Google WAVE has been an interesting opportunity up to this point and will benefit the real estate industry. I have been fortunate enough to get chosen for the beta test and have a couple Twitter sidekicks help me muddle my way through the confusion up to this point, however, I need to find the time to learn more.

Anytime something new comes out, it takes time, experimentation, and actually using the program to get into a comfort zone and begin to get the most of the program. WAVE is certainly no exception and still has some bugs to get worked out. Will WAVE be the next email to replace the traditional email systems that are pushing 40 years old, I think so.

Here's Three key points from Google that explain what it is and how it will work plus a short video:

1. A wave is equal parts conversation and document. People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.

2. A wave is shared. Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave to see who said what and when.

3. A wave is live. With live transmission as you type, participants on a wave can have faster conversations, see edits and interact with extensions in real-time.

Cheryl Johnson, has posted some great material on Active Rain about the WAVE ad how it will benefit the real estate industry and find your way around. I would suggest you check it out and applying for your chance to get it or ask someone to invite you. (Sorry, my invites are gone)

"Expect the Best" Mike

 REALTORS, Who Get It, Resent Those Who Don’t Get It!

Over the years I have heard it all, however, in today’s market our challenges, pet peeves, and complaints amongst our peers have changed.  Here’s 10 items I can think of right off the top of my head that continue to grind away at others and myself, that I communicate with on a daily basis. I’m sure you could add more
to this list, I encourage you to do so.

Please note, that this is a constructive, reasonable list of what I feel would benefit our industry if improved upon.

1. Setting up a showing and finding out it’s pending, but the agent is waiting to see if it closes. (Waste of everyone’s time, usually a short sale with bank involved)

2. Listings indicating key box, only to find out it’s a combo box (Should be outlawed, all should be electronic)

3. Receiving offers on regular homes for sale at low-ball prices (These are not bank foreclosures and short sale homes).

4. Getting offers with low deposits or that say deposit upon acceptance (not worth the paper it’s written on)

5. Listings having no pictures or just a few. (All listings should have a minimum of 12)

6. Agents not using the Doc Box - Forms on-line system because they haven’t learned how to use it yet. (Eliminates paperwork and saves time)

7. Showing instructions on line-side says text me at ##### for showings; and you don’t get a response for 2 days. (The best technology is the technology you use.)

8. You email feedback to an agent on your showing of their listing, they don’t read their email, and so they call you for feedback. (Hello, read your email)

9. You email agents to schedule showings and never hear from them. (Because they don’t read their email or get email on Blackberry or iPhone to respond quickly)

10. Getting a call from the neighbors that your listing that was shown by a co-op agent was left unlocked or lights were left on. (Usually at night, right after you have settled in for the night.)

You may be saying: this comes with the territory.  Maybe it does, and yes, people make mistakes. However, we have much work ahead of us to get everyone going in the same direction for new standards of practice and professionalism in our industry and going green. What are your thoughts?

“Expect the Best” Mike

Greater Lansing home buyers and sellers can begin to smile as real estate sales continue to perk up over last year and the market begins to bottom out.  I would consider a strong 4th quarter coming up to buy or sell real estate in the Greater Lansing area real estate market.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the housing market momentum has clearly turned for the better. “The recovery is broad-based across many parts of the country. Housing affordability has been at record highs this year with the added stimulus of a first-time buyer tax credit,” he said.

Don’t Be Left Behind, Greater Lansing Home Buyers. First time home buyers in the Greater Lansing, Michigan real estate market during 2009 has been around 50 percent. Historically, first-time home buyers account for approximately 35 percent to 40 percent of purchases. This has increased due to the first time home buyer tax credit that expires December 1st.  There is strong support from real estate agents for the Government to extend the tax credit for buying a home. I would suggest caution to make sure you are in contract no later than October 15th to meet the deadline, in the event this program is not extended. If you’re not,  you’ll probably miss out on the tax credit

Long-term mortgage rates were barely changed this week, remaining historically low, which is helping to sustain a high level of affordability in the home-purchase market, said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. Low rates contributed to existing home sales rising for the fourth consecutive month to an annual pace of 5.24 million in July, the most since August 2007, according to the National Association of Realtors.

On a local level you can see by the chart above that the Lansing real estate market has again increased substantially last week compared to last year in both pending and closed sales.

Buying or selling a home in today’s greater Lansing, Michigan real estate market can be complicated without having the proper expertise and guidance throughout the process. Community information – about services, restaurants, parks, things to do, tourist information, local government and issues, buildings, and development projects, are only a few of the many services you should expect from your Realtor, in addition to the availability of financing. You can obtain additional information on buying and selling at my website.

“Expect the Best” Mike