Written by admin on 23 February 2010
Although the economy has been growing lately, fallout from the recent recession continued to negatively impact commercial real estate sectors in the fourth quarter, but there is hope for some improvement next year, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said commercial real estate almost always lags the economy. “Because of the lingering impact from the deep recession over the past two years, vacancy rates will trend higher and many commercial property owners will need to make rent concessions,” he said.
“With the job market expected to turn for the better later this year, we’ll see rising demand for office and warehouse space, but that isn’t likely before 2011,” Yun said. “At the same time, improved consumer confidence would help sustain the retail sector and encourage more people to enter the rental market.”
Yun notes that commercial vacancy rates remain high in most market areas and are depressing rents. Read the rest of this entry »
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Written by admin on 23 February 2010
iPhone has become one of the most used mobile devices and we know a lot of realtors and agents carry it. As a result we thought of creating a post that would highlight some of the most useful apps for realtors. While we were searching for apps, we came across a custom app for realtors. Although we understand that custom apps cost quite a bit, the price to us seems a bit ridiculous. Seriously though, is $975.00 really justifiable for an iPhone app? There are many useful apps out there for realtors and real estate agents and we think this might be a bit of a rip off. We are sure that the work that goes into this app is quite extensive but just not sure how effective it is when the price beats almost the price of 3 or 4 iphones put together.
If you would like to see the app, or maybe even consider purchasing it, please click here custom iPhone app for realtors. We will try and compile some iPhone apps for realtors pretty soon.
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Written by admin on 18 February 2010
Selling your home is a daunting task and while you can sell your home by yourself it’s much more efficient and time saving to have someone do most of the legwork for you. That is where realtors and agents come in. They handle most of the time consuming and confusing tasks as well as help get your home sold quickly. Here are 42 Reasons to hire a realtor or agent: Read the rest of this entry »
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Written by admin on 18 February 2010
We recently came across a great resource for home buyers and anyone who is thinking of purchasing a home. We just compiled a list of real estate infographics the other day and this new visualization of data is a perfect timing. Anyways, if you are looking to buy a home you should know all about the tax credits. The infographic below will help you learn everything there is to know about 2010 home buyers tax credit.
Click the image to enlarge
Source: FixR
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Written by admin on 17 February 2010
The state of real estate as we all know isn’t all that good. However, the housing market seems to be bouncing back. Homes are up for sale everywhere and soon to be new homeowners are ready to purchase their first house. Another thing to note is the fact that it’s the tax season so we will be seeing quite a few people interested in buying homes, simply due to the fact that government has set up ways they can capitalize on by buying a house.
Since infographics are one of the best ways to look at data, we compiled five infographics from the past. Although these don’t show the current trends in real estate market, it gives us a picture as to where we were at and helps us analyze as this year moves forward. Read the rest of this entry »
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Written by admin on 17 February 2010
Today the National Association of Realtors® launched HouseLogic, a new, comprehensive consumer Web site about all aspects of homeownership. HouseLogic helps homeowners make smart decisions and take responsible actions to maintain, protect and increase the value of their homes.
“Backed by the resources and industry insights of NAR and its Realtor® members, HouseLogic will engage and involve consumers throughout the lifecycle of homeownership,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox & Associates in Tucson, Ariz. “It makes sense that, as the first, best source for real estate information, NAR should collaborate with today’s consumers to help them make the most out of owning a home. HouseLogic will help us do that.”
The free Web site helps homeowners plan and organize their home projects and provides timely articles and news; home improvement advice and how-to’s; and information about taxes, home finances and insurance. Read the rest of this entry »
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Written by admin on 16 February 2010
Here are ten tips for realtors open house
- Show up on time and stay until the scheduled end. There is nothing worse than having someone hold your listing open and they show up late or leave early. It makes the listing agent look bad and the sellers are usually convinced the house will sell at the open house (which it hardly ever does) but they will be very upset.
- Choose wisely. Select a house in your farm area and if it’s not your listing preview the house a few days before the open house. You may find that the house is not worth holding open, it may be a disaster, it may have a bad location and is difficult to find or maybe it’s a holiday weekend and the listing agent promised an open house to the seller but doesn’t not want to do it himself. Don’t commit to doing unless it will work for you.
- Schedule the open house to start 1 hour after the typical time. For example, most agents’ in our area hold open houses on Sunday from 1-4pm. I do mine from 2-4 pm. This allows me to visit all the other open houses in the immediately area jut before mine starts. It allows me to talk more intelligently to buyers coming through. Most people visiting an open house will not buy that home. Instead it is an opportunity for you to meet buyers in person, establish some rapport and try to convince them to work with you. So if a buyer walks in and after some conversation they tell you that house isn’t what they were looking for you can suggest a another homes in the area – it makes you appear to be an expert in the neighborhood. This will impress both buyers as well as sellers (neighbors) who walk through the house.
- Preview 1 or 2 very comparable homes in the area, again this will lend creditability to you and your expertise if you can talk intelligently about some of the other similar homes in the area. It’s even better if these homes are not being held open because it gives you a reason to try to meet with the buyers later.
- Print a list of all available homes in the area in a similar price range and pass it out at the open house.
- Don’t hand out a flyer; it will usually get tossed right after they leave. Instead hand out your card, personal brochure and/or the list of other homes. Many people will be upset that you do not have a flyer readily available but tell them that is why you are there to answer their questions about the house.
- Make sure the seller is not going to be there. They will only hamper your ability to meet new clients and they usually scare any potential buyers away because they want to show them around the house.
- Don’t make everyone sign in. This will only give you list of people who probably do not want to talk to you anyway. Instead only take the names and contact info of people you connect with, and make sure they don’t already have an angel. This will save you lots of time following up leads that are not going anywhere.
- Don’t show buyers the house. Houses sell themselves the buyer doesn’t need you following them around saying this is the bedroom…this is the kitchen…they’re not stupid, instead tell buyers when they walk in about a few outstanding features of the home, the price, bedrooms & baths, then tell them to feel free to walk around and that you are available if they have any questions.
- Advertise on your website and run a local newspaper ad or list it in your local papers open house directory.
Posted in agents, open house, realtors | Comments Off
Written by admin on 16 February 2010
We have already covered in the past the difference between realtors and agents. Realtors have to follow a set of rules as put forward by National Association Realtors. If you are a realtor, you can follow the five steps outlined below to be a member of NAR (National Association of Realtors) :
- Although this is obvious, to be able to become a member of National Association of Realtors you must have to have a valid realtor’s license.
- Make sure to join a local board so your activities are noticed by the local board as well as the community.
- To join the NAR or the National Association of Realtors, you must pay an annual fee which is on top of what you have to pay to your local association.
- Please refer to the link we mentioned above which highlights ethics and codes a realtor must follow. In order to be a part of the NAR you must follow the “realtor’s code of ethics.”
- Joining the association is easy, it’s the maintaining that membership that many realtors find. Just be sure to follow the rules and practice what the association has set forward as far as rules goes. Also be sure to utilize all the educational material so you are always on top of it.
Feel free to share more and anything else you may want to talk about in regards to joining the National Association of Realtors.
Posted in National Association Realtors, agents, realtors | Comments Off