Real Estate Trends

<p> </p> <p style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://socialmediasystems.com/files/2010/02/littlegreenmen-copy.jpg"><img height="230" width="452" alt="Ideapals.org make money with your ideas" src="http://socialmediasystems.com/files/2010/02/littlegreenmen-copy.jpg" title="Ideapals.org make money with your ideas" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2797" /></a>Enter Ideapals.org: <strong>the best features of Linked-in.com, Meetup.com, Basecamp.com, Ning.com, Facebook.com, digg.com, Associatedcontent.com, Activerain.com, E-Lance, Rent-a-Coder</strong>: </p> <p style="text-align: left;"> And now some stuff you have never seen before: <strong>enter the first social network where everything including the data-flow is built around ideas</strong> instead of posts, pages, and/or profiles: and it is <strong>ALL FREE</strong>: project management, matchmaking, HR, buying and selling, collaboration, market testing…but that is not all: you can <strong>work doing whatever you are passionate about, and get paid!</strong> </p> <h3> We have invented the currency of NOD&#39;s: </h3> <blockquote> <p> <strong>Bringing passionate people together to collaborate, innovate, and make money doing what they love!</strong> <a href="http://ideapals.org/" title="WORK YOUR PASSIONA ND GET PAID AT IDEAPALS.ORG"><strong>ENTER: IDEAPALS.ORG!</strong></a> </p> <p> Everything you do around here earns <strong>NODs (Natural Overtures Of Distinction)</strong> and we have placed a value on the currency of <strong>NODs</strong>: Whenever you have an idea, an opinion, a comment, a friend, or what we call a &#39;spark&#39;, and you share it: you get paid in <strong>NODs!</strong> </p> <h2> You can make real money, even a full time income for sharing what you know about what you love with like-minded people, and collaborating on projects together for free: we are going to give away over $100,000.00 in cash and prizes: </h2> <p> <em><strong>You could win a $50,000 marketing campaign and Modern Social Website for your business for just for signing up here for free!</strong></em> </p> <p> Here is what we will give away in less than one year: (you can see the clock ticking down at the left of every page at Ideapals.org!)<br /> <strong>There two ways to win this $50,000 Website and Marketing Campaign:</strong><br /> • Absolutely FREE Acquia Drupal elaborate, custom website:<br /> • Comes Complete with Branding, Graphics, Custom Functions,<br /> • A Viral, Guerilla Marketing Public Relations Campaign<br /> • A Video in HD and Web-ready formats to promote the project, distributed to the world on multiple video sharing sites<br /> • SEO (search engine optimization) SEM (search engine marketing)<br /> • Premium, Dedicated, Unlimited Usage Hosting for one year on our server<br /> • Link building and other advertising including:<br /> • A premium video advertisement added at the end of every episode the 56 week Crowd Driven Series we are about to Release (Mob-Mentality Logo) in it&#39;s second calendar year, to bring traffic to the site forever!<br /> • A banner and add showing your progress as the first year winner on Ideapals.org for the next year!<br /> <strong>1st WAY TO WIN: BE one of the FIRST 5000 people to sign up here: <a href="http://ideapals.org/" title="WORK YOUR PASSIONA ND GET PAID AT IDEAPALS.ORG">ideapals.org</a> :</strong> </p> <p> <strong>SHOW UP AND BE LUCKY!</strong> </p> <p> <strong>2ND WAY TO WIN: PARTICIPATION: (Merit)</strong> Whoever has the most *NODs wins an additional $50,000 Campaign identical to the one above!<br /> You will ALSO have chances to win the Grand Prize and other prizes by signing up for FREE: For everything you do at IdeaPals, you will also be compensated in NODs:<br /> *What is a NOD? It is our currency of participation and innovation: Everything you do at Ideapals.org or Moviepals.org earns Natural Overtures of Distinction: NODs for short:<br /> Actions you get NODs for:<br /> 1. Authoring the best reply - 5 NODs<br /> 2. Commenting on Sparks (ideas), IdeaPals groups, - 5 NODs<br /> 3. Invite other people - 5 NODs each<br /> 4. When invited user registers - 50 NODs each<br /> 5. When you register if you were invited - 50 NODs<br /> 6. Moderation - Approve - 1 NOD<br /> 7. Moderation - Delete - 1 NOD<br /> 8. Moderation Response -5 NODs<br /> 9. Viewing IdeaPals Group, Spark - 1 NOD 1<br /> 10. Registering - 25 NODs<br /> 11. Posting an IdeaPals Free Group - 50 NODs<br /> 12. Posting a Spark (idea) - 10 NODs<br /> 13. Moderating a comment - 1 NOD<br /> 14. Posting a picture or video- 10 NODs<br /> 15. Voting up or down - 1 NOD<br /> 16. Flagging - 1 NOD<br /> Please rate the following features of Ideapals.org 1-10 (10 is best) for 25 pre-nods and a chance to win the prizes above: </p> <p> <a href="mailto:info@socialmediasystems.com" title="give us your opinion and win">1. Graphics<br /> 2. Concept<br /> 3. Copy<br /> 4. Anything else that you would like to add<br /> 5. Role, if any, that you would play in our launch (IE: Beta Tester, Partner, Vendor, Reseller, User, Buyer, Seller)<br /> You will also have the chance to win may other prizes and upgrades that we will give away weekly and monthly to winners of our NODs contests including:</a><br /> • Free websites<br /> • Free hosting<br /> • Free upgrades<br /> • Free advertising<br /> • Free video production<br /> • Free project management<br /> • Free CRM<br /> • Free mass email campaign And many other incentives just for participating, collaborating, even soliciting: </p> <p> BE ONE OF THE FIRST 5000 TO SIGN UP: AND GET DOUBLE NODS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO YOUR FIRST DAY: </p> <h2> Visit <a href="http://ideapals.org/" title="work your passion and get paid at ideaqpals.org"><img height="92" width="151" alt="idealogo" src="http://socialmediasystems.com/blog/files/2009/12/idealogo.png" title="idealogo" style="margin: 5px 10px;" class="alignnone" /></a>now! </h2> </blockquote>

<p> I hope you have all heard about VirtualReBarCamp where 28 different speakers will be presenting 45minute presentation about technologies that can benefit real estate agents. Go to <a style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(28, 77, 144); text-decoration: none;" href="http://virtualbarcamp.com/register/">http://virtualbarcamp.com</a> to find out more and register. You do not want to miss out on this. It is being held on January 4th and it&#39;s an online conference. Over 3000agents are estimated to be attending the event and there is no reason why you should not be one of them. Please pass this on to your brokers and colleagues and let&#39;s go for 4000agents. </p> <p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px;"> Twitter: @ListingMoves for any questions </p> <p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px;"> Matt Johnson </p> <p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px;"> Warm wishes </p> <div> </div>

<div class="description"> Join me on Thursday, Oct.29th at 2 PM EST where I will be revealing the Secrets to Successful Loan Modifications.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Here&#39;s the registration link: <a onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), &quot;f8cb7717f1b55c2e164ad1368a4a990c&quot;, event)" href="https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/811888971" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><font color="#3B5998">https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/811888971</font></a><br /> <br /> On this LIVE 75 minute webinar, I will be sharing my proprietary Loan Modification System. Here are some of the highlights:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - Requires VERY little time and provides a substantial additional income stream.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - Huge potential market because many homeowners can use assistance now.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - You don&#39;t have to speak to one client if you don&#39;t want to! Really!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - You don&#39;t have to attend a seminar to get training.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - Leads are provided for you.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - You don&#39;t need an office.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - You don&#39;t even need a phone! I&#39;m going to prove it to you!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - BEST OF ALL, You can Modify YOUR OWN Loan. Learn how on this webinar.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> My Proprietary System is brand new and cutting-edge and I will be sharing it with you on this LIVE webinar on Thursday, Oct.29th at 2PM EST.<br /> <br /> <br /> Here&#39;s the registration link: <a onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), &quot;f8cb7717f1b55c2e164ad1368a4a990c&quot;, event)" href="https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/811888971" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><font color="#3B5998">https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/811888971</font></a><br /> <br /> <br /> I know it&#39;s hard to believe, but I will be touching on all the points above and proving it to you this Wednesday night, Thursday, Oct.29th at 2 PM EST on a LIVE webinar. See for yourself!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Due to the overwhelming response and demand for this topic, there&#39;s only 47 spots left for the webinar (we have a limit of 200 lines) so grab your&#39;s now so you don&#39;t miss out.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Just fill out the information below to get registered.<br /> <br /> <br /> Here&#39;s the registration link: <a onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), &quot;f8cb7717f1b55c2e164ad1368a4a990c&quot;, event)" href="https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/811888971" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><font color="#3B5998">https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/811888971</font></a><br /> <br /> <br /> My promise to you is that on this live 75 minute webinar you WILL learn something new and discover how<br /> <br /> easy it is for you get involved in Loan Modifications yourself.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Best of all, the system within the business is TOTALLY automated. You just set it up and go… REALLY.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> So if you&#39;re ready to start making money while HELPING people who need your services<br /> <br /> (while we do 99 % of the work for you) then get registered now.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Sincerely,<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Mike Kane<br /> <br /> CEO<br /> <br /> ForeclosuresDaily.com<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> P.S. Just fill out the information below to get registered for the webinar and claim your spot!<br /> <br /> Mike Kane<br /> President/CEO<br /> ForeclosuresDaily.com<br /> Ph. (813) 842-5278<br /> Fax (866) 268-8099<br /> <br /> Email: mike.kane@foreclosuresdaily.com<br /> Internet: www.foreclosuresdaily.com<br /> Blog: <a onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), &quot;f8cb7717f1b55c2e164ad1368a4a990c&quot;, event)" href="http://mikekane.me/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><font color="#3B5998">http://mikekane.me</font></a><br /> Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikekaneceo<br /> Facebook: www.facebook.com/mikekaneceo<br /> <br /> 2008 Inc. Magazine &quot;Inc. 500&quot; list of fastest growing private companies in America #35<br /> 2008 Tampa Bay Business Journal &quot;Fast Fifty&quot; list of fastest growing private companies in Tampa Bay #2<br /> 2007 Tampa Bay CEO Magazine Finalist for CEO of the Year in Tampa Bay<br /> <br /> </div> <p> </p>

<p> With the approval of the economic stimulus bill by the Senate, the package totals are an overwhelming amount over and above $750 billion. This package is a mixture including not only federal spending but also various tax cuts designed to bring some life back to the economy of the United States. </p> <p> There are many different provisions included in this bill. Many of those provisions would likely still be viable no matter what legislation follows. It&#39;s the responsibility of your realtor or real estate broker to be as informed as possible in regard to any and all effects this stimulus package could have on the real estate market, and therefore your ability to purchase a new home. </p> <p> This tax credit is expected to encourage more buyers to enter the real estate market, resulting in additional demand for real estate properties. While assuming interest rates remain steady at this present low level, and the usual spring market sales increase, this credit could potentially provide a seller&#39;s market for a short period of time. </p> <p> <a target="_blank" href="http://nicolemickle.com/?p=35">Continue Reading</a> </p>

<p> Hey guys, this event is only for people who love to network on sites like this and loves to gain knowledge about every avenue of Real Estate. This is for learning purposes only so we hope to see you on the call. Register Here: <a href="http://bit.ly/LoanModEvent" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), &quot;0d0d9a824c8c6f5483f55253be4fa875&quot;, event)" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/LoanModEvent</a> </p> <div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" id="TixyyLink"> </div>

<p> Most of my career has been in an area where &quot;designated agency&quot; was practiced without question. I recently had the opportunity to practice in an county where no one practiced designated agency and am wondering if this county is the exception or the rule. My belief is that every client has the right to full representation and have yet to understand how that can happen without designated agency. </p>

<p> Don&#39;t just sign up for a network account on LinkedIn or Facebook or Twitter with the intent of just engaging in idle chit-chat without taking the time to complete profile and think through your positioning.<br /> <br /> Here are some steps to get you going:<br /> <br /> <strong>Positioning Yourself (Finding Your Spot)</strong> </p> <p> When participating in Social Media you will have various opportunities to create a persona. Before doing so you should clearly decide how you want the world to view you. To achieve this, ask yourself the following questions: </p> <p> --&gt;Are you someone who is using Social Media for personal or professional use?<br /> --&gt;If you&#39;re using Social Media for professional use, what information are you presenting?<br /> --&gt;Are you an individual that offers quotes or frivolous information or do you provide real and relevant content?<br /> --&gt;Do you respond to people or ignore people?<br /> --&gt;Who are you connecting with?<br /> --&gt;What do you want your online experience to be like?<br /> --&gt;How do others view you? </p> <p> <br /> It&#39;s important that you know what your motivation is for joining (business, social, networking, etc.) and whether you will want to create a professional or a personal profile. </p> <p> <br /> <em>Take Away</em> </p> <p> --&gt;Profile yourself<br /> --&gt;Find synergies<br /> --&gt;Find your market </p> <p> <br /> <strong>Building a Brand (Adding Value to Your Spot)</strong> </p> <p> After you have decided what your positioning is, the next step is to decide what brand you will be building online. Consistency is important and attaching the desired identifying image helps in placing and posturing yourself. For example, you can be an expert in anything-a topic, an area, etc.-or you don&#39;t have to be an expert at all, just everyone&#39;s friend. Regardless of what you choose for your goal, building your brand will require you to standardize and unite the message behind your brand; photo, logo, content, website, etc. In the end, all these elements must portray a unified message. </p> <p> <br /> <em>Take Away</em> </p> <p> --&gt;Offer help<br /> --&gt;Be consistent<br /> --&gt;Add value </p> <p> <br /> <strong>Conveying Authenticity (Ensuring Your Spot is Sincere)</strong> </p> <p> As social networks are personal venues for connecting one person directly with another, it is important to create online relationships that are built on mutual respect and trust. Because users may never physically meet, and therefore not have the opportunity to build the confidence that you are who you say you are, you need to demonstrate online that you are someone worth taking the time to build a relationship. To be authentic in Social Media requires users to be sincere and engaging. </p> <p> <br /> <em>Take Away</em> </p> <p> --&gt;Be real<br /> --&gt;Be sincere<br /> --&gt;Be engaging </p> <p> <br /> <strong>Create a Following (Making Your Spot Popular)</strong> </p> <p> To create a following in Social Media you have to &quot;give&quot; more than you &quot;take.&quot; Connect with like-minded people that you can initially relate to and with whom you share common interests. If you interact with your followers and friends by actively creating discussions and continually engaging with others in the community, others will, in turn, be compelled to follow you. </p> <p> <br /> <em>Take Away</em> </p> <p> --&gt;Give more than you take<br /> --&gt;Stay relevant<br /> --&gt;Acknowledge others </p> <p> <br /> <strong>Creating a Sales Pipeline (Making Your Spot Count)</strong> </p> <p> Sales follow trust, confidence and value. Similar to shopping in a mall, some interaction or a recommendation creates trust. Thereafter customers need to first be aware of a store. Then, after gaining more information, they may enter and browse through the product selection. Often they might ask for help or more information and you should be ready and willing to provide it. Use Social Media to guide your potential customers to your offerings. Don&#39;t try and sell them; &quot;pull&quot; don&#39;t &quot;push.&quot; </p> <p> <br /> As many Social Media sites only allow short or limited messaging such as Twitter (140 characters) you will need to direct potential customers to your blog or website where you have more space and control in order to more comprehensively describe your products and services. </p> <p> <br /> <em>Take Away</em> </p> <p> --&gt;Don&#39;t sell - Inform<br /> --&gt;Don&#39;t sell - Redirect<br /> --&gt;Don&#39;t sell - Guide them </p> <p> <br /> <strong>Synopsis</strong> </p> <p> It&#39;s all about the conversation, the sharing and the value to bring to the other members of the discussion. The more selfless your actions the better your following and ultimate return will be. </p> <p> <br /> These are extracts from the new soon to be published 120 page Swanepoel SOCIAL MEDIA Report 2010 especially for Real Estate Professionals. Copies ordered now at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.RealEstateBooks.org">www.RealEstateBooks.org</a> will be shipped on October 5th.<br /> </p>

<p> There is always a debate going on in the real estate industry about which company is the largest. As some don&#39;t disclose financials and others use different measuring criteria (offices, agents, sales volume, profitability, brand recognition, etc.) we have many potential &quot;winners&quot;. </p> <p> </p> <p> This article is however not about who is #1 or #2 but rather what has happened to real estate franchise brands over the course of the last 20 years, and does that information in any way provide us with a trend line that may afford likely scenario&#39;s going forward. </p> <p> <img height="64" width="400" src="http://www.realtown.com/members/Swanepoel/files/real_estate_companies_small.jpg" alt="" /> </p> <p> </p> <p> To start off, we need to look at the most prominent brands 20 years ago; 1989. I revisited many &quot;old&quot; publications of those years, the REAL Trends Report and the leading Real Estate Report of the time; the Roulac Report by Deloitte, Haskins and Sells (1988). Combining all that intel I have compiled a list of what were, in probable order, the most likely candidates for the most prominent Residential Real Estate Franchise brand of 1989. </p> <p> </p> <ol type="1" start="1"> <li>Century 21 </li> <li>Coldwell Banker </li> <li>ERA </li> <li>RE/MAX </li> <li>Realty World </li> <li>Merrill Lynch </li> <li>Red Carpet </li> <li>Help-U-Sell </li> <li>Gallery of Homes </li> <li>Better Homes and Gardens </li> </ol> <p> </p> <p> I have followed the same criteria and researched the REAL Trends Report again and the leading Real Estate Report of today, my <i>Swanepoel TRENDS Report</i>. The most likely candidates for the most prominent Residential Real Estate Franchise brands of 2009 are: </p> <p> </p> <ol type="1" start="1"> <li>RE/MAX </li> <li>Coldwell Banker </li> <li>Century 21 </li> <li>Keller Williams Realty </li> <li>Prudential Real Estate </li> <li>ERA </li> <li>Realty Executives </li> <li>Sotheby&#39;s International Realty </li> <li>GMAC Real Estate </li> <li>EXIT Realty </li> </ol> <p> </p> <p> <b>Analysis:</b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> So here is where the interesting part comes in. Although not based on any scientific hard facts, the following has occurred during the past 20 years: </p> <p> </p> <ul type="disc"> <li>40% have remained a Top 10 national real estate brand (C21, CB, ERA &amp; RE/MAX). </li> <li>20% exchanged their brand for a new brand and were still able to hold on; remaining a Top 10 brand (Merrill Lynch became Prudential and BH&amp;G became GMAC Real Estate). </li> <li>10% dropped off the Top 10 list but still operate as a national franchise (Realty World). </li> <li>30% fell on even more difficult times and went through different types of trouble including bankruptcy. (Gallery of Homes, Help-U-Sell and Red Carpet). It is interesting that one or two of the brands are staging a comeback. </li> <li>10% of the brands on the 2009 list had improved their rankings (Realty Executives). </li> <li>30% of the brands on the 2009 list were not even in real estate franchising back in 1989 (Keller Williams Realty, Sotheby&#39;s International Realty and EXIT Realty). </li> </ul> <p> </p> <p> <b>Probing Questions:</b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> There are of course many different deductions that can be made using above information resulting in hours of interesting discussion. Due to the brevity of this article I am going to list just five observations that I think are worth consideration:<br /> <br /> </p> <ol type="1" start="1"> <li>Will the three brands that have dominated for the past 20+ years maintain their stronghold; RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker and Century 21? </li> <li>Will newcomer Keller Williams Realty that surged into the top 5 be able to continue its rise and unseat one of the top 3 established brands? If yes, who will be the one to loose its top 3 ranking? </li> <li>Twenty year plus top 5 brand ERA has for the first time dropped out of the top 5. Is this a sign that they will continue a downward slide; ultimately out of the top 10? </li> <li>Brand changers (Merrill Lynch became Prudential and BH&amp;G became GMAC Real Estate) have shown that brands are not always that important as both survived and held on to similar top 10 rankings in 20 years. GMAC is however scheduled for another name change within the next year. Will they still be able to hold on to their top 10 ranking after a second name change? </li> <li>Will companies such as Realty World, Red Carpet and Help-U-Sell that dropped off the top 10 and are staging a comeback be able to regain their former top 10 status? </li> </ol> <p> </p> <p> <b>Closing comments:</b> </p> <p> <b> </b> </p> <p> There and numerous new franchise brands bubbling under the radar such as Weichert Realty, Assist-to-Sell, ZipRealty and even Better Homes &amp; Gardens (not same company as before but the same brand) that could very well be a top 10 real estate brand within the next five years. </p> <p> </p> <p> Although this exercise was more one of fun rather than trying to predict the future, it does show us that even in the &quot;big picture&quot; of large national brands the world is ever changing and that anything can happen. </p> <p> </p> <p> For daily updates and discussion follow me at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/swanepoel">www.facebook.com/swanepoelinternational</a> or <a href="http://www.twitter.com/swanepoel">www.twitter.com/swanepoel</a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="general_text"> </span> </div> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <span class="general_text"> </span> </h3> <p> <span class="general_text"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N17Ne7uVoXU/So3mBuRxDNI/AAAAAAAAA0M/EcF89caXZLQ/s1600-h/1+%282%29.png"><img border="0" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N17Ne7uVoXU/So3mBuRxDNI/AAAAAAAAA0M/EcF89caXZLQ/s320/1+%282%29.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372202847799676114" name="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372202847799676114" /></a><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">30-year fixed-rate mortgage:</span> Averaged 5.14 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending August 27, 2009, up from last week when it averaged 5.12 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.40 percent.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage:</span> Averaged 4.58 percent with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.56 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.93 percent.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">Five-year indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages ARMs:</span> Averaged 4.67 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.57 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.03 percent.<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><br /> One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs:</span> Averaged 4.69 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, unchanged from last week when it averaged 4.69 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.33 percent.<br /> U.S. Treasury bond yields fell nearly a quarter of a percentage point over the week, and other long-term yields followed suit, said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. Interest rates on 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to the lowest level since the end of May, while initial rates on 5/1 hybrid ARMs declined to levels not seen since January 2005.<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><br /> Freddie Sayz</span><br /> <br /> 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®.<br /> <br /> Similarly, new home sales rose for the fourth month in a row to 0.4 million, the strongest pace since September 2008, the Commerce Department reported. The sales gain helped to reduce the number of new unsold houses on the market to the lowest amount since March 1993. In addition, house prices in June rose nationally for the second consecutive month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency&#39;s purchase-only house price index.<br /> <span class="general_text"><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Related Articles</span><br /> <a target="_self" href="http://yourpropertypath.com/artman2/publish/Mortgages_165/index.shtml"><br /> <span style="color: rgb(30, 144, 255);"> Mortgage Glossary</span></a><br style="color: rgb(30, 144, 255);" /> <a style="color: rgb(30, 144, 255);" target="_self" href="http://yourpropertypath.com/artman2/publish/Mortgages_165/Mortgage_Shoppers_Rights_126.shtml"><br /> Mortgage Shoppers Rights</a><br style="color: rgb(30, 144, 255);" /> <a style="color: rgb(30, 144, 255);" target="_self" href="http://http//yourpropertypath.com/artman2/publish/Mortgages_165/Shopping_for_the_Best_Mortgage_125.shtml"><br /> <span style="color: rgb(30, 144, 255);">Shopping for the Best Mortgage</span></a><br style="color: rgb(30, 144, 255);" /></span></span> </p> <p> </p> <p> <span class="general_text"><span class="general_text">Thanks for Reading</span></span> </p> <p> <a href="http://www.yourpropertypath.com"><span class="general_text"><span class="general_text">www.yourpropertypath.com</span></span></a> </p>

<p> With the new iphone 3gs out and the new blackberry storm (or blackberry in general) out I&#39;m wondering which phone would be better for agents. I&#39;ve read tons of reviews for both and of course there are those that swear that one is better than the other. Any agents out there that can shed some light on this topic? </p>

<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <span class="general_text"><a href="http://wwwyourpropertypath.blogspot.com/2009/08/apartment-vacancy-rate-hits-two-decade.html"><br /></a></span> </h3> <p> <span class="general_text"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N17Ne7uVoXU/SoMNfMVBg5I/AAAAAAAAAzY/PS9q7tL10X8/s1600-h/hg.gif"><img border="0" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 219px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N17Ne7uVoXU/SoMNfMVBg5I/AAAAAAAAAzY/PS9q7tL10X8/s320/hg.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369150010292274066" name="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369150010292274066" /></a><br /></span> </p> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="general_text">The economys decline leveled off significantly from April through June, confirming that the worst is behind us. GDP declined at an annualized rate of 1% in the second quarter, after shrinking an amazing 6.4 % earlier this year.<br /> <br /> But consumer spending, 70% of economic activity, continues to fall as Americans continue to save and reduce debt. Economists express concern that our basic spending habits have been permanently altered by this great recession. This is also having an effect on rentals as renters downsize or insist on rent reductions.</span> </div> <p> <span class="general_text">With this as a backdrop we looked at rental rates which a are a prime factor in evaluating a property. We clearly have a long way to go. The Dept of Commerce chart indicates we are at a fragile beginning of a recovery. The key to successful property ownership now will be to keep it occupied and ride this out. There is further discussion on some tactics to reduce days on market for rentals <a href="http://yourpropertypath.com/artman2/publish/Current_Market_Conditions/Apartment_Vacancy_Rate_Hits_Two-Decade_Record.shtml">here</a></span> </p> <p> <span class="general_text">Thanks for Reading</span> </p> <p> <span class="general_text"><a href="http://www.yourpropertypath.com">www.yourpropertypath.com</a></span> </p> <p> <span class="general_text">A web site of over 450 articles on everything real estate</span> </p>

<p> Refinancing your condo can be an investment - not just in real estate - but in your future. Even in the current economy, condo sales are on the rise. Within the past month, US condo sales have jumped by 6.4%. Condos are a worthwhile investment and worthy of refinancing. Before you <a href="http://www.condo.com/Learn/Finance.aspx">refinance your condo</a>, however, you should review five basic facts.<br /> <br /> Five Things You Need To Know<br /> <br /> 1. You Need To Stay Calm<br /> <br /> Focus on your future! The current condo market is not without its challenges. Increased fees and strict regulations are in place. Yet there are available programs which can ease the burden.<br /> <br /> Explore the world of refinancing. Home owners generally refinance to lower their costs. Either lowering your interest rate or shortening your loan term will benefit you. Refinancing can also serve as a risk management tool.<br /> <br /> If your new loan is an adjustable rate mortgage(ARM), you may want to change to a fixed rate mortgage. <a href="http://www.condo.com/Learn/Finance.aspx">Refinancing</a> your condo can help protect you from a sudden rise in interest rates. Refinancing can even help you raise cash or eliminate Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).<br /> <br /> 2. You Need To Be Informed<br /> <br /> Do research to discover if refinancing is right for you. You shouldn&#39;t use it for buying depreciating assets, for vacations or weddings, or for the purposes of consolidating unsecured debt. You need to consider your present rate, balance, loan amount, value, as well as your credit score.<br /> <br /> The associated costs of refinancing must be taken into consideration. Legal services and appraisals alone can eat up a huge chunk of cash. Refinancing your condo makes sense if you plan to be its owner for an extended period. The best scenario will see you recovering costs within 24 months.<br /> <br /> 3. You Need To Get Some Stimulus<br /> <br /> Check to see if you qualify to access the recent economic stimulus plan. Your mortgage must be owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. You have to occupy your condo, be current with payments, and owe between 80%-105% of your mortgage. Refinancing with the help of the stimulus plan can give you a more affordable condo.<br /> <br /> This program will only refinance first mortgages and can&#39;t be used to access cash. Only mortgages before January 1, 2009 are eligible under this plan. This refinancing assistance expires on June 10, 2010. The Home Affordable Refinance program can play a pivotal role in refinancing your condo.<br /> <br /> 4. You Need To Size up The State Of Affairs<br /> <br /> You need to do your homework before you refinance your condo. Seek out information about any state programs. Different states offer varied refinancing programs. Closing costs can also vary from state to state.<br /> <br /> 5. You Need To Follow Up<br /> <br /> Once you refinance your condo, follow up with responsible choices. Keep on schedule with monthly payments. Invest your savings from the refinancing of your condo. Consider investing back into your home. Building home equity helps you move forward to a secure future. While your investment grows, you will be enjoying the comfortable condo lifestyle! </p>

<p> <span style="font-size: 10pt">As part of the annual <a href="http://www.retrends.com"><i>Swanepoel TRENDS Report</i></a> that is published every year during the first week of February, the research team wraps their four month study of the real estate industry by announcing the top 10 Newsmakers, Events and Trendsetters for the year.</span> </p> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">The second list to be released is the top 10 events that during 2008 had the largest impact and influence on the real estate brokerage industry.</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt">Events are defined as those occurrences that transpired during the previous calendar year (2008) that made headlines and captured the attention of the real estate industry. The selection of these events was based upon their potential future impact on the industry rather than only their 2008 impact.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">The <a name="OLE_LINK5" id="OLE_LINK5"><b>Top 10 Events impacting Real Estate for 2008</b></a> are:</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in" align="center"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">1.<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"> </span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">The Bailout: September 17^th</span></b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">Most notably the one single event of the year was the announcement of the &quot;Silver Bullet&quot; designed to save the country from the subprime collapse itself and the failure/buyout of major Wall Street firms and national banks. Depending upon how effectively the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act&#39;s $700 billion is going to be allocated and managed it may prove to be the beginning of the turning point in the current economic recession.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">2.<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"> </span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">The Presidential Election</span></b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">In one of the most competitive, contentious, divisive and yet historic political campaigns the country responded with the largest voter turnout in history to elect an African American, Barak Obama as president. The &quot;I have a dream&quot; has taken a huge step toward fulfillment. However, the new administration will have little time to reflect on victory as it faces serious economic challenges and a trillion dollar plus debt that will take years to resolve.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">3.<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"> </span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">In Memory Of: Countrywide, IndyMac, WAMU, Wachovia And Others</span></b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">Barely one year ago in 2007 these companies were not only household names but were considered financial giants. In one short year they have become a factoid of history. Some filed for bankruptcy while others were acquired by the likes of Bank of America, the federal government, J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo. 2008 reminded us that nothing lasts forever and everything is replaceable. </span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">4.<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"> </span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">Facing Foreclosure Frenzy</span></b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">As a direct fallout of the subprime collapse, the foreclosure rate in the U.S. hit staggering levels in 2008. At the opening of the third quarter foreclosures were up 25% over the previous October with a reported one in every 452 of the country&#39;s homes in foreclosure. RealtyTrac reported last October that there was a sharp decline in foreclosure filings but it still estimated that by the end of 2008 there would be more than one million REOs on the books.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> </div> <ol type="1" start="5" style="margin-top: 0in"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">Home Prices Spiral Downward</span></b> </li> </ol> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">The recession devastated many real estate markets across the country with the worst-performing towns and cities in places like central California, Miami and Las Vegas posting declines of 40% in 2008. The stranglehold on financing continued to drive home prices in many other places back to 2000 - 2002 levels, with predictions of continued declines in 2009 as unemployment reaches record highs and the financial meltdown spills over to other industries.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">6.<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"> </span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">NAR - DOJ Settlement</span></b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">Finally the long and protracted 2½ year legal battle between NAR and the Department of Justice (DOJ) was put to rest as Judge Kennelly issued his final judgment in November. In the end, NAR&#39;s longstanding Internet Data Exchange (IDX) policy was validated as NAR was deemed to have not admitted any liability or wrongdoing and no payments were made in conjunction with the settlement. In addition, NAR has been cleared to reinstate an updated version of its Virtual Office Website (VOW) and the MLS has been preserved and strengthened in the process. Now it&#39;s back to business.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt"> </span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">7.<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"> </span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">Brokers Go Bust</span></b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">Changing names, merging, consolidating, filing bankruptcy and closing branches was on the order of the day throughout 2008 as literally thousands of real estate brokerages companies went out of business during 2008. This included many independents as well as franchises from just about every major brand including Century 21, EXIT and RE/MAX. Also filling for bankruptcy is national franchise Help-U-Sell and Web 2.0 newcomers such as Igglo. 2009 may see even more brokers closing up shop than 2008.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">8.<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"> </span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">Keeping It Short<br /></span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt">Founded in 2006,</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt">Twitter</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt">moved into the mainstream this year as the next evolution in the social networking and micro-blogging environment. By</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #333333">using</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt">short</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt">text-based posts (affectionately named &quot;tweets&quot;), staying in touch has been given a whole new meaning. </span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">9.<span style="font: 7pt &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"> </span></span></b> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">ActiveRain Explodes Past 100,000 Members</span></b> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">As we discussed in last year&#39;s report (Trend #1 - <i>Two Worlds; One Industry</i>) ActiveRain has moved to the head of the social networking line in the real estate industry. With as many as 35,000 users logged on at the same time, no one else has even come close to reaching that many Realtors^® at one time. It goes without saying that ActiveRain has proven that social networking has made a home in real estate.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> </div> <ol type="1" start="10" style="margin-top: 0in"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> <b><span style="font-size: 10pt">NAR Celebrates 100 Years</span></b> </li> </ol> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">In May 1908, 120 men gathered in Chicago with the goal to &quot;unite the real estate men of America.&quot; Today the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is America&#39;s largest trade association representing more than 1.2 million members. For 100 years, NAR and its members have established homeownership as a cornerstone of the American Dream and advocated private property rights as one of the fundamental principles that unite us as Americans. 2008 marked NAR&#39;s centennial birthday.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> <span style="font-size: 10pt">How many of these events impacted you or were/are you aware of?</span> </div>

<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">The recent Earth Day gave the green revolution another shot up the arm. When Earth Day started in 1970 a large number of people (20 million people one country) had already committed to celebrate it. Since then that number has exploded to 500 million (175 countries); about 7% of the world&#39;s population.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">But even prior to 2000 &quot;building green&quot; still remained outside mainstream awareness - but has that changed, and for many good reasons. Elevating the profile of &quot;Green&quot; has been added to the agenda of movie celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, music stars like Radiohead and of course, political celebrities like former vice president Al Gore.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Closer to the home front, the U.S. Green Building Council has made great strides with the release of the first green building standards under its Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for new construction, existing building operations and commercial interiors. The USGBC also created its Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation that recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. The National Association of REALTORS® has also validated this growing trend when they launched their <span style="color: black">new designation aptly called &quot;Green&quot;</span> for Realtors®.</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">With buildings accounting for large amounts of land use, energy and water consumption, and air and atmosphere alteration,</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">it&#39;s important that we start building new eco-cities. Here are some of the buzz words and concepts that are contributing to</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">reducing the impact of building on human health and the world we live in:</span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> </div> <ul type="disc" style="margin-top: 0in"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Advanced water conservation</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Greywater and wastewater-treatment techniques</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Lush planted terraces with parapets collecting rainwater for reuse</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Air-quality-enhancing garden filled atriums</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Photovoltaics</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Passive solar building design</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">H</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">eavily insulated walls, triple-glaze doors and windows</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Heat recovery ventilation</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">systems</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Reduced surface area designs to minimize loss of heat</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Environmentally-controlled systems</span> </li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Reducing</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">environmental degradation</span> </li> </ul> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">So after years of doing very little and now after months of consultation with the American Institute of Architects comprehensive, new legislation is at last being introduced that is aimed at promoting energy efficiency in residential buildings. The bill would provide incentives to lenders and financial institutions to provide lower interest loans and other benefits to consumers who build, buy, or remodel their homes and businesses to improve their energy efficiency.</span><br /> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">Living &quot;green&quot; isn&#39;t an one-legislation-event or an all-or-nothing proposition. It is an evolution, a growth process, and a re-thinking of our existing patterns, habits and thoughts. Above it all we must recognize that we have a responsibility to our children to take care of the place we call earth and to preserve it for future generation.<br /></span> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%">What will you do to help?</span> </div>