All of us in the real estate industry have warily watched it approach. Quarter by quarter during the past few years, the exploding world of the Internet and social media has been aggressively impacting and eroding the doctrines and concepts of traditional business marketing,More

In today's challenging real estate market, the most critical issue facing our industry is change. Change? Who really likes change? More

Most of us have fond memories of family barbecues in the back yard or running through the sprinklers. Only the clairvoyant among us could have imagined the new ‘back yards’: the highly appointed outdoor spaces that are becoming increasingly popular in today’s new homes.More

The Last Moments of a Golden Opportunity

We at RECON Intelligence Services pride ourselves on the quality of our research, the creativity of our thoughts and the innovative nature of the concepts we advocate.  Accordingly, over the past several years, we have attempted to make this column as original and thought provoking as possible.  This month, however, we are going to deviate from that track for what we consider the common good.More

One of the proudest days in my business career was the day back in 1977 when I became a member of the Greater Orlando Board of REALTORS® and was presented my REALTOR® lapel pin after I took the pledge to uphold the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.  Wearing that pin on my suit coat, sports jacket or (even) sport shirt lapel showed everyone that I came in contact with that not only was I a real estate agent, but one of the highest caliber, a REALTOR®.More

Social media applications make managing your office and staff easier and more efficient than ever. As individuals and business expand into online venues, the need to create a visible profile and operate in real time is extremely important.More

Here is what we know about the next 12 months in the real estate marketplace:
• That a new and vibrant real estate market will emerge;
• That consumers will be the most powerful force in this new market;
• That information will be the currency of the new market;
• That consumer expectations, the release of distressed properties and the availability of information will combine to create a new market dynamic.More

Now that real estate pricing has softened a little, this opens up an opportunity for new buyers to make an investment in urban housing and realize a return on the investment within a few years.More

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently stated, "It is often said that a home is a family’s most important asset, and it is the Federal Reserve’s responsibility to see that borrowers receive the information they need to protect that asset.”  On July 30, 2009, new Truth in Lending Act requirements, otherwise known as Regulation Z, became effective.More

Do you remember the first time someone sat down and talked to you about trust and what it meant? For some, it might have been a parent, a grandparent, a mentor or perhaps it was part of a religious experience.
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With the challenges and changes to our housing market in full swing, most of us in the home building/home selling industries were not prepared for the consequences of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) implementation with a side order of credit crackdown. More

There is a big question looming in the world of real estate as to what exactly green building is. At times, this question may seem as broad as "what makes a good agent” or "what is the best way to market a home”.  With increased consumer awareness of green building we will try to answer this question in terms of what the average consumer and Realtor need to know about this term.
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It was really just a matter of time before American business would discover that social media, long touted as a way to keep friends in touch, would show its unsocial side. Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff's recent book, Groundswell, provided a clear warning signal. They point out that in any social media situation, 18 percent of the participants are creative and contributory while 25 percent are critical (ergo there will be more critics than contributors).More

There's a glow on the horizon, and it's growing brighter every month. But only for those whose eyes are focused on opportunity.More

Unique opportunities created by a series of events now offer the best buying climate that has existed in decades. More

In the early 1980s, when I first entered the home building business, it was not customary for Houston builders to coop their sales with professional REALTORS®. More

Jobs are everything to an economy, and in recent years, the 10-county area that makes up the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has been a job-producing machine.More

Our industry is in the fourth year of the down market, and everyone wants to know what brokers are doing about it and whether they are going to survive.More

It is 2009, and the news just reported that more than 12 percent of Americans are either in foreclosure or behind in their payments.More

After Hurricane Ike and the subsequent mortgage meltdown, my broker at the time said, "Liza, you have been working very hard these past years.More

These are the most contentious and conflicted times our industry has faced in the past 60 years.
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We are in the home stretch. It has been a difficult down-cycle, and while the end is in sight, more difficult months may be just ahead.More

They have been the subject of discussions, debates and controversy from bistros in New York City to diners in Des Moines. "Bailouts" have been one of 2008's most remarkable by products. They have totally redefined the concept of capitalism, have evoked the term socialism and will probably rewrite every existing economics textbook.More

During the past few months, this column has focused on how the traditional brokerage business configuration will have to change to meet the challenges of the new real estate marketplace.More

Last month's Brokerage Design column pointed out that, according to many credible experts, the industry is now in the last 11 months of the distressed real estate market that has plagued our industry for the past 38 months. Other experts suggest that the 11-month estimate might be too optimistic.More

It’s a small world.

Fourteen years ago I met Rob Gilbert. He was the editor of a monthly publication called Bits and Pieces. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, seen it, read it, or maybe even subscribe to it.More

A recent weekend marked two significant events in the life and times of the American real estate industry.

The good news is that, based upon the predictions of many industry experts, only 11 months remain in the current real estate down market that started for many real estate professionals in the Fall of 2005.More

Is there one word that defines success? Yes, there is. It’s attitude.

And I’m certain that you have studied or been told that a positive attitude is the key to success. Not quite.More

The Yahoo Real Estate folks provided the real estate industry with some really interesting information last month when they released a white paper entitled Embracing the Online Real Estate Market.More

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The American real estate industry is approaching an historic moment. A series of events will mark the end of an journey that started some 13 years ago when technology met real estate and created a child called information.More

When designing the interior of a home there are a few guiding principles for getting the most out of your decorating budget.More

When you hear a boss talk about their BEST salesperson, they often refer to him or her as a "rock star.”More

When big companies make moves, the results are felt by the people who helped make them big, or helped keep them big, or helped them get bigger.More

On American Idol, Simon Cowell often critiques participants by saying that the performance was "forgettable."  To create a memorable sales meeting takes time, thought and a determination to make it the best one hour of information and motivation possible.More

These are challenging times in our industry. As many markets move into the 33rd month of the down-cycle, the efforts of brokerages to succeed and stay focused have taken on an almost marathon like quality.More

These are challenging times in our industry.  As many markets move into the 33rd month of the down cycle the efforts of brokerages to succeed and stay focused have taken on an almost marathon like quality.  

 

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 It is a classic Cinderella story. Eighteen months into a down market cycle that is generally having a cataclysmic impact upon the American residential real estate industry we are seeing the birth and growth of several new and exciting trends and directions. [more]More

Every major league sports team and many singers and athletes are among the professionals who depend upon a coach to lead, direct and focus their talents. [more]More

"See Spot Run.” That sentence was from one of your first reading lessons.

"Look. Look. Look.” That sentence was from one of your first reading lessons.

More than 100 years ago, The Scott, Foresman Publishing company created the immortal reader Fun with Dick and Jane. Millions of kids learned to read from those books -- me included.

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Office condominium projects have become a popular type of office development in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, Boston, Phoenix, and yes, even Houston.  An office condo allows an individual to own a unit in a multiunit structure.  This type of ownership includes an undivided interest in various common areas and in the underlying land.More

Our industry is currently experiencing what may go down in history as one of its most dramatic moments.  Because the circumstances that characterize this drama are not appearing evenly across the national market, it has yet to reach the point at which it can be discussed in polite company.  Wise and learned men and women are still debating what it is and what it means.  It has become sort of like a "Katrina syndrome,” where experts argued for years about whether it was wind damage or water damage all the time ignoring the human reality of the storm. For some brokers, the current situation is a blinding reality while for others it is merely an item of interest to be referenced like the weather or the latest sports scores.More

After graduating from high school, every adolescent’s mind is bombarded with overwhelming thoughts about what career choices he or she should make. Some pursue medical, engineering, business or maybe artistic interests, while others may explore athletics. The ambition to succeed can be a powerful force in the heart and soul of an adolescent striving to transition to financial independence and maturity. I want to provide Houston REALTOR® readers with the perspective of a 19-year-old Realtor®.More

In this column I refine the observations of my monthly site visits into tactics and strategies that brokers can use in setting the course of their businesses.In this column I refine the observations of my monthly site visits into tactics and strategies that brokers can use in setting the course of their businesses. [more]More

For most American real estate brokers, the challenge of 2008 will be to maintain the balance of their ongoing business operations and their focus on the fast-changing real estate industry environment as it heads towards mid 2009 when it is hoped that the market will return to a sustainable level of production, profitability and participation. [more]More

I’m sick of customer satisfaction. The worst companies in the world tout the fact that they won some satisfaction award. [more]More

The latest tech tools can boost productivity, but are they always the best solution? Experts share tips for determining when it's better to take the low-tech route.

When Tammie Fleming, GRI, started her job as managing broker of Prudential One Realty Centre in Granite City, Ill., she wanted all the practitioners to adopt her enthusiasm for using technology.

 [more...]

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How will it go for you in 2008? What will you achieve in your sales life and in your personal life?

 

I’ve gathered some sales predictions from my crystal ball, a bunch of people you think are hot prospects, a few irritated customers, a couple tightwad purchasing agents, and a sales manager in a pear tree. Some are tongue-in-cheek -- or are they? Some are painful. Some are a cold slap in the face, while others will give you all the confidence you need to make it your best year ever. [more...]

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With the weak market a universal state of affairs across the American real estate landscape, most brokers and agents are experiencing first hand the challenge of living and working on less. For the vast majority of these folks, living cheap is a far cry from the relative prosperity of the past eight to twelve years and is seen as a temporary lifestyle pending the return of a sustainable market 18 to 20 months from now. [more...]More

Last month we discussed a really amazing presentation by Charlene Li, an executive and analyst with Forrester Research in San Francisco. That article discussed at some length a list of 10 things that Charlene offered relative to what brokers should be doing to achieve Internet competency. Items 8 and 9 on that list were as follows:

 

8. Create profiles on rating sites, ask for testimonials, and put links to them on your own site

 

9. Monitor your reputation and respond to reviews   [more...]More

Every sales team has a weekly meeting. Most salespeople think they're a waste of business time. Mostly because the meetings are boring, or chastising, or threatening, or lack inspiration, or all of the above.

 

Managers feel as though they "have to" have them, yet struggle with the content and flow.

 

Well now, that sounds like a positive way to get the week started. What's a sales team to do? Here's what to do…   [more...]More

In setting prospecting goals, focus on three core areas: the number of contacts you should make each day and week, the number of leads you should develop, and the number of personal appointments you should set.

 

Start with easily attainable numbers, so you can build up your energy, intensity, focus, and discipline slowly and steadily. You would not decide to run a marathon without working your daily and weekly mileage up over time, and the same premise applies when establishing and meeting your prospecting goals.   [more...]More

Your work schedule is crazy and free time is hard to find — so why start volunteering now? Here are some reasons you might not have considered.

 

There are lots of things we want to do and should do, yet never seem to find the time to actually do. Volunteering shouldn't be one of those things. Why? Besides providing much-needed help to people or organizations that need it most, volunteering can open the door to new business opportunities, friends, skills, and appreciation for the everyday things you take for granted. Most of all, it can make you happy.   [more...]
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The American real estate industry is currently tracking two developmental phases that will reach full impact in late 2008 and early 2009. More

When you are lucky enough to receive multiple offers for the sellers, there are several rules you need to follow:More

Will you marry me?" is a powerful engagement question. Engagement with the customer is no different.

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A nicely staged home can do wonders for turning casual lookers into serious buyers. For the seller, it's often a worthy investment. But when you're representing buyers, a staged home could draw attention away from a home's negative features, says a new report from the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA.)More

Since the end of the 1990s the American real estate industry has been engaged in a non-stop effort to build and maintain competitiveness within the Internet marketplace.More

The primary focus of most of the industry's current literature seems to be divided between the high profile subjects of Internet strategies and informational technologies. However, brokers would benefit from looking beyond the glitter and romance of these matters into a number of business trends that some experts suggest will have much more significant short-and mid-term impacts.More

Professionalism isn't just a set of appearances – neatness, good grooming, "shop talk" and the like. Nor is it just technical skill; many technically skilled people are not really professional. Professionalism is, rather, a set of internalized character strengths and values directed toward high quality service to others through one's work.More

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As many taxpayers are aware, we have a new Margin Tax in Texas, which replaces the Franchise tax. The tax was passed into law in June 2006 and was followed by a technical corrections act in June 2007. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief explanation of the new tax, and to discuss the effect it will have on various aspects of the real estate industry.More

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With the proliferation of lead generation firms, particularly in the online community, brokers and agents have access to an untold number of vendors. Thus, the dilemma today is not how to obtain leads, but rather how to convert them into customers and, ultimately, closed transactions.More

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By now, everyone has heard the buzz about the long-awaited iPhone from Apple. Riding high on the success of the iPod and iTunes music store, Apple is making a claim to revolutionize the portable phone industry.More

This is, indeed, an exciting time to be aboard the American real estate industry. The final quarters of our seemingly endless transition period are waning.More

May 2007 may go down in history as one of the most important and exciting moments in the history of the American real estate industry.  The approval, by the National Association of Realtors® Board of Directors, of the National MLS Gateway project marks the beginning of a dynamic new era in American residential real estate.  This project, in connection with a number of other matters introduced and approved during the meetings, will create a whole new market force. More

What is Multi-Media selling anyway? It’s a sales symphony on CD-ROM. It’s video, graphics, animation, text and sound offering a more powerful sales presentation than each alone could achieve.

AND -- Any of the multi-media components can be used in any order at any time. With a few keystrokes before (or during) a sales call, you can customize a presentation to a prospects situation. And if the multi-media package has been prepared (developed) with the latest technologies, the word you’ll hear most from your prospect is -- WOW!
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Whether you’re creating a property flier, a classified ad, or an e-mail to a potential client, how you lay out your information in writing can matter as much as the information itself.More

To get to the top of the heap, today’s real estate agents can’t just be good salespeople. They must also be expert marketers.

 

The best agents in the field already know this fact. According to NAR, Realtors® in the highest sales bracket spend 26 percent of their yearly income on marketing. Marketing
efforts can come in the form of print promotion, outdoor advertising or Website
development. More

Don’t even think about using an excuse like your cell phone battery’s gone dead or a storm interrupted your Internet connection.  For an old pro like Carl Taylor, it doesn’t seem that long ago that he hadn’t even heard of such things.

 

Taylor is a young 78 year old and has been selling commercial real estate for more than 50 years in the Houston area.  How’s he doing?  In 2006, he was Coldwell Banker United, Realtors’® number one commercial agent in the Houston area.More

Homebuyers are demanding more from new houses than ever before. Today, the home is an oasis for the family to escape the pressures of the outside world. Homes are gateways to the great outdoors. They are technology centers. They are workplaces. They are movie theaters, restaurants and entertaining venues. More

Sometimes good news comes wrapped in bad news.  Such was the case last week when three major U.S. newspaper publishers announced weaker first quarter revenues, due to great part to lower classified advertising conditions caused by the down turn in the residential real estate market. Overall, classified revenue at Tribune fell nearly 14 percent; at New York Times it slid 11.6 percent; while Gannett saw a drop of 3 percent. Classified revenue from real estate was down 15 percent at Tribune, 13.3 percent at New York Times and 1.5 percent at Gannett.More

It occurred to me that most people who write about leadership are no longer leaders.

 

Easy for them to espouse their Monday morning philosophy—harder for the leaders under fire to take "former leader" direction. I just read an article in a business magazine written by a well-known "former leader." I was horrified. One of the "key" points was that "clarity is the antidote of anxiety"; therefore "clarity" is the main concern of the effective leader. What a bunch of baloney.More

During the past few years the sales associates and brokers of the North American real estate industry have been working hard to understand and deliver on the demands and expectations of the recently arrived Generation "X” consumer. Currently between 30 and 44 years of age the "X’er” buyer and seller has challenged the industry by presenting an Internet empowered consumer agenda that has required real estate professionals to rethink their current approach to marketing, communications and negotiation. More

Ever hear the old saying, "Failure is an event, not a person.” That statement is half right. Failure is an event AND a person.

The bigger statements are: Failure is avoidable. Failure is a lesson -- a hard one.

No one celebrates failure – unless you’re from Philly and you just beat Dallas. No one goes into an event, a business, or a sales call expecting to fail, or wanting to fail. Yet failure occurs time after time.
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Repurpose. A very straightforward word that simply means giving something a new purpose or use. According to Miriam Webster, the word itself has only been around since 1984. Certainly, the term has been put to good use since its inception.

In the world of real estate, the act of repurposing has gained momentum as people are becoming more mobile and changing homes more frequently. To a homeowner, for instance, it’s common practice to change the use of an old piece of furniture when buying a new home. Changing the use of something familiar feels almost like having a new piece of furniture. But more and more, it’s becoming a popular tool when selling a home. Repurposing gives everything a fresh perspective.
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Most of us who have to conduct or attend sales meetings appreciate a professional forum.

So, what do we do first when we are in charge of the meeting?  A few of the items below can keep your meeting flowing successful.
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What can networking do for your relationships? Build them.

What can networking do for your sales? Make them.

What can networking do for your success? The right contacts and connections can make or break it.More

Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in America, and they account for 37.4 percent of Houston’s population, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.  For Houston-area Realtors® and homebuilders, this growing market is one that is vital to the market and their future.More

If you're trying to be successful, it's the difference between mediocre and big.

 

Networking is life skills and social skills combined with sales skills. It's business leisure conducted before and after work -- as opposed to business frantic, which is conducted from 9 to 5 (the exception being lunch).

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Just in case not everyone knows the circumstances that face today's Houston real estate brokerage community lets take a moment to cover the field.

 

Today's Houston area real estate consumer is the most sophisticated ever.  They are techno-literate and completely at home on the Internet, engaged in an ever-growing number of real estate related search engines, portals and sites.  Their Internet activities go far beyond mere searches for listings into any number of informational treasure troves.  They are increasingly engaged in blogging and interactive chat activities.  Using these resources, they not only learn about the "how to" of real estate but also engage in comparing notes about the performance of real estate professionals.More

Stop! Before you decide you don't need to know anything else about home warranties and turn the page, we need to talk.  It is critical for your client that you have a both basic understanding of home warranty coverage and the common misperceptions people have about them.  This article will give you the crash course you need to get ready for the spring home-buying season!  (I tried my best to make it sound exciting, but lets be honest, this article falls squarely into the "work" category…)More

You have just staged your clients' home to prepare it for an open house.  You have a great lamp that will make the room light and bright and highlight the architectural detail of the home. Once you place the lamp in the perfect location you realize that the power supply cord does not reach a receptacle outlet. No problem, you get an extension cord, plug the lamp in and the lamp accents the room perfectly. Or how about all the electronic gadgets they have in their master bathroom like electric razors, toothbrushes, lit mirrors, hair dryers, etc. With all these items to plug in stretched across a large vanity, many times an extension cord is needed. Without giving it any thought, you have just created a home safety hazard for you and your family.More

"Products are made in the factory, but brands are created in the mind."

 - Walter Landor

 

Why is it so important to brand our product?  Before we get started, I want to be clear about something – the product you need to sell is NOT real estate.  The product you need to sell is YOU.  If you don't sell YOU first, there's no need to worry about how you're going to sell real estate.

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Here’s the rock, paper, scissors game of selling:

• Relationship is more powerful than price.
• Relationship is more powerful than delivery.
• Relationship is more powerful than quality.
• Relationship is more powerful than service.

The quality of your relationships will determine the outcome of events when there is a problem or issue with price, delivery, quality or service. I’m NOT saying that if you have a great relationship you can ignore important issues and skate by -- I AM saying that a great relationship will act as a buffer, and allow all problems and issues to be resolved harmoniously.More

Little in business is more important than making sure your course is set on the right bearings. If you do not know where you are right now, any amount of course plotting just extends the wandering.

 

Many calendar year brokerage executives are currently searching for their bearings as they head into the new year.  At some point in the process, they will ask themselves "Where in the heck are we?”  Some will seek wisdom from of the industry literature stacked up on their desk.  Others will call friends and industry acquaintances to compare notes and seek insight.  Still others will decide that nothing ever changes and so they will plunge into the future bedecked in an old-fashioned plan.More

Whether or not you feel like you need a professional stager, you know the house needs something. And you know that without that something, the house may ultimately sell for less money, or be on the market for a while – or both. Here are some basic elements to consider when selling a home.More

I recently facilitated a broker seminar with a friend, colleague and nationally-recognized publisher who made what I thought was an unusual announcement during his remarks regarding the near-term future of the real estate commission. After tracing the significant downfall of commission rates during the past few years, he indicated that there was little chance that this trend would be turned around. Later in the program, I engaged him again on this subject by suggesting that brokers who wished to increase their commission rates need merely respond to the current consumer value calculus. He agreed but indicated that his research suggested that few brokers would have the courage to take that step. More

Well it's a new year again. More resolutions, more goals, more plans. If the new year only ran until February, we would be fine. Most people can only keep their resolutions and goals going for about a month. Don't take my word for it -- ask any fitness center. Crammed in January, empty in February. More

Ever tell a good story? People laughing or asking more questions when you’re done? And later that day, those same people re-told your story another three or four times. That’s impact.

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One of the most frequently asked questions we hear from real estate professionals is "Which advertising mediums work best for reaching the Hispanic consumer and which one yields the most return?”More

Do you ever watch commercials? I don’t mean just in between your favorite shows; I mean actually watch the commercials. Not too many people do, but as a consultant and facilitator I find information from a variety of different sources, including TV commercials.More

It really didn't take that long. It was only 60 short months ago that the industry began to take notice that there was a new consumer. They seemed like mere kids at the time. We laughed at their proclivities and wondered how they would ever survive as adults. They were the minority, the different and the irrelevant.More

Thank you for being my customer."

 

That's what I say to people as I look them in the eye and smile. If anyone attends one of my seminars, buys a book or tape, or signs up for our internet training, I look at them and thank them. They can feel my thanks.

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Last month, this column discussed avoiding civil and criminal liability arising from acts of mortgage fraud. This month, we address a different set of criminal behaviors.More

Are you willing to refer your clients or customers to someone else? Is someone else willing to refer their clients or customers to you? Yes, if there is mutual trust.More

Let's face it, we are not all interior designers. We don't need to be. Knowing your client's home is where the heart is, it's also home to the accoutrement from their everyday life.More

For homebuilders and Realtors® alike, there is little dispute about what can be accomplished when both work together in mutually beneficial relationships.More

To be a successful business in today's culture you need to create an environment of inclusion where people feel valued and integrated into a company's mission, vision and business strategy at all levels. When employees' skills and knowledge are recognized, appreciated and utilized they are more engaged in contributing to an organizations' success.More

The future of real estate is changing at high speed. In the future, Realtors® who form teams and design, build and run their business like a business will continue to thrive and prosper, while individuals doing it on their own will be left behind.More

A thief looks at two houses on a street – both are large and well kept, so he is assuming there are great steals in both houses. Both are dark and empty – all the neighbors are at a block party down at the end of the street. Both houses are exactly the same – except that the house on the right has an alarm system, and the house on the left does not. Which house do you think this thief is going to go for?More

Networking is simple. Networking is powerful. Networking makes selling – and the selling process – easier and more enjoyable.More

We first felt it in the fall of 2005 as a minor tremor. Of course the stress had been building imperceptively for many months. By December 2005 the tension was described by Inman News as a "Pandemic."More

How are you doing on realizing the dreams of your life? You must turn your dreams into specific goals if they are to come true. But all too often many people fail to follow through with their plans because of incorrect goal setting.More

Feel a little "shaky" when it comes to taking pictures? You don't have to be a professional photographer to take great photos. Keep reading to discover some very helpful tips.More

We have all heard the old adage that it is easier to keep an existing client than to find a new one. So why do we so often look to uncharted territory when striving to build and strengthen our client base?More

Many times people in technology put a twist on an existing idea and then give it a new name. This can cause everyone else to try to determine what this new thing is. One such instance of this is blogs or blogging. More

It's time to get rid of your electric typewriter. OK, you probably don't have a typewriter—computers and word processors long ago rendered that machine obsolete—but you may have other outdated technology lurking in your office.More

Hustle is more than a flurry of activity. It's energy with a purpose. It's enthusiasm with meaning.More

It is easy to miss. With vacations, summer holidays and that overall frantic need to carry out the summer schedule, sometimes the fact that the year is half over just misses the consciousness level.More

Consumer relationships are too important to be left to agents. So said Cendant executive Alex Perriello last month at the prestigious Gathering of the Eagles conference. His comment brought the audience of more than 300 top brokers to the edge of their seats.More

I love the diversity of Houston. It is amazing to see parts of the whole world come together in one city. We can eat the food, hear a new language or explore a different culture.More

During the past month, a number of reports have emerged that paint an interesting picture about residential brokerage profitability in 2005, a year of record residential production.More

Houston, Texas: a culturally diverse melting pot that is home to more than 3,000 Realtors® who speak a total of 82 languages.

According to the City of Houston, in April 2005, "Houston continues to exhibit the same patterns of economic, population and geographic growth that has characterized its entire history. Immigration from Central and South America, Africa, and Asia…. cements its status as one of the preeminent immigration 'gateway' cities in the country." In fact, many persons come to the U.S. and then move to Houston because of its diversity.

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We are now into the second quarter of the year and as predicted some very significant changes have occurred throughout the national real estate market. In most markets MLS inventory is way up, time on market is greatly extended and the absorption rates have slowed down.More

As host of HGTV's "House Hunters," actor and comedian Whang sees inside the hearts and minds of home buyers.More

It doesn't appear on a brokerage financial statement. Yet it is one of every firm's most critical assets.More

During the last 20 years, having worked in many areas of the real estate profession including home builders, property management, as an investor buying and selling foreclosures, real estate education and real estate brokerage management, I have come to appreciate that the wonderful thing about the real estate profession is the numerous aspects of our field.More

Need to some quick Timesaving Tips? Check out this list of 15 Top Timesavers.More

The Houston CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) Region of our Lone Star Chapter has a goal to provide benefits to our Lone Star members. You will be guests at four luncheons to be held at the Junior League located at 1811 Briar Oaks.More

How much difference can one day make? Let us consider Monday, February 6, 2006. In the morning The Wall Street Journal carried a front-page piece titled "Broker Commissions Are The Real Component To the Real-Estate Bubble."More

When Ian Pilling was searching for a home with his wife three years ago, the couple would drop off their toddlers with the grandparents on Sunday and hit the road, racing to see all the properties on their list within a three-hour time window. Pilling says he would have been able to get a lot more out of those three hours if today's mapping technology had been available.More

2005 may have been one of the most contentious years in the history of the American real estate industry. According to Real Trends, "a 30 day period in the summer of the year saw more negative media coverage against the real estate industry than the past 18 years."More

Much to the surprise of the experts, the Texas economy begins 2006 with momentum.  Of course, real estate can take a lot of credit for getting the New Year off to a strong start.More

With the NAR's new buyer-seller survey showing that the Internet has done nothing to disintermediate REALTORS® from transactions with consumers, a science blog, posted by someone named BJS at Penn State explains why.More

It's that time of the year again. Preparation for a productive management retreat should be on every broker's "To Do" list.

Some brokers reject the value of the year-end business planning process. Others believe that last summer's augmented golf outing did the trick. Both of these groups need to think again.

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Your clients shopping in the $70s to low $100s have an exceptional opportunity to become homeowners through an array of homes listed in the Houston Housing Authority's Scattered Sites Homeownership Program. The program combines affordability and quality living in locations throughout Houston, Fort Bend, Clear Lake and Katy.More

Homeowners and buyers have been searching for any signs that the nation's robust housing boom may be going bust – especially in light of recent reports that the market is cooling. But NAR's chief economist, David Lereah, assures us there is no reason for panic.

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2005 has been an amazing year for the American real estate industry. It has been a year that experienced great markets, media harassment, regulatory stalking, political battles and unfettered competition. Its tale will fill volumes, and its impact will be felt for decades.More

Before you go to your3 next listing presentation, you need to check your attitude. Are you ready to sell yourself and make the buyer understand why you're worth the commission you receive or are you your worst enemy? If you don't have the right attitude, regardless of the dialogue or techniques you use, you simply will not be effective.

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A review of the current industry literature or attendance at almost any industry conference such as last month's RISMedia conference in New York City, makes it abundantly clear that the role of both the brokerage firm and the sales associate in the near term future will be significantly changed.

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First American Title's recent panel discussion to announce its Emerging Markets division was an overwhelming success. Held at the Hobby Center, the event included a panel of professionals well known in the real estate industry.More

No, it's not a remake of that classic 1959 film starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day, though there are some marked similarities.  As with the original script there are two parties sharing a common line – only this time it is the Internet.

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One of the best movies of 2001 was called "The Perfect Storm." Its star was a meteorological event that had occurred along the New England coast several years earlier. 

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How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

You may have heard that joke before, but you probably never thought about how it applies to your job as a real estate practitioner.

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The American dream of owning your own home is alive and well. According to statistics from The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), homeownership in the United States reached a record high of 68 percent last year, representing approximately 2.1 million Americans.More

It's that time of the year again. The summer selling season is in full swing and once again many American markets are setting new production levels as the "Grand Era" of real estate enters its 13th year.More

Keep reading for useful back-to-school safety tips to share with your clients.More

We all dream of being homeowners-whether we are purchasing a home for the first time or designing our dream retirement house. There is a tremendous sense of achievement in realizing that dream and stepping into your new house for the first time.More

You can have all of the will necessary to win, but your chances of winning are greatly diminished if you are not prepared for the big moment when it arrives. 

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The rapid transition of the real estate industry continues. Players are being required to make significant sacrifices. Historic shifts are occurring in both roles and responsibilities. 
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I recently served on a panel of business observers, writers and consultants. All of us were asked similar questions. I was struck by the sharp differences in the answers. I was more struck, however, by the similar answers to this one, single question, "What problems do organizations call you in to fix most often?"More

The title "ultimate home" almost sounds cliché. It seems these days every homebuilder, architect or community is striving to provide customers with the "home of their dreams."More

One of the primary objectives of emerging technology is to make outsiders feel stupid. Or at least that is the belief of some in the Civic and Boomer generations.More

"I tried to call you, but your line was busy."

"I was talking to my pot roast."

"Your what?"

"Well, technically, it wasn't the roast."

"Whew, for a minute, I thought you'd lost it."More

In today's increasingly competitive business environment, being able to immediately respond to clients' needs often means winning or losing business revenue.More

It's the curb appeal—that critical first impression a home makes—that often determines if a prospective buyer steps inside for a closer look, or moves on to the next listing.More

Preferences include larger homes, more advanced technology

Households headed by Generation X-ers and members of the so-called "echo-boom" purchased 55 percent of all newly built homes sold in 2003 and are fast becoming the trendsetters in U.S. housing markets...

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A dedicated virtual assistant who specializes in coordinating and marketing your listings will provide you with a competitive advantage and help you make more money.

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Have you ever wondered how subdivisions are named? I have. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University asked readers of its electronic newsletter to explain the thought process that goes into naming subdivisions.More

It is that time of the year again. Racecar drivers run to their cars at La Mans, boat owners start scraping, gardeners wait the blossoming of the tulips and baseball pitchers eagerly await the opening pitch. Everyone in the real estate industry is psyching up and looking forward to the end of the long winter slow down and the blooming of the spring and summer residential sales season.

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Sometimes combining data from different surveys produces interesting results. Is there a relationship between the most popular markets in which to relocate and their housing prices? Not always...

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