2nd Season Announced for Popular First-Time Home Buyer 'Cause' TV Series

2nd Season Announced for Popular First-Time Home Buyer 'Cause' TV Series

- HomeTeam Now Creating Lead-Distribution Web-Based Portal for Real Estate, Mortgage & Title Professionals -

SEATTLE, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- HomeTeam, the successful reality television show launched last fall to help make the American Dream a reality for prospective first-time home buyers, today announced it will produce a second 26-episode season. A weekly show hosted by Troy McClain of Apprentice fame, HomeTeam is based on an innovative business model that uses 'Cause' TV -- surprising an unsuspecting individual or family with their very first home -- to raise awareness of homeownership opportunities and drive quality leads to the company's website (www.hometeam.com).

"We have been using Season 1 to test the 'Cause' TV phenomenon and confirm that it's an effective medium to engage potential first-time homeowners, since so many of them share the same needs and demographic," said Eric Gorrell, HomeTeam President and CEO. "No other national brand specifically targets the first-time home buyer so we believe HomeTeam is well positioned to appropriately serve this audience," he added.

To achieve this goal, the company is creating a comprehensive first-time home buyer distribution network that will serve as a powerful co-marketing and lead allocation web-based portal for HomeTeam real estate, mortgage and title partners. "Despite little marketing effort to date, each episode generates thousands of online applications," Gorrell noted. "Based on the quality of these leads, we are now moving forward quickly with plans to roll out our distribution network, which will include a robust website and lead-generation engine, a call center and home buyer counseling services," he concluded.

The HomeTeam TV show is syndicated by Litton Entertainment, a leading independent distributor, and has about 94% national clearance, airing weekly in local markets on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW (formerly WB & UPN), and WGN cable. Check local TV listings for network and airtime.

The format of each hour-long HomeTeam episode has host McClain sharing the compelling story behind the recipient selected through home videos, photographs and interviews with family and friends-chronicled over a 3-day period as they work to make home improvements. Near the end of the show, there is an emotional unveiling to the recipient as they discover that HomeTeam has purchased a home on their behalf, providing the 10% down payment and covering all of the recipient's first year expenses -- including insurance and mortgage payments (excluding utilities) -- buyer counseling and over $5,000 of home furnishings.

"Research shows that owning a home can have a profound, long-term positive affect on people's lives," said McClain, who himself is synonymous with the American Dream. His rags to riches story began as a child when his single mother was evicted from seven places before finally securing a modest home of their own. Throughout his life, McClain has remained steadfast in achieving his ambitions, first as a successful mortgage broker, and today as a well-known businessman and speaker. "HomeTeam is about bringing people together to lend a hand for those who dream of owning their very first home," he added. "Becoming a homeowner increases people's ability to advance socially and economically because they are more likely to continue education, maintain a healthy lifestyle, be involved in the community, and provide emotional stability for their family. While each episode presents a heart-lifting story behind one recipient, more importantly, we hope to help tens of thousands more through our web portal."

About HomeTeam

Founded in 2003 and based in Bellevue, WA, HomeTeam is managed by a seasoned executive team with experience creating quality TV programming, real estate-related affinity partnerships and web-based technologies. To date, episodes have been filmed on location in Seattle & Spokane, WA; Las Vegas, NV; San Diego, CA; Indianapolis, IN; Washington, DC; Salt Lake City, UT; Portland, OR; Tampa, Orlando & St. Petersburg, FL; and Pascagoula, MS. Upcoming shoots are scheduled for Chicago, IL; San Francisco & Sacramento, CA; New Orleans, LA; Milwaukee, WI; Philadelphia & Harrisburg, PA; Minneapolis, MN; Vancouver, Canada; and again in Washington, DC. Visit www.hometeam.com for more information or to nominate a recipient.

Media Contact: Mark Benhard

805-230-1080

Source: HomeTeam

CONTACT: Mark Benhard, +1-805-230-1080, for HomeTeam

Web site: http://www.hometeam.com/

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