Moro Joins Better Homes and Gardens Wilkins & Associates

Bushkill – Lynn Wilklow, Sales Manager announced the hiring of Grace Moro to the position of Salesperson.  Moro, who attended the Pocono Real Estate Academy, completed the required courses and passed the State exam.  Moro then joined the Better Homes and Gardens Bushkill office.

Moro was raised in New York and moved to The Glen at Tamiment 1 and ½ years ago.  Said Charlie McQuillan, Realtor, “I’ve known Grace since she moved to The Glen at Tamiment, that’s where I live.  Grace always had the desire to get into real estate and I urged her to get her license.  Now, not only is she a neighbor, she sits at the desk right next to me!”  McQuillan as her recruiting agent will act as a mentor to Moro and in addition to that will receive referrals on Moro’s sales for life.

Said Christine A. Wilkins, Exec V.P., “We have a very aggressive recruiting plan for our agents who bring new people to the firm.  Typically, that agent will then become the recruit’s mentor which is a scheduled business plan to make sure that the new agent gets started on the right foot and becomes an active and producing Realtor.  Our mentor plan has proved itself over and over again.”

Wilkins & Associates has 4 offices in the Poconos and are expected to increase their sales force to anywhere between 100 and 120 Realtors.  Said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO, “Because business has picked up already, and with an anticipated busy summer, now is really the time for anyone who has an interest to get into real estate; and that’s what we’re seeing.  For the past couple of months, our Recruiters have hired people who are new to the industry as well as a large percentage of persons who were in real estate, got out because of the recession and now see the “writing on the wall” and want to get back into the business.  Because they are familiar with the marketing that we do as well as Matching Marketing Dollars and other promotions to grow their business, we’re very comfortable with that number of agents.” 

Prior to the recession, the Wilkins organization had 14 offices throughout the Poconos, Lehigh Valley and NE Pennsylvania region.  Because of the recession, Wilkins and his staff successfully downsized to 2 offices and now are in the process of looking at new locations as well as fine-tuning the existing offices.  Wilkins further stated, “We want to make sure all the seats are filled in our existing offices and are extremely cautious in expanding with bricks and mortar and possibly falling into the trap of having too much overhead.  Also, today’s Realtor can have an expanded market being an online Agent.”

Wilkins currently has 4 offices, but the areas that Wilkins covers is greater today than it was at the height of the market.  Primarily Wilkins attributes that to the internet and not necessarily having to have an office in a market area in which the Agent chooses to do business.

Visit Wilkins’ new website at www.BHGwilkins.com.  The friendliest site for Real Estate.

Franklin American Mortgage Joins Wilkins & Associates Independent Family

Stroudsburg - Franklin American Mortgage Company (FAMC) will be working in conjunction with the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates Independent Family of Home Buying Services.  This was coordinated through Dennis A. Mooney, Senior Vice President.

FAMC is a privately held mortgage banking firm located in Franklin, Tennessee.  FAMC is a full-service professional mortgage banker licensed to provide residential mortgages across the nation. 

Locally, in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, FAMC is managed by William “Bill” Cullen, Mortgage Loan Originator/Branch Manager.  Cullen, who has lived and worked in the Pocono Mountains for the past 40 years, is devoted to providing top flight mortgage services for the buyers they handle.

Said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO, “Bill Cullen and I have been friends for the past 35 years.  Professionally, we have known each other since my days running the commercial division at Coldwell Banker/Phyllis Rubin Real Estate.  What I mean to say is Bill has been making mortgages and been in the Pocono real estate industry over 25 years.”  Wilkins further said, “Joining forces at this particular juncture is a very positive experience for Bill and our Realtors.”

FAMC offers borrowers, broker and lenders the strength and security of a forward thinking national mortgage company dedicated to remaining an industry trend-setter.  FAMC truly values its relationship with each customer and mortgage professional they work with.  They are driven, as a company tradition of responsiveness and personalized service characteristics of a much smaller organization, while maintaining the corporate image of being a national lender.

Said William Cullen, Mortgage Loan Originator/Branch Manager, “Joining forces with the Better Homes and Gardens sales team is a huge plus for us.  While I have customers, clients and Realtors from all the Pocono brokers, this simply adds to our portfolio.  Wilkins plans on expanding throughout the Poconos as well as Pike County and Northern Lehigh and I want to be a part of that expansion.”

Said Mooney, “Our Independent Family now offers great mortgage servicing from 10 of the most prominent lenders in the Pocono Mountains along with Pennsylvania First Settlement Services and Global Home USA Warranty.  The professionalism that each and every one of our Agents offers to their buyers has been a proven winner for us in the past and will only continue to grow as we grow.”  Wilkins, with 60+ Salespersons now intends to grow their salesforce to over 100 licensed sales people within the next 6 to 10 months.

Franklin American Mortgage Company’s local office is located at 1722 West Main Street in Stroudsburg.  You can visit them online at www.franklinamerican.com .  Bill Cullen can be reached at his office number—(570) 424-1289, directly at (570) 977-3739 or via email at bcullen@franklinamerican.com.  Licensed by the PA Dept. of Banking, Fair Housing Lender, William Cullen NMLS #107860, Franklin American Mortgage NMLS#1599.

Pocono Real Estate Happenings- the latest in what is going on in Northeast PA: Better Homes and Gardens Wilkins Employee a Big Pa...

Pocono Real Estate Happenings- the latest in what is going on in Northeast PA: Better Homes and Gardens Wilkins Employee a Big Pa...: Stroudsburg - Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins

Better Homes and Gardens Wilkins Employee a Big Part of Community Service

Stroudsburg - Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates wanted to recognize Dawn Libecap, Admin Asst in the Rental Department who is and has been an active community volunteer for a number of years.  Prior to joining the Wilkins organization, Libecap was employed by the Toll Brothers organization for 9 years. 

On Saturday March 21^st, the Animal Welfare Society of Monroe (AWSOM) held The Most AWSOM Tricky Tray and Dinner chaired by Libecap.  AWSOM sold out all 350 seats.  Said Libecap, “You always go into these functions hoping that it’s going to be successful, but the event was far greater than just successful, we sold out.  That is unbelievable in its’ own right.  This was the 3^rd Annual event and we went from 250 seats in the past to 350 seats for this event.”  AWSOM is a non-profit shelter that is located at 3129 Godfreys Ridge Drive in Stroudsburg.  They are open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SUGAR and Zach Plue-Campbell were the MCs for the event.  SUGAR is a character created by James Angelo Campistrous.  “They were fabulous.” said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO who is featured in a photo with SUGAR. 

Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO, further stated, “Now I understand why women always go to these trick-tray benefits.  Even I had my hand up and bought tickets that were winners, so I had part of the action as well.  It was a “hoot” of a time.”

In addition to Libecap’s responsibilities for AWSOM, she is also helps the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion in Bushkill.  In this position, Libecap is a paid employee for the Tricky Tray event held by the American Legion.  Libecap was past PTA President at Lehman Intermediate and East Stroudsburg North High School.  Currently, Libecap is V.P. of the Penn Dutch Great Pyrenees Club.

Libecap works closely with Wilkins and Amy Evans, Manager of Long-term and Corporate Rentals.  Together, they’ve built up the Corporate Rental division of NEPA Management Associates.  Said Wilkins, “The three of us had a great time doing this.  It was such a pleasure working with Amy and Dawn, but especially Dawn who we want to recognize in this article.  She understood what we were looking for and never took her eye off the ball.”

Currently, the Wilkins & Associates organization is developing a new Vacation Rental model which is designed for family vacations at the most popular 4 season resorts in the Poconos.  Said Wilkins, “With all the controversy today about vacation rentals, private homes are not a part of our model or business plan at all.  Our model is renting timeshare units for the Associations themselves and renting out delinquent and/or unsold inventory.  Our new model does not make us part of the vacation rentals that are in dispute.  The underlying controversy in Vacation Rentals of private homes is the hotel tax.”  “Also, we have always paid the hotel tax and have since its beginning 10 – 12 years ago.” stated Wilkins.

Said Christine A. Wilkins, Exec V.P. and who was recently appointed as a Stroud Township Supervisor, “We are so pleased that many of our agents, our Managers and for that matter our Employees are a part of something in our community.  Whether it’s being part of AWSOM, their church, politics or other type community events, we are at best very, very, very pleased.  That’s the type of people we like to have work for us.  Dawn is that type person.”

The Wilkins organization, their employees and Realtors, work in the same community where their business comes from.  Said Wilkins, “Our business comes from selling homes locally.  We manage properties locally and our business, when you get down to it, is very local.”  Said Christine A. Wilkins, “We want to be a part of our community at this level and we want to try to do more.” 

If you have an organization that is looking for volunteers, why not give a manager with the Wilkins organization a call.  “We have a lot of very energetic people that would certainly have an interest in perhaps becoming a part of your organization.” stated Wilkins.

All the Wilkins offices are open 7 days a week.  You can visit them online at www.BHGwilkins.com .

Wilkins Sr. Management & Owner Appointed 1st Female Stroud Township Supervisor

Stroud Township - Christine A. Wilkins, Executive Vice President/General Manager for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates was appointed Supervisor by the Stroud Township Board of Supervisors as the 1^st woman Supervisor for Stroud Township.  Wilkins was chosen to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Mr. James Decker in March.

Wilkins is the wife of Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO of the Wilkins organization.  Christine Wilkins is responsible for the marketing of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate as a whole, the “go to” person for the new software programs and the recruiting and training of new and seasoned Realtors. 

Said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO, “I am so proud of Christine becoming a Stroud Township Supervisor.  I know it’s something that she’s had an interest in for a long while and the opportunity just came to her through the resignation of Decker, and although it was a big leap to become a Supervisor, she know she had my and Benny’s (our 5 year old son) support which played a big part in her decision to say yes.”

What will happen is Wilkins fills the vacancy left by Decker in March.  Wilkins will finish out the year.  In November, Wilkins will run on the ballot and to be elected to finish out Mr. Decker’s term.  That term will end January 2018.  Wilkins then plans on running in the November 2017 election for a term of 6 years.

Wilkins is a life-long resident of Stroud Township.  Her enthusiasm for the township was brought about in part by her mentor, Charles Poalillo.  Charles was the developer of Penn Estates, a 1,700 acre development, and owned and operated the Penn Hills Resort.  Wilkins’ first job at the age of 14 was as a server at the Penn Hills Resort.

Said Christine Wilkins, “Charles taught me to enjoy Stroud Township, keep it as pristine as it was and always should be.”  Poalillo was a member of the Stroud Twp Planning Commission for 17 years.

Wilkins will retain her position of Executive Vice President/General Manager of Wilkins & Associates and will continue to be a part of the senior management term that makes decisions for the company overall. 

Wilkins is an adjunct Real Estate professor for Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Chairperson of the Stroud Township Bi-Centennial Committee, and a member of various committees through the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS.