by Memphis Real Estate 2.0 - Joe Spake on September 2, 2010
In the ever-changing world of real estate, it seems that more and more real estate “professionals” are taking additional jobs to supplement their incomes. It’s hard to give up those big bucks you make when you finally get a deal to the closing table.
In his post on the 1000 Watt Consulting Blog, The whole world is watching, Brian Boero discusses what could become a trend among recognizable, established real estate brokerages to recruit “dual-career agents”. This is just one factor that further dilutes the public perception of real estate professionals. I deliberately did not use the term REALTOR® here, because the National Association of REALTORS® trade organization has not had a solid position or membership requirement that practitioners pursue a full-time real estate career, and, frankly, they get the same amount of dues from full-time and part-time members.
To the consumers who may be reading this post: Have you had a good experience with a part-time real estate agent you would like to share? Do you know if your agent is/was a full-time practitioner or a real estate hobbyist? Do you care?
Although it’s and advertisement for a company I am not affiliated with, this video tells the dual career agent story brilliantly:
Is your agent doing real estate as a second job? is a post from: Memphis Real Estate Buzz This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are reading this post outside of your RSS feed reader, you are looking at a website guilty of violating federal copyright law. #memphisrealestatebuzzscraper
by Memphis Real Estate 2.0 - Joe Spake on August 31, 2010
Even as I read articles in black and white from reputable sources about resale charges and transfer fees, I am still in shock and disbelief that anyone could attempt to perpetrate a 99 year gouge on property buyers.
The realtor.org daily news updates reports that protest is rising over resale charges, which are transfer fees contractually imposed by home builders and developers of some properties demanding a 1 percent transfer fee be paid to them every time the property is sold for the next 99 years. Could a real estate attorney who doesn’t represent the home builders and developers please explain how this practice could possibly be legal?
The CNN source story for the realtor.org article gives more details.
I invited a stranger to spend the weekend with my family and me. A stranger who was wearing a floppy hat and sunglasses when I picked him up at the airport, unrecognizable from the pictures I had seen. But Patrick Healy was really no “stranger” to me, and once the car door opened, it was like reuniting with an old friend and heading straight to a favorite restaurant, even though it was the first time I had ever met Patrick IRL (in real life). Known nationally as a real estate thought leader, Patrick has been a social media friend for quite a while via Facebook and Twitter, and more recently a collaborator as a member of Telivant’s product council.
There is a lesson to be learned from the stranger’s visit. Social media is more than a real time bulletin board of how we are feeling, where we are, who or what we are photographing, and what we are eating. It’s about engaging with others and sharing a part of ourselves. It’s about building relationships – strong relationships. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable with that concept, but it is happening all around you every second.
Over a very short period of time, social media has become an extension of “real life”. The question for those using or considering using social media as part of their marketing plan: How can I engage with potential clients, re-engage with friends and past clients, and take that engagement to a high level of trust? Social media is a powerful tool, but participation and honest, non-manipulative engagement are requirements for success.
by Memphis Real Estate 2.0 - Joe Spake on August 23, 2010
To paraphrase Forrest Gump: Professional is as professional does.
This post was triggered by a link Rick Rabideau, a Telivant colleague, emailed me: The front page lead headline of The Journal News - Real estate licenses rise 23 percent, an article about the reasons for increasing numbers of real estate licensees in New York. Of course the economy, layoffs and general conditions in the job market have sent many searching for new jobs, second jobs or complete career changes. And real estate seems to be a target job.
The expected rosy comment from the REALTOR®,”We’ve definitely noticed an increase, which we think is great,” said Suffern Realtor Adam DiFrancesco, former president of the Rockland Board of Realtors. “It shows the revival of the market and the profession of a licensed real estate agent as a sound place to hold your career.”
was followed by a revealing evaluation of why so many choose the “profession”: “As the economy has changed, people have looked to see where they can expand themselves,” DiFrancesco said. “Real estate, it is the most affordable business you can open on your own.”
In the same article, Farrokh Hormozi, a professor or economics at Pace University, agreed that “one of the characteristics of a recessionary period is that unemployed people or partly employed people try to kind of reposition themselves in another profession.” So what better “profession” to change to than real estate? Start up costs are actually pretty low compared to other businesses, but not as low as a salaried job would be. Entry is easy; easier in Tennessee than becoming a hairdresser. Just take a course, take the licensing test, pay some fees, find a company to join and you are a REALTOR®, ready to go out and make the big bucks. And if you have that license the companies will really want you to come to work for them, and the local, state and national organizations will be happy to take your dues whether you ever sell any property or not. You will most likely be working on straight commission, so there is a real possibility there that you could make more money as a Wal-Mart greeter than as a real estate agent. And in this we welcome everyone into the big tent “profession” odds are 3 to 1 that you won’t be around to celebrate your one year anniversary.
Self-described as America’s largest trade association, the National Association of REALTORS® doesn’t make a hint at being a professional organization. Oh yeah, there is a code of ethics, and a huge PR machine, and all the appearances that professionalism is the guiding force in the association. A public article on NAR’s website, Careers in Real Estate touts the advantages and rewards of a career in real estate; suggests pursuing higher education courses oriented toward real estate to prepare for your real estate career; then rolls right into the heading “Professional Requirements for a Career in Real Estate“ which states that you basically just need a license to get to work. Now that’s professional
Professional is as professional does is a post from: Memphis Real Estate Buzz This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are reading this post outside of your RSS feed reader, you are looking at a website guilty of violating federal copyright law. #memphisrealestatebuzzscraper
by Memphis Real Estate 2.0 - Joe Spake on August 21, 2010
Just a couple of things I have been thinking about this week:
1. On Wednesday I attempted to make showing appointments on 7 houses. I was denied on 3 of them because the showing was not convenient to the seller. On 2 that I showed, there were spider webs in the keypad area of the key boxes. Obviously the market is slow right now. Considering that showings might be weeks apart, why would any seller who wanted to sell their home turn down a showing under any circumstances? Do they realize that, in turning down a showing for their own convenience, that those potential buyers probably won’t come back for a second attempt?
2. 90% of the calls I have received about my listings this month have been folks wanting to rent the houses. Not too strange on the face of it. But these folks were asking if we took Section 8 vouchers or if we had listings that did. I tried to help those I could by referring them to a property management company, and in a couple of cases, to a loan originator. The take away here: many who are in the market for housing don’t see any difference between renting and ownership; and the questions about Section 8 could indicate a shortage of subsidized housing in this market. Are the throngs of investors in the Memphis applying for Section 8 status, or are they doing well without going there?
Real estate ramblings – what’s going on here? is a post from: Memphis Real Estate Buzz This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are reading this post outside of your RSS feed reader, you are looking at a website guilty of violating federal copyright law. #memphisrealestatebuzzscraper
by Memphis Real Estate 2.0 - Joe Spake on August 18, 2010
For the 33 years since Elvis Presley‘s death in 1977, there has been a fan commemoration at Graceland, with thousands of fans making the pilgrimage to be near the hallowed ground of Graceland and Elvis’ grave. The quiet march by thousands of candle holding fans up the long Graceland driveway on the eve of the date of the death of the king lasts most of the night. Elvis Presley Blvd. (US Hwy 51) is closed to vehicular traffic. I braved the 95+ degree heat, to be a part of this celebration. While I didn’t make the trek up the driveway, I was there to be part of the experience. Here is a short video I put together. I probably greatly underestimated the number of fans in attendance
Over the years, what started as a spontaneous act by fans has evolved into a week-long event, now orchestrated by Elvis Presley Enterprises. Elvis Week is loaded with Elvis related activities. Here are some photos from the vigil:
