Alberta Real Estate Guru's Blog

Log Cabin Style Home For Sale on 144 Acres

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:43:44 -0700

House on 144 acres for sale in Mayorthorpe Alberta, priced at $659,000.

Beautifully finished log home on 144 acres, offering nearly 3400sf of space on all floors. Starting with the heart of the home you see the floor to ceiling grand stone fireplace hearth, creating the feeling of an expensive mountain lodge retreat.

Beautiful logs and stone line this bright open space, great for family and entertaining.

The master suite loft above is pure luxury, complete with a wine fridge. No problem with hot water on demand to fill up that jetted jacuzzi by the double sided gas fireplace, or sit on your private balcony on a starlit evening.

Outside enjoy the covered wrap around deck, barn for the animals and plenty of bush - the property backs onto almost endless acres of crown land, a hunters paradise! There are too many features to list, an easy commute, only 20 minutes all pavement to Whitecourt.

For full information and details visit: www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

Visual Tour located at: http://www.myvisuallistings.com/mts/504228

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

2 Bedroom - 2 Bathroom Condo in Edmonton

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:18:07 -0700

Condo for sale in Edmonton Alberta, priced at $176,900. Located in Edmonton Alberta at # 135 11325 83 Street.

What a great 2 bedroom 2 bath condominium with the best FLOOR PLAN in the building. For $176,900 it has to be one of the BEST DEALS in town.

It has many FEATURES including LARGE KITCHEN with ISLAND, insuite laundry, walk in closet, PATIO, and energized parking.

Located in a great spot close to the LRT and BORDEN PARK you wont be dissapointed when you see it. As a bonus there is plenty of visitoir parking and special interest rates are available to investors and qualified buyers.

For full information and details visit: www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

Visual Tour located at: http://www.myvisuallistings.com/mts/504076

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Alberta Beach Getaway Home on Acreage

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:04:50 -0700

Perfect home for a summer getaway or an all year round property.

This house for sale is on an acreage in Alberta Beach, Alberta priced at $218,600, located in Rural Lac. St. Anne County, Alberta at # 27 54222 rr 25.

20 MINUTES to SPRUCE GROVE!! Affordable ACREAGE not a modular it is STICK BUILT. Horses, dogs and cats welcome. "5" MINUTES to the beach and shopping.

Great starter or retirement home for someone who likes to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city. QUIET and PRIVATE. Besides the two bedrooms there is a good sized area which could be used as a den, office or playroom.

For full information and details visit: www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

Visual Tour located at: http://www.myvisuallistings.com/mts/504073

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Beautiful Sherwood Park Home on 6.1 Acres

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:49:25 -0700

Home for sale on acreage in Sherwood Park, Alberta, priced at $529,000. Located in Sherwood Park, Alberta at 33 51022 R 221 RD.

This sprawling 6.1 ACRE property is backing the famous NORTHERN BEAR GOLF COURSE close to Sherwood park,and is uniquely set up for HORSES.

The 2260 sq ft RANCHER bungalow has a large recently renovated COUNTRY KITCHEN with an island perfect for socializing. The cozy SUNKEN family room has a wood burning fireplace and private deck for that morning coffee. The SEPERATE dining room and living room compliment the rest of the home that has a great floor plan.

You will notice quality throughout with a new soaker tub, new windows and high end shingles. As you walk outside you will notice the new oversized 30-30 garage, massive entertaining deck and excellent landscaping. For the horses they have georgeous grazing grounds,a 7 HORSE BARN and of course proper cross fencing. This is definately one unique property!

For full information and details visit: www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

Visual Tour located at: http://www.myvisuallistings.com/mts/503928

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Store Front with Property For Sale in Stony Plain, AB

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:25:49 -0700

Store front with property for sale in Stony Plain Alberta, priced at $579,000, what a great value. Located in Stony Plain Alberta at 5111 50 Street (downtown). 2 Front doors to the building. Great space for any business!

With a Warm inviting design this newly renovated building currently operates as the top decor home supplier in Stony Plain and surrounding area.

Total renovation. Interior walls, electrical, plumbing, new mechanical, insulation, the whole package. Move in ready!

For full information and details visit: www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

Visual Tour located at: http://www.myvisuallistings.com/mts/503981

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Stunning Home For Sale In Stony Plain Alberta, Your Palace Awaits!

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:18:01 -0800

There is just no WAY you will know what this stunning home is like until you SEE it for yourself.

Home for sale in Stony Plain Alberta, priced at $738,000, the value is incredible. Located in Stony Plain Alberta at #3 Willowbend CT.

The River rock accents on the exterior blend in perfectly with the DRIVE through driveway. The quiet UPSCALE neighborhood makes for peaceful living. As you walk in quality and excellence hit you right away in this CUSTOM palace.

The amazing kitchen starts with GRANITE countertops, stainless steel appliances, custom craftsmen PILLARS and a unique tarhouse style CLAY sink.

As you overlook the dining and family room you cant help but picture yourself sitting around the custom DESIGNED fireplace.

The coffered trim ceiling and CROWN moldings and fantastic wainscotting are just a small part of the high end craftsmenship throughout. For that morning COFFEE or relaxing book put you feet up in the LIBRARY and enjoy. You will definately be the MASTER in this bedroom with your own sliding doors to the deck and a FIRST CLASS ensuite to boot with all the luxuries. The basement is fantastic.

For full information and details visit: www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

Visual Tour located at: http://youtu.be/5F5Yvs04dC8

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

To The Wild Wild West 2013!

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:24:41 -0800

Man I love living in Canada, specifically Western Canada. There is a chance that I'm just extra happy because hockey's back on.

None the less we constantly get told it's the best place to live in and also to invest in. the fact is that it's true, we have good paying jobs and have an environment where entrepeneurs can propsper. With all that the results are opportunities to enjoy and spend money. I'm pretty sure the next 10 years are going to be fascinating. We have a new airport, billions spent on a downtown entertainment area including a new arena, as well as a promise to continue to prosper. Edmonton seems to be the perfect size, big enough to have World class status and small enough to always know you will run into someone you know.

Here's the best part, the Wild Wild West has bred some great people. I want to take this opportunity to say something to all my friends, family and clients "Thank-you for all your support and lets have a great 2013.

Lets take this city and the rest of Canada and make some great noise!"

Keep your eyes for updates and information on Real Estate in Alberta as well as on the economy.

Edmonton Real Estate Guru: www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

Edmonton Real Estate Guru FB: http://www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru

Edmonton Real Estate Guru twitter: https://twitter.com/edmontonreguru

Lyndon Sommert LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/pub/lyndon-sommert/20/249/142/

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

ActiveRain Tutorial | SEO Blogging | Optimizing Your Name Fields

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:49:30 -0800

Thanks for the great tips on how to increase your SEO, the video was easy to follow along and gave great simple ways to optimize on your own, much appreciated Coach Katerina!

Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Homes For Sale (International Properties and Investments LLC):

Active Rain Tutorial | SEO Blogging | Optimizing Your Name Fields

Here is a video tutorial that I made to show you how to change your name fields and contact information fields for best SEO blogging results.

This is one of the easiest and fastest changes you can make that will make a huge difference. Most of the time when you are applying SEO to your blogging it is the small details that give you the biggest impact.

It is a very short tutorial. You will be able to complete this ActiveRain task in just a few minutes.





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Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Blogging Boot Camp Recap: Class Recordings

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:15:12 -0800

We all can use some lessons in blogging, I know I can. Hoping to take some time out this holiday season to brush up on some online skills, part of my resolutions, what are some of your resolutions this year?

Via ActiveRain University (ActiveRain University):

We just finished our recent round of Blogging Boot Camp. This time our three classes consisted of

SEO: Getting our Posts to Rank in the Search Engines

Keywords: Determining What we Want to Write About

Calls to Action: Turning Traffic on Our Posts into Prospects for Our Business

Below are the video recordings of each class. Feel free to consume them at your leisure. These classes will help you generate more traffic to your blog posts as well as teach you how to turn that traffic into prospects for your business. Do EVERYTHING, EXACTLY as I say to do it........haha, ok not really. But the fundamentals that I talk about are things we have learned over many years of doing this or they are things that our most successful members are implementing as a part of their blog strategy to make sure they get the most out of every post they write.

SEO: Getting Our Posts to Rank in the Search Engines

Keywords: Determing What We Want to Write About

Calls to Action: Turning Traffic on our Posts into Prospects for Our Business

---

Keep Up In the Rain!

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

When Dealing With Internet Leads Be A Resource Not A Salesperson

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:46:39 -0800

Great advice from Broker Bryant! If you have the clients best interest in mind and you are knowledgeable in your market, then you should have no need to "sell" them.

Via Bryant Tutas Broker/REALTOR(R) Tutas Towne Realty, Inc (Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc):

Hi folks. Today I want to write a little bit about Internet leads and how I handle them. Hopefully this will gove you some ideas you can implement in your own business.

Having been in sales of some sort most of my life the most important thing I have learned is...do NOT sell folks. My job as a "salesperson" is to persuade people to make decisions that are beneficial to them and to me. TLW says I am a manipulator. She's wrong. I am a persuader.

You must remember folks searching on the Internet are after information. This is VERY important to understand. They do NOT want to be sold. If you try to sell them the game is over.

Your response back to an Internet inquiry should be designed to:

First and foremost....answer their questions.

Provide additional information.

Be non intrusive.

Build trust and likability.

Invite further interaction.

Let them know you will be following up.

Now folks, having a blog goes a long way to achieving these goals.

ARTICLES ON BLOGGING BY BROKER BRYANT

The key is to get your information in front of them without selling. What this does is create a non threatening environment where the consumer can get the information they are searching for without feeling like they are being sold or coerced into dealing with a "salesperson" when they are not ready.

You want to be a resource. A source of information that the consumer sees as valuable. You want them to feel comfortable enough to come back. And they will come back if you have the information they are searching for.

If you have spent any time at all reading my blog, then you know, that I rarely sell my services. I don't have to. When the consumer reads my posts they are getting valuable information. They contact me because I am giving then this information with no strings attached, it's free for them to use as they choose.

Also remember, folks are on the Internet searching not only because they want information but because they want it quick. If you do get an inquiry you must respond immediately. If you don't respond instantly or at a minimum within a couple of hours you can be sure they have moved on.

If you are not set up to respond to inquiries quickly you may have to set up an auto responder. If you do just make sure the response is not too generic and is giving them information. Don't use the "out of the office will respond later" thingie. Your response, at a minimum, needs to be friendly and have additional links in it to keep them busy until you can get back with them. You will have more success converting Internet prospects by sending them "anything quickly" than sending them "something more comprehensive" later.

I hope this helps. Any thoughts?

Do NOT be foreclosed on! Avoid foreclosure. Short Sales DO close.

Want to find out more? www.CentralFloridaShortSales.com

***I am NOT an Attorney nor do I play one on TV. Click the button below for my Bio.

Customer Testimonials

Tutas Towne Realty, Inc handles Florida real estate sales, Florida short sales, Florida strategic short sales, Florida pre-foreclosure sales, Florida foreclosures in Kissimmee Florida Short Sales, Davenport Florida Short Sales, Haines City Florida Short Sales, Poinciana Florida Short Sales, Solivita Florida Short Sales, Orlando Florida Short Sales, Celebration Florida Short Sales, Winderemere Florida Short Sales. Serving all of Polk, Osceola and Orange Counties Florida. Florida Short Sale Broker. Short Sale Florida.

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Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Edmonton winning economic battle with Calgary EDMONTON JOURNAL

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:16:32 -0800

EDMONTON - Edmonton’s economy and housing market have been improving and are outperforming Calgary on several fronts, according to an analysis from the Conference Board of Canada.

These yardsticks include faster economic and house price growth this year, along with more housing starts in four of the past five months. The city’s housing markets should remain buoyant, fuelled by healthy population advances, said Robin Wiebe, senior economist with the board’s Centre for Municipal Studies.

Edmonton’s relatively large public administration sector — twice the size of Calgary’s as a share of total output — helps balance the local economy and has allowed the Edmonton economy to actually outperform that of Calgary over the past 20 years, with higher average annual GDP growth over that period.

The report also states:

* Edmonton’s GDP expanded smartly in 2010 and 2011 and solid future gains are in the cards. Employment leapt in 2011 following two years of decline, and will continue growing, albeit more slowly, in 2012 and 2013. This job growth is rekindling migration inflows, particularly from other provinces. Population growth of roughly two per cent is expected in both 2012 and 2013, below the 2.6 per cent average recorded between 2005 and 2009, but up from an average nearer 1.7 per cent in 2010 and 2011.

* Sales of existing homes are on track to rise about five per cent this year, on the heels of a three per cent gain last year. This rising demand has yet to attract additional supply from cautious homeowners, so listings are little changed this year after a four per cent drop in 2011, and the sales to listing ratio has risen to average nearly 54 per cent this year, up about three percentage points from last year. The tightening market has boosted price growth to about 3 per cent in 2012 following a one per cent dip in 2011. The market remains balanced, though, and firming prices should attract fresh supply.

* Stronger housing demand is also boosting new construction. Housing starts are on track to exceed 12,000 units this year — a post-recession high. Rising construction of both single-detached and multi-family units fuels the upswing. About half of this year’s starts are singles, in line with recent norms.

* And housing remains affordable in Edmonton. In 2011, the average existing home sale was priced at $325,614, nearly $40,000 below Canada’s mean. At this price, the average mortgage charges consumed only 16.6 per cent of average household income, below similar figures in towns like Calgary, Ottawa and Québec City.

For 2013, continued low interest rates and decent economic growth should fuel solid housing demand, the report states, although the recent mortgage-rule tightening should have some dampening effect. But above all, continued sound population growth will prevail and sustain a strong housing market.

See original article at:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Edmonton+winning+economic+battle+with+Calgary/7633843/story.html?goback=%2Egde_1419827_member_192582812

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Nothing Scary in Halloween Housing Market

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:41:26 -0800

Edmonton, November 2, 2012: Even with ghosts, ghouls, and goblins running through the streets, homeowners could find refuge in the local housing market. The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton reports that housing prices in October were up compared to a year ago and are the highest in October in the past five years. The all residential average price for the Edmonton Multiple Listing Service® was up 0.6% at $324,924 when compared to October 2011. The average price of a single family detached home was $372,061 up 2.1% over a year ago. Condos were priced on average at $234,177 which was an uptick of 1.8% from a month ago and up 5.4% from last October. Duplex/row house prices were down 1.1% Y/Y at $305,777.

“Homesellers are pleased that their property may be worth more than it has been in the past five years but homebuyers can plan their financing in an environment of small, steady price increases,” said REALTORS® Association of Edmonton President Doug Singleton. “The housing market is be-deviled in other centres but here in Edmonton both buyers and sellers find it heavenly. The pace of sales is steady, prices increase year-over-year, there is sufficient inventory and average days-on-market is reasonable.”

REALTORS® listed an average of 72 homes each day in October and sold an average of 44 per day. There were a total of 2,228 residential listings in October, with sales of 1,375 properties. As a result of lower listings and larger sales volumes, the month end residential inventory was down (-7.9%) from last month with 6,406 properties available. Days-on-market was an average of 61 and the sales to listing ratio was 62%. There was $447 million worth of residential property, $53 million of rural and $23 million of commercial property sold through the Edmonton MLS® in October.

“Life happens to us all,” said Singleton. “Unless you are an investor, the best time to buy or sell your home is when your lifestyle changes. No matter what your personal circumstances, your REALTOR® is here when life happens.”

http://www.ereb.com/News&Events/LatestMarketStatistics.html

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Thankful For Simple Things After Hurricane Sandy Aftermath

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:27:20 -0700

I think we should all reflect on how lucky we are! Thank you for the hearfelt blog. Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone during the devestation.

Via Joan Congilose Marlboro NJ-Manalapan NJ CRS,CDPE,Top Producer Monmouth Cty Area (RE/MAX Central (732)232-5277):

I have lived in Ocean County NJ for most of my life and have had the privilege of always being a short drive to our well known boardwalks and beautiful ocean beaches known as the Jersey Shore. My favorite place to be & with loving memories since childhood. Earlier this week the media did their best to warn everyone to be prepared for Hurricane Sandy, make sure you have enough water, food , and necessities to carry through should you lose power & if you live in a coastal town you should evacuate. Many took the warnings lightly and didn't listen.

I am a worry wart by nature and am always prepared. However, the experience of Hurricane Sandy will be a heartfelt memory I wish we all could forget. We lost power on Monday, in total darkness, no heat, and no communication with the outside world so it seemed. even cell phones weren't working, aside from the text app & I was grateful to know my family and friends were safe. I sat in my car trying to find something out on the news and  even the radio stations were off the air until yesterday.

I made it through the last few days, the last few nights were the most challenging it was so cold & we ran out of hot water as well. All of the food in my freezer and refrigerator has spoiled. I ventured out to streets with no traffic signals, blocked off side streets & found one packed super market open on generator with spoiled produce & meat shelves blocked off & a smell I will never forget. It looked like a war zone.

I decided today that if the power didn't go on by tonight with temperatures predicted to drop to the 30's it might be time to leave and look for a hotel to stay at in a town with electric somewhere, anywhere but here.

Thank God, the electric went on in my community this afternoon so we have heat, TV, and a phone again, some basic things I have always taken for granted . I didn't know until I saw it for myself on TV today that our beautiful beaches are destroyed and the devastation throughout the state.

My prayers and thoughts are out to those that have lost their homes , their loved ones & all those still displaced by this devastating event.



Joan Congilose, Broker/ Sales Associate RE/MAX Central Manalapan/ Marlboro & Beyond

" Exceeding Your Expectations "

Call me at (732) 972-1000 x 364

www.joancongilose.com

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Investing in Real Estate – What You Should Know

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:53:26 -0700

The facts about Real Estate Investment, you be the Judge!

ü Proven Concept – Just compare investing in Real Estate versus other investments and you will see the difference. Most common investments can maybe give you a 10% return, whereas the price of Real Estate on average has doubled every 10 years, that’s about a 60% annual return on your money. FACT 95% of all millionaires made their money through Real Estate investment!

ü Real Estate is a Real Asset – Real Estate can be seen and touched, you have a sense of pride of ownership! Not just a piece of paper or computer screen.

ü Real Estate Offers Great Flexibility - You have control and leverage with your Real Estate investment, meaning you can sell anytime or let it ride while it is increasing in value. You can also pull out equity and re-invest in more Real Estate, perhaps take the holiday of y our dreams you have been waiting for. Have a child going to college and need that tuition? The choice is yours.

ü 3 General Types of Investors – There are 3 types of Real Estate Investors in general, there are your flippers, those who are looking for short term holds, and the Investors that are in it for the big pay out which are the long term holds.

ü Know Your Stuff – The key things to know when purchasing a property are, rents, neighborhoods, how to stay knowledgeable, and land lording. These are easily accessible by a Real Estate Investment Specialist.

ü What Makes a Great Real Estate Investment? – Location, price, market timing, capital output, as well as the right formula for income and expenses.

To find out more on Real Estate as an investment contact REALTY EXECUTIVESLEADING to find out when we will be holding our next renowned investment seminar.

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

7 Ways to Use Pinterest to Build Your Business

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:45:28 -0700

How to keep up with all the social media sites and technology, sometimes it makes your head spin....I believe at some point you have to hire someone to take care of it for you and you can focus on Real Estate!

Via Rebekah Radice Social Media Marketing, Management & Strategies (Manager of Industry Engagement, Better Homes & Gardens RE):

Pinterest is now the fastest growing social network, increasing its reach an unprecedented +4377% between May 2011 and May 2012. While still in its infancy, with an estimated 20 million users, this social behemoth can no longer be ignored.

However, even with its seemingly simple way to share and bookmark web content, the potential of Pinterest is still widely misunderstood by business owners.

If you are eager to reign in the power of Pinterest, but unsure where to begin, the 7 tips below will allow you to jump start your Pinterest presence!

7 Ways to Build Your Business with Pinterest

1. Share Your Content

Whether it is your latest blog post, video or e-book, pinning your content will establish you as the expert in your field and catch the attention of consumers interested in your service or product.

When you pin an article from your website you create a link back to that article. You are not only building traffic back to your website, but creating a resource for anyone researching your topic.

When you initially set up your Pinterest boards, group your pins based on topic. This will make it easy for anyone searching that particular keyword to find your content.

2. Create Fun and Unique Boards

Create boards that are not only specific to your niche, but also fun, engaging and unique to your business. If you are a local business, design a board that shares your favorite restaurants, vendors and places to visit.

If you are a national brand, share Infographics based on recent market statistics, photos that include a quote taken from your most recent blog post or an image containing a key takeaway from your latest webinar.

3. Use the Pin-It Button

Use the Pinterest pin-it button to quickly pin your latest blog, video or product update. With each "pin,' you create a direct link to your content.

It also allows for an easy way to curate content that can be quickly shared by your followers. When you pin your own content, do not forget to click "edit" once you've pinned the item and add to your description the direct link to your article, video or photo. If you are pinning material that is not your own, make sure to credit the original source in your description.

4. Add the Pinterest Button to Your Website

Pinterest offers two tools that make it easy for readers to share your content and connect with you on Pinterest.

The " Pin It " and "Follow Me on Pinterest" buttons can be added to both your website and blog.

To add directly from Pinterest, go to the Goodies section and install the "Follow Button" and "Pin It Button" on your website. The code will automatically populate making it easy to copy and paste in to your site.

5. Give a Sneak Peek into Your Company

Give a behind-the-scenes look in to your business that includes:

Event or conference photos

A historical timeline that documents important dates within your business

Photos of the people that support your business

Blogs, photos, tips and other items that are favorites of your staff

The ideas are limitless when you consider what you can share. The goal is simple: give your Pinterest followers a unique look in to what makes your business tick.

6. Promote Upcoming Products

If you are looking to drive additional traffic to your website or blog, adding pins related to upcoming products can create excitement and boost awareness. Share links to your promo video or article announcing the roll-out.

7. Add Pinterest to Your Facebook Page

Adding Pinterest to your Facebook page is a great way to cross promote your social media channels. It is easy to integrate and will display within Facebook just as it would be seen in Pinterest. The easiest and cleanest application I have found is Woobox.

This is a FREE third party application that allows you to display all of your boards and pins. Here is a direct link to add the app to your page.

How To Set Up Your Pinterest Tab

Install the Pinterest Tab App to your Facebook Page by clicking the Install link: http://woobox.com/pinterest/install

Input your Pinterest username, which is the last part of your profile URL; http://pinterest.com/username/

To display the pins from an individual board, just select the second option “Show Pins from Selected Board,” and input the board’s URL;http://pinterest.com/username/board-name/

Click Save Settings and you’re all done! Enjoy the app!

Pinterest is an excellent resource and an additional way to drive traffic to your website or blog. I would love to hear how you are using it to market your business. Comment below!

7 Ways to Use Pinterest to Build Your Business was written by Rebekah Radice.

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Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

2012 Edmonton Indy Schedule

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:06:57 -0700

Friday, July 20

7:00 a.m. Venue opens to public
8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. NASCC Eurasia Cup Practice Session (30 min)
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Star Mazda Championship 1st Practice Session (30 min)
9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Firestone Indy Lights® Series 1st Practice Session (45 min)
10:50 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. IZOD IndyCar® Series 1st Practice Session – A (30 min)
11:20 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. IZOD IndyCar® Series 1st Practice Session – B (30 min)
12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Firestone Indy Lights® Series 2nd Practice Session (45 min)
1:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Star Mazda Championship 2nd Practice Session (30 min)
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. IZOD IndyCar® Series 2nd Practice Session (60 min)
3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 1st Practice Session (60 min)
5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. NASCC Eurasia Cup Qualifying Session (30 min)

Saturday, July 21

7:00 a.m. Venue opens to public
8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Firestone Indy Lights® Series Qualifying Session (45 min)
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. IZOD IndyCar® Series 3rd Practice Session (60 min)
10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2nd Practice Session (30 min)
10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Firestone Indy Lights® Series Autograph Session (30 min)
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Star Mazda Championship Qualifying Session (30 min)
11:45 a.m. to 12 noon Firestone Indy Lights® Series Warm Up Session (15 min)
12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 3rd Practice Session (30 min)
12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Star Mazda Championship Autograph Session (30 min)
1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. IZOD IndyCar® Series Qualifying Session (75 min)
2:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Autograph Session (45 min)
2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Star Mazda Championship 1st Race (30 min)
3:20 p.m. to 4:35 p.m. Firestone Indy Lights® Series Race (75 min)
4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. IZOD IndyCar® Series Autograph Session (60 min)
4:50 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 1st Qualifying Session (20 min)
5:20 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2nd Qualifying Session (20 min)
5:55 p.m. to 6 :40 p.m. NASCC Eurasia Cup Race (45 min)

Sunday, July 22

7:00 a.m. Venue opens to public
8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. IZOD IndyCar® Series Warm Up Session (30 min)
9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Star Mazda Championship 2nd Race (45 min)
10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race (75 min)
12 noon IZOD IndyCar® Series Drivers’ Introduction/
Opening Ceremonies
12:45 p.m. IZOD IndyCar® Series 2012 EDMONTON INDY® Green flag – 75 laps (169.2 miles/272.3 km)

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

The Most Powerful Marketing Tool To Find Listings And It's Only 4"x 5"

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:08:08 -0700

I like that you focused on the fact that we do need to be marketing on other platforms aside from online. Print advertsing can be very effective when you write an ad that makes the phone ring. The key to great marketing is tracking where your business is coming from, it's as simple as asking where they heard about you from.

Via Barbara Todaro "New Franklin MA Homes" (RE/MAX Executive Realty ):

This is not a new song, but it’s a tune that should never leave your mind once a listing is secured. There should be a routine that is put into place with every listing. Just as you plant a sign; hang a lockbox; submit to MLS; and prepare brochures, you need to begin your marketing.

Marketing is not just online. We are so focused with online marketing that we fail to remember that “not everyone is computer literate.” We need to have both online and offline methods in place, and the ratio will depend on the group to whom you are marketing and the product.

If an agent is marketing an active adult community to the 55+ age group, the offline marketing would make up a greater percentage of the marketing. The older the buyers, the less likely they are to go online to search for a home. This group of potential clients would be more focused on the newspaper, homes for sale magazines and postcards.

Everyone reads their mail, but not everyone reads the newspaper or picks up homes for sale magazines. Direct mail marketing with a standard size postcard will be glanced at and if it catches someone’s interest, the reader will take a few seconds of time to read it. If that reader is thinking of buying or selling a home, the card will be saved for a future phone call.

Above are samples of this week’s postcards to be mailed to a 200+ home radius of each property. There are many messages on each postcard. “We know how to market homes and create a pending sale.” “Call us for a Free Market Analysis.” “We can do this for you, too!!”

Nothing more needs to be stated. The address is there to enable each reader to drive by; see the sale pending sign; and even speak with the homeowner and hear their review of the job we did. The sale pending postcard makes it easy for the recipient and potential client to “trust but verify” the information. Once a home is closed, none of that is possible.

The sale pending card is a very powerful method of shaking the fruit from the tree and finding your next listing. We’ve have success in many neighborhoods where one listing would lead to five or six more in that same area, and it’s all because of mailing just listed, sale pending and just sold postcards. Add this task to your list of “things to do” after listing every property and it will lead to more business. You’ll be glad you did!!!

Copyright © 2011 The Kuney-Todaro Team - All Rights Reserved

Visit Our Other Sites:

NewConstructionFranklinMA.com | FranklinMAHomeSales.com | FranklinMANewHomes.com

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

How to Create a Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 08:16:17 -0700

Well this looks to be quite the challenge, 7 blogs by July 2nd all area specific. There are always many areas to choose from in the city, the question is how much time can you dedicate? How important do you feel it is to blog? And where would blogging be on your priority list? Let the games begin...

Via Brad Andersohn (Zillow - National Outreach Manager):

How to Create a Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines.

There are three important audiences to be writing for: 1. Other members and friends of your Social Networks. 2. Consumers, Subscribers, and a Target Audience of readers. 3. Search Engines. I'm sure this is preaching to the choir, but this is important information to be shared if you want to get maximum exposure and results from your Blog posts with consumers, visitors, and with Google. Google Juice? I'll drink to that! :-)

Blogging for Customers and Search Engines correctly is a key component to a successful Blog.

Using these effective strategies and time tested methods when creating your post can make a huge difference. The first thing when writing a post is to determine the audience you are writing for, the product or concept you're promoting, and the geographic market you are targeting. In this scenario, we are creating a Blog post to drive readers, consumers, and search engines to your Blog which is All About Your Area. Things like "Vacant Land", "Open Houses", "Loan Modifications", "Tax Credit", "Pest Control", "Relocation", "Market Statistics", "Short Sales", "Condos" etc.

1. How to title a blog post: Use a title that a customer would type into Google. example: "Open Houses in Mesquite Nevada" Targeting Neighborhoods and focusing on Communities are best, but you can also use City/State. Most searches by consumers always include a geographic area. example: "Vacant Land For Sale in Bend, Oregon" Don't just title your post "Vacant Land For Sale" as it probably won't get indexed to a specific location and will likely get lost in the Search Engine Abyss. (SEO abyss = page 24 of Google)

2. Repeat the title in BOLD in the first sentence of your blog post. example: "Vacant Land For Sale in Bend, Oregon" and now priced better than ever! Build your dream home in Bend, Oregon!" By creating the first sentence of your post to include the title and BOLD key search words, terms, or phrases, you'll increase the potential of being found and then read. That first sentence is typically the first sentence that shows up under your TITLE within the Google search results. It's an important part of getting the search engines to recognize your topic and see it's relative content. It's also what will help a consumer decide if they want to click on your link or NOT!

3. Write your blog posts to the title...then add in good content that a customer would want to know about. It takes a bit more time to think this strategy through, but the results and rewards will be tremendous. This in NOT the only way to gain SEO and more exposure, but it's a great place to start if you're new to Blogging and are wanting quicker results from your time and efforts here.

Creating posts and Understanding Long tail and Short tail search terms: Short tail searches are just that, very short keyword searches. example: "Homes for sale" or "Homes For Sale Austin, Texas". This is where most searches begin during the early stages of research by consumers. The Long tail search comes into play the closer consumers get to making a final purchase decision. example: "Gated Community Homes For Sale With a Pool in Austin Texas" Justin Smith explains more about Long tail/ Short tail searches in his post. You can also find more details by searching Google for "Long tail and Short tail searches." Here's a video that might help make heads or "tails" about this.

4. Go through your blog post and make sure that the words of your title are repeated a minimum of at least three or four times. At least one time every other paragraph or so. You should also bold those keywords so they stand out to the reader and to the search engines. You need to be somewhat creative in doing this and remember, don't over do it.

5. Tag your blog posts with other keywords and phrases the customer may type into Google. These should be topic related and relevant to your post. Do not try to game the search engines by packing in keywords that have nothing to do with the post, this will do more harm than good in most if not all cases. Also make sure to include images and links to relative sites, this will create more stickiness and add value to your posts.

Creating a Blog Post for Customers and Search engines is not that difficult once you understand some of these basic concepts and then practice and apply them on a regular basis. This is not to say you shouldn't write about other topics both personal and business, even those can be tailored to get you better results with customers and search engines. We tested this theory on the Fourth of July Weekend and you should see some of the results ActiveRain members experienced. It really does work.

I hope you can use these tips on "How to Create a Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines."
VERY IMPORTANT: If your post on ActiveRain is (MEMBERS ONLY) then none of the above applies.

Tutorials | Training | Mobile | Widgets | Websites

Download the ActiveRain "HELP" Toolbar for Your Browser

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Every Single AR Post in Google, With Your Face in the Results!

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:05:53 -0700

Thank you to Michael for sharing great step by step instructional with code included! Will have to test it out and see how it works!

Via RM Enterprises, Inc.:

That's right folks. Imagine somebody searching for a realtor, and all of those boring results come up, but one of your ActiveRain posts shows up-- oh, I don't know-- in the 6th position... But! It has your face. The searchers eyes are drawn right to it.

I'm going to make it really simple and step by step. If you don't feel like doing it, make your kid do it. It's that easy!

1. Make a Google+ Account here. Add your picture, it will be what shows up in the search results. (There is another way to show a picture, but no reason to convolute the issue.)

2. Under the section labed "Contributor To"-- paste the address of your AR Blog. I just have the Rainmaker blog here, so you'll paste something like this: http://activerain.com/blogs/azmortgagelady into your contributor area.

3. Copy the following code. All of it... And paste it into a plain text editor.

<p>Author Bio: Michael George earned two bachelors degrees at Oakland University, in Rochester Hills, MI. One in Political Science and one in Management Information Systems. Michael George consults with professionals on their Google marketing efforts.</p>

<ul>

<li>

<a href="http://activerain.com/blogs/azmortgagelady">View all AR Posts By Michael George</a>

</li>

<li><a href="http://YourMainWebsiteorBlog.com" title="Read All By Michael George">Blog</a></li>

<li><a href="https://plus.google.com/106312969103074064215" title="Add Michael George in your circle" rel="me" target="_blank" >Google+</a></li>

</ul>



4. In ActiveRain, go here: http://activerain.com/action/agents_secure/settings

Copy the code from above, that you pasted into Notepad, and paste it again on top of your other stuff in Blog Description.

5. Now, to make sure you did it correctly, go to Google's tool here.

Paste in the URL to an Active Rain blog post that you have written, and you should see this! Which will insure that you did it all correctly!

If you need help, just ask.

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

How Much Time Should Real Estate Agents Spend on Lead Generation?

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:59:46 -0700

Time blocking is very important for a successful Real Estate Career, I am happy to see that sphere was given the most time as it is still the most important!

Via IMSD Designation (Internet Marketing Specialist Designation):

How much time should real estate agents spend on lead generation every day?

This is one of the most common questions that we get at the Internet Marketing Specialist Designation.

When real estate agents get efficient at time management by blocking out times of their day for lead generation, they have more opportunities to get out there showing houses! Here is our take on how much time should be spent in each of the key real estate lead generation categories each day.

This content was offered as part of the IMSD class Best Real Estate Marketing Sources , where we discuss how much each of these lead generation sources are going to cost, how crowded the space is, and other factors to consider when choosing a marketing mix.

Advertising – 15 Minutes
These are your yard signs, flyers, business cards, and other print advertising. Once the initial setup is complete on these items, the time you spend placing orders and making small modifications is minimal.

Pay Per Click Advertising – 15 Minutes
Managing your PPC campaigns can be as addictive as online gambling. Fight that urge to over-manage this category. Get in to Facebook Ads or Google AdWords, check your analytics to make sure your ads are running as planned and your budget hasn’t suddenly exploded, then get out!

Blogging – 15 Minutes
Write one blog post a day to create a reliable stream of internet leads for years to come. You’re not Ernest Hemingway, don’t overthink your writing. Just follow good SEO blogging principles and make sure you’ve got the right keyword phrases selected. Many agents will sit down once a week and write out 5-6 blogs just to get this finished.

Social Media – 30 Minutes
Allocate three ten-minute sessions per day to engage on Facebook and Twitter. Anything more than that means you’re just monkeying around! Post a comment and post a tweet in the first two minutes, then focus your time on engaging with others. Don’t try to squeeze this all into one daily session… you need to be constantly dripping into their news feed or Twitter stream throughout the day. Watch Nick Cameron's video Social Media is a Privelege, Not a Right to learn how to be remarkable through social media.

Craigslist – 45 Minutes
Head to your computer three times every day for a 15-minute round of posting real estate ads on Craigslist. Get to the point where you can just copy/paste the text using a regular content schedule on the site for a stream of free leads. Your ads will disappear extremely quickly on Craigslist, so make sure you’re catching people during their lunch break or when they’re having that glass of wine after the kids go to bed.

Sphere – 1 Hour
You’ve done all of the work above to build up a stable of contacts in your market, so don’t let them lose sight of you. Spend one hour a day placing calls, visiting people, sending emails, mailing cards or gifts, and direct messaging on Facebook. Here is a 4-minute video by Ben Kinney on managing your sphere.

So there it is, three hours per day of lead generation to get your business moving forward. That leaves you the entire afternoon to get out there and show properties.

If you want to watch the original 16-minute video that was the source content for this blog post click below.

--
Ben Kinney & the IMSD Team
Learn more about the Internet Marketing Specialist Designation

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Edmonton real estate heats up with weather

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:55:56 -0700

Median price of detached home reaches highest point in five years

By Lewis Kelly, edmontonjournal.comJune 4, 2012

1. Single family dwelling average selling price for the month: May 2012: $388,762; April 2012 $382,384; May 2011 $378,246; Month-over-month percentage change: 1.7%; Year-over-year percentage change: 2.8%.

Photograph by: Greg Southam

EDMONTON - The median price of a single-detached home in the city reached its highest point in five years in May, numbers from the Realtors Association of Edmonton released Monday show. The figure of $370,000 is up almost four per cent year-over-year.

“While housing prices are higher in Edmonton than last month, they are inching up in manageable increments,” said local association president Doug Singleton, adding that real estate in Edmonton remains cheaper relative to income than in cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

The overall residential average price, which includes condominiums and duplexes, rose 3.2 per cent between April and May to just under $350,000. Condominiums went up 5.9 per cent over the month to an average price of $249,000 growing faster than the 1.7 per cent growth seen in single detached homes. The average price of a duplex and row house fell 5.5 per cent to $311,000.

Real estate sales usually follow a seasonal cycle with sales and prices peaking in the summer months.

A substantial majority of the real estate sold in Edmonton moves through the association’s Multiple Listing Service, which allows the organization to track these numbers and release them periodically.

Over $3 billion worth of property moved through the system in the first five months of the year, up from $2.6 billion over the same period of 2012.

lkelly@edmontonjournal.com

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

READY…SET…GO!

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:30:05 -0700

READY…SET…GO!

The Race is On! Everyone is a race fan even if they don’t know it. I don’t mean race car drivers, who have the courage of a front line soldier, I mean the rat race. Whether you are driving down the freeway late for a meeting, taking one of your kids to hockey and the other to dance and a Tim Horton’s coffee in between, or even if you are in the race to financial freedom. It doesn’t matter, almost everyone is racing all the time. It’s got to be the adrenalin or the need to beat your neighbour, it must be just human. Whatever it is, it’s tiring!

While we’re racing all the time, we race to finish our days so we can hurry and relax at home or we race to get the days done we are looking forward to for holidays “only 21 sleeps away” as you count down the sleeps.

CHANGE GEARS TO PASSION!!!

There is a clear list of reasons that a small percentage of people not only win the races they are in but enjoy the races more. This of course brings up a huge A HA that is, "it’s really about enjoying the journey". What are their shocking secret reasons that everyone searches their race lives. I believe you can sum it all up in one word, PASSION.

Passion for life, passion for people, passion for the universe, passion, passion, passion. Think about it, we can be a very passionate species and great things come from passionate people. Richard Branson is always raising the bar of what man is capable of, you can go to the moon for a measly $200,000. The big secret is, you need to change gears and have passion in everything we do, our work, our family, ourselves, etc. Don’t worry about what your neightbour is doing, just concentrate passionately on what you’re doing and amazing things will happen. Your life will be fulfilling and rewarding if you just enjoy everything you do and make choices that reflect passion.

Dream that biggest dream and see if you can make it happen. That’s it! Move over Roger Penske and all the other lucky people that use passion to follow you. I can’t wait to see what I can do!

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

www.facebook.com/edmontonrealestateguru.com

www.twitter.com/edmontonreguru

www.leadingsells.com

Housing sales and prices stable at the end of the first quarter - REALTORS®

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:31:23 -0700

Edmonton, April 2, 2012: At the end of the first quarter, the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton reports that the average residential price in the Edmonton area is up 2.2% when compared to a year ago. The all-residential average1 price, at $335,187 compared to $328,094 in March of last year. Single family detached (SFD) and condominium average prices were stable year-over-year with SFD prices up 0.2% and condos down 0.7%.

“Other markets, such as Toronto, are reporting feverish real estate activity involving multiple offers and unconditional offers but our market is calm, orderly and slowly evolving,” said REALTORS® Association of Edmonton President Doug Singleton. “Listing activity is up when compared to last year but sales and inventory are down which could indicate that market activity will pick up markedly as the summer progresses.”

On the Multiple Listing Service® System, sales and listings by REALTORS® in March were up, with 3,271 residential listings (up 23.5% from February) and sales of 1,533 (up 24.5% from the previous month). As a result, the inventory of residential properties available for sale was up 14.6% at 6,851 properties. At the current sales level, there are four and half months of inventory available. In total, there are 10,640 properties of all types (commercial, rural and residential) on the Edmonton and Area Multiple Listing Service®.

Market stability is reflected in the sales-to-listing ratio which is unchanged from month-to-month. The average days-on-market dropped in March by one day from 54 to 53 and residential properties are selling at about the same pace as this time last year on a year-to-date basis (46%).

In March, the average price of a single family detached home was $380,083, up 1.3% from the previous month. The average price of a condominium in March was $231,629, down 1.4% from the February price (last month the price of condos advanced over 8% in a month). Duplex and rowhouse properties sold on average for $319,020; a 4.1% improvement from the previous month.

“April is the start of the real estate season when people who want to buy and sell real estate are most active,” said Singleton. “There is speculation that mortgage rates will start to rise which makes it more difficult for first time buyers. However, there is lots of choice in our market with new properties coming available daily. Whatever your housing situation you can trust the advice of your local REALTOR® who is here when life happens.”

http://www.ereb.com/News&Events/LatestMarketStatistics.html

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

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Everyone Has a Fever

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:53:40 -0800

It sure feels like Spring Fever has hit early this year. I think it’s due to two major factors, one being the weather, and the other is just pent up pressure that the market has. How can you not feel good when you spent the last 3 months mentally preparing yourself for minus 30°C of bone chilling cold and it doesn’t even come close.

Its February now and March is often thought of as the first month of spring. I don’t know about you but knowing that spring is only a month away makes me feel warm inside. All these warm fuzzy feelings create happiness and as a result the regular Real Estate Spring Fever catches on.

The numbers of showings are pushing up every day and the phone is ringing. Could it be another gangbuster year like 2006? Probably not as the market just isn’t ready yet, 2012 will be a solid year in Real Estate with confidence just getting stronger, the real next push on pricing probably won’t happen until 2013.

What I believe is the most exciting part is how sustainable and strong it will be for a long time after. When large companies, like the ones in Alberta, that are expanding put plans together, its well planned for a long period. What this all means is that the gradual momentum has built roots to keep it strong in a storm.

Investors of all sorts see this as the best risk place to put their money and if you look at the rest of the world, we are definitely in the top 5% of the places to invest. Money is always flowing and there is always someone getting financial benefit in any economy. This is the bottom line! Those who invest in Real Estate and hold for the long term are guaranteed a huge ROI (Return On Investment). It’s going to be a great year and Albertans are lucky.

Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577

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5 Essential Marketing Strategies for a Stellar 2012

Lyndon Sommert (Realty Executives Leading/Advance Real Estate Training Inc.) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:37:10 -0800

I like what Rebekah has to say, she is working with the work smart not harder philosophies. Efficienty is always the best way to go, measuring what you do allows you the ability to always save time and money while building a stronger business.

Via Rebekah Radice Social Media Marketing, Management & Strategies (Manager of Industry Engagement, Better Homes & Gardens RE):

The end of the year is always an exciting time to evaluate and assess what marketing strategies worked in 2011 and which ones fizzled. As we head into 2012 we should be focused on creating a marketing plan that is both targeted and strategic. For those that take the time to plan and create a detailed strategy, there is much success to be found. While we will continue to see a purging from our industry, the opportunity available to those left standing will be immense.

The question is how to run a leaner business with the same efficiency and skill we have in the past. With that in mind, I’ve compiled the Top 5 Marketing Must Do’s for 2012 to give you a creative boost and get your thought process rolling!

Real Estate Marketing Must-Do’s for 2012

1. Don’t Go It Alone: No one succeeds by going it alone. We all need to surround ourselves with those people that support and promote our well being as well as success. Reach out to persons around you that have your best interests at heart. Ask for their advice and draw on them for solutions to your most pressing issue’s. Likewise, hire professionals to delegate tasks that do not require your day-to-day attention. The question to ask yourself in 2012 is where your time will be best spent? Stay focused on those tasks and ONLY those tasks. The rest can and should be given away.

2. Measure Your Results: There is no marketing endeavor worth embarking on that should escape being measured. There are tools galore when it comes to analyzing and tracking your goals and results. Too often I see real estate agents and mortgage professionals beating the same old marketing drum year after year without any knowledge of whether the initial go-round was even successful. Take the time to evaluate your progress and make appropriate changes to your strategy.

3. Keep Pushing Forward: As you see your friends and colleagues leave the business, do not get the impression that you can slow down or take a break in your marketing efforts. Keep pushing forward with your plans and make sure that you are constantly investing back into your business. Just because the pack is thinning does not mean you can shirk your marketing responsibilities. Get the word out in new and innovative ways to your target market and keep it fresh, fun and engaging!

4. Do Your Homework: : When times are good, a lot of money is thrown at marketing strategies in the hope that something will stick. In a down market, our fast and loose ways with those marketing dollars must be curtailed. Whether you are researching a new system, tool or marketing campaign - Do Your Homework! Test your theories and discuss your strategies. A lot has changed in the last several years; especially over the last 12 months. What might have worked in the past is no longer viable. Research and be objective in your decision.

5. Stay Focused on Your Goals: In order to generate results, you must stay committed to your plan and overall goals. Take your time to map out your strategy and determine what your key objectives are. Then ask yourself a few important questions:

What steps will you take to reach those goals?

What is your timeline?

What tools will you use to create results?

What are your expectations?

Stay hungry and best of luck in 2012!

5 Essential Marketing Strategies for a Stellar 2012 was written by Rebekah Radice.

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Lyndon Sommert

Alberta Real Estate Guru's - REALTOR®

REALTY EXECUTIVES LEADING - Owner/Broker

www.edmontonrealestateguru.com

lyndonsommert@realtyexecutives.com

Ph: 780-424-5577