real living: Real Living Continues Impressive Growth
- 05/06/10 02:35 AM
Real Living today announced more additions to the family. We continue to grow through a highly successful, three-pronged approach: franchising companies providing merger and acquisition assistance delivering the necessary support to help local brokers grow their operations by opening new offices in major markets In the last month, three companies -- with offices in Louisiana, Texas and Illinois -- have joined Real Living's growing national brand. The three most recent companies to join the Real Living brand are: • Real Living Bobby Drude, Hammond, La • Real Living Houston Home Sales, Spring, Texas • Real Living Properties, Gurnee, Ill The most … (1 comments)
real living: Real Living Continues to ROLL. 6 More GMAC's Convert to Real Living!
- 03/05/10 01:05 AM
We've been busy at Real Living. In the past 60 days we've converted over two dozen GMAC offices and over 1,000 GMAC agents to the Real Living network. I'm proud to announce that the brand we created in 2002 continues to gain traction throughout the US! The seven most recent companies to begin waving the Real Living flag in their hometowns include: Real Living Advanced Realty, Hoover, Alabama Real Living Carolina Property, Morganton, North Carolina Real Living Cranbrook, Realtors, Franklin, Michigan Real Living Greater Montana, Hamilton, Montana Real Living Messina, and Associates, Duluth, Minnesota Real Living Team Advantage, Columbus, Indiana Here is … (9 comments)
real living: What GMAC Brokers are Saying About Real Living... Quotes
- 01/20/10 11:52 PM
Here are what two of the newest Real Living franchisees are saying regarding their decision to re-brand and join Real Living. GMAC Brokers are excited, agents are excited and we who've been Real Living for a while are thrilled by the fast growth. "When we were deciding to go with Real Living, I was very impressed with the technology offering and the marketing." "The Real Living brand is new and we believe the concept is something that is really going to stick." "It is important to be associated with a franchise that keeps you at the top and differentiates you from the … (6 comments)
real living: Harley Rouda Jr. and Eddie San Roman Interview - Exciting!
- 01/14/10 02:36 AM
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 is a historic date in the Real Living history book. It marks the date where first GMAC franchise converted and re-branded to Real Living! Eddie San Roman, president and CEO of First Service Realty (now Real Living First Service Realty) owns the proud distinction of being this first brokerage to join. Hundreds of red, round and real yard signs will immediately infiltrate the Miami market as Eddie and his agents paint the town Real Living RED. This is another interview, done just hours prior to Eddie announcing this news to his agents and the entire … (1 comments)
real living: Know Your Audience - Especially When Recruiting
- 09/01/09 01:21 AM
Below is a picture of a postcard that was received by several of our agents in Central Ohio from a Re/Max brokerage. The card is an obvious form type letter whose message should be targeted towards a real estate company who does not enable their agents to "self promote" or provide them to tools to "self-promote," and use new media.
The irony for me in this card is that Real Living provides many more tools to self-promote than the Re/Max. Some of them include... A broker site that drives leads directly to agents Agent websites that can be used for … (2 comments)
real living: See the People - Why You Cannot Afford to Ignore Social Media
- 08/19/09 07:06 AM
In my role as vice president of marketing I've consistently heard two common phrases, over the past few months with respect to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, etc.)... 1. I don't have time to participate in social media. 2. <insert social media outlet here> will not find me customers. I recently compiled a few staggering stats that I wanted to share with respect to this commentary... Generation Y will outnumber Baby Boomers by the year 2010 and 96% of them are active in social media. Today's new generation of homebuyers, Gen Y and Gen Z (the next gen behind Y) consider e-mail … (5 comments)
Real Living HER - 171 homes sold All 19 Re/Max Franchise offices - 117 homes sold Coldwell Banker King Thompson - 96 homes sold All 6 Keller Williams Franchise offices - 85 homes sold New Albany Realty - 34 homes sold This is a 27% market share in the upscale central Ohio market! Our marketing, tools, systems, sites and agents all contribute to this success! If you are interested in joining our professional firm so you too can use … (4 comments)
real living: Peace of Mind Extended!
- 08/05/09 08:40 AM
Great news! We're extending the Peace of Mind, Job-Loss Mortgage Protection Plan! It will be extended for another month - buyers must go into contract prior to September 30, 2009 and close prior to October 31, 2009. The website PDF's will be updated by tomorrow to reflect these dates. This extension will also afford more time for our refinance initiative to work as well as the buyer/seller initiative. Remember refi customers are eligible too. It is also noteworthy to mention that we'll be introducing another consumer promotion, simultaneously, in conjunction with the conclusion of Peace of Mind. The next … (1 comments)
real living: Real Living Offers Peace of Mind Plan - Job loss insurance to add comfort during uncertain times
- 06/01/09 01:33 AM
Real Living has done it again! This week Real Living is celebrating the newest program for buyers and sellers designed to provide additional comfort in this uncertain market... Real Living's Peace of Mind Mortgage Payment Protection Plan. Real Living is the first and only firm in central Ohio, Dayton, Cincinnati and Louisville to offer a program of this nature. The Peace of Mind Plan is being implemented to differentiate our agents from the competition and to provide an opportunity to send a one-stop-shopping message to consumers. Here is the scoop... Real Living is covering the cost of an insurance policy that … (2 comments)
real living: Real Living Rocks Momentum 2009!! (lots of pictures)
- 05/12/09 02:14 AM
Real Living Momentum 2009 was a huge success. It all started with the best venue to ever hold the event, The Lifestyles Communities Pavilion (aka. the LC). The LC is an intimate venue that attracts well know bands in a close setting. Real estate is primed for a strong turn-around and this party served as the kick-off for Real Living. Registration started at 1pm and below is a picture of the entry to the LC...
The event kicked off with Harley and Kaira Rouda opening the awards ceremony. Hundreds of Real Living agents walked the stage to receive their awards...
This year marked … (0 comments)
real living: More Wolves - Coming After Your Listings and Advertising Dollars!
- 02/10/09 05:50 AM
Since taking over the marketing department at Real Living, I've had some eye-opening experiences. The first of which that I want to discuss is the formation of new listing syndication sites with local slants owned by local newspapers, radio stations and the like. On the surface and in your first meeting, here is what these wolves look like this... cute and harmless
But here is the real scoop... These new sites have a great advantage because of their ownership. In Columbus, The Dispatch Media Group owns ColumbusRealEstate.com, in addition to the local newspaper, the local CBS affiliate, radio stations and localized free weekly newspapers. … (6 comments)
real living: Economy May Claim Realogy
- 02/10/09 01:10 AM
Yesterday on Yahoo Finance, this article appeared on the home page. The article lists 15 reputable companies who, "might not survive 2009." (read half way down the page to get to Realogy's write-up) Realogy is the parent organization of top brands including Coldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA, Sotheby's and the newly formed (and certainly underperforming, mostly due to timing) Better Homes. It's interesting that very few articles regarding the Realogy financial troubles even mention Better Homes. Realogy's struggles have been well documented. You can Google "realogy bankruptcy" and find close to 11,000 results. Times are definately tough and it seems even tougher for the largest of … (42 comments)
real living: Who is First?
- 01/15/09 04:28 AM
Any subscriber to my blog knows my distaste/crusade against the overspending of marketing dollars in newspaper advertising. Below is a graph that should help consumers realize how their home will be marketed for maximum exposure and results. Agents, yard signs the Internet accout for 81% of consumers first source of information. Newspaper is 3%!
This chart was created and made available by the NAR via their Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers 2008 book. This publication is loaded with more great information and charts like this. The Real Living seller and buyer presentations both highlight this chart for consumers. How is your … (16 comments)
real living: Columbus Ohio Unit Stats December - Month to Date
- 12/15/08 07:10 AM
Above is a representation of unit sale market share for December 2008 (month to date). This considers the entire Central Ohio MLS. Real Living is number one with just under 21% market share. It is amazing how fast the market share drops after you get pas the top two. To learn more about becoming an agent within Real Living's system or if you are considering buying a new home or listing your current property, check out our site. We are #1 in Central Ohio for a reason.
… (1 comments)
real living: Agents - Will They Stay or Will They Go?
- 11/25/08 11:53 PM
In this real estate depression we're experiencing, will they stay or will they go is the million dollar question - especially for the NAR who stands the possibility of losing agent dues during these times. There are still over 1.24 million Realtors running around out there - a number I thought would be under a million by now. Over the past few years we keep hearing about how agents are going to quit the business due to fewer transactions making it difficult to earn a living. Gone are the days where one could simply sit at you desk, pick up … (29 comments)
real living: Close The Online Leads You Generate
- 11/17/08 05:36 AM
I recently read an analysis regarding the number of un-closed leads generated online. The results were staggeringly LOW. In my opinion, the reason for the low capture rate is today's online consumer colliding, head first into traditional agent populations without the tools and savvy to work them. CRASH... BANG.... BOOM!!!!
Here are some tips to manage leads generated online... Train, train, train. Leads generated online are quite different than traditional leads. If your salespeople are not equipped and prepared with proper scripts, tools and web savvy, the lead will be lost. Pre-qualify. Ensure they are able to buy and/or … (7 comments)
real living: Statistics Buyers Need To See and Agents Need To Learn
- 10/13/08 04:52 AM
Here are some stats we're providing to consumers in Central Ohio. Take this and modify the numbers for your specific market and have your agents share at open houses, e-mail campaigns, etc.
Fact - Home prices are falling. Real Fact - Home prices for homes over $200,000 are actually up in Columbus 1.05 % in 2008 vs. 2007.
Fact - Foreclosures are rising nationally. Real Fact - Foreclosures account for less than 2% of all mortgages in Central Ohio.
Fact - Credit is tight. Real Fact - Credit Standards have tightened which has caused many lenders to the … (7 comments)
real living: Walk the Talk - Real Living Partners with Glam Media
- 10/09/08 03:39 AM
Real Living's dedication and stake in the ground as the first upscale, female focused real estate brand is receiving additional credibility this week. Over the past weeks we've been pursued by Glam Media - the #1 source for women online - to establish a mutually beneficial partnership. Glam receives 77 million unique site visits per month. Huge!! The first part of this relationship debuted today with Real Living providing content on the fine living secion of Glam's online luxury channel. This content will link back to Real Living where female consumers will be able to view listings, find an agent, etc. If … (3 comments)
real living: A Really, Really BIG Coupon - $10,000 off
- 09/22/08 03:49 AM
How many of us are writing e-mails and/or sending letters to our customers like the one Real Living agent Jason Proctor wrote about in his recent blog? Informing consumers on the state of our industry and arming them with information and links they need to make an informed decision. How many first-time buyers know there is a $7,500 tax credit available? If not a first time buyer, how many customers know that this is a "buyers market" and taking a 20% reduction on their listing knowing they'd get 20% + off of a property you are buying is a great thing. … (4 comments)
Real Living launched its proprietary Web 2.0 platform three years ago - home page pictured above. Through this platform consumers can register, save searches, receive listing updates, track how often their home was viewed online, communicate with their agent, utilize a calendar, and much, much more every day. Today, Real Living has 170,000 active users of our MyRealLiving platform. And, it continues to grow. There are close to 4,000 new registrations added every month. To me this proves the necessity of the platform and providing consumers what they require to search, communicate and interact with their real estate partner. We … (8 comments)
Real Living today announced more additions to the family. We continue to grow through a highly successful, three-pronged approach:
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