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November 2009 - Posts
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Remember when your parents lectured you saying your driver’s license was a privilege and not a right? Well, the same holds true when it comes to interacting with blogs. Social media is a great way to get the message out, but there are rules for blog etiquette.
If only there was a way to take away a user's keys when they misuse blogs, we could probably clean up a lot of unnecessary clutter. The following are the 5 biggest ways I see agents misusing blogs:
5. Don't use video, podcasting, etc if you don't have quality content.
Only use video or audio in the following situations:
a) words won’t do the story justice (video about proper home staging)
b) it saves you time (an interview where transcribing it would take too long)
Always remember to stay on topic; editing is your best friend. If you think of multiple topics, instead of cramming them in all together, break them out into separate stories. If the video or audio is going too long, leave them wanting more and split it into multiple parts.
4. Reposting stories that are from CNN, Inman, TechCrunch, etc.
Remember that a blog is there to represent you and your opinions. If you are reposting stories and not giving your take on the situation, you are doing your readers an injustice. Summarize the story, link to the full story and give your opinion or thoughts about how it affects you or others.
3. Stories that are just glorified personal advertisements.
It’s great that you think that you are wonderful, but rather than telling us how great you are, show us you are great by teaching us to better ourselves.
2. Forcing a post about a property that you have just listed where it doesn’t belong.
Sharing a property on social media is cool. Posting a property to someone’s Facebook or tweeting about a new listing is perfectly acceptable. There are tons of sites where you can push your listings out to on the Internet, but before you do, take a moment and ask yourself: Given the culture of this site, would people find this post interesting? If you give the answer that everyone is excited about new homes for sale, you will get your keys taken away.
1. Dropping links back to your site as a comment to an article.
Getting links back to your site is one dimension of getting your site to the top of the search engines, and comments are the easiest way to put links back to you from someone else’s site. But with great power comes great responsibility. Does the link that you are about to put in this comment add to the discussion, or are you forcing it? Forcing links into comments makes you look unprofessional. If you really want quality links back from that site, ask the blog owner if you can write a guest post.
Your online presence is just as valuable to you as any marketing or branding that you would do. With the majority of home searches starting online, think about how you can put your best foot forward, and not leave behind a trail of bad habits. And remember: think before you link.
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Mark Tepper, HomeFinder.com VP of Business Development and Sales, was recently added to Frogpond’s list of Industry Visionaries, joining notable profiles including Harley E. Rouda, Jr. (CEO/Managing Partner of Real Living), Victor Lund (Co-Founding Partner of the WAV Group) and Steve H. Murray, Editor of REAL Trends & Lore Magazine, among others.
FrogPond, provider of unique “Communications Solutions” enabling corporations, associations and small businesses nationwide to effectively reach customers, employees and members with ahead of the curve industry information, is headed by Susie Hale.
Below is an excerpt of Mark’s Industry Visionary profile. Check out the full interview on Frogpond. Many thanks to Susie and the Frogpond team!
As an "industry visionary", what do you see as the major changes occurring in the real estate industry?
You don’t have to be a “visionary” to recognize the two areas that are challenging the status quo, social media and agent ratings.
Social media phenomena like Facebook and Twitter are changing the way agents and brokers market themselves and their properties. For a very long time, there was nothing new in Real Estate Marketing/Advertising. Social media has taken the local cocktail party and put it online. The great news is this can be leveraged to help grow your business very quickly, especially for new agents. The bad news is, if you’re an established agent that doesn’t use social media, you may lose the next generation of buyers and sellers.
Lastly, agent ratings could change the way we choose a Realtor. There are a few sites out there that are experimenting with agent ratings, HAR, RedFin and HomeThinking are the few that come to mind. Relatively speaking, it’s not that difficult to become a licensed agent, however, it is difficult to stay in the business and be successful. The easier it is for consumers to differentiate agents, the harder it will be for many at the lower end of the skill/experience spectrum to stay in the game.
Who are the "individual trendsetters" that are shaping the future real estate industry?
In 2006, Time Magazine’s person of the year was “You.” It was the year of the individual with the advent of YouTube, MySpace and Facebook. I think this still holds true in 2009. It could be the agent that has a large following on Twitter or Facebook, the blogger on ActiveRain that gets referrals from other agents or the Broker that embraces online advertising that drives email and phone leads to their brokerage for a positive ROI.
What are the expectations of the emerging real estate consumer?
Consumers want to work with trustworthy Realtors and Brokerages that can sell their home quickly with the least amount of aggravation at the right price. That hasn’t changed. But what has is that they are increasingly demanding proof of the capacity to deliver on this promise rather than the unsubstantiated claims that characterized a lot of old-style marketing.
What changes should a Brokerage implement to ensure profitability in the future?
Reduce your overhead, office space, unnecessary expenses and Advertising that doesn’t have a positive ROI. Don’t be afraid of hoteling in your office space to give the agents maximum flexibility and decreased overhead. Plus, you need to invest in your agents. There may be more expenses in the short term but if you invest in the success of your agents, they will pay you back tenfold.
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Ok, I will promise one thing: once you understand the basics of how a search engine orders results, mastering the parts that a search engine cares about is pretty easy. I am going to start with a basic story of how a search engine works, and then in future articles do a deeper dive for each element that a search engine uses to determine your ranking position.
The Spider Bot
Any search engine (Yahoo!, Google, Bing, etc) uses something called a search engine bot that spiders the web looking at different sites.
Translation:
Search engine bot = Automated program that never stops running.
Spiders the web = Clicks on links.
The bot starts on a specific page of a single Web site, clicks all the links on that page, visits all those pages, clicks all the links on those pages, and visits all of those pages. The little guy repeats this process, endlessly churning through all the interconnected pages of the Internet.
Historically, the usual starting point for the search engine bots is a place called dmoz. This place is nothing but a Yellow Pages directory-style site with different categories and lists of sites under those categories. From there, the little guy just goes and goes through as many sites as it can.
The first step in getting a site recognized is getting a link to it from a site that the search engine already knows about. So, if you have a new site, I would recommend doing all of the following to ensure that you get picked up by the bots as soon as possible:
1) Submit your site to either DMoz or Google.
2) Get a link back from a friend's site that has already been visited by the search engine bot. An easy way to tell is if you do a search for your friend's site and they come up (this indicated they have been visited by the search engine bot).
3) Do a search for yourself, and if any of your Facebook, Linkedin, or Myspace profiles come up, put a link to your new site on your profile.
OK, now that we have the basics of how a search engine gets to your site. Next week we will cover the parts of your site that the engine cares most about when crawling your site.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: With foreclosure properties still dominating the housing landscape in the U.S., we've asked our friends at RealtyTrac® to guest author some articles to shed light on the foreclosure crisis. RealtyTrac is the most trusted source of foreclosure information in the country. We hope that the information provided here and in other articles will be beneficial to understanding, avoiding and even leveraging (as an opportunistic buyer) home foreclosures.
By Rick Sharga, Vice President of Marketing for RealtyTrac
It’s no wonder that the foreclosures market is gaining popularity among first-time buyers and real estate bargain hunters alike. Foreclosure properties can often be purchased at 10 to 30 percent less than their market value, making them an attractive investment in a time of soaring real estate prices. But despite what you may see on late-night cable TV, investing in foreclosure properties isn’t a sure fire "get rich quick" formula. Lenders aren’t likely to give properties away, particularly in a real estate market where prices continue to rise. And homeowners in financial distress still have some leverage to negotiate the purchase price, particularly early in the foreclosure process.
"You have to practice both diligence and patience when looking to buy a foreclosure property," explains Jim Saccacio, chief executive officer for RealtyTrac. "There really are some fantastic deals out there, but you have to be willing to wait for the right opportunity, then make a realistic offer so the seller will view you as a serious buyer."
With interest rates ticking upward, experts predict an increase in the number of foreclosure properties on the market. Web-based services such as RealtyTrac, give consumers access to foreclosure and pre-foreclosure information that was previously available only to professional real estate brokers and investors. Today, homebuyers can use these services to identify and research potential home purchases, as well as to find the tools and professional resources they need to help them close the deal.
Sales in this marketplace can move rather quickly, so there’s no time to make uninformed or low-ball bids on properties in a half-hearted attempt to save a few bucks. Nothing turns a seller off faster than a low-ball offer on a fairly-priced property. In most cases, doing so may irritate the seller so much that no further negotiations will be entertained, meaning that you’ve essentially lost any opportunity to buy the property. Conversely, making an uninformed offer that is too high may get you the house you want – along with a never-ending monthly reminder that you overpaid!
Find out what the house is really worth
In order to make a realistic offer, you first need to know what the actual value of the property is. Look at the original purchase price and recent comparable property sales to determine the current value of the property. You can obtain information on recent sales in the area from your realtor or via RealtyTrac’s Comparable Sales Report. Ideally, you should look at sales in the area over the past six months. Then you can drive by each property on your list and note its condition, size, appeal and location. You should also look for properties that are currently listed for sale in the area and research the same information for them. This information, along with a thorough examination of the condition of the property, should give you good feel for what it is really worth.
Find out how much is owed
You should also find out the amount the seller is in default and the remaining loan balance. In order to determine a reasonable offer price, you’ll need to know – at a minimum – how much money it will take just to satisfy the debt to the lender (or lenders). Knowing this will help you determine whether the property is within your price range or unattainable considering your current finances.
The estimated loan amount and default amount are included in the foreclosure documents filed with public records, and RealtyTrac posts this information online for subscribers. Additionally you can order RealtyTrac’s Legal and Vesting Report or Transaction History Report to check for any other mortgage loans on the property. Ultimately, even if you’ve presented what you believe to be a fair offer, you’re likely to receive a counter offer from the seller. That’s to be expected as the negotiation process is a major part of real estate sales in general – even foreclosures. Remember, a successful negotiator in any situation must be informed, prepared and realistic. Again, you must practice patience and diligence in order to get the property you want for a price you are willing to pay.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that real estate purchases can be rather emotional, especially as you grow attached to the idea of owning a particular property. It’s important to know what you are willing to spend on a home, regardless of your emotional attachment to it, so you need to set a limit and stick to it. 
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EDITOR'S NOTE: With foreclosure properties still dominating the housing landscape in the U.S., we've asked our friends at RealtyTrac® to guest author some articles to shed light on the foreclosure crisis. RealtyTrac is the most trusted source of foreclosure information in the country. We hope that the information provided here and in other articles will be beneficial to understanding, avoiding and even leveraging (as an opportunistic buyer) home foreclosures.
By Rick Sharga, Vice President of Marketing for RealtyTrac
There are two words that give pause to the most motivated foreclosure buyer: due diligence.
Those words mean researching all the risks involved in a property purchase, which in the past meant extensive legwork and expense. But that’s no longer the case, thanks to exponential advances in information technology and the establishment of Web-based property data aggregators like RealtyTrac.
Don’t be fooled – buying a foreclosure property doesn’t equate to easy money by any means. A savvy player in this market is willing to do a bit of homework. But the tools and resources needed to do that homework are much more accessible now than ever before.
"While buying a foreclosure property is certainly not without risk, the right examination and due diligence on the part of buyers can significantly improve their ability to make a strong investment," explains James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer at RealtyTrac, the leading online foreclosure marketplace.
Web-based services like RealtyTrac can help investors and homebuyers tap into the previously hidden foreclosure market by providing access to property data formerly available only to professional real estate brokers and investors. Today, homebuyers can use these services to identify and research potential home purchases, as well as to find the tools and professional resources they need to help them close the deal.
It makes sense to give any foreclosure property under consideration a thorough examination – possibly even more thorough than for a traditional real estate property. There are three stages of foreclosure that require different research strategies: pre-foreclosure, auction and bank owned.
Before buying a pre-foreclosure property directly from the owner, run a preliminary title check for all debts secured by the property. You can research the title online using RealtyTrac’s Legal and Vesting Report or Transaction History Report. Subtract the total amount owed from the estimated market value to determine the potential bargain. After making contact with the owner, arrange a walk-through of the property to evaluate its condition. Factor estimated repair costs into your purchase offer. Before you close the deal, hire a professional home inspector to inspect the property and enlist a title company to run a final title check.
In most states, you don’t have a chance to inspect a property before buying at a public auction, which makes this type of purchase more risky. But if you’ve researched the title and determined the amount owed is far less than the market value, you’ll have some margin to cover unexpected repair costs. Before you go to the auction, set a maximum bid based on your research and stick to that bid at the auction.
Although you’ll be able to inspect the property if it’s bank owned, the bank typically knows little about the property and will sell it in “as is” condition. This means the bank will disclose all the needed repairs it knows about, but is not held responsible after the sale for any repairs it did not know about. Factor the known repairs into your purchase offer and have a professional inspection conducted before closing the deal. You should also have a title company run a final title check before closing, although most banks will make sure the title is clear before selling.
Here are eight steps for doing a professional-level property examination for all stages of foreclosure:
Identify desirable neighborhoods – Find specific neighborhoods where you would like to live or own a home. This will limit the search to a manageable size for you and your agent, and give you a sense of relative property values.
Cast a wide net – There are a number of Web-based services like RealtyTrac that can put hundreds of thousands of foreclosure properties at your fingertips. But remember, the best savings are often found in pre-foreclosure properties; therefore, it’s important to check the percentage of pre-foreclosure (vs. REO) properties in any database before subscribing.
Determine the property value – Look at the original purchase price and recent comparable property sales to determine the current value of the property. You can obtain information on recent sales in the area via Multiple Listing Service (MLS) comps from your realtor or by ordering a report such as RealtyTrac’s Comparable Sales Report. Ideally, you should look at comparables sales in the area over the past six months. Then you can drive by each property on the list of comparables and note its condition, size, appeal and location. You should also look for properties that are currently listed for sale in the area and research the same information for them. From this information, you can get a good idea of what the property you are interested in is worth.
Find out the amount in default and the remaining loan balance – In order to determine a reasonable offer price, you’ll need to know – at a minimum – how much money it will take just to satisfy the debt to the lender. This information is available on the foreclosure documents filed by the foreclosing lender and from online foreclosure-tracking websites like RealtyTrac.
Check for other liens – Before purchasing any foreclosure property, make sure it is free and clear of any bankruptcies, tax liens or other financial liabilities. A title search will examine records used to determine the legal ownership of the property and all liens and encumbrances on it. A title company or attorney can run a title search for you. You can also research the title online using RealtyTrac’s Legal and Vesting Report or Transaction History Report.
Assess the condition of the property – In addition to visiting the property yourself, hire a professional inspector to inspect the property to make sure that the property is in acceptable condition, or to determine how much of a rehab budget you’ll need to build into your deal. If you buy during pre-foreclosure or directly from the bank (REO), it’s usually possible to conduct a thorough inspection. But if you buy at the public auction, it may not be possible to view or inspect the property beforehand.
Build a positive relationship with the seller – Before purchasing a property, try to make sure that you’re entering into a win-win situation with the seller, so that they’ll be more willing to do what they can to make the process easy and leave the property in good condition for you.
Leverage your timing – Knowing when a property is going to be auctioned gives you an extra bargaining chip when negotiating with a seller or a lender. You can sometimes contact the seller just before the auction to see if a last-minute sale is possible. At the very least, knowing the intended date can help you organize time to research the property as much as possible, review comparable sales, calculate values and potential profits and ultimately determine a bid price so that you’re well prepared to compete with other investors on auction day.
It’s sometimes said that in real estate, selling is about business while buying is controlled by emotion. While this may generally be true, it’s important to keep your head about you and think through the process so that you can make the most informed decision possible. Remember, a little preparation before the sale can help you reap huge benefits. So, it’s worth your time and energy to do a little homework! 
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By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com
Your first move is going to be a big deal. It will be the defining moment of your adulthood and the ultimate declaration of your independence to the world. Although it is an exciting occasion, it is probably going to be one of the most stressful, insane, and chaotic days of your life. Fear not! Here are some tips to point you in the right direction and help you keep your cool during your first moving experience:
Don’t be stubborn!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for assistance. Family and great friends want to help you any way they can, so don’t be too proud to ask them for it. They will be flattered and more than willing to assist you for your first move and many more. No family or friends around to help? Schedule your move with a moving company and they can help you ever step of the way from planning to packing and reassembling furniture.
Don’t stress!
It is completely normal (and easy) to lose your mind during your move with everybody running around with your belongings. Take a step back from the situation and sit somewhere alone for a few minutes to gain some perspective on the situation. Remember that this is just one day of your life. Once it is over, you probably will not have to move for a good amount of time. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and remind yourself that you can and will get through this.
Don’t starve!
With the chaos of moving day and anxious feelings about your new home, it is easy to forget to eat. Make sure to start off the day with a healthy (but not heavy) breakfast to get you energized for your move. Try to schedule at least a half hour lunch for yourself and your movers to ensure you are all running on a full tank of fuel instead of adrenaline and caffeine. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated. Keep numerous bottles of water handy and be sure to drink plenty of them while you sweat and pack away.
Asking for help, staying calm, and keeping your body energized with healthy foods and water will definitely help make your first move the very best one. Good luck! 
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Ok, I know that the witching hour is over, and we are now down to slowly working our way through two metric tons of left over candy. Evan though it is a few days late, I thought I would finish up the Homes Near Halloween Movies countdown. So, without further ado...
#3 - The Birds 
This movie not only being one of the best Hitchcock movies, this is one of the best movies of all time. What is more freakier than birds going nuts? Nothing. Birds are always staring at you, taunting you with their ability to fly. You know if they were people they would be the Bodhi of the people world, but who would be our Johnny Utah?
Reference: 
#2 - The Exorcist 
You know you are in trouble when you need a young priest and a old priest. Much like Child's Play killed the cabbage patch market, The Exorcist was the death blow to pea soup.
#1 - The Shining 
Theme of the movie: You can't mess with Jack. For anyone that only knows Jack Nicholson as the old dude that sits on the sidelines at Laker's games, they need to watch this movie.
Plot Summary
Jack Nicholson is hired to be a caretaker for a resort in the wilderness of Colorado. Out of money because he is behind writing his new book, Jack takes the job to support his family. What Jack doesn't know is how the resort is haunted by spirits of the former caretaker that went crazy and murdered his family. On top of that, once it snows a couple of times, you can't get more than a few feet without freezing. Yes, but how are the health benefits?
Although Nicholson pulls of an amazing slow transition into madness, if you have ever known an professional author, I would say that this movie succeeds more as an accurate documentary of the writing process that happens to take place in a haunted hotel.
The Birds takes place in San Francisco, CA.
The Exorcist takes place in Georgetown, DC
Although The Shining was completely show in England, it was modeled after lodges found in Puget Sound, OR
2275 41st Ave.
$649,900 | 2 Bed | 1 Bath
Perfect outer sunset starter home w/ dramatic ocean and marin headland views from all levels of this reverse plan beauty. Two bedrooms and remodeled bathroom upstairs. Two rooms with bathroom down (not warranted). Hardwood floors up. Decorative fireplace. Full ocean view windows in living room and dining room make this home very special. Original eat-in kitchen w/ skylight. Low maintainance deck with plexiglass wall for total comfort to enjoy the views. Lovely period details. Washer/dryer included.
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4606 Laverock Pl. N.W.
$1,275,000 | 5 Bed | 3 Bath
Beautiful 1996 colonial in canal view. Open, light-filled floor plan (approx. 5,000 sf+) ideal for entertaining and family room with tall ceilings and doors, family room with fireplace and glass wall adjoins a large eat-in kitchen, generous bedrooms with closet space galore, lower level in law suite, walkout recreation room. An expansive desk overlooks a deep yard. One of the largest lots in the private community.
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41651 S 86th St
$225,000 | 3 Bed | 2 1/2 Bath
This family home has new flooring throughout. New paint throughout. There is a year waranty on the home. Granite counters and open floor plan. Family neighborhood near schools as well as Military bases and hospital.
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