Austin Texas Real Estate Blog (and other stuff)

Is Congress Working to Create Yet Another Potential Hurdle to Real Estate Recovery?

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:17:14 -0600

To preface this post, I should probably state that it's not strictly political in nature. For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know that I don't often write about politics, and I don't strictly define myself as a Democrat OR a Republican. However, I do think and hope there's a bit of self-preservation in all of us. Call it instinct. This issue I will write about here has the potential to further damage our industry, so I felt compelled to air it for discussion/action. My ideas are my own, and I don't claim any level of economic expertise other than my business degree and my own experience running a small business since 1996. Now that we have that out of the way, read on...

Not long ago, President Obama gave his State of the Union address. At one point, he was talking about regulating the banking industry and the rest of the financial sector. There was an irony that I saw there, when it occurred to me that in their zeal to do something about the financial mess which they likely helped to create, Congress is now looking at the possibility of passing measures that could further damage the housing and mortgage industries.

Over-regulation probably won't solve our problems, at least not as I see it.

So, what am I referring to here, anyway?

Well, I had lunch with a good friend of mine not too long ago, and he brought to my attention that a number of Senate Democrats recently sent a letter to the Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke (on Christmas Eve, no less), urging him to adopt new regulations which would ban yield spread premiums for mortgage brokers. The letter was headed up by Sen. Merkley, and it was co-signed by about 18 other Democrats. To read it yourself, visit https://www.namb.org/images/namb/GovernmentAffairs/Senate%20Letter%20to%20Fed-YSP%2012242009.pdf. The National Association of Mortgage Brokers has been working overtime to keep their members informed on this.

If you aren't familiar with yield spread premiums, or YSP's, here's one definition from Wikipedia, "the money or rebate paid to a mortgage broker for giving a borrower a higher interest rate on a loan in exchange for lower up front costs." This means that YSPs can often help to defray costs for buyers. I won't claim to understand all of the requirements therein, and it won't really matter for the purposes of this post.

I did take some time to read through the actual regulations that they are considering instituting, and some of the language there was disturbing to me:

To address the concerns related to loan originator compensation, 
the Board proposes to prohibit payments to loan originators that are 
based on the loan's terms and conditions. This prohibition would not 
apply to payments that consumers make directly to loan originators. 

The Board solicits comment on an alternative that would allow loan 
originators to receive payments that are based on the principal loan 
amount, which is a common practice today. 

If a consumer directly pays the loan originator, the proposal would prohibit the loan originator 
from also receiving compensation from any other party in connection 
with that transaction.

Since the Board is soliciting comment on this, I would be happy to oblige.

Why does this proposal bother me as a real estate broker?

Well, it seems to me that this hinders the free enterprise system as it exists now. By removing YSPs completely, you will effectively remove yet another viable option for consumers who are short on cash. Over the past few years, we've all watched helplessly as mortgage options for Joe Average have dwindled. Truthfully, the loan approval process was too loose before. I get that, believe me. There were people who got approved for loans who were truly risky propositions. However, I've seen the pendulum swing too far in the other direction now. I have told many friends and potential clients that roughly 1/2 of the marketplace was vaporized with the tightening of the credit markets and tougher loan guidelines. For every 10 home buyers that I could assist before, I now have 5 or 6. I hear the same thing from my colleagues across the country.

The subprime mortgage crisis was certainly part of the problem, and it did seem like all you really needed was the ability to fog a mirror and you could buy a home. That being said, the removal of subprime, most zero-down programs, stated-income loan products for self-employed individuals has made being a Realtor or a mortgage broker a very tough job indeed.

None of us could ever have foreseen how different our world could become in a couple of short years. Fear has replaced reason when it comes to the world of banking. Melodramatic? Not really. I am trying to feed a family of six with my income. Thankfully, I've survived some difficult years, and, along with most people I speak with these days, I am hoping to see a sincere turnaround. This proposal won't help.

Another concern that I saw in the language is that this lays the groundwork for the government to step into the real estate arena as well, perhaps prohibiting OUR commission from being tied to the sales price of a property. Again, I see this as inhibiting the free market.

On the surface, I see how this could be perceived as helping consumers, but the more likely scenario is that mortgage brokers will now have two paths to choose from:

Charge a lot more directly to consumers to originate loans, since they can't get paid by banks, or
Go out of business

Clearly, neither of these outcomes would be beneficial for any of us.

In fairness, there are some other parts of the proposal that make sense to me, mainly with regard to consumer disclosures, but this portion would be foolish. You can see the whole thing here if you're interested: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-18119.htm

It's my understanding that the Federal Reserve already has the authority to monitor and regulate mortgage brokers, so any legislative action would be overkill and probably just plain unnecessary.

From my own research, I was happy to see that this issue wasn't split strictly along party lines, unlike so many other things we hear about from Washington. Although none of the Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee signed the letter, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a handful of Democrats also abstained. Kudos to Johnson of South Dakota, Benett of Colorado, and Tester of Montana for not just toeing the party line here. I applaud the members of the committee who didn't sign this pressure letter. You can see a list of all the members here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Banking,_Housing,_and_Urban_Affairs

I'm hoping that the highly paid lobbyists for the financial institutions that actually caused the problem don't manage to shift the blame to the little guys. While there were certainly predatory lenders that played a part in creating the mortgage crisis, most of these people are just business owners who are trying to provide an honest service and get paid for their work.

If this bothers you as much as it does me, I would encourage you to contact the members of the committee and let them know, especially if any of them are in your home state.

I welcome your input. :)

UPDATED: Jeff Belonger wrote a post today that gives more detail on this matter, including the fact that it will affect mortgage brokers AND mortgage bankers. He also re-iterates the notion that consumers will end up with fewer choices, since brokers and bankers might not be able to charge enough to make loans worth their while:

Congress, YSP (Yield Spread Premium), and the Real Estate Recovery - Some things should be left alone !!!

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Are You Going to Raincamp Dallas? I hope to see you there on February 16th!

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:23:27 -0600

Not long ago, I was very pleasantly surprised to hear that Raincamp is coming to Dallas, which is a mere three hour drive for me. Since it's also my hometown (born and raised there), I have a free place to stay. It's called "Mom's House". It comes with all the luxuries of a five-star hotel with none of the cost. :)

I'm really looking forward to this event as an opportunity to learn and hang out with my friends, some of whom I have yet to meet in person.

I had a chance to meet Brad Andersohn about 15 months ago in Houston, but I haven't ever met Bob Stewart or Jon Washburn "live" yet, so that will be fun. I know that my friend John Cannata will be there, and I think Steve Shatsky will, too. I met those guys in December when I was up in Dallas. Lori Cain from Tulsa is also going to be there from what I understand, as will Loreena Yeo.

Who else is coming? I would love to know who else I'll get a chance to see/meet.

If you aren't signed up yet, you can do that right here.

Cityplace Conference and Event Center
2711 North Haskell Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas 75204
Phone: 214-515-5100 - Fax: 214-515-5199

www.chgcityplace.com

My understanding is that there are three ticket levels. One is donation-based, and the other two are outlined below. It appears that the Platinum Passes will be sold out very soon.

"RAINCAMP™" Platinum Pass ($159) Includes:

Reserved Platinum seating in the front of the room with table, wi-fi, and power
Hosted VIP lunch at RainCamp™ with ActiveRain CEO Jonathan Washburn and RainCamp™ speakers,
Ben Kinney, Brad Andersohn, and Bob Stewart.
RainCamp™ T-shirt exclusive for Platinum supporters
Premium RainCamp™ tote with surprise give-aways
Platinum RainCamp™ Supporter Badge at RainCamp
Invitation to VIP after party, including appetizers
Latest cutting edge social media instruction e-book by Ben Kinney and Jay Papasan
Platinum RainCamp™ Supporter Badge on ActiveRain Blog or Profile page
Access to VIP registration line

"RAINCAMP™" Premium Seating ($99) Includes:

Reserved Premium seating near the front of the room with table, wi-fi, and power
Access to VIP registration line

For full details or to register, click here. I hope to see you soon!

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Beat Candace!

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:31:57 -0600

Help my friend Mike Mueller to pass celebrity Candace Cameron and help a lot of people with a very simple concept. Make sure you watch the video - it's powerful.

Via Mike Mueller (Tech and Social Media Consultant):

No hiding the fact that one of my favorite charities right now is Skip1.org. You may have seen one of my tweets about them, or a Facebook post.

The fact is that I love the concept. Skip something small and insignificant in your life, donate what you would have spent on that item, and make a very significant difference in the lives of others.

100% of the donations go directly to make a difference. No overhead fees, no salaries, $1 in makes a $1 difference there. Speaking of “there”, while Skip1 works worldwide, right now the efforts are focused on helping Haiti.

I also like social media aspect of the site. I can go on the site and proudly proclaim to the world that I “Skipped a Latte”! Recently I offered to help them with their Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/Skip1org). I may not have much to give these days but I can certainly help by donating my elbow grease.

I also have a Goal and I have a Plan…

The GOAL:

I want to pass Candace.

You might remember her as “D.J. Tanner” on Full House. That was a while ago. She’s all grown up now and a personal friend of the Skip1 Founder. She’s currently in the #2 position on the leader board and as you can see she’s “low hanging fruit”!

The PLAN:

Candace has the looks. She has the fame. She has the connections. Heck, she even has a job (Yes, I’m still working on finding a job) – but here’s something Candace doesn’t have… She doesn’t have the awesome potential of Social Media behind her. That’s my plan.

With your help I believe we can displace her. ( I can’t do it without you)

STEP 1: Go register yourself. http://www.skip1.org/user/register It takes moments to do and as a bonus you can enter all your websites and get a little link love back to you.

STEP 2: Go Skip Something. Anything. Or just make up something. Here’s a list of ideas if you like http://www.skip1.org/skipit It really doesn’t matter what you skipped.

STEP 3: While logged in to the site (see step 1) now make a donation. I don’t care how little or how insignificant you think it may be, it isn’t. When Shelene told me she was buying mattresses for $3 and giving children a place to sleep off the ground for the first time – you get the idea. Donate Link is here: https://www.skip1.org/donate.

But here’s the part where my “plan” takes effect. In the donation box I want you to enter “Paying Mike Mueller”.

STEP 4: Now that you’ve donated you feel pretty good don’t you? Go ahead and do it again. How about spreading that feeling around? Share this article with all your friends. You can ReTweet it, copy and paste this post and reblog it on your site (it’s ok), or share it with everyone on Facebook. The idea is to use your Social Media Super Powers and let’s surprise someone. Ok, let’s surprise a lot of someones!

Skip1.org PSA from Skip1 on Vimeo.

This post brought to you courtesy of Mike Mueller.
Feel free to ReBlog or ReTweet as you like as long as you credit the source (him).
Did you know? He's for hire! He builds Blogs, Graphic Images and Widgets and Facebook Pages and besides… He knows lots of really cool stuff.

Hire Mike (925) 456-4567

Did you know?

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Great Week for My New Venture: 210 Consulting

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:58:36 -0600

I recently started a consulting business with my friend Jeremy Blanton to serve as a resource for those who want to learn more about using social media tools, and how to use them to bring in more tangible business. So far, we've had a couple of webinars and we are planning for two more soon. Attendance was solid at the initial sessions, and the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, with a handful of attendees signing up for further individual coaching.

Thankfully for our students, my own learning curve with our new software hasn't been very steep, which has made things very smooth and easy. :) We're also in the process of setting up a brand-new website and blog for the company, both pieces of which have been provided free of charge to us from friends of ours. What a huge blessing! I hope that our new platform will provide a great place to collect and share information.

Our first webinar, "How to Chug Google Juice AND Get 15 Years of Fame", will be repeated on February 8th at 1pm Eastern: http://budurl.com/210consulting. You can see a full description of this class here.

Our next webinar is entitled, "Cashing in on Your Social Media Investment", and we'll be teaching that one on Monday, February 15th at 1pm Eastern time (running time is about two hours total). Essentially, we will cover how to build your social media strategy to increase your business. As we all know, many people try social media networks but get sucked into the social end and forget the original reason that they joined.

We will be covering the following topics in a fun, laidback atmosphere:

How to effectively listen to consumers
How to add valuable content to engage with those around you
Tips and specific tools that we've used
Some basic "etiquette" for Twitter, Facebook, and blogging
Techniques for promoting a cause or event

Here's a link to register for this session if you're interested: http://budurl.com/cash210.

Our individual and group coaching services are provided at an hourly charge, with no contracts or minimum commitment. Feel free to call or email me for more details about this. One or both of us have served as paid coaches for:

Social media
Marketing
Blogging
Writing
Real estate
SEO (search engine optimization)

Here are some testimonials and comments from current clients and some past students. I have some way longer ones that I am happy to share via email if you like.

REALLY enjoyed my coaching session today and am looking forward to working with you both! Already made suggested changes on AR! - Lori Cain

I picked up some valuable lessons from your class. I have tried a few other Blog platforms including Blogger, Live Journal, Typepad and Wordpress. Wordpress seems to be ideal for what my needs are. Still learning it. Thank you for the class. I look forward to future sessions. - Dawn O.

Here are a couple of full posts that others have written about us:

Want To Blog Better & More Effectively? Check Out These Guys:

Why I hired Jason Crouch as my social media coach.

Thanks for reading!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zizzy/89696604/

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Listen to Our Conversation with Sean Cranbury, Host of Books on the Radio

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:17:00 -0600

Yesterday, on our online radio show, Social Media Edge, I was very pleased to get a chance to meet Sean Cranbury, who is the host of Books on the Radio. Sean is a 20+ year veteran of the book business, and I was excited to speak with him about Publishing 3.0, which is a fascinating trend.

In a nutshell, Publishing 3.0 is the brainchild of Richard Nash, and he will soon be launching a new project called Cursor which has the potential to make traditional publishing obsolete, in my humble opinion. Rather than give away all of the details here, I would recommend listening to the conversation I had with Sean during the show. Suffice it to say that it will allow authors to shape their content and build an audience for their works while they're still in progress. The flexibility to alter content via "print on demand" is a phenomenal side benefit.

Self-publishing continues to explode, and we discussed what effect this could have on both the quantity and quality of books that are out there.

Sean is an innovative guy, and he is involved in a good number of writing and book-related projects, as you can see by visiting his blog: http://booksontheradio.ca. Overall, I really enjoyed getting a chance to speak with him, and I look forward to learning more about this nascent technology/industry.

In addition to our talk, Ken Cook and I were joined by our cast of regulars: Mike Mueller, Jeremy Blanton, and T.S. Elliott (if you don't know her yet, you should get to know her). Big kudos to our show booking agent, Cathy Browne, for finding another solid guest for us!

Click below to listen to the show in its entirety (Sean's segment begins around the midway point):

http://blogtalk.vo.llnwd.net/o23/shows/show_836888.mp3

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Round Rock Frozen Yogurt Shop - "Yogurt r' Rock" - Inexpensive Family Fun!

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:40:10 -0600

There's a relatively new yogurt shop near my home that we've visited a few times, and I wanted to give them some additional exposure in the hopes of bringing some more customers their way. Yogurt r' Rock is located in the La Frontera Shopping Center, facing the westbound frontage road for Toll 45 (formerly Ben and Jerry's). I keep forgetting to ask if it's pronounced "Yogurt R-Rock" or "Yogurt ARE Rock". Either way, it's worth visiting and it's become a fun, somewhat healthy dessert treat for our family.

The business model is so simple that it makes me wish I'd thought of it first:

Allow customers to self-serve yogurt and toppings
Weigh customer's choice on a scale
Charge 39 cents/ounce

That's it!

They offer about 10 choices for yogurt, almost all of which are low-fat or fat-free. Chocolate and vanilla are always part of the menu, and they switch out the others. They also offer 2-3 sugar free flavors if needed/wanted. They have a very nice selection of toppings, including some fruit, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Butterfinger, peanut butter chips, sprinkles, and more.

My kids LOVE this place, and so do I, frankly.

The staff is always friendly (usually just one or two people to run it, due to the simplicity of their plan), and the yogurt is delicious. It's also meticulously clean there, at least during each of my visits. This includes the restrooms, thankfully.

We went a couple of days ago, and my son chose the white chocolate macadamia yogurt. My older daughter had a flavor that I think was cake batter perhaps? Our three-year old went with standard-issue vanilla, along with sprinkles and mini M&M's, of course.

For me and the three kiddos our total was a whopping $11.37, and I had a sizable serving myself. :)

You can visit their primary website at http://yogurtrrock.com for more info. Their physical address is 2711 La Frontera Blvd., Suite 230.

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Pflugerville Texas Used Book Store - Beth's Book Box - Cozy, Friendly and Inexpensive

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:54:04 -0600

I was on my way home today via a different route, and there was a sign that caught my eye - "Book Box". As a voracious reader, I rarely pass up the chance to visit a used book store, and this was no exception.

I am happy to report that Pflugerville now has a quaint, comfortable used book store. Frankly, this is the kind of place where I am likely to become a regular customer. With prices on the discount shelf at $1 or $2, and most other prices in the $5 and under range, this is my kind of place. They also purchase and give store credit for used books. My wife and I are known to spend entire Saturday mornings perusing garage sales for books, so this store is a dream come true.

While I was there, I spoke for awhile with Beth Lee, the owner/manager. She is an engaging, down-to-earth lady and I love the fact that she is following her passion with this business.

There are a few extras that will surely grow the business over time, including free coffee, free wifi access, a kids' section with some toys, and some VERY comfortable chairs set up for reading. The store features art from locals and kiddos, too, and Beth told me that they repaint the ceiling tiles (currently featuring kids' artwork) every few weeks. They offer a storytime that is geared to kids 2-6 on Thursdays and Saturdays at noon, and they are open to having church, scouting, and other community events or meetings.

In a nutshell, Beth has done a very nice job of providing a casual atmosphere that could become a terrific venue or hangout for smaller groups. While I was there, Beth accepted some items for donations to our troops, which reinforced the fact that she is making an effort to be an integral part of the community with her venture, and I applaud this.

Beth's Book Box first opened about six months ago, and my sole complaint is that I didn't manage to find it sooner. Books are my vice, and I left with a couple of good reads today.

Beth's is located near the corner of Windermere and Pecan Street, on the north side of Pecan. There used to be a Greek restaurant in the space, which makes for some interesting architecture with the store layout. The physical address is 15803 Windermere, and they can be reached at 512-989-7324. Their primary website is http://bethsbookbox.com.

They are closed on Mondays, open Tues-Sat 10am-6pm, Sundays 12-5pm.

If you are a book addict, I highly recommend checking this place out.

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

"Twitterville" by Shel Israel - Book Review

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:57:30 -0600

Quick disclaimer: This is a sincere book review and it contains my honest opinions, and I haven't been compensated in any fashion for this. That being said, I consider Shel Israel to be a friend now, so I will dispense with any formality (i.e. I won't be referring to him as "Mr. Israel" here).

Having had a chance to speak with Shel Israel when he appeared twice on our radio show this past year, and having met him in person when he was in Austin, I was looking forward to acquiring my own copy of his latest book, "Twitterville".

In a nutshell, Shel did not disappoint with this effort, managing to cover Twitter from almost every conceivable business angle. Non-profit? Check. Medicine? Check. Politics? Indeed. Local businesses? Absolutely. What about big business? Yes. It's all here.

Shel has a broad understanding of public relations and corporate marketing strategies, and frankly, it shows here. If you're looking to create a social media marketing plan, this book is certain to give you some new ideas. In fact, I would be surprised if "Twitterville" didn't stimulate some new methods and techniques that you can implement with your own business.

You will learn about what some businesses are doing right when it comes to social media engagement (think Zappos and Comcast), and which ones missed the mark altogether. You will also read about customers who are forming groups of their own around specific brands.

At just under 300 pages, this is a relatively quick read, and Shel keeps things moving along by providing plenty of "real world" stories to illustrate his points. He did a great job of locating the stories themselves, then an even better job of distilling them into a holistic work that supports his thesis. Speaking of which, the main thrust here is that Twitter is a revolutionary business tool which serves to bring people together and makes things happen that might not otherwise have happened. In essence, the world is made smaller and more intimate. The full title is "Twitterville: How Businesses Can Thrive in the New Global Neighborhoods", which is appropriate.

Shel also covers the history of Twitter from its inception and its public debut at SXSW in 2007. I got a better feel for the guys who run the show by reading his take on them and their distinct personalities and backgrounds. He also details a handful of social media rockstars who are just plain doing things the right way, including Chris Brogan, Veronica Belmont, and Jeremiah Owyang.

"Twitterville" will remain on my bookshelf as a reference book, and I can't recommend it enough if you want to gain a better understanding of how Twitter serves to interconnect millions of lives, projects, and conversations.

To pick up your own copy, visit http://budurl.com/twitterville.

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Ask Me Anything! (Trying out Formspring)

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:08:33 -0600

The other day on our online radio show, Mike Mueller shared a site that I think it a lot of fun, so I wanted to share it with my readers here.

Have you tried Formspring.me yet?

In a nutshell, this site allows you to set up a page very quickly (and a corresponding widget, too, if you like) which allows people who see the page to ask you ANY question.

This may or may not have business value for me, but I like it nonetheless. Another feature which I appreciate is the fact that questions do not appear publicly unless I choose to answer them. Before I realized that, I figured it would take a very brave man or woman to open themselves up for this type of public inquiry.

So far, all of the questions have been pretty tame, mainly relating to blogging, social media, and the heartbreaking loss by the Dallas Cowboys this past week. I welcome variety and some new topics. You can view the link below to see the questions I've answered so far.

Feel free to visit my page and ask me a question. You don't even have to sign in - you can ask anonymously. I'll do my best to answer every single question that I receive, unless it's overtly offensive. :)

Here's my link if you're interested in asking me a question: http://formspring.me/jasoncrouch

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Real Estate RoundTable Joins JCKC Network on BlogTalkRadio every FRIDAY @ 12:30 Central

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:33:29 -0600

Join us tomorrow as we continue our discussion! We are very proud to have added "Real Estate Roundtable" to the JCKC Network on BlogTalkRadio. Along with our flagship program, Social Media Edge, we have two other programs, The M Files (with host Mike Mueller) and TQ Radio (hosted by Twitterqueens founders Diane Guercio, Maya Paveza, and Lesley Lambert).

Kent and Ryan are on the right track with this show!

Via Kent Simpson REALTOR® and some other alphabet soup (Avalar Advantage Realty):

Watch out world! The Real Estate RoundTable internet radio show is joining the JCKC Network on BlogTalkRadio!

Last Friday, Ryan Shaugnessy and I started our new show, Real Estate RoundTable, on BlogTalkRadio. Flush with endorphins after finally getting the show started, we were taken to another level of excitement by being asked to join the JCKC Network on BTR after our first effort!

Our first show discussed the question: "Social Media - Are Consumer Wants & Needs Getting Met?" with guests Frances Flynn Thorsen, Mike O'Neill & Lori Ruff, Jeremy Blanton & Jason Crouch. There was so much that didn't get a chance to get discussed on air - we decided to continue the topic for this week's show.

The Mission of Real Estate RoundTable is to provide "Straight Talk - No Hype" as we tackle various topics important to buyers, sellers, investors and industry professionals alike. As part of the JCKC Network, we will strive to equal the quality of the other shows who have paved the way.

Mark your calendars, rearrange your lunch plans - Friday, Jan 22 at 12:30 Central Time we go live again...as part of a growing radio network online!

Part 2: "Social Media - Are Consumer Wants & Needs Getting Met?"

Call-In Number: (347) 215-7478 Chat room will be open for your questions & comments!

Specializing in Buyer Representation in the Tucson, Arizona real estate market.

"Never forget - Real Estate Is About People"

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

UPDATE ON THE HAITI ORPHANS CRISIS:

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:44:01 -0600

Please take a couple of minutes to read this post from Mirela Monte, and take action to help these children. In our abundance, surely we can help those who are truly in need, and save some lives in the process.

Via Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection:

UPDATE ON THE HAITI ORPHANS CRISIS:

I. The following Emergency Bulletin is from Kristen Hammond, the creator of http://www.HumanitarianParole.com

Humanitarian paroles have been authorized by DHS, but some children in the adoption process have still received no food, water or medical supplies. Now is the time to contact your legislators to ask for aid to be directed to children in orphanages, that a safe staging area be created for Haitian children being adopted ...while they wait for processing and that the government send more people to Haiti to help process these children.

It's time to contact our members of Congress/White House/State Department/DHS AGAIN to bring these children home to the US.

Sample letter Addressing the Health and Safety of Children in Haiti:

On January 18, 2010, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano granted humanitarian parole to many of the Haitian children being adopted by United States citizens. While I applaud this measure, many of these children are still in Haitian orphanages which to date have not received any humanitarian aid such as food, water or a safe area to sleep. These children will not survive if they do not receive help. I ask you to contact the State Department and the USCIS on my behalf and request that:

1. Aid be directed to orphanages that have made repeated requests for assistance and are in dire need, 2. A safe staging area be identified where children in the adoption process may wait for processing for humanitarian paroles and immigrant visas so that their medical needs may be met, 3. That those children already processed with a humanitarian parole or an immigrant visa be given immediate assistance in leaving Haiti, and 4. That the State Department and USCIS detail additional personnel to the Embassy in Port au Prince to facilitate faster processing.

We are already beginning to lose children in Haiti due to the delays. Please act swiftly so we do not lose more.

Here is a link where you can find your State Representatives' Contact Information

By the way, if you only have a few minutes, you can just copy & paste this letter and e-mail it to your two senators and your congressman. Their e-mail addresses are included in the contact information provided by the link. I just did mine and it took less than five minutes.

II. The following is another idea from another member of the group, Mark Howerton: Call your County Social Service office, Governors office, and Congressmen offices and tell them you'd be willing to 'take in' and/or 'Foster' a Haitian child who is in the US on HP. There's no doubt that one of the main questions lawmakers are asking is "where will the children go who are not already place...d in an adoptive home?" Your call may help them answer that question and expedite getting these children to safety.

III. For those who are interested in adopting Orphans from Haiti right now these two organizations seem to the best way to go:

a. Bethany Christian Services - To Start A Haiti Adoption Process

b. The Archdiocese of Miami

Tammy Cavaness Shelton Right now as far as she knows that the Catholic church of Miami and Bethany Christian services are the only ways to possibly get a emergency placement for these children. If anyone else knows how...I would love more options but will continue to try these.

Jessica Zerwas Brockardt And the Archdiocese of Miami says "People willing to provide resources or are interested in adoption or foster care for this disaster can email Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami at info@ccadm.org." Here is a link to the Archdiocese of Miami.

Here are a couple of blogs explaining this extreme emergency:

CHILDREN ARE DYING IN HAITI - PLEASE HELP BRING THEM HOME!

URGENT PLEA FOR HELP AT THIS HOUR - HAITI BABIES NEED WATER NOW!!!

I have received several e-mails and comments from many of you wanting to help. The support of the Active Rain Community has been incredible. I am proud to be part of this amazing community, my Active Rain Family! What can I say? I love you guys! You give me Hope! Thank you!

Mirela

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Buy a T-Shirt and Provide Haiti Assistance!

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:20 -0600

One of my good friends, Gilbert Sauceda, runs a local company called the Color Factory. They specialize in logo design and t-shirt printing, along with signage and branding.

Gilbert's company is working in conjunction with HELP (Help End Local Poverty) to provide t-shirts at their material cost (i.e. no profit) to benefit Haiti in the wake of the recent earthquake. All proceeds will be going to help.

I've been looking for ways to help ever since this tragedy occurred last week. I'm hoping to leverage my following to get exposure for this project. They are offering 1,000 shirts for sale as part of this initiative.

I was impressed that they are doing something tangible to help. The shirts appear to be very nice, and you can see them here:

http://www.helpendlocalpoverty.bigcartel.com/

At a cost of $25, please consider purchasing a shirt so that additional funds can be directed to Haiti. HELP is a solid, legitimate organization. Please help spread the word!

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

I Interviewed One of My Very Favorite Guests Today on Social Media Edge - Shane Gibson

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:40:37 -0600

I wanted to spread the word a little bit about today's Social Media Edge episode, since our guest brought some of the very best social media information that I have heard in 14 months of hosting the show.

If you only hear one interview from us, I would suggest this one if you have some time.

Shane Gibson is the co-author of "Sociable", a brand-new book for salespeople who want to convert social media time into real-world dollars. His philosophies and the actionable strategies he shared made me buy a copy of his book today.

You can see more about the book at http://sociablebook.com and you can order it via Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Sociable-Social-Turning-Marketing-Upside/dp/1439264007/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263961918&sr=8-1

Click here to listen to our chat with Shane today:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jckc/2010/01/19/social-media-edge

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

210 Consulting- We Have a New Logo

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:04:37 -0600

I was very pleased with the outcome for our new logo. Here's Jeremy's quick announcement about it:

Via Jeremy Blanton (210 Consulting):

As many of you have already heard, Jason Crouch and I recently teamed up to start a new venture called 210 Consulting. I am really excited to team up with Jason as social media advisors to share our knowledge with people from around the world. In case you missed our big announcement, we are holding our very first webinar this Monday, January 18th at 1PM EST. Our first webinar is called "How to Chug Google Juice & Get 15 Years of Fame" In this webinar, we will be sharing how to use a blog to:

* How to write posts on your blog to increase your inquiries (and sales)
* How to get Google and other search engines to pay attention to your blog
* Dominating Google for your desired keywords
* What a longtail keyword is, and how it can send you oodles of potential business
* How to garner more subscribers and a loyal audience for your blog

If you are interested in attending, you can register here. The cost is only $50.00 for this 2 hour webinar. You will also have access to a recorded version of the webinar as well as a copy of the slide presentation. Also, if you are unable to attend, we hope to be able to have the webinar available in a recorded form soon.

The reason though for this post is NOT to talk so much about the upcoming webinar or to talk about our new Social Media Advisors company. Instead, I wanted to take a minute to share the new logo for our business! So, without further ado I am proud to share with everyone our brand new logo!

A HUGE thanks to my friend Dave Bartz who designed our new logo! I think it turned out great! Let us know what you think of our new logo, and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feel free to subscribe to my blog to keep up to date with my latest posts of tips & tricks to enhance your experience on ActiveRain. If you would like, you can sign up to receive updates via email directly in your inbox.

Also, lets connect on these great social networks:

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

I've Had a Lot of Thoughts on My Mind Lately, it Seems

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:10:15 -0600

I just wanted to mention that I've written three posts on my fledgling blog at JBCMedia.com if you're interested in checking them out sometime. As I said previously, the focus there is really more on internet marketing, social media, and general business ideas. As I also stated, this is not meant to supplant my efforts here on ActiveRain, but rather to provide me with another outlet for my writing.

I am interested to hear your opinion about the site, and the posts so far.

I value your input and feedback. Thanks!

Here are the posts from this first week:

Having the Biggest Sign on the Block - just posted a few minutes ago
Social Media is Really Just a Big Antpile
The Journey of A Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step

Thanks very much for taking the time to check them out!

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Why I'm Very Happy to Have Diane Guercio as a Friend - Social Media Power!

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:53:37 -0600

More than any other post in recent memory that I've written, this one will illustrate the power of relationships formed exclusively through social media. I have never met Diane in person (yet), but I feel like she is a part of my family now. You'll see why soon.

Diane Guercio is one of the founders of Twitterqueens, and she (along with Lesley Lambert and Maya Paveza) host a biweekly radio show on our BlogTalkRadio network.

I've enjoyed getting to know her as @heyamaretto via Twitter over the past year or so, and a couple of months ago, I ended up on Diane's Facebook page, since someone had mentioned her artwork. She is a truly talented artist, and I knew that my wife would enjoy her stuff. It reminded me a lot of artist Mary Cassatt, who is my wife's all-time favorite.

I asked Diane if any of her pieces were for sale. She replied that they weren't, since they are mainly focused on her own kids, but she mentioned that she occasionally did commissioned pieces.

Bingo.

I was ecstatic to hear this, since I thought that an original pastel of our children would be a perfect and creative Christmas present for my wife. I am so thankful that I opted to do this, and Diane certainly did not disappoint. She was even able to finish the piece and get it delivered to my home on Christmas Eve!

I had asked my wife to take a nice picture of all four of our kids, so she knew that I had something planned, but she was surprised by the outcome. Needless to say, she LOVES it! So do I.

Yesterday, we got it back from the framing place, and I hung it over our fireplace. It's the focal point of our family room now. Frankly, it's even nicer than the pictures here indicate. I sent her a number of pictures of each of our kids so that she could get a sense of what they really look like, and she even adjusted my son's expression, using another photo, since he was squinting a bit in the group shot.

I think Diane would be willing to do more artwork, although I am sworn to secrecy with regard to what I paid, since I got the "friends and family" rate.

Thank you, Diane. Your friendship is a blessing to me and my family.

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Launching: Real Estate Roundtable Radio Show! First Guest: Jason Crouch

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:21:06 -0600

Having met both Kent and Ryan in person when they were visiting Austin at different times, I look forward to chatting with them tomorrow on their new BlogTalkRadio show.

I am honored to have been tapped as their very first guest!

Details are below - join us if you can.

Via Kent Simpson REALTOR® and some other alphabet soup (Avalar Advantage Realty):

Ryan Shaughnessy, of PREA Signature Realty in St. Louis, Missouri, and I are launching a new show on BlogTalk Radio: Real Estate Roundtable!

For the first show, we are proud to have Jason Crouch join us to discuss Social Media: Are Consumer Wants & Needs Being Met This Way? The show begins at 9 AM Central Time (10 AM Eastern, 8 AM Mountain). I'll be broadcasting live from Sedona, Arizona this week - beautiful scenery...and host of the Social Media Mastermind Conference this weekend.

Hopefully, we will have one or more of the presenters at this conference join us for the discussion too.

Please join us and feel free to chime in on the discussion and express your thoughts - that's what Talk Radio...and social media is all about!

Future shows will center on real estate & the industry at large - tell us what you'd like to have a discussion about. After all, it is a RoundTable, isn't it?

Go To Show Site Listener Call In Phone Number: (347) 677-1559

Specializing in Buyer Representation in the Tucson, Arizona real estate market.

"Never forget - Real Estate Is About People"

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Austin Texas Fence Repair and Replacement Company - Doug Gorton Professional Services

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:11:22 -0600

I can't say enough good things about Doug Gorton Professional Services, who fixed our fence this week. I wanted to take a minute to publicly endorse him. Doug's website is at http://wepaintaustin.com, and his direct phone number is 512-799-8384.

Here's our story:

After a couple of months of putting off some relatively minor fence repair work on one side of my back yard, I was dismayed to discover a few days ago that an entire section of fence was now leaning precariously in another section of the yard. My neighbor informed me that two of the posts (on his side) were broken and in need of replacement.

I found Doug Gorton because he already had 48 "5 star" reviews on Austin's Citysearch site. We had AusTex Fence come out to see what was needed, and they recommended a full replacement for 2 sides, at a cost of over $2000. They said that the wood was in bad shape and they wouldn't be able to repair it. Doug Gorton came out the same day, within a couple of hours of my initial phone call, and he said that there was no need to replace it.

Two of his guys were on the job the next morning, and Doug showed up to get them started. They knocked it out in less than three hours, which included replacing two posts (set in concrete), placing the fence back, and replacing about 7 boards.

Cost? A mere $225. In fact, it ended up costing less than 10% of what the other guys wanted to charge us. The work looks great, and the workers themselves were terrific.

I can't recommend Doug enough. If you're looking for fence repair/replacement, call him first - you will NOT be disappointed. Since he also does painting, I intend to speak with him in the upcoming months about getting some interior paint work done.

Thanks, Doug!

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

I Launched My New Blog Tonight! Come Check it Out!

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:36:11 -0600

After several months of planning, I am very pleased to announce that I have launched a new blog. Not too long ago, I asked for help from my friends here to see what domain I should try to acquire for this. After much deliberation, I settled on JBCMedia.com. There were tons of good suggestions, but I thought this one left room for several different types of future projects.

As I had indicated in the previous post about the new blog, this new platform will be a place for me to share thoughts about business, new/social media, marketing and more.

In case you were worried at all (and you probably weren't), I don't have any intention of leaving ActiveRain in pursuit of the other blog. Wow - when I put it that way, it sounds like I am cheating on one blog or something similarly odd. At any rate, I have been doing some marketing consulting and social media consulting work, and I wanted to have a repository of my thoughts in those areas. ActiveRain remains the best place for real estate networking and I still learn more here than any classes I have ever taken in my industry.

I will continue to have content that is exclusive to AR, and I will have some content that is exclusive to my new blog. I will have some posts that appear in both places, albeit with some changes because of the different audience.

Let me answer one question that I know someone is sure to ask: "Jason, where do you find the time to do this stuff?" My quick answer: I have no idea. I don't think of myself as particularly talented at time management, but I guess I am more organized than my self-perception allows. Also, I genuinely love to write and I typically do it quickly and with very little prior planning. An idea hits me, and I am off to the races at the keyboard. I also watch very little TV these days.

So what are you waiting for? Come visit JBCMedia.com and drop me a line! You can say you were among the very first to comment there.

Who knows? It might even evolve into a hangout for cool kids over time. :)

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inf/123319212/

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Christ Presbyterian Church in Georgetown, Texas - Come Join Us Sundays at 10am!

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:21:34 -0600

Over the past 17 months or so, my family and I have been involved in helping to start Christ Presbyterian Church in Georgetown, Texas. We started with a small handful of families and individuals, and we have grown to about 75 people now (roughly 55-60 adults). We are a PCA church. If you aren't sure what that means, feel free to visit this page for more: http://www.cpcgeorgetown.org/what-do-we-believe

We meet every Sunday at 10am at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, which is at 100 Stadium Drive. It's about a block north of the intersection of Austin Avenue and Williams Drive. There are more detailed directions and a highly accurate map here: http://www.cpcgeorgetown.org/location-and-times

Our pastor, Whit Anderson, gives timely, relevant and biblical messages in a relatable, laidback style. The music is a nice blend of traditional hymns and more modern worship songs. We do take communion every week at the end of the service, and I have appreciated this, since it serves as a nice reminder of why we are there in the first place.

Services last until around 11:15 or 11:20 most weeks, and the preschool and nursery age kids are taken care of until 11:35am during our refreshment time, if parents prefer to wait to get them for a few minutes while they hang out and talk.

The kids' programs have expanded to include most elementary schoolers, and we're hoping to have the resources to grow this further relatively soon.

I'm in charge of our connection ministry, meaning that it's my job to help newbies feel welcome. Most visitors that I have spoken with have noted how friendly and likeable our group is, and how much they enjoyed the time immediately following the service, too. I have to admit that it's not necessarily conducive to dieting, though, since the snacks are often delicious and fattening. :)

If you like, you can visit our Facebook page and learn more about us at http://facebook.com/cpcgeorgetown

Feel free to contact me anytime with questions, or you can call Whit at 512-784-5868 (cell).

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Stone Hill Town Center - Pflugerville, Texas - Cinemark and 24 Hour Fitness are Coming!

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:15:02 -0600

I have traced the progress of Stone Hill Town Center since before it opened in 2008. I live in nearby Blackhawk (just across 130) and I was very excited to see that Cinemark has decided to move forward with placing a new theater in the center, no later than the first quarter of 2011. 24-Hour Fitness will also be opening next to the Home Depot by the end of 2010.

This is terrific news, and perhaps it serves as a bellwether for the local economy, since both companies had been part of the original plan, then held off. The fact that they have now decided to proceed is certainly encouraging.

Having lived in the northern part of Pflugerville since 1995, I can tell you that we've been waiting a long time for some of the amenities that Stone Hill has brought, including the Best Buy, Office Depot, and Super Target stores.

There's also a Ross Dress for Less which has opened in the center recently.

If I had one complaint for the developer, it would be the lack of real restaurants (i.e. not fast food). Currently, there's a Chick Fil-A and a Whataburger, with a Taco Bueno on the way as well. While these options are fine sometimes, they are not exactly healthy either.Chili's was part of the plan when they started, but they opted not to open at the location, unfortunately. I would love to see some places that I could take my family for a "sit down" meal in the upcoming year, since it's about 3 minutes from my house.

At any rate, I look forward to the added convenience of having "first-run" movies so very close, and who knows? I might even lose a few pounds by joining the fitness center. I might need it based on the present dining choices, right?

Here are my last two posts about the center, both of which include video, as you can see. :)

Stone Hill Town Center - VIDEO UPDATE

Stone Hill Town Center - Pflugerville - UPDATE! (Video Included)

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

I'm Headed to my first NFL Playoff Game Tonight!

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:42:38 -0600

I know that many of you who see the title above are probably wondering when I started playing professional football. Actually, I will be a mere spectator, one of over 100,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium tonight when they host the Eagles.

If you've read my blog regularly, you probably know by now that I am a big-time Cowboys fan, and I was indoctrinated (as it were) by my mom when I was still a toddler. I was born and raised in Dallas, so it's pretty much mandated by law there.

At any rate, I'm happy to be attending my first "live" NFL game in 25 years. Yes, you read that correctly. Although I very rarely miss watching a game, it's usually from the comfort of my own home. The last time I went to a game was with my mom in 1984 - I was 14 years old. Today, I'm taking a road trip with two of my best friends to watch the very first playoff game in the new stadium. Regardless of the outcome, I can say I was there for this piece of history, right?

I only wish that they could have ordered up some warmer weather, since the current temperature in Arlington, Texas is a brisk 28 degrees and it's expected to get down to 16 degrees tonight. Based on what I saw from the parking, my guess is that we'll be walking about a mile each way to the stadium (which, thankfully, is enclosed).

Needless to say, I'll be wearing layers. I'll also be wearing the authentic NFL Aikman jersey that my wife got me for Christmas. I've worn it for the past two games, and the Cowboys managed to shut out back-to-back opponents for the first time in their storied history (almost 50 years!). That being said, I think a third shutout would be too much to ask, but I am hoping and praying for a victory. As a lifelong fan, it's been painful to watch them disintegrate every year in December since 1996, when they last won an actual playoff game. In fact, it may please those of you who aren't Cowboy fans to hear that 13 of the 16 NFC teams have a playoff victory since the Cowboys' last one.

I don't like to make predictions, or to participate in any pre-game trash talk, but I am hoping for a victory, even if it happens in overtime, or if they squeak it out by one point. However, I do kinda hope they wrap it up before overtime, since we're driving back home for about 3 hours after the game, and I'm already anticipating getting home around 2am.

Have a great weekend - I'm sure I will be acting like an obnoxious, rabid fan tonight, even if it is in the nosebleed section. Based on our tickets, I'm especially thankful to Jerry Jones for installing the world's largest HDTV screen at the stadium. :-)

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

"How to Chug Google Juice AND Get 15 Years of Fame" - Online Class from Jason Crouch & Jeremy Blanton

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:41:09 -0600

Recently, Jeremy Blanton and I formed a new venture, 210 Consulting. We are hoping to serve as a resource for new and intermediate bloggers and those who want to learn how to leverage their social media time into tangible business results. I've enjoyed getting to know Jeremy over the past two years or so, and he has become a trusted friend. I look forward to our partnership this year and beyond.

With that in mind, I'm proud to announce our first webinar as a team:

"How to Chug Google Juice AND Get 15 Years of Fame"

We are combining our talents to bring this one to you on January 18th at 1pm Eastern time (noon Central, 11am Mountain, 10am Pacific). It will be two action-packed and educational hours. :-) The cost is only $50 per person. I won't try to push this on you by telling you how many Starbucks venti mocha frappuccinos that is, or how you only have to close one deal to pay for this many, many times over. Suffice it to say that this is a very reasonable price for two hours of business training. Heck, you can even write it off.

Just what will we be covering?

The primary topics for our class will be:

How to write posts on your blog to increase your inquiries (and sales)
How to get Google and other search engines to pay attention to your blog
Dominating Google for your desired keywords
What a longtail keyword is, and how it can send you oodles of potential business
How to garner more subscribers and a loyal audience for your blog

In essence, your blog should serve as your "home base" online with any social media marketing plan. With that in mind, we can help you shape your blog into a cozy and fun place to hang out.

How would it feel to see other people start to spread your content and writing around to their friends?

What are your goals with regard to blogging and social media?

This session is a must for anyone who is new to blogging, or to anyone who feels that they aren't optimizing their efforts with their blog....yet.

We promise to share what has worked well for us. I hope to see you there!

Sign up right here:

Tooting our own horn a little bit:

Jeremy has already taught thousands of people how to use their blogs as effective business tools, with one of his students hitting the #1 spot on Google for a challenging keyword within 10 hours. He is also one of the top featured ActiveRain bloggers from the state of South Carolina.

I am the most-subscribed non-staff blogger on ActiveRain, with nearly 1700 subscribers. I am also the co-host of the most-listened-to BlogTalkRadio show about social networking in 2009, Social Media Edge. I've served as a paid coach for real estate, blogging, social media, and sales.

We've written over 1500 posts to date between us. Clearly, we both enjoy and understand blogging.

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Fellow Active Rainer in Need; Blood Drive Being Held in Katy TX for Liz Carter!

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:04:42 -0600

Liz Carter is one of my favorite people - not just on ActiveRain but in general. Help spread the word about this blood drive and please consider giving blood yourself to help this special lady when the time comes.

Via Marchel Peterson Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro ABR (Results Realty):

We have a fellow rainer who needs our help. Liz Carter with Liz Carter and Team Realty is in desperate need of a double lung and liver transplant. This extensive surgery will require blood at very short notice so her firm is having a blood drive for both Liz and others. Please see the details below for the blood drive being conducted by the mobile unit of St. Luke's Blood Center.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Liz Carter and Team Realty

Mason Village Shopping Center

21949-D Katy Freeway

Katy, Texas 77450

For more information, you may contact Sandra Parker at 281-391-7653 ext.225.

I met Liz when she asked me to moderate the Texas real estate group. We had fun moderating the group together and had some fun contest; all centered around our great state Texas. I have to be honest I have not done a very good job of moderating the group without my cohort to help.

Liz was also at our first ever Active Rain Texas get together. You can see her in the picture with her dog Rhett. She is no longer able to travel as she has to stay within an hour from the hospital at all times.

I spoke to Liz yesterday and she is feeling okay but gets winded very quick. She got tired just in the short conversation that we had. She has no idea when the surgery will take place. It could be tomorrow and it might be a year from now. She told me that if you can't attend the blood drive you can donate at any blood bank and just ask that the blood be banked in her name.

Please keep Liz in your prayers as she goes through this time. We won't have a way of knowing when she gets the surgery as it will happen very quick.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are buying or relocating to Spring Texas and need help from a professional REALTOR®, Marchel can be reached at Marchel@AgentwithResults.com or by phone at 832-721-8332.

If you would like information about Spring TX please visit my websites at www.AgentwithResults.com and at www.ResultsRealtytx.com. The AgentwithResults site is rich in Content about Spring and the surrounding areas of Tomball, The Woodlands and Magnolia. If you prefer pictures with your content then visit my ResultsRealtyTX site.

Want to find out about new Spring TX properties immediately as they come on the market, then click here to sign up for a free automatic notification of new listings.

Click the button to the left to search our local MLS.

Subcribe in a reader

Copyright © 2010 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Fellow Active Rainer in Need; Blood Drive Being Held in Katy TX for Liz Carter!

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Finessing the Online Home Buyer - My View from 12+ Years of Internet Lead Conversion

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:34:02 -0600

After Bob Stewart announced his latest challenge/contest about how to convert internet leads, I wanted to take a few minutes to share what has worked for us to this point. This may not seem overly organized, since I never seem to take the time to outline anything before it spills out onto the screen, but that's okay, right?

Either way, I hope you find it to be helpful.

I remember when my business partner and I started our real estate website, AustinTexasHomes.com, back in 1998, and I also remember the types of questions we heard from our colleagues:

Who's going to see it?
Why would you want to spend your time on that?
Do you think it will actually result in any sales?

You get the picture. Looking back, these questions seem foolish to the extreme now, but at the time, as I was finishing up my first year of real estate, I had my own doubts. Thankfully, I didn't let that stop me from learning about how to get my site to show up in the search engines. Back then, we were mostly concerned about Yahoo, Altavista, Excite, GoTo, and Lycos. Clearly, times have changed. You don't hear anyone talking about how to get more "Lycos juice".

I've been blessed to have had a number of multimillion dollar sales in my career, almost all of which came from the site I mentioned above. Of course, it has undergone numerous updates (and maybe we'll have another in 2010), but it remains the cornerstone of our agency, which provides leads for most of the 16 agents on our roster.

We've all heard the same statistic: somewhere over 80% of home buyers begin their home search online these days. With that in mind, it's important to be the first agent (or at least among the first agents) that these buyers have contact with in your market. Once you have secured contact information of some sort, ideally name, email address, and a phone number (at a minimum), what's next?

BE PERSISTENT

This may run counter to your notion of what constitutes proper etiquette, but I assure you that it works. I sold a $1 million+ home on a golf course near Lake Travis to a buyer that my assistant called SEVENTEEN times before she reached anyone. By "assistant", I mean "wife". :) Was the buyer upset? Nope. He was grateful that we finally made contact and provided the information that he wanted. He ended up buying a downtown area condo for his daughter from me later, too.

If you think about how busy you are during an average week, you might appreciate this approach more. I'm not recommending that you leave sixteen messages. I'm suggesting that you earnestly try to reach each buyer at different times of the day for the first 48 hours or so after you have the lead in hand.

Will this work for every buyer? No, it won't. Will you increase your conversion rate if you manage to get more buyers on the phone? I would like to say an immediate "yes", but it probably depends on your phone skills, frankly. Which leads to my next point...

BE ENGAGING

This is a very difficult skill set to teach. Trust me on this - I've trained dozens and dozens of agents. Some people have the ability to be likeable within seconds; others struggle to keep the conversation afloat. If you can find a point of commonality with the prospective client early in your conversation (kids, movies, news, etc.), you'll find that they will warm up to you a lot faster. However, don't force it. Most people can sense insincerity very quickly.

Don't be afraid to make them laugh. Do share something about yourself. Actually, many of the best tips about blogging apply during your initial phone call with buyers and sellers. Engage, and they will be much more likely to remember you.

AUTOMATE SOME OF THE PROCESS

Having used many "back end" systems (including a period when we had none at all), I can certainly attest to the importance of having a solid drip email campaign coupled with listings that meet your client's criteria. We use Automated Homefinder for this - it was actually developed by a friend of mine who is right here on ActiveRain: Joel McDonald. I have found the features therein to be robust and helpful for our agents. There's an interesting newer tool which allows us to look up the buyer on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn before calling. Hopefully, I don't have to go into great detail about how helpful this information can be when you make the first phone call or send the first email.

Automated Homefinder or any good CRM system does a good chunk of the work for the agent, but don't kid yourself into believing that automation can supplant the personal touch. Select a tool that works well for your needs, but keep in mind that it's meant to enhance your relationship, not replace it. As a side note, I was not paid for my endorsement of AHF, but if you sign up with Joel, let him know I sent you and he might compensate me. Who knows? :)

BE AVAILABLE

Four years ago this month, I answered a phone call from our website from someone who was interested in buying a home on Lake Austin. 22 days later, I closed this buyer on a $3.4 million home. Yes, really. It was one of the top 10 sales for 2006 in Austin. What's the lesson here? Answer the phone! If someone calls or emails you, and it takes days to get a response, do you think they will wait patiently for you and only you to get back in touch? You already know the answer to this question, I hope.

BE PREPARED TO FOLLOW UP FOR AWHILE

You've probably also heard this axiom at some point, or maybe many, many times: Internet buyers have a longer sales cycle. While this can be true, I think the anecdote I shared just above this section refutes this, and I have plenty of others. That being said, I will share another story with you in the interest of bragging teaching. In 2005, my business partner made contact with a couple who were very interested in relocating to the Austin area from out of state. Their budget wasn't unlimited, but it made my pulse race a bit. He met with them during two or three visits, months apart. After roughly 13 months of staying in touch with this couple, he sold them an luxury acreage property for almost $4.1 million.

DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF IN SOME FASHION

This is one area that I probably need to work on a little bit in order to achieve it consistently, but I can give you a couple of quick examples from my experiences that might help:

Consider sending them something via "snail mail" - most agents won't go out of their way to send any tangible package
If the opportunity presents itself, take a video of a specific property, attraction, or area that you think they might find interesting, then personalize it and email it to them - I know this would make an impact on me. Make sure you appear in the video!
If they express interest in a particular home, take a bunch of pictures, put them on a CD, write their name on it, and send it in your package - I got this idea from my friend Bruce Brockmeier of HouseHunt (good stuff!)

I recognize that you probably can't do this last part for every lead you encounter, but it might help to solidify a burgeoning business relationship with the important ones.

I hope these tips come in handy. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. Thanks for reading!

For other methods of converting internet leads, be sure to check out giftofshift.com/activerain where you can purchase a limited edition hardcover of Gary Keller's book SHIFT, which comes with a free version of the eBook Soci@l: Attract Friends, Followers and Connections to Your Business, written by Ben Kinney and Jay Papasan (in which Ben shares his 'ten days of pain' lead conversion method) as well as free audio versions of Millionaire Real Estate Agent and Millionaire Real Estate Investor all for $19.99.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gesteves/2477396306/

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Austin Texas Real Estate Blog (and other stuff)

Is Congress Working to Create Yet Another Potential Hurdle to Real Estate Recovery?

Are You Going to Raincamp Dallas? I hope to see you there on February 16th!

I'm really looking forward to this event as an opportunity to learn and hang out with my friends, some of whom I have yet to meet in person.

If you aren't signed up yet, you can do that right here.

My understanding is that there are three ticket levels. One is donation-based, and the other two are outlined below. It appears that the Platinum Passes will be sold out very soon.

For full details or to register, click here. I hope to see you soon!

Beat Candace!

Help my friend Mike Mueller to pass celebrity Candace Cameron and help a lot of people with a very simple concept. Make sure you watch the video - it's powerful.

The GOAL:

The PLAN:

Great Week for My New Venture: 210 Consulting

Here are some testimonials and comments from current clients and some past students. I have some way longer ones that I am happy to share via email if you like.

Here are a couple of full posts that others have written about us:

Listen to Our Conversation with Sean Cranbury, Host of Books on the Radio

Round Rock Frozen Yogurt Shop - "Yogurt r' Rock" - Inexpensive Family Fun!

Pflugerville Texas Used Book Store - Beth's Book Box - Cozy, Friendly and Inexpensive

"Twitterville" by Shel Israel - Book Review

Ask Me Anything! (Trying out Formspring)

Have you tried Formspring.me yet?

Here's my link if you're interested in asking me a question: http://formspring.me/jasoncrouch

Real Estate RoundTable Joins JCKC Network on BlogTalkRadio every FRIDAY @ 12:30 Central

UPDATE ON THE HAITI ORPHANS CRISIS:

UPDATE ON THE HAITI ORPHANS CRISIS:

I. The following Emergency Bulletin is from Kristen Hammond, the creator of http://www.HumanitarianParole.com

It's time to contact our members of Congress/White House/State Department/DHS AGAIN to bring these children home to the US.

Sample letter Addressing the Health and Safety of Children in Haiti:

We are already beginning to lose children in Haiti due to the delays. Please act swiftly so we do not lose more.

Here is a link where you can find your State Representatives' Contact Information

By the way, if you only have a few minutes, you can just copy & paste this letter and e-mail it to your two senators and your congressman. Their e-mail addresses are included in the contact information provided by the link. I just did mine and it took less than five minutes.

III. For those who are interested in adopting Orphans from Haiti right now these two organizations seem to the best way to go:

a. Bethany Christian Services - To Start A Haiti Adoption Process

b. The Archdiocese of Miami

Tammy Cavaness Shelton Right now as far as she knows that the Catholic church of Miami and Bethany Christian services are the only ways to possibly get a emergency placement for these children. If anyone else knows how...I would love more options but will continue to try these.

Jessica Zerwas Brockardt And the Archdiocese of Miami says &quot;People willing to provide resources or are interested in adoption or foster care for this disaster can email Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami at info@ccadm.org.&quot; Here is a link to the Archdiocese of Miami.

Here are a couple of blogs explaining this extreme emergency:

CHILDREN ARE DYING IN HAITI - PLEASE HELP BRING THEM HOME!

URGENT PLEA FOR HELP AT THIS HOUR - HAITI BABIES NEED WATER NOW!!!

I have received several e-mails and comments from many of you wanting to help. The support of the Active Rain Community has been incredible. I am proud to be part of this amazing community, my Active Rain Family! What can I say? I love you guys! You give me Hope! Thank you!

Mirela

Buy a T-Shirt and Provide Haiti Assistance!

I Interviewed One of My Very Favorite Guests Today on Social Media Edge - Shane Gibson

If you only hear one interview from us, I would suggest this one if you have some time.

Click here to listen to our chat with Shane today:

210 Consulting- We Have a New Logo

I've Had a Lot of Thoughts on My Mind Lately, it Seems

Thanks very much for taking the time to check them out!

Why I'm Very Happy to Have Diane Guercio as a Friend - Social Media Power!

Bingo.

Thank you, Diane. Your friendship is a blessing to me and my family.

Launching: Real Estate Roundtable Radio Show! First Guest: Jason Crouch

Austin Texas Fence Repair and Replacement Company - Doug Gorton Professional Services

I Launched My New Blog Tonight! Come Check it Out!

Christ Presbyterian Church in Georgetown, Texas - Come Join Us Sundays at 10am!

Stone Hill Town Center - Pflugerville, Texas - Cinemark and 24 Hour Fitness are Coming!

Stone Hill Town Center - VIDEO UPDATE

Stone Hill Town Center - Pflugerville - UPDATE! (Video Included)

I'm Headed to my first NFL Playoff Game Tonight!

"How to Chug Google Juice AND Get 15 Years of Fame" - Online Class from Jason Crouch & Jeremy Blanton

"How to Chug Google Juice AND Get 15 Years of Fame"

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Tooting our own horn a little bit:

Fellow Active Rainer in Need; Blood Drive Being Held in Katy TX for Liz Carter!

Finessing the Online Home Buyer - My View from 12+ Years of Internet Lead Conversion

BE PERSISTENT

BE ENGAGING

AUTOMATE SOME OF THE PROCESS

BE AVAILABLE

BE PREPARED TO FOLLOW UP FOR AWHILE

DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF IN SOME FASHION

I hope these tips come in handy. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. Thanks for reading!

Jessica Zerwas Brockardt And the Archdiocese of Miami says "People willing to provide resources or are interested in adoption or foster care for this disaster can email Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami at info@ccadm.org." Here is a link to the Archdiocese of Miami.