It’s a hard statement to swallow for all the Americans currently paying more on their mortgage than their home is worth.  But longterm it makes sense.

At the worst, real estate home prices will remain stagnant for five years.  That makes some panic.  However, buyers looking for security, a place to raise their family, a place to call their own should be looking at staying in a home longer than 5 years.

On the other side of the coin we have sellers.  Sure, there may not be as much ‘easy money’ in doing weekly ‘flips’ (remember all those TV shows that emerged from the idea?  How many of those do you see on TV now days?).  But this only means the serious Realtors will stick around.  Which translates into better service for real buyers.

It’ll take a lot of work on behalf of the Real Estate Agents but the market is there.

1. Zillow:  Brings the power of Zillow to your iPhone with a really slick interface.  A valuable tool for buyers and sellers.  Estimates home values across the country.  Look for this to go hyper local (Tallahassee!) by taking advantage of the iPhones built in GPS. 
2. iPhones Real Estate Dictionary:  A handy application providing quick access to terms.
3. Puluwai:  hyper local search for listings.  Pretty bare bones at the moment but shows plenty of promise.  Imagine being notified via a text message when you drive by a listing that matches your search guidelines.
4. Yelp:  Contains a summary of your online reputation.  It has a lot of users so make sure, as a business, you pay attention to your online reputation.

Don’t be afraid, try them out.  Be sure to comment if you have any more app recommendations.

Tallahassee Home Owners we've mentioned the Federal Tax Credit before. Rumors are it will not be extended. However, that could change at anytime. It's best to act now before it's too late.

Delaying a home purchase waiting for home values to decline could price you out of the market.

Say you are waiting for Tallahassee home values to decline 10%...

If that were to happen, and interest rates rose 1% to the 6% level, then you may not no longer be able to afford the same Tallahassee property.  Interest rates are at all-time  lows and have likely probability to increase.  Not to mention the first time buyers tax credit.

Buying the same home | Waiting for price Decline | % change | Borrowing the same amount | Buying a better home

Here's an excerpt (with link to entire letter) from an open letter by Lloyd Frink, President of Zillow:

For Tech-Savvy Consumers, Real Estate Agents are Still the Experts

Despite the number of websites that now offer consumers never-ending information, traditionally only available through agents, most consumers still-and should-prefer to bring in a professional if they're serious about transacting.

Back?  Me again.  The main takeaway for me was that an informed consumer is easier to help.  For those scared that they'll no longer need your service, remember:  you're a trained and qualified professional who has been working in the sector for years.  It would take just as long for a buyer or seller to gain as much know-how as you. 

What this translates into is that you'll spend less time teaching a client and immediantly start working towards end goals.  This allows you to take on more clients and make more money.

Sites like Zillow are here to stay.  Let's use them to our advantage.

At Pro Players Realty we think Craigslist is one of many vital tools in developing quality leads for our business.  Craigslist is great for both buyers and sellers of Tallahassee Real Estate.

How to get the most out of Craigslist:

1. Create an account.  You can post to Craigslist without an account however, not to all sections.  In addition to having full access you can track your listings much easier.  Make one.
2. Decide on a target audience.  Who is your buyer?  How do you cater to them best?  ex.  first time buyers, by area, local amenities, schools, etc...
3. Create an ad campaign.  You know your potential customer now personalize the ad toward them.  Use a nice picture.  Leave multiple forms of contact information.  Create two versions of each add because Craigslist can detect duplicates.  Short but sweet.
4. Post your ads.  Now it's time to post.  Post daily.  Every day delete the previous days listing and post the alternate version.  Choose the option to hide your email but manually put your email in the ad either through text or a picture (a picture will cut down on spam).
5. Follow up on leads.  People will contact you.  Don't leave them hanging.  Watch out for spam though.
6. Tweak and repeat.   Your strategy will change over time and your skills in creating good, impacting ads will get better.  So tweak your ads.

Good luck realtors.

Yours truly,

Pro Players Realty - www.ProPlayersRealty.com

Habitat for Humanity, through the Tallahassee Board of Realtors and many other local organizations, are building Wannessia Jefferson and her family a new home. Not only is this a new house but it also incorporates the latest energy saving features. Pro Players Realty is excited to be apart of this endeavor. Congratulations to Wannessia and her family and a BIG thanks to the other sponsors and volunteers.

No heart warming stories, insights or tips today. Nope, just a very important reminder that the federal tax credit for first time buyers is expiring in a few months. Whether it will be extended, increased or decreased in value I don’t know. But I do know that if you act before December 1st you’ll receive an $8000 federal tax credit. And people say it’s a bad time to buy…

Want more information? Call 850-942-SOLD today or visit our website.

Mendi, her sisters, and her parents needed a home in Tallahassee. They came to Pro Players Realty. Now they’re closing on one with 4 bedrooms and 5 acres. Mendi was so excited she drew us the picture you see above.

Sometimes being remarkable pays off for more than just yourself.

For more heart warming stories please vist our Real Estate Blog

The key to a successful real estate agent, and any business really, is being remarkable. Remarkable is all about exceeding expectations. You do this by endearing yourself to clients, by doing something original.

People talk. Impress them enough and your business will go viral. The best part about viral is that it quickly becomes your best advertiser. If you, your business, or your product generate buzz that buzz will do more for your profit margins than any TV, print or radio advertisement ever could. 

Be original. Be remarkable. You’ll be remembered.

For more insights and ongoings please check out our Tallahassee Real Estate blog.