3 Tricks to Sell a Home Quickly

3 Tricks to Sell a Home Quickly

RECBL - Real Estate News

Some house flippers use short-term financing to buy a house in need of renovations, but it can have a higher interest rate than other types of financing. It also costs house flippers money in the form of daily interest charges. Other house flippers use their own cash reserves to buy a property.

In both situations, many flippers are focused on selling a home quickly. A critical aspect that impacts the ability to achieve this goal is to create a desirable home that buyers are interested in. When you’re preparing to transform an investment property, turn your attention to these important points:

Create an Open Floor Plan
One idea that works well when flipping is to create an open floor plan. Older homes that likely need more renovations may have a closed-off floor plan. This can make the home look smaller than it is, and can create a claustrophobic ambiance that may turn off some buyers. Depending on the home that you invest in, creating an open floor plan may be as simple as tearing down the wall dividing the kitchen and dining room.

For added emphasis, you can also tear down any dividing walls between living spaces and the dining room. While you’re not adding square footage through this process, an open floor plan feels bigger to a buyer and may be more appealing. In many cases, this is a cost-effective way to generate incredible results.

Add Natural Light
To transform the space of your investment home, analyze the natural light. Some older homes were built with minimal or small windows, which result in a dark and gloomy interior that is not welcoming or appealing to buyers. Consider enlarging existing windows to bring in more natural light.

You can also add a few windows or a skylight in the bathroom, kitchen or other rooms that are commonly dark. When you incorporate natural sunlight into a room, you transform the space by making it feel more inviting.

Research Competing Listings
Before you finalize your renovation plans for your next house-flipping project, you should spend time online researching competing listings. You could even visit a few homes to get a better feel for market conditions. When transforming a space, you need to at least bring the home up to a level that makes it directly competitive with other listings in the market.

It can also be advantageous to go a step above the current market conditions. This can make the home more appealing for a faster sale; however, avoid making renovations that are considerably above market-level. While the home may be very desirable to buyers when you do this, there is a strong chance that you may price the home above market rates. This can make the home too expensive for some buyers. The condition of your finished project is critical to your ability to sell the property quickly.

Many house flippers focus on cosmetic features when renovating a home. For example, they may pay attention to paint colors, countertop materials and flooring options. These are all important elements to focus on, but other factors are equally important if you want to benefit from a quick sale.

As you look for new homes to flip, and as you plan the renovations, turn your attention to these important transformation tips. By doing so, you can create a finished project that sells more quickly.

Do you have tips to sell houses quickly? Let us know at marketing@cashbuyerslists.com

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Listing During the Holidays – 3 Reasons Why It Works

Listing During the Holidays – 3 Reasons Why It Works

RECBL - Real Estate News

Before the internet, buying a home involved long hours of flipping through MLS books and driving prospects around neighborhoods; something many agents just didn't have time to do during the busy holiday season. Now that buyers are able to search, filter, and scan through potential listings without leaving their couch; home buying during the holidays has never been easier. Here are three reasons why your clients should list during the holiday season.

1. Capitalize on less competition.

During the holiday season, sellers can feel like they don't have enough time to maintain their home for showings or negotiate potential offers.

Because of this, they wait and re-list their homes at the beginning of the coming year. While this may make sense for some, it can also mean major missed opportunities.

The smaller number of listed properties can work out in your seller's favor since more potential buyers can potentially see your client's home. Make sure you take advantage of this opportunity by telling your clients to keep their homes show-ready at all times and recommending the best listing price possible. If your client's home has been on the market for a while, this may be an opportune time to consider a price adjustment.

2. Enhance the emotional experience.

Buying a home is an emotional experience for both the buyer and the seller. Often, the buyer's emotional connection to the home is what really solidifies the sale. The holidays are an especially sentimental time for many, as they bring back warm memories and allow buyers to imagine future celebrations.

Selling a home over the holiday season enhances the emotional connection that a potential buyer can make with your client's home. Foster this opportunity by reminding sellers to stage their home accordingly. Since different types of potential buyers will be coming to visit, avoid including overly religious decor. Instead, opt for simple and classic, such as a wreath on the door, a simple tree devoid of children's popsicle-stick decorations in the main room, and subtle garland in the kitchen. Also, consider burning a pine or cranberry-scented candle for those buyers who come over for a tour.

3. Work with motivated buyers.

If someone ventures out to look for a home during the holiday season, it's clear that they're a motivated buyer. Take advantage of this opportunity by making sure the property is marketed in the best way possible. This could be a great time to update listing pictures, check in with your clients on their listing price, or re-post the listing on your social pages or blog. In addition to this, remind sellers that they should be flexible around this time, in case a potential buyer wants to schedule a last-minute showing. This is also a reason why the listing should be in peak-showing condition.

Follow these tips and hopefully your clients will be out with the old and in with the new by New Year's Day!

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Tighten that belt and save for a down payment

Developing Leadership For Business Growth

Developing Leadership For Business Growth

RECBL - Real Estate News

Like most busy real estate professionals, you’ve probably found yourself daydreaming a time or two about forming a team...and exactly what it would take to get the right people on board in order to lay the foundation for success today-and well into the future.

Pam Ermen-a national speaker, coach and trainer, and president of Real Estate Guidance, Inc.-explored the team concept during the 2017 REALTORS(R) Conference & Expo.

"Teams aren’t inherently good, and they aren’t inherently bad," noted Ermen, who began building teams back in the 1990s.

"There’s no general brush you can use to stroke across whether a team is affecting something," she added. "It’s not a trend, but rather, a business model."

A vehicle for real estate growth, Ermen took attendees through a series of business growth stages. Established via a Harvard Business Study on small business, Ermen explained that the following stages overlay the growth of teams extremely well:

Stage 1: Creativity (identity/brand)

• A temporary state
• Unbelievably important, because if you don’t develop your brand, you don’t have anything of value

Stage 2: Direction (systems)

• Can’t move out of stage 1 without creating the systems that are necessary to replicate the brand experience

Stage 3: Delegation (duplication)

• Determine your pay grade and the jobs/tasks you’re doing that fall below it
• Beginning with support roles, hire to fill in the areas where you’re spending the most time

Stage 4: Coordination (team associates)

Stage 5: Collaboration (innovate/re-invent)

• Highest level of leadership that allows you to innovate

Once you’ve moved through the process of developing your brand, putting systems into place, figuring out how to replicate the process, bringing in admin support and filling people into sales roles, you’ve freed yourself to move to a level of leadership that allows you to innovate. "And that’s when it makes a difference," noted Ermen, who encouraged attendees to think about companies that have a reputation for being innovators: Uber, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, etc. "They’re innovating because of their leadership," she added.

But how do you go about creating a culture of collaboration that inspires people to take action and take part in what you’re doing? The following videos, suggested by Ermen, are a good place to start:

HOW GREAT LEADERS INSPIRE ACTION



CORE VALUES & COMPANY CULTURE



WHY WE NEED CORE VALUES




"If you watch all these and then hold a team meeting, you will go into it with a totally different perspective of the people in front of you," concluded Ermen.

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Running Your Business Like a Business

Running Your Business Like a Business

RECBL - Real Estate News

The following information is provided by the Center for REALTOR(R) Development (CRD), with assistance from Lauren Hampton and the Podfly editorial team.

Running your business-like a business-is crucial for getting maximum value out of it, and your efforts. As REALTORS(R), it is crucial to plan and be wise, and to think of yourself as a business owner at all times.

Episode eight of the CRD Podcast is the first of two episodes that explore different aspects of business planning for real estate professionals. Part one is a one-on-one by host Monica Neubauer and an industry expert.

Part two, which will release later this month of December, will be a panel discussion, so you can hear some different opinions on the same topic from peers.

Neubauers guest for episode eight is Mark Given. Given has been teaching real estate courses nationally since 2004. He has been president of and served on numerous committees for REALTOR(R) Associations at the national, state and local levels. In addition to his speaking, teaching, and volunteering careers, Given is a prolific author. Given has a book series about his trust-based business philosophy, and has also co-written four other books. His weekly blog, "Marks Minute," is read by thousands-you can sign up to get on the list on his website. Before launching his real estate career, Given spent 20 years as CEO of a multi-state retail sales and rental company.

Given and Neubauer talk about a number of things that should become part of your business plan: finding a mentor, how to foster a good broker relationship, and the cost of training (or not getting trained) in several areas, as well as niche positions in the market and keeping up with your past clients. They also discuss aspects of building a team and being proactive in your business. Below are some of the highlights and key ideas from the discussion.

Find the right brokerage for you. One of the first things a new agent has to do is find a brokerage firm. You need to find a good fit with your broker, so they can help nurture you and gain momentum. Look for a brokerage firm that has potential mentors, a good educational program, and a culture that connects with who you are. Looking for mentors both within and outside the company is important in getting honest answers to some important questions. Learning to ask good questions is a huge part of the real estate industry.

Budget for periods of uneven cash flow. Understanding the money aspect of real estate is important in showing a profit and actually making money in your business. You likely won’t be closing on any deals right away, and you have to budget for the periods of time that you don’t have any revenue. Some expenses include gas, marketing, MLS and association fees, and other additional business fees. Taking a class that talks about the cost of running your business is a great idea for new agents-you don’t want surprises that might cause stress that would prevent you from performing at your highest level. You also don’t want to get ahead of yourself; don’t spend your earnings before you make them!

Don’t skimp on training. Training should be part of your business plan, as well-and not only for new agents. There is always new information to be learned. It is very beneficial to do more training besides what is required for your continuing education. This can help grow your own confidence, and make your business more successful.

Find your special niche. Most agents run their real estate business as generalists. There are plenty of agents who succeed running their business this way, but Given has found that agents that take the time to specialize in a given niche often become the "go-to" person for that niche. If you’re going to run your business like a business, it’s in becoming really good at some part of a business that you become recognized as the best person for that part.

"Pick a niche and get really good at it and all of a sudden your business can really explode," explains Given.

Develop systems to help your business run more smoothly. It is crucial for people running a real estate business to have better systems. Some of these systems include contact management systems or systems that track your business profit. Your management systems are only as good as the information you put in them. You need to have some systems in place to make sure you’re doing things in a timely manner, and following up with your clients. There are many companies that already have these systems in place-take advantage of them! Start your day by making a plan for what you need to get done that day.

There is quite a bit more helpful information covered in episode eight, and we invite you to check out this particular episode, as well as the seven that came before it, at www.CRDpodcast.com, or wherever you sign up to listen and subscribe to your favorite podcasts. Our goal with the podcast is to support and broadcast great conversations (in a free and easily-accessible format) between and for real estate professionals who want to always keep learning and continuously elevate their practitioner skills.

The Center for REALTOR(R) Development podcast is sponsored and supported by NARs Center for REALTOR(R) Development, an online learning platform designed specifically for REALTORS(R).

For more information, please visit the online learning portal from NARs Center for REALTOR(R) Development (CRD)and the Learning Library. Here, real estate professionals can sign up for online professional development courses,industry designations, certifications, CE credits, Code of Ethics programs and more. NAR's CRD also offers monthly specials and important education updates. New users will need to register for an account.

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Pay your rent with bitcoin. Here's how it works

Pay your rent with bitcoin. Here's how it works

RECBL - Real Estate News
Diana Olick | @DianaOlick
Originally Published on by CNBC

​While you still can't buy a meal at many restaurants with bitcoin, you can now pay your rent with it.

ManageGo, a Brooklyn, New York-based rental platform which offers landlords and tenants payment and maintenance scheduling services through online and mobile applications, is now adding bitcoin to the list. Starting early next year, a tenant can pay in bitcoin through the mobile app.

Here's how it works: The tenant uses bitcoin and then ManageGo converts the bitcoin to dollars using Coinbase, a digital cryptocurrency broker.

The landlord gets the rent payment in dollars. Since bitcoin is extremely volatile, the value is locked in at the time of the payment.

There has not been a lot of demand for this service, but executives at ManageGo, which has been around for seven years, say it is only a matter of time.

"We lead in innovation, so we saw bitcoin was something that's going to happen and become a standing currency sometime in the future," said Chaim Lowenstein, vice president of business strategy at ManageGo. "Right now there are types of clients we have, their tenants fit the profile, and we wanted to offer it as the new amenity beyond a fancy gym or a new couch in the building."

Lowenstein said he has already received interest from landlords, if not yet from tenants. The company is marketing the idea nationwide, hoping it will catch on as quickly as the currency has.

Toby Bozzuto said he learned of it this week at a real estate conference. Bozzuto is CEO of The Bozzuto Group, an apartment development and management company with more than 70,000 units nationally in its portfolio.

"Currently we have had zero interest in paying rent through bitcoin," said Bozzuto, who is still skeptical about cryptocurrencies in general. "You don't know who owns it, and that's the knock on it. It's been considered black market with a dirty reputation.

That said, he is not exactly closing the door on the option.

"If this becomes a consumer shift, like Apple Pay, we are always looking for ways to increase the ease of rent payments. I'm not closed-minded enough to say it's off the table," he added.

Appeals to a specific type of renter

ManageGo has approached the American Apartment Owners Association, but representatives there said they have not heard of any demand from renters or landlords for bitcoin options.

Alexandra Alvarado, a representative of the association, said property management companies and landlords have moved only slowly into online payments and tend to be quite cautious and conservative. They will not consider trying something until it is widely established in the market.

That could be years or months, given bitcoin's incredible rise and the expansion of other cryptocurrencies right behind it. To start, it will likely be a very specific type of renter."It's someone who is maybe in technology, somebody in finance, somebody who sees this as very exciting," Lowenstein said. "They got in, and this makes it real that they could pay their rent with bitcoin."




Pay your rent with bitcoin. Here's how it works from CNBC.

For more information about Bitcoin please visit Bitcoin.org, Coinbase, and CNN.com



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Turning Opportunity Into Profit

Turning Opportunity Into Profit

RECBL - Real Estate News

Running a profitable real estate business in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven environment is a challenging proposition. But for the industry’s elite teams (those doing 40+ transactions a year), CINC (Commissions Inc.) is a key piece of the puzzle, providing the tools needed to attract and engage clients-and turn opportunity into profit.

Created to alleviate the frustration associated with having to deal with multiple technologies in order to achieve real estate success, the platform was born in 2011 as a lead generation and CRM solution.

The team spent the next two years creating an integrated platform from which team leaders could run their total business. More depth was added to the solution, coinciding with the launch of CRM+-an update to the platforms pre-existing CRM-in 2015. In September 2016, CINC was bought by Fidelity National Financial, a huge milestone that set the stage for greater success across the board.

"There are a lot of people in the industry who do what we do," says CINC Co-CEO Jason Hoback. "This acquisition was a huge milestone as it provided confirmation that what we’ve done, not only have we done it well, but we’ve done it better than anybody else."

For Co-CEO Alvaro Erize, Fidelitys acquisition marked a true turning point in the platforms trajectory path forward.

"Everything we do is to strengthen the agent’s position in the market. Fidelity shares our client-first mentality and passion for the agent, giving us the firepower and support we need to grow beyond what we had imagined," says Erize of the company’s focus on being the best platform on which to run a business, as well as offering the best lead gen and conversion engine in the market.

"Even if you put the best fuel in a bad car, it won’t get anywhere," says Erize, underscoring the importance a good platform will have on an agent’s efficiency day-in and day-out. "The goal is then for team leaders to take agents selling 10 houses a year and mentor them to be able to sell 25."

While many clients see a boost of more than 20-30 percent when it comes to lead conversion, its important to note that CINCs investment on the lead gen side of things is paying huge dividends as well, with their clients cost-per-lead down 24 percent year-over-year.

"We have the ability to hone in on keywords that will drive the best type of lead to a specific client at the most effective price," says Hoback. A process that’s been boiled down to an art, automated algorithms ensures leads are tailored to a client’s area of expertise, falling in their conversion sweet spot.

More than just a software company, CINCs culture provides a unique value proposition all on its own.

"When it comes to culture, you either have it, or you don’t. Since were a no-contract business, we’ve adopted a Whatever It Takes (WIT) mentality because we have to earn our clients business every single day," says Hoback.

To that end, it’s all about mindset. While the phrase "no problem" is taboo at CINC, Hoback notes that even though the difference between "no problem" and "my pleasure" is subtle, it’s the small things that add up to big things when interacting with clients.

Taking this one step further, Erize believes the company’s strongest asset is the unrivaled community clients become part of when they join the CINC family. "We’ve built what I think is the most impressive community of elite real estate professionals who come together through us, refer business to one another and support each other through times of need," he explains. "The value of our community is as valuable as CINC, and it will only become stronger as we bring this dream to fruition."

Looking ahead, there’s no end in sight as the company continues to pave the way toward its goal of becoming the undisputed, indispensable piece of technology on which elite real estate professionals run their business.

"What’s really interesting from a technology perspective is the fact that we haven’t even scratched the surface with the value we bring our clients and the innovative things we can do to make their lives easier," says Hoback.

"We’ve achieved a lot already, but we still have a significant way to go," concludes Erize.

For more information, please visit www.commissionsinc.com.

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Focus Makes the Difference

Focus Makes the Difference

RECBL - Real Estate News

When does that racehorse really pour on the power? You guessed it...in that final stretch of the race, with the finish line in sight.

It’s hard to believe were heading into the final days of the year, when our focus should be all about rocking our numbers as we reach the finish line. It’s time to maximize these final weeks to meet or exceed those goals we set many months ago.

Will you meet your goals, or fall short?

Many agents use the slowdown of the market as we near the holidays as an excuse to slack off.

We all love the holidays, and while life is about enjoying these special times, for the savvy agent, ramping up when everyone else is gearing down offers the best competitive advantage.

While everyone else is sipping cider and decorating for the holidays, here are a few proven ways to take advantage of the lull and score big.

Set up a face-to-face touch with everyone you did business with this year.
The end of the year is a logical time to contact past clients, your sphere of influence, current prospects and strategic partners to say a special "thank you." Consider hosting a fun event or a pie promotion to past clients, customers, referral resources and current prospects.

Contact prospects who aren’t ready to buy or sell, and ask what date they want you to contact them after the holidays. Pop by with a small holiday promotional gift or card that tells them a donation has been made by you in their name. These are solid ways to keep the connection going.

Support a give-back campaign within the community.
Check with your local Chamber of Commerce for details on drives to benefit the local food pantry, animal shelter, homeless shelter or senior center and discover different ways to support them through your sphere of influence. Be present at each of the various venues for the distribution or pick-up of the drive. Make sure to take plenty of photos and videos to post on your Facebook business page. Sharing the combined efforts of you and the participating vendors creates high visibility and endless goodwill.

Inspect what you expect from your various service providers.
Do a deep dive into inspecting what lead generation and CRM (client relationship management) platforms have proven to be profitable. When you study the actual return on the investment, you’re better equipped to make the decision to renew those particular services or start looking for a better solution. As an example, if you’ve been paying every month for a lead-generation service, now is a great time to determine what percentage of those leads have resulted in sales. Service providers count on the fact that a monthly billing will continue to ping your credit card and go unnoticed. Knowing what your real costs are can make the difference between buying leads and actually converting them into real profits.

As the year draws to an end, keep your eye on the goal to go, and we’ll see you in the profit zone.

Terri Murphy is a communication engagement specialist, author, speaker and coach. She is the author/co-author of five books, and founder of MurphyOnRealEstate.com. Contact her at TerriMurphy.com, MurphyOnRealEstate.com or Terri@TerriMurphy.com.

For more information, please visit www.workmansuccesssystems.com.



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Better Your Business: Become a Real Estate Resource for Seniors

Better Your Business: Become a Real Estate Resource for Seniors

RECBL - Real Estate News

NARs Seniors Real Estate Specialist(R) designation draws attention to an aging demographic. As a real estate agent, you may be focused on wrangling in younger clients-millennials making that first big home purchase, or those looking to jump from their starter home to their forever home. But real estate professionals fixated on younger clients alone are missing out on a major demographic that needs attention: seniors.

"Our country’s population of older residents has grown significantly over the past several decades," says Chris Read, a broker/owner in Illinois.

Read notes that according to the United States Administration of Aging, the number of residents who are 65 and older will more than double by 2040 to represent 20 percent of the nation’s population.

"To meet the special housing needs of our maturing population, REALTORS(R) need special knowledge and expertise to appropriately counsel clients with major lifestyle changes associated with seniors," says Read.

But what exactly are these senior-specific housing needs? Think tax and legal matters, retirement challenges, exploring assisted living options and understanding how to search for properties that allow independent older clients to age in place.

How can real estate professionals work to meet these needs? The answer is the NAR Seniors Real Estate Specialist(R) (SRES(R)) designation, which provides the knowledge and resources needed for agents to offer a better level of counseling for senior clients.

"The SRES(R) designation provides the awareness and knowledge of issues facing seniors, in addition to a multitude of resources for client solutions and assistance," says Read, who was named the 2016 REALTOR(R) of the Year by the Illinois Association of REALTORS(R).

"Knowledge is power," notes Read. Understanding the issues 21st century seniors face will place you ahead of your competition, draw in more business, and allow you to better serve your senior clients by customizing your services as needed. "Many housing and service organizations will market contact info for the SRES(R) member. It’s a symbol for competency, awareness and skills in navigating a senior through the process of relocating."

To earn the SRES(R) designation, a licensee must be an active member of the National Association of REALTORS(R) (NAR). Following that, you must become an active member of the SRES(R) Council, and complete the two-day designation course-available online or in a classroom. "I completed the course online within one week, stopping and starting as my schedule permitted," says Read.

Read is far from the only real estate professional investing in the senior population. The Senior Services activities of both the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS(R) and the Illinois Association of REALTORS(R) have been making large moves to support seniors in housing. With a membership of 17,000-plus, the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS(R) is the largest local association in Illinois, and its Senior Service committee is comprised of REALTOR(R) members maintaining the SRES(R) designation whose business focuses on servicing the senior demographic, explains Read.

The committee’s goal is to provide education, share resources, create tools, promote advocacy and give support to seniors and their communities. In the past, the organization has sponsored senior expos and seminars on powers of attorney, senior housing options, de-cluttering, senior fraud protection and preparing for the future.

Through these services, the organization not only supports their senior community members, but directly connects them with SRES(R) designees who can meet their needs, driving business for the agents, and a higher quality of aging for the community’s seniors.

For more information, please visit www.seniorsrealestate.com.



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Is History Repeating Itself? Is a Bubble Next?

Is History Repeating Itself? Is a Bubble Next?

RECBL - Real Estate News

Demand is forcing home prices in the West to keep ticking up, even though the home-buying and -selling season is winding down, according to the September Zillow(R) Real Estate Market Report. Appreciation is highest in the San Jose, Calif., and Seattle, Wash., metropolitan areas, where prices have rocketed (in order) 10.3 percent, to a median $455,800, and 12.4 percent, to a median $1,052,500, year-over-year. Appreciation nationally is 6.9 percent, to a median $202,700.

Rents out West are also on a swift upswing. Rents in Riverside, Calif. have climbed 6.0 percent year-over-year-the most of the metro areas in the report-to a median $1,833.

Rents in Seattle have gone up 5.5 percent to a median $2,189; rents in Portland, Ore., have increased 4.7 percent to a median $1,863; and rents in Los Angeles, Calif., have risen 4.5 percent to $2,714. Appreciation nationally is 2 percent, to a median $1,430.

"In these West Coast markets, heightened demand is being met with limited supply of homes for sale, which naturally causes prices to rise," says Dr. Svenja Gudell, chief economist at Zillow. "That limited supply and high demand dynamic is a widespread phenomenon impacting high-growth metros like Seattle, as well as slower-moving markets, like Indianapolis.

"It might be easy to assume another bubble is emerging, with home values growing 10 or 12 percent per year, but don’t worry-the market is reacting to basic economic laws, and is behaving exactly the way we would expect it to given good overall growth, limited supply of homes for sale and decent housing affordability thanks to low mortgage interest rates," Gudell says.

Nationally, there are now 12 percent fewer homes for sale compared to one year ago, the report shows.

The current growth in home prices is echoing the lead-up to the recession. Is history repeating itself?

The answer is likely not, according to a recently released realtor.com(R) report. Building is lacking in many markets-one hallmark 10 years ago was over-construction-and credit standards are more stringent, says Danielle Hale, chief economist of realtor.com.

"As we compare today’s market dynamics to those of a decade ago, it’s important to remember rising prices didn’t cause the housing crash," Hale says. "It was rising prices stoked by subprime and low documentation mortgages, as well as people looking for short-term gains-versus today’s truer market vitality-that created the environment for the crash."

In 2016, home prices (the national median home sales price) were 2 percent higher than they were in 2006, the report reveals. Pre-recession prices have returned in 31 of the 50 largest metropolitan areas.

In contrast with 2006, however, are today’s credit conditions. Currently, the median FICO score for a mortgage is 734; the median in 2006 was 700.

Builds and flips are also different from 2006-starkly. The credit environment, among other factors, is keeping a lid on unfettered flipping and over-construction. In 2006, one household formation generally equaled 1.4 single-family housing starts; in 2016, that number shrank to 0.7 single-family starts. Flips accounted for 5 percent of sales in 2016; in 2006, they comprised 8.6 percent.

"Lending standards are critical to the health of the market," says Hale. "Unlike today, the booms under-regulated lending environment allowed borrowing beyond repayable amounts and atypical mortgage products, which pushed up home prices without the backing of income and equity."

Additionally, economic indicators point elsewhere. Employment was healthy then and is now, but inventory is limited more today-at a 20-year low. Presently, the average month’s supply is 4.2; in 2007, the average month’s supply was 6.4.

"The healthy economy is creating more jobs and households, but not giving these people enough places to live," Hale says. "Rapid price increases will not last forever. We expect a gradual tapering as buyers are priced out of the market-not a market correction, but an easing of demand and price growth as renting or adding roommates becomes a more affordable alternative."



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Real Estate Investing: It’s not in the property

Real Estate Investing: It’s not in the property

RECBL - Real Estate News

Thomas Edison was quoted as saying, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.”

If you are new to real estate investing you probably have a ton of questions. Real estate investing is more than just the purchasing, owning, managing, renting and/or selling real estate for profit. Real estate investing, realistically, is a career and way of life.

There are people whom have chosen a path, who’ve pursued degrees to become lawyers, doctors and even bartenders because those career areas are compelling and give them reason to live a certain lifestyle.

I am not talking about getting a license to become a real estate agent so you can become the middle man of property transactions. I am talking about becoming a real estate investor which does not require a real estate license but does require skills such as patience, a willingness to succeed and most of all knowledge of the industry you call real estate investing.

To become successful in the real estate investing industry, here are 10 must-haves to help get you started in your new lifestyle.

Know Your “WHY?”
Ask yourself the main reason you are choosing real estate investing as your career and lifestyle. You may say money but go beyond the obvious and dig deep. Is it to help yourself, your family and/or your community? Is it to create a legacy which will continue long after you’re gone? Understanding your “WHY” will support your passion, drive, motivation and focus. Keep your “WHY’s” written down and close to you at all times so you never lose focus of your purpose for your choice.

Create Realistic Goals
This can be a tough one, however, if you have spent time on your “WHY” your vision for your goals will develop easier than you may realize. And in the same manner you have written down your “WHY’s” and kept them close to you, write down your goals and place them in plain view throughout your home so you can read them at every turn. In everything you do have purpose. Your goals are your roses, stop to enjoy them and remind yourself as to the purpose of your “WHY’s”. Maintaining that focus and passion will forge your goals into results.

Find a mentor
This step is probably one of the most challenging. Finding a mentor requires you to test your comfort zones and allow yourself to become a clean slate for someone to help you become what you have never been before. This step requires more than just visiting your local REI meetings and introducing yourself to a seasoned real estate investor. This step is about finding someone who is passionate about mentoring. Remember, a mentor is both an experienced and trusted advisor. A mentor is as passionate about teaching and mentoring just as much as you are about learning and being mentored. You want to find real people, with real knowledge who provide real estate mentoring and who produce real results in real estate.

Create a to-do-list
You’re probably thinking, “How many lists am I going to have to make?” The answer is, “However many lists it takes to help you get started and keep moving forward.”

Start with creating a simple to-do list. Make the list aesthetically pleasing so you are able to read it easily. You can create a daily, weekly and monthly to-do list. Whether it’s on a piece of stationary or your smart phone, make sure to create a list which inspires you to stay motivated and focused in order to get your tasks completed.

Create a minimum of three columns.

• First column: Task – what is task you want to complete (e.g. attend 3 REI meetings)
• Second column: Time – what time are your tasks to be completed? (e.g. REI meetings at 6:30 pm)
• Third column: Due Date – how soon do you want this task to be completed (e.g. Dec 1, 4 and 6)

This is just a rudimentary beginning and you can develop your own list to meet your needs. However, as you accomplish each task mark them off the list. At the end of the day you create a new list and move everything forward. Do the same thing with the end of the week and month. You’ll instantly see progress which will help you stay focused and motivated and before you know it, your goals become concrete accomplishments and results will follow.

Become the Socialite
Announce yourself into the market by telling people who you are and what it is you do. Your mindset makes a huge difference in how people will accept you and what you do. If you want to be a real estate investor then you must believe you are a real estate investor. Whether you’re a novice or pro is irrelevant, it’s all about your belief in yourself. You must embrace the real estate investor mindset and work ethic.

Advertising and Marketing Yourself
Vehicle signage, business cards and flyers still work, however you want to get your name on the Internet. Social media can help tremendously in this area. You can reach more people in a shorter period of time. Facebook, Instagram, Google+, YouTube are all fantastic ways to help get the word out about yourself. If people don’t know who you are or what it is you can do, breaking into the real estate industry can be even more challenging. The Internet is the number one area to get your business to the next level. Eighty six percent of first time home buyers hit the Internet first in search of their dream home. This step is definitely a to-do list item especially due to the positive impact it can make on your introduction.

Build a buyers list – Lead Generation
This is a critical step and everyone is trying to do this. This reason this step is so important is because you want to have a network of people who are looking for real estate, just like you. You want to find cash buyers who are accustomed to buying real estate for cash. You want to know what other real estate investors are buying and where they are buying. This step is all about lead generation. If you are looking to find real estate cash buyers there are many different ways from software purchases, real estate lead providers, visiting the county recorder’s office and getting a list of all cash sales in the last 30 days in your area. The goal is to find real estate cash buyers and their parameters so you have an idea of what to look for so you can find it, lock it down and flip it for a profit.

Deal or No Deal?
Now you are in the meat and potatoes of the real estate investing industry. Finding a deal may look easy for some and that’s only because they have done everything else already to make sure they can get to this point. The only way you are really going to be able to determine whether or not you have found a deal is if you run the numbers. Remember, if the numbers don’t make sense, then your deal is not a deal. Also, the deal not only has to be a deal for you, but also for the real estate investors you have connected with. You want to make sure you are able to win-win-win situation for you the seller, you and the buyer. It’s a balance you will have to learn to implement correctly.

Get an Agent
Some say this is a must. You probably remember reading earlier that a real estate license is not a necessity and it isn’t, however having a great real estate agent who knows and understands the areas in which you are interested in can be a real game changer. Also, you want to be able to find a real estate with an investor mindset as well. (You’ll understand this more in depth as you meet different agents.) An agent with an investor mindset will have a bettering understanding of you and your goals. You may have to meet with a few agents to determine who you feel comfortable working with but in the end it pays off and you can build a long-lasting relationship.

Continue your pursuit for your goals
This article opened with a Thomas Edison quote and we will close with a Thomas Edison quote. Thomas Edison was also quoted as saying, “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” True, true, true!

You will experience obstacles in your pursuit for your goals. Obstacles are not dead ends. Obstacles are milestones on your path to success. Most people experience rejection and give up. If you give up you will never realize how close you were to success. When you experience obstacles, remember your “WHY’s”. Reach into whatever pocket you have your “WHY” list so you never lose focus of your purpose for your choice.

You can try doing all of this yourself or you can connect with a network of investors who can teach, train and mentor you in all of these areas. This is your opportunity to make a difference, not just for yourself but to accomplish the bullet points you have on your list.

Don’t wait, click here to connect and get started.

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High Achievers and their 7 Traits

High Achievers and their 7 Traits

RECBL - Real Estate News

With a new year right around the corner, now’s the time to tap into your full potential and realize your dreams. "Never have I seen an opportunity where it's so straightforward to do well in real estate," said Brian Buffini, founder of Buffini & Company, an organization dedicated to sharing Buffinis powerful lead-generation systems with others.

Author of "The Emigrant Edge: How to Make It Big in America," a best-selling book, Buffini shared the following principles-and how to apply them-during the REALTORS(R) Conference & Expo in Chicago, Ill., earlier this month.

1. A voracious openness to learn. "The ability to earn and the desire to learn are extraordinarily linked," said Buffini, who explained that being open means not having all the answers and being willing to try new things, while voracious means there’s an appetite. "When you come here as an emigrant, you have to learn everything," added Buffini, who noted that its easier than ever today thanks to the accessibility of information through a variety of formats.

2. A "do whatever it takes" mindset. "I see real estate transactions fall apart all the time because the agent encountered a problem," said Buffini, who recounted an adventure early on in his career that involved putting together a crib for a client when no one else was around to help. "Over the next seven years, this woman sent me more referrals than I’ve ever received in my life," noted Buffini. While we’ve all heard that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care, unleashing a "whatever it takes" attitude is instrumental in producing advocates.

3. A willingness to outwork others. "Americans, by nature, are hard-working people," noted Buffini, "and a willingness to outwork others in the real estate business boils down to the difference between being busy and being productive." While transactions have gone up significantly over the last four years, with less FSBO’s than ever before, Buffini turned his attention to the sales agent-and how they’re faring in this environment. Dissecting numbers reported by the National Association of REALTORS(R) (NAR), Buffini noted the following about sales agent income:

• In 2013, the gross commission for the average sales agent was $37,200.
• In 2014, the market went up 7 percent, but agent income came down 2 percent to $36,500.
• In 2015, the market went up 11 percent, and REALTORS(R) made $29,560 (20 percent less).
• In 2016, real estate professionals made $31,670 before split and expenses.

"When we get a listing, we get so excited that we got a listing that has no guarantee of payment, except the money we pay to promote, market and try to sell that property," added Buffini. "That’s why I love the real estate business."

4. A heartfelt spirit of gratitude. The nuclear fuel for success, Buffini noted that you can’t have gratitude in your mind and heart and entitlement/envy at the same time. "Our product is the American Dream, and every time we sell it, we get paid thousands of dollars. Were very blessed with high-quality problems," said Buffini, who encouraged audience members to travel, go see, go serve and come back and kiss the ground. "Can you imagine if you walked around so thankful every day for where you lived and the opportunities you have? Reignite the gratitude in your own heart for where you live and what you do."

5. A boldness to invest. When people become moderately successful, they tend to become more risk-averse and they ultimately end up giving less; they simply take calculated risks. "The first thing I invest in is relationships," said Buffini. "Does it involve service and the opportunity to grow my skills?"

6. A commitment to delay gratification. A hard sell across the board due to the fact that in America, if you can’t afford something, you can still have it, Buffini noted that people are overburdened today when it comes to their expenses at home and within their business-which is typically underfunded. "Your business is the golden goose, so don’t starve it," noted Buffini. "It needs to be fed, nurtured and mated so that it can produce other golden gooses." With the end of the year approaching, now’s the time to commit to taking things down a bit and eliminating expenses that are no longer necessary.

7. Remember where you come from. "I want to remember where I came from, and where my people came from. I also want to remember who they are and what they would do with my opportunity," explained Buffini, who encouraged the audience to take a step back in order to gain perspective. "When you're complaining about the buyer, remember when you didnt have the buyer," noted Buffini. "And when you’re talking about inventory, remember when there was so much inventory that everybody was upside down on their houses and they were going into foreclosure."

"It’s our time to shine," concluded Buffini. "If you focus on building relationships, offering superior service and growing your skills as a professional, you’re going to win-and you’re going to win big."


For more information, please visit www.buffiniandcompany.com.




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Local Hyper-Targeted Marketing

Local Hyper-Targeted Marketing

RECBL - Real Estate News

Hyper-targeted marketing has emerged as a definite trend in the real estate market. The ability to reach prospective clients according to closely targeted locations via zip code and neighborhood data can be an effective way to establish and grow connections.

What exactly is this buzz phrase that’s capturing the attention of real estate professionals nationwide? It’s a series of techniques that involve narrowing your focus and marketing efforts, versus more traditional approaches like casting a wide net.

When combined with the technology available for agencies, homebuyers and sellers, hyper-targeted marketing can be an effective way to create and establish important connections. How to use it?

Go local-hyper-local. When advertising a new listing, open house, sale or other important update, focus your efforts on targeting very specific regions. If you have the available info, try reaching people based in relevant zip codes, subdivisions or neighborhoods, rather than just an entire city or suburb.

Know your target audience. Are you looking to reach current homeowners? First-time buyers? Millennials? Empty nesters? Zeroing in on your desired audience can help make your communications more effective by making sure the right message is relevant to the right people.

Marketing by home type. Hyper-targeting can also apply to the type of home you’re trying to help your clients buy or sell, from condos and townhouses to estates and duplexes. For example, lofts located downtown may be a great fit for working professionals, while lakefront properties may be sought after by empty nesters looking for just the right vacation property.

Targeting by move time. In addition to location, timing is another important factor in the marketplace. Considering the timing of your communications is also important. Would you like to reach people looking to move now, next year, or in a few months? Or do you know which prospects are likely to respond during traditionally busy versus quiet moving seasons?

In today’s increasingly competitive real estate market, it’s not just about delivering the right message, it’s also about reaching the right audience. While your prospective clients may be fielding a sea of information from both competitors and businesses outside of your industry, you can still cut through the clutter to let them know about what you have to offer. Hyper targeted marketing combined with iIntercept Media’s local target marketing redirect solution can help you gain the edge over your competitor. Are you looking to step in front of your local competitor?

What would give your business the edge? Here’s what all of your competition does:

• Yellow page ads
• Radio advertising
• Newspaper ads
• TV commercials
• Social media and even
• Google advertising...

What’s the problem with all of this? It’s expensive and everyone’s doing it.

If you want your business to explode it’s imperative that you learn how to gain the edge over your competition. That’s where our local marketing redirect solution comes in.

Imagine this scenario; two local pizza parlors are competing for business, pizza place A is advertising on Google, the radio and a ton of other expensive mediums. Pizza place B is only using our local pop-up redirect marketing services.

A customer hears about pizza place A from radio or TV or any of their other expensive advertising so they simply go online and type in their address, www dot pizza place a dot com. Immediately a nice ad from pizza place B shows up over and on top of the competitors’ website saying, “Hey we’ve got great pizza too, plus we’ll give you a five dollar discount if you print this page immediately.”

What just happened here? Pizza place B just stepped in front of the customer and gained their business from an extremely targeted and inexpensive ad, something that your competition won’t be able to do.

When you enroll and use our services we guarantee we won’t sell this service to any of your competition within a five mile radius or you can contract us exclusively. You get the exclusive ability to absolutely gain the most targeted customers you’ll ever find. Our service is inexpensive and can be live within just hours. You gain the edge over your competition and many new customers as well. 

That’s the power of local pop-up marketing.

That’s the power of our company.

To find out more contact us at marketing@iinterceptmedia.com for a consultation and a demo.


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Facebook Video Marketing

Facebook Video Marketing

RECBL - Real Estate News

Did you know that, this year, 74 percent of all content online will be video?

Marketing with it is a must, according to Marki Lemons Ryhal, a social media speaker who recently shared tips on video at the National Association of REALTORS(R) 2017 REALTORS(R) Conference & Expo.

One of the easiest, and most inexpensive, marketing methods? Facebook Live, Lemons Ryhal explained. On Facebook, an audience two billion strong contains your next homebuyer or seller and a live video can help them find and get to know you as their real estate professional.

Anyone can "go live" at any time, but it does pay to be prepared, Lemons Ryhal said. Dispel the fear of imperfection-"People do not care how you look" -and pick up some tools:

Extra Juice - A backup battery and/or charger
Lighting - A ring light
Mic - A lapel microphone (more than one, if youll be sharing screen time)

Give your followers and friends a heads-up youre planning a video-"about 24 hours in advance," said Lemons Ryhal. Is it a how-to for homebuyers? A Q&A? Give some thought to what you will say, even though it will be (mostly) unscripted, and market it. Avoid, however, promoting properties.

"Every listing has three disqualifiers in it," Lemons Ryhal noted. "Most dont care about the location, and either they can or cannot afford the price point, and maybe a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is not ideal for them. Every time you post a listing, youre posting content that does not resonate with people in your sphere because it has those disqualifiers."

Carrie J. Little, managing broker of a company in West Chicago, Ill., appealed to a broad group with her first Facebook Live video:

After going live, Little advertised her video again from her Facebook business page, and earned $42,000 in just six months off eight transactions-a 2,105 percent return. According to Lemons Ryhal, Little did a lot of things right: she introduced herself, explained what she was going to talk about, and took questions. She also included a call to action and interacted with viewers.

"Ask people what they want to know and what their problem points are so that you can solve them, or, develop content [around them] and start researching it," said Lemons Ryhal. "Become the problem-solver for real estate in your community."

The other key to Little’s success? Timelessness. Consider the diversity of your followers and friends, and also how you might repurpose the video. Some tools Lemons Ryhal uses:

aTubeCatcher - Creates an MP3 (ideal for podcasts)
Fiverr - Hire someone to transcribe (ideal for blogs, e-books)
Zoom - Cross-promotes/syndicates to other platforms
Explaindio 3.0 - Video creator for a more professional rendering

"We should, as real estate professionals, originate all content in video format because of the ease of converting it into other content," Lemons Ryhal said. "All you got to do is do it."

​For more information check out Facebook Media for tips.




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