It seems that I have been getting a lot of calls recently from companies that say they found me on Active Rain and my profile matched a lead that they would like to give me. After talking with them for a while I find that they just got a hit on their website from a person thinking about buying or selling and the company is not even in the real estate business. The only business they are in is trying to sell leads to Realtors. They claim that if the lead does not buy or sell they will not charge for the lead. They even offer some free leads to get started. I try to tell them that I do not pay for leads and I cannot give a referral to a company that does not have a real estate licence. These people are telemarketers and are trained not to take no for an anwer. I get frustrated trying to be nice to them and sometimes just have to hang up on them. I have known too many people that have been stuck by these scams and ended up paying hundreds of dollars to them before they can cancel and stop recieving their leads. With the increased popularity of social networking and blogging, these scammers seem to be multiplying. I do think that networking with other Realtors and being able to help each other and each others clients with legitimate leads is great for business. So if I can help you with your clients, I will be happy to try and do a good job for you and your clients and as long as you are licensed we can share in the commission. Just don't call me to sell me a lead for a person that is not even a real estate client!

As we begin the new year, I can only think of what I have been telling those who ask me about Real Estate. I simply respond to them that "Real estste is exciting!" Of course, we have all seen the news as they constantly rail on about the real estate market. Most people wonder what I mean by saying that real estate is exciting when home prices are falling and people are loosing their homes. Simply put, real estate is exiting because we don't know what will happen next. But really, if you think about it, real estate is exciting because as Brian Buffini says "We're having a sale!" Prices are down and interest rates are better than they have been for more than 20 years. It's a great opportunity for anyone with good credit and income or those who have been waiting for a better time to purchase a home and get a good deal. These are the times that smart people who have saved their money looking for a good buy in the real estae market have waited for. Remember that we are having a sale and it is exciting!