Hello KWX!
CONGRATS!!!!! As an office, we have taken 27 new listings or $6,519,050 for
the month of March. This is amazing!! We more than doubled our goal!!
I am looking forward to hearing about them at tomorrow's sales meeting!
FAQ:
Q. I have a settlement coming up, and I want to get paid at the table. How
to I get that DA thing??
A. Send Michele an e-mail with the property address, sales price,
commission percentage and title company. Please give me at least 24 hours
notice. Remember, you need to have all of your hotsheet items completed
before I can authorize a DA. If there are any outstanding items, this
should give you enough time to get those last minute initials/signatures. If
everything is in line, I will get your DA right out to you!
Upcoming events this week:
Tuesday, March 31, 2009: Time Management with the 411, 3pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday, April 1, 2009: Sales Meeting, 10am-11:30am
Wednesday, April 1, 2009: Broker's Opens, 12pm-3pm
Thursday, April 2, 2009: Your Business is Your Database, 3pm -
*** Reminder, CAMP 443 starts on Monday, April 6th. Please RSVP to Michele (mcbridem@kw.com) by close of business today if you are planning to attend. ***
I hope everyone has started a productive week!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Real Estate: A look at the virtual and human sides
By BOB & DONNA McWILLIAMS, For The Capital
Published 03/29/09
"In a relatively short period of time, computers have become an integral part of our lives. Whether it's a desktop, laptop, or now with our cell phones, we're connected to an endless world of instant information. And today there's widespread usage of networking Web sites like MySpace, Twitter and Facebook. This increasing dependency on the computer has led us to believe that just about anything can be accomplished with a sliver of silicon and a high speed broadband connection.
When it comes to real estate, computers are a great way to search for a home. You can very accurately define your area of interest and get a lot of information, including pictures of just about everything, from the half bath in the hall, to a satellite shot from space showing the whole community. Back in the dot.com bubble, there was a lot of talk that computers might make real estate agents obsolete. It was widely believed that virtual house hunting could replace much of what an agent does. Fortunately for agents, this theory overestimated the ability to complete the process online and the breadth of services an agent is required to perform. In short, real estate always has been and always will be a contact sport. The human dimension is critical to a successful outcome.
Nevertheless, some parts of the house buying and selling process have changed as we integrate computers and related technologies into the mix. With some guidance, you can get the most out of your online real estate efforts and discover ways to effectively coordinate them with the face-to-face part of the experience.
Generally, some time spent with your keyboard and mouse is a good way to do a lot of the advance research. Whether you're a buyer or a seller, the Internet can give you an initial look at what's on the market and what homes have been selling for. You can also get a flavor for the process of home buying/selling and tips on how to proceed. However, we have a word of caution. The Internet is global in nature, and largely unregulated. As a result, not all of the information you find there is necessarily accurate, nor may it properly speak to the rules of the road for real estate in your particular locale. The way people buy and sell homes in California can be quite different from how we do it in Maryland.
There are literally millions of Web sites devoted to helping people who are looking to buy or sell a house. We don't have any specific recommendations, but the three we often hear about are www.Realtor.com, www.Trulia.com and www.Zillow.com. Realtor.com is far and away the most used Web destination, with a market share that's more than twice the next closest real estate Web site. It's the oldest Web site and search engine for houses, as well as the official site of the National Association of Realtors.
Nonetheless, picking a site to work with is largely a personal preference. They all look a bit different and can provide information to you in a variety of formats. We suggest you try several and you'll find which one is most comfortable, given the nature of your search, level of computer expertise, and general feel for how it.
In addition to the three sites we mentioned, every real estate company and nearly every real estate agent also has a Web site. You should try a few of these as well. If it's a regional real estate company, these sites can sometimes be better at providing localized information that might be more relevant to your geographic search area.
Regardless of which Web site you settle on, searching for a house to buy doesn't require you to visit multiple sites as a way of finding everything that's out there. Essentially all of the Internet search engines are playing from the same deck of cards. When a real estate agent puts a property in the multiple list system (MLS), it automatically populates to all of the Web sites like Realtor.com or Trulia. It doesn't matter if it's a Long & Foster or from Champion, or a listing by any other company in the country. If it goes into the MLS, it'll show up on most all of these Web sites. The one exception to this is a "for sale by owner." But even these properties can be found on the Web at places like www.ForSaleByOwner.com.
When it comes to an individual agent's Web site, some agents may show a large number of listings on their site, but that doesn't always mean all those listings belong to that particular agent. That agent may have just imported another agent's listings from the MLS to feature on their site. If an agent does this, they must clearly denote the name of the company to which these listings actually belong. Also, some agents may show listings on their site which are sold and no longer available. Not all Web sites download their information directly from the multiple list system. In these cases, the status on a property might not immediately be updated, when it's changed in the MLS.
This brings us to the human side of the equation. Despite the enormous amount of information out there in the virtual world, you're still going to need a real person to get the job done. The process of buying and selling houses includes so many intangible details that there aren't enough gigabytes out there to accommodate them all or replace the judgment necessary to complete the task.
Buying a house isn't like buying a book. There's a lot of emotion involved and the experience of a good agent can help carry you across the finish line to a successful end result.
A computer can give you a bunch of pictures, along with the price and location of a house. But when it comes to evaluating the potential value of it, determining if you really want to live there and negotiating a deal, it's best to get offline and work with a real person whom you trust.
If used properly, computers will continue to be a valuable tool in the real estate business. Just remember, real estate, like many other professions, is a people business. It always has been and always will be."
Originally published at hometownannapolis.com
Published 03/29/09
"In a relatively short period of time, computers have become an integral part of our lives. Whether it's a desktop, laptop, or now with our cell phones, we're connected to an endless world of instant information. And today there's widespread usage of networking Web sites like MySpace, Twitter and Facebook. This increasing dependency on the computer has led us to believe that just about anything can be accomplished with a sliver of silicon and a high speed broadband connection.
When it comes to real estate, computers are a great way to search for a home. You can very accurately define your area of interest and get a lot of information, including pictures of just about everything, from the half bath in the hall, to a satellite shot from space showing the whole community. Back in the dot.com bubble, there was a lot of talk that computers might make real estate agents obsolete. It was widely believed that virtual house hunting could replace much of what an agent does. Fortunately for agents, this theory overestimated the ability to complete the process online and the breadth of services an agent is required to perform. In short, real estate always has been and always will be a contact sport. The human dimension is critical to a successful outcome.
Nevertheless, some parts of the house buying and selling process have changed as we integrate computers and related technologies into the mix. With some guidance, you can get the most out of your online real estate efforts and discover ways to effectively coordinate them with the face-to-face part of the experience.
Generally, some time spent with your keyboard and mouse is a good way to do a lot of the advance research. Whether you're a buyer or a seller, the Internet can give you an initial look at what's on the market and what homes have been selling for. You can also get a flavor for the process of home buying/selling and tips on how to proceed. However, we have a word of caution. The Internet is global in nature, and largely unregulated. As a result, not all of the information you find there is necessarily accurate, nor may it properly speak to the rules of the road for real estate in your particular locale. The way people buy and sell homes in California can be quite different from how we do it in Maryland.
There are literally millions of Web sites devoted to helping people who are looking to buy or sell a house. We don't have any specific recommendations, but the three we often hear about are www.Realtor.com, www.Trulia.com and www.Zillow.com. Realtor.com is far and away the most used Web destination, with a market share that's more than twice the next closest real estate Web site. It's the oldest Web site and search engine for houses, as well as the official site of the National Association of Realtors.
Nonetheless, picking a site to work with is largely a personal preference. They all look a bit different and can provide information to you in a variety of formats. We suggest you try several and you'll find which one is most comfortable, given the nature of your search, level of computer expertise, and general feel for how it.
In addition to the three sites we mentioned, every real estate company and nearly every real estate agent also has a Web site. You should try a few of these as well. If it's a regional real estate company, these sites can sometimes be better at providing localized information that might be more relevant to your geographic search area.
Regardless of which Web site you settle on, searching for a house to buy doesn't require you to visit multiple sites as a way of finding everything that's out there. Essentially all of the Internet search engines are playing from the same deck of cards. When a real estate agent puts a property in the multiple list system (MLS), it automatically populates to all of the Web sites like Realtor.com or Trulia. It doesn't matter if it's a Long & Foster or from Champion, or a listing by any other company in the country. If it goes into the MLS, it'll show up on most all of these Web sites. The one exception to this is a "for sale by owner." But even these properties can be found on the Web at places like www.ForSaleByOwner.com.
When it comes to an individual agent's Web site, some agents may show a large number of listings on their site, but that doesn't always mean all those listings belong to that particular agent. That agent may have just imported another agent's listings from the MLS to feature on their site. If an agent does this, they must clearly denote the name of the company to which these listings actually belong. Also, some agents may show listings on their site which are sold and no longer available. Not all Web sites download their information directly from the multiple list system. In these cases, the status on a property might not immediately be updated, when it's changed in the MLS.
This brings us to the human side of the equation. Despite the enormous amount of information out there in the virtual world, you're still going to need a real person to get the job done. The process of buying and selling houses includes so many intangible details that there aren't enough gigabytes out there to accommodate them all or replace the judgment necessary to complete the task.
Buying a house isn't like buying a book. There's a lot of emotion involved and the experience of a good agent can help carry you across the finish line to a successful end result.
A computer can give you a bunch of pictures, along with the price and location of a house. But when it comes to evaluating the potential value of it, determining if you really want to live there and negotiating a deal, it's best to get offline and work with a real person whom you trust.
If used properly, computers will continue to be a valuable tool in the real estate business. Just remember, real estate, like many other professions, is a people business. It always has been and always will be."
Originally published at hometownannapolis.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Mortgage Rate Update from M Point
Price:
Mortgage bond prices opened lower once again this morning but are near neutral to slightly weaker since pricing yesterday as the data wasn't as bad as expected.
The final revised Q4 GDP fell 6.3%, not as low as the expected 6.5% decline.
Weekly jobless claims were relatively as expected with an increase of 652,000.
There is another Treasury auction Friday. Debt supply concerns continue to pressure bonds as a whole as the most recent auction was rather poor. The UK had a failed auction this week and if that ever happened to the US all bets are off.
Expect more of the same with the Fed being the primary buyer of mortgage bonds. This doesn't mean we won't see rates go slightly higher, as is evident over the past few days. But hopefully they will continue to shore up things and keep any major rate spikes from occurring.
Mortgage bond prices opened lower once again this morning but are near neutral to slightly weaker since pricing yesterday as the data wasn't as bad as expected.
The final revised Q4 GDP fell 6.3%, not as low as the expected 6.5% decline.
Weekly jobless claims were relatively as expected with an increase of 652,000.
There is another Treasury auction Friday. Debt supply concerns continue to pressure bonds as a whole as the most recent auction was rather poor. The UK had a failed auction this week and if that ever happened to the US all bets are off.
Expect more of the same with the Fed being the primary buyer of mortgage bonds. This doesn't mean we won't see rates go slightly higher, as is evident over the past few days. But hopefully they will continue to shore up things and keep any major rate spikes from occurring.
9 Ways to Beat Negativity
I found this great article in the latest REALTOR® magazine that I wanted to pass along about the 9 best ways to beat negativity. Every market, even this market, has opportunity, we just need the right mindset to achieve!
1. Tell yourself a positive story.
Life is a story. The story we tell ourselves and the role we play in that story determines the quality and direction of our life. The best real estate professionals are able to overcome adversity by telling themselves a more positive story than the rest. Instead of a drama or horror movie, they define their life as an inspirational tale. Instead of being the victim, they see themselves as a fighter and over comer. You may not be able to control market conditions, but you can influence the outcome of your story.
2. Mold yourself after success.
Are there real estate practitioners succeeding today? Of course there are. Seek out those people in your market and ask to meet with them. Learn from their advice and model their attitudes and actions. If they can succeed, so can you.
3. Focus on the important stuff.
Tune out the negative voices and start making positive choices. What are you doing on a daily basis to grow yourself, your team, and your business? Don't focus on the negative things other salespeople and the media are saying. Instead, focus on marketing your business, taking care of clients, and building loyal relationships. Every morning, ask yourself this questions: "What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?" Then take action on those items.
4. Replace "have to" with "get to."
This simple word swap can change your mind-set and your approach to work and life. It turns a complaining voice to an appreciative voice, and acknowledges that life is a gift- not an obligation. So often we grudgingly say things like "I have to go to this meeting," "I have to meet with this client," or "I have to sell houses in this market." In reality, it's not about what we have to do. It's about what we get to do. Research shows that when we practice gratitude, we get a measurable boost in happiness that energizes us and enhances our health. It's also physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time.
5. Refuse to participate in the recession.
Professionals who've thrived during past recessions continues to go about business as usual regardless of market conditions. They worked hard and focused on taking actions to grow their business. As others are paralyzed by fear, take the opportunity to charge forward.
6. Boost your marketing and advertising.
It may seem counter intuitive to spend more money on advertising and marketing right now. But with so many of your competitors cutting back in these areas, this is a great opportunity to build your brand and gain market share. People are still buying and selling, and they will buy from those whom they trust and see in the marketplace.
7. Create a positive vision.
Instead of being disappointed about where you are, make the decision to be optimistic about where you are going. Create a positive vision for your future and future of your team. Vision helps you see the road ahead and it gives you something meaningful and valuable to strive towards.
8. Invite others on your bus.
Invite colleagues and customers to board your bus for a positive ride. Send them an e-bus ticket at www.theenergybus.com. Share your vision with team members and ask them to join you in making this vision a reality. Be a positive influence.
9. No more complaining.
Abide by the "no complaining" rule. When you realize you're about to complain, replace your thoughts and words with positive actions. Let your complaints help you identify what you don't want so that you can focus on what you do want. The key is to turn complaints into solutions.
Copyright REALTOR® Magazine, April 2009
1. Tell yourself a positive story.
Life is a story. The story we tell ourselves and the role we play in that story determines the quality and direction of our life. The best real estate professionals are able to overcome adversity by telling themselves a more positive story than the rest. Instead of a drama or horror movie, they define their life as an inspirational tale. Instead of being the victim, they see themselves as a fighter and over comer. You may not be able to control market conditions, but you can influence the outcome of your story.
2. Mold yourself after success.
Are there real estate practitioners succeeding today? Of course there are. Seek out those people in your market and ask to meet with them. Learn from their advice and model their attitudes and actions. If they can succeed, so can you.
3. Focus on the important stuff.
Tune out the negative voices and start making positive choices. What are you doing on a daily basis to grow yourself, your team, and your business? Don't focus on the negative things other salespeople and the media are saying. Instead, focus on marketing your business, taking care of clients, and building loyal relationships. Every morning, ask yourself this questions: "What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?" Then take action on those items.
4. Replace "have to" with "get to."
This simple word swap can change your mind-set and your approach to work and life. It turns a complaining voice to an appreciative voice, and acknowledges that life is a gift- not an obligation. So often we grudgingly say things like "I have to go to this meeting," "I have to meet with this client," or "I have to sell houses in this market." In reality, it's not about what we have to do. It's about what we get to do. Research shows that when we practice gratitude, we get a measurable boost in happiness that energizes us and enhances our health. It's also physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time.
5. Refuse to participate in the recession.
Professionals who've thrived during past recessions continues to go about business as usual regardless of market conditions. They worked hard and focused on taking actions to grow their business. As others are paralyzed by fear, take the opportunity to charge forward.
6. Boost your marketing and advertising.
It may seem counter intuitive to spend more money on advertising and marketing right now. But with so many of your competitors cutting back in these areas, this is a great opportunity to build your brand and gain market share. People are still buying and selling, and they will buy from those whom they trust and see in the marketplace.
7. Create a positive vision.
Instead of being disappointed about where you are, make the decision to be optimistic about where you are going. Create a positive vision for your future and future of your team. Vision helps you see the road ahead and it gives you something meaningful and valuable to strive towards.
8. Invite others on your bus.
Invite colleagues and customers to board your bus for a positive ride. Send them an e-bus ticket at www.theenergybus.com. Share your vision with team members and ask them to join you in making this vision a reality. Be a positive influence.
9. No more complaining.
Abide by the "no complaining" rule. When you realize you're about to complain, replace your thoughts and words with positive actions. Let your complaints help you identify what you don't want so that you can focus on what you do want. The key is to turn complaints into solutions.
Copyright REALTOR® Magazine, April 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
NEW EVENT! KWX Wii Bowling Tournament for KW Cares
Friday, April 24th
6:00pm until a champion is crowned
$5 Entry fee per person
All proceeds got o KW Cares
Enter as an individual or team
Families welcome
Popcorn and soda free
Pizza $1 a slice
Claim your spot with luke (luke.gibson@kw.com)
I look forward to seeing you there!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Time Management with the 4 1 1
Want to be successful in business, not "busyness?" Please join us at our office (1850 York Rd. Timonium, 21093) on Tuesday March 31st from 3-4:30 to learn how to budget your time using the "4-1-1 Productivity Tool."
Manage your time and maximize your productivity by focusing your energy on the activities that really matter to your business. Time blocking, productivity tactics and the 4-1-1 Action Goal System will help you operate with a targeted purpose. You?ll learn to work smarter, not harder, towards annual, monthly and weekly goals.
To create that work/life balance we all strive to achieve, look to Time Management with the 4-1-1 for the answers. Top producers don?t spend more time working, they just accomplish more in the time they work.
What's in it for you?
* Learn to focus on the 20% and operate with more purpose.
* Effectively set goals and establish accountability.
* Create a 4-1-1 Action Goal Sheet to help define goals and manage activities.
* Implement the 4-1-1 with the aid of productivity tactics such as time blocking.
Please RSVP to Luke Gibson at luke.gibson@kw.com. I look forward to seeing you there!
Manage your time and maximize your productivity by focusing your energy on the activities that really matter to your business. Time blocking, productivity tactics and the 4-1-1 Action Goal System will help you operate with a targeted purpose. You?ll learn to work smarter, not harder, towards annual, monthly and weekly goals.
To create that work/life balance we all strive to achieve, look to Time Management with the 4-1-1 for the answers. Top producers don?t spend more time working, they just accomplish more in the time they work.
What's in it for you?
* Learn to focus on the 20% and operate with more purpose.
* Effectively set goals and establish accountability.
* Create a 4-1-1 Action Goal Sheet to help define goals and manage activities.
* Implement the 4-1-1 with the aid of productivity tactics such as time blocking.
Please RSVP to Luke Gibson at luke.gibson@kw.com. I look forward to seeing you there!
It's that time of year already
Hello KWX!
Spring is in the air! We have heard lots of great things about open houses
this weekend!! Anyone have anything they would like to share?!
Upcoming events this week:
Wednesday, March 25th, 12-3pm: Broker's Opens
Thursday, March 26th, 1-3pm: Your Business is Your Database
I hope everyone has started a productive week!
Spring is in the air! We have heard lots of great things about open houses
this weekend!! Anyone have anything they would like to share?!
Upcoming events this week:
Wednesday, March 25th, 12-3pm: Broker's Opens
Thursday, March 26th, 1-3pm: Your Business is Your Database
I hope everyone has started a productive week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)