MONTGOMERY, Ala. — For two decades, families in the Montgomery, Ala. area have trusted the service and integrity of Alfa Realty when it comes to buying or selling a home. Now, thanks to a new benefit program with the Alabama Farmers Federation, members statewide can take advantage of Alfa Realty’s experienced sales force and receive a cash incentive as a housewarming present.

Norman Schlemmer, qualifying broker with Alfa Realty, explained that Federation members may receive up to $1,000 at closing when they buy or sell a home with Alfa Realty or another real estate agent referred by Alfa Realty outside the company’s market area.

“It gives them a cash incentive for being a Federation member,” Schlemmer said. “It’s a way of saying ‘thank you’ for being a member and for doing business with the Alfa family.”

Under the new program, members who buy or sell a home through Alfa Realty may apply for a $150 cash incentive for every $50,000 of the property’s sale price. For example, a member could receive $450 if he sells a $150,000 home with Alfa Realty. And since the benefit is available on every transaction, the same member also can receive a similar cash incentive on the purchase of a new home.

Best of all, Alfa Realty has arranged to make the program available statewide to members who use a real estate agent referred by Alfa Realty.

“When a Federation member outside our market area applies for the program, we’ll ask them if they have a local preference,” Schlemmer said. “If they do, we’ll make that referral, and if they don’t, we’ll refer them to another real estate agent in the area.”

Mike Tidwell, director of the Federation’s Department of Organization, said the Alfa Realty program is a tangible benefit that allows thousands of Federation members statewide to receive cash incentives worth 10, 20 or 30 times the price of their annual membership dues.

“With 8-10 percent of Alabamians buying or selling a home each year, there are a lot of members who will benefit from this program,” Tidwell said. “This is just another way that a division within the Alfa family is stepping up to make Federation membership worth even more.”

Federation President Jerry A. Newby said the Alfa Realty incentive is part of the organization’s continuing efforts to add value to Federation membership.

“We know our members work hard for their money and have a choice when it comes to doing business,” Newby said. “At the Farmers Federation, we are working hard to ensure our organization not only serves members through its traditional programs and services, but also provides value in terms of cost savings when they do business with our affiliated companies and partners.”

With more than 100 agents, Alfa Realty is among the largest real estate companies in central Alabama. Last year, the company handled about 1,200 transactions in Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Tallapoosa and Macon counties.

Alfa Realty received the Montgomery Advertiser’s 2005 Readers’ Choice Award for best real estate company and has consistently been rated among the top-three companies in the market.

To apply for the Alfa Realty cash incentive, Federation members should call Alfa Realty toll-free at 1-866-283-ALFA (2532), e-mail to SaveMoney@AlfaRealty.com or visit the new web site, www.AlfaRealty.com/federationmember. The benefit must be applied for in advance, and is not available retroactively for previous transactions. Cash incentives will be provided at closing. Certain terms and conditions may apply.