Positive Real Estate Professionals

Yesterday seemed to be one of those days that America really needed to happen. All around the financial markets there were indicators that showed that consumer confidence was up again. The stock market took a solid jump while Lowe’s announced a higher than expected earnings report. What is amazing is Lowe’s earnings are down from the last quarter. In addition, the housing market is now taking an upswing of their own. If you have not had a chance to read What a difference a year makes then I recommend that you do so now.

Doe this mean that people are going to run out and start spending money like crazy? No, absolutely not. Does this mean that we are out of the rescission? No, absolutely not. So, what does this mean for our economy. It actually means that we are ready to turn the page as a nation and start breathing life back into a weak economy.

One of the great things that seperates the housing market from the stock market is the fact that the housing market has it’s own little pockets and just because one neighborhood is losing value does not mean that the entire city is losing value. On a larger scale, the same thing can be said of cities versus states or states versus the nation. This is why you need to consult a professional that is in your area.

Over my 20 plus years of being a part of the work force I have learned many things. Typically, I share that acquired knowledge with the people around me. In doing this, it also allows me to acquire knowledge that they have gained as well. It is from this sharing of knowledge coupled with the years of experience that I write this new article. It is this new article that prompts me to ask “Does your blog get you the exposure that you need?”

For most people, the answer to that question is a simple “I do well with my blog” and they move on. Well, frankly, what does ‘well’ encompass? In the business world, ‘well’ can mean that one out of two months you make enough to stay afloat. However, I do not know anyone in business that is ever satisfied with staying afloat. So, with that said, how do you increase your exposure and go from ‘well’ to ‘excellent’.

Let’s explore different avenues to achieve ‘excellent’. In the blogging world, you can seek out a site that offers a multi user network. When people hear this phrase, they always ask what it means. A multi user network is a social network where people can come together and share ideas or knowledge, exchange referrals, learn from the masses, and more. In a nutshell, it is a multi user blog. Understanding that seems to put everything into perspective when it comes to gaining more and more exposure.

The next avenue that one has to look at is what type of business that they are in. For the consummate Real Estate Professional, finding a place to gather is very important. Many Realtors, appraisers, stagers, title people, closing attorneys, builders, re molders, mortgage lenders, loan officers, notaries, etc, have made their own Real Estate blog, but it just does not seem to get the responses that they want. Being able to lock in with a Real Estate network that knows how to get the consumers to your front door is key.

One of the things that you have to remember is that just because you belong to a multi user network like Positive Real Estate Professionals, it still takes work to move up in the search engine rankings. Blogging on a consistent basis with relevant content is one of the keys to success. Being a part of the Real Estate industry gives you an inside track on the housing market and other Real Estate information. Having the additional tools that a site like PREP can and does supply is also another benefit and can get you the increased exposure that you ultimately seek.

So, in a nutshell, does your blog get you the exposure that you need and want? If you can not truly answer yes and you are in the Real Estate industry, then maybe it is time for you to join a Real Estate Network.

One of the most important things that people have to keep in mind today is that we need to keep moving forward in today’s housing market. This is the only way that we are going to truly come out of this housing crisis. For the people that announce that there is no crisis in this country, they are wrong. However, with that said, not every area or market in the United States is effected the same way. Therefore, they might not have a crisis in their area or housing market. These pockets are great in respect to leading the rest of the country to get out of the current funk.

With all that stated, one of the first things that you have to learn is how to maintain a positive attitude in this housing market. Without a positive attitude, there is no way that we can keep moving forward. One of the biggest questions that I get concerns the very article that is linked in the beginning of this paragraph. I highly recommend reading it whether you have a positive attitude or not. I have to tell you that maintaining a positive attitude is not always an easy task, but it is one that I have embraced. This was one of the biggest components in my decision along with my business partner, Rich Dansereau, when we decided to create Positive Real Estate Professionals. Without this “find the silver lining” mentality, it really would not have made sense to start this site.

Another big question that I get is “How to start over after a foreclosure“? Unfortunately, this is information that a lot of people across this great country are needing. Once again, the article that is linked here is only one source of information on this subject. If you want to learn more on this topic, just click the link and read the entire article. If you cannot find all the information that you need, then please contact one of the many professionals that are associated with this site. They will be more than willing to help you find the information that you need. In a nutshell, you can start over after a foreclosure. You are not doomed to spend the rest of your life as a renter. Though the options for you are limited to start out with, they will expand as time moves forward. The biggest thing that you will need to learn is how to increase your credit scores.

For the people that are looking to buy a home, their biggest question is “How to obtain a mortgage in today’s housing market“? To that, I simply answer that you need to contact a competent loan officer that can help walk you through each and every step of the process. Choosing your loan officer is just as important as choosing your Realtor or home inspector. These are the people that are going to walk you through each and every detail of your transaction. Making a crucial error in judgment here can result in a painful transaction. This issue is another reason that we chose to create PREP.

All in all, as long as we keep moving forward in today’s housing market, we can overcome any crisis that we are in. All we have to do is keep a positive attitude and outlook.

Over the last 18 months, I have talked to many people that thought that they understood the housing market. The problem was, they had outdated information and was not keeping up with the changing times. So, what can you do to make you that you are understanding the housing market today? Well, lets take a look at that very topic.

The first and foremost thing that someone needs to do to understand today’s housing market is find a Realtor® that you can rely on. Over my 8+ years in this industry, I have seen many reason why people pick their Realtor® and most of the reasons stink. Nothing personal, but because she is your mother’s best friend does not mean that they will find you the best deal. You have got to find a person that has your best interest in mind and not the commissions that they can make. While I am on the subject, that goes for the mortgage loan officers as well. If their goal is to make sure you buy the house that is going to make them the most money, then it is time to walk. That also goes for the type of loans that will bring them the highest revenue. The bottom line is these people work for you, the consumer. If they do not have YOUR best interest at heart, then it is time to walk. Ultimately, do not think of this as hurting someone’s feelings. It is all business when it comes to making an investment like this.

Secondly, you need to educate yourself. There are tons of articles hitting the streets today and people want to know what to believe and what not to believe. Well, it is kinda simple. The media is going to shed the worst that they can on the story. Ugly sells and this is what makes them money. The best thing to do is search out forums like Positive Real Estate Professionals or Active Rain and find the professionals that do this type of work daily. If you can not find the answers that you are looking for on one of those sites, then strike up a conversation with one of the professionals on one of these networks and get the help you need.

Once you are armed with your Realtor® and loan officer, then it is time to move to the next process; home shopping. Do not let the fact that you might see 2 homes in a day or 20 wear on you. This is part of the process. Buying the first thing that you see might not always be the best idea, but think about this. If it is a hot property and you like it that much, then find something to compare it to immediately. This way, you can make your move on it quickly. The last thing you want to do is think about it for a couple of days only to find out that the home was sold the day you saw it.

Lastly, DO NOT allow your friends to influence your decision. Too many times I have approved a loan for someone and then do not hear from them for a week. Finally, when they call back they tell me that their brother that is a accountant told them that they should be able to get a better deal. So, they go out and shop and shop only to find that they deal that was there was the best on the table. Unfortunately for them, it is no longer available either.In the end, just make sure that you understand the housing market TODAY.

I read numerous economic and real estate related articles from the blogosphere everyday. I try to get a sampling of various articles so that I do not simply get homogeneous articles that are parrots of one another. I believe the best way to get information is from diverse sources. Networks such as Positive Real Estate Professionals provide many different viewpoints from real estate industry professionals.

Today there was some great news from builders around the country. The National Association of Home Builders in conjunction with Wells Fargo use a confidence index to gauge the current sales and give a six month projection of future sales. The NAHB / Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) first published in 1985, uses a ranking system with anything below 50 being indicative of poor conditions. Last year the HMI averaged 16 last yeat with much of that attributed to the early 2008 responses.  As you can see from the historical data below, the HMI is trending in a very positive direction.

The growth, as you can see, is not spiking as could be indicative of erroneous factors outside of builder confidence. Instead the growth is moderate and consistent. There is a further regional breakdown, Northeast, Midwest, South, and West, all of which show positive growth. Granted these four regions are not representative of the multitude of local and hyperlocal markets so confidence and actual statistics can vary.

NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said of today’s report:

This is a very encouraging sign that we are at or near the bottom of the current housing depression. With the prime home buying season now underway, builders report that more buyers are responding to the pull of much-improved affordability measures, including low home prices, extremely favorable mortgage rates and the introduction of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit. (source: National Association of Home Builders)

This news coupled with the stock market gains of last week demonstrate positive indications of renewed growth. I am also encouraged by all the posts I have been reading that indicate that Realtors are experiencing increased buyer interest and sales.

I was speaking to a customer just the other day and she said something to me that made me think. In the course of our conversation, she told me that Real Estate was the same basically. She indicated that it did not matter if you were in Corryton, Tennessee or Dunwoody, Georgia or Springfield, Oregon or in Italy, it was all the same. Well, actually she is wrong. Each and every market is different. What might be going on in Kirkland, Washington does not effect Aiken, South Carolina any more than it does Valparaiso, Indiana. The point is, each and every city has their own markets. And for most cities, they have multiple markets.

This is really important when it comes down to picking a Realtor. Yesterday, I wrote a post concerning the importantance of choosing a Realtor. Today, add this post to that one, because it is just as important as choosing to use one. This is why you need a neighborhood expert. When you get to the point that you are ready to sell or buy, remember that just because Johnny’s home in Little Rock, Arkansas sold in 10 days and Thelma’s home in Houlton, Maine sold in 195 days does not mean that your home will have the issues to deal with.While I am on the subject of buying, let me say this. When you are in the market to buy a home and you come across the one that you like, buy it. If you do not, you have no one to blame but yourself. Also, when you are thinking that it is time to put your home on the market, do not wait. Contact your Realtor immediately and get it out there. Otherwise, when the market turns upside down, you have only yourself to blame.

When it comes to the world of Real Estate, you have 2 sets of people; the buyers and the sellers. In today’s market, too many people turn their attention just to the buyers and forget about the sellers. Fortunately for us, we have Realtors that understand the need to address the sellers issues just as well as the buyers issues. In the article below, Lori Palermo of Fairway Realty does a great job of speaking to the important point of making a great first impression for sellers.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask, that is why we are here.

Via Lori Palermo of Oregon Real Estate Queen:

By Lori Palermo – Oregon Real Estate Queen

It has been said that we never get a second chance to make a first impression. Although this quote was in reference to our first impressions of people, the same is true with houses.

Before listing your home for sale, I recommend taking a good, hard, unbiased look at the front of your home. Sometimes this is the most difficult step of all – the unbiased part anyway. You might consider enlisting the help of a trusted friend to gain better perspective. Take an objective look at the appearance of your home as you drive on to your street and into your driveway. Here are some tips to make a great first impression on potential home buyers, and remember CURB APPEAL is paramount!

1. Cut and edge the grass. Keep it well watered and fertilized. Weed the flowerbeds, plant some flowers and use bark dust liberally. If planting isn’t an option, purchase “Color Spots” (already planted containers) and place them where they can be seen.

2. Power-wash the exterior. Pay special attention to the eaves and soffits where spider webs and bees nests collect.

3. Paint any areas that show chipped, flaking or fading paint. Even just touching up or painting the trim can make a huge difference. Don’t forget the gutters and garage door.

4. Wash the windows inside and out. Don’t forget the screens, tracks and trim. Remove any exterior “blinds” that are tattered or unnecessary. If blinds must be used, consider rolling them up prior to a showing, or at any time they aren’t necessary.

5. Remove any moss or debris from the roof and gutters.

6. Power-wash the driveway. Remove any staining left behind from cars and repair any cracking.

7. If you have a mailbox at the street in front of your home, make sure that it is in good repair and is freshly painted, displaying your house number or address.

8. Remove anything that would detract attention from your home: An old basketball hoop, firewood stacked against an exterior wall, even a utility trailer parked in front can be distracting and always make sure that garbage receptacles are out of sight.

9. Take steps to ensure that the exterior of your home is well lighted. Change out any old fixtures, replace any burned out light bulbs and install a security light. Make sure that there is adequate lighting on the front porch.

10. Make sure that toys, gardening tools, hoses and yard debris are out of sight and always pick up after your pets right away.

I wish you the very best of luck in the sale of your home. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at loripalermo@comcast.net. For more information on home buying, home selling or real estate in general, please log on to my website at http://oregonrealestatequeen.com.

Too many times I hear people stating that it is not a good time to buy. Well, frankly, tell me when a good time to buy is? Should we wait till home values start to rise again? Should we wait till mortgage rates go back up? Will that in itself be a great time to buy? I guess it would be if you do not mind paying more for the same house. Or even worse, lose the house of your dreams to another prospective buyer because they were willing to act.

I heard a potential customer state just the other day that the reason that he was not buying today was because no one has money to loan. So, I had to ask him how he knew. His answer was because it was all over the news. With that said, do not always believe what you hear. Contact a mortgage professional today to find out if you qualify for a loan before you choose not to move forward.

Below is a video from the National Association of Realtors. I believe in the message that they are sending out in this video. I believe that today is the day for you to qualify for the home of your dream. But, you cannot accomplish that dream if you do not act on it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L41Ojn7XQHU[/youtube]

Most of you know the co-owner of PREP, Rich Dansereau. Rich has been in the Real Estate industry for almost 8 years now. His knowledge of the financial sector expands beyond the housing market and his insight is deep. I am honored to bring an article that he recently wrote on Rich Talks Real Estate.  If you have not read the latest reports from NAR, then you need to read this article from Rich.

As always, if you have an question on this article or anything to do with the housing industry, please ask. That is what we are here for.

Via Rich Dansereau of Rich Talks Real Estate:

It should come a no surprise to anyone that there has been a lot of negative news regarding the housing industry since the economic volatility we find ourselves in began a couple of years ago. Today the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released some housing figures that are quite encouraging. NAR has reported that the sale of existing homes rose 6.5% last year.

What does this mean to individuals? To the economy? There are those who will take the somewhat cynical stance and say that after a 15% drop in median home prices it is logical that the sale of existing homes at bargain prices would fuel a rise in sales. While I characterize this as somewhat cynical, it is not that far off base. Though the drop in home price reflects a drop in home values and that is unfortunate for those who have been building equity in their home, the increase in sales definitely signals that many people have realized that interest rates are at historical lows and that the abundance of properties means there are good deals to be had. Do not misunderstand, you will still pay real money for a home, this is not buying for “pennies on the dollar.” This is an opportunity to buy a home at a good price with favorable terms.

As for what this means to the economy, this is in direct contradiction to many of the mainstream media reports that people want to buy homes but there is no money, a.k.a. home loans, available to be able to do so. These numbers demonstrate that home loans are available to properly qualified borrowers. They also show that many people have realized this and are getting approved and buying a home. Sales for single family homes, condos, and co-ops all showed increases. While sales are 3.5% lower than where they were the previous year, the increase is a good indication that existing home sales will be the torchbearer of economic recovery.

For those of you that are not familiar with NAR, it is the National Association of Realtors. If you have been following PREP lately, you have seen several video ads that NAR has published and are running on Television. The reason for this campaign is simple. Like PREP, NAR is not going to sit back and wait for the housing market to come out of this funk on its own. NAR has decided to sink $40 million into an ad campaign that is designed to convince Americans that it is a good time to buy or sell and a great time to be a Realtor. Well, that also bleeds over into every other facet of the industry. If you want to read the rest of the article about NAR and the campaign, simply click HERE.

As for PREP, it is our goal to rebuttal all the negative news about the housing industry. I was speaking to our newest member of PREP this morning, Lori Palermo (Fairway Real Estate, INC), and she was telling me how her business has increased over the weekend. Knowing that she is the Oregon Real Estate Queen, it is no wonder that she has made such a dramatic turn around in a weekend and I am glad for her. Fred Chamberlin of Eugene Loan Guy has experienced growth as well this year and he is excited to see 2009 get into full swing.

The list goes on and on with the other vendors of PREP experiencing similar increases in business. The market will turn around in 2009 if we want it to change.