Technology plays an ever-increasing role in real estate today. From the way consumers search for properties to the ways agents communicate information and stay connected with their customers, the business landscape is constantly changing. We know because we've helped change it. NP Dodge provides the best tools in the business to help our sales associates reach prospective buyers and sellers, stay connected with clients and get more business done in less time. From innovative research tools to web-based marketing & customer-relationship programs to online listing & contract support, NP Dodge puts technology to work where it counts-helping our agents focus on business and respond to their customers' needs. Our company-wide support network, NPDodge Office, exemplifies that technology at work. This interactive web-based database gives NP Dodge agents 24/7 access to a vast range of documents and information-From current interest rates and e-forms to marketing materials and industry reports, it's virtually everything an agent could ask for.

From the NP Dodge Research Division: Clearing the muddy waters of the First Time Homebuyer Tax-Credit Extension. If you are a first time homebuyer trying to take advantage of the current $8,000 tax-credit program then it is imperative that your closing takes place prior to the deadline on November 30th, 2009! We will continue to monitor the progress of this possible extension/expansion and will be sure to keep you all informed. Thanks for watching and have a great day!

First impressions have always been lasting so why should anything be different on a website? Why shouldn't the people behind the website reach out to the very users that are searching and do it in real time when their attention is focused?  We have been wrestling with this concept here at NP Dodge where a consumer can strike up a live chat with one of our licensed Realtors® and engage us in conversation but what happens when we engage the user?  Will they be scared off? Do they want to remain anonymous while they browse Bank Owned Homes or Career Information or do they really want someone to reach out and proactively engage them based on their movement through our site?  We would love some feedback and honest responses to what you think! Does this proactive engaging scare you or does it make you think that the people behind a given website really have their act together given that they are accessible in real time and truly want to help the website user?

NP Dodge Unveils New Mobile Website for its Sales Associates~

Omaha, Nebraska - Today NP Dodge Real Estate introduced the mobile version of their back office website npdoffice.com. This new site, m.npdoffice.com, is packed with features that NP Dodge Sales Associates can use to streamline their daily activities like listing hit reports, market reports, the latest interest rates from First National Bank and more.

"We understand the need for our agents to be mobile and want them to have the tools and technology that allows them to thrive in this ever changing environment," said Mike Riedmann, President of Residential Sales. "Timely information is imperative to the success of our sales associates and providing them a website that can be accessed from their phone is a natural step for us."

Brian Marasco, an agent with NP Dodge, said "The ability to have npdoffice.com on my mobile phone is just another great example of the benefits of being an Agent at NP Dodge...whether I need an important real estate form that I can email to my client, view current market reports I can forward on to my buyer or seller, or even another agent's phone number...it's all at my fingertips!"

NP Dodge is the oldest family owned real estate company in the United States. The company currently maintains 15 offices in Nebraska and Iowa and have over 500 sales associates. For instant access to homes available in your area and throughout the United States or to find out more about one of the fastest growing real estate companies in Nebraska and Iowa visit the premier real estate website in the region: npdodge.com, and when on the go: mobile.npdodge.com.

What features do you have or wish you had from a mobile website to make you more effective in your daily real estate business?? We want to know!  

 

The iPhone continues to impress and this latest roll out of the 3G Sis no exception!  Below I have described a few of my favorite features and how a REALTOR® could use this phone/tool to stay a step ahead of the competition. 

Video:  This is by far my favoritve feature! It gives you the ability to record a video, say of a property (I like to call it a 60 second commercial) and then shoot that video straight to YouTube or via email.  You could set up a distribution list of email addresses and have your listing video in the inbox of hundreds before you leave the listing appointment.  You also have the ability to trim the video down to size if you have a goof at the beginning or end. One minute is a pretty safe bet as the phone will automatically trim down the video before it sends it up to YouTube or via email. 

 

A fully functional web browser in your pocket at all times is key!  Having access to the county assessor sites, MLS, and everything beyond gives you answers when your clients need them most.  the browser on the iPhoneis second to none and extremely easy to use!

 I use this one daily to find businesses, property addresses and anytime someone asks, "do you know where...."  Maps will pin point your location and then guide you to the doorstep of your next showing.  Best of all this app is built into your phone and you don't have to have a GPS built into your vehicle or attached to your dash board. 

The iPhone is a tool that 9.99 out of 10 times, can provide you and your clients or potential clients with answers when others have to take the time to go 'look it up'.  This phone is sweet and there's a few reason why I love my iPhone.  What are your favorite features, apps or uses for your iPhone?

 

Robert Wiebusch~NP Dodge Blog Author (& iPhone user) 

 

Published Wednesday June 10, 2009

A real go-getter

Where should you concentrate your marketing efforts in 2009?

What strategies work with today's consumers and which ones should be re-evaluated?

The NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers for 2008 provides us with some great clues.

• Did you know...Eleven times more buyers begin their search process on the internet (33%) than they do print (3%).
• Did you know...According to consumers, brokerage web sites ranks amongst the highest when looking for properties at 46% and individual agent web sites rank at 43%.
• Did you know...According to the NAR survey only 1% of consumers found there agent through newspaper, yellow pages, direct mail, or specialty advertising. Furthermore, the number of consumers finding their homes through a newspaper, a home book or magazine, or directly through the sellers declined by 50% in 2008.

The new First-time home buyer tax credit as we understand it here at NP Dodge...

FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER CREDIT If you are a first-time home buyer, you are eligible for a refundable tax credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of your home, up to $8,000. Here are some of the details contained in the 787 billion dollar "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" which President Obama signed on Tuesday in Denver:

• The fact that the credit is "refundable" means that the tax credit refundable, or claimable regardless of your tax liability
• You must make your home purchase after Jan. 1, 2009, but before Dec. 1, 2009.
• You may purchase a new or an existing home.
• Unlike a similar $7,500, zero interest, fifteen year loan called a "tax credit" that Congress provided last year, you don't have to pay this one back. It is a true tax credit.
• The new credit, however, does phase out for individuals with incomes over $75,000 or married couples with incomes over $150,000 who file their taxes jointly.
• Also, you forfeit the credit if you sell the house within three years.
• "First-time homebuyer" is defined as someone who has not owned a home for the past three years.
• You may participate in a mortgage revenue bond program such as NIFA and still be eligible for the tax credit.

Although this is not tax advice and first-time home buyers are urged to consult their tax advisors, here is an example of how the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit could work for you:

Assume you are a couple making less than $150,000 annually, you purchase a house for more than $80,000 before December 1^st of this year and you otherwise qualify for the full $8,000 tax credit. If your 2009 federal taxes were $12,000 without the tax credit, the $8,000 tax credit would lower your federal tax liability to only $4,000. If you had 2009 federal withholdings of exactly $12,000, you would have received no refund without the tax credit because your federal income taxes equal your federal withholdings exactly. But with the first-time home buyer tax credit, you will get a tax refund of $8,000.

"We at NP Dodge Real Estate feel the first-time homebuyer tax credit is a very great stepping stone toward restoring the national housing market and that it will spur greater activity among buyers here locally.  When a first time home buyer purchases a home, the seller of that home can then purchase another home. Then seller of that home in turn can buy another, and that creates a cycle that moves us in the right direction.  Home prices should stabilize and then begin to increase. This in turn will help increase consumer confidence. All of this will bring still more buyers into the real estate market. This is most definitely the time for first-time buyers to get their piece of the Great American Dream of home ownership." ~ NP Dodge Research and Stats Division Members

What does all this mean??

65 Residential properties sold in the Council Bluffs Area last month. 

111 Homes went pending which means they have an accepted contract and are due to close in the near future. 

It would take just under 12 months to absorb the current residential inventory on the market today. 

The buyers still have the upper hand for now. 

Want more reports? Click Here

NP Dodge now has available Real Estate Market Trend Reports containing data compiled from the MLSs located in Omaha and Council Bluffs. These reports will give you an opportunity to view trends in the market over the past 15 months. They are specific to active, pending and sold properties in Omaha, Council Bluffs and the surrounding areas. The reports are updated monthly with more in-depth reports being available from one of our real estate professionals.

 

Relief could be on the way. This will be a huge incentive. I have heard that they are working to make this available at closing... Mike Riedmann, Prsident of NP Dodge Real Estate

 

Last evening the United States Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan amendment, offered by REALTOR® Champions, Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) to the Economic Stimulus Bill creating a $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year.

Specifically, the Isakson-Lieberman amendment to the pending economic stimulus bill would provide a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home. The amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. Purchases must be made within one year of the legislation's enactment, and the tax credit would not have to be repaid.

The amendment would allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return. It also seeks to prevent misuse by only allowing purchases of a principle residence and by recapturing the credit if the home is sold within two years of purchase. The amendment would sunset the current $7,500 housing tax credit on the date of enactment.

While the final details of the Stimulus Bill are still being debated, this amendment represents a tremendous step forward in NAR's efforts to stabilize housing markets around the nation.  Because of the efforts of REALTORS®, we expect the final Economic Stimulus Bill will contain several major housing provisions.  We will continue to update you as the bill progresses through the legislative process.