Polish Your Real Estate Career Speech

USA Today business columnist Rhonda Abrams urges real estate practitioners to work on honing their 30-second answer to this important question: "What do you do?"

It seems like an easy question for a real estate professional to answer, but
simply saying, "I sell real estate" doesn't distinguish you from the thousands of other practitioners out there, Abrams says. Instead, give listeners a reason to remember you: "I sell homes in the North Carolina area, specializing in first-time buyers."

Get someone to videotape you answering this key question until you've polished your intro into a can't-miss conversation starter that includes information about the core of your business, why acquaintances should do business with you, and what excites you about what you're doing, Abrams advises.

Source: USA Today, Rhonda Abrams (Oct. 9, 2009)

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Buyers Are Cutting the Fluff, Architects say

Home buyers are scaling back, according to a quarterly survey by the American Institute of Architects choosing energy-saving amenities over recreational ones.

Two-thirds of architects say their clients want better insulation, including double- and triple-glazed windows, water-saving devices, and solar panels. The most popular bonus room is a home office, with 46 percent of architects saying these rooms are gaining in popularity.

The architects identified a sharp decline in the demand for high-end kitchens and baths and said that there was also less interest in game and media rooms and in-law suites.

The AIA said residential billings, a leading indicator of activity, rose to 38 in the second quarter, up 20 points from the first quarter of 2009.

Source: Reuters News (10/06/2009)
Image Source: AIArchitect (Volume 18)

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Pending Homes Sales Increase to 6.4 Percent

Are you interested in pursuing a real estate career? Now might be the right time. According to an Associated Press news story on MSNBC.com, U.S. pending home sales have experienced seven consecutive months of gains - the highest since March 2007. Here are highlights from the story:

Construction spending rose in August. According to the release, this unexpected increase represents the biggest jump in housing activity in nearly 16years - a positive sign that the real estate market is recovering.

Sales and homebuilding influences are strong. A combination of the $8,000 tax credit, cheap foreclosures and low mortgage rates are powerful reasons to get off the fence and into the real estate market.

Growing support for extending the $8,000 tax credit. Over one dozen bills have been presented to Congress, pushing for an extension of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.

In all but a few cities, home prices are slowly increasing. The slow, nationwide housing price increase is a reversal from a three-year descent. And, according to the release, bidding wars for discounted properties in hard-hit areas like Las Vegas and Phoenix are common.

NAR index of sales agreements - higher than expected. According to the National Association of Realtors, its index of sales agreements rose 6.4% from July to 103.8%, beating forecasts. It was the highest since March 2007 and 12% above a year ago. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected the index would rise to 98.6%.

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Prepare for the Florida State Exam with Complimentary Flash Cards

Flash cards are an ideal way to learn important real estate concepts. Reinforce what you need to know for the Florida state exam with handy cards that travel with you wherever you go!

For a limited time, you can receive a complimentary set of Florida Real Estate Flash Cards when you enroll in any Florida Real Estate Sales Associate course. That's a $30 value! You'll receive your real estate course, plus the tools to effectively prepare for the state exam.

Use the Florida Real Estate Flash Cards to commit key terms to memory. They are Florida-specific and contain 375 terms and definitions broken down into five categories: Legal, Finance, Practice, Closing, Appraisal & Economics. Call (800) 617-3513 to take advantage of this limited-time offer and get your complimentary Florida flash cards.

Reinforce Florida Real Estate Concepts with These Helpful Study Tips

We've included some study tips from Allied's 7 Secrets to Studying. When preparing for the Florida state exam, you'll benefit from incorporating these helpful tips into your study routine.

Tip #1 Use Study Aids to Your Advantage
Plan a review of each chapter as you go along, so that you don't have to review everything all at once right before the exam. Use these study aids for maximum results:

Flash cards are very good tools, particularly for memorization of important terms and definitions. Focus on the ones you're having most difficulty with - review them in random order until you feel confident that you know the information.
- Use flash cards to track your progress
- Know instantly which topics require extra review
- Use flash cards at home or on the go to instantly recognize terms and definitions

Practice tests can help you prepare for the actual exam. As you prepare for the FL state licensing exam, try to score 90% or better on the practice tests - mastering these practice tests can be an indication of how you'll do on the real thing.

Tip #2 Remember to Use Memorization Tools!What's the best way to recall important facts? Apply these associative memory techniques to remember the content from your flash cards and learn your Florida real estate concepts:

Acrostics
In real estate, when you want to remember property tax dates, use the acrostic "No Darn Fooling Around" (for November, December, February and April). See if you can make up creative acrostics for areas you need help remembering.

Acronyms
Acronyms are words formed from the first letters of a series of words you need to remember. In grade school when you had to remember the names of the Great Lakes, you probably used the word "homes" to remember all five lakes - Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

Rhymes
Making up a simple rhyme can be a very effective memorization tool. Remember, "I before e, except after c?"

Imaging Techniques
Use "linking" to recall a list or series of words by creating a visualization that contains all the words you need to recall.

Repetition
Reading and re-reading is helpful, but also saying things out loud, writing them down, inventing acronyms or using the linking technique can help you remember important terms and concepts.

With the complimentary flash cards that you may receive when you enroll in your Florida real estate course, you can use these study tips to assist with your state exam preparation. Take advantage of this limited-time offer and learn the terms you need to know, in the comfort of your home or on the go.

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Does Florida Real Estate Offer the Best Bargains for Homebuyers?

Opportunity to benefit from the Florida real estate market is looking a little sunnier - for buyers, for savvy Florida real estate agents and sellers who can find the silver lining. According to a report released by Zillow.com this month, of the 25 cities with the biggest median discounts in August, 14 of them were in the state of Florida.

The Florida city where sellers offered the most significant price reductions was in Vero Beach, where buyers negotiated prices down by 10.2%, a savings of $23,500. Other Florida hot spots were Naples at 7.8%, Daytona Beach at 7.5% and Sarasota at 8.2%.

According to Zillow Chief Economist Stan Humphries, "The fact that many Florida markets are still showing comparatively higher differences between the last listing price and final sale price suggests that inventory levels are still relatively high, keeping considerable downward pressure on prices and encouraging buyers to seek large discounts off the listing price."

Florida just might be the ultimate playground for serious home bargain hunters. And sellers shouldn't be dismayed. Although a property may sell far below the asking price, a great deal on a replacement home can balance it all out.

A combination of low interest rates, lower home prices and a wide inventory variety are encouraging all types of buyers to take action. So, how can buyers and sellers land the best deal and who will help them get it? Guidance from a trained Florida real estate professional is paramount, which is why now might be a strategic time to obtain a Florida real estate license from an online real estate school and benefit from this growing client market.

Need more incentive? Take a peek at a complimentary offer from Allied Real Estate School, check out the course and envision yourself in the Florida real estate agent role.

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First Servicer Performance Report Encouraging to Those Ready to Obtain a Real Estate License

Have you always wanted to get your real estate license? Now may be a good time. The real estate market continues to experience an increase in activity, and with the recent release of the first monthly Servicer Performance Report, the future of the real estate industry is looking brighter.

As an initiative of the current administration, the Servicer Performance Report is a monthly progress review the Making Home Affordable (MHA) loan modification program. The report also includes a plan of action that promotes the continued stabilization of our housing market.

MHA loan modification initiatives include:

- Additional protection for borrowers. The administration has asked program compliance agent Freddie Mac to create a "second look" process to review MHA modification applications that have been repeatedly declined.

- CEOs of participating servicers were asked to redouble their efforts to increase staffing, improve borrower response times and streamline the application process.

- Stricter real estate laws aimed at alleviating past mistakes, standards for smarter real estate transactions and greater accountability in the real estate profession.

In just a few short months, the MHA has made rapid progress. For example, servicers covering more than 85 percent of loans are making modifications under the program. To date, over 400,000 modification offers have been extended and more than 230,000 trial modifications are underway. At this pace, the program is on track to offer assistance to some 3 to 4 million homeowners over the next three years.

And here's more good news - pending listings are up for the fifth consecutive month and many first-time buyers who qualify for the $8,000 tax credit are taking advantage of the opportunity to own a home. The continued upswing in the real estate market is a positive indication that recovery is underway.

Curious about what training is needed to sell real estate? Start your research online and consider an accredited online real estate school. In a matter of months, your dedication could contribute to greater stabilization in your local real estate market.

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Use Online Social Networking Sites to Market Your Real Estate Services

Once you get your real estate license, constant communication with potential clients is vital to your success. Direct mail campaigns and door knocking are all tried and true marketing tactics in the real estate industry, but today's consumers are Web savvy. You need a multi-faceted marketing approach that won't bust your budget. It's time to jump on the social networking bandwagon.

Are you ready to expand your real estate business? Consider utilizing social networking Web sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and ActiveRain as more opportunities to maintain your connection with clients. You can use these five basic rules to help you achieve the greatest benefit from these tools:

Get organized.
Use Facebook lists to group your contacts (colleagues, high school friends, neighbors, past clients, etc). Just click on the "Friends" link on the top of your profile page, and then click on "Make a New List" on the left side of the screen. This will make communication easier as you expand your network. Create similar groupings with your contacts on Twitter and other social sites.

Be a sleuth.
By signing up at TweetBeep.com, you will receive e-mail alerts when keywords related to you or your business appear in a Twitter message, or "tweet."

Be authentic.
When people visit your Web page, the first thing they will see is your profile. Be honest about who you are and what you do, and be sure to include details. For instance, calling yourself a "real estate expert" isn't nearly as revealing as "20 years of experience in the marketing and sale of residential property with a major national brokerage firm." Also, touch on your life outside of work, including photos if possible. Adding this human element to who you are is paramount to building relationships.

Be an observer.
Spend some time researching Facebook groups, fan pages and events related to your field. For instance, take note of how they communicate with their members and the amount of activity on discussion boards and wall posts.

Be a giver, not a taker.
Share information with your network without any expectation of getting something in return. You might post a link to an interesting article or video, and offer insightful comments on links posted by others. Be willing to take time to build and nurture relationships with people in your network. The more resources you present, the more trust you build and the more potential clients you will generate.

Seeking out new marketing tools and techniques should be a vital part of your ongoing real estate education. Understand the latest trends in your local area, market your benefits online to a mass audience and keep your real estate career on track.

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Is Now a Good Time to Obtain Your California Real Estate Broker's License?

Do you need incentive to obtain your California real estate broker's license? Benefits of the first-time home buyer tax credit, increased pending home sales and low interest rates are a few of the factors that continue to help boost buyer activity in a stabilizing housing market.


"Some states are offering bridge loans that allow first-time buyers to use the tax credit for down payment and closing costs," said NAR President Charles McMillan, who also noted the variety of nationwide home buyer assistance programs. "There are many other local government and nonprofit programs available to buyers, depending on location."

The Pending Home Sales Index, the leading indicator for the housing sector, rose 6.7 percent to 90.3 percent in April of 2009 from a reading of 84.6 percent the previous month, and is 3.2 percent above April 2008 when it was 87.5 percent. NAR's Housing Affordability Index is in record territory, showing a rise to 174.8 in April from 171.9 in March. This is excellent news for the real estate industry.
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The facts are in and the real estate market is progressing. Prepare for the market upswing and train for your California real estate broker license now. Your leadership is needed in an industry that is ready for greater accountability. Click here to learn more about California broker license course.

Labels: california real estate broker license, California real estate license, Real Estate Market

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