Why Oil Prices Will Drop BELOW $100/ Barrel in 2009 - 05/30/08 10:05 AM
Ashley Seager, at The Guardian, wondered if the UK would see the same housing decline and economic downturn as we've seen in the US, because of a credit crunch:
If you were of a nervous disposition, you might be thinking that judgment day is nigh for the British economy, after all the excess, easy money and booming house prices of recent years.
America looks like it is already in recession, one that threatens rapidly to become the biggest slump since the 1920s. The collapse a week ago of the country's fifth-largest investment bank, Bear Stearns, signalled that the crisis sweeping the … (10 comments)

America #1 Mortgage Rates Report: May 29, 2008 - 05/29/08 09:55 AM
"What goes up, must come down.  Spinning Wheel, got to go 'round"- Blood, Sweat and Tears
This is panic selling that we're seeing in the fixed-income securities market.  I knew it would happen but I was early.  The 30-year fixed rate mortgage was at 5.625%, nine days ago.  Yesterday, it went to 6.0%.  Today a 30 -year fixed rate mortgage is at 6.25%.  Expect rates to be above 6.0% for the next two weeks; we should see them creep down by the end of June to the sub-6 level.
What should you do if you can't wait? Lock in a 5/1 … (3 comments)

America's #1 Mortgage Rates Report: May 28, 2008 - 05/28/08 07:02 PM
San Diego mortgage rates jumped in the past 7 days because of rising oil prices.  This is the staglationary fear I expected. Mortgage rates have increased to 6.0% (30 year fixed) today.  I expect rates to rise another .25% in the next 14 days for these reasons:
1- Possible uncertainty at the Federal Reserve Bank.2- Oil above $125/barrel (which translates to $4/gal. gasoline at the pump)3- Inflation affecting the European economy.
Bond traders hate uncertainty so we expect a lot of volatility through Labor Day.  As San Diego mortgage rates approach the 6.25% level, we should see them plateau unless inflation … (8 comments)

Da BlogMother At Unchained (No Cartoon Avatar) - 05/22/08 11:59 PM
Cheryl Johnson, aka "Da Blogmother", came to the Bloodhound Blog UNCHAINED Social Media Marketing Conference to "see the great ones" up close. Of course, what she doesn't tell you is that she is one of the "great ones". Cheryl hosts www.nelalive.net and www.DaBlogMother.com The second blog is a compendium of tutorials and informational posts about the neat little design tricks CJ uses on her blogs. Cheryl is a Bloodhound contributor. … (7 comments)

Connect Consumers With REALTORs? Guess What? That's What HomeGain Does. - 05/22/08 07:58 PM
"What Web 2.0 is about is connecting consumers directly with REALTORs. Guess what? That's what Home Gain does" said Louis Cammarosano, General Manager of HomeGain.com at the Bloodhound Blog UNCHAINED Social Media Marketing Conference, sponsored by Zillow.com. Louis was challenged by Greg Swann about the price of the "leads" and held up well under fire. Louis quoted me by saying Home Gain is "another arrow in your quiver" … (11 comments)

America's #1 Mortgage Rates Report: May 21, 2008 - 05/21/08 09:18 PM
I'm locking mortgage rates at application for all loan types, regardless of closing date.  I've been recommending locks for three weeks.  Rates improved about .375% so I was incorrect.  Why then, should you heed my advice now?  Let's look at this chart:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is a chart for the last 30 days for mortgage-backed securities.  When MBS prices go up, mortgage rates come down.  In this case, I noticed a meteoric rise in MBS prices in the last week in April … (5 comments)

Comment Marketing- Inflammatory Posts Give A Commenter An Opportunity to Sell - 05/21/08 07:51 PM
David Gibbons of Zillow.com at BloodhoundBlog UNCHAINED Social Media Marketing Conference, brought to you by Zillow.com- Commenting on an inflammatory post gives you an opportunity to sell your proposition. David Gibbons, Rudy Bachraty, and Jeff Brown, all remarked that the comment you give is everlasting; a 24/7 "sales pitch". The audio is difficult but listen carefully to what David tells us: … (0 comments)

If Your Clients Are On Zillow, They're Not On Your Website - 05/20/08 03:23 AM
Why is it important to have a ROBUST profile on Zillow.com. Trulia.com, or Activerain.com?
Greg Swann tells us why it's important to have a presence on all the social media in the real estate space.  Get on those networks and build a robust profile so that you won't be caught by surprise.
BloodhoundBlog Social Media Marketing Conference brought to you by Zillow.com:
 

 
… (14 comments)

The Five Pillars of Social Media Marketing at Bloodhound Blog Social Media Marketing Conference, brought to you by Zillow.com - 05/20/08 03:10 AM
I was talking about the Five Pillars of Social Media Marketing at the Bloodhound Blog Social Media Marketing Conference, brought to you by Zillow.com: 1- Declaration of Identity- Here I Am 2- Identity of Association- Tell everyone who your posse is 3- User generated conversation- Getting the consumer to talk to you 4- Provider generated conversation- pushing relevant content to your network 5- In-person conversation- THE GOAL … (0 comments)

Twitter is "Accelerated Serendipidty" - 05/20/08 02:57 AM
Twiitter is the "biggest bullhorn you ever had" or you can just listen and act. @BradCoy and @AndyKaufman deliver a poignant punch at the BloodhoundBlog Unchained Social Media Marketing Conference, brought to you by Zillow.com. Do you understand how to use Twitter in your real estate practice? Watch this video and learn how to tweet or watch and wait for opportunities to act. … (2 comments)

BloodhoundBlog UNCHAINED Socail Media Marketing Conference...brought to you by ZILLOW- Jan O'Brien and Vance Shutes - 05/19/08 12:42 AM
Jan O'Brien of Prudential Americana, In Las Vegas, gives us an update from Day One of the UNCHAINED Social Media Marketing Conference: Pre-Conference day at the BloodhoundBlog Unchained conference in Phoenix proved to be chock full of nuggets and solid content. In fact, I have already implemented many and made changes to my blog as a result of what I have learned today. Here's a recap of the key points for me: Here's Jan and Vance Shutes, of Real Estate One in Ann Arbor, MI, at UNCHAINED: … (7 comments)

BloodhoundBlog UNCHAINED Social Media Marketing Conference...brought to you by ZILLOW- Map Based Search Helps Attract Better Buyers - 05/19/08 12:31 AM
Here's Mary Mc Knight of RSS Pieces explaining how a map-based search helped Ines Hegedes-Garcia. Mary opened up the Bloodhound Blog Social Media Marketing Conference, brought to you by Zillow.com. Mary's direct advice and blunt appraoch is sometimes thought of as caustic, The folks who attended UNCHAINED thought differently; they were scribbling notes all morning. More than one attendee told us that the advice Mary offered already paid the conference fee...and this was just the first day! … (4 comments)

Mary Mc Knight at BloodhoundBlog UNCHAINED Social Media Markting Conference, brought to you by Zillow.com - 05/19/08 12:25 AM
Today was the pre-conference "bonus" day at Bloodhound Blog Unchained Social Media Marketing Conference, brought to you by Zillow.com. We opened up with the incomparable Mary Mc Knight of RSSPieces.com. Mary is regarded as one of the foremost experts on weblogging and SEO solutions for the real estate and lending community. Mary delivered a sobering punch when she pleaded for REALTORs to focus their weblogging efforts on productive activities: … (24 comments)

America's #1 Mortgage Rates Report: May 14, 2008 - 05/14/08 02:20 AM
Lock all mortgage rates immediately.  This is a stagflation fear we're seeing:
The central bank can't be ``complacent about inflation,'' Janet Yellen, president of the Fed Bank of San Francisco, said in a speech yesterday. Recent measures of consumers' outlook for prices ``highlight the risk that our attempts to deal with problems in the real economy could lead to higher inflation expectations and an erosion of our credibility,'' she said.   
Yellen also said she anticipates inflation will slow as the labor market weakens and ``commodity prices level off,'' echoing comments by other policy makers.   
Investors project the Fed … (4 comments)

Six Steps Originators Can Take To Thrive on Active Rain Without Writing A Blog Post - 05/13/08 10:56 AM
There are 11,000 loan originators or mortgage companies on Active Rain and some 55,000 real estate agents or brokerages.  Pretty target-rich environment, huh?  When I started here (August, 2006), the numbers were even better; like ten to one.  Active Rain is the virtual real estate office with a sales meeting every day.  Realtors come here to learn from each other, learn from you, and market their wares through weblogging.
Many members aren't active.  In fact, I'd guess that fully 70-80% of the members aren't posting on a weekly basis.  That's okay; there are plenty of onlookers or voyeurs, reading what everyone … (51 comments)

America's #1 Mortgage Rates Report: May 12, 2008 - 05/12/08 09:24 AM
American mortgage rates dropped, then rose to their original level, last week.  I've been advising mortgage borrowers to lock all rates at application, regardless of closing date.  Did I miss an opportunity to improve clients' rates?  I don't think so.  My approach is more one of limiting losses than improving gains and last week, I thought there was a threat of higher mortgage rates; I still do.
Inflation data will be released Wednesday and Unemployment data are due out Thursday.  These figures could be the tempest in the teapot and really affect mortgage rates.  We just think there is too much … (0 comments)

BloodhoundBlog UNCHAINED Social Media Marketing Conference...brought to you by ZILLOW.com: Agenda Posted - 05/11/08 02:45 PM
All presentations to be held in the Steele Auditorium at the Heard Museum. This schedule for Unchained is subject to change:
Sunday, May 18, 2008:
8-10AM Registration. The conference starts at 10AM and ends at 4PM.
Zillow Workshop- David Gibbons
Email Marketing- Ron Cates
Local Blogging UNPLUGGED_ Laurie Manny
Sunday is "Bonus Day" so food will not be available. The Museum Coffee Shop will be open at 9:30AM- 3PM. The Heard Museum will be open until 5PM and admission is complimentary for conference attendees. Presentations on Sunday will not be included in the DVD set.
No evening events planned.
Monday, … (10 comments)

Glenn Kelman of Redfin: Learn How To Defend Yourself From His Assault - 05/11/08 02:39 PM
Let's keep our eye on the ball, folks.
Glenn Kelman is coming to Phoenix. Mind you, he has every reason not to come, now. This accomplished young man could be in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Boston, or our nation's capitol. He could be fighting for scraps, during a difficult real estate market...yet...
Glenn Kelman will be at The Heard Museum, in Phoenix, on May 20, 2008. I'll speculate as to why; Glenn Kelman is truly UNCHAINED. What exactly does that mean?
If you were at the Mesquite library, yesterday, you already know what that means. It … (0 comments)

How A Blog Post is An Ever-Lasting, Hard Working, Living, 24 Hour- Seven Days A Week Salesperson Who Won't Cost You A Dime - 05/11/08 02:09 PM
Transparency is salesmanship. Sounds counteruntitive doesn't it? We've been conditioned since an early age to "distrust" salespeople yet we are all selling something, at one time or another in our lives.
Sales 101- Get all the objections out in the open. Remove their ability to say "NO" whenever you are ready to answer the buying question (NB: notice I didn't say "close"?)
Pay close attention to this essay by Greg Swann:
Why do we link in the Web 2.0 world? Not because a link is a footnote, and not because a link leads to more information. Not to give link love, … (5 comments)

BloodhoundBlog UNCHAINED Social Media Marketing Conference...brought to you by ZILLOW- Price Is Going Up to $350, Next Week - 05/03/08 11:16 PM
Call me a shrewd negotiator or color me lucky but I pulled off a coup for the folks coming in for the Sunday session of the BloodhoundBlog Unchained Social Media Marketing Conference, brought to you by Zillow.com.
I was spending my Saturday evening online and e-mailed Wonderful Russ, asking him to give me some time, on Sunday afternoon. There are two things you need to know about Russell Shaw: (1) his accomplishments dictate that you should schedule appointments for his time (2) his welcoming nature affords you an open door, so that it isn't always a requirement. You'll have to travel very … (5 comments)

America's #1 Mortgage Rates Report: May 2, 2008 - 05/02/08 11:12 AM
Let's lock all mortgages rates at application, regardless of when its closing.  I think this is about as good as it gets for a while.  I still see 30 year fixed rates a tad under 6% (5.875%) but the good economic data, released today, could drive national mortgage rates up next week.
I recommend a 7/1 ARM today.  Rates offered for a 7/1 ARM, for loans under $417,000, are OVER a half a percentage point less than the 30 year fixed (5.25%).  Most borrowers will feel comfortable with a seven year time frame.  This means that 5.25% rate is locked in … (3 comments)