RISMedia » Business Outlook

List of Improving Housing Markets Expands to Nearly 100

susanne — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:19:22 +0000

The list of housing markets showing measurable improvement expanded by 29 metros in February to include a total of 98 entries on the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released recently. Thirty-six states are now represented …

CoreLogic® Reports 24 Percent Decrease in Foreclosures

susanne — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:16:08 +0000

CoreLogic® (NYSE: CLGX), a provider of information, analytics and business services, has released its first national Foreclosure Report, which provides monthly data on completed foreclosures, foreclosure inventory and 90+ delinquency rates. Completed foreclosures for all of 2011 totaled 830,000 compared …

Marketing Strategies: Hate to Make Cold Calls? 5 Tips to Make Them Easier

susanne — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:03:25 +0000

Have you often avoided making those dreaded cold calls? Do you dream of how much better your business could be but just can’t bring yourself to pick up the phone?

You’re not alone. In the 15+ years that I have …

Overcoming 3 Major Barriers to Closing More Sales

susanne — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:58:38 +0000

Today’s real estate and mortgage markets require new skills to succeed. There are fewer qualified buyers, shrinking mortgage options, more regulations and tougher competition. For real estate professionals in particular, three emerging barriers stand in the way of closing more …

What Every New Agent Needs Right Out of the Gate

susanne — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:54:41 +0000

If you’re a new agent just getting started in the real estate industry, the following elements are crucial as you set yourself up to hit the ground running.

1. Secure your own domain name. It’s important to have a domain …

The Real Estate Book Helps Agents Go Mobile

susanne — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:48:46 +0000

With more and more consumers relying on mobile devices for local information, real estate professionals can no longer ignore this increasingly important channel when marketing properties. To help extend its customers’ reach to homebuyers on the go, The Real Estate …

Obama Moves Forward with Foreclosure Prevention

susanne — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:01:20 +0000

Last Wednesday, February 1, President Obama announced the details of a plan to help homeowners refinance their mortgages in hopes of bolstering the housing market.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, this proposal will allow buyers …

Monday Morning Mobile: Follow the Leaders

susanne — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:06:02 +0000

As an independent real estate firm or agent we often don’t have resources (time and money) to research market trends and analyze consumer behavior. So what do we do? I recently read Crash Boom, By Greg Rand (great book—lots …

Average Mortgage Rates Ease Setting New Record Lows

susanne — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:01:40 +0000

Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average mortgage rates dropping to new all-time record lows as data on economic growth fell short of market projections. All products in the PMMS …

5 Tips to Brand Your Way to Success

susanne — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:53:23 +0000

When most business owners think about creating a brand for their businesses, they immediately think about logos or brainstorm amusing taglines. Yet, effective branding goes much deeper than this.

“One vital component of building a recognizable brand for your business …

Marketing Strategies: Powerful Tips for Maximizing Your Success

susanne — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:00:11 +0000

In my years of experience with coaching clients to maximize their success, I have created powerful tips to help accelerate progress. The first of these is to get clear on exactly what “success” means to you. I can’t tell you …

FHFA Responds to NPR Freddie Mac Refinance Story

susanne — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:58:08 +0000

A ProPublica–NPR news story recently suggested that a mortgage financing vehicle utilized by Freddie Mac may be preventing homeowners from refinancing. While FHFA does not typically comment on its supervisory activities, the circumstances here require some clarification, according to the …

Cartavi and DocuSign Help Agents Close Deals Faster

susanne — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:52:10 +0000

Cartavi, a document sharing platform for real estate, has integrated with DocuSign to help real estate professionals close more deals faster in the cloud.

“We’re very excited to provide Cartavi subscribers the opportunity to close real estate transactions completely in …

Mixed Mortgage Messages: Originations Decline but Quality Soars

susanne — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:45:36 +0000

Mortgage originations plunged 10.1 percent from November to December, continuing a decline from 2011’s September peak. At the same time, loans originated over the last two years have proved to be some of the best quality originations on record.

New …

The Need to Go Mobile Is Now

susanne — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:44:27 +0000

In support of Google’s Go Mo initiative, Mobile Real Estate launched a free online tool in January that allows REALTORS® to test their website to ensure it is optimized for mobile viewing. Along with the ability to test your site …

REALTOR® Strategies: Targeting Your Ideal Client; a Critical Strategy for Success

susanne — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:42:49 +0000

The importance of targeting the right market is a key ingredient to a successful career in real estate. As our industry has changed and the challenges within the economy have forced us to constantly reassess our strengths and weaknesses, it’s …

Your Base Is Changing. Are You Changing with It?

susanne — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:28 +0000

Agents who are looking for new customers in 2012 have to redefine their base, restructure their marketing strategies, and reassess how to build new relationships.

For at least the next year, home prices will likely bump along the bottom before …

Leading Brokerage Increases Sales 49 Percent in 2011: What’s Their Secret?

susanne — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:07:19 +0000

In a year when breaking even on year-over-year home sales might be considered a lofty goal for some real estate companies, Blue Ridge, Georgia’s Coldwell Banker High Country Realty, has reported a 49 percent increase in homes sold in 2011 …

Monday Morning Mobile: Prestige Brands, Real Estate Reverse the Trend

susanne — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:06:15 +0000

According to a recent study by New York-based research firm, L2, almost 50 percent of top fashion, beauty, hospitality, watches and jewelry and retail brands have “feeble” mobile initiatives. Their study focused on the most recognized brands with regards to …

Take Advantage of Record Low Rates before They Rise

susanne — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:03:41 +0000

Low interest rates, as we all know, are making history. Last week, according to an article found on CNNMoney, “rates on both the 30-year and 15-year fixed loans fell to new records, at 3.89 percent and 3.16 percent, respectively, according …