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Today’s Top Story Archive


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 released by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), the chain reaction triggered by home purchases would drive demand for more than $500 billion in real estate transactions and an additional $233 billion in origination fees, real estate commissions and consumer spending associated with homeownership.


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 the price and lengthen the time a home remains for sale.” Curb appeal is essential when selling a home, Borges says, noting it’s the homeowner’s opportunity to make a great first impression. A home with lackluster landscaping or an exterior in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint will likely be unappealing


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 the National Association of REALTORS® short sales accounted for 9 percent of transactions during the first quarter of 2013. The short sale process can be frustrating for home buyers, sellers and REALTORS® given that approvals are often complex,


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 a roadmap that helps clarify your objectives and how you’re going to achieve them. Success stems from having established goals and a plan to achieve them. Realtor.com® offers a free tool that allows you to review your last year’s results, set goals for the following year, and calculate just how many activities you will need to engage in to reach your objective. This free tool is designed for agents who have set an ambitious goal for prospecting, sales


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 and 2.63 percent, month over month, respectively. As of April, homes are on the market nationwide approximately 81 days—a decrease of nearly 11 percent since April 2012—highlighting that while new homes are entering the market they are not available for long.


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 here through May 18. “REALTORS® are leading advocates for homeownership and private property rights, and want to ensure that their point-of-view on important housing and investment issues is heard at all levels of government,” says National Association of REALTORS® President Gary Thomas.


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 sending out an annual calendar or birthday card. While those touches are valuable, and will sometimes even generate some business, that is not how the elite agents manage, build or nurture their relationships. What is a true sphere of influence? A sphere of influence is just that: Your circle of friends and acquaintances that influence you or that you have the ability to influence


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 Homes Division operations. In this interview, Schoner shares his insights on the rebound in new-home sales and how brokers can best build this important revenue stream.


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 in the CFPB’s ability-to-repay and qualified mortgage regulations need to go further to adequately protect the customers of many Main Street community bank lenders.


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 get ahead in the game by being proactive. You do this a number of ways: asking clients 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 price of $11.33 per share (based on Trulia’s closing share price on Tuesday, May 7, 2013). Market Leader’s shareholders will receive $6.00 in cash and 0.1553 shares


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 low credit score find a way to buy a home - Overcoming a personal health issue or difficult situation - Helping a transferee – maybe corporate or military – who needed to move quickly - Selling a difficult property – like a run-down foreclosure or a home in a poor location


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 the above, do not get complacent. I have often heard the following refrain from real estate professionals. Buying and selling a home is an infrequent, emotional event in one’s life. Because of the emotional aspects of this event, a real estate professional will always be needed, to help fulfill the emotional need and provide support for buyers and sellers.


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 Midyear, where they will delve into the right strategies and best practices for the current marketplace. Entitled “Power Broker Strategies: Remaining Relevant in the New Age of Real Estate,” the Forum will take place on Thursday, May 16, from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.


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 expansion is evidenced by the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index, which now lists 273 metro areas out of a universe of 361, or three-quarters of the metropolitan areas in the U.S.,” says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.


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