Real Estate Market Trends In Houston: What Do They Say To The Sellers?

The trend reports for the real estate market have been out for a while. Each page shows a diverse range of facts, figures, and numbers -all calculated and depicted on graphs, charts, and what not. The information is there. Yet the following conversation will touch upon the concerns of most sellers out there in Houston.

The Difference between "Communicating" And "Using" Trends
After having read the trend reports...

SELLER #1:
"Oh Houston! How good it was to always see you amongst the top five in every real estate marketing category. The Urban Land Institute ranked you 2nd for being the real estate market to watch for; for being the best spot for investment real estate; for being the hot spot for home building prospects and high returns on investment; and for being ranked third on development projects because you've done a great job over the past years. I know I can definitely sell my house as is by confidently asserting my home for sale by owner."

SELLER #2:
"Congratulations, Houston! For breaking your pre-recession records of the house sales last year. I hear that your local housing inventory steeped to 2.6 months. It's great isn't it? Less than half the standard 6 month where the market is considered as balanced. Goes to show how easily I can sell my home fast."

HOUSTON: Thanks very much. How do you plan to use these ranks and figures to leverage better prices or to sell your home fast?

The Trend Excited Sellers

SELLER #1: The trend shows that your (Houston's) market will be a seller's market. I think it means that buyers will be hunting for every property they can get their investments onto. Hence, I'll be able to easily direct potential buyers towards my property and sell my home as is easily.

SELLER #2: I'll wait on the listings so that more buyers can approach me. A bidding war is possible because the buyers have a need to invest in the booming market. Hence, by waiting longer I'll be able to gain a more profitable pricing.

The Leverage Houston's Real Estate Market Is Giving to Sellers - and How They Mess Up

HOUSTON: Dear reader, great market trends have the capacity to excite potential sellers. This in turn causes them to become over-confident and lose focus. Though it is true that a seller's market is more favorable to you, it in no way means that your buyers cannot be picky. A buyer also wants to make a profitable investment and their best bet will to take your price down by being just that -picky.

The current market trends allow you to increase your profit through small changes. It's not necessary to re paint the whole house or re-furnish the kitchen to get a profitable price. But what you must do is to come out clean during house inspections. Have the house inspected before listing it. Repair major systems like plumbing, heating system and air conditioning, the roof, creaking floor boards etc.

In a seller's market, like the current one, you have an upper hand. The buyers are short on property and yours is a good future investment for them. Given that they cannot press you with "so many other opportunities available to them", they will use the small repairs that they might need to make after closing the deal to reduce prices. The price of making small repairs will easily be overshadowed by the returns on closing the deal!



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America's Real Estate Market Trends

Real Estate Market Trends

The median home price hit $506,000 in Los Angeles County in March 2006, climbing above the half million dollar mark for the first time in history. That figure is double what the median price for the area was just four years ago.

The good news for prospective homebuyers in other areas of the country is that a half million dollars can still buy quite a bit of home in much of the rest of the United States. For instance, even though Central Oregon is experiencing a considerable rise in both population and home prices, the median price is lower than LA County, although still higher than a significant number of other areas of the country. For instance, the median price for a home in Bend rose more than 30% in 2005, to $327,500. Another Central Oregon town, Madras, saw a 187% increase in the number of home sales in the first quarter of 2006.

The major force driving the boom in Oregon home prices, as well in Southwestern states and the Pacific Northwest, is an influx of Californians who are selling their more expensive homes and moving to areas where they can typically purchase more house for less money. Another factor is that with increasing values, many local homeowners are cashing in the equity of their homes and trading up to more expensive ones.

Another area that is growing significantly is San Antonio, Texas, where the median price of a home rose more than 9% over the past year to $131,900. San Antonio's real estate market mirrored that of LA County, however, with few sales, even though prices were higher overall. There is also a considerable amount of new home construction taking place in that area, as well.

Some areas of California are booming as a result of skyrocketing prices in Southern California. One of the busiest is the area that includes Riverside, Ontario, and San Bernardino, which has seen an unprecedented increase of new residents from 2000 to 2004, of which and estimated 46,000 were transplants from the Los Angeles metro area.

In the southeastern United States, Florida also continues to grow at a brisk pace, fueled in large part by an influx of former residents of the greater New York City area. In fact, an estimated 41,500 people moved from that area to Orlando, Miami, and Tampa in 2004. One reason the area is experiencing such rapid growth is employment opportunities. The area's employment scene was once dominated by Disney World, but that's no longer the case.



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To Know Real Estate Market Trends Is To Move Ahead In The Game

What is the average number of weeks that a buyer looking for a home puts into the search before finding a suitable new place to live? And, how many homes does he generally look at before a final decision is made about which property to buy?

Real estate industry statistics answer both of these questions with the following home buying information: folks who are in the market to purchase a home will typically conduct their search for around twelve weeks, walking through approximately fifteen houses in the effort to choose the right one.

Meanwhile according to residential real estate trends, 50% of the home buying population is comprised of first time buyers while the other 50% consists of those who have already gone through the process at least once.

What is the age that a majority of people become first time home buyers?

Real estate sales data shows that those who are in their early thirties are generally the clients venturing into the world of buying a home for the first time - an age range that provides plenty of opportunity for these young people to first get settled in a career with a steady salary that will increase with the progression of time, thus making it a much easier task to reach the mortgage payments each month.

Many also choose to marry and start a family as well at this decade in life, thus making it a necessity to purchase a home.

The latest real estate market trend points to the world wide web as the number one resource for seeking out a new home, with 74% of prospective buyers claiming to have sought out the educational content found on real estate information websites prior to beginning the search.

The internet serves the agents in the field in many helpful ways as well.

It is not uncommon for a realtor to own a website for the purpose of advertising his services to the general public in his designated area - which is one of the numerous functions that the internet provides to those in the business.

Social media comes into play here as well for the 84% of realtors using the internet for assistance in furthering their trade.

Sending out Twitter "tweets" about current homes on the market is one way a realtor uses social media to spread the word. Setting up a company page via Facebook, keeping a network of friends on a site such as LinkedIn, and posting industry-related blogs are some of the social media techniques a real estate agent uses when it comes to maintaining his business.

What are some of the real estate agent statistics that describe the people who are responsible for seeing the transaction through from beginning to end for their clients?

To start, the average real estate agent is a female individual working between forty and fifty hours on a weekly basis.

But regardless of gender, real estate agents as a whole share the following characteristics: 29% have attained a Bachelor's degree, 11% have an Associate's degree, and 32% have completed at least a few years of their collegiate educations though no degree was earned.

Although a great number of realtors are members of a real estate firm, 81% of these people still fall into that firm's "independent contractor" employment category.

Many who have made their careers in this field are good at their jobs, as is evidenced by the fact that 65% of past clients say they would re-hire the real estate agent they previously used.

Sometimes a person doesn't want to retain the services of a realtor and would rather try his own luck at attracting potential buyers to his home.

Choosing the "For Sale By Owner" route presents its own set of statistics to the real estate owner.

For example, the most common problem that the person selling his home sans a realtor will run into is not knowing how to arrive at an appropriate asking price. As a matter of fact, 23% of the for-sale-by-owner crowd experiences this obstacle, which leads to being unsuccessful in the overall selling process.

A lack of effort to fix and prepare the house to selling standards is another problem, one that is encountered by 18% of the group. And when a piece of property is not up to par for its showing dates, an owner can expect nothing less than a sub-par offer or in the worst case scenario, no offers at all.

There are not too many people without the benefit of a paralegal or attorney education who can make sense of the jargon that comprises real estate documents. Yet some do make the attempt, which can be more detrimental than helpful in the grand scheme of things.

As a result, 10% of for-sale-by-owner properties do not wind up making it through to the escrow phase right away because the paperwork was incorrectly filled in, specific forms were left out of the package, or signatures were not obtained where needed.

As trends in the real estate market continue to evolve, so too will more statistics be created to illustrate those particular buying and selling patterns.



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Real Estate Market Trends - How To Understand Them

The Market In Your Immediate Area

Most homeowners know what is going on in their general neighborhood. They know about the houses for sale, lease, or when the next door neighbor is remodeling the home. It is pretty rare that you don't know what is going on in your neighborhood but you might not know what is going on in the city as a whole.

These are real estate market trends and they vary from state to state and even neighborhood to neighborhood so trying to keep up with them is a full time job. Real estate investors make sure they know what is going on with the markets and how to best use the trends in their favor. As a current homeowner you can benefit from their knowledge when it comes to the sale of your home. If you are in the market for a home a real estates investor can be a great first step.

Your Home And The Current Trends

You may understand what real estate market trends are and why they are important for selling your home but you may not understand the huge impact that they can have on what to expect for your property. The current market is heavily tilted to supply right at the moment. There is still demand for the homes but it is not enough to keep up with the supply of homes on the market. This can create issues for you and your property. The increased competition can make it harder to sell even a house in great shape. Most people that own a home take care of it but when it comes time to sell it can still be very difficult with all of the other homes that are also in great shape on the market. Buyers have the ability to be picky and demand repairs and concessions which you may have to consider in order to have a successful sale.

In a different time, different market, the seller could refuse these negotiations because they knew their property was in excellent condition. The demand was present for their neighborhood and size of home. This is no longer the case. The market trends are creating a new balance in the current real estate market and if you are the homeowner, you may want to consider obliging these trends. In the past, if you had a stellar property, you could get away with little things but that is not the case anymore.

Being Able To Sell In Any Market

Even though the trends might be working against you it doesn't mean that they have to beat you. With the right strategy you will be able to have a fast home sale and your real estate agent should know the trends and be able to work with you on the best ways to advertise your property. If the trends have a certain look to them you may have to change your color scheme or offer some type of concession for that item. If the current market trend has to do with outdoor entertaining areas you might have to add a fire pit and some outdoor furniture to make the sale. These types of things are not that expensive and if it means selling your home it is probably something that is worth a serious consideration at least. By knowing your market you can help to create the right type of environment for having a successful sale.

While it may seem the trends are constantly changing, you can understand the common trends fairly easily with research. The research can help you determine which of the trends you should adhere to and how to create success for your sale. The science behind trends is merely what people want at any given time and when you are able to understand it, act on it.



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Chicago Real Estate Market Trends for 2012

Real Estate Market Trends

The real estate business in Chicago has always been known for rising and falling as seen in the past few years. Each year has a unique market trend that characterizes it. Several issues do come up in the business. Several factors also determine the market trend for each passing year.

In the current 2012, the Chicago real estate market trends have been on the declining side. According to current reports on Trulia, the entire market trend for 2012 has been declining all over Chicago. There's a decline in the Median Sales for Chicago homes as from January 12 to March 12, 2012. The price stands at $160,750. This shows a 13.1% decline compared to the decrease of 10% seen in 2011.

The Trulia report also says that sales prices in the market have also depreciated since the last 5 years up to this present 2012. Actually, there's a little bit of increase in the average listing price within April 2012. The report holds that the average listing price for homes earmarked for sales stood at $388,423 as at April 25, 2012. This shows a little increase of $2,854 or 0.7% compared to the previews week.

Again, there's also a decline in the price per square foot in Chicago. The average price per square foot stands at $124 as at April 2012. This, shows a decrease of 12.1% compare to what was obtainable on April 2011.

The 2012 market trend for Chicago real estate also shows a concentration of sales on specific neighborhoods. The most popular neighborhoods that are attracting real estate sales include Lincoln Park, North Side, Wicker Park, Loop, Bucktown, and De Paul. The housing market is quite hot in these areas. Investors are busy buying and selling in the mentioned areas.

Meanwhile, there are current trends and news on the Chicago Real estate market conditions. For instance, the US Treasury Department reports that 35% of home sales in Chicago are distressed compared to the 34% seen nationwide. The current May Issue of the "Chicago Tribune" also reports that the current Chicago home sales market is fragile. This is as a result of large number of lengthy foreclosures process times, vacant homes, and low mortgages.

In any case, the year 2012 is still on course. We're yet to hit the middle of the year. Although the current Chicago market trends seem to be on the decrease, experts still hope the conditions will change. The housing market tends to be unstable, while financial uncertainty. The pendulum can swing to any side depending on the prevailing economic situations. There's hope for more investors into the Chicago real estate market. Prices for homes and other properties are expected to appreciate. The future still holds a lot a for the real estate market in the Chicago city.



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Rule Real Estate Technology Or It Will Rule You

Do you ever feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the technology stuff that is out there
to help you grow your real estate business?

Websites, GPS, PDAs, laptops, desktops, bluetooth, automated 800 numbers,
contact management software... The list is endless.

Ever feel like technology actually keeps you from getting things done?

In my travels helping real estate professionals use technology to make more money,
I have found that there are basically two types of people: those who rule technology
and those who are ruled by technology.

The difference doesn't have so much to do with what a person knows about
gadgets, gizmos, websites and the like. That is a difference of knowledge, and
knowledge is something everyone has access to. The important distinction here is
intention - the deliberate decision that you must make about how technology fits
into your business.

Just like a business has no value without a customer, technology is worthless until it
is used for a specific purpose - to reach some goal.

Using technology for a specific, well thought out purpose will help get you to your
goal more quickly and with less effort.

Now I know (as I am sure you do) real estate pros who have built multimillion dollar
businesses without even turning on a computer, but I am not writing for them.

Using technology to boost your real estate business is smart business. So here are
some guidelines to help you make sure that YOU are the one that is stays in control.

====================

#1 Set your goals FIRST. Then use the tools you need to reach those goals and
forget the rest. Who cares what everyone else is doing?

====================

Take for example the cell phone. Everyone needs one right? No. Do you want to be
accessible to your clients at a moment's notice?

Maybe, maybe not. There are plenty of successful real estate professionals on both
sides of that argument.

Set your business goals FIRST, before you let your mind go onto finding the tools
(technology) you will need to reach those goals.

====================

#2 Don't jump in the deep end

====================

If you've never turned on a computer or have little interest in them for your
business, then don't run out and buy the latest one with every bell and whistle
under the sun.

The goal isn't to be tech savvy. The goal is to be productive and make more money
in less time.

Start slow and take small steps. And make sure that your productivity is increasing
with each technology "step" you take.

====================

#3 Learn... and keep learning

====================

Do you read books about real estate? About business? About marketing? Throw
one in every now and then about technology. Or better yet, dedicate some time
each month to get on the internet and read some articles that will teach you how to
use technology in your business.

Never stop learning. Learning is one of your greatest strategic assets.

====================

#4 Get a schedule and stick to it

====================

Do you check your email or voicemail 20 times a day? 10 times a day? Do you need
to? Does it make you more productive or just busier?

Make a schedule for how you relate to technology. For example, you could return
voice messages before lunch and check your email 2 times a day.

The details of the schedule don't matter. Make it however you want. The important
thing is that you have a schedule and stick to it. Your schedule will keep technology
from spilling over into the time you want to be productive.

====================

#5 Understand that most technology is far less than perfect

====================

I really mean this. The next time your computer freezes or your email goes haywire,
don't blame yourself. There is a 95% chance it wasn't anything you did.

For the most part, technology is mediocre. It has bugs, quirks and other problems
that appear at the worst times.

Just accept the good along with the bad and learn as you go.

Stop blaming yourself. You're a whole lot more intelligent than the pile of wire and
plastic that is your computer.

Jason Leister, the Real Estate Technology Guru (tm), is owner of Computer Super Guy, LLC, a Chicago-based technology firm that helps real estate professionals profit with technology.



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5 Minutes to Maximizing Real Estate Technology, A Desk Reference for Top-Selling Agents by John D.

John Mayfield's latest title in his "5 minutes to" real estate agent-broker series is technology. Offering both new and experienced practitioners a functional overview of how technology and real estate consumers have merged to create a new and required skill-set for those looking to grow in the marketplace.

 Mayfield, a proficient techie, pens articles's for the Hewlett Packard's Web site. An added bonus is a ROM that offers sample information from the text version, to illustrate in a technology format, how top producing agents have embraced their clients call for them to be pro-active in blog-sphere, podasts, e-mail, virtual tours and computers.

5 Minutes to Maximizing Real Estate Technology, A Desk Reference for Top-Selling Agents, By John D. Mayfield. Thomson/ South-Western, 2006, ISBN 139780324539271, 0324539274, Paperback, 184 Pages, $29.95 is written and designed to be results-driven.and as a textbook for brokerages to offer as a real estate technology course.


Each chapter offers learning objectives, review exercises and web resources. Photos help both the reader or an educator see the actual computer or web graphic to illustrate one of Mayfield's excellent points. But never does the text get bogged down in tech-speak, something many readers and students will appreciate.

Chapters in this book feature: Which computer is right for you?, Developing a Technology Budget for Your Real Estate Career, Software Applications, New Technology Tools for Today's Tech-Savvy Real Estate Agent, Printing Options, Cellular Phones and Smartphones, Digital Cameras and Other Multimedia Resources, New Marketing Trends in Real Estate, Web Site Tips for Real Estate Professionals, Creating a Paperless Filing System, Folders, Files, and Backing Up, Building the Perfect Database, E-Mail, Using Microsoft PowerPoint, Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts, Technical Help, How to Become a Mobile Real Estate Professional,and Broker Technology Issues. Also included are acknowledgements, a forward, an introduction, a summary and conclusion.

This book is an excellent resource for any agent or broker looking to ramp-up their business technology, without being over-whelmed by geek-speak. Perfect for new or experienced agents, real estate educators, trainers and a must-have for every real estate brokerage's professional development library.



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Real Estate Technology: The Biggest Beneift of Using 800 Number Response Lines

If your real estate technology plan does not include using an 800 number response
hotline with your listings, classifieds, open houses and direct mail, you are wasting
money on your advertising... guaranteed.

*****************************

Just in case you have never heard of a service like this, 800 number response
hotlines (also called IVR Numbers or Interactive Voice Response Numbers) provide
you with an easy way to get information to your prospects. You get an 800 number
and tons of extensions to use with your different ads. For example, with your next
listing you could setup a message at your 800 number at a specific extension.
When your prospects call the number and enter the extension they will hear your
message and you will capture their contact info.

*****************************

Now the biggest benefit of adding a hotline like this to your real estate technology
arsenal isn't that you will have a steady flow of prospects calling YOU for
information about your listings...

The biggest benefit isn't that you will be able to WOW your prospects by calling
them immediately after they call you for information...

And the biggest benefit isn't even that you will be able to blow away the competition
at your next listing presentation by letting your future clients hear the Pre-Recorded
message you have ALREADY recorded for them about their listing...

No, the absolute biggest benefit of investing in 800 Number Response Lines is that
you will be able to stop throwing your money away on unprofitable advertising by
tracking every piece of marketing you put out there with a phone number on it.
Everything will be trackable. Everything.

When your prospects call your number and enter their special extension, you will
know EXACTLY which ad they are responding to. That knowledge is priceless.

It will be like having an invisible hand guiding your marketing decisions... because
you won't spend any more time walking down the dead end path of unprofitable
advertising.

If you find your postcards aren't profitable, you can abandon them or fix them until
they are.

If you find that your open house classified ad is not pulling its weight, you can fiddle
with the headline until the response improves.

There are so many ways to use this technology... the list is only limited by your
creativity.

So if 800 Number Response Lines are so great, why aren't more real estate pros
using this technology?

Well let me ask you a question:

Aren't you just a bit overwhelmed by the number of "systems" that are out there that
are designed to "revolutionize" your business? I know I get overwhelmed just trying
to keep abreast of all of the new ones that are coming out every month. And that's
my business!

You've got contact management systems, mailing systems, prospecting systems,
referral systems... You name it, there is a system for it.

Everywhere you look you are bombarded with real estate technology systems for
this and systems for that. It is no wonder that eventually you get so tired of it all
that you "shut down" and swear off systems altogether.

Now take a hard look at the systems you use in your real estate business and ask
yourself, "Does this system make my business more profitable or does it just make
me busier having to babysit, monitor and tweak it all the time?"

If it's the latter, throw out the system and start over.

A system to track your advertising, however, is not optional for any smart business.
Tracking your marketing will payoff huge dividends in the form of money saved and
more money earned.

800 Number Response Hotlines have been around for a LONG time, but I am always
surprised by the small number of real estate professionals that are actually using
them...

If you aren't using them, you NEED to look into it. Take the time to focus on setting
up this invaluable marketing system. It could be one of the smartest marketing
decisions you make this year.



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Real Estate Technology: Making It a Profit Center for Your Business

Despite the large amounts of time I spend surrounded by bits, bytes and other tech related objects, I am first and foremost a business person.

And while clients, vendors and revenues are important to running a business,
PROFIT is king. After all, it hardly matters what you make. What really matters is
what you keep.

To that end, I firmly believe that if technology is not making you money, then
something needs to change.

It is time that real estate professionals stop shortchanging themselves by viewing
technology as nothing more than a support staff for their business. Yes, computers
are good at automating menial tasks, but they are even more effective at marketing,
selling and generating profits for your real estate business.

In order to transform real estate technology from a cost center into a profit center, it
needs to be promoted from the "administrative staff to the board room." Real estate
technology needs to become a strategic partner in your business, working WITH you
to achieve your CORE GOALS. If it can't do its job, then it needs to leave.

So how in the world do you do that?

The first step is to be absolutely clear about what your goals are. Goal setting can
look very different from business to business, but the important thing is that your
goals are SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE. What EXACTLY do you want to achieve? By
when?

And how will you know if you are on the right track?

Goal setting can take a lot of time, but the payoff to having your target clearly
defined will be huge!

Once your goals are set, you are ready to begin brainstorming about how to use
technology, not to SUPPORT you in reaching those goals, but to PROPEL you to reach
them faster, easier and with more certainty.

Of course the help of an expert won't hurt in making technology decisions for your
real estate business, but the important thing is to make sure that EVERY decision
you make has a clear connection to moving you closer to your goals. As a business
owner, however, YOU have to lay the important groundwork by etching your goals
clearly in your mind.

When technology is completely aligned with helping you reach your business goals,
your real estate business will run more smoothly and create larger profits with less
effort than ever before.

So is there room for improvement in your current real estate technology situation?

Here are some questions to consider:

1. If your current computer systems were an employee, would you fire him?

2. Which does your current technology setup create more of, clients or problems?

3. Is technology pushing you towards your goals or creating obstacles between you
and your goals?

And the most important question of all...

4. At the end of the day, is all of your real estate technology costing you money or is
it making you money?

NOW is the time to consider stepping onto a new path: the path where technology
begins to put money in your pocket rather than take it out of your pocket. This new
path is more fun and a whole lot more profitable.

Jason Leister, the Real Estate Technology Guru (tm), is owner of Computer Super Guy, LLC, a Chicago-based technology firm that helps real estate professionals profit with technology.



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What's Next?: Using Real Estate Technology To Answer The Million Dollar Question

In the July 5 issue of Realty Times, columnist Bob Hunt points out that in California, new real estate agents are popping up at the rate of 6.5 per hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In fact, if you put all of the agents together, their number would make them the 5th largest city in California.

That's a lot of competition.

That means that every night, when you go to bed in California, you wake up 8 hours later with 52 more people competing for a piece of the same real estate pie.

Sure, a lot of them will drop out over the next few years. That's the nature of the business, but that still leaves a lot of real estate professionals out there going after your prospects, your clients and your business.

What's a simple way to make sure you stay a step ahead?

Working harder isn't the answer. Long term, it isn't a very efficient plan and can lead to burn-out pretty quickly.

Plus, there is always someone who will be able and willing to work harder and faster.

A better answer is to work "smarter" and to ALWAYS be asking yourself, "What's Next?"

What does this have to do with real estate technology?

By using real estate technology to automate your business systems, you can help create the time you need to figure out an answer to your "What's Next?" question.

This one question, "What's Next?" is really a catch-all for business building questions like:

-How can I make my service better?

-What new problem can I solve for my clients?

-What were the major problems from my last 10 transactions and how can I redefine or retool what I do to either minimize the chances of those happening again or avoid them altogether?

-What is the promise that only I can make to my clients?

-Why should they do business with me vs. ANY and EVERY option available to them?

-What new niche market can I target?

-How can I improve my marketing systems and improve my conversion rates?

The way you create the time you need to answer these questions and implement the solutions is to automate as many of your other business systems as you can with real estate technology.

Most real estate pros have at least 3 main types of systems:

1. Client Attraction or Lead Generation

2. Client Fulfillment (Doing the transaction.)

3. Client Retention

If you haven't sat down and clearly outlined each of these three main systems, the concrete steps they contain and the results they are currently producing, now is the time to start...

Once you get that done, it is time to automate using technology by using things like websites, autoresponders, 800 lines, mailing list software, newsletters etc.

Let's take your Lead Generation System as a quick example...

The point of any lead generation system is of course to get those who want to buy or sell to raise their hands and let you know they exist. But generally, a good number of those folks won't be top quality prospects for you immediately. The next step is to filter down the results so that you only invest time (your only real asset) into those who are ready to act now... The rest of the prospects get diverted into another system that keeps checking in with them until they are ready to act.

The trick is to get all of that to happen with little involvement from you.

Does that mean that you don't give your prospects quality service? No... It just means that you strike a balance so that you don't spend your time running after opportunities until your systems have identified the "hot" prospects.

So here is a question to ask yourself as you go throughout your day as you "do" each of your business activities:

"Have I done this before? Can I automate, delegate or accomplish this in anyway that does not require my hands on attention?"

If you aren't sure how to use real estate technology to automate your systems, you need to get help.

For once you do, your main priority becomes improving your systems rather than running your business. The systems run the business, you tweak the systems.

All of the answers to the "What's Next?" question then center around improving your systems or creating new ones.

Plus, by developing your business systems and then automating them to largely run unattended, you have just solved a major challenge in most independent professional type small businesses: you have built equity in your business.

Your systems are your business, and that is where the real value is. The better they are, the less of YOU is required. That makes your business saleable, which means you won't be having to work for the rest of your life.

That sounds good doesn't it?

Jason Leister, the Real Estate Technology and Marketing Guru (tm), is owner of Computer Super Guy, LLC, a technology and marketing firm that helps real estate professionals profit with technology.



Tag:-market analysis real estate, how to find real estate investors, real estate forecasts, market research real estate, real estate growth, real estate technology, real estate market trends,leading economic indicators

The Price To Pay For Real Estate Growth

Canada and the United States both rely heavily on international trade and foreign investment for economic growth, and are both major producers of commodities. Because of the fact that they share these attributes, they also share a keen interest in the health of the global economy. So it is extremely important for both countries to focus on how events in the international arena unfold.

Over the past few years, there has been a strong expansion of the global economy. Indeed, the rate of expansion has exceeded the growth rate of global potential output. This strong growth has led to higher prices for many of the primary commodities that North America produces. In turn, this has meant an improvement in terms of trade and rising national incomes in both countries.

This global growth has been rooted primarily in the economic strength of the United States and, by reflection, of Canada. Specifically with regard to the U.S. economy, growth has come from strong household demand, while net national savings have been negative. By comparison, in emerging Asia household demand has been weak, while net national savings have been very high. These forces have contributed to the global current account imbalances that have now become an important macroeconomic concern.

These global imbalances are caused by the large and persistent U.S. current account deficit, which is mirrored by current account surpluses in Asia and in many oil-exporting countries. And these imbalances have grown to the point where the United States needs to attract 70 percent of the world's capital flows to finance its current account deficit - clearly an unsustainable situation.

Additionally, following events such as the Asian and Russian financial crises of the late 1990s and the bursting of the tech bubble earlier this decade, Central Banks around the world have injected a lot of liquidity into the global economy. Clearly, this liquidity has helped to encourage the strong growth in North America of recent years. But now, Central Banks are in the process of removing some of it. The interest rate increases seen to date, and the prospects for more increases to come, have been associated with the slowdown in real estate and a somewhat increased volatility in financial markets, as investors adjust their expectations about future growth. Moreover, the recent revamp of that very old Middle East conflict and the expectations of many analysts of further, substantial increases in the price of crude certainly do not help.

This withdrawal of liquidity is completely appropriate, given that the global economy is now likely not too far away from the limits of its capacity. Thus, it seems very likely that global growth will slow to a more sustainable pace. Ideally, this would take place in a relatively smooth way. But there are a number of risks surrounding this scenario, and there is a possibility that global growth will slow more sharply than desired, to the detriment of the economies in North America. The most important risk has to do with the way global imbalances are ultimately resolved.

There are a couple of concerns here. First, in order to reduce its current account deficit to sustainable levels, the U.S. economy needs to reduce its domestic demand. But as U.S. demand and American consumerism have been a key support for the global economy, it is crucial that other major players boost their domestic demand to pick up the slack. Specifically, it is important that China and the economies of emerging Asia take steps to reduce their savings by strengthening household demand. It is also important that demand in Europe and Japan continue to strengthen, to help global economic growth smoothly 'rotate' away from the United States without global demand slowing too much or too quickly.

Second, it is crucial that real estate and investment markets remain confident that policy-makers are serious about putting the right policies in place to allow for an orderly resolution of imbalances. As long as they have this confidence, markets are likely to continue to function smoothly. The alternative is an increased risk of investment and financial instability in North America, and such instability could then spill over into trade in goods and services, leading to a dramatic decline in global growth.



Tag:-market analysis real estate, how to find real estate investors, real estate forecasts, market research real estate, real estate growth, real estate technology, real estate market trends,leading economic indicators

How Real Estate Growth Helps Create Jobs in Texas

It is impossible to overstate the positive impact of real estate growth on employment in Texas. Below, we look at some positive news stories that chronicle the effect on the job market, brought about by the growth of the industry. If you are in need of employment or are looking for a new challenge, the following stories should prove to be a boon.

Toshiba Expansion Helps Manufacturing Industry

Toshiba International Group has announced that over 100,000 square feet has been added to its existing 55-acre Houston facility. Not only will this result in more employment, the $20 million expansion will result in 100 new job openings. The company hopes to double its existing production capacity and this will have an effect on the power distribution, health care, mining, oil and gas, plus transmission markets.

According to the business unit manager of the Houston complex, Mark Laber, Toshiba's customers are delighted with the existing medium-voltage drive products, which have led to a 'phenomenal' growth in the product line. He expects full production to reduce lead times and increase capacity. Toshiba are known for expanding their operations in Houston and has 1,500 employees in its facility in the city. The latest news is yet another boost to the city's economy.

Construction Work is the Hottest Ticket in Texas

According to the June 2013 Monthly Review of the Texas Economy report, the state gained almost 300,000 non-agricultural jobs with an annual growth rate of 1 percent above the national average. The unemployment rate in Texas is also over 1 percent lower than the national average, when seasonally adjusted.

Virtually all of the state's industries saw a fall in unemployment barring a couple of exceptions and the construction industry is the largest job creator in Texas. The Midland area of the state was the top job producer, closely followed by Odessa and these two areas also have the lowest unemployment rate in the state.

Chevron to Create 50-story Office Tower

Chevron is a multinational corporation that has revenue of over $230 billion per annum, so it knows a thing or two about investment potential. This is why the global energy giant is building a massive 50-story office tower in Houston - a city that many believe is the 'epicenter' of global energy. Chevron has needed to take this action as the vacancy rate of 'Class A' space in Downtown Houston is less than 8%. As a result, the company is getting ready to build a 1.7 million square-foot skyscraper that will solidify the organization's position in the city. It is expected to create over 2,100 jobs in total.

At present, Chevron has a huge presence in the city, hiring over 9,000 employees and contractors. There have even been rumblings that Chevron would switch its headquarters from San Ramon to Houston, such is the array of talent in the area. However, this rumor has been quashed by the company's top executives. At present, Chevron hopes to occupy the building by the end of 2016.



Tag:-market analysis real estate, how to find real estate investors, real estate forecasts, market research real estate, real estate growth, real estate technology, real estate market trends,leading economic indicators

Real Estate Growth in Berlin

Berlin, the capital city of Germany, has become the hottest property investment destination for almost all types of investors. This important and the largest city of Germany has become the center of many activities.

It is a wonderful city for working and living peacefully. The immense growth in Economy especially after 2008, new job and business opportunity, and relocation and migration from the other countries have helped the city in its significant real estate growth. The fact is that not only the native people in Germany are investing in its real estate market or property market in Berlin, but also other major groups, property developers and overseas companies are investing here. This is why the real estate market in Berlin is going through a continuous upward growth.

There are a number of factors, which have prompted the city to become an ideal destination for property development.

Favourable economic environment

Berlin has achieved an upward growth in its economy, especially after 2008. The city has undergone several positive changes due to a very good consumer climate, huge domestic demand, salary hike and new business opportunity and job opening.

High demand of commercial, industrial and residential building

As the statics say, a vast majority of people living here stays in rented accommodation, either in apartments or in residential complexes. Only 14% of the total population have their own homes. This huge demand has helped the Berlin real estate market grow up significantly. Buyers, interested in luxury real estate, consider Grunewald district as an ideal destination for their property investment.

Having an ample scope of business, many commercial activities have started in the city. Many corporate giants, overseas companies and business tycoons have come to open their commercial and operational centers here. Therefore, commercial accommodation in the city is now high on demand.

Besides, the place being well-connected with various parts of the world, many industries have come to the city. Apart from the existing industries, many new industries are coming to the city. Most of them look for industrial building for their industrial set up.

Migration and relocation of people in the city

As many new industries, businesses and companies have come to run their business from the city, many people have relocated themselves in this city. Besides, many new job openings and business opportunities have attracted people in this city. These heterogeneous masses look for their peaceful accommodations. This high demand is also an important factor for its real estate growth.


Tag:-market analysis real estate, how to find real estate investors, real estate forecasts, market research real estate, real estate growth, real estate technology, real estate market trends,leading economic indicators

Recessions Are No Time For Environmentalists to Abuse Laws to Fight Real Estate Growth

So-called environmentalists are constantly using environmental laws to stop real estate projects. Many of the lawsuits are filed on behalf of endangered species, you know like the spotted owl. And since this spotted owl cannot file its own lawsuit some caring citizen plans on doing it for them?

In reality most of these lawsuits are filed by those who wish to block real estate development and have never even met a spotted owl, desert tortoise, or rare endangered rat. Some builders give up and everyone loses, and that is exactly why this tactics is used.

This causes all kinds of problems for those who own property and would like to develop that property, and feel they too have property rights. These lawsuits cost construction jobs, court time, and eventually tax revenues for the jurisdiction where the home, new building, or business was to be built.

Recessions are no time for Environmentalists to abuse law to fight real estate growth, nor are these lawsuits doing anyone any good. During slow economic times building and growth are at a standstill anyway, stopping projects disrupts recovery and costs jobs.

It is so unfortunate how a few, even one individual can prevent a new project in a city. And it is equally unfortunate that we allow one person to destroy the benefits for all, and abuse our laws to do it. Until a city, county or state comes to terms with these issues, we as a society will suffer and thus, we will not have the best that our entrepreneurs and capitalists have to offer.

Of course, maybe we might save that ill-adapted and inadequately evolved rare rat species from extinction for a few more years. Think on this.



Tag:-market analysis real estate, how to find real estate investors, real estate forecasts, market research real estate, real estate growth, real estate technology, real estate market trends,leading economic indicators

A Few Factors Contributing To the Steady Real Estate Growth in Bangalore

Irrespective of the volatility in the Indian real estate market, Bangalore has accomplished a stable growth in real estate when compared to other metropolitan cities. There has been a great increase in people purchasing homes and investing in real estate in Bangalore.

Here are a few factors that contribute to the growth of the real estate sector in Bangalore,

1. The increase in luxury residential projects sprouting across parts of the city increasingly changes the face of the Bangalore. Residential projects by renowned real estate developers in Bangalore are paving the way for high-end luxury living. This has created a growing demand for villas, penthouses, and apartments amongst NRIs and locals.

2. The boom in the IT industry and the relative job creation has accelerated the rate of people moving to Bangalore from other parts of India and globally, for work. This has increased the demand for real estate developers in Bangalore to offer state-of-the-art residential accommodation for the growing populace.

3. One of the most important factors encouraging real estate growth is the expanding of manufacturing hubs across major districts in Bangalore.

4. The Metro lines that are functional or still to start across various parts of the city have added to the infrastructural strength of the city, resulting in the growth of Bangalore's realtor market around the areas that are well connected, even adding to the prices of these properties.

5. Bangalore accommodates several reputed and ranked educational institutions across the city. Students move to Bangalore for the further education, which is coupled with ample of job opportunities in IT and other favored industry, leading to a steady demand for apartments in Bangalore.

6. The housing provides a good return on investment especially in the posh localities like Hebbal, Indira Nagar, Hennur, Yelahanka and Whitefield areas. These places have seen the highest demand for luxury residential property and its growth.

7. Infrastructural growth, the mushrooming of malls and places of entertainment and areas of interest around the city has made it a preferred location for buying property. Places that are prime locations in Bangalore have seen a steady rise in top builders in Bangalore competing to create luxury homes with convenience at an arm's length.

8. The property prices in Bangalore have not reached their peak compared to all major metropolitans. This creates an affordability for people to invest into new and upcoming residential projects by reputed developers in Bangalore.



Tag:-market analysis real estate, how to find real estate investors, real estate forecasts, market research real estate, real estate growth, real estate technology, real estate market trends,leading economic indicators