their business and reach their goals:

Mary Lee Blaylock

President/CEO – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
2019 RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker, Luminaries 

“Being hands-on allows me to better understand and fully respect the job of each agent and employee in the enterprise. No one is more important than another. We are all equal human beings with complimenting roles all working toward a single goal: to bring our customers home,” says Blaylock.

Blaylock also reminds real estate professionals to remain honest and ethical when making decisions to reach long-term success. Additionally, Blaylock emphasizes that women should stay confident.

“Put the natural self-doubt aside that we as women have and focus on if the job is the right fit for you,” adds Blaylock. “Make a sound business decision for you and your family. Obtain the input you need and then simply go for it. Remain agile in all you do and remember to respect all people, including yourself!”

Katie Clancy

Team Lead, REALTOR®, Speaker, Trainer – The Cape House Team, William Raveis
2019 RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker, Futurists  

“Achieving...

Northbridge real estate agency sets home-sales high

Worcester Business Journal - JANUARY 16, 2018

by WEB MASTER on JANUARY 17, 2018

ERA Key Realty Services set an all-time high of home sales last year, with $769 million in sales, the Northbridge agency announced.ERA Key President Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor said the agency’s record-high sales number was especially noteworthy because of a low inventory in the state has balanced out high sale prices.

“Many agencies have found it difficult to grow in this market, but we’ve had an exceptional year,” she said. The agency’s 2,385 home sales in 2017 was a 4-percent drop from the prior year. Year-to-year sales in total, however, rose by just under 3 percent.Eidinger-Taylor predicted another strong year in 2018, but the agency has very few homes listed on the market — fewer than 2,000, compared to what is typically more than 6,000, she said.

ERA Key has 15 offices in Central and Eastern Massachusetts. According to the company, it is one of the top agencies in the state and the top 10 ERA agencies in the country, based on sales and total volume.

Link to article

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