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2007 Active Rain Year in Review – A Hawaii REALTOR’S® Perspective

I was quite honored to be asked to participate in the 2007 year in review. 2007 is the first complete year for Active Rain. It was a wonderful year and I look forward to being part of many more with Active Rain.

Many of us find this forum to be such a terrific way of sharing knowledge with other top professionals in the real estate industry and a great way for the public to find us and check us out.

Let's start with some of the 2007 events here on Active Rain that stood out in my mind:

The First (?) ActiveRain Meme - Jay & Francy Thompson (This was actually posted the end of 2006, but had a huge impact on 2007)
In January the Dashboard underwent a big change to try and improve participation and interest. It also helped level the field a little for newer members: Points, dashboard changes and other stuff...
We also saw the addition of localism coming online: Posting To Localism http://www.localism.com/has proven to be a giant addition to Active Rain and to the value of the Rain for real estate agents. Many of us are gaining new clients as a direct result of our localism postings.
In the end of January mine and many members favorite addition to Active Rain - SPELL CHECK!!!
Project Blogger gained a lot of attention earlier in the year. Coaches teamed up with apprentices and had a bit of a competition to learn and grow in the blogging process. There were too many posts to count during that period of time.
Spammers and Scammers also found our forum to be exciting. The Rain Gods made some improvements to our system including new crazy graphic words. ActiveRain System Changes
In June Active Rain had a series of 1^st Birthday Bashes: Meet your fellow rainers - ActiveRain's birthday bashes
System enhancements kept coming: New batch of ActiveRain enhancements
Advertising was added to Active rain and several of us bought ads along with many outside vendors: ActiveRain Ad Network
Active Rain had a series of member gatherings around the country capped off by the big one in Las Vegas during the NAR convention which I got to attend: ActiveRain Member Appreciation Party - NAR Convention Vegas. In January we will be having the first one held outside the 48 continuous states: Active Rain Gathering in Honolulu - January 28, 2008

One of the great things about Active Rain has been the willingness of them to continually upgrade the system to make it better and better.

This is the hardest section for me. I am struggling with which great blog posts from 2007 to list here. No matter which ones I select I will think of many others I missed. I do not want to slight anyone here. I apologize in advance if I missed one of yours that rightfully deserves to be here. I also reserve the right to add more posts later. These are in no particular order.

Sherman and Broker Bryant mount up for battle! - "B.B." Broker Bryant (Bryant is the expert on range pricing and selling in tough markets)
Toilet for sale - house comes with it. - Rick & Ines (One of the absolutely funniest posts of the year)
COPYRIGHT ENFORCEMENT REVISITED with AN INTERESTING ANGLE - Lenn Harley (All I can say is don't mess with Lenn)
Don't "Follow The Leader" if you want more business - George Tallabas (a great marketing post, George continuously shares his great insights)
Oh! Crap! How Am I Going To Get That Out Of The Lake?...ROAR! - TLW (This is one of several of her posts that I absolutely think were among the funniest on Active Rain. Billie is also one of the first to welcome me to the Rain and she taught me what SVW meant)
$$$ CASH BACK AT CLOSING $$$ - Ralph Roberts (Ralph has the best posts about mortgage fraud. His posts are not as widely read as they should be)
Do You SEO? - Laurie Manny (One of the more educational posts from one of the best Localism experts)
Judge and the Jury - Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman (A good friend and partner in crime here on Active Rain)
Hawaiian Legends - Nightmarchers, Menehune, and the Tiki Gods - Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman (OK I put two for Sally. She is the queen of Hawaiian culture)
Meme Tutorial and Alphabetical Index of all Memes on Active Rain! - Lucky Lang (Possibly the longest post I read all year)
What's all the Drama about!! PART 2 - Blogging Bertha (The introduction of Bryant's alter ego, making fun of the whiners who did not get featured)
There are No Short Cuts to Becoming a Real Estate Professional - Randy Prothero (One of my favorite topics; professionalism)
"It's Time to get MAD!" - Rich Jacobson (He wrote many great blog posts to help with netiquette and how to best blog. This one was a great motivational kick many of us needed)
A Green Building Conversation For Today's Changing Market - Jeff Geoghan (One of the most popular blog posts ever that didn't get featured)
Picking your inventory - Kristal "K.K." Kraft (No list would complete without Kristal. At the AR gathering, I was looking for someone with half a face. She does not look like her picture)
I'm a little bothered by a comment I just read. - Leigh Brown (Great tips for agents when taking listings)
Ten Reasons Why I Hate Blogging - Jeff Dowler (I funny post I missed the first time around)
Sellers should answer this question...Do you want to own your home or do you want to sell your home? - Neal Bloom (He had several other great posts that are members only.)
Jeff Turner (I thought long and hard about his posts. There are so many that have been beneficial to my blogging and my business. I could not pick a favorite. My advice is to subscribe to Jeff's posts, you will learn so much from him)
Please Don't Throw Me Any More Gold Stars - Margaret Rome (A great job of lightening it up)
Are Buyers Really Liars? - Monika McGillicuddy (A thought provoking post)

2007 was a time of much change in the real estate industry. Active Rain provided us a forum to share tips, tactics and strategies with each other. I found Active Rain to be an oasis. After a long day of balancing my business and personal life I could take a break unwind and recharge.

Active Rain also gave me a terrific forum with http://www.localism.com/ so the public could find me and the useful information I had to share.

Just one plug before I sign off. I hope to see you at the Active Rain Gathering in Honolulu - January 28, 2008.

I want to say MAHALO (thank you in Hawaiian) to everyone responsible for making this the great place it is. Have a great 2008!

Hauoli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian).

Posted by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® on 01/01/2008 03:51 PM

Comments (62)

active rain, 2007 year in review

Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Almost Anything Goes
Post is included in group: Hawaii Real Estate Professionals
Post is included in group: POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul
Post is included in group: ActiveRain 2007 Year In Review

62 Comments on 2007 Active Rain Year in Review – A Hawaii REALTOR’S® Perspective

I didn't know what that email was about so I thought it was spam....geez.

That's okay ...because you did a wonderful job with this (I was wondering when you'd get it on the dashboard!) and wow...two mentions....thanks bud!

Randy...I really appreciate you inviting me and enabling me to pound away ...and keep pounding away at the keyboard to keep blogging for business. :) In any case....most of all I appreciate you working with me in the office and being a friend out of the office. Wishing you, Darnelle and kids a wonderful new year!

12/31/2007 05:08 PM

by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman (RA), Hawaii Real Estate & Hawaii Relocation (Century 21 Liberty Homes -Mililani, Hawaii)

I lived in Oahu back in the early 80's. I should have started in Real Estate then.

12/31/2007 05:11 PM

by Chris Frantz (Exit Success)

Sally - I am happy you jumped on the Active Rain band wagon and have gotten business from it. Everyone thought I was crazy when I first started promoting this to the office. Happy New Year and a good blogging 2008.

Chris - I started real estate in the early 80s on Oahu. I got out. Interest rates at 18% and almost no mortgage money to be had.

12/31/2007 05:13 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

You did a wonderful job! What a year. I'm looking forward to 2008! I would love to get to Hawaii -- but I'm not sure if that is in the stars!

12/31/2007 05:13 PM

by Joan Whitebook, ABR, e-Pro, CEBA (Buyer's Option Realty Services)

Hi Randy.. Great job on this review..

Glad we got to meet in Vegas, Lori and I had fun at the AR party!

Happy New Year to you, my friend..

12/31/2007 05:14 PM

by Nick Bastian - Tempe, AZ Real Estate Agent (Homesource Preferred Properties)

Randy,

Thanks for the freindship this past year...we all learned a lot. Happy New Year! Hauoli Makahiki!

12/31/2007 05:15 PM

by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)

Randy - You did a wonderful job with a very daunting task! I would have a terrible time trying to pick a favorite. One for sure that I would have included is the one of yours you picked on professionalism. Great job! Happy New Year!

12/31/2007 05:16 PM

by Linda Scanlan (The Real Estate Referral Company)

Hi Randy - Mahalo to you for the work and time that went into this Year in Review!! I love your part of the country, and hope to get back out there again sometime in the near future....I hope!

You did a great job on this post - Happy New Year!!
Ann

12/31/2007 05:20 PM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Joan - Thank you. If you do make it to Hawaii please let us know.

Nick - Thank you, the gathering in Las vegas was really great. Happy New Year!

Neal - Likewise, I really enjoyed sharing information with you throughout the year. Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

12/31/2007 05:21 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Linda - Thank you for the kind words. Happy New Year!

Ann - Thank you, I look forward to your visiting our paradise again.

12/31/2007 05:22 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Nice job Randy! Happy New Year!

12/31/2007 05:41 PM

by Western New York Home Sales | Colleen Kulikowski (Hunt Real Estate ERA)

Colleen - Happy New Year, thank you.

12/31/2007 05:46 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Great job Randy. I can't even imagine how difficult it was to pick through so many great posts. I'm just glad ot wasn't my job:) Thank you for the mention and thank you for including Bertha. She would have never given me any piece and quiet tonight if she was overlooked. Thanks!!!

12/31/2007 05:48 PM

by Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc

Randy, you did an excellent job. It was fun to see all the changes here, most for the best. Happy New Year to you !

12/31/2007 05:48 PM

by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor, Michigan)

B.B. - There can not be a Year in Review without You, TLW and Bertha. Thank you for all I learned from you.

Missy - Thank you, I wish you the best in 2008.

12/31/2007 05:51 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Hey...I did go back and put something there...the 'dibs' is gone haha!

12/31/2007 06:28 PM

by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman (RA), Hawaii Real Estate & Hawaii Relocation (Century 21 Liberty Homes -Mililani, Hawaii)

Randy - Great job. I did miss a few of the postings you mentioned so it is giving me the opportunity to view them. I agree that this year AR provided us with a venue to grow and it helped many weather the storm that passed through the real estate and mortgage industries.

Thanks again for your participation, your viewpoint made a difference and will be appreciated by the community.

12/31/2007 07:03 PM

by Jennifer Fivelsdal,ABR,GRI,SRES (Keller Williams Realty)

Randy- Wow, I thought a Week in Review was hard....but a Year in Review.....Nice job you did, and the commentary is good too :) I am looking towards another AR year, and all the good people that you mentioned. Thanks and Happy New Year to you .....

12/31/2007 07:49 PM

by Kathy McGraw ~ Calif Broker (CELLing Realty)

Very Well Done Randy! While I had read many of these posts, there were some I missed. I had caught the initial stages of the blog Jeff Goeghan did on Green Building but had no idea the extent which it took on a life of its' own. Wow! Thanks for being a part of the rich diversity we enjoy here on Active Rain. Have A Wonderful New Year!

12/31/2007 08:12 PM

by Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate Broker

Sally - I updated my comment. Thank you for putting that last minute escrow packet together today. I got it to the escrow company 5 minutes before closing. One more for 2007 WooHoo!

Jennifer - Thank you for the kind words and for organizing the Year in Reviews. Happy New Year!

Kathy - Thank you, I look forward to your next visit to the islands.

12/31/2007 08:28 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Lola - I am expecting a wonderful 2008 and Active Rain will be part of it. Aloha and Happy New year!

12/31/2007 08:29 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Randy...Thank you so much for an awesome review and for the mention.

Happy New Year Randy.

12/31/2007 09:24 PM

by Monika McGillicuddy~ N.H. Real Estate Broker & Trainer (Prudential Verani Realty/Hampstead)

Aloha Monika - Happy New Year! I hope to see you at a future AR gathering.

12/31/2007 09:25 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Randy, Aloha and Happy New Year! Thanks for participating in the Year in Review project. I've enjoyed waking up this morning to see all the unique perspectives on Active Rain in 2007. As we move forward in the new year, there are many lessons to learn from the past as well as a new future ahead of us. Time to catch up on some of these great posts.

01/01/2008 07:10 AM

by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance)

Brian - I was supprised how many great posts the others have posted that I had missed.

01/01/2008 01:34 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

As with all of the Reviews, there were a few I missed. Great job. This was fun.

Lenn

01/01/2008 04:07 PM

by Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Real Estate

Thanks for the hard work on this post. I will bookmark it and read it later. Happy New Year!

01/01/2008 04:08 PM

by Portland Oregon Real Estate >> Wayne B. Pruner, GRI (Oregon First)

Randy - you always know how to lighten things up, don't you? VIVA SPELL CHECK!!!! (now, how do we get people to use it?). Awesome review, I agree with all your choices and Happy New Year!!!

01/01/2008 04:20 PM

by Rick & Ines - Miami Shores Real Estate (Coldwell Banker)

Hi Randy...

I should have known you'd mention that post. I am pretty sure it's always been your favorite.

Thanks for your support and most of all thanks for the work that went into this :)

Gotta Go...I think I'll start the new year by driving something into my creek.

You can take the girl away from the lake...And when you do...She finds a creek :)

Don't ask what the neighbors think of my driving in water fetish :)

P.S. My name is spelled "Billie" it's a feminine thing :)

TLW...ROAR!

01/01/2008 04:21 PM

by "The Lovely Wife"...Broker Bryant's Wife... (Co-Owner Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.)

Great Job Randy! It was fun being part of this team! See you soon!

01/01/2008 04:24 PM

by Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group)

Randy - a great job! Thanks for the mention. It was one of my more passionate and fun posts this past year. Have a really awesome 2008!

01/01/2008 04:29 PM

by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation)

Randy, I did not read all of the blogs that you picked, but I did read several of them, and I agree with you that they were excellent blogs. Tough job just narrowing it down to those, but they picked the right person to do it.

01/01/2008 04:35 PM

by George Souto (McCue Mortgage Co.)

Great selection Randy...I think I read most...thank goodness...there is so much to read and catch up on....Happy New Year Randy!

01/01/2008 05:09 PM

by Midori Miller-Daytona Beach Florida Real Estate Training (CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty)

Lenn - It was fun, thank you.

Wayne - Thank you

Rick & Ines - Using spell check? The only way is if we give bonus points for accuracy.

01/01/2008 05:17 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

TLW - Sorry, I fixed the typo. I am sure your neighbors will have a less than boring life.

Joeann - It was fun. I look forward to reading the rest of them.

Rich - We needed to pep talk. Have a great 2008!

01/01/2008 05:25 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

George - I know I missed several great posts. Hopefully the others will pick them up in their reviews.

Midori - There are so many. I even found others I missed originally while researching this post.

01/01/2008 05:29 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Randy.... excellent job on this year in review. And thanks for sharing so many of the changes that have happened here on AR. Time went by so quickly.... Overall, in all honesty, I am so tired of reading for now, so I will have to come back to a few of these posts mentioned at a later time.

Thanks and to a happy, safe, and prosperous 2008.

01/01/2008 05:33 PM

by Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- New Jersey mortgage -- FHA mortgages (Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc)

Jeff - Have a great 2008!

01/01/2008 05:42 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Thanks for the post. Best wishes for a Fabulous and Prosperous New Year! Be Safe!

01/01/2008 07:07 PM

by Gregory D. Maley - Metropolitan Washington, DC REALTOR (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Chevy Chase)

Randy,

Excellent job, Happy New Year! :)

01/01/2008 08:54 PM

by Suzanne Sands-Somerset, MA Real Estate (Century 21 Associates Realty)

Randy:

This was lots of fun to read and a great trip back through 2007. It's amazing how much happened in just 12 months. 2008 will be as exciting, I bet. Looking forward to the first AR event outside the mainland! See you in 4 weeks!

Jeff

01/01/2008 10:19 PM

by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

Randy, So much information in such a short time! This was an amazing amount of dedication on your part and you did it so well. One of the highlights of this year, was you calling in on the Sunday radio show. That was fun!

Thanks for the mention of my favorite and most fun post!

01/01/2008 11:11 PM

by Margaret Rome- Baltimore, Md.-HomeRome.com (TREC-Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome)

Thanks for pulling this all together and sharing. Appreciate it.

01/01/2008 11:46 PM

by Bob & Carolin Benjamin - E Phoenix Arizona Real Estate (The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty )

Randy- Great job and lots of my favorites were mentioned too. Happy New Year. Katerina

01/02/2008 01:22 AM

by Nestor & Katerina Gasset, Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.)

Randy, Great Job on your blog!

Dick

01/02/2008 01:58 AM

by Dick Betts (Dick Betts National Speaker)

Gregory - Thank you, have a great 2008.

Suzanne - Happy New Year

Jeff - I am looking forward to our gathering. See you then.

01/02/2008 03:08 AM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Margaret - Thank you, I enjoyed listening to your show and calling in. It was a special treat to participate.

Bob & Carolin - Thank you

Katrina - Thank you, Happy New Year!

01/02/2008 03:12 AM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Dick - Thank you!

01/02/2008 03:13 AM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

GREAT job, Randy, of truly summarizing the 'Year of Many Changes' in this business! Have a great 2008!

Debe in Charlotte, NC

01/02/2008 07:29 AM

by Debe Maxwell (Helen Adams Realty)

Happy New Year everyone! May you all have a great 2008!

01/02/2008 08:38 AM

by "Tommy" - Decebal Adamescu - Long Island NY Home Inspector (HomeSpector Inc. 516-851-5833)

Debe - Thank you

Tommy - Aloha, Happy New Year!

01/02/2008 09:03 AM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

It was good meeting you at the Palms party. I wish I were coming out to Hawaii for the get together... but wife will be around 8 months into a 9 month commitment... I can't even think about trying to pull off that trip...

01/02/2008 10:13 AM

by Lane Bailey - The REALTOR for Car People (Century 21 Network Realty)

Happy New Year Randy! Best Wishes for 2008! Thank you for all your posts and information you provide!

01/02/2008 01:03 PM

by Mohamed Mekhimar - Accredited Buyers Rep , E-Pro - Richmond Virginia Real Estate (RE/MAX Commonwealth)

Lane - You can always visit Hawaii later at a better time.

Mohamed - Thank you for the positive words. Aloha and Happy New Year!

01/02/2008 03:22 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Randy- Your post is thorough and informative. You really seem to have your finger on the pulse of what happens on Active Rain - that and knowledge of posts. Thank you for a wonderful post. Of course it's bookmarked.

01/02/2008 10:12 PM

by Eloise Gift, New Mexico Real Estate (Eloise Gift-Keller Williams)

Eloise - Thank you for those kind words. Have a wonderful 2008!

01/02/2008 10:18 PM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Randy~

I loved reading your Review!..Now I can see that I will be up all night reading posts I missed the first time around. Thanks so much for your leadership here at AR in 2007...and I look forward to more of the same in 2008. Happy New Year.

01/03/2008 12:04 AM

by Asheville's GREEN Land & Homes ECO-Steward Realty

janeAnne - Speak of leadership, you have done a tremendous job in the Green movement on Active Rain, Happy New Year.

01/03/2008 12:13 AM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

Randy,

Thanks for pointing out your favorite highlights and helping a newbie find some of the more compelling posts without a gargantuan search effort. I may be able to come over to the AR bash on the 28th. Where do i find out more about the CRS activities? I appreciate your consistency and creativity. May 2008 bless you with more of everything good in business and in life.

01/03/2008 12:24 AM

by Ron Margolis

Aloha Ron - Here is the website for the CRS Sell-a-bration. The website is: http://www.sellabration.com/

Please contact me as soon as you know if you can attend the Active Rain gathering.

01/03/2008 12:46 AM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

It is always hard to pick favorites ... great job I now will start reading those that i missed

01/03/2008 08:21 PM

by Allen Wright CNS, AHS, REPS (RealtyU)

Allen - It was very hard to narrow them down, and I know I missed many great posts.

01/04/2008 02:29 AM

by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)

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