Myrtle Beach Real Estate ~ Little River homes ~ Myrtle Beach Homes

The ActiveRain Point System

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:39:55 -0600

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager (ActiveRain):

The ActiveRain Point System

ActiveRain awards members points based on participation and their individual involvement within the network and community. While there is a much more complicated and technical explanation of how the point system works, this post is to provide you a general overview of how points are earned and distributed that to ALL ActiveRain members.

ActiveRain points are earned based on a members individual activities and efforts. Points are accumulated over the duration of the Calendar week which "Starts Monday morning at 12:00am Central Time, and Ends Sunday night at 11:59pm Central Time."

The following are some ways you can earn points and move up the "Featured Member" ladder in your Local Area.

200 Points for each Blog Post
(Max 10 per Week) (50 Word Minimum Required)

25 Additional Points when Post is added to Channels with a Topic

400 Points for Featured Post on ActiveRain.com
(Excludes Posts Featured in ActiveRain Groups)

25 Points For Each Comment
(Max 10 Per Day) (Comments on Your Own Posts Excluded)

25 Points for Each Reblogged Post
(Max 10 Per Week - These do not Include Your Own Posts)

ActiveRain Profile Points
(Building Your AR Profile will Build points)

Received Comments on Blog Posts
(No Blog Post to exceed 450 pts.)

100 Points - Logging In To ActiveRain Each Day
(This applies 7 days a week)

250 Points When Someone Accepts Your AR Invitation
(Must Sign Up under Members Invite Code)

10% of Total Points Earned By New Members Invited By You
(IE: Invited Member Earns 1000 pts. - You Earn 100 Pts.)

ActiveRain and Member Approved Contests - Points Will Vary
(These show up as Bonus Points in your Point Summary)

Staff Awarded Bonus Points - These are issued by the AR staff
(Member Humanitarian, Paying It Forward, Helping Others etc.)

Weekly Point Scenario: The potential of points available per week, per member would be as follows: 1750 for max comments, 2000 for max Blog posts, 700 for logging in daily, 250 for adding to Channels/Topics, and 250 for max ReBlogged posts. The Weekly potential of points would be 4950 (this does not include featured posts, comments received, invitation and percentage points, contests, and staff awarded bonus points.)

Point Disclaimer: The Points System created by the ActiveRain Network was developed and implemented to motivate, inspire, and reward members for their participation and involvement within the community. These points are subject to change at the discretion of the ActiveRain Mgmt. Team, with or without cause, warning, or notice.

"RainMaker" Special - Signup Here and Get New Member Discount

How "NOT" to sell Real Estate~

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:46:26 -0500

Via Lake Livingston Real Estate by Deb Brooks:

It's been a long and hot summer. I am pleased with the production and the happy homeowners I have placed and moved. Although, I do remember one day's showings in particular though and now have to "giggle" just a bit.

With a shrug and a sigh and an "oh, well...I'll try again" attitude.

Lake Livingston is a huge MARKET area. My lake is 88.000 surface acres of water in 4 (four) counties. It's big. Like Texas....it's big. Huge that is. An average showing will log over 100 miles with no problem.

Even though I am a seasoned Realtor and have driven many a road here....I still get a bit lost at times. Maybe it's my lack of sense of direction or....the sheer magnitude of acreage I am traveling....hmmm..

I would like to think the latter.

PICTURE THIS...LOL. 103 DEGREE TEXAS DAY ON BLACK PAVEMENT

So, we're driving a back road to the lake and I missed the turn-off. My clients were following me with their children and we were on house number five already. So, to make it easier I did a u~ie in the middle of the deserted road. It looked easy enough but then..........

BAM

My little car dropped completely off the pavement into a ravine that I didn't see....

Client, "well, Deb, you seem to have chosen the one and only place on the road that had a drop-off." We immediately began to work on getting my car unstuck (if there is a word like that) and we all failed miserably.

We tried adding weight to the front for traction...nope.

We tried placing rocks and sticks and debris under the tires for traction...nope.

We tried neutral with everyone pushing...nope.

We tried readjusting the tire direction to gain traction...nope.

I was then calling my roadside service. I said, "could you hurry?" and they said, ..."NOPE."

As it turned out, all of the local tow trucks were assisting an accident. The closest truck that could come was 85 miles away. That's the one they sent.

FINALLY...TWO HOURS LATER.

Unfortunately I was teetering on total destruction AND BLOCKING THE ROAD FOR NORMAL TRAFFIC (which wasn't too much thank heavens) but the disgusting shaking of heads that were looking at me will forever be in my memory bank. Ish.

My lovely clients hung with me till the end. We saw one more house. I managed to get them to leave earnest money and an option check for this house before we parted ways and agreed to wrap it all up by fax.....................

KICKER...

I never heard from them again.

Nope. Not ever. I still have the checks to remind me How "NOT" to sell Real Estate~

It was still a good year! lol.

Later in the rain~Deb

Duplicate Content- Fact Vs Fiction!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:38:22 -0500

Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):

Duplicate Content- Fact versus Fiction!

You have your Active Rain blog climbing the SERPS, then you start your Active Blog, outside Active Rain blog and then maybe you then send your posts to Facebook or you have a wordpress blog. Some of you then will take your posts that you have written and copy and paste them into your website. You are doing great, then suddenly- you read some blog or some comment in the blogosphere that you are posting Duplicate content and you may get the Google slap, ending up in the dreaded Google sand box.

Some bloggers get so fearful that they may stop blogging on Active Rain. You will also hear people who don't like Active Rain using the duplicate content spin to attack Active Rain bloggers. Well, pay them no mind. Look the other way. Walk on by.

Duplicate content that gets the Google discipline is highly likely not going to be yours. Below you can find all of this information from Matt Cutts of Google- in his own words. So don't take my word for it. You can have it right from the horse's mouth. Matt Cutts talked about duplicate content at the latest SMX Seattle conference.

The kind of duplicate content that Google is concerned with is the spammers that go out and use software to duplicate thousands of sites and then try to manipulate the search engine spiders to pick up their sites in SERPS ( Search Engine Results Pages). This is what happened to Squidoo several years ago. I was very active on Squidoo and my lenses were climbing fast on SERPS when we all were at the mercy of some hackers that got into Squidoo and started spamming the search engines. Now Seth Godin is a pretty famous guy on the internet, the creator of Squidoo, yet even he could not stop the Google slap. There was one guy in South America that produced 1500 Squidoo lenses with some software that were all spam! Matt explains more of what Google looks at for spam in the video I posted below.

When you are writing on your Active Rain blog and then click on the post to your outside blog and then add the same post to your website or your wordpress blog- there is nothing wrong with that. You can even tell the search engines which blog is your 'authority' site. But that is beyond the scope of this post. Let's just say that you do post regularly as stated in the beginning of this paragraph. What Google algorithms will do is to choose one to two spots on the search result page for your content. They will just ignore the others.

So if you are following me; it does not hurt you to post duplicate content, you don't get punished for doing so and you get more chances of Google picking up one blog or another. It is like you have put out the same bait in different locations to attract the spiders to your bait. When the spiders arrive they may choose one bait over the other. Many people get the notion that they are being punished because Google only chooses one or two articles with the same content but that is not a punishment. It is just a matter of bringing back to the searcher the best possible variety of matches.

Matt also states that seldom is Google picking up article submissions to article marketers like Ezine articles because they know that is an article from your blog or website. It is still great to do article marketing for the link value.

The goal of Google is to get smarter and smarter. For instance if you change like 10% of the content in one post or just change your keywords around in another post of the same- Google is now smart enough to catch that little trick that many marketers used. Now they will look at that as duplicate content and count it still as one article.

Happy Blogging!

The next SEO TO THE TOP Webinar begins on January 13, 2010- get your space reserved today, limited spaces for the webinar. Start your new year off right with a great SEO boost to the top.

Duplicate Content - Fact Vs Fiction! by Coach Katerina Gasset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

By TwitterButton

Crap, I think we just offended the neighbors

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:31:08 -0500

Via Todd Clark (Broker) (503)524-9494 (Beaverton, Oregon Real Estate Expert) (Palazzo Realty Group):

I had a listing that had some neighbors that were nice neighbors, but their yard was somewhat of an eyesore. It really wasn't as much the yard as it was the house. It also needed some touch up and my seller was willing to help out.

You see, in today's world my seller and I figured the reason for not painting the house and doing the up keep on the yard was because of the lack of money. But, it turns out that they just didn't see a reason too.

This is where we went from being helpful to (apparently) offensive. My seller offered to pay to have his yard professionally cleaned up, landscaped, and to have the side of the house that faced him painted at no cost to the owners next door. But, I guess they didn't see it as a way to help him sell his house, but rather as an insult to how they kept their yard and house.

Now, we had an angry neighbor who wanted to do what ever they could to make the yard as ugly as possible. Kids toys everywhere, lawn equipment left out, yard debris piled next to the fence, but the one that really said it all was while trying to show the home having their kid come out and pee on the fence.

I think we have a problem. I said and we need to figure out what to do about it. We went and talked to the neighbor and explained it wasn't the seller that was upset with the yard, they had lived next door to each other for 5 years and he thought he was a great neighbor, but the feedback was saying otherwise.

They sat down, hammered out their differences, and the yard got cleaned up, the house painted and my client got his home sold. This could have gone on for forever, it could have gone to court. But instead, two level headed people sat down and discussed what the real issue was and worked out a compromise over a mis-understanding.

What do you do when you offend someone? Do you walk away and ignore the situation, or be upfront and say your sorry? Or do you work something out so they can understand your side of the story? Lucky my seller did the latter and it worked out great for him, but it certainly could have been a lot worse! What would you have done in this situation?

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Tigard OR homes for sale, homes for sale in zip code, 97223,97224, Tigard Oregon Realtor, Tigard OR Realtor, Tigard Oregon MLS Search, Tigard OR MLS Search, 1st time home buying expert, short sale expert, avoiding foreclosure in Tigard, helping families home, LivingBeaverton, Townhomes for sale, home for sale, house for sale, Bull Mountain North, Bull Mountain South, King City, Mountainview, Greenburg, Summer Lake Neighborhood, Summerfield neighborhood, Tigard neighborhood, Walnut Grove Neighborhood. Tigard Oregon Real Estate, Tigard OR real estate, Todd Clark, (503)524-9494, WWW.LivingTigard.com, www.IFoundYourNewHome.com, www.SavingyouFromForeclosure.com

©2009 Todd Clark - Crap, I think we just offended the neighbors

Ok to Take Children to Work? NOT!--Kansas City

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:24:21 -0500

Via Mary Wilcox (Reece & Nichols):

Consider this...I have a ton of kids, the youngest is 4 years old, 5 , 14, 17, 20 and well the rest are older. I love kids of all ages. Kids are not the issue. The Realtor taking their kids to work is the issue at hand.

Would I consider taking my children to work? NO! Not to the office if there were going to be others there working and definitely not when showing homes to Clients.

Why? Simply put, it is not professional. I want to be presenting myself as professional in my work. Which means when I'm getting out of the car to show a home, I do not have to stop by the backseat and unlatch a child from their carseat and walk to the door with my clients while telling little Tommy the rules over and over.

Where is little Tommy standing when I'm unlocking the door? Am I paying attention to him or my client? Should I ask my Client to keep an eye on him while gaining entrance? What am I saying to my Client?

Yes, this is a beauty. Tommy sit down. Do not hang on the railing. Yes Mrs. Buyer, I previewed...Tommy are you sitting? This is a great home.

Ok, we're inside. Tommy's being a nice boy... a regular 4yo. Are you watching him or are you conversing with Mrs. Buyer? Are you giving them your full attention, scanning your MLS sheet to answer questions being posed, or are you able to look for those cracks in the basementor flaws of any kind, or are you just concentrating on making sure little Tommy is quiet and doesn't touch anything?

I would agree that if your child was 15, 16, 17+ and a Client could perceive your child is in-training to follow your footsteps for their career that it might be okay with prior permission from the Client. But, other than that, it is not okay to bring children to work.

What does Mr. & Mrs. Buyer feel like when they leave the appointment? You most likely, at several points throughout the tour were unavailable at the moment they had questions. They may or may not have asked because by the time you returned from retrieving Tommy from another room, they had moved on and didn't remember to ask, or they thought they might be putting you out by having to take your attention from your child, get your sheet where you could read it, etc. Did you really look the home over for them and provide the level of service you normally provide without child in tow?

Bottom line, if you have a child with you, they have to know by sheer circumstance that they are not going to be priority. Is that fair to them? Even if you ask them beforehand? They're kind of in a spot...

Well if I say no, then she'll be mad or...

And last, but certainly, not least? How did little Tommy feel having to be jerked around and forced(?) to be on his best behavior for the hour or two while on tour?

Hopefully, you'll take this into consideration. It is so incredibly not ok to take your kids to work. Not if you have any intentions of presenting yourself in a professional manner. The two do not mix.

eHomePost | Managing Your Facebook, Twitter and MySpace Presence

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:10:29 -0500

Via ActiveRain Approved Business Builders (ActiveRain - Approved Business Builders):

www.eHomePost.com

We Create, Update, & Manage Accounts

for Real Estate Agents on

Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace

Do you want to capitalize on the benefits of Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, but just don’t have the time? Then you have come to the right place.

We create, customize, update, and manage accounts for agents on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. We manually update each account throughout the day, 7 days a week. We update them with relative content such as industry news, your business information, your listings, your recent company news, interesting articles, videos, quotes, etc.

Don’t worry, we place updates in a classy way…usually about 3 to 5 times a day, at varying time intervals. Our updates are compliant with proper company standards, and designed to broaden your contact base and build more relationships.

If that's not enough, we also filter incoming messages, and send you direct leads only.

If you already have an account on any of these 3 networks, we simply create another account for you that acts as more of a business presence. The accounts we create and manage make sure you are consistently promoting yourself and your services, and will leave you free for all your regular business.

Note: If you want to place an update or message, simply enter your message and it will post to all 3 of your accounts! We strongly encourage our users to have a presence on their account as well. Social networking is about creating relationships. We believe it is important that you contribute content as well, but we know that you may not have the time to be as consistent as you would like. That's where we come in.

Your accounts will be more consistent, more effective,

and save you at least 3 hours a day, 7 days a week

(60 hours a month).

We also offer other Groundbreaking Tools including:

Unlimited Virtual Tours

Unlimited Social Integration of Tours

Unlimited Distribution of Tours

Unlimited Virtual Meet & Greets

Unlimited Document Manager

Unlimited Live Open Houses

Unlimited Live Video Sessions

Unlimited Bulk Emailing

Unlimited eCards

Visit us Today.

www.ehomepost.com

Main (760) 270-9420

Here are some recent stats to consider:

Facebook

The fastest growing demographic is those 35 years old and older

More than 250 million active users

More than 120 million users log on to Facebook at least once each day

Average user has 120 friends on the site

More than 5 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day (worldwide)

More than 30 million users update their statuses at least once each day

Twitter

Currently the fastest growing social network community

Increase of 1,928% percent from June 2008 to June 2009

1 million unique visitors in June 2008, increased to 21 million unique visitors in June 2009

My Space

More than 110 million active users

1 in 4 Americans have a MySpace account

2^nd largest Social Network in North America

8 million images uploaded per day

Do you want to take advantage of Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, but just don’t have the time?

Do you already have accounts but don’t keep them updated with interesting content everyday?

Do you want to keep your real friends separate from your business contacts?

Well…welcome to eHomePost!

We create, customize, update, and manage accounts for real estate agents on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. If you already have accounts, we simply create another one for you, giving you more presence and more chance to substantially build your networks.

ActiveRain New Members Welcome - Your "RainMaker" Invitation

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:59:46 -0500

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager (ActiveRain):

As the Community Manager, I want to "Welcome" you to ActiveRain,

ActiveRain is a place that supports you and the need to create a successful and rewarding Real Estate presence and Blogging portfolio. Just by being a member here, you'll have access to many real estate services, professional contacts, real estate opportunities, and best of all - the camaraderie of like-minded people. Now that you're a member, create your profile, tell others about yourself and why you joined. Invite affiliates and other Industry Professionals. See who else is already here and say hello to others.

Once you have the chance to explore ActiveRain, read some Blog posts, make a few comments, join a few groups etc, you'll quickly discover why so many of our members are here. This is a network and community like none other in the Real Estate Industry. As a FREE member, you'll be able to enjoy the networking, the sharing of valuable knowledge and experience, and be exposed to a variety of tools that our members are using to promote and grow their business.

There is Plenty of "Value" Here:
There are 3 primary FREE benefits that you derive from your involvement here on ActiveRain:

1.   Develop and Foster Potential Referral Partner relationships. For the most part, many of us refer 'out of area clients' in the blind. We don't always know the agent on the other end very well. Our members have cultivated some incredibly deep and meaningful friendships with other members they would not hesitate to entrust their valued clients.

2.   Having access to the sheer wealth of information that is being shared every day. It's like taking a drink of water from a fire hydrant. All of our members have learned more valuable, practical ways, using expert information here on AR that has had a direct and positive impact on their business. In some cases, more-so than some of the continuing ed classes they have paid for and traveled around the world to attend.

3.   You are afforded a safe, non-threatening, encouraging environment to get your Blogging feet wet, and to learn the basics of implementing social media and social networking into your Real Estate Business and Marketing Plan from some of the "BEST" Professionals and Experts in the industry.

A "RainMaker" Invitation for New Members

When you are ready to take your Social Networking and Blogging experience to the next level as a "RainMaker Member", here's a "no risk", "no obligation" test drive so you can experience for yourself the "value" and "benefits" the Rainmaker membership offers. Sign up for the first month for $5.00. This will give you full access to all that ActiveRain has to offer.

Give us 30 days to show you how you can benefit from the tools here, and if you're not completely satisfied with the results and rewards, then at least you'll have the peace of mind knowing that you didn't miss out on something that later you might have regretted. I'm 100% positive, you're going to be happy you joined. See what thousands of other members are saying.

The cost of having your content crawled & indexed by the search engines, and accessible to consumers is well worth the monthly subscription fee. Very few other platforms can empower you to achieve such excellent page rank as ActiveRain. The additional benefits of a rainmaker account including but not limited to your own "Multi-Authored - Custom Outside Blog", "Hit Router and IDX Lead Generating Solutions", and the "support and training" available from our staff, are just a few of the reasons that consideration to upgrade should be made by every non-rainmaker member.

You can't fill your car with gas for the week, for the price it costs you to be a Rainmaker per month. ActiveRain is a tool and vehicle to get the job done, and make life simpler, just like a car. In fact, you can be much more effective building business here than you ever could in your car, and at 1/4 the price. The value and power of the relationships you'll build here can't be bought at any price.

If you ever have any questions or need assistance here, please give me a call or email me. "I will respond and I do answer my phone." Enjoy your experiences and successes here. From the Staff and Support Team here at ActiveRain, we not only wish you the very best, we're here to help you achieve it.

Not sure where to start? Here's 3 Easy Steps: 1. Pick up the phone 2. Dial My Number 3. I will help you.

If I'm away from this Blog for any length of time, it's possible you might find me over on one of these other sites, I make my rounds every so often because I know that if you're not here, you're probably over there too! :-)



"RainMaker" Special - Signup Here and Get New Member Discount

An Active Rain Triple Play... Steve to Alice to Karen Anne... How My Post Came to Be !

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:53:01 -0500

Via Fort Worth Real Estate - - - Karen Anne Stone (New Home Hunters DFW):

It is kind of funny how one thing can lead to another on Active Rain... and how just reading the blog posts of others... can end up stimulating an idea that I end up making in a comment to one of those posts... which then leads to my using the idea from that comment... as the basis for a post, itself.

Like this one...

First... I read a post tonight written by Steve Shatsky... about how "It's a Sign of The Times" that so many people are living paycheck to paycheck. In my comment to Steve, I shared how important it is that all of us help to provide just a bit of whatever safety net we can... to help those in need.

Then... I read a post by Alice Linahan... titled "Help Someone If You Can." It, too, was along the lines of how absolutely important it is that we... need to help those in need... whenever possible. What a great thought !

My comment to Alice told a story that I want to share. Here it is...

Alice... I would like to share with you, if I may, something I saw some time ago on a Dr Wayne Dyer PBS show. It was also about helping people. Aside from any moral, spiritual good that helping someone does... Dr Dyer shared how helping someone... performing an act of kindness... actually has "healing effects" on the mind and body. But... there is more to it.

First... and Dr Dyer said that this was scientifically studied and measured... first... the person who receives the help... is overcome by such a warm and cared-for feeling, that certain enzymes are released into the blood... endorphins and other stuff... that actually produce a healing effect on the person helped.

But secondly, that feeling is ALSO experienced by the person performing the caring deed. They, too, experience the same degree of healing effects in their mind/body... from helping someone.

But... here is the surprise. Thirdly... if there is someone who actually sees... actually watches the caregiver tend to the cared-for person... that third person, too, experiences the same degree of mind/body healing effects... just from seeing someone help someone else. I thought that was just incredible, and when I think about it, it just makes so much sense.

By the way... special thanks to both Steve Shatsky and Alice Linahan for inspiring me. Active Rain strikes again. :)

An Active Rain Triple Play... Steve to Alice to Karen Anne... How My Post Came to Be !

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:52:44 -0500

Via Fort Worth Real Estate - - - Karen Anne Stone (New Home Hunters DFW):

It is kind of funny how one thing can lead to another on Active Rain... and how just reading the blog posts of others... can end up stimulating an idea that I end up making in a comment to one of those posts... which then leads to my using the idea from that comment... as the basis for a post, itself.

Like this one...

First... I read a post tonight written by Steve Shatsky... about how "It's a Sign of The Times" that so many people are living paycheck to paycheck. In my comment to Steve, I shared how important it is that all of us help to provide just a bit of whatever safety net we can... to help those in need.

Then... I read a post by Alice Linahan... titled "Help Someone If You Can." It, too, was along the lines of how absolutely important it is that we... need to help those in need... whenever possible. What a great thought !

My comment to Alice told a story that I want to share. Here it is...

Alice... I would like to share with you, if I may, something I saw some time ago on a Dr Wayne Dyer PBS show. It was also about helping people. Aside from any moral, spiritual good that helping someone does... Dr Dyer shared how helping someone... performing an act of kindness... actually has "healing effects" on the mind and body. But... there is more to it.

First... and Dr Dyer said that this was scientifically studied and measured... first... the person who receives the help... is overcome by such a warm and cared-for feeling, that certain enzymes are released into the blood... endorphins and other stuff... that actually produce a healing effect on the person helped.

But secondly, that feeling is ALSO experienced by the person performing the caring deed. They, too, experience the same degree of healing effects in their mind/body... from helping someone.

But... here is the surprise. Thirdly... if there is someone who actually sees... actually watches the caregiver tend to the cared-for person... that third person, too, experiences the same degree of mind/body healing effects... just from seeing someone help someone else. I thought that was just incredible, and when I think about it, it just makes so much sense.

By the way... special thanks to both Steve Shatsky and Alice Linahan for inspiring me. Active Rain strikes again. :)

Not hearing the phrase “I wish I was a real estate agent” anymore

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:47:55 -0500

Via Todd Clark (Broker/Sales Coach), GRI (Beaverton, Oregon Real Estate Expert) (Palazzo Realty Group):

Three years ago, I heard the phrase, “I wish I was a real estate agent” at almost every close. Clients thought real estate agents lived the charmed life. They didn’t see what went on behind the scenes.

But, more and more of my present and past clients are now saying, “I don’t know how you can stand being an agent, sales are so tough now.” I’m not going to argue with them, they are tough, but the tough deal with it and thrive!

I certainly never did live the charmed life like many of them thought at the time, I have worked hard for every sale and I’ve been lucky worked hard and every year has been better than the previous one.

I think a lot has come from my blogging and my clients are now getting to see more of the internal workings of our business and now know we do a lot more than just put a sign in the yard and wait for a commission check. Maybe for some it was that way in 2005-2006, but I wasn’t one of those agents and I promise those agents are no longer in the business, they didn’t know what to do when the market changed.

I’m glad my clients see the value of my services now, but what could I have done before blogging to show my value? I can see now that if I have clients that find me in any other way, other than through the web, I will need to show that value.

Keeping It Real in a Buyer's Market - What Buyer's Market????

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:47:10 -0500

Via Loreena Yeo - Broker|Realtor(R) of www.Frisco-TX-Homes.com (214) 783-2210 (3:16 team REALTY):

In real estate, we call a Buyer's market when there are too many homes for sale than buyers. The news media paint the doom and gloom markets all over the country and speak very much in generalization. The public watches the news and believe what they hear.

However, as we have always said, Real Estate is LOCAL. One state differs from another. One city. One neighborhood. One set of price range too. No doubt that under $300K here in the greater Frisco TX area are selling like HOT CAKES.

But the buyers are hearing that the economy is bad, and the houses are going into foreclosures. Buyers want to take advantage of these "attractive" pricing. They play How Low You Will Go with the Seller and they act as if they are doing a favor for the Seller for buying their house.

In my experience, I have never got involved in as many multiple offer negotiations as I have been since 2003. In fact, I'm getting pretty good at it (fighting multiple offers for buyers and writing back up contracts). It's almost something I always prepare my buyers for. The "talk" about multiple offer situations. Some who may not believe me finds it surprising. They will soon find out the hard way.

With our local economy, my buyers are learning the real truth about the housing market in the area: Don't play a fool about the house you like - especially it is packed with emotions to house your family. Whenever you didn't put your best foot forward, and rather test how low the Seller will go, you may lose the house you really like.

But please don't take my word for it.

Read the comments below by real estate professionals ALL over the country on a Facebook status I followed over the weekend (mid-September 2009):

Brian Block of Northern VA & D.C. Real Estate - Is it 2009 or 2004? 3 good offers in 48 hours on a house I have for sale!

Rich Jacobson of Kitsap County Washington Real Estate - just had two come in on one of my listings...it's karma!

Chris & Stephanie Somers of Philadelphia Real Estate - Starting to happen more ! Same thing happened to us on a listing we had 2 weeks ago. It was great ! And the seller is very happy !!

Russ Ravary of Michigan Homes for Sale just wrote this hot off the press post about how busy this real estate market it.

A buyer for my listing had 3 offers to choose from in the 2nd week of listing.

A listing of mine had multiple offers in 12 days, and sold for more than asking price.

Another listing of mine sold for more than the Seller's expectation - quoted as per Seller.

BOTTOM LINE PEOPLE! It's happening even in a Buyer's market. What Buyer's Market???

If you are a real estate professional, please share your Good news here. I really do want to open the minds of Buyers the realities of losing the house you love.

So, keeping it real in a Buyer's market - Where's the Buyer's market?

*********************************************************************************************

All contents are original. Consider subscribing to my blog for more real estate commentaries.

Subscribe via Email if you are not an Active Rain member here.

Contact:

Loreena Yeo
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com

Super-serving Frisco, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area communities and other surrounding areas.

Copyright © 2009 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY).
Keeping It Real in a Buyer's Market - What Buyer's Market????

Housing Predictions For 2010 And Beyond

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:37:42 -0500

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

Okay, I’m going to do something I normally avoid; I’m going out on a limb and publicize my housing predictions for 2010. While I occasionally discuss general trends and opinions about the market, I think it’s important for all of us to have as much information as possible in order to properly plan our futures. And while this is only my opinion, after all, it’s the only one I can offer; it’s based on 4 decades of experience combined with careful observations of current trends and conditions. Here is what I see the future of housing:

I think the Fed will throw everything in it’s arsenal towards keeping interest rates low throughout 2010. To do otherwise would be to sabotage an economy that has been both erratic and unstable, and would prove fatal in an election year. Though the government will prefer to fight looming inflation, doing so would simply cause the economy to nosedive; and I doubt they’ll be willing to take that risk.

While it may appear that home prices have stabilized, my guess is, they have not. I predict we’ll continue to see overall prices remain at their current levels and, in some areas, to decline well into next year. Foreclosures and short-sales will keep pressure on home prices for another 2 – 4 years. I cannot foresee how we can possibly have a significant resurgence in prices for at least 5 years, with prices not returning to 2005/2006 levels for a decade or more.

Foreclosures and short-sales will make up as much as 40% of total sales for the next 30 – 36 months. And the percentage could possibly be greater, depending upon how eager banks will be to put their inventory on the market. Their preference will be to pace their release to keep prices from plummeting, but the sheer numbers may make that impossible for some banks. Even after the supply begins to dwindle, the effect upon home prices will continue for at least another year.

Unless the government passes a major and all-inclusive tax credit, sales must remain sluggish. I don’t expect another housing incentive. There is little public support for throwing more billions at the problem, knowing that whatever increase might be realized, the benefit would be limited, temporary, and far too expensive.

By spring of 2012 interest rates will rise sufficiently to negatively impact home sales. While this is not the path that politicians would prefer, approaching a presidential election, it will be necessary to keep us from unbridled inflation. This potential scenario supports the premise for a continuing housing slump, extending into the following year and beyond.

Finally, the mid-term election will be both chaotic and unsettling. Both political parties will pull out the stops as never before, one attempting to hold on to past gains, and the other to regain past losses; and they will spend more money, make more promises, and sling more mud than ever before. Political maneuvering in the coming year will certainly impact both the housing market and the economy, but it’s impossible to know what politicians are willing to do in order to maintain or gain power. While they would like for us to believe that their plans can restore the economy, there’s little remaining in their arsenal that can have a significant impact.

While many will view these predictions as meaningless negative claptrap, my intention is to share what I both see and believe to be true. If I am able to help one person make a more prudent choice, then my efforts will have been worthwhile. Take this with the proverbial “grain of salt,” but if it proves beneficial, we’ve both gained in the process.

The Housing Guru: The one source for all your housing questions

YouMail.com should be called YouWOW!

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:28:11 -0500

Via Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc:

This is a MUST HAVE. So Don't think "Will I" instead think "How do I sign up?"

(This is not a paid advertisement, though I should get paid.)

YouMail.com Rocks. It is like the ShamWOW of the world of voicemail.

(This is not a paid advertisement, though I should get paid.)

YouMail.com does two main things. One for free and one for $7 a mo.

(Before I get started, the basics of Youmail is you have your unanswered calls forward to Youmail's special number, so it acts as your voicemail)

1) FREE:

Customized voicemails PER incoming caller ID number. So you have a greeting customized for that client. "Yo Bill, sorry I can't make the call, cuz you know I'd run across a busy highway to get your call if I could." THEY LOVE IT.

Also If you put in an offer for a house and are expecting a call... but also heading into a meeting. Change the voicemail for JUST that agent to hear, but make it sound like you changed ALL outgoing voicemail for them. For example "Hello, you have reached XYZ, please leav... oh and if this is Sally, I really wanted to get your call, but I stepped into a meeting, please Sally, leave a message." So Sally will think you she was important enough for you to change all of your outgoing voicemail greetings.

2) $7/MO Transcribe

Your voicemails then get transcribed by live humans. I think what they do is use speech to text and then have live humans spot check it for accuracy. It works great. I went 2 years without voicemail, I used AnswerConnect.com and AppleTreeAnswers.com / Apple Tree Answering Service / which use live operators to answer your missed calls... but it just didn't work well enough. The operators didn't get when my wife called and said "It is his wife" that the operator probably didn't need to ask for her name and email and phone number.

Anyhow, so Google Voice also has the first free custom voicemail, but their second part was not spot checked my a human. Does this matter? Yes. I have Google Voice and vs Youmail it sucks. I got a transcribed Voicemail that really made me think my wife was in a car accident. No joke, it was that bad.

So Youmail.com is a no brainer. It also has an iphone app. It also will email you and text you the transcribed VM and of course let you hear the VM if you are so inclined (why bother).

Frank

P.s. I gave this idea to a banker. Wow, he loved it. All of his clients felt like roaylty with a custom greeting.

P.s.s. Due to the feature, and the replies, I decided to make the link an affiliate link. Now I will get a couple bucks off my plan, hope you don't mind.

Broker's Opens...Are they worth the time and money?

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:27:40 -0500

Via Chanda Barrick REALTOR (Indianapolis, Avon, Greenwood) (1st Choice Real Estate Group):

I recently saw a Broker's Open flyer for a modestly priced home which made me wonder how many people out there are holding broker's opens for homes this type of home. I was of the impression that a broker's open for a home that is a typical "run of the mill" home with no outstanding/unique features or is one that wouldn't qualify for the "luxury home" designation wouldn't really warrant a broker's open.

It seems many people use the broker's open to socialize or grab a free bite to eat or drink and I think that would be the case for a home that really doesn't have anything special to offer...

What do you think about broker's opens? Do you hold them for any type of property or do you have "prerequisites" to determining whether or not to hold one? Do they produce results? If so, how would you say they compare to an open house?

Broker's
Open
Today!!!!

Chanda Barrick, REALTOR®
1st Choice Real Estate Group
(O)317-889-1111
(C)317-572-7770
(F)317-889-9198
www.chandasellsindy.com

Mr. and Mrs. Buyer, I appreciate your honesty, even if the truth hurts a little.

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:20:29 -0500

Via Barb Mihalik (Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty):

I just spent good part of a day with the loveliest buyers from a Northern state with cold, gray winters. They were looking for a place to purchase for their upcoming retirement in a few years. Both were looking for a milder climate. They had seen several episodes of HGTV showing the beautiful coastal Southern cities of Savannah, Charleston, and my lovely town of Wilmington, NC. They decided to check out these cities on a week long road trip. After a month or two of phone conversations and emails, I lined up an itinerary of beautiful homes that fit their criteria. They had all their finances in order. We were both excited to meet and search for their dream retirement home.

We piled into the car and toured 5 beautiful properites. I had an opportunity to play "real-tour" and show them a few sights...the beautiful beaches, our grand lifestyle mall, some historical sites, our museums and gardens. During the course of the day, the couple revealed that they skipped a tour of one of the cities and had called the realtor to tell him to cancel their showing appointments. They knew from the get-go that this particular city wasn't the place for them.

At the end of the day, we recapped the homes I'd shown. Sheepishly, they admitted that the South just wasn't what they expected. They confessed to their terror of hurricanes. They expected the scenery to be just like the episodes of HGTV. Unfortunately,just like every city including their own, there are pockets that just aren't all that pretty. It was much more humid than they were prepared for. Our southern cities just didn't have the scenery they hoped for. It just wasn't their paradise.

Thankfully, they were honest and said they were going to continue to look for the locale that best suited them. Some would be upset. I was grateful. How many times have we made phone call after phone call, sent numerous emails and personal notes, only to get no response or a vague tempting promise for the future? I, for one, would much rather know the truth. Wasting time is a luxury I just don't have. So, thank you Mr. and Mrs. Buyer for not wasting my time and telling me the truth. I hope all of my buyers feel as comfortable as you did. I can handle the truth, I promise. My time is a valuable asset and I appreciate your respect.

ARE YOU UNINTENTIONALLY IRRITATING?

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:08:04 -0500

Via Florida Pines Realty, Inc:

Most people would immediately respond "NO" but the truth is, you probably are. In one way or another. Have you gone away for the day and not checked your email? Been in meetings and turned off your cell phone?   Forgotten to take care of what seemed to be a small detail to you but ended up being a big deal to your client?

All of these are all irritating but correctable.   There are also some insideous conversational idiosyncrasies that can drive other people nuts which make them tune you out or turn off. Such as a whiny tone of voice

For younger people the word "LIKE" seems to be a problem. "And I was like, and he was like, OMG!" Like is an adjective. Unless you are attempting to compare one thing to  something else, please refrain from using it.  It can express pleasure or disdain "I like it or I didn't like it"

"YOU KNOW" seems to be another infectious disease worse than swine flu.

"I was looking at you know, this house you know, and the neighbor, you know came over and was you knowing talking to me about the what day the garbage was you know picked up."

You know is not a dramatic pause, nor it is a substitute for UM or a comma.

"UM" is another linguistic impediment. I recently attended an Honors banquet at UCF, and the Head of the College must have said "UM" at least 35 times when introducing the Department Chair.

I was so pleased they were taping it for future broadcast purposes.

Taping yourself periodically is not a bad idea- to identify and isolate potentially irritating mannerisms, such as do you roll your eyes, make odd facial expressions or have speech deficiencies, or other potentially irritating problems?

It will allow you to see yourself as others see you.

Have you ever thought to do this as part of basic salesmanship 101? Should all brokers periodically tape agents giving listing presentations?

What agent idiosyncrasies have really gotten you irritated?

St. Cloud Florida Real Estate Broker/Associate,

St. Cloud Florida Homes For Sale, Buying HOMES In St. Cloud Florida, Real Estate Agent specializing in Osceola County Homes ,Townhomes, vacation properties, land, & Investment Properties-Allison Knows Osceola County, Fl.

Huge FHA News!!! FHA IS ADOPTING HVCC AS OF JANUARY 1ST...GET READY FOR CHANGE!

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:06:03 -0500

Via Mary Thompson Lake Lanier Appraiser in Georgia (LakeFrontPros.com):

Yes it is true, just yesterday, September 18th FHA sent out a Mortgagee Letter to all lenders that they are adopting HVCC in most of its current form.

By now most of you know about HVCC, if not please check my previous blogs on the subject. Fannie Mae adopted HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct) on May 1st. as they wanted to insure appraiser independence. In short this means that mortgage brokers can no longer order appraisals from appraisers. It is now being handled by AMC's (Appraisal Management Companies) or the Banks directly. No production staff that is paid commission based upon a loan closing can order appraisals.

Due to this change, what was happening was FHA loans were on the rise BIG time as the brokers still had control over the appraisal process. That will end January 1st. FHA does not want to take on any more risk than they already have and FHA does not want and they are not asking the Federal Goverment to bail them out. They have enough in reserves to deal with any loses they have. So FHA must make sure that appraiser independence is guaranteed to minimize on this lending risk. I am not surprised at all, I really was expecting this from FHA.

What does this mean?

1. Good news for appraisers, the AMC's who normally pay CUT rate fees and who care less about quality appraisal reports and experienced appraisers and more about making money, must pay appraisers based upon normal market rates for completing FHA assignments. However the borrower will wind up paying more for FHA loans as the appraisal fees will be even higher....at least this is my take on the situation as the AMC's will jack up their prices to the banks to pay the appraisers what they should and to make profit for themselves as well.

2. Mortgage Brokers will no longer be ordering appraisal reports. So this repsonsibility will go to the Banks or the AMC's.

3. Appraisal reports will only be good for 4 months rather than 6 months.

4. Good NEWS: FHA will allow appraisal reports to be transferred to another lender rather than having another appraisal report completed.

5. The only way another appraisal report can be completed if someone does not agree with value is the report will have to be flawed in some way and it will have to be proved that flaws exist in the report

6. No one can talk to appraisers about value issues. REALTORS, you can still give Appraisers comparable sales data, that is NOT prohibited, you just cannot talk to them about value. The banks and AMC's can discuss particulars of the assignment, but no one can pressure an appraiser for value PERIOD!

7. As of October 1st only CERTIFIED Appraisers can complete FHA appraisal assignments.

8. FHA will require that the appraiser is knowledgeable in the area that they appraise. So if you find an appraiser coming from way out of the area to do an appraisal, this would be one reason to suspect the accuracy of the report. This has ALWAYS been required of appraisers as part of USPAP ( Competency RULE) but many appraisers would take the job no matter where it was and this is not good, if they have no clue about the area.

9. Banks will be liable for the loans they underwrite, not brokers, so there may be more FHA brokers coming from the picture.

To read more about it click here for the full story:

http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/09182009_drastic_fha_guideline_changes.asp

Pass this along, this WILL affect your business as of JANUARY 2010.

Mary Thompson

Your Active Rain Appraiser

www.marytappraisals.com

Is your Credit Report so bright that you gotta wear shades?

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:57:06 -0500

Via Jason Sardi, Mortgage Banker (FHA-VA-USDA-Conventional-Pennsylvania Loans):

I was going to make this a rather technical piece of blogging information. I printed out page upon page of data to support my stance. I read through each page of data to compare it to what I really wanted to say about the subject of credit. Then, as typical, I ripped up the pages because they were quite boring... even though, informative.

My goal is to be less boring (I rarely have lofty expectations;) and just as informative.

To this day, I don't get why people wear shades. Okay, if the Sun hurts their eyes, I get that. But I'm convinced that many wear shades because they are under some grand illusion that they actually look cool. In reality, most just look like tourists. I bring this up because of the Title of this post. When you owe folks money, the easiest way to make it seemingly disappear is to hide. Hide from phone calls, certified letters, emails, and from your neighbor who just got information on your behalf.

Let's be Frank. You can be Susie.  If you make enough money and handle it correctly... this stuff isn't an issue. However, if your credit score looks like Ted William's batting average from 1941, there is some serious 'issues' going on. While you can ignore creditors all you want, it will end up costing more than the comfort your so-called pride could ever allow.

Much has been written about this issue, even by yours truly. Instead of bombarding you, the reader, with facts, figures, and a brand new way to make money if you spend $19.95 on my 'Secret System', I will give you three Philosophical Facts (oxymoron, I know) about Credit. By the way, if you are interested in my 'Secret System' and are willing to spend almost twenty dollars for the privilege of implementing such, I'm also thinking about starting a cult in Waco.

Commercial Moment:)

When I read the word 'Dunning', I wondered what it meant. I'm no language genius and rarely study, as my college GPA can prove.  Dunning is the process of methodically communicating with customers to ensure the collection of accounts receivable. Interesting. This would happen to be addressed by the first of three philosophies I have on credit. Be pro-active! Call them before they even think of calling you. Nobody knows your financial situation better than you. Calling the specific creditor and opening the lines of communication can go a long way in keeping things copacetic. If you are pro-active enough, it will ensure that you are more methodical than the counterpart you owe, which can help buy time to earn the time to appease your financial crime.

But what happens if I get someone on the line and can't pay them a dime? Here comes Philosophy Numero two. I'll use credit cards as an example. This one is a personal story. I had a credit card with an available balance of a mere $500.00.   Because of finance charges and an overly high balance, I had incurred their over the balance fee just one month prior. The first time in seven years. I called to discuss and get rid of the issue. That wasn't much of a problem. Yet, the next month I ran into the same dilemma and their finance charges put me over my balance and I was once again confronted with a pretty staunch fee.   I got on the horn and spoke to a young lady whose English wasn't akin to Shakespeare. She was passionate in her script in saying that the particular fee I was charged was only able to be waived once ever twelve months. After about twenty minutes, I asked her four times to let me talk to someone higher-up, a manager per se. According to her, they would say the same thing. On the fifth time, she put me on hold. Magically, she was actually able to waive the fee all by herself. Before your panties get wet as a reader, I had been a customer with them for quite sometime and had never been late on even one payment. But Philosophy Numero Two says that you be persistent in all dealings with those you owe money too. If you can't pay them a dime, they'll often accept a penny or two in the meantime.

Read up on this stuff. Information is extremely available, and as long as it's the accurate material, you should be quite fine. When I got my first collection call, I had more anxiety than O.J. after the whole Bronco Chase. Okay, bad analogy. But, I got through it. I learned to deal with it and keep my head about me. The majority of folks you talk to when dealing with any debts you have are hourly employees who probably are in the same boat. You'd be surprised about the credit profiles of collectors, doctors, lawyers, and what I do for a living. Never be intimidated, yet always be gracious. Don't kill them with kindness, confront them with Professionalism.

Pro-active, persistent, & professional. Tsk, I should have been a Social Worker. Then again, :)

If you’re not using technology, you’re not in the game!

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:54:30 -0500

Via Suzanne Alberti (DocuSign):

With all of the technological advances today, it's a wonder that there are still agents who get in their car and drive to meet their clients for every signature and initial.

Now I do not intend to downplay the level of customer service you provide by driving to your clients home, office or local coffee shop for a meet and greet or signing session. Real estate is a relationship business and so meeting and getting to know you client's is essential. HOWEVER, once you make that initial contact and have that meet and greet or listing presentation over coffee, it's time to get down to business.

With so many families having two working spouses, you need to consider what these constant meetings are like for them. It's not that they don't want to see you, I'm sure they like you and feel you are competent to service their real estate needs or you would not have gotten the job.

What I'm saying is, there's a better way.....

That's where DocuSign comes in. DocuSign Electronic Signature Service will help you improve your level of customer service, save you time (no more driving around town for signatures) and you can feel good knowing your documents are secure.

FACT: DocuSign users LOVE DocuSign!

So how can DocuSign do all of this and I still keep my desired level of customer service?

By using the technology of the internet and common tools such as email, DocuSign can save you hours of valuable time each week. With DocuSign you no longer need to get in your car and drive to see your client's every time you need a signature or initial from them. Or spend hours sending documents by fax only for them to end up unreadable. With DocuSign you simply notify your clients they have documents to sign or initial via today's modern conveniences of email and internet.

FACT: 80% of US households have a computer and 92% of those have internet. And with internet comes email accounts, probably several if they are anything like me!

DocuSign is the leader in electronic signature. Using DocuSign's patented technology, you can be confident in the knowledge that your documents are safely held on our secure servers. And DocuSign is 100% compatible with ESIGN law requirements for a valid digital signature so you can feel good knowing your documents are safe, accessible and meet federal acceptance guidelines.

FACT: ESIGN law - Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act - the law that provides for electronic signatures to have the same validity as a wet (ink) signature was signed into law by President Clinton in 2000! That is 9 years ago!

So not only does DocuSign save you time, is secure and 100% compatible with ESIGN law, your customers will love the convenience. In today's global society, it is easy to find an internet connection and almost everybody has email. Your clients can sign from the comfort of their home, the convenience of their office or even while traveling or on vacation. There's no software to install - all anyone needs is access to a web-browser. With DocuSign Electronic Signature Service, you will have the flexibility and convenience of the internet to close your transactions giving you back priceless hours.

So try DocuSign today, with our 30-day money back guarantee, you have nothing to lose. Try it out and if you don't like it, just cancel within 30 days and we'll refund your money. It's that easy!

But that's not all, activate your DocuSign subscription today and you can save 20% on an Annual Prepaid Subscription over the monthly rate.

Next time remember to DocuSign it!

Referrals, Phone Numbers and Email Addresses

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:52:26 -0500

Via Missy Caulk-Ann Arbor- Realtor(R)- Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams-Ann Arbor):

I've been wanting to post this for sometime, but last week something happened that made it more urgent for me.

Last week, I had two different past clients contact me. They contacted me usiing my same phone number and same email address.

I had switched companies back in January 08, and yes I had sent out a notice to my sphere. But, it is just noise to them until they are ready to move.

I have had the same cell phone number since 1995.

I have had the same email address since 1995, my own name. Missy@MissyCaulk.com

I don't understand and am cautioning you to get a email that you can take with you wherever you go.

I see many agents use the domain of their company Me@kw.com, Me@remax.com, me@localcompany.com.

When and if you move there goes your steady, consistent way for past clients to contact you.

I can't tell you the amount of notifications I get from agents or friends saying, "I have changed my email address."

Would these two past clients have found me, if I had not had the same number or email address? Maybe but.....maybe not.

I know many folks have names that are not easy to snag a email or domain name in their name...but pick one and stick with it.

It was a happy day when we could transfer our phone numbers to other carriers and I know most folks do.

Building a business, planning to stay in for the long haul it is critical that our past clients be able to find us. I always love to pick up the phone and hear a familiar voice on the other end, "Hi Missy, do you remember me?'

One of these I sold a condo to over 9 years ago. One I sold a home too 6 years ago.

We should make it easy for those past clients to find us.

********************************

Missy Caulk & Team can be reached at 734-216-2822 or email: Missy@MissyCaulk.com

Our TEAM of 6 buyer associates are available to help you relocate to Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Milan, Ypsilanti Township, Clinton, Manchester, Whitmore Lake, or throughout Washtenaw County, MI.

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Fantastic deal in Steeplechase of Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:01:35 -0500

Lovely custom built 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with exceptional curb appeal. No other home like this in the neighborhood! Features includes: two car garage, eat-in kitchen, Carolina room with french doors, oak cabinets, huge patio, garden tub and separate shower, laminate wood flooring. Great neighborhood in award winning Forestbrook School System. Quiet setting by horse farm yet within 10 minutes to beaches and all Myrtle Beach offers.

1600 Htd square feet
3 bedrooms
2 baths
Carolina room
2 car garage
nice backyard
minutes to the beach
Low HOA fee ~ $25.00 Month

Call the Island Palms Realty team today @ (843) 450-1912 and ask for Diana Blue

Owner is SC Realtor

http://www.islandpalmsrealty.com

http://www.myrtlebeachhomeandloan.com

Brokered by: Christopher Webster ~ Island Palms Realty

Is it crazy to start up a NEW Brokerage in this economy???

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:34:29 -0500

My last Broker told me that I should have picked a designation. Excuse me, this is a designation last time I looked.

I am sooooooo excited that I was pushed into this great opportunity!

My questions are as follows:

Software programs for sales, rentals, vacation rentals and showings all in one or close
Should I hire newbies? I think so
What are some tips in starting a Brokerage?
Should I compete with Agents? I was only planning on taking on past business and my referrals
Should I have opportunity time
What kind of Awards should I plan?
How often for meetings?
How often for Caravan?
How should leads be assigned? I was thinking in Aplhabetical until software was purchased that automates websites.

Please pass along any advice that may help or be useful in your opinion.

Island Palms Realty

1091 Redi Mix Rd

Ste C

Little River, SC 29566

(843) 390-5101 FAX

(843) 450-1912 OFFICE

(843) 450-1915 MOBILE

Island Palms Realty Vacation Rentals & Sales on Facebook

Realtor going to jail in North Myrtle Beach help me please

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:53:49 -0500

Help raise money for my BAIL!!!

It's for a good cause

My Goal is $5,000 and without the help of my fellow Rainers, I will not get out of Jail!

Not really going to jail, but still need your help!

https://www.joinmda.org/2009littlerivernmyrtlebeach/info

Call Christopher Webster Today

(843) 450-1915

THE SOLD TEAM! We stand behind our name!

http://www.myrtlebeachhomeandloan.com

http://www.islandpalmrealty.com

JOIN us on Twitter

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Brunswick County Foreclosure Deals from your Coastal Connection

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:59:44 -0500

Foreclosures are really on the rise in Brunswick County North Carolina. I have seen homes as low as $40,000!

Yes, that is CORRECT!!!

The SOLD Team services Horry & Georgetown County in South Carolina, also Brunswick and Columbus County in North Carolina.

We have seen such an increase of deals that we can not believe our eyes!

Call Christopher Webster or Shea Bogle Today

(843) 450-1915 (843) 504-7840

THE SOLD TEAM! We stand behind our name!

http://www.myrtlebeachhomeandloan.com

http://www.soldthebeach.com

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The Future of the Real Estate Office... and Company

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:31:16 -0500

Listing and Selling Foreclosures & Short Sales in Horry County & Georgetown County South Carolina. Now serving Brunswick and Columbus County in North Carolina. Coastal Foreclosures & Coastal Short Sales

Via Matthew Dollinger (@properties):

A note of thanks to Marc and Brian of 1000Watt Consulting, Joel Burslem of FOREM, and Ash Munshi of Terabitz for their contributions to this topic. Picture this…
You own a brokerage in a major city. You are an established name. And like everyone around you, you currently suffer at the hands of the real estate downturn.
Business is down 40% and your costs are spiraling out of control. Costs that include:
Print advertising. A surplus of marketing, IT, managers and support staff. And a lease for office space that provides too much room for too many agents who have no need for it.
This image is filled with roll-top desks, conference rooms and employee break rooms. It could be an office in any town, in any city, in every corner of the United States. And somewhere, in some lonely office within it, the sound of CFO’s weeping only masked by the whispers of agents talking near the coffee pot can be heard.
“So… how’s your business” “Business? It’s really tough out there.” “Yeah. Did you hear about Steve? He went to (competitor X) the other day?” “Really? Wow… Sally took a part time job at Coffee-Joes.” “Huh… That’s smart. Gives you a little cushion.” “Yeah. I’m hoping the Spring Market kicks in soon.” “Uh-huh. Maybe the stimulus thing will help. I wish it was still $15K.” “Well, I spent some money on a program to get some Internet leads yesterday.” “Really? That’s a good idea. I just started a blog.” “That’s a great idea. I heard about that Social Internet. That’s where the buyers are…” “Uh huh… I’m going to focus on the Luxury Market.” “Well… I’m gonna go to some broker’s opens. Wanna go?”
Do these images look and sound familiar?
What it could look like .
Unlock this door and enter a 2,000 sq. foot space. Inside are half a dozen customer service people with varying degrees of specialties that range from sales to legal to mortgage services. Outside, an intern arranges the courtyard space that includes tables and chairs that run along the sidewalk. Outside, music is piped in from satellite radio. Inside the flat screen panel televisions spark to life. The smell of fresh locally-roasted coffee roasted specifically for your company and branded with your logo begin to fill the air as a local pastry company delivers trays of treats.
The agent “sitting floor” dons a headset connected to her computer linked by VOIP to a central server that holds all the company listings, information, and agent contact information. The first call of the day arrives. Since the caller dialed an extension for property information, before the call is answered, the property information, pictures, property videos, neighborhood market information, tax information and comparable properties are populated on the screen.
The agent who answers the call is instantly able to provide all the information to the caller. Since they are part of your “Client Care” group they can communicate effectively and intelligently with the caller on all buying and selling . The selling agent’s schedule also appears on the screen, so the sitting line agent can setup a buyer’s interview an hour before a the appointment, which is sent immediately to the selling agent’s handheld.
A stream of passerby’s stroll through the door taking advantage of the ancillary services made available to them. Whether it sipping coffee, accessing the web from the mini bar of computers, stock quotes, RSS news feeds, and short video spots of properties and the company’s current CSR projects flow across the LCD screens as they wait. For those have brought their laptops they freely tap into the Wifi provided and log in from the companies branded webpage that also includes local news feeds, real estate information, videos of homes for sale, current market statistics, and more.
Outside the brokerage their solar powered sign displays the time, the temperature, current interest rates, as well as the # of kilowatt hours this particular office has saved by doing their part to go green. A fleet of Zip-Car hybrids that sport the company logo on them are parked out front available for both agents and local residents to use upon request. A number of dog bowls with fresh water line the side of the building and in the windows are pictures of local school outreach programs, sports teams, and children’s social responsibility groups that this brokerage has been a part of.
A young couple enters and is immediately greeted by an office manager who answers their many questions about the current real estate market. As a result of this discussion, which reveals them to be first time buyers, their needs are matched to the appropriate agent rather than whoever happens to be free at the moment.
The right agent greets the couple and takes them through the process of buying a home, the benefits, potential downfalls, and explores their short – mid – and long-term goals. He discusses school districts, why they are looking to buy a home right now, the current state of the real estate market and then asks if they have learned about “Financial Responsibility in Lending” yet. The couple replies no.
The agent invites the lending professional who occupies space inside this facility. They present a “Financial Responsibility” worksheet for these first time buyers. It’s a multi-paged brochure that discusses the responsibilities associated with mortgages, what is needed to apply for one, and what type of information will be required to apply for a mortgage.
An interested lunch crowd is invited to gather and attend an impromptu performance that includes a set list of economic talking points such as “Improving your Credit Score” and the Are you stimulated by the housing bill. This free seminar is held 2 times a week and is part of the “Home Buyer Education Curriculum”. A free flash drive containing budgeting software, articles, and a copy of the presentation is provided to each of the attendees upon completion of the seminar.
Wouldn't YOU want to work here?
The real estate office of the future starts… and ends… with the real estate Company of the future. I think that this is a good start.
Matt Dollinger
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1600 Htd square feet

3 bedrooms

2 baths

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nice backyard

minutes to the beach

Low HOA fee ~ $25.00 Month

Call the Island Palms Realty team today @ (843) 450-1912 and ask for Diana Blue

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Is it crazy to start up a NEW Brokerage in this economy???

My last Broker told me that I should have picked a designation. Excuse me, this is a designation last time I looked.

I am sooooooo excited that I was pushed into this great opportunity!

My questions are as follows:

Software programs for sales, rentals, vacation rentals and showings all in one or close

Should I hire newbies? I think so

What are some tips in starting a Brokerage?

Should I compete with Agents? I was only planning on taking on past business and my referrals

Should I have opportunity time

What kind of Awards should I plan?

How often for meetings?

How often for Caravan?

How should leads be assigned? I was thinking in Aplhabetical until software was purchased that automates websites.

Please pass along any advice that may help or be useful in your opinion.

Island Palms Realty

1091 Redi Mix Rd

Ste C

Little River, SC 29566

(843) 390-5101 FAX

(843) 450-1912 OFFICE

(843) 450-1915 MOBILE

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https://www.joinmda.org/2009littlerivernmyrtlebeach/info

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