Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter!

Real Estate Shrink: You seem to have a lot of big decisions to make. Broker: Yes, I do. It’s overwhelming at times.

Editor’s Note: “Blueprint for 100 Deals or More Than $1 Million Per Year in Income: The exact systems and technology to sell 100+ homes, every year—no matter the market,” is a new book by leading real estate industry executives Alan Shafran and Rick Bengson that outlines how to build your business as well as make more money, please more customers and improve your overall quality of life, whether you are a novice or climbing the ladder in the real estate business. For the next 10 weeks, RISMedia will be running portions of each chapter every Wednesday, highlighting the in-depth information and invaluable resources the authors have compiled in this exciting, new publication.

(eM+C)—Do mobile technologies have different unspoken rules of engagement than traditional print, broadcast or even online media channels? A recent study conducted by Communispace Corporation answers that question with an emphatic yes.

After achieving superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s and winning three, straight College Player of the Year Awards, Bill Walton was destined to become an NBA legend. Known as “The Big Red-Head,” Walton won the NBA Most Valuable Player award while playing for the defending NBA champion Trail Blazers in 1977-78. At the top of his form, Walton scored, passed, intimidated, hustled, and played the role of leader with the best centers of his day.

When times are tough and prospects seem to be holding on to every dollar, your job as a sales manager is more important than ever before. Now is the time to roll out a sales contest to generate additional sales and build morale. Offering a contest to your sales team is a smart business decision on many levels. Contests, by their very nature, infuse a competitive spirit within the sales force and provide an excellent opportunity for management to recognize and reward top achievement. In addition, a contest encourages your sales reps to achieve new levels of personal production, taps into peer pressure and generates a positive synergism within the organization.

More and more people are in over their heads when it comes to their home. In this tough economy, many have fallen behind on their mortgages and don’t know where to begin to rid themselves of the property that they can no longer afford. Real estate agent and short sale trainer Mike Cuevas of Exit Realty and Agent Redefined has five things homeowners need to consider when their home is underwater.

My favorite scene from the original “Wall Street” movie was when Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) is in the boiler room, frenzied activity all around him from brokers pitching penny stocks to puny investors, and his phone rings. It’s Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), who says just a few words, and then Bud hangs up

This column describes a personal experience I feel compelled to share, as it relates to working with homeowners in distress and facing foreclosure. A few months ago while on our wedding anniversary vacation trip, my husband Kurt was taken to the hospital. We had just ordered breakfast and were waiting for our drinks when he said, “I am not feeling so good...” After a few moments, we realized that it was serious and we needed to call 911. The ambulance took him to the hospital, where they ran some basic tests—they did not keep him overnight for observation. The doctor came in and shared the test results and sent us on our way and, honestly, we weren’t sure what steps should have been involved at the time to make sure his heart was healthy.

Numbering nearly 78 million, baby boomers represent the largest and wealthiest group of buyers in the country. And while many agents traditionally focus their efforts towards first-time home buyers and Gen Y, those that receive advanced training and education in working with the powerful 50+ market

In today’s challenging real estate market, top brokers continue to succeed and stay ahead by prioritizing and investing where it matters most. Learn the priorities and strategies of top brokers during RISMedia’s 16th Annual Power Broker Forum, taking place on Nov. 11, 2011, from 2:30 - 4 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center, Room 201A, Anaheim, CA. Now in its 16th year, the standing-room-only Power Broker Forum brings together leading brokers and industry visionaries for a candid exchange of what it takes to move forward successfully in the real estate business. This year’s Forum, “The One Thing Power Brokers Can’t Live Without,”

We’re all busy, pulled in many directions during our typical day-to-day routine, and more and more our days blur between work-life and home-life. Following are a few good smartphone applications that can help you save time while increasing your productivity: Check It! Professionals like you get the job done because you are organized, and one way to stay organized is with lists. Check it! is simple, easy-to-use and will keep you organized. Buy it for just $0.99 cents at the App Store (open iTunes) where you will find all of the apps mentioned in this column.

(eM+C)—A more urgent need to manage data across channels, an increase in content marketing and the growth of integrated marketing technology programs thanks to acquisitions are three of nine digital and direct marketing trends marketers should be aware of for 2012, according to Bruce Biegel,

Nowhere is the benefit of technology more clearly illustrated than with the recent advancements in online storage capability. Working in the cloud is efficient, inexpensive and convenient. Having an additional copy of all of our data has allowed us to sell our servers and throw our IT guy’s business card away—

In the following session, Charlie Oppler, Special Liaison for Large Firm Relations, NAR interviews Mike Litzner, Broker/Owner, Century 21 American Homes; Jason Waugh, COO, Prudential Northwest Properties; and Sherry Chris, President, CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, about navigating the future of real estate.

Like many an industry catch phrase, ‘The New Normal’ has quickly risen to real estate vernacular. But what does the term really mean? Is it, in fact, even valid? Two tell-it-like-it-is members of RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN)—Joe Clement, Broker/owner, RE/MAX Properties,