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Finding Your Niche in Real Estate Write Market Reports

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeStarr Realty RS143922A

Back in 2008, when the market tanked, I began using social media. It was free, and money was tight for most agents, as many had not expected what happened. I met a young Real estate mogul and started attending Real Estate Bar Camps, where I learned about a place called Active Rain. 

 There, I learned about finding a Niche and writing blogs on the Internet. They gave classes on how to write a market report and what people would be interested in. There was a guy Jeff Dowler, CRS who wrote market reports all the time, and I would read his in awe. Another person I learned from was the one who wrote incredible market reportsMichael Jacobs

HelpfulHannah

 Some people say that market reports are boring, well, not to the public. You will receive many calls from buyers and sellers based on market reports.

Soon, I started doing my own, and they worked. Don't expect to write one and get results; it took months and months of writing reports, some of which took years, but being consistent works. Following up with mailings is also a good idea. 

 

If you do not write market reports, you should start, and within three to nine months, you too will begin to receive calls if you put time into them. Will they get featured? Most likely not, but is that why we blog? It's nice to receive a featured post and very exciting, but that's not the reason we blog. Well, that's not the reason I blog; it's to communicate.

 

HelpfulHannah

 

Find a Niche and write about it. Talk about what is up for sale, what has sold. Let them know the values, square footage, and the number of days the property has been on the market. Take pictures of the area. Inform readers about the available resources in the community.

There are many wonderful places to eat around the area. Talk about these restaurants and eateries. You also may want to interview the owner or manager. Please take pictures of their food and do some advertising for their place. They may refer business to you.

Perhaps you chose a condo community. Do they allow pets? Is it close to public transportation? Engage in discussion of the area, rather than making it boring. Invite your readers to return and stay consistent.

Helpfulhannah

 

Including videos in your blog helps to keep your readers' interest 

There are times, as other agents will tell you, when someone will call unexpectedly after reading the post. These individuals either want to sell their home or buy one. 

Ensure consistency and remember that you are in business for yourself.

What would I have done over? I would have started writing reports years before I did. I would also be more consistent, as I do enjoy writing market reports. They are probably easier to do if you use AI, but I'm stubborn and do them myself. I have been using AI art; I will admit, sometimes not always. By doing it myself, I am learning more about the area and staying current.

Niches will bring you riches - offer a Free Market Analysis of their Home.

 

Market reports are not dull to the public; they love reading them 

   This is my entry to the May  Active Rain Challenge hosted by Carol Williams      

Posted by

Hannah Williams is known throughout Philadelphia as HelpfulHannah – and if you’ve spent more than five minutes with her, you know exactly why. She’s an expert at anticipating people’s needs, she has a real feel for real estate, and she’s an accomplished problem-solver.

Hannah has been helping people buy and sell homes all over Philadelphia since 1984. Many of her clients purchased their first, second and even third homes with her expert help, and Hannah wouldn’t have it any other way.

HelpfulHannah.com

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Comments(35)

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Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Hannah,
Excellent points. Market reports are very interesting to people who own or want to purchase property. It takes someone who works in the market every day to interpret what all those numbers mean and keep track of trends.

May 02, 2025 09:20 AM
Hannah Williams

Hello. Carol Williams It took many years to learn that people wanted this information, and there are many ways to get it across to the public. You can pay people to do it for you or do it yourself. By doing it yourself, you keep yourself abreast of the market conditions. Today, there are so many ways to choose how to do them .

Hope all is well, and thank you for hosting 

May 02, 2025 09:32 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Market reports are our friends!!   And we sure did a lot of market reports for years.  And where did I learn to perfect them......yup.....ActiveRain!  And I so recall Jeff Dowler, CRS almost from day one. In fact I followed his footsteps and changed up how I did things because of his examples.  Still love his style to this day!  Really great entry to this months challenge Hannah!

May 02, 2025 10:22 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thank you Anna "Banana" Kruchten  I still remember the features of your market reports that Gary added to your posts!

Jeff

May 02, 2025 09:29 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Hannah and great blog and feature that you are sharing with us.  Can I re blog it next week?

May 02, 2025 10:33 AM
Hannah Williams

Will Hamm You may re-blog any time without asking, I would be honored 

May 02, 2025 10:39 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Anna "Banana" Kruchten  I need to take a ride and take some updated pictures. Yes, market reports are our friends, and they are what make our phones ring. There may be new ways to write or present them, but consistency works . Thanks Anna  

May 02, 2025 10:36 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Everyone should find a niche and flex that success muscle, Hannah. Congrats on the feature!

May 02, 2025 10:51 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Your post is a Must-Do for many professionals, Hannah. Congrats on being featured in BananaTude, you've got the Tude!

May 02, 2025 10:53 AM
Hannah Williams

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! You have the Tude, I have the tude, we all have the tude ... as long as we are writing our market reports.. Have an awesome weekend Wanda 

May 02, 2025 11:39 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks for sharing your journey and insights, Hannah Williams. Your honesty about consistency and finding a niche really hits home. I appreciate the reminder that building trust and knowledge takes time, but it’s so worth it in the long run. Keep up the great work! 😊🏡

May 02, 2025 01:09 PM
Hannah Williams

Lew Corcoran Like everyone, sometimes I fall off the mark and get lazy and that is my only regret 

May 03, 2025 08:15 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Hannah,

What a great entry into the May challenge! Well done! Everyone should find a niche and make an effort to market like you mean it (as Barbara Todaro always use to say)!

May 02, 2025 02:02 PM
Hannah Williams

Dorie Dillard Austin TX  Barbara Todaro Would always say follow up your reports with a mailing, and she was right. She was the master of marketing  

May 03, 2025 08:17 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

One of the great things about crunching the numbers for market reports is they make it clear whether our personal perceptions are actually true in the market.  We might have a slow time while the market is hot, and that tells us it is time to make an adjustment in what we do.

May 02, 2025 02:27 PM
Hannah Williams

Liz and Bill Spear  This is true!  Lately, I am seeing agents picking up listings where I was once steadily writing market reports, but fell off the wagon. I wonder if it is because I stopped, or because they just called the name of  the office I worked for   

May 03, 2025 08:21 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Hannah, I'm convinced that other agents in our office picked up business off of work we did.   People don't always understand it's an individual agent doing the work and not the brokerage providing the information.

May 03, 2025 11:56 AM
Hannah Williams

Liz and Bill Spear You are absolutely right! 

May 06, 2025 12:20 PM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Inactive/Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Great entry for the March Challenge Hannah Williams and I like how you gave credit to where credit is due!

I enjoyed reading your blog post. It was wonderful!

May 02, 2025 05:02 PM
Hannah Williams

Patricia Feager Thank you so much, as I missed last month's challenge and needed inspiration. You are always so kind.

May 03, 2025 08:23 AM
Patricia Feager

Hannah Williams - thank you. Being kind doesn't cost anything, and it means so much to the recipient. 

Have a nice day!

 

May 03, 2025 08:34 AM
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

This is quite possibly one of the most honest pieces from a real estate agent that I have ever read. Admitting to the fact money was tight at a point, is something you rarely hear from licensees. Thank you for the blunt honesty.

May 02, 2025 08:18 PM
Hannah Williams

J.R. Schloemer  That was a tough time for many agents. Before that time, the economy was excellent, but then the banks crashed. That's when I learned the true meaning of the word Broker. 

May 03, 2025 08:26 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Hannah:

Another person that should be complimented for her market reports and the valuable market and community information that they offer is Nina Hollander, Broker .

Jeff

May 02, 2025 09:31 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Jeff Dowler, CRS thank you ever so much, Jeff!

May 03, 2025 04:17 AM
Hannah Williams

Jeff Dowler, CRS  I always complement  Nina Hollander, Broker Market Reports. I just learned she does get responses. They come from her website. She does write fantastic market reports, very detailed. You are so right on 

May 03, 2025 08:30 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Hannah Williams Jeff Dowler, CRS thank you both for the kind words and compliments!

May 03, 2025 01:48 PM
Hannah Williams

Nina Hollander, Broker  We are giving credit where credit is due;but you are very welcome 

May 06, 2025 12:22 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Hannah Williams 💕💕

May 06, 2025 12:23 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

Hannah Williams  market reports are a hard blog to write for the research required . 
But they give readers the appreciation of the value of homes and a positive feeling if the expertise of the writer. 
I have had people tell me that they do read the reports 

May 03, 2025 03:59 AM
Hannah Williams

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754  I have been reading yours for years, and it gives me insight into the market across the country. Plus, it gives me ideas for my reports.  Then again we had the same teachers at Rain camp- Have a great weekend Ed

May 03, 2025 08:11 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Hannah. Something I never did enough of or well when I was active. So many here in the Rain are excellent reporters. Enjoy your day.

May 03, 2025 05:08 AM
Hannah Williams

Wayne Martin  They are time-consuming, and some take me days to write, but they are worth it. Perhaps if I were a better typist, they would not take so long. Have a great weekend Wayne 

May 03, 2025 08:13 AM
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

I completely understand Hannah Williams. I entered at the end of 2009, so I did not experience the goods times before, but saw many people exit as I entered. I affiliated with a small broker, and he seems to good in the good times as well as the bad times. Also has a slew of rentals, so that helps to balance out things for him. But in all honesty, I can't say I have seen him have a "bad" year. 
I am glad you found a niche to get you through those tougher year. And I thank your for your candidness and honesty.

May 03, 2025 11:57 AM
Hannah Williams

J.R. Schloemer  They say everything happens for a reason, and whatever the reasoning was, I am just happy to have found Active Rain. I learned so much from Brad Andersohn and Bob Stewart cannot forget Ben Kinney 

May 05, 2025 12:35 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Those are indeed, some great Active Rainers you mentioned. And yes, learning to write insightful and relevant market reports is a skill that we should all be working on.

May 03, 2025 12:56 PM
Hannah Williams

Dr.Paula.. Not only will the public read them, but you will learn and understand just where the market is heading 

May 05, 2025 12:38 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Hannah, I used to write monthly market reports, and still do a few, just not as much.  Our SEO isn't great.

May 04, 2025 03:02 PM
Hannah Williams

Joan Cox  Just as Nina Hollander, Broker she says  and Elyse Berman, PA write them on their websites first, then copy them to other sites including Active Rain 

May 05, 2025 12:41 PM
Eleanor Thorne
Equity Resources - Cary, NC
Advantage Lending 919-649-5058

Hannah Williams we just had a REBarcampRDU in Raleigh!  It was a blast!  I wish we had done a session on writing blog posts, Activerain and how to build a Community!  Next year it will be in March, and I'll be sure to mention it as a topic!  Such a great idea that folks have forgotten about!

May 05, 2025 11:18 AM
Hannah Williams

Eleanor Thorne  I always enjoyed REBar Camps, but have not been to one in our area in many years . Wish I knew of one as I would love to attend. 

May 05, 2025 12:44 PM
Marney Kirk
Cummings & Co. Realtors - Towson, MD
Towson, Maryland Real Estate

Hannah, market reports are so important! I write monthly reports on my personal website for three locations. They are three locations where I work much of the time, so I am very clear on what is happening in the area when a potential client calls me! Great entry into the contest!

May 07, 2025 05:14 AM
Hannah Williams

Marney Kirk Niches bring riches is a saying an old-timer would say, and she was right. Following up with a mailing helps too. Thank you so much Marney for your input 

May 07, 2025 07:38 AM
Dennis Neal
Exp Realty of Southern California, Inc. - Big Bear Lake, CA
Your Home Sold in 21 Days or We Sell It For Free

Hannah, your experience highlights the enduring power of consistent market reports in real estate. Starting them earlier and maintaining consistency are valuable takeaways. Your point about market reports being engaging for the public, despite some considering them dull, is crucial. Sharing local insights and community resources definitely adds significant value!

May 13, 2025 07:27 AM
Hannah Williams

Dennis Neal Keeping them engaging and trying to keep them exciting is so important. Thank you for taking the time to comment Dennis it is greatly appreciated! Don't forget to be consistent on your reports 

May 13, 2025 12:47 PM