Brooke Wolford
By Brooke Wolford
As a real estate agent, I sometimes feel as if it’s all about me. This is my business, my success, and my livelihood. For me, after several years I have tried to focus on my “team.” I have a terrific team of people who I work with.
My “team,” consists of a loan officer, closer, inspector, insurance agent, and handyman.
I try to bring this team to my clients. I do this because I know my team is the best at what they do. This will ultimately allow my clients to have the best experience ever.
My brokerage also has its own team. This is a great thing, however, it’s not necessarily the best thing for all of my clients.
In my closing days, I couldn’t understand why agents did not use the affiliated companies. In most cases, the agents did have a good outcome. But now that I am on the other side, and I see why it wasn’t always the best situation. Continue reading »
Nobu Hata
By Nobu Hata
The skinny: The Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking public commentary through Aug. 14 on three “measures” that “reduce financial risk and preserve affordable mortgage financing for responsible consumers.”
The measures:
1. Update the combination of credit and down payment requirements for new borrowers. New borrowers seeking FHA-insured financing will be required to have a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for FHA’s flagship 3.5 percent down payment program. New borrowers with credit scores of less than a 580 will be required to make a cash investment of at least 10 percent. Borrowers with credit scores of less than 500 will no longer qualify for an FHA-insured mortgage.
2. Reduce allowable seller concessions from 6 percent to 3 percent. Allowing sellers to contribute up to 6 percent of the home’s sales price to offset a buyer’s costs exposes the FHA to excess risk by potentially driving up the cost of the home beyond its appraised value. Reducing seller concessions to 3 percent will bring FHA into conformity with industry standards. Continue reading »
Toby Boyce
By Toby Boyce
Let me start with this: I don’t work and am not receiving any money for this post – unless Google offers it. And to be honest, I have labored against the “mighty one” for years. But here we sit in 2010 and my mind has started to wonder about where the “G” will take the world next.
There have been hushed whispers – and some not so hushed – about Google’s plans and how they are going to impact the real estate market.
The world-wide mega-mart one-stop super MLS? Huh? What? Sorry, I wasn’t going there.
The evolution of social media is in the location-based technologies. Foursquare is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread in 2010. Then why is it that when I’m sitting in Columbus, Ohio, there are only a handful of updates coming through my stream? Ahh, they’re on Yelp right? Hmm … no.
So where are they doing their location based searches. That’s right. Google Maps.
On June 21, I created a Google Map for my DelawareOH365.com travel site for all that happens in Delaware County. As I write this early in the morning on July 17, that single Google Map has recorded more than 8,000 map views. And I’m the only one posting information – and sporadically, I’ll admit – to the site. What if I opened this up to all residents – or fans – of Delaware County to share their favorite points throughout the county? Continue reading »
Rob Reuter
By Rob Reuter, YPN manager
This year’s NAR conference and Expo is going to be one for the ages. I haven’t even been to New Orleans and despite all the talk of oil leaks and Post-Katrina Syndrome, I’m still very excited about this trip to the land of Bourbon Street, beads, and body shots. Here are a few reasons why:
- It’s Home to the Super Bowl Champion Saints…and Drew Brees. Considering everything that’s happened to New Orleans in the past few years, how can you not be a fan of the Saints? And now I have a connection who can possibly introduce me to Saints QB Drew Brees: YPN Subcommittee member Rogers Healy, Drew’s REALTOR®.
While that has a slim chance of happening, wishful thinking never hurt anybody…and I still get to hang out with Rogers.
- One Word: FOOD. I’m looking forward to finding a nice, sweaty oyster bar and eating unlimited oysters, shrimp, and crawdads (I believe that’s the local term for them).
Continue reading »
Crystal Webster
By Crystal Webster
…And REALTORS® make the worst clients. Has anyone else had the “privilege” of working with another REALTOR® – or even purchasing a home for themselves? I use the word privilege very loosely. 
Some of you may remember, I began looking for my new personal residence back in September. I am pleased to inform you that I closed about a month ago (seven month after I started looking, mind you…).
Between my husband (the human computer), who is also an inactive REALTOR®, and I, there was always something that “wasn’t quite right” or “if we wait then maybe we’ll find…” We found plenty of good, decent homes that would have worked just great – but we just weren’t able to remove the emotion and focus on just the pros and cons of the bones of the property.
In the end, we have a great home that we will be very happy with for many years to come. I got lots of great practice on working with “difficult” clients, and I even worked on a few of my overcoming objections scripts (some multiple times).
If you haven’t worked with someone you have a personal interest in (maybe not yourself but a family member or close friend), do it! It reminded me why I got into the business to begin with and it feels so good to help better the lives of people you really care about.
Crystal Webster is a REALTOR® in the Kansas City area. Visit her networking site at www.kcyoungprofessionals.com and her Web site and blog at www.theheritagehometeam.com.
Jonathan Osman
By Jonathan Osman
When you think of a barcode, you are no doubt thinking of the UPC labels that exist on the back of EVERYTHING. The lines on a barcode correspond with a database that delivers information on the item scanned. The technology is so tried and true that it can now be adapted for an untold number of uses including real estate.
To start, you’ll need to create your own barcode. Somewhere George Orwell is spinning in his grave at the notion that we can create and distribute personal data with a simple barcode… but we can. I used a website called Scanlife.com to create my barcode for free. Now, whenever someone scans my personalized bar code, they can import my contact information into their smartphone with just one click.
This barcode can be printed on anything and displayed everywhere including as profile pic on Facebook, on your business cards, e-mail signature; the list goes on and on.
Think of how easy it would be to gather contacts at the next convention you attended if you could simply scan and import the persons contact info via a barcode? You wouldn’t need to bring business cards or other promotional paraphernalia. Simply display your barcode on your phone and let the person you meet scan it with theirs. Instantly, you are connected, a tree is spared, and you won’t be spending time later entering cards into your database. Continue reading »
By Allison Fitch-Markham, Marketing Director, NAR Conventions Division
10. Face it, you’re just not going to be able to sample fried catfish, shrimp po’boys and sautéed alligator at home.
9. Your childhood dream was to meet Mary Lou Retton and you took out your mum’s favorite vase when you tried to vault the coffee table.
8. If you win, you’ll be famous. Certainly not as famous as Regis Philbin but maybe more famous than Rogers Healy.
7. You can brag about your trip after you learn how to create your own blog at WordPress Camp.
6. You’ll be one step closer to attending the YPN Networking Reception (special note: winning the contest does not guarantee entry to the YPN Networking Reception – you’ll still have to bribe Rob Reuter for that).
5. You know the words to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” – and can prove it. Continue reading »
Stefanie Hahn
By Stefanie Hahn
Social Media policies are becoming commonplace with businesses today. Companies want to make sure their employees understand what online behaviors will not be tolerated of their charges. For many of us, these “tolerated” behaviors seem obvious, but we all know that one guy or girl who likes to share a little too much.
I think it’s important to try to post to your audience. So if Facebook is my personal space, I will post personal (but not too personal) updates, photos, etc. LinkedIn is my business network everything I post here is business-related. Twitter is my grey area, I post both work and personal updates and photos here and my connections vary from my mother to Anderson Cooper. Not that I think Anderson Cooper reads my updates, but if he ever did …
I charge you with creating your own social media policy. Figure out how you want to interact on these sites and with whom. Creating your own social media policy means understanding and implementing your social contracts within these sites. Your social contract will dictate who you connect with, how you interact with your connections and your behavior on that site. I’ve always had certain rules that I’ve stuck to with my social media sites. These are mine, yours may be very different and only you can determine what your social contracts should be for these sites.
Facebook Friends
I like to keep the social in Facebook … I post personal updates and photos here. I might post a tiny bit of business here, but it’s very minimal. I maintain a Facebook Page for my company that contains all of my necessary work updates. Typically with Facebook, if we’re not friends in real life, then I’m not accepting your friend request. There are always exceptions to this rule of course. If we don’t know each other, but you write a little note with your request, I usually accept. I’m a sucker for the little note. Continue reading »
Toby Boyce
By Toby Boyce
As an agent, would you prefer your brokerage to have an amazing brick and mortar location or an amazing online presence?
The question flowed from Michael McClure, president and CEO of Professional One Franchising, on Twitter (@professionalone) recently. There were several agents who jumped right into the discussion — and being on Twitter, it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to figure the direction the discussion went. Brick and mortar are so old-school; who does that stuff anymore? But, then isn’t a great virtual presence just a new look on the old-school mind set?
The idea that the brokerage would require this wonderful “awe inspiring” location — whether geographically or virtually — continues to propagate the notion that the brokerage is the one that feeds the agents. Isn’t that the type of management structure that agents have been rallying against for years? Whom do these big audacious locations benefit? The walk-ins — or at least the signage on that beautiful castle — and the Internet leads go into the brokerage’s pool and dispersed across the masses of agents that are chirping like baby birds for a free worm.
I’m sorry — well not really — but I’d rather the brokerage assist me in creating that presence for me, “The Agent,” so that there is only one fat, well-fed bird getting those leads. Continue reading »
By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic
Working with sellers looking for another way to make their home stand out? Suggest they dip their toes into a yard-watering system that saves water and money.
Almost one-third of the water the average family uses—an average of 100 gallons a day—ends up in home owners’ yard and garden, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The trouble is that as much as half that water is wasted. It falls on sidewalks or evaporates before it ever reaches the ground.
Sellers can impress potential buyers with a water-saving irrigation strategy, and you can show them how with tips from the July “Outdoor Projects that Save You Money” article package now available at the REALTOR® Content Resource. Here’s information you can share with sellers:
1. Drip irrigation systems save water because they put it only where you want it—directly to plants’ roots, which cuts down on waste and also reduces weeds. A drip system is basically a long, thin plastic tube sitting on the ground or, less often, buried right below the surface. Small fittings, called emitters, release water at rates of one-half to four gallons an hour. The tubing is attached to your outside faucet with a valve. A new drip system cost from $50 for about 20 plants to $200 or more for a whole yard. Continue reading »
Recent Comments