RISMEDIA, November 16, 2010—(MCT)—California and Florida had a lot in common during the housing industry's last boom-and-bust cycle. Both were overrun by buyers hooked on high-risk mortgages, speculators who helped push prices to historic peaks and builders who didn't know when to stop. When the bubble burst, the two states became leaders in mortgage defaults, price declines and tracts of unsold new homes. But in the past year or so, California's housing market has begun recovering, while Florida's remains on the critical list.

RISMEDIA, November 16, 2010—When was the last time you did business with someone you didn’t like? Now granted, sometimes we don’t have a choice—like at the license branch, or maybe the checkout clerk we happen to get stuck with. But the truth is, when we have a choice, we deal

RISMEDIA, November 16, 2010—Realtors are ready to meet the challenges of the coming year head-on, according to Ron Phipps, 2011 National Association of Realtors president. Phipps shared his perspective and insights into some of the key issues facing the real estate industry in the

RISMEDIA, November 16, 2010—Every fall, parents wave goodbye as their college-bound kids pack up their belongings, make the drive down university lane and prepare for football games, mid-terms and freedom. While college living is often associated with dorms and campus housing,

RISMEDIA, November 16, 2010—A new survey conducted by Relocation.com finds that 75% of Americans believe the most important factor in determining a neighborhood's safety is the up-keep of surrounding homes, especially the conditions of the front lawns, which trumps even

RISMEDIA, November 15, 2010—So you’ve opened an account on Facebook. You’ve got a bunch of friends, including some past customers and clients. Your posts have been about interest rates, why now is a good time to buy, and your latest listings. Everybody said you’d increase your business by doing this but…where in the heck are the good leads and referrals? If this sounds like you, you’re not alone! By interviewing a few agents who are making money with Facebook, I’ve concluded that they all have several key strategies in common—all of which combine to create a social networking “secret sauce.”

RISMEDIA, November 15, 2010—As attendees of the 12th Annual Exit International Convention and Gala poured into Marsalis Hall at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas recently for the cocktail party and exhibitor launch, it was clear that mobile technology would have a big

RISMEDIA, November 15, 2010—Fully half of the metropolitan areas tracked in the third quarter of 2010 continued to show modest home price increases from a year ago, despite a sharp decline in home sales after the deadline for the home buyer tax credit, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors. In the third quarter, 77 out of 155 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) had higher median existing single-family home prices in comparison with the third quarter of 2009, including 11 with double-digit increases; two were unchanged and 76 metros showed price declines. In the third quarter of 2009, only 30 MSAs experienced annual price gains.

RISMEDIA, November 15, 2010—NAR’s REALTOR Benefits® Program is getting personal. Typically, NAR members have taken advantage of the program’s exclusive offers to boost their business: saving on marketing tools that will strengthen client relationships,

RISMEDIA, November 15, 2010—ERA Franchise Systems LLC, a franchising leader in the residential real estate industry, has launched ERA TopRecruiter, a unique and innovative new recruiting system designed to help ERA franchisees attract and retain

RISMEDIA, November 13, 2010—In a social business world, embracing collaborative leadership skills and competencies can make a big difference in how organizations stay ahead of the competition. Now, more than ever, effective communication—both online and offline—can make or break a company. Leaders are expected to turn their businesses into social organizations, which requires shifts in culture, mindset, and leadership models in order to be successful.

RISMEDIA, November 13, 2010—Having a Web presence is half the battle in any real estate market. However, if your website isn’t generating leads and reaching your clients, you may need to change a few things so that your website can work for you.

RISMEDIA, November 13, 2010—Today more than ever, it is important to stay in touch with current, past and future buyers and sellers and your personal sphere of influence—and have a system and personal marketing plan to accomplish that. If you’re not managing your real estate career

RISMEDIA, November 12, 2010—(MCT)—Union County, N.C., homeowner Barry Lancett signed two agreements with a national lender this year to modify the terms of his mortgage but still received a disturbing piece of paperwork: a foreclosure notice. "A deputy comes to your door and delivers it in front of the community," said Lancett, who later avoided foreclosure but is still dealing with lingering issues. "It was humiliating, to say the least."

RISMEDIA, November 12, 2010—Part realist, part philosopher, but true believer through and through, Ron Phipps brings a strong mix of hands-on leadership and long-term vision to his role as 2011 president of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Principal broker at Phipps Realty in Warwick, Rhode Island, Phipps grew up ...