Every homeowner has mortgage payments on the brain. Whether it’s a 15- or 30-year term, standard, fully amortizing mortgages are designed so that homeowners pay off the balance over the life of the loan. This means that homeowners with a 15-year term will make 180 payments – double that to 360 for a 30-year term. Homeownership, like marriage, is not a commitment...
FSBO [abbr.] – Property that is ‘For Sale By Owner,’ denoting a lack of an agent or broker representative Ah, FSBOs. Those properties owners insist on selling without the guidance of a professional, often in an attempt to avoid paying a hefty commission. A precarious move, considering the unpredictability of the housing market. Risks aside, FSBOs present a golden...
“Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.” – Albert Einstein Einstein’s Razor sums up the ideal system – a process that effectively covers all bases and requires minimal effort to do so. Something that un-complicates things. Something that works. In a perfect real estate world, CRM systems would do it all, thoroughly and completely,...
When it comes to luxury home must-haves, '”ocean views” and “high-end” were once thought to be synonymous. However, a recent luxury real estate survey stirred up some surprising results: in terms of superior viewpoint, mountain views trump ocean views four-to-one. Crazy, I know, but according to the California Association of REALTORS®' (C.A.R.) “2013 Luxury...
You may be questioning whether you should be blogging as a part of your overall marketing plan. You may have heard that blogging will improve your overall SEO results, as well as drive increased visitor numbers to your website. However, you may be wondering if this will actually benefit you. The basic answer is “yes.” Here are the four main reasons you should...
Open houses are hit or miss for most agents. Some even forgo them altogether. Why? Hosting the traditional open house may be a lost art, but never a lost cause. With some imagination (and a little bit of luck), open houses can actually be quite successful. But how do you entice people to stroll through that door? I’ve rounded up some clever ideas that’ll have...
If you are a real estate agent (and also, alive) hopefully you’re using some sort of technology that can help you stay organized and in touch while on the go. Smartphones are always safe bets – they’re easy to use and combine email, phone and web all in one small, simple device. However, if you’ve mastered your phone and are hungry for more, it may be time...
As a broker, you more than likely hear your colleagues and peers raving about specific industry events and conferences on a pretty consistent basis. But with so many events to choose from throughout the course of the year, how do you know which will truly be worth your while? Here, we’ve compiled a list of the top five reasons why you should attend RISMedia’s...
Everyone wants to work in a fun environment. In addition to tighter-knit teams with a smaller turnover rate, upbeat offices also tend to be more productive, with happier employees and more positive interactions overall. Below are five ways you can stimulate a winning office culture. Add some work perks. While you may not be able to bring the whole company to Aruba...
Whether you want to establish yourself as an expert in your field, or simply connect with your followers, holding a Twitter chat is a great way to interact with your community. A Twitter chat—a scheduled chat session tethered by a universal hashtag—allows you to better understand and grow your clientele, in addition to promoting your business. Why a chat? The...
