The Future of Mortgages
The current trend in real estate has been quite positive. For an extended period of time, we have seen pretty consistent growth in sales and home prices. After years of dealing with poor market conditions, we are all breathing a sigh of relief. Nevertheless, the industry must be vigilant in ensuring that nothing is done [...]
Immigration Reform Could Generate $500 Billion in New Real Estate Transactions
If current legislation that creates a path to legalization for 11 million undocumented immigrants is passed, the nation?s Hispanic real estate leaders estimate that it would create a new pool of 3 million homeowners and pump more than $500 billion in sales, income and spending into the U.S. housing economy. According to an info graphic [...]
Appraisal Institute: How Landscaping Can Impact Home Values
The Appraisal Institute recently advised homeowners to properly maintain their landscaping, which can significantly affect property values. ?If a landscaping change is positive, it can often enhance price and reduce a home?s time on the market,? says Appraisal Institute President Richard L. Borges II, MAI, SRA. ?But if the change is negative, it can lower [...]
Short Sale Approval and Valuation Issues Continue to Impact Housing Market
Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have implemented policies to expedite the short sales process, including new resources to help determine property values, according to panelists at a property valuation forum during the REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Short sales continue to represent a significant portion of the real estate market. According to [...]
Mid-Year Goal Setting and Business Planning ? In Less than 5 Minutes
Now is a perfect time to reassess and calculate what you need to do to get your goals on track! As we move towards mid-year, it?s time to put pen to paper about what is working (and what isn?t). A business plan isn?t set it stone, nor should it be a heavy burden. Rather, it?s [...]
April realtor.com® Report Shows Housing Recovery Accelerating
Realtor.com®, a leader in online real estate operated by Move, Inc., released its April data showing that the U.S. housing market is on its way to a broad-based recovery, an accelerated trend since March. The home-buying season shifted into high gear last month as inventory and home list prices on realtor.com® increased by 4.12 percent [...]
REALTORS® Bring Public Policy Priorities to Capitol Hill
REALTORS® from across the nation will be meeting with regulators, lawmakers and industry leaders in Washington this week to address critical real estate issues affecting individuals, communities, and the nation as the REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo begins. More than 9,000 REALTORS® and guests are expected to attend the meetings, which will run [...]
Relationship Mastery
The No. 1, most important asset we have in our real estate arsenal is our relationships. Perhaps it will feel a bit redundant for me to remind you how important it is to work on your sphere of influence, but what exactly does that mean? For some, it means connecting with them on Facebook or [...]
New Home Sales Soar; How REALTORS® Are Maximizing Opportunities
With more than 25 years in the business, David Schoner is recognized as one of the nation?s leading experts in new-home sales and marketing. As the previous owner of Schoner Research and the New Jersey New Homes Guide, he?s worked for the past 17 years as vice president, Coldwell Banker NRT, responsible for all New [...]
New Mortgage Rules for Balloon, Rural Lenders Would Limit Access to Credit in Rural Areas
Many residents in rural America would have reduced access to mortgage credit despite accommodations included in new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) mortgage rules, according to survey results released recently by the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA). ICBA?s Community Bank Qualified Mortgage Survey found that provisions for balloon-payment mortgage loans and rural community banks [...]
Maximizing Your Online Reputation, Part 6: Offensive and Defensive Moves to Promote and Protect Your Brand
Editor?s Note: This is the sixth of a seven-part series from Homes.com on how to manage your online reputation. Homes.com has put together a free playbook on the topic, which can be downloaded here. Watch for this series in RISMedia?s Friday Weekly Business Builder e-newsletter. When attempting to manage your online reputation, it?s important to [...]
Trulia to Acquire Market Leader, Securities Litigation Firm Investigating Sale for Shareholders
Trulia, Inc., a leading online marketplace for homebuyers, sellers, renters and real estate professionals, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Market Leader, Inc., a leading provider of Software as a Service (SaaS)-based customer relationship management (CRM) software for the real estate sector, for approximately $355 million, or an implied [...]
Share Your Success Story with RISMedia?s ?Real Estate Pro of the Month? Contest
We know how hard you work ? now it?s time to share your success! RISMedia wants to hear your Success Story. If you?ve overcome a real challenge or tricky situation with a client, we want to know what you?ve accomplished and how you did it. Success stories may include: - Helping a buyer with a [...]
Share your success story with rismedia?s ?real estate pro of the month
If you had to hire a real estate professional to sell your home, or to help you buy a new one, would you hire ?you? to do the job? If the answer is yes, then list all the reasons why. If the answer is no, list all of the reasons why not. As you consider [...]
Power Brokers Strategies for ?New Age? of Real Estate
RISMedia Midyear Forum Set for May 16 in D.C. From inventory shortages to a changing investor landscape, the real estate playing field has changed, and success moving forward means staying in step and remaining relevant to today?s consumers. Leading brokers from across the nation will address this topic during RISMedia?s Power Broker Forum at NAR [...]
Housing Recovery Continues but Headwinds Remain
Buoyed by rising home prices throughout much of the nation, both single-family and multifamily housing starts are expected to post double-digit gains over last year in 2013. However, headwinds continue to hold back even stronger growth as the housing recovery evolves, according to economists at NAHB?s Spring 2013 Construction Forecast Conference Webinar. ?The broadening housing [...]
Online Reputation ? Blitz the Competition: Monitor Your Competitors to Get Ahead
Editor?s Note: This is the fifth of a seven-part series from Homes.com on how to manage your online reputation. Homes.com has put together a free playbook on the topic, which can be downloaded here. Watch for this series in RISMedia?s Friday Weekly Business Builder e-newsletter. Both on the playing field and in real estate, the [...]
Bringing Validity to Real Estate Ratings: REALTOR® Excellence Pilot Program Aims to Raise the Bar
As consumers continue to become increasingly savvy and demand more from real estate professionals, the need for a reliable real estate rating system is more important than ever before. While the World Wide Web offers no shortage when it comes to ratings and reviews of the real estate industry and the professionals who work on [...]
Investors and the Home-Rental Market
In traditional housing recoveries, individuals and households provide the bulk of the demand the market needs to rebound. This time, though, a different kind of buyer has been powering the housing recovery: investors looking for valuable rental property. Along with individual investors, institutional investors have poured into the single-family home market, buying enough foreclosed and [...]
No Trust or Rapport? No Sale or Referrals.
Have you ever had a sale that didn?t close and you weren?t sure why? Chances are you lost the sale because you didn?t establish sufficient trust and rapport with your prospect. Once you have developed trust and rapport, you?ve actually got the hard part behind you and you?re probably going to make a sale! It [...]