How important is choosing the Right Broker?

While I would love to say this blog is all about answer that question, it is in fact my dilemma.  

When I started Real Estate last January, I went about it all the wrong way.  I teamed up with someone thinking that would help me ease in, from being a stay at home mom into the working world.  Unfortunately, the broker I was with literally treated me as an assistant, with no training, and no support.  When I left that group, I went to a new start up company with loads of potentinal:  RealEstate.com, Realtors, a Service of Lending Tree.   This company had it all!  A wonderful sales manager, recruiter, training...the whole shebang!  I was on a role!  I still only worked as much as being a mom of four could let me, but the camradarie and support there was so unlike the other brokerages I had visited.  

Then my husband and I ended up in New Mexico!   I am excited to start my real estate career over here, yet I am in the same boat again.  Who do you choose to work with?  What type of agency do I want to work for?   Realestate.com was doing a great job in Tucson, but there isn't a branch in New Mexico.  

Do you choose a brokerage because of their size? Their training? 

Here are a few of the choices I have looked at:

Centry21 - Will having an internationally known company bring me more business?

Prudential  I am familar with the company, but haven't looked that much into it.

Re/Max-  Another great national company

FavoriteAgent.com  I only saw this driving down the road.  Is it a brokerage?  Who knows!

Everyones comments are very welcome to this discussion!  Does doing well in Real Estate depend on the individual, or the brokerage, or both?  Why?  Will having my own strong web presence mean more for me than having a powerful broker?  I"m sure I have many more questions, but these will do for now!

Lexa 

Crazy Shot with the Kodak

After reading everyone's reviews on the Kodak EasyShare V570, I purchased one for my birthday in August.  I have been very happy with my choice, and have enjoyed the features.  One that I enjoy is being able to stitch together your photos to make a panoramic shot.  I was showing my brother my camera at Thanksgiving, and he was messing around with the features and such.  He tried to take a panorama of everyone around the Table at Thanksgiving.  This is the end result.  

Pretty good...except the fact that we don't have any twins in our family!   Somehow in the middle of the three shots, My sis-in-law passed their Cutest baby Temberlie over to my brother.  The end result was each parent holding her! Just some fun I thought I would share!

Lexa 

The Return, Farewell and Planned Return...

Hello ActiveRain Members,

 It has been a very long time since I came to visit my old friends.  A lot of things have been happening and I wish it was because I was so busy with helping people buy and sell real estate. 

It has been a rough year here in Tucson for Realtors, and Mortgage Lenders alike.   I started my licensing courses this same time last year.  Eager to save the first time home buyers from making huge mistakes in their home purchasing, I knew I wouldn't fail as a Real Estate Agent.  I was friendly, likable, and I thought, pretty darn smart.  I signed up as a team member to two very successful realtors who wanted to help me get my business started.  Little did I see that one wanted to make me an assistant, one wanted to make me a partner.  The conflict soon got the best of me, and I went out to venture on my own.

I was so scared and nervous, I wasn't supposed to be doing it solo yet.  What, 90 hours and I am supposed to be a pro at this and have all the answers?  I had a great brokerage who was handing me clients once a week. For some strange reason though, I couldn't convince them to buy what was available, or they were SO excited about the property we just saw, but couldn't find financing.  I thought it was my closing skills, or my image, or (heaven forbid) my skill level. 

So, I went to my broker, and wanted more training. I took class after class, took my first listing and realized how much EASIER at the time the listing was.  That is....until it didn't sell.  

I watched as my mentors started bailing out of Real Estate.  These were very good agents who just hadn't seen the turn in the market that came so fast.  Those who were wise and saved their money two years ago, found that this was their "rainy day".  Those who were foolish, were kicking themselves for the situation.  I supposed those who survive are the agents who understand that real estate always has ups and downs, just like any market or stock.    

Buyer after buyer changed their minds or the home they needed to sell to move on just sat on the market, until the price was lower than what they owed.  I have seen some subdivisions loose as much as 40,000 in price here in Tucson.  I am sure that is nothing compared to other parts of the country, but we were supposed to be the "good" market. We didn't have many employers pulling out, our economy seemed to be doing fine.

Is there any other way through real estate besides the school of hard knocks?   I did have one closing this year, a painful ordeal because the seller really couldn't part with the house, but was too cheap to just try and get out the contract.  So he made our life miserable even until the day AFTER signing when he wouldn't hand over the keys and was threatening us.  (Another Blog, perhaps) 

So I have been a lost ship for the past few months, not wanted to keep pushing at something that wasn't working for me, yet not wanting to give up on my dream.  I took a second full time job for 6 weeks, thinking the paychecks would make the difference.  It didn't, I realized all I wanted to do was work real estate, while I sat there trying to help production levels for an ebay store.  I hated every minute and the employer and I both agreed it wasn't for me and we parted ways.  I left that day thinking that this was my second chance, my breath of fresh air, to jump back in the market in Tucson, no matter how stormy it was.  That is, until my husband came home and said we were getting detailed to New Mexico for a year.  

I am leaving the Tucson market, but as soon as I can get my New Mexico Associate Broker license I will be hitting the streets in Roswell, NM and the surrounding areas.  I will be there a year, but it could be extended farther than that.  The wonderful thing about being an agent, is that you can be an agent anywhere.  I am back to Active Rain, blogging about my thoughts and experiences, but it will be new experiences and insights as I explore the areas of New Mexico.  

Thank you EVERYONE to missed me while I have been gone.  I appreciate especially Mike Jones in Tucson trying to spur me into writing another post.  I know this blog doesn't have a lot of pictures and flashes, and too many words, but sometimes words are all you need.  

Take care,

Lexa 

The Perfect Storm

Before the summer monsoons hit Tucson every year, Arizonans wait in anticipation. The humidity slightly rises, but so does the heat. It will usually it gets a little windy, and we get some scattered showers.

But we know that there are three things that must happen every year to officially welcome the Summer Monsoon Season. The humidity must rise, and be above 60% three days in a row. Temperatures must also rise as the heat drives in the clouds. And the winds from the south must bring up the clouds and storm. It's a beautiful science and it happens every year. Everything gears up, the conditions present themselves and we have ourselves "The Perfect Storm." Arizona gets tremendous amounts of rainfall that our desert so desperately needs, the frogs come croaking out of the ground, and the fresh smell of the desert is welcomed into our homes.

Just as we welcomed the summer monsoon season, we have just had that same scenario line up with the home buying experience here in Tucson, AZ.

The Federal Reserve cut interests rates one-half of a percent yesterday. While this helps cut the prime rate on credit cards and those loans tied to the prime, interest rates on home mortgages are still lower than average. Home prices are as much as 20% lower than a year ago and there's plenty of choice inventory to pick from. It is so very rare to have all three opportunities present themselves together, Tucson now has "The Perfect Storm" for home buyers.  Along with these favorable reports, we also have local lenders offering tremendous deals and savings (that are legit!) that have been unheard of for years. If you would like to learn more about these programs, along with how you can find your perfect home, contact me, Lexa Montierth, at (520) 405-2857.

If you have been waiting for someone to say "This is the time to buy" here is your official notice. The best selection of inventory, along with the best interest rates and home prices. If you are wanting to buying a home in Tucson, the time has never been sweeter.

Curious about any of the information I posted here? I welcome your comments and questions, and would love to help you with your next real estate transaction. Feel free to visit my website at lexamontierth.com or call me at (520) 405-2857.

Rural Real Estate Agents: WE NEED YOU!

There are opportunities every day for someone to relocate.  Job transfers, family status, schooling.  The list goes on and on.  In my own life, my husband and I recently heard about a job transfer with my husbands work to rural Northeast Washington. So, I did what most people nowdays going through a life changing event does:  Head to the internet.  

Unfortunately, the area I was looking at does not have any Realtors listed on Active Rain.  Actually, the whole quarter of the state does not have any Realtors listed on Active Rain.  Localism had one post....another Realtor looking for someone who knows the area to refer business to.  

It doesn't stop with Washington. I looked in Idaho, Montana, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin.  Even here in Arizona there is no one representing my home town area.  There are a few signed up for my husbands home town, but no one is providing information.  Thank goodness there is at least a name you can contact.  But oh yea, they don't respond.  

I finally find someone through Google, and their personal websites in Washington.  Beautiful layout, easy to find their listings and others.  But no local content.  I can't even find out if the town has a grocery store, but I know four homes are for sale. 

So Real Estate Agents, put yourself on the other side of the coin.  If you were looking for information about your town, what would you learn? What about neighboring towns and areas?  Do you know of agents from these that can help add content to ActiveRain, Localism and even their own sites? Invite them and explain why we need their imput.  There are people relocating relying on us!

What happened to searching blog comments?

So I was sitting here, thinking...."What is someone responded to me on a comment I left?"  I have left over 500 comments, it's hard to remember where I have left all of those little conversation starters.  

So I decided to do what I have done in the past:  Search the Blog Comments for my name (Lexa....I think I'm the only one on here) and see if someone addressed something back to me.  

And guess what?  IT'S GONE.  You can no longer search by blog comments.  I know we have all this other nifty stuff, but I really liked that search feature.  *Sniff*  

Is it going to come back?  Was it just an oversite?  Please let me know!

Lexa 

I broke the 30,000 mark just by commenting :)

Ok so I do blog a little :) My blogs have been way down, thanks to some craziness in my life, but I decided yesterday that I was at least going to make my 10 comments again.  I have been on here reading but haven't been leaving comments.  

So I logged in just to make my 10 comments, and then noticed I broke the 30,000 mark today.  This last 10,000 has been harder to reach than the 10-20 mark.  So Here's to Comments, and for more blogs that help our fellow rainers and our clients!

YEA! 

ActiveRain Comments Challenge

So I have been out of it lately.  I had a lot of stress, and life changing events lately.  But I know I have come to ActiveRain and cruised around anyhow.  So why didn't I make comments?

I noticed that before today, the last time I made a comment was Aug. 20th.  You can see your comments on the far left hand side of your home page, down at the bottom under My Comments.  Now part of the fact may be that I have been using Safari, and when I'm not paying attention it doesn't recognize that I put any text in the box. But I honestly think I have just been getting lazy at commenting and acknowledging the many articles and posts I do read.  

I subscribe to the "If you can't say sumthin' nice, don't say nuthin' at all" way of life, but why can't we say something nice? Everyone loves to know their voice is being heard, and that they are not wasting their time working out a great post just to find no one cares.   So as long as your comment is genuine, I say GO for it!

So here's the challenge.  10 comments a day for the month of September.  You in Arizona can ignore this challenge, I need to keep gaining points wise  (JUST KIDDING!) You're readership of your own blog will grow, comments on your own blog will grow, friendships will grow, and your points will grow!  And just watch it when you use Safari as your webbrowers :) (I think if I say that enough times someone will fix it.)

Buyers or Sellers?

I was just reading through a "prominent real estate agent magazine" (I'll leave their name out) and a writer there states something of the following (I'm going to paraphrase).

As a new agent, you will be working with a lot of buyers, because you will be out talking to people, shaking hands, holding open houses and trying to get floor time.  As you progress forward, and you get more referrals, you will be getting more sellers.  Your ultimate goal is to work with 80% of sellers and 20% of buyers, so the quicker you can get to this ratio, the better off your business will be.

Hmmmm... I know traditional trains of thoughts were "She (or he) who has the most listings wins" but isn't that old school thinking?  I am working with a lot of buyers, perhaps it is because I'm new to the business.  But every Realtor out there (especially those in 10-20 years) is asking me how I get so many buyers.  Their listings are sitting there, their sellers are anxious and getting upset, and they can't figure out where to find a buyer.  

My own humble opinion here:

• Buyers are more leg work, but less cost upfront.  I help my buyers with lunch and drinks, but that is small verses the costs of magazine, newspaper, and other advertising that doesn't always work, but sellers expect to see. 
• With a buyer, you have options.  With a buyer, if the house doesn't work out, you go to the next. With a listing, if the buyer doesn't work out, there is not always a "next". 
• I still get referrals of buyers to other buyers.  So why would I be waiting for a referral of a listing, and pass up on a buyer?
  

I guess I'm a "Wild Card" throwing tradition into the wind, but I haven't had a selling agent yet that was upset when I brought them a buyer's offer.

GrandCentral...I like it already....

I received an invitation this morning that they are opening up more spots for the beta version of GrandCentral...recently acquired by Google. The features on this really are nice...even nicer because it's free ;)

If any of you use RealPing, or even visual voicemail on your iPhone, these same features are seen on GrandCentral. While receiving a call, I can pick it up and accept the call, send it to voicemail, or "ListenIn™" as the message is being left. This is what I miss about old answering machines, figuring out who it really is and how important it is before I decide if I want to listen.

GrandCentral lets you pick out an available number in your area code, so for me I actually have to let people know about a new number that isn't as easy to remember sometimes. Thankfully, I searched the state and found one that my friends and family can remember :) The last four is HUNY :)

Other features that I love so far (in the 2 hours since I started it), You can block calls, set it up as SPAM voicemail for those annoying telemarketers that seem to call a million times no matter how much you tell them that you need to be taken off their list. You can even have it set to give a "disconnected" message, so the computers take them out of their system.

Fun features are things such as custom ring calls, so instead of the regular Dial tone people listen to while they call you, it's music or voice over or chimes.

I hope you all get a chance to check it out, and possibly receive an invite...as I already used up my 10 invitations!

Oh, if you try and call me, it will call your phone number first, and then call me. Don't freak out when you have some strange guy calling you saying, Ring Ring !