kenbrand: Are You Bright, Focused and Distinctive, or Just Delusional? Take The Scrape-The-Label Test and Find Out. - 03/22/10 06:21 AM
This is my Monday Morning post for AgentGenius.com.  If you like the idea, click here to read the rest of the article.  Here's a taste.
 
Are You B. F. D. or Delusional? Take The Scrape The Label Test. By Ken Brand on March 22, 2010 | Edit | 4 Responses
21♻ G-Tweet It’s importantEVERYTHING… How people perceive us…
Are we trusted?
Are we interesting?
Are we competent?
Are we attractive?
Are we memorable?
Are we referable?
Will we attract and hold attention?
Are we worth our price?
We’re in the business of being chosen.  Chosen to manage the successful sale or purchase of real estate and the everything in-between details.  In … (1 comments)

kenbrand: The Woodlands TX Real Estate Market Report - April / May 2009 - 05/05/09 07:22 AM
The Woodlands Real Estate Market Report - April/May 2009 by KEN BRAND on MAY 6, 2009
Flea-sized mortgage rates have super sized buying power.   Stock market rebound, thickened consumer confidence, positive TV reports are shoving activity forward.
We expect a strong summer.  Here’s some factoid support.
The Median Sold Price for April 2009 was $251,000.  In April of 2007 it was $235,000.  The Median Sold Price is up 6.8%.  Do you think it will go down?  I don’t.  Buy now.
The Average Sold Price for April 2009 was $320,556.  In April of 2007 it was $292,244.  The Average Sold Price is up 9.7%. … (0 comments)

kenbrand: Congress Passes $300,000,000,000 Housing Bill - Wanna Tax Credit? - 07/26/08 01:42 PM
Congress has passed a $300 Billion Dollar Housing Bill and President Bush sez he'll sign it. A couple of key points: 1. " a $300 billion program to refinance loans for struggling borrowers, and a dramatic rescue plan for embattled mortgage finance firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac." 2. It also includes tax relief for future home-buyers and current homeowners. Those buying a home between April of this year and through June of next year would receive a tax credit for 10% of the value of their home, up to $7,500, while current homeowners who do not itemize their tax returns … (0 comments)

kenbrand: The Woodlands Real Estate Market - You Don't Need Tea Leaves To Tell You...... - 07/21/08 08:36 AM
Sales Down 26.24% and Listing Inventory UP 15.46%
Written Contracts for the month of July, based on current velocity, are projected to total 222 Listings Pended or Placed Under Contract.  Last July (2007) there were 301 Listings Pended or Placed Under Contract.  The difference is 26.24%.  26.24% fewer listing placed under contract than last year at the same time.
What else you should know. From here, sales will slow through February of 2009.  Historically (see graph) the total number of contracts written per month begins to decline.  School begins anew, the holiday season kicks off and seasonally there are simply fewer … (2 comments)

kenbrand: Web 2.0, Social Media & New School Conversations For Real Estate Icons in The Woodlands, Texas - 07/16/08 12:42 AM
Midnight ConversationOriginally uploaded by night_photographer Monday morning, I'm going to share thoughts on Social Media, Web 2.0 and Realtor Icon wizardry.  Plus why it's wise to invest precious time and attention pointed at investigating, embracing and participating in Web 2.0 / Social Media.

I will share a dome slapping SideShare created by Social Evangelist and On-Line Marketing Pro, Marta Z. Kagan.  Her SlideShare creation is provocative, evocative and well...See For Yourself.
For extra credit and unfair advantage, I refer you to Pat Kitano and his Forest Gump Simple explanations of Twitter and FriendFeed - Click, Read & Reap
Pat … (3 comments)

kenbrand: The Woodlands, Real Estate Market Report- June/July, 2008 - 07/02/08 05:38 AM
Rushmore_BullBearBisonLionOriginally uploaded by www.agatti.com Bull, Bear, Bison or Lion?
All.  Download detailed reports HERE.
Bull - Prices are not declining. Real estate economists believe that 6 months of For Sale inventory represents a balanced market.  In The Woodlands, TX, according to Houston Association of Realtors, Multiple Listings Service Statistics, the inventory has never climbed above 5 months.  It's a Seller's Market. 
Sellers:  With the correct merchandising, positioning and marketing, you can push the price envelope.
Buyers:  When you find something you really like or love, jump on it.  In The Woodlands,  screaming steals or deals are as rare wild … (0 comments)

kenbrand: The Genius and Your Value Is In The Details - Presentation, Staging and Positioning - 06/19/08 01:55 PM
13 ThingsOriginally uploaded by Fade The Great How do YOU levitate above the sea of sameness?
How do YOU twinkle, surprise and delight?
How are YOU unique, best, remarkable?
Your sellers depend on YOU to sell their properties for Top Dollar, right?  Delighted sellers lead to referrals, right?
Staging, Preparation, Presentation and Positioning is paramount.
Learn the magic, develop the skills, become REMARKABLE.
How?
Participate, Embrace and Absorb - Sign UP for the Certified Home Marketing Specialist (CHS) day long workshop. Taught by Martha Webb, author & producer of Dress Your House for Success.
When:  Wednesday or Thursday, September 24th or … (5 comments)

kenbrand: Novice - Expert - Pretender - Contender - Champion - 05/30/08 03:39 AM
I struggle, I'm challenged, I have hopes, dreams, wishes and aspirations.  Unfortunately, as Fred has shared, HOPE is not a strategy. Smart action is. (Personally, for me...surrounding myself with Realtor Icons works like the sun rises.)
Good News and Bad News.  In pursuits professional and personal, to grow requires more...doing what the average, ordinary and amateur won't.  Most won't pay the price.  For those who do - Expertise.
Katy Sierra has an eye opening, spark your brain, blue print for what does work.
Check it OUT - CLICK HERE Here's a snippet:
Most of us want to practice the things … (4 comments)

kenbrand: Do you know what Joe Dirt Knows? Where's The Good Stuff and Who's It All About? - 05/28/08 07:01 AM
Joe Dirt shares the sage secret.  It's about the consumer dudes and dudettes.
Golden Rule 1.0 - Do unto others as you would have done unto you.
Golden Rule 2.0 - Do unto others as you they would have done unto you themselves.
Go ahead, watch it, Dirt takes the scenic route, 2 minutes in all is revealed. Joe knows the Golden Rule 2.0, it not about us/you it about the consumer!

… (1 comments)

kenbrand: Voice Mail Hell Be Gone - For Good Yo! - 05/27/08 12:38 PM
Two reviews.
Voice Mail Hell Be Gone - For Good, YOThis is an uber~cool tool/time saver.  My friends, go to VoiceCloud and sign up for your free account.  Have your Cell Voice Mails instantly text transcribed and sent to your email account - FREE.  You can read 15 transcribed Voice Mail messages in a blink or you can wade through 15 minutes of ear bending strain to listed to each and every one.
I describe the service in the video below (the video is slightly out of sync (see Vidnik review), you'll be reminded of an old Godzilla movie). 
Thanks … (9 comments)

kenbrand: Women Rule - Deal With It. - 05/21/08 02:49 AM
Skies above our ragged red-flash-fast personal planets are strobed by meteor showers of fresh ideas, smarter ways and interesting perspectives.  Catch some like fireflies,  it's FREE.
I read, skim and scan dozens of blogs daily....I use Newsgator Feedreader.  My jar is blinking...I wanted to share this post from Selisus Real Estate Blog - Interviews with the TOP 12 Women Bloggers of 2007.  Interesting stuff.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Top 12 Women Real Estate Bloggers - 2007 Edition Published by sellsius October 9th, 2007 in Top 12 Women.
Finding this year’s top female real estate bloggers was not difficult. Narrowing the list down to 10 … (2 comments)

kenbrand: Cats Smoking Camels - What are you smoking? - 05/11/08 10:54 AM
Do you know anyone who walks their CAT on a leash? 
David Freeman said he could jokingly, but I think he's a cool enough cat himself to actually do it..."Why?" is another story.
Who do you that can actually herd CATS?
My take on CATS - they do what they please, when they want.  To me, CATS actually look arrogant...I can easily picture a CAT, smirk-smoking a Camel.  Just like in my semi-dream.
What does this have to do with Real Estate?  I'm not sure.  I woke this morning with the thought and visuals -  CATS Smoking Camels.
After … (2 comments)

kenbrand: Prevent "Sick Stomach, Empty Wallet" Syndrome - Kumbaya With Buyers - 04/29/08 07:36 AM
Do you get sick to your stomach when YOUR buyers buy without YOU?
Those porcelain hugging  days can end forever.
Would you like them to end?
Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, April 30th @ 9:07am, here in my office, I will share the secrets of Top Producers.  The subject specifically, “Working With Buyers”.  How to build loyalty, trust, value.  How to create commitment, shared expectations and clear communication.  How to create perpetual repeat and referral business.
It’s all in the approach and delivery...in 57 minutes we’ll change everything, forever.
Join me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
… (1 comments)