Press Release

Weichert Wants Buyers to Know "It Pays to Ask"

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. – Weichert, Realtors®, one of the nation’s largest privately held real estate companies, and its affiliate Weichert Financial Services, wants those interested in owning their own home to know “it pays to ask.” The companies today announced the launch of the “It Pays to Ask” campaign, designed to educate consumers on the opportunities provided by the current buyer-friendly market.  

Is now a good time to buy? Are good mortgage options still available? How much home can I afford?  The “It Pays to Ask” campaign strives to let consumers know these are normal questions to have and are questions they need to be asking their local Weichert Sales Associate or Gold Services Manager, a mortgage representative from Weichert Financial Services.

“Buying a home is one of the most exciting purchases you will ever make, so naturally people tend to have a lot of questions, particularly first-time home buyers,” said James M. Weichert, president and founder of Weichert, Realtors.  “Encouraging consumers to ask questions creates an open dialogue with our sales associates and helps provide prospective buyers with a better understanding of the home buying process, the mortgage products currently available and how much home they can afford.”

In support of the “It Pays to Ask” campaign, Weichert has incorporated the new marketing theme in to its print advertising nationwide. The company also integrated the campaign in to its online advertising and on its Web site, Weichert.com.  Direct mail and e-mail campaigns, as well as fliers and other marketing materials, are being utilized to promote “It Pays to Ask.” Weichert will also hold home buyers seminars in each of its offices nationwide beginning with the first event on February 9. 

To drive home the importance of asking questions to consumers, specifically regarding mortgage availability, Weichert also developed a new yard sign for the campaign. The sign, which reads “This Home Comes with a New Mortgage so You Can Buy It.  It Pays to Ask!”, is intended to alleviate any concern someone might have over what has become the most common question of today’s prospective buyer – can I get the financing I need to buy a home?

“With all the recent media coverage surrounding the mortgage industry, it’s important that prospective buyers know there is still plenty of financing available through stable, reliable lenders such as Weichert Financial Services,” said Stephen Adamo, president of Weichert Financial Services. “We’re prepared to provide a mortgage to qualified buyers for every Weichert listing on the market.”

Weichert Financial Services is one of the “Top 40” lenders in the U.S., according to the industry newsletter “Inside Mortgage Finance,” based upon sales to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the third quarter of 2007.   In an August 2007 study accessing the credit standards of the nation’s lenders, SMR Research Corp. ranked Weichert Financial Services among the least risky and most reliable.  

Weichert has nearly 18,300 sales associates in over 520 company-owned and franchised sales offices in key markets throughout the U.S.  A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate, and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance.  For more information, Weichert's customer service center can be reached at 1-800-USA-SOLD or at Weichert's Web site, www.weichert.com.  Each Weichert franchised office is independently owned and operated.

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