Did you know that a Realtor is bound to continue their education according to the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics?  Ethics training is paramount and after this comes all that goes into maintaining knowledge of every aspect of an industry that changes more than just about any other industry. Changes in market conditions, real estate law, financing and underwriting, zoning regulations and even building codes to name a few. Few customers realize the amount of education required of Realtors, not just for continuing education, but in achieving designations and certificates of study.

If that is not enough, learning how to effectively market properties, utilizing the latest technology and tools available keeps one not only ahead of competition, but enhances all listings by giving them greater visibility in todays marketplace.   We are moving toward technology in every aspect of our lives, who knew Realtors would need an understanding of technology to be effective marketers?  It is mind boggling considering most Realtors, when they began their careers had virtually no marketing experience. Many veteran agents have time under their belt, but do they use current marketing tools? It is a question customers must ask of their agents prior to listing with a Realtor.

Todays agents must be masters at listings, sales, and marketing.  All of these things are imperative to success. All of these change often, and all are changing with advent of social media avenues. Avenues for finding buyers and sellers and investors have changed.  Marketing methodology has morphed. A good Realtor will know what is working and what is time-worn and ineffective.

Over the past two years my marketing strategies have changed. I’m an avid reader and have been watching trends move from print advertising to the tools that today’s buyer and sellers use on a daily basis. I have attended seminars online and in person on marketing strategies, employed these in my new website, and expanded my visibility into social network environments by providing information about Tallahassee in hopes of attracting residents to our area and in obtaining buyers while establishing credibility with local sellers.

Learning about social media and marketing has helped grow my business, establish my brand, and has given me inspiration to help others learn what I have over the past few years. I have held technology seminars and continue on this path. tomorrow I will be hosting a Virtual REBarcamp webinar education seminar at my office where area agents will learn from some of the best in the business. Together we will learn, discuss and implement new marketing strategies for the upcoming year. The schedule below is what we will follow during this Virtual REBarCamp.

Keep in mind all that goes into your Realtors business and how they utilize the tools of technology along with their knowledge of all that is imperative to know in our industry. Give your Realtor a pat on the back for all that they put into your listings, your home search and your investment analysis!

Virtual REBarCamp Schedule for January 4, 2010.

Picking Up Speed in the Real Estate Market

Despite media protrayed doom and gloom, the real estate market is surviving. Lessons learned from the Great Depression keep Realtors moving forward and creating new business.

Yes! There is still a movement of real estate across the country. With job changes, life changes, and the quest for the uncharted path in life comes the need for housing.  During the Great Depression, homes were bought and sold, land traded, and building continued on some scale.

Historically, there are eerie similarities that seem to have been repeated. So much from learning from history! The failing interest only loans issued preceeding and during the Great Depression were replaced with fixed rate mortgages which became the norm until the early 2000’s. Sound familiar?  Economists warned government officials in years preceeding 1921 of the impending issues that failing capitalism would bring. The educators and intellectuals of that era leaned toward socialism and ignored the warnings of the economists. Sound familiar?

Those who made money during the depression of 1921 were those who continued to build their wealth, to provide goods and services that people depended on such as household goods and housing.  Investment groups were born as people pooled their hard earned savings to acquire housing and income producing properties. Landlords became popular, seller financing increased, and yes, in some cases was abused, but in most cases it created win-win scenarios for home-owners and property owners. The need for housing was, and always will be one of the essential elements of survival. We are getting back to the basics, we are getting creative, and we are selling homes and real estate.

Today, we are getting back to the conventional mortgage. We are encouraged to save our money, to save for the dream of homeownership, to earn the right to own a home. The government is restructuring their loans, FHA guidelines are changing and being re-designed as we speak! One thing is certain, gone are the days of free money… but as my dad always said, “There ain’t no free lunch.”  There never has been free money.  We all share in the expenses of “free down-payment” money and “down-payment assistance” money.   These funds come from government, from non-profit organizations who receive funds from government, etc. Very few programs offer monies from private investors.  In almost all cases, there is a form of re-payment, and that comes with a price. There is always a responsibility that comes with home-ownership, the first being you have to pay for it!

The good news is, there is still affordable housing. There are homes for sale what are NOT short sales or foreclosures, that can be bought for reasonable prices. Can you expect a homeowner who has cared for their home, maintained their home and responsibly acquired equity in their home to give this home away for prices comparable to those who have not – the short sales and foreclosures? No, you can not. This is not true comparison shopping. If you are shopping for bargain basement properties, go to that market, if you are shopping for quality and value shop in that market. Be specific with you Realtor, be realistic in your expectations of time involved to acquire your properties. There is a huge difference in the distressed sale and non-distressed sale expected closing times.

The nuts and bolts of the market are this… it’s a great time to buy, it’s still a good time to sell and acquire a reasonable profit if you are not over-extended or credit-challenged and have gained steady equity during your period of ownership.  If you have not, that is where a Realtor can help you get creative, can explore your options for selling and purchasing.