Saturday, May 31, 2014

Things You Should Know about Private Equity Firm in Eastside

When you talk about business and finance, private equity is one matter that will never go unnoticed or unmentioned. Private equity issues are often complex that many people find it hard to understand how the system works. Private equity firms in Eastside is not different from all other private equity firms from other places. What most people know about private equity and private equity companies is very superficial. This article talks about what private equity firms usually do.

To begin with, private equity firms work primarily in raising funds. When you invest into a venture, you would need to have enough finances to start. Private equity systems get capital, mostly by raising money from several people or companies. The fund raising is usually done by veteran investors. Of course, they will not do the fund raising activity personally. However, they will have people to do the task for them. They will only need to initiate the project.

Because it would be hard to solicit a huge amount from a single entity, what the fund raising team does is  ask for finances from several groups to help fund a project. The team will have to present a proposal that the possible investors will look into. They have to make sure that their project is profit to be able to convince the investors to out their money on a specific private equity project. The fundraising team goes to several sources. The more sources or investors the team are able to persuade to put their money in a project, the better it would be for the private equity system.

Once they have reached a certain target of funds, the team will now be able to let the funds roll. They manage investments properly. Making sure that they profit well enough. They look into the progress of the investment while ensuring that everything will turn out right as planned and envisioned. The monitoring of the investments is done continuously. This allows the team to see if they have been successful and if their goals are met. Once they see stability in a certain investment they manage, they can start off with the next step.

After ensuring that the investment is doing well and it can work independently without the much needed supervision, the private equity firm can then start selling off the companies they have put up. This is the highlight of private equity funding. The investor will have to wait for a couple of years for their investments to grow. A stable company can now be sold and developed by another independent entity. The funds that the firm gets from selling a company they have invested in through private equity systems will now serve as the profit.


What is good with the systems run by private equity firms is that they save small companies that are almost all the way down in the market. Instead of falling down to nothing, a certain company is saved while it still can be functional. It is then developed into a more blossoming company until it can stand on its own. With private equity, it is just like saving a drowning business and guiding it back to the shore to live again, with a better life this time.

Friday, May 30, 2014

If we could stop making fun of QR codes for a minute, we could see their value

URLs are only one thing they can do for you

 

May 27, 2014

This post by Drick Ward was originally published on ActiveRain. Ward is a real estate broker with Neptune Realty in Virginia Beach, Va. 

The real purpose of QR codes has been lost on most of the real estate industry, but that’s OK. I’m going to explain what they are for and why you want to use them. Most agents (as well as many other well-intentioned but misguided businesspeople) use QR codes to direct people to a website. With site statistics, you are able to see how many people came to you through that door, but that misses the whole point of a QR code.

QR codes were invented for the auto parts industry. Now picture it, a warehouse full of parts you can hold in your hand on shelves and in bins. But who is grabbing these parts? Mechanics. Well, since their hands are nearly as clean as a surgeon’s, what could go wrong? Oh, they have grease on their hands at times? Well, bar codes could get damaged and become unreadable — enter the QR code.

The actual “message” is written in the diagram seven times (I may be wrong on the count, but it’s a redundancy thing), which means two of the messages, the part description in this instance, could become damaged, but the QR reader can still get the correct info because of the other five times it’s imprinted in that block. This is why you sometimes see a logo embedded in the center and yet the message still gets through. So a QR code is a means of communicating data with built-in redundancy for increased accuracy of the message.

Think of the QR code as a different language. It’s a language our phones and tablets all speak fluently. So now, what message should we send in this new communication method? Well, everyone wanted to use it for URLs, so you can send prospects to your website, but that misses the boat on where they really bring value. Check out Zebra Crossing‘s QR Code Generator to start realizing the power of this tool.

URLs are only one thing they can do for you. Click on the drop-down to see other preformatted types you can create. If you are holding an open house and print invitations for the neighbors with a QR code for the open house on it, you have now given the recipient a way to quickly and accurately ADD THAT EVENT TO THEIR CALENDAR. Now how much more likely do you suppose that person is to show up at your open house? You’ll see from the site they can also be used for numerous other preformatted messages.

 

Read the entire article at: http://www.inman.com/next/if-we-could-stop-making-fun-of-qr-codes-for-a-minute-we-could-see-their-value/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheFutureOfRealEstateMarketing+%28The+Future+of+Real+Estate+Marketing%29#.U4db2CjaXwI

 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

What is on your gotta do list?

There are a lot of things in life that you gotta do.  It may surprise you what some people gotta do.  See what the brokers of Homes & Equity Real Estate Group have to say about us. 

 

            "You gotta love these folks at Homes and Equity; they’re never in your face but they’ve always got your back. That’s a comfortable feeling to know such talented people are interested in me making a profit and feeling at home.”

Terry Reynolds

 

Your only costs with Homes & Equity Real Estate Group is $59 per month and a $195 per transaction fee.  With Homes & Equity Real Estate Group you can compete on a whole new level.  

Although we are a discount broker, we do provide a lot of services to our Brokers.  For our listings we provide:

  • Yard signs
  • Lock boxes
  • Free flyers
  • A Boards for your open houses. 

For your business, we provide: 

  • Free business cards
  • Free web site with IDX feed to the MLS
  • Free continuing education
  • Free brainstorming sessions to increase your business
  • A Managing Broker that is willing to talk with you

You can learn more at our website at: http://www.joinhomesandequity.com/

Call Max Nasab at: 206-719-2694

Do you have buyers that are sitting on the fence?

Many buyers are not sure they want to get a home loan right now.  They feel unsure about the economy and their job.  Now you have the perfect answer to this objection.  When your buyer gets their mortgage from Mortgage Money Store we will sign them up for the Mortgage Assurance Program.  The house payment will be made if the buyer has a job loss in the first two years of home ownership.  With this peace of mind, many people that have been putting off buying a house, will now buy from you.

Program Overview

All qualified, enrolled homeowners that are protected by the Mortgage Assurance Program (MAP).  This program provides financial assistance that assists homeowners in staying current with mortgage payments in the case of unexpected job loss. 

 

Within 30 days after full enrollment in the MAP Program, an informational packet will arrive to the borrower, explaining the program and how to file for assistance in the event of involuntary job loss. 

 

Program Benefits

·         Up to six months of Payments

·         Coverage up to $1,500 per month

·         Easy enrollment process

·         No cost to the borrower

 

Eligibility Requirements

·         Employed full time (minimum 30 hours per week) at time of Mortgage closing

·         Vesting period is 60 days

·         Cannot be more than 10% self-employed, an independent contractor or active military

·         Must be between the ages of 18 and 66

 

You can download a flyer about the Mortgage Assurance Program at: http://realestatebrokerconnection.com/sales-materials/

For complete information about the Mortgage Assurance Program call,

 

 

Sincerely, Max Nasab

Direct Phone:    206-719-2694

Fax:                     425-449-4909

12207 NE 8th Street Bellevue WA 98005

Website:              www.mortgagemoneystore.com

 

 

 

7 seller personality disorders that can cost agents

If you encounter any of these, don't take the listing!

 

May 28, 2014

This post originally appeared on the Trulia Pro Blog, a blog for real estate professionals on Trulia.com. Follow Trulia Pro on Twitter: @TruliaPro.

Every agent knows that being an armchair therapist is part of the job. You have to hold the space for people to make major decisions about their money, their homes, their families and their lives in the context of the transaction they work with you on. In the process, we often are called upon to help them think through things.

In the course of this necessary process, agents often witness a seller going from one extreme position to another on the opposite end of the spectrum in the course of a few months. If we refused to work with every seller who didn’t agree with 100 percent of our advice, we’d be in rough shape. But there are misbegotten beliefs (which can change) and there are personality issues, which are lasting issues in the way that some people think about the world, make decisions and interact with others.

Here are a handful of seller personality problems that you should run, not walk, from before you sign the listing agreement and sign up for a year, or more, of drama, trauma and expenses instead of profits.

1.  Endowment bias + overconfidence + rigidity.

Virtually every seller — every human, even — can fall victim to what behavioral economists call “endowment bias”: the belief that something you own is worth more than the value you would place on it if it belonged to someone else.

The same goes for overconfidence: Due to the emotional attachments and the money, time, sweat and energy many sellers have invested in their homes, it’s not at all bizarre for them to start out being overly confident in how their home will stack up against the competition, how much they will get for it, or how rapidly it will fly off the market.

That said, many sellers can be managed down off the ledge of overpricing-inducing biases and overconfidence. You can talk them through a well-designed comparative market analysis. You can take them to the staged homes that are listed in their area, in their home’s price range, and help them understand the need to stage. You can provide them with buyer and broker feedback, including the fact that their home has been on the market with no viewings twice as long as the average home in their area stays on the market. And, before they break your marketing bank and their own hearts, the average seller, having listened and learned and been educated by you and by the market, will course-correct, double down on property preparation, hire the stager, or bring down the list price.

But sellers who suffer from the endowment bias are overconfident and are completely rigid and inflexible in their home sale-related beliefs and behavior — even in the face of overwhelming facts to the contrary. These are sellers you might want to avoid.

2. “Cling-ons”

Some people approach everything in the world with endowment bias. They simply, as a rule, cannot see the other side of any argument or understand why everyone in the world doesn’t hold their same positions and views.

Other times, when it seems a seller is hard to please, it can be a sign of a much deeper issue at work. The second seller psychosis to be on the lookout for is what I’ll call the “Cling-on Syndrome.”

No, these sellers aren’t “Star Trek” lovers. These would-be clients are not ready or willing to move on to the next phase of their lives. These sellers may simply be going through the motions of listing at the urging of family members, their real therapist or their financial advisers, but are subconsciously sabotaging their own sale with their rigid, counterproductive behavior. If you observe your potential seller is having a severe internal conflict about moving on, it might be your sign to head for the hills.

 

Read the entire article at: http://www.inman.com/next/7-seller-personality-disorders-that-can-cost-agents/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheFutureOfRealEstateMarketing+%28The+Future+of+Real+Estate+Marketing%29#.U4dQSSjaXwI

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Here is what you should know about Homes & Equity

Here is what you should know about Homes & Equity Real Estate Group.  Listen to what our Brokers say about us.

 

I have been in the Real Estate industry since 1976.  In that 38 years, in four states,

New Orleans, LA, Atlanta, GA, Durango, CO and now Seattle, WA.  I relocated here for 20 years ago.

I can truly say that I have experienced many markets, company cultures and Brokerage relationships in my career.  Without a doubt, with no reservation Max Nasab and Renee have been a pleasure to work with.

 

Totally respect, great communication, and integrity have made it a great place to thrive and be successful.

 

 

Michelle Ebeling, Broker

SRES

Senior Real Estate Specialist

Kirkland Homes.Com Inc

Voted Best in clients satisfaction

Seattle Magazine

 

 

Your only costs with Homes & Equity Real Estate Group is $59 per month and a $195 per transaction fee.  With Homes & Equity Real Estate Group you can compete on a whole new level.  

Although we are a discount broker, we do provide a lot of services to our Brokers.  For our listings we provide:

  • Yard signs
  • Lock boxes
  • Free flyers
  • A Boards for your open houses. 

For your business, we provide: 

  • Free business cards
  • Free web site with IDX feed to the MLS
  • Free continuing education
  • Free brainstorming sessions to increase your business
  • A Managing Broker that is willing to talk with you

You can learn more at our website at: http://www.joinhomesandequity.com/

Call Max Nasab at: 206-719-2694

Five Best Answers to 'When Will Nonconforming Secondary Return?

By

MAY 27, 2014

 

Executives at the recent Mortgage Bankers Association secondary market conference pondered the same question they pondered at each of these shows since 2008: When will a vibrant nonconforming secondary market return?

The lack of consensus, nearly six years after the market collapse, was astonishing.

Some say it could take years, some say it's a matter of quarters. Some think move-up homebuyers in need of jumbo financing could revitalize this market; some say interest yields will have to get juicier. The one common thread is that industry officials clearly remain tentative and uncertain on this issue. Here are five disparate opinions gathered at the annual New York meeting:

Read the entire article at: http://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/blogs/hearing/five-best-answers-to-when-will-nonconforming-secondary-return-1041857-1.html

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Negative Equity Key to Housing Roller Coaster?


Negative Equity Key to Housing Roller Coaster?

Nearly 10 million U.S. households are underwater, and without equity, they can't afford the broker fees, closing costs, and down payments for...





Friday, May 23, 2014

Creative Tricks to Sell Your Eastside WA Home Faster


It is not that easy to sell any kind of property, especially when the economy is down. However, there are techniques you can use to make an easy sale of your item. Aside from placing your item on the list of homes for sale eastside WA, there is so much more you can do to sell it quickly. You don’t have to make desperate measures to sell your house quickly. You just need to be creative and find effective tricks to sell your house fast. Check out some tips below.

Revamp and Declutter

Although you are trying to sell your house, it doesn’t mean the you don’t have to do anything with it anymore. You would want more and more people to actually notice it. Therefore, make it more presentable. You must be able to make a mark on people’s minds. You don’t have to make it look too luxurious. Being presentable is good, but placing something that creates a good impact would actually help. More like giving a good first impression to anyone who sees it.

If there are things in the house that needs fixing, then take time to fix it. You may need to do some repainting or repairs here and there. If repairs are not needed, then you may need to clean up and declutter. Put the things in their proper places. When someone wants to see your house, make sure that the lights are on and the doors to the rooms are open. You may want to make the house smell great too. People will surely love it. You don’t have to overdo everything. Make it look clean and normal, just like every house should be.

Do your own advertisement

You can be more creative and make your advertisement yourself. You can make a video showing your house and what the people could benefit from it. Or you can take good quality pictures of your home and let the people see its beauty. You can upload pictures and videos on the internet, where many people can see it. Then you can let the word of mouth do its power.

Offer the best price

You would most definitely want to get the best deal for your home. You don’t want it to be very pricey or it will end up being stuck in listings and not even sell. Or, you may need to reduce the price over and over until somebody buys it from you. However, this is not a good idea at all. What you need to do is get a good estimate of how much your home is worth and decide on a price you can put up for it.

Hire a real estate professional


Homes for sale Eastside WA has will be easily sold when managed by real estate professionals. These professionals will be able to use their own effective techniques to find the right buyers for you. Aside from saving your time and effort in selling your house, you may be able to get the best deal with the help of the professional. What is important is to find the right person to manage your item. And you can start by looking for them on the internet today.

10 Facebook Dos and Don'ts

Facebook is a great marketing tool, if you use it wisely.

May 2014 | By Graham Wood

Dos

  • Do share personal tidbits about your life. Let people know you have interests outside of real estate. But not even your mother wants to know what you ate for breakfast—unless it was something really memorable.
  • Do visit the pages of your clients and friends, and “like” their posts. Then follow up with a phone call or note that shows you actually care.
  • Do be genuine. Post items that you are truly passionate about.
  • Do make your personal profile somewhat public. Your personal profile will come up higher in online search results than your business page. Set at least half of your items to “public” through the privacy controls so potential clients can actually learn a little about you.
  • Do group your friends into lists. A “Local Folks” list can receive your invitations to local events. A “Clients” list enables you to check in with them easily.

 

Don'ts

  • Don’t post virtual tours on your personal profile. Just don’t.
  • Don’t auto-post from a third party. Your page will look like it’s run by a robot.
  • Don’t self-promote. It’s as much of a turnoff on Facebook as it is in person.
  • Don’t post negative comments about people. It tells others that you might talk about them that way.
  • Don’t forget to log in daily.  To be successful, consistency is key.

Sources:  Leigh Brown, ABR, CRS, RE/MAX Executive Realty, Concord, N.C.; Raj Qsar, The Boutique Real Estate Group, Brea, Calif.; Maura Neill, CRS, RE/MAX Around Atlanta Realty, Alpharetta, Ga.

 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Delayed Funding for Cash Purchase Transactions

Delayed Funding loans are Great for Cash Transactions

 

Did you know that if you paid cash for your home or investment property, you can regain the cash investment immediately after closing?    This means there is no penalty in your 401K as you replace the funds within 60 days. 

 

After closing, the buyer can refinance the property and get their cash back.  This frees up the cash to purchase another property.  This is great for investors looking to purchase properties that cash flow and want to leverage their funds and purchase another home. 

 

The new loan amount can be the actual documented amount of the borrower’s initial investment in purchasing the property, plus the financing of the closing costs, prepaid fees and points.

 

This loan is for your clients that have cash assets and would like to buy a home with cash and then get the cash back.  This moves your buyers into the front of the line on multiple offer transactions. 

 

Ø Primary Residence and investment properties

Ø Cash back off appraised value

Ø Conforming loan limits $417K

Ø Must be arms-length purchase transaction

Ø Max primary home loan to value 85%

Ø Max Investment home loan to value 75%

Ø Maximum debit to income ratio 38%

 

For more information about how this can be useful for you and your buyers, please call:

 

Max Nasab

Mortgage Consultant

206-719-2694

maxn@mortgagemoneystore.com

www.mortgagemoneystore.com

NMLS ID# 112686

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Use this clever little trick to win BIG with paid real estate advertising

Seth Williams Contributor, May 16, 2014

 

With only a split second to catch your customers' attention, marketing must be 'unconventional and provocative'

A lot of people get intimidated by the idea of paying money for Web traffic.

I understand the dilemma. Obviously, every real estate professional wants their business website to have a greater influence and attract more attention online, but it’s not always easy to spend your hard-earned cash on something that isn’t “guaranteed” to generate more revenue for your business.

At the same time, I think it’s important to recognize that in the end, paid advertising really isn’t much riskier than any other method of promoting your website (e.g., SEO, guest blogging, social media, etc.). The fact is, ANY legitimate promotional strategy is going to require some kind of investment on your part (whether it’s time, money or mental energy) without any guarantee on what your return will be. Depending on which resources you currently have the least of (time, money, mental energy), paying money for advertising could very well be the most cost-effective option you have right now.

 

Read the entire article at: http://www.inman.com/next/use-this-clever-little-trick-to-win-big-with-paid-real-estate-advertising/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheFutureOfRealEstateMarketing+%28The+Future+of+Real+Estate+Marketing%29#.U3uPhCjaXwI

 

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

The Nitty-Gritty of Converting Seller Leads


The Nitty-Gritty of Converting Seller Leads

Leigh Brown

Leigh Brown


Leigh Brown, broker-owner of RE/MAX Executive Realty – Leigh Brown & Associates, got down to the business of selling houses during her presentation on leads and listings at the Emerging Business Issues & Technology Forum during the REALTOR® Party Conference & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., last Thursday. She offered three tips for capturing and converting online seller leads that you can start implementing in your business plan immediately.


1. Get your website a “squeeze page.” This is a simple page embedded on your site that allows would-be sellers to opt in for more information in exchange for their contact info. Brown uses primesellerleads.com as her squeeze page host for $59 per month. The page, which asks visitors if they’re selling their home or condo, changes dynamically based on the location of the viewer’s IP address. Brown’s customers then receive a Zestimate on the backend. “I don’t care if you like or don’t like Zillow; that’s irrelevant,” Brown says. “It does give me the best script in the world: ‘I know that the information you received is automated. Your home will have a unique value based on its customized upgrades and location. For a custom market analysis, please contact me.”


2. Set up a geo-targeted Facebook ad campaign. You have a Facebook business page, right? Well, it’s time to take the next step. Go to Facebook.com/ads and set up your custom ad parameters. You can target specific ZIP codes — and be sure to choose an ad photo with a house that reflects that neighborhood. You can also designate education level and age range.  If you want to target move-up sellers/buyers, set your ad parameters for college graduates age 35-45. Brown’s text is simple: “Find out what your [city name] area home is worth. Free home valuation in under 60 seconds.” From there, she handles the lead as she does those from her squeeze page. “My ROI is quite high on this,” she says. Brown spends $10 per ad per day.


3. Call first. Once that seller lead comes in, pick up the phone to introduce yourself, Brown says. Then she’ll send a text. Her third point of contact is a BombBomb video, no more than 10 seconds long, sent via email. In the video, she mentions the lead’s inquiry and offers up her expertise on the neighborhood and property taxes. Brown also sends an auto-response BombBomb to leads that come in after 4:30 p.m. weekdays and on the weekends with a stock video of herself saying she’ll get back to them as soon as she can.





Home Owners Say They Want More Colorful Interiors


Home Owners Say They Want More Colorful Interiors

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine


phpERscTRAM

Photo credit: Sherwin-Williams


Home owners aren’t shying away from using more color in their homes. Nearly two-in-three home owners say they would like to add color in their home, particularly in the living and family room, followed by bedroom and bathroom, according to the National Home Design and Color Survey by Sherwin-Williams, a survey of 1,450 home owners.


Seventy-five percent of the home owners surveyed say they believe a room or area needs paint.


What’s more, one in five home owners say they prefer a colorful paint palette, such as rich and dark or bold and bright.


The hottest hues?


php2cpeNoAM

Photo credit: Sherwin-Williams


One-third of home owners – or about 32 percent – say they prefer color palettes featuring warm neutrals with hints of red, yellow, or brown. Twenty-five percent prefer cool neutrals with hints of blues or greens.


The survey also found some differing color preferences among age groups. For example, home owners 18 to 34 years old tended to say they prefer rich and dark color palettes while those 65 and older tended to prefer soft, light palettes.


 





The New Math of Renting vs. Buying

By

AnnaMaria Andriotis

May 2, 2014 6:17 p.m. ET

Buying a home has long been part of the American dream. But rising prices have made renting less expensive in many places.

People often aspire to own a home for reasons that have little to do with money, and rental options are limited in some communities. Yet owning property can limit your flexibility to move when you want and ties up a lot of your money.

The median sales price of existing single-family homes rose 11.4% in 2013 from the previous year—the highest yearly increase since 2005, according to the National Association of Realtors. Prices in many places, including Los Angeles, Baltimore and Portland, Ore., rose even more last year.

The monthly cost of renting was lower than buying in 20 large metropolitan areas at the end of last year, the most recent period for which data are available, according to figures provided exclusively to The Wall Street Journal by Deutsche Bank. DBK.XE +0.13% that is up from 15 large metropolitan areas a year earlier.

The bank calculates the costs in 54 markets based on average local rents and median home-sale prices, which it uses to estimate monthly mortgage payments for a hypothetical buyer in the 25% federal income-tax bracket.

Renting had been less expensive than buying on average across all the areas Deutsche Bank tracks since at least the early 1990s. But that changed during the financial crisis, as home prices plummeted and interest rates on mortgages dropped. The current rally in home prices appears to be pushing the housing market back toward the historical norm.

The five markets where renting recently became cheaper than buying include some popular cities and suburbs where home prices are climbing fastest: Sacramento, Calif.; Phoenix; San Bernardino and Riverside, Calif.; Austin, Texas; and Northern Virginia.

Buying is still cheaper in 34 metropolitan areas Deutsche Bank examined, including Cleveland, Chicago and Atlanta, though prices rose last year in those areas, as well.

Renting has become more appealing financially than it was at the end of 2012 in places such as St. Louis; Orlando, Fla.; and Minneapolis, though buyers still pay much less than renters in those areas.

Buyers, of course, can build up equity as they pay down a mortgage, which can compensate for higher monthly costs.

Here is what you need to know to help figure out the most cost-effective way to keep a roof over your head. The first step is to understand the arguments in favor of buying and renting.

The Case for Buying

Many Americans see buying a home as an essential step in a successful life, and owning one can bring significant financial benefits.

The most obvious upside is that a home can significantly increase in value. The median sales price of existing single-family homes rose 81% from 1993 through 2013, according to the NAR.

The potential payoff can loom large in a buyer's mind when home prices are going up rapidly, as they have recently. "We've already seen six to seven years of normal appreciation in the last 12 months" in many markets, says Jack McCabe, an independent housing analyst in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Many homeowners also can deduct mortgage interest from their income-tax bills along the way.

In addition, homeowners can tap into the equity in their homes for big-ticket expenses, such as college tuition, at interest rates that can be lower than other financing options—though that can backfire by saddling homeowners with debt they can't easily repay.

Homeowners also don't have to worry about a spike in rents. Jacquelyn Bilton, who is 34 years old, bought a three-bedroom home with a pool in Margate, Fla., in February for $200,000, after her landlord raised her rent 28% last year. She says her monthly housing costs are now about $300 lower.

"I couldn't afford to be throwing money down the drain in rent when I could purchase a home," she says.

As they age, homeowners can enjoy another benefit. If they pay off their mortgages around the time they retire, their housing costs can drop significantly just when they may want extra cash for travel, medical expenses and the like, says Chris Mayer, research director at the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia University.

To be sure, the dream also can turn into a financial nightmare. The collapse of the housing market starting in 2008, which triggered millions of foreclosures, is a vivid recent example of what can go wrong.

Still, owning a home can be well worth it for personal and psychological reasons that go beyond financial calculations.

 

See and download our Rent vs Buying flyers at: http://realestatebrokerconnection.com/sales-materials/

Read the entire article here: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303948104579534230618539424?mod=residential_real_estate&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303948104579534230618539424.html%3Fmod%3Dresidential_real_estate

Help is on the way!

We all need a little help from time to time.  It’s good to have a managing broker that can help you when you need it.  Whether it is sharing lunch with you, or joining the monthly brainstorming meeting, or just answering your questions on the phone, Max is a managing broker that is there for you.  See what our brokers are saying about our managing broker Max Nasab. 

 

Homes and Equity Real Estate is a warm small community where you will feel comfortable and supported.  Max, Renee and Ron are very nice, helpful and professional.

Frank Song

 

Your only costs with Homes & Equity Real Estate Group is $59 per month and a $195 per transaction fee.  With Homes & Equity Real Estate Group you can compete on a whole new level.  

Although we are a discount broker, we do provide a lot of services to our Brokers.  For our listings we provide:

  • Yard signs
  • Lock boxes
  • Free flyers
  • A Boards for your open houses. 

For your business, we provide: 

  • Free business cards
  • Free web site with IDX feed to the MLS
  • Free continuing education
  • Free brainstorming sessions to increase your business
  • A Managing Broker that is willing to talk with you

You can learn more at our website at: http://www.joinhomesandequity.com/

Call Max Nasab at: 206-719-2694

Don’t sabotage your MLS listing: 3 digital mistakes you can correct today

Marketing gimmicks and photo overkill can undermine property's salability

 

Sam DeBord Contributor

Share on twitter Share on google_plusone_share Share on linkedin Share on email More Sharing Services 244

May 19, 2014

Creating a real estate listing and uploading it to your MLS is a fairly routine operation. With so much of the real estate world focused online, though, agents should spend more time strategically looking at the way their listings are formatted. Creating an MLS listing isn't just a mundane task for your assistant, and seemingly innocuous habits that you may have fallen into overtime might actually be undermining your ability to sell the property.

Don't "99″ your way out of a sale

Real estate agents have used the old $9.99 marketing gimmick forever. Newspapers, magazine ads and fliers theoretically enticed more buyers by listing a $500,000 house at $499,999 or some other similarly insignificant lesser price.

That same home, listed online, is actually losing buyer traffic because of its pricing gimmick. The reason is simple, and it should be an obvious reason to never use the "99″ pricing model again.

Online buyers search in zeros. Buyer A searches for homes from $400,000 to $500,000. Buyer B searches for homes from $500,000 to $600,000. That's the way MLSs, portals and agents' websites have set up the pricing parameters. With a listing priced at $500,000, both Buyer A and Buyer B will see the home. Priced at $499,999, Buyer B won't see it.

It's tempting to believe that you'd miss out on only a small percentage of buyers or that most buyers won't set a "lowest price" in their search, but it's simply wrong. Our company has a database of around 10,000 users, and we track their searches on our websites. While there are a few "bargain hunters," the vast majority of users set a fairly tight price range in their searches. They know what they can afford and don't want to waste time looking in a price range that they know won't fit their needs.

Don't let your listing miss out with a $1 gimmick. Ninety percent of buyers are searching online. Price the home the way buyers search.

 

More photos just might mean fewer buyers

We're inundated with advice on how to get more exposure for our listings online. Having as many photos as possible will supposedly increase the quality of our listings. MLSs are expanding the number of photos allowed in listings, often to 25 or more.

Creating the most breadth of digital media for your listing might be a good goal if you worked for a portal. They need more content to drive traffic. Your job, on the other hand, is to sell the home.

If nine great photos are the best way to entice a buyer to visit the home, why upload 25? There are 3.5 bathrooms in the home. You've input that data, but why add a photo of the unattractive basement bath? If a potential buyer gets a warm fuzzy feeling when viewing a half dozen photos of the home's best features, why let that feeling die in the dregs of utility rooms and garages?

It might sound cynical, but you're not in the business of creating the wikipedia of real estate images. You're working for your bottom line and your sellers' satisfaction. Any agent with experience will tell you that a buyer's list of 20 "must-haves" can be cut in half when they walk into the home that just feels right. Creating an inaccurate presentation of the home wouldn't be ethical, but choosing not to focus on a home's less-than-optimal features is just logical.

Limiting the photo presentation you create in your MLS listing allows you to curate the visual experience potential buyers will have online. If you've got 25 great photos, post them. If not, put on your marketing hat, and be strategic with which photos you publish.

 

 

Read the entire article at: http://www.inman.com/next/dont-sabotage-your-mls-listing-3-digital-mistakes-you-can-correct-today/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheFutureOfRealEstateMarketing+%28The+Future+of+Real+Estate+Marketing%29#.U3t9ySjaXwI

Monday, May 19, 2014

What are we really like?

Would you like to know what we are really like?  See what our Brokers are saying about us.

 

Homes & Equity is the most hospitable real estate firm I have worked with. The support is A+ and the owner & staff who are there to answer & help, Do Help and are available. Great experience for the last 4 years. 

Verna Metzger

Your only costs with Homes & Equity Real Estate Group is $59 per month and a $195 per transaction fee.  With Homes & Equity Real Estate Group you can compete on a whole new level.  

Although we are a discount broker, we do provide a lot of services to our Brokers.  For our listings we provide:

  • Yard signs
  • Lock boxes
  • Free flyers
  • A Boards for your open houses. 

For your business, we provide: 

  • Free business cards
  • Free web site with IDX feed to the MLS
  • Free continuing education
  • Free brainstorming sessions to increase your business
  • A Managing Broker that is willing to talk with you

You can learn more at our website at: http://www.joinhomesandequity.com/

Call Max Nasab at: 206-719-2694

Housing Affordability

Housing Affordability

Each month the National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases their Housing Affordability Index. The index measures the affordability of a home based on what a typical family earns. It assumes the borrower has a 20% down payment (80% loan to value) and a "front ratio" or housing ratio not to exceed 25% of gross income. It is based on a typical home at the national and regional levels based on the most recent monthly price and income data.

An index of 100 is defined as the point where a median-income household has enough income to qualify for the purchase of a median-priced existing single-family home. Housing prices and mortgage rates influence the index. Generational low mortgage rates coupled with lower home prices following the housing collapse left the index at an all-time high in 2012. That changed over the past year and a half.

According to NAR, the housing affordability index hit 196.5 in 2012. That means that the typical family earned 196% of the income necessary to purchase the typical house. Put another way, the same family could afford almost twice as much house. Unfortunately rising home prices and slightly higher mortgage interest rates in 2013 caused that number to fall to 175.8. 

Rising housing prices coupled with rising interest rates could continue to dent affordability. Recent data on housing indicates the market is wobbly despite some pockets of strength. Buyers who take advantage of the current situation of low rates and affordable housing are set to secure their financial futures. The future is always uncertain but there is no uncertainty in these historically favorable rates. Now is a great time to take advantage of them.

Be sure you tell your buyers that this is a Great time to buy a home.