Aaron's Blog

Increase Your Web Presence!

Aaron Landreth (Mountain View Mortgage) — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:42:13 -0500

Hello all Active Rain enthusiasts and professionals!

I hope everyone is having a successful weekend. In an effort to increase web presence for true Las Vegas real estate professionals, I have established a Las Vegas Real Estate News aggregate.

I would like to help increase your web presence and for you to become known as a contributer to a local news aggregate. There is absolutely no cost, or extra work to be done on your part...just let me know that you would like to contribute your articles & I will automatically post them for you.

Google friendly links will be established with your business web page, a wonderful profile with your picture and front page exposure to increase your web exposure and (the goal) increase your business!

Please review the site @ www.thelassvegasrealestateblog.com and don't forget to click on the Author's name to see how you will also be recognized as a professional contributer.

Everyone is welcome to contribute - whether your niche is residential, luxury homes, commercial, mortgages, investing etc....

The mission is to have up to date Las Vegas Real Estate Information from you - Our Local Professionals!

Please visit the site and contact me via email @ atlandreth@thelasvegasrealestateblog.com to be included in the list of Author's & professionals.

I look forward to helping increase your web presence!

Also, please subscribe to the feed on the right hand side of the page to be updated hassle-free with the latest real estate news from here in the valley. It's fun, informative & free!

See you soon on the The Las Vegas Real Estate Blog,

Aaron Landreth

www.thelasvegasrealestateblog.com

Everyone is Invited

Aaron Landreth (Mountain View Mortgage) — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:36:43 -0500

I hope this message finds everyone well!
I have enjoyed receiving everyone's posts & Las Vegas Real Estate information throughout the months.

I would like to share with you a website that I have been working on and would like to include everyone's information and current news about Las Vegas Real Estate so that we all have a simple and handy Las Vegas Real Estate News Aggregate.

The site is www.thelasvegasrealestateblog.com

I think everyone will be pleased with the free advertising capabilities that the site offers.

Check it out and let me know what you think!
I would enjoy the opportunity to add you as a regular blog contributor. (Very simple...!)

Simply email me, or directly respond via Active Rain. (atlandreth@thelasvegasrealestateblog.com)

Go ahead and subscribe to the email updates and Feed Burner feed on the right hand side of the website. This way, you will be "in the know" hassle-free via email (no spamming!) each evening.

I look forward to showcasing your work and increasing your business!

Professional Regards.
Aaron Landreth

www.thelasvegasrealestateblog.com

LO's - Sitting An Open House pt.1

Aaron Landreth (Mountain View Mortgage) — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:56:42 -0500

This blog is directed to all those loan officers out there who have the fortunate opportunity to sit an open house with a professional realtor.

Many questions arise (or should arise) for the loan officer about to embark on a full day or days sit in with their business partner, the realtor. The primary question facing the loan officer is: "How am I going to market myself?"

This question must be asked on at least two fronts; Primarily you must question how best to market to the realtor and secondly, how to properly and effectively market to the client who comes in off the street. Let us address the first matter of issue: effectively marketing yourself to the realtor.

If you have sat open houses and have experience working with realtors, then this information is old hat and will come as no surprise. If you are new at this game, and wish to make the most of your first impression, please take the following recommendations to heart as they may lead to many referrals and ultimately increased revenue.

Aside from maintaing the highest professional appearance (that goes without saying),

Let me start off by saying, as frequently quoted and instructed by my wonderful mortgage broker,

"People do business with people they know, and people they trust."

That said, sitting in an open house with a realtor isn't going to guarantee you lead referrals instantly! It takes time to develop a trusting professional relationship with the realtor that will grant you that priviledge. You must get to know the realtor, invest in the realtor and their current business and possibly even suggest ways to improve it.

What is the realtors business problems? What type of clients do they usually work with? How long have they been in business? Do they have kids, a dog, hobbies...etc. You get the picture.

Become friends and win them over with a confident handshake and sincere interest in their business and personal lives. A good real estate sales book is always good to have on hand to "loan" out to your newly found realtors. Handing them a sales tool shows that you are interested in their success and care about them.

Other types of sales tools to hand to realtors include; Motivational CD's such as Les Brown, Barry Habib or Mike Ferry, trade journals and magazines, information on how to close clients faster with your loan products, internet marketing (or any kind of marketing) tips,...etc. The point is to add value to the realtor, sincerely show you care and make the absolute most of your first impression. (You only get one!)

Ask yourself, "What would make me 'remember'... me?" I can guarantee you wouldn't remember yourself if you just sat the open house asking for referrals or watching tv, or drinking the cokes. (You may be remembered that way, but for the wrong reasons.)

What else can you do? Don't forget to always have your sales tools on hand ie. business cards, flyers, brochures, websites, niche product flyers etc. If you are focusing in on how service oriented you run your business, have a brochure with your picture and possibly some testimonials that details your level of service. If quick turnaround is your focus, hammer down on that...The point is, find an angle and direct your promotional materials accordingly. In other words, market your expertise! (Realtors want quick turns & fast qualifications!...Don't we all!?)

I will conclude this current writing with possibly one of the biggest tips of them all. Show eagerness, a willingness to go the extra mile, and show that you take your business seriously!

Earnestly remember the one phrase sums it all up: "Dogs don't chase parked cars."

I will finish the open house marketing to realtors in a subsequent blog, as well as delve into marketing to the walk-ins. Until then...Total Regards & Many Closes. ~Aaron

Las Vegas Nascar Marketing

Aaron Landreth (Mountain View Mortgage) — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:27:25 -0600

For those of you out there vexed by how best to make the most of your marketing efforts this weekend with Nascar in town, have no fear. I have compiled a highly scholared research list designed to blast your advertising and promotional campaigns through the checkered flag.

If Nascar "fan-demonium" hasn't swept through your household just yet, it may be tough for you to place yourself into the shoes of the fan, the mind of the fan, the bright yellow and black pennzoil jacket of the fan. You must understand the fan (and his jacket).

That is exactly why first and most important on the marketing list is to design a brightly colored jacket that showcases your area of expertise. If you work for RE/MAX say, that hot air balloon had better be embroidered on the back of that jacket bigger, badder, better, and more colorful than the dew can on green mountain dew man to your left.

You must understand, it is very easy to get lost in the crowd at these events.

That said, there is no better way to attract a massive crowd (aside from handing out free ice cold Budweiser) than dressing up like a race track superstar and signing free autographs. While you are busy signing fake Earnhart autographs, you have to make sure that you continue to refer to yourself in the 3rd person congratulating the realtor (yourself) that helped you get your dream home.

Example: (while autographing) "Dale Earnhart loves Suzy from Century 21. Dale Earnhart has the best house in the whole wide world because Suzy from Century 21 is the bestest realtor ever.....and works for Dale Earnhart."

Now of course, if you really are Suzy, dressed up as Dale Earnhart and people actually believe it...you have done an amazing job with costume, makeup and jacket, or you are quite a manly woman. Either way you're bound to attract a crowd, right?

Stay tuned for the remainder of this amazing marketing campaign...

Do you have any ideas that you may implement??

Another Las Vegas Perk...

Aaron Landreth (Mountain View Mortgage) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:08:21 -0600

Looks like another perk for the valley came in today! (As if there's not enough...wink, wink.)

It appears according to SustainLane, an eco-progressive enviro-friendly consumer wathdog group that promotes green business and cleaner standards, that Las Vegas ranks number one in the most eco-fueled city fleets!

Take that eco-friendly Bay Area!

That's right, Las Vegas is numero uno, and heads the list.

Beating such eco-conscious cities such as Honolulu and Boston, "Las Vegas led the nation with almost 63 percent of its vehicles using alternative fuels, including 450 vehicles using cleaner-burning B20 biodiesel (20%), in addition to using less-polluting compressed natural gas, electric hybrids and zero-polluting hydrogen vehicles." (SustainLane.com)

Now you can all take pride when you tell your clients that the city is doing its best to keep the clean desert air that way!

Now if we can only find a way to not cause dust when we break the crust...Hmmm.

Now go out there, sell some homes, service some clients, and breath cleaner in the most eco-fueled city in the nation. I know I will.

Regards,

Aaron

Fremont Investment's Last Throws...Here's A Laugh

Aaron Landreth (Mountain View Mortgage) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 12:23:25 -0600

Does Any Body Else See The Humor In This?? Poor Fremont....

Just remember, when one door closes...etc. Other lenders WILL pick up the slack!

Henderson Walking Weather

Aaron Landreth (Mountain View Mortgage) — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:23:17 -0600

Well, It's official.

Henderson has found it's way into the top ten of the best "walking" cities in America. Prevention magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association teamed up to study the 100 most walkable cities in America, and Henderson made #6! Add that to the family friendly designation and Henderson becomes downright highly desirable.

Touted as receiving an annual rainfall amount of 4.5 inches, Henderson's weather bares a climate that can be walked in practically year round. (Except ofcourse when it's blowing 40 mph, or you find yourself in a torrential thunderstorm deluge.) The plethora of trails and urban throughways make for great and ever changing walks designed to make even the most experienced Podiatrician blush.

You may be wondering which city can now claim to be the most walkable? Hold onto your hats, drum roll please...Madison, Wisconsin please take a bow...where the city adopted a walker friendly city plan over 10 years ago. Maybe one day, if all of us Henderson residents come together and push for a walkability plan...we too can bask in the glory of being number one.

I mention all of this for many reasons. Primarily because I think Henderson is one of the greatest cities to live in the nation (and this proves at least we're #6), and secondarily because the more little facts and figures you have to show to a potential home buyer, the more likely you can build rapport, sound like you know the area, and make the sale.

Add the walkability statistics to your sales arsenal and get out there to close more buyers in Henderson!

Have a great day and walk your way to booming sales.

Total Regards,

Aaron

(Podiatrics?...Am I the only one who has seen that designation for the first time?)

Mortgage Secondary Programs Quickly Changing!!

Aaron Landreth (Mountain View Mortgage) — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:49:20 -0600

(Top message is being repeated from Kurt Reisig, as of Monday 3/5/2007.)

Good morning Friends,

--> I was speaking to a friend this morning who is very well placed in the markets who shared with me some expectations that I felt were critical for me to share with you immediately. Apparently, liquidity in the secondary markets for high LTV seconds is drying up and these programs will radically change or GO AWAY in a matter of days or weeks!! Also, certain stated products with higher LTVs, first mortgages, will begin to change rapidly as well. Brace yourselves for potentially radical changes and prepare your clients. Get your locked loans in these loan types closed as quickly as possible before the programs evaporate. Sorry to hit you with this so early on a Monday. <--

This may be quite obvious for many and maybe not so for a few. Mortgage programs are changing rapidly by the minute as a result of investment on the street. (This is ofcourse due to current analysis of increasing defaults and foreclosure because of loose lending practices and/or scrupulous originating/underwriting.) As of this morning 3/5, New Century is facing questions of possible bankruptcy. Novastar has lost 30% of its stock value. The subprime market is tightening faster than you can say 100% financing. The stated 100% loans are in jeopardy, and may be all but a thing of the past by weeks end.

What does this mean for those of us in the business?

Clients will have to show more money for down payment, carry a significantly greater FICO, legitimately disclose income sources and maintain higher levels of savings. Realtors must place greater priority on pre-qualifying clients before even opening the car door to begin showing houses. Loan Officers need to be ever more diligent in pursuing products through a variety of lenders. (There is no substitution for having a stellar working relationship with multiple AE's from ten's of lenders.)

We will all be affected by this tightening of the market. No, it's not doomsday, but you have to have a handle on how your business will change and the steps you need to take to adapt accordingly.

Total Regards,

Aaron