<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"> <channel> <title>Coldwell Banker Advantage Blog</title> <link>http://cbadvantage.com/blog/archive_202607/sort_entrydatetime-desc/</link> <description></description><item> <title>Big News! Celebrating Our Top-Ranked Real Estate Agents Across North Carolina</title> <description>We have some incredible news to celebrate! The latest RealTrends Verified City Rankings are officially out, highlighting the most productive, dedicated, and trusted real estate agents across the country.Making the top 5 in any market is no small feat&amp;mdash;it takes exceptional market knowledge, tireless work ethic, and an unwavering commitment to clients. We are beyond proud to announce that several of our agents claimed top spots in their local cities across North Carolina!Please join us in giving a huge round of applause to our standout agents:&amp;nbsp;GreensboroStacy Parent &amp;mdash; #4 AgentStacy continues to prove why she&amp;rsquo;s a powerhouse in the Triad market. Her dedication to guiding clients seamlessly through every step of the transaction earned her a well-deserved top-5 ranking!&amp;nbsp;KernersvilleLisa Pfefferkorn &amp;mdash; #4 AgentLisa&amp;rsquo;s deep local roots and client-first approach earned her a top spot in Kernersville. She consistently goes above and beyond, and this recognition is a direct reflection of her hard work.&amp;nbsp;High PointMark Cardillo &amp;mdash; #4 AgentMooMoo Councill &amp;mdash; #2 AgentHigh Point is a fast-paced, competitive market, but MooMoo and Mark continue to lead the way. Earning two top-5 spots in one city speaks volumes about the level of expertise and service they bring to the region.&amp;nbsp;LittletonCathy Hofmann &amp;mdash; #4 AgentPamela Hale &amp;mdash; #3 AgentScott Watson &amp;mdash; #2 AgentMike Gupton &amp;mdash; #1 AgentTalk about a total sweep! Securing four of the top five spots in Littleton is an extraordinary accomplishment. Mike, Scott, Pamela, and Cathy truly set the standard for excellence, proving that unmatched local expertise and passion produce unbeatable results.&amp;nbsp;HendersonAshlynn Roberts &amp;mdash; #2 AgentRuxton Bobbitt Jr. &amp;mdash; #1 Agent(Remembering Al Rivers &amp;mdash; forever the true #1 in our hearts and community.)Talk about taking over the town! Dominating the #1 and #2 spots in Henderson is a massive achievement. Ruxton and Ashlynn set the bar high every single day, delivering incredible results for home buyers and sellers throughout the community.&amp;nbsp;SmithfieldSusan Allen &amp;mdash; #1 AgentTaking home the #1 spot in Smithfield, Susan continues to set the gold standard in real estate. Her market insight and relentless dedication to her clients keep her right at the very top.&amp;nbsp;A Note of Thanks to Our Clients &amp;amp; CommunityRankings like these are earned through trust. To every client who bought, sold, or referred a friend to our team this past year&amp;mdash;thank you. We couldn&apos;t do what we do without your support!Here&amp;rsquo;s to celebrating these major milestones and continuing to serve our communities with excellence. If you see any of these star agents around town, be sure to congratulate them!&amp;nbsp;</description> <link>http://cbadvantage.com/blog/1501/big-news!-celebrating-our-top-ranked-real-estate-agents-across-north-carolina/</link> <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:26:56 -0500</pubDate></item><item> <title>High-End Real Estate in 2026: Key Takeaways from the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury® Mid-Year Report</title> <description>The luxury real estate market operates by its own rules. Right now, high-net-worth buyers are making bold moves. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC has officially released the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury&amp;reg; 2026 Mid-Year Report, revealing an influx of international capital, shifting buyer priorities, and a surging appetite for land.Whether you&apos;re looking to buy, sell, or simply track trends within the affluent market, here is what you need to know about the 2026 luxury landscape.The 30-Second SummaryGlobal interest in U.S. luxury homes has doubled year-over-year, fueled by wealthy buyers seeking safe-haven assets. Cash is king (with 63% of agents reporting a spike in all-cash deals), and buyers are obsessed with &quot;landmaxxing&quot;&amp;mdash; buying up extra acreage and neighboring lots for ultimate privacy.&amp;nbsp;5 Big Trends Shaping the Luxury Market1. The Rise of &quot;Landmaxxing&quot;The biggest word in luxury real estate right now? Landmaxxing. Affluent buyers are actively purchasing adjacent lots, neighboring homes, and expansive acreage to maximize their footprint, protect their views, and build private multigenerational compounds.- Searches for unique estates are up 146% year-over-year.- Searches for vacant land jumped 97%.2. Global Capital Doubles Down on the U.S.International interest in American real estate is surging. Global inquiries for U.S. luxury properties jumped 100% year-over-year, with California, Florida, and New York leading the charge. Nearly half (49%) of Coldwell Banker Luxury Specialists say clients view U.S. luxury homes as a vital hedge against stock market volatility.3. The Top 1% Is Driving Market GrowthThe highest end of the market is pulling away from the pack. The top 10% single-family home market grew by $3.7 billion year-over-year&amp;mdash;and $2.2 billion of that growth came directly from the ultra-wealthy top 1%&amp;ndash;5% price bracket.4. Cash Transactions Reach Record HighsHigh interest rates aren&apos;t stopping high-net-worth buyers&amp;mdash;they are simply bypassing traditional mortgages. 63% of Luxury Property Specialists saw an increase in all-cash purchases this year, with many first-time luxury buyers liquidating stock or crypto portfolios to close deals fast.5. Single-Family Estates Outshine CondosPrivacy and space win every time. Single-family luxury sales grew 2.8% year-over-year, while attached luxury properties (condos and townhomes) dropped 3.8%. Buyers are overwhelmingly prioritizing detached homes with generous yard space.&amp;nbsp;2026 Mid-Year Snapshot&amp;nbsp;What This Means for YouFor Sellers: Scarcity, acreage, and turnkey presentation are earning top-tier valuation premiums. International exposure is more critical than ever to capture active buyers.For Buyers: The top end of the market moves fast. Having liquid capital and a clear strategy gives you major leverage in negotiating prime properties.&amp;nbsp;Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is &quot;landmaxxing&quot; in real estate?Landmaxxing is the trend of wealthy buyers purchasing extra acreage, adjacent lots, or neighboring homes to expand their privacy, preserve surrounding views, and create multi-home family estates.Is the U.S. luxury real estate market growing in 2026?Yes. Driven by international buyers, all-cash offers, and high demand for single-family estates, overall luxury transaction volume&amp;mdash;especially in the top 1% to 5% price tier&amp;mdash;is significantly outpacing broader residential real estate.&amp;nbsp;Read the full report here.&amp;nbsp;Curious how these global luxury trends apply to your local market? Contact a Coldwell Banker Advantage Luxury Property Specialist today for a personalized market report.&amp;nbsp;</description> <link>http://cbadvantage.com/blog/1497/high-end-real-estate-in-2026:-key-takeaways-from-the-coldwell-banker-global-luxury®-mid-year-report/</link> <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:46:04 -0500</pubDate></item><item> <title>Making Moves in Durham: Cindie Burns Steps In as Broker-in-Charge</title> <description>Coldwell Banker Advantage is thrilled to announce that top-producing agent Cindie Burns has taken the lead as the new Broker-in-Charge of the Durham office.The best leaders in real estate are those who have spent years in the trenches. They understand the intricacies of complex negotiations, know how to navigate changing market cycles, and appreciate the delicate balance between high-volume production and personal life. Communication is key in this industry, and Cindie takes it seriously. Whether it&amp;rsquo;s day or night, her clients know they can count on her because she answers her phone&amp;mdash;a level of dedicated support that now extends to every agent in the Durham office.Decades of Proven Success &amp;amp; Community LeadershipSince entering the real estate industry in 1995, Cindie has built a formidable track record as a high-volume, highly respected producer in the Triangle. Her leadership extends well beyond individual transactions&amp;mdash;demonstrating her commitment to the local real estate community, Cindie served as the President of the Durham Regional Association of REALTORS&amp;reg; in 2023.&quot;Throughout the years, I&apos;ve been honored with various awards, but what truly touches my heart are the letters from my clients,&quot; says Cindie. &quot;Knowing that I&apos;ve made a positive impact on their lives is the greatest reward. To me, a home isn&apos;t just an investment; it&apos;s a sanctuary where memories are made. I&apos;m excited to bring that same dedication, open communication, and passion to supporting our Durham agents.&quot;A Tailored Vision for Durham AgentsCindie steps into this position knowing firsthand that true growth requires both strategy and freedom. She understands what successful agents need in order to maintain their momentum, offering the strategic support needed to seamlessly elevate their business to the next tier.Under Cindie&amp;rsquo;s leadership, the Durham office will continue to thrive in a true team environment. Together with the in-office admin and marketing support specialist, and the rest of CBA&apos;s top-tier support team, Cindie will foster a high-integrity, collaborative environment focused on:&amp;nbsp;Customized strategy: Moving beyond standard formulas to deliver personal, custom strategies tailored to every agent&amp;rsquo;s unique strengths and goals.Competence over noise: Streamlining business focus to emphasize real-world competence, strong client relationships, and proven market tactics.Sustainable growth: Providing the tools, structure, and administrative support needed for agents to build a thriving business alongside a life they actually love.Cindie&amp;rsquo;s hands-on approach and commitment to continuous learning ensure that the Coldwell Banker Advantage Durham office remains at the forefront of the industry, delivering unmatched dedication and professionalism to the Triangle community.&amp;nbsp;</description> <link>http://cbadvantage.com/blog/1496/making-moves-in-durham:-cindie-burns-steps-in-as-broker-in-charge/</link> <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 03:07:32 -0500</pubDate></item><item> <title>A New Chapter for Wake Forest Leadership: Welcoming Derrick Thornton</title> <description>We are thrilled to announce that Derrick Thornton is stepping in as the new Broker-in-Charge of our Wake Forest office. Derrick transitions to Wake Forest after serving as the BIC of our Durham office for 2 years. He is a leader who fundamentally understands that an environment built on autonomy, strong operational structure, and real-time access to leadership is what transforms a hectic career into a sustainable business.Derrick doesn&apos;t do cookie-cutter management. Instead, he focuses on the human element, sitting down with agents to look closely at their business through our core pillars of success: Marketing &amp;amp; Prospecting, Action &amp;amp; Effort, and Competence &amp;amp; Confidence. Whether looking to master cutting-edge AI tools or scale our agents&apos; production using our Ninja Selling and Climb frameworks, Derrick&amp;rsquo;s primary mission is providing the hands-on support and customized strategy required to accomplish our goal of helping our agents grow year after year.As Derrick takes the reins, he steps into a culture built on an incredibly solid foundation. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Graham Baker, who has made the decision to retire as the Wake Forest Broker-in-Charge. Graham&amp;rsquo;s tenure has been defined by unwavering integrity, deep industry knowledge, and a collaborative spirit that helped shape the office culture. While he is stepping away from the leadership desk, Graham isn&apos;t going anywhere. He will continue to serve his clients right here in the office as a full-time agent. We are proud to support Graham in this next chapter of his career, and we are excited for the future of Wake Forest under Derrick&apos;s leadership.Freedom to grow. That&amp;rsquo;s CBA.</description> <link>http://cbadvantage.com/blog/1495/a-new-chapter-for-wake-forest-leadership:-welcoming-derrick-thornton/</link> <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 02:34:11 -0500</pubDate></item> </channel></rss>
