Author: Luigi Frascati
Source: articleage.com
While real estate syndicates are formed for a variety of reasons, the typical reason is to create a tax shelter. More specifically, the purpose of a Real Estate Investment Trusts or REIT is to reduce or eliminate corporate income taxes. In the United States, where they are generally more widespread as investment vehicles, REIT pay little or no federal income tax but are subject to a number of special requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code, one of which is the requirement to distribute annually at least 90 percent of their taxable income in the form of dividends to shareholders.
The first REIT was introduced in the United States in 1960. The vehicle was designed to facilitate investments in large-scale income-producing real estate by smaller investors. The US model was simple, enabling small investors to acquire equity interests in vehicles holding large-scale commercial property. In order to ensure that REIT are widely held, they must have at least one hundred shareholders, no five or fewer individual shareholders can own more than 50 percent of the equity value of the REIT’s shares, and the REIT must be managed by one or more trustees or directors. At least 75 percent of the gross income of the vehicle must come from real estate related sources, and at least 95 percent of the REIT’s gross income must come from real estate related and other passive income sources.
To maintain competitiveness, many REIT have distributed in recent times among investors all or even more than their annualized earnings, often resulting in dividend yields comparable to bond yields. This is not, however, a practice that can be sustained for long even during times of appreciation of real capital assets and market values, much less when values are dropping. In fact, if an investment company such as a REIT distributes more than its taxable income, the excess distribution is considered “return of capital” for tax purposes, which is taxed to the individual investors as a capital transaction, rather than regular income. The end result is, therefore, that the distribution requirement may hamper a REIT’s ability to retain earnings and generate growth.
Because of this, the shift to privatization is driven by the realization that private buyers will pay more for the company than stock market investors will. In addition, rising costs of being publicly-traded companies are another factor enticing REIT to pull out of the stock market. And finally, being private gives Real Estate Investment Trusts a freer hand to reach out for deals in an increasingly competitive market. The reason is that public companies find it very difficult to grow through acquisition, as investors invariably do not justify the risk of development alternatives. The combined power of reduced expenses, consolidated pools of capital and abating real property values are exactly the perfect recipe for making a kill in real estate – and they are doing it!
The inverse relationship between interest rates and prices of REIT’s shares plays a role as well. On average, it is safe to assume that interest rate increases are likely to be met by REIT’s price declines in the Stock Exchange, because increasing rates correspond to a slowdown in the economic growth and less demand. But out of the context of the frantic buy and sell of Wall Street, even slowdown in the market for single-family houses can actually benefit REIT. This is so, because even though real property prices are in decline, it is still cheaper to rent than to own, especially during a period of rising interest rates. And REIT thrive on rentals. No city is a better environment for REIT to operate in than New York City, where some 70 percent of residents rent.
Bottom line is that the privatization trend has taken off this year, and that it is likely to continue for the next foreseeable future. For a list of the Top 100 US REIT, visit http://www.forbes.com
/2006/02/15/real-estate-REITS-cz_sf_0215reits.html?partner=msn
Luigi Frascati
Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.
Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.
Author: Real Estate Pros
Source: articledashboard.com
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
The city of Coronado is located in Central San Diego County within the state of California, USA. This 13.5 square mile community is situated on a peninsula that looks more like an island. Access to this community is available via the Coronado Bay Bridge, by water ferry, or by highway 75.
Coronado lies within the 92118 Zip Code. There are approximately 34,471 residents in this Zip code and 12,387 households. The median age of the population is 35.16 years.
TEMPERATURE
The temperature in Coronado is relatively moderate. The warmest time of year occurs in August during which temperatures reach an average high of 71ฐF. The coldest time of year occurs in December with average temperatures falling to 57ฐ F.
HOME AND REAL ESTATE PRICES
The housing options in Coronado include single-family homes, condominiums, townhouses, and apartments. The price of housing is as follows:
ท One bedroom townhouse or condo starts in the high $500,000
ท Two bedroom townhouse or condo starts in the high $600,000
ท Three bedroom townhouse or condo starts in the low $900,000
ท Three bedroom single family house starts in high $1,100,000
ท Four bedroom single-family home starts in low $1,1200,000
REAL ESTATE MARKET TRENDS
As with most products and services in the United States, price shifts in the real estate industry are subject to the forces of supply and demand. Whether it’s a buyers market or a seller’s market, it is useful to evaluate home sales data for the most recent month available (June 2006), compared against the same period in the previous year.
The median price of single-family homes jumped from $1,570,000 in June 2005 to $1,775,000 in June 2006, which represents a 13.1% increase. While homes sold faster in June 2006 (92 days) compared to June 2005 (105 days), overall, fewer homes sold in June 2006 (15 homes) than in June 2005 (21 homes).
The median price of condominiums and townhomes dropped from $1,052,500 in June 2005 to $784,500 in June 2006, which represents a 25.5% decline. Moreover, fewer units sold in June 2006 (6 homes) than in June 2005 (18 homes). Homes also took longer to sell in June 2006 (82 days) than in June 2005 (63 days).
Homebuyers and home sellers should keep in mind that the data above is simply a snapshot in time. Therefore, the data must be evaluated over a longer duration to understand enduring market trends.
SCHOOL INFORMATION AND COMPARISONS
The students in Coronado are served by the Coronado Unified School District. These students undergo annual testing to evaluate their academic performance. The results of these tests are combined by the California Department of Education into a composite score known as the Academic Performance Index (API), which has a range of 200 to 1000. The statewide goal for schools is to achieve a score of 800 or above.
Based on the most recent data available as of July 31, 2006, the two elementary schools in Coronado performed above statewide goals: Coronado Village Elementary (API = 919) and Silver Strand Elementary (API = 866). Coronado Middle School earned an API of 872 and Coronado High School had an API of 838.
Author: Kimberle Balsman
Source: download
The business of buying and selling real estate can be quite lucrative. The lure of high commissions is certainly enticing, and leads aspiring real estate entrepreneurs to believe that it’s easy to make a lot of money in real estate. Yet, the reality of selling real estate is very different.
The truth is that more than 80% of real estate commissions are earned by less than 20% of real estate agents. Furthermore, nearly 80% of all new real estate agents fail. These statistics are certainly discouraging and usually enough to give most people pause. Nevertheless, the excessive appreciation of home values over the past several years drove many vacillating individuals to take the risky plunge into real estate, hopeful that they, too, would rake in thousands of dollars in commissions in the booming real estate market. Then, the market started to cool, a natural fluctuation in the cyclical real estate market.
I’ve heard it said that the hardest part about a career in real estate is passing the real estate exam. I would have to respectfully disagree. The real estate business is a 24/7 enterprise. Thus, the only way to truly succeed in real estate is to eat, sleep, breathe and live real estate. As far as I am concerned, sacrificing your family, friends and personal interests is by far the hardest part about a career in real estate.
In the grand scheme of things, I spent a miniscule amount of time pursuing a career in real estate. I found, after little more than a year, that I simply did not want to devote my entire existence to real estate sales and promptly redirected my efforts elsewhere. My Aunt learned the same lesson in approximately the same amount of time. I would be remiss, however, if I did not play devil’s advocate and share with you that those few persistent and committed individuals who resisted the temptations of everyday life have, indeed, made and continue to make a substantial income from real estate.
So, if you are convinced that a career in real estate is your destiny, consider the following facts before you make the leap.
A real estate career requires a significant investment in money, as well as time. Regardless of your state of residence, the real estate commission will require you to pay fees to take the real estate exam. But, before you can even take the exam, you will be required to take a real estate course designed to prepare you for the exam and your career. (Note: not all states require the course, though most do). The cost of the course varies, but averages approximately $250. The exam usually costs in the neighborhood of $100, which varies by state. Thereafter, assuming you pass the exam, you must pay a licensing fee for your state’s licensing authority to issue your license to you. Once you become licensed, you will usually be required by your hiring broker to join your local association of Realtors. I paid in excess of $400 annually to join. Depending on the agency you work for, you may have to pay licensee or agency fees, which are usually a few hundred dollars. In order to get started marketing yourself as an agent, you must have business cards (upwards from $75 for a starter box) and other marketing devices (car magnets, listing signs, mass mailings, etc). Remember, too, that this is the Internet age. Therefore, a computer is essential. Most agents I worked with, myself included, used laptops. Some invested in desktop systems that, of course, had to be left in the real estate office.
After all of the initial start-up costs, there are ongoing expenses like self-promotion marketing and fuel. Right now, with gas prices as high as they are, I doubt struggling agents can scarcely get ahead. I once spent an entire day touring more than 14 homes with a potential buyer who expressed urgency in finding a new home and claimed to have cash readily available for the purchase. Despite all my efforts, he went home to “think about” the homes I had shown him, and I never heard from him again. I traveled several hundred miles that day alone. After being skunked several times, I finally landed my first listing and closed it in relatively short order. At last, I had a commission check. And, just like a teenager who earned her first paycheck and wondered who the devil FICA was, I looked over all the agency deductions and realized just how small my checks would be relative to all the hard work I had to put into each transaction.
All things considered, I was mildly successful as a new agent. I grossed more than $2 million in sales in my first few months. Sadly, however, after spending more than a year preparing for and developing my real estate career, my earnings from those sales yielded me income of little more than $11,000. Once I deducted all of my expenses for that same year, I netted very little income. Such is the life of a real estate agent.
It’s important to note, however, that each agency has its own fee and commission schedule. Some realty companies are required to deduct a franchise fee that is passed on to the franchisor (i.e. Century 21, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX, etc.). In addition to franchise fees, some agencies keep as much as 50% of its agents’ commissions, plus a fee for malpractice insurance coverage, ostensibly in exchange for valuable services and paid marketing. Other agencies keep very little of your commissions but require its agents to pay all of their own marketing and office expenses, including desk rental fees (which can exceed $2000 a month in some areas).
Unlike other business enterprises, the amount of time, effort and money you pour into your business does not directly correlate to income earned. As I mentioned above, an agent can spend many weeks or months with a buyer showing property and working with lenders to qualify that buyer for a home loan. Sometimes the buyer will finally complete a transaction. Sometimes he will not. Likewise, agents regularly spend months showing their listed properties to prospective buyers and searching for other qualified and interested buyers. In the end, a sale may close or the seller may decide to terminate the listing and, perhaps, list again with another agent. So, a new agent must learn the valuable lesson to never count on any commission until the transaction has completely closed. Things can and do go wrong, often at the closing table. Unfortunately, some of my fellow agents, anticipating a closing, would make purchases against the uncollected commissions, which occasionally resulted in a serious financial crises for that agent.
One final word of caution for would-be real estate agents – real estate litigation is on the rise. I know of several very good agents who became unwitting defendants through no real fault of their own. Rather, dissatisfied or remorseful buyers elected to target their agents instead of admitting their own carelessness or haste in buying a questionable property. That is not to say that some agents are not justifiable defendants. Indeed, there are an abundance of disreputable agents who methodically deceive their clients to ensure a commission. The deplorable fact is that lawsuits follow deep pockets. Real estate agents are generally considered to be wealthy, though this is certainly not applicable to all agents. Therefore, they are becoming more frequent targets for both legitimate and frivolous legal actions.
As with any career, there are rewards as well as drawbacks. Real estate agents are nearly always classified as independent contractors, which affords them greater autonomy and control over the direction of their business than ordinary employee-employer relationships. For many, that single advantage is sufficient to offset the drawbacks of a demanding real estate career.
I hope I have offered an enlightened view into some of the realities of real estate sales as a career choice. Though a career in real estate sales certainly does not appeal to everyone, some agents I know wouldn’t have it any other way.
Kim Balsman, a former licensed Century 21 agent and Realtor, grossed more than $2 million in sales in her first few months as a Realtor. Upon moving to Colorado, Kim gave up her successful, albeit brief, real estate career to pursue her true passion, photography. Kim’s diverse background includes real estate, law, interior design, photography and writing. Kim now devotes all of her time to writing and photography. She owns Balsman Photography, LLC, a small, professional studio in Colorado’s Front Range. Kim and her husband, Bob, have two teenage children and enjoy all the many aspects of living in Colorado.
Author: Brandon Bruce
Source: articleage.com
With over 30,000 residents, Jacksonville in central Arkansas is a thriving city that offers many opportunities for both longtime residents and newcomers alike. About 20 miles from the state capital of Little Rock, the city is expanding in many ways. The population is growing, and with it is the number of real estate opportunities. The increasing number of Jacksonville real estate listings includes both homes and commercial properties, and you are sure to find the property you are looking for if you take the proper steps.
Real Estate Help
To help you sort through the countless Jacksonville real estate listings, you may want to enlist the services of a real estate professional. There are many real estate agents in the city who are available to help you no matter what you are looking for. Your real estate agent can provide you access to a wider range of listings than you would be able to find on your own. Realtors can help you sort through your options and find the properties that best meet your personal and financial needs. Your realtor can also help you in a number of other areas of the real estate purchase process, including negotiating prices, closing deals and taking care of any legal matters that may arise with a real estate transaction. The help of a realtor can prove invaluable, especially if you are new to the Jacksonville area or if you have little experience in the real estate market. Even those who have been through the process before can benefit greatly from a realtor’s help, as market trends and other factors are changing rapidly and you will need someone to keep you up-to-date on the current markets
Jacksonville Fast Facts
While browsing through Jacksonville real estate listings, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind about the city. Your realtor can provide more detailed statistics, as well as school and employment information.
Jacksonville’s population is mostly under 45, making the median age below the state average.
The median home value in Jacksonville is around $75,000, making it an affordable area for many people.
However, many homes in Jacksonville can value well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, so individuals and families of all income levels can find what they are looking for in the city.
Being only 20 miles from the state capital allows Jacksonville residents to have access to all the amenities of the city, including the University of Arkansas campus.
Jacksonville is home to Rebsamen Medical Center and is in close proximity to other hospitals and medical centers, as well as a number of airports.
The sheer number of Jacksonville real estate listings can be overwhelming, but you can allay some of your stress by doing thorough research into all of your options and by taking advantage of all the resources made available to you through your local real estate agents. Whatever kind of property you are looking for, you are sure to find it in the southern city of Jacksonville.
Inside Real Estate in a network entirely devoted to real estate information. Our staff of nationwide writers has provided a library of over 25,000 real estate articles. Inside-Real-Estate covers several topics from the basic “how to’s” of real estate to city specific real estate information.
Author: Melissa Chappell
Source: ezinearticles.com
Following the addition of Brazil onto the international real estate investment scene, no end of interest in the region has been generated. Brazil tends to check all the boxes as a suitable property investment and holiday home destination. It even appears that the travelling distances are overlooked by many buyers, as the tropical paradise location is worth the effort to reach.
For investors the low priced property, consistently strong capital gains and high rental demand are all rolled into an idyllic setting. Brazil has tempted many prospective buyers over recent years and long term growth and interest in the market shows no sign of slowing. The additional benefits of the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2014 FIFA World Cup only add to the growth and demand for investing in the country’s real estate market.
The Brazilian government is encouraging foreign investors, especially into the stunning North Eastern coastal regions such as Natal. As Brazil has a strong economy with the potential to become a world superpower, the country is not reliant upon foreign real estate investors for economic stability. The active encouraging of foreign investment brings an additional touch to the friendly nation.
The use of a solicitor specialising in the Brazilian real estate market is highly recommended. While not a legal requirement, the additional security and easing of the purchasing process is invaluable. The lawyer will work with the buyer throughout the purchase, tracing a procedure in the following manner for an off-plan or under construction property.
Once the property to be purchased has been sourced, a reservation deposit of approximately
Property Investing Overseas provides unbiased information on portfolios and international markets within the global real estate sector, ensuring clients receive full knowledge prior to entering any property investment purchase. Visit our partner site at Property Investing Brazil.
Author: Ken Fong
Source: ezinearticles.com
A real estate auction works pretty much like any other type of auction. It does not matter if the property is owned by the seller, or a government auction of foreclosed property, auctions are an exceptional way for selling and buying property fast, with the prospect of receiving a great deal.
There are typically three forms of auction used in a real estate. They are Absolute Auctions; which is where the property is sold to the highest bidder regardless of the price this is a no reserve auction. Minimum Bid Auctions start at a minimum bid, which is declared before the auction starts. Reserve Auction is where the minimum bid is private the seller sets the minimum bid that he is willing to sell the property for. The auction goes on like there is no minimum, but if the reserve price is not met, there will be no winning bidder.
The ways which these auctions are executed can differ depending on the kind of property, and the way in which the seller desires to auction his property. These include Sealed Bids which is where bids are mailed in to a specified place before the opening of bidding. Bids cannot be changed once the bidding has opened, and the property is given to the highest bidder. Nobody knows what anybody else bid, so you bid the amount of money you are willing to spend to win the property.
Public Auction is the most common form of auction, this is where bidders register to bid and bring the bid deposit to the auction. Bidders bid on the property which is run by an auctioneer once the bidding is over the highest bidder is given the property.
Auction by Mail is where bid deposits are mailed to the appointed office and bidders are able to raise their bids by mail, e-mail, fax, on-line, or in person. The auction lasts a few days, and the high bidder is awarded the property when bidding stops.
On-line Auction is where the bidding is done online and the highest bidder at the end of the auction wins the property.
Ken Fong
Real Estate Articles
Author: Thomas Lloyd
Source: articlesbase.com
While Playa del Carmen Real Estate has been home to a significant international community for a few years now, Tulum Real Estate has just recently begun receiving an increasing amount of international attention. Tulum MLS listings will display a wide range of possibilities, including condos and homes, but more than anything, there are many land options available for property buyer wishing to build in a budding international community. The international focus on the Tulum and Playa del Carmen area has recently been reflected in a recent visit from journalists from England and Poland, who visited the area’s main attractions. From England, there were representatives from the publications such as “Khaleej Times,” “International Life” and “Wanderlust Magazine,” while Poland’s reporters represented “Mice Poland,” and “Event Map.” “Khaleej Times” is the largest newspaper in the United Arab Emirates also circulating in England, and has a travel section published weekly. The profile of its readers is an international, highly educated public, with a strong interest in travel. “International Life” has a focus on luxury, with an annual income of 70 thousand pounds. The reporters of these publications focused their visit on spas, parks, eco-tourism, as well as the restaurants and food. Among the sites visited by the British journalists were Xplor, Rio Secreto, Xel-Ha Mayan Encounter tour, which includes a visit to the archaeological site and community of Coba. They also participated in a snorkeling tour in Akumal, a walk down the famous Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen, and dinner in a restaurant Maroma Paradise, and the restaurant Negrosal. The host hotel visitors were the Aventura Spa Palace, and In Fashion Boutique Hotel. From England representatives of the publication “Wanderlust Magazine” also visited the Tulum and Playa del Carmen area. The magazine is aimed at independent travelers, and enjoys a strong reputation in the UK. It has over 100 thousand readers in more than 112 countries. Wanderlust Magazine organizes a photo contest for its readers, and this year Mexico participated as the “Destination for 2009;” the winning couple visited Tulum and Playa del Carmen area as a place characterized by its concern for the preservation of natural resources and natural beauty. Wanderlust Magazine’s journalists were in the park Xel-Ha, Xplor, and Xcaret, and paid special attention to Tulum, visiting the archeological site in Tulum, Mayan Encounter tour conducted by Alltournative, and the attractions of Punta Venado. They also got to know the “Shambala Petit Hotel,” located in Tulum. In Playa del Carmen, they went for a wallk down Fifth Avenue, and visited the seventh annual Jazz Festival. The Polish journalists also visited many of the same location. Mice Poland is published monthly, and published the information collected in a column aimed at describing places to hold events and reasons to visit. The “Event Map” review focused on your article in the description of this tourist destination and its culture. Real estate in Playa del Carmen has already made evident its appeal to international property buyers, and the community offers all of the attractions mentioned plus many more to blended international community from North America, Europe, and many other places in the world. Tulum Real Estate, on the other hand, is just beginning to present its benefits to the world. International press attention such as this shows both visitors, and future residents, that Tulum shares close proximity to the activities of the Playa del Carmen area, as well as its own, beautiful Mayan pyramid site overlooking the ocean, and a growing, luxury resort industry, which will offer excellent tourism infrastructure to the real estate community. Property buyers who review Tulum MLS listings, and invest in Tulum land during in the near future will see themselves growing with a new, international community.
Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. A Mexican Certified Realtor he is the current president of mls4rivieramaya, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546.
Author: Mark Goldberg
Source: articleage.com
If you have been doing your due diligence in the investment real estate market in Florida you’ll hear about many good opportunities in the market as well as some rumors of a mysterious real estate bubble crash. While investment real estate opportunities are selling faster then ever before a few people believe that US real estate market will all the sudden lose all it’s value and all of the world’s real estate investors investing in Florida will go broke due to over development. While it is true that at some point real estate investing opportunities in Florida will cool down it’s highly unlikely it will bust and actually go down in value. Where and how do these rumors start? I’ll go over a reasons I feel fuel this rumor mill.
1. People Can’t Believe It – This is probably the biggest factor when people talk about the Florida (i.e. Orlando, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale) investment real estate bubble popping is people just can’t believe it’s going so well. It’s natural for people to think that because something is doing well that it is going to stop soon but in the florida investment market there are many large corporations spending a lot of money estimating how long this market will continue to grow. There are many factors to look at when your guessing how long a market has for growth and the experts are predicting at least another 5-7 years of steady growth in Florida.
2. The Profound Expert Factor – These people take every opportunity to say the exact opposite of the status quo and try to make themselves out as intellectuals that think outside the conventional box. These experts are not just in the investment real estate industry they’re everywhere and as long as there is a sure thing that is common knowledge there will always be someone saying the opposite in hopes to make a name for themselves.
Example:
“Although it APPEARS that on average people are living longer I think in a few decades people’s life spans will decrease due to the fact we drink more diary then are bodies were designed to… ” – A Profound Expert
The truth is in every industry you have people that are going to say the exact opposite of what’s happening and calling themselves gurus in the process. Just another part of life.
3. It’s Not the Investors Talking – You ever notice that most of the people that give real estate advice don’t actually invest in real estate themselves? I always chuckle when someone with no real estate investing experience explains the future of my industry to me. It is always very dramatic with huge twists and un-expecting turns. I’ve been in the real estate investing industry for more then 19 years now and I’ve seen very few expecting turns. Truth is that most of the investors know when to buy and when to sell and it’s these weekend warriors that get slammed with the truth months later when they read about it in the local paper.
In the Florida investment real estate industry the changes are usually slow and avoidable as long as you are with the right brokerage that stays current with the market.
4. Agents Eliminating the Competition – If your job is selling investment real estate opportunities to investors are you going to encourage competition into your market that may result in you getting less clients? Of course not, real estate agents are very aware that the more agents in the business the less sales they get and unless you’re working for in a firm they own so don’t expect accurate real estate advice from these agents.
Look at it this way, if you’re “friends” with a real estate agent he already looks to you as a lead, this is how a real estate agent makes his living. If you get into the real estate industry you (and your friends) are no longer leads and actually competition.
5. Investors Eliminating the Competition – Now imagine you’re a real estate investor and buying preconstruction real estate opportunities in Florida and it’s becoming harder and harder because of all the new investors entering the market. Do you really want to start telling other people that florida investment real estate properties are very profitable right now? The answer is no, almost every serious investor I have met keeps their investment opportunities to themselves unless they profit from it.
Investors are businesspeople first and foremost. If you’re not paying them for their advice chances are it’s not solid advice. I remember investors that were very willing to give out super secret stock tips as long as by you investing in the stock made their shares go up.
Remember, the most expensive advice is always the free advice.
If you’re looking for the truth behind Florida investment real estate opportunities feel free to visit our site or give me a call directly.
Goldberg Executive Realty Group
Mark Goldberg
Phone: 1-866-247-2259
E-mail: GoldbergRealtyGroup@cfl.rr.com
http://www.investrealestate101.com
Author: Jeff Crossriver
Source: ezinearticles.com
Most real estate marketing plans conjure up ways to get to as many potential candidates as possible. After all, part of marketing a property for sale or rent is about also coming into contact with future prospects that you could do business with. But adopting a “come one come all” approach may not be the best practice for you in the long run. Your goal is to come into contact with the right kind of prospects and having to constantly deal with bad prospects can be a real drag on your business. There are some things you can put into place at the front end as you design your marketing program that can save you big time.
Educate Your Prospects Ahead of Time – This is one of most important things you can do to improve your marketing efficiency. You can’t blame prospects for asking a lot of questions and wanting to see the property if you haven’t given them any information to start with. Simply by placing good content about your property at their disposal, your prospects will be more than happy to evaluate their fit with your property on their own. Sometimes you risk losing a prospect that really was a good fit because you never had the chance to point out why. But overwhelmingly, you will find that prospects having no business dealing with your property will filter themselves out automatically and that is far better than the risk of losing a one off prospect.
Set Up a 24/7 Pre-recorded Message – This low tech and low cost technique could turn out to be your very best friend. Have your ads or brochures funnel prospects either to your website presentation or to a pre-recorded message. On the telephone message you will present the best aspects about your property, including the key benefits to the listener, in a safe low pressure environment. A lot of prospects prefer getting property information remotely without having to deal with a sales person. This is great news from your point of view. You get to shine by carefully scripting out the very best things your listener should be aware of, without any competitive noise interfering with your message. Your pre-recorded message should be approximately three to five minutes long and should tell them exactly what you want them to do at the end of the message.
Ask Prospects to Participate in an Online Survey – This is a good way to get some advance information about a prospect to help you evaluate their fit for your property. This is typically done through an online website referred to as a Landing Page. Visitors to your website are presented with a minimal amount of information and offered a FREE REPORT if they fill out a short survey. The survey asks them questions regarding their preferences about real estate such as what amenities they would like to live by, how much they would be willing to pay for extraordinary property features, or how long they expect to stay in their next residence. Whatever important information you feel can help you filter your prospects without appearing overbearing can be included in a short 5 -10 question survey.
Prepare a Video Tour of Your Property – This is the perfect vehicle for giving prospects a visual feel for your property before coming over for a viewing. The video tour will be placed on your property website and does not have to be a professionally produced piece. You can quickly put together a great looking video at a surprisingly low cost using Microsoft PowerPoint and a voice over narration. You take the time to script out the story ahead of time in a fashion that points out all of the important benefits of the property to the viewer. Screen capture applications such as Camtasia Studio will record your slide presentation and voice over and convert it into a movie you can upload to your website on the fly. This will make your prospects happy because you gave them an opportunity to wrap their arms around what you have to offer without making the effort to visit the property. It should make you happy that unqualified prospects that have no business wasting your time will filter themselves out before ever giving you a call. As is the case with the pre-recorded telephone message, you have the opportunity to pitch your property message in a focused environment without any competition watering down your message.
The above techniques are but a few of the things you can do in advance to make your real estate marketing as efficient as possible. Your goal is to educate and persuade the best prospects and to filter out those prospects that are a poor fit for your property. Figuring out how to do this remotely without your personal involvement allows you to focus on the most productive aspects of your marketing plan. When you interact with a prospect that has been educated and already has enthusiasm for your property, you can focus all of your efforts on the close, which is the ultimate goal of real estate marketing.
Author – Jeff Crossriver has been marketing real estate for over 20 years. Get FREE video training on his breakthrough real estate system for Marketing Real Estate at http://www.VanquishYourVacancy.com.
Author: james kahn
Source: articlesbase.com
It was 1876, in Philadelphia, when the first title insurance company was founded. Prior to that, there were no such thing as legal forms for title insurance to real estate, or other kinds of property for which title insurance would be appropriate. Before title insurance, there were conveyancers, who had the job of individually searching titles or abstracts based on what was found in the public records. This was done to determine legitimate ownership of property. There were, however, no insurance to guarantee the correctness of the search, and the protection from mistakes, or information not found in the records. After WWll, along with the astronomical building activity of new homes for returning servicemen, the title insurance industry became a national business, although, still centered on the local community. It is interesting that Philadelphia was the center of the newly formed title insurance industry. As is well known, Philadelphia was the location of the first federal capital of the United States, before it was later moved to Washington D.C. which at that time, was not developed. Philadelphia was nation, and a stronghold for liberty. The liberty bell, and Independence Hall, the location of the signing of the early founding documents of the nation, are popular places to visit in the City of Love. Since then, an uncountable array of legal forms have steadily grown in abundance and especially in the real estate industry, where there is a legal document required to be completed in each step of the process in acquiring and selling real estate. From the simple days of early Philadelphia, to the complicated days of today, the nation has crossed many paths, and encountered many boulders on the path, but the nation has made it this far, and is destined for much further expansion, and continued unfoldment of real estate activities. As every real estate agent, and mortgage lender checks off each step completed in the home buying process, one step that has to also be checked off today, and in fact is one of the first steps prior to the day of settlement, in which all parties of the real estate transaction have completed their requirements, is the title insurance company information. Title must be cleared. The records are searched going all the way back to early American history, and in some regions, this includes the Spanish haciendas when Spanish controlled part of what is now the United States. The old title records are a historian’s treasure of valuable information, and a necessary document that a real estate agent must check off before submitting the file to the broker, and the mortgage company.
James is a leader in writing about legal forms and agreements that may assist you when you are in the search of the right legal document. He writes many articles about forms ranging from, real estate forms, power of attorney forms, landlord tenant forms, and most any legal form that you are searching for.