real estate: The Benefits of Investing in a Down Real Estate Market
- 02/02/09 06:17 AM
Here are some of the benefitsof investing in a down real estate market from an addition to the wiki by Peter Vekselman - he has an interesting take on the market. The real estate market being down is not necessarily a bad thing. Sure the credit worthiness of investment banks and even the general public is being questioned, but all is not lost. In fact, the silver lining is, oddly enough, real estate itself. Real estate is still worth something, though not at the hyper inflated values you may have been seeing a year (or even half a year) ago. … (3 comments)
real estate: Is it Worth Negotiating for a New Construction?
- 01/27/09 02:53 PM
I saw a new post on The Real Estate Wiki and thought I'd share the idea and see what you think - its about making an offer on a new construction, which IS different than making an offer on a home that's been sold before. The question is if: 1) Negotiating a new contruction is really effective and 2) If its worth it. It seems to me like the difference between buying an old car and buying a new car - since its devalued the moment you set foot in it, I think its defintely worth trying to negotiate it down. … (5 comments)
real estate: Top 10 Real Estate Reality TV Shows and What We Can Learn From Them
- 01/21/09 11:08 AM
Here are the top 10 reality TV shows to date that are real estate oriented. Top 10 lists are often subjective, so I know some of you will like others better, but that's the fun of it;p Here are the top ten real estate TV shows going into 2009 and just a few of the many lessons we can learn from them: 10. Get It Sold (HGTV)" Small changes often yield greater results. Yup, sweeping that walkway, vacuuming that carpet, replacing that worn old chair - even the little things make a difference when selling and staging a house. 9. Weekend … (56 comments)
real estate: How Important Are Referrals for New Real Estate Agents?
- 01/19/09 02:24 AM
Referrals are one of the best ways to develop new business. A new agent can invite referrals by contacting his or her “sphere of influence” (people you are intimately familiar with, such as friends and relatives) and asking, “do you know anyone in your subdivision, gym, at work, interested in buying or selling a home?” This question will prompt the memory of a specific individual and a reply providing the name and contact information of a prospect. Open-ended questions, such as “do you happen to know of anyone,” will lead to open ended answers, such as “not off the top of … (6 comments)
real estate: Twitter-a-thon, anyone? If You Like Someone's Blog Post on Active Rain, Twitter It!
- 01/15/09 08:52 AM
Really, please Twitter people's posts you like from AR. Its a great way to thank them for taking the time to post something for you and the community - if we all cross-promoted a little more, what a great environment of good will we could create. So I'd like to give a call-out for a Twitter-a-thon. For the rest of this month, any post you think is worth commenting on, post it to Twitter real quick. All it takes is a moment and you've just helped your colleague out. Now this idea could die before it really gets going, but I … (3 comments)
real estate: Gossiping With Your Real Estate Clients - Good Relationship Building or a Major No-No
- 01/09/09 09:31 AM
I've talked to a couple of people about this topic recently so I thought it would be interesting to bring up. Where do you draw the line between jsut visiting and building a relationship with a client into outright gossip about other agents, agencies, other buyers and more. Is it ever ok to indulge in a little gossip or should it be avoided at all costs in your interactions with your real estate clients? Although most of us enjoy listening to gossip, we are also prone to negatively judge those who engage in this practice to excess. Real estate is a … (7 comments)
real estate: Top 10 Most Memorable Real Estate Agent Roles in the Movies
- 01/02/09 04:54 AM
I thought this would be a fun list to post for everyone as a follow-up to my movie-themed post last time. Here are the top ten most memorable real estate agent roles in the movies: 1. Jack Lemmon, Glengarry Glen Ross 2. Annette Benning, American Beauty. 3. Al Pacino, Glenarry, Glen Ross 4. Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Superman 5. Kevin Spacey, Glengarry Glen Ross 6. Jerry Blake, The Stepfather 7. Michael Keaton, Clean and Sober 8. Adrienne Barbeau, Open House 9. Josh Mostel, The Money Pit 10. Poltergeist, Craig T. Nelson I find it interesting that the majority of these … (12 comments)
real estate: The Top Ten Real Estate Movies of All Time and What We Can Learn From Them
- 12/30/08 03:03 AM
Here's a fun look at some of the top ten real estate movies of all time following in the vein of my top ten countdown til 2009. Now, any lists are always subjective, these are just a few of the more amusing ones from Amy Hahn. Which would you add to or take off the list? 10. Neighbors starring John Belushi and Dan Akroyd Hehe always make sure you meet your neighbors and get a good feel for the neighborhood. 9. The Amityville Horror starring Josh Brolin Follow your instincts. If you feel weird about a house, maybe there's a good … (65 comments)
real estate: The Top 10 Titans of the Real Estate Industry in 2008
- 12/29/08 03:17 AM
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas and have an excellent New Years. Before the New Year, I thought it would be appropriate to touch on some top 10 lists for 2008. The first of these is The Top 10 Titans of the Real Estate Industry in 2008. Independent Brokerage Companies, Franchise Groups and Real Estate Networks are always ranked on separate lists as it is impossible to really, effectively compare these different kinds of organizations. The following group of the “biggest of the biggest” (in alphabetical order) combines all residential real estate brokerage types into one list. … (4 comments)
real estate: Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live In 2008
- 11/25/08 03:33 AM
Mercer's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2008 was recently released. According to the Real Estate Wiki, Mercer surveyed 253 cities across six continents and measured the relative cost of over 200 items in each place, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. Here are the top 10 most expensive cities to live in: 10. Milan, Italy 9. Zurich, Switzerland 8. Geneva, Switzerland 7. Copenhagen, Denmark 6. Hong Kong, China 5. Seoul, South Korea 4. Oslo, Norway 3. London, UK 2. Tokyo, Japan 1. Moscow, Russia … (2 comments)
real estate: Top 10 Best Cities to Live, Work and Play in 2008
- 11/25/08 03:28 AM
In July 2008 Kiplinger Magazine picked the 10 best cities in which to live and work, researched by Ken Stolarick. They looked for places with strong economies and abundant jobs, then demand reasonable living costs and plenty of fun things to do. When we ran the numbers, some of the names that popped up made us do a double take at first. So the team at Kiplinger Magazine hit the road to meet the movers, shakers and regular folks, experience the ambience and take in the sights. Here are the Top 10: 10. Provo, Utah 9. Des Moines, Iowa 8. Sacramento, … (3 comments)
real estate: Top 10 Real Estate Newsmakers of 2007
- 11/14/08 07:41 AM
Newsmakers are defined as those people that during the previous calendar year 2007 made headlines as individuals, as a result of their actions and leadership of the companies or associations they are involved with. The Top 10 Newsmakers are selected every year and published in the Swanepoel TRENDS Report. 10. Walter Forbes Exposed in April 1998, the Walter Forbes white-collar criminal saga came to a close in 2007 when Walter Forbes, former CEO of Comp-U-Card International, was convicted in a $252 million earnings overstatement that caused investors to lose $14 billion. The HFS merger with CUC in 1997 to create Cendant … (1 comments)
real estate: Top 10 Events in 2007 Impacting the Real Estate Industry
- 11/14/08 07:22 AM
As we come closer to the end of 2007, I thought it might be appropriate to list the top 10 events that have impacted the real estate industry the most. These events are defined as those occurrences that transpired during the calendar year 2007 that made headlines and captured the attention of the real estate industry. The Top 10 events are selected and published in the Swanepoel TRENDS Report every year and based upon their potential future impact on the industry rather than only their 2007 impact: 10. Closing Down of Foxtons Born in the Web 1.0 era, lasting through the … (4 comments)
real estate: How Does An Eviction Proceeding Work?
- 11/08/08 12:01 AM
Eviction procedures will vary by state, but the proper procedure must be followed by the property manager or owner. A tenant is usually evicted or ejected because of nonpayment of rent, unlawful use of the premises or noncompliance with health and safety codes. Actual eviction is when the landlord files a suit for possession because the tenant has breached the lease. Constructive eviction is when the landlord breaches the lease and the tenant must leave the premises because they have become uninhabitable. … (3 comments)
real estate: Real Estate Acronyms Revealed Part 1 - Real Estate Designations You Need to Know
- 11/07/08 04:04 PM
Accredited Agricultural Consultant (AAC) You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. Managed by American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) This real estate designation is geared to Realtors® who wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. Managed by the Real Estate Agent Buyer's Council in association with NAR Accredited Buyer Representative Manager (ABRM) This real estate designation is geared to Realtors®, owners and managers that have or wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. Managed by … (5 comments)
real estate: Does Florida's New Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act Prohibit Real Estate Licensees From Being Involved in Short Sales?
- 11/07/08 03:48 PM
According to the Real Estate Wiki, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum wrote in letter to FAR President Chuck Bonfiglio that the answer is no, provided the only compensation sought by the licensees is the commission on the sale. The new law, which took effect Oct. 1, 2008, seeks to protect homeowners who face the threat of foreclosure from individuals who would prey on them. McCollum's interpretation is based on the following scenario: A licensee secures a listing agreement on a home for sale, ascertains that the fair market value of the home is less than the loan amount, and lists the … (1 comments)
real estate: Does The Amount Of The Real Estate Commission Increase The Asking Price Of The Property?
- 11/04/08 02:54 PM
The commission a seller agrees to pay to a real estate broker is typically not “added” to the fair market value of the home because, in order to be sold, the home must be competitively priced within the area it is located. The total fee (including both the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent side) is negotiated prior to signing the listing agreement and following all research conducted to determine the asking price of the property. The first consideration in pricing a home should be the comparable market analysis which the agent completes by identifying the active (or presently listed), sold … (4 comments)
real estate: If the Buyer Changes His/Her Mind, Can They Terminate The Purchase Contract?
- 11/04/08 02:44 PM
Buyers have been known to change their mind or get cold feet after they negotiate a purchase contract. Often, the buyer will use an excuse to terminate by not responding to a counteroffer or refusing to buy due to an inspection finding. In real estate, this is known as “walking”. If a contract has been negotiated and all parties have agreed to all terms, a binding agreement exists and the inspection contingency has been satisfied, the seller does have legal options to enforce the contract. However, enforcing the contract can become expensive and tie the home up in litigation. Therefore, the … (6 comments)
real estate: Is it Always Good to Pursue a Sale?
- 10/29/08 04:59 PM
Excellent sales agents learn to tell when it is ok to pursue a sale and when they should wait. There will be times when you come across an opportunity to enter into someone else’s life due to special circumstances and form a relationship with that particular individual, who, at some point may become an excellent prospect. By taking a personal interest in someone elses’ life, say an elderly neighbor, you could not only develop a beautiful personal friendship but also be “prospecting” long term. Your personal value must always remain pure and your actions true. What do you think? … (6 comments)
real estate: What is an LLC, or Limited Liability Company?
- 10/29/08 04:58 PM
A Limited Liability Company or LLC, is a hybrid entity bringing together some of the best features of partnerships and corporations. An LLC is often a better entity for tax purposes. LLCs provide the liability protection of corporations without the double taxation. Profits and losses pass through the shareholders and are reported on their personal tax returns. Although very similar to an S Corporation, the LLC also can have any number of shareholders, where the S Corporation can only have 75 shareholders. The tax treatment for an LLC varies by state. If you decide on an LLC, be sure to involve … (2 comments)
Here are some of the benefitsof investing in a down real estate market from an addition to the wiki by Peter Vekselman - he has an interesting take on the market.;)
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