Steve's Blog

Looking in Colorado Springs?

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:36:24 -0600

If you are looking for Daily Real Estate News and Information, for Colorado Springs, www.sellingthesprings.com is the right spot. You can also find local school reports, mortgage calculators, free home appraisal information, home advice, Free Real Estate Reports (including the surrounding areas), daily e-mails of new listings available, maps, and more.

Whether you are looking for a new home in Colorado Springs, thinking of selling your existing home, or just want help with an investment or a relocation, The Glisan Team can help.

Please explore my site: www.sellingthesprings.com to find out how we can help you in the sale or purchase of your new home.

Worth the Money/Work?

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:19:20 -0600

When in comparison to a flat window, Bay windows can definately increase a home's charm. It reaches out to capture more light and views from three angles, and the seat provides extra space for plants or a sunny sitting spot to relax. But does adding a bay window increase the home's value enough when a homeowner is preparing to list? And upgrading to a bay window will most likely require a professional, which costs the homeowner money. So is this upgrade work the money/work when getting ready to list? Any thoughts on this?

Home Trend: 3 Car Garage

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:39:39 -0600

Back in the 1950s, the one car garage was standard in the homes that had any garage at all. Now almost two thirds of all new homes have two car garages, and on a nationwide basis, have three car or more garages.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the three car garage is becoming a must-have in new homes with the Midwest and the West in the lead.

For most buyers, the appeal of the three car garage is the added storage space. And seldom do three cars get parked inside! And for builders, installing a three car garage allows them to offer a second floor "bonus room" Today's three car garage with an upstairs bonus area actually rivals the size of a typical new home of the 1950s.

You're Getting Old if You Remember...

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:14:56 -0600

Candy Cigarettes
Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside
Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes
Newsreels before the movie
Telephone Party Lines
45 RPM records
Hi-Fi's
Roller-skate keys
Drive-in Movies
The Fuller Brush Man
Penny Candy
15 cent hamburgers
Your mom wore nylons that came in two pieces
Metal ice cube trays with levers
Mimeograph paper
35 cent a gallon gasoline

Okay...that's enough goofing off! I need to get back to work!

Real Estate Aside...some Fun Facts

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:05:00 -0600

Taking a break from real estate, here's some interesting and slightly strange facts:

Peanuts are one of the ingredients in dynamite
There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar
No word in the English language rhymes with ORANGE, SILVER or PURPLE
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear
Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer
A dragonfly has an average lifespan of just 24 hours
A dime has 118 ridges around its edge
John Lennon's first girlfriend was named Thelma Pickles

Okay...back to work!!

Should we start looking for a new home?

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:33:54 -0600

Often times, I'll be asked by my sellers how soon after they put their home on the market should they start looking for a new home. Should I answer the seller's questions with another question: what would you do if you fell in love with another home? Should I suggest negotiating a bridge loan to allow them to buy their next home while their existing home is on the market? Or should I just say the best plan is to have the old home under contract before looking at others?

I'm curious what fellow agents are telling their sellers should this question come up.

If the Buyers are in the Driver's Seat...

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:05:22 -0600

A buyer's market means that the buyers have the advantage. The buyers today are in the driver's seat. Why then don't more buyers buy in a buyer's market? Would the primary reason be fear? Fear that they will lose money if they bought now? All the negative press tends to get to the masses of people. Is the media the ones creating the fear and uncertainty? Is the Media helping keep people out of the buying mode and creating this buyer's market?

Market Yourself to the Younger Generation

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:10:02 -0600

Because they're the people that's going to be buying, we need to know how to market to the next generation.

Social networking sites, blogs, online videos and virtual communities are some things realtors should consider looking at. This generation uses technology, so we have to use technology for prospecting and networking.

Real Estate Technology Expert Saul Klein of E-Pro has some suggestions:

You may need to go virtual, creating virtual worlds where residents appear as a 3-d character (known as an Avatar). He mentions SecondLife and There.com for these virtual economies. Klein also suggests sites like MySpace and Facebook to show off your listings and educate buyers about real estate.

How about giving them a USB flash drive instead of a magnet?!

Or deliver new property listings in real-time through instant-messaging and text-messaging?

If the buyers coming up do things in a different way, we'll have to know how to communicate to them.

This e-book is WORTHLESS, Don't fall for this sales pitch!

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:11:04 -0500

I recently received an email titled "Matt Chillinsky, Author Appologizes to Realtors. I opened it up and found a company promising to help you turn internet leads into closings. He had an "e book" which he had published which promised to help to "Stop Wasting Leads", as follows:

•· Recently I sent an e-mail out with the subject line: Realtors Make Me Sick. I sincerely apologize. My intent was not to offend Realtors; it was merely to get your attention. If you actually read the e-mail you know that I was promoting my e-book "Stop Wasting Leads" along with some very valuable bonus items.

When you visit my website you will see that I'm offering some great bonus items valued at over $3200 that will help you to dominate your market and crush your competition. But, I must warn you that there are only a few of these bonus items still available.

I went to the website and looked around. I have been in business for 21 years, I have spoken at the Inman Conference in the past regarding Internet Lead Generation, and I am know here in Colorado Springs real estate for generating a lot of leads. I order and have read many great things over the years and so I purchased this E-Book for $100.00.

This is a sample of his website promises about his book:

Creator of Quantum Lead Conversion Service Reveals Secrets to Success
"It makes me sick to see REALTORS® wasting money on leads when they have no clue what to do with them"
The Secret to Success in Real Estate is not the number of leads you have. The Secret is knowing what to do with them.
These easy to apply Secrets work in any market with all types of leads to create a desire in prospects to work with you.

What I received for my $100.00 was absolutely nothing. I would have at least expected to have a script. Instead I received things like "Call them more than once" and "Buy a database to track your leads"....WOW, ground breaking stuff. But probably the best, from a book promising to "Stop Wasting Leads" was the one that said "I could have included scripts but it is better if you write them yourself"....The crown jewel!

Housing is at it's peak and will not go any higher!

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:31:22 -0500

I was reading my september 2007 Star Power Real Estate News and they had a few interesting quotes in there that I thought each of you might be able to use as you talk to your customers. I hope you find these useful...

"The prices of houses seem to have reached a plateau, and there is reasonable expectancy that prices will decline." Time Magazine, 1947
"Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today's average price is around $8,000.00--out of the reach for two-thirds of all buyers." Science Digest 1948
"The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans. The typical new house today costs about $28,000." Business Week, 1969
"You might well be suspicious of 'common wisdom' that tells you, 'Dont wait, buy now.'" --NEA Journal, 1970
"The median price of a home today is approaching $50,000.00... Housing experts predict price rises in the future won't be that great." Nations Business, 1977
"The era of easy profits in real estate may be drawing to a close."--Money Magazine, 1981
"Financial planners agree that houses will continue to be a poor investment."--Kiplinger's Personal Financial Magazine, 1993.
And my personal favorite...."A home is where the bad investment is."--San Francisco Examiner, 1996

This article was written by Jeff Scislow from Minneapolis, Minnesota. His commentaries are available under Investor Alerts on his web site at http://www.america2florida.com/.

Fact National real estate values have appreciated:

88% Since 1996

340% Since 1977

685% Since 1969

2650% Since 1948

Thanks to Star Power and to Jeff for bringing us something we would not read in a newspaper...Not even in their "Corrections" Area.

Have a great weekend.

Steve

No more 100%..Hey Mav, do you have the name of that truck driving school?

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:22:35 -0500

So much has happened in the last couple of weeks with lending, I had to call my lender today just to find out what the FHA limits were here in Colorado Springs and she had to call me back because it had been so long since she had done one...

Times they are a changing. When I got into this business 21 years ago we did two types of loans FHA and VA. Every once in a while we would do a conventional...but who had 20% to put down?. Well at Countrywide and I am sure at others if you own a piece of real estate and have a loan on it they will not do anymore 100% 80/20 loans which will make it difficult for the transferee who still has a home to sell.

I can see why they are doing it, but I think it is over reaction...I am sure the pendulum will swing back to some where more reasonable.

Until then...Hey Mav, do you have the name of that truck driving school?

Steve

PS. I have heard so many negative things about Countrywide who is a lender I have always thought highly of. I believe most of it is either the media or their competitors. I found this on their website about the investment that Bank of American made in them. I doubt they would have made this type of investment if they were going under...I love the media

"Bank of America, with $1.5 trillion in assets, has the largest retail banking franchise in the U.S. and is one of the most respected companies in the world," said Angelo R. Mozilo, chairman and chief executive officer of Countrywide. "Bank of America's investment in Countrywide represents a vote of confidence and strengthens our balance sheet, enabling us to position Countrywide for future growth and success," added Mr. Mozilo. "This transaction benefits all of Countrywide's constituents, including investors, shareholders, mortgage customers, deposit holders, business partners and employees," concluded Mr. Mozilo.

Who is better? Keller Williams, Avalar, Exit or Global Realty Marketing or....?

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 20:24:09 -0500

What is the deal with all of the Multi Level business models which are popping up around the nation? I am looking at opening one and I am not sure which way to go.

It seems the major difference is what they pay on and how deep they go...do you have any thoughts or have you had experience either negative or positive with any of these I have listed?

I have few quick questions if some of you do not mind answering:

Which franchise are you commenting on?

Do they pay on Profit sharing or by closing?

How often is the override paid?

How many levels do they pay?

Do they restrict how wide you can go?

Is anyone really making any money on the override?

Thanks for you help, if you know of any others please let me know.

Who's MLS is it anyway and why are they my competitor????!!!!

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:47:04 -0500

The short of it:

Get involved in your Board MLS and ask them to stop being the one stop shop for buyers looking on the Internet for homes. Remove the addresses or maybe even the entire public link and let the consumer go to Realtor run websites to login with their email address to get all the information. Put the Realtor back in the middle of the transaction!!

The NAR/Department of Justice Lawsuit is not about the DOJ wanting us to make the MLS public. (Some want you to believe this..check their motivation before you believe, check their market share)

The long of it:

The Internet has been so very interesting. I started in this business 21 years ago; I sat for 12 years on our MLS board here in Colorado Springs (6 years as president i think,lol!); The Pikes Peak Association of Realtors. As the Internet came into being what I saw happen across this country made me ask then and it makes me ask now...Who does your MLS really represent? If you don't know take this test:

1. Pull up your MLS's Home page. Is there a place for the public to obtain listing information? Here is our Home page for my MLS. As you can see on the far right there is a place for the public to search for information. No problem here, many have this feature...the next question is the answer.

2. If you click on your MLS's public page and do a search, what information does your MLS provide? Is it limited or is there enough information there for the public to do anything they want WITHOUT A REALTOR or at least without a buyer's agent? If the answer is yes, it is time to start asking questions because I believe your MLS and it's board of directors may have made a decision which was done out of fear and only years later can be done out of knowledge. On my MLS's public search we do not give out Addresses because we want the public to contact one of our professional Realtors to show them the home; my MLS keeps the Realtor in the middle of the transaction.

Why? Why would an MLS offer absolutely every piece of information to the public through a website which is paid for by both buyers agents and listing agents and ask nothing in return from the public? Many of these sites have become the one stop listing information source. Through your hard earned money and giving your information away, many boards have very high rankings in the search engines and become the one to beat; they become your competition! This does not make sense but you have to go back a few years to see why this happened; it was not a malicious act by boards, but it is time for a change.

Today, both listing and selling agents spend thousands on internet web pages, pay per click, and SEO ranking. I use two types of websites; one is a "Brochure Site" from Homes.com and my other is a "Lead Generation Site" which is built to rank in the search engines and capture email addresses; it uses a VOW (Virtual Office Website) which requires a person to login before they get all the information; in our board that means consumers must give up their information before they get our information....Gosh directory assistant/411 is not even free. (For a great explanation of the difference between IDX and VOW by Angus in Naperville Florida, click on these links)

Back when the Internet (invented by Al Gore) started to come up in conversations, MLS boards did not have any idea what to do. Questions like "Is it here to stay" and "What will this do to our business" were asked at board meetings across the country. NAR had no rules and no one on the MLS wanted to give up the Super Secret Information in the Magical Listing System; that was about to change...The Internet had arrived in Austin Texas in a big way and every Board in the country knew about it!

A lawsuit in Austin Texas between Russell Capper (the first to post all the listing information on the internet) and the Austin Board of Realtors (who shut off this brokers access to the internet) sent everyone running for cover, the fight was on and in no time the courts had handed down the first injunction, and Russell Capper was back in the real estate business with an injunction from United States District Judge, Nowlin.

To give you an idea of how little we all knew back then, look at this piece from Realty Times regarding the Austin Boards attorney who almost fainted:

A reporter for dbusiness.com witnessed what he called the crumbling of the Austin board's case. According to his report, the board's lawyer Patrick Keel "almost fainted as the judge questioned him about why Internet brokers should be treated differently than others," and point-blank asked Keel whether his client had changed the organization's rules just because it (e-Realty) was a competitive threat. Keel didn't answer, but had to be led to his chair by colleagues, invoking a court recess. Later, Nowlin drew his own conclusion.

With this, MLS's across the country became fearful of lawsuits and decided to just publish all the information...right or wrong all the MLS information was now out there. At NAR meetings in Washington DC the MLS roundtable meetings had only one topic, what to do about listings on the internet; no one had the answer except to "Tread Lightly.

I believe fear was the motivator of, what today, has resulted in taking the hard working Realtor out of the middle of the transaction and it is time to make a change; take the addresses off of the local board sites and make the consumer go to the sites which are being run by the Realtors where the consumer can login, get all the information (after they give up their information), and get a professional Realtor to represent them.

I am sure someone will tell me this is what the whole NAR/Department of Justice Lawsuit is about; I have read that bovine excrement being posted on the websites of large franchises and on other Blogs.

The truth is, the Department of Justice is correct in it's lawsuit against NAR (I am listed on the DOJ witness list in support of the DOJ) and the lawsuit is all about the "Opt Out clause"; a brilliant addition to the VOW policy which a couple of huge franchises and a few brokers (who controlled large market share in their areas) came up with to "prevent the public from being harmed" by their competition....can you smell that too?....Bull! It was market share protection, plain and simple and the DOJ knew it...but that is a blog for another day....

Thanks!

Steve

Has anyone tried these guys for converting internet leads??

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:13:38 -0500

I have seen a few posts out there for this company http://www.quantumleadconversion.com/index.html. They claim to be able to do great lead conversion. The cost is up there but not when I consider the lost conversions on the leads I generate.

If you have experience with others who provide this service I would be interested in looking into it.

He also published a book called Stop Wasting Leads. If you have purchased it (at a cost of $99.00) I would like to know if you thought it was worth the cost.

Thanks!

Steve

Video Email programs

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:38:19 -0500

Any suggestions for software or an online service to send video email to my clients? Any help would be appreciated.

Video Email - What is the best and why?

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:53:37 -0500

I want to add the ability to send emails to my clients with video. What do you use and why is it your choice? Please post a link so I can look at one. Thanks

This is my first post...Any help is appreciated!

Steve Glisan, Colorado Springs Real Estate (Glisan Real Estate and Investments) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:32:09 -0500

I just wanted to introduce my self, my name is Steve Glisan and I am a 20+ year veteran real estate broker in Colorado Springs CO. I continue expanding my web-presence and hope to meet and network with many fascinating real estate and other professionals through Active Rain.

Currently I have a website in the Colorado Springs real estate market, and hope to learn from many of the experts here.