Per the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) course “Local Markets”, glocally means:

• Awareness of the opportunity in your marketplace
• Knowledge of the market dynamics
• Outreach to potential clients, customers and other real estate professionals

Despite the present market conditions, the process of globalization continues to persevere as reported in The National Association of Realtors® report “2010 NAR Profile of International Home Buying Activity” released earlier this year.

At the 2010 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans they recently awarded the largest number of CIPS designations with 460 NAR members receiving the Certified International Property Specialist designation.

The numbers are big; $66 billion of U.S. residential property was sold to International buyers since March 2009. The median purchase price of these properties was $219,400, 26% higher than the overall median sale price of existing homes. 55% of International buyers used cash to cover the full purchase price.

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The freely available information on the internet has done wonders for me and my business.

Online forums, social networks and blogs have allowed me to learn, grow my sphere of influence and grow my business in ways that simply weren’t available 10 years ago.  If not for the internet, I would have been out of this business years ago when my wife had cancer and I had to take care of our first child. Free information led to leads and leads led to clients.

In many ways, the internet has helped new agents to level the playing field against entrenched agents and bigger brokerages because so much information is available to learn and leads available for anyone willing who is to put forth the time and effort with little to no capital investment. Such is the power of the internet.

With all of this information seemingly at our fingertips, we often forget that even the best  and brightest of us can benefit from specific courses taught by other real estate professionals and trainers. I think it is how we can take our business to the next level.

The alphabet soup of designations available to us as agents continues to grow, but a common conversation across the re.net resolves itself around whether or not to even earn some of these designations. Opinions vary on this and I’m not sure how. I just don’t understand the logic that some people have that makes them think that these courses are not worth it.

Some agents think that becoming an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) or earning some other designation isn’t of much value or that consumers don’t actually know what those letters mean so they aren’t really helpful anyway. Besides, many agents naively think they can just learn it for free on the internet. I like free and choose it whenever reasonably possible. But sometimes, you simply need courses taught by more experienced or more well trained agents to learn specializations. Continue reading this post

We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse.

Anne-Sophie Swetchine

For Thanksgiving.

My experience tells me that real estate professionals have done transactions for friends and family for no commission.  This is pro bono service.  Attorneys do the same. But while the attorney Code of Ethics provides for this charitable work, the Realtor Code of Ethics does not.  I think it ought.

I have lobbied for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) to include a pro bono provision in the COE.  The purpose is to recognize that Realtors ARE doing pro bono work.  It will get mainstream media coverage and perhaps help boost the Realtor brand, which has taken a beating over the years.

Even if it never makes it to the NAR COE, consider, if you are able, being a pro bono broker for someone in your neighborhood who is in dire straits. Give and become rich.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Although HomeGain was not an exhibitor this year at the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego, California, we sent our best representative, Max The HomeGain Gorilla, to greet hundreds of Realtors as they entered the real estate trade show over the weekend.

Did you spot the Max-mobile truck? (See photos below) Let us know if you did!

Max-mobile at the NAR Annual Expo in New Orleans

After seeing a Senate vote of 98-0, the House approved the extension & expansion of the home buyer tax credit by a vote of 403 to 12.  The overwhelming bipartisan support was applauded by the NAHB and the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

The new bill extends the expiration of the current $8000 tax credit to first time home buyers purchasing a principle residence.  The bill further expands the credit to include existing purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for the past five of eight years.  Existing purchasers will receive a credit of $6500.

The income restrictions on qualifying buyers have also been increased.  Single filers earning up to $125k/year are eligible for the full credit, and those earning up to $145k/year are eligible for a partial credit.  Joint filers are eligible for the full amount with a combined income of up to $225k, and eligible for a partial if earning up to $245k.

The new law has seen wide support, especially from the real estate blogging community. Continue reading this post

With summertime here, Max decided to hit the surf and cruise around sunny San Diego, California, in a truck that could fit all his surf boards.

By November, when the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Annual Conference is scheduled, Max will be very familiar with the area!

Have you seen Max on the road?

Let us know and you’ll receive a cute and cuddly Max gorilla of your own!

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