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The Power of the media!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Vintage Homes Realty BK3121917

An interesting thing has been occuring that I think tells how dramatically the media has been adding to the housing situation.  On December 29th, our local Tampa Tribune ran a front page story about our housing market in Tampa relative to the other metro markets in the State of Florida.  Tampa was the top selling region in the state with almost 21,000 homes in 2007. 2nd was Orlando with around 14,000.  Last was Miami at around 5200.

Since the beginning of the year my website has seen a dramatic increase in hits and property views.  I have had more showings in the past 3 weeks than in the previous 3 months.  Then I checked my listing views on Realtor.com and found that the week beginning Dec. 30th saw a jump in property views.  Not a jump of 5 or 10 percent but as much as a 400% increase in property views!!!!  The property views on every listing went up at least 150% per week for the past 3 weeks.

Coincidence?   It seems a little too sharp and consistant to be coincidence.

I would be interested in knowing if others have seen similar activity in other areas following positive or negative articles in your local media.  If so, I think we should all consider how many advertising dollars we give to our local media when they have been talking the country into recession and pushing the housing markets to the abyss.

 

posted by: www.atHomeintheHeights.com

The source for vintage homes in Tampa

Lorinda Ward
Keffer Realty - Norfolk, VA
Serving, Hampton Roads Virginia. Norfolk, Chesapeake, Va Beach
I am seeing the same thing, lot's of hits on my website the buyer's are out there and looking for the best deals.  Have a great day! 
Jan 19, 2008 10:57 AM
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck Professional Real Estate Inspections - Houston, TX
I am an inspector, so admittedly it is a different situation, but I noticed to strange trends to my site. Increasing traffic to my site from November till now, but when I looked at my Adwords account, there was a different story. Searches for real estate terms went dramatically down in my area (Houston). Most people coming to my site are  finding my name directly or from listings on other real estate sites.
Jan 19, 2008 11:43 AM
Mana Tulberg
805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA
Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA
Rick, It is so sad to see how media controls the public!!! But, I've also seen a change as our local media changes its story.
Jan 19, 2008 12:10 PM
Rick Fifer
Vintage Homes Realty - Tampa, FL
Broker/Owner, Vintage Homes Realty

As a update.  The views have still been rising.  In a 4 week span the weekly views of one listing have gone from under 70 a week to nearly 750 last week (no I am not having a fire sale!)

Maybe the drop in rate could be have some affect but that seems still be an issuffient explanation.

Jan 25, 2008 01:18 AM