Pending Home Sales Down; Severe Weather Impacting Market RISMEDIA, March 10, 2010—Pending home sales are down and additional declines are expected from abnormal weather conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in January 2010, fell 7.6%…   Home Values for Older Americans Begin to Rebound in Fourth Quarter 2009RISMEDIA, March 10, 2010—Golden Gateway Financial, a financial resource for seniors and retirees, recently released new usage data from its online Reverse Mortgage Calculator that showed average home values for older Americans have halted their slide after remaining flat or declining…   Focus on Opportunities and Success Will Come Your WayRISMEDIA, March 10, 2010—Even in a difficult market, opportunities abound—real estate professionals simply need to know where to position themselves in order to best take advantage of them. Here, Roger Soderstrom, Owner, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty discusses how he positions his…   Economic Recession Raises Loyalty among Employees RISMEDIA, March 10, 2010—The economic recession in the United States has generated a powerful sense of engagement between workers and bosses, with more than a third of employees surveyed saying they are more loyal to their employer, according to the latest…
  USA Cares Launches Military Lender Education ProgramRISMEDIA, March 10, 2010—USA Cares has launched a new education course designed to provide loan officers with a clear understanding of how to work with military clients. Through the USA Cares Military Family Housing Lender Education Program-accessed online at www.usacares.org,…   Changing Times, Changing FraudIt was certainly a sign of the times that a panel discussion recently presented to California real estate attorneys and brokers was titled "Changing Times/Changing Fraud."   The House Hunter's ToolkitIt may not feel like Spring in your town, but for most of the United States, we've turned a corner. The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and the crocuses are poking their heads up through the ground; a brutal winter is winding down.  What's My Real Estate Really Worth?How much is your real estate—your house, condominium unit, cottage, income property—worth in this market? PJ Wade has a few questions and suggestions for you whether a value popped into your head or not.   Weekly Video Tip: Video SEORISMEDIA, March 9, 2010—In the early days of the Internet, your web address got all the attention. The challenge was to come up with something cute or easy to remember. Some firms used their actual names or initials, while others focused…   Real Relief for Upside Down Home Owners RISMEDIA, March 9, 2010—Forget loan modifications, short sales, and “jingle mail”! If you are one of an estimated 50 to 60 million homeowners whose mortgage is part of a securitized pool, the law is on your side and everyday more…
  Existing-Home Sales Down in January 2010 but Higher Than Year Ago RISMEDIA, March 4, 2010—Existing-home sales fell in January 2010 but are above year-ago levels, according to the National Association of Realtors. Existing-home sales- including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops- dropped 7.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.05 million…
  7 Tips to Help You Succeed at NegotiationRISMEDIA, March 4, 2010—“I absolutely adore negotiating,” says Tami Bonnell, President of the US Organization of EXIT Realty Corp. International. When it comes to negotiation though, many real estate agents become nervous, making the issue bigger than it really is.
Negotiating is…   Staying Positive: Focus on What You Can ControlRISMEDIA, March 4, 2010—When the going gets tough, it is crucial to focus on things that have brought you success in the past- rather than the things you have no control over. Here, Bob Tenace, Owner/President, Century 21 Tenace Realty in…   Big Book of Real Estate Ads: 1001 Ads That SellRISMEDIA, March 4, 2010—Stop trying to find the right words to get your listings sold! There’s no need to reinvent the wheel – we have what you need right here! Hundreds of well thought out and artfully worded ads that…   Sotheby’s International Realty Brand Honored by Franchise Business ReviewRISMEDIA, March 4, 2010—Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC announced it won Franchise Business Review’s Best in Category for Real Estate Franchisee Satisfaction award for the third year in a row.
The Best in Category award measures franchisee satisfaction with their franchisors and…   ZipRealty Partners with Maponics to Expand Neighborhood CoverageRISMEDIA, March 4, 2010—National real estate brokerage ZipRealty, Inc. announced a partnership with Maponics LLC, a leading provider of neighborhood boundary data, to improve its property search and map display for ZipRealty’s home buyers. The new alliance will give ZipRealty’s…   Carrot or Stick RulesMany rules enacted by homeowner association boards tend to use the Stick Method for rules which assumes folks need to be beaten to comply. The Carrot Method coaxes people into compliance by using guidelines that are reasonable and equitable. Guess which method works better to harmonize an HOA?  Future Architects Design Sustainabale ArchitectureWhether you are a believer in the GREEN movement or not, designing buildings that use strategies aimed at improving the performance of metrics that matter most: water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction and energy savings makes sense. The last two years have been a wake-up call for not only Americans but for citizens of the world. We have all been faced with the rising cost of the natural resources we use every day and have come to understand the wisdom of conservation.  Online Marketing: The ‘Silver Bullet’ for Internet Success RISMEDIA, March 3, 2010—Everyone wants to somehow profit from the Internet. These days – with 80+% of all homes sales beginning on the Internet, the ‘wants’ has changed into ‘must.’ Any agent who is not making a significant percentage of…
  Are You an Authorized User on Someone Else’s Credit Card Account?RISMEDIA, March 3, 2010—For years, most credit card companies have allowed a credit card holder (owner) to provide extra card privileges to family members. This is called an “Authorized User” in the credit card industry.
On the surface, this practice seems easy…   8 Steps to Prepare for April Tax Obligation RISMEDIA, March 3, 2010—With the U.S. federal income tax filing deadline of April 15 now just weeks away, taking time to review your tax situation and plan for any needed action will save you time, stress and, quite possibly, money.
With the…   Power Real Estate LettersRISMEDIA, March 3, 2010—Get your message out, keep in touch with your database, spark up new business from old clients – everything you need in the way of written communication is right here, in nearly 300 done-for-you letters! Click here to…   FHFA Extends Refinance ProgramRISMEDIA, March 3, 2010—Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Ed DeMarco announced the extension of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), a refinancing program administered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to June 30, 2011. The program is a…   Quick and Easy Interior Design for Home SellersHome buyers and home sellers have the same goal: an exchange of property. Buyers want to pay as little as possible for the nicest house they can afford; sellers want to earn as much as possible on their property. They may seem like conflicting interests, but they aren't. Buyers and sellers goals, at bottom, are both about making a fair trade.   Focusing on the Median Price Can Be MisleadingI like good news as much as anybody; but, as a real estate agent, I know that what appears to be good news can often mislead people who have to make decisions about selling their property. 
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