Silver Spring, MD – A new partnership of two real estate and media professionals has re-launched Real Estate Economy Watch to feature photos, attractive graphics and the latest news and information on the residential real estate economy.

Steve Cook and Will Stein, who have been involved with the site since its birth in 2009, purchased the site late last year from Reecon Advisors.  Cook was vice president of public relations for the National Association of Realtors and spent 30 years in journalism and public relations before co-founding the site in 2009.  Cook is also a communications consultant and writes for several other outlets.  Stein is broker-owner of Belair Real Estate in Bowie, MD.

Cook said the new format is designed to expand the site’s appeal to a broader audience.  The bulk of REEW’s readership consists of real estate and mortgage professionals.

“Real Estate Economy Watch has built a faithful following of consumers and professionals in housing and housing finance who want more context and currency in their real estate coverage.  We’ll remain the site that delivers news and perspective you don’t get anywhere else,” said Cook.

“As a broker-owner who works with homeowners as well as investors, I am looking forward to continuing to create useful information and deliver relevant resources that will help our readers position themselves to succeed in the today’s evolving real estate marketplace,” said Stein.

Plans for site include more contributions from journalists, economists and experts in the real estate economy, guides and “how to” information for consumers and professionals, and expanded data and statistics.

The National Association of Real Estate Editors recognized Real Estate Economy Watch as one of the two best real estate news site of 2011 dedicated solely to real estate or home design coverage, citing the site for being “rich and deep in current information.”

In 2009, REEW was the first news source to report congressional approval of the housing tax credits. In recent years, it has expanded it news focus to cover legislation and regulatory policy, investors, mortgage finance, distress sales as well as traditional brokerage and homeownership.

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