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Featured Client of the MonthApril 2006: Joan LoCascio, GRI, ABR, BrokerJoan LoCascio, GRI, ABR, Broker Website: http://www.jlocascio-newbernnc.com Contact Information: Her History and Her Start in the Industry
She attended and graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx, and also attended Fordham, Villanova, and the Catholic University of America (CUA). She was teaching at the time, so attended graduate classes part-time on weekends and in the summers. Joan spent most of her years as an educator. Along with her husband of 35-years, Joe, who retired from SUNY Farmingdale in 1989, they relocated to eastern North Carolina. They have two children, a daughter and son, now both in their early thirties, who as teenagers moved with them to their new home in New Bern. After examining her options, Joan entered the real estate industry in 1991. She fondly remembers, “…I spent most of my life as an educator, and after our move, decided that I needed a change. While I was looking around for a second career, something challenging but different, I was teaching English Composition for a couple of semesters at Craven Community College. I considered both travel agency and real estate as possibilities, mainly because I’ve always considered myself a ‘people person.’ I decided to get my real estate license, since the school was located only about 30-miles from home. Little did I know, then, where it would lead me!” Her Impression and Reflection on the Real Estate IndustryJoan was able to also share some interesting observations regarding the current real estate industry. “I have located myself in a very specific area, that is, a market that pretty much services folks who are looking at or seeking an eventual retirement community. New Bern is a great place for retirement. It’s a small city with a lot of history and historical buildings, plus it offers plenty of golf and boating opportunities and is close enough to year-round enjoyment of the ocean beaches and towns. Early on, I identified with and pretty much zeroed-in on servicing retiree buyers and sellers! When I first became a Realtor in the early nineties, the real estate market in New Bern was pretty slow as we slowly began emerging from recession. Soon after, the market began a steady pace upward. After the tragic event of 9-11, the market came to a halt for about five months, but beginning in 2003, it started to explode. In 2005, we just about ran out of listings inventory in several areas. This year, after a winter slow-down, the market is once again returning to the usual busy-ness of spring and summer, and especially with relocating retirees, who are a vital part of the economy and contribute very much to the overall growth and successful development in the New Bern area!” Her Company's Marketplace - Charming & Historic New BernNew Bern, North Carolina, is a small city of 25,000 residents, and Joan and her husband reside in Greenbrier, home of the Emerald Golf Course designed by Rees Jones. The Emerald Golf Club at Greenbrier is often the chosen location for major local charity events. In September 2000, Tiger Woods and Justin Leonard played alongside Curtis Strange in one of these tournaments! There are five other beautiful golf course neighborhoods within 10 miles of New Bern: Fairfield Harbour, Carolina Pines, Taberna, River Bend, and Trent Woods. Historic Downtown New Bern is one of the finest historic districts in the nation. Downtown is comprised of incredibly beautiful historic homes, some of which date back to the late 1700's and early 1800's. Other homes are neat bungalows, perfectly manicured, as well as historic condos. Some areas of downtown are multi-zoned allowing for residential and commercial uses alike. In several locations, historic homes are converted to small shops on the ground floor with living quarters on the second and third floors, while other sections are strictly residential. Downtown New Bern is a "happening" place, with quaint shops and restaurants, antiques, crafts, art studios, clothing boutiques, a well-known oyster bar, Captain Ratty's, along with gourmet coffee shops and an excellent civic theatre. New Bern was the first colonial capitol of North Carolina, and what was the Governor’s residence, Tryon Palace, is the central attraction for the many tourists who visit New Bern. The Neuse and Trent rivers intersect at Union Point Park, making for a picturesque environment; close by is the Craven County Convention Center. Joan Tells Why Advanced Access?“I chose Advanced Access when I first met one of the owners, Jerra Morris, at an NAR convention that was being held in sunny Anaheim, California. I believe it was way back in 1997, when the company was in start-up mode and was almost giving away websites! I was very new to the electronic world of real estate technology, but they were terrific in helping me set up my new website. A couple of years ago I converted to the 3.0 Classic version, so I could do more on my own, and at the same time be creative, in managing listings and other features on my site. It’s been great not to have to call or email support in order to make changes.” She continued, “…I have come to spend more and more of my advertising dollars on website marketing and less on print advertising. The latter reaches a comparative few (though it has its place), while what I put on my website is out there for anyone nationwide or worldwide to see.” The Biggest Change Noticed in the IndustryJoan commented further, “…the biggest change that I’ve noticed is that recently most of the buyers come to their real estate agent through the Internet. I have had a lot of compliments on my Advanced Access website, because it’s uncluttered, offers helpful information, is easy to read, very accessible, and finally, well-organized. I was one of the first few agents here in the New Bern area to have a really nice website, thanks to Advanced Access who made it both easy and affordable. Many of the New Bern area agents did not really get going with Websites until the past five years; prior to that time, I was able to get a good jump on much of the competition. About ninety-five percent of my buyers have come to me via the Internet. A number of first-time visitors come into New Bern with a list of agents they have contacted through the Internet! This is such a huge change from the pre-Internet days when REALTORS® were so dependent on walk-in traffic or duty calls.” “I have also found the need to promote my personal Website all over the place, not only to buyers but to sellers as well. Having some listings with lots of photos on my Website helps tremendously with impressing potential seller-clients. A recent client e-mailed me to list a resale property, even though she had purchased one of my listings through another agent. She contacted me because she was impressed with the way, in my Featured Listings, the second home she purchased was presented – she loved all those photos!” Advanced Access Allows Me Flexibility and FreedomJoan continued…”my time is much too valuable to be spending too much of it on my Website. Advanced Access helps me in a number of ways, but especially because their Classic package makes it easy to make quick changes or add and maintain my listings. I enjoy reading their helpful hints that they regularly e-mail to me, but to be honest, some I use and some I don’t – they give me so much helpful information that I don’t have time to read and absorb it all! When I need help, I know that their great and very accessible support team is just an e-mail or phone call away. From a small family-owned California company, Advanced Access has become host to and providers of REALTORS®’ Websites nationwide. Yet I know I can rely on their support as much as I did nine years ago when I purchased my original Website. I still communicate every once in awhile with Jerra Morris, and she always takes time to respond. This says a lot about Advanced Access - the personal touch, which some businesses lose over time, is still there!” The Final WordJoan offered this final bit of insight to the real estate industry’s current state of affairs. “You have to have a personal Website in today’s marketplace. As an agent, you can’t be really successful in real estate without it. Marketing your Website is also a must. I can truly say that the best thing I ever did for my business was to acquire an Advanced Access Website! |
 
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Joan LoCascio, (
(800) 335-1563 | 
