The housing boom has attracted a flood of newcomers to the real estate profession. Those that have been downsized, retirees and even people who just want a better life style see real estate careers as exciting, less stressful and offering high rewards.But they soon discover that the real estate profession is saturated and very competitive. It is difficult to break into the market and gain a clientele. Sadly, following the standard real estate formula for new agents usually leads to several years of long hours with low compensation. Most give up and drop out, and their brokers and “established” agents gladly follow up on any leads they may have generated.According to a recent study by the National Association of REALTORS®, rookie agents are working more but earning less. Agents who have been in real estate for two years or less earned an average of just $12,850 in 2004, and most (54 percent) reported working more than 40 hours weekly. This figure dropped from a median income of $27,973 earned in 2002. Conclusion: there are a lot more people in real estate now all competing for the same business. Trying to gain traction strictly through referrals, sitting in open houses, sending out postcards or handing out flyers is a long haul for novice REALTORS.In today’s residential real estate market, the name of the game is getting listings and buyers from all sources. Just “farming” a territory in the traditional fashion is not a practical strategy for real estate rookies. First, there are no virgin territories. Second, rookies must always overcome entrenched competition. To accelerate their success, new real estate agents need to work smarter than established colleagues by leveraging Internet marketing tactics to promote themselves, tap a broader market and to increase productivity.Unless a newbie enters the real estate profession with a captive clientele, he or she is better off taking control of their own business strategy. And the one way that a new agent can distinguish themselves today is by coloring outside the lines. Internet marketing is a proven means of helping new agents to stand out from the crowd. Here are some strong recommendations for a new kid on the block:1. Get you own Website, not a page or subdomain of someone else’s site. Build your site to promote yourself, your talents, your listings and your services.2. Use your Website as the focal point of all your marketing efforts. Everything you do, marketing wise, should be calculated to drive traffic to your Website.3. Make your Website as enticing as possible. Refresh the content often with community news and relevant RSS feeds to ensure that visitors return often. Try a blog – they are easy to implement and generate interesting content. Offer meaningful articles that appeal to potential buyers and sellers (industry outlook for mortgage rates, major “must do’s when selling your home, a summary of local sales, home value trends, etc.).4. Build visibility among the major search engines, so that your site pops up on the first page when someone performs a search for agents in your locality:a. Establish a meaningful domain name that reflects your location and market emphasis.b. Optimize your site for search engines by choosing specific keywords based on your geographical location. Establish proper keyword density in your site content, meta tags, alt tags and internal links.c. Set up a link-exchange program with complementary sites, such as non-competing REALTORS or real-estate-related services. Building external links adds to your search engine ranking and leads qualified traffic to your site.d. Be sure to get listed in the major business and real estate directories.e. Use sponsored search engine listings along with affordable “local search” listings and pay-per-click advertising to boost online visibility and acquire qualified traffic.f. Get a listing with one or more of the popular online “Yellow Pages,” like Verizon Superpages.g. Tap into local free advertising, like Craig’s List.h. Learn how to use landing pages to capture metrics and tweak your promotional activities for optimal performance.5. Use viral marketing tactics, such as placing a “forward to a friend” script on your site and in your newsletter, to gain clients with whom you have had no previous contact.6. Implement marketing tactics to capture sales lead information from Website visitors:a. Start a free monthly newsletter and offer a meaningful incentive to subscribe. Use this as a mechanism to nurture potential clients through “drip, drip, drip” marketing.b. Write or acquire a relevant whitepaper or ebook. Use this as a giveaway to entice new newsletter subscriptions.c. Offer a free “home valuation” service based on local comparables.d. Place “special offers” in your newsletter that only subscribers can enjoy. This will promote viral marketing among friends and relatives.e. Hold an online drawing for a desirable prize to acquire email addresses, and then solicit newsletter subscriptions from the entries.f. If you can afford it, tie into your MLS database so that registered visitors can survey local listings.7. Enhance your productivity by using an autoresponder for newsletter delivery and automated follow-up to inquiries.In short, make your Website the destination for all marketing activities. Even off-line advertising should be designed to drive traffic to your Website. Once there, focus on selling yourself and your services to prospective clients. Differentiate yourself from competitors by presenting yourself as more attuned to today’s marketing methods, tapping more modern and advanced tactics to find the best home for buyers or achieve the quickest sell at the best price for homeowners.Compared to the “old school” of real estate marketing, Websites are 24×7 virtual storefronts promoting products, services and talents around the clock to a worldwide audience. Internet marketing makes your promotional dollars go further and helps you to stand out from the crowd. It also dramatically expands your audience, bringing in clients from around the country and even the world.Rookie agents need to chart their own course to be successful. Don’t be afraid to embrace new methods of marketing your services. Above all, don’t follow the herd. Be different – take control of your real estate career and leapfrog your competitors through aggressive internet marketing!
A Dallas Real Estate Agent is a Must!
You should always let a licensed Dallas real estate agent assist you in finding the very best deals on new homes in the Dallas, Texas Area. This will save you and your family a good bundle on cash.Did you know that there are many new businesses relocating to the Dallas area? If you are one of those business owners that are moving relocating there then you should consider seeking the assistance of a licensed Dallas real estate agent who if able to help you in handling all the errands of your next purchase. Time is defiantly on your side when it comes to buying when you have a professional helping you.If you don’t happen to be a Dallas local and you don’t live around the Dallas, Texas area, it just might be wiser to find a top producing Dallas real estate agent who knows their way around the city. Specifically, knows the better communities that would be of better fit for your lifestyle and family needs. Some of the other perks of having an agent representing you are having the inside scoop on upcoming listed properties that are on the brink of being listed. So many times before a property goes up for sale the real estate agent listing it will know about it. This might help you get a first pick on a great home before someone else has a chance to buy it.With many folks, just like you, relocating to the Dallas area for work and other reasons, having the assistance of an insider can help you tremendously in obtaining the best deal possible on a house that otherwise you may not have even known about. You can get that edge over competing buyers and other agents only when you purchase your next home using the representation of a Dallas Real Estate Agent.Did you know that real estate agents have more access to properties than anyone else? Many real estate agents who have the access to the MLS can find anything from a luxury modern home to a large ranch style home or even a little home at a really low price. For whatever you have in mind there is Dallas agent that is there to assist you.Let’s focus on a very important task that your agent can help you with. Your agent has access to mortgage brokers that are willing to finance your home and the best price and rate. A good Dallas real estate agent can also speed up the approval process by making the necessary calls and guide you through the essential steps of buying a home. They are usually able to write up any contracts related to the sale without the need of a real estate attorney. Bottom line, if you’ve never purchased a home you’ll find that using a real estate agent can make the dull process of home buying seem more pleasant. Don’t miss out on the next great deal and hire yourself some help.Purchasing any real estate anywhere over leasing a condo may seem like a terrifying thing to do. But remember that in the long run you will be pleased with the decision of buying over renting. Don’t hesitate; real estate is on your side.
Why Selling Commercial Real Estate Is Different From Selling A House?
The real estate arena is composed of vast properties. Each considered as an investment but when it comes to its purposes, generates different outcomes. The top two of the most well coveted investment to have these days especially in this unpredictable economy are residential real estate and commercial real estate. Both wise assets to have but are entirely distinct from one another.A home is a private property wherein you and your family can stay in for as long as you wish. It is a shelter and a necessity for every single individual. It is a real estate investment which can be designed to fit the needs of the home owner. Owning and selling a home is considered as an expense you have to maintain as long as you are the title holder of the property. Meaning, you have to shell out money to keep your home up float and in perfect condition. It is not a source of income unless you decide to sell it. Selling a house also depends on the stability of the real estate market; if demand is low chances are your house will be on the home for sale list for a long time. Also, the market value of your house can either increase or decrease.Meanwhile, a commercial real estate is a property that is mainly intended for a place for business. It is an investment regarded as an income making asset to which you as its owner will obtain monthly cash inflow. This is where consumers flock for their basic needs as well as for their whims and fancies. But, the downside of this is that there is a big chance for your business to close down when it is not well received by the market. However, having a good commercial property can be more lucrative than the business itself. Great examples of this are shopping malls and condominiums. These establishments generate income and are a sure hit to people. Selling it is also profit worthy since these types of business-related enterprises increases value over time.The following are some key points that distinguish selling a commercial real estate from a housing property:The Age of The BuildingSelling a building is different from selling a residential asset. Homes that have been around for many years or historical homes tend to generate more home value upping its sale price. But in the case of commercial entities, an office building that is old usually means a lot of renovations needed. This generates a low selling value. Most companies tend to give importance to how old a building is. There are companies who do not mind buying an old one and fixing it up while other firms want a modern building that need not require or needs limited improvements.In DemandWhen you say income generator, it goes to say that whatever the circumstances may be; it still makes money. A commercial real estate investment can be sold to interested buyers in case your family does not want to deal with it any longer or when you wish to move on to another business. Even if a business fails, it can still sell and the new owner can turn it around and make it flourish once again. Also, selling of commercial assets gain a wider scope of audience since selling it to investors or companies who have more money is better than selling to a home buyer.Continuous Cycle of IncomeWhen a commercial real estate is situated in a very promising location or it is located in the middle of metropolitan life, its real estate assessment as well as its ability to produce money is an unremitting cycle. The flow of income goes on and on because it is very marketable to the people. This alone makes it a desirable target especially when you decide to sell it.The Bigger The Size, The Higher The PriceWhen a commercial establishment has square feet that can match the size of five baseball fields, selling it to business clients becomes easier. Most people on the lookout for buying commercial real estate want a place that is big, where they can utilize whatever industry they want to put up.Selling commercial real estate is in contrast with selling residential assets. Learn to recognize a commercial asset’s true value may it be a renowned or undersized property. This way, selling it will help you profitably generate income.