Reblog of Spencer's post. Also check out Charlie Rose & Walt Mossberg demoing the app as well. http://www.zillow.com/blog/what-does-the-addams-family-have-to-do-with-zillow-on-ipad/2010/04/08/
We're honored and humbled that Steve Jobs just included the Zillow ipad app in his on-stage demo at the Apple OS4 event (photo courtesy of engadget), during which he showed off ipad apps that he loves. Here's Steve in front of a screenshot of the Zillow app:
I’ve recently blogged about Zillow Mortgage Marketplace and the fact that it has proven to be a terrific platform for lenders to connect with borrowers. Unfortunately this is one of those products where success doesn’t necessarily beget more success because borrowers aren’t prone to brag to their friends about this terrific place that they found a mortgage (yawn), and lenders aren’t likely to share marketing successes with their competitors. But occasionally a lender testimonial crosses my inbox that’s too good not to repost.
Here are excerpts from an email from a California lender in Zillow Mortgage Marketplace who’s a loan officer at one of the biggest banks in the country. (All types of lenders are welcome on ZMM – independent mortgage brokers, regional mortgage banks, and national mortgage banks, and all flavors in between).
Hi John and Michael [they are his account managers at Zillow] – I’ve talked to several [other] MLOs who have also used Zillow, and we have all seen increased business from this website. Zillow offers something that would otherwise be almost impossible to find through any other operation – a continual, non-stop steady stream of buyers who are ready to move forward and are looking for a good loan officer (and lender) to work with.
Through Zillow, we have acquired new clients for million dollar loans; clients who come to us with top credit scores and great income and healthy assets. These are ideal clients for [our bank] - some have switched assets to [our in-house money management firm], and the potential is great for more investments, as well as clients for [other of our] banking products. These new clients are also great pipeline additions; I have done several refis for clients who originally did a purchase loan with me in the past 2 years, and several have referred their friends to me. Unless a mortgage loan officer works in a high end community (which I do not), it is very difficult to acquire jumbo loans. (The average selling price in my area is $200,000 - $500,000.) The top producing Realtors in such high valued areas, from my experience, have long term relationships with established lenders (and are being courted by other local lenders) and are not likely to call on a mortgage loan officer in another area simply based on a marketing piece received by mail or email. And of course, it is difficult if not impossible for a mortgage loan officer to travel all over the state to attempt to create new Realtor relationships in person.
With Zillow, I was able to establish a relationship with a long distance borrower first, and then get introduced to their Realtor. As a result, I now have several long distance Realtor relationships throughout my state, and these have brought me continued business and leads. Without Zillow, I would not have these relationships.
In today’s modern computerized society, the majority of buyers who do not already have a relationship with a mortgage agent (or a Realtor-referred loan agent), are either going online to find the best loan, or they are stopping at their local bank. I do not currently work in a bank branch, so I am missing out on that opportunity to reach buyers. Using Zillow on the other hand did give me the opportunity to be connected with serious buyers, in great numbers.
If you're a lender and you want to learn more about Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, please call 877-661-3171 or email mortgagesales@zillow.com (and tell them Spencer sent you!). If you're a real estate agent, you're probably saying to yourself “thanks but no thanks, I already have a lender to whom I refer clients.” Yes, I know. But many of your clients are going to seek out competing loans through other channels anyway, just to keep your guy honest. You can gain a lot of credibility with your clients by referring them into the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace where they can get free, customized quotes from lenders and remain anonymous until they're ready to select which lender(s) to speak with. Try it for yourself. After all, if you haven’t refinanced yet, you should.
The folks at Active Rain have been big supporters of the RE Barcamp movement from day 1. What started out as an idea that we thought would bring together a few thought leaders in the RE.net has turned into a nationwide movement. Thanks to all of the AR staff and AR members who have ever been involved with an RE Barcamp. It wouldn't have had the success everyone enjoys without the hard work and generous support of AR.
There were a lot of other companies who also supported the effort with just as much support and enthusiasm. I dont want to offend anyone by forgetting them so I wont take a chance on making a list, but you know who you are and that you are appreciated!
To read more about my thoughts on RE Barcamp a year later, visit the MLBroadcast blog
I had an opportunity to do a podcast interview with Gary Vaynerchuck of WineLibrary.com. Gary was the keynote speaker at the recent Inman Connect conference in NY. In the discussion he expands on his vision of the RE Pro of the future and passionately shares some meaningful and actionable methods for capitalizing on social media. Tune in and check it out.
A Redfin seller gets her geek on. Check out the link to Guy Kawasaki's guide to Twitter while you're there. Nobody gets more out of Twitter than Guy. Just ask him. No need - I did it for you, listen here.
The idea of broker reciprocity is a good idea on the surface, and I am not promoting that you abandon your efforts to market the entire database of your listings, however, Matthew makes some really great points in this post. I have always been amazed that agents do not see the importance of creating a quality, public facing presentation in the MLS for their listings. They still seem to be written in agent to agent RealtorSpeak and let's face it, the vast majority of them are crap. Crap photos, terrible copy and overall just really sloppy efforts. It's food for thought that you wouldn't want to pollute your professional marketing materials with someone elses lack of effort. What do you think the solution should be? What alternatives are there? Do you abandon a display of IDX entirely or do you think you should be able to sanitize the listings for your prospects' protection. It's an interesting dilemma.
That's it for now. I'm kinda of trying to get my bearings on what to post here at my AR digs. I'd love it if you could tell me what you would like to hear about in the world of Real Estate marketing, technology and new business models. Lemme Know
Without the support of Active Rain, Rich, Brad and the avid AR members that were in attendance, REBarcamp Houston wouldn't have been nearly as successful. I owe a debt of gratitude to this great group of people.
This event has sparked a renewed interest in my involvement with AR primarily because of the passion of the team in place at AR and their sincere desire to provide tools that work and the education to put them in motion. The best attended sessions of the day were conducted by Rich and Brad. They were extremely dynamic and the attendees walked away with valuable knowledge and insight.
We will be posting a full wrap up story at the official REBarcamp Houston site as soon as I catch my breath. The AR posts, photos and multimedia are plentiful and very fun to view.
Thanks to the sponsors, friends, volunteers and my family for making this so enjoyable and successful.
I had a ball at Real Estate barcamp Houston yesterday!
Some functions are fun and some are not! This was just wonderful! I didn't completely understand what to expect with a "Free form forum" but I will say it was great. The presentations were fun and informative.
I was able to meet so many Rainers that I felt I was home.
Is that strange? After getting to know so many people through comments, following their lives and seeing their pictures each day I felt like it was a homecoming!
Adding hugs, face to face conversation, and sharing space with others just strengthened the bond I feel for these people! And, I got to meet so many for the first time that I will be including in my sphere that I had been missing.
The sessions covered everything from upcoming technology to how to utilize today's technology! The keynote speaker, Paul Chaney is as inspiration in person as his blogs portray.
Don't miss the next one. I will let you know ahead of time before the next sign up as space will be limited. Michael Price wants to keep it intimate enough for some great networking and exclusivity.
REBarCamp Houston is an exhilarating gathering of minds & passions in a spontaneous, eclectic, organic, open format event where real estate professionals and technology experts share new discoveries/trends happening in the industry, and discuss their practical application in the present and future of real estate. Get connected with experts - show, tell, share, and learn. Go deep with the innovators of the industry and discuss ways to incorporate on-line strategies, such as blogging, new media, tech tools, social networks, search optimization, and much more, into your business.
And the best thing, it's FREE!!!
In today's challenging market, you need an advantage and skillset that will set you apart from the masses, and empower you for greater success. REBarCamp Houston will help to equip and launch your marketing efforts with a renewed vision and effectiveness!
Keynote speaker, Paul Chaney, co-author of "Realty Blogging" and President of the International Blogging and New Media Association, will open the event with his usual talented enthusiasm. Paul also plans on conducting a few of the sessions as well.
ActiveRain is pleased to be one of the event sponsors, and Community Builders, Brad Andersohn and Rich Jacobson, will be on-hand to facilitate several break-out sessions, including "Boot Camp for Beginning Bloggers," "Social Media 101," and "7 Steps of Effective Blogging."
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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