A tech company paying six figures to a college grad–or someone right out of high school–might seem like a dream, if finding housing they could afford wasn’t such a nightmare. Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is about $3,700, in Los Angeles it’s about $2,500. The median family income for the United […]
Using Instagram to Build Community, Get Leads
Ed Stulak claims all his sales in three years have come from Instagram—in large part because he has used it to build his personal brand. “I didn’t do any advertising, I didn’t do any marketing, I spent zero bucks,” Stulak bragged recently at Adapt + Grow Agents 2019, a sold-out event that drew nearly 300 […]
When the Flips Are Down…
Fewer homes were flipped by investors in the second quarter compared with the same quarter one year ago as profits grew smaller, according to ATTOM Data Solutions’ 2019 U.S. Home Flipping Report. Homes flipped in the second quarter were down 5.2% from a year ago. Overall, home flips in the second quarter comprised 5.9% of all home […]
5 Market Segments to Watch
Several rising market segments may offer growth opportunities for your real estate business in the new year. Robyn Erlenbush, a broker-owner at ERA Landmark Real Estate in Bozeman, Mont., and Amy Chorew, vice president of learning at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Madison, N.J., highlighted many of these areas during the 2018 REALTORS® […]
Lessons From a Bad FSBO Purchase
How do you communicate the value of working with a REALTOR® to potential clients? There’s a good chance that agents will encounter a seller lead who decides to go the “for sale by owner” (FSBO) route ostensibly to save money. In fact, statistics from the National Association of REALTORS® show that about 8 percent of […]
What Agents Wish They’d Known
REALTOR® Magazine asked real estate pros across the country about the skills and knowledge they wish they’d gained earlier in their careers. Here are some of the answers that may help new agents get a step ahead. You’re responsible for your own training. I wish I had known that it’s not a brokerage’s duty to […]
Disruptors Can’t ‘Own It’
“People who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire,” said Elizabeth Mendenhall, president-elect of the National Association of REALTORS®, to 1,600 state and local leaders in opening remarks during NAR’s Leadership Summit in Chicago. Mendenhall and new NAR CEO Bob Goldberg delivered a message about an industry in transition, touching heavily on […]
When Clients Talk Politics
“There’s an expectation for you to be genuine and transparent as a real estate professional,” says Ron Phipps, a former NAR President (2011). “But you want to make sure your genuineness is not provocative in a way that disrespects people.” Phipps is helping to develop a REALTOR® University course on online etiquette for real estate […]
N.A.R. Answers ‘Instant Offer’ Questions
A lot of concern has been raised about Zillow’s “Instant Offers” pilot program. But, NAR states, experiments like these can also reinforce the value of REALTORS®. “There’s a human element to buying and selling a home that can’t be replaced,” said NAR President William E. Brown. “NAR is the sum of its REALTOR® members, and […]
5 Ways to Better Manage Your Social Media
When using social media, make sure you aren’t turning off potential customers with your behavior online. Forbes.com offers the following tips on behaviors to avoid on social media, including: Being present on too many social media platforms: “Be careful not to create a social media behemoth you can’t control,” writes Forbes columnist Mike Templeman. “If […]