More than 40 Percent of Americans Do Not Want a Celebrity Neighbor, According to 5th Annual Zillow Celebrity Neighbor Survey

SEATTLE, Dec. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. adults would most like to be neighbors with Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow in 2012, according to the fifth annual Zillow® Celebrity Neighbor Survey[i]. The cast of the reality TV show “Jersey Shore” was named least desirable neighbors of 2011. Meanwhile, 42 percent of surveyed adults said they did not want to live next to any celebrities, up from 27 percent last year. The annual Zillow poll asks U.S. adults which celebrities they would most like to be their neighbor, and with whom they wouldn’t want to share a fence.

Most Desirable Neighbors for 2012
In the coming year, 11 percent of adults surveyed would like to be neighbors with Tebow. His popularity was significantly higher among males (14 percent) compared to females (7 percent).

Celebrity super couples Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux received 10 percent and 9 percent of the vote, respectively. Americans with children, however, preferred to live next to Jolie and Pitt (14 percent) rather than Aniston and Theroux (9 percent).

Worst Neighbors for 2011
For the second year in a row, the “Jersey Shore” cast was voted worst neighbors of the year. More than one in four (28 percent) surveyed Americans found the reality show cast to be the most undesirable neighbors of 2011, a slight increase from 26 percent in the 2010 Zillow Celebrity Neighbor Survey. Twenty-one percent of respondents found Charlie Sheen to be the worst neighbor, ranking second by a large margin compared to competitors Lindsay Lohan (14 percent) and Kim Kardashian (13 percent).

“As a voyeuristic culture that breathlessly tracks every celebrity movement, it’s extremely surprising to see so many Americans saying they wouldn’t like to live next to any celebrity at all. In fact, more people opted out of a celebrity neighbor in 2012 than in any of the past years we’ve run this poll,” said Zillow Chief Marketing Officer Amy Bohutinsky. “We may want to watch, read and talk about celebrities, but when it comes to sharing a back fence, many Americans think it’s just too close for comfort.”

Most Desirable Neighbors for 2012

Worst Neighbors of 2011

Name

Percent

Name

Percent

Tim Tebow

11

Jersey Shore Cast

28

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

10

Charlie Sheen

21

Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux

9

Lindsay Lohan

14

Jennifer Lopez

6

Kim Kardashian

13

Beyoncé & Jay-Z

5

Nancy Grace

3

Nancy Grace

4

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

3

Kim Kardashian

4

Anthony Weiner

2

Other

11

Other

2

None of the above

42

None of the above

14

For more celebrity real estate news or celebrity foreclosures, visit the Zillow Blog.

For historical survey results or more information contact press@zillow.com or call 206-757-2701.

About Zillow, Inc.
Zillow is the leading real estate information marketplace, providing vital information about homes, real estate listings and mortgages through its websites and mobile applications, enabling homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters to connect with real estate and mortgage professionals best suited to meet their needs. Nearly 22.5 million unique users visited Zillow’s websites and mobile applications in November 2011. Zillow, Inc. operates Zillow.com®, Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, Zillow Mobile, Postlets® and Diverse Solutions™. The company is headquartered in Seattle.

Zillow.com, Zillow, Zestimate and Postlets are registered trademarks of Zillow, Inc. Diverse Solutions is a trademark of Zillow, Inc.

[i] These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 2011. For the survey, a nationally representative sample of 1,007 randomly-selected adults aged 18 and over residing in the United States was interviewed via Ipsos’ U.S. online omnibus. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate within +/-3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire population of adults in the United States been polled. The margin of error will be larger within subgroupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure the sample’s regional and age/gender composition reflects that of the actual U.S. population according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

[ii] Harris Interactive® fielded the Zillow Celebrity Neighbor study on behalf of Zillow in December 2007, December 2008, and December 2009 interviewing a nationwide sample of more than 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older via its QuickQuerySM online omnibus service. Historical results are available upon request.

SOURCE Zillow, Inc.

Oct 4, 2011 08:00 ET

Now, 500 million Facebook users can quickly find and connect with Real Estate Agents who have a profile or page on Facebook

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — N-Play® has launched the first directory application for real estate agents on Facebook called the Real Estate Agent Directory. The application helps Facebook users search and connect with real estate agents through Facebook.

A search returns all licensed agents who have added their profile to the directory based on geographic area and industry expertise. Users can preview a snapshot of the agent’s professional background and services prior to connecting to the agent’s Facebook page. Agents have the option to add a tab to their business page, further promoting their professional profile. Agents can add their profile to the directory by logging on to Facebook, navigating to http://www.facebook.com/realestateagentdirectory and clicking on the app install button. The service is free to both agents and consumers.

Facebook continues to expand the capabilities and reach of its social platform to small businesses. According to Nielson, users spend more time on Facebook than any other Web brand by a significant margin. Real estate professionals are becoming more aware of the benefits of Facebook with 80% of agents now using Facebook regularly. “I think once agents see for themselves how powerful Facebook is for connecting with customers, they will want to set up shop here in a much bigger way than they are now,” said Mark Bloomfield, founder of N-Play. “It just makes sense; it is where the customers are. When you connect with one person on Facebook, you may end up connecting with thousands. This implied referral extends the agent’s brand and multiplies opportunities to connect with customers,” said Bloomfield.

In addition to launching the Real Estate Agent Directory for agents and consumers, N-Play is making the directory application available at no charge to Realtor Associations, MLS organizations and real estate-focused community pages to help promote and increase the visibility of authorized agents through their Facebook pages. The app can be installed by logging on to Facebook and navigating to the Real Estate Agent Directory page or by clicking this link: Add Directory.

May 24, 2011 16:56 ET

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Desmond Ryan, executive director of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) today stated that the pro economic growth organization is endorsing state legislation that would see the enactment of a property tax cap for New York.

“There is not a single businessman or woman in our state who can read a ledger who won’t appreciate the strategic importance of this effort. Without this type of reform the New York business community cannot compete in a global market, can’t seek new investment, can’t create new jobs and can’t position itself for economic growth. There is no room for partisan bickering or regional posturing on this issue. We support the Governor’s plan for a property tax cap and we urge bipartisan legislative support,” he stated.

The ABLI represents $20 billion worth of Long Island commercial, industrial, retail and residential properties.

www.betterlongisland.com

Many Homeowners with Reverse Mortgage Loans Owe Taxes, Insurance Payments; Nonprofit Counselors Can Help Them Determine Options to Avoid Foreclosure

ATLANTA, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Homeowners with reverse mortgage loans who are in default on their property taxes or homeowners’ insurance payments can contact CredAbility to receive free financial counseling.

This relatively new mortgage product – the reverse mortgage or Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) – is only available to homeowners age 62 and older. It has enabled many seniors to remain in their homes, in spite of significant financial burdens, such as sudden or significant medical expenses.

One stipulation of these loans, however, is that the homeowner must remain current on taxes and property insurance. Today, it is estimated that 30,000 homeowners nationwide with reverse mortgages are in default.

During the past few years, some lenders have advanced property taxes, insurance and other property charges to borrowers who were unable to pay them. However, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which insures these mortgages, is now requiring lenders to collect these payments. Borrowers who are unable to repay these advances may be in jeopardy of losing their home through foreclosure action.

Between late January and early April, homeowners will be sent a letter explaining that they are in default, advising them to call a nonprofit reverse mortgage counseling agency.

CredAbility is one of only five national nonprofit housing counseling organizations approved by HUD to provide free counseling to any homeowner struggling with these tax and default issues. Homeowners can schedule an appointment with a reverse mortgage counselor by calling CredAbility at 888.395.2664. They can also learn more about CredAbility at www.CredAbility.org.

“Reverse mortgage counselors at nonprofit housing counseling agencies have special training in these unique products, and can help homeowners understand all of their options when faced with the possibility of foreclosure,” said Michelle Jones, senior vice president of Counseling for CredAbility. “We will review each homeowner’s financial situation in detail, explaining the options that may be available to them to help save their home. We provide education on the process and recommended action steps based on their individual needs and goals.” In addition, for consumers who need help paying utilities, buying low-cost groceries, or meeting other essential needs, CredAbility counselors can help consumers locate these resources through referrals to other human service agencies.

Homeowners can call CredAbility 24 hours a day, seven days a week to schedule an appointment with a housing counselor.

Leandra’s Law Arrest Village of West Carthage:   State Police in Carthage arrested Saidah E. Cowan for DWI in th… http://bit.ly/fSY2jI

No injuries in Canisteo Accident: No injuries were reported in a one car motor vehicle accident that occurred on… http://bit.ly/egqN4r

Urgent Call for Blood Donors as Winter Storm Strikes: Blood Drive Cancellations Expected Due To Hazardous Snow C… http://bit.ly/h8Ydnv

State Police Storm Update:       12/27/10 7:00 a.m.   The New York State Police report that Interstate 84 has be… http://bit.ly/gcc6UK

Fredonia Troopers arrest a shoplifter from a Dunkirk area store:   CHARLOTTA M. THOMAS, age 22, Lincoln Ave Dunk… http://bit.ly/e3fK9G

WINTER STORM – I-84 REMAINS CLOSED:   Interstate 84 remains closed due to ice and snow conditions. All traffic c… http://bit.ly/fvySQM