Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
6 Low-Cost Marketing Ideas to Get Noticed
6 Low-Cost Marketing Ideas to Get Noticed
6 Low-Cost Marketing Ideas to Get Noticed
Daily Real Estate News Monday, November 14, 2011
-->
You don’t need to break the bank to expand your marketing efforts and build connections, marketing expert Julie Ryan, e-PRO, with Strategic Thinking in Australia, told a crowd at the Marketing Without Money session during the 2011 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Anaheim. “If you have a tight budget, you tend to be more focused on making sure every single dollar works harder,” Ryan said.
Regardless of how large or small your budget is, make your marketing message stick by focusing on three core areas: Impact (offering up a message of value to clients), frequency (making contact a minimum of at least three times in three weeks to get people to remember you), and building relationships to form lasting connections, Ryan said.
She offered up some of the following low-cost marketing ideas at the session:
1. Offer congratulations: Scan the local newspaper in search of good-news stories, such as people in the community earning an award or a job promotion, and then send a note congratulating them on the feat. That pat-on-the-back recognition makes you memorable and helps you build connections with people in your market, Ryan said.
2. Provide a special touch: To give your message more impact, print out an invitation to an open house for your listing and roll it up and tie it with a ribbon. Then, place it in door hangers on neighbors’ doors, mail the rolled-up invitation in a cylinder, or even hand-deliver it.
3. Show time: Create videos showing off your listings and post them on sites like YouTube to expand your reach. Also, consider creating videos of your community that explain what it’s like to live and work there, or that answer common real estate questions, Ryan suggested.
4. Try location-based social media: Sites like Foursquare aren’t just for checking-in to local areas, but you can use them to leave tips and relevant, helpful information at every single location your customers are likely to frequent (such as local restaurants or where to find the best views in the city).
5. Be a valuable resource: Once you’ve identified something your customers are interested in, set up a Google Alert to monitor that topic so you’ll get a notification when something matching those keyword terms surfaces on the Internet. You can then pass the message along through an e-mail or quick phone call to let your client know about something they may not know about yet. It’ll help you build stronger connections with consumers, Ryan said.
6. Reach out to the community: Instead of just writing a donation check to schools or charitable groups, try offering up an award that you can present or hosting a special event with community involvement. For example, present a book award at a middle or elementary school to a student for a job well done, or hire the local elementary school band to play at your upcoming auction or as part of a special event at your office.
Source: Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
6 Low-Cost Marketing Ideas to Get Noticed
Daily Real Estate News Monday, November 14, 2011
-->
You don’t need to break the bank to expand your marketing efforts and build connections, marketing expert Julie Ryan, e-PRO, with Strategic Thinking in Australia, told a crowd at the Marketing Without Money session during the 2011 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Anaheim. “If you have a tight budget, you tend to be more focused on making sure every single dollar works harder,” Ryan said.
Regardless of how large or small your budget is, make your marketing message stick by focusing on three core areas: Impact (offering up a message of value to clients), frequency (making contact a minimum of at least three times in three weeks to get people to remember you), and building relationships to form lasting connections, Ryan said.
She offered up some of the following low-cost marketing ideas at the session:
1. Offer congratulations: Scan the local newspaper in search of good-news stories, such as people in the community earning an award or a job promotion, and then send a note congratulating them on the feat. That pat-on-the-back recognition makes you memorable and helps you build connections with people in your market, Ryan said.
2. Provide a special touch: To give your message more impact, print out an invitation to an open house for your listing and roll it up and tie it with a ribbon. Then, place it in door hangers on neighbors’ doors, mail the rolled-up invitation in a cylinder, or even hand-deliver it.
3. Show time: Create videos showing off your listings and post them on sites like YouTube to expand your reach. Also, consider creating videos of your community that explain what it’s like to live and work there, or that answer common real estate questions, Ryan suggested.
4. Try location-based social media: Sites like Foursquare aren’t just for checking-in to local areas, but you can use them to leave tips and relevant, helpful information at every single location your customers are likely to frequent (such as local restaurants or where to find the best views in the city).
5. Be a valuable resource: Once you’ve identified something your customers are interested in, set up a Google Alert to monitor that topic so you’ll get a notification when something matching those keyword terms surfaces on the Internet. You can then pass the message along through an e-mail or quick phone call to let your client know about something they may not know about yet. It’ll help you build stronger connections with consumers, Ryan said.
6. Reach out to the community: Instead of just writing a donation check to schools or charitable groups, try offering up an award that you can present or hosting a special event with community involvement. For example, present a book award at a middle or elementary school to a student for a job well done, or hire the local elementary school band to play at your upcoming auction or as part of a special event at your office.
Source: Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Home Owners’ Monthly Mortgage Down About 40%
Home Owners’ Monthly Mortgage Down About 40%
Improving housing affordability mixed with low mortgage rates means that home owners are paying a lot less for their monthly mortgage payment than they did just a few years ago. In fact, they’re paying nearly 40 percent less on their monthly mortgage payment than home owners paid in 2006.
According to Fiserv, the monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced single-family home today is $700 — a drop of close 40 percent from 2006, when it was $1,140 .
“Housing affordability has improved dramatically because of declines in both prices and mortgage interest rates," David Stiff, chief economist at Fiserv, said in a statement. “Nationally, purchase mortgage payments now account for only 13 percent of monthly median family income, the lowest percentage on record (since 1971), and compared to 23 percent in the first quarter of 2006."
Source: “Monthly Mortgage Payment Almost 40% Cheaper Than 2006,” HousingWire (Nov. 9, 2011) and Fiserv
Improving housing affordability mixed with low mortgage rates means that home owners are paying a lot less for their monthly mortgage payment than they did just a few years ago. In fact, they’re paying nearly 40 percent less on their monthly mortgage payment than home owners paid in 2006.
According to Fiserv, the monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced single-family home today is $700 — a drop of close 40 percent from 2006, when it was $1,140 .
“Housing affordability has improved dramatically because of declines in both prices and mortgage interest rates," David Stiff, chief economist at Fiserv, said in a statement. “Nationally, purchase mortgage payments now account for only 13 percent of monthly median family income, the lowest percentage on record (since 1971), and compared to 23 percent in the first quarter of 2006."
Source: “Monthly Mortgage Payment Almost 40% Cheaper Than 2006,” HousingWire (Nov. 9, 2011) and Fiserv
Friday, November 4, 2011
Mortage interest rates continue at historicv lows!!!
Buy Now! You can probably buy the same type of home you are renting for less than you pay in Rent $$$.
Click here http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/11/04/mortgage-rates-drop-sharply-week
Click here http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/11/04/mortgage-rates-drop-sharply-week
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Seems housing is in recovery BUT all real estate is LOCAL
10 Cities Where List Prices Are Rising the Most
Which cities are seeing median list prices increase the most? Nationally, median list prices have risen 1.60 percent to $190,000, according to year-over-year listing data from September 2011 by Realtor.com, based on 146 markets.
Yet, in some cities, median list prices in that time frame have risen more than 20 percent. Florida cities, in particular, are continuing to see some of the largest rebounds in list prices.
Here are the 10 cities that have seen the largest percentage increases in median list prices based on year-over-year data from September:
1. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 34.46%
Median list price: $215,000
2. Miami, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 25.63%
Median list price: $250,000
3. Naples, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 23.41%
Median list price: $369,000
4. Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 16.53%
Median list price: $233,000
5. Punta Gorda, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 14.07%
Median list price: $169,000
6. Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 12.22%
Median list price: $176,750
7. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 11.93%
Median list price: $129,500
8. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 11.77%
Median list price: $112,000
9. Daytona Beach, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 11.32%
Median list price: $178,000
10. Boise City, Idaho
Year-over-year median list price increase: 10.58%
Median list price: $150,000
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News
Yet, in some cities, median list prices in that time frame have risen more than 20 percent. Florida cities, in particular, are continuing to see some of the largest rebounds in list prices.
Here are the 10 cities that have seen the largest percentage increases in median list prices based on year-over-year data from September:
1. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 34.46%
Median list price: $215,000
2. Miami, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 25.63%
Median list price: $250,000
3. Naples, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 23.41%
Median list price: $369,000
4. Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 16.53%
Median list price: $233,000
5. Punta Gorda, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 14.07%
Median list price: $169,000
6. Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 12.22%
Median list price: $176,750
7. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 11.93%
Median list price: $129,500
8. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 11.77%
Median list price: $112,000
9. Daytona Beach, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 11.32%
Median list price: $178,000
10. Boise City, Idaho
Year-over-year median list price increase: 10.58%
Median list price: $150,000
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
30-Year Mortgage Rates Drop Below 4%
Buy Now!!! Sell Now!!! What you save in house prices and interest rate will more than offset what you don't make on the sale of your current home.
30-Year Mortgage Rates Drop Below 4%
30-Year Mortgage Rates Drop Below 4%
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Heads up BUYERS and INVESTORS!!!!
Mortgage Rates Reach Record Lows
Mortgage rates dropped sharply this week, possibly improving the purchasing power of many home buyers. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most popular choice among buyers, averaged 4.39 percent this week, its lowest average for 2011, Freddie Mac reported in its weekly mortgage market survey. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage and the 5-year adjustable rate-mortgage also both reached new historical record lows.
Rates mostly dropped across the board amid signs of a weakening economy, Freddie Mac says.
30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.39 percent, downfrom last week’s 4.55 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.49 percent.
15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.54 percent, dropping from last week’s 3.66 percent average.Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.95 percent.
5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.18 percent this week, falling from last week’s 3.25 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.63 percent.
1-year adjustable-rate mortgages: were the only ones on the rise last week, averaging 3.02 percent this week, which is up from last week’s 2.95 percent average. Last year at the time, 1-year ARMs averaged 3.55 percent.
Rates mostly dropped across the board amid signs of a weakening economy, Freddie Mac says.
"Treasury bond yields fell markedly after signs the economy was weaker than what markets had previously thought allowing fixed mortgage rates to follow this week with the 15-year fixed and 5-year ARM setting new historical lows,” says Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac.
Nothaft also noted some improvement in the housing market, however. "There were indications that the housing market is firming,” he says. (see Pending Home Sales Rise in June)
Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending Aug. 4:30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.39 percent, downfrom last week’s 4.55 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.49 percent.
15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.54 percent, dropping from last week’s 3.66 percent average.Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.95 percent.
5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.18 percent this week, falling from last week’s 3.25 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.63 percent.
1-year adjustable-rate mortgages: were the only ones on the rise last week, averaging 3.02 percent this week, which is up from last week’s 2.95 percent average. Last year at the time, 1-year ARMs averaged 3.55 percent.
Source: “Mortgage Rates Hit Record Lows Amid Signs of Weakening Economy,” Freddie Mac (Aug. 4, 2011)
Monday, June 13, 2011
Finally! 3 major loan servicers denied incentives
Treasury will withhold payments for loan mod program
By Inman News
Inman News™
The Treasury Department is withholding financial incentives from three of the 10 major mortgage servicers participating in the Obama administration's Making Home Affordable loan modification program, the department announced today in its latest report.
For the first time, the administration's monthly "housing scorecard" contained compliance assessments of the 10 largest servicers in the program. Of the 10, four were deemed to need "substantial improvement" in several metrics in the first quarter: Bank of America, NA; J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.; Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC; and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
The Treasury Department will withhold incentive payments from all but Ocwen Loan Servicing, which acquired a large servicing portfolio during the quarter that negatively affected its compliance results.
Incentive payments include payments for every successful permanent loan modification instituted under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and for every completed short sale or deed-in-lieu under the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative Program (HAFA), the report said.
In April, more than 29,000 homeowners received a trial HAMP modification and nearly 29,000 additional homeowners received a permanent modification, bringing the total number of permanent modifications under the program to nearly 700,000. Since June 2010, 70 percent of the trial modifications started have been made permanent, the report said.
"While we continue to get tens of thousands of new homeowners into mortgage modifications each month, we need servicers to step up their performance to meet the needs of those still struggling," said Tim Massad, acting Treasury assistant secretary for financial stability, in a statement.
"These assessments set a new benchmark by providing an unprecedented level of disclosure around servicer performance and will serve to keep the pressure on servicers to more effectively assist struggling families."
Compliance testing includes three categories: identifying and contacting homeowners; homeowner evaluation and assistance; and program management, reporting and governance. If the three affected servicers fail to improve in subsequent quarters, financial incentives may be permanently withheld, the report said.
Six of the 10 servicers were deemed to need "moderate improvement," according to first-quarter results: American Home Mortgage Servicing Inc.; CitiMortgage Inc.; GMAC Mortgage LLC; Litton Loan Servicing LP; OneWest Bank; and Select Portfolio Servicing. None were deemed to need only "minor improvement." The Treasury Department will not withhold financial incentives from those six servicers at this time, but may in the future, the report said.
By Inman News
Inman News™
The Treasury Department is withholding financial incentives from three of the 10 major mortgage servicers participating in the Obama administration's Making Home Affordable loan modification program, the department announced today in its latest report.
For the first time, the administration's monthly "housing scorecard" contained compliance assessments of the 10 largest servicers in the program. Of the 10, four were deemed to need "substantial improvement" in several metrics in the first quarter: Bank of America, NA; J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.; Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC; and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
The Treasury Department will withhold incentive payments from all but Ocwen Loan Servicing, which acquired a large servicing portfolio during the quarter that negatively affected its compliance results.
Incentive payments include payments for every successful permanent loan modification instituted under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and for every completed short sale or deed-in-lieu under the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative Program (HAFA), the report said.
In April, more than 29,000 homeowners received a trial HAMP modification and nearly 29,000 additional homeowners received a permanent modification, bringing the total number of permanent modifications under the program to nearly 700,000. Since June 2010, 70 percent of the trial modifications started have been made permanent, the report said.
"While we continue to get tens of thousands of new homeowners into mortgage modifications each month, we need servicers to step up their performance to meet the needs of those still struggling," said Tim Massad, acting Treasury assistant secretary for financial stability, in a statement.
"These assessments set a new benchmark by providing an unprecedented level of disclosure around servicer performance and will serve to keep the pressure on servicers to more effectively assist struggling families."
Compliance testing includes three categories: identifying and contacting homeowners; homeowner evaluation and assistance; and program management, reporting and governance. If the three affected servicers fail to improve in subsequent quarters, financial incentives may be permanently withheld, the report said.
Six of the 10 servicers were deemed to need "moderate improvement," according to first-quarter results: American Home Mortgage Servicing Inc.; CitiMortgage Inc.; GMAC Mortgage LLC; Litton Loan Servicing LP; OneWest Bank; and Select Portfolio Servicing. None were deemed to need only "minor improvement." The Treasury Department will not withhold financial incentives from those six servicers at this time, but may in the future, the report said.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Gas prices down in Northeast Ohio
AAA: Ohio gas prices down 23 cents from a week ago
By Associated Press
POSTED: 07:54 a.m. EDT, May 23, 2011
COLUMBUS: Ohio gasoline prices have dropped more than 20 cents in the last week, providing some relief to motorists as the summer travel season approaches.
Monday's survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express puts the statewide average price for regular-grade gas at $3.75 a gallon, down 6 percent from last Monday's average of $3.98.
Prices for oil and gasoline are sliding amid signs that demand for fuel has fallen after prices peaked in early May. Regular hit an all-time high at Ohio gas pumps of $4.16 on May 4, according to AAA.
The state's average was just $2.63 a year ago during the run-up to Memorial Day, the traditional start of the summer driving season.
Online: AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Ohio at http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/OHavg.asp.
Online: AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Ohio at http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/OHavg.asp.
By Associated Press
POSTED: 07:54 a.m. EDT, May 23, 2011
COLUMBUS: Ohio gasoline prices have dropped more than 20 cents in the last week, providing some relief to motorists as the summer travel season approaches.
Monday's survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express puts the statewide average price for regular-grade gas at $3.75 a gallon, down 6 percent from last Monday's average of $3.98.
Prices for oil and gasoline are sliding amid signs that demand for fuel has fallen after prices peaked in early May. Regular hit an all-time high at Ohio gas pumps of $4.16 on May 4, according to AAA.
The state's average was just $2.63 a year ago during the run-up to Memorial Day, the traditional start of the summer driving season.
Online: AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Ohio at http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/OHavg.asp.
COLUMBUS: Ohio gasoline prices have dropped more than 20 cents in the last week, providing some relief to motorists as the summer travel season approaches.
Monday's survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express puts the statewide average price for regular-grade gas at $3.75 a gallon, down 6 percent from last Monday's average of $3.98.
Prices for oil and gasoline are sliding amid signs that demand for fuel has fallen after prices peaked in early May. Regular hit an all-time high at Ohio gas pumps of $4.16 on May 4, according to AAA.
The state's average was just $2.63 a year ago during the run-up to Memorial Day, the traditional start of the summer driving season.
Online: AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Ohio at http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/OHavg.asp.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)