Here is today’s list of top real estate posts of the day.
1) How screwed up is Bank of America? – The stories on the banks messing up on these foreclosures seem to be never stopping. Here is another one where the bank decided to foreclose on a house and take the goods inside. Even though they were not the lien holder on the house.
2) Will Getting A Loan Modification Hurt Your Credit Score? – Foreclosures and short sales are not the only thing that can damage your credit. Loan mods could have a negative impact too.
3) Use your Business Cards Effectively: Direct People! – There is somewhat of a point to what he is saying, but that is easy to say for me and Josh Aberson, but if your name is Ruth Griffith or John Smith, it is a little harder. And I also want to make sure they know I am easily found on social media so I list all my social media platforms on the back. And if they are driving down the road and want to see a house, I want them to pull out my card and call me, not the agent on the sign so I make it easy. But I get his point.
4) The Lowest Mortgage Rates of 2010 Will Be Locked In March And April – Mortgage rates have to go up they cannot go any lower, we have been hearing it for a solid year now. Dan Green thinks there may be about another month and a half left.
5) Foreclosure Inventory Is Increasing – With numbers going up will banks slow down again on the number of foreclosures they do to keep inventory lower?
6) The Advantages of Presenting and Receiving Offers In Person – It is harder and harder to do these days with the amount of foreclosures, but that is a local thing.
7) What Will You do for Success in Real Estate? – Choosing between work and down time is always a difficult choice. I like John tend to pick work right now.
8) Are You B. F. D. or Delusional? Take The Scrape The Label Test. – This is one of those posts you need to read 2-3 times to digest it, but you should!
9) 10 Commandments when preparing to apply for a mortgage. – Short and to the point, more people should listen to number 10.
10) Have you heard the one about the lawyer & the shark? – Lawyers and Realtors, she is right, we have so much in common. Both not held in the highest of regards, until you need us.
Here is today’s list of top real estate posts of the day.
1) Brokers: embrace difference, love the eccentric – Marc Davison of 1000watt Consulting talks about what he would do if he was a broker, right down to the restroom in his office. The key, being different.
2) What’s wrong with Private Transfer Fees? – While all the comments on this post agree with the author, I differ. Private transfer fees are annoying and should be done away with. Add the fee into the cost of the house and that is real disclosure.
3) The Art of Negotiating – Don’t let principle get in the way.
4) Higher Foreclosure Sales Expected By 2012 – Oh goodie-goodie, foreclosures will continue for another two years!
5) Revisit Your Circle of Influence and Revive Your Real Estate Business – Great advice for new agents and seasoned veterans, get to work on that sphere.
6) The Foreclosure Epidemic – A Discussion with Alex Charfen – Ok I am going to put aside my feelings on the CDPE program and Alex Charfen for a minute (and no John, there are better programs out there) but I love his look at foreclosures in this video. He explains why it appears foreclosures may be slowing down right now, but they are really not. 1-in-6 mortgages in this country are late. Just let that number sink in.
7) Do We Believe in the Millenials? – People currently between 18-30 are Millenials, how will they effect the future or real estate?
8) The Good Side of Loan Modification’s Failure, A Buoyant Foreclosure Market – Now here is someone reaching for a silver lining. Interesting take on the good side of loan mod failures.
9) Are Real Estate Stats Where It’s At? – Short term results, but interesting perspective on adding stats to your site.
10) Blog Carnival of Real Estate – My First Time to Host! Winners Announcement – The Canival is back in town.
1) Learn by Doing, Exercise 2 for Real Estate Investors – How to Sell – Want to practice your sales techniques? Here is an interesting idea, a way to practice on Craigslist.
2) Does the Realtor’s Code of Ethics Prevent Real Estate Agents From Serving Their Clients? – Great post, something I admit I struggle with on a regular basis. How do you answer that question from the out of state buyer when they ask, is that a safe neighborhood, or is that a nice neighborhood, or would you put your mother there? You can’t.
3) RUMOR: First American offers up to 40% rev share with MLS providers – The part I find most interesting is the rumor RPR may go around MLS providers and get their data straight from brokers. Sit back and grab the popcorn, this is going to be interesting to watch.
4) When Miami Beach Condo owners listen – Look at these pictures, staging can make such a difference, yet not really cost much money at all.
5) Agents of Change – Is there a week that goes by without a good discussion on Redfin and their model? I recently talked to them myself and what struck me was their overwhelming emphasis on customer satisfaction. Everyone says that is what they are all about, but with them, that is how you get paid.
6) You Can’t Get Your Mortgage News From A Newspaper. And Here’s The Proof – Dan Green does a number on a mortgage column in the business section of his newspaper.
7) Loan Modification Horror Stories, What Are The Lessons? – If you are going to try to do a loan modification please do your homework. Check out the long term results of loan modifications and see who they really help in the end. And double, triple check any company you may work with and have them provide a list of a dozen clients who worked with them over a year ago to see if they are still happy.
8) FHA Streamline Refinance: Is It Still Possible? – If you have an FHA loan that is currently over 5.5% it may be time to look at a streamline.
9) Dallas RainCamp – Internet Marketing Class For Professionals – New to blogging or just intimidated about setting up your first real estate blog, RainCamp may be for you.
10) Alternatives to the Apple iPad for Tablet Computing – I have been struggling to hold off on the iPad. By this fall I will have a tablet for sure, I was wishing I had one last night when I was printing off all my MLS sheets for today’s showings. But there is some good stuff coming down the road that may be worth waiting for so I can avoid ATT’s network.
