Does Real Estate Benefit From the Exposure of Social Media Sites?

Many may wonder if there is any real benefit to people or companies using Social Media outlets to promote their businesses. Early indications say the answer is a resounding 'yes' with how many businesses get picked up and are followed by people through Facebook and Twitter. Real estate is an industry that I believe has the potential to benefit from it as well because of how real estate is seemingly a common thread in the lives of most people's social circles. As social media has turned mainstream, many people have started to use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin in more constructive ways, instead of just connecting with high school buddies or co-workers.

Realtors and homeowners are turning to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to market their properties in a sometimes frustratingly slow market. While these methods can help expose a listing to a new audience, it does require a strategy and tact. You want your 'connections' to be interested in what you're sharing so that they will share it even if they're not in the market to buy or sell themselves. You can't just start tweeting and friending indiscriminately as that's a surefire way to become a social-media pariah.

I believe that people are innately interested in real estate (especially if they already own some) and like to see what is out there so they can do the 'compare to their own property' ritual. People are always wanting to know where they stand in the market, even in tough ones like the one we're going through now. Many people keep real estate at or around the forefront of their mind because there is always this 'you don't know what will happen in the next year or two' mentality (i.e. Job change, family expansion, downsizing etc). Keeping in touch with the market, even from a periphery helps people feel like they are somewhat educated about the market.

Social media outlets help people accomplish this in a very non-intrusive fashion. There is a study out there by JD Power & Associates  who rate anything from blenders to cars to real estate who say that over 85% of people first find the home they will purchase on the internet. 

Establishing a 'social media' page can be tricky and involves some thought. A reputable agent will have a 'fan page' dedicated to their real estate activity so that their main profile isn't perceived to be all work; after all Facebook was created with the intent of connecting friends on a more casual level.  Real estate agents work to find balance with this because in their world, real estate is an everyday thing and something nearly all their connections can associate with; unlike seeing a connection talk IT jargon or a connection talk about medical equipment sales which are things most people can't associate with on a day-to-day basis.

So, I believe there is a place for using social media in real estate and think it will only improve as time goes on. If you find a good, informative and casual site then 'like' it and pass it along as you never know which one of your connections might just be in the market or interested to know what the market is doing; the casual nature of most of these sites makes them a great place to get information, keep up-to-date and potentially find your next home or for your friend to find theirs.

For more insight to people using social media for real estate, Click Here to read more about it in a bankrate.com article.

Click Here to become a 'fan' of NW Real Estate Guru on Facebook!

H.A.F.A - Home Affordable Forclosure Alternative

This is a this great video that helps explain a new program put out by the government to help people facing or who are thinking of going down the road of a foreclosure. There are much better alternatives than allowing a home to just go back to the banks; this program has incentives built-in for both the banks and consumer to make an unfortunate situation more of a win-win for everyone and avoid the mess or headaches associated with the foreclosure process.

If you or someone you know requires assistance contact me right away, I will be happy to provide you with advice and guidance in your time of need. There are alternatives that can help you achieve what you want today but also give you the opportunity to obtain credit or get back into real estate down the road without having to suffer the repercussions of a foreclosure.

Sammamish No. 2 For Best Schools For Your Housing Buck

Sammamish is the second best city in the United States when it comes to school quality for your home value, according to Forbes Magazine and GreatSchools, an independent organization. The ranking was announced in an April 6 Forbes article, “Best Schools for Your Housing Buck.” 

Forbes and GreatSchools ranked Sammamish second among U.S. cities with a median home price of $400,000-$599,000 and in the top 25 overall. The ranking is based on a combination of data, including student enrollment and test scores, and median home price and population, according to the article and a Lake Washington e-newsletter. 

GreatSchools cited Sammamish-area schools’ innovative programs, such as the Issaquah School District’s Green Team.It also specifically cited Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning, one of Lake Washington School District’s choice schools, as a strength.

Sammamish is behind Acton, Mass. In the $400,000-$599,000 home price category. “If Sammamish has its quirks, they’re quirks worth learning about. “Near Seattle but secluded on the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish, this town allows residents to reap the rewards of both rural and suburban lifestyles. “Though it lacks a post office, Sammamish boasts a symphony orchestra and great schools in two districts,” the Forbes article said. See the full list at, Here

Residential Permit Activity Up In Sammamish

After a construction drought in 2009, people are moving forward with plans to build new single-family homes in Sammamish.

Darci Donovan, the city’s permit center manager, said single family residential building permits are increasing.

Building permits from January through March were up from 5 in 2009 to 23 in 2010.

That’s more permit activity for single-family homes than the city experienced January through March in 2007, 2008 or 2009.

Permits for remodels and additions are up, too. The city issued 11 of those permits in 2009 (for January through March), and 24 in 2010. This year’s permit activity for remodels and additions isn’t the highest in the last few years though.

During the same four-month time frame, there were 27 remodel and addition permits in 2007 and 37 in 2008.

Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.

5th Annual - Project Crayon Drive by The Cascade Team RE

For the 5th straight year The Cascade Team Real Estate is kicking off Project Crayon Drive!

For the young who find themselves at Children’s Hospital every year along with their families, sometimes the simple things like a coloring book and a few crayons can be as soothing as the trained staff and smiling Doctors. Yet, something as simple as crayons often get overlooked. Each year Children’s Hospital of Seattle goes through over 240,000 crayons and each child only gets a couple to use.

And that’s where The Cascade Team RE in partnership with Children’s Hospital Guild Association and several area merchants comes in. Throughout the month on April agents from The Cascade Team will be walking neighborhoods and spreading the word about Project Crayon Drive. Various drop-off locations will be held on weekends throughout the Snoqualmie, North Bend, Issaquah, Sammamish, Bellevue and Kirkland areas. Those locations include the IGA at Snoqualmie Ridge on April 10th, The QFC in North Bend also on April the 11th, Matthews in Lakemont on the 17th and the Safeway in downtown Bellevue on the 24th. Café Ladro in The Issaquah Highlands on April 24, The QFC in Sammamish and the QFC in Klahanie on April 24th are also participating and serving as drop off points. There will also be several other area locations throughout Bellevue, Kirkland, Woodinville and Seattle.

If you would like more information on Project Crayon Drive or to find a location nearest you please visit www.TheCascadeTeam.com and click the Events Tab at the bottom or call directly to 425-396-4569.

Should Price Be The Only Factor When Shopping For a Home?

Good article below that speaks to the overwhelming approach by buyers who are simply shopping for places based on price or putting offers in on properties with a much lower number in mind because they hear the market is 'soft' and 'deals' are meant to be had out there. Realistically, buyers should be considering much more than just price.

The 'price discount approach' worked initially when the market started to go down and sellers were still trying to hold onto what they felt was 'justified' equity. That's been more than two years now and sellers in many areas have realized this approach simply will not get their home sold so more and more have taken the advice of their agents to be more realistic about pricing their homes. Those who sell quickly usually are on track or ahead of the curve but many are still 'shielding' themselves against that 'potential' buyer who is going to come in and still offer low.

This approach does work too but the listing number has to be realistic and agents representing 'buyer's' need to do their homework too when going out and doing a market analysis to make sure they're representing to their clients solid numbers and not be afraid to coach clients away from making unrealistic offers. Sometimes agents forget that they are the experts here and simply asking the question 'how would you respond to an offer like that if it was your house you were selling?' can help a buyer realize that being realistic is important and considering other things than just price is also very important.
 
Sure some still say 'well, I'm not the one selling, they are so if they want to sell then they'll have deal with the offer that is given to them'. It's hard to navigate around this approach but it's still possible to set expectations of what the rest of the 'offer' process looks like so that a buyer doesn't simply walk away from a property that prob'ly really meets their needs because they didn't get the number they were looking for.

By Marilyn Kennedy Melia of Bankrate.com
 
Today's buyer has a one-track mind when it comes to shopping for a home: price, but it might lead him in the wrong direction.

Home shoppers' overriding goal, according to real estate agents, is to scoop up a bargain.
"There are certain expectations now," says Raylene Lewis, an agent with Century 21 Beal in College Station, Texas. "People think, 'In this economy, I should be able to get X home at Y price.'"

There's nothing wrong with a bargain, except that experts agree that obsessively focusing on price can divert you from other key considerations, like whether a home suits your particular needs.

Here's, advice on putting prices in perspective:

Beware the seller's number

William Poundstone, author of the recent book "Priceless," has a radical suggestion: Don't enter a home knowing the list price. Instead, ask an agent to show you properties within your affordability range. Judge the homes on their respective merits, and then ask the agent for help determining a reasonable purchase price.

 However, Poundstone acknowledges this approach isn't realistic, saying, "It's hard to disregard the list price."

But, he would like home shoppers to at least be aware that a home price can play tricks on their minds, influencing how they judge the worth of a property.

In his book, Poundstone outlines a study whereby subjects estimated a higher reasonable purchase figure for a home when they were given a higher listing price. Correspondingly, subjects given a lower listing figure on the same property pegged their reasonable bid lower.

Right now, listing figures can be particularly confusing, says John Sullivan, past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.

For one thing, some "vanity" listing numbers are too high, because agents are assuaging sellers' insistence that their home is worth a certain amount, says Sullivan.

On the other hand, sometimes list prices are realistic, something buyers have a hard time accepting, notes Ellen Klein, of Century 21 Christel Rockaway, N.J. "Buyers today feel that sellers should give their house away," she says.

The takeaway: A higher home price tag doesn't translate into a "better" home. Judge properties on what suits your needs, advises Poundstone. Then, determine a fair purchase figure through a vigorous analysis of the most recent sales and sales contract prices on similar properties in the area. Read the rest of the article here.

Contact Me if you need help pricing a property properly or need advice on how to make a 'solid' offer.