Real Estate Media Holdings, LLC, a Lion Equity company, has broadened its investment in the real estate marketing space by adding Homes & Land, a leading real estate media brand, to its portfolio, along with the additional brands Estates & Homes, Rental Guide and Home Guide. The group purchased NewPoint Media Group, publishers of The Real Estate Book, in June of 2012.
Both The Real Estate Book and Homes & Land publish local real estate magazines in hundreds of markets across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean through a network of independent business owners. In addition, both brands power high traffic consumer websites, RealEstateBook.com and HomesandLand.com, with millions of homes listed for sale, as well as mobile, social, and direct mail marketing tools for real estate professionals. “Real estate marketing, and specifically, locally distributed print advertising, is a very strong business model,” said Ari Silverman, Co-founder, and partner in Lion Equity Partners. “Reaching local buyers and sellers is paramount to an agent’s business, and hyper local offline advertising does that very effectively. We’ve experienced this with The Real Estate Book and feel that adding Homes & Land will strengthen our investment in the industry and further build the return to our investors.”
A recent study conducted by Borrell Associates on the marketing spending habits of agents, brokers and builders indicates that they have not abandoned their commitment to local print as part of an integrated marketing strategy. In fact, the forecast suggests spending will increase. The category represents nearly 650 million in spending and is expected to continue to grow 8% over the next 5 years.
“Many would have you believe consumers shop for homes exclusively using the web,” said Scott Dixon, President of NewPoint Media Group, publishers of The Real Estate Book. “Our experience is that when a consumer is in the zone, in terms of shopping for a home, any and all information regarding the most important financial investment in their lives is deemed relevant and useful. Local real estate magazines offer a useful reference point for shoppers and a way for top real estate agents to distinguish themselves from others in the market who rely solely on their company’s website and Zillow or Trulia.”
“Zillow and Trulia, who announced their consolidation earlier this week have effectively become a public MLS system, while our offering is targeted to showcase those premier agents who offer their clients marketing services above and beyond simple web exposure,” Dixon added.
Homes & Land and The Real Estate Book are the tools top agents use to stand out in their local market,” added Allen Harrod, President of Homes & Land. “A website does not sit on the coffee table like a high quality magazine. When searching for their most valuable asset, consumers demonstrate a higher level of credibility and confidence in an agent who also advertises in print. They realize that this agent is a professional who makes a conscious decision to invest in quality advertising, a step above just anyone who puts their photo and phone number online.”
Jim Levitas, Co-founder and partner in Lion Equity Partners summed up their commitment to each brand. “Both Homes and Land and The Real Estate Book have been in business for over 30 years, and while, they, like most media, took hits during the downturn, it’s been exciting to watch the steady return of advertisers to this highly relevant media.”
“These brands have been and will remain wise investments for their advertisers, independent business owners, and for us,” Levitas said. “We knew the opportunity to combine both under one holding company would benefit all. Both management teams are leaders in the industry and we’re excited about the future.”
About Lion Equity Partners Lion Equity Partners (http://www.lionequity.com) is a Denver, CO based private equity firm specializing in acquiring controlling interests in small- to middle-market businesses across multiple industries. Lion Equity’s investment strategy is centered on creating value in its portfolio companies through a combination of organic growth and add-on acquisitions. Lion Equity supports its portfolio companies with strategic and financial resources, operational guidance, and M&A expertise.
About Homes & Land Homes & Land provides integrated marketing services to professionals working in and around the real estate industry. A leading local resource for real estate information, HomesAndLand.com welcomes millions of unique visitors every month. Headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, with magazines across the United States and Canada, Homes & Land has been serving real estate professionals, homebuyers and home sellers since 1973. In addition to Homes & Land Magazine, the company publishes Home Guide, Rental Guide, and Estates & Homes magazines.
About NewPoint Media Group NewPoint Media Group, LLC specializes in targeted media solutions that include both print and digital distribution to create integrated advertising and marketing services that amplify overall effectiveness and results. Leading brands include The Real Estate Book, Mature Living Choices, Senior Living Choices, New Home Finder, New Homes & Ideas, and New Homes Journal. In addition, the Company’s Publications Print Division provides these services to a variety of industries. The Company specializes in integrating print and digital media to effectively reach and engage a targeted consumer audience through local print distribution, web, mobile, direct mail, and social outlets. For more information, visit NewPointMediaGroup.com.
Contacts: Aaron Polack – Lion Equity Partners (303) 847-4100 ext. 103, apolack(at)lionequity(dot)com
Allen Harrod – Homes & Land (850) 575-0189, harroda(at)homesandland(dot)com
Scott Dixon – NewPoint Media Group, 770-962-7220 ext. 24214, sdixon(at)NewPointMediaGroup(dot)com
Rebecca Chandler – NewPoint Media Group, 770-962-7220 ext. 24672, rchandler(at)NewPointMediaGroup(dot)com
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