1. We’ve really built nothing new (or nothing much) for five years. Inventories of new houses are way down and little is planned for the near future.
2. Millions who navigated a short sale and went into rental housing will be re-entering the market.
3. Many millions of ‘fence-sitters’ will flood the market when a tipping point of confidence and activity occurs.
4. Lenders are becoming increasingly rational, more predictable, more systematic. They are slowly becoming workable again.
5. Prices have stabilized in most markets and actually risen in some. Cue the trumpets! Buyers tend not to buy when prices are falling. They tend to return to the market when prices begin to rise.
6. Investor activity in the lower price ranges is fairly frantic, and has been for some time. Multiple offers and bidding wars are common. Investor’s always signal the bottom of the trough. They come out first – consumers follow.
I think 2012 is going to be a whole lot better than 2011, and I believe 2013 could be a break-out year.
At Help-U-Sell, we love Patricia Boyd. Her consumer advocate approach to real estate finance is a perfect match for our own consumer oriented program and she’s already brought great value to our new relationship. Patricia is the founder of Real Finance Solutions and has spent almost 30 years working with Realtors to increase their understanding of mortgage financing so that they can help consumers make good decisions. Recently, the National Association of Realtors brought her ‘Certified Real Finance Advocate’ training program into Realtor University.
The training program consists of two video lessons delivered online and upon successful completion of an exam, results in a certification of the participant a cRFA. What’s important though is the quality of information that is delivered in the program and the ongoing support and education cRFA designees receive. They have their own website that keeps them updated about new programs and changes, regular coaching sessions and networking opportunities.
In this business, we are all about VALUE. Value is what bring to real estate transactions. It is our commodity. The only reason any consumer would ever choose to do business with you (over someone else) is that they perceive the value you bring to their situation. Knowledge of finance and the ability to use it to make transactions happen is an essential part of our value package.
Help-U-Sell folks: you know what I’m talking about. You’ve heard Jack Bailey work with buyers to create a Real Estate Plan and you have swelled with pride and admiration at how he brings his vast knowledge to the task of solving real problems. With the cRFA program, you can begin to develop that same kind of expertise, that same depth of value.
Patricia recently teamed up with TurnScor, a credit repair company that approaches the process a little differently. They provide software to participating real estate brokers who then offer it to consumers for free. Consumers work through the software on their own, repairing or improving their own credit scores. This is a superior solution for real estate professionals because they’re saving their customers the often substantial fees most credit repair companies charge and they are not handing their customers off to an outsider who may or may not support the original relationship.
As a broker I think I’d make TurnScor a part of every initial buyer consultation. Credit score will absolutely impact the quality of financing the buyer will be able to achieve, and even the buyer with a 700 FICO could benefit from raising it to, say, 740. I think I’d also use it with sellers who will likely be buying something else.
Here’s a novel idea: why not give TurnScor to everyone on your CI list for the Holidays? It will certainly be perceived as valuable.
NOW, HERE’S THE COOL PART:
TurnScor usually costs $199 a month (with no contract) and a $99 setup fee. For the month of December ONLY, new signups are at $149 a month and the $99 fee is waived. PLUS!! Patricia will throw in her full two course cRFA certification program – which usually sells for $199 – FOR FREE. If that’s not a bargain, I don’t know what is. Here’s a link to Patricia’s flyer with all the details (be sure to go to the TurnScor link and watch the Demo): Real Finance Solutions System
Here is a short video with Patricia talking about the power of the cRFA program:
The Canadian franchisor who operates the Real Living network is buying Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services for $110 million.
When I read that the first thing that struck me was the price. $110 million? Really? For 1,700 offices? That’s less that $1,000 per franchise!
HFS bought Century 21 in ’96 for $200 million.
They bought Coldwel Banker the same year for $710 million.
Heck, in 2004, they bought Southebys’ 1oo offices for $110 million!
Everybody knows Pru never made a dime on the real estate side of their business and after 20+ years of operation, they have a brand that the consuming public still does not equate with real estate. But $110 million? Really? What am I missing?
It’s holiday season and everyone is full of cheer, good will and, well . . . eggnog.
We’re buying each other gifts. Retailers are rejoicing with their own version of the spirit of the season: the door-buster sale. Not that it’s all been candy canes and sugar plum fairies; we’ve already had a crazed pepper spray shopping incident and a couple of tramplings at Walmart . . . and I don’t know when I’ve seen more offensive, even hostile driving. But all-in-all, it’s a wonderful season.
So . . . while you’re picking out just the right tie or bathrobe for someone special, I have a challenge for you:
I double-dog-dare you to also do something ridiculously nice for a stranger and do it anonymously. Want to kick the holiday spirit up a notch? Try dropping a little unexpected niceness on a total stranger’s head! They will be on cloud nine and so will you!
I’ve ‘paid it forward’ like this a few times but my most memorable experience was when I was the recipient of a stranger’s random act of kindness. I was driving North from San Diego into Orange County for a business meeting. I was running a little late so opted to take the toll road that runs through the hills above Laguna Beach and Newport Coast. At the time it cost about $2.50, but when I pulled up to the toll booth, the attendant explained that the person who passed through before me had paid my toll . . . just for the heck of it. Now, you think maybe I had an awesome day? You bet I did! And I bet he or she did, too!
This is coming up tonight because a friend passed on a list of kindness ideas to me. I have no idea who wrote this wonderful list so I can’t give credit; but I wanted to pass it on to you to stir your thinking. Which of these would you do? Or do you have a different plan? Either way, I’d love to hear from you. I keep wondering how many more smiles I’d see if I secretly did something nice for somebody every day . . . and maybe the idea spread!
Send someone a hand-written note of thanks
Buy a lottery ticket for a stranger
Feed someone else’s parking meter
Put some coins in the vending machine with a note to let the next purchaser know
Give a compliment about your server to his/her manager
Send someone a small gift anonymously
Pay for the drinks on the next table at a cafe
Give up your seat for someone, not just an elderly person
Have a ‘normal’ conversation with a homeless person
Leave a treat for your mailman in the box
Send a thank you note to someone who helped you in the past
The following message was in my voice mail yesterday afternoon. It made me so happy I just had to share it:
(Click the Phone – and then use the back button on your browser to get back here!)
Isn’t that wonderful! What Maruine is so excited about are the new Help-U-Sell Banner Stands that are ON SALE right now through our new print-on-demand vendor, The Alexanders. These beautiful, big signs are printed on vinyl and come with a lightweight, easy to assemble stand. They are impressive, and great to have in your office, out front of your office (with sandbags or something else to keep them from blowing away), at home shows or anywhere else the public is apt to see them. Here are photos:
To investigate further and to order, go to The Alexander’s Help-U-Sell Website: www.brandsawonline.com/helpusell. And thank you, Maurine for sharing your excitement!
(Click the Phone – and then use the back button on your browser to get back here!)
