News

The November publication of the MarketGraphics Housing and Subdivision Analysis will be arriving at subscriber’s offices the first week of November. Individual new homes market update presentations will be scheduled beginning next week.

The research for the MarketGraphics Housing and Subdivision Analysis is gathered by means of an intense, ground-level market audit that is conducted three times a year for each research market area – St. Louis Region, Central, Missouri Region and Southwest, Missouri Region. During the audit, each new home development is physically driven while measuring the critical points of absorption – homes under construction, homes finished and unoccupied and homes that have been absorbed (presently occupied) into the market. Developed and undeveloped lots are counted and included as part of the audit process. Pricing, amenity and other pertinent information is also collected. The data is processed, evaluated and from that a total market forecast is developed. This information is published in the MarketGraphics Housing and Subdivision Analysis report, which is delivered each March, July and November in St. Louis, each April, August and December in Central, Missouri and each January, May and September in Southwest, Missouri.

To learn more about Zanola Company’s MarketGraphics Research, contact Angie Slayton at 314.918.7200.

The presentation of 30 Frightening Factors that Could be Killing Your Bottom Line and 30 Easy Fixes to Scare Up Some Business was held this morning at Zanola Company’s creepy conference room. There wasn’t an open seat in the room of bankers, developers and realtors.

Attendees learned over thirty low cost, highly effective strategies to better position their new home developments in today’s market. The presentation concluded with an open group conversation regarding current new homes market opportunities.

A few lucky attendees walked away with a certificate for a complimentary 30 Point Site Analysis from Zanola Company that can be used to evaluate one of their new home developments. If you would like to hear more information about this presentation or to schedule your own 30 Point Site Analysis, contact Zanola Company at 314.918.7200.

You can no longer afford to deny the influence of social networking on marketing. Both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions will have YouTube uploading kiosks powered by Google available for anyone attending to upload videos to the e-masses. The potential voter participation rewards of this development are thought to outweigh the fear of a less than presidential moment getting billions of views in millions of offices around the world. 

The Democratic National Convention has also increased its venue square footage to accommodate hundreds of bloggers. Zanola Company understand the importance of a well maintained blog and use YouTube, MySpace and other social technology to help our clients relate with their clients on a whole new level. And it’s working! So here is my question- are you going to let these stuffy political guys be more web savvy than you?

I know it’s scary. You don’t have time to learn, you don’t know how to set it up, etc., etc., etc. It’s Okay-that’s what we’re here for! Give us a call to learn how you can put your sales and marketing on the forefront of technology.

To learn more about the YouTube kiosks and what other gadgets will be at the conventions, read the full article here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5601518&page=1

Zanola Company helps people through research, coaching and market insight. Below are some ways we have helped during the past two weeks.

1. Assisted a bank by reviewing and advising best sell-or-hold strategies for 20 sites in their residential land and lot portfolio.

2. Supported a custom homebuilder and remodeler by presenting research and introducing a compliancy program to 60 suppliers and subcontractors.

3. Completed assignments for a retail developer and delivered several retail site analyses.

4. Provided e-marketing resources to a building trade association through a free website for builders and homebuyers.

5. Coached a homebuilder on evaluating sales staff performance, correcting sales activities and reporting, and improving sales results.

6. Introduced an out of town developer to a renowned St. Louis architectural firm.

7. Completed an assignment for a developer to update an absorption analysis for a new development in St. Charles County.

8. Trained a bank’s staff on utilizing our MarketGraphics Housing and Subdivision Research.

9. Accepted an assignment from a bank to provide a turn-around assessment for an underperforming out-of-town condominium development.

10. Advised an investing developer on the purchase and lot sales feasibility for three parcels of land in St. Louis County.

Please call us today. We hope to help you!

It has been a whirlwind week for Zanola Company!  In two and a half non-stop days, Edsel  Charles, the founder of MarketGraphics, and Joe made 22 presentations, reaching over 300 people in the homebuilding industry.

Edsel blew into town on Monday, July 14 . Edsel and Joe spent the day sharing insights from the hot-off the-press July 2008 Housing and Subdivision Analysis with St. Louis MarketGraphics clients.  A perk for MarketGraphics Clients is that you receive personal one-on-one strategy sessions with amazing industry experts and creative thinking problem solvers. 

On Tuesday, we started out the day with a Bankers Summit at the Westport Sheraton where we learned that the housing market isn’t dead, it just has a flat tire! Edsel gave the bankers a number of tips on airing up that flat tire. We’d love to discuss those tips with you personally, so give us a call!  We took a look at the national inventory levels and it seems inventories in many areas crested nationally in April! That means we are starting to work off our supply of new homes, which is great news!

Wednesday morning Edsel and Joe presented more insight and exclusive information at a presentation for the customers of one of our key clients.  Did you know that 5 years down the road we are likely to have a shortage of developed lots? Seems far off now, but we need to start preparing for the emerging demographic markets!

The HBA New Product Showcase took place Wednesday afternoon. Edsel was the keynote speaker. He and Joe shared research from the July Housing and Subdivision Analysis and spoke about the critical need for well-trained and versatile sales people.  It is imperative that your sales team is out in the community igniting interest in your communities and engaging in two-way communication with your buyers.  It is time to retrain sales teams to be dynamic lead generators instead of "order takers". When we secret shop community sales consultants 75 to 80 percent never even get our contact information! So let’s get together and come up with some creative solutions to sell your great homes!

After the showcase, Edsel whisked out of town as quickly as he came in, but we hope his energy and solution oriented goals stay in our city.

In the most recent issue of the St. Charles Journal, Joe looks at the positive signs for the St. Charles County Market and what that could mean for all of us.

Planning a residential, commercial or retail development in St. Charles County? Call Zanola Company to help make your project a successful one.

Read the Full Article Here: St. Charles County Journal June 3 Edition

In the May 23 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal, Joe gives insight into the economic magnetism, real estate niches and the future of the condo market at this Central Missouri “hot spot”. For more information on the emerging Central Missouri market, give us a call to discuss our new MarketGraphics Data in that region.

Read the full article here: Lake Residential Market Keeps Head Above Water

The MarketGraphics® March 2008 Homes and Subdivision Analysis for the St. Louis Region is published.  Hooray!

The winter audit is generally dreaded…short daylight days to drive, dangerous road conditions, car troubles, and a Jimmy-Carter-esque malaise permeating the new homes market.  The audit leading up to the MarketGraphics March publication was tough as expected, but the results are worth the effort. 

We are thrilled with the new MarketGraphics report, and we feel it has much to offer everyone involved in the new homebuilding and land development business.  1,615 new home subdivisions have been audited, 8,271 homes have been counted as under construction or finished and un-occupied, 3,043 homes are currently available for sale, and MarketGraphics has published 200+ detailed pages about the St. Louis market. 

If you study our MarketGraphics information and/or attend our presentations, you are aware of our logic to present supply, demand, and forecast information to discover your best opportunities for success….as well as to reveal risks to avoid. 

And now for something different…I want to combine an observation from driving the St. Louis market with data from the MarketGraphics report.  I also want to offer two comments and a suggestion. 

Observation.  While we are hearing home buying traffic is “picking up”, the feeling of sustainable vibrancy is missing from new home communities. 

Data. 833 new home displays are open for business in the 10 county St. Louis Region. 

Comment #1.  New homebuilders have the remarkable privilege to establish a “storefront” via a model home at will within a residential setting.  We are not aware of any other type of business that has this opportunity to freely place business locations.  However, very few homebuilders merchandise and energize their model homes as is expected in all other retail storefronts.  While most retailers make a living converting those “just looking” into buyers, “look-i-loos’ are often the bane of the new home sales professional. 

Comment #2.  Something bold, different, and meaningful needs to occur to re-awaken potential homebuyers to begin enjoying the experience of visiting display homes. 

Suggestion.  Magnetize your model homes to become must visit destinations.  Think opposite of simple minded big discounts.  Instead focus on cooking, entertaining, reading, interior decorating, golfing, kids’ soccer training, or whatever activities connect with the demographics of your potential buyers.  Partner with vendors who appreciate your connection with their market and will add to your opportunities.  Challenge new home sales professionals to go retail.  Make something happen at your model homes; the alternative of letting the market happen to you is unlikely to be successful. 
    Joe Zanola