Realtors

Guy Kawasaki asks the eternal question of business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporations when he says “What is your unfair advantage?” Simply put what makes you or your business so special that your competition can not or will not compete with you. In the real estate niche, the majority of Realtors point to the same “differentiating factors” [...]

The Columbian had to do this.Come on Julia! Get out your rolodex of realtors and generate some sales. For every quarter page they buy you could allow them to call bottom in an article.UPDATE:In the interest of being fair The Columbian ran a foreclosure article today.

I'm quite the social butterfly..I don't mean I am out partying til the wee hours of the night or I attend every Chamber Event but what I will tell you where ever I go there always seems to be real estate conversation involved. It seems lately when I talk real estate... consumer's get an interesting look on their face.  Then I hear, "How many jobs do you work right now?  Or I hoped you saved whi

One of the most effective marketing professionals happens to be a nationally recognized hyper local blogger by the name of John Harper aka theharperteam.com. One of John’s strategies is to utilize Press Releases to maximize the reach and viral power of his web-blog site. John utilizes a site called I-newswire.com. The following tip provides benefits [...]

  Effective July 1st, 2008 a real estate licensee who wants to act as a transaction broker isn't required to provide a transaction broker notice to a customer before or at the time of entering into a listing agreement for representation or before showing property.  Florida Statute Section 475.278 (2)(b) was amended in 2003 to provide that this transaction broker disclosure requirements would

A circus of serious real estate agents, just for fun.Readers find us in many ways on the Internet through search.  Yesterday, 68 of your arrived just from Google searches.  Many of these searches are the regular stuff, but there were two terms that stood out.1.  "Cycling Realtors Phoenix"Well, we love cycling and in fact we wrote a few post about our trips around the Phoen

This material is taken from Bali Web Design Blog, -blog-1.html. If you are now live in Dallas USA and need to sell your house or maybe want to buy another new one you can checkout real estate directory at Dallas Realtors. In there you can find so many agents that you contact by email and phone. Some of those agents are Certified Agents. You can find a small nice logo beside their nice looking p

As of June 23rd “FINTRAC” Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, the government agency responsible for enforcing money laundering and suspicious financial transactions has new regulations which will effect all real estate transactions. For now, there are no regulations for private sales unless an agent is bringing buyers to you and in which [...]

The Florida Association of Realtors and international real estate portal Homesgofast.com both note positive movements in the Florida property market. The realtors’ associations’ most recent sales report shows that there was an upswing in existing home and condominium sales in April, 2008 over the previous month. 11,200 homes were sold in April, while 3,900 condos were sold during the mon

Top 10 Ways to Use Blogging in Real Estate: #1 Use Blogging as a Farming/Niche ToolI normally would try to summarize the post, but frankly you should read it and digest the details. This is a well written post on the serious reasons why the best real estate professionals are blogging and beginning to pull away from the average real estate professionals.

After cementing plans to pitch Amdavad realty to US-based non-resident Gujaratis (NRIs) right at their doorstep with a property show in New Jersey, Amdavadi realtors are now going to Chicago to hard sell Amdavad. After joining hands with the Association of Indian Americans in North America (AIANA) for their first international property show at the second [...]

It is difficult to believe that there was a time not long ago when all you had to do to sell your home was put a sign in the yard and have your agent put you in the multiple listing system. Not so today.  With all the competition in the housing market, when showing your [...]

These days, I may not be so happy, after all After all that I have gained I still feel sad when I’m all alone I may have felt that path? Decay? I may not be so swift, after all All the chances you have given me I just let you go -The Rentals, “These Days” (1995) As if the times weren’t tough enough [...]

Ok, let me go ahead and answer some of the questions that you might have been pondering about Daytona Beach's encounter with Activerain! Technology + REALTORS= Prizes, FREE Lunch and Breakfast, DRAWINGS and a cocktal party!  But wait there is more...I feel like Gossip Girl.. The Tech Fair was a success: we surprised everyone with eco-friendly bags, drawings in every class (printers, camera's

REALTOOLS for REALTORS® By Brad Andersohn | May 27, 2008 In the never ending quest to find new and useful tools to Blog about, and to share with REALTORS® all across the Country, I thought it might be useful to list some of the Top sites I have discovered over this past year. If you’re a “Techy” [...]

If you read my BlackBerry™ post “All Wired“, you’ll know I’m excited about finally getting our MLS on our hand-held devices! A Realtor® friend of mine in San Francisco told me they’ve had that since 2006. And, if you read my Q1 post about short sales, vacant houses and foreclosures, you’ll understand my frustration with the [...]

The DOJ (Department of Justice) had a lawsuit against NAR (National Association of Realtors) for years. CNN (is that Cable News Network?) Money says the DOJ lawsuit against NAR was filed in September 2005. Settled Tuesday… breaking news… I’d nearly forgot what it was about… It was a IDX (internet data exchange?) [...]

From the outset, there is no doubt that there will be a substantial increase in the use of the internet by all participants in the real estate process.Currently, you can search for properties to buy, sell, permanently rent or holiday rent. You can also pay your rent online, download contacts online and much more.According to Shane Dale, Managing Director of Australian real estate agent website dev

1031 Exchange Seminar See all of our 1031 exchange seminar programs. Basic to Intermediate Level 1031 Exchange Seminar This is a basic to intermediate level workshop on forward, reverse and improvement (build-to-suit or construction) tax-deferred, like-kind exchange transactions pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code and Section 1.1031 of the Treasury Regulations. Educational Worksh

As a home owner I have come to view my home’s eccentric features as charming.  Buyers may not be as enchanted with these “problems”. As a Realtor if I a potential listing had mini maple trees growing out of the deck, because the owner didn’t bother to sweep up the seeds -  well that would cleaned up prior to listing [...]

Ann Arbor Area Board Sales Price Decline is not as Bad as Overall State ResultsWhile the Michigan Association of Realtors reported a decline in prices for the State of 11.63 percent from 07 to 08, the Ann Arbor Area Board declined only 2 percent.  To see the State wide first quarter look below...Click on the chart to see it in full screen viewHang in there….. the bottom to the market is coming.  For an inside look at sales results for our area, call us.Click here to search all listings in Michigan with pictures and tours -FREE! Kathy Toth and Teamwww.KathyToth.comKeller Williams Realty See AlsoThe Kathy Toth Home Selling SystemVisit our website, for all you need to know about Ann Arbor Real EstateContact Me!If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to call

Released data today suggesting that the mortgage market is still holding home sales back, with drops year over year still very signifigant.They also projected a 2.4% drop in real estate prices nationally.Remember that this is a national statistic, and that Northwest Indiana has not seen price reductions, merely a reduction in volume of sales.

Now is the time to rent, Realtors sayBethany Beach Wave, DE - 21 minutes agoPalmer has seen an increase in last-minute vacation rentals and advises visitors not to delay booking summer rentals. "It's still too early to tell … Original post by nathaniel

Albuquerque Home Prices Free On-Line Report: "In today’s intensely competitive Albuquerque Real Estate Market, Albuquerque Realtors are providing a powerful new tool for home owners.For many people, their home represents a large portion of their net worth. Homeowners want to know… What did the home down the street sell for? How long did it take to sell? What homes are for sale in my neighborhood? And most importunately, what’s my home worth? A new technology provides this for any who ask. And it’s free!"Albuquerque Real EstateAlbuquerque House Values

Investing in the real estate can be one of the most deciding factors to success for any investor. Investment not only involves just funding the property. A lot of other things have to be taken care of while funding the property. Before investing in a property, finding out motivated seller can be a wise decision. The [...]

Nine out of 10 visitors to an open house hosted recently by real estate agent Randy Antonio were Canadians.That might be unremarkable except that this open house was in Maui, more than 4,000 kms from the closest city in Canada.

Vancouver Sun Hawaii realtors woo Canadian buyersVancouver Sun,  Canada - 6 minutes agoOn Maui, vacation rentals are limited by zoning regulations, rules that weren't strictly enforced until recent years in a change that has curtailed rentals … Original post by nathaniel

Canada.com Hawaii realtors woo Canadian buyersCanada.com, Canada - 10 minutes agoOn Maui, vacation rentals are limited by zoning regulations, rules that weren't strictly enforced until recent years in a change that has curtailed rentals … Original post by nathaniel

The Notorious ROB has an excellent post making some comparisons between lawyers and REALTORS. If you have ever had a bad experience with a real estate “professional”, take a few minutes to read his post. You may walk away with a better understanding of why there can be such a huge discrepancy when it comes [...]

Moving to Eastlake only a few years ago from Ashtabula was a big change for me. A finnish girl always close to the water with a little bit of country still attached to her. I did not know much about my community until I became a Realtor. With great knowledge obtained from my brokers Stan and Linda Leff. I realized I would soon love where I live. I have gained great respect for the community I live in, realizing that over 300 years ago the Erie Indians village was Lakeshore Blvd. and reeves rd. In 1830 settlers from New York came and purchased acres for only $7 to 10 dollars. That completely blows my mind, imagine an acre for that price. In 1951 we became a city only populated by 7486 with a volunteer fire department managing by using borrowed equipement and renting trucks for a doll

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board is set to unveil a safety system that allows agents to warn one another and police about suspicious clients almost instantly, after being hampered by nearly three years of technical setbacks. The announcement, scheduled for tomorrow, comes after Lindsay Buziak, a 24-year-old Victoria real estate agent, was found stabbed to death last month inside an empty house she was showing. Ms. Buziak received two suspicious phone calls in the early evening of Feb. 2, and reportedly told colleagues she was nervous about the meeting in Saanich. No arrests have been made.

In today’s age, realtors who know how to find Houston new homes are merely a mouse click away. The Internet, a modern day technological marvel, enables novices to shop for investment properties online. Once they find a home or two, they can contact the real estate agent associated with the property. A quality realtor should know all [...]

Site Description: 0 Eppraisal provides free home valuations, data on comparable homes, recent sales, neighborhood details and local market trends. If you are looking to buy, sell or refinance a property let our valuation tools be the first step. Eppraisal can also help you o Keywords: house, home values, real estate, property, property value, market value, real [...]

Good Morning or Good afternoon or Good Evening!  Welcome to Absarokee, Montana!  To pronouns Absarokee it is pronoun like this, Abs-or-key.  I have taken some pictures of the Absarokee area, what it does look like in this part of the country.  Just a little taste of what you will see in Absarokee, Montana.  I will be adding more picture's of the Absarokee area.  Especially, the Absarokee Mountains and Absarokee-Beartooth Mountains.  Absarokee pictures.  I'm covering the area of Stillwater County, Carbon County, and Yellowstone County.  Which area of each County?  Stillwater County; I'm covering the area of Absarokee, Columbus, Nye, Fishtail, Dean, and Ryegate.  Carbon County; I'm covering the area of Red Lodge, Roberts,

Synergize!When working in a team setting, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts! Leverage creative collaboration. Embrace and leverage innovation. Every week I participate in a "Mastermind" meeting with a small group from my office. Each person at the table will share their current business, pending business, challenges with new prospects, goals or challenges with lead generation or marketing activities, etc. An amazing thing happens when like-minded people at the table begin thinking creatively to assist the one person with solving problems and achieving their goals. A synergy is felt in the air and the sparks are flying as we all help to solve each other's problems and in doing so, we're all feeling the joy of helping a colleague to achieve greatness and see pa

As Realtors we all love spring for many reasons.  The ugly winter mug shots of homes are over, the freezing fingers of trying to get the right numbers punched into your supra are over and the dead grass and plants begin to take color.  One great thing to do this spring is to go and re-take the exterior photos of your winter listings.  Buyers are more likely to spend more time looking at colorful pictures than they would of bare-less trees, snow covered roofs and mud.  Plus, this shows your sellers how much you care about their home getting sold.  I believe '08 is going to be great here in Western Kentucky and doing little things like this will definitely increase your listing chance of getting sold.  Good Luck,

In Step 4 of the First Time Home Buyer series, we will consider whether or not you need to use the services of a real estate agent to help you find a home. Do You Need a Realtor to Buy a Home? As an agent myself, it may seem kind of odd that I would even pose [...]

The Canadian Real Estate Association has begun to air TV commercials trying to promote using a real estate agent over selling your home privately. You can view the commericals here: www.bytheowner.com

Some Sellers in Jacksonville are making decisions that may cost them thousands of dollars and the chance to sell their home. "Consumers Are Idiots. Especially When it Comes to Real Estate" Quote from Real Estate Radio USA Don't get ma...

To my fellow Rainers, I know Missy Caulk told you about the personalized M&Ms you can get on the M&M's site with up to 8 characters per candy, but I wanted to share the other things our Utah colleague mentioned while speaking in Ann Arbor. His site utilizes some video technology which he indicates will be huge.  Visit Verl Workman's site at VerlWorkman.com. He is a very warm, and informative speaker, of Pinnacle Quest Consulting: 801-733-4373. See what you can use from the list of tips and sites posted on AnnArborTalks.com. I was writing as fast as I could, and got as many of the tips as possible.If you have some more to add, I would love your suggestions.Regards,Kathy Tothwww.KathyToth.comKeller William's Realty

Web sites and tips for productivityMany Realtors attended the seminar by National Speaker, Sponsored by Obeo.com Web Sites and Tips for Productivity Suggested by Verl WorkmanAt The Ann Arbor Board of Realtors February 2008  Pocketmirror.com (Advanced Outlook Synchronization)Chapura.comJott.comHandango.com (mobile software)Teleflip.com (Phone)PatZaby.comSkweezer.com   (change web to fit phone)Mobisode.comNetlingo.comChapura.comSmarteragent.com (combines properties and GPS)OopsImLate.comVitotechnology.com (to track phones)Respond.com (crm for outlook)AirSet.com (multi calendars)SonicWall.com   (blocks spam $495.00)Ijot.com (video download)GarminNuvi.comObeo.com (virtual tours)Dial 112 for international emergency The above were just some of the tools mentioned by the

Myths About Using a Realtor and Pricing Your Jacksonville Home   Myth #1  Your Realtor's skills will enable you to beat the market and sell above market value. Your Realtors skills will enable you to sell at market value with best t...

Several times recently, I have talked to local Realtors about Reverse Mortgages.  "No", "They are bad", "I've only heard bad things about them", are among the responses I've received lately.  Honestly, all Realtors SHOULD want to sell homes, and Reverse Mortgages are another avenue to educate your potential home-buyer!  Learn the facts about the FHA/HUD backed HECM Reverse Mortgages!  When you learn the facts, it is hard to say anything bad about them!  Some of the original 1970's & 1980's private Reverse Mortgages had more than their fair share of problems, to say the least!  But the HECM Reverse Mortgages have corrected all or certainly most of them!  Learn the facts from myths, start by checki

Membership in region's largest associations affected by housing slump With the housing market flat, Southwest Florida real estate agents are retreating or quitting the business in large numbers. The Sarasota Association of Realtors is down 11 percent over last year; the Manatee County association 19 percent; and the Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Association of Realtors 11 percent. The

Hello To All,  I would like to take a moment of your time to introduce myself.  As you may have noticed, I'm a Home Inspector serving Summit and surrounding counties in NE Ohio.  I guess you could say I'm the new guy on the block.  With over 25 years of experience (hands on and management that is) in the commercial and residential construction industry, I have started my own business to provide you, your clients and my existing customers with a service based on quality and customer care.  My slogan is "Fair and Reasonable Prices, But Above All, Dependable and Honest".  You can see more about me at the following links.www.inspecthost.com/drhhomeinspection enough about me, here is how you can benefit.  As part of my services, I provid

The Real Estate market has changed quite a bit over the course of the last three years in Massachusetts. The prices of homes in the Metrowest MA region have continued to drop. The peak in the Real Estate market in Massachusetts occurred in the Spring of 2005.What many home sellers fail to realize is that if you need to sell your home now and purchased anytime between the middle of 2004 and the end of 2007, you are most likely going to lose money. You are in all likely hood not going to be able to sell your home for what you paid for it! In many cases sellers will be losing thousands of dollars.  We are in what most people refer to as a "buyers market". This is a hard pill to swallow but it is reality. The days of a Realtor putting your home in MLS, Realtor.com, and

There is an article in today’s Toronto Star entitiled “Realtors Report a Big Drop in Sales”. The article points out that during the first 2 weeks of February, the city of Toronto’s agent sales dropped 18%, while the suburbs of Toronto dropped 11%. Also mentioned is that the Canadian Real Estate Association stated new listings [...]

Do buyers search the Internet for "Property" or for "Real Estate Agents"?  This question from one of our customers drove me to do a little research on searches and I did come up with some very interesting information.  Following is a chart that displays estimated clicks per day for some popular areas.  This data was accumulated from Googles AdWords traffic estimator so is not 100% accurate but still gives us an idea. The searches are broken down into property specific searches and real estate agent specific searches.  As you can see the property specific searches are much greater then real estate agent searches.  This tells us that more Internet searches are being done for property then for Agents.  This doesn't mean buyers are not

FHA Seminar - Get Prepared to Increase Your Business!Forget Conforming loans and Soft Market guidelines!  FHA Loans require a 3% buyer investment - which can be 100% gift funds.  Don't wait until the new limits go in to effect to learn how to utilize this program and pre-position your buyers to take action!FHA is not just for 1st Time Buyers.  When the loan limits increase, this will also be a viable program for mid-range move up buyers.You will learn:Acceptable sources of funds to assist home buyers including gift funds, seller credits, Nehemiah Grant, etc.FHA credit parameters including non-traditional creditCompare FHA to CalHFA (California Housing Finance Agency), which is better for your buyer?FHA appraiser and property requirementsFHA Investor Purchase require

Whoah.. I think I just ruffled some feathers. The emails will start pouring in as soon as I hit the “publish button.” It is a fair question, however. Minnesota REALTORS are everywhere. Possibly related:Lakeville MN real estate agent has the benefit of twenty years of service with the local police department.The “Oprah [...]

For the past year now I have seen so much finger pointing on who we should blame for the real estate market issues. I have been wanting to write an article about this for a long time now but Sharon Simms blog post at -we-have-the is what really inspired me to take the time to write out my thoughts. Sharon’s post and many of the replies were very honest and inspiring. So here is my take on it.BLAME BUYERSI truly think buyers should be responsible for their own actions. Did you really think you could hold onto and afford a $500,000 home on a $50,000 salary and no down payment? It doesn’t take rocket science to see that this was going to happen with buyers that got funded for these loans. Sure they were enticed with interest only, no down payment, arm loans but any buyer that took

According to the National Association of Realtors, (NAR) the final number of existing homes sold for 2007, including condos, single family houses and co-ops, came in at 5.652 million units. That’s compared to 6.478 million units sold in 2006.

Article 12 affects your PDA's signatureWhile you program your PDA signature, you can get in the mood for 2008 with youtube New Year celebration.The Code requires REALTORS to present a true picture in the advertising, marketing and other representations to the public and that communications are labeled from a real estate professional.  So you will want to change your Treo which comes programmed to say "sent with wireless" to Yours Truly, Associate Broker.  The Professional Standards Committee added two Standards of Practice 12-2 and 12-3 and posted a case interpretation on REALTOR.org in the Law and Policy section.  You can read more in the Juanuary 2008 REALTOR.org Magazine page 16.The problem for me will be when I have to perform a reset, I will have to remember about a thousand things

This is one of the most amazing videos I have seen in support of our troops! It has been watched more than 21,000,000 times!  Lizzie Palmer, a young sophomore from Ohio, showed her support for our troops with this amazing video! She is an awesome young lady who plans on joining the U.S Army after she graduates! Thank you Lizzzie Palmer! I came across this website that provides an opportunity to send a special “thanks” to all of the military personnel around the world. Soldiers and military personnel  can view this site to read your inspiring messages of encouragement, gratitude, hope and inspiration. Team Gagliardi stands behind our troops and wishes them a Happy Holiday! Leave a comment below in support of our troops!  SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! Tags: Lizzie+Palmer, Team+Gagliardi, Support+Our+Troops Share This

I am always looking for ways to say "Thank You" to my business relationships especially during the Christmas season.  The holiday cards/gifts for my agents are being mailed out today.  Without spoiling the surprise, let's just say lunch is on me.  So this gets me wondering...What gifts do you give to your agents?  How much do you usually spend per agent? Do you give a gifts to the homeowners you currently working with?  Or is that going too far?Decisions, decisions...  It's great to have AR as a source to turn to with issues like this!Happy Holidays!    

NOTE: If you are a Realtor who reads this blog this may be the most important article I have ever written about your industry. If you wish continued success, survival in a very down market environment, or if you wish to flourish while your competition flounders then please read this article and consider the suggestions and data presented. In “Realtor’s Down Market Tip#7: If You Refuse To Blog Make Your Website A Problem Solver!” I outlined marketing strategies for Realtors, thanks to Walt Goshert, who would not adopt blogging. For those Realtors who will never create their own blog, I strongly urge them to ask their brokers to create a company branded blog. Broker’s next generation online marketing presence will be accomplished through what Pat Kitano and Kevin Boer of Domus Consulting Group call Local Blog Networks. The power of this blogging platform and strategy will change the face of the real estate industry as you know it now. The era of your local newspa

The National Association of Realtors announced today that the housing market is on the verge of stabilizing and forecasts bright times aheadBucking conventional wisdom, a trade group for real estate agents on Monday said the battered housing market is on the verge of stabilizing and inched up its outlook for 2007 and 2008 home sales.The revised monthly forecast from the National Association of Realtors, which followed nine straight months of downward revisions, calls for U.S. existing home sales to fall 12.5 percent this year to 5.67 million — the lowest level since 2002. Last month, the association predicted 5.66 million existing homes would be sold this year.The Realtors' group also forecast sales will rise slightly in 2008 to 5.7 million, up from last month's prediction of 5.69 million.Numerous other economists, however, are far less optimistic than the trade group. They predict weak sales and falling prices through next year and beyond and emphasize that those problems could wo

The latest housing market statistics show the average Fraser Valley house price has declined for the second month in a row, reaching $511,176 in November.That price is the lowest for detached homes since March, reported the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board.Realtors look at the shift as nothing more than a seasonal slump, and economists are uncomfortable calling it a price trend other than to say it follows evidence of the market slipping into equilibrium.

Realtors Stress Family First During Divorce in Free Confidential ReportDid you know that currently in the United States at least half of all marriages end in divorce?You may know someone who is currently going through a divorce and could use someone to talk to with expertise in dealing with real estate during their time of need. You might suggest they call the hotline below for a confidential report to be mailed to them? What I find so valuable is the trend for family law to focus on the family first.  Preserving the kid’s best interest makes sense to me during this time of transition.My experience tells me that sound advice from a neutral third party during this stressful time is a key to moving in an informed direction.You can imagine that what is also needed is a lot of compassion and good old-fashion listening skills. As you may or may not know, our team has developed expertise in this area because our skill sets match up very well with what is needed from our clien

Believe it or not, sometimes, Realtors have to sell their homes too! So how do they do it ? They obviously know what a buyer is looking for in a home. So how do they attract the right type of buyer and get the most out of selling their their home ? Here are a few tips I found at Art Of Saving that I found very enlightening.The ExteriorReal estate agents understand how important 'Curb Appeal' is. It is the home buyers first impression of the home. Shouldn't it be a good one? When beautifying the exterior of the home, the focus on the landscaping, driveway, entranceway and front door.* All clutter is removed from the front yard.* Cracks in the driveway and walkway are fixed.* The front lawn and shrubs are manicured. Gardens are mulched.* The exterior of the home is painted if needed.* The front door is painted or replaced if needed.* Chipped or fraying paint on door and window frames is removed, and fresh paint is added.* Gutters and downspouts are cleared and in good working order.Th

I the last installment of Building a List for Realtors, we looked at simple and easy ways to acquire clients and their addresses. Now we want to address another technique. This is an easy method of getting people t come to you using eBay. eBay! is not only a great place to [...]

The world of real estate is going through a paradigm shift of the highest order with marketing campaigns moving from print to online (see therealestatebloggers.com for data), clients becoming more active in their search for information, and lead generation for Realtors becoming informational rather than self promotional. Understanding this massive shift is just the beginning to stepping into the progressive changes that are occurring in the industry. Many Realtors deserved or not (my mom is a Realtor) have over the years been perceived by the public as information hording (MLS data), win-lose based, high pressure salespeople. The perception of the greedy Realtor is being changed with the adoption of Web 2.0 sharing of information, blogging and the tone of the blogisphere, as well as the continued demands on extensive Realtor education. Therefore Step #1 for a Realtor to understand this paradigm shift is to cease being a salesperson. For an example of a salesperson view our video abov

Very good article in the Los Angeles Times shows you how most experts (including the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors) believe that home prices will continue to fall in 2008. No one knows how severe the slump will be, but economists and real estate experts interviewed by The Times, and who were willing to make predictions, said prices could fall 15% to 25% before turning back up. Most said values would continue falling through at least next year, and some thought the market wouldn’t reverse course until 2010. That could translate to big declines for home buyers who bought at the peak of the market, which various measures place in late 2006 or early 2007. (more…)

Would it surprise you to learn that some tax increases proposed by Martin O’Malley failed to pass during the recent Special Legislative Session?  Although the 20% sales tax increase, from 5% to 6%, did pass – along with the return of slot machines to Maryland for the first time since 1968 – some of O’Malley’s proposals were successfully blocked. You can thank the very effective Maryland Association of Realtors (MAR) for their leadership in helping to defeat the following proposed taxes, which would have impacted you, the consumer:  1.  TAX ON SERVICES:  The proposed tax on real estate property management services was removed from the final bill.  This is considered a huge victory because the tax was seen as a “trial balloon” for a far-reaching tax-on-services bill, ultimately taxing consumers on ALL real estate commissions and fees.  2.  GREEN FUND:  Real estate was re

Pacific View at Five Corners White Rock CondominiumsIt’s the best of all worlds. A stellar location in the heart of White Rock that’s walking distance to the beach, shopping, and parks – some of these two and three bedroom homes even have water views toward the Pacific Ocean at the Pacific View at Five Corners. For families, you’re adjacent to an elementary school. Suites at the Pacific View Five Corners White Rock estate condo homes are large – ranging from 1,106 to over 1,600 square feet. But best of all, these 36 condominiums are GST exempt. And with a starting price of $349,900, that translates to getting an extra bonus on an already great value. The White Rock Pacific View condominiums at Five Corners will be ready for move in February 28th. For more info and to priority register, call 604.538, 0983 or visit www.pacificviewliving.ca.Park Place White Rock CondominiumsNow under construction, Park Place White Rock condos is a boutique collection of only 24 one and tw

The buyer wants to buy a home but he is afraid of not making the right decision and needs helpful information. Real Estate Agents are making flyers to basically help a buyer who is not really sure about buying a home.

Zillow.com is partnering with over 280 newspapers to provide local classified information such as for-sale listings and open house information. An obvious move to become a real estate classified vortal. "Together with Zillow, we bring a unique and compelling set...

When it comes to conventions, Las Vegas is near the top of the list. Ask anyone that lives someplace else, given a choice, where would you like to go for a convention.....VEGAS BABY!  This year, the National Association of REALTORS(R) convention and expo is in town. Last year, it was held in New Orleans, giving the local economy a nice shot in the arm.  Conventioneers were treated to a truly Las Vegas event, the demolition of the Frontier Hotel and Casino. The property was located center strip, near the Fashion show mall and Trump Tower. The convention has brought thousands of Realtors(R) from all over the world to exchange ideas, discuss marketing strategies and of course, view the latest and greatest wares being marketed to the real estate industry. Given the amount of bloggers that a

NAR’s CEO Dale Stinton was recently interviewed by Inman TV and had some interesting points on NAR’s future and what that would entail for both Realtors (Trusted Advisers) and consumers. Areas covered included: Articulating the Realtors Value Technology changed perception Role for NAR Is NAR the right choice for Realtors Realtor of the future An area of hot dispute regarding NAR’s future itself has to do with what Dale refers to as “NAR’s 10 year plan.” Many Technology advocates involved in current Web 2.0 technology and social networks, believe that NAR needs to seriously think about opening up access to it’s systems similar to Face-Book, to allow faster adoption of new technologies and better communications with consumers. Brian Boero over at the 1000Watt Blog I think says it best - “what if NAR ceased conjuring a fantastical “gateway” that will take years to build and created a series of APIs — children of RETS,

Ann Arbor Real Estate Sales Data Results for October Year to Date 2007Average sales volume and units are down for both residential and condos.  Our average sales price is off from $262,366 to $251,128.  It is still a great time to buy in Ann Arbor.  Two recent buyers saved $70,000 and over $100,000. Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County are about so much more than real estate.  It's a lifestyle and a state of mind; a little piece of paradise that we have been fortunate enough to call home for over 20 years.  Allow us to share this dream with you, and teach you about our area that we have come to know and love.  Dedicated, committed and focused to helping achieve Ann Arbor real estate dreams. Our Buyers Representatives look forward to hearing from you. Click here for up to date absorption rates for Ann Arbor real estate. Kathy Toth and Teamwww.KathyToth.comReal Estate One  Click here to search all listings in Michigan with pictures and to

PricewaterhouseCooper's Emerging Trends in Real estate indicates that people in the real estate industry in Canada are more positive about their prospects for 2008 than their counterparts in the United States. "The annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate report, from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute, shows 36 per cent of respondents in Canada who participated in the study viewed their prospects for profitability next year "very good," and another 22.4 per cent said they are "excellent." By comparison, 34.3 per cent of U.S. respondents said the chances of a profit in 2008 are very good, and 19.3 per cent said they are excellent. The report is based on interviews with more than 600 real estate professionals -- including investors, developers, brokers and lenders -- in Canada and the U.S." Full Article Click Here I especially like at the end of the article where they propound Calgary and Edmonton's forecast for 2008- "Calgary and Edmonton rate the highest as far as in

RISMEDIA, Nov. 6, 2007-Alain Pinel Realtors (APR) President and Chief Operating Officer Larry Knapp announced that the company has moved its primary wine country office to Napa and concurrently secured the marketing assignment to sell the remaining hotel condominium rooms associated with the prestigious Westin Verasa. The resort development is two blocks from downtown Napa in the gateway to California’s iconic wine country.

  With the proliferation of distressed home sellers in the Las Vegas real estate market REALTORS® are adjusting to a new reality — a buyer’s market.  Is this really new news?  Las Vegas REALTORS® have had since spring 2006 to adjust so what in the market is “new” to them?  In the simplest terms, SHORT SALES.  FACT: In the Las Vegas Valley 1 in 5 homes for sale are now Short Sales.

British Home Loans Florida Inc., the Orlando-based “Foreign National” mortgage specialists, have announced the highly successful results of a year-long market test of an innovative and timely multi-currency home loan specifically designed for Foreign National and US investor home buyers in Florida.

The average age of a Realtor is 51.  The average age of a first time home buyer in the United States is 31.  That is an entire generation gap.  And it is not an easy gap to cross. I am 40 years old and I wouldn't take much advise from most of the 50 year olds I come across in my daily life.  They are, for the most part, too far behind the technology curve.  They have a sense of style that is stuck in the 80's.  They have flowery wallpaper in their houses and bisque colored appliances in their kitchens.  Their furniture is big and oak.  Their family rooms are small and their formal dining rooms are huge.  Their basements are dark, dank and dungeon-like. And these are the people that want to sell homes to first time buyers.  No wonder first time buyers never give their phone numbers out and do all the research themselves.  They don't trust that the 50 something-year-old ladies that answer the phones at real estate offices can

It is a great time to buy a home in Massachusetts.  You cannot beat the investment.  We have so much to offer:  Our institutions of high learning, the culture, the history, the proximity to world renowned hospitals, the beautiful seasons (this year 2 summers), the "Red Sox," the "Patriots" and believe it or not the people.  I think the "frozen chosen" are defrosting.  I can say that because I have lived her all of my life.  I started out in East Boston for my first 7 years and then on to Stoneham north of Boston and to Needham where I have spent the last 42 years.  I have never been part of the "frozen chosen" but just probably more friendly than most.   I am what you call a people person all the way.  I just love people so I would say I have chosen the right career.   Some Talking Points from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors Housing Market 2007 September and Quarter Three -Poin

On Saturday Afternoon at the Marriott Resort and Spa in South Pattaya, a press conference was held by the Real Estate Brokers Association (REBA) of Thailand Eastern Seaboard led by Dr. Somsak, who is the president of REBA Thailand and Khun Paisan, former President of REBA Thailand. An announcement was made that a 7 day training course for Real Estate Brokers will be held at the Shangri La Hotel in Bangkok between 21st and 27th January 2008. This very intensive international real estate training course will be attended by real estate professionals from all over the world with 25 American real estate professionals already signed up for the course. Those who attend and pass the course will be Certified International Property Specialists. The course will provide valuable information on working with clients from around the world and tools needed to present investment information to international clients. The cost of the course is 1,500 US Dollars and for more information you can contact the

The summer has been tough – historically high temperatures in many parts of the country, Midwest floods, and almost everywhere major airline flight delays. Housing didn’t have such a great summer either, with home sales and price appreciation still waiting to recover. The subprime mortgage mess didn’t help either. So everyone wants to know: now that the summer is over, when can we expect the housing sector to get back to normal? There’s actually a sequence of events we should look for that need to happen before housing is back on track, and as each of these occurs, the closer the housing recovery will be. Let’s take a look at them. Mortgage Rates Will Stablize Favorably Despite the headline news coverage of turmoil in the mortgage market, mortgage rates have actually been falling for borrowers who take out prime conforming loans. Because these borrowers account for the majority of home buyers, affordability conditions for most buyers have improved. FHA loans – the traditi

According to the Dulles Area Association of Realtors housing numbers (and everyone you ask for that matter), Loudoun County home sales volume and median prices were down in September. And not just by a little - by 30 percent from the previous month. Loudoun County had 411 homes sell in August compared to 288 in September. This is a 24 percent decrease from September 2006 in which Loudoun County had 383 homes sell. Some other statistics: September saw a sales-price-to-list price of 92 percent, the second lowest all year (February was the lowest at 91.38%) average Days On Market increased to 111, though it was still not as high as Januray at 138 median price decreased to $425,500, but still not as low as January at $419,500 inventory has remained about the same since June hovering inbetween 3700 and 3800 With all this talk about slowing sales, lower prices, interest rates and the "mortgage crisis", it's interesting to see what people's reactions are. To share your react

Company Stresses Ease & Affordability So Agents Can Capture Buyers in Today’s Market Tallahassee, FL – – According to the National Association of Realtors®, 88% of all Internet home buyers rate photos and virtual tours as extremely or very important in their search.  Recognizing the need for agents to better attract buyers in current market conditions,   Homes & Land today announced the launch of Homes & Land EZ Tour, its new online tour product which offers key product differences and agent benefits.  Homes & Land EZ Tour automatically converts a listing with six or more photos into a 30-to-60 second online tour and requires no further production.  Additionally, unlike many online tour products available within the industry, Homes & Land EZ Tour does not require agents to have or purchase any special cameras, equipment or software.  It will be available to agents who advertise their listings thr

The latest sales information from the Florida Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors shows that the property market for homes and condominiums is still trying to find steady ground. Unit sales and prices both fell in August for the state as a whole. Sales of existing homes fell to 11,279 in August, 2007 from 15,252 the previous year, for a 26% decrease. While that is a fairly substantial fall, the number is about what sales were in the early boom years 2001 and 2002

Click Here to search all listings in Michigan with pictures and tours - FREE!Second-home purchases in the United States made by international clients is now reported by by the 2007 NAR Profile of International Home Buying Activity.Foreign buyers purchase homes across the United States, but 52% of sales in 2006 were concentrated in three states - Florida (26%) California (16%) and Texas (10%).The South attracted nearly half (49%) of international buyers last year, while 31% purchased homes in the West.Nearly a third of the Realtors® surveyed worked with international clients or prospects during the previous year. Realtors® who actually closed sales of homes to international clients reported an average of 1.9 clients, representing 15% of their annual business.Most Realtors® reported a rise in sales to international buyers - 25% of Realtors® had increasing business compared to five years ago, with another 67% reporting about the same level of international business; only 8

Housing Decline Will Deepen in Mortgage Crisis, Realtors Sayby Bloomberg - 9/11/0 snip:Stricter lending standards will deepen the U.S. housing slump as buyers find it harder to get financing, the National Association of Realtors said, paring its monthly forecast for the ninth time this year. Sales of previously owned homes probably will fall 8.6 percent to 5.92 million in 2007, the trade group said today. That's more than the 6.8 percent drop the organization called for a month ago. New-home sales will probably fall 24 percent on top of an 18 percent decline in 2006, the Chicago-based Realtors said. The two-year U.S. housing slump is worsening as a collapse of credit markets forces lenders to raise standards even for prime borrowers who have the best rating. Federal Reserve policymakers, who meet in Washington next week, said at their last session "tighter" credit is putting the U.S. economy at risk. "There's been an unusual hit to home sales, starting in March when subprime problem

Barnett Associates Real Estate, LLC seeks highly motivating tech savvy REALTORS® to be apart of a growing real estate brokerage firm. Motivation The real estate industry is comprised of many agents that wish to remain on the sidelines and have business just fall into their lap. If you are not one of these agents then please continue reading. Being in the real estate industry means you are self employed. There are no steady pay checks just for showing up and working hard every day, there are no benefits, bonuses, sick leave, vacation pay or reliability that you will have a job tomorrow. Real estate can be synonymous with risk. (more…)

Need some free fun in the Athens, Georgia area?  Family Fun Day is being held Saturday, October 6th, 2007 at the Athens Area Association of REALTORS® offices from 10:00 am - 2:00 p.m.  The event is being held to bring awareness to the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation and will feature a bounce house, obstacle course, dunk tank, fire trucks and all types of children's games and activities.  This is going to be tons of fun, so bring your family out and enjoy! Make sure you stop by and say Hello at the Success Realty booth, where we'll have a duck pond, beanbag toss and more for small children!  For relocation and general information (including school information, crime statistics and more)about Athens, Georgia and the surrounding area including Madison County, Jackson County, Barrow County, Oconee County and Oglethorpe County, Georgia, see our other posts on our community blog at All About Athens GA. For m

Tony and I have to give mad props to the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR), specifically Ben Martin, Director of Communications and New Media. Ben is the first person from any Realtor association we are members of (we’re members of NAR, VAR and NVAR) to ask for our feedback and thoughts on any subject whatsoever. Sure, we get contacted by NAR and NVAR all the time. But it’s in the form of impersonal direct mailers that are advertising vendors, products and services. Ben and VAR seem to actually care about what we as members think. Needless to say, we were very pleasantly surprised! The key to it all is not just that VAR and Ben care… It’s how they went about it. Let me explain: Ben and VAR did the following: Took the time to search through the “blogosphere” and general web to find VAR members that were actively blogging about real estate and/or were active in their community via an online presence Tracked us down through our blogs after being referr

Hi Everyone,Here's yet another report. This is from our local Tampa Board of Realtors. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet but wanted to get it out for those of you who saw the Zillow report the other day. I'm sure they are different. These transactions only take into account closings that were handled by a Realtor. Any FSBO's will not be listed here.This report will be produced on a quarterly basis and provides comprehensive information on the state of the market in our area. The second edition of this report has just been received and is now available to you as a benefit of your membership with the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS®. You may download and view the report by going to: http://www.gtar.org/members/reports/gtarq2-07.pdfLooking to buy or sell? Let us help you!Sincerely,Rae Catanese and Michelle JordanPrudential Tropical Realty813-695-5677 or emailTo receive more articles like this one subscribe to our Blog!Enter your Email AddressPowered by FeedBlitzTAMPA BAY

I just returned from the Inman Conference in San Francisco. The place was packed with people who understand that the Internet is a fabulous tool for growing their relationships, their business and their incomes. In the course of mixing and mingling I posed these questions to several Realtors and Brokers: “Why are only a relatively small number of Realtors using the Internet to market effectively? Why are so many continuing to do things the ‘traditional’ way and ignoring the power and importance of the Internet?” Here’s what they had to say. Almost all Realtors know that 80% of all buyers use the Internet in their home searches. But the vast majority of sellers don’t demand a strong Internet campaign by their Realtors. Sellers don’t demand it because they only focus on their own behavior. They don’t know that half the universe of buyers – particularly people age 45 and younger – use the Internet extensively in their home searches. So while most buyers rely heavily on

I just returned from the Inman Conference in San Francisco. The place was packed with people who understand that the Internet is a fabulous tool for growing their relationships, their business and their incomes. In the course of mixing and mingling I posed these questions to several Realtors and Brokers: “Why are only a relatively small number of Realtors using the Internet to market effectively? Why are so many continuing to do things the ‘traditional’ way and ignoring the power and importance of the Internet?” Here’s what they had to say. Almost all Realtors know that 80% of all buyers use the Internet in their home searches. But the vast majority of sellers don’t demand a strong Internet campaign by their Realtors. Sellers don’t demand it because they only focus on their own behavior. They don’t know that half the universe of buyers – particularly people age 45 and younger – use the Internet extensively in their home searches. So while most buyers rely heavily on

I’m one person who believes in niche businesses. For instance, would you prefer to go to a pet store to buy a special treatment product for the fleas on your dog or would you go to a departmental store that sells everything from toilet rolls to pet accessories? I much prefer to go to the company who specializes in a specific field or area of expertise instead of going to one who is the Jack of all trades. But this is also dependent of the product and services you are after. (more…)

Earlier, the commercial real estate in India had been on the upswing in the wake of high proliferation of IT companies. Now, the land is getting scarce in larger cities. This has forced major retail players to look out for other innovative strategies. Subsidiary companies of real estate companies like Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Property, Kishore Biyani’s real estate fund Kshitij, Sunil Mittal’s Bharti Realty and Ashok Piramal group’s Peninsula Realty Fund, are holding discussions with different real estate firms to enter into joint venture to develop retail projects on the developers’ existing land. Most retail projects involve retailers floating special purpose vehicle (SPV) in a JV to develop exclusive shopping malls. Real estate partner will bring land for development of the retail project which is then valued followed by working out equity sharing. Once the project will be executed properly, the retailer would hold a major portion of the mall while leasing the remaining. Th

Play Video Housing Stabilizing or Slipping? Bloomberg-Clip - (BLOOM-Clip) Jul. 11, 2007. 02:00 PM EST Interview with Lawrence Yun of National Association of Realtors housing market, Housing videos, mortgage news, Mortgage Video, National Association of Realtors, Subprime Mortgage Industry ---Related Articles at Consumer Mortgage Reports:Subprime Implosion And Now Rising Prime Mortgage RatesSubprime Mortgage CrisisCollateralized Debt Obligations DowngradedHidden Tax Liability That Even the IRS Might Not Know About?Subprime Implosion Phase IISafer to Buy Subprime Paper Now

Earlier, it was global real estate consultancies to have made a beeline for India. Close by heels are the brand real estate agents. The example has already been set by the renowned LJ Hooker by setting its office in Bangalore. Next to follow are Australia based Ray White and US based Century 21 and Remax who are being bullish to carve out a significant niche in fast flourishing Indian real estate. These companies are planning their franchisee model and are looking forward to cater individuals and not the corporate clientele. Contrary to the local real estate agents with offices at every nook and corner, these branded realtors will have their own website, software to manage all property deals and a network that spans not just national but international boundaries. Incorporating a global network, they are in a look out for cross border deals through NRI investors. We will bring our international experience to Indian customers. The international exposure will be highly useful to fulfill t

According to Seattlepi.com, zillow.com has plans for functionality that will allow homeowners and prospective homeowners to discuss specific local neighborhoods.  Social web sites built around connecting people with common interests is nothing new.  And, the push toward more localized social web sites has certainly been on the horizon for some time now.  This, however, is especially interesting for the real estate industry because of the restrictions Realtors must adhere to.  Some demographic information is taboo for Realtors.  For instance, Realtors are not allowed to discuss the racial demographics of a specific neighborhood.  Zillow users will not be restricted from discussing race, crime, etc.

Today was the Century 21 realtor dance class. It's probably my favorite class of the whole week. These people love to dance! I think they all want to be able to do fancy dance moves as they show houses. You know break-dance down the hallway as they say "and here's the master suite". Ha! One guy told me he's been creating his own dance at home and asked if I wanted to see it. I put on Eminem and this guy busted into the funniest robot/mime dance I've ever seen. I wanted to burst out laughing but I had a feeling this guy was taking it very seriously. We're planning a dance recital near Christmas. They're all going to wear their golden blazers and we're choreographing a dance to "Our House" by Madness. One step beyond!