In an initiative aimed at streamlining the home buying and selling experience in the New York metro area, four top residential brokerage firms have joined forces to create the Tri-State Alliance, a partnership launched today to share exclusive property listings online.

The brokerage firms include: Halstead Property serving New York City, the Hamptons, Fairfield County in Connecticut, Hudson and Essex Counties in New Jersey and Columbia County in New York; Houlihan Lawrence serving Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York;

Coach Realtors serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island;

and Turpin Realtors serving Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Essex and Union Counties in New Jersey.

Each firm's exclusive listings will be searchable across all four brokerage websites, which collectively receive millions of visitors annually. The Tri-State Alliance brings together 68 office locations, more than 2,900 sales agents and nearly 8,000 exclusive listings.

"This move is unprecedented in our industry, and we are extremely proud of all of our efforts to develop this alliance that will better benefit consumers in a one-stop experience. This unique sharing and collaboration among independently owned and non-franchised brokerages developed from the mutual friendship and respect each brokerage has for one another," stated Diane Ramirez, President of Halstead Property.

"By combining our considerable resources, we are increasing the visibility of our exclusive listings which will help both our sellers and buyers," said Chris Meyers, a Principal of Houlihan Lawrence. "In addition, we are increasing the brand awareness of our individual firms in markets where we might not have a bricks and mortar presence. It's an extremely smart, efficient and effective way to further promote our companies and showcase our talented agents."

The four owner/brokers of each firm began discussing this unique and forward-thinking collaboration in early 2011. Last August, the four company owners met in the New York City offices of Halstead Property to formally begin the process. "Months of planning and collaboration went into making this happen, each brokerage, technical and marketing departments worked closely towards a single goal," stated Georgianna Finn, owner of Coach Realtors.

"We are excited to be a part of this wonderfully collaborative effort, the result of which is a comprehensive search tool that will prove invaluable to consumers in the tri-state region. In addition to providing high quality listing data from the various regions we cover, each of our websites offers valuable resources like community profiles, property videos and helpful tips for navigating today's real estate market," John Turpin, President of Turpin Realtors.

Halstead Property Halstead Property is one of the largest residential real estate brokerage firms in the metropolitan area. Headquartered at 499 Park Avenue, the firm has nearly 950 sales and rental agents located in 21 premier offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Riverdale, the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, Hoboken, New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut. In addition, the Development Marketing Division of Halstead Property is the exclusive sales and marketing firm for many new developments in the tri-state area and through the Property Management Division, Halstead manages more than 18,000 residential units within 180 buildings. www.halstead.com

Houlihan Lawrence Houlihan Lawrence is the largest area broker serving Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, and the 15th largest broker based on sales volume nationwide. Founded in 1888, the company has 24 offices and over 1000 agents. Houlihan Lawrence offers specialization in several key areas: Luxury Country Properties reaches beyond the local marketplace to attract discerning buyers from around the world; Global Relocation partners closely with local Fortune 1000 companies to provide full-service relocation assistance; Houlihan Lawrence Project Marketing works exclusively with and for developers of single family and multi-family projects. Houlihan Lawrence has a strong digital footprint and listing syndication to dozens of websites that offer local, regional and international exposure, reaching over 30 million buyers each month. www.houlihanlawrence.com

Coach Realtors Coach Realtors, founded in 1954, is a Long Island based residential real estate company with 18 office locations and more than 650 sales associates serving Nassau and Suffolk counties. Family owned and operated, Coach Realtors is an exclusive affiliate of Christie's International Real Estate, a division of the famed auction house, a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World ® and has been recognized by Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate for over 20 years. www.coachrealtors.com

Turpin Realtors Founded in 1960, Turpin Real Estate is an independent, family-owned agency with offices in northern New Jersey. Our outstanding, full-time sales staff is dedicated to providing the highest quality service with uncompromising integrity. Strategic network alliances and extensive marketing systems provide us with unsurpassed coverage for our clients regionally, nationally and internationally. Global reach, unparalleled local expertise and the flexibility of an independently owned agency are the hallmarks of our organization. www.turpinrealtors.com

Many individuals interested in selling their homes are already aware that curb appeal is crucial. Making a good impression on potential buyers before they even step inside will assure that your property is memorable, but more importantly, making a bad impression will hinder your chances of selling your home--regardless of how charming it is inside. The following tips will allow you to amp up your curb appeal without breaking the bank.

"Many homeowners who are trying to sell think that increasing their curb appeal has to be a pricey affair involving landscapers or a new front porch," says Lawrence Finn, CEO of Coach Realtors. "But there are a great deal of small, inexpensive things you can do for the outside of your home that will make the overall appearance much more appealing." Mr. Finn suggests these simple do-it-yourself projects, all of which will take less than one afternoon, and cost you 100 dollars--or less!

Flower Boxes. Putting flower boxes under your windows will give your home a pop of color and increase the overall charm factor of your property. All it takes is the boxes themselves--which are usually under $35--some soil, and plants. Not interested in flower boxes? A few potted plants lining your porch, steps or walkway will do the trick as well.

Repaint Your Accents. Repainting the accents of your home--including the front door, trim and shutters--will give your house a fresh, clean look. Choosing a bold color will make your house stick out, but even playing it safe with a neutral tone will make your property appear clean and well cared for.

Replace Your Numbers. Many houses have old, faded or rusted numbers. Buying new, modern numbers--or even customized numeral plaques--can really help the look of the front of your house. This is a small detail that is often overlooked but can have a really nice effect.

Plant a Garden. Planting a small flower garden in the front of your house will give your home a warm, inviting look. Foliage adds instant curb appeal. If you don't want to tend to flowers, consider planting a tree.

Detailing. Adding interesting details, such as a bird feeder or birdbath, will improve the appeal of your front yard. Inexpensive stepping stones trailed throughout a garden or up to the front door are also attractive touches.

Mailbox Makeover. Getting an upgraded or customized mailbox adds great detailing to the front of your house. Whether you opt for a mounted box on the side of your home or a curbside container, having a mailbox that stands out is a nice touch.

"There are many different low-budget options for bolstering your curb appeal," says Finn. "Doing so will immediately make your home more inviting, assure a great first impression and enable a faster selling time."