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Apr
5
New Technology and Real Estate Agents
Filed Under Economy, Helpful Information, Technology | Leave a Comment
I was recently accepted as a guest Blogger and Technology advice contributor over at the Home Gain Real Estate Blog. Since my back ground is based in the technology sector and I have been actively involved in the Real Estate industry for some time, it made sense for me to contribute to the larger Real Estate society of Bloggers and those that look upon Home Gain. After all Home Gain was one of the first major players in the online scene of Real Estate and competitors like Zillow have continued to hone their best practices following the path all ready blazed by Home Gain.
With that, I was warmly introduced into the Home Gain family by the Marketing & Communications Manager Jessica Gopalakrishnan of Home Gain on Thursday April 3, 2008
My first article written exclusively for the Home Gain Blog is entitled New Technology and the Social Forest. In the article I take a look at the amount of Industry published self help articles aimed at Realtors that are not into the Social Media aspects of today’s online Real Estate.
This article has started a lively debate and several comments have all ready developed from the article. The comments are positive and supportive of my article comments. However, one comment in particular I felt should be drawn out for more dialog. So I thought I would share it here and then those that want to continue can do so, as well as having you check out the base article over at the Home Gain Blog.
So moving on:
Steve Obermon commented:
?There really isn?t a one-size-fits-all entry point to social media marketing. There are many entry points and if one does not work for a Realtor, they should just try another until one works in their market.
Those who choose not to participate in social media do so at their own risk.
Eight out of ten housing consumers are on line ? are you visible to them as a Realtor? When they contact you by phone or email, are you available?
Is your brokerage set up to work in web time?
Good basic questions to start with ? and review as you go along.And,yes ? seek out the best advice you can get for free and pay for if you need it.
Start as soon as you can your market is waiting!?
My Reply to Steve:
Trial and error in the Technology arena especially in the current market is only for those that have the aptitude, foresight, time and money. If you are one of the agents I referred to that still has issues managing your email and trying to figure where to find files on your PC then you need professional, expert advice. The first place you should look would be your local community college or other technical training resources in your community to get you up to speed with the rest of the business community on basic computer skills. Trying to jump in on the social scene without the basics will make you even more confused and steer more agents way from the very thing they should be learning to embrace.
Every one talks about consumers on line, and most of those consumer are more computer and web savvy than your average Realtor.
Why ? Because most of them have grown up with games and computes from the very onset.
I have very vivid memories of when the PC revolution really hit me. Do you recall when yours was ?
It was in my first year at a community college back in the mid 80?s. I was taking English composition 101 and had to write weekly short stories for submission. I was on active duty in the Navy at the time and had access to IBM Selectric typewriters which were the best you could get at the time. Obviously, word processors were only used by those that could afford them. While Apple had started building PC?s in the late 70?s it was not until IBM started selling the Personal PC in the 80?s that Personal Computer usage really started to take off. So here I was typing, re-typing and correcting my term papers only to find out I missed a major typo that cut my final grade by a whole grade point. Yet, the top student in the class did all her work on an Apple PC. At the time, my thought was that she was cheating. Interesting enough, I was all ready involved with computers as my job in the Navy was as Technical Instructor teaching students how to maintain and repair system utilized on the then most advanced Submarine of the time, the Ohio class Trident Submarines. The systems I worked on were the Univac AN/UYK-7 and AN/UYK-43 systems which were the US Navy’s standard main frame computing system for war ships. So, I had a head start on the technology arena, and I still spend a massive quantity of my time learning and trying to stay up to date on the technological changes which seem to happen at an almost daily rate.
Yet, many of today?s realtor’s have not been involved with computers of any type for this length of time. Not that anyone should have to match my skills, thats not what I am implying here however, they should be more proficient at the normal tools of business for that profession. Statistics will bear that most children born to these same Realtors have mores computer skills than their parents.
If there was an aptitude test for a Real Estate Agent to obtain or renew their license today , based on the ability to manage email, organize files on a computer and be able to aptly use MS Office tools like Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point, I would wager my home that over 50% of the active Real Estate agents in the US would fail and loose their license.
This is a rather huge issue and NO ONE is willing to even discuss it, except maybe me. The Brokers I think are the ones who have looked the other on may of these issues, yet again many Brokers I know and have talked with suffer from the same affliction. Yes, there is a lot of training available by the various Realtor Organizations, but much of it is still fee based, and from the ones I have investigated they cost more than the tuition to a local community college or technical school would charge.
If NAR really wanted to assist Realtors, they would open up their E-PRO classes to any realtor. Or even better yet, make it mandatory in order to for you to renew your license. But the fee structure should be waived and they should also institute basic skill sets.
In my opinion: When this happens you will see more agents embrace blogging and Social Media. Until then they should look to experts in their fields to get them up to speed.
In my neck of the woods or even yours that would be Get Found Now. Go ahead, go to Goggle right now and type in the name. What you will see is the number one listing, they are Social Network Marketing Experts SEO Blog Design Web 2.0 … etc. They can get your site where it needs to be at.
If your goal is get to eyeballs to your site, that is increase your site traffic, so you get more phone calls etc?then pick someone who has a proven track record of doing just that. Weather you have a static site and just want improve upon it by adding blogging, or maybe your blogging is not getting you anywhere and you need some one to look your site over and tell you what needs to be done, check them out.
Shameless Plug: Now when you want to talk about Video for your site, I am not talking about your garden variety You Tube video. I am talking about a Viral Social Media Video campaign that works in synergy with your blog system to get your message noticed. If that?s your cup of tea or coffee as it may be, then check us out and give us a call over at Virtual Interactive Systems.
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Mar
18
Home Equity Credit - is it crunch time?
Filed Under Economy, Finance, Mortgage | 4 Comments
It?s no wonder that home buyers sit on the fence and wonder when the right time to buy will arrive? Since the the mass confusion in the markets continues and the various media outlets can?t seem to come together on what?s really up anymore.
Heres a perfect example of Florida Real Estate as compared to other states :
In this weekends local St. Pete Times Finance section, I read an article that discussed the facts, that some home owners were finding out that the falling values of their homes were effecting previously issued home equity lines of credit. This column-article by Helen Huntly lists several local citizens as point of reference.
What?s interesting in this story, is that one of the individuals used as a source doesn?t come clean and tell the Times that their are?umm?issues with that owned property, that would make anyone understand why the bank said NO.
St. Pete times should vet comments or sources a little bit more prior to printing articles using outside sources.
Ok even so ?..this seems plausible given the current economic climate we are in. But then today I read an online article on the Wall Street Journal touting how a Home Equity line of Credit could be your safety net ?
The last line in that article is kind of interesting to say the least ?And you won’t be penalized if you never tap your home-equity credit line.?
So what?s your experience, is this happening as much as the Times says it is here in the Greater Tampa Bay?
What about the WSJ article?good idea or bad ?
Related Posts:
1 in 3 Home Owners with Negative Equity according to Zillow
How to stop foreclosure - 101
Mar
10
DOT HOMES submits to US Real Estate BROKERS - dont worry - be happy !!
Filed Under Economy, Finance, Marketing, Real Estate, Technology | 2 Comments
Earlier today I received the following from DOT HOMES:
New pingback on your post #117 “MLS Data compliance and NAR vs. DOJ “
Website: BYTEPLAY ? Blog Archive ? For US listing brokers (IP: 195.62.28.205 , www.ec1m.net)
URI : http://www.byteplay.com/blog/archives/57
Excerpt:
[...] [...] some of the ensuing controversy (Lenderama, CBS5.com, InmanNews, GreaterTampaBayRealEstate), I?m going to attempt here a crude recap of my conversation with Kevin. If you?ve any [...] [...]
This is related to an earlier post I made regarding the DOJ’s lawsuit against Realtor.com and the issue over MLS (Multiple Listing Service). It appears that the presence of this new venture on the scene in the Real Estate Search community, had ruffled some feathers of a few of the Top Real Estate Brokers (BLOGGERS). Some suggested that what Dot Homes was doing may not be entirely legitimate or in compliance with MLS regulations.Seems that this answer is right on the money: After you have clicked on the link above you will also see my reply:
“I think this is an excellent review of Dot Homes capabilities as well as highlighting the short sidedness of many Brokers in the Real Estate industry today. I don?t think you can explain it any clearer than this. This is a tool that Brokers should welcome with open arms?especially given the current economic climate.
Also, keep in mind that there are well over 150 MLS associations in the U.S. alone, that all have their own version of what constitutes compliance. This entire MLS issue is so overblown and in many opinions has been the major issue that has suppressed innovation and competition in our industry. Why else is the US DOJ going after Realtor.Com with such vigor? Could it be that they represent monopolistic tendencies when it comes to the MLS ? Going forward, I think this kind of makes Kevin?s entire comment on the MLS issue kind of baseless. ”
Related Post:
MLS Data compliance and NAR vs. DOJ
Mar
9
The lazy agents way to collect a paycheck
Filed Under Buyers Tips, Economy, Marketing, Real Estate, Seller Tips, Technology | 1 Comment
I was working another post and in my research came across a comment from Marc Davison (1000 Watt Consulting Blog) that really fit the exact phrasing for what I was trying to convey. ?Mmm, when did not having to work hard become the path to success? Oh yeah, 1997-2005. I wish we can scroll back time. I wish I could sit around and collect paychecks by doing little or nothing.?
The comment above was in response to a post regarding implementation of Web 2.0 services by Realtors, or lack there of. Things like this blog for example. Yes there are quite a few of us that GET IT especially when it comes to Tampa Bay Real Estate. Blogging and Real Estate seems to be a bit more lofty of a goal for too few. We, are a rare minority in the scheme of National Real Estate statistics. Ok, so where am I going with this ?
Well, besides the whole Real Estate Technology thing, I think one of the larger problems with our industry is the lack of oversight by the Brokers, much the same has transpired with the mortgage industry. No way your saying?.say it isn?t true ?
Let me share these two small stories with you to help explain my point.
1. A local Buyers Agent works with an out of town client (out of town meaning out of State or out of the Country) who wants to invest in a large home and has a set price in mind. The agent locates a suitable home and helps to buy the home at the full asking price of the seller. Where this gets interesting is that the agent never attempted to negotiate for a lower price for the buyer. This agent in doing this deal just added to the entire housing industry mess we are in. How ? because this agent was truly un-ethical, greedy and lazy to boot. In the current market, not even attempting to negotiate for your client to gain a better price is shameless, regardless of how much money the person has.
2. A seller negotiates with a client to list their vacation home at a reduced rate of 2% if the deal is split between buyer and seller agents. So this agent takes a picture from the client and lists the home on the MLS and waits for the buyers to call. What?s wrong here ? The Agent took the clients picture (which by the way was a very bad shot of the home). The agent did not take any pictures of their own or even suggest to the client that they would need additional pictures to help advertise the listing. There also, was no mention or suggestion of Virtual Tour or brochures (oh, I think the client did the brochures?) and no web marketing. Meaning the listing was not advertised anywhere except the MLS, the Brokers site and Realtor.com (with-1 photo). So now the home has little to no chance of getting a buyer in the current market.
Our industry has gotten a huge black eye lately and agents like these don?t help make it any better. A lot of the agents are the ones that are complaining that Web 2.0 technologies are too hard or complicated. They are the same lazy ones that act as I mentioned above. Those of us that really go the extra mile for our clients continue to get maligned in the media because of our industries lack of oversight in cases like this. And who is to blame ? Mostly the same lazy brokers that are allowing this to happen. Either they are too lazy to educate their teams or they have no clue? It?s time that our industry started to gain a better hand at managing the ethical ways in which we conduct business.
Our clients are getting smarter and more savvy at technology. I think it?s time for an over haul of our Realtors ethics pledge, or rather the methodology to ensure that the agents and or brokers that allow this are sent packing.
If your a home owner that has had a bad experience like this or even an agent, speak up.
- Do you agree ?
- Disagree ?
- Maybe you have a better way of addressing this ?
- Inquiring minds would like to know ?
Please leave a comment.
Related Posts:
Why we should embrace change
MLS Data compliance and NAR vs. DOJ
Mar
1
1 in 3 Home Owners with Negative Equity according to Zillow
Filed Under Economy, Finance, Helpful Information | 2 Comments
Zillow revised their 4th Quarter report late Thursday the 28th of February that according to Zillow ?MORE EXPLICITLY DESCRIBES THE RATES OF NEGATIVE EQUITY FOR ALL HOMEOWNERS IN THE U.S. IN EACH OF THE YEARS 2003, 2006 AND 2007.? The original report had been released on February 12th as reported on PRNewswire.
In that report the key news was with regards to Condos where Zillows stated that Condos had posted the largest Year-over-Year value declines; down 7.4% compared to single family housing that was down by 5.5%.
This is the 3rd News Release by Zillow for the month of February. I strongly believe, that the main reason for this clarification was the confusion and somewhat dissolution by most home owners at the report posted on February 7th, where Zillow reported the findings of a survey that revealed, that Home Owners were in Denial or Inattention to what was happening in their markets with many indicating that other houses had lost value but not theirs. Actually I think Zillow was spot on here.
The new report does add some clarification to the 3rd Paragraph as detailed below:
?The continued decline in home values means many U.S. homeowners saw equity slip away while more homeowners were pushed into negative equity situations, meaning they owe more on their mortgage than the home is currently worth. Nationwide, those at most risk of being underwater on their mortgage are those who bought in the last two years when most markets peaked. Of those who bought in 2006, 39 percent now have negative home equity as do 30 percent of those who purchased in 2007. By comparison, only 3 percent of those who purchased five years ago, in 2003, and less than one percent of all homes in the U.S., in each of the years 2003, 2006 and 2007, have negative equity.?
What really puts this into perspective are the graphic images from Zillows Zindex Home Value Estimator
Hers is the link for the full size US Map version below:
I have also compiled a quick look at the Greater Tampa Bay Real Estate scene including Sarasota so you can gain a good perspective of the shape that we are in locally in Florida.
Click on the thumbnail picture (below) to pull up a larger view:
Related Posts:
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Denial will stop you from selling your home
-
Florida?s indifferent real estate market in Tampa?huh ?
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Pricing your home to Sell
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Digitize Your Old Photos
