Real estate agents should value blogging if they want to develop a perpetual business model based on a specific type of client that is well informed, loyal and trusting.

While it has already been proven that a real estate company can be established solely around a successful Internet presence, most agents new to the web get caught up chasing social media shiny objects before they clarify their true purpose for getting online.

One of the first misconceptions agents make about blogging is that they approach their business blog like it’s an all-encompassing forum to journal their personal thoughts about life or evolution through social media technology.

However, the business-minded industry professionals that are able to keep their online content focused on providing valuable information for clients are actually quite successful at integrating an Internet presence into their daily office routine.

Quick Overview Of The Basics:

Simply put, a blog is just a type of website platform that is designed for the purpose of quickly publishing content to the Internet.

Categories, Tags, RSS Feeds, Page / Post structure, Widgets, Sidebar / Footer Areas and Custom Menus are some of the technical components of a blog that allow a publisher to easily organize their content in whatever manner best suites the needs of their target audience. Continue reading this post

With many markets across the nation weathering a storm of distressed properties, coupled with the potential of a sizeable shadow inventory lurking ahead, many potential buyers are still hesitant to purchase. After all, there are many signs that all the talk about a possible double dip is becoming less of a theory and more of a stark reality.

Most assume that Maui, as a destination location, would be the first to take downward plunges and the last to recover.  However, recent statistics and analysis are proving otherwise.

Year to date sales for 2010 (comparing Jan-Aug 2009 to Jan-Aug 2010), statistics show that residential unit sales have risen by 35%, average sold price by 6%, and total dollar volume sold by a whooping 43%.  Condo sales (with condos being a popular form of ownership in Maui, particularly for those looking to invest in vacation rentals) have increased by 48%, average sold price declined by 9%, but the overall total condo dollar volume sold increased by 36%.

Although I am a skeptic by nature, but these numbers are too strong to ignore.

Furthermore, in July noted economist Paul Brewbaker, former Chief Economist at Bank of Hawaii and currently of TZ Economics, went in great length to explain how lagging indicators (i.e. high unemployment rates) still give the perception of a recession when in reality we have already gone through the first stages of a long-term recovery. As per his statements, first come increased sales volume (which we are experiencing) and then comes increase in sales prices.

Let’s see how the rest of the year shakes out.

So how can sellers thrive while the local real estate market stabilizes itself? Continue reading this post

What has 2700 to 3500 sq. ft of one-story living, at least 2 bedrooms+, at least 2.5 baths, upscale finishes, 2-car garage parking, and a balcony or terrace for outdoor living?

If you live in Bethesda, Maryland…the answer is “nothing”….at least nothing currently available to purchase…and just a few lucky owners are living in the limited number of units that fit this description.

Despite a crying need for luxury “empty nestor” pads in walkable communities, developers in downtown Bethesda Maryland (an urban village in the close-in DC suburbs) don’t seem to get it.

Most condo buildings may have a couple of these high end units, but the majority of the development is devoted to 1 and 2 BR units with a square footage that tends to max out at about 1200-1400 sq. feet.

And the requirement for a “balcony or terrace for outdoor living”? Nope! Developers haven’t gotten the point. You CAN sell outdoor space. Even if it doesn’t “count” as finished square footage of the unit. Continue reading this post

Please give a warm aloha welcome to new guest blogger, Alex Cortez of Hawaii Life Real Estate Services LLC.

Alex is a Realtor® who specializes in high-end property sales in south Maui.  He also contributes to the Bloodhound Blog and BiggerPockets, and is an active participant, sometimes moderator, at Agentsonline.net, Realestateforum.com, and RealEstateWebmasters (REW).

An online marketing and SEO enthusiast, his expertise lies in strategic marketing campaigns and client representation.

We look forward to reading Alex’s posts!

We are pleased to welcome another fine blogger to the HomeGain Real Estate Blog, Tony Sena.

You may know Tony from WannaNetwork.com, a well-established real estate blog for networking real estate professionals, which he founded in 2007, and that has over 100 contributors, including a few who are contributors here on the HomeGain Blog.

Tony is a licensed Real Estate Broker/Salesperson in Las Vegas and has 9 years experience with internet marketing. However, as the owner of North American Realty of Nevada, managing 150 properties (and growing), his real passion is in property management. He is excited to share his expertise and lend advice to the readers of this blog within this field.

Don’t try any funny business with Tony! Prior to his real estate career, he served for 5 years as a Police Officer.

We look forward to having Tony’s insights on our blog. Stay tuned!

The coming FHA reforms will help stabilize FHA’s financial viability. FHA will be allowed to raise premiums. The cap on the maximum annual FHA insurance premium increases from 0.5% to 1.5% and for loans with high Loan To Value ratios, 0.55% to 1.55%. But the real importance is how the reforms will shift liquidity to rental property.

Multi-Family

The bill also increases FHA’s multifamily loan limits for elevator buildings and buildings in high cost areas, helping lenders finance the construction and rehab of rental housing.

Sales volume is up, debt and equity financing are more available and indexes for both sales volume and equity financing registered all-time highs. Apartment market conditions continue to improve across the spectrum said NMHC Chief Economist Mark Obrinsky.

The Politics Of Housing Shifts

Multi-Family is a winner

Liquidity provided by Fannie and Freddie has enabled the apartment industry to build and maintain millions of units, including an overwhelming number of market-rate apartment properties needing no federal subsidies. With the Govt needing to repair its balance sheet, this is the better asset to back.

Rental Markets

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics adds not everyone can or should have a single-family home. After the single family home market collapsed, many began looking at a major distortion in the markets…government support in the housing market is disproportionately larger for homeownership than rental units.

The Congressional Budget Office reported, the government in 2009, devoted nearly four times as much to support homeownership.$230 billion for homes and about $60 billion for multi family property.

Money always finds a home and opportunity follows. Given limited Government dollars, it stands to reason, going forward that liquidity and sales will shift to the rental property arena at the expense of single family homes.