These are the words that my first broker had for me after I closed my first deal. As luck would have it, I was in for quite the ride for my first deal and at times I thought there was no way I could actually get it closed and even worse, there was no one or nowhere I could turn for all of the answers.

It involved foreign terms to me at the time like elevation certificates, flood plains and settlement statements. Most of us who have done this for a while have had transactions where we just thought the changes would never end, but, when my broker told me “every deal was different,” I thought twice before continuing on in my real estate career.

Surely things wouldn’t always be different and if they were, I would never be able to learn enough about how to be a great real estate agent so I might as well quit now!

If you are a new agent, there is no need to have the fear I had. Instead, think of the fact that every deal is different as a blessing. Every new transaction will open up for you new and creative ways to make transactions work.

Even as real estate agents (not brokers) what we are really doing is “brokering” a transaction between a buyer and a seller.

In today’s market, things can often times become more complicated than in the past because of fickle buyers, short sales, foreclosures and wounded sellers who have seen their retirement accounts slide away right alongside the equity in their homes. These situations can make real estate in today’s environment tricky and deals harder to hold together.

Frequently, less than usual situations risk tearing apart transactions that sometimes seem only to be held together by our will. Continue reading this post

Long time AgentEvaluator member, Virginia Cheezum, who has recently been inducted into the prestigious HomeGain Diamond Club, met with me to discuss the changes she’s seen in her market this year (in Virginia), how she’s adjusting her business, how AgentEvaluator keeps her busier than ever — and how it helps put her in the top percent of real estate agents across the U.S.

Listen in as Virginia Cheezum of RE/MAX Allegiance divulges some of her best tips for how to achieve a half million dollars from the AgentEvaluator program.

Hear the HomeGain Radio Clip:

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Home Sales Results by MSA For AgentEvaluator® Subscribers

Earlier this week, MDA Dataquick reported that in HomeGain’s backyard, the San Francisco Bay area, home sales in June had jumped by 20% YOY. Solano County, a long term poster child and whipping boy for the foreclosure crisis, saw a whopping 67% increase in sales during the same time and reached sales levels not seen since August 2006.

The million dollar question is, have things bottomed out?

It’s sure starting to seem that way. Prices have started to stabilize, or in some markets actually beginning to go up as foreclosures are accounting for a less percentage of the total properties sold.

In the recent HomeGain home prices survey, Gillian Goldrich of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Woodbridge, CT noted “Markets are definitely picking up…buyers  are getting off the fence and taking advantage of tremendous buys.” Many of our agents expressed similar opinions as they are seeing declining inventory levels , raising prices and multiple offers.

Looking Back

The first half of 2009 was a memorable one for HomeGain agents as several achievements were reached. We  inducted our second agent (Alan Shafran) into the HomeGain Million Dollar Club for generating over 1 million dollars in gross closed commissions. Seventeen agents were inducted into the HomeGain Diamond Club for generating a half-million dollars in gross closed commissions.

Combined with the dozens of agents inducted into each of our Silver, Gold and Platinum Clubs, HomeGain AgentEvaluator agents used the turbulent conditions to further grow and expand their market opportunities.

Top MSA’s for First Half of 2009:                    Continue reading this post

The wait is over — “Mini Max” has finally arrived here at the Emeryville headquarters!

A few months ago, Max, the HomeGain gorilla, found inspiration from the movie Austin Powers and decided to create a ‘Mini-me Max’ so he could attempt to conquer the real estate world.

Now that he has arrived, HomeGain is using its annual Office Olympics to welcome him to California.

Can you guess how many Mini Maxes are in the bowl?

To kick the event off, we want to ask for your help …

Can you guess how many Mini Maxes are in the bowl?

The winner gets a Mini Max!

(Hint: Mini Max measures approximately 5 inches tall. The bowl measures 17.5 inches in diameter and 12 inches high.)

Contest ends this Friday, July 17th.

Also, as promised, Mini Max will be mailed to the 1,150 real estate agents who completed our home prices survey in May.

Mini Maxes as well as the new Max Bobbleheads will be available at HomeGain Live Nation.

Take a look at the Mini Maxes before they head out the door! Continue reading this post

Here we are, half way through the year almost. Have you looked in the mirror lately?  On a daily basis I receive emails from Realtors all around the world struggling to succeed in this business.  I am a little perplexed at all the emails actually.  As soon as I ask them my first question, though, the answer is clear.

My question is usually something like, “How are you doing compared to your yearly business plan?” or “What are you doing to ensure you have implemented your business plan?”  I always get the same old answer: “Well I don’t really have a written business plan” or “Sure, I wrote my goals down, I always do…what’s an action plan?”

So what seems to be the disconnect between Realtors and running a business?

Firstly, let’s look at yourself.  Do you run your business as a business?  I had a great letter from an Agent of mine this year, it was for me to read to all my Agents.  Anna May has been in real estate for 20 years and has had many successes.  I don’t have the email handy, but I’ll paraphrase it:

Continue reading this post

Home Sales Results by MSA For AgentEvaluator™ Agents

As we wrap up one of the most heated presidential campaigns in recent times this month and constituents everywhere head to the polls on November 4th, voters in towns all over America, worried about the troubled economy, have a major concern.

That is, they still need to provide a roof over their heads for their families, either as a homeowner, renter, or perhaps by residing with family.

Even as we are saturated with doom and gloom in the media and falling home prices , things do not change. Life goes on regardless of the turbulent economy and current housing crisis.

As Realtors, we are here to help serve people with that need, and our help is perhaps required more than ever in these challenging times.

There is still plenty of activity out there in the market, albeit more “tire kickers” than you’ll find in a normal, balanced market. Real estate agents tell me home buyers’ and sellers’ expectations are slowly adjusting to the market in many areas.

Listed here are the top 10 areas for both home buyers and home sellers where HomeGain consumers closed sales during the first three quarters of 2008.

Continue reading this post