When you first turn on the news you hear all sorts of negative feedback on the real estate market. House prices are lowering due to lack of sales. Foreclosures everywhere.
When I see these things I look at an opportunity in turning the negative media into a positive standpoint for my business. When people ask me how is the real estate market doing, I respond "well for me personally, it's doing very well thank you." And this is very true. I am a new Realtor, and feel that me getting into the business at a slower time has allowed me to learn the business and create new strategies to market my real estate business. I inform potential clients that it is a great buyers market and that with the prices of the homes lowering and the many short sales and pre-foreclosures available, now is the best time to buy a home. It is also a great time to encourage first time home buyers to buy.
Here is an idea that I've not seen anyone do that may help you in your business. I know of Realtors who are all the time sending out post cards to potential clients, but from my experience it is a waste of marketing funds. I've not received any calls from going that route. Where I see the success from is getting together with a trusted mortgage loan officer. Have them come up with some prices of monthly payments on certain priced homes with 0% down DPA FHA loan. Make up flyer's letting people know that they can own their own home for this amount of house payment per month with no money down. Many times they don't realize that they could own a home for what they are paying in rent a month, and many young people are not aware of the DPA program. Take these flyer's around to apartments and rental homes in your area and hand deliver them. If they are not home just leave it on the door. Chances are you will get the opportunity to talk with a few. Have your contact information on the flyer and the loan officers information on the flyer so that they can get pre-qualified for a loan amount. Once the loan officer qualifies them then they can contact you to assist them in finding the home that will best suite their needs. #1 key is to stay in close contact with them. Let them know that you care and are wanting to assist and help them. Email them listings, and if they don't have the Internet, print off listings and mail to them. Offer to pick them up at their home to show take them out and show them properties. If you have a bilingual agent or translator in the office, have one side of the flyer in English and the other in Spanish, this will let them know that you will be able to assist them if they need that service.
Another thing that I have done in my own community is start a community newsletter. Anyone in the neighborhood that has things to sell, trade, give away or announcements it is added to the newsletter that I print out and hand deliver to the neighbors every 3 months. It gets you involved in your own neighborhood and lets your neighbors know you are in the real estate business. Not only will you get to know the neighbors better you will strum up some potential business when they decide to sell.
Number one key is to keep a positive attitude and don't give up. I have been at this business a year and feel that I've done well considering the market conditions and hype that the media has given for real estate. This Friday I will be closing on 2 homes and next week another. I know that my faith in asking God to help me prosper along with hard work and perseverance is paying off.
Have a wonderful and fun time marketing your business and God bless.
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