Elizabeth "Liz"'s Blog

Realtors needed to heolp Single Parents buy a Home!

2008-03-28T19:04:19Z

I posted this once before but it is a wonderful new concept and worth repeating....check this out for yourself.

Interesting new lead generating website to check out

Here is an interesting website I just found out about from REALTOR Magazine. I'm very interested in it the more I read about it. If it is something you research and decide to belong, please let me know. Give them my name as referring you.... Or let them know my name if/when you subscribe.
Liz Caraway -SEATTLE
1-800-790-7405

Single Parent Properties is one of the first

companies to be granted a federal trademark

that protects an entire market segment...

SINGLE PARENTS

#1 Common Question

Q: Isn't Single Parent Properties a form of discrimination?

A: There are seven protected classes within the federal fair housing act: Race, color, source of income, handicap, national origin, familial status and religion. A single parent is considered marital status and should not be confused with familial status according to HUD. Marketing to single parents is absolutely legitimate!

Discrimination Example: If a landlord or seller won't rent/sell a property to a family because number of parents/children they could be in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

How We Work

Single Parent Properties' vision is to be the premier and trusted brand name for educating all families about homeownership opportunities. We're well on our way.

We very recently kicked off a national public awareness campaign that's aggressively pursuing news media. We recognize the vital role news stories play in bringing families to our program. We know that broadcast or print stories are far more credible to potential clients than paid advertising, and we aggressively pitch a variety of stories to a wide range media. So far every pitch has been enthusiastically received and stories are in the works. Since 1-1-07 we have been featured on national radio, newspapers, magazines and television.

Public relations support is yet another service our member agents receive. We strongly encourage you to pass along your more moving success stories so that we can share them with your local media. Our goal is to promote the services of SPP, affordable housing programs and our Realtor® partners. When you have a closing with a single parent due to our program...the media responds. Fox News recently covered the story of one of our clients who was a renter for 28 years. These type of stories generate more leads for our partners.

Client Leads

Currently families learn about our program through the web, usually from a search engine. Our clients find us by entering terms such as "single parent home buying" in an msn, google, yahoo, or altavista search engine. These families are generally ready to buy a home immediately or refinance in the near future. Others are looking for education and/or down payment assistance. Our search engine optimization has us ranked on the first page, and most times the #1 listing on most of the major search engines.

Here is the website to check it out.
http://www.singleparentproperties.com/

Fun time in Issaquah

2007-12-09T16:08:36Z

Monday - December 10th, 2007

-- ANNUAL CHARITY BENEFIT --

"Easy and Elegant Entertaining"
Sponsored by the - Issaquah Women's Foundation

10am-5pm @ Pickering Barn (across from Costco)

$5 DONATION

SHOPPING, SILENT AUCTION, FASHION SHOWS, TEA & WINE TASTING, CAFE'

There will be people providing examples of ways to entertain easily and elegantly.
Help you see solutions for making your gatherings fun and simple.
You will also be given the opportunity to purchase some of the items at the benefit. __________________________________________________________________________

What a fun way to spend a monday afternoon!

Oh, by the way...if you are ever in need of more information
about Issaquah,
the local area,
... tips about Real Estate -or-
you would like me to research a few local agents
who are highly qualified and work in your local area...
don't hesitate to give me a call....

I'm never too busy to talk to a friend.

Elizabeth "Liz" Caraway
CRS, ABR, SRES, GMS, TRC
Certified RE Agent Instructor
1-800-790-7405

New Website for serving "Single Parents" and receiving solid leads

2007-12-09T14:48:35Z

Greetings from SEATTLE!

I've been exploring quite a bit lately online and when I saw the article in REALTOR Magazine I couldn't resist checking this site out. After reading all the information I was more intrigued. I think this sounds great and that it will develop into quite a resource for new clients -for those who are chosen to participate. Especially those agents that are already single parents! What a great networking opportunity for them!......If after you check it out and do your own research you decide to follow through with applying to become an area agent, please use my name (Liz Caraway) as the resource of your referral.
________________________________________________________________________________

We're bringing families home

"Single Parent Properties" is an educational public awareness program that supports nonprofit organizations, trusted lenders and real estate agents across the country to find affordable housing and services for all moderate income families.

Our alliances work with families to help them prepare them for affordable and trusted housing opportunities. We protect our families from predatory lenders. We are associated with only the best, most professional organizations and motivated agents whom we carefully screen to ensure they'll provide our families the high level of service they deserve.

Please read what the national media is saying about us.

We work very closely with nonprofit organizations. We can refer families to other agencies that can help them with counseling, find homes to rent, life skills and other services.

Our mission is to promote home purchasing education, guidance, awareness and training to families, businesses and organizations in order to provide a more stable family, workplace and community.

Click here if you're ready to get started checking it out!
(Please remember to give my name "Liz Caraway" if you decide to subscribe to this great new resource.)

Holiday Crime Prevention

2007-12-07T22:50:14Z

Holiday Crime Prevention

The holiday shopping season is a peak time for crimes such as home burglaries, thefts, and even muggings. Following these valuable tips may prevent you from being the victim of a crime during the holidays.

At Work

· Lock any gifts you bought on your lunch hour in a safe place. Remind your co-workers to do the same.

Be especially careful to keep your car and house keys and wallet with you at all times. Never leave property unattended and always place purses, handbags, wallets and other valuables locked and secured in desks, cabinets or closets.

· Never leave your office unattended. Lock the door when you leave the area, even if it's for just a few minutes.

· Be alert for people who may try to take advantage of the holiday season's reduced staffing levels by attempting to burglarize unattended offices. If you see unauthorized people in places they should not be, immediately call the Building Management Office.

· Don't announce that you are leaving town during the holidays. If someone calls, don't release information about your co-workers.

Oh, by the way...if you are ever in need of more information,
... tips about Real Estate -or-
you would like me to research a few local agents
who are highly qualified and work in your local area...
don't hesitate to give me a call....

I'm never too busy to talk to a friend.

Elizabeth "Liz" Caraway
CRS, ABR, SRES, GMS, TRC
Certified RE Agent Instructor
1-800-790-7405

Real Estate Joke (clean)

2007-12-07T22:39:46Z

A client bought a new home and the broker wanted to send flowers for the occasion.They arrived at the home and the owner read the card; it said "Rest in Peace".

The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was, the florist said. "Sir, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry you should imagine this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying, "Congratulations on your new home".

:-)

Liz -SEATTLE

Interesting new lead generating website to check out

2007-12-07T22:36:04Z

Here is an interesting website I just found out about from REALTOR Magazine. I'm very interested in it the more I read about it. If it is something you research and decide to belong, please let me know...I receive $50 for referring you.... Or let them know my name when you subscribe.
Liz Caraway -SEATTLE
1-800-790-7405

Single Parent Properties is one of the first

companies to be granted a federal trademark

that protects an entire market segment...

SINGLE PARENTS

#1 Common Question

Q: Isn't Single Parent Properties a form of discrimination?

Discrimination Example: If a landlord or seller won't rent/sell a property to a family because number of parents/children they could be in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

How We Work

Single Parent Properties' vision is to be the premier and trusted brand name for educating all families about homeownership opportunities. We're well on our way.

Client Leads

Inexpensive Personal Marketing Tip

2007-11-27T23:24:29Z

GREETINGS from Seattle!

One of the most successful and inexpensive personal marketing ideas I've come across is to create a Recommended Service Provider Directory. Whether you are a wrinkly old seasoned agent or a green newbee, this will grow your sphere of influence tremendously.

First start calling your friends, neighbors, church associates......your whole list of people who recognize your name. Let them know that you are working on this new directory and would appreciate it if they have people who have done excellent service for them in the past or that they use on a regular basis that they think should be included. Get the name and number. Before you end the conversation, ask if they have a preferred RE Agent....or ask.....Oh by the way, do you know of someone.....

When you get the service provider's name and number, call and let them know that they were recommended and ask their permission to be in your directory. Ask if they would like to include a coupon....ask them to coffee and see if you can strike some kind of referral network....ask if they know of any other providers that they could recommend for the directory.....ask if they personally have a preferred agent....don't forget to say....Oh, by the way........

This will keep you busy, enlarge your sphere of influence and probably get you a few clients right off the bat! Don't forget to mail copies to everyone you talked to and be sure to include a thank you note and a newsletter to go with it.

Get busy! Todays call could be tomorrows gold mine!

Liz -SEATTLE
Oh, by the way....if you have a client in need of help relocating to the Seattle/King County area, I would be honored for you to recommend my services. I promise to take good care of them for you.

Are you.......Jotting?

2007-11-27T23:06:25Z

Jott is a FREE "Digital Transcription Service".
It works by calling their toll free number and then when prompted you leave a voice message, Jott then transcribes it into a text, and sends it to your recipients email address. The recipient can be yourself for using it to take notes or for reminders. You can even set it up to call you and remind you of something you need to do!

Using Jott is pretty simple: signup for a FREE account, enter in some address book information (name, phone number, e-mail address), and then you can use the service. Just call Jott and say the name of the person you want to get in touch with. Once you say your message, Jott will confirm it and ask if you want to send it now as a voicemail or have it transcribed as an e-mail.

As cool as the service is, it isn't perfect. Automated voice to text system technology can be tricky at Times, uncommon words-such as "ZOLVE" - are usually not translated very well, with those, its set up for you to spell the word.

For the most part Jott is simple, fun, and functional. Oh yeah, don't forget.....it's also FREE!

For more information go to http://www.jott.com/ *