Bag of Goodies Awaits Rookie Agents

ALISO VIEJO, CA, December 21, 2006 - "He runs a multinational enterprise that combines uncanny customer intelligence, superb information management and world-class service. He leads a logistical tour de force that spans the globe and delivers the goods just in time. And he does it all with a warm--some would say jolly--panache that is impossible to forget. His name: Santa Claus. So says Hannah Clark of Forbes. However with only 12 days until Christmas, and $500,000 in Real Estate Apprentice tools, services, tips, and strategy grants available to rookie agents; its time "to be good, time to be nice... and time to apply for that end-of-year grant!" Disguised as benevolent corporate sponsors trying to help struggling rookies, the spirit of Santa Claus is again coming to the Real Estate Apprentice Foundation. With the clock ticking and 2007 just around the corner, rookies should rush to the Real Estate Apprentice website and apply immediately.

So what's in the Bag Santa?
Rookie agents who give the best answer on three essay questions are eligible for the following:

• The reimbursement of fees for all licensing courses as well as unlimited attendance to any other real estate course offered by a RealtyU® Network school for one full year.
• A comprehensive personal identity and marketing package created by Hobbs/Herder including: custom logo and stationary package, marketing campaign and corporate brochure, personalized PowerKards™ and the design and construction of a branded website.
• Hands-on technology and business systems consulting by McLean International. The technology includes business vision and marketing plan coordination; office setup for maximum functionality and efficiency; the selection and set up of electronic signatures and voice messaging; file organization and sales support consulting on a pre-listing package, listing package and buyer package; and the creation of a listing system, closing system, and contact management system.
• An open platform Transaction Manager Software Solution by First American Residential Group that provides an integrated set of tools used during all phases of a real estate transaction, from listing to closing. This highly configurable technology currently serves many constituents, including the residential real estate professional, Multiple Listing Service (MLS), commercial agents, new homebuilders, title and closing operations. The Transaction Manager automates and documents manual processes, increasing user efficiency and enriching the experience.
• Saris Technologies provides a unified real estate management and business platform to meet all of the Real Estate Apprentice's crucial business needs with one application. Tools include property management, marketing assistance and contact management.
• CreateAPlan will facilitate business-planning needs for two years via an online business planning software that provides complete monitoring of all key business indicators, including marketing events, listings, sales, expenses, and much more.
• Thomson South-Western is providing a comprehensive set of real estate books such as: 30 Days to Success by Santamaria, Starting and Succeeding in Real Estate by Nash, How to List & Sell Real Estate by Kennedy, Real Estate Field Manual: An Official Selling Guide by Nash-Price, Real Estate Dictionary: A Pocket Guide for Professionals by Jacobus & Olmos, 5-Minutes to a Great Real Estate Letter by Mayfield, and Real Estate Confronts the Future by Swanepoel & Dooley.
• The highly acclaimed Accredited Seller Representative® (ASR) course and designation sponsored by the Seller Agency Council.
• A versatile and easy-to-understand Mortgage Calculator and Laser Dimension Master with the complete starter package for the Qualifier Plus IIIx Calculator provided by Calculated Industries.
• A comprehensive suite of detailed information about any neighborhood in the country, including facts about schools, home values, crime rates, cost-of-living and other demographics. The eNeighborhoods sponsored Power Suite also includes Neighborhood Report, contacts, CMA, BuyerTour, Flyers, Campaign Manager and website.
• Unlimited access for two years to an online real estate mentoring service offered by iSucceed, including weekly Tele-Seminars, hundreds of business tips, tools, money-making systems and marketing strategies, a special "Ask your Mentor" program, and Home Seller's and Buyer's Workbooks.
• Membership to The Real Estate Cyberspace Society with a treasure chest of secrets about marketing real estate on the Internet.
• ExpressCopy provides complimentary printing from the best online digital printing and mail house specializing in low-cost, high-quality, full-color direct mail with 24-hour turnaround.
• Full year's subscription to the online and print magazines Broker Agent News and RISMedia Real Estate, the most trusted names in real estate news.
• A starter kit plus a 12-month subscription that allows you to create stunning Internet and CD-based virtual tours for your listings, including neighborhood tours for those out-of-town buyers sponsored by VisualTours.

The fifth season of the Real Estate Apprentice® Foundation's grant competition began on July 1st and ends December 31st, 2006. Apply for a free Real Estate Apprentice Grant today. All applicants receive a minimum $250 in real estate-oriented educational products and services. Grants do not require any form of payback, nor are there any required purchases. Season VI opens January 1, 2006.