Reason for the star:

We rate web sites that apply for our award.  The award is based on two major criteria and is only awarded to about half the sites that apply.  It used to be awarded to a lower percentage, but web sites have improved dramatically in the last seven years.

Qualifications for the star:

• helpful consumer-oriented content on the site about buying or selling homes.

• information about the local area available on site

• property search and/or property listings on the site

• displays the Gold Award proudly on the main page of their site

• official members only

Disqualifications for the star:

• resizing the Gold Award

• removing the link in the Gold Award

• link farm or sloppy disorganized linking

• on site automatic music that cannot be disabled

• the Gold Award appears more than three scroll clicks from the top of the page.

Comments & Reasoning:

We like quality sites.