Wilkins sponsors blood drive May 3

BUSHKILL – Those who live and work in the Bushkill area can roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life by donating blood Saturday, May 3 at the Bushkill office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate.

The blood drive is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wilkins’ office off Route 209. The blood will be collected for the Northeast Pennsylvania Blood Services Region.

Celebrating 20 Years of service, Wilkins & Associates is a community minded company and the Bushkill blood drive will help boost blood supplies needed by area hospitals. In the United States, a blood transfusion is required every two seconds and while the need for blood is increasing, less than five percent of the population regularly donates blood.

Donor pre-registration is suggested and can be done by calling Lynn Wilklow, assistant VP/Sales Manager of the Bushkill office at 588-3440, Ext. 304. Those who can’t make it to Saturday’s blood drive can make an appointment to donate blood at 800-GIVELIFE.


Wilkins’ yard sale benefits American Cancer Society

MOUNTAINHOME – Last year Wilkins & Associates Real Estate’s yard sale raised $4,500 for the American Cancer Society and the company hopes to do as well at this year’s sale on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

Bargains on furniture, housewares, clothing, toys and books can be found at the yard sale at the Mountainhome office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate on Route 390 in Mountainhome.

The profits will be donated to the Mountain Relay for Life, which will be held the following weekend, May 31 and June 1. The Mountainhome team – Wilkins’ Wranglers – will take part in the relay.

“Everybody has friends or family members who have battled cancer,” said Patricia Blank, manager of Wilkins’ Mountainhome office. “Wilkins & Associates is proud to salute the survivors, honor those who have died and raise money to help find a cure for cancer.”

To make a donation for the yard sale, call Blank at 595-7040.



Wilkins hires two agents

STROUDSBURG – Dominick Sacci, vice president of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, announces that Dennis Mooney has joined the company’s Stroudsburg office and Sandra DeGirolamo the Mount Pocono office.

Mooney has a degree in education from East Stroudsburg University and has worked in real estate since 1973. He was business manager for Cranberry Hill Construction and was a Broker for Penn Mountain Realty/Penn Estates Realtor and owner of Glenbrook Realty, Glenbrook Construction and First Choice Real Estate.

A resident of White Heron Lake at Marshalls Creek, Mooney is a director of the Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors and serves as a bylaws chairman and on the member services and building committees. Mooney also is a board member of the Arthritis Foundation, and served on the Easter Seals board and on the boards of White Heron Lake Association and Penn Estates Property Owners Association.

DeGirolamo of Mount Pocono is originally from Sea Bright, N.J. She was a real estate agent in New Jersey for 10 years and previously was a regional training manager with the Marriott Corp. A 2007 graduate of the Pocono Real Estate Academy, she formerly was an agent with Coldwell Banker. She is a board member for Oak View Terrace Condo Assn. She was recruited by Clarice Penna, Wilkins’ director of career development.

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow and historic Milford areas. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training. Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first- and second-time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.

Yarrow Wilkins named president of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate

Stroudsburg – Wilkins and Associates Real Estate Inc. announces the promotion of Yarrow Wilkins to president.

Wilkins started with the company nearly 15 years ago and “She’s worked every department and every facet of the business,” said her father and CEO Thomas R. Wilkins. “She’s well qualified to take over the position,” and was highly endorsed by the Wilkins Board of Directors.

“I will retain the title of CEO,” said Tom Wilkins. “I’m not ready to head South yet, but I do want to start to give running of the day to day operations to Yarrow and Vice President/General Manager Dominick J. Sacci. It’s time.”

“This will enable me over the next 10 years to focus more on the visions of the company as a whole, our corporate promotions, expansion, acquisitions and sales on truly the corporate level,” said Tom Wilkins. The company is celebrating its 20th year and he said this will give him time to focus on giving  back to the community.

Yarrow Wilkins is still based out of the Park Avenue office in Stroudsburg and her responsibilities will be to oversee Stroudsburg and the other offices and their managers.

“I started as a bookkeeper, ran NEPA Management short term department and look forward to the added responsibilities of directing the company as a whole,” she said. “My father taught me everything I know.” She graduated from Delaware Valley University in Doylestown with degrees in equine and animal sciences. Wilkins hosts an annual fundraiser, The Colors of Hope, for the American Cancer Society. She is on the board of directors of the Kiwanis Club of the Stroudsburg, is a Leadership Pocono alumni and served on the board of Women’s Resources.

“This is a great opportunity for both Yarrow and me,” said Sacci. “We work well together. I also learned everything from Tom and I am glad he’s not leaving tomorrow,” chuckled Sacci.

Patricia Blank was promoted to VP/Sales Manager. She’s been with the company for six years and in 2007 won the Manager of the Year award. She will continue to oversee the operations of Wilkins’ West End and Mountainhome offices, both of which are very successful offices for the Wilkins organization, said Tom Wilkins. She is involved with the American Cancer Society and has volunteered with the Barrett Friendly Library. The Mountainhome office is a member gallery for the Monroe County Arts Council. She also assists with the Colors for Hope gala.

Lynn Wilklow, who manages the Wilkins’ Dingmans and Bushkill offices, was promoted to Assistant VP/Sales Manager. She is the newest manager at Wilkins & Associates, having worked in sales and as an Associate Broker. Wilklow is secretary of the board of directors of the Pike Unit of the American Cancer Society and will assume the presidency this year. She is a resident of Milford and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Delaware Valley,

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow and historic Milford areas. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training. Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first- and second-time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.

Joseph Saracco Joins Wilkins & Associates

BUSHKILL – A Realtor with 18 years of experience, Joseph A. Saracco has joined Wilkins & Associates Real Estate.

Recruited by President Yarrow Wilkins, Saracco will join the Bushkill office of Wilkins & Associates and work with manager Lynn Wilklow. He graduated from Weichert Academy in New Jersey in 1990 and has since become a Broker in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and a licensed New Jersey real estate instructor.

Before joining Wilkins & Associates, Saracco was a manager at Weichert Realtors in Rockaway and Morristown, N.J. and served as regional director of the company’s Tri-State Rental Division. He was also a co-owner of Townsquare Realtors in Rockaway, N.J.

Saracco moved from New Jersey to the Poconos in 2006 and resides at Country Club of the Poconos. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, New Jersey Association of Realtors and North Central Jersey Association of Realtors.

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow and historic Milford areas. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training. Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first- and second-time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.


Wilkins hires Carolyn Scerbo-Godlewski

BUSHKILL – Carolyn M. Scerbo-Godlewski has joined the Bushkill office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate.

Originally from Morris County, N.J., she moved to the Poconos five years ago and currently resides at Saw Creek Estates in Bushkill.

Scerbo-Godlewski has a B.S. degree in biology and an M.B.A. in global management, and worked for 16 years in the pharmaceutical industry, specializing in computer validation for the past 10 years. She is a recent graduate of Pocono Real Estate Academy and was recruited into Wilkins & Associates Real Estate by Lynn Wilklow, manager of the Bushkill office.

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow and historic Milford areas. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training. Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first- and second-time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.

Lesoine is Wilkins’ Employee of the Year

STROUDSBURG – Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. chose Marilyn R. Lesoine of East Stroudsburg Employee of the Year for 2007, President Yarrow Wilkins announced at the annual awards banquet January 17 at Caesars Brookdale Resort, Scotrun.

“I was absolutely shocked,” said Lesoine, who is an administrative assistant at NEPA Management, a full service property management company and division of Wilkins & Associates. She has worked at Wilkins since September 2006 and said, “I do something different every day. We have a great team of people we work with.”

Wilkins presented the award and said, “Marilyn is a true asset to all of us in the organization. She forever wears a contagious smile around us.”

Lesoine is a lifelong resident of East Stroudsburg. She earned an Associate’s Degree in banking and accounting from Penn State University and a BA degree in speech communication from East Stroudsburg University. She has 17 years in local banking and was a real estate agent for several years. While working at NEPA Management, she also was a hostess at Perkins Family Restaurant of Stroudsburg, where she was named Employee of the Year for 2006.

For 18 years she has been the groundskeeper and caretaker for Wooddale Union Cemetery and is involved in the Wooddale United Methodist Church food pantry.

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow and historic Milford areas. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training. Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first- and second-time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.


Theresa Butler Joins Wilkins & Associates

BUSHKILL – Theresa M. Butler of Saw Creek Estates has joined the Bushkill office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc., under the direction of manager Lynn Wilklow.

A December graduate of Pocono Real Estate Academy, Butler is originally from Long Island, NY. and moved to the Poconos 15 years ago. She graduated summa cum laude from East Stroudsburg University with a B.S. degree in psychology and studied in the graduate counseling program at the University of Scranton.

Before joining Wilkins & Associates, Butler was a case manager at a women’s domestic violence shelter and a counselor at an adult partial hospitalization program. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, PSI Chi National Honor Society in psychology and Chi Sigma Iota International Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society.

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow and historic Milford areas. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training. Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first- and second-time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.

Wilkins hires 4 agents for new office

MOUNT POCONO – Four agents formerly with Coldwell Banker Real Estate’s Blakeslee have joined the Mount Pocono office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. in anticipation of the opening of an office in the Blakeslee area.

“I’m honored to work with this group of outstanding real estate professionals,” said Wilkins VP/ General Manager Dominick Sacci, “and I am thrilled they have chosen to continue their careers with Wilkins.”

Associate Broker Clarice Penna of Blakeslee was a Manager at the Coldwell Banker offices in Blakeslee, Brodheadsville, Wind Gap, Mount Pocono and Stroud Mall and won the Office Manager’s Award for Excellence. The Brodheadsville and Blakeslee offices received the prestigious Premier Office Award while she was manager. Penna is an E-Marketing Specialist, Negotiation Specialist and has completed extensive real estate courses for coaching and training new associates. She is Director of Career Development at Wilkins & Associates and is expected to manage the company’s future Blakeslee office.

James Timmeney of Lake Naomi is an Associate Broker and real estate appraiser with experience selling commercial and residential properties. He has lived in the Poconos since 1978.

Gail Rizzo was at Coldwell Banker-Blakeslee for eight years and was a Multi-Million Dollar Producer for seven years. She was Top Producer is listings and listings sold from 2004 to 2006.

Donna Carnes of Pocono Lake is an Accredited Seller Representative and Negotiation Specialist. She specializes in selling vacation homes and primary homes in the communities of the Poconos. A leader in outgoing referrals and relocation, Carnes was a Multi-Million Producer and a member of Sterling Society.

All are members of the National Association of Realtors and Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors.

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow and historic Milford areas. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training. Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first- and second-time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.

Lauren Domin Joins Wilkins & Associates

MOUNT POCONO – Lauren M. Domin has rejoined Wilkins & Associates Real Estate as administrative assistant at the Mount Pocono and North Pocono offices, announces Vice President Dominick Sacci.

“I am thrilled to be back working with the company where I started my real estate career,” said Domin, who was Wilkins’ Rookie of the Year in 2000 and won the Helping Hands award in 2003. She later managed the Wilkins’ vacation rental department. Domin received her SRS designation in 2007 and her Broker’s license in 2008.  

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow and historic Milford areas. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training. Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first- and second-time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.

Wilkins & Associates hires Misko

Mountainhome – Randy Misko has joined the Mountainhome office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc.

Originally from Philadelphia, Misko resides in Mountainhome and has lived in the Poconos for 20 years. He holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Penn State University and is a graduate of the Pocono Real Estate Academy.

Misko has worked at Skytop Resort for 15 years and is a regional corporate sales manager. In his first three years as a Realtor, Misko sold over $7 million.

He is a member of HSMAI, MPIGNY and NYSAE.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.



Pickarski becomes Accredited Seller Representative

Stroudsburg –Kathleen Pickarski of Stroudsburg has successfully completed the course to become an Accredited Seller Representative (ASR), announces Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. Vice President/General Manager Dominick J. Sacci.

Pickarski works out of the Stroudsburg office of Wilkins & Associates and joined the company almost two years ago. She completed the course through Polley Associates and said "It’s a very competitive market.  I firmly believe that the more education and knowledge I have, can only help me to better serve my clients”.

The course is offered under the guidelines of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, and provides agents with the tools and skills needed to professionally represent the Seller in a real estate transaction. “The accreditation provides an additional service to Sellers who are looking to sell their home through a Realtor®,” says Sacci, “we are always proud to see our Realtors® further their knowledge of their product(s).”

“Wilkins’ Senior Vice President Yarrow Wilkins says “Kathleen is a valued member of our team of sales associates, she received one of our company’s Certificate of Achievement awards for her success in the real estate industry in 2007, we are very proud of her”.

“Celebrating 20 Years of Service” Wilkins & Associates has seven offices that serve the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow, and historic Milford areas, Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees.

Wilkins hires John Martin

Stroudsburg –John W. Martin of Stroudsburg has joined Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc., the largest independent real estate agency in Northeast Pennsylvania.

A lifelong Stroudsburg resident, Martin is a November graduate of the Pocono Real Estate Academy. He is working at Wilkins’ Stroudsburg office, under the direction of manager Yarrow Wilkins.

Since 1984, Martin has worked at the U.S. Postal Service and 16 years ago he became Rural Carrier Local Shop Steward. He has worked for eight years as an instructor at the Rural Carrier Academy Lehigh/Pocono region and received a certificate of appreciation for his service.

He is a member of Eagles 1106, NRLCA and Christ Hamilton United Lutheran Church, Sciota.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Wilkins Honors Agents & Employees

Scotrun - Realtors and Employees of Wilkins & Associates celebrated at the annual awards breakfast January 17 at Caesars Pocono Resorts @ Brookdale. “It is always awesome to see our entire company together in one location”, Says Dominick J. Sacci Vice President/General Manager, “you definitely appreciate why we have been so successful, it is all due to our team of sales associates and employees”.

In addition to introducing the new agents and employees, Thomas R. Wilkins Broker/President, welcomed members of the “Independent Family of Home Buying Services”, who handle Wilkins’ accounts and provide insurance, mortgages, title insurance and settlement services.

Along with endless awards and acknowledgments, a thousand dollars in prizes were given away to Realtors and Employees, many of which were donated to Wilkins & Associates by vendors, advertisers, customers and purveyors.

Those honored were:

TOP SALESPERSON OF THE YEAR:  Carl Maurer, who sold $14 million in real estate.

OUTSTANDING SALESPERSON: Stbg.-Charlie Carmella, Mt. Pocono-Brian Ellis, Bushkill-Barbara Nannery & Dennis Farrelly, West End-Tina D’Amato,
Dingmans–Susan Gorman, Mary McKenna & William Schutte, Mountainhome– Caroline Salvino.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:  Bushkill-James Martin, West End-Sherrill Thorne & Deborah Wurster, Dingmans-Susan Kieselat, Mountainhome-Ginger Walsh,
Mt. Pocono-Lyndon Ewing.

TOP “10” IN SALES:  Bushkill-Carl Maurer, Mountainhome-Caroline Salvino,
Bushkill-Dennis Farrelly, Stbg.-Tracey Scofield, Stbg.-Susan Marshall, Bushkill-Barbara Nannery, Stbg.-Jeffrey Serowick, West End- Slywia Sacci, Stbg.-Charlie Carmella, Dingmans Ferry-William Schutte.

MOST CONVERTED REFERRALS:  Bushkill-Carl Maurer & Dennis Farrelly, Stbg.-Charlie Carmella.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE REFERRAL AWARD:  Stbg.-Ardelle Starnadori, Bushkill-Barbara Nannery.

 
HELPING HANDS AGENTS:  Stbg.-Jeffrey Serowick & Anthony Lorie,
Mt. Poc-Anthony DeMarco, Bushkill-Carol Demarest, Barbara Nannery & Dennis Farrelly, West End-Entire Office, West End-Richard Miller, Dingmans-Deborah Toumey, Kathleen Frye & Mary McKenna, Mountainhome-Justin Miller & Valerie Price.

AGENTS CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT:  Stbg.-Gina Fish & Kathleen Pickarski, Mt. Poc-Candice Liu & Elizabeth Cespedes, Bushkill-Diane McDermott & Linda Beyens, West End-Pamela Sayer & Brenda Kenny, Dingmans-Sharon Fritschie, Deborah Toumey, Dorie Gunderman & Beth Natiello, Mountainhome-Brenda Belardi.

ABOVE & BEYOND PRODUCTION AWARD:  The entire Mountainhome office.

HELPING HANDS EMPLOYEES:  Stbg.-Doreen Morales, Lori Benzinger, Marilyn Lesoine & Carmine Conti, Dingmans Ferry-Marilyn White, Mountainhome -Carol King.

CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION:  Bushkill-Theresa Butler & Donna Sorrentino, Stbg.-Rossana Spina & Jessica DiTondo.

CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT:  Stbg.-Dorothy McGowan & Jody Martin.

“Celebrating 20 Years of Service” Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated, with seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow, and historic Milford areas, Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Hannig becomes Accredited Seller Representative

Mt. Home – Susan A. Hannig of Cresco has successfully completed the course to become an Accredited Seller Representative (ASR), announces Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. Vice President/General Manager Dominick J. Sacci.

Hannig works out of the Mt. Home office of Wilkins & Associates and joined the company four years ago. She completed the course through Polley Associates and said "As a selling agent I strongly believe that the ASR designation gives you an edge. Knowledge is power and the competition is fierce in this market, it never hurts to have another ace up your sleeve”.

The course is offered under the guidelines of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, and provides agents with the tools and skills needed to professionally represent the Seller in a real estate transaction. “The accreditation provides an additional service to Sellers who are looking to sell their home through a Realtor®,” says Sacci, “and we always encourage our agents to receive accreditations like this.”

“Wilkins’ Office Manager Patricia Blank-Toombs says “Susan is a valued member of our team of sales associates, and a part of the reason that we have been so successful selling real estate in the Mt. Home area”.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono areas, and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Demarest becomes Accredited Buyer Representative

Bushkill – Carol Demarest of Bushkill has successfully completed the course to become an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), announces Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. Vice President/General Manager Dominick J. Sacci.

Demarest works at the Bushkill office of Wilkins & Associates and joined the company seven and a half years ago. She completed the course through the Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors and said the information she learned gives her an edge, especially in today’s market.

The course is offered under the guidelines of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, and provides agents with the tools and skills needed to professionally represent the buyer in a real estate transaction. “The accreditation provides an additional service to Buyers,” says Sacci, “and we always encourage our agents to receive accreditations like this.”

“Wilkins’ Sales Manager Lynn Wilklow says Demarest is a great asset to the office and this designation sets her apart from other agents when buyers are looking to purchase their home. “We’re happy she has taken the time to learn and get her certificate and we’re proud of her accomplishments,” Wilklow says.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono areas, and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Fish becomes Accredited Seller Representative

Stroudsburg –Gina B. Fish of Stroudsburg has successfully completed the course to become an Accredited Seller Representative (ASR), announces Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. Vice President/General Manager Dominick J. Sacci.

Fish works out of the Stroudsburg office of Wilkins & Associates and joined the company two years ago. She completed the course through Polley Associates and said the information she learned gives her an edge in today’s buyers market.

 

The course is offered under the guidelines of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, and provides agents with the tools and skills needed to professionally represent the Seller in a real estate transaction. “The accreditation provides an additional service to Sellers who are looking to sell their home through a Realtor®,” says Sacci, “and we always encourage our agents to receive accreditations like this.”

 

“Wilkins’ Senior Vice President Yarrow Wilkins says “Fish is a valued member of our team of sales associates, we are always happy to see our team improve their knowledge of our industry”. Wilkins says.

 

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono areas, and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Sylwia Sacci becomes Associate Broker

Brodheadsville – Sylwia Sacci of Effort, a Realtor at the West End office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, has passed the exam and met the qualifications to become an Associate Broker.

In the four years since joining Wilkins & Associates, Sacci has ranked in the Top 10 agents in the company for the last three years, was Outstanding Salesperson the past two years and was the Rookie of the year in her first year. She is a member of the National Realtors Association and has an Associate Buyers Representative certification.

Sacci said becoming an Associate Broker was “the next step up,” in her real estate career. Born in Poland, she moved to the United States in 1994 and is fluent in Polish and German.

“She is a wonderful, dedicated agent,” said Patricia Blank, office manager. “I’m glad Sylwia is part of the Wilkins & Associates’ West End office.”

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Wilkins & Associates makes holidays brighter

Stroudsburg – Making the holidays brighter for local families is a tradition at Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. and this year the staff and associates contributed food to Feed a Friend and is adopting two families for Christmas.

“We had a great response with the food drive,” said Patricia Blank, manager of Wilkins’ Mountainhome office. “This was our best year company-wide.” The collection was done in conjunction with the Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors and the five Pocono offices of Wilkins & Associates participated.

For the Children & Youth agency’s Adopt a Family, “We took on two families this year, one in Monroe County and one in Pike,” said Blank. Realtors and staff at all the Wilkins’ offices contribute and Vice President Dominick Sacci, Office Manager Nancy Frantz and Administrative Assistant Doreen Morales will go shopping for warm clothes and other gifts for the families.

“Adopting a family for the Holiday reminds us of the importance of what a family means throughout the year,” said Sacci, “let alone the holiday season. It is a way to give back to the community that has given so much to us personally and professionally over the years. We are happy to feel like we were a part of making a family’s day a little brighter.”

With eight offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Chili Cook-off Winners Announced

Dingmans Ferry – The Chili Cook-off was a hot contest at the first Delaware Township Harvest Festival October 27 and the winners share bragging rights until next year’s competition.

Sponsored by Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, the festival was held at Camp Akenac at Dingmans Ferry. “We had a wonderful turnout despite the rain,” said Wilkins’ VP Sales Manager Christine Scrofano, who organized the cook-off along with Lynn Wilklow, manager of Wilkins’ Bushkill office.

The judges awarded the top honor to “The Bushwackers Wings N Things” from Advantage Abstract & Realty Services, who also won the Hottest Chili award. The judge’s second place award went to Rimby’s Restaurant “Team Iron Duke” and third to Yetter Insurance Team.

Salvatore Stanzione’s “Knuckle Heads” team cooked up the thickest chili and the Friends of Ileana’s “Team Ileana for County Commissioner” had the most original chili. The NEPA Management Team won the best booth competition and the overwhelming People’s Choice was “The Volunteers” from the Delaware Valley Ambulance Corps.

Wilkins & Associates was looking for an event that would bring the community together and Scrofano and Wilklow said the chili cook-off was a hit they plan to repeat next year. The festival also included craft booths and family activities.

Swingle Joins Wilkins

Mount Pocono – Sophie Swingle of Tobyhanna has joined the Mount Pocono office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc.

A life-long resident of the Poconos, Swingle has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Finance and Management from Wilkes University. She worked in the banking industry for 29 years at Wachovia and PNC banks, and as a Realtor for the last seven years with Kathy Louis and ERA Anderson.

Swingle served for three years in the United States Marine Corps, where she was honored as Marine of the Month. She has been active in Monroe County in the Builders’ Association, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Junior Achievement and The Pocono Summit Business and Professional Women’s Club, who named her Woman of the Year.

She is a graduate of Stonier School of Banking and Dale Carnegie course and a lifetime member of the Cambridge Who’s Who. She was recruited into the company by Brian Ellis and Dominick Sacci.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Fritschie becomes Accredited Buyer Representative

Dingmans Ferry – Sharon Fritschie of Dingmans Ferry has successfully completed the course to become an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), announces Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. Vice President/General Manager Dominick J. Sacci.

Fritschie works at the Dingmans office of Wilkins & Associates and joined the company four years ago. She completed the course at the Pocono Real Estate Academy and said the information she learned gives her an edge, especially in today’s market.

The course is offered under the guidelines of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, and provides agents with the tools and skills needed to professionally represent the seller in a real estate transaction. “The accreditation provides an additional service to homebuyers,” says Sacci, “and we always encourage our agents to receive accreditations like this.”

“Wilkins’ VP Sales Manager Christine Scrofano says Fritschie is a great asset to the office and this designation sets her apart from other agents when sellers are looking to market their properties. “We’re happy she has taken the time to learn and get her certificate and we’re proud of her accomplishments,” Scrofano says.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Wilkins Hires New Agents

Dingmans Ferry – Wilkins & Associates VP/Gen. Mgr. Dominick Sacci announces the hiring of two new agents.

Jimmy Hillman and his assistant Daniel Della Vecchia are working at Wilkins’ Dingmans Ferry office. Originally from Holland, Hillman moved to the area in 1994 and speaks German and Dutch. He has a BA in communications from California State University and holds both a New York and a Pennsylvania Real Estate license. A multi-million dollar producer for two consecutive years at Weichert Realtors - Ruffino Real Estate, Hillman was honored with the Executive Club Award for Outstanding Sales Performance in 2006. He also has 30 years of experience as a flight attendant with United Airlines. Hillman and Della Vecchia were recruited by Wilkins’ VP Sales Manager Christine Scrofano.

Joining Wilkins’ Milford office, Jan Strenk is originally from Slovakia and is multi-lingual, speaking Slovak, Polish and Russian. He moved to the area seven years ago and is a 2007 graduate of Pocono Real Estate Academy. He obtained business administration credits from Brooklyn College and Empire State College. Before joining Wilkins & Associates, Strenk worked at an exclusive co-op building in Manhattan, NY, and owned JDS Construction. He is a youth football coach.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Concert Benefits Pocono Kids

Stroudsburg – The community benefited in many ways when Methodical played at the Sherman Theatre August 24.

“It was an awesome night,” says Dominick Sacci, songwriter for the band and vice president/general manager of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate in Stroudsburg. “We raised far more than we expected.”

A check was presented this week to Monroe County Children and Youth and will buy Christmas gifts for teens. Kids that age are often overlooked, says Jessica Barrett of the Monroe County Children and Youth, when families and organizations “adopt” younger children for the holidays. 

Sacci says the money will be spent for necessities like warm clothes along with music and other teen gifts. Wilkins & Associates also plans to support the program and Sacci says “We helped out even more this year than in the past.” Each year more than 1,000 children receive gifts through the Children and Youth holiday drive.

 Wilkins & Associates sponsored the Methodical concert. When they heard that Sacci and his brother were presenting a concert to raise awareness of child abuse and suicide, many of Wilkins’ Realtors and employees made donations.

Methodical lead singer and Sacci’s brother, Wilhelm Mitchell, says their music has a message for their young fans. The six-member band frequently rocks New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and plays concerts in Florida, Ohio and other areas of the country. The kids, some in crisis situations, often reach out to the band members by email or in person.

Sacci and Mitchell came from an abusive background and Sacci says, “Methodical basically was born to help and not continue the cycle.” It feels good to give back to the community, Sacci said, and Methodical will do more concerts in the area to raise funds for worthy projects.

Wilkins hires two

Dingmans Ferry – Two agents have joined Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc.
 
Matthew W. Boulanger of Conashaugh Lakes in Pike County is working at Wilkins’ Dingmans office. A 2005 graduate of the Pocono Real Estate Academy, he attended Mount St. Mary College. Before joining Wilkins & Associates he was a Nationwide Insurance commercial sales representative in Warwick, N.Y. and a realtor with Century 21 Select of Lords Valley for the past two years. He coaches both Little League baseball and the football league and is a member of Cliff Park Golf League. He was recruited by Christine Scrofano. 

Joining Wilkins’ West End office is Luis “Alfredo” Barrera, who was recruited by Dominick Sacci. A native of Guatemala, he lived in New York City prior to moving to the Poconos in 1994 and currently lives in Effort. Barrera is an April graduate of New School of Real Estate, Shawnee-on-Delaware and will earn his Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies with a concentration in global trade and business from Muhlenberg College in 2008. He previously was a sales representative for Pepsi-Cola. Barrera is a soccer coach for in the West End league and is a member of Queen of Peace Church.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Wilkins hires two

Stroudsburg – Two agents have joined Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc., the largest independent real estate agency in Northeast Pennsylvania. 

Debra A. Chaitin, formerly of Bridgeport, Ct., is working at Wilkins’ Stroudsburg office. She moved with her family from Bridgeport to the Poconos four months ago and graduated from Pocono Real Estate Academy in August. Chaitin has an associate’s degree in business and 26 years of experience in the medical field. For the past 13 years she was office manager for her husband’s medical practice and is a member of the Professional Association of Medical Coders. She was recruited by Dominick Sacci.  

Donna Steo has joined Wilkins’ West End office in Brodheadsville. Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., she moved to the Poconos 12 years ago and graduated from Pocono Real Estate Academy in August. She was an office manager for Shearson Lehman and attended college in Brooklyn and at Northampton County Community College. She is an active member of the Pleasant Valley School District PTO. She was recruited by Patricia Blank.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Martin is golf and sales  champ

Bushkill – On the links and in the office, James Martin is a champion.

Martin and his brother, John, outscored a field of 190 golfers August 26 to win The Highland Open at Pocono Manor. They followed a first round of 67 with a 68 the second day and went on to win a three-hole playoff to take home the trophy.

The tournament is held twice a year at Pocono Manor and the brothers and Stroudsburg natives have competed for about 14 years. After finishing second several times, “It’s been our goal forever to win,” said Martin.

He brings the same drive to his job as a sales agent at the Bushkill office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. and a rental agent for NEPA Management in Stroudsburg.

 "He’s been specializing in local area rentals,” said Lynn Wilklow, manager at Wilkins’ Bushkill office. Just over the Labor Day weekend Martin rented eight homes across Monroe County to professionals transferring to the area from another part of the country and families relocating to the Poconos.

“There’s been a change in the market and rentals have made a comeback,” says Dominick Sacci, vice president/general manager of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, “and Jim has spearheaded the effort.”

Wilklow notes it was quite an accomplishment for Martin to break the tie and win the golf tournament and he uses the same diligence and work ethic to excel in real estate.

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Wilkins & Associates supports Relay for Life

All six Relay for Life events in Monroe and Pike counties benefited from the participation of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. again this year.

Agents and employees of Wilkins & Associates and their families walked in the 24-hour marathons that support the American Cancer Society, said Dominick Sacci, VP/General Manager.

“We were corporate sponsors again this year for all of the relays, said Sacci. Between the corporate sponsorship and the fundraising efforts of all seven offices, “We raised over $20,000 this year.” Last year the company contributed $15,000 to the fight against cancer.

The Mountainhome office alone raised nearly $10,000. Manager Patricia Blank said they decided,  “If we’re going to participate in it, we’re going to do it right. We had a big yard sale. We also had a raffle,” and contributed $9,409 compared to $1,700 last year. Justin Miller and Valerie Price did most of the work for the office and Blank said, “We’re already planning for next year.”

Typically a 15-member team walking in the relay will raise $1,000, said Sacci. “The Mountainhome office really set the example this year with the record breaking amount raised.” Wilkins offices raise funds all year with “casual for cancer” Fridays, when agents pay for the right to wear jeans to work. Through bake sales, contributions and after-hours work preparing for the relays, Wilkins offices have near 100 percent participation.

Relay captains at each office were: Blank and Mary Ellen Christman for the Mountain Relay, Kim Sciabica at Stroudsburg, Dominick Sacci at West End, Linda Beyens and Lynn Wilklow at Bushkill, Kat Frye, Sue Gorman and Debbie Toumey for the Pike relay and Polly Ruiz for the Lake Region.

Marilyn Lesoine, administrative assistant in Wilkins’ NEPA Management division, said the company sends a powerful message with its support of the Relay For Life.
 
“Many of our employees and their families have overcome the disease themselves.”

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

WILKINS & ASSOC. AND KIWANIS COLLECT FOR CAREER CLOSET

Stroudsburg – Throughout the month of May, the staff at all seven Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc. offices throughout Monroe and Pike Counties as well as the Kiwanis Club of the Stroudsburgs have been collecting women’s grooming products and professional work clothes on behalf of The First Impression Career Closet.

“Being able to promote a professional image in the workplace as well as assisting a non-profit organization is something Wilkins & Associates feels strongly about!  The more we can help out our community, the better!  We are here to stay and want to make our area the best it can be.” says Yarrow A. Wilkins who ran the drive as Senior Vice President of Wilkins & Associates as well as a Board Member of the Kiwanis Club.

“Our goal was to fill 50 gift bags with women’s grooming products that will be distributed to our clients through our Interview & Workplace Clothing Distribution Program, and to the participants of our Work Your Image! Seminars.” said Kathy Larrabee, Executive Director of The First Impression Career Closet.  “We recently gave out several of these grooming gift bags to the participants at a Work Your Image Seminar held at Pocono Services for Families and Children”.

Each bag contains the following items that clients can use in preparation for a job interview: shampoo & conditioner, hairbrush & comb, shower gel & scrubbing puff, clear nail polish & nail file, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, hand cream, pantyhose (neutral shade). Also included in the gift bags are discount coupons from local hair salons, and a Personal Tip Sheet, “Creating a Professional Appearance to Get and Keep a Job’, created by Women Work!, the national network for women’s employment.

First Impression Career Closet is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that provides professional clothing (and job readiness education) to low-income women to increase their employment and job retention potential and contribute to their economic independence. Our services are available, at no charge and by referral only, to low income women who are participating in job training and/or readiness programs and are seeking employment. We accept donations of women’s clothing that is professional in nature, in excellent-condition, no more than two years old, clean and on hangers (sweaters may be folded). Please contact us at #570-476-0406 or e-mail us at impress@ptd.net for more information or to make a donation. Our current wish list includes: summer business suits, neutral pantyhose, shoe racks, iron and ironing board, and volunteers to help with inventory maintenance.

 

Two Join Wilkins & Associates

Stroudsburg – Kathy Skillman of Gouldsboro and Barbara Ziembrowski of Emerald Lakes Estates, Long Pond have accepted positions as agents with Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc.
 
Working at Wilkins’ Mountainhome office, Skillman moved from New Jersey to the Poconos 20 years ago and is a graduate of Penn State University. As a real estate agent, she holds the honor of Multi-Millions Sold, Top Producer and Agent of the Year for the past six years. Committed to community service, she is a member and secretary of the Clifton Township zoning hearing board. She also serves as program director for Gouldsboro Area Foundation, a non-profit organization directing the renovation of the Gouldsboro train station.
 
Ziembrowski has joined Wilkins’ Stroudsburg office. A native of Poland, she has lived in the Poconos for seven years and speaks fluent Polish and Greek. She attended Bergen Community College and graduated from Pocono Real Estate Academy in April. Prior to joining Wilkins worked as a bank teller at PNC Bank in Mount Pocono and in customer service at ShopRite supermarket in Hackensack, NJ. She was recruited by VP/Gen. Mgr. Dominick Sacci.


With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Brandlis Buy Inn at Fox Hill 

Big A Restaurant to reopen in June

Marshalls Creek – The Big A Steakhouse, closed since March 1, will reopen in grand style at the former Inn at Fox Hill.  Owners Bruce and Marianne Brandli purchased the building through Wilkins & Associates Real Estate’s Bushkill office Monday, May 7. The original Big A restaurant was taken by eminent domain for the widening of Route 209.

“We’re hoping to be open by the end of June,” says Bruce Brandli, who expects to make a few changes to the property.

“I wanted to continue the Big A business,” says Brandli, who owned the restaurant for three years. He’s been in the restaurant business for 35 years and in the Poconos since 1988. He and his wife also own and will continue to operate Brandli’s Italian Restaurant at Foxmoor Village in Marshalls Creek. 

The new location of Big A Steakhouse has a large pond in front and was built in 1987. It operated as Inn at Fox Hill and Villa Volpe and was a temporary clubhouse for Great Bear Golf and County Club.
Brandli said the building offered the opportunity to continue the business, and he worked with Wilkins & Associates for months to complete the purchase. Listing agent was Carl Maurer and closing agent Dennis Farrelly

“They’re two of our top agents,” says Lynn Wilklow, manager of Wilkins’ Bushkill office.

Brandli says the Big A Steakhouse enjoyed loyal customers, a quality core group of staff steady growth at its former location. “Hopefully this will be better yet for us.”

The new larger site will enable the Big A Steakhouse to host weddings, meetings and banquets for up to 100 people.

Big A Chef Ron DellAquilla, who has worked with Brandli for eight years, will be back at the new location.

“We are going to introduce Italian food to the Big A menu,” says Brandli, and will continue to feature handcut steaks, prime rib, chops and seafood from the Big A menu.

Blues, jazz and oldies nights that were popular at the original Big A will be on the entertainment lineup at the new restaurant and Brandli says, “Now that we have a bigger facility we can do all kinds of events.”

Wilkins & Associates merges offices

Stroudsburg – The Tannersville office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. has merged with the Stroudsburg, Mount Pocono and West End offices to decrease operating costs and increase opportunities for expansion.

President Thomas R. Wilkins says the decision to close the office on Route 611 in Tannersville, which opened in 2002 during the height of the real estate boom, was made cooperatively between senior management, sales managers and department heads.

“It’s also a very strategic move in a slumped market,” says Wilkins.  “Opportunities in surrounding areas are becoming available to us on a regular basis,” he says. Small brokers are finding it difficult to operate in the current market, making this an opportune time for Wilkins & Associates to consider expansion.

Wilkins & Associates is the largest independent real estate firm in Northeastern Pennsylvania and its sales account for one of every six homes sold through Pocono Mountains Multi List System.

The company will save more than $150,000 in yearly expenses by closing the office. The agents in Tannersville literally applauded them for taking this step. “The agents want us to spend money on advertising,” Wilkins says, “not to pay for electric and snow plowing.”

He adds, “We won’t lose any market share because Tannersville overlaps our Mount Pocono and Stroudsburg market.” Wilkins & Associates has four other locations within 15 miles. “A Broker with one or two offices just can’t make this kind of move,” Wilkins says. “Because of our size it absolutely worked in our favor.”

Each of the 10 agents who worked in Tannersville chose the office they wanted to transfer to, says Assoc. Broker Patricia Blank, who managed the Tannersville branch in addition to Wilkins’ Mountainhome office.
 
Wilkins says the company will sublease the office building in Tannersville for two or three years. “Then, when the market’s real hot again, we have every intention of going back into it,” he says. “We like it there.”

While the Poconos continue to draw commuters from New York and New Jersey, “Our market is sluggish,” notes Wilkins, and he expects that trend to continue for 24 to 36 months. “It’s changed from a seller’s to a buyer’s market,” he adds.

Blank says she and others in the company are looking at the merge as a positive step. “Change is good,” she says. “I’m looking forward to the opportunities.”

Wilkins concludes by saying, “When one door closes, a bigger door opens. I’ve always been lucky when it comes to business.”

With seven offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Save at tax time with a 1031 Exchange

Mount Pocono – Real estate investors and families considering buying a vacation home should consider a 1031 Exchange, advises Kathy Caponigro, an agent at Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc.

“The concept of 1031 was introduced to me by a client who had done this before,” says Caponigro, who works at Wilkins’ Mount Pocono office. She completed a course on the tax deferred property exchange to better advise her clients.

Section 1031 of the IRS code allows buyers to liquidate one property, purchase another and defray the taxes as long as the properties are like kind, she says. This includes investment, rental and business properties.

Pocono vacation homes, which are selling well from the Poconos to Hazleton, may also be eligible for the tax break. Caponigro says many buyers of second home aren’t aware of the potential savings.

“They get to use the property 14 days a year and rent it out the rest of the time,” she says. Among the other conditions to be eligible for a 1031 Exchange are the property has to be owned for two years and it can’t be a primary residence, she notes.

While Caponigro helps clients identify qualifying 1031 Exchange properties, “There are exchange companies that do all of the work,” she says.

"We are always proud of the Realtor members of our sales family when they invest in themselves and better themselves by increasing their knowledge of our product,” says Wilkins’ vice president and general manager Dominick Sacci. “Anyone can show you a home but a professional like Kathy will actually assist you with the purchase.”

To contact Caponigro, phone 570-839-2240, Ext. 322 or email kathcap@wilkins1.com.

With eight offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Wilkins Hires Two

Stroudsburg – Two agents have joined Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc., the largest independent real estate agency in Northeast Pennsylvania.

 

Kevin R. Eckley is working at Wilkins’ Stroudsburg office. He graduated from Pocono Real Estate Academy and is studying for an associate’s degree in business administration at Northampton County Community College. He has previous experience in auto sales. Originally from Stroudsburg, Eckley is a resident of Saylorsburg and was recruited into the company by Sr. VP Yarrow Wilkins and VP/Gen. Mgr. Dominick Sacci.

 

Lyndon Ewing is working at Wilkins’ Tannersville office and studying for a bachelor’s degree in economics at East Stroudsburg University. A former police officer in the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force in the Caribbean, he is a resident of Swiftwater and a graduate of the New School of Real Estate. Ewing is also a professional musician with several CD productions. He was recruited by Marty Courtney.

 

With eight offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Wilkins’ pink flamingo campaign successful

Bushkill – Agents are thinking pink and making green at all eight offices of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc.

A new Pink Flamingo 2007 Campaign launched at the annual meeting in January has already brought its first closing – and additional commission to listing agent Carol Demarest of   Wilkins’ Bushkill office.

“The campaign is designed to replenish our listing inventory that we sold in the last couple successful years in real estate,” says VP/General Manager Dominick Sacci. “It motivates our realtors to sell in a couple of ways.”

 

A cash bonus is paid up front to agents when they bring in a listing. The agent is then paid a percentage bonus from Wilkins & Associates when the listing closes.

Sacci says the program is a benefit to the seller without an expense, and a big boost to the agents.

 

“Since we launched the 2007 campaign a couple of months ago, we’ve watched a huge increase in listings, which has led to a huge increase in sales,” he says. “There’s a lot of excitement in our firm,” he chuckled. “The promotion will make certain the company has a successful summer selling season this year.”

 

Demarest, who lives at Saw Creek in Bushkill and has said worked at Wilkins & Associates for four years, said Wilkins’ Realtors were surprised and delighted to walk into the annual meeting and find the room full of pink flamingos and beach balls in the middle of winter. “There were hundreds of them,” she said.

 

She was the first agent in the company to list a flamingo property and the first to close on the home in Leisure Lands. The selling agent was Valerie Price from Wilkins’ Mountainhome office.

 

Lynn Wilklow, sales manager/associate broker and the manager of Wilkins’ Bushkill office says, “Our office has a good number of flamingo listings, with 11 more listings to be processed today alone. The agents are on board with the campaign,” added Wilklow, who helped inflate the pink flamingos before the annual meeting.

 

Demarest keeps a pink flamingo at her desk and says the promotion is wonderful. “It’s extra money in my pocket.”

 

With eight offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

Pennsylvania First has New Director

Stroudsburg – Richard S. Coburn of Albrightsville was promoted to general manager of Pennsylvania First Settlement Services II LP, located at 553 Main St., Stroudsburg.

A native of Boston, Coburn is a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War and a graduate of University of Maryland.

For 22 years, he worked for Phoenix Microwave Corporation, managing five departments. Coburn went into semi-retirement when the company was sold to Tyco, and began working as a real estate closer for First American Title Insurance, a publicly traded title insurance underwriter. When Pennsylvania First Settlement Services was started in 2001, Coburn assisted in closing transactions for them.

During Coburn’s tenure with First American Title Insurance, he learned to process titles, record deeds after closings and build Realtor relationships.

 In addition to overseeing the daily operations of Pennsylvania First, he expects to concentrate on growing the business, adding to PA First’s existing client list of real estate professionals, mortgage brokers and local attorneys.

Pennsylvania First Settlement Services II LP is undergoing major renovations of its 553 Main St. office and doubling its size to include two conference rooms, five additional work stations for its expanded staff of escrow officers and new offices for the post closing department.

 

Charles Vanneman becomes Accredited Buyer Representative

Bushkill – Charles Vanneman of East Stroudsburg has successfully completed the course to become an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), announces Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. Vice President/General Manager Dominick J. Sacci.

A graduate of Cornell University with a BS degree in operations research, Charlie was an operations manager in check processing for Bank of America, in charge of the Mid-Atlantic Region before joining Wilkins & Associates last August. He also serves on the Finance Committee of Toll Brothers at Country Club of the Poconos.

Originally from Baltimore, Md. Charlie and his wife Maureen and both are members of Wilkins’ Bushkill office and are taking other credits toward their Brokers licenses.

Charlie notes, “We interviewed with several different companies before we elected to come with Wilkins, because we were really impressed with the Wilkins family and the strong local presence.” He says Wilkins & Associates is progressive and aggressive and has raised the level of the real estate industry in the Poconos.

Wilkins VP and General Manager Dominick J. Sacci notes, “Charlie is a valued Realtor in our family of sales people. I knew from the first time I met Charlie and Maureen at our Get Started training classes that they would be successful with us.”

 

With eight offices serving the entire Pocono Mountains and historic Milford area, Wilkins & Associates is locally owned and family operated. Phone 570-421-8950 or visit www.wilkins1.com. The company takes pride in recruiting new and veteran agents and providing exceptional training.  Wilkins & Associates handles the sale of homes, estates and land to first and second time buyers, relocation buyers and retirees. They are the only Broker offering their exclusive Independent Family of Home Buying Services.

2006 Pocono Real Estate Review 

Stroudsburg – There is good news in for the real estate industry in the Pocono Mountains as 2006 ends, and a surprising forecast for the coming years.

 While elsewhere in the country home prices are dropping as gasoline prices and interest rates rise, “The Pocono market has sustained a confident 8.3% increase in values in 2006,” says VP/General Manager of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, the largest independent real estate agency in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Sacci says that according to the Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors, the average sales price of $179,231 in 2005 increased to $194,150 year to date.

From 2001 to 2005, Pike and Monroe counties have seen 14% growth each year in housing values, so while there was moderation this year, numbers remain positive.

Prices were stable through October, when the average sales prices of  Pocono homes started to decline and adjust themselves on the MLS, Sacci noticed. At the same time, “Wilkins’ average sales price was increasing,” he says.

The average time on the market with Pocono MLS is still only 83 days.

“We’re preparing for 2007 because our inventory in MLS is up 45% compared to last year,” adds Sacci, “which is over 1,000 more homes on the market than this time last year.”

To sell their properties, homeowners are reducing the price and offering an increase in commission for the sales agent dealing with buyers. Sacci says they’re also asking, “How do I make my home stand out from all these other homes?”

“In the Poconos, July, August, September and October are the months to sell,” he says. Reminiscent of 10 years ago, those who can’t keep their homes on the market over the winter are choosing to rent them and re-list in the summer.

“There was a time when there was a huge inventory and in one office alone we rented 150 homes a year,” Sacci says. Between 2001 and 2005, landlords sold their rental properties and tenants bought, many times the home they were renting.

“Now we have a rental inventory again and can accommodate people looking to lease,” he says. And Wilkins & Associates offers six- and 12-month leases.

In another surprising trend, says Sacci, “We were shocked to see the volume of vacation homes sold in our area in 2006.” With the approval of a slots casino a