300 CRS designees and candidates plus guests attended the CRS inaugural dinner where Gregg Fujita was installed as the 2010 President - with Franklin Serio as President elect. A table of New Jersey CRSs were present - and Realtors from evey state were present, The 40,000 member group awarded honors and recognitions to super active members - Certified Residential Specialists - only 5% of US Realtos hold that designation - a good source of education for use in today''s market.
11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Took train - Coastal - to Carlsbad for dinner with family - Otooles plus. Very quiet train - and senior rates - also great - $3.25 ...advantages of aging.
08:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
NAR's chief economist,Lawrence Yun, PHD, and John Tuccillo, PHD, former economist at NAR spoke about the real estate market today at an opening session of the convention. By mid 2010,they anticipate a better market - with the interest rate a little higher, the supply of homes for sale reduced and some pent up buyer interest, There are still strong pockets of foreclosures and short sales - with banks starting to work them out at a quicker pace. Some banks are not rushing to foreclose - and some sellers are staying in those homes now - (no one really wants a huge supply of empty, unsold houses) Of course the lower end of the markets are in higher demand - there are parts of the country where you can buy a house for $100,000 -the higher ranges will take longer to recover - There are 16 million renters who qualify as home buyers - but they have to 'feel' optimistic.
The unemployment rate will stay around 10% - lower in a few areas -
An interesting outlook was that the consumer is in control - net work marketing and social network streams are ways to reach the new buyers - they don't even email anymore - just text - Realtors have to move to these means of communicating with the new generation. Accurate information and relevant information is important.
New construction is down - developers cannot get financing. Both men agreed that how the national deficit is handled will be important to the recovery process -
The bubble has burst - it took quite a few years for that to reach the stretched out point - and we will know when it has leveled off - as soon as prices start to rise again. I have several crystal balls - so far that has not been a source of predictability. However, people always have to move - and others have to buy - and that movement creates energy for other business to occur.
Buyers are learning that they might stay in a house for a long period of time - the 'move up' phase might not be part of their purchase plan. And Sellers have to appreciate the time spent in a home and consider the rent that they have not spent, but put into the equity of the home as an investment,
01:02 AM in Real Estate | Permalink | Comments (0)
Meeting all day Wednesday with the CyberProfessionals for energizing learning about websites,blogs, forums, coaches, newsletters and all the tools used by Realtors around the country, A sharing and learning day - everyone has a computer, plugged in, during the whole event . Some taking notes, checking facebook accounts, or applying a new twist. A good breakfast and lunch included - what could be better?
Today, a ReBarCamp - I had never been to one. Free. Over 500 agents from all over the US, meeting in an historic warehouse in the Gaslamp; quarter now a night club called Stingaree- No one a special speaker: anyone could lead or participate - 45 Minute segments for the whole day. You pick, choose or leave a session as you like. Information about blogging, twittering, facebooking and other social networking routes. ( social networking will soon not be the word used for those procedures) rather the word ' media' will take over is the prediction. Great sharing and learning. Whether to use: type pad, word press, blogger or any other service: how to maneuver around some of the sites: some are free, others are pay as you go, or by the month etc.
Realtors from all over - I seemed to speak to several from hard=hit short sale and foreclosed areas - California and Arizona. Tomorrow when the NAR convention starts, I'll check out other comments - these people today are all working at improving and adding to their business...so I assume they are doing better than others.
We'll see what else is reflected in the other seminars. 18,000 expected registrants for the NAR event.
to see that site and more information on how it works - http://www.ReBarCampSD.com
22,000 square feet of meeting space - an organized un-organized meeting - it was great!
09:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
new site to check - 4square.com for more social networking connections - cyberprofessional meeting - lots oof good ideas -
09:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Non stop flight (80) FLYERS on Continental Flight this am - many from NJ coming to the annual convention. Will get the general picture of business in the US - even the international from the CIPS meetings - This is one beautiful city! Palm trees, breezes and today in the 70's. Cab driver says business if slow - we'll see how many Realtors show up - sometimes we've seen 18,000 or more attend these informative sessions.
Spending 2 days with the Cyber Professionals, a different kind of meeting - all internet savvy people - I can learn a lot from them.
John, his 2 brothers and their wives have come here too - and they will sight see - I'll catch up.
04:50 PM in Real Estate | Permalink | Comments (0)
Where are the buyers for the over $1,000,000 market? Waiting for their properties to close - the tax incentive was a plus for the lower range ( $400,000 - $600,000) and even tho they know this is a good time to buy - interest rate at around 5% - they are ' waiting' - The 'Spring; market is being forecast as ' picking up ' - the fact is there is a time that people have to make a change - and second-guessing markets is difficult - all the crystal balls I have seem to not help in predicting the future. Comfort, style and satisfaction are elements in a house purchase. Schools, access to trains buses and nearness to the airport - are all factors that make this area popular - plus the neighborhood climate of the whole town - due to the volunteer, civic and historic organizations and the proximity to Montclair State University and its cultural assets.
Condos in the area can also provide a pleasant home- $300,000 plus are attractive purchases - and rentals in the area also add to the market activity. Choosing a life style is in our own hands - and wallets - decisions can be made!
04:57 AM in Real Estate | Permalink | Comments (0)
06:02 PM in Information | Permalink | Comments (0)
In my haste to tell all about this new organization I've discovered, I see I gave the wrong web address: http://www.Corduroyclub.com- the word 'appreciation' is not part of the site - altho an important connotation. It turns out -the West Coast chapter has the word 'appreciation' in it's title - the chapter I've joined does not...that chapter, in Oakland, is having a meeting on 11/11 - and attendees are asked to wear 2 items of corduroy - not bad requirements for a group!
08:59 PM in Information | Permalink | Comments (0)
I recently joined the Corduroy Club - (as in the fabric) and have been informed that the next meeting will be November 11 - ( that's 11 11 ) Prior to that there had been a meeting on November 1 ( 11.1) Do you see the parallel lines - that's the corduroy sign. Several sizes - wales etc. check out the site - They have all the attributes of an organization - even a twitter group.plus an interesting web site http://www.corduroyappreciationclub.com
they can't wait for the next really big meeting - 11.11.11 -
I dont think I'll make the one next week tho 11/11 - I'll be at the National Real Estate convention in San Diego )- maybe they have a chapter there tho - I should check! Or at least wear some corduroy.
08:38 PM in Meeting | Permalink | Comments (0)
