TheRealEstateBeat.com is an interactive online home for real estate market intelligence and the best ideas for maximizing opportunities and developing innovative strategies for these challenging times. Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® member brokers, industry partners, LeadingRE management, and others in the industry will be contributing to this blog on a regular basis.

Scheduled to go live January 21, TheRealEstateBeat.com blog will feature thought-provoking conversation about relevant topics ranging from the office of the future and technology that works to how brokers are managing the challenges of the current marketplace.

We invite you to visit regularly for great insights, ideas and strategies from the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®.

CHICAGO (12/18/08) – In comparison to six months ago, over half of member brokers responding to a recent Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® “Housing Beat” survey are reporting one bit of good news with declining housing inventory in their markets.  And while only nine percent are seeing an increase in closings, 26 percent are experiencing more pending sales (homes under contract but not yet closed), although many of those contracts are for foreclosure properties.

Meanwhile, nearly a third of brokers are seeing more open house and website activity, and 54 percent are seeing much more flexibility from banks in responding to short sale inquiries.

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CHICAGO (7/16/08) – A survey of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® brokers in early July indicates some easing of adverse conditions in the housing market, with 59% of respondents from throughout the country indicating that they are seeing a stronger market in the last 60 days, even after factoring in normal seasonal changes.

Overabundant supply has been one of the hurdles in the market, and nearly 20% of brokers are seeing a decline in inventory from a year ago, which has not been the case in the last several months.  While the vast majority (82%) indicates that prices are down in the past year, 75% of those indicated that the decline was less than 10%, and 33% indicated a decline of under 5%.

Interestingly, with all of the focus on foreclosures, only a third said that such properties have had a significant impact on prices in their area, which is consistent with the fact that the majority of foreclosures are occurring in about eight states.

Experiences were mixed in terms of which market segments were the slowest in this environment, with 31% indicating the mid-range “move-up” market, 55% pointing to the high-end market, and 13% saying that the first-time buyer market is the most sluggish.

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CHICAGO (January 14, 2009) — Brokers are optimistic that the change in administration next week will have an impact on the extremely sluggish housing market, according to a “Housing Beat” survey of its members by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®. Over three fourths of those responding felt that the changing of the guard will have a moderate to significant influence.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) indicated heavier activity since the first of the year, although it is too early to note whether increased property showings and Web traffic will translate to increased sales.

The consensus is that consumer confidence and concerns about the job market are the heart of the housing crisis, and the survey indicated that brokers see no movement in that confidence level, although there is hope that stimulus action, declining interest rates, absorption of some housing stock by investors, and affordability levels not seen in several years will gradually lure buyers from the sidelines. Read the complete article >

CHICAGO (11/7/08) – A recent survey of sales associates affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® confirms the increasingly important role the Internet plays in real estate, with over 71% of respondents noting an increase in Internet-related business.

Further illustrating the movement toward online activity, 70.6% reported that clients prefer to communicate by email.  Phone communications rank second at 29%, with text messaging still off the radar at 1%.

When asked to indicate which marketing activity was most important to their clients, 81.6% say posting their listing online, 11.3% say holding an open house and 8.4% say doing print advertising.

“It is not surprising that our sales associates report that the Internet is playing such a significant role in their business,” Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of LeadingRE said.  “Savvy agents will respond to these consumer preferences in how they market not only their listings, but also themselves, incorporating blogging, social networking and many other online initiatives into their marketing plans.”

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® continues to support its members with a variety of technology initiatives, including its home listings site, RELOHomeSearch.com; its luxury homes site, LuxuryPortfolio.com; its alliance with FrontDoor.com and its new blog platform, Propopoly.com.

Posted By: Pam O'Connor