Weekly Blogging Tips at the HomeGain Real Estate Blog - 09/30/08 08:30 AM
  
 HomeGain will begin publishing weekly blogging tips extracted from the HomeGain blogging school lessons provided to its AgentView customers by Joseph Ferrara of the Sellsius Real Estate blog
To learn more about the HomeGain Blogging school and to review a sample lesson please visit the HomeGain Real Estate Blog at "HomeGain Blogging School Update"
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Are you tracking your leads? - 09/26/08 10:04 PM
Lead tracking sounds like common sense, but many don't seem to take an interest in it.
Many people think that tracking leads only applies to pay per click campaigns, but it also applies to other source of lead generation, including SEO efforts and blogging. How do you calculate your return on investment on thes sources and others?
Is blogging and SEO REALLY FREE? how do you ascribe an ROI to your lead sources?
Eric Bramlett, HomeGain's most recent guest blogger explains in
"Lead Tracking 101 - Return on Investment" (opens in a separate window for our readers' convenience)
 
 
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Strategies For Conducting Short Sales - 09/26/08 06:24 PM
As part of HomeGain's efforts to provide useful information to real estate agents, we recently posted an audio interview with Bill Eiseman of Prudential Decker Realty in Virginia on the HomeGain Blog. In the HomeGain Radio interview, Bill talks about some of the strategies that he employs in conducting short sales.
You can have a listen to his interview here. (opens in a separate window for our readers' convenience)
 
 
 
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Max The HomeGain Gorilla Now Available To Help Realtors! - 09/25/08 08:56 PM
 Max, the HomeGain Gorilla, is now being featured on Homegain's product pages to assist realtors select the right product to drive potential home buyers and sellers their way.
You can meet Max at the National Association of Realtors Convention in Orlando in November.

Connect with Local Homebuyers & Sellers Searching for an Agent
Receive information about local prospects instantly Use our professional marketing tools to present your services Low monthly fee - only pay a referral fee at closing
Showcase Yourself - Own Your Market
Be the exclusive agent viewed by homebuyers and sellers Feature your home listings, experience … (0 comments)

Home Sale Maximizer on Real Estate Radio USA - 09/24/08 01:09 PM
Home Sale Maximizer, allows consumers to determine, based on HomeGain's survey of real estate professionals, which home improvements will best increase the resale value of their homes. Recently, HomeGain integrated Home Sale Maximizer into its AgentView Product.AgentView features Realtors listings, blogs, profiles in an exclusive ADVERTISING FREE ENVIRONMENT.Real Estate Radio USA had HomeGain on their program last week to discuss what's in Home Sale Maximizer and and AgentView  for real estate professionals and consumers.You can listen to the program here!  

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Greetings from Brooklyn! - 09/24/08 11:20 AM
Brooklyn, New York if it were separately incoporated would be one of the largest cities in the United States.
Indeed, Brooklyn has more inhabitants than neighboring Manhattan. Eastern Brooklyn is just minutes from Wall Street in Manhattan. How is the Brooklyn market doing?
HomeGain member, Mitchell Feldman, gives a market update over on the HomeGain blog as part of our "Regional Updates".
Take a look at how the brooklyn market is faring in the current market. (opens in a separate window for our reader's convenience)
 
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Eric Bramlett joins the HomeGain Real Estate Blog - 09/23/08 10:20 PM
The HomeGain Real Estate blog, which was launched less than a year ago and nominated for an Inman Innovator award, announced tonight that Eric Bramlett has joined as a guest blogger.
 The HomeGain Real Estate blog is committed to providing real estate professionals with tips on how to be successful, with or with out HomeGain Products. We look forward to Mr. Bramlett's contributions.
To check out the HomeGain Blog and read more about Eric, click here. (opens in a separate window for our readers convenience)

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Today's Market - Business as Usual? Nope BRUTAL as usual - 09/22/08 03:02 PM
In today's market successful real estate profession John Badalamenti from Weichert in Collegeville PA argues Realtors need to constantly revaluate the market as well as your professional knowledge in order to succeed in any given market.
On the HomeGain Blog, John hits on these points and others in his post "This Market is not Business As Usual- Its Brutal as Usual" 
Please check it out (link opens in new window for our readers' convenience)
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What they are saying about Home Sale Maximizer in Agent View - 09/22/08 01:05 PM
Late last week we integrated Home Sale Maximizer into Agent View.
AgentView features Realtor and HomeGain content including agent listings, agent blogs, agent profiles and HomeGain's Home Sale Maximizer and Instant Home Valuation tool all in an ADVERTISING FREE ENVIRONMENT. ( we don't use Realtor content to sell ads).
Here is what people have been saying about Home Sale Maximizer, the tool that helps consumers determine which home improvements will best increase the resale value of their homes:
From our own Active Rainers  Juliet Johnson and Virginia Tatseos:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/703016/Staging-ROI-is-378
 http://activerain.com/blogsview/694821/The-Circle-Principle
From the blogs (just a couple of the dozens of mentions)
From … (0 comments)

Max : Greetings from San Francisco - 09/21/08 07:43 PM
Max, the HomeGain Gorilla, finally got a break after the recent releases of AgentView and HomeSaleMaximizer.
Here is Max, letting his hair down and enjoying a beautiful San Francisco afternoon against the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Rest up Max because HomeGain will be issuing further releases in the coming days to both AgentView and AgentEvaluator
 

Max says try Home Sale Maximizer!
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A Winking Thumbs up Monkey? Brought to you by Sellsius. - 09/21/08 11:27 AM
That's what you will see when you visit the Sellsius Real Estate blog written by Joseph Ferrara.
It's Joe's way of covering HomeGain's integration of HomeSaleMaximizer into AgentView.
Click here to see the winking monkey.
The Sellsius blog features some great writing and quite a few very entertaining finds like the Toilet Bowl House! .
The innovative Sellsius blog  first coined the term "unzillowable" to describe the shortcomings of Zillow's zestimates and last summer conducted a cross country blog tour to promote blogging.
If you have not checked out the Sellsius blog, please do so.
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Why did these blog posts get a lot of comments? - 09/20/08 11:30 AM
Why do some blog posts get more comments than others? I've listed some of the reasons below. You spend some time to write a great post, hit "post blog entry" and wait for the comments. Sometimes they come, some times they don't. Looking over a few hundred posts on the HomeGain Blog, I've pulled together those that got the most comments.
The top 15 comment getting blog posts shares shared some (but not all) common characteristics
-a catchy title or photo;
- controversial topic;
- number of comments - comments beget MORE comments!; 
-quality of comments - good comments provoke more comments;
-engagement of the … (5 comments)

What is Max looking at? - 09/19/08 08:20 AM
http://activerain.com/blogsview/698500/Home-Sale-Maximzer-and
Click the link to find out!

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Home Sale Maximzer and AgentView Now Together! - 09/18/08 11:37 PM

This evening we integrated our popular Home Sale Maximizer tool into AgentView.
Home Sale Maximizer allows consumers to determine, based on HomeGain's survey of real estate professionals, which home improvements will best increase the resale value of their homes.
The integration of Home Sale Maximizer into Agent View also puts the consumer in front of a realtor in case they have any questions about the home selling process.
To read more about how the Advertising Free integration of Home Sale Maximizer helps consumers and realtors click here for a blog post about Home Sale Maximizer on the HomeGain blog.
 
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Any One working with Overseas Buyers? - 09/16/08 09:24 PM
With the large numbers of REO, foreclosures and pre foreclosures and dollar low against the Euro (although its recently moved up lately) one would think that foreign buyers would be knocking our doors down to snap up real estate bargains.
Are any of you working with overseas buyers?
If so, do you normally work with overseas buyers and has that number increased in the past year?
Any tips on how to attract and market to overseas buyers?
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Home Sale Maximizer Coming to AgentView: Update - 09/16/08 04:36 PM
The integration of HomeGain's popular online tool HomeSaleMaximizer into AgentView is on schedule to be released later this week.
Home Sale Maximizer provides consumers with information about which home improvements will best increase the their homes re-sale value.
By integrating Home Sale Maximizer with AgentView consumers can get information on home improvements as well as check out the featured agent's blog, listings and profile. In addition, visitors to AgentView can also get  free instant home valuations and follow up directly with the featured realtors.
All this AgentView content is featured along with local realtors in an advertising free environment.
Until later this week home … (2 comments)

Free Max, the HomeGain Gorilla, Buttons! - 09/15/08 07:27 PM


Max is back from San Antonio where he starred at the Texas Association of Realtors Convention.
Max was on hand as the 'Gainers showed Texan Realtors HomeGain Products AgentView, Buyerlink and Agent Evaluator.
To read more about Max's trip to San Antonio and to request a free Max button click here.
If you'd like to learn more about Max in general click here.
If you missed HomeGain at TAR you can meet up with us at the California Association of Realtors Convention next month.
 
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Are a Generation of Homebuyers Being Put Off Homeownership? - 09/13/08 06:33 PM
Anyone have any thoughts on these questions: 
1.With the large number of homeowners facing foreclosures or short sales or having already gone through either, doesn't this sort of remove these people from the potential homeownership pool, as their credit has probably been ruined for years?
2. Will the experience of the group above, make others shy away from buying a home?
Afterall, many of the people facing the devastating consequences of losing their homes know other people who see their friends and colleagues in dire straits as a result of their home ownership ( or their over exention of credit undertaken … (9 comments)

Come collect your points; on second thought.... - 09/13/08 03:17 PM
Does active rain really need the point system? It may encourage more content but is more content really better? I often get people stopping by it seems just to pad their point Total. Are the points even redeemable for anything? Comments like "I didn't read your post but I disagree" Really don't add anything. I would prefer few comment but perhaps better thought out ones Your thoughts? … (4 comments)

HomeGain 1999 vs Zillow 2006 - 09/13/08 09:27 AM
 Many people believe that Zillow pioneered the concept of the web based instant homevaluation tool.
For those of you with longer memories, you know this is not true.
HomeGain had a web based instant homevaluation tool back in 1999! (see what it looked like below).
Read also HomeGain Cries Flattery on Zillow!
Currently our instant homevaluation tool is part of our product AgentView which features Real Estate Agents' blogs, listings and profiles exclusively in an advertising free environment.

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Are Online Seller and Buyer Tools Helpful? - 09/11/08 05:38 PM
I've heard many realtors talk about potential customers who come to them with a Zillow or HomeGain homevaluation  (the original -pre Zillow homevaluation tool) and a discussion ensues regarding the valuation received from these tools.
At HomeGain, we have also spoken to our agent customers, many of whom have had their customers mention Home Sale Maximizer.
What about other tools?
Do they help or hurt the interaction between real estate agents and their customers?
Here is a link to HomeGain's buyer and seller tools including our Homevaluation tool, HomeSaleMaximizer and a half a dozen other tools
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Would Only an Idiot buy a Home in 2008? - 09/11/08 03:26 PM
Wayne Long, HomeGain Agent Evaluator, Buyerlink and AgentView customer takes on the pros and cons of buying a home in 2008 on the HomeGain blog.
Would only an idiot buy a home now?
Lots of food for thought in Wayne Long's "You Would Have to Be An Idiot to Buy a Home in 2008" (opens in a separate window for your reading convenience)
To read Wayne's take on HomeGain products, Agent Evaluator and Buyer Link click on "Hooked on HomeGain" (AgentEvaluator blog post) or "Why Have your Clicks Managed" (Buyerlink Blog post)
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HomeGain Customer Brian Block on The Northern Virginia/DC Market - 09/10/08 06:46 PM
HomeGain caught up with Brian Block, HomeGain AgentView and Agent Evaluator customer, at the Inman Conference in New York in July.
In this exclusive interview, Brian talks about market conditions in the D.C. area.
He discusses the dynamics of the upcoming election, military relocations and buyer's and seller's mentalities and their impact on his market.
Check out Brian's interview here. (opens in a separate browser)
You can also check out other regional updates on the HomeGain blog here.
 
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HomeGain At Texas Association of Realtors Convention - 09/08/08 05:41 PM
The Texas Association of Realtors Convention starts tomorrow. HomeGain will be there.
Please stop by our booth to learn about AgentView, AIMS, Buyerlink and AgentEvaluator.
Visitors to the HomeGain booth will have a chance to win some nice prizes including your very own Max, the HomeGain Gorilla.
You can read more about the Texas Associations of Realtors Convention here on the HomeGain blog.
(opens in separate window for you convenience)
 
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Home Sale Maximizer Coming to Agent View - 09/08/08 04:13 PM
Next week HomeGain will be integrating Home Sale Maximizer with its popular AgentView product that also features agent blogs and listings.
All in an ADVERTISING FREE environment.
Home Sale Maximizer allows homeowners to determine which improvements and upgrades will best increase  the resale value of their homes.
Here is how the integration of Home Sale Maximizer on Agent View might look:

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HomeGain Names 2008-2009 Advisory Board - 09/05/08 10:24 AM
HomeGain announced this morning the composition of its 2008-2009 advsisory board.
The following real estate professional will be serving as HomeGain's Advisors during the 2008-2009 term:
Eric Pakulla of RE/MAX Advantage Realty,
Mitch Ribak of Tropical Realty
Sharon Kunz of RE/MAX of Atlanta,
Alan Shafran of Prudential California Realty,
Karen Breen Elia of RE/MAX Exclusive Properties,
Jeffrey Bastress of StartPoint Realty,
Mike Kollar of Windermere Puy/CR LLC,
Barry Karch of Prudential BKB Realtors,
Bill Eiseman of Prudential Decker Realty,
Howard Gordon of Broward Brokers Realty,
Alisha Wade of RE/MAX Achievers, 
Dave Marshburn of Windermere Bay Area Properties.
 and newest member Mike … (0 comments)

Tighter Licensing Requirements for Real Estate Agents? - 09/04/08 10:32 AM
HomeGain Guest Blogger Roberta Murphy thinks so. In her blog post "Weasels Guarding the Chicken Coop" Roberta complains of the former lenders, many of whom helped caused the current housing crisis are now real estate "professionals"
Read more here (opens into a separate browser for your convenience)
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#3 Lives of the Realtors - Jay Thompson - 09/03/08 09:16 PM
 As part of HomeGain's Lives of the Realtor's Series, we posted the Phoenix Real Estate Guy, Jay Thompson's story.
Please take a look
(opens up into a separate window for your viewing convenience)
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Zillow Helps McCain!!!!! - 09/02/08 10:22 PM
I just posted about the fun one can have with Zillow's Dueling Digs and Celebrity Homes.
Now I find out another use for Zillow. They were able to tell John McCain how many homes he had!
To be fair Zillow is going to have to support the Obama campaign in some way.
Any suggestions on how Zillow can help Obama?
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Real Estate Fun -Celebrity Real Estate & Dueling Digs from Zillow - 09/02/08 09:52 PM
Got some time to spare. Here are some of my favorite time killers.
Celebrity Real Estate and Dueling Digs from Zillow.
What's your favorite celebrity Zestimate?
As a Jimi Hendrix fan, I love the Jimi was here Zestimate
Got a favorite Dueling Dig or Celebrity Zestimate? Post it here.
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Speed Matters!- Read this post Now! - 09/02/08 08:18 PM
Eric Blackwell over on the HomeGain blog is conducting a little study. He is convinced that responding quickly to potential customers is essential to success.
YET, he is finding an alarming number do not do so.
Read more here at Time is of the Essence    (opens up into a separate window for your viewing convenience)
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Lives of the Realtors -Up Next Jay Thompson - 09/01/08 08:51 PM
The HomeGain "Lives of the Realtors" series has been an initial success. So far we have published the stories of Ryan Ward and Mitch Ribak.
Later this week the HomeGain Real Estate Blog will be posting the past life of Jay Thompson, or the Phoenix Real Estate Guy.
We will also be launching a new series "A Day in the Life" that will feature Realtors' day to day work habits, business philosophies, office set ups and other daily items that Realtors attend to in their practices.
Please visit the HomeGain blog as we will continue to feature Realtor stories as well as provide … (3 comments)