Week In Review

Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by Sherry Chris.

When it comes to the current real estate climate, we at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate have been preaching cautious optimism for months, as some data indicates the market is recovering and yet other data indicates it is still turbulent times. A recent survey from Move.com indicates the number of consumers interested in investing [...]

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Michael Simonsen Uncovers the 3 Universal Questions Consumers Have

Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Sherry Chris.

In an interview with Michael Simonsen of Altos Research, Wendy Forsythe uncovers the 3 universal questions consumers have, and how realtors can use market data to answer these questions.

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Spring Comes Early!

Posted on 10. Nov, 2009 by Rick Gregory.

According to the 2010 Farmers’ Almanac, this coming winter “a large area of numbingly cold temperatures will predominate.”  However, I suspect the warming effects of the extension of the Homebuyers Tax Credit will make for a very “hot” winter in real estate. You don’t need an almanac to know that traditionally, the months of December, [...]

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Bridging the Real Estate Generation Gap

Posted on 05. Oct, 2009 by Paulette Costa.

Are you experiencing a real estate generation gap in your business and if so what is its impact on your agents and their productivity? As a professional real estate trainer for nearly 25 years, I have the opportunity to come face to face with agents across the spectrum of professionals in our industry – an [...]

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What’s the Time? Time to Get Real

Posted on 18. Sep, 2009 by Camilla Sullivan.

Taking your eyes off the market (trends, drivers, needs) is a great way for a company to lose a position of leadership, alienate customers and become irrelevant. When the environment you are operating in changes, you need to change in order to survive in the new conditions.  Just ask any real estate professional and they [...]

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There is More to Website Content Than Property Listings

Posted on 08. Sep, 2009 by Jason Steele.

Run a Google search for “Where should I live in…” and fill in any major city in the U.S. and I bet you will be hard pressed to find any national or local real estate brand on the first page of results.  All of the valuable local information that goes into advising a prospective buyer [...]

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Friday Blog Scan: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Posted on 12. Jun, 2009 by Jason Steele.

Granted we’re bullish about Twitter. But we’re also realistic about it. TechCrunch brings some of that realism to life in this post titled On Twitter, most people are sheep which documents how many people actually use Twitter regularly and how many, 80% to be exact, don’t. Sometimes I think agents get in their own way [...]

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As the Early Signs of Recovery Emerge, Don’t Pop-the-Cork Just Yet!

Posted on 05. Jun, 2009 by Robert Albanese.

There is evidence that the soft real estate market is stabilizing, but let’s not gets too carried away! Signs of weakness in the real estate sector are slowing and while that is surely a welcome sight, it is important not to confuse these signs with an actual recovery.

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Friday Blog Scan: Things we liked from the week that was

Posted on 03. Apr, 2009 by Jason Steele.

RIS Media cracked the week open with a post that takes a positively hopeful, yet pragmatic view of our economic status and how certain indicators suggest the worst may be behind us. But is it really? As this article suggests, it may still be too early to tell.

Inman also offered a sign of increased market activity. It published a reader survey that found most readers have seen signs of improvement in the past 60 days. We’ll see.

Michael Wurzer, prolific blogger and CEO of FBS Data Systems, a MLS software provider in Fargo, North Dakota, reports on the flooding in the area last week in his entry titled Still Fighting. Our prayers, well wishes and thoughts go out to everyone affected.

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RETech South

Posted on 30. Mar, 2009 by Wendy Forsythe.

On March 20th, I was one of a few hundred people who attended RETech South (#rets) in Atlanta Georgia. It was a special event for several reasons. First and foremost because of the organizers. Two local Atlanta Realtors who for the second year in a row invested their own time and energy to bring together their peers both inside and outside of their trading area. This is a rare and wonderful thing. I have huge respect for Matt Fagioli and Brad Nix. Thanks for everything you do.

Another reason this event was special was the attendees. People from all major brands and unaffiliated companies, big companies and small companies were all represented. Some new to the industry, some long time veterans. Some tech power users, and many self-professed non tech people. Their one common driving force: how do I use various technology based tools to better serve my clients and operate my business?

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What I Would Do with the Housing Stimulus Package

Posted on 23. Feb, 2009 by Wendy Forsythe.

Time will tell if the newly passed economic stimulus package and the components related to the real estate industry will have a positive impact on the housing market in the county. I believe that the behaviors of Realtors all across the U.S. will have an impact on the ultimate outcome of this government initiative. If I [...]

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