real estate success: Realtors really do make a difference! - 07/02/12 02:49 AM
If the real estate profession had an inbox and outbox the past five years, the latter would be stuffed and the former practically empty because of the housing downturn. National statistics show that the number of Realtors at the end of 2011 was down 25 percent from the peak figure of July 2007.
So with all the gloom and doom scenarios, who in their right mind would want to get their real estate license and join the ranks? Eddie Gleason, for one. The new agent in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., didn’t get in the business this year to “make … (3 comments)

real estate success: Agents, buyers and lenders must work as a team to make every transaction smoother - 12/06/11 06:14 AM
There’s a recent report that says women don’t shop enough. Huh?
That’s the finding of a study published in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics that says women get lousier mortgage rates than men. But it’s not gender discrimination that was cited as the main reason. It's because instead of shopping around for cheaper loans, women have a tendency to rely on the recommendations of friends.
The report set out to explain why women were 32 percent more likely to get a subprime mortgage than men in a 2006 study. According to a team of researchers led by Florida … (0 comments)

real estate success: Asking questions is the best way to know and help your clients. Why? Because it works - 12/05/11 09:36 AM
If you’re a parent of a young child, the question “why?” can be both engaging and infuriating. On one hand, it shows that your child is curious, but if he or she asks it over and over in a short period of time, it can be a bit annoying and lead to a short-fused answer.
But the simple question is important for real estate agents when it comes to understanding a homebuyer’s needs and desires. Asking why a family wants certain things in a home or why they want to live in a certain area of town will enable you to … (2 comments)

real estate success: Working expired listings is an effective way to breathe new life into your business - 11/23/11 06:29 AM
Maximizing your spot in the marketplace these days is an efficient and effective way to build a listing inventory and form relationships that ensure residual income and enduring success. However, building relationships is like building a home. It takes time to complete the process, with results often deferred for 12 to 18 months.
Most agents don’t have the financial ability to survive until the building of a loyal clientele starts paying dividends. Out of necessity, they must find a way to generate income during the building process.
One of the most effective tools for quickly creating a substantial listing inventory is an expired … (0 comments)

real estate success: Home-selling clients can handle the truth if you're open and honest about the process - 11/23/11 04:14 AM
People are jittery about the economy and no amount of sugarcoating can make things right. In fact, that will do more harm than good most of the time, especially when dealing with a client listing a home.
If that person hasn’t checked out the market for a while, they’re likely in for a shock, no matter how many news stories they’ve read or seen on TV. Being frank and honest with homeowners about pricing and marketing a home is important. They need to know upfront that what they think – or hope – their home is worth likely is off base … (0 comments)

real estate success: Getting to know your customers might require some personality tests - 11/18/11 09:38 AM
It’s been said that opposites attract in romance. In selling real estate? Not so much.
People like to interact with others who are like them. Check it out the next time you’re out and about for business or pleasure. Having something in common is a good starting point for a business relationship that has the chance to develop into something stronger.
Real estate agents and buyers or sellers obviously have something in common, and having a good working partnership benefits both parties now and into the future.
Real estate trainer Jackie Leavenworth recently told a gathering in Southern California about a … (4 comments)

real estate success: North Carolina agent finds instant success with HouseHunt - 10/26/11 05:50 AM
 Donna Varnum hit the ground running when she signed up with HouseHunt by turning the first lead she received into a sale.
 “It was good timing,” said Varnum, who works out of a RE/MAX office in Morristown, N.C., while concentrating on the college town of Chapel Hill. “He stated his interests and I told him I could help him out since he didn’t know his way around. I pointed out a house I thought he’d like, and he loved it. The rest is history.”
  Varnum’s history in the real estate business spans a little more than three years, with only … (0 comments)

real estate success: Former NASCAR worker on the fast track to success in real estate industry - 09/20/11 10:27 AM
 With a background in NASCAR, Bryan Dunaway is used to working fast. So when he left the auto racing circuit to try his hand at real estate, Dunaway wasn’t sure what to expect because of the economic slowdown and lull in the housing market.
 “It was a little slow at first, being the end of 2010, but, to be honest, I really believe it was HouseHunt that kept us afloat the first couple of months,” said Dunaway, who works with his wife, Sharon, in the Charlotte area of North Carolina. “It was tough because we didn’t really have any prospects, we … (0 comments)

real estate success: Eat Today or Build A Business For Tomorrow? - 11/19/10 06:39 AM
It seems so many Realtors have to make the choice between the instant need of a commission check today versus building a business for tomorrow. In this market it seems most of us are choosing to operate with a single-minded concentration on today’s customer, on today’s commission check. So much so that we forget there will be a tomorrow; a need for future clientele and a need for future commission checks.
A perfect example of this mind-set is the average agent’s approach to Internet generated leads. The majority of the agent community treats Internet leads like they treat meat goods in … (8 comments)

real estate success: HouseHunt.com Customers Help NC Agent Start Her Own Company - 09/02/10 10:30 AM
When you feel in your gut what you are and then dynamically pursue it - don't back down and don't give up - then you're going to mystify a lot of folks.
- Bob Dylan
A little while back I shared with you the success of HouseHunt.com member Bruce LaMaster, who has been able to build his real estate team, thanks in part to the customers he received through his HouseHunt.com exclusive territory. I’m happy to share with you the success of another of our long-time agents, Susan Crawford, a HouseHunt.com agent in the Durham, NC area who has … (0 comments)

real estate success: Texas Agent “Impressed by the number” of Customers from HouseHunt.com - 08/11/10 07:53 AM
You may have to forgive me, but I simply love it when stories like these come across my desk from one of our agents.
“I just closed my second sale this year from HouseHunt,” said David Olivarez, our exclusive member agent with HouseHunt.com who represents McAllen, Texas.
A long time real estate professional, Olivarez services all of Hidalgo County, and works extensively to help Buyers and Sellers meet their real estate goals. Olivarez is additionally a Certified Texas Affordable Housing Specialist and works with Spanish speaking customers.
“I am impressed by the number of leads that I get weekly from HouseHunt,” … (0 comments)

real estate success: California Agent Successfully Builds a Team with HouseHunt.com - 07/26/10 06:00 AM
The person who makes a success of living is the one who see his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication.
- Cecil B. DeMille (1881 - 1959)
Not many real estate agents are building, growing, and establishing a team for their business right now. Fewer first-time home buyers, a slower buying cycle, and more difficult financing options have made it a difficult road to travel. However, a solid plan can be a game-changer... even in this economy.
Bruce LaMaster is a HouseHunt.com exclusive agent in the Sacramento, CA area who has successfully been building and growing … (1 comments)

real estate success: Patience Pays Off for HouseHunt.com Agent in Minnesota - 07/12/10 07:35 AM
How poor are they who have not patience!
- William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
A good thing is always worth the wait. Especially when it comes to a business investment that is sure to bring legitimate growth and profit.
A few months ago, Larry Boatman of Keller Williams Integrity Realty, made the decision to invest in his business by choosing to become a HouseHunt.com exclusive member. Right away, the customers began to roll in rather quickly, but the natural buying cycle was playing a role as well.
However, Larry knew HouseHunt was a good move in the long-term and … (0 comments)

real estate success: 17 Steps to Success Beginning With You! - 05/11/10 11:19 AM
I have a question for you - What can you do differently in today's changing market?
Stumped? No problem. Here are a few more follow up questions to ponder.
Are you motivated?
How bad do you want it?
Are you willing to do what it takes to achieve your goals?
If you answered “yes” to any of those, then there’s good news: you have a great mindset for success.
As such, here’s a list of seventeen things you can do right now to better your business and to help you adapt to the current market… and to any market you’ll face … (3 comments)

real estate success: Agent Enjoys More Buyers and Big Sales from HouseHunt.com - 05/03/10 11:58 AM
I wanted to take a moment to share some news of Broker associate Brenda Schofield, who is also an exclusive member agent with HouseHunt.com representing multiple communities in the Holmdel, NJ area.
Like so many of our members, Brenda is very busy and very happy about her increased sales activity. She is also excited to be working with multiple buyers who are in the million dollar plus range.
“We closed the million and a half sale in Colts Neck in February,” Brenda said, “and recently closed another in Howell for $285,000.”
By plugging into the consistent pipeline of buyers and sellers … (2 comments)

real estate success: Hinrichs and O’Reilly Named To HouseHunt’s National Hall of Fame - 04/29/10 04:35 AM
We continue our week of highlighting our 2010 HouseHunt.com Hall-of-Famers with celebrating the success of Steve Hinrichs and Jean O’Reilly, a top-producing real estate sales team with Edina Realty in Maple Grove, MN. We’re excited and proud to have them join the ranks of our near sixty member Hall-of-Fame!
Steve and Jean have embraced the HouseHunt model and have shown their ability to work with and close customers generated online. Heinrich and O’Reilly attribute much of their success to the HouseHunt marketing system and consumer-related programs enabling them to respond quickly and meaningfully to the needs of their customers.
“People are … (0 comments)

real estate success: Barry Newman Joins HouseHunt.com Hall of Fame - 04/27/10 06:52 AM
On the blog this week, I want to spend some time highlighting our HouseHunt agents who've earned their way into our HouseHunt.com Hall of Fame, beginning with Barry Newman, a top-producing Realtor for Century 21 M.B. in suburban Chicago. He is one of 24 member-agents named this year and joins an elite group of 59 member-agents to be honored since the the HouseHunt.com Hall of Fame began in 1995.
It takes a special member-agent to handle the needs of buyers originating from the Internet and Barry has certainly demonstrated his expertise in this category. This recognition also validates the HouseHunt business … (0 comments)

real estate success: Know the Buying Cycle and You Create a Client for Life - 08/17/09 11:12 AM
A real estate cycle may look like a roller coaster at your favorite theme park, especially considering the last fifteen years.  However, the buying cycle of today's home buyer looks more like a Ferris wheel that slowly goes around and makes its stops to unload and re-load its passengers.  Considering that the average homeowner stays in their home on an average of 5 to 7 years, treating your customers like gold before, during and after the sale will bring you future business.  A real estate agent's responsibility doesn't end when the house closes escrow and the keys are delivered.  Successful Realtors … (4 comments)

real estate success: Buying Leads is a Waste of Time if You Don't Have a Follow Up System - 06/18/09 05:05 AM
Chris Bessette, along with his Elite Team teammate, Shaun Reed, has only been with HouseHunt for just under three months... and yet, they're already acting like old pros! The CENTURY 21 Elite Properties duo have already learned the TIM system and are reporting the good news!
"You are right," Bessette, who operates the Independence, Florida territory, recently told his sales rep.  "[Without TIM] we wouldn't be able to stay on top of all the leads."
Becoming familiar with HouseHunt.com and the TIM system will no doubt be paying future dividends for them; perhaps sooner than later.
"I believe Shaun got our … (5 comments)

real estate success: What does an "organized search" by an Internet buyer look like? - 05/20/09 06:58 AM
HouseHunt, Inc. shares its success stories with its employees every day. And, today's story prompted me to ask all Realtors a question: What does an "organized search" by an Internet buyer look like?
Most Realtors have a "perfect case scenario" where they wish all of their clients were like "Buyer Joe" who walks in being pre-approved with 20% down and has narrowed his/her search to just a handful of homes in a neighborhood.  In today's success story that circulated our office, Heather Davenport of Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc in Washington DC said: "The two clients I have from my (HouseHunt) site … (2 comments)