How to Use Social Media to Sell Homes

How to Use Social Media to Sell Homes

RECBL - Real Estate News

Rising interest rates, a nationwide inventory shortage and buyers out in full force this spring market-this is the current real estate climate most agents are doing business in.

Even with market challenges, agents also have to compete with each other, especially when it comes to open houses.

As April, Open House Month, winds down to a close, an agent can create a competitive edge by increasing open house visibility and attendance to convert more leads and sell faster.

Maintain Consistency
First and foremost, hosting open houses regularly every week will allow agents to become a household name within their community. Not only that, but constant face-to-face exposure to the general public will help them sell their listing faster, as open houses tend to be well attended this time of year. According to the National Association of REALTORS(R) (NAR) Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, in 2015, 48 percent of buyers used an open house as a source in their home search process. On top of the traditional Sunday open houses, agents looking to stand out can also host on Saturdays-and for extended hours on both days.

Increase Online Marketing
Of course, attendance will be minimal without the correct approach to online marketing. Most buyers are beginning their search on the internet, and if an open house is not widely distributed throughout the most popular home search and social media sites-Zillow, Trulia, realtor.com(R), Homes.com, Facebook, Instagram, etc.-chances are, agents will not meet as many viable leads at the open house. According to the 2017 NAR Profile of Home Buyer and Sellers, 51 percent of buyers find their home via the internet.

Boost Sign Placement
Open house visibility should be augmented across the board, not just on the internet. Agents often can increase attendance-and, therefore, reduce time on the market-by promoting the open house thoroughly within the community itself. Setting up various open house signs throughout the neighborhood, especially on the corners of busy intersections, will not only attract buyers who are going to nearby open houses, but will bring in neighbors who may be looking to downsize or move up within the community, or may know of someone who wants to move into that specific neighborhood.

Obtain Contact Information
The goal of an open house is not only to sell the listing, but also to obtain buyer clients if they are not interested in purchasing that specific property. In order to pursue them as leads, agents will need to collect valid contact information. Todays modern age is setting expectations for swift technological advancement within the real estate industry, and buyers will more likely be impressed with an e-sign-in process via tablet rather than a paper form. With clients who may not have much experience with technology, this is an opportunity to assist them while also developing the relationship with them as a buyer lead.

Add Incentives
The No. 1 priority should be memorability. Adding incentives, such as a free vacation or an entry to a raffle, will make agents stand out from other open houses in the area. Doing this also increases their chances of obtaining valid contact information, which is essential to securing the lead as a future client.

Provide Refreshments
When it comes to food and drink, agents are divided. Some believe it is an added touch that buyers respond well to, while others say it introduces risk because of allergies; however, open houses typically run through lunch, and visitors will undoubtedly appreciate refreshments while they drive house to house for a few hours without pause. Baked goods do well with sweet-tooth visitors and children, and will also neutralize any odors if baked on-site. Themed food and drinks that relate to the current season or an approaching holiday are also a great way to engage visitors. To reduce liability, agents can offer a list of allergens before providing visitors with refreshments.

Set the Mood
If the home has a fireplace, agents can light it on cold and dreary days. This will warm up buyers and ensure they are relaxed when looking at the property. Additionally, adding light, relaxing music will help buyers feel at home. Agents should also ensure all lights are turned on and shades are pulled up to let sunlight in; this will open up rooms and make the home appear larger.

Prove Market Expertise
Lastly, and most importantly, agents need to prove they are knowledgeable about the market. Being able to provide pertinent neighborhood information-not only for their listing, but for those in the surrounding area within similar price points-will set them up as a community expert. Prospective buyers will also relate to the experience better, feeling as though they are receiving assistance rather than being pushed for business. According to REALTOR(R) Magazine, a broker in Denver, Colo., has had success in providing a giveaway map of the surrounding open houses for each Sunday.

Agents can also now rely on technology to obtain relevant information for potential buyers. There are various apps available for providing home valuations, neighborhood data and more. In addition, having a smart home speaker such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home on hand may help agents access this type of information hands-free, providing the opportunity for supplementary flyers, added eye contact, longer conversations and a solid lead by the end of the visit.



Jason Grace is AZ Social Realty's content editor. Email him your real estate news ideas at jason@cashbuyerslists.com.

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Facebook Shops Around for Its Next Business Endeavor: Rental Listings

Facebook Shops Around for Its Next Business Endeavor: Rental Listings

RECBL - Real Estate News

Once touted as the most popular and innovative internet community of its time, Facebook is now pushing to compete with trendy social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. As part of its rebranding efforts to become an all-in-one service, Facebook recently added payment capabilities to its messaging service, along with various filters to its camera settings to mimic Instagram’s photo editing settings.

It is now making a move into the real estate industry by adding apartment and home rental listings onto its existing Marketplace storefront, which so far only included household items, job postings and car listings.

Adding a social media twist to a popular Craigslist service, Facebook is transforming apartment searching into an interactive experience by providing 360-degree photo capabilities and using social media profile information to reduce the chances of scams and unsafe transactions. And while consumers will be able to search for properties based on location, price, size, bedroom number and animal restrictions-information that is provided by landlords and leasing companies-a real estate agent is nowhere in sight. So, how is this going to be impact the industry?

For many real estate agents, being fully entrenched in the rental business is a great way to transition into buying and selling. This is especially true for greener agents that don’t yet have the real estate experience, and need to build business by working primarily with renters. After all, it’s safe to assume that many of those renters will become buyers someday. Not only is it a great way for agents to familiarize themselves with the industry, but it’s vital to building a contact database that they can grow.

Not only is Facebook looking to list its consumer’s properties using Marketplace, but it is also pulling property information from partnered sources-Apartment List and Zumper-which will integrate hundreds of thousands of listings. Although only in the early stages of adoption, the industry could see this as a direct challenge to Zillow and other popular home search sites. Unless Facebook decides to go the lead marketing and agent branding route with brokerages, as Zillow does, the real estate industry may see this as an unwelcome addition. So far, it doesn’t sound great for the industry overall. But here’s why it won’t be an overnight success:

Consumers Want Simple
The more capabilities are added onto an app, the more complex it will be come. Yes, consumers expect a one-stop shop for services that make sense together, such as ordering food and getting it delivered; however, Facebook is primarily a social media site, and thats what it will always be known for. While some community aspects like groups and neighborhood tag sales are successful, trying to condense an entire rental industry into an apps subcategory may be a stretch.

It’s Free, but at a Cost
While Facebook maintains that the service is free of charge, putting a rental listing on the market is well worth the commission paid. When using a real estate agent, the rental commission goes toward listing services, such as photography and staging, as well as marketing, consulting and vetting renter prospects. While working with a real estate agent may be more expensive, the money paid goes further in providing clients with piece of mind and ensuring a quick and smooth transaction. And while the partnered companies say they are relying on brokers, agents and other property managers to fill out the housing section, Facebook has not yet clarified how it plans to involve industry professionals in the process.

Transactions Won’t Be So Easy
The problem with marketing a rental outside a multiple listing service is visibility. A brokerage will be able to promote the listing, making it visible to its own set of renters, as well as the clients of other brokerages. By using the Marketplace platform, landlords will have to settle with renters who are primarily on Facebook, which may lengthen the renting process. There is also no vetting by an experienced agent involved. Landlords will have to deal with all credit types, and will have to request and go through references and rental histories on their own. Unless landlords find renter candidates from their own friends list, they will still be interacting with strangers, regardless of being members of the same social media site.

It will be interested to see how Facebook fares in its latest endeavor. But the industry will have to keep a watchful eye for signs of this social media enterprise involving itself in buying and selling real estate.

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3 Facebook Updates That Affect the Way You Advertise

3 Facebook Updates That Affect the Way You Advertise

RECBL - Real Estate News

You’ve spent months, maybe even years mastering the art of advertising your real estate business on Facebook; however, there is one constant that we can always count on in regards to Facebook: change. Change can either benefit your current position by giving you more options to work with, or throw you a couple of months off track while you master the updates that replaced features you were accustomed to using or that worked to your advantage.

In the last couple of months, Facebook has rolled out new updates to their Ads Manager that affect the way you advertise your listings, business, and yourself as a REALTOR(R).

These updates include the removal of key options in detailed targeting and the addition of new options to target audiences and new ad layouts that give audiences a more engaging experience.

Facebook Updates

1. Detailed Targeting
In September 2017, Facebook exposed anti-Semitic ad targeting options in the job title/employer sections of their detailed targeting options. Anti-Semitic groups used these options to target ads to hate groups. Facebook quickly took action and removed "self-reported targeting fields" to help the fight against hate speech and discrimination.

However, in the attempt to fight hate and discrimination, Facebook removed a lot of the job title/employer options real estate professionals use to target ads to their audiences. For instance, targeting using job titles such as "real estate sales agent, agent/broker, broker/owner, REALTOR(R)" (options that were once available) are not available anymore.

As winter approaches and you create your 2018 social media marketing plan, this is the perfect time to get organized with Ads Manager and start researching the options available to create the perfect, detailed targeting list.

2. Event Interaction
A great way for agents to bring in leads for open houses is by using Facebook events. Sending all your followers an event invite for your open house can give you insight into those who are interested in the property. Facebook has seen the potential for advertisers to target followers who show interest in the event and are now allowing ads to be targeted to anyone who has marked the invite as "interested," "going," or both.

After the open house, take the list of "interested" invitees and send them a promoted ad of the listing. That way, you gain lead information from those who attended and possibly even those who showed interest in the event, doubling your chances of getting the property sold before the slow winter season.

3. New Canvas Layouts
Canvas ads are beautiful, interactive ads that not many REALTORS(R) seem to use. This ad type takes more time to create, but allows audiences to engage with the ad by choosing the direction they want the ad to take them (you can watch a video of canvas ads here). The only issue with canvas ads was the limited number of templates Facebook had available. Seeing the potential, Facebook released new templates for users to pick from.

Imagine using canvas ads to take your audience through a virtual tour of a home. The first image is the front of the house; followers can then click through the ad to see the home, room by room, in the order that they want to go, falling more in love with the property. This ad type pairs well with the event ad-targeting update to reach followers who couldn’t make it to your open house.

Facebook has been busy this third quarter releasing update after update, and there’s only one thing we know for sure: they will continue to release updates. As a professional using Facebook to advertise your business, you need to grow and expand your knowledge of their ad services, or you can let Homes.coms Social Fuel handle all your Facebook advertising needs. Social Fuel creates ads and posts social content for you so you can focus on selling homes.

For more information, please visit connect.homes.com.

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4 Tips for Mastering Marketing

4 Tips for Mastering Marketing

RECBL - Real Estate News

Technology is changing the face of the real estate industry more and more every day, and it’s also changing the way real estate professionals sell homes.

While prospective buyers used to simply browse their local newspaper to find their dream home, the internet has changed the game by providing an endless supply of online tools buyers can use to facilitate the process.

Social media in particular has become the go-to medium for home searches around the world.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a few technical considerations that will help you use technology to reach prospective buyers.

Maintain Current Relationships
While it’s easy to get caught up in the buzz, it’s important to remember that the relationships you’ve built with current customers are more important than any new web technology, smartphone app or electronic craze. In the end, it’s these relationships that will keep your business growing.

Reinforcing existing relationships with customers is just as important as updating your Facebook status or pinning on Pinterest. A simple thank you card or personalized magnetic notepad will not only provide a lasting impression and reminder of you and your business, but also go a long way toward keeping you relevant in today’s fast-paced environment.

Build Your Online Presence
Take the time to build your online presence in order to keep up with the growing population of buyers who are on social media and perusing websites and other digital sources of information that are relevant to the real estate industry. While building business via grassroots marketing strategies can still work. The potential for doing so online far outreaches any traditional marketing strategies.

Social media provides the perfect place to promote your business and current listings. As you build your online presence, you will undoubtedly attract a bigger audience, which will help spread the word about your listings.

Incorporate Video Into the Mix
Video is another great strategy that can help you boost your business. Typically drawing a larger audience than text-heavy pieces, videos provide a more effective way of building relationships with new and existing customers. In addition, videos offer a more personalized approach to promoting your business or listings.

Utilize a CRM System
Customer relationship management systems provide you with the tools you need to keep information related to your customers organized and easily accessible. A good CRM will not only ensure you’re always prepared for whatever the situation may require, but it will also help you stay on point by providing the best customer service at a moment’s notice. A CRM system can also help you capture and follow up on more leads than you’d be able to if you weren’t using one.

Technology is becoming more and more essential in the real estate industry, and it’s important that you learn to embrace it and incorporate it into your everyday business activities. Mastering the latest trends in technology and making yourself visible online will not only grow your business, but also help build upon the relationships you’ve already cultivated.

John Bunker is marketing director at RealEstateCalendars.com.

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

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Instagram updates you will love!

Instagram updates you will love!

Instagram just released new enhancements to their "My Story" feature. Instagram was a content sharing and marketing dream before these updates were launched. Now, Instagram can certifiably say that it is a powerhouse of a social network and can quite literally, do it all. It's time you learn how to harness that power for yourself and your business!

Hashtags
Hashtags are integral to a social strategy in 2017. One of the top reasons Instagram is a premier social media network for real estate professionals is because of its vast database of hashtags. As part of Instagram's new feature rollout, searchable hashtags are now part of My Stories. This is a game changer.

Take a photo or video using the camera in the top left of your Instagram feed. Make some magic, and when you're ready to edit, select the square with the smiley face on the top right corner. This will unlock quite a few options, including hashtags. Once you have it selected, start typing whatever hashtags you want. You can also add multiple hashtags. You can also resize the hashtags and move them around the picture, which allows you to include several. The only drawback is that you cannot change the color scheme of the words, but this may be changing too, as lately Instagram is trying to do everything bigger, better, and more customizable.

 Want prospects to know your business with just a single click? Add hashtags directly from "Instagram's My Stories," and you have a powerful social tool in the palm of your hands. Use a hashtag for local places, even neighborhoods, to increase listing exposure.

Face Filters
Snapchat's claim to fame is its face filters that can alter a user's appearance. Users can add pretty flower crowns, flattering lighting, and essentially make all signs of aging disappear, or even do really silly things like enlarge your eyes or nose. Instagram's recent addition of eight original face filters is a game changer, and much more user friendly than Snapchat. On Snapchat, the user must flip the camera into selfie mode, and then hold down on the screen over his or her face. Then, a grid appears and it unlocks the filters. Not very user friendly and almost impossible to find without someone telling you how to do it. With Instagram, users tap on the face in the bottom right hand corner and it unlocks the filters. Much easier, and also faster, than Snapchat.

Something else to make note of-with Snapchat, some of the filters are for a single user, while other filters indicate if two people can use them by signaling on the filter that two faces are available. With Instagram, it doesn't matter what filter you use, everyone in your images can get in on the fun. These can also be used in a photo format, or a 15 second video.

Although the addition of filters may not seem like it's going to be helping you drive leads and business, it does serve another crucial purpose: humanizing your brand. Use them during light moments at the office; take a picture and add a funny caption about it. It makes a great break in the day and it shows your audience you know how to harness technology, and can use that knowledge to help move their listing.

Instagram has been hard at work unveiling new features over the past few weeks and months. In February they debuted the feature of adding multiple photos and videos to a single post, which helped real estate professionals add entire listings to Instagram, fully share the customer journey from closing to opening the door for the first time, and many other vital aspects of the real estate industry. Now with the updates to My Story, Instagram is proving they are truly a real estate professionals best friend.

If keeping up with your social strategy is too much for you, let us help. Homes.com Social Fuel takes care of your social strategy by providing you with everything from account setup, post creation, engagement, and Facebook Ad management. We will even manage your online reputation and monitor how your business ranks in search results so you can focus on selling real estate. Want hands-on training on the latest and greatest in social? Tune in to the HomesPro Facebook on Thurday, June 22 at 9:00 p.m. EDT for Holly's Facebook Live videos!

For more information, please visit connect.homes.com.




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VISUAL STORYTELLING: TIPS FOR MASTERING THE ART OF INSTAGRAM

Cash Buyers Lists News​

Creating and implementing a consistent social media strategy is vital for REALTORS(R) looking to cultivate online leads while maintaining current relationships. Social media has re-shaped the way business is conducted, both nationally and globally, across all industries. For real estate agents wanting to reach every type of buyer possible, social media is a resource you can't go without, or else money will be left on the table and marketshare will surely decrease.

For agents merely tolerating social media or for newbies wanting to dip their toe into the pool, Facebook is probably still the number one place to start. But if you want to target a younger, savvy audience, one with an itchy trigger finger, Instagram should be your new best friend. Instagram can help you connect with the millennials and first-time buyers that your business may be lacking. Though trite, the ol' saying still rings true: "A picture is worth 1,000 words." With Instagram's photo and video sharing capabilities, you can easily share the unique amenities your listings have to offer, while also displaying snapshots of your own life to help buyers and sellers get to know you, building trust.

Keep in mind that out of its 500 million users, 70 percent check Instagram at least once a day?, with half of those checking multiple times per day. Get in front of these prospective leads with these tips:

#Hashtags
Sure, we cringe when people use hashtags in spoken dialogue (#worst, right?), but don't let the informal culture of hashtags turn you off from their intended purpose: to organize, draw attention and promote. Using hashtags on your Instagram posts will help your target audience find you, and may even double your click-through rates, according to research from Buddy Media. Use hashtags on every Instagram post, if possible, such as #luxury, #kitchenremodel, #losangeles (insert your market here), #realestate, and #openhouse to help pinpoint your message and connect your post with other similar posts and the users browsing that topic. If you don't use hashtags on Instagram, you might as well not use it at all (but spoiler alert: you should!).

Get in the Grid
Using your phone's grid feature will help you take much more attractive photos. Go into your smartphone's camera settings and turn on the Grid feature. This splits your camera view into nine blocks (aka, into thirds). You can now abide by photography's Rule of Thirds by aligning the subject of your photo with the four guidelines and their intersection points. These intersecting points are the areas where the eye is naturally drawn to. The grid will help you get the perfect off-center shot of that waterfall feature tucked away in your new listing's backyard. You may not be a professional photographer, but you can still post heaps of quality photos that will really wow your followers.

http://blog.rismedia.com/2016/mastering-instagram/

Edit Before Filtering
Ideally, you want to be aware of natural light when taking photos of homes. With the right natural lighting, a photo will need very little editing and filtering, hence, the #nofilter hashtag (go ahead and brag a little!) Also, be aware of how different artificial lights affect a photo. Some may give off a yellow-y glow.

If you want to improve a photo without drastically changing it, click "Edit" and adjust things like contrast, warmth, brightness and saturation first. Once your colors are popping just the way you want, click on "Filter" and fiddle around with different looks. Always opt for natural light first, if possible; otherwise, Instagram's sharp editing and filtering features can help you polish your masterpiece.

Be Consistent with How Often You Post...
As with other social media platforms, consistency is key. According to studies by Union Metrics, most major brands post an average of 1.5 times a day to Instagram. To start, try posting once a day. Once your routine is set, try expanding to twice a day. Reports also indicate that some popular brands that post as much as 10 times per day did not notice a sizable loss in engagement as long as quality was still present.

...and Also with What You Post
Whether you're a part of a large real estate franchise or a small boutique firm, consider what your own personal brand is. Are you known for luxury listings? Certain neighborhoods? Working with first-time buyers? Move-up buyers? Your Instagram feed should represent both who you are and how you operate. Prospective buyers and sellers should be able to get to know you (albeit, virtually) via social media. Instagram photos are a huge component to that.

Sharing Is Caring
Instagram should be one element of a larger social media plan. A cog in the wheel. Using Instagram's Share feature, you can post your beautifully edited and filtered photos to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or Flickr. You can also email them or quickly copy a link. Connect your social worlds by posting photos on your other pages. This will widen your reach by helping your Facebook friends, Twitter followers, etc., find your page on Instagram, which in turn will fuel engagement across the board. In the end, it's all about engagement.

Instagram is a unique and wildly addictive social media platform that allows agents to promote themselves in a creative way. With a little bit of time invested, agents can make new connections and start turning leads into dollar signs.

This post was originally published on RISMedias blog, Housecall. Check the blog daily for top real estate tips and trends.

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ARE YOU GUILTY OF 'PHUBBING?'

Cash Buyers Lists News

​​​"Phubbing," or choosing to interact with a smartphone instead of a person, is all but accepted. Millennials "phub" more often than most-though it may not be intentional.

"Compared to older generations, millennials feel much more pressure to respond immediately to text messages and instant messages," said Felice Gabriel Miller, founder and president of Delvv(R), a mobile app developer, in a release. "In the space between true smartphone addicts and regular users, there are probably a lot of people who use their smartphone excessively just to avoid the social consequences of disconnecting. This helps explain why people phub (i.e., phone snub) in social settings where they know they shouldnt."

Seventy-nine percent of millennials recently surveyed by Delvv respond to text messages within 15 minutes, compared to 56 percent of Gen X-ers and 46 percent of baby boomers. Forty-nine percent of the millennials surveyed respond to instant messages within 15 minutes-a contrast to baby boomers, 29 percent of whom respond to instant messages within 24 hours.

Most survey respondents (68 percent) believe that someone who is eating dinner with company should not look at a text message-"phub"-until after the meal.

The "phub" phenomenon speaks to the attachment most have to their smartphones-49 percent of those surveyed would rather give up sweets for one month than switch to a dumbphone.

When was the last time you "phubbed?"

Source: Delvv(R)

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REAL ESTATE ADVERTISING: HOW TO MASTER SELF-PROMOTION

Cash Buyers Lists News​

One of the key tenets of sales is "Always be closing." Another could be "Always be promoting." After all, if you're not going to promote your business, who will? The more you promote your business, the more leads you'll generate. Now, this doesn't mean bore your friends, family and anyone within earshot with the minute details of your business. Most people don't want to feel like they're being sold to, even if they already know you.

Traditionally, agents spent all their resources on conventional promotional materials-billboards, advertisements in the newspaper and ads on bus benches. With the advent of social media, many agents are spending more and more time online, posting ads on social media. While these are important avenues for promotion, when you work by referral, your top promotional tool are your relationships. Here's the promotional mix for business success.

Spend 70 percent of your resources on relational promotion.

The most important way to promote your referral-based business is by building your relationships with your clients, so keep in touch. Pick up the phone, call your best clients, follow it up with a personal note, and deliver small gifts of appreciation to your top referring clients. The most important thing is to maintain consistent contact and ask for the referral.

Spend 20 percent of your resources on conventional promotion.

Even when you work by referral, there is a place for conventional promotion; it just shouldn't take up all of your resources. So, go ahead and invest in billboards and newspaper advertisements to get your name and business out there and reinforce your spot in the community.

Spend 10 percent of your resources on digital promotion.

Digital promotion is anything done online, whether it's social media, your blog or your website. While it's important to have a presence, don't spend all of your most productive time there. There's a difference between updating your clients about the state of the market and wasting time playing games and looking through photos of your friends from high school. Try to make your time online as productive as possible to help you generate more leads.

Your resources-your time, money and energy-are important. If you want to generate a stream of high-quality leads, you have to be smart about promotion. If you're working by referral, invest the majority of your resources into your relationships and it'll come back to you in people you want to work with. Nurture those leads by staying in touch, offering great service and finding needs to fill. And, always remember to ask for the referrals.

For more information, visit www.buffiniandcompany.com.

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HUD AND DOJ AWARD $8.7 MILLION TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS

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For many individuals convicted of minor crimes, finding jobs and decent housing is so challenging that many are at extreme risk of homelessness or reentering the criminal justice system. Recently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) awarded $8.7 million to address homelessness and reduce recidivism among this justice-involved population through the Pay for Success model.

HUD's Pay for Success Permanent Supportive Housing Demonstration tests cost-effective ways to help persons cycling between the criminal justice and homeless service systems.

Funded by DOJ and implemented through a HUD/DOJ partnership, this demonstration advances a model that offers a new source of financing to expand permanent supportive housing for the reentry population. This is part of a broader Administration effort to reduce barriers facing justice-involved individuals who are trying to put their lives back on track, including barriers to housing.

"Too often, as people leave the criminal justice system, they don't have the support network to help them get a second chance and they fall into homelessness," says HUD Secretary Julian Castro.

"These grantees have developed successful models that give returning citizens the opportunity to find a job and place to call home while reducing the costs associated with recidivism and homelessness."

"Every person re-entering society from the justice system deserves a fair shot at a life of renewed purpose and meaning," says Attorney General Loretta Lynch. "The Justice Department's partnership with HUD will expand services to help individuals gain access to housing and jobs, and to give those who have served their time a chance to fully rejoin society. Going forward, we intend to continue to promote and develop programs that help our returning citizens stay safe, supported, and secure."

Secretary Castro made the announcement at an interagency event led by DOJ at the Center for American Progress.

Research consistently demonstrates a correlation between homelessness and incarceration. The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) estimates that one in five people living prison becomes homeless upon reentry into the community, with an increase of 30-50 percent in major urban areas. Tracking the cycle of homelessness and incarceration in the reverse, the Council of States Governments and NAEH report that over 10 percent of people recidivating from jail and prison are homeless in the months before their incarceration. This rate jumps to 20 percent among individuals with a mental illness.

Pay for Success (PFS) strategies are public-private arrangements that help government test or expand innovative programs while paying only for those activities that achieve agreed-upon target outcomes. These grants will support PFS projects that implement a Housing First model for the reentry population who experience homelessness and are frequent users of homelessness, health care and other crisis services.

Established by President Obama, the Federal Interagency Reentry Council includes 20 federal agencies,that work to:

·         make communities safer by reducing recidivism and victimization;

·         assist those who return from prison and jail in becoming productive citizens; and

·         save taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration.

The Reentry Council, recently codified by Presidential Memorandum, is removing federal barriers to successful reentry, so that motivated individuals - who have served their time and paid their dues - are able to compete for a job, attain stable housing, support their children and their families, and contribute to their communities. Reentry Council agencies are taking concrete steps to reduce recidivism and high correctional costs while improving public health, child welfare, employment, education, housing and other key reintegration outcomes.

In 2010, President Obama and 19 federal agencies and offices that form the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) launched the nation's first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness. Opening Doors: FederalStrategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness serves as a roadmap for how the federal government will work with state and local communities to confront the root causes of homelessness, including individuals who are in and out of a variety of crisis services such as jails and prisons. Permanent supportive housing lowers public costs by stopping the revolving door between jail and prison and crisis services like those provided in emergency rooms and homeless assistance programs.

For more information, visit www.hud.gov.

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GENERATE MORE LEADS WITH THESE FOUR VIDEO IDEAS

Cash Buyers Lists News
To make sure you stay top-of-mind, it's important for real estate agents to stay on top of the newest technologies and popular methods for getting and staying in contact with clients and prospects. A great way to connect with clients is through video marketing.

There are a number of benefits to using video in your marketing efforts - social media sites push videos to the top of network feeds, live-video streaming is gaining popularity and modern internet users are looking for easier ways to connect online. In fact, according to a recent survey, 85 percent of buyers and sellers want to work with an agent who uses video as part of their marketing efforts. When it comes to generating more leads, video marketing is definitely a step in the right direction. Here are four ways you can use video to generate more leads and more business.

1. Spotlight Your Local Area
We've heard it before, but it's a tried-and-true method - feature things in your local area. Doing so can be as easy as using your phone to grab a quick video of your favorite restaurant or park, or the best kids' playground. You could also interview long-time residents or even clients who just closed on their dream home, asking them why they chose this location. Upload the videos to YouTube and post links on your social pages and blog. If you want to try live-video marketing to show off your area, consider social media tools like Periscope, Facebook Live or Snapchat. There are some key differences between these tools, so it's worth doing some research to see which is best for you. Follow the links to learn more about each, and see how you could use each to show off your local area.

Here is an excellent example from local Gilbert, Arizona realtor Shawn Camacho from UBG United Brokers Group

​DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED in GILBERT, ARIZONA?*PLEASE SHARE*Does anyone know what NEIGHBORHOOD this was in?‪#‎GRANDTHEFTGURU‬ style!‪#‎GURUAPPROVED‬

2. Stream Live Videos to Engage with Online Viewers

Before your next open house, share a sneak-peek of your favorite room in the house or a view of the backyard. Be sure to talk about both the features and the benefits of each. For example, if you're showing off the expansive backyard porch, remind viewers that they could have a huge Independence Day BBQ with their family and friends or host their children or grandchildren's graduation party. You could also host a live Q&A (perfect for Periscope), allowing the seller or yourself to show off the great features of the house while giving your audience a chance to ask questions.

If you're looking for something new, consider hosting what Tom Ferry calls a "mega open house" and catching some of it on video. To host a mega open house, when you first obtain a new listing, rather than immediately posting it in the MLS, wait a few extra days. During that time, host a small get-together, and invite neighbors of the community to stop by and preview the house. In doing so, you'll be able to connect with other members in the community. Remember, when a home sells in a neighborhood, generally one or two other local residents will decide to list as well. If these residents see your video, you'll automatically be top of mind as the agent who specializes in that market. Think of mega open houses as a way for you to bring in more potential sellers. When you catch the buzz on your local video stream, you'll be able to reach even more people.

3. Share Teasers of New Listings
Video teasers that show off the features and amenities of a new listing are great things to post on your blog, social and listing pages. In fact, homes listed with videos receive four times the inquiries than those listed without. Give potential buyers the chance to see what this listing has to offer. Filming a walk-through of the property lets viewers see the flow of the home, rather than just disjointed pictures. However, remember that there are benefits to keeping some cards close to the chest. You have the option to give a grand tour through video and posting it on your pages, or you could show off a little and ask any interested parties to schedule a time with you to view the rest of the listing. While showing the whole property can help you weed through uninterested buyers, you may lose out on other buyers that you can help find the home of their dreams.

4. Show Them Why You're the Expert
Sharing educational content can be a great way to start getting your face in front of potential buyers. There are a wide range of topics you can cover that would be useful to different parties. Because of this, the first thing you should do is consider your audience, who you currently work with and who you would like to start working with. This can also affect your choice of video platform. If you want to target Millennial buyers, think about hosting a Q&A about the buying process through Periscope. If you work with empty-nesters, it might be more beneficial to post a video on your Facebook page with tips for downsizing. At the end of either video, offer them a free downloadable eBook or checklist to help them in their process. Drive these viewers back to your landing page and include lead forms, so you can capture their information and follow up with them.

While these are examples of evergreen content, you can also host video Q&As or film quick DIYs to post seasonally. Showing off your local beach or pool is great for the warm summer months, but might not be the best for the snowy season. You can also create a video of your favorite Thanksgiving table decorations, sharing the name of local stores where you found them, or even your favorite spring salad recipe, showcasing the produce you found at your local farmer's market. Try to balance the seasonal and evergreen content, so you'll have material to engage with followers throughout the year.

If you're looking for more ways to get in front of home buyers and sellers who are ready to transact, Homes.com Local Connect Ads instantly bring you property inquiries from active buyers and sellers when they are ready to engage with you. Local Connect positions you prominently in front of transaction-ready consumers in your target zip code, while showcasing your photo or logo, phone number and endorsements.

For more information, visit connect.homes.com.

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5 SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR

5 SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR

​To connect with your clients, attract new ones and grow your business online, you need to be in the know about the changing landscape of social media. Explore these trends so you can create an effective social strategy and stay ahead of your competition.

Prepare to Pay
Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter have shifted their focus away from a simple "news feed," instead going toward generating profit. That means you can expect to be charged for certain things that were previously free on their platforms. To keep your messages relevant and prominent on these social networks, you may need to start setting aside money for an ad budget.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Adobe's Social Intelligence Report reveals that posts with images have 600 times greater engagement than simple text-based updates to social platforms. What a simple way to attract prospects and engage customers! Whether it's great photos of your listings, an interesting infographic or a video, images are the easiest way to get noticed.

Get Group Exposure
Joining an online community like LinkedIn is another way to build your connections. Within the site, you should assume the role of contributor, not salesperson. Comment, answer questions and offer suggestions about real estate to establish yourself as a knowledgeable source. This way, you will create stronger relationships based in mutual discussions. Then, you'll have a better idea of what to offer people if they do need your services in the future.

Life's Events Present Opportunities
Social platforms are today's go-to for announcements. From babies and engagements to new homes and more, postings about these life-changing events are your opportunity to engage with prospects. Offer congratulations, and these contacts may remember you when they need help with a real estate transaction.

Claire Wiese is the Social Media Marketing Manager at HSA Home Warranty.

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ARE YOU LIMITING YOUR SOCIAL REACH? FIVE UNIQUE WAYS TO BREAK THROUGH

ARE YOU LIMITING YOUR SOCIAL REACH? FIVE UNIQUE WAYS TO BREAK THROUGH

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We often see statistics about how important it is to have a social strategy in real estate. According to a recent NAR study, 91 percent of REALTORS(R) use social media in some way. With this much social noise, how can you stand out when consumers are scrolling through their news feeds?

If you search online for tips about increasing your social reach, you'll probably find articles about posting useful information, following the 80/20 rule, and keeping your audience engaged by responding to their comments and questions. While these tips are important (content is always, always king), what are some new ways you can boost the number of people seeing your social posts? Here are five unique tips to help you engage with more social users and increase your social reach.

1. Offer to share or retweet your followers' content.
How often do you ask your followers to share your content? Why not return the favor? Ask your followers if they have something happening in your local area they'd like you to promote socially. Maybe a local moving business is hosting a grand opening or a furniture company is having a special discount over Father's Day weekend. Cross-promotional opportunities allow you to provide valuable content to your followers while connecting with new people through other companies. Plus, your followers will view you as a local expert since you're able to share great content about your area.

2. Use hashtags to your benefit.
Hashtags are one of the best ways to optimize your social posts. Including a hashtag (for example #realestate) makes your post searchable so others can find it, even if they aren't following you. By tagging your post with a keyword like #laliving, #newhome, #househunting, #openhouse, etc., your posts will be grouped with others that contain the same hashtag. This is a great way to engage with people who have similar interests and encourage them to follow you. We recommend using 2-3 hashtags on Twitter and Facebook, and 5-10 on Instagram to help draw in followers. However, keep in mind that too many hashtags can overburden your messages, so make tags relevant and use them when you think it's helpful.

Another great way to incorporate hashtags into your posts is to create your own and use it whenever you post about yourself. For example, if you like to post new listings or properties that have just sold on your social profiles, create a hashtag that ties in with your or your company's name. It might be difficult to find a hashtag that hasn't already been used, especially if you have a common name, so consider things that would help define you as a brand. If your name is Jane and you work mainly with millennials, a potential hashtag could be #JanesMillennialListings. Brainstorm potential ideas before settling on one; remember, you'll want to use this to group your posts together so people can see what you've done previously.

3. Create shareable content.
Increasing your social reach involves more than just your social pages. If you have a real estate blog, you've already created the perfect opportunity for more people to connect with you. Make sure you're creating inspiring content on your blog, so readers will be more likely to share it with their followers. Articles that are reactive, informative, and interesting are most likely to be shared. When looking for content ideas, browse real estate industry news to see which hot topics are trending. Try writing a piece about how a trending topic has affected you or your business. For example,live-video marketing has recently become more popular. Why not use this technology by hosting a live tour of your newest listing, all while becoming familiar enough about it to write a review?

In addition to this, according to Entrepreneur, "people are more likely to share content that will help define themselves to others, while 68 percent of people share to show who they are and what they care about." Do you regularly work with millennials or empty-nesters? Create content that you think they could connect with, such as popular problems these groups come across when buying or selling their homes. For even easier social sharing, embed a widget in your blog that will allow users to post snippets from your article on their social pages and link directly to your article. Doing so will help drive more people back to your blog, which will help to increase engagement.

4. Give credit to your sources.
Did you find a great, relevant article you wanted to share with your followers? Remember to give credit to or mention the original poster using an @mention. This is not just best practice, but it also helps to put you into the source's line of sight. You could spark a relationship with this user, encouraging them to look back through your own content, or it could also inspire them to thank you publicly for your share, putting you in front of all their followers. 

5. Stick with it and stay active.
As a busy professional, this can be the most challenging tip to follow. To help you stay on track, at the beginning of each month, create a content calendar. Look ahead to see which holidays are coming up or if your community is hosting any events that you should mention. Remember, you still want to post content that your followers will find relevant. If you're struggling to keep up with your social pages or if you just want some help managing your posts, Homes.com Social is the perfect solution. With Homes.com Social, you'll work with experts who will post daily content on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter (the social networks that today's buyers, sellers and renters are using the most). It's an easy way to be sure you're able to take care of everything offline while still knowing that engaging content is being added to your social profiles.

While it can take time to see the results of your hard work, remember to stay consistent. Social media can have a great pay-off if you put in the effort but also give enough time for your followers to remember you.

For more information, visit connect.homes.com.

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