The Real Estate Beat - Home

Stimulating the Economy with Assumable Mortgages

2010-03-07T17:07:00Z

Mortgage assumability is a great way to stimulate additional real estate sales and also prevent many properties from being foreclosed!

In the 1970’s and early 1980, there was not a “due on sale” clause in mortgages. If this clause was removed, the number of foreclosures would drop significantly over the next six months. We would have buyers to take over these mortgages since it would require little or no down payment. Home owners and investors would be willing to pay more than the current comparable because there is no qualifying requirement and very little cash required and the belief that the market value will be going up in the next few years.

float ... Continued on the blog.

Is It Ever Prudent To Reject Corporate Referrals?

2010-02-09T04:04:00Z

Throughout the past 10 years, approximately 15% of my incoming referral business has been generated from 3rd party company referrals. When looking at my 2010 business plan I questioned that business. Is the time and money spent to manage this business worth it? Should those efforts be redirected to securing other more profitable business?

Real estate brokerages are comprised of independent contractors who affiliate themselves with a company because they feel they will be provided with the best business platform to be successful. The company’s success is determined by the professionalism of those contractors.

Corporate clients w ... Continued on the blog.

Registering for Any Conference is Just the Beginning

2010-02-01T03:15:00Z

Networking is one of the most valuable tools for business development in any industry. Let’s face it: conference networking is especially integral to the continued success of any business as it puts ‘a face with that name and number’. Networking is about making initial contacts appropriately, building relationships and creating opportunities. Great networking goes well beyond the initial meeting – it takes discipline to develop and sustain the relationships.

The first rule of networking is being prepared to talk to strangers, something even the most outgoing personalities can sometimes find daunting. Conference networking is easier ... Continued on the blog.

Hey Las Vegas, Here I come!

2010-01-21T15:35:00Z

You might think that my trip to Las Vegas is for a chance of luck. But it is quite the contrary. If I don’t go to Las Vegas for the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® Annual Conference I would be taking a huge risk. This year’s conference is an exceptional value and is worthy of your time and money. The return on your investment is a sure win!

If you are uncertain if you will attend, consider these reasons.

Re-Energize Yourself: The conference has a history of high energy and exciting experiences, and this year will be no exception with the pa ... Continued on the blog.

2009 Clean-up Time!

2010-01-14T19:13:00Z

Thank goodness 2009 is over! What a tough year it was for all of us. But… we survived!!

Now it’s time to start thinking about 2010 if you haven’t done so already. One of the best ways to get your New Year started off in the right direction is to finish up 2009 and bag it for good. In other words, “Clean Some Things Up” and get a clean start in 2010. Listed below are some good tips to help us complete that clean up and set ourselves up for Great Success in 2010.

1. Clean that Computer up!

Now is the time to clean up all those old e-mails.
Go through your Contacts and make sure they are all ... Continued on the blog.

Looking Back on 2009 for the REAL Story

2010-01-02T16:19:00Z

You may have been reading the various “top 10 2009 real estate stories” assessments while relaxing over the holidays, as I have.

On CBS MoneyWatch.com, Alison Rogers viewed 2009 from a macro consumer perspective in her analysis, citing things like increasing foreclosure numbers, the ongoing credit crunch, and increasing rentals.

A more cut-to-the-chase recap was that by Steve Harney. Steve j ... Continued on the blog.

Referrals and engaged responsiveness rule the roost

2009-12-04T18:20:00Z

The National Association of Realtors^® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers 2009 again shows the power of a referral and responsiveness.

p. 62, National Association of Realtors^® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers 2009

p. 94, National Association of Realtors^® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers 2009

Over fifty percent of buyers and forty-nine percent of sellers who used a real estate agent found their agents through a referral by friends or family, anothe ... Continued on the blog.

Radio Show Creates Long Term Benefits for Company and Agents

2009-11-20T04:14:00Z

Hosting a local talk show, All Things Real Estate, has created a synergy, goodwill factor and an opportunity to show our company culture of service to the public. This educational marketing strategy has fostered immediate benefits for our company and associates.

The talk show format is upbeat, conversational and real. The guests come from all tangential industries to ours such as attorneys, appraisers, lenders, other brokers, interior decorators, insurance representatives, inspectors and clients who all have a story to tell. The weekly topics are easy to fill and there is no shortage of guests willing to come on the show and share their valuable inf ... Continued on the blog.

Can Contraction and Productive Retention Co-Exist?

2009-11-10T16:51:00Z

Yes it can! In September 2004, prior to the devastation of four hurricanes and the recession, Pruitt Real Estate had seven offices and 207 agents serving Brevard County. As the largest independent company serving the Space Coast of Florida, we enjoyed a commanding 19% market share in our primary market area.

Back to back active hurricanes at the end of 2004 coupled with the economic recession resulted in a 58% decline in sales from 2005 to 2008. This downturn required us to take immediate cost cutting measures; however, I along with my management team was cognizant not to make the wrong decisions and risk losing key producers.

Today, we have 3 ... Continued on the blog.

The Forecast is Partly Cloudy

2009-11-05T22:34:00Z

As real estate marketers dive with enthusiasm into the lastest social networking and cloud computing offerings of the web 2.0 world, there are some basic questions to be asked. Concerns regarding the ownership of content, security, and what could happen next are discussed in this prezi.com presentation below. This is the first in a series on this topic - please post any thoughts and comments below.

<object height="400" width="550"> <param /> <p ... Continued on the blog.

Top Agents Show Enthusiasm for Industry's Future

2009-11-04T16:52:00Z

There has been plenty of gloom and doom in real estate for quite a while now, but I’m fortunate to be exposed to shining confidence and enthusiasm for the future of our industry. There are many who inspire me and others with their positive attitudes and willingness to share.

Some of the best examples come from our Power Producers, an elite group of top performing sales associates participating in the LeadingRE Institute, our network’s education portal for sales associates, brokers and managers. These professionals meet monthly to network, brainstorm and share success tips on various topics. In between calls, they have ongoing d ... Continued on the blog.

The Most Under-Utilized Strategy in Real Estate: Target-Marketing

2009-10-28T16:19:00Z

Our business is (unfortunately) known for following a one-size-fits-all approach, whether it’s the same commission rate charged for the novice or the 20-year seasoned veteran, or for the listing that is sold in a few days versus one with high carrying costs over a multi-month period of time.

Likewise, we’re in a box when it comes to online leads. We pretty much assume that this term is synonymous with inquiries that come to a website from a consumer searching listings. Well, of course, search is the primary way in which consumers engage us online, but why should it be the only way? And while the listing agent may know the most about that particular ho ... Continued on the blog.

Crafting a Broker Level Strategy to Serve Your Online Consumers

2009-10-22T13:47:00Z

Many brokerages across the country have managed their online presence and successfully served clients on their websites for years. Others know they need to…and it’s never too late. A successful strategy to serve consumers on your website, often referred to as Internet Lead Management (ILM), must first start with an analysis of your goals, your company cultural, and your resources. I’m a firm believer in the under promise and over deliver philosophy.

So what is your goal when creating this ILM strategy – fast response times, 24 hours a day coverage, and the ultimate in lead capture? How about quality consumer engagement and a real a value added for sell ... Continued on the blog.

Have You Started Planning for 2010?

2009-10-13T04:33:00Z

With business planning season in full swing, it is important for all of us to look ahead to the coming year and outline specific objectives to ensure our success. What do you plan to do differently in 2010? What actionable goals do you have in mind? Now is the time to evaluate where you want to go and how you plan to get there.

With this aim in mind, we invited noted industry coach Steve Harney to be the keynote speaker at the upcoming ... Continued on the blog.

Do These Pants Fit?

2009-10-12T16:43:00Z

How many times have you either asked that or thought that? Today, it’s a tough question being asked in the relocation industry. In fact, I’m not aware of one organization – whether corporate, third party, or brokerage – that isn’t being asked to redesign our service menu, reduce the bulk, offer leaner items, and create a healthier diet for us all.

Challenging? Yes, it is…it’s not easy to slim down. Achievable? Yes, it is…when we set our goals and work towards them.

Everyone’s financial diet is being trimmed; there are no “seconds” available on our tables. We are doing this at home and at work. We are cutting back on out-of-date and unneces ... Continued on the blog.