I have to be honest. I hated the Real Pro Systems old blog format. It was embedded so far into the website, I doubt search engines ever found the blog posts and as diligently and regularly as agents would blog, it didn’t seem to get them any results. Well that has changed!! 

Real Pro Gold websites now have snippets of each blog post on the Home page which provides fresh content that search engines just love. Using the correct keywords and meta-tags, you should see remarkable improvement in your search engine placement. Mind you this will not happen overnight or if you only blog once a week. But with effort it will happen! 

Real Pro Gold and Twitter

Another new feature you will be excited about is being able to submit your blog post to Twitter with the click of your mouse. Yes, you do have to have a Twitter account set up, but after that, tweeting is a piece of cake. 

If you have not heard of Twitter and don’t have a clue what I am talking about…you are not alone. Contact me. As your Real Estate Virtual Assistant, I’m glad to help.

Follow me on Twitter!

There has been so much confusion over the first-time home buyer tax credit being used for a down payment, real estate agents don’t know what to believe. Here is the latest news in an article from Realtor Magazine dated May 21, 2009:

HUD: Homebuyer Tax Credit Loans Still on Track
News reports that the federal government is backing away from its plan to permit eligible borrowers to monetize the first-time homebuyer tax credit are off the mark, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says.

“The technical details are still being finalized and will soon be published in a mortgagee letter and posted on our Web site,” Lemar Wooley, a HUD spokesperson, told REALTOR® magazine Wednesday afternoon.

Under the guidance that’s under development, state agencies and other HUD-approved entities would be able to provide short-term bridge loans that households could use to help with their downpayment. The loans would be repaid with the proceeds from the households’ federal tax credit.

The loans were announced on the opening day of NAR’s 2009 Midyear Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C., last week. In his announcement, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said guidance would be issued shortly.

When the guidance is released, it is expected to cover eligible lenders and set parameters for loan terms and repayment.

Source: REALTOR® Magazine Online

You can’t say real estate isn’t interesting!!

Real Estate News:

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Real Pro Systems is a fabulous product…don’t miss out on these great prices!!

Of course, if you need help with your Real Pro website, as your real estate Virtual Assistant, I’m glad to oblige!

Now that you have learned the basics of tweeting on Twitter, Why Tweeting On Twitter Is Good For Your Real Estate Business, its time to learn about some of the not so obvious features to make your tweeting life easier.

1. Advanced search.

Twitter likes to hide some of its best features, such as the ‘Advanced Search’. Scroll down to the bottom of any Twitter.com page. Click on ‘Search’ then click on ‘Advanced Search’. Here you can search specific people, date ranges, places and phrases.

2.  Tweet by texting.

Twitter limited tweets to 140 characters so they could be sent as a short message text service (S.M.S.). When you login, go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Devices’ and add your phone. The Twitter interface will add buttons next to each user you follow so you can turn update on or off. You’ll want to use this feature sparingly so you don’t run up your bill.

You can tweet form your phone by texting a message to 40404.

3. Twitter/Facebook integration.

If you use both Twitter and Facebook, You can add only one status update and have it go to both networks. Go to Twitter.com/widgets/facebook and click on ‘Install Twitter in Facebook’ and work your way through the configuration.

This will work in both directions, but it is a good idea to send your tweet to Facebook. It takes fewer steps and you know you are within your 140 character limit.

4. Favorites.

Want to save a tweet? Mouse over it and a star-shaped icon appears. Click the icon and it will link to Favorites on your Home page.

5. Share photos.

You can’t send photos, but you can send a URL for a photo hosted on a website. TwitPic will store your photos and create the URL. Go to TwitPic.com, use your Twitter user name and password and upload your photos. Share your photo by going to the photo page on TwitPic and tweeting from there.

6. Desktop apps.

Instead of going to Twitter.com to send tweets, you can use a desktop app which is more like using AOL Instant Messenger.

For Windows users, Digsby displays Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and your email accounts in a long, tall window. Mac users will want Twitterrific.

TweetDeck works on Windows and Macs and displays in multiple columns.

7. Phone apps.

There are numerous apps for smartphones. Try Twitterberry for Blackberry devices and Tweetie for iPhones. These applications make it easy to post photos from your phone.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Learn how a Real Estate Virtual Assistant can change your life!

“Why is Tweeting on Twitter good for your real estate business?”  you ask. Because that is where the people are!!  Twittermania began last month when Oprah ‘tweeted’ for the first time. For the week ending May 9, HitWise ranked Twitter.com as the #6 social networking website. All those young ‘20 and 30 somethings’ who are first time home buyers hang out there. Like all buyers, they want to know you and trust you before they do business with you.

The next question most people ask is, “What is Twitter?” Twitter is a micro-blog that allows posts of no more than 140 characters. As with other social networking sites, Twitter is not the place to sell, sell, sell and jam real estate down people throats, but a place to be yourself, be real and let people get to know you. Can you slip real estate in there once in awhile, sure, but don’t make it all about real estate. Camouflage your business related info and have some fun.

So how do you get started? Below is a Beginners Guide to Twitter to help you out:

1. Sign up.

Go to Twitter.com, click on the large green button that says, ‘Get Started – Join!’

Enter your name, user name, password and email address. Pick a user name that isn’t too cutsey. You want people to know who you are, but using your real name is better than sellyourhomefast.

2. Send your first tweet.

When you log in you will see a large box in the top left corner that says, “What Are You Doing?” Type anything you want here but don’t go over 140 characters.

3. Settings.

Click on? Settings in the top right corner and personalize your account. Add your photo and other information about yourself.

4. Find people.

Search Twitter for your friends, invite other to join, and check to see if friends from other email services have a Twitter account,

5. Follow users.

You choose who you want to follow. Click on the user’s photo or name to go to that person’s page. There is a list of suggested users to get you started.

6. Protect your updates.

You can protect your updates by only allowing people you approve to follow you. It is a good idea not to put anything on the Internet you don’t want your Mother to know about.

7. Search

Click on the ‘Search’ button at the bottom of your screen to search all tweets on Twitter like you search on Google. You can also bookmark search.twitter.com.

8. Notices

Twitter can remind you if you haven’t tweeted in less than 24 hours, email you when someone starts following you, and email you when you receive a direct message (private message just to you).

9. Apps

There are numerous Twitter applications so you can easily find out what your friends are doing. TweetDeck puts a widget on your desktop so you can follow tweets without logging in. It shows you everything you want to see all at once. There are lots more you will want to check out.

Consider jumping on the bandwagon and being where the action is. My user name is ruthannmacklin…I’d love you to follow me!

Don’t have time to set up a Twitter account? Contact me at info@myreassistant.com. As your real estate virtual assistant, I’m glad to do it for you!

Alex Charfan of the Certified Distressed Property Institute (CDPE) reported on the 4th Quarter (2008)foreclosure statistics put out by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Take a look at the numbers:

All Mortgages
3.30% in Foreclosure
7.88% in Default (30+ days late)
11.18% Total in Default

Prime Mortgages
1.88% in Foreclosure
5.06% in Default (30+ days late)
6.94% Total in Default

Subprime Mortgages
13.71% in Foreclosure
21.88% in Default (30+ days late)
35.59% Total in Default

FHA Mortgages
2.43% in Foreclosure
13.73% in Default (30+ days late)
16.16% Total in Default

VA Mortgages
1.66% in Foreclosure
7.52% in Default (30+ days late)
9.18% Total in Default

Note the dramatic difference between the number of homeowners who are actually in the foreclosure process compared to those who are 30 days or more late in payments. The FHA figures jump from 2.43 % in foreclosure to 13.73% in default…an 11% increase. The VA figures increase 6%, Subprime…11%. These numbers are a strong indication that the foreclosure crisis is going to continue to get worse before it gets better.

If you are continuing to shy away from working with homeowners in distress and short sales, you may want to reconsider. This segment of the market will be with us for quite awhile. The good news for Realtors is Fannie May has instructed their servicers NOT to negotiate your commissions up to 6%.

If you need help building and managing your short sale business, a real estate virtual assistant can help. My Team and I have earned our CDPE designations so we have the background necessary to support you. Take a look at our Short Sales In A Box and give us a call…we’re glad to help!!

You wouldn’t be alone if you have been apprehensive of pre-foreclosure listings and short sales. These transactions are very often a long and drawn out process and are a ‘bear’ to close! You also wouldn’t be alone if your apprehension has given way to acceptance of a necessary evil or maybe even grown into embracing the opportunity to help families facing extreme financial distress. Wherever your thought process is, pre-foreclosures and short sales have become a part of mainstream real estate. Currently, 1 out of 10 homeowners is in some stage of the foreclosure process. Foreclosures are at an all time high and are expected to get even higher. 

This being the case, how do you start to grow your pre-foreclosure and short sale business? Below are 10 low cost steps to jump start this new facet of your business: 

1.  Brand your short sale business. 

Branding is developing a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. It is a look and a feel that the consumer will associate with you when they see your marketing pieces. This concept is not new to many real estate professionals. We have heard about branding for years. Branding your distressed property business is just as important as the branding of your real estate practice as a whole. Quality Images for your marketing materials can be found on 123RF.com or IstockPhoto.com for just a few dollars per image.

2.  Register a domain name. 

Part of branding is the use of a keyword rich domain name to use on your marketing. One of the best keywords to use in real estate marketing is the name of your city or town. Combine your city or town name with words the consumer will use when searching for information about short sales, such as foreclosure or short sale. A couple of examples are: www.stopatlantaforeclosures.com or www.atlantashortsales.com. You can register a domain name at GoDaddy for less than $10 per year. 

3.  Create a short sale website. 

Homeowners facing foreclosure are in desperate need of information. Most don’t realize there are options other than foreclosure. Create a short sale website that provides information in layman terms, explaining their options and how you can help. And don’t forget to include a call to action. A cost effective website option is a Standard Point2Agent website. You get 15 pages with the first three months free and then only $9.95 per month. A good example is ShortSalesCentralNJ.com.  Another option is to create an additional page on your current website dedicated to short sales and foreclosures and point your short sale domain name to it. 

4.  Create a short sale business card. 

Having a separate business card isn’t necessary. Utilize the back of your current business card to promote your short sale business and let the world know you are a short sale expert. Be sure to include your new short sale domain name. 

5.  Place an ad on CraigsList. 

Being free, Craigs List is one of the most cost effective marketing tools available. Place your ad under Real Estate Services for your area. If you haven’t used the ‘Services section of Craigs List, there are additional hoops to jump through before you can post. You are required to provide a phone number associated with your ad. Craigs List then calls and verifies the number. There are any number of ways to create your ad, but one to consider is using Vflyer.com, which creates the code necessary for an HTML ad. Free personal accounts are available. 

6.  Write a press release. 

Submit a press release about how you can help families in distress avoid foreclosure. Highlight any designation you have earned or additional training you have taken. Your local newspaper will print a press release for free and there are numerous online options, such as Free-Press-Release.com, PRlog.org and PressRelease365.com.  

7.  Advertise in local print media. 

Your local newspaper and real estate magazines aren’t as cost effective as online marketing, but it will set you apart from the crowd. Consider both classified ads and display ads. 

8.  Utilize social networks. 

Blog about your short sale business and add it to Face Book. Put it on My Space, Linked In, and Active Rain and be sure to tweet about it on Twitter. 

9.  Send an introduction letter, email or postcard to your database. 

Get the word out with a letter, email or postcard to your database informing them of how you can help families facing foreclosure. They may know you are a real estate professional, but they need to know of your expertise in the area of short sales and avoiding foreclosure. 

10.  Call your sphere of influence. 

Last, but certainly not least, do what real estate professionals dread the most. Pick up the phone and call your sphere of influence. Sharing how you can save families from foreclosure is a great reason to call old friends and clients, as well as an excellent way to generate business. These days, most everyone knows someone struggling with making mortgage payments. 

My team of Marketing Specialists and Transaction Coordinators have earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, making us uniquely qualified to assist you with growing and managing your pre-foreclosure and short sale business. We can create your website and marketing materials, call your sphere of influence, manage your listings and coordinate your closings. Check out our Short Sales In A Box…a turnkey solution to building and managing your distressed property and short sale business.

For more information on how we can help visit myREassistant.com or call 757.271.6047.

Register FREE for the February 22-28, 2009 CyberConvention & Expo

Pre-Convention Information & Registration

This exciting convention is presented by The Real Estate CyberSpace Society and Sponsored by a multitude of Real Estate Associations, the Press, Speakers & Authors plus Service Providers. Because of their generous support attendance is FREE to Real Estate Professionals. Register now for early bird free attendance and prizes!

The Certified Distressed Property Institute (CDPE) has just reported the most recent distressed property statistics from the Mortgage Bankers Association and I’ll tell you folks, “they ain’t pretty!” 

The statistics below are based on 45,000,000 mortgages for the 3^rd quarter of 2008: 

All Mortgages:
            2.97% are in foreclosure
            6.99% are in default
            9.96% total in default 

Prime Mortgages:
            1.58% in foreclosure
            4.34% in default
          5.92 total in default 

Sub-Prime Mortgages:
          12.55% in foreclosure
             20.02% in default
            32.57% total in default 

FHA Mortgages:
           2.32% in foreclosure
             12.92% in default
            32.57% in default  

VA Mortgages:
          1.46% in foreclosure
            7.28% n default
         8.74 total in default 

As you can see, 10% of all mortgages were in default. Not just subprime mortgages but all mortgages! A number that has doubled since January 2007. These numbers are not only overwhelming, but also heart breaking knowing they represent 4.5 million families in crisis. 

The real estate industry has the ability to help these families avoid foreclosure and regain stability in their lives. Most families in distress don’t know they have options and think foreclosure in inevitable once they get behind on mortgage payments. CDPE training provides you with the tools you need to assist families in distress. As real estate virtual assistant who is CDPE certified, I can assist you with implementing the tools CDPE provides, growing your distressed property business, marketing distressed property listings and progressing to a successful closing. 

Give me a call. I’d like to work with you helping families in need.

First let me say, if you haven’t taken the Certified Distressed Property Institute (CDPE) course, you are missing out. This is an invaluable course, teaching you how to identify/qualify distressed property owners, effectively negotiate with the lender, getting to a successful closing.

Until I took the course, I thought the foreclosure problem was at its peak and the worst was over. This couldn’t be further from the truth. 2.97% of homeowners are in foreclosure and another 6.99% are in default, meaning they are behind on payments but not in the foreclosure process yet. When I realized the foreclosure crisis is not going away any time soon, I knew it was time for my Team to earn our CDPE designations and offer virtual assistant services to CDPE designees.

We have put systems in place to help CDPEs with:

• building a distressed property business
• servicing distressed property listings
• assembling your short sale package
• and coordinating a successful closing 

The primary goal of a CDPE is to help a homeowner avoid foreclosure and move forward with their lives. We believe so strongly is this goal that we are limiting our distressed property services to CDPEs only. This way we know we are all on the same page and are working toward the primary goal of helping those in distress.

If you are a CDPE in need of support services in building your business and assisting homeowners, visit our website, myREassistant.com or give us a call, 757-271-6047.